Sally Hepworth truly excels with "Mad Mabel." As I delved into the life of Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick, I experienced a wide range of emotions. The narrative unfolds across two timelines: one depicting Mad Mabel as a child and teenager, and the other set in the present day, where she is eighty-one years old, desperately trying to keep her murderous past a secret.

I was captivated by the entire cast of characters, particularly the neighbor child, Persephone. Everyone could benefit from having a Persephone next door. This book took me by surprise, deviating from my expectations, yet it stands out as a remarkable work of fiction! I found myself both cheering for and shedding tears for Mabel. This is a must-read that should be added to everyone’s reading list, and it would make an excellent choice for book clubs as well!

Thank you SMP for my copy. This novel was so incredibly compelling and smart. I couldn't put it down and thoroughly enjoyed this story. Sally Hepworth continue her reign as queen of the domestic thriller genre. I love how her stories make me feel and make me think.

w is this my first Sally Hepworth novel?! Will be fixing that real soon. Can’t wait to read everything she’s ever written after reading Mad Mabel. All the most important things are top notch in this novel: premise, voice, characters, writing, twist. Off to go buy more SH books!!

Some books just cook. And Sally Hepworth's Mad Mabel , which feels destined for the screen, is clearly in that category. Filled with moppets, mystery, and murder, this cozy thriller is so much more than a beach read. It's also a closely observed study on the after-effects of trauma.

Elsie Fitzpatrick has spent the past 60 years living on a quiet, somewhat scruffy Melbourne street. Tall and imposing, she keeps her roses pruned, her front lawn presentable, and makes sure her bins are put out—and retrieved—on the correct day. Her constant companion, the delightfully eccentric Daphne, is her only confidante. With the exception of run-ins with her inconsiderate neighbor and maternal affection for her neighbor Peter, Elsie keeps herself to herself. Everything changes when a 7-year-old whirlwind named Persephone appears on her doorstep. She is the kind of child who knows how to melt even the hardest heart. In the process, she sets off an avalanche that exposes Elsie's past and threatens the cloistered peace she's so carefully built.

Raised in a wealthy family by self-absorbed parents who saw their gangly daughter as an impediment to their country club lifestyle, Elsie is neglected at home and bullied at school. Unable to turn to her attractive, alcoholic mother or cruel, belittling father, she retreats into fantasy. The death of her mother sets off a chain of violent, life-changing events, which the now 81-year-old Elsie thought were long buried. But it's the age of social media and all of the ghosts of her past—the bigotry and misogyny of the 1950s, predators who take the innocence of children, and parents who eat their young—are back with a vengeance. But this time, she has Persephone and a network of new friends and protectors to guide her out of a hell she's never come to grips with.

Mad Mabel is so much more than a trauma journey. It's suspenseful, heartwarming, fast-paced and well-plotted, with characters who, while bringing Elsie back to life, show us the importance of community, forgiveness, and personal evolution. This is a book that will warm your heart and, ultimately, cause you to shed some tears.

Many, many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC.

I absolutely loved Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth. It is the story of an old woman who lives in a quiet neighborhood with her childhood friend. She is a curmudgeon, but loved by most on her block. The story of her past unfolds as she is questioned about the death of her neighbor. Then it is brought to light that she is really “Mad” Mabel Waller, the youngest person ever convicted of murder in Australia.

The story is told in a dual timeline going back to her childhood with her selfish and distant parents and present time with her neighbors. A special bond is formed with a little girl whose mother is a single hard working parent. This is one of the few dual timeline plots where both kept my interest. I have found a new favorite psychological thriller author to follow. I will be searching out other Sally Hepworth books and will keep an eye out for future books from this author. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I dove into this book by Sally Hepworth. I was pleasantly surprised! I absolutely adored the characters and the mystery surrounding Mabel. What a special woman! Persephone was perfect too! Read it!

WOW. I don’t know what I was expecting but I was pleasantly surprised. It was slow to start but by the end I had such a love for Mabel. Such an interesting narrator. And the ending killed me.

I've enjoyed most of Sally Hepworth's novels, so when I saw her upcoming one available on NetGalley, I couldn't request it fast enough. And I was not disappointed! Mad Mabel is the story of Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick, an 81 year old woman who, for the most part, keeps to herself and keeps her secrets hidden deep. Since she was a young child, many people close to her have died, often in mysterious ways, so by this point in her life, she lets almost no one in at all. But then a young child living on her street decides to befriend her, and that seems to start an avalanche of attention...and those secrets from her past start to surface.

