The first book (which I greatly enjoyed) left the impression that Maud only found herself committing crimes in her old age—rationally solving problems that she happened upon. This book, however, more sinisterly shows that Maud’s been

a remorseless serial killer

most of her adult life. And though her actions are reprehensible, Maud has me utterly charmed. She is certainly a sociopath. But somehow she is also the most adorable avenging angel. The end might be too deus ex machina, but it fits in nicely with Maud’s consistent sense that she is always the one person uniquely placed to right a wrong.