Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth. What a fantastic story, fell in love with Mabel. An addictive, compelling and complex story that is hard to describe. One of the very best reads this year. Any more said and I'll be fan-girl gushing. Highly recommended.

Thank you Sally Hepworth, St Martins and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Elsie (previously known as Mad Mabel) is such a delightful character! I love an elderly main character, and at the age of 81, Elsie certainly delivered. The then vs. now timeline did wonders for this book. I found myself favoring the then timeline because the flashbacks to her childhood make it very apparent that Elsie's upbringing affected her thoughts and emotions in the present timeline. There was one plot twist that was predictable to me, but there was another one towards the end of the book that took my by surprise. Well done, Sally!

I LOVED this book. It felt like the warmest hug! I was so angry every time something unfair happened to young Mabel. If you love cozy mysteries, dual timelines and wholesome friendships / neighbors, then this is the book for you. Mabel is so endearing and so is little Persephone. I loved their relationship so much. I couldn’t stop reading once I’d started the book. Thank you so much for the ARC.

Mabel Elsie Warner is an 81 year old woman who is popularly known as Mad Mabel. She lives in an Australian neighborhood and is close to a childhood friend Daphne. One of her elderly neighbors hasn't been seen for a few days, so Mabel enters his home to find the man deceased. There begins Mabel being questioned about the death, and pur introduction to Mabel's past- a lonely, traumatic childhood filled with losses. We are also introduced to Persephone, a sweet, precocious neighbor, and other neighbors who care about Mabel. There are twists and turns in this story that make it a fascinating tale. Great read!!

4.5 rounded up to 5. Shout out to NetGalley for the ARC. Would I recommend this book? Corsets, I would!.

Themes/tropes that I loved about this book:
Dual timeline

Female empowerment

Found family (especially when it is most deserved by someone who spent her life being unloved and uncared for)

The importance and impact of female friendship

Reclaiming power

Redemption and reinvention

True crime/podcast element

More specific details that I loved:
Obviously Daphne and her magenta everything. She brought color to a place that had previously only known darkness.

Ness for being nurturing and loving and so generous with her affection and compassion. I think the world would be a much better place if we all had friends like Ness and Daphne.

Cess for her unflinching honesty, devotion, and determination. She was such a baddie.

The rest of the cast of characters (even Nugget, the little yapper), which were fully three-dimensional and well fleshed out.

The writing was whipsmart and hilarious but also poignant, heartwarming, and just soul-affirming in every aspect.

The inner monologue of Mabel was equal parts biting, cutthroat, blunt, hilarious, witty, heartbreaking, wholesome, (literally every adjective) and just a delight to experience.

The pacing of the novel was pretty much perfect. When I wasn't flying through it, I was constantly thinking about it. But alas, I have to work for a living, so I couldn't spend every waking second reading. (Can someone please just pay me to read? Like OnlyFans for readers. OnlyReaders?)

The descriptions of what it means to love and be loved by your people (and, unexpectedly, strangers) were beautifully crafted.

Showing the impact of what society can do to an innocent soul and how we should all be held accountable for the way that we treat others (especially children) whether they are people we know or strangers/public figures. As a society we need to be more mindful of how our words, whether spoken, typed, spray-painted, etc., have a domino effect. In this book, many adults felt the compulsion to inflict their unsolicited and unfounded opinions on a child, and everything that followed was pretty much a result of the isolation and ostracism they caused. The antagonists of this novel were representative of the negative influence of public opinion and its tendency to put people in boxes. And once you're reduced to said box, it becomes almost impossible to get out of it until you start to think, "Maybe this is who I am. Maybe this box is where I belong." And then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. I think this is a testament to how important it is to pause before making assumptions based on preconceived notions and biases and essentially forcing a narrative on a person before they even know who they are. So can everyone just….BE FUCKING KIND.

In summary this book was a bunch of things. It was poetic. It was funny. It was heartfelt. It definitely made me laugh, cry, feel all the feels, and think that I might actually have a heart after all.

It also just made me hope everyone could be lucky enough to find a person that will help them bury the body (and only ask a million questions after the fact), and with whom they can laugh so hard that they snort and/or fart. Laugh snorters/farters are obviously the best people on the planet and that is a hill I will die on.

Things I didn't love about the book:
There were a couple editorial mistakes, but I honestly find those in the majority of books I've read and therefore it wasn't a deterrent for me.

Potential spoiler: I'm not sure if I was a detective in a past life or if a couple of the “big reveals” were predictable, but I did indeed predict them quite early on in the novel. But again, it didn't really impact my reading experience. I just felt that maybe they could have been less obvious.


Potential spoiler: Having quite a few questions lingering at the end of the novel. I don't want to spoil it for anyone so I won't obviously say the questions I have, but suffice it to say I felt there were a couple loose ends.


