Mad Mabel
By Sally Hepworth ★★★★★★★★½☆ 8.5/10 ""This is a love story, by the way. It may not seem like it, what with all the blood and guts and murder, but nevertheless, that's what it is. And there is no greater love story than that of platoni..."
By Sally Hepworth
★★★★★★★★½☆ 8.5/10
344 pages
What’s it about?
Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is 81 years old and lives on a quiet street in Melbourne. At least she used to think of it as a quiet street. But when 7-year-old Persephone moves across the way, her solitude is sorely interrupted. Persephone is the child of a single working mom and will not be dissuaded from believing that Elsie is her friend- grumpy or not. Elsie has a past, so she tries to keep her distance from people. But when her link to Mad Mabel is discovered, she is forced to finally face it for Persephone's sake.
What did it make me think about?
I loved that this book is all about female friendships and how they sustain us over the years. The mystery was good- the characters even better!
Should I read it?
What a fun book! Sally Hepworth is a fine storyteller. This book is as much character-driven as it is suspenseful. I definitely wanted to know Elsie's story, but I equally enjoyed getting to know Elsie, Persephone, and the whole neighborhood. Sally Hepworth has kept me entertained with her storytelling skills these past few days. I will be picking up another of her books soon. This novel would make a great addition to your carry-on bag as you head out on vacation.
A passage I marked
"This is a love story, by the way. It may not seem like it, what with all the blood and guts and murder, but nevertheless, that's what it is. And there is no greater love story than that of platonic female love."
