I have read all K L Slater’s previous novels so I was looking forward to reading this one.
It starts with Rose working as a librarian a rundown local library, threaten with closure. Rose lives on her own in a small village. She keeps an eye on her elderly neighbour Ronnie. When one day he has a fall and is taken into hospital. The last thing he says to Rose is do not go upstairs. She doesn’t heed his advice and goes upstairs to tidy up his flat before he comes home. Where she finds her little brothers blanket that was missing when her little brother Billy is found murdered Sixteen years ago. This evidence could re-open the case.

The story then goes back sixteen years where Rose met a guy called Gareth Farnham who was 10 years older than her. They started going out together. Everybody warned her to stay away from him but, she only thought that Gareth was protecting her. Not only did he control her but, also her family. Bad things start to happen. Billy is murdered and not only was she raped but, her best friend Cassie too.

This is a fast-paced gripping thriller, which I enjoyed very much. I like the characters in this story especially Rose. I kind of felt sorry for her. The way Gareth treated her. I wanted her to give back trouble what Gareth gave her. It was also scary to think how one person can manipulate a whole family to do their bidding.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book.

The Mistake by K.L. Slater
Rose's young brother was murdered sixteen years and now Rose has uncovered something that makes her think that the wrong person is in prison for the crime. An excellent psychological thriller that had me hooked from the first page. I really enjoyed this book and read it in one day as I did not want to put it down. I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers, Bookouture for this review copy given in exchange for an honest review. Also thanks to Kim from Bookouture for organising the Blog Tour and finding me a space on it!!

The story is told from Rose’s point of view, but 16 years apart. 16 years earlier, she is an impressionable teenage girl who is ‘groomed’ by Gareth, a man she meets. Gareth was loving and attentive to begin with, but as the story goes on you get to see the real person behind the mask. The relationship begins to spiral out of control, and Rose begins to lose her friends because of him. One day, her brother Billy goes missing and he is later found murdered. Gareth is convicted of his murder and is currently serving his sentence. In the present time, Rose is a librarian, fighting to keep her library open. She is also fighting to keep on top of her own personal demons, having suffered with eating disorders and mental health problems since Billy died. Her parents have since died and she is alone, still in the same town, where everyone knows what happened. She lives next to Ronnie, an old family friend who supported her family through their darkest times. One day, she finds Ronnie ill in his house. Worried for the condition of his home, whilst Ronnie is recovering in hospital Rose decides to clean it. Whilst doing so, she discovers Billy’s blanket, hidden in a box in Ronnie’s spare room. Billy had it on the day he was murdered, and it was the one thing that was never found. How did it get there? More importantly, who put it there?

Oh. My. Goodness. What a book! I have read other books by this author and have enjoyed them, but this is the best one yet! I was so excited to read it, and it’s only taken me just over a day to get through it!! It kept me awake when I should have been asleep and I grabbed a couple of extra minutes reading on my break at work as I couldn’t put it down! Granted, it’s not an easy read. It’s very sad and to be honest I found it downright creepy. The whole Rose/Gareth relationship set my teeth on edge! You just wanted her to wake up and see what he was doing, but I suppose as an accomplished groomer Gareth knew just how to stop her from doing that.

It is a heart-breaking story. I can’t say I loved this book as that feels wrong, but it was definitely a book that keep me hanging onto every single word. I used every possible spare minute I had to squeeze in a few more pages – I just needed to know what happened at the end. Oh, and I seriously didn’t see the end coming (no spoilers though!!) It might not be a topic which you are comfortable reading about, but you have to put that aside and read this book, just keep your tissues handy. Fantastic writing by a fantastic author.

Five Stars!

I loved this thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat! And there are so many mistakes that make your head spin! Rose's young brother, Billy was abducted and killed when he was nine; Rose has suffered ever since as she feels responsible since they were together flying his kite when he went missing. Compound that with the devious controlling older boyfriend who has Rose in his clutches, and we are set for a roller-coaster ride of psychological terror. Told in alternating 1st and 3rd person, both present and past, the author weaves a story of heightening tension as Rose must unravel the past, deal with her own demons, and solve the mystery of what happened to her little brother. Gripping and authentic, this one will resonate with me for a long time.

The Mistake
K. L. Slater

MY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️▫️▫️
PUBLISHER Bookouture
PUBLISHED October 4, 2017

THE MISTAKE is an emotional and haunting tale of how just one person can negatively alter your life forever.

SUMMARY
Eight-year-old Billy goes missing one day, when he is out flying his kite with his sister Rose. Two days later, he was found dead. It's been sixteen years since Billy’s murder, and Rose still blames herself. She had failed to protect her little brother and she has never fully recovered from the trauma. She still works at the library and lives in the same house she grew up in. One afternoon, while cleaning the home of her long time neighbor, Rose finds something that will shake her world. She thought she knew what had happened to Billy. Her first ever boyfriend, Gareth a scheming narcissist had been found guilty of Billy’s murder. Now she wasn't so sure.


