Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

 

Elsie Fitzpatrick lives a quiet and unassuming life in an Melbourne suburb. When her neighbour dies in suspicious circumstances, Elsie's life is upended as her infamous past resurfaces.

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth is going to be a contender for one of my favourite books of the year. I simply loved everything about this book. I was entranced by Mabel, or Elsie as she is known when we first meet her, from the very start. At 81, Elsie is content with the life she leads. Although she knows all of her neighbours, she keeps them at arm's length and is happy to be considered unapproachable. Two things happen that disturb her peaceful existence. Firstly, new neighbours move into the street; a single mother and her seven-year-old daughter, Persephone. Secondly, another neighbour is found dead.

Having been the one to find the body, suspicion immediately falls on Elsie. It's at this point that we discover that she has a past, one she had hoped to keep hidden. Snapshots of Elsie's life as a child and into her teenage years give us a glimpse of what led up to her becoming Australia's youngest convicted murderer, Mad Mabel. Mabel's life should have been one of comfort and privilege, having been born into a wealthy family. However, emotionally distant parents and tragic events surrounding people close to her result in a sad childhood, not helped by being labelled "Mad Mabel" by other children from an early age. I felt so sorry for Mabel and rejoiced when she spent time with her aunt, who was able to shower her with love. 

What really makes this book a delight is the relationship between Mabel/Elsie and Persephone. Mabel wants nothing to do with a child; unfortunately Persephone has other ideas and refuses to stay away. As you would expect, the grumpy old woman act and sarcasm simply wash over Persephone. Gradually, we see Mabel's tough exterior thawing and her protectiveness coming to the forefront.

The ending is bittersweet; we learn of Mabel's conviction and incarceration, followed by a surprising twist in the narrative and a shocking event. This is going to be one of those stories that sits with me for quite a while.

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth will be published on 9th July 2026 in hardback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to Pan Macmillan for a review copy.

Author Details

Sally Hepworth is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including The Good Sister and The Soulmate. Drawing on the good, the bad and the downright odd of human behaviour, Sally writes incisively about family, relationships and identity. Her domestic thriller novels are laced with quirky humour, sass and a darkly charming tone. They are available worldwide in English and have been translated into twenty languages.

Sally lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her family and one adorable dog.

It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell

 

When Jane finds a stray dog near her home, she does the neighbourly thing and returns it to its owner. As she's handing the dog over, she gets a strange feeling. Learning later on that the young woman who was seen with the dog has disappeared, Jane sets out to track her down.

Right from the beginning, It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell has you unsettled as a young woman flees a house back in 2005. The story then jumps to the current day, and we meet Jane, who finds a dog wandering close to her home. When she returns the dog to its owner, not only does she feel as if he is acting suspiciously, but we also discover that Jane was the young woman at the start of the book, and this is the very same house she ran from.

Returning home, Jane learns that the dog was seen locally with a young woman who has now gone missing. Concerned about the welfare of the young woman, and still feeling unnerved by her encounter with the man, Jane decides to investigate. I really liked Jane. An unconventional and, at times, traumatic childhood has meant that she is practical and direct. She's also empathetic, intelligent and dogged, refusing to give up when she appears to meet a dead-end.

There are times when the story switches to the perspective of others, at different time periods over the last thirty years. It is these parts of the narrative that really make you unsettled. Some sections offer us an insight into the family in the house, none of whom come across as likeable. However, I did have sympathy for some of them because of the power dynamic within the household. We also get an insight into Stuart, the suspicious man who answered the door when Jane returned the dog. Once again, his behaviour has you deeply concerned about the role he is playing.

As Jane continues to dig into the disappearance of the young woman and the story unfolds, I was shocked. For fans of crime fiction, the main storyline itself isn't particularly unusual; what I was surprised at was the assumptions I made. As the conclusion approached, I found my opinions about some of the characters changing completely, and by the end, when the shocking events were finally revealed, I was stunned.

