Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth is a story about an 81-year-old woman with a shady past and how her present might reveal who she really is.
Sally Hepworth has done it again! She comes up with these unique premises and just blows me out of the water with her psychological thrillers. Elsie is about an elderly woman who just wants to be left alone. Her neighbor is murdered, which leads to an investigation into who Elsie really is. Turns out she’s Mad Mabel, the youngest person found guilty of murder in Australia. Can Elsie prove to the people in her community and the police that she’s not that person? Or is she really a cold-blooded killer?
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Mad Mabel Overview
Title: Mad Mabel
Author: Sally Hepworth
Pages: 352 Pages
Publish Date: April 21st, 2026
Genre: Thriller
My Star Rating: 5/5 stars! (I loved this book and would recommend it to everyone!)
Grab Your Copy Here: https://amzn.to/4c14NLv
Synopsis from Amazon
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.
My Review of Mad Mabel
First off, thank you to Sally Hepworth, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced reading copy of Mad Mabel. I was so excited to read this book, and it didn’t disappoint.
If there’s one thing I love, it’s a thrilling book that keeps you on your toes and has you guessing until the end. Is Mad Mabel an actual killer? I’m pretty sure I was thinking that until the end of this book. I did predict one twist in this book, but I didn’t suspect the other twist.
One of the things I really loved about this book was that Elsie just wanted to be left alone in true old spinster fashion. But the people in her life refused to let her be or feel alone. I loved the little community she found throughout this novel.
Honestly, I can say that this was the first time in a long time that I really loved the main character of a domestic thriller. I was rooting for Elsie and couldn’t wait to find out what really happened in her past.
This book is perfect for anyone who loves thriller books with twists, strong, complex female characters, podcast vibes, bad reputations, childhood traumas, dual timelines, and found family.
More Thrilling Books
- Killing Me Softly by Sandie Jones NetGalley Book Review
- Imposter by L.J. Ross: A NetGalley Book Review
- My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney: A NetGalley Review
- The Storm by Rachel Hawkins: A NetGalley Book Review
Final Thoughts
If you want to read a really good psychological thriller, then you need to check out Mad Mabel. You will be wondering until the last page if this 81-year-old woman is really a cold-blooded killer. If you have any questions about this book, let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from all of you!
Lastly, if you enjoyed this book review or know someone who will enjoy this book, please share this review. I really appreciate all the love and support.
Thanks for reading,
Kel
