Book Review: Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

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Mad Mabel  by Sally Hepworth  is a domestic thriller about the youngest person convicted of murder in Australia, Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick. Now 81 years old, Elsie is living on Kenny Lane and has been for the past sixty years. When a mother named Roxanne moves into Mabel's neighborhood with her seven year old daughter, an unlikely friendship forms between Elsie and the seven year old child named Persephone. As Elsie's secrets come to light, her world comes crashing down.  Having read quite a few novels by Sally Hepworth, I requested an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Mad Mabel  without reading the synopsis of the story. I was thrilled when NetGalley and St. Martin's Press approved my request. The expected publication date of the book is April 21, 2026. Not knowing anything about the storyline before I started reading Mad Mabel  made the story much more interesting to me as I had no preconceived ideas. The tale was told from Mabel's perspective in alternating timeli...
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Book Review: The Wrong Good Deed by Caroline B. Cooney

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Netgalley ARC Book Review of The Wrong Good Deed by Caroline B. Cooney

The Wrong Good Deed by Caroline B. Cooney is a compelling work of women’s fiction that also blends elements of mystery. The novel is scheduled for release on May 2, 2023 and is published by Poisoned Pen Press.

The story begins with Clemmie and her friend Muffin attending a church service, where Muffin unexpectedly spots someone from her past. She quickly pulls Clemmie out of the service, much to Clemmie’s irritation. However, as Muffin starts to reveal the story behind the encounter, Clemmie realizes that she may not be the only one carrying dark secrets.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC) of The Wrong Good Deed by Caroline B. Cooney in exchange for my honest review. I was genuinely thrilled when my request was approved. Caroline B. Cooney was one of my favorite authors as a tween and teen, so discovering that she now writes adult novels was an exciting surprise.

The Wrong Good Deed appears to be a sequel to Cooney’s earlier novel, Before She Was Helen. While this book can absolutely be read as a standalone novel, I do think my reading experience would have been even richer if I had read Before She Was Helen first, as it provides important background on the main character. That book has definitely been added to my reading list.

One of the most compelling aspects of The Wrong Good Deed is its powerful flashbacks to the 1960s. The portrayal of a small Southern town’s reaction to desegregation was shocking and deeply moving. Although this is a work of fiction, it offers meaningful insight into the emotions, decisions, and regrets people experienced during that turbulent time in history. As someone who wasn’t alive during that era, I found the story both eye-opening and heartbreaking.

The writing is strong, the pacing is engaging, and the emotional impact lingers long after the final page. I truly have no complaints about this novel.

Well-written, engrossing, and emotionally powerful, The Wrong Good Deed by Caroline B. Cooney delivers a gripping historical narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. I highly recommend it and give it five out of five stars.

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