Another delightful read by one of my favorite authors, @sallyhepworth. I was so excited to get an opportunity to read this book. As usual, Sally didn’t disappoint. Mabel had me cackling with laughter, I got goosebumps at tender moments, and was thrilled with the ending. You’ll want Mabel in your life for real, but she can be yours in book form on 4/21/26. Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for this ARC! Mad Mabel was such a twisty and addictive read—I couldn’t put it down. Sally Hepworth perfectly balanced dark humor with chilling suspense, and I loved how the unreliable characters kept me second-guessing everything. It’s one of those books that leaves you both unsettled and totally satisfied by the end.

This was so good! It will touch your heart with a surprising ending! I absolutely loved this.

Thank you, #Netgalley and #St.MartinsPress, for this ARC.

This may be Sally Hepworth’s best book! It was unputdownable, with amazing characters. Nothing is quite as it seems in this one, and it is oh so compelling. I didn’t want it to end!

*Mad Mabel* is Sally Hepworth at her absolute best! Twisty, darkly funny, and deeply emotional—I couldn’t put it down. I’ve read all of Hepworth’s books, and this one might just be my favorite yet. Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy!

💗Nik’s Arc Review
👵🏼 Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth
🌀 Genre: mystery thriller
📃 Page Count: 352

📕 Story Premise: 5/5
It’s difficult to not point a finger at Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick as people around her tend to fall to their death. Interestingly enough, most of these deaths occur when she was a child. Now as an 81 year old woman, she is ready to tell her side of her story as she is accused once again for a murder she may or may not have committed.

⏰ Flow Factor: 5/5
Told from the perspective of Mabel, the story bounces between her as a child in the 1950s and present time as an elderly woman. This unforgettable main character was the perfect narrator and I was so eager to see how her story unfolded.

⚡️ Shock Factor: 5/5
I wasn’t expecting a jaw-dropping twist in this book, but I was pleasantly surprised by the ending of Mad Mabel. I don’t want to give anything away, but there is a very unexpected reveal that will make you want to reread to find any clues you may have missed

⭐️ Final Verdict: 5/5
This was such a unique read that I really enjoyed. It was cleverly written, with dark humor and wit that kept me intrigued throughout. I especially appreciated how it explored the idea that once people see you a certain way, it’s almost impossible for them to change their perception.

📝 Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

WOW!! I loved it! What a page turner and I didn’t see the twist coming at the end!! Elsie was hilarious!! I loved her personality. I enjoyed the flashbacks between her childhood years vs older years. As I learned more about Elsie and what she went through in her life, it made me feel ALL the emotions. Will highly recommend when the book is released in 2026!!!! 10 out of 10!!!! All the stars!!

I absolutely loved this story of a damaged girl who becomes a damaged old lady……..and the story of how she got that way. Was Mabel really mad? Or was she bullied and lonely and hurt? I love the dual timelines that explain exactly what happened when Mabel was young And why LC had such a prickly exterior but such a soft heart. I loved Elsie’s best friend Daphne, how she was there for her through thick and thin. And I loved the big reveal about their friendship! This is one of my favorite novels by Sally Hepworth I gave it 4 1/2 stars. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

Coming soon. “Mad Mabel” by best selling author, Sally Hepworth, is scheduled to be released in April 2026. You’re going to want to put this on your TBR list.


“Mad Mabel” is a delectable combination of so many literary genres: murder mystery, female friendship, family drama, true crime, romance, heartbreak, humor…Hepworth swung for the fences and hit a home run.

This novel is propulsive. I wanted to know what happened next and had trouble putting it down.

Mad Mable, as our heroine is called, has been rumored to have been responsible for all of the mysterious deaths that have happened in her orbit. Even though she is only a child. Is she a killer? Or just misunderstood?

Elsie is an 81 year old curmudgeonly woman just trying to live her life in solitude but the pesky little girl across the lane won’t leave her alone. Elsie acts annoyed but is secretly pleased, she’s always been a bit of a loner but not on purpose. It’s because she has been trying to hide her true identity, she’s Mad Mabel. The youngest woman convicted of murder in Australia. Elsie really wants to keep this a secret but secrets, even as old as this one, have a way of coming out.

Told in a “then” and “now” style “Mad Mabel” delights the reader and keeps them guessing until the very last page. Honestly, it was such an enjoyable book! I can’t wait for you all to read it when it comes out next year!

I got this copy from NetGalley in exchange for a book review.

Mad Mabel is exactly the kind of twisty, bingeable story I’ve come to expect from Sally Hepworth. From the very first chapter, I was hooked by the eerie atmosphere and the eccentric, unforgettable character of Mabel herself. The way the layers of mystery unfolded kept me flipping pages late into the night. Hepworth blends dark family secrets with sharp psychological suspense in such a compulsive way. I loved how the tension simmered beneath even the quieter moments, making me constantly question who to trust. This was an addictive, clever thriller that I absolutely loved and will be recommending widely.

Mad about Mabel! I absolutely loved this book. I thought this book was about a murderous young girl, but I was delighted that that was only part of the story.

This book was actually very humorous and heartwarming. I loved the relationship between the elderly Elsie and the young Persephone. Their banter was hilarious. I also adored how Elsie tried to portray herself as an insouciant curmudgeon, when in reality she found family in her small community.

