Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the eARC.
A thoroughly enjoyable book featuring Noelle, a detective who's being interviewed by two FNI agents regarding the murder of her politician husband 13 years ago. She feels ambushed but tells them exactly the same she told the police years ago.
Her marriage was a happy one, until it wasn't, and she has been single ever since, afraid of being hurt again.
The story is fantastic, I couldn't read fast enough, and the ending blindsided me, I never guessed it!

Love Kendra Elliot's books! They keep you guessing and intrigued right until the very end!
Been curious about Noelle ever since we met her as a side character in a previous series and wondered what her story was.
Was NOT disappointed!!!

I liked how this story touched on a sensitive topic that's not talked about enough I feel - won't spoil it so not gonna say more than that! - and also enjoyed how the story kept giving us a back and forth element; past and present collided.

Great book and great intro into her series!

What a great story! Can't wait to read more by this author!
Thanks Netgalley and to the author for the ARC!

WOW! This book is full of shocking twists and suspense. It is absolutely fantastic! From the very first page, I was hooked, and I couldn't put it down. The strong female characters are beautifully crafted, each with their own depth and determination. Elliot masterfully balances heart-pounding thrills with tension that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Just when you think you've figured it out, she pulls you in a completely unexpected direction! This book is like a wild roller coaster ride that intensifies with every chapter! If you're looking for a gripping read that will keep you guessing, I can't recommend this book enough!

I really enjoyed this book. The constant change in time was distracting but came together later. I did not figure this one out. Good read.

New series featuring Detective Noelle Marshall who was a secondary character in some of the Columbia River series.

This first book gives us the complete backstory of Noelle and her family. Author weaves between the past and present of the mystery of who murdered her ex husband till ending on a thrilling conclusion.

In this book we also meet FBI Agent Max Rhodes who will be her romantic lead in future books and the next book will focus on his backstory.

Mercy Killpatrick and Evan Bolton made appearances which was great. Good kickoff of a new series.

Her First Mistake is the first book in a new crime thriller series by Kendra Elliot. Noelle Marshall, a detective, has been brought in for questioning again about an unsolved case. Years earlier, Noelle’s husband Assemblyman Derrick Bell was murdered in their home, and Noelle was severely injured and left for dead. Noelle’s backstory, her upbringing and marriage, is written in extensive detail for the first part of the book. However, it’s a good opportunity to learn about the various well developed characters. The book is written in parallel timelines. As the pace picks up, the story becomes gripping and tense. I look forward to the next book in the series. With thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

Wow—this book had me hooked from the very first page! I sat down to read a few chapters, and before I knew it, I had devoured the entire thing in one night. Kendra Elliot knows exactly how to craft a suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat thriller, and Her First Mistake is no exception.

The pacing was perfect—every chapter left me needing more. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another twist came in and completely threw me off. The tension kept building in the best way, and I loved how the story balanced heart-pounding suspense with deep, compelling characters.

I also really enjoyed the emotional depth woven into the mystery. The characters felt so real, and I found myself completely invested in their struggles. Kendra Elliot has such a talent for blending high-stakes crime with personal stakes, making this story even more intense and unputdownable.

If you love thrillers packed with tension, twists, and characters that stick with you, Her First Mistake is a must-read. I loved it and can’t wait for whatever Kendra Elliot writes next!

Wow! This is the book I didn’t know I needed. The first in what I hope will be a long running series, this book dives deep into the past and family secrets of Noelle Marshall. She’s a detective that we’ve seen in many other series, often partnered with Evan Bolton or Mercy Kilpatrick. In those books we’ve gotten brief snippets as to her story—but nothing that prepared me for this. Noelle has a dark and tragic past and this book starts with that door slamming wide open. I loved the back and forth of the timeline—it was done so well and wasn’t confusing at all. I loved the new characters that were introduced—especially FBI Agent Rhoads. I really hope he sticks around. I can’t wait for the next book in this series. Highly recommend reading this.

