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 Little Scottish Ghost by Franz Hohler

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NetGalley ARC of The Little Scottish Ghost by Franz Hohler
The Little Scottish Ghost by Franz Hohler is a children's picture book that is being re-released in the United States by NorthSouth Books on July 18, 2023.  This humorous and not so scary book is about a little ghost that is learning to haunt the house she lives in with her parents, but her lessons don't go as planned as she ends up making the residents laugh instead tremble in fear.  Because of this, she is sent off to a castle to learn how to haunt properly.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for approving my request to read The Little Scottish Ghost.  Originally published in 1980, I had never heard of this book growing up, and it sounded intriguing.  I knew I had to read it and was happy that I received the ebook for free in exchange for my honest review.

This is absolutely the kind of book I would have loved reading as a child. I have always been drawn to stories about ghosts, witches, and other magical or spooky, but friendly characters, and this book captures that playful spirit perfectly. Despite being about ghosts, the story is not frightening at all, making it an ideal picture book for young readers who may be curious about spooky themes but aren’t ready for anything truly scary. Instead, the story focuses on positive and reassuring messages. The Little Scottish Ghost teaches children that things don’t always go according to plan, but sometimes those unexpected outcomes can lead to something even better. It also shows that everyone has their own unique strengths, and being different doesn’t mean being wrong.

At the same time, the story offers a gentle reminder that things and people aren’t always what they seem at first glance, and young readers will likely relate to the little ghost’s desire to succeed and make her parents proud. While I enjoyed the overall story, I did feel at times that something may have been slightly lost in translation, which made certain moments feel less impactful than they could have been. However, this did not take away from the book’s charm.

The illustrations were absolutely wonderful and added so much personality and warmth to the story. The artwork helps bring the little ghost and her world to life, making the reading experience even more enjoyable. The expressive characters and detailed settings make this a visually engaging children’s book that young readers will love revisiting.

Overall, The Little Scottish Ghost by Franz Hohler is a delightful, humorous, and meaningful children’s picture book that combines gentle life lessons with entertaining storytelling. Its timeless message, lovable main character, and beautiful illustrations make it a strong addition to any child’s bookshelf, especially for readers who enjoy ghost stories that are more funny than frightening. I gave The Little Scottish Ghost four out of five stars.

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