Cover Image: The First Mistake

The First Mistake

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I loved this thriller with a slow and calm beginning which lulled me into thinking I was reading a lovely romance but then turned into a gripping twisty stay-up-all-night read. The story kept me guessing until the end which rarely happens and the characters were wonderfully portrayed. Great author.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved The Other Woman so as soon as I was approved for an ARC of The First Mistake I started it right away! I thought this book started a little slow building the character development of Alice, her family and business. At the end of Part 1 there is a big twist that I definitely didn’t see coming but it hooked me right back into the story. My favorite part of the book was the last few chapters and it tied everything together and ended with a few twists. This book was a little slow for me to get into but build up some suspense and had me surprised in the end. Overall, I really enjoyed it!

Was this review helpful?

Special thanks to netgalley. I greatly enjoyed the main characters. Alice, her "loving" husband Nathan and best friend Beth are believable, but are the keeping secrets from each other?
Is Alice just afraid of life or still delusional from the death of her first husband, Tom? Is Nathan a cheating husband? Could it be with Beth? Things could be even worse than they appear.
The twists and turns keep you guessing until the last page.

Was this review helpful?

This book hooked in me right away with the "preview" thoughts of trust being her first mistake. It then switches between the two main female characters, as well as, past and present. While the hints dropped through out the book had me correctly guessing most of the ending, there was a bit of a twist that surprised me. This was a fun read that was well presented and flowed all the way to the end.

Was this review helpful?

The First Mistake is a wonderfully addictive read. I was given an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I stayed up way past my bedtime reading this one and discovered that the issue with ARCs is that I don't have anyone to discuss the book with!! It's hard to say much about this book without giving away any spoilers, so I'll just say you have to read this book if you're a fan of thrillers! I can't wait to see what Sandie Jones has for us next!!

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book. It grabbed from the first page and I could not put it down. There were so many twists and turns that you could figure out where the story line was going. I was very surprised at the ending which was a shock to me as I can normally figure out who did it. Highly recommended


Thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this book in return for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

*4.5 stars!*

I was late to the party on reading The Other Woman...so late that the day that I finished it I saw on Sandie Jones' Instagram that the U.S. Proof was available and a ton of people started hosting giveaways for it. Of course I entered all that I could find and then noticed it available on Netgalley and was very fortunate to get approved- Thank you Netgalley, Minotaur Books and Sandie Jones for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the big twist in The Other Woman so I had very high expectations and hopes for The First Mistake. I'll start off by saying, I was not let down one bit with this book. Sandie seriously knows how to write a gripping thriller with a mind blowing ending. The book is told from Alice's POV in the first part, then it switches to Beth's for a little bit, and then back to Alice's. The things that we learn from Beth's POV is huge and it seems like it's obvious at what happened and we know how the story will end-WRONG! There were so many times throughout this book that I was doubting myself in my assumptions and also Alice's accusations. I didn't see the major plot twist, however one small detail at the end I kind of had in the back of my mind.

Be sure to check out this book when it releases on June 11th!

Was this review helpful?

This book is seriously making me question everyone around me. I'm suddenly becoming so suspicious of my family and friends...What are their real intentions?! With The First Mistake, you'll be diving into an unsettling journey of paranoia.

When I say that this book will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end, that means that you'll be racing through the final pages as if your life depends on them. You will not rest until you reach the VERY last gripping line. I've never looked forward to an epilogue as I have with this one.

I had a guess about what was going on, but I NEVER saw that twist coming. So many dizzying reveals, each one more gasp-worthy that the last. The characters are well-developped as they are thrusted into a sharply compelling plot.

Mark your calendars, readers! Sandie Jones will challenge your detective skills in this delicious psychological thriller.

Was this review helpful?

This book, The First Mistake by Sandie Jones, is one wild ride. I loved it and couldn't put it down. I'm typically pretty good at working out the ending before reading it, not this time - totally awesome ending. It's filled with guilt, deception, falling in love, cover ups and "wait, what"! Thank you #NetGalley #MinotarBooks #TheFirstMistake #SandieJones

Was this review helpful?

This book was a typical domestic mystery story. Very predictable, in spite of the predictability, I still enjoyed this book. Characters were interesting, well developed, and believable. I liked in the middle of the book, when the plot reverted to Beth, and her story. Thank you for my advanced copy.

Was this review helpful?

Alice had a perfect life. She had a husband she loved, a great business, and a beautiful daughter, Sophie. When Tom dies in a tragic accident she falls apart and does not know how to go on until she meets Nathan. Nathan helps her to recover. He is a great father to Sophie and they have a daughter together, Olivia. Eventually Nathan joins Alice's company and they make a great team. Alice still has severe anxiety over someone walking out the door and never coming back so Nathan steps up to take care things she cannot handle.

