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.

Holy voice! I was completely invested in this novel not only because the story was captivating, but because the characters are unforgettable and the voice is outstanding, which made me love Mabel’s complicated character even more. The care that Hepworth has for this character is very evident.

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is 81 years old and has lived on the same street for six decades. She’s a curmudgeon who minds everyone else’s business, and most people just see her as a nosy old lady. But Elsie has a past she’s worked incredibly hard to keep buried. When it comes to murder, no one ever suspects little girls or old ladies. And Elsie has been both. Also, people in her life have a strange habit of coming to bad ends.

When a talkative, curious little girl moves into the neighborhood and decides she’s going to befriend Elsie no matter what, Elsie’s carefully constructed life starts to unravel. The secrets from her past begin coming to light, and suddenly everything she’s built is at risk.

Mabel is layered and complicated, and she is the most lovable, curmudgeonly old lady I’ve read in a while. I went in kind of expecting something similar to “Too Old For This,” which I read and really enjoyed last year, but this one was so much better. It’s not exactly a thriller so much as a really great character study of someone with a complicated past that has, once again, caught up with her. I guess you could say it’s a contemporary fiction novel with a side of mystery. The mystery elements are there, but the real draw is Mabel herself and watching her navigate this new threat to her peace.

The book alternates between past and present, showing you who Mabel was as a young girl and who she is now as an old woman. Those flashbacks are essential to understanding her, and Hepworth weaves them in beautifully without ever making the timeline feel confusing or clunky.

The writing is so strong, and the characters are so engaging that I couldn’t put it down. Mabel’s voice is distinctive and sharp. She’s judgmental and prickly and absolutely delightful. The little girl who befriends her is equally well-drawn, and their dynamic is one of the best parts of the book.

What truly elevated this from a “really liked” to “loved” was what you realize about Mabel later in the book when everything is wrapping up. I won’t spoil it, but there’s a reveal that recontextualizes everything you’ve learned about her and I will admit, I got a little choked up. It added a layer of empathy and understanding that hit me hard and it made me love her and feel for her even more.

Hepworth has written something special here. This is a book about justice and redemption, about the past coming back to haunt you, and about whether people can ever truly escape who they once were. It’s also about found family, unlikely friendships, and the way connection can happen in the most unexpected places.

The pacing is excellent. The tension builds steadily without ever feeling forced. And the ending is stunning. It ties everything together in a way that feels both surprising and inevitable.

If you love character-driven fiction with complicated, morally gray protagonists, pick this up. This is one of those books where the character stays with you long after you finish. Mabel is absolutely unforgettable. Another book that will likely end up on a “best of” list at the end of the year.

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