Book Club Questions for Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

Book club questions for Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth examine all the key moments and plot developments in this engaging domestic thriller. There will be spoilers so for more context about the book, check out my spoiler-free review first.

I very much enjoyed Mad Mabel. The premise was unique and it was refreshing to read something so original. Elise’s journey was fascinating, harrowing, but ultimately, unforgettable.

I’ll be thinking about this story for quite some time.

Okay, we’re now entering spoilers, so you have been warned. Come back to this page after you’ve read the book.

Ending Summary

Whew, a lot to unpack! First, we find out that yes, Elise did murder someone. But it was after she discovered her father had murdered her beloved aunt Cess. He tried to put the blame on Elise, and she killed him. Elise’s father was a horrible person who caused much destruction and pain to his family.

Elise was found guilty of murdering both her father and aunt, but she always proclaimed her innocence regarding her aunt’s death.

We also find out that Elise was pregnant and she gave birth after being convicted. The father was her boyfriend, Christos. Aunt Cess’s partner, Ness, adopted and raised the boy, who we later find out is Peter (Elise’s neighbor in the present day).

Elise tells her story to the YouTubers, finally revealing the truth to the world. It becomes a viral hit, and many people express their apologies and sorrow for misunderstanding Elise. Finally, the Mad Mabel’s name is cleared.

But everything changes when Persephone’s father, who has been harassing the family, pulls a gun on Persephone, and Elsie dives to protect this little girl who has become so dear to her. Elsie dies saving Persephone, calling it the easiest decision she’s ever made.

It was a sad ending someone who never got the chance to live a normal life and love who she wanted. But it was her instinct and a choice to save her darling Persephone.

Book Club Questions for Mad Mabel

1. What was your first impression of Elise when we met her at the beginning of the novel? Did it change as you read the book and got to the ending?
2. We learn that Elise’s father was a cruel, horrible man who caused Elise’s mother to commit suicide, and also brought so much pain to Elise. Was her father a sociopath? Let’s discuss how his cruelty impacted Elise.
3. Throughout the story, Elise engages with her best friend Daphne. When did it become apparent Daphne was not real?
4. Why did Elise imagine talking to Daphne? What does this say about her psyche and loneliness?
5. Seven-year-old Persephone moves in next door to Elise and takes an immediate liking to her. Why do you think Persephone was so fond of Elise?
6. How did her eventual closeness with Persephone change Elise for good?
7. When Elise’s neighbor is found dead, the police suspect Elise due to her history. While Elise was able to live a quiet life for years, the spotlight is on her again. Why did she agree to finally tell her story to the young YouTubers? What did she hope would finally happen in doing so?
8. What were some of the more shocking events that happened in Elise’s childhood that helped shape who she would become?
9. Let’s discuss the impact of her close relationship with her Aunt Cess and her partner Ness.
10. Elise’s mind goes to an imaginary world sometimes. But it is real when Elsie’s teacher tries to groom her and take advantage of her. When he’s found dead, people in town suspect it was Elsie, but it wasn’t. Why do you think the author chose to include this storyline?
11. We find out exactly what happened with Elise. Her father killed her Aunt Cess to gain control of the house, and he was ready to put the blame on Elise. Upon discovering her Aunt Cess, Elise kills her father. Let’s discuss our thoughts as this scene unfolded.
12. When Elise finally tells the truth to the YouTubers, it goes viral, and she receives a ton of apologies as people realize they misunderstood Mad Mabel all along. Do you believe finally granting an interview helped give Elise some closure?
13. Elise was pregnant and gave birth after she was convicted of murder. Her son turned out to be her neighbor Peter, who was raised by Ness. Did you see that one coming, or were you surprised by this reveal?
14. But everything changes when Persephone’s father, who has been harassing the family, pulls a gun on Persephone, and Elsie dives in front of her to protect this little girl who has become so dear to her. Elsie dies saving Persephone, calling it the easiest decision she’s ever made. Let’s unpack all of this and talk about why Elise’s first instinct was to protect this little girl. What does this say about Elise’s character?
15. What happens next for Peter, Persephone, and more?
16. Let’s discuss how this novel is focused on the impact of childhood trauma and how it shapes an individual.

Additional Recommendations

Hope you enjoyed the book club questions for Mad Mabel! Here are some more recommendations, along with links to book club questions.

don’t often read many historical fiction stories that also fall into the suspense arena. But wow, after reading The Mad Wife, I’m very interested in reading other stories that mix the genres. This was such an engaging and surprising story.

The story is set in 1950s America, which was a very different world for women. And if any woman experiences anxiety, postpartum depression, etc., she was instantly branded with “female hysteria.” Check out more of my review here.

And my book club questions here.

I don’t want to get into spoilers, so I’ll just say that Anatomy of an Alibi is a very entertaining suspense story. There’s so much intrigue, twists and turns, and lots of surprises.

The characters are richly developed, and the motivations are made clear. You won’t want to put this one down. This is a very solid and complete story. Check out the rest of my review here.

And my book club questions here.

Happy reading!