Loved this narration. It was literally perfect and I’ll def be listening to this narrator again. Story is fast-paced and kept me hooked from start to finish.

Noelle is now a detective but thirteen years ago she was an assemblyman's wife. Her husband was murdered in their home and she was left with a brain injury and memory loss. What really happened that night? Her husband's death was never solved. Now as the case is being reexamined and Noelle is questioned all over again, she thinks about the events leading up to that evening and even prior to that, when she first met her husband.

Told in a few different timelines, this is Noelle's backstory (as the first book in a new series) and she’s a fascinating person who has incredible character growth. With multiple POVs including FBI agents in the past and present, the many layers involved held me rapt! In addition to the whodunit of the past, in the present someone is trying to kill Noelle, but who? The suspense built to an intense conclusion that had me flipping pages, but it did end a bit suddenly and left me wanting more. There's also an aspect that's implausible so be aware you need to be okay suspending some disbelief.

As for the audiobook, I've found a new favorite narrator! Stephanie Németh-Parker was FANTASTIC with a smooth tone, unique voices, emotive qualities and perfect pitch and pace for any given situation!

HER FIRST MISTAKE is juicy, tense, intriguing and even has the perfect spattering of romance. If you enjoy domestic suspense blended with mystery and the investigative qualities of a police procedural, this is for you!
____

Thank you MBC Books Amazon Publishing & Brilliance Audio for my free copies. All opinions are mine.

I enjoyed this book, I don't think I was in the best mood to pick up this book, but after holding off on it for so long I decided to jump in and give it a whirl. I will most defiantly grab more from this series as I enjoyed that this series featured a Detective, Noelle Marshall. The memory loss aspect was pretty cool as she was having dreams about an attack. It does have multiple timelines, but it was very clear with the different ones, so it was all easy to navigate.

Some may get a little taken aback by the amount of background that was featured in the book, however, take in mind that this is going to be a series featuring Noelle. Which is why there is a lot of background. I enjoyed getting to know her and her entire story.

All in all, a solid 3 star, but was teetering higher.

The Audiobook was done by Stephanie Németh-Parker. She did a good job bringing the story off the page.

Thank you NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Audiobook/Book Review 📖🎧
thank you so much partner Brilliance Audio @amazonpublishing @mbc_books for gifted copy + audiobook!

Her First Mistake
by Kendra Elliot
Narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker

About the book👇🏽

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.
Today the FBI is tackling a fresh perspective on the case and looking to Noelle, now a detective for the Deschutes County sheriff’s office, for new clues. It is reopening everything Noelle thought was behind her. Memories of her escape from a traumatic childhood. A marriage that wasn’t the perfect love story she’d been promised. And a husband whose charm and privilege hid a dark side. But Noelle has been hiding something too: a secret about the night Derrick died that she has never told anyone.
As past and present and leads and misleads collide, one thing is frighteningly clear. Derrick’s murder wasn’t just unsolved. It’s unfinished. And only the truth—no matter the risk—can save the next victim.


💭 My thoughts:

Okay this is such a great start to a new series! Although this just published, I already can’t wait for book two. The narrator did a wonderful job keeping me invested in this story. Honestly the writing was so good I just couldn’t put it down. I did not see the twists or big secrets coming which makes me really enjoy a mystery and the multiple timelines held my attention to make sure I didn’t miss anything. I am eager to see more of Max’s story as the series continues! If you’re looking to start a new series, full of twists, that’ll keep you engaged you absolutely need to give Her First Mistake a read or a listen and lucky for you… it’s out now!

Happy reading 📖 🎧

Now this is how you kick off a new series! Kendra Elliot delivers a thrilling and suspenseful ride in Her First Mistake, seamlessly blending the past with present-day investigations. Noelle Marshall is a standout lead—tough, layered, and impossible not to root for. I loved watching her character unfold as her past collided with a chilling new look into her husband’s murder.

Even better? Cameos from other familiar faces in Elliot’s universe made this even more satisfying for longtime fans. I haven't finished the Columbia River series, so this was my first time meeting Noelle—and what an introduction!

The mystery kept me guessing with a cast of unlikeable suspects and a few truly unexpected turns. The audiobook narration was excellent, adding even more depth to an already engaging story. Also, the connection between Noelle and Special Agent Max Rhodes? Yes, please. I'm hoping we see more of him in Book 2.

Highly recommended for fans of twisty suspense and strong female leads. I’m already counting down to the next one!

Thank you, Brilliance Publishing/Brilliance Audio, and Montlake for the ARC and ALC! Thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a good book. Uncovering details from an old murder can sure stir up a lot of things. I had a feeling I knew how it was going to end and I was right, it was still a good read. I enjoyed the narrator as well.

