Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick — aka “Mad Mabel” — is eighty-one years old. A tough-talking (tender-hearted?) and deeply humorous octogenarian, six-feet tall with broad shoulders, Mabel puts up with nothing from any-one, least of all the mousy neighborhood child Persephone, or her much-lamented nemesis, the ninety-three year old Ishaan and his demonic Chihuahua, Nugget. Arm in arm with her “bosom buddy”, Daphne, Mabel’s intent is to live out her days quietly in the relative obscurity of her Australian subdivision hideaway.

A sudden death, and life in Melbourne will change for all, as the facade of Mabel in her harmless dotage begins to crack, exposing the reader to clues that all is not what it seems with our trusty (rusty?) heroine and her razor-sharp tongue. As clues to Mabel’s childhood and former life (her claim to fame, if you could call it that) mount, YouTube videographers Adeem and Libby enter the scene, iPhone camera at the ready.

Is Mable a long-ago serial killer? A current-day murderer? An elderly lady with horrific secrets to share?

With more than one trick up her sleeve, the author does a fabulous job teasing out Mabel’s final mysteries, tantalizing piece by piece unfolding as we follow the dual puzzles of her story, — her social-media captured childhood and distant past, along with her current-day challenges and experiences.

A fun and terrific read, featuring a feisty, prickly heroine one cannot help but warm to, this is a fast and engaging ride, difficult to put down once the clues start popping.

A great big thank you to #Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.