Review coming soon. Thanks to Carey Baldwin, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC; the opinions are mine.

Pub Date 4.30.21
#HerFirstMistake #NetGalley #IKnowWhatYouDid

A gripping and suspenseful book that made me feel all the feels. The characters were so well developed and I found myself sad when the book ended. Highly recommend to anyone that loves a good psychological thriller!

Her First Mistake is the first book that I've read by Carey Baldwin, and it certainly won't be the last. I loved the "Her First Mistake" is the first book I've ever read from Carey Baldwin, but it certainly won't be the last. I was gripped by this book from the beginning! There was a perfect amount of plot twists, which ensured the book remained at a perfect pace. I was definitely not expecting the ending. I would definitely recommend it!

Her First Mistake started off brilliantly with the deep emotional pull of a small child scared and in danger and quickly moved on to the child as an adult. I found a change in the writing at this point as it became typical of any other whodunnit where it was easy to see where the finger would be pointed. Even if my guess was wrong I hadn't been given enough from the author to stay with it.

Her First Mistake by Carey Baldwin is a fast paced psychological thriller which will keep you guessing to the end. The book begins with Mia and her mother living in a remote area and subject to very difficult living conditions. Mia's mother has vanished and Mia has been abandoned. We then jump to the present day, with Mia and ourselves unaware of what transpired and whether her mother survived. Mia is living with her hypervigilant aunt and teaching at a highly prestigious school when one of her colleagues disappears after a night out. Although Mia is socially outcast, she happens to be one of the last people to have seen the colleague before she disappeared. Feeling partly responsible for the events which led to her disappearance, and eager to find a resolution which wasn't forthcoming in her mother's disappearance, Mia gradually becomes more and more involved in the investigation, re-igniting her considerable mental health struggles following her own ordeal. The story is packed with twists and turns but for me required too much suspension of disbelief, with Mia's behaviour in particular being difficult to imagine. Overall a good read with an exciting plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This gripping,addictive thriller opens with a intense prologue were we first introduced to our main character Mia. At the beginning of the book, she is six years old and had been locked in a shed for at least eight days by her mother. Mia is terrified, she has run out of the food and water that her mummy had left her,her mummy loves her, why hasn't she returned to let Mia out of the shed? Is she hurt and needing help? Mia makes a decision, she had always promised her mummy that she wouldn't scream but she had never promised that she wouldn't find a way to escape from the shed.
The story then slips forwards in time where we find that Mia is now a teacher and is living with her overprotective Aunt Misty ( I loved that name but I didn't think that the Aunt's character was very likeable) Mia was a complex character who's narrative often came across as unreliable and who's innocence I doubted myself at times as the story unfolded. She was one of life's invisible people,a timid ghost who would have loved to be as popular as her fellow teacher Celeste Cooper. But no matter what Mia tried,she always felt left out, something that was made blatantly obvious on the evening that she ran into some of colleagues including Celeste at a restaurant. That was the evening that Mia stole Celeste's keys and Celeste mysteriously disappeared whilst apparently on her way home. Overcome by feelings of guilt and much to the chagrin of the detective who is actually in charge of the investigation, Mia starts digging into Celeste's disappearance and finds herself drawn into the lives of her family. The Cooper's are friendly and welcoming,all Mia had ever wanted in a family but can they actually be trusted? What secrets are hiding within the walls of their lavish home? Where is Celeste? Could her disappearance possibly be connected to the disappearance of Mia's mother all those years ago? As her investigation continues, Mia can't avoid noticing the stark differences between the no stone left unturned investigation into Celeste's disappearance and the unenthusiastic investigation into the disappearance of her own mother. More than one person in Mia's life was not who they appeared to be and by digging into other people's lives Mia is unknowingly putting her own life in serious danger.

Wow..just wow, I really really loved everything about this very well written, intricately plotted, addictive page turner that kept me guessing and glued to my kindle. The story didn't have a very large cast of characters but the people who did appear were a mixed bag of vivid, realistic individuals. I would love to watch a tv or film adaptation of this brilliant thriller. Worth all the stars and more, very very highly recommended and definitely going to be one of my favourite reads of this year.

Her First Mistake by Carey Baldwin is a fast-paced, unrelenting ride that will have you tearing through the pages. I was hooked from the very first paragraph.

Mia Thornton is a preschool teacher who longs to fit in with her peers. A traumatic childhood has left Mia with many scars, losing her mother at the age of six, and never understanding the circumstances of why she was left alone in a shed, forced to dig her way out. Happening by chance upon her coworkers on a night out, Mia feels the sting of rejection yet again. When one of the women, Celeste, drops her keys, Mia decides to take petty revenge, popping the keys into her own bag. But when Celeste is reported missing the next day, Mia wonders about her own role in the young woman's fate.

This is my first read from Carey Baldwin, but it will certainly not be the last.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.

