ALC Review: Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth
Mad Mabel
Author: Sally Hepworth
Narrators:
Hannah Frederickson
Jenny Seedsman
To Be Published: April 21, 2026
Audiobook: 9 hours 20 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: March 1-6, 2026
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Meet Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick: eighty-one years old, gloriously grumpy, fiercely independent, and never without a hot cup of tea—or a cutting remark. She minds her own business in her quiet Melbourne suburb, until a neighbor turns up dead and the whispers start flying.
Because Elsie hasn’t always been Elsie. Once upon a headline, she was Mad Mabel Waller—Australia’s youngest convicted murderer. But was she really mad, or just misunderstood? Either way, she’s kept her secret buried for decades.
Enter seven-year-old Persephone, a relentless little chatterbox who has just moved in across the road (armed with stickers, questions, and no sense of personal boundaries); Joan, who appears to have it in for Elsie; and a healthy dose of public interest—the cops are sniffing around, and the media is circling like seagulls at a picnic.
So Mabel does what she’s always done best—she takes matters into her own hands.
Is she a cantankerous old lady with a shady past? A cold-blooded killer with arthritis? Or just someone who’s finally ready to tell her side of the story?
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 everyone wrong. Again.
Jessica’s Review:
Meet Elsie “Mad Mabel” Fitzpatrick: The youngest girl to be found guilty of murder in Australia. She a rude, crotchety, old ‘Karen” at 81 years old. She has been living a quiet and ‘normal’ life until she discovers her nemesis neighbor dead. Suddenly she becomes the center of attention of… Well… Everyone because of who she was. She is all over the news and all she wants is to be left alone.
We have two time periods with Mabel telling us her story in the past and present. The narrators are superb! I adored Jenny Seedsman as present Mabel. She was perfection and her narration really brought Mabel to life! Hannah Frederickson was also wonderful, but Seedsman made the audiobook for me! I am #TeamMabel and enjoy every second, she is so gruff and honest. And just when you think you have Mabel figured out the reader meets young Persephone. I just loved their relationship! You just never know who you may gain as a friend.
Just when you think you have the story and its direction figured out, Hepworth surprises us by bringing everything full circle in a shocking and unexpected way.
Many thanks to the publishers for granting me an arc and alc. I enjoyed this one and almost always enjoy a Hepworth novel! Be sure to read this one come April 21!
Pre-Order Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK (Mad Mabel will be released in the UK on July 9, 2026)
Audiobook Review: Dead in the Water by John Marrs
Dead in the Water
Author: John Marrs
Narrators:
Will Watt
Elizabeth Knowelden
Debra Michaels
Published: January 20, 2026
Audiobook: 10 hours 10 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: January 29- February 6, 2026
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description:
A chilling tale about life flashing before your eyes—including terrifying scenes you don’t remember.
When Damon survives a near-drowning, his life flashes before his eyes. Every memory is crystal clear—except one. A dead boy. A face he can’t place. A moment he doesn’t remember living. At first he tells himself it’s a trick of the mind. But everything else he saw was real. So why not this?
With his waking life stalked by the disturbing scene, confusion quickly turns to obsession. Desperate for answers, Damon digs into his fractured past, and becomes convinced that the only way to remember…is to die again. And again. And again. When he meets a perfect stranger who’s all too willing to help, the stage is set for his dice with death.
But if this is what it takes to uncover the truth, maybe some memories are better left buried…
Jessica’s Review:
I have to say this: Read The Good Samaritan before reading Dead in the Water. It is not necessary, but I felt it would have added to my enjoyment while listening to Dead. We have is a crossover character from Samaritan who plays a big part in Dead. Once I realized this crossover, I made it a point to listen to The Good Samaritan immediately after finishing Dead in the Water.
Dead in the Water is dark and as messed up as it could be and I enjoyed every bit of it! What does that say about me as a reader, but more importantly what does it say about the author himself: Mr. Marrs!?!?! How does he come up with these stories?!?!?!
We have short chapters that keep you pulled in and you find yourself saying “Just one more chapter”! Marrs really knows how to keep his readers/listeners coming in for more! We have Damon who survives a near drowning and as he very nearly dies his life flashes before his eyes and he sees a dead boy. But this is a boy he did not know. Damon falls into a web of the unknowing and obsession. He MUST find out who this boy was and just what happened to him. And Damon believes the only way to find out these answers is to keep dying, and then being brought back to life. Damon then starts on a dangerous journey into his new world of obsession.
There are trigger warnings: Obviously we have a dead child, and suicide attempts. There is also a bit of supernatural that comes into play.
Oh, Mr. Marrs, I must read all of your books! This was one dark and messed up novel I gave five stars too. Keep on writing these novels for us!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Book Review: The Stranger In Her House by John Marrs
The Stranger in Her House
Author: John Marrs
Narrators:
Elizabeth Knowelden
Soneela Nankani
Steve West
Published: February 13, 2024
Audiobook: 10 hours 11 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: March 24-29, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
A stranger has infiltrated your family…and now he’s taking over.
Paul’s just here to help, or so he claims—sent by a charity for vulnerable people to do odd jobs for elderly widow Gwen. But for Gwen’s daughter Connie, there’s just something about Paul that rings alarm bells from day one. He’s a little too kind, a little too involved…Worse still, Gwen seems to have fallen under his spell.
The last thing Connie wants is a stranger meddling in the safe routine she’s built around Gwen. She loves being the one Gwen turns to for cooking, cleaning and company. But the more Paul visits, the more Gwen is relying on him. By the time he conveniently finds himself between homes and has no choice but to move in, Connie is certain he’s trying to push her out completely.
It’s her word against his, though, and as her attempts to unmask him become ever more desperate she’s not the only one left wondering if she’s lost her grip on reality. But when events start spiralling rapidly out of her control, should Connie wage all-out war on Paul and risk losing Gwen forever—or has that been his plan all along?
Jessica’s Review:
Whoa: Another John Marrs book that delivers! How does he come up with these twisted ideas?!?! We have mother Gwen and daughter Connie. Connie takes care of Gwen who suffers from Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer’s. Then Paul comes into the picture: He was sent in by a charity that helps the elderly who are also sick. Paul starts doing small jobs and pulls himself fully into Gwen’s life. Slowly he begins taking over Gwen and her home. Is Paul honest or does he have ulterior motives? What is Connie to do?
Both Connie and Paul were unlikeable to me. Connie just rubbed me the wrong way despite trying to help her mother. The only one I felt empathy for was Gwen. Marrs captured a character’s descent into Dementia and Alzheimer’s with compassion and understanding. It seems like he must know someone who has suffered from those dreaded diseases.
This novel is so much more than it seems! I can’t give my thoughts on one character without it being a possible spoiler. John Marrs can just do a one, two, three punch when it comes to twists: Just when he delivers one doozy of a twist, you better get ready, because he is about to deliver another one!
I will definitely be working on reading more of Marrs books.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK