The Quick Take
I really liked this one.
Mad Mabel had me pretty much from the beginning because I’m a sucker for a dual timeline, especially when you know the two stories are eventually going to collide. This one is definitely more character-driven than fast-paced thriller, and there were a few places where it slowed down for me. But honestly, I think some of that slower pacing is also why I ended up liking Mabel as much as I did.
You’re not just waiting to find out what happened. You’re getting to know her while you wait.
And by the end, I was pretty invested in Mabel and in watching her story unfold.
Here’s what really worked for me with Mad Mabel: Mabel herself.
Or Elsie. Or Mabel. You get the idea.
I liked watching her story unfold and getting to know her through the different timelines. There were definitely spots where I thought things could move a little faster, but I never really lost interest because I wanted to know more about her.
I also loved watching the relationship with Joan change. Those shifting relationships are part of what made the character development work so well for me. You start with one impression of people and then, as more of the story comes out, you have to rethink some of those assumptions.
And Persephone.
I don't want to give anything away, but there was something really fun about imagining Mabel and Persephone together. It added another layer to Mabel that I loved.
This isn't the kind of mystery where every chapter has to end with some enormous cliffhanger to keep you reading. The pull is wanting to understand these people—and especially wanting to understand Mabel.
For me, that worked.
Would I have tightened up a few spots? Yep.
Did it bother me enough to stop reading? Not even close.
4.6 glasses. I'd absolutely hand this one to a girlfriend who loves dual timelines, strong character development and a mystery that lets you live with its characters for a while.
Take It to Book Club
- How did your opinion of Mabel change from the beginning of the book to the end?
- What did you think about the evolution of Mabel and Joan's relationship?
- Did the dual timeline make you more sympathetic toward any of the characters?
- Which of Mabel's decisions would you have handled differently?
- If you could sit down and have a glass of wine with Mabel at any point in her life, which Mabel are you choosing—and what are you asking her?
The Final Pour
If you love a dual timeline and a character you slowly get more and more attached to, put Mad Mabel on your list.
Just don't go into it expecting a breakneck thriller. Let Mabel tell you her story.
She’s worth getting to know.
Want to pair it with a wine? A good Pinot Noir can seem easy and approachable at first, but the more time you spend with it, the more layers start showing up. That's Mabel. There’s much more to her than what you think you know in the beginning, and part of the fun is slowly discovering those other sides of her.
Want to pair it with a wine? A good Pinot Noir can seem easy and approachable at first, but the more time you spend with it, the more layers start showing up. That's Mabel. There’s much more to her than what you think you know in the beginning, and part of the fun is slowly discovering those other sides of her.
Pour something smooth, settle in, and let this one unfold.
Your turn
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