It seems like every neighborhood has that one person whom everyone has determined is crazy. (In my neighborhood, it was the old woman who turned her sprinkles on us every time we had to retrieve a ball from her yard.) But was she really crazy? In Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth, Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is an 81-year-old woman who is fiercely independent, hilariously blunt, and also the youngest convicted murderer in all of Australia. But is she crazy, or is she just the only one on Kenny Lane who knows where the bodies are buried? Read the book to find out!
5/5 stars ★★★★★
To read the summary of the book
- Setting: 🇦🇺 Melbourne, Australia (Dual Timelines: Present-day suburban Kenny Lane & 1950s)
- Tropes: 👵🏻 Grumpy x Sunshine ☀️ (The unlikely duo of 81-year-old Elsie and 7-year-old Persephone), Cold case reopened 📂, and the “Not-So-Sweet” Granny 🔪.
- Themes: 🏷️ The weight of a reputation, ⚖️ Flaws in the justice system, 🧒🏼 Childhood trauma, and 🏠 Finding “home” in people, not places.
Genre: Crime Mystery / Domestic Suspense
From the publisher:
From New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth comes a twisty tale of justice, redemption, and one irrepressible woman who’s not done breaking the rules just yet.
Published on: April 21, 2026
Pages: 352
My Thoughts on Mad Mabel:
This book is definitely going on my “Top Books of 2026” list. (If you’re interested, here is my Top Books of 2025.) Sally Hepworth is one of my favorite authors for psychological thriller books, but she went out of her typical zone for this book, and it may be my favorite Hepworth book so far.
Characters:
I absolutely loved the character of Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick, aka “Mad Mabel.” Even though she tried to portray herself as “unlovable,” you can’t help but to love her. She is a grumpy, old woman who really just wants to be loved and noticed in this busy world. In a dual timeline, you learn about Mabel and why she is the way she is as an older woman.
I also adored the character of Persephone. If you have ever taught elementary school or have been around young children, including your own, you know how precocious they can be. They want to be in everyone’s business and the center of attention. They are also extremely innocent and don’t judge people right off. The relationship between Persephone and Mabel truly made the book great. I’m a sucker for any relationship between an elder and a child in a book.
Humor:
There are very few books that make me laugh out loud, but this one is an exception. Mabel’s blunt humor is what I am going to remember most about this book. As a teacher, I have come across many, many students who use humor as a shield. Mabel pretends to be “hard of hearing” or “confused” when she is around people she doesn’t like. This cracked me up!
“I’ve reached the age where I use my confusion as a weapon. If I don’t want to answer a question, I simply stare blankly until the other person feels guilty for existing.”
The banter in the story between Mabel and Persephone reminded me of my grandmother and myself. My grandma came across as a prudish woman at times, but she was hilarious. We could banter for hours. Mabel had this inner dialogue that was incredibly funny. It’s worth reading the book just for the humor.
My Favorite Quotes from Mad Mabel That Made Me Laugh:
“The child can call me Horace as long as she goes the f to sleep.”
“There are two kinds of people no one ever suspects to be murderers: little girls and old ladies. I like to think I’m special because I’ve been both.”
“My neighbor, Joan, treats me like a ticking time bomb. She brings over lemon drizzle cake as if citrus might neutralize the ‘murderer’ in me. It’s a very dry cake; if anything, it makes me want to kill again.”
“Persephone told me I needed to ‘curate my aesthetic.’ I told her my aesthetic was ‘waiting for the sweet release of death,’ and she asked if that came in a pastel color.”
Where to Buy Mad Mabel and More:
- Read more of my book reviews: Visit my library
- Missed my Top Books of 2025? Check out the full list here
Looking for more book recommendations based on Mad Mabel?
If you enjoyed this book, I highly recommend these other books:
- Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth| Buy on Amazon
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- Why it’s similar: Like Mad Mabel, this book focuses on childhood trauma and the long-lasting effects of a “broken” upbringing. It features three foster sisters who are forced to confront a dark secret from their past when a body is found at their childhood home.
- The Vibe: 👯♀️ Hidden pasts, sisterhood, and a “did they do it?” mystery.
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- The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark | Buy on Amazon
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- Read my full review here
- Why it’s similar: This book leans heavily into the “Unreliable Narrator” and “Setting the Record Straight” tropes found in Mad Mabel. It follows a famous author who is dying and decides to tell her final, most dangerous story to a ghostwriter who has her own hidden agenda.
- The Vibe: 📖⏳ A race against time to reveal the truth before it’s too late.
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- The House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen | Buy on Amazon
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- Read my full review here
- Why it’s similar: This book features a young, “silent” child at the center of a murder investigation, similar to how Persephone is the catalyst for Mabel’s story. It deals with the question of what children see and what they are capable of.
- The Vibe: 👧🏻🏠 Eerie atmosphere and a “child in jeopardy” hook.
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Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Sally Hepworth for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.
To learn more about Sally Hepworth
Leave a Comment:
I’m a sucker for an ‘unlikely duo’ like Elsie and Persephone. Who is your favorite grumpy-meets-sunshine pairing from a book or movie?
Let me know in the comments!
