Mad Mabel - a heartfelt mystery about a complicated woman.

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick has been living on quiet Kenny Lane for sixty of her eighty-one years. When she checks up on her ninety-three-year-old neighbor Ishaan, she discovers he is already dead when she goes into his house. The police suspect Elsie of homicide because of her notorious past. News quickly spreads that Elsie is actually the infamous "Mad Mabel" Waller, who, during her youth, was believed to have done some very bad things to people close to her. Two true-crime journalists persuade Elsie to tell her story for the very first time. What evolves is a moving tale of a young girl who was failed by many people in her life. But was she truly the "bad seed" most people thought she was? The story alternates between Mabel's past and the present, where Elsie shares a sweet, almost maternal bond with her seven-year-old neighbor Persephone, initially labeled as an "enfant terrible" but is simply a neglected child. What is the truth about Mabel? Everyone is finally going to find out. 

As a long-time fan of author Sally Hepworth, the Australian author has outdone herself in Mad Mabel. Although the book is a mystery thriller, it has a lot of heart. As we get the full picture of Elsie, the curmudgeon, we learn about her background, and everything starts coming into focus. The dialogue is often quite witty, and the supporting characters range from wonderful to despicable. Nugget, Ishaan's "demonic" Chihuahua, is a great addition. This is the ideal book to introduce readers to this author, who has written many entertaining thrillers.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the advance.

Rated 4.25 out of 5 stars.

Mystery Thriller.

Publication Date: April 21, 2026.

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