The prologue is exciting! "Two groups of people who are rarely, if ever, suspected of murder. These groups are elderly women and little girls."

The story unfolds in two timelines, weaving together past and present. In the past, young Mable Waller becomes the youngest Australian convicted of murder, earning the infamous title "Mad Mabel." Fast- forward to present, and Elsie Fitzpatrick is living a quiet life on Kenny Lane until her neighbors discover her true identity, reawakening scrutiny and suspicion.

Mad Mabel is a rich, emotionally thriller that balances intrigue with heart. Hepworth's storytelling shines through its quirky characters and thoughtful themes, inviting readers to question preconceptions, the weight of past judgements, and the enduring power of truth.

Redemption, Justice and an Unburied Past! 4.5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy! This book will be released 4/21/26.

It’s going to take me a minute to write my review. God how I loved this book. I’m sad I’m finished. Mad Mabel will sit with me for a long time. She had such a crappy life as a kid. Picked on by everyone. Treated horribly by her father. So much loss in a young girls life. Now skip ahead to Mabel at 81. Living in a little neighborhood where no one knows who she really is. She goes by Elsie. She makes everyone think she’s a grumpy old lady. Everyone except a little girl whose name is Persephone. I laughed and cried in this book. Ugh I didn’t want it to end. Highly recommend you read this one!

I love Sally Hepworth! I will happily continue to read anything that she writes and know there's a good chance I'll be impressed with the book.

I LOVE Sally Hepworth! I have devoured all of her books and Mad Mabel was no exception. I finished this one in 24 hours, which is rare for me lately. I loved the way it was written and adored the characters. One of the twists at the end was obvious to me from the get-go, but that didn't ruin anything for me with the story.
If you're a fan of quirky murderers, podcasts, and revenge, this one is for you.

This book was amazing! I enjoyed every twist and turn! It wasn't super predictable. The only thing I picked up on within the first few chapters was her friend being imaginary. But otherwise, it was a well written fascinating thriller!

Sally Hepworth’s upcoming novel Mad Mabel is a compelling blend of mystery, heart, and dark humor that centers around Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick, an 81-year-old woman with a shadowy past. Known in her neighborhood as “Mad Mabel,” Elsie has lived quietly for decades, but her history begins to unravel when a neighbor dies under mysterious circumstances.

The story explores Mabel’s troubled youth and her present-day interactions, particularly with a precocious young girl named Persephone. This structure adds emotional depth and suspense, revealing how past injustices shaped Mabel’s identity.

Such a great book. I was so obsessed with the characters. Stayed up way too late to read it. Thank you for letting me read in advance.

Mad Mabel is the kind of thriller that grabs your attention from the first chapter and keeps things twisty right through to the end. The story revolves around a mysterious woman everyone in the neighborhood fears and gossips about. As you start to peel back the layers of her story, you realize things are not at all what they seem.

Sally Hepworth does such a great job mixing suspense with emotional depth. The characters feel real and flawed, and the tension builds in a way that makes it hard to put the book down. If you like a good mystery with some dark family secrets and a few sharp turns along the way, this one will hit the spot.

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth. This is my first Sally Hepworth novel and I am not quite sure if I enjoyed it or not. It was entertaining at times and disheartening at times. I understood the role of Daphne pretty soon and maybe that tampered with my feelings for the book. I enjoyed Persephone and her relationship with Elsie. Those scene were very well written. Thank god for the younger generation being able to figure things out. Lots of ups and downs before Mabel was 20. Makes you ask what went on for the next 60 year. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this book.

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick lives on a street full of kind neighbors and comfortable familiarity. At the age of 81 she has led a full life. But some things from the past never leave, and when tales of Mad Mabel come out, is Elsie able to put the past behind her or will she be forced to relive it all again?

Wow, what a wonderfully told story, full of poignance and heart. Though a departure from Sally Hepworth's usual fare, you will want to pick this one up. Though I just finished reading it, I want to go back and do it again, it's one of the best novels I've read in 2025.

