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: First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

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Book Club Selection & Book Review of First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston follows Evie Porter, a woman with seemingly everything she could want, but there’s a shocking twist ... Evie Porter doesn’t exist. Her life is a carefully constructed identity. First comes the persona ... Evie Porter. Then comes the mark ... Ryan Sumner. Finally ... the job. Evie only knows her boss as Mr. Smith, and after a disastrous previous assignment, she can’t afford to fail with Ryan Sumner if she wants to leave this life behind and reclaim her real identity.

Ashley Elston delivers a fast-paced, suspenseful story that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. First Lie Wins is full of twists, turns, and unpredictable moments that had me guessing throughout the book. While the story wraps up satisfyingly, the ending leaves room for a possible sequel, which I hope happens because I’m eager for more of Evie’s thrilling adventures.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of First Lie Wins is how it reminded me of the TV show Alias. Elston cleverly reveals only small pieces of Evie’s past at a time, gradually building a complete picture that ties the story together in a cinematic way. The narrative is so immersive that every time I had to pause reading and return to reality, it took me a moment to adjust; proof of how compelling and absorbing this book is.

I have nothing negative to say about First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston. I give it a full five out of five stars. I can’t wait to read more from this author and will definitely pick up her next book without even reading the synopsis.

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