It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell will be published on 2nd July 2026 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Century for a review copy.

Author Details

Lisa Jewell's first novel, Ralph’s Party, was published in 1999 and was the best-selling debut novel of the year. Since then she has published another twenty-three novels, most lately a number of dark psychological thrillers, including Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs and None of This is True. Lisa is a number one New York Times and Sunday Times author who has sold over ten million books worldwide and been published in more than thirty languages. She lives in north London with her husband, two daughters, Daisy, a Romanian rescue dog, and a mad orange cat called Ivy.

Not Like The Other Parents by Asia Mackay

 

Haze and Fox really are not like the other parents at the school gates. While trying to juggle family life and work, they also have a side hustle, eliminating sexual predators. Unfortunately, it looks like they are now being hunted themselves.

Readers were introduced to the serial killing duo Haze and Fox last year in The Serial Killer's Guide To Marriage (you can read my review here). I really enjoyed the satirical take on suburban life, so I was really pleased to see a return with Not Like The Other Parents by Asia Mackay. 

The story has moved on a couple of years, and the couple now have two children, four-year-old Bibi and four-month old Reggie. Haze is coping better with the suburban lifestyle than she was in the first book, mainly due to her friend Jenny. This time around, it's Fox who's struggling. There are references to an incident the year before, which has really dented his confidence.

From the opening pages, the tone is set. I just loved the idea of a pair of serial killers driving around in a minivan containing a dead body, while simultaneously trying to deal with the poonami of a four-month-old. This style continues throughout as the couple tries to deal with the playground mafia, accidentally killing people, and preventing an inquisitive four-year-old from eavesdropping.

The situation isn't helped by the shadowy Corporation putting a target on their backs and sending in The Chameleon, Europe's most successful hitman, to kill them. It is the completely wrong time for Fox to have a breakdown. The dark humour continues with Fox practicing yoga and seeking therapy, although trying to talk to a therapist without telling the whole truth proves difficult.

A variety of subplots keep the pace flowing, and the reader on their toes, as you never quite know where danger is lurking, particularly with The Corporation having such a wide reach. Everything builds to the climactic showdown, which many readers will probably have guessed at. I do hope we see more of our serial killer couple in the future.

Not Like The Other Parents by Asia Mackay will be published on 2nd July 2026 in paperback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Headline for a review copy.

Author Details

Asia Mackay is a Chinese Scottish author and mother of four based in London. Asia studied Anthropology at Durham University and began her career in television. She moved to China, presented and produced lifestyle programmes in Shanghai before returning to London where she worked for the likes of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, and subsequently completed a Faber Academy course. A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage was shortlisted for The Radio 2 Book Club Award 2026 and her debut novel Killing It was the Runner Up in Richard and Judy’s Search for a Bestseller competition and Runner Up/ Exceptionally Recognised for the Comedy Women In Print prize.

Never To Be Found by Jo Spain

 

Veronica Page offers an unusual service; she helps people to disappear completely. When a police officer tracks her down and explains that one of her clients is a suspect in a double murder, she goes against her code of discretion and agrees to help track him down.

Never To Be Found by Jo Spain is my first book by this author, but it won't be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the story developed, and the characters, particularly Veronica, came across as very real.

The prologue was very interesting and sets the scene. It explains about johatsu, a phenomenon in Japan where people choose to vanish from their everyday lives, and that there are organisations that exist to help them. Veronica operates a similar operation in the UK. She uses a network of helpers, from people who provide new identities to those who find new employment, and all are kept separate to protect the new identity of the client.

When Veronica is approached by a police detective, she is shocked to learn that one of the people she has helped is wanted for murder. Veronica's clients are looking to escape abusive relationships or financial issues, but the thought of helping someone evade justice fills her with guilt. Agreeing to help the detective soon puts the pair in the spotlight, as the suspect turns the hunt into a cat-and-mouse chase.

