Before we share info about this month’s book, we want to remind everyone that we’ve kicked off our fundraising efforts for booking hiding in 2026! If you’re interested in supporting these bookish scavenger hunts, please consider making a donation. Will you be one of our early donors to help us keep momentum going?

In addition to all that, we also want to recognize that this month’s “Community Kindness Sponsor” (which helps offset the cost of the extra 15 books we hide after scavenger hunt weekend every month – the “random act of kindness” books!) is long-time Tome Gnome supporter, Yeet That Teet!!! Yeet That Teet is a brand – and a movement – that ditches toxic positivity and reclaims the conversation around breast cancer, mastectomies, and body autonomy. If you’re supporting a friend navigating a breast cancer journey OR advocating for yourself, you should check out YTT for all your snarky cancer needs – – – especially this month, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So please send YTT some love as they’re helping make this month’s book-hiding adventure possible!

Do you know someone who might be interested in partnering with us as a Community Kindness Sponsor in 2026 ($250)? 2025 is now full, but we are starting to look for sponsors in 2026. Please send us an email (tucsontomegnome[at] gmail.com) and we can send you some information 🙂

AND NOW, for what you’ve been waiting for: all about this month’s hidden book!

About the book, from Creature Publishing:

“Copper City’s bloody history is steeped in ghost stories and whispers of serial killers, but three girls have caught the attention of something far more sinister.

A grandmother tormented by visions tried to warn the town, but no one listened. Now, a haunted inheritance has passed to her granddaughters, Audrey and Mara. When Mara’s body is discovered in the old mine, Audrey fears her grandmother’s premonition is manifesting.

The nightmare begins as Mara’s spirit returns—lurking under Audrey’s skin, hellbent on vengeance and desperate to rekindle things with her former girlfriend, Zadie. Willing to hijack Audrey’s body to get what she wants, Mara drags them both into a deadly pursuit.

When another girl in town goes missing, Audrey, Mara, and Zadie know the killer has struck again. In a fight to solve Mara’s death and uncover the mystery of disappearances in Copper City, the girls soon find themselves at war with each other. How do you survive long enough to hunt a murderer on the loose if the person inside you might kill you first?”

About the author, L.L. Madrid:

“As a child, L.L. Madrid wasn’t allowed to watch R-rated movies. However, her library visits were unsupervised, so she spent her summers reading Anne Rice and Stephen King. Nowadays, she lives in Tucson with her family. When she’s not pretending to be a mild-mannered office worker, she writes dark, moody stories about misfits.  L.L. is a member of the Horror Writers Association and a past recipient of the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Scholarship. She is proud to be part of the Bi+ Book Gang, a Pitch Wars alum, and is an Odyssey grad. Her short stories are scattered across the internet. My Lips, Her Voice is her debut novel.”

Why I selected My Lips, Her Voice for the October 2025 Giveaway:

• Madrid captures the small tourist town attitude and energy perfectly. It is obvious this town is not a real Arizona town, but you can’t help but feel like you’ve still visited the shops and sites. It feels so familiar, in the best way possible.
• It was fascinating to watch the slow spiral towards darkness that Mara goes through the longer she stays with Audrey.  What starts out as a soft comfort for Audrey quickly morphs into a slow, claustrophobic, and isolating existence.
• There are so many twists and surprises in this tale! The way Madrid weaves the generational trauma and the darkness of the town into the plot makes for an incredibly compelling story, as well as showing the depth of the town’s dark soul.
• This story is perfect for spooky season with all of the ghosts and hauntings; however, it also has a lighter side that showcases the joy and confidence baking can bring a person.  I really did want a sweet treat while reading this book.