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An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good
An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good | Helene Tursten
Maude is an irascible 88-year-old Swedish woman with no family, no friends, and . . . no qualms about a little murder. This funny, irreverent story collection by Helene Tursten, author of the Irene Huss investigations, features two-never-before translated stories that will keep you laughing all the way to the retirement home. Ever since her darling father's untimely death when she was only eighteen, Maud has lived in the family's spacious apartment in downtown Gothenburg rent-free, thanks to a minor clause in a hastily negotiated contract. That was how Maud learned that good things can come from tragedy. Now in her late eighties, Maud contents herself with traveling the world and surfing the net from the comfort of her father's ancient armchair. It's a solitary existence, but she likes it that way. Over the course of her adventures--or misadventures---this little, bold lady will handle a crisis with a local celebrity who has her eyes on Maud's apartment, foil the engagement of her long-ago lover, and dispose of some pesky neighbors. But when the local authorities are called to investigate a murder in her apartment complex, will Maud be able to avoid suspicion, or will Detective Inspector Irene Huss see through her charade?
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Rachiiebookdragon
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Pickpick

An easy read and mostly enjoyable

Read for reading challenges

3.75/5

(Read 21/10)

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Bookwomble
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"Later she enjoyed a delicious chicken salad on the balcony. She treated herself to a glass of port to accompany the ice cream, and she topped it off with a cup of coffee. If it hadn't been for the dead body in the gentleman's room, it would have been the perfect conclusion to a lovely summer's day."

Now that I've thought of Helen Mirren as Maud, I can't unthink it. She's perfect casting, & I'm now finding the unlikable Maud a bit more bearable.

Cathythoughts Great quote. I must look this up 👍🏻❤️ 7mo
Bookwomble @Cathythoughts Good stories, very bad elderly lady! 👵🏻🔪🩸 7mo
Cathythoughts 😂👍🏻 7mo
See All 6 Comments
LeahBergen I liked this book! 😆 7mo
Bookwomble @LeahBergen I liked the book, too, and I get it's dark humour but I didn't like Maud as she's a serial killer who murders because she likes it and justifies it on flimsy pretexts. I had a similar issue with the MC of Tokarczuk's Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead. 7mo
LeahBergen Oh, I totally get it; she was very unlikeable! I‘ve not read Drive Your Plow. 7mo
30 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Coueriamb
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Mehso-so

And a throwback to my first finished book this year!
The alternate title - “Judgmental old bat take out everyone who bothers her BUT ITS OKAY the people she kills are shitty so it‘s fine.”

It‘s like is Jessica Fletcher were not solving crimes but the root cause of all of them.

If you don‘t mind some dark humor and holier-than-thou narration it‘s a short fun romp

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xicanti
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Friends, I‘m having SUCH a great time with 88-year-old Maud. She‘s a reverse Miss Marple; instead of using her extensive life experience (and society‘s tendency to underestimate her) as a crime-fighting tool, she‘s all about the crime-doing. Self-serving murders a specialty. I don‘t ever want to meet her but I sure wanna keep reading about her.

Darklunarose I LOVED this book! She is such a Cheeky old woman! 9mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 9mo
xicanti @Darklunarose I‘ve already borrowed the next book so I won‘t have to take a break from her! 9mo
See All 6 Comments
xicanti @dabbe Geo says hello! 9mo
dabbe @xicanti 🤩🖤🐾🐾🖤🤩 9mo
Darklunarose @xicanti I look forward to seeing how it goes! 9mo
50 likes6 comments
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julesG
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#wondrouswednesday @Eggs

1) all of them - I used to read a lot of historical fiction set during the Middle Ages, but I seem to have shifted to Regency and Victorian times.

2) tagged - part of #AuldLangSpine

3) probably Gabaldon's The Fiery Cross with about 1400+ pages.