In keeping with the style of Hepworth's previous books, this one has mysteries that slowly unfold, and a past/present storyline that worked to reveal everything in just the right timing. Elsie/Mabel was an interesting character, as were several others, and I felt sympathy for her often. There were a few twists and surprises, one of which I saw coming from close to the start, and one I didn't suspect at all. I was thoroughly entertained throughout and would have loved to read it in one day if I'd had the time to sit down and do it.

This is due to release in April of 2026, and I recommend adding it to your TBR list if you enjoy mysteries, misunderstood characters, complicated family dynamics, and secret pasts. 4 stars for this page turner, and a huge thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC of “Mad Mabel” by Sally Hepworth.
Sally Hepworth continues to be one of my favorite authors with the addition of this amazing book! The characters were developed beautifully. I felt deeply for Mabel and really enjoyed how Hepworth slowly revealed details about Mabel’s past via the making of a documentary of her life and how she earned her nickname. I found myself gasping a few times and enjoying the twists and turns this story took. Sally Hepworth is a talented author and I look forward to her future books- in the mean time I highly recommend picking this 5 star book up in April 2026.

I'm a fan of Sally Hepworth so I immediately downloaded this and devoured it! I found this book captivating, although not very thrilling. It’s definitely the perfect book for staying up far too late reading because there isn’t anything spooky or scary.

I loved Mabel's attitude and her character. The ending did provide quite a few twists. The real winner of this book though is Mabel's story.

I will definitely recommend this book to others!

I loved this story and how Hepworth throws little nuggets out throughout for the reader to make predictions. Elsie (also known as Mad Mabel) is an 81-year-old woman who tells her story, the real story of how she came to be convicted of murder at age 15, only after she is a suspect following the questionable death of her 93-year-old neighbor and nemesis. She is a delightful curmudgeon lady living among an eclectic group of people, but they all watch out for each other. As her story unfolds between the past and the present, your heart breaks when you hear of her broken and lonely childhood with her errant parents. At age 81, Elsie's only friends are Daphne and a little girl named Persephone who sees the true Elsie behind her gruff exterior. Although there is Peter, who is pleasant and Joan who likes to slip notes under her door. Hepworth does a great job of letting the reader draw their own conclusions from the details provided and creates a character that is relatable and one to empathize. As always, there are some twists and surprises which makes one to sit up and read this until 1 in the morning like I did. Could not put it down. I think this is her best yet. Many thanks to #netgalley #madmabel #sallyhepworth for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Mad Mabel is a sad, sometimes humorous novel about a young girl who seems to be followed by death. The novel takes readers through Mabel's life, from a child who lost a sister to polio to an elderly woman who protects a neighbor's young daughter. What shines in the novel is Mabel's personality. She has little or no filter and makes known her comments about other people, especially her neighbors in her small residential area. Hepworth provides readers with an crumb trail of hints throughout the novel so astute readers will find no surprises. Highly recommended for discussion groups.

Sally Hepworth’s Mad Mabel is such an endearing and delightful read. Hepworth proves once again that she’s a masterful storyteller, creating characters who feel real and relatable. The alternating timelines between past and present are handled beautifully—the pacing is deliberate, giving just the right amount of suspense as the pieces of Mabel’s past slowly come together. This structure makes the eventual reveals all the more impactful.

What really shines is the emotional depth behind the story. Beneath the mystery and tension lies a heartwarming portrait of resilience, connection, and the complexity of relationships. It’s the kind of book that keeps you turning the pages but also leaves you reflecting afterward.

This book was a real page turner. I loved Mabel's character and definitely did not predict the twists. Another Sally Hepworth hit! 10/10!

Thanks to @NetGalley @StMartinsPress @McMillanAus for the advance copy!

Sally Hepworth has done it again with Mad Mabel—a twisty, clever thriller that surprises at every turn. What I didn’t expect was how often I’d laugh out loud. Amidst the suspense and secrets, Hepworth threads in sharp humor and wit, making this story stand out in the genre.

It’s dark in the best way—full of tension and mystery—but also layered with warmth and humanity, with moments that catch you off guard in the most delightful way. That balance kept me hooked, flipping pages quickly to see how it all unraveled.