Her First Mistake is the first book in the Noelle Marshall series, and it’s already a top seller. The story starts with a dramatic scene—Noelle is attacked, and her husband is found dead. The plot switches between past and present, showing Noelle’s life as a trophy wife married to a strict politician.

After her husband’s death, Noelle starts a new life and joins law enforcement. She’s finally happy—until her husbands old murder case, comes back to haunt her.

This is a fast-paced mystery with strong character development. The twist at the end is a great surprise, and this would be good standalone book as well.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read and review this ARC.

the setup…
Noelle Marshall is a Deschutes County Sheriff’s detective living and working in Bend, Oregon. But thirteen years ago, she was the wife of Sacramento Assemblyman Derrick Bell who was murdered in their home. Noelle was there, too, apparently left for dead. The killer was never identified or found and she couldn’t remember what happened. Now the FBI is resurrecting the case and have come to Bend to talk to Noelle and her family, hoping to find clues they may have missed in the original investigation. As no one in Bend is aware of her past, Noelle is reluctant to face these old memories and risk her new life.

the heart of the story…
The story transitions seamlessly between the time when Noelle met Derrick, the aftermath of the murder and present day. Noelle’s history was illuminating as the present day woman is far different from who she was during her marriage. Derrick came from wealth and she was never accepted by them, so following his death, she became the object of their suspicions. The new investigation did more than open old wounds as new threats connected to the murder arose.

the narration…
Stephanie Németh-Parker gave a great performance, especially with the storytelling. I was riveted.

the bottom line…
I’m a longtime fan of Elliot and it was so good to be back in a new series and encountering some old friends. The mystery was intriguing and the procedurals excellent. If I could have listened to this in one sitting I would have but life showed up. No way was I prepared for that ending, though there were a couple of elements I got right. What a great start to the series.

A new series that follows Noelle Marshall life. The book goes from her past to present and back. Thirteen years ago, Detective Noelle lost someone she loved and she doesn’t remember anything from it. This was an interesting read that kept me on the edge of my seat. I was eager to discover what happened so many years ago on that fateful night. The reveal shocked me! I couldn’t believe it. So twisted and good! The narrator, Stephanie Németh-Parker does a wonderful job portraying Noelle and several of the secondary characters. She breathed life into Noelle and I was hooked! The tones and inflections used were spot on!

I loved this thriller. I listened to it and it made two early morning road trips fly by.

The book goes back and forth a bit in time to tell the story about an unsolved murder of a politician and the attack of his wife.

Thirteen years after the murder the FBI are looking at the case again. The wife of the murdered politician, Noelle, is now a county detective, and she has no memory of the attack.

The book does a great job of sharing snippets of the crime and Noelle’s life leading up to the crime.

Once the story stays in the current FBI investigation, there are some great twists and I was shocked at the conclusion.

This is a perfect summer page turner!

You know when you really loved an author, but then you haven’t read anything from them in YEARS, then you give them a go again and your tastes have completely moved on? That is me with this book.

I have read a ton of Kendra Elliott’s crime thrillers and really enjoyed them, but it’s probably been 4-5 years since I last read one. And my tastes have changed and evolved and these books just aren’t for me anymore.

The writing is good, the story kept me interested (though I sort of had it figured out after the first third of the book, but there were still some surprises), but the fact that there are misogynistic microaggressions, problematic discussions around food (the FMC making comments about not having done enough exercise to deserve a cinnamon bun), and references to HP, were all just great big NOs for me.

I thought that we had moved past these things, but apparently I’ve just been living in my happy little corner of the bookish world where the authors *have* moved past these things and know better.

Thank you to MB Communications and Amazon Publishing #partner for the gifted finished copy to review and to Brilliance Audio for the ALC to review.

I read this one yesterday, listened to it on audio, and was hooked from the beginning. What a fascinating premise: an unsolved crime (dead husband), the family suspects the wife, the wife was left for dead and does not remember what happened, so she becomes a detective, as one does, and then the FBI reopens her case 13 years later. The skepticism begins again, as do the murders. Is the wife innocent? What does she know? Who is killing all these people? Well, you’ll have to read this to find out. I’m not going to tell you! Procedurals are my favorite, and I absolutely loved this one, the narrator did a wonderful job with the story also. I enjoyed it all the way through.

Thank you @mbc_books @amazonpublishing @brillancepublishing for a gifted copy/ALC!

𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Her First Mistake (Noelle Marshall 1)
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Kendra Elliott
𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿: Stephanie Németh-Parker
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: June 10, 2025
5⭐️

🔸 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 🔸
I loved this book and the new series focusing on Noelle Marshall! I’m a big Kendra Elliott fan and have of course seen Noelle in her other books working with Detective Bolton, and I was excited to hear she was getting her own series! And it does not disappoint!

