Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

"A twisty page-turning triumph, packed with wit, warmth, nuance and mystery. Brilliant." —Jane Harper

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

⚠️ Please note: This title is currently out of stock. Orders will ship within 2–3 weeks of availability.

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; 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.

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.

What readers and critics are saying:

• "Funny, twisty and suspenseful." —Harlan Coben
• "Hepworth balances heartbreak with Elsie's delicious snark and strong suspense... Arguably Hepworth's best." —Booklist, starred review
• "A must-purchase for most collections." —Library Journal, starred review