Mad Mabel: A Novel

Description

An instant New York Times bestseller, Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth is a twisty, darkly funny mystery about justice, redemption and a woman whose past refuses to stay buried.

Meet Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick, an eighty-one-year-old Melbourne resident who is fiercely independent, gloriously grumpy and never short of a cutting remark. She prefers the peace of her quiet suburban life, until a neighbour is found dead and suspicion begins to spread.

Elsie has a secret. Decades earlier, she was known as Mad Mabel Waller, Australia’s youngest convicted murderer. Now, as the police investigate, the media circle and curious neighbours start asking questions, the truth about her past threatens to come to light. With seven-year-old Persephone asking relentless questions and Joan seemingly determined to make trouble for her, Mabel decides to take matters into her own hands.

As her past and present begin to collide, questions emerge about who Mabel really is and whether the story everyone believes is the whole truth. Is she a dangerous killer, a misunderstood woman or someone finally ready to tell her side of the story?

Blending suspense, unexpected twists and sharp humour, Mad Mabel explores how easily people are judged by their past and what happens when someone refuses to be defined by it. Sally Hepworth delivers a compelling mystery featuring an unforgettable protagonist who still has a few surprises up her sleeve.