This is an utterly charming domestic thriller, which follows the lives of one family albeit from the view of two different woman at two different times.

Both threads were equally engaging and I liked the feeling almost of a trainer being laced up as the two stories began to converge.

Poppy Page is our main lead - she feels that she is unnoticed by her husband in a semi loveless marriage. Nothing overtly wrong, just no passion. They live with his mother and their two daughters - the picture of domestic harmony. He is a successful dentist. She is a successful acting agent. Why would you rock the boat?

Bumping into an old flame - her first love - reignites old feelings and Poppy suddenly resents her steady and reliable husband and hankers after passion.

We've all read enough books to know how that will pan out, right?

Betty, Stuart's mum, is the second narrator and her voice describes the early days of her life and marriage in a different era and describes another whole loveless marriage and brief dalliance with tragic circumstances.

As so many other reviews have said, this book is classic Corry, it is a slow and winding burn that suddenly gathers paces and races towards whallop of a finish.

Thanks to #netgalley for this early read in return for my honest opinion.
Having previously read two great novels by Jane and loved them, I had high expectations for this one. However, I'm really sorry to say I didn't enjoy #imadeamistake as much. I just felt the storyline was quite unrealistic especially the later part (without giving anything away) The ending didn't shock me, and lacked the big twist I thought.

Saying this though it was still a good easy read and I never felt that I wanted to give it up. I especially enjoyed Betty's early life story, you felt for her and that part of the book was very relatable and broke the chapters up nicely. Also, what you get with Jane's book is a little bit of scientific knowledge at the end usually involving how someone was killed which I love! This one didn't disappoint in this aspect!

I'd still recommend this book, as I'm a fan of this author and am very much still looking out for the novels I haven't yet read by her. Just don't go into it expecting a big thriller, this one is more a family drama albeit a little far fetched one I thought.

Poppy Page has come a long way from a failed actress. She runs a successful agency for hiring supporting actors. She’s married to Stuart, a dentist by profession. They have two delightful daughters and a loving Stuart’s mother, Betty.
This might become a distant memory soon for Poppy. She made a mistake. That mistake will have a rippling effect on her life. It might just destroy the life she knew!

The book is straightforward. It runs into different timelines. Betty narrates the story in past and Poppy in the present. As the chapters progress, we understand Betty and Poppy. The author presented the minutest details about their characters. I liked Betty’s character. She’s a strong yet caring woman. She takes care of all the surrounding people, but her grandkids hold the priority.
Poppy and Betty are poles apart. The parts that Poppy narrates is a little drag. I liked Betty’s more than Poppy. Betty takes things on a stride and looks for a solution even at the face of difficulties. Poppy is more complex and is not a problem solver.

The central theme is about mistakes and guilty. The stress is on the feeling of guilt when we commit a mistake (it lingers and takes a special corner in our mind). The reason I liked the book is author gave string and straightforward solution to our major modern-day relationships challenges. Always letting go of things don’t work out! Sometimes we need to be intelligent to handle a tough situation.

Two women from two different times face different consequences for similar actions. Betty had her mother guide her. But Poppy wasn’t that fortunate to have, but she had Betty? Would the consequences be different if she could discuss it with her? It’s a question I pose for the readers to discover.

I made a mistake is a domestic thriller that will grip you with its story and characters.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Books (UK) for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

My rating 4 stars.

I would rate I Made A Mistake a solid four stars. It’s a book filled with secrets, lies and a few twists along the way. It’s thrilling yet also thought provoking and a great way to while away a few hours as you immerse yourself into the plot. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Books and the author for the chance to review.

Having read Jane Corry's last book ' I looked away' I was really pleased to come across this.
This book switches between seamlessly between two women.
Poppy Page. :- Married to Stuart a dentist. They have two children Melissa 17 and Daisy 14. Poppy feels her husband is loosing interested in her and always working. They also live with Betty.
Betty Page :- Mother of Stuart. She was married to Jock.
The book starts with a death. Matthew Gordon a past love of Poppy's dies after falling from a underground platform. Matthew had broken Poppy's heart years ago and they had lost contact. However, at a Christmas party they meet up again. This leads to them having a one night stand. However, following this he threatens to take the life she knows away from her.

