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 Inmate by Freida McFadden

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Psychological Thriller Book Review of The Inmate by Freida McFadden
The Inmate by Freida McFadden opens with Brooke Sullivan starting a new job as a nurse practitioner at Raker State Penitentiary, a position governed by just three strict rules. From the very beginning, it’s clear there’s more going on beneath the surface. Unbeknownst to the prison staff, Brooke has already broken one of those rules ... she has a personal connection to one of the inmates and is, in fact, the person responsible for putting him behind bars. That secret sets the tone for a tense, fast paced psychological thriller that immediately pulls you in.

After hearing so many rave reviews about Freida McFadden, I decided to place holds on several of her books at my local library. When The Inmate finally became available, I wasted no time diving in, and I ended up absolutely devouring it. This novel is an incredibly easy and engaging read, the kind that keeps you turning pages late into the night. It had me on the edge of my seat the entire time and felt like the perfect beach read ... gripping, addictive, and impossible to put down.

book review the inmate freida mcfadden
Going into the story, I thought I had things mostly figured out early on, especially since I was basing my assumptions on the last McFadden book I read, Never Lie. I was confident I knew where the plot was heading, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. The big reveal completely caught me off guard, and just when I thought the surprises were over, the epilogue threw me for another loop. 

Brooke Sullivan is a very likable main character, much more so than the protagonist in Never Lie, which made it even easier to become invested in her story. There were also several secondary characters who initially seemed trustworthy, only to become far less likable as the truth slowly unraveled. The twists, turns, and carefully placed red herrings kept my heart pounding and made the story even more fun to read.

I gave The Inmate by Freida McFadden five out of five stars. I thoroughly enjoyed the storytelling, the pacing, and the unexpected twists, and I can’t wait to read the next Freida McFadden book that becomes available at my local library. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers with shocking reveals and strong suspense, this book review should be all the encouragement you need to add The Inmate to your to be read list.

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