Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten

9 reviews

strawberrytheauthor's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I would classify this book as a cozy thriller. There aren’t high stakes but there is murder. 

This book is a compilation of short stories about 89 year old Maud and her no good deeds. I am still not sure if I want her to succeed or get caught. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Ableism, Murder, and Gore

nebraskanwriter's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

This book was not for me. I did not realize going into it what I was getting myself into and that is on me, I acknowledge that.

I thought this book was going to be taking a more A Man Called Ove approach but instead it took a total Dexter approach.

This is an 88 year old serial killer who will kill anyone who wrongs her or thinks is going to wrong her. And I know many people in other reviews have said this was “hilarious” and I’m glad that they enjoyed it but how calculating she was, how she did not have any remorse and how she did it all for selfish reasons (even the abuse situation, she killed the husband so she could go back to having a peaceful Christmas day. She did not do it for the abused wife).

I thought this would be giving Carl from UP, where yes he goes against the people trying to take his home but it is kind of loveable and endearing, his grumpy outer exterior because you discover that inside, he is actually a really nice person. Or in A Man Called Ove, same thing he is rebelling against the system that is taking advantage of his wife’s horrible accident, but he does not go and kill the people that wrong him! And as the book goes on, we see that Ove does have a heart, like Carl.

There was nothing redeemable in Maude. She killed anyone that so much stepped a toe out of line or did her wrong in any way, even stabbing one of the men at the grocery store when he couldn’t get her the ham that she wanted.

I know many people loved this and thought this book was hilarious. It is definitely me, not you. I thought this was going to be a light hearted book but it was just a book about an old woman brutally murdering anyone who wronged her, that was it.

She even kills her sister.

Nope, not for me! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Medical content, and Violence

binreads's review against another edition

dark funny slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was an okay read, it did make me laugh at some moments. The overall concept of a little old lady just murdering people whenever she feels like it on the surface is funny. Honestly though, it's quite dark. But, it's interesting how it's under 200 pages, it felt super slow to me. I may pick up the sequel.

I wish we would've gotten more insight on what happened to the victims after they were murdered. </spolier>

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Body horror

parasolcrafter's review against another edition

dark funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

this was a vvv strange book. im still not sure if i liked it...? i mean...it was interesting, thats for sure!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Alcoholism, Blood, Domestic abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Dementia

fridayreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Ableism and Mental illness

Minor: Homophobia, Alcohol, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Dementia, and Domestic abuse

kimveach's review against another edition

dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

It's cute.   Best read as a single short story each evening. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death of parent, Mental illness, Alcohol, and Death

cassielaj's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Blood, Gore, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Alcohol and Dementia

kamryn_grace_'s review against another edition

dark funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Alcohol

purplelake's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

A little old lady who commits murder.

At times the translation is a bit awkward, but not enough to impact the story. The time difference between the stories, not being in strict chronological order, can lead to some confusion at fist. Specifically Maud’s comments about visiting the spa. However, the separated stories makes for a brilliant set-up/punchline structure. The stories all share the commonality of

Maud using her advanced age and unspoiled mind and body to get away with literal murder

, but each story takes a new spin on Maud’s character. I found Maud herself a thoroughly lovable character, not despite of, but because of her flaws. Her character being such a deviation from the norm of the genre also draws you into the story. The book’s twists makes for a darkly charming take on the mystery genre, even across cultures and languages.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Physical abuse

Minor: Car accident, Cursing, and Grief