The book tells the story with flashbacks in letters that Betty has written telling about her life with Jock. The on going story of Poppy and court room setting.
Brilliantly written and a great plots and a fab story.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review

At the start of this novel, the central character, Poppy, is still waving but also very close to drowning! Her husband, Stewart, is increasingly distant; she has a father with dementia and two needy teenage girls keeping her occupied, while she is also trying to run a busy agency for film extras. She is dependent on her mother-in-law, Betty, to keep things rolling along and that's exactly what Betty does in this novel.

The novel has a number of separate threads, the first of which is Poppy's story but that is interspersed with a memoir about Betty's life and some goings-on at the Central Criminal Court which is dealing with a murder. There's a lot about Betty's early life and her marriage to the thoroughly unpleasant Jock which doesn't seem quite relevant at the start but it all begins to come together. Betty is carrying a large bag of guilt around with her relating to one of the few friends she ever made and although her story is typical of the period it is also fairly grim. She's a well drawn character and given a lot to do by the author!

While Poppy's life is extremely busy it is not altogether rewarding in the love department and when an old flame called Matthew Gordon pops up she gets herself into more trouble. Jane Corry writes an excellent account of adulterous anxiety and guilt. It will keep you reading and Matthew Gordon turns out to be a rogue!

Meanwhile, Stuart who is a dentist – say no more - and doesn't have much time for Poppy could be partying himself with someone called Janine so that's something else for Poppy to worry about. Everything gets worse and the tension builds as the plot builds to a climax with murder, mayhem and some surprises. I like the way the novel builds this up without being sensational and the way that Poppy seems to fall headlong into more and more trouble.

In the end, mum-in-law saves the day but it's a complicated ending with more twists and turns required to pull together all the loose ends. If anyone manages a beach holiday in 2020, this will be a good title to take along!

I was very excited to get my hands on this book as I have a very good track record with this author. It's no surprise (I five starred the book) that this was well up to her usual standards and I thoroughly loved it.
Poppy Page is married with a couple of children. She started off in life as an aspiring actor but had to concede that her dream would never be fulfilled so she now runs an agency that provides "extras" to act in productions. Want a middle aged vicar with a beard for a scene in a tv show then Poppy can find you one! She's at a party when, from across a crowded room, she sees a blast from the past. With the weather scuppering her travel home, they are once again thrown together and spend some time catching up. Little did Poppy know at the time but this meeting would set in motion events that would throw every part of her life into disarray. In a very dangerous way...
The blurb gives little away and I think that's a good idea. This is one of those books where the little you know upfront the better. Much better to go in cold and discover all the secrets, lies, duplicitous behaviour and other shenanigans as the author intends. Needless to say that it is extremely well and tightly plotted, and that plot is executed with aplomb by some very colourful and well described characters. Pacing is perfect as the author keeps the tension ramped up all the way through, drip-feeding titbits all the way through to keep the reader on their toes throughout. Although I did guess a couple of things early, I was never prepared for what was eventually revealed. Oh! My! Days! Sublime...
What really sets the book apart from others of the genre is the way that all the way through we hear from Poppy's mother-in-law, detailing her own life in the form of a letter to Poppy herself. This was in itself very eye-opening and fitted in very well with what was going on for Poppy throughout the book.
All in all, a cracking addition to an already well impressive back catalogue. I really can't wait to see what the author serves up for next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

A single mistake can destroy many relationships. Is there redemption?

