I definitely want more from Maud, the old lady who never met a problem she couldn’t just casually murder.
I had this out from my library so long they charged me for a replacement copy, which is dumb of me because it’s the world’s shortest read. I finished it off in less than two hours. (Don’t worry, I returned it, and me and the library are all good now.) It is seriously a teeny little book, like five inches tall and three inches wide. A teeny tiny book full of murder.
There are five short stories in this book, some interrelated, and in chronological order in Maud’s life. The last two stories are really just two different POVs on the same story, which is why I’m not giving this five stars, because both weren’t necessary. Most of the stories start out really normally, and if you don’t know the premise going in, you too might fall for Maud’s disguise, because she is just so very chill about her actions, so concise and matter of fact. The first story in the book, for example, features one of Maud’s neighbors not so cunningly coming after her apartment. The problem hasn’t even escalated anything beyond the neighbor making hints and bringing over sweet treats for Maud, but what Maud does ends the discussion forever. The matter-of-factness does make this whole thing very funny, though, and because of the tone its written in, even as you’re disapproving of Maud, you also don’t want her to get caught.
After returning this book and having my account cleared of all fees, I immediately placed a hold on the next one.