I really liked Veronica, she's highly intelligent, empathetic, and adaptable, but she doesn't come across as superwoman, she's well aware of her own vulnerabilities. As we get glimpses of her life, we discover why she has chosen to help people disappear, and this gives us an understanding of why she is reluctant to let people get close.

Finding someone who doesn't want to be found, particularly when you know nothing about their identity, isn't easy. As the web closes on the suspect, you begin to wonder who is hunting whom, leading to a nail-biting conclusion and some shocking revelations.

Never To Be Found by Jo Spain will be published on 2nd July 2026 in hardback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Zaffre for a review copy.

Author Details

Jo Spain is the author of the bestselling Tom Reynolds detective series and several No.1 bestselling standalone thrillers. She began writing full-time when her first book, top ten bestseller With Our Blessing, was chosen as one of 7 finalists in the Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller competition.

Jo is a full-time screenwriter. Her first show, critically-acclaimed crime series 'Taken Down', aired in 2018. In 2021, she co-wrote Harry Wild, starring Jane Seymour, with its creator, Emmy-award winning David Logan. She is currently working on several international productions, including adaptations of her own novels.

A graduate of Trinity College, Jo lives in Dublin with her husband and four children.

The Last Place You Look by Nikki Smith

 

Worried about the whereabouts of his wife, Leo walks into the bedroom of their South African safari lodge and is met with a shocking sight. It is a scene of utter devastation, and there's something terrible lying on their bed.

The opening scene of The Last Place You Look by Nikki Smith is one that will have your heart racing as you follow Leo Kennedy through his safari lodge, desperately trying to find his wife, Addison. As he approaches the bedroom, you find yourself in one of those situations where you want to look away, but you also need to know exactly what he's about to find. At this point, the author cuts away to two days before the shocking incident, and we meet Leo, who is at Heathrow airport, eagerly awaiting the return of his wife from South Africa.

When Addison doesn't materialise, there are frantic phone calls and text messages, all of which go unanswered. You can really feel Leo's confusion and his frustration as he strives for answers to his wife's no-show. Finding a draft email leads to even more confusion as Addison appears to be confessing to a crime. Leo knows his wife has been acting strangely since she was badly injured in a car accident; could her disappearance be part of this? And then strange texts begin to arrive from Addison. The way the messages hint at dark secrets builds up the tension. We slowly begin to realise that Addison isn't the only one who is keeping secrets.

Three other characters add further mystery to the narrative. Jake is an aspiring travel journalist who seems to have a fixation on Addison. Paige is Leo's ex-PA. Was there something more to their relationship? And then there's Addison's mother, a mother she claimed was dead. All of these characters add to the intrigue, making you wonder who can be trusted.

The story splits its time equally between England and South Africa. The parts set in the African wilderness sound amazing; the safari lodge is the height of luxury, and the sights are amazing, but as the story progresses, you begin to realise the danger that lurks just inches away. The terrain and its wildlife are very much a major part of the story.

I had all sorts of different ideas going through my head, and although I'd guessed one of the twists, I certainly didn't figure out what led to the eerie opening scene and how all the pieces fitted together.

The Last Place You Look by Nikki Smith will be published on 2nd July 2026 in paperback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Viking Books UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Nikki Smith worked in finance until 2017, when a 'now or never' moment prompted her to apply for the Curtis Brown Creative writing course. She is the author of five novels and the co-host of the podcast In Suspense. She lives in Guildford with her family and loves to travel, ideally somewhere hot and sunny.

The Hot Honey Hideaway by Harper Graham (Audiobook)

 

Krista loves her little business, running The Hot Honey Hideaway in Maple Falls. She certainly doesn't have time for romance. Until a photographer turns up and sparks begin to fly.

I love spending time at Maple Falls, so it was lovely to return for summer with The Hot Honey Hideaway by Harper Graham. This is book 4 in the series and can easily be read as a standalone; however, if you really want to get a true taste of the town and learn more about the characters who pop up in the story, I would recommend reading the previous three books.

