I received an advanced reader copy of this book and was so excited because Sally Hepworth is one of my favorites. This book did not disappoint. It is told by “Mad Mabel” aka Elsie in the past and present. Present time she is 81 years old. When her neighbor dies she is thrust into the spotlight when it is found out she is Mad Mabel. So, she decides to tell her story to two YouTubers making a documentary. I did appreciate Elsie/Mabel’s sarcastic humor. The relationship she had with her 7 year old neighbor was my favorite. I did figure out one of the twists about 30% through the book. But that did not take away from me enjoying it. Sally Hepworth is an excellent storyteller and this deep, character driven story is proof of that.


I received an advanced copy from St Martin press through netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book may be for someone else and that is why I gave it 3 stars. It just wasn't for me. It felt like every other paragraph it was just trying too hard to be funny and it just made it not funny. You do get to see who Mabel is as a character and the author does well with making you feel that connection.

Yes, I'm, calling it now. This will be the best book of 2026!!! Oh, Mabel, you stole my heart! This is a must read for anyone who loves mystery, suspense, deep character development, and a storyline that takes you from the present to the past. I cannot give this book enough stars!

What I really want to say in this review is JUST READ IT, THE END!!!

But, I will do my best to break it down for you and give you a few reasons why.

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is 81 years old. She's lived a semi-lonely life in her small close-knit neighborhood for the past 66 years. The book's synopsis describes her as a "curmudgeon" and that's really the best description, plus I would add that she has a lot of sass and sarcasm and she is just sometimes cranky. Who isn't when they are 81??

However, Elsie has a past that her neighbors don't know about. When she was a young girl, she was accused of murder. Not only that, a number of people in her past life had met their demise in very strange and sometimes sudden ways. Was Elsie to blame? Was someone else to blame and they just made it look like it was Elsie? Well, you can probably understand how she was labeled "Mad Mabel" as a young girl based on her history now, right?

But don't let her current age fool you, Elsie isn't your typical 81 year old, she knows stuff. And she may seem like she's cold and doesn't want to be liked or loved even, but she has a soft spot. It just takes the right person to bring that out of her, and in this case, it's a sweet 7 year old girl across the street. Oh how I loved their friendship!

Ms. Hepworth, you outdid yourself with this one!!

You will have your jaw on the floor, you will get mad, you will cry and you will laugh at times, but you will FEEL many things reading this story, and at the end of the day, isn't that why we read books to begin with? Trust me when I tell you, you need to know who Mabel is, she will steal a piece of your heart when this story is over.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the chance to read an arc of this story. All opinions are my own.

This one is truly special. This genre-bending novel is packed with humor and heart. We follow two timelines that brilliantly tell the story of Mad Mabel, a now 81 year old woman with a seemingly dark past. As the two timelines converge, the twist and turns are smoothed out and this enigmatic character comes into focus. It takes you on this special, yet emotional, journey through old and young, love and hate, right and wrong, life and death. Along the way you meet the most quirky set of characters that are expertly-crafted and perfectly weaved right into your heart. I can't wait for you to meet Elsie and Persephone! Grab a cuppa, a warm blankie, and get ready to giggle and gasp as you binge this beautiful novel.

I was given access to an advanced reader copy in exchange for my feedback. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sally Hepworth for allowing me to read and review.

I have no words. (OK, I have a lot of words.) I have a new favorite Sally Hepworth book and cannot wait until this is officially out in the world for everyone to read it! I absolutely adored the back-and-forth, stories intertwining, unlikely friendships, a quirky geriatric lady facing her past, which only brought more understanding to who that young lady grew into. I was completely captivated and did not want it to end, while simultaneously wanting to know what happened. It brought all things heartwarming, as well as suspenseful, it tugged at my heart strings. while also making me laugh. Mabel/Elise will stay with me for years to come!

(April can NOT come soon enough, because I NEED this on my bookshelf!)

Bravo, Sally! Bravo!

Thank you, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for the digital copy of this incredible and unforgettable tale!!

Mad Mabel has all the ingredients for a 5-star novel. It has a lovable, quirky, geriatric main character who just so happens to have murder follow her wherever she goes. I giggled throughout the book and enjoyed the cast of characters that made this book my absolute favorite of all her work.

Mad Mabel is a book that will stick with me for a long time because I enjoyed it so much. The parallel stories with one set in modern times and one back in the 50s was interesting. Then of course there is Mabel both the young version and the elderly Elsie incarnation. Sally Hepworth did an amazing job of bringing the plots together and tying up the loose ends. I especially liked how Elsie was such a bad ass as an old lady--truly goals. The twist was good and the ending was fitting!

