Mad Mabel

By: Sally Hepworth

Narrators: Sally Hepworth, Hannah Fredericksen, Jenny Seedsman

ISBN: 9781250284549

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: 04/21/2026

Format: Hardcover & audio

My Rating: 5 Stars + (ARC) (ALC)

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There are two kinds of people no one ever expects to be murderers: little girls and old ladies. Meet Mad Mabel.

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is eighty-one years old. She's lived on her idyllic street, Kenny Lane, for sixty years--longer than anyone else. Aside from being a curmudgeon who minds everyone else's business, few would suspect that Elsie has a past that she has worked exceedingly hard at concealing. Because when it comes to murder, no one ever suspects little girls or old ladies. And Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick, once a little girl and now an old lady, has a strange history of people in her life coming to a foul end.

When a new little girl (talkative, curious, nosy) moves into the neighborhood and stops at nothing to befriend Elsie, her carefully-constructed life threatens to come crashing down as the secrets in Elsie's past start coming to light. Who was "Mad Mabel" fifty years ago? Who is Elsie Fitzpatrick today? And if the past has a habit of repeating itself, who has the most to lose?

Told with Sally Hepworth's twists, humor, charm, and heart, MAD MABEL is novel that weaves past and present together--through the power of justice and redemption, and all the way to its stunning conclusion.

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My Review

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MAD MABEL by Sally Hepworth is a delightfully wicked novel, infused with a darkly humorous tone that contrasts sharply with its heavy themes. Hepworth expertly weaves her signature sharp wit and quirky humor throughout the narrative.

At its core, the story is heartfelt and possesses profound emotional depth, featuring a dual-timeline mystery that unravels the life of an elderly woman harboring a tumultuous secret — she is none other than Australia’s most notorious convicted child murderer.

The plot thickens as her meticulously concealed past begins to unravel following the unexpected death of a neighbor. This event propels her into a moment of reckoning, driving her to finally share her side of the story and revealing the layers of complexity that surround her hidden life.

The notorious figure known as "Mad Mabel" was convicted of murder as a teenager, a dark chapter that forever altered her life. Now, her seemingly quiet existence is shattered by the mysterious death of a neighbor, thrusting her back into the spotlight.

As a team of eager documentarians seeks to unravel her sinister past, Mabel is compelled to confront the haunting memories and childhood trauma that have long lingered in the shadows of her mind. Set against the backdrop of a gripping true-crime podcast, the narrative weaves together dual timelines that explore Mabel's turbulent childhood and her ongoing journey toward redemption in the present day.

As the story unfolds, Mabel navigates a web of newfound relationships and escalating accusations, forcing her to reckon with her past in ways she never anticipated.

Fans of Hepworth will be captivated by Mabel’s story, which invites readers to ponder the nature of truth and the possibility of transformation in the face of unimaginable darkness.

Highlights...

Elsie deliberately maintains the persona of a "brusque and short" octogenarian who has no tolerance for others. By being "unapologetically grumpy," she discourages neighbors from digging into her personal history.

The Present Day (2025): Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick, an 81-year-old curmudgeon living a quiet life on Kenny Lane, finds her neighbor, Ishaan, dead in his home. The death is initially deemed natural, but becomes suspicious after Elsie's true identity is revealed.

The Past Revealed: A neighbor, Joan, exposes Elsie's hidden past to the media: she is actually Mabel Waller, who, at 15, became the youngest person in Australian history to be convicted of murder in 1959. "Mad Mabel" resurfaces, attracting media attention.

Telling the Story: Two young documentarians/podcasters approach Elsie/Mabel, offering her the chance to tell her side of the story for the first time. Elsie agrees, and the narrative alternates between her troubled childhood in the 1950s and her present-day life.

Childhood Trauma: The "then" chapters detail Mabel's life with unloving parents, a cruel father who blames her for various misfortunes when she was only three, and her platonic friendship with a girl named Daphne and an aunt named Cecily. This timeline explores the events that shaped her character and the circumstances leading up to the murder conviction.

Unlikely Friendships: In the present, Elsie develops an unexpected and touching friendship with a persistent, lively seven-year-old neighbor girl named Persephone, which helps her open up and grow emotionally.

Searching for Justice: The story explores themes of perception, justice, and redemption, as Mabel/Elsie forces the reader to question her guilt and understand the complex truth behind the infamous persona.

Twists and Conclusion: The novel features many twists, including a major reveal about the identity and nature of her childhood friend, Daphne, and the circumstances of the original murder. The ending is powerful and unexpected, providing a resolution to both the past and present mysteries.

My thoughts...

In her captivating novel, MAD MABEL, Sally Hepworth masterfully weaves an intricate tapestry of narrative through her signature dual-timeline structure. With both poignancy and a touch of wit, she explores the labyrinthine truth behind Australia's most notorious child murderer, revealing a reality that is far more intricate and unsettling than the sensational headlines would lead us to believe.

Hepworth's prose is beautifully crafted, brimming with profound insights into the human experience, making this work not only a gripping read but also a thoughtful reflection on the complexities of life.

