Mad Mabel by Sally HepworthMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A simply delightful read!
I'm broadening my reading horizons this year but even before that decision the cover of this one attracted me, so when I saw it on NetGalley I had to give it a shot. Great decision!
This tells the tale of Mad Mabel, an 81 year old lady who was once convicted as Australia's youngest serial killer. But what's the true story behind the murders that left Mabel Waller ostracised, isolated and eyed with suspicion?
From the get-go, it's impossible to dislike Elsie/Mabel. She's instantly recognisable as the little old lady with a lot of fight left in her, and the writing does a brilliant job of showing both her hard exterior and soft centre at the same time.
The supporting characters are well illustrated, and the writing keeps the tone light while still lending a gravity to situations when needed.
We get the Then and Now of Elsie's life - in the present day, she narrates her past for a podcast, so we get alternating chapters to fully round out the story. I enjoyed this approach and followed the change easily, getting sucked in to both timelines.
It's quite a wholesome story that will inspire a range of emotions, and I think there is a lot that people will relate to, whether it's the isolation, the strong bonds of friendship or the trials of being a young soul in an aging body.
I loved this one, and highly recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC
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