Follow along as we learn about Noelle and her past. Twists and turns find an old unsolved case.

A book to teach us more aboit our characters. I hope you enjoy it like I dud..

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Kendra Elliot book and now I’m so hooked. I want to start at the “beginning” and read her books in the order she recommends. Kendra truly took the time to build her characters and the plot. I found myself suspecting multiple characters of the murder and was still surprised at the ending. Once I started this book, I could not put it down. I will absolutely be reading more books by this author, ASAP.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

4* Good backstory to introduce Noelle as a spin-off female lead in the Mercy Thompson world.

Noelle fitted nicely into the MT world where, not so long ago, she rescued a couple of MT's side-character staples, so it wasn't a surprise that she's gotten her own series. She's a strong enough lead, with clearly a huge love of her family, and a great relationship with them, too, as well as a decent agent, that gave for a very believable tale and backstory, with shades of grey that worked for me.

There's a hint of a romance to come in future tales, but I'm not sure it felt organic, or that she's ready for a relationship. The reveals of this tale hurt her and I'm pretty sure she's got a lot of soul searching to do, and to learn to trust guys again - the start of the tale with the two agents sent to interview her, specifically their M.O. was a good inclusion but kind of brutal on her, and felt a tad oneupmanship.

The actual tale was pretty much on a par with this author's previous work but if I'm honest, the presence and enabling of a certain character, however well-intentioned it was, was a bit grating and happened too often for my brain not to go there and almost suss their involvement in Noelle's loss and trauma. But, this aspect of the tale was well enough done that you get a big, not-nice reveal, a kind of slap-in-the-face shock at someone's dastardlyness and others' shock, disbelief and naivety. Lives are broken, and for two characters dear to Noelle, there's going to be a lot of healing needed.

There's not a lot of investigating in this tale, despite the outcome, but there's a few decent red herrings, a little obfuscation and enough to muddy the waters. It was believable but it felt like the ending of the tale, a month after the big showdown, felt a bit rushed, with Noelle having made a momentous decision and seemingly being OK with it that easily and that quickly, and even considering spilling the beans to her future love interest. That's where the tale loses 1* for me, but it's still a very good read.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Montlake for my reading pleasure.

Noelle Bell was a suspect for her high profile husband's murder, but since she was severely injured, it could not be pinned on her. In fact, she had no recollection of even being at the house, due to brain injury.
The FBI has reopened the cold case, and are questioning everyone close to the victim.
Noelle has reverted to her maiden name and is a detective in the police force.

An absolute page turner! The book is fast paced and suspenseful, and I honestly did not figure out who killed Derrick. And why.
I felt the pain that Noelle went through in her marriage, not being liked by her in-laws and being controlled by her mother in law and husband. How she changed her entire persona and wardrobe to please them.
Loved this book and giving it 5/5 stars, which for me is unusual lately, no matter how much I like a book!
Well plotted and the characters are well developed.

HER FIRST MISTAKE was a quick and easy read, with interesting and realistic characters and a great storyline. Despite the multiple timelines, it was easy to keep track of things and brought more depth to the story. Really enjoyed this one and will be looking for more from this author’s backbook.

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake Books for the opportunity to read and review HER FIRST MISTAKE.

Her First Mistake is the first book in the new Noelle Marshall series by Kendra Elliot. Do you have an author that you’ve every book written? Kendra Elliot is one of mine! I have absolutely loved her books over the year and Her First Mistake was even better!

Wow! I was blown away by this book! I loved every minute of it!!! I refused to go to bed until I reached the very last page!

This was a fast read…. because it was so good and because I refused to put it down!

This book takes place in the same world as the Mercy Kilpatrick books and shares some of the characters. (Yay!!!! I’m not ready to leave this world!)
Have I mentioned that I loved reading this book!?! It was masterfully written, and I had so much fun reading it! I loved how this involved flashback scenes to an unsolved murder, as well as trying to solve a current situation.

Noelle is going to be such a fascinating character! I mean she already is, but I can’t wait for more!

I highly recommend reading Her First Mistake if you love mysteries! This one is a winner!!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.