Mabel is a fascinating, multi-pronged character and the story of how she got to where she is at age 81 is full of beautiful detail and heart. I went in thinking this book was going to be about murder, but it was so much more than that.
Five stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

From the minute I opened the first page, I was hooked. Where was this narrative going and what was she going to do next drove me to read further into the night than I had planned. And the next morning, I jumped into Mabel's life again to find more adventures and snappy come-backs than most 30 year olds. She kept saying, over and over, that she was 82 but the age "card" wouldn't play like she (and me) thought it would. Did I say I enjoyed reading this story? No spoiler here but...I sure loved Mabel and her best friend.
Thank you, Sally, for writing from the heart about an elderly woman living alone shining.

"There are two kinds of people no one ever expects to be murderers: little girls and old ladies."
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Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is 81 years young. She has lived on the same street for 60 years and her neighbors just see her as a cranky old lady.

She's okay with this, because as it turns out, Elsie has QUITE the past that she has worked very hard to keep there … and she would be okay with no one ever hearing about it.

It seems as though the people in Elsie's life that she cares about, always wind up injured … or dead. This fact earned her the nickname "Mad Mabel" in her youth.

Regardless of how hard she tris to prevent it, her past comes to light in her neighborhood. How is she going to get through this? Will she have to resort to drastic actions? Will the truth ever be shared? Who was "Mad Mabel?" Was she truly mad? Or the more relevant question might be … is she still?
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HEPWORTH DOES IT AGAIN, LADIES AND GENTS!
Just when you think she can't possibly write ANOTHER incredible book: she does it!
This one, like her others, kept me guessing and theorizing until the very end.
But it also had me giggling throughout. I hope to be as carefree as Mabel when I grow up. She is goals.

STRONGLY recommend that everyone pre-order this book, or get it when it is released because it is enjoyable from start to finish. Sally, you continue to amaze me and I cannot wait to see what you have in store for us next.

It is a beautiful story.
When I started this book I was under the false impression that it would be a light book about a senior serial killer. I was very wrong.
It is a deep, heartfelt tale about family toxicity, hate, loneliness but most of all love in all its forms and at all stages of life.
It's cute, it's funny, it's heartbreaking and so, so, relatable and compelling.
I loved every page of it and I will probably think about this book for a long time.
Thank you much St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

Mad Mabel was such a fun read! It’s witty, entertaining, and had me laughing right from the start. I really enjoyed the mix of characters, the mystery, and all the neighborhood drama. It kept me turning the pages the whole way through. Definitely a great pick for a book club!

I absolutely adore Sally Hepworth’s novels and was thrilled to receive this one as well. She never falls short and keeps me so interested the entire book

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 This was my first read by Sally Hepworth, and wow, it will not be my last! I’ve seen the hype around her books, and Mad Mabel did not disappoint. The story follows Elsie Fitzpatrick aka “Mad Mabel” from her childhood all the way to age 81. It’s an emotionally charged, laugh out loud, yet deeply moving journey, with a clever mystery woven throughout. Hepworth perfectly captures how gossip can turn someone into a larger than life legend, and through her storytelling, we truly get to know Mad Mabel. I adored the cast of strong, unforgettable women. The writing is sharp, heartfelt, and completely unputdownable. This is absolutely one of my new favorites and a must buy when it releases.
Pub Date: April 21, 2026
Thank you to @stmartinspress for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Highly recommend adding this to your TBR! #MadMabel #SallyHepworth #stmartinpress #SMPearlyreaders #bookreview #bookstagram #booktok #arcreader #mustread #bookrecommendation #booklover #newrelease #bookaddict #5starread

i cant believe that i waited so long to read this book! I loved it!! thank you so much for the advanced copy! this book had it all! it was funny, heartbreakingly sad, and very quirky! i stayed up waaay late because i couldnt put it down! i'm not going to talk about the plot of this book or the story...allthe other reviewers can do that..... i just want to highly recomend this book, you wont be sorry!

I think I'm the oddball. I just don't feel like anything is happening in this book. I was seriously bored.

Mad Mabel is fantastic! I've liked other Sally Hepworth books, but this one is in a class by itself, one of my favorite reads with year. Mabel is an amazing character, smart, quirky, and so funny. There's a great mix of characters and quite a few curves and surprises. The dual timeline is perfect.. Grab this book as soon as you can.

Always love a great book by Sally! She leaves you feeling sad when the last page comes. I can nicor even begin to tell you how much i loved this book. It was phenomenal!