I wasn't that thrilled by the first Hepworth book I read, but I LOVED Mad Mabel! I was hooked from the beginning. I loved the unique main character and the storytelling was incredible. I didn't see the "big" twist coming, but even if you do, you'll still love this! Funny, clever and excellent writing.

This is certainly one of my favorite books of 2025 and I'll be telling everyone to read this in 2026.

Mad Mabel is one of those book that will linger like perfume in the dark.

Wistful, haunting, at once tragic and redemptive, Mabel's story spans eight decades. Raised in 1950s Australia on a grand estate with a cruel, narcissistic father and an indifferent mother, Mabel is a lost child. Death follows her wherever she goes.

Her baby sister, a high school teacher, the next-door neighbor ... all dead, and Mabel is the common denominator.

But there's more to Mabel than death, much more, and when two You Tubers come knocking, Mabel Elsie Waller is finally ready to tell her story.

Mabel's is the sole POV, with the narrative jumping between "then" and "now."

The "then" is filled with loneliness; ostracization; bullies; abuse; books; Mabel's astonishingly brave aunt Cecily; Cecily's equally fierce friend Vanessa; the one boy who cared; and Daphne, forever and always Mabel's bosom friend.

The "now" is filled with neighbors, some well-meaning, some less so; a tiny, yappy dog named Nugget; a demanding child who won't leave Mabel be; a police investigation; accusations; and memories.

You can slap all the labels on this book - mystery/suspense, thriller, crime - and you still won't capture its essence.

There are moments of pure joy and moments of such great sorrow, I cried all the tears. Profoundly moving, brilliantly crafted, brimming with complex secondary characters, and loaded with reveals you won't see coming, Mad Mabel is a triumph and Sally Hepworth's best book to date.

Came for the old lady murderer and stayed for the relationships that pulled on my heart strings. I thought I was going into this as a story about an old woman with a shady past. And that’s true—to a point. It’s more a story of childhood trauma and confronting your past. Friends, THIS is going to be the read of the year in 2026 I promise you! Here’s why:

“Mad Mabel” was Australia’s youngest convicted murderer at the age of 15. From the age of three, her family and neighbors would connect Mabel with ongoing tragedies in the community. But did Mabel really commit these crimes? Is she truly “mad”?

What I loved: The relationships forged with Mabel’s current neighbors, especially her best friend Daphne and a vivacious and loud mother 7-year old named Persephone. Mabel is witty, unapologetic and hilarious. And you’ll follow her journey from child to 81-year old woman.

My first read was Darling Girls a couple years ago and this is by far my favorite! Cannot wait to dig into her other novels now.

This was a charming and fantastic story! I am somewhat disappointed this isn’t coming out before Christmas because I would be buying it for many people for Christmas. It’s a novel storyline which is really important to me and it was incredibly well written. I read the entire book in two nights in just too long reading sessions. It is in the truest sense of the word unputdownable. It’s a little wild, a little wacky, a little different, but you will not regret reading this.

I won’t ding the writer for this, but I’m really disappointed in the cover art, the story is about Mabel as a young girl and as an older woman and it’s a worthy story so why is there an image of a 30-year-old woman on the cover. Be brave put Mabel on the cover and trust that the story is going to sell itself. Let Mabel become a cultural icon

#MadMabel #NetGalley #StMartinsPress #arc

Unputdownable, tragic, heartwarming, and deeply beautiful, this novel is a phenomenal character-driven thriller. Sally Hepworth has crafted a compelling mystery that explores the enduring consequences of childhood trauma and the power of resilience.
​The story is told via a masterful dual-timeline structure, both anchored by the unforgettable Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick. In the present, she is 81-year-old "Mad Mabel," a fiercely independent, long-time resident of a quiet street she monitors alongside the antics of her "usual assortment of neighbors and one deranged Chihuahua."
​The past timeline reveals the crushing details of her lonely and distressing childhood, slowly building to the central questions: Is Mabel truly "mad," and what devastating event forced her to become the person we meet today? The ease with which she could have broken under the weight of her early life makes her survival all the more compelling.
​I was immediately captivated by Mabel. She is a powerful protagonist—snarky, bold, funny, and profoundly strong. She anchors the entire narrative, and I fell in love with many of the secondary characters she interacts with.
​This is a thriller that truly earns its unexpected twists. Hepworth’s pacing is superb, and the reveals land with a powerful emotional punch. This is a story that cries out for a screen adaptation—I truly hope someone develops it into a TV series!
​Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mad Mabel may be the best book I have read in a very long time. This is the first book that has made me cry reading since Hedwig died in Harry Potter. Mabel will make you laugh with her witty humour and there hasn’t been many books where you have an older protagonist. The relationship building was phenomenal and you just fall in love with Mabels whole street. Going back in time to Mabel’s upbringing was probably my favourite part. I feel all her decisions she makes are justified. Is she actually mad? You will have to find out. Be prepared to laugh and cry and be utterly gobsmacked at a twist at the end that I never once even was on my radar. Another fabulous read by the amazing Sally Hepworth! I will recommend to all my patrons at the library and on my bookstagram.

