Book one in a new series by Kendra Elliot.

As you’d expect, Kendra gives another great story of love, loss, suspense and mystery.

You will not want to put this one down. Having to wait for book two is heartbreaking.

Love Kendra Elliot and of you have never read her you are truly missing out on a master story teller.

This is another good mystery from Elliot set in the Pacific Northwest, this time in Bend, OR. It is a cold case investigation. It was interesting that Noelle, wife of the man murdered 13 years ago, is now a police detective herself. The narrative jumps from the current time to various times before the murder and also a few days after the murder. That jumping around is not particularly a plot technique I like. Each time period was clearly defined however. It did provide the background to the murder, the events leading up to it, while at the same time covering the current investigation. Elliot did a good job of providing a number of suspects while leaving the true murderer reveal until near the end. That included a surprising twist I had not anticipated.

I like Elliot's writing style and have read most if not all of her books. This is the first in a series and I will be watching for the next one.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

We're going back to Deschutes County, Oregon with this new mystery series. This time the enigmatic and mysterious Detective Noelle Marshall is getting the spotlight treatment.

We learn so much more about Noelle in this book and I was blown away just how far her character has come. From poor but loved beginnings, getting her degree, falling in love with the rich boy and then watching life fall apart.

It's been 13 years since the death of Derrick Bell, Sacramento politician, but it would seem that his death is coming back to haunt Noelle once more. Between his rich, snobby, elitist family and the new FBI investigation into the death, there is no way for Noelle not to involve her new colleagues into her backstory.

Noelle's fragmented memories, dreams and amnesia have delayed her true healing from this trauma and it looks like the killer still thinks that she knows more than she does and is out to silence her, and her family, for good!

Noelle gets to show off some of her softer side in this book. She's usually full of confidence, sass and don't-mess-with-me-attitude, but this time around we see the coping techniques she has designed to cope, the worry she constantly has that she has "forgotten" something. Her family is her everything and the bond between them is so tight but even that will be rocked!

The attraction between her and a certain FBI agent is instant but neither of them are exactly in a position to do anything about it. However, as the story unfolds, it looks like love could definitely be in the air for these two!

It was nice to see some of the characters from the Columbia Rivers stories filter through the story to keep the whole "universe" cohesive. There are some great new secondary characters introduced in the book, including Noelle's mentor. There are two distinct timelines within the story itself but I never got lost in which timeline I was in and the twists and turns from one story ease seamlessly into providing new information for the current timeline.

Fab new series and my feminist little heart is so happy that it's Noelle's series and not a double act with her potential new beau!

A wonderful first book in this new series as the author flashes back and forth between the past and present of Detective Noelle Marshall’s life. Noelle was married to wealthy business man and Assemblyman, Derrick Bell. Police were called on the night Derrick was murdered, but who made the call as Noelle was knocked out by a hit on the back of her head? Due to her injury, she has never remembered what happened that evening. Thirteen years later, Noelle is now a Detective with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Department. She had tried to be what Derrick needed her to be, but seemed to fall short of his, and his families, expectations. She is surprised when she is called into the reopening of Derrick’s case as she still hasn’t remembered, other than her confusing nightmares. Two FBI agents have been assigned the case, Dave Keaton and Max Rhodes. Max soon feels protective of Noelle, but must ignore those feelings. Noelle is protective of her family, hating that they have to relive those years again. The author smoothly takes us through Noelle and Derrick’s life before the murder, forward to just prior to his death as well as after and now, thirteen years later. It is obvious that someone has a secret that they will kill to protect, but who and why? A completely absorbing mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

Gripping from the beginning. I loved Noelle and was so invested in her journey. This one is full of twists that keep you guessing. And I really enjoyed Max. I cannot wait for more of these characters and community.

I loved this thriller. I listened to it and it made two early morning road trips fly by.

The book goes back and forth a bit in time to tell the story about an unsolved murder of a politician and the attack of his wife.