One day something changes and Alice starts to get suspicious that maybe Nathan is having an affair. Little things start to happen and she turns to Beth, her best friend. Beth understands cheating. Alice is so unsure of herself that she doesn't know if Nathan is cheating or if it is just her anxiety. Can she trust Nathan? Is it just all in her head? What should she do?

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Mystery & Thrillers
Women's Fiction
Release Date: June 11, 2019

Was this review helpful?

I'm giving up on this book. Maybe it's just me. But the dialogue is so cliche. And it took forever to even get to an initial conflict. And the characters are just unlikable. I couldn't find anything to like about this book. I was avoiding reading it on my kindle, even though I love to get books from Netgalley, I'm just not going to be able to finish this one. I was finding every excuse not to pick this up. I absolutely hated it.

Was this review helpful?

A very predictable novel about a duplicitous husband. Alice met Nathan after her beloved Tom died. Nathan rescued her from a life of hiding and fear. He helped her business grow, but underneath there is something very wrong. It all comes together during a few days when Alice begins to uncover the financial plot they could ruin the lives of her and her 2 daughters.

Despite suspicions, supported by her friend Beth, the real story of Nathan is uncovered. The women work together and prevent his calamitous actions from taking place.

I found this a bit too predictable and where there were twists, too unrealistic.

Was this review helpful?

The First Mistake is a compelling book. From the first page to the last, the reader will be mesmerized by the unfolding story and all the unexpected twists and turns. The book is hard to put down as every word will hook the reader, and all you want to do is turn to the next page. Sandie Jones has a new fan!

Was this review helpful?

I thought “The Other Woman” by Sandie Jones was a great first novel. "The First Mistake" is even better. This is an intricately woven domestic suspense thriller which centers around the intertwined relationships of the three main characters; Alice,Beth, and Nathan. Alice and Beth have been best friends for two years, having met through their respective young daughters who attend the same elementary school.
Alice, who was tragically widowed some years ago seems happily remarried to Nathan. She has it all, a successful business, two children and a doting husband. However, cracks start appearing and red flags go up. Alice begins to have some doubts that readers can easily identify with.
Beth is a struggling single mother, and we soon learn the reasons for this. However, all is not what it seems. You simply don't know who to trust. There are lots of twists and turns, leading to a surprise ending. This book was a nail biter, and I couldn't put it down. I also liked that Sandie Jones put in a quick little nod to “The Other Woman” during the story.

Was this review helpful?

After reading Sandie Jones' "The Other Woman", I had to grab me a copy of her new book, "The First Mistake". This book did not disappoint. What a rollercoaster of a ride! Alice and Nathan are married with two daughters, the first daughter from her marriage to her deceased husband Tom. As a successful businesswoman, Alice has it all. Then it all starts to fall apart and she is left wondering if the people closest to her are who they say they are. With a jaw-dropping ending and a cast of shady characters, this book kept my eyes open and drinking in the words on the page. A fantastic, thrilling read.

Thank you to Netgalley, Sandie Jones, and Minotaur Books for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Another fantastic book from Sandie Jones!!

Alice has had a difficult time since her first husband died but things are looking up for her. Her two daughters and second husband are her world, she has an amazing best friend and a huge opportunity for her business is on the horizon. Until she starts to suspect her husband is having an affair.

I thought I had this twist figured out but I was fooled. This was a page turner for sure. Highly recommend.

Thank you to #netgalley and #stmartinspress for an advanced reader's copy. #sandiejones #the firstmistake

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book. So many twists that you kind of had a feeling where it may go but then a few turns along the way you changed your mind or cast doubt on that feeling. Sandier Jones does a great job portraying the main character Alice's mental heath. She lost her first husband in an accident and that caused her to spiral down. Meeting her second husband helps her lift her life but she is still fragile....ten years later. That's when the doubts about her second husband start and her downward spiral seems to start again. I’m glad Alice found her strength and the ending was not one I saw coming, very enjoyable!

Was this review helpful?

This book was definitely a slow-burning family drama for the first half. Thankfully, the second half picked up in the both the drama and action.

I thought the relationship between Beth and Alice was the most interesting aspect of the novel. I wish I could have seen more of why they were portrayed as being so close.

Overall, I liked this book, but I think I was expecting a little more.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed Sandie Jones first book, The Other Woman, and was excited to pick this one up too. It did not disappoint! I found this book unputdownable and read it in one day. It kept me guessing until the end.

Was this review helpful?