5.0 (1 rating)

Mad Mabel

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Soulmate and Darling Girls comes the story of Mad Mabel. They called it murder. She called it justice.In 1959, at just fifteen years of age, Mabel Waller became the youngest Australian in history to be convicted of murder.In 2025, on a quiet Melbourne lane, an elderly man is found dead by his neighbour, 81-year-old Elsie Fitzpatrick. No one suspects any foul play.Until they discover Elsie's past.In the 1950s, her name was not Elsie. It was Mabel.She is known around the world as Mad Mabel. But is she mad? More importantly, is she guilty?When the police open a new investigation and the media descend upon her, the elderly Mabel decides it's time to set the record straight.In a world first, at the age of 81, Mabel Waller is speaking.New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth is at her finest in this twisty, compulsive thriller of friendship, family and murder. Or is it justice . . . ?Praise for Sally Hepworth: 'She is one of my favourite Australian writers' - Liane Moriarty'Sally Hepworth is a born storyteller' - Trent Dalton'The queen of suburban noir' - Sunday Telegraph

Reader Reviews

5.0

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Jolene C.

Apr 21, 2026

There are a few things guaranteed to win me over every time, and two of them are the elderly and kids. This story didn’t just deliver that combo, it ran with it. You’ve got Elsie, eighty-one, grumpy, and armed with the kind of sarcasm that could peel paint. Then enter Persephone, a seven-year-old force of nature who asks questions like she’s always on a mission. Together? Absolute gold. No one is more honest than a cranky old woman and a fearless kid, and this book squeezes every drop out of that dynamic.

Now stir in a murder mystery, a shadowy past, and a neighborhood buzzing louder than gossip at a backyard barbecue, and you’ve got a thriller that refuses to sit still. It’s dark in places, yes, but it’s also witty, sharp, and surprisingly warm. Beneath all the grouchiness there’s a steady pulse of love running through the story that sneaks up on you when you least expect it.

And Elsie… or should I say Mad Mabel? The mystery of who she was versus who she is kept me hooked the entire time.

This book had everything: tension, humor, heart, and characters that I loved and wished lived across the street.

This will definitely end up in my top favorites this year!