Mad Mabel ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth 


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NetGalley

There are two kinds of people no one ever expects to be murderers: little girls and old ladies. Meet Mad Mabel.

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is eighty-one years old. She's lived on her idyllic street, Kenny Lane, for sixty years--longer than anyone else. Aside from being a curmudgeon who minds everyone else's business, few would suspect that Elsie has a past that she has worked exceedingly hard at concealing. Because when it comes to murder, no one ever suspects little girls or old ladies. And Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick, once a little girl and now an old lady, has a strange history of people in her life coming to a foul end.

When a new little girl (talkative, curious, nosy) moves into the neighborhood and stops at nothing to befriend Elsie, her carefully-constructed life threatens to come crashing down as the secrets in Elsie's past start coming to light. Who was "Mad Mabel" fifty years ago? Who is Elsie Fitzpatrick today? And if the past has a habit of repeating itself, who has the most to lose?

Told with Sally Hepworth's twists, humor, charm, and heart, MAD MABEL is novel that weaves past and present together--through the power of justice and redemption, and all the way to its stunning conclusion.

Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Day 1: I'm already in love with Elsie from the get go.
I enjoy books with the 'genarians (septuagenarians, octogenarians and nonagenarians). I think I'd enjoy going to a luncheon with Elsie, Eva, Vivian, Mrs. Kip, and Grandma Ruth. They are fiction and historical fiction protagonist that stole the show (IMO). Curmudgeonly 'genarians should be the new idols. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

🎉 Overall Enjoyment? 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

🎣 Did it grab and keep my attention? 🎣🎣🎣🎣🎣

🗣️Would I recommend it to anyone? Yes ➕

🕮 Would I want a sequel? No ➖ Not necessary

📚 Would I want to read more books by this author?  Yes ➕

💣💥 📢 Triᵷᵷer Warnings? Violɇncɇ, AbŪsɇ, BŪllƴinᶃ

🌶 Spice? No

🌪 Plot Twist? YES!

👟 Pace? Good

💻 Tidbits ~ Would it drive you mad if people called you Mad all the time, especially during your wonder years? Not only school mates but her own father?

She's 81 year old Elsie now. Smart, sarcastic, grumpy, witty, all while living in the shadow of her past.
She's Elsa (much to her dissatisfaction of the nickname) to her pesky little seven year old neighbor Persephone who is bound and determine to be friends. 
E - "how many seven year olds do you know who are friends with 81 year olds?"
P - "It's not ideal but beggars can't be choosers".
E - "You're not a beggar child."
P - "I know that. You're the beggar, I'm the chooser... because I*choose*you."
:heart:melts:
Disclaimer: the book hasn't been published yet so quote is subject to change at final print. 

Elsie is under suspicion after finding her neighbor dɇad.  One of her neighbors knows her history and now the whole town seems to know. At 15 years old she became the youngest Australian to be convicted of mŰrdɇr. Elsie decides to give her story to podcasters so the public will understand who Mabel was and why she was referred to as Mad. Dredging up the past is not an easy task.

This story is about unconditional love blooming through despair. Her aunt is a Godsend, not judging, always protecting. Her friend Daphne, always there for her throughout her life. Persephone went from a pushy annoying child to her new bestie.  

Not yet published. Expected 4-21-2026

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

🎧Hannah Fredricksen (Mabel as a young girl) and Jenny Seedsman 👍 (Elsie as an 81 YO). 

🎧11.18 hours 🕮 352 pages

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Extra Tidbit

I woke up the next morning with a book hangover. 😳😵
I stayed up later than usual to finish the book and then I couldn't fall asleep because I was thinking about it. Then I kept waking up to think about it some more.
This one is occupying my thoughts long after the last page. 


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