This is my first Sally Hepworth book and I loved it so much I will check out her others.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Sally Hepworth for the ARC.

Loved this one! I always like Sally Hepworth. It is a great day when I can get my hands on her books ahead of everyone else.

This one was just delightful. The characters, the plots, the mysteries, how it all tied up in the end. Can't wait to recommend this one when it comes out.

Positives:
Quirky
Funny
Memorable characters, especially the FMC
Charming
Dual POV
Well developed friendships

Just loved it! This will be one of my favorites of 2026. I know it!

Let's start with the stunning cover. I was instantly hooked from the first few sentences of the first chapter. This is a story about family toxicity, friendship in all of its forms, grief, resilience, childhood innocence, and most importantly of all, love. Love that comes when you least expect it and not in the way that you think.

Mad Mabel and this intriguing cast of characters will have you staying up late to read another chapter. It's funny, quirky, heartwarming, and heartbreaking all at the same time. It has two timelines that switch back and forth with the story of Mabel before the murder and now...after. It's a seamless switch that flows really well throughout the story.


Do yourself a favor and read this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early copy.

What a story!

So happy I got to know Mabel! I'm not ever going to call her "Mad Mabel" either!! 💞

She is eighty-one and her real name is Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick. She seems to be a sour, cranky and cantankerous lady. She also has a terrific, sarcastic sense of humor that had me rolling with laughter over and over again! 😂

The story touched my heart at many levels. This isn't what I was expecting, but I had laughs, chills, and eyes full of tears! Whether you think she is the crazy murderer lady or just a misunderstood soul, you will be thinking about Mabel after the end!

Oh, also I can't close without mentioning the precious child, Persephone. She stole my whole heart. ❤️

“It’s interesting, though perhaps unsurprising to note that there are two groups of people that are rarely, if ever suspected of murder: grannies, and little girls, have you noticed that?”

Witty, fast paced and hilarious are all words I would use to describe this book. At first glance one would assume that this story is about an 81 year old serial killer. It is in fact not. Mad Mabel follows 81 year old Elsie Fitzpatrick in a dual timeline tale all about friendship, loss and sacrifice.

This is one of Sally’s best works. I absolutely could not read it fast enough. It has such depth to it and I really enjoyed not only the character growth of Elsie but the side characters as well. And of course some of those twists just had me shocked! Elsie was also hilarious and I found myself laughing several times. This book is more than meets the eye for sure.

5 stars from me!

*Special thank you to St. Martin’s Press for an arc copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Mad Mabel
By: Sally Hepworth
Pub date: April 21, 2026
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

I am huge fan of Hepworth. Not only are her books one to read but she is so engaging with readers and an absolute delight and personable. I have had the pleasure of meeting her.

I would love to know how this sweet lady came up with this character! Elise Mabel Fitzpatrick is eighty-one, a wise cracker and a KILLER!
She has kept herself out of the spotlight but when someone comes knocking on her door digging into her past all HECK breaks loose.

This character is so much fun with all her quirks, wisecracking liners and this one will have you laughing out loud with her antics.

What an entertaining and delightful tale Mad Mabel is! Must read for 2026. Sally Hepworth’s books are always must reads for me, so I had to read Mad Mabel as soon as I got my hands on it. The description of the book perfectly surmises the premise, while giving the reader way more than the description gives. This book has many secrets, assumptions, family drama, neighbor drama, friendships and relationships. I became invested in Elsie/Mabel’s quirky tale and the characters in her past and present orbit. The book does a great job flipping between past and present timelines and was filled with details and twists that kept me reading. It is a good mix of serious and funny. I loved every page. This has to be Sally Hepworth’s most unique book yet.

“Mad Mabel” by Sally Hepworth is a clever and emotionally charged thriller that had me riveted to the story from the very first paragraph. Although Ms. Hepworth always balances her brilliant stories with intrigue and heart, this book with its quirky, lovable characters is my absolute favorite.
The story revolves around an 81 year old woman who is discovered to be Australias youngest convicted killer at age 15. Now as an elderly woman living in a close knit neighborhood she has finally developed meaningful relationships to her neighbors, and specifically to a young female child. When one of the neighbors dies suddenly she gets a chance to tell her side of the story and reveal the secrets of her traumatic childhood.
The story is told in multiple timelines, with heart and humor. I recommend this book to everyone, it is one of my favorite books this year!

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

Wow! Octogenarian power- Go Mabel! What a humour filled but also reflective story. The short chapters read very quickly. The story alternates between the past and present day as Mabel recounts the story of her youth. Mabel’s humour keeps everyone one their toes. The characters all grow on you. I really enjoyed it!
Once again Sally Hepworth delivers a great read! I can’t wait for her next title.
Thank You to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sally Hepworth for the opportunity to read and thoroughly enjoy this ARC.

Mad Mabel was such an interesting character, and the book really kept me hooked on wanting to hear her story and what came before. Had quite a few twists that I did not see coming, which is always something I enjoy in a book. Loved how her relationship blooms with Persephone as well. Looking forward to seeing what others think about this one from Sally Hepworth!