Magnificently suspenseful, fast-paced and twisty!!

I could not put this one down! This is my first book by Kendra Elliot and the first book in the new Noelle Marshall series. The 2nd book is due out early next year. I can't wait to read more from this author and certainly am anxious for book #2! Books 3 and 4 already have titles too!

ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR ASAP!!!

The story is told from different timelines and was well executed between the past and the present. 13 years ago, Noelle's husband was brutally murdered in their home. Noelle was hit over the head with no memory of what happened. Or does she? Derrik's murder has never been solved. His family blames her. She has never been able to put this tragic incident behind her, haunting her still today. Today, she is a

With the past and present storylines, you learn who Derrick and Noelle are and how their relationship was up until the time of Derrick's death. You also get to see how Noelle has grown since the incident. The story moves along at a steady pace and keeps the reader intrigued. Today, Noelle is a detective in Oregon but suffers from a brain injury she has kept secret. Two FBI agents show up to interview her because they are reopening Derrick's case. Will she remember what happened that night? What transpires after this initial meeting is nothing less than a good cat and mouse chase that will keep you flipping the pages!

I love a good domestic suspense thriller and this hit the sweet spot! If that sounds up your alley, please give this one a try!!

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own.

Noelle Marshall was left for dead with her husband. She survived but he did not. It’s been some years but the case of who killed her husband is not solved. Noelle has changed her life, now working as a detective for the Deschutes County Sheriff. Here she still investigates the case of her murdered husband and now the clock is ticking because soon a new victim may be killed.

This is a nice crime thriller with so many dark corners and secrets that it’s impossible to guess the conclusion. It’s very hard for me to put it down because I need to find out the ending. This is a perfect book in that way, a true just-another-chapter-itis read that gives you as a reader a very entertaining time.

Kendra Elliot’s writing is up there with the great ones. The writing suits the book and the pacing is perfect for the plot. I’m looking forward to reading more from Elliot.

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

This was absolutely fantastic.

What a ride.

I couldn’t put it down.

I honestly didn’t figure it all out. Phew, I finished hours ago, and I want more. This was such a great read. I found myself multiple times thinking come on you aren’t really going to take that. IYKYN.

I absolutely loved this book. I had a feeling I would like it just from the synopsis when I requested, but I didn't know quite how much. It was gripping and I loved the play between what is real and what is a dream. I had never read a book by Kendra Elliot, but now I want to read them all. I cannot wait for another book in this series to come out! Recommending to everyone immediately.

This was my first Kendra Elliot book and I really enjoyed it. I hadn't read her Columbia River series so I was not familiar with the main character Noelle Marshall, but I look forward to continuing this series and possibly going back and reading the earlier books. The story goes back and forth in time from the present when Noelle is a detective for the county sheriff's office in Bend, Oregon and 13 years ago when she was living in Sacramento married to state assemblyman Derrick Bell. In a case that is still unsolved, Derrick was brutally murdered in their home and Noelle suffered a serious head injury. The FBI has now reopened the case and is hoping that Noelle's lost memories of the attack may have been coming back over time. Frightening new events happening in Bend could be linked to the crimes of 13 years ago. Noelle could once again be in danger. Kendra Elliot's characters are well-developed and her writing is very good. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Montlake for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Her First Mistake by Kendra Elliot is wow! Everything is fantastic.

Will Noelle's life always be haunted by the death of Derrick?

When the FBI shows up to investigate her second husband's death after thirteen years, everything is blown open.

Noelle Marshall has had quite a life. Married for a few months right out of high school and then to Derrick Bell, an aspiring California politician from a well-to-do family. Noelle can't seem to do anything right in his mother's eyes. Derrick is killed in an attack in their home, and in the same attack, Noelle is hit in the back of the head and left for dead. She makes it past the injury, but her short-term memory is questionable. This day haunts her life.

I think Noelle is amazing. She has a great support system and family that loves her even if that love blinds her. When it comes to her family, she sees nothing wrong. Admirable, but also naive. Noelle works hard and continues to grow even after the murder and all the press that surrounded that day. I love that she is strong, efficient, and has found something that she is good at to keep her mind busy. The three sisters will once again have to stand together.

The killer surprised me. I didn't see the whole connection coming. That was tricky, Ms. Elliot.

