Took me a few chapters to really get to grips with this, but once the story got going I really enjoyed it.
Enjoyed the fact that it was told by 2 different people's point of view, and then they both came together and made total sense at the end.
Really enjoyed it, and would recommend.

Betty loves her daughter in law as a daughter but both have secrets the other doesn’t know about. In some ways their lives have had similarities which is why Betty feels she knows Poppy quite well.
The storyline goes back in time and we gradually find out both of their life stories.
I found both the main characters fascinating in themselves and their relationships with one another and the rest of the family.

I Made A Mistake is a slow-burn drama, that is carefully layered and very much in the style of Jane Corry. Having read most of her books, and been a fan for a long time, it is always a joy to read the latest novel from this very talented author. Using two first-person story threads and a court-room scene that teases with a fait accompli, Jane builds a story full of suspense and mystery. The reveal is that we know who is murdered and we have someone in court being questioned, you may think the mystery has been solved – but think again. What you do know is that over the next few hundred pages you will be taken on a ride that gives brilliantly drawn characters every motive why they should be the murderer.

Poppy Page was an aspiring actress, but when it didn’t work out she established an agency providing extras for film and TV roles. She is married to Stuart with daughters, Melissa and Daisy, and also shares her home with her mother-in-law Betty. Betty and Poppy are extremely close, more like mother and daughter and they both provide alternating accounts of their story. Poppy, as she encounters, at a Christmas party, an old partner, Matthew, who she loved many years before her husband. An encounter that leads to Poppy’s first of many mistakes. Jane Corry turns the tables really brilliantly from building excitement to arousal to a rapid descent into fear and dread. Fearful that her mistakes will be exposed and the continuing pursuit from Matthew will destroy her family.

Betty tells her story as a letter to Poppy and it accounts for her adult life, from meeting her husband, Jock, a selfish, controlling and an imperious man who has since passed away. A marriage that Betty considers a mistake, but behaved as the social pressures dictated at the time and stayed with him. She opens up to Poppy, revealing secrets and regrets from a very naïve and oppressed woman. Betty talks about tragic events and the pull to leave her husband but with her son, Stuart and a damning secret she endures her distressing life.

I find it very intriguing the mastery of the plot where you give up a potential surprise at the beginning of the novel but still manage to hold the suspense until the end with a multitude of possibilities. It’s a very clever way of watching the interaction of the victim with the other characters to see if we can spot clues. Jane develops characters with many layers and gradually she changes them over time. This is very evident in Betty’s story as she manages to turn the tables and challenge her husband’s authority.

The story builds to an enthralling conclusion with an ever-increasing pace. I would highly recommend I Made a Mistake as a great psychological crime drama that is fascinating and cleverly plotted. I would also like to thank Penguin Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC copy in return for an honest review.

Poppy is not just a wife and mother, shes also a successful businesswoman. She runs an Extras agency after failing to make it as a actress. She has a great relationship with her mother-in-law, Betty, who loves Poppy like the daughter she never had. But when Poppy meets ex-boyfriend Matthew Gordon, she makes a mistake that could devastate her whole family. Betty's life story is told in a letter to Poppy. There is also a court case where somebody is accused of murder.

I did feel this was more a family drama than a thriller but that did ot spoil my enjoyment of this story. It's told in the present day by Poppy and the past is told by Betty. Its filled with twist and turns. Each character has their own backstory. A story of mistakes, guilt, regrets, death and lost love. We don't know until much later who had died and who had been standing trial. I really enjoyed this book. I love it when all the loose ends are tied up and all my questions are answered. I do recommend this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Books (UK) and the author Jane Corry for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I first read the blurb, I thought I knew exactly what I would be in for. But instead of a twisty and turning thriller, I found that this was more of a family drama than anything else.
It started off strongly and like I imagined all of it would be like but then as it flashed back in time, I found that the pacing slowed considerably and the characters themselves weren't particularly likeable. This meant that I found it hard to root for them or get as fully invested as I could have been.
The ending lacked the pay off or big twist that I was expecting and left me feeling quite deflated, instead.
It also started to get rather unbelievable and far fetched, which again saw me taking off another star, leaving it as a 3 star read for me.
I have heard good things about this author, despite this being the first of her books that I've read. So I may give her other books ...
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another sure-fire winner by Jane Corry!

Poppy Page is married, with two teenage girls, has an exciting career as a casting agent for extras, and a godsend of a mother-in-law, Betty, to help out. Sure, her marriage is a little stale and ordinary, and both her and her husband, Stuart, work a lot, and hardly see each other, but no relationship is perfect right?

Then, Poppy bumps into her first love – Matthew Gordon – at a work Christmas party, and all her old feelings come rushing back. Poppy isn't a cheater, but Matthew's seductive charms have always been her downfall. But Poppy never thought letting Matthew back into her life would lead to a screech of train brakes and a body on the tracks.