REVIEW
THE MISTAKE is a smartly structured book. The story alternates between the story of Rose’s current life and her life from sixteen years earlier when she first meets Gareth. Rose leads a unfortunate and tortured life and you can't help but feel very sorry for her. It's hard reading about her life and her lack of confidence that made her a prime target for Gareth’s manipulation. I really liked the ending of the book and felt better about Rose and her future when it was all is said and done. Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and K. L. Slater for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have read all of the books by this author and love every one of them. Rose is taken in by Gareth a suave stranger who gradually takes over her life without her realising. He takes her away from her friends and family and makes her do whatever he thinks she should, from eating, drinking and the clothes she is wearing. When her brother Billy is found murdered Gareth is jailed. How does Rose cope with what has happened to her and her brother? The book is very well written from Rose's perspective and the author is great at bringing to life people's feelings. You feel like you are right inside the person's head. A very good book although not as good as Liar which I think was her best book yet.

I have been looking forward to a new K.L. Slater thriller ever since I finished Liar and I was more than excited when I first heard about The Mistake. And although it turned out not being my favorite of the bunch, The Mistake is without doubt still a very well written and suspenseful psychological thriller. The writing both draws you in and makes you fly through the pages. The plot was an interesting one and the situation and consequences of grooming are very thoroughly and realistically described. It's not a theme I have seen all that often before in psychological thrillers and I could really appreciate the spotlight on something that unfortunately happens way too often to vulnerable (young) women. I also liked the idea of the chapters going back between past and present; showing this way both what happened all those years ago and how this effected Rose's life even after all those years. This all sounds really positive, so why 'only' a 4 star rating? The main reason were the main characters, which I found highly unlikeable and made me enjoy the story less than expected. Rose and Garreth made me cringe A LOT. Unlikeable or not, the grooming is very well described as well as the consequences those actions have for the people around them. This is not a happy read and will provoke strong emotions. Realistic, full of twists, suspenseful, intriguing, provoking... All words that apply to The Mistake. Recommended for fans of the genre.

Excellent premise for a thriller and mystery but oh my goodness this is sad! Of course it’s going to be tragic with the death of a young boy, but this went deeper. the back story of Rose and her suffering on so many levels....well I was a wreck. It’s a hard read because of this for me. Good, don’t get me wrong, but as she grew up, and then we see her living with the ghosts of the past...well she’s one of these ghosts. I had to keep going to see what played out and who was ultimately responsible for the death of Billy though.

I have to say that the setting for this crime was ideal in the sense that the village was real and that it had very real history and heritage and a very small library which dials up the creepy factor and the small town way of living and thinking that can sometimes result.

The nice light touch of the novel was how Rose looked after the books and chose titles and arranged them on the shelves but then even that was tinged with chills.

Loved reading this book. I just couldn't put it down.. and just as I thought I knew what was going to happen.. it didn't.

Fantastic read!

I am a big fan of this author so was very excited to get an advance copy of this book to read and review from Bookouture via Netgalley . This is a fantastic book! Jumping between the present day and 16 years earlier we learn about Rose and her family and her first love. We learn what has made Rose the person that she is today. and it has a brilliant twist that I certainly did not see coming. Easily a 5 star rating from me!

I have a few of K.L. Slater's other books on my Kindle, but have yet to read them (I'm an e-book hoarder). But I'm eager to start them now, because I really enjoyed The Mistake.

Rose lives in fear because of what happened to her and her family sixteen years ago. She never goes out after ten p.m., has a quiet, cloistered career as a librarian, and finds comfort in food. She only has her next door neighbor, Ronnie, an elderly man Rose considers to be as close as a relative. So when she finds something in Ronnie's spare bedroom that means he might have been involved in her brother's death, her quiet existence takes a tailspin.

Interspersed with Rose's current day discovery are the events that lead to her brother's death, sixteen years before. Rose was a teenager then, navigating her way through art college and finding herself the center of attention of a mysterious older man. Their relationship soon turns ugly, however, and her best friend becomes involved in a most terrible way.

I really felt for Rose. She lived in constant, numbing fear and guilt for what happened to her brother. And as much as I empathized with Rose, I despised Gareth.

K.L. Slater can tell one hell of a story! I look forward to reading the other books I have of hers, and collecting the rest!

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC.

I have read the 3 previous novel by KL Slater and find her novels very enjoyable and of a consistently high standard. This is a fast paced psychological thriller that gets the reader hooked and wanting to learn more. I was certainly hooked and just had to learn the truth causing me to stay up into the early hours to finish it.
Sixteen years ago, Rose made a mistake when she fell in love with a man who was bad news. Things started to happen to her friends and family and when her 8-year-old brother went missing, he was found smothered to death. Rose had always felt guilty about his death and years later she is still coming to terms with the past when she discovers new evidence that may reopen the case. Doubt over her boyfriends conviction is uncovered leaving Rose unsure of the truth.

I really enjoyed this novel, it is always a privilege to read this authors work.

