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Mad Mabel - by Sally Hepworth - 1 of 1

Mad Mabel - by Sally Hepworth (Hardcover)

$29.00
FormatHardcover

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Highlights

  • INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 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.
  • About the Author: SALLY HEPWORTH is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including The Good Sister and The Soulmate.
  • 352 Pages
  • Fiction + Literature Genres, Women

Description



Book Synopsis



INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

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.

Meet Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick: eighty-one years old, gloriously grumpy, fiercely independent, and never without a hot cup of tea--or a cutting remark. She minds her own business in her quiet Melbourne suburb, until a neighbor turns up dead and the whispers start flying.

Because Elsie hasn't always been Elsie. Once upon a headline, she was Mad Mabel Waller--Australia's youngest convicted murderer. But was she really mad, or just misunderstood? Either way, she's kept her secret buried for decades.

Enter seven-year-old Persephone, a relentless little chatterbox who has just moved in across the road (armed with stickers, questions, and no sense of personal boundaries); Joan, who appears to have it in for Elsie; and a healthy dose of public interest--the cops are sniffing around, and the media is circling like seagulls at a picnic.

So Mabel does what she's always done best--she takes matters into her own hands.

Is she a cantankerous old lady with a shady past? A cold-blooded killer with arthritis? Or just someone who's finally ready to tell her side of the story?

Sharp, surprising, and wickedly funny, this is the unforgettable story of a woman who's spent a lifetime being underestimated--and is about to prove everyone wrong. Again.



Review Quotes




"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

"Hepworth balances heartbreak with Elsie's delicious snark and strong suspense, but readers will be hard-pressed to resist feeling something here as allies emerge to defeat Elsie's resigned loneliness. Arguably Hepworth's best, this is a must-read for fans of Helene Tursten's Elderly Lady series and Christopher Bollen's Havoc (2024). " --Booklist, starred review




About the Author



SALLY HEPWORTH is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including The Good Sister and The Soulmate. 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 family and one adorable dog.

Dimensions (Overall): 9.52 Inches (H) x 6.34 Inches (W) x 1.2 Inches (D)
Weight: 1.21 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 352
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Sub-Genre: Women
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: Hardcover
Author: Sally Hepworth
Language: English
Street Date: April 21, 2026
TCIN: 1003180499
UPC: 9781250284549
Item Number (DPCI): 247-35-3219
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 1.2 inches length x 6.34 inches width x 9.52 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 1.21 pounds
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Q: What type of cover does this book have?

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  • A: This book features a hardcover format, providing durability and a premium feel.

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Q: How many pages are in this book?

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  • A: The book contains a total of 352 pages, offering a substantial read.

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Q: Who is the author of this book?

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  • A: The author of the book is Sally Hepworth.

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  • A: This book falls under the fiction genre, specifically in literature and women sub-genres.

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  • A: The book weighs approximately 1.21 pounds, making it easy to handle.

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5.0 out of 5 stars with 7 reviews
100% would recommend
7 recommendations
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
28 April, 2026

A New Favorite!

I haven’t recovered since finishing this book! I didn’t know what to expect when going in, but I ended up pleasantly surprised. It teeters between past and present, and you slowly uncover who Mabel really is, why she is the way she is. This book made me laugh, made me gasp in shock, made me so mad, and pulled at my heartstrings until I cried. I’m so happy that I was able to read this book, and learn about Mabel. She feels like a friend now -one that I miss now that I’ve finished. I do wish the ending was different, don’t we all? But from the very first page, to the very last one, did I think it was beautifully written, and wonderfully done. Totally recommend!! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and Sally Hepworth for this digital ARC, if it weren’t for all of you, I would’ve never read this wonderful book!
Thevms
Did you find this review helpful?
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
22 April, 2026

Added to my list of all-time favorites!!