Krista is a lovely character, one of those people who never seems to stand still; she's willing to help anyone. Unfortunately, this means that she's run ragged, particularly as her elderly grandparents are struggling with the campground they run. As a result, Krista is considering selling her business so that she'll have more time to support the people who raised her.

Photographer Joe has no roots; he enjoys travelling the world. As part of his current assignment, he agrees to swap roles with Krista, giving him a better picture of the small town. The attraction between the pair is immediate, but he's only around for a few days, so nothing major is going to happen.

As the pair spends time together, they struggle to fight the chemistry. Fate seems determined to throw them together in some compromising situations, which all adds to the spiciness of the storyline. The longer the pair spends time together, the more they begin to question their future plans. Joe has fallen in love with Maple Falls and is considering it as a permanent base. Could the couple survive a long-distance relationship?

The solution isn't straightforward, and you begin to wonder if this is a doomed relationship. Thankfully, the community of Maple Falls offers the support it is famous for.

The narrator, Andi Eloise, has narrated all the books in the series. This really helped me to quickly immerse myself in the story as it felt as if I was visiting a friend and catching up with news (or gossip). I was a little bit worried that, having covered the four seasons, this was to be the final book in the series. It was lovely, therefore, to see the author set up the next book in the series towards the end of the story. I'm already looking forward to The Pumpkin Pie Book Nook.

The Hot Honey Hideaway by Harper Graham is available in paperback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a review copy.

Author Details

Harper Graham lives with her mischievous spaniel in a cozy small town in Connecticut. Her quirky neighbours may or may not have inspired the residents of her Maple Falls series. When she’s not hiking with her daughter, baking her grandmother’s recipes or reading in her favourite coffee shop, Harper can be found writing the sweet and spicy romance stories of her own dreams.

Main Characters by Bobby Palmer

 

A chance meeting between Clara and Seb sparks a romance that will span decades. The couple seems perfect together, but, as the saying goes, the course of true love never did run smooth.

Main Characters by Bobby Palmer is an epic love story, told from the perspective of those around the main characters, Clara and Seb. As I started the book, I found the style unusual, but that isn't unexpected; it sometimes takes a few chapters to adapt to a different writing style. I was, however, immediately caught up in the budding romance between Clara and Seb; the sparks between the pair leapt off the page. I even found my heart skipping a beat when it initially looked as if the romance wasn't even going to get past their first date.

I adored Seb; he's dark and brooding as a result of tragedy in his childhood. He doesn't let people into his life easily, but once you're in, you're in for life. He's struggling to find his raison d'être; when we first meet him, he's fallen into acting and modelling, but music is his passion. Clara is a completely different kettle of fish; she's driven, and at times it feels as if it is to the exclusion of everything else. Maybe this is why the couple works so well, the notion of opposites attracting. 

As we follow the couple over the decades, there are some truly emotional scenes. I found myself wiping away a tear at two in particular. There were also times when I was filled with frustration and disbelief, those moments when you want to climb inside a book and bang heads together.

Throughout, I was willing the couple on; I liked the fact that the author shows that relationships aren't linear, that happy-ever-afters take effort and communication. By the end, though, I still couldn't come to terms with the style; I felt as if my brain was having to re-set with the start of each new perspective. But that's just me. Please don't let this put you off reading this beautiful love story.

Main Characters by Bobby Palmer will be published on 2nd July 2026 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Headline for a review copy.

Author Details

Bobby Palmer is both an author and journalist. His critically acclaimed debut novel, Isaac and the Egg, was a Waterstones Paperback of the Year in 2022; his second novel Small Hours was published in 2024. Bobby co-hosted the podcast Book Chat with Pandora Sykes and his writing has appeared in GQ, Esquire, Men’s Health, Cosmopolitan amongst others. He lives with his family in Sussex.