I would like to thank Bookouture and Net Galley for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This one was one book that I enjoyed . The lady of Rose was gutted and began to realize that she got stronger as she got older .she had to fight with Gareth Farnham . Has she overcomes her brother billy is murdered and her best friend is too.

KL Slater smashes it again!!!
The Mistake had me hooked from page one - I found it rather creepy,just didn't know where it was going next & who would jump out!!! Definitely an edge of your seat read!
The Mistake is a story of tragic loss for Rose who looses her younger brother Billy - the book takes us back 16 years when Rose was a young teen growing up & the friends & relationships she has along the way & also present day Rose who still lives in the house she grew up in-still living with the ghosts from her past who haunt her constantly she is always wandering what really happened to Billy her brother & who was involved in his disappearance. A fantastic read with lots of twists & turns in the plot. Highly recommend!!!

The Mistake K.L. Taylor


Split between happenings 16 years ago and the present day, this psychological who-done-it thriller had me gripped from start to finish.

!6 years ago, Rose is an eighteen-year-old girl suffering the angst of college life.

Her younger brother Billy goes missing and is found murdered, but who is responsible.

In the present day, Rose is a slightly awkward, mid-thirties, library assistant, who still lives under the stigma of what happened when her brother was killed.

A discovery whilst looking after her ailing sends Rose on a hunt for the truth about Billy’s death.

The passages set 16 years in the past are a warning tale of grooming, how a 17-18 girl with low self-esteem can be cajoled into a relationship with an older man, at the expense of her family and friends.

Rose lies to her family, and although her best friend initially encourages her, she too starts to distrust the older and controlling man.

The effects on everybody around Rose are devastating, but who is to blame for the things that start to happen around them.

This book had me second guessing myself from start to finish. Empathy, sympathy and frustration was aimed at all the characters, especially Rose.

The end? I don’t think anyone will see it coming, but it won’t be a “that-would-never-happen” moment either.

A great book written with reality, and emotion in abundance.

Pages: 330
Publisher: Bookouture
Publishing Date: 4th October 2017.

Rose (aka Rosie) a young, naïve, trusting girl meets a young man called Gareth. I was particularly impressed how the author built up Gareth's character. It was chillingly authentic. The pattern of abusive behaviour or DV is skilfully built up. In the case of Rose the long lasting effects of abuse is heart-wrenching. There is a fascinating thread running through the novel where Rose wonders why she didn't realise - 'why didn't I notice?' I imagine this will resound with a lot of women. There's a lot of food for thought in this novel. It got me thinking that 50-60 years ago I didn't know anyone who came close to the mould of Gareth. Yet, in the last few decades the world seems to be swarming with control freaks. Were women once less aware of being controlled because they had accepted it as the norm? I thought I'd share that thought anyway. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and it has a killer of an ending. I loved "Blink" too. I can't wait to read "Liar" which I bought recently. Thank you for letting me read this novel. I shall post a review on Amazon, GoodReads, Facebook and my blog after publication.

Sixteen years earlier Rose’s life was completely destroyed and it still haunts her present. She fell in love with a wrong guy , her best friend was raped and her younger eight year old brother was murdered while he was in her care. She still feels responsible for all of it ,as she believes she brought it all on her family by making a mistake in falling for the wrong guy. Now in present time Rose finds a clue that might shatter everything she believed all those years ago.

The Mistake is a fast paced psychological thriller which I devoured in one day. The characters were well developed , the story suspenseful with a twist I didn’t see coming . Overall a great read and another hit by K.L.Slater

Many thanks to Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

This is a dark, depressing, and sad read. Aspects of small town unemployment, stalking, anorexia, dominance and the guilt that is never overcome when a family member is murdered. Rose is duped into a love affair with a controlling man who alienates her away from her family and friends. Slater sets up chapters titled sixteen years earlier or sixteen years later. Just a back and forth visual of Rose who resides in a abusive family and the trauma that leads her to the present after the murder of her young brother Billy. It was just unbelievable the actions of main character Rose. "A copy of this book was provided by Bookouture via NetGalley with no requirement for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book as an arc.
Rose has spent the last 16 years mourning her 8 year old brother Billy. He was killed and her boyfriend at the time, Gareth, was imprisoned for his murder. Rose lives a quiet life, she only goes out when she is working and is still traumatised by the events of 16 years ago, having developed an eating disorder. She cares for her elderly neighbour, and when she finds evidence in his house that seem to point to Gareth not being responsible for Billy's death, she decides she has to find out the truth.
I really enjoyed this book, it was a good whodunnit as well as a story exploring relationships and family dynamics. Gareth was an odious creature and liked Rose because she was young and immature and very soon he was able to control her. I was hoping Rose would find out what he was really like before it was too late. It was very sad in places too, I really felt for Rose's dad when he was so hopeful of beginning his new job.
I have read a few of K L Slater's books now, and have thoroughly enjoyed them all.

Good read. Read in one day, a real page turner. Great plot and I never saw the ending coming.the characterisation is excellent as is the writing - you feel Rose's stress coming off the page at you