Five Stars
My rating for Her First Mistake by Kendra Elliot is five stars. The story is brilliant. The characters are completely believable, and the setting is good. Bend, Oregon, is a beautiful area as a setting. I truly enjoyed the whole experience, and I highly recommend it to all thriller and mystery readers out there.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Her First Mistake by Kendra Elliot.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

After encountering, cool-headed and fab dressing Detective Noelle Marshall in previous Columbia River series books, I was tingling with excitement to finally get the deets on her mysterious past. Kendra Elliot created a layered and fascinating secondary character who is now getting the spotlight for the first time.



Her First Mistake has a split timeline-style format. There are two past (one pre-murder and one post-murder) and one contemporary. This choice makes perfect sense with this particular plot line.



Opening with Noelle being called into the FBI office in Bend, OR, to meet with two Sacramento FBI agents, Max Rhodes and his partner, who are assigned the still-open case of her deceased husband, California Assemblyman, Derrick Bell, Noelle is blind-sided by the past she thought she had successfully put behind her. This is routine and the agents have gone over the old reports, had any evidence that would benefit from updated forensic tech gone back over, and now they are conducting interviews with all the key players to see if anything new shakes loose.



As it happens, they do rattle someone who has been keeping quiet about the bludgeoning death of Derrick Bell and attack on Noelle that left her with memory loss of the day of the crime with ongoing struggles of minor memory loss. Noelle went through dark times back then and is now reliving them though still unable to recall the day of the murder. That said, she’s been keeping a secret- the vivid dreams connected with that day.



I couldn’t say why, but one sentence during one of the past timelines opened the solution to the murder and surrounding mysteries wide-open for me. I was gratified to see hints after that telling me that I had indeed nailed it. How gratifying, LOL! But, that said, Her First Mistake never lost the building tension or big climax scenes because Kendra Elliot knows how to toss in an exciting and unexpected surprise now and then to keep readers on their toes.



I really enjoyed delving into Noelle’s past and getting to know an already likeable character better. Her vulnerabilities as she saw them didn’t hold her back and I thought these added depth and hidden strength for her to go through what she did and her ongoing hidden disability that doesn’t get in the way of her doing her job as a detective. The crackle of attraction between her and Max was well done and I liked the slow build in the background of the work on the case. Max was an instant favorite and I look forward to getting to know him better in further books.



Sidenote: There are crossover characters and mentions of previous situations even though this is a first in series. If you want all those references to make sense, previous series including FBI Agent Mercy Kilpatrick and the more recent Columbia River books involving Detective Evan Bolton should be read first.



All in all, a satisfying, attention-grabbing book- as usual. Can’t wait for the next installment and recommend specifically to romantic suspense fans.

I loved diving into Noelle’s world during this fast ride in Her First Mistake.

I love a thriller that I can’t put down, and Her First Mistake delivered. This was my first Kendra Elliot, and the first in a new series for her, but there are many characters that readers, from what I understand, will have met in other series, including Noelle. I did not struggle to understand characters and relationships though, because Kendra does a great job worldbuilding and setting up the new series in this book. The book does not drag though, rather it’s tightly plotted and will suck you in. It jumps between Noelle’s earlier life and her marriage with Derrick and the road that led her to a new town with a new career as a detective.

I really appreciated getting to know Noelle’s past in this book – it really explains her focus on family and how tightly she holds her sisters to her in life. Noelle has a traumatic past, to put it lightly, and her character growth is exceptional. She’s a bit of a closed box, and has trouble letting people in. She also has some nagging memory problems and a lack of memory during the time of her husband’s murder because of injuries she got during the home attack. Her life, however, has seemingly moved on since the attack until the FBI reopened the case.

Derrick came from a lot of money, and Noelle was never good enough for his family. She was a bartender when they met, and she inherited a lot of his fortune when he died. His family always suggested she had something to do with the murder. She escapes to Oregon partially to get away from them. She’s had no one in her life since Derrick died, and even though she is now extremely wealthy, she still chooses to work every day in a hard career. The FBI is really puzzled over her, and Special Agent Max Rhodes can’t help but want to get to know her better, even if she is a murder suspect. As the agents ask a lot of questions, it triggers some of her memory to return. However, it becomes apparent that someone is watching her to see what she remembers, and is keeping track of her.

The ending of this story is a wild, wild ride. I won’t say more because I don’t want to ruin it, but let me tell you that I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I’m excited for more books in the series and to see where Noelle takes her life now that she has some answers. I’m really hoping her path includes the delightful special agent!