#IMadeAMistake is written in such a way that it starts slowly and draws the reader in gently, but it's filled with such twists and turns that grab your attention and make it impossible to put it down. What is more, it is totally unpredictable. Cleverly crafted and well brought together.
I had not read any of Corry's books previously, but after finishing this one, I would like to explore more of her. Thanks #Netgalley

This book grips you from the get go. It is wonderfully written and the plot flows well, Both the past and the present are explored well by the author and are clearly presented so that you are never confused about whther the section you are reading is past or present A great thriller,

From the first chapter, I was hooked, Brilliantly written and you never lost the thread of the actual storyline despite it being from different characters, both past and present. This story has it all...blackmail, infidelity, stalking the lot. Can't wait to read another from this author

`This is the first time I have read this authors work. Her writing is engaging, and captivating. I was drawn in from the opening scene. The characters had depth and each and everyone played a vital part in the story, good or bad, they each made the story what it was.

The book was full of emotion, and the author made you feel every single one. Happiness, anger, love, hurt, heart break, this book had them all.

I will certainly be looking for more work from this author.

Poppy Page has a successful business, a good husband and two daughters, plus a wonderful mother in law. Yet one mistake turns her life and future upside down and leads to the death of Matthew, a man from Poppy’s past.
So well written you feel for all these wonderful characters. Do we all make a mistake and suffer for it for the rest of our lives?
Brilliant book to read with lots of twists and turns, you will love it.

Huge fan of this author and couldn’t wait to get started.
Brilliant and clever as always and was hooked from start to finish.
Oh what tangled web we weave as they say. Lots of mistakes and lots of lessons learnt.
Didn’t expect all of the twists and turns and was a nicer ending than I expected.
Throughly enjoyed this book thank you so much

I have read and loved Corrys previous books. This one was no different. I loved Poppy & empathised greatly with her. Betty her mother in law was also an amazing and fantastic character who over the course of the novel shared her tragic tale. This book was superb & another cracking thriller from this brilliant writer

Can this author get any better? I thought not after her last fabulous book, 'I Looked Away', but I was proved wrong because this even surpasses everything of hers I've read so far. I gobbled up every single word and chapter. I didn't want to put the book down, gripped as I was by the unfolding drama and the twists and turns that kept me guessing all the way through as to the outcome. There are two stories that run alongside each other - that of Poppy and that of her mother-in-law Betty. Both made bad choices in their early years proving that romance can blind the eyes to the truth about the person you thought was so amazing and those rose coloured glasses you wear during the first throes of love can lead you into despair and ultimately danger. Poppy, as a disheartened middle aged woman, makes a dreadful mistake when becoming re-acquainted with the man who was once the love of her life. One little mistake changes her life and that of others around her leading her into unknown and even dangerous territory. Betty's story takes place in the 60's. She writes down her story to give to Poppy for reasons that are later revealed. I loved how the alternative chapters narrated by the two women overlapped and came together in the end. The segments set in the courtroom added another intriguing dimension to the story. I was totally riveted the entire way through by this exceptional book that, at times, had me on the edge of my seat. I can't praise this book highly enough. Get it, read it and enjoy! My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

What a great read. Quite the page turner. Yes, it's basically a romance novel, but with depth, and one that made you feel sorry for the women of the 1960's. I loved the way it went back and forth between the mother-in-law's marriage and the daughter-law's marriage situations. These situations felt real and understandable, with decisions being made out of fear, cowardice and for the protection of the family.
I also liked the way that the ending was played out and book finished with hope.

I absolutely loved Poppy the main character. My heart went out to her after she thought she still loved her first true love. Her mother in law was great and I loved that her life story is told alongside Poppy's. Tragedy strikes but as a result life eventually gets better for Poppy and her family. Never give up, all is not lost.

Unfortunately I struggled this book and am afraid it wasn't for me. I didn't particularly like any of the characters which made it hard to emphasise with them. I found the storyline a bit long and boring.

We know from the very beginning that there's a tragedy about to happen. On a January evening on a very crowded platform 3 of Waterloo Underground station a man falls under an oncoming train. That man is Matthew Gordon. Much later we see Poppy Page in the witness box of a crown court, getting a very rough ride from the prosecuting barrister.

Poppy Page is married to Stuart and he's a dentist. Poppy runs the Poppy Page Extras Agency: she provides those people who are not big-name actors but who make a set look normal. She has a good reputation in the industry and the agency is doing well.

