Best-Selling Author's Novel Named Best Mystery by the ‘Master of Domestic Suspense'
Harlan Coben, the "master of domestic suspense" who was the first writer to win all three of mystery literature's biggest awards, just named his favorite books right now. Topping his list? A twisty thriller that has all the makings of a Coben classic.
It comes from Australian writer Sally Hepworth and was one of the most anticipated novels of the year before its April 21 release. The follow-up to her outstanding previous novels, Darling Girls, The Soulmate, and The Younger Wife, Mad Mabel should be at the top of your springtime reading list.
The story centers on Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick, an 81-year-old grouch with a dark secret: She was once Australia's youngest convicted murderer. Now living alone in a Melbourne neighborhood, her carefully buried past begins to resurface when a neighbor turns up dead. As police start sniffing around and a curious little girl new to the area begins asking questions, Elsie finds herself under increasing scrutiny - forced to confront the truth she's spent a lifetime trying to keep hidden.
"Sally Hepworth is a huge star in Australia," Coben said during his visit to the TODAY show earlier this month. "This is the book that's going to make her a huge star here," adding that the book is "funny, twisty, and suspenseful."
The title also tops the most recent list of readers' picks on Goodreads, with editors saying, you'll love the book if you like "dual-timeline structures, intricate narrative puzzles, and surprisingly powerful emotional payoffs."
Weaving together two timelines - past and present - Hepworth's 10th novel culminates in a "stunning conclusion." One that lingers long after the final page.
Mad Mabel is available at bookshop.org.
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This story was originally published April 26, 2026 at 3:12 PM.