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.

Her First Mistake is book one in the brand new series Noelle Marshall by Kendra Elliot.
Another thoroughly enjoyable novel from this author.
Elliot has the ability to create a story and characters that will pull you in and keep you reading late into the night.
Yet again I couldn't put the book down and am looking forward to reading more of her work.
I can’t wait for book two No One Knew.

Her First Mistake by Kendra Elliot is the first book in a new series featuring Deschutes County, Oregon Detective Noelle Marshall. Thirteen years ago, Assemblyman Derrick Bell was murdered in his home and his wife, Noelle, was left for dead. Past and present leads collide when the FBI decides to take another look at the case and is reinterviewing everyone. While a team in Sacramento interviews the Bell family and others, Special Agents Keaton and Rhodes are dispatched to interview Noelle and her family in Bend.

Noelle had a memory loss of the attack, but has been having dreams about it. How much of her dreams are real? Her husband had been charming and privileged, but he hid a dark side from others. The interviews spur memories and action as events unfold.

Noelle doesn’t usually lack confidence, but she realizes it took hard work to overcome her past and how she allowed herself to be manipulated by others. She’s a quick study, hard worker, and consistent. While working as a bartender before her marriage to Derrick, she received a college degree in psychology and became a level 2 certified sommelier. She’s sharp, observant, loves to solve puzzles, and loves her current job in law enforcement. She’s also been a supporting character in the Columbia River series by this author. The other characters have good depth for the first book in a series. It was also great that Mercy Kilpatrick from another of this author’s series had a cameo appearance in the story.

The book gives a lot of Noelle’s background so it sets the stage for the series featuring her. This includes her grandfather and great-aunt who raised her and her two sisters, her terrible in-laws, and her married sister’s husband. It was also great to get to know Agent Keaton.

While the story is largely told from Noelle’s point of view, it does go back and forth in time. However, Kendra Elliot is skilled at making this seamless with excellent flow. The start of each chapter tells readers when the events are occurring. While this starts out as only a cold case investigation, violent events begin to occur adding action, danger, and suspense. With the help of the FBI, Noelle must determine what really happened 13 years ago and stop the violence.

Full of twists and turns, lies, and action, this novel has good world-building, great characterization, and a gripping storyline. I was immediately drawn into the story that also has a hint of a future romance. However, getting through the emotional effects of this story’s ending may take a while for Noelle to recover her equilibrium. What an ending!

Overall, this was a tense, clever, and suspenseful novel with well-developed characters and a great start to a new series. I am looking forward to finding out what happens in the next book. If you enjoy police procedurals, crime novels, and mysteries with a strong female protagonist, then I recommend that you check out this series.

Montlake and Kendra Elliot provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for June 10, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

New Series!

I really enjoyed this book, the first in a new series. The female main character is Noelle, a detective with a troubled past. Someone murdered her husband and tried to kill her, and now 13 years later the FBI is revisiting the unsolved case. Someone isn’t happy about that, and ultimately Noelle and members of her family are at risk.

I feel like this book was very well developed, the reader gets an in-depth character building of all key players, and the mystery was also well-crafted. I have read a lot of prior books by this author, but this one just feels different in a very good way. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series to see how Noelle’s story progresses, and if we run into any more characters from prior series, like Mercy who appears briefly here.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

The format of this novel was really interesting and different from what I’ve recently read. Noelle is an intriguing character and her backstory (really, the focus of the book) had plenty of twists and turns. The book is the type where you can feel something is off, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was wrong. I had plenty of suspicions and it feels at times almost everyone is not to be trusted, but it pushes the story along and makes it for a quick easy read. I found it really fun to read and was anxious to get to the end. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing | Montlake and MB Communications for gifting me both a physical and digital ARC of the latest police procedural by a favorite, Kendra Elliott. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Thirteen years ago, Assemblyman Derrick Bell was murdered in his home by an intruder. His wife, Noelle Marshall, was left for dead. The crime was unsolved, but it wasn’t forgotten. In the present, the FBI is taking a closer look at the case and especially at Noelle, now a detective for the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office. It's bringing up way too many bad memories for Noelle, who has been hiding something about the night Derrick died.