Her First Mistake
By Kendra Elliot
Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars
Publishing date: June 10, 2025

Thank you to netgalley for this arc. Her First mistake was a fast paced thriller that went back and forth from the past to the present while unraveling the mystery of who killed Noelle’s husband, Derrick Bell 13 years ago. Noelle became a detective years after her husband was murdered. She suffered a serious head injury the day her husband was murdered since she was there. The book takes Noelle on a journey through her past and helps her unravel some new evidence about that day 13 years ago. I found myself not able to put this book down! It was so engaging and a perfect mystery thriller! I highly recommend this book if you love a good thriller/mystery. This was my first Kendra Elliot book and I look forward to reading more of her work!

Kendra Elliot, prolific author of police procedurals usually set in her Pacific Northwest universe (like the Columbia River and Mercy Kilpatrick series) gives us the initial book, “Her First Mistake,” in the Sheriff’s Detective Noelle Marshall duology (the second book, “No One Knew,” comes out in mid-January 2026). This story also is set in Deschutes County, whose county seat is Bend, Oregon, and Noelle is friends with Elliott’s other series’ star, FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick.

Noelle Marshall was left for dead in Sacramento County, California, during an unsolved home invasion thirteen years ago during which her husband, Derrick Bell, a young state Assemblyman, was murdered. In the present day, two FBI agents, Keaton and Rhodes, have summoned Noelle to a meeting about that cold case, even though she isn’t aware of any new leads. They proceed to rehash the state of her marriage prior to the assault and her lack of memory about it, mostly ignoring that since then she’s become a valuable member of the Deschutes County sheriff’s department.

In this new series, a considerable amount of time is spent 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, something changes and her quiet post-married life in Oregon is blown up (literally).

Author Elliot has a brilliant talent for world building and although Noelle is the central protagonist, some of the other Columbia River series characters slip in and out of the storyline. This is great since if you decide to visit Kendra’s extensive back list, you’ll feel welcomed. This start of a new series obviously works as a standalone, but I ‘m ready to read more about Noelle and her newly acquired friend in the next book. 4.5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Mercy’s green eyes get a mention.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Winter is coming, so not much is growing outside.

Thank you to Montlake/Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

What an amazing read! I knew I'd enjoy reading the novel, because Kendra Elliot is gold as an author. Every single novel she's written has kept me enthralled throughout, and Her First Mistake did the exact same thing. I found myself immersed in the story, and couldn't put it down until I finished it.
Noelle's story was incredible, and the trauma she and her family went through was wild. A testament to how resilient and protective the human brain is, and I can't wait to see what comes in the next novel in the series This is definitely going to be on the top of my TBR list. Another winner for Kendra Elliot.

Her First Mistake by Kendra Elliot started out a bit slow; it was mostly back and forth between timelines and interviews with some of the characters. The second half of the book picked up. At the heart of the story is Noelle Marshall, a resilient character whose journey from trauma to uncovering painful truths is both compelling and poignant. The plot revolves around the unsolved murder of her husband, Assemblyman Derrick Bell, and the subsequent reopening of the case by the FBI. The author captures Noelle's struggle as she grapples with memories of a turbulent marriage and a dark childhood, all while navigating her present role as a detective.

The writing is classic Kendra Elliot and is crisp and engaging, with well-crafted suspense that kept me reading. Each revelation peels back another layer of the mystery. What sets Her First Mistake apart is its exploration of the impact of hidden secrets and the quest for truth. It's a reminder that facing the past, no matter how painful, is crucial for finding peace and justice.

Overall, Her First Mistake is an engaging read and combines a thrilling mystery with deep emotional resonance, making it a good read for anyone who appreciates intricate plots and complex characters.

I would recommend this book and this author.

#HerFirstMistake #NetGalley

Kendra, girl, I have been sleeping on your books. I’ll admit that I’ve had one of your books in my library for years, but my TBR is 5 miles long, and I just haven’t made it there yet. This book kept me interested from the first chapter to the last, and I can’t wait to read the next one.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my truthful review.