I have been a fan of Sally Hepworth since reading her first book. I know that if her name is attached it is going to be a book that will keep my attention and leaving me anxious for her next story. Mabel now holds a special place in my heart. This book made me feel so much for the characters in the book. The cast of characters include an elderly woman and a precocious child that warm their way into your heart.

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick has lived on Kenny Lane for nearly 60 years. She keeps to herself and tries her best to avoid her neighbors. However on this particular day, Persephone needs to interview an old person for homework. In tying to discourage her, Elsie suggests her neighbor Ishaan Patal. Unfortunately, he has passed away and Elsie finds him. When his death is investigated, Elsie's past becomes front page news. Could "Mad Mabel" have struck again?

Mabel/Elsie story is revealed in a shift in timelines. In this way so many things are brought to the light. This book was a little slice of perfection. I hurt for Mabel and her past. I love that she was able to overcome so much and I loved how once her story was told from her own lips that she was seen in a different light.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. Sally has such a unique way of telling a story.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this ebook. All opinions expressed are my own.

4⭐️ {ARC Review}
Thank you to author Sally Hepworth and her publisher St Martins Press. I received an Advanced Reader Copy for the 2025 release in exchange for my honest review.

Okay this one was had me cracking up. Mable is 81 and cranky, sassy and sarcastic! The unexpected humor was a treat and I also loved all the Anne of Green Gables references, one of my favorite series that got me into reading. Can never hear enough about Anne, Gilbert and Diana!

This is a more subtle mystery, not a thriller. This is a story of the life of Mable. It will tease you with surprises and twists in dual time periods. Both her past and present day are intriguing, entertaining and emotional. But this is not a suspenseful read—it’s mysterious literary fiction that’s emotional and heavy on found family.

Sally H always writes the heck out of a story!

Fill a mug with your favorite hot beverage, grab a blanket, and open the first page of this book. You probably won't go anywhere until you finish it. And don't forget a box of Klinex. You might need it.

This is the story of 81-year-old Mabel Waller, the youngest Australian woman ever convicted of murder. Mabel is a strange woman whom no one likes. Persephone, a seven-year-old girl, somehow finds her way into the old woman's heart. When a stranger appears on the street, visiting Persephone's mother, only Mable has the courage to confront him, as others watch from the windows.

Called Mad Mable since she was fifteen, this elderly woman tells her story in a YouTube documentary. The story of how she became Mad Mable. How her younger sister died. What happened to her mother. And her father. I quickly grew to love Mable, and as the story unfolds, I discovered every detail of her life.

There are so many things I loved about this book. The relationship and interaction between the older lady and the seven-year-old girl were both funny and deeply moving. Mable could be stubborn, grumpy, distant, and different from what people perceived her to be.

A beautifully written story full of fascinating characters and interesting plot twists. Don’t skip this one!

The description made this sound like another "old woman detective" type book -- there are a lot of those lately, and some are great but it's getting overdone. Well, turns out it was quite different. I felt like it worked really well.



Review copy provided by publisher.

Sally Hepworth has completely raised the bar with this book. It’s not just a thriller, but an emotional, character-driven story that had me hooked from page one. Elsie “Mad Mabel” Fitzpatrick is one of the most fascinating, complicated characters I’ve read in a long time. She is sharp, stubborn, unforgettable, and she has carried the weight of a cruel reputation her entire life. Hepworth makes you question whether she was ever “mad” or just misunderstood. I don’t know what I expected going into the book, but this was not it and I say that in the best possible way!!

Thanks NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Praise for Sally & Mabel!!

This is a beautifully written journey of a child wronged - morphed into a woman so magically beautiful

Mad Mabel is a twisty, darkly funny mystery with a ton of heart. Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick might seem like just a grumpy old lady, but there’s way more going on behind her front door. With a mix of humor, suspense, and some seriously juicy secrets, this book is a wild little ride you won’t want to put down!