MAD MABEL
Sally Hepworth
St Martin’s Press
April 21, 2026
336 pages
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I love Sally Hepworth’s books. I think I start every review of her books with the same line. Her writing style is very unique, subtle and full of nuances. As a reader, I’m never sure whether a detail is trivial or a hint of something to come.
Mabel is the main character. She is 81 years old, a crusty, sarcastic and grumpy old lady with a very checkered past. She goes by the name Elsie. When her elderly neighbour passes away she becomes a suspect because of her past.
At this point, the book is divided into Now and Then. As with all dual time lines, Then explains Now. As an old lady, she hides a lot. As a child, a lot happened to her. Too much.
Great character development throughout the book. Crusty Elsie hides a vulnerable Mabel. A neighbour’s child, Persephone, is an annoyingly loveable child. The neighbours are all interesting.
As the book progresses there are twists and turns. Some are a little predictable. Most were not, for me, especially at the end.
Fast, easy and entertaining read. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
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