An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed

I still love the idea of an amoral old lady who leaves a trail of bodies in her wake, but slim volume isn't nearly as funny or unexpected as the first. The over-arching story of her trip to South Africa doesn't really stand on its own, and while it does flesh out Maud's motivations and history, I'm not sure it needs to exist.

An elderly Swedish lady who has an unexpected homicidal tendency takes off on a trip to South Africa and - well her homicidal impulses travel with her. I enjoyed this lighthearted romp about a 90-something-year-old serial killer (I know, that sounds impossible). Her sociopathic nature makes for a rather subtle commentary on Swedish society and the role assigned to "nice old ladies" who are assumed to be a little dotty - it makes for good cover. This is the second in a quirky series by a seasoned Swedish author of two excellent procedural series that are a good deal more serious about murder. While generally a misanthrope, this elderly lady has reasons for her murders.returnreturnI had not read the first in this series; it sounded a little preposterous. But I really enjoyed this semi-cozy serial killer tale.