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 Reviews 2021


2021 Book Recommendations by The Running Bibliophile

Are you searching for your next great book recommendation? Or, did you miss one of The Running Bibliophile’s book reviews from 2021? If so, you’re in the right place. Below, you’ll find a curated collection of book recommendations and honest book reviews from 2021, featuring a variety of genres, unforgettable characters, and must-read novels. Whether you love contemporary fiction, thrillers, historical novels, or emotional page-turners, there’s a good chance you’ll discover a new favorite book, or even a new favorite author. 

These book reviews are designed to help you build your reading list with some of the best books of 2021. Whether you’re trying to get out of a reading slump, searching for your next book club pick, or simply exploring new fiction and novels, these recommendations offer insight into stories that truly stand out. Each review reflects a genuine reading experience, highlighting what makes each book unique while sharing thoughtful impressions of its themes, writing style, and emotional impact. 

 And, as always, if you’ve read any of these books, we’d love to hear what you thought. Your opinions and perspectives make the book-loving community even richer, so don’t forget to leave a comment on the blog post and share your thoughts, favorite moments, and personal recommendations with fellow readers.

- The Running Bibliophile -

January 2021

February 2021

March 2021

April 2021

May 2021

June 2021

July 2021

August 2021

September 2021

October 2021

November 2021

  • Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger
  • Three Bedrooms, Two Baths, One Very Dead Corpse (Amanda Thorne Mysteries, #1) by David James
  • The Mysterious Benedict Society (The Mysterious Benedict Society, #1) by Trenton Lee Stewart
  • The Therapist by B.A. Paris

December 2021

  • Christmas Cookie Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery, #6) by Leslie Meier
  • Deceit in High Heels (High Heels, #13) by Gemma Halliday and Kelly Rey


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