I have no words for how much I love this book! Sally Hepworth gives Mabel/Elsie a voice that is so unique and downright hysterical. I actually read this book as slowly as I could, simply because I just didn't want it to end!? Her sense of humor is what keeps me coming back every time, for every book, and Mad Mabel was no different! Elsie is 81 years old, is pretty darn grumpy, and has lived on the same quiet street for 60 years. While she has surely not been trying to make any friends, what her neighbors don't know is that Elise is actually "Mad Mabel," and she has quite the murderous past. After a little girl from the same block decides to make Elsie her new best friend, against Elsie's never-ending resistance, we start to see a glimpse of another, more gentle side of Elsie, one that I couldn't help but love. When she agrees to finally share her story, we hear the sad tale of Elsie's past and how she came to be known as Mad Mabel. While I don't want to share any spoilers, this book will surely be added to my list of all-time favorites! Told in alternating timelines, the Elsie of today, living on Kenny Lane, and a young Mabel, back when she still lived in her family home, I devoured every word, and yet it still sadly came to an end. Highly recommended book and author!!
aschae
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5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
21 April, 2026

Such a good book!

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick has been living peacefully and alone in her neighborhood for six decades When an elderly neighbor dies, her carefully constructed life is suddenly falling apart. You see, Elsie is a convicted murderer. What a fabulous tale. Told in alternating timelines, then and now, the book allows Elsie to tell her story in her own way and her own time. A wonderful story of life, death, gossip, bullying, tragedy, and love. I absolutely loved this and have been thinking about Mad Mabel since I finished the book. Five enthusiastic stars!
Perriknows
Did you find this review helpful?
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
21 April, 2026

Masterfully Crafted Character Study and Mystery

This is without a doubt the best character study that I have ever read, with depth and emotion that is methodically revealed in a way that kept me reading and engaged from beginning to end. Mabel Elsie Fitzpatrick is an octogenarian and a recluse with a haunting past. Dubbed Mad Mabel, the story is one that is at times heart-breaking and emotionally gut-wrenching. Mabel wants to be accepted and loved and in her quest to find acceptance, she is shunned and ridiculed by her neighbors, all except for an annoying seven-year-old child named Persephone who is also lonely. When one of her neighbors dies and Mabel finds the body, her past is unearthed and once again she is thrown into a maelstrom of mistrust and suspicion. There are questions that kept me reading, including the fact that Mabel seems to have a friend who has been her bestie since her youth named Daphne. Is Daphne real or a figment of her very lonely life? Is Mabel really a murderer or was she innocent but without the ability to defend herself? And what happened to her father who just walked out of her life after her mom’s untimely death? All good questions which I had a burning desire to find the answers to, so I could not turn the pages fast enough. This is a book that begs to be read quickly but even when successfully completed, I wanted to go back and read it again, to find the clues that are there and to look for a glimmer of real happiness in Mabel’s tale of rejection and being misunderstood. This novel is absolutely perfect for book clubs to read and enjoy as the multiple layers and the dual timeline lend themselves to discussion about “what if” and “what would you do if.” Tackling some difficult themes, this novel is masterfully written, skillfully plotted and a cleverly crafted mystery with unforgettable characters. I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
VickleaW
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5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
21 April, 2026

Entertaining

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick “Mad Mabel” is an eighty-one-year-old who knows her neighbors and everything about them. Even their routines! She is spunky and goes to measures other people wouldn’t do. When a neighbor ends up dead, this turns the neighborhood upside down. What will be discovered? Will anyone be accused? Will Elsie’s past come back to haunt her? This is a fun and entertaining book with a great deal of whitt! It will make you laugh from the beginning! This book will have you turning the pages from beginning to end! I loved the variety of characters and the sense of humor in this book! It’s a roller-coaster of a book that will bring out all kinds of emotions. A great book for book clubs as it will lead to many interesting discussions!
Akbaird
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5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
21 April, 2026

There are no words to express how this made me feel!

In the words of Mabel herself, “Mother of God!” There aren't words to express how this book made me feel. It consumed me from its first pages. With each period of her life Mabel was surrounded by alarming incidents that left me reeling and then anxiously reading to find out “What happened?!” And oh my goodness every step of the way was a new adventure laced sometimes with humor and other times tragedy, all of it brought to life by characters that were craftily created. They either kept me guessing or made me laugh while helping to ease the tension of Mabel’s story. I loved that I was never able to find solid footing because this story kept shifting in ways I never saw coming. This book was nothing as I expected. I wish I could reread it again for the first time.
carvanz
Did you find this review helpful?
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
21 April, 2026

Engaging!

The author included some heavy issues and softened them with Mabel’s clever and amusing personality. I found myself chuckling at some of her words. She was a character who was easy to love. The tension and Mabel’s dark secrets made me rush through the pages. As one would suspect, it came with some surprising revelations. Almost every piece was revealed at the end.
JSunday
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