"What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him [or her] up on the phone whenever you felt like it." –J.D. Salinger
What really knocks me out is a book named Whistler. I turned the last impactful page of Patchett’s latest almost a month ago and I’m still thinking about it. I wish Ann was a terrific friend of mine. I wish I could call her up whenever I felt like it. In the spirit of Sybil Van Antwerp, I’d even settle for writing letters. I’d gush; I just know I would. Or maybe I’d simply pen this: Thank you for being a fixed point in a spinning world—you are such a north star.
Rachel’s ode to Ann’s latest is coming. In the meantime, let me tell you about running into Sally Hepworth. Even though Sally has written bestseller after bestseller, I’ve never before read one of her domestic thrillers. I have Audible to thank for our chance meeting. An automated algorithm introduced me to the Australian sensation, and after listening to Mad Mabel for four plus minutes, I wanted to hear more. It’s no secret that we’re drawn to grouchy souls around here. We love us a curmudgeon, especially pseudo-salty ones. I fell in love with prickly Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick, who reminded me of Gladys Kravitz—a hilariously, albeit more grumpy, nosy neighbor to the residents of Kenny Lane. At 81, she has plenty of time for snooping and scoffing. Elsie’s grown adept at keeping a running catalog of her neighbors’ infractions, even (or especially) the minor ones. When she discovers her least favorite neighbor’s dead body, the life she’s tried to carefully reconstruct begins to unravel. Her sad and unlucky past is hot on her dry, hardened heels.
There’s so much more to this spiky octogenarian than meets the eye. Mabel, a.k.a. Elsie, quickly wormed her way into my heart. Odds are, she’ll do the same to you. Here’s what our girl Jane Harper had to say about her fellow Aussie’s latest: “[A] twisty page-turning triumph, packed with wit, warmth, nuance and mystery. Brilliant.” If only I could give Sally a call to tell her I miss Mabel already.