First off thank you so much for allowing me to read this book firsthand and I can’t wait for others to read it. This is one of my favorite authors. And this was just as enjoyable as our other and a bit funny cause the old ladies were killing it literally lol it was a great read

This book was not anything that I expected to read. This story follows dual-timelines with Elsie and her life. Mad Mabel was really clever with a hint of humor. This story really was gripping and felt impossible to put down once I started it. The pacing and character development was perfect. Sally Hepworth did incredible with this one.

Mad Mabel is probably the most original book I’ve read in a long, long time. It centers on an elderly woman with a strange past that she’d like to bury. The book follows two distinct and interconnected timelines about Mabel’s past and present. Until the book ends you don’t get a true picture of her life. I have been telling everyone I know to buy the book when it’s available because it’s that good.

Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth. This novel of an elderly woman looking back on her notorious life was wonderful. This book was humorous, heartwarming and heart wrenching all at the same time. Wonderful character development, which I have found in all of Hepworth’s books, was excellent in this novel as well. This will be released in the Spring of 202. Whether you’re a fan of Sally Hepworth or have never read her before, I would highly recommend this novel.

You cannot help but enjoy and love Mad Mabel. At 80+ and 6’ tall Mabel is a woman of her own strengths and convictions. But as the story unwinds you begin to see the kind and caring side that Mabel at times tries to hide. I had tears in my eyes as the story came to an end. First of all, I felt that Mabel could be a person that we all know. Her history of growing up was not conventional but as she finds herself living on this very quiet road in London, you know she is someone we all know. Relax and enjoy getting to meet Mabel as you dive into her story that will leave a smile on your face.

What an interesting an intriguing novel. The title and synopsis led me to believe I was going to read about a mad, sinister old lady and all the evil that she has committed. What I got instead was an introspective and beautiful story about friendship, family, and what’s really important in life.

The story was sad, and surprising, and uplifting all at the same time. I felt the loneliness, the laughter, the anger, and the love. I felt everything.

I definitely recommend this book as well as Sally Hepworth’s other novels.

ARC kindly provided by the author.

Mabel's Life
Such a great read, from cover to cover I was page turning. I was also hurting for a little girl, she lived with wealth and in a beautiful home, and thank goodness for her aunt.
This delightful 81 year old women is a convicted murderer and it takes awhile, as we go through Mabel or Elsie life, to find out whom she killed. Seems like she has been tormented her whole life, and was not surprised as to whom the victim was, only about how it came about.
I personally loved Mable, but trouble sure did follow this women, and it continued right to the end. Oh what a lot of surprises dropped! Some awesome, and some very sad.
Don't miss this excellent read!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher St. Martin's Press, and was not required to give a positive review.

This is a wonderful story. The main character, Mabel is so real, I wish I could hang out with her. This character will stick with me for a while. There is a bit of mystery and a lot of humanity. Read this one you won’t be disappointed!
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I very much enjoyed this book. The writing was great and the characters were well developed. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

This talented author has written a page turner…mystery and suspense with red herrings…humor and comedy…the elderly…murder…realistic characters kept the story moving quickly…who would suspect an older woman of having a mysterious past? A new neighbor…little girl…the recipe for a fun quick read. Thanks Netgalley.

Loved this book! 5 stars!! Could not put it down and it was funny, sad and everything in between! Thank you NetGalley and Sally Hepworth for the ARC!!!

I really wanted to like this book but the story was just too implausible. Mabel aka Elsie was confined to a psychiatric facility in lieu of prison for the murder of her father and aunt when she was 15. She was widely known as a child serial killer. While in prison, she gives birth to a baby who is immediately taken and given up for adoption. Now, at 81, she had long lived on a tiny street in Melbourne in obscurity. She still has an imaginary friend named Daphne and a quirky set of neighbors including a precocious 7 year old names Persephone. When one of her neighbors dies, her identity and past are churned up again and Elsie’s life is turned upside down.

Mad Mabel
By Sally Hepworth
Publish Date April 21, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.
The beginning of Mad Mabel moves slowly, and it took me a little while to settle into the story. But once the story starts unfolding, I found myself completely drawn in. The shocking reveal caught me by surprise and gave the story the kind of payoff that makes you glad you kept reading.
This book has stayed with me, and I know I will be thinking about the story and about Mabel for a long time. Sally Hepworth balances mystery with emotion so well, and she created a character who lingers in your mind even after the last page.

— Unlike her typical thrillers this was a women’s fiction about an elderly woman with a murderous history.

I am really torn over this book, I liked the overall concept, parts I laughed out loud at and I was surprised by some of the ending twists. Overall, though, I found the majority of the story slow moving and it was not the cozy mystery it first seemed to be.

I still recommend you check it out next April! Thanks NetGalley for the super early arc!

What an incredible book! I was completely captivated from the very first page. Eighty-one-year-old Elsie/Mabel is such a beautifully written, layered, and relatable character that I found myself laughing with her, crying for her, and rooting for her all the way through the story of her life. The cast of characters were charming and added so much depth to the story, especially Persephone and her dynamic with "Elsa." The mix of humor and heart was so well done and there were so many twists I didn't see coming. This is one of those rare books that feels both entertaining and profoundly moving at the same time. It made me cry, it made me think, and it’s a story I know I’ll never forget. This is a book I will always recommend without hesitation.

Ohhhh Hepworth has done it again!! I have loved every novel she’s written and this one is no exception. What a fabulous and creative way to tell the tale of Mabel. The twists I didn’t see coming and the ending made me smile- gosh, I truly enjoyed reading this book.

I enjoyed this book about a 91 year old lady who lived her life as a notorious murderer. But as she tells her story, you begin to wonder, Is she really?

This book was beautifully written. I read the last few chapters with my hand on my heart and tears in my eyes. I will definitely suggest this to many others. This book had my heart from the beginning and I could not put it down. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

Sally Hepworth NEVER disappoints!
She has become my favourite author for mystery and thriller novels.

But more importantly, I love her storytelling capabilities. It’s flawless, fluent, evocative, engaging and mind-sticking protagonists.

„Mad Mabel“ was one of the best novels I’ve read lately. I didn’t want this book to end. Mad Mabel aka Elsie Fitzpatrick has lived a long, challenging life in this books with ups and downs. But most memorable, she was loved by everyone. Including her reader(s)!

Sally Hepworth, your books are the epitome of storytelling. Thank you for wonderful hours in Australia alongside Mabel, Daphne, Persephone, Roxanne, Peter and Cess & Ness.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I can't say that I enjoyed this book, but I did find it hard to stop reading it. It was written in a way that made the characters come to life. I guess I would recommend it if you are looking for a book that will make you forget time. Hours passed while I was immersed in the story.