An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten bookclub discussion questions

 

First 3 stories 

1. What do you think of the contract that Maude has for her living arrangements? Are we surprised they have actually been upheld this long?

2. What do we think about Jasmine's situation?

3. Do you think people who are part of the 1% should still fight against the patriarchy when they have so much privilege? 

4. Maude was underestimated by her neighbor, is this a lesson in minding your own business? 

5. Maude seems to have done this before? What do we think of Maude? Do her actions make us like her more or less?

6. We learn about Maude's past a bit, what does this tell us about her? Does this explain her preference of being alone?

7. Where would you travel too if you could go anywhere on whatever timetable you wanted?

8. Is it odd that Maude will often use her sisters name and her ex-fiancee's last name?

 

9. Is Maude a reliable narrator? Because her plans are nefarious are we more inclined to believe she can do all this or is she maybe daydreaming? 

10. What did you think of her first spa trip? 

11. Whats something you don't want to wait you whole life to try? 

12. What do we think about Charlotte's death? 

13. Do you have any traditions for the holidays that relate to food? 

14. Maude's reasons for taking care of The Problem were selfish, however did she still do a good deed? 

Last two stories 

1. The fourth story starts with a different POV, did you like this? 

2. Is it really believable that they don't suspect Maude of killing the man in her house?

3. The two men discuss their theory that Maude is the killer, do you think it was right of them to stay silent about their theory?

4. What do you think of her dilemma in the last story? 

5. What do you think of the order of the stories? 

6. The Antique Dealer's shares a lot of his plans with Maude, is this normal?

7. Was Maude's response to how the Antique Dealer's acted dramatic? 

8. What did you think of the investigation when they ruled out Maude as a suspect? Do you think something like this happens often?

9. How do you feel about Maude after listening to her tales?