I can already imagine this book sparking heated discussions in book clubs, with readers debating its twists, moral ambiguities, and emotional punch over glasses of wine or cups of tea.
At its heart is 81-year-old Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick, who has spent decades living under the radar on Kenny Lane. She’s prickly, private, and set in her ways, but the sudden death of a neighbour bursts the carefully constructed life she’s tried so hard to maintain. Old suspicions resurface, and with them, the cruel nickname she can never quite shake; ‘Mad Mabel’.
The novel moves between two timelines: the ‘Then’ of Mabel’s childhood in the 1950s and the ‘Now’ of her life as an elderly woman. As the story unfolds, we witness the childhood traumas that shaped her and the gossip that clung to her. A true crime podcast cleverly punctuates the contemporary storyline, giving Elsie a chance to finally reclaim her own narrative.
Hepworth excels at probing the murky corners of human behaviour, and here she delivers a story that is both unsettling and unexpectedly tender. I found myself disturbed by the cruelty Mabel endured from those who should have protected her, yet uplifted by those who offered her kindness when she needed it most.
What stayed with me long after I turned the final page was the reminder that every child deserves to be safe, loved, and believed in, and the devastating consequences when that isn’t the case. Mad Mabel is a book that lingers, not only for its clever storytelling but also for the emotional truth at its core.
Reviewed by Maryanne Vagg
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE AUTHORSally Hepworth is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, most recently Darling Girls. Her novel, The Mother-In-Law (2019), has been optioned for a TV series by Hollywood actress and producer, Amy Poehler.
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.
Sally’s novels are available around the globe in English and have been translated into 20 languages. She has sold more than one million books worldwide.
Sally lives in Melbourne, Australia with her family.
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