MAD MABEL
From Sally Hepworth, the New York Times bestselling author of The Soulmate and The Good Sister, comes a twist-filled, darkly funny mystery about the 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.
From Sally Hepworth, the New York Times bestselling author of The Soulmate and The Good Sister, comes a twist-filled, darkly funny mystery about the 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.
- Macmillan Audio
- Audio
- April 2026
- 9 hours 20 minutes
- 9781250433824
Buy the Book
$26.99
About Sally Hepworth
Sally Hepworth is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including The Good Sister and The Soulmate. 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. They are available worldwide in English and have been translated into twenty languages. Sally lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her family and one adorable dog.
Praise
“A must-purchase for most collections. Not only will Hepworth’s many fans be clamoring for this, but it’s sure to grow her reader base.” —Library Journal, starred review
“Hepworth balances heartbreak with Elsie’s delicious snark and strong suspense, but readers will be hard-pressed to resist feeling something here as allies emerge to defeat Elsie’s resigned loneliness. Arguably Hepworth’s best, this is a must-read for fans of Helene Tursten’s Elderly Lady series and Christopher Bollen’s Havoc (2024). ” —Booklist, starred review
Discussion Questions
- Elsie’s voice is sharp, witty, but deeply personal. How did her unique voice shape your experience of the story? Did you find her likable? Did her voice make you trust her more or question what she might be leaving out?
- The audiobook opens with the line, “there are two groups of people who are rarely, if ever, suspected of murder . . .” How does this statement frame your expectations for the story? In what ways does the audiobook play with assumptions about age, gender, and guilt?
- Friendship between women, especially in old age, is at the heart of this audiobook. What makes Elsie and Daphne’s bond so powerful? How does their relationship challenge or affirm your ideas about lifelong friendship?
- The character of Persephone brings both levity and chaos. What role does she play in Elsie’s world, and how does their unlikely dynamic evolve throughout the story?
- How does the audiobook use humor to address serious themes like trauma, loneliness, aging, and regret? Did the humor ever feel like a shield, or did it enhance the emotional weight of the story?
- Elsie’s past unfolds slowly, revealing tragedy, cruelty, and buried secrets. How did the flashbacks shape your understanding of who she is today? Were you surprised by any of the revelations?
- Joan plays the part of antagonist, her motivations rooted in suspicion and fear. Do you think she is justified in her actions? How would you have reacted in her shoes?
- Much of the audiobook explores how labels like “mad” or “difficult” follow women through life. How has Elsie internalized or rejected these labels? How does society treat “difficult” women differently across generations?
- The residents of Kenny Lane are quirky, nosy, and tightly interconnected. How does the neighborhood function as both a refuge and a battleground for Elsie?
- The audiobook calls itself “a love story,” not romantic, but a story about platonic love. Do you agree with that description? What does the audiobook suggest about the role of non-romantic relationships in a meaningful life?