Eggs Thanks for joining in🙏🏻🥳🙏🏻 10mo
LeahBergen I used to read a lot more stuff set in the Middle Ages, too. 10mo
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Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick
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There's a heavy rain storm out there tonight. My guy is working late, so I'm cozy on the couch with my best buddy ? reading about Maud. As I read, I'm picturing my great-grandmother or my (still living) 4'10", 88 year old grandmother, who everyone adores, acting up like this, and it makes these stories that much better.

A little late to #Sweden for #foodandlit month, but better late than pregnant. Never! It's better late than never! ?

Melismatic I have this sitting on my shelf! Looking forward to hearing your final review 💖 10mo
52 likes1 comment
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julesG
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Pickpick

My first #AuldLangSpine book.

Really liked Maud. I want to be like her when I'm old. 😁😁

Thank you for the recommendation, @rachelsbrittain.

@monalyisha

#52bookclub24 - Told in non-chronological order
#BookChain24 - A or The in title @TheAromaofBooks

emz711 It's such a cute book, have you read the other one? 11mo
julesG @emz711 Not yet, but it's on #MountTBR 11mo
See All 6 Comments
monalyisha Love the name Maud! 11mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 11mo
rachelsbrittain Yay! I'm so glad you liked it! I'm planning to start Cassandra in Reverse today 😊 11mo
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Catsandbooks
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Pickpick
Ruthiella Nice work! 🎄💀🔪🎅🏻 11mo
TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 11mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 11mo
Andrew65 Excellent 👏👏👏 11mo
37 likes4 comments
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Darklunarose
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Pickpick

This is not my normal genre, far from it, but i truely loved these stories. Such a naughty little old lady….dont let appearances fool you

56 likes1 stack add
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Darklunarose
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Downloaded and ready to start reading tomorrow.

thegreensofa I loved this! 😁 12mo
Carlie_Burden lllllooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeee it 12mo
48 likes2 comments
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Nanoficto92
Pickpick

Definitely one of my favorite reads. It wastes no time setting the tone. It‘s such a campy fun book. In a weird way it has a similar charm to “Murder She Wrote”, but if it was more about committing the crimes instead of solving them. I absolutely loved this book and am excited to read the next one.

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Tea_and_Starstuff
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Pickpick

Continuing my Global Reading Challenge - this was my book for Sweden! A not-quite-charming tale of a woman in her late eighties with a variety of life problems. She solves them all…with murder. I'm not quite rooting for her, but I'm not NOT rooting for her if you know what I mean. I wouldn't want to know her, but she sure was fun to read.

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rachelsbrittain
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Pickpick

I read this one on @sebrittainclark 's recommendation and loved it. An elderly lady is indeed up to no good in these collection of short stories-- but nobody in her apartment building knows that. Even the police can't pin anything on her. If you enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club, you'll like this one too, I think.

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sebrittainclark
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Pickpick

4/5

I picked this book up without reading the description and assuming it was a cozy mystery where an elderly lady would solve a crime, so I was little surprised when that was not at all what this collection of short stories was about. Once I got over my surprise, I really enjoyed this. I think it was particularly good to listen to the audiobook.

JenDR I just read this! I read it in one sitting on Saturday afternoon. My librarian put it in my hands when I said I wanted a book about a woman who isn‘t filled with angst about motherhood or relationships. I was describing it to my friend and she thought it sounded like Cozy Noir. 1y
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megnews
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Panpan

I added this to my current short audiobook binge. The first story I liked. But overal I didn‘t find Maud as endearing as everyone else.

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Cathyloves2read
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Mehso-so

This was a cute little story! Maude is sure a spunky little old lady! I did the audio version. The narrators voice was a bit hard to deal with at times, especially when she portrayed Maude‘s voice. I read this book as part of Goodreads 52 week challenge, the Nordic Noir prompt.

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Janessa818
Pickpick

This tiny book that turns out to be a Swedish cult classic was an impulse buy at the cash register of a Barnes and Noble 75% off sale. I'm delighted to have stumbled upon it. Charming and dastardly!