This was a great and enjoyable read.

The story was well written and flowed nicely.

The suspense had me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book.

I will read more from this author,

Thrilling. Tense. Fast paced. Just brilliant. Loved this amazing book. Five absolutely well deserved stars

Her First Mistake has kept me gripped from start to finish. The pace and flow of the plot was right up my street. Love this authors style of writing as even though there is so much going on and continuous twists and turns thrown in you are still in the dark and the suspense just keeps on building. I had my eye on each character at one point or another. I was a bit more suspicious of some more then others but I still wasn’t sure and my head was spinning. It’s an interesting storyline and all through I really didn’t know how it was all going to come together and it wasn’t what I expected but it came together very well. I think Mia is the type of character that you like sometimes and then she irritates you other times. Really enjoyed this one and if you like a read with lots of suspense then this is one for you.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this ARC that was published on the 30th of April.

'Her First Mistake' by Carey Baldwin has kept me on the edge of the seat I was not able to decide on whether I liked the protagonist or not till the very end and the journey was a complete roller coster.

Mia Thornton is a young lady, leading a simple life is pretty much invisible to the world. There are some old wounds for which she has undergone therapy and finds the confidence to get back into the world. But then a petty act of revenge puts her in tremendous amount of guilt and also into the centre of a huge story of the town, missing of her colleague Celeste. . So is she guilty or was she just a wrong pert at the wrong place? You will need to read the story to understand this.

The plot is intricate, it does weave between the past and the present in between. Mia's thoughts are written in Italics so we understand the difference of what's happening and what she is thinking. The character of Mia is really complex and that's what conflicted me the whole time. I just couldn't pick my side. The other characters are all very relevant and some act as red herrings and the story is pretty much about people, their behaviours and the judgements we carry on others and the masks that people wear to put up a convenient face in the society. To add to this the mystery surrounding the missing Celeste. All these make a great story to enjoy.

I enjoyed this whoddunit thoroughly. If you like mysteries with complex characters then this story is for you.

I thank the author, the publisher Bookouture and Netgalley for approving my request to read the book and providing me an eARC. The opinions expressed are entirely mine.

Wow, a fun, twisty, fast paced read, that really kept me in suspense! While I do think some could be triggering to some, I would still Hugo recommend! Lots of fun twisty turns, chilling chills, thrilling thrills, and gasp worthy shocks! Well written, captivating, and unputdownable throughout. Definitely a thriller my fellow addicts could pick up for a quick fix! Don’t delay, read today!

Mia Thornton had a very hard childhood and barely made it out of it alive to eventually live with her aunt where things were a little more normal. Although Mia never really fit in with her co workers, she ended up out one night when one goes missing and it send this story into a tail spin as she must investigate where this co worker went and if she holds any of the blame.

I typically enjoy a book where the investigation is led by an amateur, it is fun to watch them learn to investigate in the middle of it all. I loved how Mia was weaving in and out of the way of the detectives and she kept getting caught up in their investigations - it was so entertaining!

For me I judge mystery/thrillers based on the outcome of the book and while this one came together well, I am not sure I am satisfied with who it ended up being in the end. For me, it felt out of left field and I wasn't sure that the clues pointed to them were all there, but I did enjoy the story/plot and how the author put it all together.

I was excited to find out after finishing the book that this author has a series or more in her backlist and I hope to dive in and try them soon.

Wow ! A lot of secrets and twists ! You won't see the end coming ! I highly recommend ! Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book ! #Netgalley #Bookouture #HerFirstMistake

Her First Mistake
by Carey Baldwin
Publisher: Bookouture (April 30, 2021)
Publication date: April 30, 2021
315 pages
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description:
Mia covered her mouth to keep from crying out. She hated the dark, but her mother had made her promise. But what was the point of being a good little girl if she couldn’t help her mother? She’d promised her mother not to scream, but she hadn’t promised not to escape…

To the world, Mia Thornton is invisible—a quiet, timid preschool teacher. People would never guess that she found the will to dig her way out of a locked shed when she was just six years old. That she never saw her mother again. Now, all Mia longs for is a normal life and friends to call her own. But when she runs into a group of colleagues one evening, she discovers that, once again, she’s been excluded. Stung at the rejection, she pockets the keys of one of the women in a petty act of revenge. Celeste Cooper is fearless, pretty, popular—everything Mia wishes she could be. The next day, Celeste is reported missing. And Mia realizes that it might have been her fault. Wracked with guilt, she joins the search, determined to make up for her mistake. But as she grows closer to Celeste’s family, Mia can’t help but feel she’s being watched…What if Celeste’s disappearance has more to do with Mia than she realizes? And if she keeps digging, does she risk being dragged back into the dark forever?
📌 MY REVIEW 📌
Her First Mistake by Carey Baldwin is a gripping psychological thriller . The unique story line kept me hooked to the point of not wanting to put the book down. The flashback at the beginning of a little girl named Mia ( the main character) , fighting for her life out of food and water digging her way out of a shed where she has been locked in for several days by her mother had me hooked .
I loved every minute of it, which is why i stayed up all night when I only intended to read one more chapter. Baldwin's writing is fantastic and she writes an amazing story and weaves a web you'll be anxious to follow and unravel to see just what happens.
There was plenty of twists and turns which built up to a brilliant unexpected ending. Never did I predict the ending to turn the way it did! This was my first read by this author and I did enjoy it.
I Highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great suspenseful read! I requested and received a temporary digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley, the publisher and the author in exchange for an honest review. I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
#HerFirstMistake
#CareyBaldwin
#netgalley
#psychologicalthriller
#Bookouture

