
<b>SHORTLISTED - ABIA GENERAL FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2026</b><br /><br />From the<i> New York Times</i> bestselling author of <i>The Soulmate</i> and <i>Darling Girls</i> comes the story of Mad Mabel. They called it murder. She called it justice.<br /><br /><b>In 1959, at just fifteen years of age, Mabel Waller became </b><b>the youngest Australian in history to be convicted of murder.</b><br /><br />In 2025, on a quiet Melbourne lane, an elderly man is found dead by his neighbour, 81-year-old Elsie Fitzpatrick. No one suspects any foul play.<br /><br />Until they discover Elsie's past.<br /><br />In the 1950s, her name was not Elsie. It was Mabel.<br /><br /><b>She is known around the world as Mad Mabel. But is she mad? More importantly, is she guilty?</b><br /><br />When the police open a new investigation and the media descend upon her, the elderly Mabel decides it's time to set the record straight.<br /><br /><b>In a world first, at the age of 81, Mabel Waller is speaking.</b><br /><br /><i>New York Times </i>bestselling author Sally Hepworth is at her finest in this twisty, compulsive thriller of friendship, family and murder. Or is it justice . . . ?<br /><br /><b>Praise for Sally Hepworth: </b><br /><br />'She is one of my favourite Australian writers' - Liane Moriarty<br /><br />'Sally Hepworth is a born storyteller' - Trent Dalton<br /><br />'The queen of suburban noir' - <i>Sunday Telegraph</i>