season 1
BONUS
episode 11
MAD MABEL Podcast Episode
Listen to the Book Trivia Podcast's Mad Mabel bonus episode - an exclusive deep dive into Sally Hepworth's latest psychological thriller, featuring behind-the-scenes stories from her Sydney book launch, Australian literary trivia, and the shocking confession that inspired it all.
episode summary
In this bonus episode, we share exclusive insights from Sally Hepworth's October 2025 book launch at Dymocks Sydney, where we discovered the wild origin story behind Mad Mabel - a tale of family secrets, unreliable narrators, and what happens when the past refuses to stay buried.
From the elderly woman who casually confessed she was "planning to murder her neighbour" to the Anne Perry true crime case that shaped the novel's themes, we unpack the real-life inspirations behind Sally's latest thriller.
Along the way, we explore Sally's journey with alopecia and her advocacy for women's hair loss, her viral "Towelgate" Instagram moment, and why her pacy writing style keeps readers guessing until the final page.
Plus: Australian literary trivia featuring Peter Carey, May Gibbs, and the classics that shaped Aussie literature.
Behind the Episode
This bonus episode was born from an unforgettable evening with Sally Hepworth herself. In this episode of the Book Trivia Podcast, we share stories you won't find anywhere else, including:
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The murder confession that sparked Mad Mabel - An elderly woman's shocking book signing moment
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Anne Perry's dark past - How the Heavenly Creatures true crime case influenced the novel's themes of female friendship
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Sally's alopecia journey - Her stunning wigs, advocacy work, and why representation matters
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Towelgate drama - The Instagram debate that went viral (do you share towels or not?)
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Sally's career highlights - From writing on maternity leave to TV adaptations starring Asher Keddie
We also discuss Sally's signature unreliable narrators, why Mad Mabel keeps readers on edge, and Sally's plans to launch her own podcast in the future (Sally, if you're listening - we're ready to guest!).
what you'll hear
🎧 Why Listen?
🎙️ Exclusive stories from Sally Hepworth's Sydney book launch
📚 True crime inspiration behind Mad Mabel and the Anne Perry connection
🎯 Australian literary trivia - from Ned Kelly to Snugglepot and Cuddlepie
💜 Sally's alopecia advocacy and normalizing women's hair loss
😂 Hilarious Instagram moments including Towelgate and the WrestleMania hotel disaster
✅ True-or-false Sally Hepworth trivia
📖 Why Sally's pacy, character-driven style makes her books unputdownable
Whether you're a longtime Sally Hepworth fan, discovering her work for the first time, or just love psychological thrillers with twisty plots and unreliable narrators, this Mad Mabel podcast episode delivers behind-the-scenes content and author insights you won't find anywhere else.