Her First Mistake (Noelle Marshall #1) by Kendra Elliot
Publisher: Montlake
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
Expected Publication Date: June 10, 2025

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the eARC.
A thoroughly enjoyable book featuring Noelle, a detective who's being interviewed by two FNI agents regarding the murder of her politician husband 13 years ago. She feels ambushed but tells them exactly the same she told the police years ago.
Her marriage was a happy one, until it wasn't, and she has been single ever since, afraid of being hurt again.
The story is fantastic, I couldn't read fast enough, and the ending blindsided me, I never guessed it!

Love Kendra Elliot's books! They keep you guessing and intrigued right until the very end!
Been curious about Noelle ever since we met her as a side character in a previous series and wondered what her story was.
Was NOT disappointed!!!

I liked how this story touched on a sensitive topic that's not talked about enough I feel - won't spoil it so not gonna say more than that! - and also enjoyed how the story kept giving us a back and forth element; past and present collided.

Great book and great intro into her series!

What a great story! Can't wait to read more by this author!
Thanks Netgalley and to the author for the ARC!

WOW! This book is full of shocking twists and suspense. It is absolutely fantastic! From the very first page, I was hooked, and I couldn't put it down. The strong female characters are beautifully crafted, each with their own depth and determination. Elliot masterfully balances heart-pounding thrills with tension that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Just when you think you've figured it out, she pulls you in a completely unexpected direction! This book is like a wild roller coaster ride that intensifies with every chapter! If you're looking for a gripping read that will keep you guessing, I can't recommend this book enough!

I really enjoyed this book. The constant change in time was distracting but came together later. I did not figure this one out. Good read.

New series featuring Detective Noelle Marshall who was a secondary character in some of the Columbia River series.

This first book gives us the complete backstory of Noelle and her family. Author weaves between the past and present of the mystery of who murdered her ex husband till ending on a thrilling conclusion.

In this book we also meet FBI Agent Max Rhodes who will be her romantic lead in future books and the next book will focus on his backstory.

Mercy Killpatrick and Evan Bolton made appearances which was great. Good kickoff of a new series.

Her First Mistake is the first book in a new crime thriller series by Kendra Elliot. Noelle Marshall, a detective, has been brought in for questioning again about an unsolved case. Years earlier, Noelle’s husband Assemblyman Derrick Bell was murdered in their home, and Noelle was severely injured and left for dead. Noelle’s backstory, her upbringing and marriage, is written in extensive detail for the first part of the book. However, it’s a good opportunity to learn about the various well developed characters. The book is written in parallel timelines. As the pace picks up, the story becomes gripping and tense. I look forward to the next book in the series. With thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

Wow—this book had me hooked from the very first page! I sat down to read a few chapters, and before I knew it, I had devoured the entire thing in one night. Kendra Elliot knows exactly how to craft a suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat thriller, and Her First Mistake is no exception.

The pacing was perfect—every chapter left me needing more. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another twist came in and completely threw me off. The tension kept building in the best way, and I loved how the story balanced heart-pounding suspense with deep, compelling characters.

I also really enjoyed the emotional depth woven into the mystery. The characters felt so real, and I found myself completely invested in their struggles. Kendra Elliot has such a talent for blending high-stakes crime with personal stakes, making this story even more intense and unputdownable.

If you love thrillers packed with tension, twists, and characters that stick with you, Her First Mistake is a must-read. I loved it and can’t wait for whatever Kendra Elliot writes next!

Wow! This is the book I didn’t know I needed. The first in what I hope will be a long running series, this book dives deep into the past and family secrets of Noelle Marshall. She’s a detective that we’ve seen in many other series, often partnered with Evan Bolton or Mercy Kilpatrick. In those books we’ve gotten brief snippets as to her story—but nothing that prepared me for this. Noelle has a dark and tragic past and this book starts with that door slamming wide open. I loved the back and forth of the timeline—it was done so well and wasn’t confusing at all. I loved the new characters that were introduced—especially FBI Agent Rhoads. I really hope he sticks around. I can’t wait for the next book in this series. Highly recommend reading this.

