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 Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

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NetGalley ARC of The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin
The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin opens with Sarah Slade, a social influencer, starting her life over with her husband by purchasing a house to renovate and planning to document the entire process for Sarah’s followers. The house carries a dark past, and when unexplained events begin happening, Sarah quickly realizes that something is very wrong and is desperate to uncover the truth behind the house.
 
Thank you, NetGalley, for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin.  The synopsis was intriguing, and when I received word that my request to read and review this book, I was thrilled.  I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

Although I didn’t necessarily find Sarah Slade or her husband particularly likable as characters, I was still invested in their story and found myself hoping that things would ultimately work out for Sarah. The novel is filled with twists, revelations, and unsettling moments that kept me guessing throughout. Just when I thought I had figured out what was happening, another twist would change everything. Whether the ending is satisfying or not is something readers will have to discover for themselves, but it certainly delivers a memorable conclusion.

Despite my mixed feelings about the main character, I was hooked from the very first page. The atmosphere is tense, eerie, and filled with a sense of creeping dread that builds steadily as the story progresses. Parts of the novel felt reminiscent of The Shining by Stephen King, particularly in the way the house itself seems to take on a life of its own and influence those living within its walls. The author does an excellent job creating a chilling environment that made me feel uneasy and on edge. There were several moments that genuinely creeped me out and made it difficult to put the book down.

I gave The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin four out of five stars for the reasons already mentioned. Additionally, the story is so engaging and disturbing that it keeps readers questioning what is real and what isn’t. You won't want to miss out on this suspenseful, creepy novel, and I personally look forward to reading more stories by Matlin.

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