Engrossing, nail-biting, and emotionally-investing. As the title states, I Made a Mistake is exactly that, how a single action can destroy your life as you know it, the regrets and guilt associated with that, and how much you wish you could take it back. Another prominent theme is the enormous misogynist pressure society places on women to marry and have children resulting in them sometimes settling for a less than ideal husband. Deals with some heavy topics such as domestic abuse, post-natal depression, obsession and stalking.

I would categorize this crime mystery as more domestic drama than psychological thriller, so it's a bit different from Jane Corry’s norm, but nonetheless this was a fantastic read with several didn't-see-that-coming twists, and I can see this storyline appealing to a more mainstream audience. We are presented with two POV's, Poppy in the present, and Betty narrating her life story to Poppy in the form of a letter. Both timelines were engrossing and surprising and collided together in shocking and unexpected ways.

This author continues to do no wrong in my book, and I eagerly await whatever she writes next.

I'd like to thank Netgalley, Penguin Books UK, and Jane Corry for the e-ARC.

Publication Date: 22nd May, 2020.

The promise of this book is so much more than the book itself.

I'm disappointed. I thought this book would live up to the interest that was generated from the blurb. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

Poppy and her husband are living almost completely separate lives. As their prospective careers take off, the only thing remaining that seems to connect them is their two daughters.

At an industry Christmas party, Poppy bumps into Matthew - her ex from twenty years ago. Although Matthew broke Poppy's heart she can't help but notice how good he looks and remember the passion they once shared, so different from her sexless marriage.

Believing that her husband is having an affair with his colleague, Poppy gets drunk and shares an impulsive and enthusiastic night with Matthew. Matthew believes that they were bought together after all this time by fate. He declares his love for Poppy before demanding that she tell her husband and leave her family for him. However, Poppy has realised that this was a mistake, one that has only served to show her just how much she loves her husband and their family now that she stands to lose them.

Betty is Poppy's mother-in-law, and her own story runs alongside Poppy's. Betty married for love in the 1970s. But it soon turns out that the man she married is a very different character than the man she agreed to marry. Betty's husband Jock manipulates her a little bit at a time, building and building into something much more sinister.

This is one of the best books I have read so far this year; an exciting, can't put down read that I devoured in one sitting. Poppy is fine as a character if a bit stupid at times which could become annoying if not for the awesome character in Betty. The two stories running alongside each other show how certain issues can occur in all marriages, even the ones that look perfect. The only difference is in how people deal with those issues.

There are odd little inconsistencies in the story. For example, in the beginning, Poppy is considering how her teenage daughters' squabble and state that at their age, she would have given anything for a sister and would still love one now. However, a little while later when reminiscing on her own early childhood memories, Poppy states 'I never yearned for a brother or sister. The three of us were happy as we were.' Inconsistencies like this feel like laziness somewhere in the development of the book, wether in planning or editing I couldn't guess but it is annoying.

At the end of this book, there is an absolutely fantastic little twist that I didn't see coming. There was a bit of a twist slightly earlier on that I had already begun to suspect - but the little extra one at the end blind sighted me, it's like a little secret, hidden in a pocket.

A gripping story of human relationships, the struggles of women and patriarchy, and the hurt that secrets can cause.

The story is told from the viewpoint of Poppy and her mother in law Betty. As the story unfolds we realise how little it is possible to know about even the people we love dearly.

Poppy’s ex-boyfriend Matthew has returned to her life and is set on causing trouble. Poppy thinks she is the only woman who has settled for her husband and now has her head turned by the man who broke her heart years ago. Betty however teaches her otherwise, she writes to Betty about her life story and shows her that their stories are not that different after all.

Betty has struggles of her own from her past which she has to come to terms with, and affect decisions she makes for her son and daughter in law.

I great read that makes you think and keeps you guessing until the end.

I really enjoyed this book! Lots of twists and turns and I enjoyed the back and forth between Poppy and her mother in law, Betty. It was cleverly put together going back and forth in time, and never ever got confusing. Both main characters had interesting stories, and it ended well. I’d love to know what happens in continuation of both their stories!

When Poppy runs into an old flame at a networking event it sets off a chain of events in her life beyond any of her wildest dreams and nightmares. Is the grass greener on the other side? Poppy is about to find out that one mistake is going to have a ripple effect not only tearing through her family but also her business and as secrets spill out you won’t be able to put this book down. It’s fantastic.

I’ve always loved reading Jane Corry's books and this one was not a disappointment. Throughly enjoyed this and the twists and turns had me gripped all the way through.

I'm a big fan of Jane Corry's novels, and her latest one didn't disappoint!

Poppy Page, a married mother-of-two, finds her life suddenly flipped upside down when her first love, Matthew Gordon, bumps into her at a Christmas party and she makes a big mistake.

We hear from Poppy's POV as she struggles with her mistake, as well as from her mother-in-law, Betty's, POV, who reflects back on her own life, mistakes and regrets.

'I Made A Mistake' was an addictive read, with some great twists throughout. I highly recommend it!