Overall I would say that this was an incredible novel. It was truly all I could think about for the past couple of days. I would have read it in one sitting if I didn't have to (begrudgingly) work for a living. But yeah, I devoured it during every free second I had, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the aforementioned tropes/themes/things in general that I loved. If you are not a fan of those things, then this book probably isn't for you and we also probably wouldn't be friends. Ok thnx bye.

Mad Mabel is an unusual book with quirky characters. It was slow starting, slow moving, with me wondering "where's the mystery or suspense?" After I'd read half of the book, the pace picked up.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me an advanced copy to read.

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is an old woman, not someone you would usually consider a murderer. She has lived on Kelly Lane for sixty years and has kept her past a secret, until one day…

I love this story! I fell in love with the beautifully-human characters and I enjoyed every twist and turn that Sally Hepworth took me on. This is a mystery about friendship and family, love and hate, and I laughed and cried. This is a wonderful, tender story that you cannot miss!

Read this one in a day. Wow it is a good story with some twists near the end.

Mad Mabel aka Elsie is an elderly woman trying to live out her last years in a peaceful community with her best friend Daphne. Unfortunately, it seems like her past is always a stones throw away.

As a child, Mabel seemed to stir up speculation wherever she went, and she was accused of malicious acts so often that many people believed the rumors.

This story goes back and forth from Mabel's past to the present and is told in first POV.

I do not want to spill any of the secrets, so I do not want to divulge too much. This is a good one! A great one! I definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m really loving all the fantastic elderly characters that have been showing up in books for the last few years. Mad Mabel is another one that I loved.
Elise is 81 and lives a peaceful life on Kenny Lane. Well except for Persephone, a very forward seven year-old and her seemingly overworked mother Roxanne. They have recently moved into this neighborhood and this little girl seems to have decided that Elise is her best friend.
Then there is Ishaan and his dog Nugget. Suddenly, Elise’s nemesis is dead.Ishaan’s death throws Elise’s peaceful existence into chaos. The secret she has kept for years resurfaces and we soon learn that Mad Mabel, now using her middle name is a killer. Or is she?
Told in the present and in the past, we learned what happens to Elise and how she came to be called Mad Mabel. It’s such a sad story combined with the fact that she has wonderful neighbors and a found family now. I’m not a crier, but the ending, broke my heart. Elise is such a wonderful character.

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth is a rare book that manages to pull off clever twists, be funny, be heartbreaking, and make you seriously think about feminism and the nature of “madness” all at the same time. It follows the life of Elsie “Mad Mabel” Fitzpatrick, the youngest person in Australia to be convicted of murder, and is told in a dual timeline that switches between the present day and Elsie’s childhood in the 1950s/60s. In the present, she reluctantly befriends a young neighbor girl, and events occur as a result that force her traumatic past back into the light.

Sometimes, dual timeline narratives can fall flat (one is better than the other, etc.), but this one enhanced the drama. Chapters often ended in cliffhangers before switching to the other timeline, and small hints were dropped in each that kept the momentum of the story going.

This book also broke every expectation of genre that I initially placed on it, but in the best way. My initial thought was, “Ok, murder mystery, cute, if cantankerous, old narrator—it’s like Richard Osman’s books.” But, as Elsie’s story played out, I quickly became aware that the story was more complex than that, as was Elsie’s character. A podcast element is introduced, and I was happy to see that it never quite felt like other recent mysteries that have also used true-crime podcasts as a vehicle for storytelling. It stays true to Elsie’s voice, and you’re left wondering the entire time if she’s an unreliable narrator…or the most reliable one of all. What I loved most, though, is how this book reflected on the importance of friendship and on what it means to be labeled as “mad,” especially as a woman.

I did figure out one of the main twists just before the halfway point, and wonder if we’re meant to, as readers? It does get gradually more and more obvious, but it was cleverly done. There are a few loose narrative threads (an incident with a child at a beach that’s never explained, Elsie has very conflicting opinions on nurses in different points of the novel), but nothing that takes away from the main story. Overall, I’d give this a 4.5, rounded up. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley, Sally Hepworth, and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I love Sally Hepworth’s books and was really excited to read this one. I finished it super quickly and found it to be entertaining and very unique!

This one goes back and forth between the past and the present to tell the story of Elsie’s life. She’s known as “Mad Mabel” and we know that she’s said to have killed someone, but we don’t know the story behind it. She lives on Kenny Lane, which is a safe neighborhood where neighbors keep an eye on one another. We meet her neighbors, who are all unique and have their own feelings about Mad Mabel.

This one is extremely addicting and I felt like I couldn’t put it down once I started reading. I really wanted to know the whole story, from her past to her present, where one of her neighbors mysteriously passed away and people have been eyeing Elsie for the culprit. We’re introduced to some very lovable side characters too, namely her neighbor Roxie and her daughter Persephone. The relationship between Elsie and Persephone is very sweet and heartwarming.