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Eggs
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Aha - finally found one

#MC-OlderThanYou @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

“Maud is an irascible 88-year-old Swedish woman with no family, no friends, and... no qualms about a little murder.”

IndoorDame Maud is so much fun! 2y
Eggs Yes 😂 I read An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed last year! @IndoorDame (edited) 2y
jewright This book is hysterical. 2y
See All 8 Comments
Eggs @jewright Right!?! 2y
tonymp If you're going to live to be 88, might as well try new things, right? Or just continue doing what you've always done. When I'm 88, I might not try murder, but maybe I'll try something else. Or I'll just continue doing what I do. No family. No friends. Just cantankerous. 2y
azulaco I adored this book. Maud is life goals! 2y
Eggs @tonymp 👏🏻😅👍🏼 2y
Eggs @azulaco If I make it to 88, I‘ll just be ecstatic to be alive 2y
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K.Wielechowski
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Pickpick

88-year-old Maud is not what she seems. In fact, she‘s not even close. Under the white hair and wrinkles is the soul of a criminal mastermind and serial killer.
I didn‘t know anything about this book when I started reading it (friend recommended) so when the first murder happened, it caught me off guard but I couldn‘t help but like Maud and her conniving.

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TheEllieMo
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join in if you want!

#ABookADay2023

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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

What a bonkers, unexpected, and charming book! Strange to find a sociopath so intriguing! This book has been on my #TBR for years and I‘m so glad I finally got around to reading it. It is quick, less than 200 pages, and easy to read in a sitting or two. I can‘t wait to read the second in the series! #bookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks #JoyousJanuary @Andrew65

booksandsympathy Love these books 2y
Andrew65 A great review, well done 👏👏👏 2y
5feet.of.fury I‘ve got to get more into hers 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
71 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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janeycanuck
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Pickpick

First read of 2023! What a dark delight. Maud cracked me up and I wouldn‘t mind having a retirement like hers (murdering notwithstanding!)

This was one of my #Roll100 books - feels great to strike one off the list already!

kspenmoll This book was such fun! Good choice! 2y
PuddleJumper Brilliant! 2y
32 likes2 comments
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eol
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Mehso-so

I have to admit, I‘m not a contemporary mystery/crime novels connoisseur, but the premise intrigued me. Overall, it‘s a relaxing read (if you can call that a book about an old lady serial killer). A cozy mystery—except, since you know who the killer is from the start, it‘s not a mystery at all?

The “victims”, aside from crossing the old lady, are also cliche bad guys, which was the part I didn‘t necessarily like.

3.25/5

#onedayread #smallbooks

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ShananigansReads
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CaitlinByTheBook
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Reading a story from this book every other day and enjoying it! Took it with me on my fall vacation 🍂🧡

TheBookHippie I just picked this up at our used bookstore! 2y
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Adventures_of_a_French_Reader
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Pickpick

Reread
It was a pleasure to read these little stories again.
Who would have thought that murder could be so much fun, haha?
Perfect read to relax!

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Allylu
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Pickpick

This was an unexpected delight. At first, I wasn‘t sure about it, but once it got going, it was great. A short, funny read. Don‘t underestimate little old ladies!! #97 #BookSpin #BFC22 #TrappedOnAnIsland #Scarathlon2022 #Spookoween2022 #31by31 #Pointsathon #LittenListens #Autumnbingo2022 #bodycountbingo #AutumnAtoZ

DieAReader Or their purses🤣🤣 Great job!🎉🎉🎉 2y
TheSpineView Fantastic 2y
Texreader Yay!!! 2y
See All 7 Comments
Catsandbooks 🙌🏼🐈‍⬛🧡 2y
AnnR Way to go. 🎃🎃🎃 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
wanderinglynn The title is intriguing! 2y
28 likes1 stack add7 comments
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azulaco

I am loving these stories. Maude does not suffer fools, and dispatches them neatly. 😂

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Jobridge
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Character research since I‘m playing a mischievous old lady 😂 this is a delightful geriatric serial killer.

