Itβs not often that I find myself gobsmacked by a
story.Β MAD MABEL is an introspective masterpiece on
how events shape our lives. In this case, the central figure
is considered a murderous monster by many. Now at eighty-
one, Mabel, AKA Elsie, seems content in her little
community. Until unpredictable attention comes her way.
Page 44. First time I said 'oh my god' out loud. First
time I realized there was so much more to the story of Mad
Mabel. What weβve read so far is just the absolute
crust of the tale. This was the beginning of a huge journey
into the life of this tall, well-spoken, intelligent, rough-
around-the-edges woman.
Chapter by chapter, Mabelβs life is revealed. Her
struggles seem unending and blatantly unfair. And yet, when
we come to the conclusion, we realize that we didnβt
really know anything. Laughter at exchanges with her
neighbors. Sighs at her reaction to children and dogs. And
tears when so much is exposed that we feel her pain.
Kudos to Sally Hepworth for one of the best suspense
novels in years. MAD MABEL will keep you on the edge of your
seat even though you may not realize it. The supporting cast
is second to none. Mabel's story unfolds slowly,
emotionally, and almost maddeningly, delivering some of the
best plot development from certainly one of today's best
writers
Sally Hepworth totally outdid herself with the
creation of Mabel/Elsie. A woman whose life was defined by
the worst possible situations for anyone to find themselves
in, especially a child. Page by page, we are brought further
into Mabelβs life. Her existence is so harsh that the
fear was palpable. And yet Sally Hepworth peels back the
history with incredible dialog and interrelationships with
some wonderful characters. This is probably one of my most
ambitious reviews to date. Faced with the awesome task of
remaining vague, albeit mysterious.
The story centers on two young characters who wish to
interview Mabel about her life. After all, everyone thinks
of her as a murderer. They aren't setting out to prove her
innocent, but to explore public opinion, backed by her own
storytelling.
If you are looking for a remarkable page-turner, look no
further than MAD MABELΒ by Sally Hepworth.
There are a multitude of superlatives for the depth of the
writing and the care given to each character.
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.
No excerpt available.
© 2003-2026