I found this book to be an enjoyable read. The story kept me engaged from start to finish and had some moments that really stood out. Overall, it offered an entertaining reading experience.

A suspenseful, page-turner that starts with a murder. The author cleverly incorporates multiple time periods, that keep the reader engaged and unsure of what may happen next. A fast-paced, enjoyable read.

Noelle Marshall is a detective in the Deschutes County Sheriff’s office. Thirteen years ago she had a very different role as the wife of Assemblyman Derrick Bell until he was murdered during a home invasion. Noelle was left badly injured, with little memory of what happened and the killer was never found. By the time he was killed, Derrick had changed from the charming man she fell in love with to a manipulative bully and Noelle thought she had put his death and her marriage behind her to forge a new life for herself. But now, the cold case has been re-opened and the FBI have arrived to re-interview her as well as others involved at the time.

This is a good start to a new series with a gripping mystery, plenty of twists and great characters. Told in two time lines, the plot weaves superbly between them to add intrigue and suspense. Fans of Kendra Elliot will recognise Noelle and also enjoy the guest appearances of several characters from other series.

What a great start to a new series. I love when you cannot figure out who did it until the end. I had suspicions, but the reveal was great. I didn't care for the flashbacks, but they are necessary for the story. Noelle is going to be a great character for us to enjoy. Looking forward to her next adventure.

I have been wanting to know more about Noelle Marshall and this book was an excellent start to her series!! Her insane back story coming to haunt her 13 years later had twist that I couldn’t see coming. Both of the guesses I had ended being wrong, and the ultimate reveal had me gasping!! I loved that Mercy Kilpatrick and Evan Bolton made cameos!! I can’t wait to see what this series hold in the coming books!!

I enjoy the Mercy Kilpatrick/Columbia River series and am enjoying the books featuring the members of the Sheriff’s Department. Noelle Marshall had made appearances in the Columbia River books, but now she gets to star in her own.

You learn about Noelle’s background and how she ended up as a Sheriff’s Detective. There is a mystery from her past coming back to haunt her, offering plenty of twists. Appearances from our favorite Federal agents occur, and we meet some new, fun characters. I look forward to reading more of Noelle’s stories in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake, and Kendra Elliot for the eARC.

If Kendra is writing it, I'm picking it up. I love that her different series interconnect and we get to catch up with different characters. I've been intrigued by Noelle since she popped up in the Columbia River series. 'm so glad she now has her own book. I look forward to seeing more of her.

This was such an interesting twist on the usual crime thriller. Noelle's amnesia adds to the suspense. You can feel the frustration and fear from Noelle not being able to remember what happened all those years ago and that it might be happening again. With each flashback chapter, we get to learn more about Noelle and what went wrong.

I had my suspicions about a certain character but the end reveal still had me on the edge of my seat. I had no idea how it was going to end. I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.

Noelle Marshall is a detective in the sheriffs office. Thirteen years ago she was the fashionable stay at home wife of Derrick Bell, Assemblyman. Derrick Bell was found brutally bashed to death and Noelle was left for dead. The case was not solved, despite thorough investigation.

Now the cold case is being reviewed and though Noelle never got her memory of the incident back she has made a life for herself, far away from her toxic in laws who tried their best to make her out as being in cahoots with the murderer.

Noelle has secrets of her own and Derrick himself turned into a manipulative, narcissistic being totally different to the man Noelle fell in love with. As the case is being reopened, questions are being asked from both families as the detectives feel that the answer lies there. When a series of incidents take place culminating in a bomb attack on Noelle’s car, the detectives realise that they are getting closer to the truth than ever before.

The final revelations are totally out of the blue, and this is what made this a fabulous, intriguing read.

Her First Mistake is book 1 in the Noelle Marshall series by Kendra Elliot. I read a lot of series and wasn't sure if I should start a new one, but wow am I glad I did. Her First Mistake is one of my favorite reads so far this year! As hard as I tried to figure out the killer, I couldn't do it, and was blown away by the twists at the end! Noelle Marshall is working as a detective in the Deschutes County sheriff's office. She has worked hard to put her troubled past behind her. Thirteen years ago, Noelle was married to Assemblyman Derrick Bell. Noelle and Derrick were attacked in their home and Derrick was killed. Noelle sustained a bad head injury and was left for dead. The police never caught the killer after trying for years. Noelle recovered, but never regained her memory of that night. The FBI agent working the case took Noelle under her wing and cared for her during her recovery. Alice was a big influence in Noelle's recovery as they lived together for a few years. Alice is the one who got Noelle to consider law enforcement for a career as she was curious and asked a lot of good questions.

