# The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules

By Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/the-little-old-lady-who-broke-all-the-rules-66dcb5c8/

Martha Andersson is 79 and has had enough of the rules at her care home. She and four friends form the League of Pensioners, planning a more independent life through some decidedly illegal means.

## What makes it funny?

Their rebellion starts with a raid on the kitchen and grows into ambitions involving a bank and valuable paintings. The members of the gang prove surprisingly capable at some jobs and hopeless at others.

### The comedy at work

Martha and her friends refuse the passive role their carers assign them. Each bigger scheme gives the would-be criminals another practical problem to solve, sometimes with more confidence than skill.

### Try this if…

A sympathetic crime caper for readers who enjoy older protagonists taking charge and getting into trouble together.

### Good to know

Rod Bradbury translated the novel from Swedish. Poor food, restrictive routines and the treatment of older residents supply the grievances behind the gang’s rebellion.

## What to expect

- Genre: Crime & thriller
- On the shelf: Crime caper
- Kind of humor: Situational comedy
- The atmosphere: Warmhearted
- Format: Novel

## A few distinguishing details

- A care-home rebellion turns into a crime spree
- The League of Pensioners plans a new life

## Sources & further reading

- Review: [Publishers Weekly review](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780062447975)
- Publisher: [Publisher](https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/catharina-ingelman-sundberg/the-little-old-lady-who-broke-all-the-rules/9781447250616)