Noelle has a mysterious past that is thrust into her present life as a Detective, when FBI agents want to reinvestigate the unsolved murder of her husband, Assemblyman Derrick Bell. Noelle was hurt when her husband was murdered and her memory has been fuzzy of that day, so she has been trying to move forward from her traumatic past.

Noelle is a dynamic and interesting FMC. She has a rough upbringing, and has made some not so great choices in life, but ultimately she is a survivor and a fighter. Kendra does an amazing job at writing strong FMC leads who work in law enforcement. Noelle is far from perfect, but she is resilient and knows how to turn her life around for the better.

The back and forth timelines in this story worked really well together as they introduced us to Noelle and her history/past marriage, and to the current investigation. I love cold case mysteries, and it’s always interesting to see the main character start to get back their memories from a traumatic event.

I enjoyed the hint of a romance in this book. The ending of the book left me excited to learn more about another character soon! This book was a great start to a new series!

🎧 𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 🎧
Stephanie Németh-Parker was great at narrating Noelle and the additional voices/POV in this story! She brought Noelle’s strength and fierce character to light. She was easy to understand and follow the story!

🔸 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
🔹 Police Procedurals
🔸 Female Detective
🔹 Unsolved Cases
🔸 Past/Present Timelines

This was my first Kendra Elliot book and I definitely enjoyed it. The narrator for the audiobook did a great job too. I was immersed into the story with her narration.

Thirteen years ago, Noelle Marshall suffered a horrific attack and was left for dead. However, her husband, Derrick, was murdered. She survived but suffered from a brain injury. Memories of that night are still a blur.

Now, she’s a detective in Oregon. The case is re-opened. There are still no answers for who killed Derrick. There are multiple timelines here so pay close attention.

I highly enjoyed this one and look forward to reading more by her!

Pub date 6/10/25

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Her First Mistake by Kendra Elliot is a gripping thriller that keeps the tension high from start to finish. The story unravels layer by layer, revealing just enough to keep you turning the pages while still holding back the full truth. The characters are compelling, with just the right amount of mystery and emotional weight to make their choices believable. It’s a fast, satisfying read with twists that land well without feeling forced. Some parts felt a bit predictable, but overall it’s a solid mystery that delivers exactly what you'd hope for in a suspense novel. Definitely worth the read.

Top notch book. Excellent character development all around. This is a definite page-turner. I never saw the twists coming and was sorry when this ended. Narrator was great.

Thirteen years ago detective Noelle Marshall's husband was murdered and she was left unconscious. Now, she has been summoned for questions by the FBI investigating the crimes. Told through a dual timeline, present day and the time surrounding the murder, you get a glimpse into her life and her dealings with her husband's family. Lots of twist and turns, very fast paced story. A pleasurable read.

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!

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Her First Mistake starts a new Noelle Marshall series in the same world as at least two other series. She works with Evan Bolton from the Columbia River series, which is a mix of stories utilizing characters from some of the author's other series or supporting characters. She was in a book as a side character. Mercy Kilpatrick is in this book , of the Mercy Kilpatrick series.

This is the foundation of Noelle Marshall with her history and current case. The story does alternate between past and present. Thirteen years ago her second husband Derrick Bell, who was in Congress, was murdered. She was attacked and had a head injury and was found unconscious. The case has never been solved. Now the FBI is looking at the case again and comes to Oregon where Noelle and her family members are to ask more questions.

We learn much of her past, upbringing and family members. Noelle started with a degree in psychology. After Derrick died, she went into law enforcement where she works now. The detective, Alice, from her husband's case encouraged her. Noelle does have some memory issues related to her head injury but works hard to compensate for them.

Now with the case reopened things go wild. I won't spoil all the events but it escalates and hurtles along flying at the end. Because of the case, and her husband's family always disparaging her, Nicole has been private and kept to herself and family. When in school and starting the new career, Nicole was able to regain herself. Now with the facts becoming clear, Nicole may be able to move on with her life. There is an FBI agent who may be interested in joining her. I'll definitely be reading more next year in No One Knew.


Narration:
This narrator is in over 300 audiobooks on Audible. Many are Graphic audio with full casts. I have heard her before but not enough to discern her from other narrators yet. I was very comfortable with her voices with the females higher and a bit sharp, and the males lower and more flat toned. The performance allowed me to enjoy the story. I listened at 1.75x speed.

This was a solid, fast-moving thriller with engaging twists and a compelling main character. The writing was polished and it had a good mixture of action and emotional depth. The story, however, felt predictable (maybe because I have read a bunch of thrillers recently).

The ending, though tidy, fell a bit flat and left me underwhelmed.

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the ARC.