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Cinfhen
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Book two of in flight listening 🎧 Great recommendation @britt_brooke
Maude is nearing 90 but she‘s still got a lot of life in her…and a few deaths under her belt 😅

Erinsuereads This is one of my favorites! There is a second one too 2y
britt_brooke Happy you‘re enjoying! Where are you off to? I‘m been MIA from Litsy for a few days again and haven‘t had the chance to catch back up. 2y
Megabooks I have this on Chirp! Eagerly awaiting your review. Travel safe dear friend! 2y
72 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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esurient
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Pickpick

Charmingly bloodthirsty! I loved Maud's complete unconcern for scruples and ingrained assumption she can do whatever the hell she pleases. Highly enjoyed the first few stories here, but the last, a paired companion set, made me think Maud is getting a bit too sloppy.

Still, I've already obtained the second book in this set, and I'll have to hunt for other works by this author.

esurient I really really want fanfiction here where Maud crosses into the territories of various literary detectives. 2y
SleepyDragon Everytime I see this one pop up, I laugh because my grandmother was a Maude and was usually up to no good. Lol 2y
esurient @SleepyDragon Glad it makes you smile! 2y
22 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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LoverOfLearning
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Nothing like a funny yet shocking short story collection to read between your other long reads.

Solid 4 stars from me.

#letterE #alphebetgame @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty!! This is on my list! 2y
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AmyK1
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Mehso-so

This was not at all what I expected. I was expecting light and funny but got dark and murderous instead. At least it was a quick read.

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LoverOfLearning
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Listening to this short and sweet audiobook.

I'm expecting a good laugh!

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mrp27
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April #wrapup

Another great month of reading. Stand outs were People From my Neighborhood and An Elderly Lady Is Up To No Good.

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Blackink_WhitePaper
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Pickpick

Do u judge a book by its cover or title ? Well I sometimes do! And this time I was totally wrong. I started reading this book by its catchy title and pretty cover. But it is dark ! It is about a woman of 88 year old and what she does ( mostly killing people 😳) Good thing is, it is quick and can read in one sitting 3⭐️

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Magpiegem
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Pickpick

12/22- This book was not what I expected in the most wonderfully dark way. And I don‘t think I have read anything completely like it before. It was exactly what I needed right now. It was a quick read & I was sad to come to the end, as I‘m sure Maud has many more tricks up her sleeves. I will definitely be picking up more books by Helene Tursten. I read this for Februarys #Roll100 but finished it a little late! Pick it up, you won‘t regret it! 4⭐️

PuddleJumper That's great! Awesome you've found a new author to enjoy 3y
jlhammar That cross-stitch is so perfect! Really enjoyed this one. The follow-up, An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed, is also fun. 3y
Magpiegem @jlhammar I‘ll definitely pick that up. And when I realised the police officers in the last story also have their own series I immediately added them to the list too 3y
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MatchlessMarie
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Pickpick

Finished my January 2022 #DoubleSpin earlier this week and the tagged book today. I went all the way back to February 2020 and found all of my spin picks from when I first started participating in my the #BookSpin reading challenge so I am trying to do like no spin left behind 😅 and hopefully catch up by the end of the year. #20in4 👇

MatchlessMarie I liked both books. An Elderly Lady is basically the embodiment of the “good for her” meme 😈 I look forward to reading the next in the series and see what she gets into next.

I was expecting a bigger twist from Tips For Living but that might just be because of the kind of books I‘ve been reading lately. I still very much enjoyed it though.
3y
Andrew65 Brilliant 👏👏👏 3y
BiblioLitten An Elderly lady was delightful! So wicked 😸😸 3y
See All 9 Comments
Ruthiella No spin left behind! 🤣🤣🤣 3y
TheAromaofBooks Oh my gosh, no spin left behind! 😂 I love it!!! Do you have very many to catch up?? 3y
MatchlessMarie @TheAromaofBooks I had initially thought of no TBR left behind from since I first joined Litsy but I thought that might be a little too daunting 😆 but to date I have 7 BookSpins, 10 DoubleSpins and 1 Triple spin from that one time we did that to catch up on 3y
MatchlessMarie @marleed I might start using the tag 🤣 3y
TheAromaofBooks haha That's pretty much an entirely new BookSpin list! 😂 3y
59 likes9 comments
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JoyBlue
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Pickpick
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jen_hayes7
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Next up!! Super excited about this one. 😍

