Audiobook Review: An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten

Author: Helene Tursten

Narrator: Suzanne Toren
Title: An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good

Series: Äldre dam #1

Genre: Mystery, Humor, Novella
Format: Audiobook
Published:  January 1, 2013
Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Maud is an irascible 88-year-old Swedish woman with no family, no friends, and…no qualms about a little murder.

Ever since her darling father’s untimely death when she was only eighteen, Maud has lived in the family’s spacious apartment in downtown Gothenburg rent-free, thanks to a minor clause in a hastily negotiated contract. That was how Maud learned that good things can come from tragedy. Now in her late eighties, Maud contents herself with traveling the world and surfing the net from the comfort of her father’s ancient armchair. It’s a solitary existence, but she likes it that way.

Over the course of her adventures—or misadventures—this little bold lady will handle a crisis with a local celebrity who has her eyes on Maud’s apartment, foil the engagement of her long-ago lover, and dispose of some pesky neighbors. But when the local authorities are called to investigate a murder in her apartment complex, will Maud be able to avoid suspicion, or will Detective Inspector Irene Huss see through her charade?

Review:

Randomly came across this while digging through some audios on my Libby app. The cover...the title....the summary....come ON! I had to check it out. 

Maude seems like your A-typical old lady, but there is so much more. She has no family or friends. She loves to travel. She also likes a splash of murder. Murder only happens when it needs to....pesky neighbors, foil the engagement of her good-for-nothing ex, and so forth. Will she be able to avoid suspicion, or will the nosy Detective Irene Huss see through her charade?

I had a lot of fun with this. It had humor and murder. What more can a gal ask for?

The narrator was lovely. She did an excellent job with the different ages. She was perfect for the role. 

There is more, and I want to check it out one day! Maude is good at what she does. I'm curious to see who her next victims are and if Huss will be able to uncover her and expose her. Nice little cat-and-mouse coming up, methinks. 

Short, fun, and perfect for a listen. 5 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #20

- Library Love #12

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: Paved With Good Intentions by Peter McLean

Series: War for the Rose Throne (#5)

Format: 265 pages, Paperback

Published: January 15, 2026 by Arcadia

Fantasy/own

This takes place after the previous books, and yes I did miss Priest. But you do not have to have read those to understand this one. It is a new chapter.

Eline kills her husband because he was a controlling, abusive ahole. But then she also realises that she killed her husband and this is bad. The Queen's Men show up and offer her a deal and it is a bad deal, but it is better than being hanged.

Take a job at a local brothel and solve who killed a Duke.

Little bit of mystery, thriller in a dark fantasy setting. The world feels very bleak. But Eline is tougher than she thinks and grows a lot in this book.

I liked it.

Eline is a mother, a wife, and a survivor. But her life is about to change dramatically. Following an act of horrific - if righteous - vengeance, Eline is blackmailed into the service of the Queen's Men. She knows it will be a hard life of violence and fear. But Eline will do what it takes to survive, and to protect her children . . . and if she's lucky, she won't die in the process.

But the Queen's Men aren't just asking her to risk herself. They're asking her to risk everything she knows and loves. And if she fails . . . civil war and the deaths of everyone she loves will be just the beginning.

Audiobook Review: Generation Hex by Molly Harper

Author: Molly Harper

Narrator: Amanda Ronconi & Teddy Hamilton
Title: Generation Hex

Series: Moonshadow Cove #3

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy
Format: Audiobook
Published:  May 14, 2026
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)

Summary: 

If Perry Seaworth had a spell to banish one person, James Huntingdon would disappear in a puff of smoke. As the quintessential eldest daughter, Perry has always shouldered the responsibility of of keeping her sisters safe while defending Starfall Island from ghostly menaces.

Enter James, a secret agent with the Red Jasper Society, tasked with policing witches and their magic. Armed with the power to strip the Seaworths of their abilities, he’s a walking threat to everything Perry holds dear. And his most infuriating quality? Being frustratingly handsome and intriguingly enigmatic.

But as sinister forces emerge from every shadow, Perry might have to put her annoyance aside and accept James’s help. A centuries-old family feud that’s been brewing for generations has finally reached the boiling point. And complicating matters further, the baby sea monster they’ve been raising has grown impossible to contain. Can James and Perry fight off the formidable enemies closing in on them? And will their rivalry ignite into something more powerful—and passionate—than either of them ever dared to imagine?

Review:

I def pre-ordered this little number. I love this world and this series. Adorbs. 

We continue with Perry and her sisters. This time, Perry and James take center stage. Perry has shouldered the responsibility of head of her family and protecting Starfall Island. James is an agent from the Red Jasper Society. He is tasked to watch over and "police" the witches on Starfall Island. Make sure everything is up to code, etc. Things reach a pinnacle with their enemies. It will take everything Perry, James, and their allies have to protect everything they love. And maybe, just maybe, Perry and James will look past their disagreements and see the love they have for each other. 

Awwwwwwwwwwwww this can't be it. There has to be more in this world, and with our witches! This was a spin-off, and I want another spin-off. Maybe another island and/or another coven? The ending sure did give us hope that there will be more. EEEEE!

Loved Perry, and I loved James. They are perfect for each other, even though it takes them FOREVER and a day to figure it out. Everyone could see that for a long time. 

The ending was so good. 

Screw the baddies!!!!! 

The narration was amazing, as per normal with this epic duo. 

Gah! I want more. Should I go back and re-read both this series and the original? Maaaybbbeeeeee.

5 stars from me. I def recommend both series. Read the first one first, though. Lots of details intertwine and impact this one.

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #19

Movie Review: Mortal Kombat 2 (2026)

Title: Mortal Kombat 2

Length: 1h 56m

Released: 2026

Genre: Fantasy, SciFi
Rating: R
Where I Got It: Drive-In Theater

SUMMARY:

The fan favorite champions -- now joined by Johnny Cage himself -- are pitted against one another in the ultimate battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.

Trailer

REVIEW:

Omg, it's been soooo long since the first movie was released. I def blame Covid for the huge delay. I'm just glad we finally got this!!!!

We are back. Shao Kahn and his dark real rule threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm. They need to beat him or he will rule. Johnny Cage is now added to the ranks. 

So fun. So cool. Loved the fighting and the story and the cinematics!!!!! 

What a cast!!! So good. 

And nooooo my fave!! EVERY TIME!!! But, luckily, death is never fully the end for our characters. That ending gives me hope. I can't wait for movie 3. Hopefully, we don't have to wait a million years again.

My only "issue" is that the plot felt too fast. We got right into it. I would've liked more time with our characters. 

What else can I say? This is funny, dark, brutal, and just plain fun. Now, I need to re-watch movie 1.

4 stars.