Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Sally Hepworth has written several domestic-suspense novels. If you’ve read her other books, like The Mother-in-Law or The Good Sister, how did Mad Mabel compare in tone and suspense?

2. How did you feel about the major reveals toward the end of the novel, particularly the truth about Peter’s identity and the almost supernatural nature of Daphne? Were you surprised, and did these twists feel earned?

3. The novel blends the tension of a thriller with moments of dark humor and profound sadness. Did you find this balance effective, and which emotional element resonated most strongly with you throughout your reading experience?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Elsie’s lifelong friendship with Daphne is described as a “lifeline,” inspired by her reading of Anne of Green Gables and its concept of a “bosom friend.” How did the book make you think about the role of friendship in your own life?

2. Elsie’s gruff, cantankerous persona is a shield for her vulnerability. Have you ever felt the need to project a more callous version of yourself in order to protect your feelings? What kinds of situations trigger this instinct for you?

3. A central idea in the book is the power of gossip and a manufactured reputation to shape a person’s life. Have you ever witnessed a situation where a public narrative about someone didn’t match the person you knew them to be?

4. Do you have a “chosen family” in your life, as Elsie eventually does? In what ways do they complement your biological family’s role in your life?

5. What did you think about Elsie’s decision to finally tell her story to the YouTubers Adeem and Libby? Can you imagine a situation where you might feel compelled to reclaim a personal story or set the record straight?

6. Did you or anyone you know well have an imaginary friend in childhood? How do you view the meaning of this common childhood experience? How would you feel if an adult you knew now still had an imaginary friend?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. How does the novel use the historical context of “moral panics” in mid-20th-century Australia to critique the way that society pathologizes non-conforming young women? Do you see parallels in how the media or public opinion treat young women today? 

2. Elsie’s conviction is heavily influenced by societal prejudice and a punitive justice system that disregards her traumatic childhood. In what ways do you think our modern justice system succeeds or fails at considering factors like trauma when dealing with young offenders?

3. The novel is a poignant critique of how society often renders the elderly invisible. How does Elsie’s age give her a unique vantage point as a narrator, and how does the story challenge common stereotypes about aging?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How did the alternating timeline between the past and present enhance the story’s suspense and complicate your understanding of Elsie’s motivations, character, and reliability as a narrator?

2. Elsie finds herself forming a chosen family on Kenny Lane with Peter, Persephone, and even former antagonists like Joan. How does the novel portray the strength of these found connections compared to the failures of Elsie’s biological family? How do other models of biological family within the text create context for interpreting the relative strengths of these two models of family?

3. Elsie’s narration is colored by decades of trauma and a carefully constructed defensive personality. How did her sharp, often cynical voice influence your perception of the events and neighbors on Kenny Lane?

4. Why do you think Hepworth chose Anne of Green Gables as the book that becomes Elsie’s touchstone? How does this specific literary allusion function throughout the plot to develop themes of friendship, loneliness, and imagination?

5. The novel’s Prologue opens with the observation that elderly women are rarely suspected of murder. What are the various layers of irony encoded into this statement?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were one of the documentarians from AdLib creating a follow-up episode to Magnificent Mabel, which secondary character would you choose to interview for a “Where Are They Now” segment, and what questions would you ask them?

2. Imagine you are a new neighbor moving onto Kenny Lane before Elsie’s past is revealed. Based on her initial curmudgeonly behavior, what would your first impression be, and what small neighborly gesture might you attempt to break the ice?

3. Daphne appears to have been passed from Elsie to Persephone. If you could design a similar protective “bosom friend” for another character in the novel, like Roxanne or even a young Cess, what would their name be, and what key personality traits would they have?