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Mad Mabel

A twisty, darkly humorous and charming novel that will keep you guessing

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Mad Mabel

By: Sally Hepworth
Narrated by: Hannah Fredrickson, Jenny Seedsman
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Audiobook of the Year winner at the Australian Book Industry Awards

Mad Mabel was an instant New York Times bestseller and a No. 1 bestseller in Australia. Discover why listeners across the globe have fallen for this twisty, surprising and charming novel.


** An unforgettable main character **
** A story with twists you won't see coming **
** A quirky and charming read for fans of My Friends by Fredrik Backman, The Wedding People by Alison Espach and The Correspondent by Virginia Evans **

'Funny, twisty and suspenseful' – Harlan Coben

'Packed with wit, warmth, nuance and mystery. Brilliant' – Jane Harper

YOU CAN CHANGE
YOUR NAME.
BUT YOU CAN'T
CHANGE YOUR PAST . . .


Eighty-one-year-old Elsie Fitzpatrick lives a quiet life in the suburbs. Few would guess that Elsie, aside from being a curmudgeon who minds everyone else’s business, harbours a secret she’s worked hard to bury.

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 an elderly neighbour is found dead, no one suspects a thing – until they uncover Elsie’s true identity: Mad Mabel, the youngest Australian in history to be convicted of murder, more than sixty years ago.

The police are asking questions. The media is circling. Has the past finally caught up with Mad Mabel? Or is it time for her to set the record straight?

'A brilliantly original premise and an unconventional, unforgettable heroine. Sally Hepworth’s sparkling wit had me hooked' - Phaedra Patrick

'I love everything she's ever written so suggest you pick this up pronto' - Adele Parks

Praise for Sally Hepworth

‘Fiction at its finest’ – Liane Moriarty

‘An absolute page-turner from first word to last’ – Jane Harper

‘Smart suspenseful, brimming with secrets’ – Kate Morton

‘Clever, chilling and beautifully crafted’ – Adele Parks

(P)2026 Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd
Crime Thrillers Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction Exciting Funny Heartfelt Witty Crime Murder
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Critic reviews

Funny, twisty and suspenseful (Harlan Coben)
A brilliantly original premise and an unconventional, unforgettable heroine. Sally Hepworth’s sparkling wit had me hooked from the very first page (Phaedra Patrick, bestselling author of The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper on Mad Mabel)
I love everything she's ever written so suggest you pick this up pronto (Adele Parks, bestselling author of Our Beautiful Mess on Mad Mabel)
Sally Hepworth’s Mad Mabel is a deliciously twisty mix of mystery, dark humour and heart, perfect for those who can’t resist a character-driven, clever thriller (Muddy Stilettos)
This bittersweet dramedy blends a present-day mystery with a compelling and compassionate look at the past (Platinum on Mad Mabel)
A tour-de-force in character study, slow burn mystery, and thematic exploration (FanFiAddict on Mad Mabel)
A twisty page-turning triumph, packed with wit, warmth, nuance and mystery. Brilliant (Jane Harper, bestselling author of Last One Out on Mad Mabel)
Part comedy, part thriller and entirely engaging (Spectator on Mad Mabel)
Believe all the hype about this excellent read (Fabulous Magazine, The Sun on Mad Mabel)
Gripping (Daily Mail on Darling Girls)
Touching, tender . . . A delightful read (Liane Moriarty, author of Big Little Lies on The Good Sister)
A fun psychological suspense thriller (Emily Henry, author of Book Lovers on Darling Girls)
Hepworth delivers a page-turning novel (about) one of the most important moments in a woman's life . . . and spins a story that will hold you captivated until the end (Emily Giffin, author of The One and Only on The Secrets of Midwives)
All stars
Most relevant
I fell in love with Mabel from page 1! What a beautifully crafted story. Start writing another book immediately!

Magnificent!!!

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THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL LISTENING EXPERIENCE THE BOOK WAS FANTASTIC SAD/FUNNY/WITTY AND A FEW SURPRISES THROWN IN ALONG THE WAY NARRATOR BRILLIANT ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

WHAT A BRILLIANT

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I always enjoy this authors work as the stories tend to be quite poignant. This was a hard listen too at times as touched on sensitive subjects, but was v good. Excellent narration as always.

A lovely story

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Absolutely absorbing, funny, poignant. A 5 star listen. Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Would recommend highly to anyone.

Perfect

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This is the best book I have listened to in a long while, absolutely fantastic. Wonderful characters, great narration and unexpected twists. Just wonderful!

Superb!

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