I love stories about old people (people even older than my sixty-six years) refusing to behave the way the people around them expect them to behave. By the time you reach your eighties, three things should be clear: what you want, how little time you have left to get it and how little you have to lose. I like to imagine that that would bring a last-minute freedom – an old person’s version of ‘Ferris Beuller’s Day Off’.

This week, I’m following the adventures of two women in their eighties. One I already know. The last time we met, her bodycount was almost as impressive as her sang-froid. The other one is knew to me but seems to be someone whose habits and preferences are only a slight exaggeration of my own. Who knows, maybe I’ll get there if I make it to my eighties.

I’m hoping for two relaxing reads that make me smile and give me a surprise of two.

---

‘An Elderly Lady Not To Be Crossed’ by Helene Tursten (2020)

I first met murderous Maud in ‘An Elderly Lady Is Up To No Good’ back in 2019 when her tales of dispatching people she finds too annoying to be allowed to live made excellent Christmas reading.

This set of Maud’s murders and memories follows straight on from the first book. Maud is still being pursued by the indefatigable Inspector Huss from Torsten’s main detective series who suspects her (rightly) off the only spur-of-the-moment and in-her-own-home murder Maud has committed.

Personally, I’m still hoping Maud gets away with it. I’ve never seen her kill anyone who didn’t deserve it.

---

‘Away With The Penguins’ by Hazel Prior (2020)

Hazel Prior is a new author to me. I was hooked by the juxtaposition of grumpy old woman and penguins. How could I resist that?

I’m hoping for something more than fluff and Disney magic dust here. I’d like to meet an old woman who I can believe in and then see what she decides to do to shape her life.