Wow! This book grabbed me right at THE PROLOGUE and kept me in eager suspense throughout the ENTIRE book! Gripping, twisted, dark… BRILLIANT! I just love when a book opens with such intensity and continues that way consistently. The clever twists, the intriguing characters, and the talented writing created a brilliant masterpiece!

I was instantly intrigued by Mia. She was relatable and believable, which helped keep the story and plot even better. Though some parts were a bit far-fetched, they worked with the plot and helped create the suspenseful and who-dun-it feel that was intended.

Brilliant and clever book!

First, I want to thank Carey Baldwin, Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.

Ohh there were a lot of mistakes she made in Carey Baldwin’s Her First Mistakes! This book literally took me on one of the strongest emotionally heartbreaking and traumatic roller coaster rides I have been on in a while. There were times when I couldn’t believe the book was going there! However she did and it was so good.

OH!!! This prologue made me so heated!! I was screaming at my kindle!! What Mother in their right frame of mind would lock their daughter up to hide them from their boyfriend?! A boyfriend who was on the fence about having kids to begin with. My heart just broke not knowing what was going on or if her Mom was coming back. This literally was a scene from something out of The Lifetime Channel! So many emotions and feels. Amazing job hooking me Carey!

This quote that Carey used is so true. One motto I have used many times just this year alone. “You never know until you walk a mile in someone’s shoes what struggles she may face. For example, I’m sure she doesn’t have any idea what you’ve been through.”

What Mia went through at such a young age no child should ever go through! My heart just broke in a million pieces!! The fear of the unknown of what truly happened to her Mom is just devastating and has been brought up all again present day.

WOW!! I didn’t see those turn of events Mia doing something so dramatically outside of her comfort zone it blew my mind!! Oh she got a shock too!!

The hypnosis storyline fascinated me and what Mia uncovered as a young child.

Mia has longed to have friends and fit in. When she bumps into work colleagues on their planned night out, she's mortified and embarrassed that they didn't include her. When she sees Celeste's keyring on the floor, she swipes it and leaves, starting a chain of events that unknowingly will change her life.

I thought this was a great, page-turning, intriguing book. Mia has an unresolved, traumatic past that continues to haunt her 20 years later. She is envious of Celeste - bold, beautiful, and liked by everyone. She dreams of having a life like hers - beloved, wealthy, and is close with her family. When Celeste goes missing, she realizes this is her chance to learn more about her life as she helps with the search to find her. She has soon charmed Celeste's mother and has inserted herself in the family.

For me it was difficult to see Mia's transformation of shy, quiet and timid to strong, fearless and confident. She is doing things on her own to try to figure out what happened to Celeste, confronting people and putting herself in danger. The book had me guessing through the end, keeping me on my toes and trying to finish the book in one sitting. Overall a very good read and I look forward to reading more of this author's work.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this psychological thriller. It grabbed my attention from the first page and didn’t let go. The plot is well developed and interesting. There’s lots of drama and suspense. Mia is a Very complex character There are so many twists and turns with a WHAT ?? ending! I really enjoyed it.

This has one of the most devastating prologues I think I’ve ever read. A young girl locked in a shed by her own mother tore at my heart.

Then we skip forward to present day and Mia is now working as a pre-school teacher, ostracised by her colleagues who as it turns out have been meeting secretly for drinks every month for the past year. Which she only discovers by having gone to the restaurant to meet with a child’s mother and, after being stood up, bumps into them on leaving. This is where she makes her first mistake!

Narrated in third person, with Mia you are never quite sure how reliable her version of events are, especially after learning what she is capable of doing in her sleep.

My heart went out to Mia though, from terrible beginnings all she wanted was a friend and I found that so heartbreaking and the cruel rejections she continued to face just made me want to protect her from all the meanness. The school setting was perfect as it’s often a place where rejection, bullying and cruelty happens. Although it’s normally the children not the adults who are both the victims, ringleader and cohorts.

This book really made me think of the film The Butterly Effect and how one small inconsequential thing can bring about devastating consequences.