Hi everyone. Welcome back to Meet Me at the Bookshelf! *Sassy wavy paws!

Today I am reviewing a book called Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth.This book is a stunning mystery doused with a deeply twisted family tragedy. Brutal twists and turns galore keep the pages turning, which include a tiny, twice -rescued Chihuahua named Nugget.

The story centers on a woman, now called Elsie Fitzpatrick, living a quiet, nondescript life in a community neighborhood in Australia. Like most communities, this one has nosy neighbors, fantastic dogs, single moms, and kids that pester older adults.

The story’s star, 81-year-old Mabel, currently lives discreetly under a different name. She and her pal, Daphne, prefer quiet days and instead are being annoyed daily by both Nugget, a yappy Chihuahua owned by Ishaan, Mabel’s 93-year-old next-door neighbor and nemesis, and the seven-year-old kid across the street, Persephone.

Persephone, notebook ready, crossed the street one afternoon. She stated she needed to interview an elderly person for her school project. She approaches Elsie and announces that she feels Elsie is 167 years old so she has chosen Elsie for the interview. Daphne, Elsie’s friend, is thrilled that someone else will be interviewed.

As they try to conduct the interview, the dog next door, Nugget, is seriously carrying on and loudly yapping, and her owner, Ishaan, lo-and-behold does not come out to quiet her.

Persephone, still trying to finish her assignment, casually states she thinks Ishaan is dead. Elsie asks when anyone last saw him.

When no one can answer, the 81-year-old Elsie hops the wall, and after scraping her legs on the wall and hobbling into the house, she sadly finds him deceased in the home.

Nugget stops barking.

Mabel Waller, the youngest person ever convicted of murder in Australia, may have killed Ishaan, according to a neighbor, though the police refused to take Nugget.

The tale is off and running.

The book goes back and forth between the life of Mabel the child, who lost her baby sister to polio and whose mother walked off a balcony to her death, and Elsie the adult, who is lonely and misunderstood.

It is beautifully told.Her mother’s sister, Cess, took Mabel in and raised her in her mother’s mansion while her absent, wayward father gallivanted around. Mabel is not popular at school and is teased and bullied constantly.

A turn of phrase alerts her at school that it is in fact her dad that tells vicious stories to the neighbors about Mabel, calling her Mad Mabel, ruining her reputation, and making sure she has no playmates. Mabel feels devastated.I understood Nugget was sent to Mabel for a reason after Momma read me the sad parts of her past. I was pretty sure Mabel was a kind and honest person.

Mabel houses Nugget, given that shelters lack space and the dog trusts only her. The police interviewed Mabel twice and seemed afraid of her.

They took one of her shoes for DNA evidence. I informed Momma that they could take both. When I eat a shoe, Momma tosses out two shoes instead of giving me the second one. Nerve that!

The police imply Mabel killed Ishaan. The word is out and several picketers arrived in the neighborhood to hassle Mabel.The neighborhood is now bustling with activists, news vans, and criminals. Persephone’s apparent father suddenly attempts to mingle with them multiple times before he tries to get into his kid’s home.

Mabel, with Nugget supporting her, approaches the man for a conversation. She called the police to no avail.

Mabel tries to get the picketers to leave her alone and leave her community. No one will help. A pair of YouTubers contact Mabel and ask to do a documentary, finally giving her side of the story. With no other choice but to clear her neighborhood of the activists, she agreed.

Mabel then watches the child at her home while Persephone’s mother works at night.

The story moves back and forth between the past and the present. Gorgeous, lyrical, and moving.

Momma had leaky eyes, and I found a Crocs chew to munch while she read to me.

I give this book five paws up!

It will make you think about judging others, innocent victims, and crime. Read it for a great time.

We wuvu u and we will see you next time for Meet Me at the Bookshelf.

*Sassy wavy paws!