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: Witness 8 (Eddie Flynn, #8) by Steve Cavanagh

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NetGalley ARC Book Review of Witness 8 (Eddie Flynn, #8) by Steve Cavanagh
Witness 8 (Eddie Flynn, #8) by Steve Cavanagh opens with Ruby Johnson, a maid for the ultra wealthy in New York City, witnessing someone leaving a house of one of her clients and discarding a weapon on his way out. Eddie Flynn is a former con artist turned attorney who takes on cases that are hopeless. How do the paths of Ruby and Eddie cross?

I'd like to thank NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC). I've heard fabulous things about Steve Cavanagh, and I was excited to see what all the hype was about. When I requested to read Witness 8, I didn't realize it was part of a series.

I absolutely loved the storyline of this story. I couldn't wait to see how and when the paths of the two main characters crossed and what would happen. During the first half of the book, I found myself having trouble keeping the characters straight. I definitely recommend starting with the first book in the Eddie Flynn series. The first few chapters did flip from character to character and between the two storylines, which threw me for a loop. The second half of the book was nail biting and fast paced, and I found myself rushing to finish it.

At first, I really liked the character of Ruby Johnson, but as the novel progressed, she began to show her true colors, and it was obvious that Ruby was hiding something. As for Eddie Flynn, I absolutely loved this character. Despite him being a former con artist, he was extremely likable. He showed that he really cared about his friends and close colleagues.  I found myself wanting to be friends with him.

Four out of five stars is what I rated Witness 8 (Eddie Flynn, #8) by Steve Cavanagh, and I want to go back and start at the beginning of the series. This story is a definite must read.


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