Sadly, I didn’t love this one quite as much as most people, as I’ve mainly seen five-star reviews so far. I’m not sure what it was that missed the mark a little bit for me, but I did still really enjoy the story. I think the ending may have been too fast-paced and unrealistic in a way. Still be sure to pick this one up if you enjoy mysteries and character-based stories!

5 stars out of 5.

Wow, I really enjoyed reading this book. The humor made me laugh out loud at times. Mabel is such a great character and I loved reading her story. The book switches from past to present which really gives us a great picture of her life and all that has happened to her. The characters were well developed and I enjoyed getting to know each of them. Overall, this has been one of my favorite reads from this year and I highly recommend it!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A truly touching story of redemption and love, wrapped in a twisty tourney mystery. The character development left me feeling Incredibly close to each person in the book. It is one of those books that you finish and immediately miss the characters. This is a book I will be recommending to friends and family.

This book!!!!!! Ohmygoodness, it was SO good. From start to finish, I was completely immersed in who Mad Mabel was. Great writing - believable characters - funny bits in just the right amount. Really fun psychological thriller! There was a GASP moment towards the end which really was clever and one I didn't see coming. Loved it. Best Hepworth read yet for me. Thank you so much for the advanced read.

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth is the tale of Elise Mabel Waller Fitzpatick, age 81, reflecting on her past while residing on the charming Kenny Lane for over six decades. Kenny Lane, with its unique blend of quirky neighbors like The Nguyens, Peter Pantges, Joan Waters, Ishaan and his chihuahua Nugget, Roxanne, and her seven-year-old daughter, Persephone, adds a delightful twist to the narrative.
Her parents, Elliott Waller and Mary Fitzpatrick, lived in a gorgeous mansion, "Rosehill," that Mary inherited from her father. Mary's sister, Cecily, was not just an aunt but a significant figure in Mabel's life, living in the guest house out back and helping raise Mabel. Her presence was a testament to the importance of family in Mabel's life. Growing up, Mabel believed that "Friends are like oxygen." She thought that if you grew up surrounded by friends, it was a blessing. She was constantly gasping for breath, and her only friend was Daphne Barton. Her favorite book was Anne of Green Gables, which was a recommendation from Vanessa, a librarian, her aunt Cecily's best friend. The story explains how Elsie received the label "Mad Mabel." It's up to the reader to decide whether or not that label is accurate or not. The twists and turns will keep you entertained while the story unfolds and mysteries are solved.

Sally Hepworth’s Mad Mabel is a compelling, domestic thriller that artfully balances mystery, heart, and emotion. Set on a quiet Melbourne street, 81-year-old Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is as crotchety and solitary as they come—until her long-hidden past catches up with her following a neighbor’s sudden death. Underneath her grumbling exterior lies the world’s most infamous former teenager: “Mad Mabel,” convicted of murder in her youth. As murder rumors resurface and the media ferret out the truth, Elsie must decide whether to confront her history or preserve her fragile peace.

What makes Mad Mabel remarkable is how it weaves together past and present perspectives—the resentful grandmother and the infamous child—into a tense, emotionally resonant narrative. The alternating timelines infuse the story with depth and tension, exploring themes of justice, redemption, and the inescapable power of reputation.

What a fun thriller! I loved this. If you enjoy reading about an older protagonist and laughing out loud when reading a thriller- this is for you!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth is a novel about fear of love and being misunderstood. Mabel, an old woman made several big mistake in her past. Those mistakes caused her to not only live a very lonely childhood but also to fear friendship. She blames herself for everyone who ever loved her dying. That is until she finds the strength, with the help of a young child who befriends her. With the little girl’s help, she learns to trust again and ultimately opens up about her past. Overall, a great read that I would recommend to others.

The best book I’ve read in 2025!

From the moment I first discovered Sally Hepworth's work, she’s been a beloved author of mine—her storytelling always strikes that fine balance of warmth, suspense, and emotional richness. Mad Mabel does not disappoint. Her signature twisty, compulsive thrillers shine brightest here in a story that is both tender and utterly compelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers!

I’m not Australian but crikey mate what a good book! Mabel was such a hater in the beginning and it was absolutely hilarious, girl had me cackling. Her sarcasm is wonderful through the whole book and she’s a total girls girl. In a serious matter the alternating between past and present and in the tones used were exquisite. The balance was executed perfectly as reveals and information kept me reading and giving me a bit of a break from very dark and serious topics that I needed. Her relationships with others to show character development was used in a clever way that wasn’t slapping you in the face with a neon sign saying the same thing over and over again. Overall such a great read, I fully recommend!