I Made A Mistake

I have read a few of Jane Corry's book & found I have mixed reactions to them. Some I love & some I hated. However the one thing they all have in common is they are all compulsive page turners. I cannot stop reading them & I always look forward to reading them.

This was an interesting book & although I figured out some twists early on (like who was on trial) I read it practically in one sitting.

The characters were difficult. .Poppy was a maddening character who had a wonderful life most people will dream of & it still wasn't enough. I struggled to empathise or understand a majority of her decisions. The central story could have been easily resolved with just one conversation...have no idea why she didn't just have that conversation & why she let it go as far as she did. I also found her relationship with her dad frustrating...really strongly believe elderly parents should not be left alone..seemed very irresponsible. Especially given the reasons she had to rush to him!

Betty was a well layered & intriguing character...she reminded me of characters in My Mother Said...which is a high compliment as one of my favourite plays.
I understand her guilt but struggled to understand the choices she made as a result of this guilt.
I did admire her loyalty to her family & enjoyed this aspect of the story.

I also found it odd that the author used her own name for such a tragic character.

However, without a doubt this book was a real page turner. I really wanted to see how it ended & the sense of tension & dread was very present & real throughout the book.

I would definitely recommend this for anyone who enjoys complex family dramas. Jane Corry is a great writer & her books are always intriguing reads with alot of layers.

Thanks to the author, publisher & Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

After 'I Looked Away' which I rated 5* I cant help but feel cheated by this book! A first chapter held so much hope, but this crucial opening was left hanging for an awfully long time. Clearly the descriptions of the main characters were important in the overall telling of the story, but I think this could have been done much more succinctly. Is it a murder mystery? definitely not as no one was murdered (big spoiler) but was more akin to a family drama...there were twists, but nothing that hit you between the eyes! I did read for the twists that I knew must come, but I'm afraid for me, just not enough.

A courtroom drama and some clever twists manage to elevate this story from a rather ordinary morality tale about having an affair to more of a page turner.
Thank you to netgalley and penguin books for an advance copy of this book

Beautifully written, heartbreaking, thrilling, all in all a great story with a hidden story within. I loved it. Great characters that I could relate to and cared about. Highly recommended.

I'm a fan of Jane Corry's work and I think she's really developing as an author. In fact, this is her best book yet!

A mystery court case is revealed at the beginning, and as the book unfolds - so does the background of the events surrounding the reason they are all in court.

The main character, Poppy, bumps into her old, first love, Mathew, and after a few drinks she gets a bit over excited and ends up sleeping with him. It's a mistake, and she knows it - as when the push comes to the shove she knows deep down her children and dentist husband are the best thing that's happened to her. So what if her relationship with her husband has gone a bit stale? That's life! But now, Mathew is insisting that fate brought them back together and they were really made for each other - and he just will not let up. What should be a one night stand, the biggest mistake of Poppy's life, is now turning into a huge fiasco, that if discovered could turn her whole family against her. And losing everything is just not an option.

Alongside this story is another plot thread featuring her Mother-In-Law Betty's backstory and how she met and married an abusive man, Jock. I must say this side of the story really kept me glued. The way Jock worms into her life and cuts her off from the rest of the world was cleverly written, had a great pace, and totally had me hooked.

Two great storylines threaded together, with a surprising twisty and satisfying end!
Thanks to #netgalley and #Penguin for an eARC of #IMadeaMistake in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.

I Made A Mistake opens to a court room scene. A man has been murdered and someone is on trial. You dont know who it is in either case.

Poppy is a successful agent for extras for TV shows and movies, running her own business. She is married to dentist Stuart and they have two daughters. Stuart's mother, Betty lives with them and everyone gets on great. However lately Poppy feels her marriage has become a little lacklustre and stale.

While at an extras Christmas party she bumps into Matthew, her first love and a major heart break. Stemming from that evening, she makes choices and decisions that have disastrous knock on effects for everyone in her family.

Told in two timelines, Poppy's recounting of the events that lead up to the court case and Betty's back story, her life through her teens and her marriage to Jock.

This is my first Jane Corry book and I wasnt sure what to expect. I was definitely not disappointed. Well written, pacy and easy to read, the clues and information are drip fed and the plot is suspenseful. With great character development, it is Betty's story that is the star of the book though and I was rooting for her every step of the way!

All in all, a really good read with a surprise ending that I didn't see coming at all!

My fourth book by this author and yet again she does not disappoint. After an intriguing start in an underground station this novel begins with the introduction of Poppy - a busy Mum in a rather mundane marriage juggling her own business, a home and two children. This is all made possible by her mother-in-law, Betty who while following various pursuits gives her untiring help with the running of the house and the care of the children. The story continues with Poppy's story and that of Betty's past, both women's characters are well portrayed. As the story continues the tale becomes darker and the pace quickens.
A fascinating tale well told with twists and turns.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Jane Corry/Penguin Books for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.