Her First Mistake
By Kendra Elliot
Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars
Publishing date: June 10, 2025

Thank you to netgalley for this arc. Her First mistake was a fast paced thriller that went back and forth from the past to the present while unraveling the mystery of who killed Noelle’s husband, Derrick Bell 13 years ago. Noelle became a detective years after her husband was murdered. She suffered a serious head injury the day her husband was murdered since she was there. The book takes Noelle on a journey through her past and helps her unravel some new evidence about that day 13 years ago. I found myself not able to put this book down! It was so engaging and a perfect mystery thriller! I highly recommend this book if you love a good thriller/mystery. This was my first Kendra Elliot book and I look forward to reading more of her work!

Kendra Elliot, prolific author of police procedurals usually set in her Pacific Northwest universe (like the Columbia River and Mercy Kilpatrick series) gives us the initial book, “Her First Mistake,” in the Sheriff’s Detective Noelle Marshall duology (the second book, “No One Knew,” comes out in mid-January 2026). This story also is set in Deschutes County, whose county seat is Bend, Oregon, and Noelle is friends with Elliott’s other series’ star, FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick.

Noelle Marshall was left for dead in Sacramento County, California, during an unsolved home invasion thirteen years ago during which her husband, Derrick Bell, a young state Assemblyman, was murdered. In the present day, two FBI agents, Keaton and Rhodes, have summoned Noelle to a meeting about that cold case, even though she isn’t aware of any new leads. They proceed to rehash the state of her marriage prior to the assault and her lack of memory about it, mostly ignoring that since then she’s become a valuable member of the Deschutes County sheriff’s department.

In this new series, a considerable amount of time is spent 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, something changes and her quiet post-married life in Oregon is blown up (literally).

Author Elliot has a brilliant talent for world building and although Noelle is the central protagonist, some of the other Columbia River series characters slip in and out of the storyline. This is great since if you decide to visit Kendra’s extensive back list, you’ll feel welcomed. This start of a new series obviously works as a standalone, but I ‘m ready to read more about Noelle and her newly acquired friend in the next book. 4.5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Mercy’s green eyes get a mention.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Winter is coming, so not much is growing outside.

Thank you to Montlake/Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

What an amazing read! I knew I'd enjoy reading the novel, because Kendra Elliot is gold as an author. Every single novel she's written has kept me enthralled throughout, and Her First Mistake did the exact same thing. I found myself immersed in the story, and couldn't put it down until I finished it.
Noelle's story was incredible, and the trauma she and her family went through was wild. A testament to how resilient and protective the human brain is, and I can't wait to see what comes in the next novel in the series This is definitely going to be on the top of my TBR list. Another winner for Kendra Elliot.

Her First Mistake by Kendra Elliot started out a bit slow; it was mostly back and forth between timelines and interviews with some of the characters. The second half of the book picked up. At the heart of the story is Noelle Marshall, a resilient character whose journey from trauma to uncovering painful truths is both compelling and poignant. The plot revolves around the unsolved murder of her husband, Assemblyman Derrick Bell, and the subsequent reopening of the case by the FBI. The author captures Noelle's struggle as she grapples with memories of a turbulent marriage and a dark childhood, all while navigating her present role as a detective.

The writing is classic Kendra Elliot and is crisp and engaging, with well-crafted suspense that kept me reading. Each revelation peels back another layer of the mystery. What sets Her First Mistake apart is its exploration of the impact of hidden secrets and the quest for truth. It's a reminder that facing the past, no matter how painful, is crucial for finding peace and justice.

Overall, Her First Mistake is an engaging read and combines a thrilling mystery with deep emotional resonance, making it a good read for anyone who appreciates intricate plots and complex characters.

I would recommend this book and this author.

#HerFirstMistake #NetGalley

Kendra, girl, I have been sleeping on your books. I’ll admit that I’ve had one of your books in my library for years, but my TBR is 5 miles long, and I just haven’t made it there yet. This book kept me interested from the first chapter to the last, and I can’t wait to read the next one.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my truthful review.