19 likes1 stack add
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BiblioLitten
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Whoa! I did not expect what just happened on page 19 😳😳
Very interesting! Good thing I didn‘t look at the blurb before starting the book. I didn‘t expect the book to be so short either.

#currentlyreading #shortread #Sweden

60 likes1 stack add
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MatchlessMarie
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#BookSpin and #DoubleSpin picks for January have been chosen!! Especially looking forward to finishing my double spin pick.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
RainyDayReading An Elderly Lady is such fun! 3y
52 likes2 comments
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carlthecattt
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I feel so spoiled! I love all of it, thank you so much @Kdgordon88 ! I absolutely love all things pens and notebooks and cannot wait to start using this planner/journal for all my book tracking. And the letter opener is so cool! Thank you, again- and happy new year!

Thank you for hosting, @candority ❤️
#bestof2021swap

LiteraryinPA What is the circular thing in the blue box? 3y
Deblovestoread So glad you like everything! Happy New Year! 3y
carlthecattt @LiteraryinLawrence hey! Are you looking at the one with a smiley face on it? If so, it‘s a pen holder :) 3y
candority Looks fantastic! 😍 3y
31 likes4 comments
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mariaku21
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Pickpick

What a different take on this genre and I can't help but just cheer Maude on! She's a great character - a no-nonesense, woman in her late 80's, enjoying life and all it has to offer and has no problem with a little murder here and there.
Such a bold a low-ley devious woman that I never want to cross but somehow admire because of it. These short stories have got me interest in more about her, her misadventures and the fools trying to stop her.

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Andrea313
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Pickpick

Both of these little books pack a darkly funny punch. I liked the tagged book more than its sequel, but both were good for the kind of laugh that you then feel bad about because this old lady is a sinister, stone-cold sociopath, but also, somehow, a character you root for? Maud is definitely worth spending a couple of evenings with.

LeahBergen I really enjoyed the first one. I‘ll have to keep an eye out for the second! 3y
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britt_brooke
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Clever ol‘ Maud is low key devious. She messes around and gets vengeance by playing the part of confused elderly lady when she full well knows what‘s going on. Darkly humorous story collection! I felt kind of bad for laughing. #coverlove

Cinfhen Agreed!! This cover is 🙌🏻✨🔥 I own this on my kindle but I think I want to listen to audio 3y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen The audio is really well done! 3y
Bookzombie I also enjoyed this one on audio. Just in case you don‘t know, there is a new one out. I haven‘t read it yet though. 3y
See All 7 Comments
britt_brooke @Bookzombie Yes - thank you! I placed it on hold recently and should get it soon. 🙂 3y
kspenmoll Read this but I bet audio would be fun! 3y
Booksnchill @britt_brooke An Elderly Lady Must Not be Crossed is out and is just as good! (edited) 3y
britt_brooke @Booksnchill I have it on hold. Hopefully I‘ll get it soon! 3y
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Aims42
Pickpick

This was a fun, quick read! I love Maud so much 😂 Definitely reading the next book 👍🏻

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Aims42
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Guys, I really cannot deal with how ridiculously small this book is 😂 I‘m enjoying it so far but maybe I need to switch to the audio version because I read a few pages and then look at my hands and laugh at how giant they look 🤣

kplovesbooks 🤣🤣 On the bright side, it must be very easy to hold though! 3y
Aims42 @kplovesbooks Yes, it is! It fits perfectly in my purse as well, my shoulder doesn‘t know the difference with or without it 🤣🤣🤣 3y
kplovesbooks @Aims42 LOL!!! 😂😂 3y
48 likes3 comments