Thirteen years after the murder the FBI are looking at the case again. The wife of the murdered politician, Noelle, is now a county detective, and she has no memory of the attack.

The book does a great job of sharing snippets of the crime and Noelle’s life leading up to the crime.

Once the story stays in the current FBI investigation, there are some great twists and I was shocked at the conclusion.

This is a perfect summer page turner!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Her First Mistake by Kendra Elliot in return for my honest review.
This is the first book in a new series by Kendra Elliot featuring Noelle Marshall. This is a really well written thriller that had me hooked from the beginning till the end, can’t wait for the next instalment a great start to a new series.

Thank you @mbc_books @amazonpublishing for a gifted copy!

𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Her First Mistake (Noelle Marshall 1)
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Kendra Elliott
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: June 10, 2025
5⭐️

🔸 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 🔸
I loved this book and the new series focusing on Noelle Marshall! I’m a big Kendra Elliott fan and have of course seen Noelle in her other books working with Detective Bolton, and I was excited to hear she was getting her own series! And it does not disappoint!

Noelle has a mysterious past that is thrust into her present life as a Detective, when FBI agents want to reinvestigate the unsolved murder of her husband, Assemblyman Derrick Bell. Noelle was hurt when her husband was murdered and her memory has been fuzzy of that day, so she has been trying to move forward from her traumatic past.

Noelle is a dynamic and interesting FMC. She has a rough upbringing, and has made some not so great choices in life, but ultimately she is a survivor and a fighter. Kendra does an amazing job at writing strong FMC leads who work in law enforcement. Noelle is far from perfect, but she is resilient and knows how to turn her life around for the better.

The back and forth timelines in this story worked really well together as they introduced us to Noelle and her history/past marriage, and to the current investigation. I love cold case mysteries, and it’s always interesting to see the main character start to get back their memories from a traumatic event.

I enjoyed the hint of a romance in this book. The ending of the book left me excited to learn more about another character soon! This book was a great start to a new series!

🔸 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
🔹 Police Procedurals
🔸 Female Detective
🔹 Unsolved Cases
🔸 Past/Present Timelines

What a well done first book in a series! Not only did it introduce the characters, but it also had a very compelling story of its own while letting the reader know more was to come! After finishing it I realized it was a spin-off from another series by Ms. Elliot. I didn't feel like I had missed anything by not having read those books. It didn't hurt that parts of the book took place in Sacramento, a town I know very well! The author did a great job of not falling into misidentifying traps but kept things vague enough that I could fill in the blanks myself and feel like I knew where the events took place. Obviously not all readers will have that luxury, but it did make me enjoy those bits of the book better. I have already added the second in the series to my TBR!

We’ve met Noelle Marshall in Mercy’s series, this is her story. Marshall had a rough start, helped raise her two sisters, worked in a bar and then met Mr. Stoli. She had a wonderful marriage until tragedy struck. The first third of the book is bounced between FBI interviews to the days and years leading up to the incident. Carefully woven to create the mystery of the whodunit her story is powerful and intense. This is going to be another smart series with a female lead facing the criminals of this world and I’ll devour every page. I never wanted this one to end and had difficulty putting it down. I’ve written my review voluntarily after reading an advanced copy.

A great story! Noelle has been a character that I've wanted to learn more about from the author's other books. I was excited to read the first book that is set with her as a main character. Boy does she have a story! The book rotates between the past and present as we learn what happened to Noelle's husband. There were a few surprises as the book goes on. I found the book to be quick paced and well constructed. I look forward to more stories from Noelle in the future. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

13 years ago, Noelle Marshall and her husband Assemblyman Derrick Bell were attacked. He died, and she survived. Through dedication and hard work, she has been able to slowly surpass that awful night. Now that she is a detective, her case is being reopened, and all the past fears, worries, and repressed memories are coming back. With the help of Special Agents Thodes and Keaton, the truth will be painful but will set her free.

