Mad Mabel Book Review: Sally Hepworth’s Grumpy, Twisty, Big-Hearted Mystery

I was searching for a funny audiobook for a recent road trip. I had no filters other than “humor”.

My Libby app pointed me to Mad Mabel.

Libby App: “Hey, you like dark fiction about grumpy, possibly mad, 81-year-old Australian women with a suspicious past, and dicey future after a neighbor turns up dead, right?“

Me: “No thanks, Libby.“

Libby App: “What if she adopts the dead neighbor’s dog?“

Me: “You got me Libby, queue it up.“

Libby scores again.

This is part of my 100 book reading goal for 2026 (Book #72)

My Mad Mabel Book Review

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Where to Get It

Available in multiple formats, depending on how you like to read (or listen).

🎧 Audiobook (Indie Option): Listen on Libro.fm
🎧 Audiobook (Amazon Option): Listen on Audible
📚 Support Local Bookstores: Buy from Bookshop.org
📦 Amazon (Paperback/Kindle): View on Amazon

Mad Mabel Book Summary

Elsie Fitzpatrick is 81. She has lived on Kenny Lane in suburban Melbourne for sixty years. She minds her own business. Mostly. The old man next door turns up dead. A man Elsie can’t stand.

Nobody suspects a thing. Until they figure out who Elsie used to be. Back in 1954, she was Mabel Waller. Fourteen years old. The youngest person in Australian history convicted of murder. Now the cops are poking around, the media is circling, and Mabel decides it’s finally time to tell her side of the story.

The book jumps between the 1950s and today. Throw in a seven-year-old across the street with zero sense of personal space and a gloriously annoying voice (on the audiobook, Jenny Seedsman nails it), plus a neighbor who seems to have it out for Elsie. It’s a mystery. It’s darkly funny. And it somehow sneaks in themes of friendship and found family.

Who is Sally Hepworth?

📚 New York Times bestselling author of 10 novels, including The Mother-in-Law, The Good Sister, The Soulmate, and Darling Girls
🍼 Started her first novel while on maternity leave. She literally Googled “how to write a book.” Respect.
👵 Got the idea for Mad Mabel when someone told her nobody ever suspects little girls or old ladies of murder
🏆 Mad Mabel hit No. 1 in Australia and was an instant New York Times bestseller
Find Sally Hepworth here: Sally Hepworth

My Mad Mabel Rating

My innovative system for rating humor books is explained here

Overall Awesomeness: 5/5

5 out of 5 stars for Overall Awesomeness

Funny, twisty, and heartwarming. I liked the story bouncing back and forth from young Mabel to present-day Mabel (or Elsie, if you will). It was a great way to tell Mabel’s story and find out how she became the way she is. Family tragedy (multiple times), a horrible father, and a true friendship that blows your mind at the end.

Things I liked

It’s genuinely funny. Yes, it’s a murder mystery. But I guess murder can be funny?
The twists. I thought I had it figured out. I did not have it figured out.
Grumpy Old Man energy. Except it’s a grumpy old woman.
An adopted dog. As a guy with two dogs, this is an automatic bonus point.

Things I didn’t like

Persephone’s annoying voice (via audiobook). Even though this was intentional and perfectly executed.
I guess I still can’t tell the difference between an Australian accent and a British accent.

The One Thing I’m Taking With Me

You never know what people are carrying. Tragedy. Bad luck. Abuse. Stuff that happened when they were a kid and never really left. It can shape a person for the rest of their life.

So give people grace. Get to know them. Don’t let somebody’s past keep you from knowing who they are right now. Even the grumpy old neighbors down the street.