Kendra Elliott’s “Her First Mistake” was just a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. Why? You come to love or despise the characters. You, the reader, can envision yourself right there with them in the moment. You have a connection and immediately become invested in the story.

This story is about Noelle. Noelle meets Derrick who’s rich and handsome. From the start she started noticing her decisions were never her own. She had to have his or his mother’s approval centering around his run for public office.

One day, Derrick’s faced is smashed and he’s beat to death with a crowbar. Everyone thinks Noelle is responsible but she was hit over the back of the head also.

Thirteen years later, Nicole still has no memory of the day Derrick was murdered. She’s being interviewed again by the FBI.

Who killed Derrick and left Nicole for dead? Why is she having trouble remembering. All seems like standard procedure until Nicole’s car is bombed and she and her two sisters could’ve been killed.

This was just a great story with the right amount of who Dunn it, suspense, and possible romance.

Great mystery! The story is told from multiple timelines. There were times when I felt like I knew where it was going, but it still kept me invested!

Noelle's husband is murdered in their home, and she is attacked and left for dead. As she recovers, she is unable to remember what happened that day. Her husbands murder has gone unsolved for 13 years.

Present day - detectives start asking questions again, and all hell breaks loose!

I will absolutely read more from this author!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC in an exchange for an honest review.

5 stars!

Our story begins when Noelle, now an agent herself, is brought in for questioning from the FBI over her husband’s murder 13 years earlier. Derrick Bell, her husband, was a prominent Assemblyman, who was murdered in his home. Noelle was also attacked during his murder, which caused her to lose her memories of the day’s events. 13 years later, the FBI still doesn’t have any suspects.

As Noelle recounts the events leading up to that day we are brought back to when she first met Derrick, and how their relationship came to be. The first half of the story is told from multiple timelines, which leads us to the day Derrick was murdered, and Noelle was attacked.

The second half of the book focuses on the present day, with the FBI and Noelle reexamining the evidence from the day of the attack. This causes Noelle to question some of her memories and help to seek answers about what happened that fateful day.

Themes in this book include:
- Story told from multiple timelines
- Political aspirations
- Meddling families
- Amnesia
- Strong sisterly bonds

I loved Noelle’s relationships with her grandfather, Aunt Daisy, and sisters. This book has a lot of strong female characters, and Noelle had fantastic character development with that support system. This book kept me guessing up until the last 10%, and I did not see the ending or twists coming! This is the first book in the Noelle Marshall series, and I will definitely be on the lookout for the next ones!

Kendra Elliot is a must read for me. I enjoyed this book and liked catching up with some of her other characters. My only complaint was it was a bit confusing in the first part of the book because it kept going back and forth in time. But overall a good story.

Fabulous mystery read!
No-one Marshall is a Detective in het Country Sheriff's Dept.
Thirteen years ago she was married to Assemblyman Derrick Ball the scion of a wealthy local family.
He was brutally murdered and Noelle was attacked and left dying on their kitchen floor in a rampage
that was never solved. .Noelle had traumatic brain injury memory issues after her attack.
The FBI has decided to take a second look at the case and their arrival stirs up a past that mist had
chosen to forget.
Suddenly, attacks on potential witnesses begin and Noelle finds herself fearing for her life and her
family's"s safety. As the tension escalates, so do the attacks and in tandem, Nicole's reliance and personal
feelings for FBI agent Reardon, does also.
Absolutely great story with enticing characters and riveting suspense.
Nicole's story is simply fascinating .
Bring on book two.

Loved this new series start about Noelle Marshall, her family and life. Starting 13 years in the past and then jumping to the present, the FBI is reopening the case into Noelle's husband Derrick's death. I enjoyed the suspense and tight writing, everything just kept you engaged and wanting more. Indeed, upon realizing that some of the characters were from a previous series, I'm now tracking those books down. A not to miss story and can't wait for more about Max's story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC