I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Her First Mistake
by Kendra Elliot
Series: Noelle Marshall #1
Series Rating:
Published by Montlake on June 10, 2025
Setting: Bend, Oregon & Sacramento, California
Genres: Police Procedurals Mystery
Pages: 343
Format: Audible Audiobook, ebook, Hardcover, Kindle, Paperback
Source: NetGalley
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon
When a very personal cold case murder is reopened, a detective’s secrets come to light in a novel of shocking twists and suspense by a Wall Street Journal bestselling author.
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.
Her First Mistake by Kendra Elliot is wow! Everything is fantastic.
Will Noelle’s life always be haunted by the death of Derrick?
When the FBI shows up to investigate her second husband’s death after thirteen years, everything is blown open.
Noelle Marshall has had quite a life. Married for a few months right out of high school and then to Derrick Bell, an aspiring California politician from a well-to-do family. Noelle can’t seem to do anything right in his mother’s eyes. Derrick is killed in an attack in their home, and in the same attack, Noelle is hit in the back of the head and left for dead. She makes it past the injury, but her short-term memory is questionable. This day haunts her life.
I think Noelle is amazing. She has a great support system and family that loves her even if that love blinds her. When it comes to her family, she sees nothing wrong. Admirable, but also naive. Noelle works hard and continues to grow even after the murder and all the press that surrounded that day. I love that she is strong, efficient, and has found something that she is good at to keep her mind busy. The three sisters will once again have to stand together.
The killer surprised me. I didn’t see the whole connection coming. That was tricky, Ms. Elliot.
Five Stars
My rating for Her First Mistake by Kendra Elliot is five stars. The story is brilliant. The characters are completely believable, and the setting is good. Bend, Oregon, is a beautiful area as a setting. I truly enjoyed the whole experience, and I highly recommend it to all thriller and mystery readers out there.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Her First Mistake by Kendra Elliot.
Until the next time,
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About Kendra Elliot
An Amazon #1 selling author, Kendra Elliot has sold over 12 Million books and been on the WSJ best seller over a dozen times.
She grew up in the lush Pacific Northwest and still lives there with her family and two cats. She’s fascinated with forensics, refuses to eat anything green, and dreams of living every day in flip flops. UPDATE: She now lives in flip flops and watches the sun rise over the ocean every day.
The MERCY KILPATRICK series: A MERCIFUL DEATH, A MERCIFUL TRUTH, A MERCIFUL SECRET, A MERCIFUL SILENCE, A MERCIFUL FATE, and A MERCIFUL PROMISE. IN THE PINES and AT THE RIVER are continuations of Mercy’s and Truman’s story.
THE COLUMBIA RIVER series. THE LAST SISTER. THE SILENCE, IN THE PINES, AT THE RIVER, and THE FIRST DEATH
The BONE SECRETS NOVELS: HIDDEN, CHILLED, BURIED, ALONE, KNOWN and VEILED (a novella)
The CALLAHAN & McLANE novels: VANISHED, BRIDGED, SPIRALED, and TARGETED. THE SILENCE continues Ava and Mason’s story. THE LAST SISTER is Zander’s story
She also writes the Widow’s Island and Rogue River novellas with Melinda Leigh.
International Thriller Writers finalist, a three time Daphne Du Maurier winner, and a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice finalist.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2025 Cloak and Dagger JEN
- 2025 Goodreads RC JEN
- 2025 Medical Examiner Mystery RC JEN
- 2025 Thriller RC
- 2025 Traveling the World JEN
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