I absolutely adore Sally and have been a devoted fan of her work for years, having traversed the pages of every book she has penned—each one a sparkling gem in its own right! I find immense joy in stories that delve into the lives of the elderly, exploring the intricate tapestry of their multi-generational relationships.

There’s something particularly enchanting about a character with a rich, storied past like Mabel's, and I am captivated by the way she forges connections with those around her in the present, especially with the vibrant Persephone.

Through richly developed characters and an artful juxtaposition of timelines, Hepworth masterfully illustrates how the scars of childhood neglect and abuse can indelibly shape a person's entire existence. Yet, amid the shadows of the past, she also portrays the profound truth that it is never too late to discover the warmth of a "found family" and carve out a true sense of belonging.

Elsie is a fun character who deliberately maintains the persona of an octogenarian who has no tolerance for others. By being "unapologetically grumpy," she discourages neighbors from digging into her personal history. Elsie uses her razor-sharp tongue and a cranky facade to keep others at a distance and protect the traumatic secrets of her past. Her wit serves as a defensive shield, masking a vulnerability rooted in decades of being labeled "mad".

The story skillfully delves into found family, platonic friendships, identity, belonging, and how trauma shapes a life, all wrapped in Hepworth's signature twists. Exploring themes of guilt, innocence, and redemption, leading to a stunning conclusion that recontextualizes the events of her life.

The author cleverly blends suspense and wit primarily through the voice of her protagonist, Elsie, and a narrative structure that contrasts dark tragedy with the mundane absurdities of suburban life. The cast of eccentric neighbors on Kenny Lane creates a fun neighborhood sitcom (suburban satire) atmosphere that balances the unsettling and grisly elements of Mabel’s childhood trauma. Elsie’s primary motive shifts from concealment to a desire for justice and setting the record straight.

Neighbors' Motives:

~Self-Validation and Gossip (Joan)

~Curiosity and Companionship (7-year-old neighbor Persephone):

~Media Ambition (Adeem & Libby): Documentarians/podcasters

~Suburban Petty Feuds (The Neighborhood)

~Protection and Guilt (Roxanne): Persephone's mother

~Redemption and Peace (Elsie/Mabel)

Themes...

Hepworth beautifully explores complex social and psychological landscapes through the lens of a notorious past and its present-day repercussions. "No one suspects little girls or old ladies" —to explore how certain demographics are often overlooked or underestimated by society.

~The Power of Labels & Reputation

~Perception vs. Reality

~Justice and Redemption

~The Impact of Trauma & Neglect

~Friendship & Loyalty

~Loneliness & Belonging

~Social Invisibility

~Resilience through Connection

The takeaway of MAD MABEL is that the labels society assigns can never capture the full complexity of a human life. Through Elsie’s journey, the author emphasizes that truth is often buried under layers of bias and communal gossip. Unexpected, intergenerational friendships can offer a path to redemption and emotional healing.

The audiobook...

I had the delightful opportunity to both read the book and immerse myself in the audiobook, expertly narrated by the talented duo, Hannah Fredericksen and Jenny Seedsman, with acknowledgements read by the author. Their captivating performances transformed the listening experience into something truly immersive and entertaining. Breathing life into the characters while vividly painting Mabel's world, weaving together threads of wit, humor, and poignant moments that resonated deeply. Each nuance of their storytelling made the journey through the narrative a joyous adventure, leaving me enchanted with every turn of the page and every spoken word.

Recs...

If you enjoyed the prickly protagonist, dual-timeline mystery, or unreliable narration of Mad Mabel, the following books offer similar themes and structures:

~His & Hers by Alice Feeney

~Too Old for This by Samantha Downing

~A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

~Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano (Mrs Haggerty)

~The Storm by Rachel Hawkins

~Before She Was Helen by Caroline B. Cooney

~Novels by Catherine Ryan Hyde and Elizabeth Berg

Be sure to explore the entire Sally Hepworth collection, which beautifully showcases her distinctive ability to intertwine character-driven mysteries with the intricate complexities of dysfunctional family dynamics and her signature wit. Each story captivates readers, drawing them into a world where relationships are often tested, secrets unravel, and the truth lies just beneath the surface.

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for an advanced reading and listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks

My Rating: 5 Stars

Pub Date: Apr 21, 2026

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Praise

"A must-purchase for most collections. Not only will Hepworth’s many fans be clamoring for this, but it’s sure to grow her reader base." —Library Journal, Starred Review

“Sally Hepworth writes compelling, compassionate novels with characters you come to know and love. She is one of my favourite Australian writers.”

—Liane Moriarty

About the Author

Sally Hepworth is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including The Good Sister and The Soulmate. Her latest novel, Darling Girls, was released in Australia in September 2023, and will be released in North America in April 2024.

Drawing on the good, the bad and the downright odd of human behaviour, Sally writes incisively about family, relationships and identity. Her domestic thriller novels are laced with quirky humour, sass and a darkly charming tone. They are available worldwide in English and have been translated into twenty languages.

Sally lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her three children and one adorable dog. She has recently taken up ocean swimming (or to put it more accurately, ocean dipping) WEBSITE