Her First Mistake focuses on Noelle, her past before the attack, during her marriage, her family, and her present. It was a lovely story of survival, strength, perseverance, and resilience. 💫💫💫💫💫
Thank you, Netgalley and Montlake, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

What a fabulous read! Finally... Noelle's back story! Or a hint of it! Her First Mistake is the start of a new series featuring some old friends Elliot's readers have met from other titles. Jumping timelines from when Noelle's politician husband was murdered and she was injured, leaving her with no memory, to her meeting and courtship to current when she's now in law enforcement. I was kept guessing the entire book with every hint tying up perfectly! Another winner from Elliot!! Thank you, Kendra, as always, for the ARC

Explosive yet endearing! The first book in a brand new series from Kendra Elliot is sure to please her diehard readers because we see some familiar faces along the way from previous series that we all love and adore. The main character that this series revolves around is Detective Noelle Marshall. We learn quickly about her unexpected past and follow along every step of the way as twists and turns lead us to answers we never were expecting. The characters are easy to like and make you want to know more about them, the case is intriguing and the mystery surrounding it is addictive. I loved every minute and can't wait to see what happens next for Noelle and Max. Highly recommend!

What a great start to a new series. It is definitely a page turner and will keep you guessing all the way to the last page. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Her First Mistake, by Kendra Elliot, is the first installment in the author's Nicole Marshall series. The author states that she will be continuing this series with more books in the future. This novel introduces Detective Noelle Marshall, a character fans may recognize from Elliot’s Columbia River series, now stepping into the spotlight with a deeply personal and emotionally charged story. Set in the familiar Pacific Northwest world of Elliot’s Mercy Kilpatrick novels.

Noelle Marshall is a detective with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office who is really good at her job. Still, her life is about to be upended when the FBI, in the form of Special Agents Keaton and Max Rhodes, reopens the unsolved murder of her husband, Assemblyman Derrick Bell, which occurred thirteen years prior in Sacramento. Derrick was killed in their home by an intruder, and Noelle was left for dead, suffering a brutal head injury that caused memory loss of the incident and ongoing short-term memory issues.

Now, as the FBI seeks fresh clues, Noelle is forced to confront painful memories of her traumatic childhood, a marriage that was far from the fairy tale she’d hoped for, and a husband whose charisma masked a darker side. Complicating matters, Noelle harbors a secret about the night Derrick died—a secret she’s never shared with anyone. The narrative unfolds across parallel timelines, seamlessly shifting between the present-day investigation and flashbacks to Noelle’s past, including her marriage and the events leading up to the murder.

As the FBI’s scrutiny intensifies and new leads emerge, Noelle grapples with suspicion from investigators, her own fragmented memories, and the fear that Derrick’s killer may still be at large. The stakes escalate as past and present collide, revealing that the murder wasn’t just unsolved—it’s unfinished, and Noelle’s pursuit of the truth could put her in the crosshairs of a dangerous predator. Noelle's in-laws have always placed the blame for their son's death on Noelle.

Even though Noelle has tried to put the past behind her, the past has come calling. Will her husband's murder ever be solved? Will Noelle's memories come back from that night? While the dual timelines of the present and past, spanning 13 years, enrich the story, they can occasionally feel disorienting, particularly in the first half of the book. The constant shifts between past and present, sometimes within the same chapter, may disrupt the flow or the story.

As this is the first installment in a brand new series, the author spends a considerable amount of time establishing Noelle’s early adulthood backstory and how she originally met Derrick (she was a bartender), who barely endured the sad complications of being a politician’s wife. The investigation of Derrick’s murder was taken on thirteen years ago by two FBI agents, Alice Patmore and Oscar Wilson, but it was eventually considered unsolved. We get to familiarize ourselves with Noelle’s uncaring, suspicious in-laws, and her close family (two sisters and a great aunt; her beloved grandfather has passed away in the interim).

