The collection’s stories demonstrate that stereotyping the elderly—as out of touch, emotionally fragile, and intellectually and physically diminished—is an error that can be both foolish and dangerous. Maud’s character is the main vehicle for this message, but Richard’s character, too, demonstrates the perils of underestimating older people. When most characters look at Maud, they see her age and little else. She gets away with theft, assault, and even brutal murders because people find it ridiculous to believe that a woman in her late eighties might be capable of committing such crimes.

Maud is well aware of stereotypes about the elderly—and she exploits them ruthlessly. After killing Frazzén, she orders hearing aids she does not need so that eventually, when the police come to question her, she can appear to be losing her hearing—creating an aura of vulnerability that gains her sympathy instead of suspicion. She steals a cane and a walker and uses them as props that confirm others’ beliefs about her physical weakness. She stoops, shuffles, and takes care not to be seen lifting heavy objects or moving quickly. When necessary, she affects quavering hands and voice, as if she has little remaining control of her own body. Because people are prone to believe evidence that confirms their biases, everyone accepts the idea that Maud is physically infirm—despite the fact that she travels all over the world alone, gets out into the city to shop and dine regularly, and keeps a large apartment spotless all by herself.

Similarly, her capacity to plan her elaborate trips, manage her household, and maintain her finances well enough to support a reasonably luxurious lifestyle does not alert anyone to the fact that her mind is as sharp as ever. Relying on people’s preconceived ideas about older people, Maud gets away with feigned confusion and panic after Zazza, the attorney, and the antiques dealer are found dead. She stammers and pretends to lose track of her thoughts, as if she is emotionally vulnerable and confused—leading the police to characterize her as “suffering from early stages of dementia” and dismiss her as a suspect (170).

Richard, who is very nearly Maud’s age, is one of the few people who can see past her tricks. Because he knows from his own experience that older people can continue to be quite capable and that, just like younger people, older people can be bad people, too, he is not susceptible to Maud’s manipulation. Ironically, however, Richard knows that stereotypes about the elderly also stand in his way. Richard is one of the only characters who might be able to put an end to Maud’s continuing lethal exploitation of people’s preconceptions about older people—but he knows that he will not be listened to because of his age.