In this episode of Between the Covers with Danielle, we dive headfirst into Mad Mabel — Sally Hepworth’s brilliantly twisted new novel that’s part suburban mystery, part emotional gut punch, and entirely irresistible.

Eighty-one-year-old Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick has lived long enough to know that being underestimated can be its own kind of weapon. Once branded “Mad Mabel” by the tabloids, she’s spent decades hiding a past most women wouldn’t survive. But when a new neighbour moves in and a fresh scandal erupts on Kenny Lane, her secrets start bubbling dangerously close to the surface.

This is Sally Hepworth at her finest — sharp, witty, and unexpectedly moving. In this review, Danielle explores why Mad Mabel isn’t just a mystery novel but a love letter to female resilience, aging unapologetically, and reclaiming the word ‘mad’ as a badge of honour.

Expect laughter, goosebumps, and a few raised eyebrows. Because this is Hepworth’s most darkly funny and deeply humane story yet — a reminder that behind every quiet street and every polite smile, there’s a woman with a past you’d never dare imagine.