As Noelle gets to know at least one of the current FBI agents better (Max), something changes, and her quiet post-marriage life in Oregon is blown up (literally). I think the mystery in this story was well done, even though if you paid attention to certain clues, you will probably get that there's something really off with several characters. What was more shocking was how it was also part of the tragedy, and why everything went down. Sadly, no one saw the signs earlier to help this person who was struggling.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book and what a book it was...

i could not put this one down at all...it had everything that anyone would want in a book..... murder a mystery and a family that told everyone that would listen that the wife had done it....

Derrick Bell murder remained unsolved for years
his wife survived the attack on her but her memory still hadnt come back from the attack now 13 years later the case is reopened and the wife noelle marshall is questioned yet again to see if anything could be jogged from her memory

noelle has moved on and instead of a trophy wife of derrick bell she is now herself a detective with an outstanding record.... but technology has moved on and maybe time was needed before secrets could be unearthed....

ohhh my goodness me i couldnt put this book down.... started and finished in one day and i was left reeling from it all... so much happened between those pages that left me stunned and breathless....

i cant wait to see what else this author brings out next... you know its gonna be good....

Deschutes County, Oregon Detective Noelle Marshal is faced with having to relive the night thirteen years ago when she and her then husband, Assemblyman Derrick Bell, were attacked in there Sacramento, California home. Derrick was killed and Noelle was left with a severe head injury causing her to have no memories of the event. There was speculation that Noelle had orchestrated the assault, an idea strongly supported by Derrick's family. Noelle left California and moved to Bend, Oregon to be with her sisters and grandmother. The FBI is reopening the case and Noelle is questioned about the attack. Secrets are revealed about her "perfect" marriage and her husband. It becomes apparent that someone is not happy with the investigation when there is an attempt on Noelle's life.

This is an engaging first installment to this new series. Noelle has been a character in Kendra Elliot's Columbia River series, and we get to see Mercy Kilpatrick from another Elliot series make an appearance. The book jumps time from the past to the present as the action unfolds and we learn Noelle's backstory. The plot is suspenseful with some twists and turns. There is the budding relationship between Noelle and FBI Agent Max Rhodes to add some romance to the story. The book ends with a surprising conclusion that I did not see coming. I look forward to the next book in the series, No One Knew.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Montlake, for an ARC. The opinions in this review are my own.

A solid mystery from Kendra Elliot ! This book starts right away with the murder that will make the plot which I really like, no unnecessary filer.
It starts out w the murder of assembly man and an attack on his wife. Then jumps ahead 13 years and the wife is now a detective and her husbands murder is still unsolved. The MFC still has memory loss from the night it happens so we follow the new investigation and what she may or may not remember.
The plot jumps to different pasts and the future seamlessly and the past information adds good detail to the whole story. The book is fast paced, leads you on different paths so you think you know who the murderer is. I didnt figure it out until almost the end of the book. This was also a very easy read and well written. I finished in two sitting. Would definitely recommend.

I was able to read an eARC thanks to NetGalley and Montlake. Thank you both !

In this author's newest crime series, the protagonist isn't the main detective, but actually a suspect in a murder. Her husband's murder.

Assemblyman Derrick Bell was brutally murdered one night, his wife, Noelle is of course, is a suspect. Even though she herself sustained injuries too. Did she hurt herself to cover up his murder? If not, who killed him and why?

This story is basically told in two parts, the initial murder and investigation and the follow up investigation, given the murder was never solved. Now Noelle's last name is Marshall and she's a sheriff's detective. Who inspired this new job? You'll never guess.

Anywho, there are a lot of mini timelines (too many in my opinion), some giving a backstory on the couple, some counting down to the murder itself, which shows that Derrick was a huge asshat to Noelle, along with his Mom. Was this motive for murder? I didn't think so, but I definitely thought Noelle hadn't revealed everything, mostly due to memory loss following the murder. How convenient. LOL.

The big reveal was a surprise for me, as the author never indicated anything about the particular character that concerned me. What was more shocking was how was also part of the tragedy and why everything went down. It's sad that no one saw the signs earlier to help this person struggling.

Overall, this was an intriguing mystery that had several surprises along the way. A good choice for those who like police procedurals.