Shop The M
Limited Time Offer
$0.99/mo for 4 months + $20 Audible credit
$0.99
  • Join Audible Standard for only $0.99 a month for the first 4 months, and get a $20 credit for Audible.com. Bonus notification will be received via email.
  • Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection of 1M+ titles.
  • Listen to your audiobook selections & have unlimited access to bingeable podcasts as long as you're a member.
  • Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 4 months. Offer ends October 7, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT. Cancel anytime.
Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company
  • Auto-renews at $8.99 /mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company
Audible Price: $20.24
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible’s Conditions Of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company
Added to

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.
  • Mad Mabel: A Novel

Mad Mabel: A Novel

4.6 out of 5 stars (58,211)

From Sally Hepworth, the New York Times bestselling author of The Soulmate and The Good Sister, comes a twist-filled, darkly funny mystery about the two kinds of people no one ever expects to be murderers: little girls and old ladies.

“Vivid performances emphasize resilience and the power of friendship in this endearing audiobook.” — Kirkus


Meet Mad Mabel.

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.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press

Image Read & Listen

Switch between reading the Kindle book & listening to the Audible audiobook with Whispersync for Voice.
Get the Audible audiobook for the reduced price of $13.50 after you buy the Kindle book.

Product details

  • Listening Length ‏ : ‎ 9 hours and 20 minutes
  • Author ‏ : ‎ Sally Hepworth
  • Narrator ‏ : ‎ Hannah Fredericksen, see all
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 21, 2026
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Macmillan Audio
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0F9MJ1XQ6
  • Version ‏ : ‎ Unabridged
  • Program Type ‏ : ‎ Audiobook
  • Best Sellers Rank: #7 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars (58,211)

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
58,211 global ratings
Sponsored

Customers say

Customers find this novel to be a fun read with richly drawn characters, particularly praising Mabel's authentic portrayal. The story features unexpected twists and turns that keep readers engaged, and customers appreciate its heartbreaking humor and emotional depth, noting it's both sad and happy at the same time. The writing quality receives positive feedback for its descriptive prose, and customers describe it as a good quick read.
AI Generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

484 customers mention content, 467 positive, 17 negative
Customers find the book enjoyable and fun to read, describing it as a must-read.
This was such a great read, wholesome yet riveting and also keeping you on your toes. Definitely will be reading more of Sally Hepworth booksRead more
...It is nothing like that. It is a great book and Mad Mabel is a complex character. I loved the book from beginning to end.Read more
Very readable. Original plot with some twists. Highly recommend. Identified with Mabel having no editing equipment! Laughed out loud at times.Read more
Loved this book! Characters were fabulous. It was like an onion as layer after layer was shed. I did not want it to end. Debra Sidor TannerRead more
211 customers mention story, 199 positive, 12 negative
Customers enjoy the story's twists and turns, with one customer describing it as a meticulously structured tale filled with humor and heartache.
What a great story, with little twists here and there! I was really surprised by a few of them! Mabel is spunky, sassy and surprisingly funny!...Read more
Excellent story, though a subtraction of one star for the ending....Read more
...her past, her scars and her encounters with Persephone, is a beautiful story, is one of those books I wouldn't mind reading again.Read more
Wonderful story, with such vibrant well-rounded characters! Several surprises along the way. This story kept my attention from page one.Read more
159 customers mention character development, 153 positive, 6 negative
Customers love the characters in this novel, particularly appreciating the main character's voice and how accurately Mabel's personality and behavior are portrayed.
...Her childhood story is heart wrenching! Well written, great characters, easy read. Some plot twists you see, most you don’t!Read more
I loved the characters and the storyline was unexpected…some parts of the book just made me smile. You will smile too if you read this bookRead more
...This was one of those books. Well developed characters, interesting story, & funny . This book has all you need for an entertaining read!Read more
Such a lovely story, well written and heartfelt. Characters are well developed and become people one feels like they know as reading the book.Read more
147 customers mention emotional, 140 positive, 7 negative
Customers find the book emotionally engaging, describing it as a sad and heartwarming story that fills them with feelings.
Sad, happy, cruel, well developed characters, Mabel is complex, hilarious and so strong, book is impossible to predict as you’re reading -...Read more
...A book that makes you feel. So incredibly sad, yet heartwarming. As soon as I read a few pages, I knew….this is going to be so good! Excellent!Read more
This book was funny, suspenseful, touching, it was everything. I adored all the characters (well… maybe not one iykyk) and I couldn’t put this down.Read more
I enjoyed the book slot. It was heartbreaking, but also hopeful in a way that no matter how mean some people can be love can prevail.Read more
121 customers mention humor, 121 positive, 0 negative
Customers enjoy the book's humor, finding it entertaining and having them laughing at times, with one customer noting how perfectly placed small laughs enhance the reading experience.
This book was funny, suspenseful, touching, it was everything. I adored all the characters (well… maybe not one iykyk) and I couldn’t put this down.Read more
I read this book in one day- I could not put it down. It was sharp, witty, well-paced, emotional and so well written… I sobbed at the end and I wish...Read more
Sad, happy, cruel, well developed characters, Mabel is complex, hilarious and so strong, book is impossible to predict as you’re reading -...Read more
I laughed, I cried and was surprised several times. The story moves along and keeps you guessing. You can’t help but love Mabel.Read more
107 customers mention plot twists, 100 positive, 7 negative
Customers enjoy the book's unexpected plot twists that keep them engaged throughout the story.
This story pulled me in and wouldn’t let go! The story was quirky in the beginning and then turned mysterious, emotional, funny - all the things -...Read more
...Very good book with lots of twists and turns. I enjoyed it very muchRead more
...Sharp, surprising, and wickedly funny, this is the unforgettable story of a woman who’s spent a lifetime being underestimated—and is about to prove...Read more
Seriously, what a book. I loved it from start to finish. The twists and turns. The sad parts, and the funny ones. It’s terrific!Read more
95 customers mention readability, 87 positive, 8 negative
Customers find the book interesting and easy to read, completing it in a couple of days, with one customer finishing it in two sleepless nights.
...Excellent narrator, if you decide to listen to it. Read it. You can thank me later.Read more
...I would call this a cozy thriller. Easy read and the best part was definitely between Persephone and Mabel....Read more
A real page turner. Worth the read. Not a fan of the ending. You be the judge.Read more
Very good original story. Easy to read. Just goes to show how gossip and cruelty can create so much unnecessary havoc!Read more
77 customers mention writing quality, 76 positive, 1 negative
Customers praise the writing quality of the book, highlighting its descriptive prose and humor, with one customer noting the author's incredible voice.
Such a wonderful read! Well written, great character development, I just love Mabel’s curmudgeon-eyness! Highly recommend - great book for book club!!Read more
...It was sharp, witty, well-paced, emotional and so well written… I sobbed at the end and I wish I still had more to read. Don’t skip this!Read more
Wonderfully written with a lot of heartfelt moments that last long after the ending. Hands down, best book I have read in a long time....Read more
...it -I feel free emotionally inspired to share my thoughts on a beautifully written wonderfully identifiable character and read:...Read more
Sign in to see customer reviews.
Sponsored