Book Review: Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth
Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth will be released in the United States on April 21, 2026.
what a stunning book cover!
Mad Mabel was a surprising pleasure to read. Surprising because it was so funny, and I did not expect that! I’ve read almost all of Australian author Sally Hepworth’s books. Mabel (whose name is actually Elsie), our main character, had an irrepressible voice and humorous, sardonic even, way of viewing the world and narrating her experience. Elsie is 81 years old, and she dives right in by narrating everything (and everyone) she loves and hates about her neighborhood. Elsie’s character is kind of offbeat, like in Where’d You Go, Bernadette?
The story is dual timeline, so it goes back and forth between Elsie’s childhood (which includes the mysterious loss of someone close to her) and how she was treated, which sadly included a lot of bullying and emotionally absent parents. In Mad Mabel, readers will find Sally Hepworth’s signature care for her characters, nuance in character development, and empathy for the most vulnerable characters, like the children in her previous book, Darling Girls. Yet strong narrator voice and development take the focus in Mad Mabel, even though an intriguing murder mystery is involved. This aspect makes me think those who enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club might like this book too.
I’ve enjoyed reading almost all of Sally Hepworth’s books and I often read them for the mystery or thriller aspect of it all: the fast-paced plot and finding out the truth about what happened. Yet this book has another layer; Mad Mabel shines with unique character voices and everyday experiences described in fresh ways, and a theme about how the people we love sustain us, like Elsie’s BFF Daphne and the quirky girl down the street.
Every time I put down the book, I wondered, what is Elsie going to do next?
Thank you to Macmillan Publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review and ARC of Mad Mabel.
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