If you're a fan of Elliot's books like I am, you'll recognize some of these characters from previous books, but this is the first book in a new series starring Detective Noelle Marshall. Elliot is a master of this genre and this was a tense, gripping novel that left me guessing until that shocking ending. The story spools out between the past and present timeframes so we get Noelle's backstory before her marriage to Derrick and afterwards, as well as learning about her family. Plus there are new characters that I can't wait to read more about in the next installment, No One Knew, which will come out next year. Highly recommended!

Kendra Elliott is an auto read for me, I’m never disappointed when I pick up one of her books.
This was a great start to a new series. I really liked Noelle in the Mercy Fitzpatrick series and the Columba River series. Turns out Noelle definitely had a more exciting back story than I thought she would. 4.5 stars.
** I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher**

Her First Mistake by Kendra Elliot is the first book in the Noelle Marshall series and is suspenseful, fast paced, engaging and a perfect mystery thriller with engaging twists.

Thirteen years ago, Noelle Marshall was left to die in her house next to her dead husband, well-known politician Derrick Bell. Now Noelle is a detective of the Dechutes Sheriff’s Department. When the FBI shows up and informs that they have reopened her husband’s case and are interviewing everyone involved, Noelle knows they think she knows more than she actually remembers.

This story went back and forth in the past before and after the murder and the present, while unravelling the mystery of who killed Noelle’s husband.
Once again, we witness how much money and power can do. Once again, we can see how family influence freedom to choose.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this copy.

Make no mistake about it, Her First Mistake is a gripping and thrilling book! Kendra Elliot takes readers on a roller coaster ride through Noelle Marshall's life going from the present to the past and back again! I found Her First Mistake to be an engaging and intriguing book. It's been a long time since I have read a book by Kendra Elliot, and I am kicking myself for waiting so long to read another one of her books!

Thirteen years ago, Detective Noelle Marshall was left for dead when her husband, Assemblyman Derrick Bell, was murdered. The case has remained cold but now the FBI is looking into it once again! 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?

This is the first book in a new series by Kendra Elliott. It is off to a great start with an interesting mystery. I enjoyed the tension while trying to do my own super sleuthing to determine whodunit as the plot unfolded. I also enjoyed how the book took readers back and forth from the present to the past. This doesn't always work for me in books, but in this book it worked quite well for me. The time transitions gave readers insight and glimpses into the evolution of Noelle through the course of her life. There are also a few twists and turns along the way which kept things interesting and moved the plot along.

I will be on the lookout for the next book in the series while trying to catch up on some of Kendra Elliot's previous books.

A new Kendra Elliot series with an absolutely charismatic character.
We have several timelines that help us delve into the complicated life of detective Noelle Marshall as well as the current case.
A well-paced book with secrets and twists that keep you glued to the pages.
Looking forward to the next one.

Having read several of Kendra Elliot’s books, I went into Her First Mistake with high expectations—and it absolutely delivered. I experienced this story in both audiobook and print, and I have to say: both formats were stellar. The narration brought a gripping tension to the story that had me hooked during every commute, while reading it allowed me to really savor the intricacies of the plot.

The story moves across three timelines in Noelle Marshall’s life, and somehow, Kendra Elliot weaves them together seamlessly. The pacing never lags, and despite the jumps in time, the narrative flow feels effortless. I was fully immersed in Noelle’s world—her trauma, resilience, and the quiet strength she carries as she pieces together a past that refuses to stay buried.

I thought I had the mystery figured out more than once, but the twists kept catching me off guard in the best way. It’s not just the suspense that pulled me in—it’s the emotional undercurrent running through every page. The story explores grief, guilt, and survival without ever losing momentum, and Noelle is a character you genuinely root for.

Her First Mistake is not only a brilliant standalone—it’s a compelling start to a new series I’ll definitely be continuing. Whether you're a longtime fan of Kendra Elliot or new to her work, this one’s a must-read…or a must-listen. Either way, you're in for a ride.

Note = I totally want more