A smart, suspenseful, and wildly entertaining ride.

9.5/10: 5 stars

81 year old Elsie has worked hard to have her secrets stay in the past. To keep her life quiet and private. But now someone knows and before she knows it, everyone knows. As the memories come back, she is given the opportunity to take control and tell her story, her truth in her way and her words.
As Elsie shares her story, we are taken back to her heartbreaking and traumatic childhood where she was known as Mad Mabel. Sally Hepworth does a wonderful job with the now and then timelines. They flow seamlessly from one to the other without any confusion. (Much appreciated by someone (me) who can be easily confused.)
As she tells her story she experiences more trauma. But she also experiences love. Persephone is a delightful, clever, funny, and lonely 7 year old neighbor, Elsie tries not to fall for the child, but as she soon finds out, that is impossible.

I loved this book (even with all of the feelings it had me feeling!). My lacking attention span completely disappeared with this book and I was engaged from page 1. I don't know how to explain why this book was so special, but that is what I was feeling the entire way through: that I was reading something special. It's a sad story, but full of humorous and comical moments that had me snort laughing. It is also full of love. And while I figured out some of the 'reveals' early on, that didn't take anything away from the story for me. I think it made me like it even more.

I have more thoughts, but the words just aren't forming right, so I will leave it as it is. I was all in with this book. I think I read this book with my heart, not just my eyes.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this special and wonderful book. All opinions are my own.

Wow. Just wow.

I went into Mad Mabel already knowing Sally Hepworth could write a story I’d fall into (I loved Darling Girls), but this one… this one got me right in the chest. That line from the preview, “There are two kinds of people no one ever expects to be: little girls and old ladies.” I knew then I needed this book.

Reading this felt like wrapping my hands around hot chocolate on a freezing day. Warm, comforting, and sweet. So much so that you can’t stop yourself from gulping it down. I flew through it, desperate to know more about Mabel, her family, her best friend, her neighbors.

Sally Hepworth broke my heart and healed it all at once. The way Mabel felt like an outsider, how her imagination saved her, how her aging body couldn’t keep up with her vibrant spirit... I saw pieces of myself in her. And Persephone. Their bond. Just beautiful.

I loved the then/now rhythm of the story. Every time it shifted, I couldn’t wait to go back, and every time I went back, I couldn’t wait to return. That back-and-forth made me tear through the pages.

I wasn't prepared to finish this book, closing it felt like packing up and leaving a neighborhood you loved with your whole heart. I didn’t want to go.

This is an easy 5/5 for me. It gave me the same feeling I had reading Remarkably Bright Creatures or, more recently, The Road to Tender Hearts. I’m certain Mad Mabel will be one of my top reads of 2026.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

I love Sally Hepworth's writing and Mad Mabel did not disappoint. This book felt different somehow from previous books I've read from her, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was left guessing about Mabel's involvement in various murders until the end and ultimately whether she really was mad or just misunderstood. I loved the inclusion of a couple of true crime podcasters, which is a bit trendy at the moment, but worked to help reveal Mabel's true intentions and personality.

Sally Hepworth’s stories share key elements - unforgettable characters, mesmerizing stories, and surprise revelations that turn the reader’s assumptions upside down. Mad Mabel is more than just a misunderstood old woman; it’s about found family, about survival, about scraping together a life of joy even when nothing has given you a reason to be hopeful. Pick this one up for a witty and meaningful read.

Hepworth is consistently a 3.5-star author for me: enjoyable, sometimes surprising, but not quite in my personal sweet spot since mystery isn’t my go-to genre. That said, this just might be my favorite of hers yet.

The highlight here is the curmudgeonly octogenarian protagonist, Elsie/Mabel—a prickly, wry, possibly murderous character who keeps you guessing. She’s a delightfully unconventional narrator, though I can’t say I loved the framing device: telling her life story to two true-crime YouTubers while under investigation for her neighbor’s death. It felt a little too contrived, like it was built to fit a very specific market trend.

Still, the novel is cozy, quirky, and mysterious—a mystery with a wink rather than a chill. It gave me strong vibes of The Maid by Nita Prose, with its offbeat, unreliable narrator at the center.

Overall? A fun ride, even if it felt deliberately engineered for its audience.