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: Ghostly Getaway (Diary of an Accidental Witch, #6) by Perdita Cargill and Honor Cargill

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Children's Book Review of Ghostly Getaway (Diary of an Accidental Witch, #6) by Perdita Cargill and Honor Cargill
Ghostly Getaway (Diary of an Accidental Witch, #6) by Perdita Cargill and Honor Cargill is a children's book published on February 11, 2025. It opens with Bea and her fellow classmates on a school trip to Cadabra Castle where there are lots of activities that require teamwork. During the night, they hear lots of strange noises. Ghosts don't exist, right?

A big thank you to NetGalley and Tiger Tales for approving my request for a copy. I received an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) for free in exchange for my honest review.

The story is told in format of a diary of a sixth grade student who just happens to be a witch. This latest edition can be read as a stand alone book and is super cute. It's very similar to The Worst Witch series by Jill Murphy.

Despite not being the target audience, I enjoyed the story and was engaged with it from the beginning. Parts of it reminded me of when I was a kid and went to Girl Scout camp as well as Rock Eagle. It's definitely a book that's great for parents to read with their children as both should find it enjoyable.

Like many children books, there are definitely "good guys" and "bad guys". Surprisingly, I think the characters are relatively developed for being a kids book. Five out of five stars is what I gave Ghostly Getaway (Diary of an Accidental Witch, #6) by Perdita Cargill and Honor Cargill.

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