At the Association of Supporting Artistes and Agents' Christmas party Poppy had bumped into Matthew Gordon. Way back in the day, when they were at drama school, the two were an item for three years but Gordon broke Poppy's heart when he left her for another student. Poppy was anxious to get home from the party. Her mother-in-law, Betty, was looking after Poppy's daughters, 17-year-old Melissa and 14-year-old Daisy, but Betty was seventy and Poppy didn't like to impose too much, although she freely admitted that she didn't know what they'd do without Betty. Unfortunately, the weather is not kind to Poppy and she's forced to stay the night at the hotel and despite her marriage feeling rather dull at the moment and there being an obvious spark between herself and Matthew Gordon, she doesn't sleep with him - even though he's in the room opposite her.

A series of events leaves her feeling lonely and unsupported and in a hotel in Worthing the following week, the pair spend the night together - to Poppy's horror when she wakes up the following morning.

I'm not going to tell you any more about the plot than that: you really should have the pleasure of seeing it unravel for yourself. And it is a humdinger of a plot. Every time that I thought I had it sorted, there was another twist which meant I had to scrap all my preconceptions. Even as you turn the final page you'll still be wondering...

The characters help, of course. Stuart is, well, nice. He's reliable and Poppy had thought that he'd never be unfaithful to her, but lately, with a marked lack of affection in the marriage and constant mentions of a female colleague, she's begun to wonder, and the charms of the man who left her all those years ago are more appealing than they should be. Poppy is a middle-aged woman doing her best by her family, but sometimes wondering if this is all there is. She makes one mistake and she doesn't just pay for it, she goes on paying for it until she really doesn't know where to turn. She'd love to confide in her mother-in-law - the closest to a mother she's had since she was eighteen - but would Betty tell Stuart what had happened? But - Betty has a story to tell too and her marriage wasn't the idyl that her son thought.

I read the book in a little over twenty-four hours, desperate to find out exactly what had happened and why. It's my first book by Jane Corry, but it definitely won't be my last. I'm looking forward to reading her next book and I'd like to thank the publishers for letting Bookbag have a review copy.

WOW WOW WOW! An insanely good and hugely addictive read.

I honestly don’t know where to start with telling you how amazing this book is. Jane is an expert at creating such addictive thrillers with heartfelt storylines and twists that will leave you aghast!

Poppy Page is married with two teenage children, she runs a successful business and has a beautiful home. She has a wonderful relationship with her mother in law Betty who also lives with them. Her relationship with her husband though is currently, not so wonderful. Feeling unloved Poppy makes a silly mistake and from then on, her life rapidly starts to fall apart.

The chapters flit perfectly between Poppy’s story and Betty’s life story, which she details in a letter to Poppy. Betty herself made a mistake once, one that she has never forgiven herself for.

I was totally engrossed with both ladies’ stories. Jane has a way of making the characters feel so real, that I felt all the emotions of Poppy and Betty. Betty is such a wonderful person and I feel she deserved so much better in life, but she was so humble and kind natured, everything she did was for others, never putting herself first.

I loved the relationship between the two women. Betty thought of Poppy as the daughter she never had and I think she could see a lot of herself in her daughter in law, she knows Poppy is a good person and that her mistake would’ve been simply just that, a mistake!

I also really loved Poppy’s dad. He seems to be struggling with what is possibly the early stages of dementia, this is another worry for Poppy, but she still makes time in amongst everything to visit her dad and keep checking on him by phone. My late grandmother suffered from dementia, so this part of the story was very close to home for me and I feel it was told really well.

After reading I looked away by Jane last year, I didn’t think I’d ever read a book quite like that again, where the characters stay with you and you think about them long after you’ve finished the book. Well, this book did just that. I know Jane loves to write about women who face challenges and boy does she do it well!

Perfectly paced and expertly written with a twist you will not see coming, this book is an absolute must-read!

Thank you so much to Jane Corry, Penguin Books (UK) & NetGalley for an ARC of this book. It was a privilege to read.