Synopsis: “YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR NAME. BUT YOU CAN’T CHANGE YOUR PAST . . . 

Eighty-one-year-old Elsie Fitzpatrick lives a quiet life in the suburbs. Few would guess that Elsie, aside from being a curmudgeon who minds everyone else’s business, harbours a secret she’s worked hard to bury. 

Because when it comes to murder, no one ever suspects little girls or old ladies. And Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick – once a little girl and now an old lady – has a strange history of people in her life coming to a foul end.

When an elderly neighbour is found dead, no one suspects a thing – until they uncover Elsie’s true identity: Mad Mabel, the youngest Australian in history to be convicted of murder, more than sixty years ago.

The police are asking questions. The media is circling. Has the past finally caught up with Mad Mabel? Or is it time for her to set the record straight?” 

My Review

This was really a good audiobook. I got the kindle book for 99p the other day, and added the audiobook for under a fiver!

The story was told from 81 year old Elsie’s point of view in the present day, and from young Mabel’s point of view in the past.

I really liked Elsie she was great, differ suffer fools, and didn’t like her neighbours or their dogs, especially her neighbour’s chihuahua, that she ends up with when he dies. That’s where all her problems begin, and all the secrecy unravels.

As the synopsis above explains she’s got a very serious past, and as she tells her story it all comes out about her very sad life, and why she became the youngest Australian in history to be convicted of murder.

I loved discovering what happened to Elsie, and trying to work out who it was she murdered, us as they were quite a few contenders throughout the book. Although it’s a dark story it’s also very funny in parts, especially her best friend Daphne, who used some very funny expressions.

I loved the narration by both Jenny Seedsman’s and Hannah Fredrickson, new-tome narrators who really did capture all the different characters perfectly, especially Mad Mabel.

Highly recommended if you enjoy very witty mysteries featuring irreverent elderly ladies on audio.