One day at work, in current time, Noelle is told the FBI is here to see her. The FBI has reopened the case and is again looking to interview her about what happened that night. Noelle dropped her married name and is going by her maiden name to avoid that night following her into her new career. No one she works with knows what happened to her that night or that she is the wife of murdered Assemblyman Derrick Bell. Noelle wants to keep it that way. Noelle meets with the 2 agents and tells them the same thing as years ago. She sustained a head injury and can't remember anything from that night. She's not sure the agents believe her, but leave to interview others involved. Noelle has been hiding something all of these years about that night and has never told anyone. What is it she's been hiding? Did Noelle have something to do with the murder of her husband? Did she really lose her memory? Is Noelle safe with the FBI looking into that night after all of this time?

Her First Mistake is told in different timelines and that adds to the intensity you will feel as you read it. The suspense is incredible and I could not put this book down. I'm all in on the Noelle Marshall series and can't wait for the next book! If you love a thriller that is hard to solve you will love Her First Mistake! I thought I had it figured out a couple of times, but that twist at the end got me! I rate Her First Mistake 5 stars with my very highest recommendation. Her First Mistake is out now and should go to the top of your TBR pile! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Montlake for an advanced copy of Her First Mistake in exchange for a fair review. #HerFirstMistake

I have been saving this ARC for a time when I didn't feel like reading and needed a boost. And it did not disappoint. I adored Kendra Elliot's Mercy Kilpatrick series, and I'm working my way through Columbia River, so when I saw that she was starting a new series, I was thrilled.

As in all Kendra Elliot books, the pacing is excellent, the characters are realistic (no mentally screaming at them to get some common sense), and the plot is expertly woven. As with many mystery/suspense readers, we pay attention to every word and detail, trying to solve the mystery before the book does. I get frustrated with books that introduce new characters and throw in unexpected plot twists at the last minute, making it impossible for the reader to solve the mystery on their own. That was not the case here. There were enough breadcrumbs that you started to wonder about character motivations and potential lies, giving you a few options of possible suspects.

A fantastic start to a new series, and I cannot wait to follow along the journey.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for a digital advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4.25⭐
Her First Mistake is the first book in a new series featuring Detective Noelle Marshall from Deschutes County, Oregon. Who thirteen years ago, was left for dead when her husband, Assemblyman Derrick Bell, was murdered in their home.

Now, the FBI has decided to revisit the case, starting by re-interviewing everyone involved. A team in Sacramento interviews the Bell family and others, while Special Agents Keaton and Rhodes travel to Bend to interview Noelle and her family.

Yet, due to the attack, Noelle suffered memory loss. However, she has been having dreams, though she is unsure about what in those dreams is real and what isn’t. As Derrick appeared charming and privileged to the outside world, but he had a dark side that he hid from others. And the interviews trigger memories and set off a chain of events that lead Noelle on a journey to discover the truth about what really happened thirteen years ago.

And with a storyline that seamlessly transitions between the present and the past, along with plenty of twists, turns, lies, suspense, and action. Her First Mistake is a clever and tense introduction to a new series. That kept me completely engaged throughout.

A start to a new series by Ms. Elliot. If you read some of the other series you will have met Detective Noelle Marshall.
I’m so glad she now has a series. Now thirteen years have passed when her husband Assemblyman Derrick Bell was murdered, and Noelle hurt very badly. Noelle doesn’t remember much of that day, and later what happened to her husband. The FBI haven’t solved the case. Now new agents are looking further into the case. Noelle’s family noticed a difference in her after she got married.
When Noelle got blindsided with two new agents asking all these questions about the night her husband was murdered she was not happy. Why would someone want to kill her husband? He was in the public eye so of course he had enemies. What they learn after hearing the 911 call 13 years ago stuns Noelle, and so many others. But more things come to light that had me shocked.

Even after all the tragic in the book. Noelle still had the support of her family, friends, and they made her laugh.

Highly recommend. I can’t wait for more books to come.
Two characters from previous books were in here