I had previously really enjoyed K.L. Slater's Safe With Me and looked forward to this. Overall I did enjoy the book, but the early set-up is so similar to the earlier book that I was initially a bit frustrated: you have a very introspective, semi-self-imposed-loner female lead, with her own history of family problems and demons, pressures at work and very specific routines and habits, who regularly helps her elderly/infirm neighbour.

Obviously the plot is different, and it progressed well and the story is well-written. I did want to see what happened and I didn't guess the ending (I thought I had, but no!) I didn't particularly enjoy the chapters covering the manipulations of Gareth: they felt like they almost belonged to a different book, a soap or a melodrama, and the developments in their relationship seemed a bit predictable so you were just waiting for the expected outcome. It's quite a bleak book in places, but I did warm to Rose, I did enjoy the mystery and I liked the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of The Mistake. 3.5/4.

This book grabs you right in the beginning and doesn't let you go! The plot was dark and twisty, and the characters were described in such detail, that you felt you actually knew them. It was very easy to get caught up in Rose's pain and feel her guilt, anger and anguish along with her.

This novel is a "thinker" and will feed your innate sense of paranoia and leave you wondering just how well you THINK you know the people you are closest to. Slater has done an excellent job in crafting a story that will stick with you long after you've reached the book's end.

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley & Bookouture in order to read and provide a voluntary and honest review, should I choose to do so.

The main character does not act like a eighteen year old. In the flashbacks, she supposed to be a freshman in college but I kept on picturing a fourteen year from the '50s with how young she acts. I expected her to giggle at a boy talking to her at one point. At least the ending is decent even though it was so rushed I wasn't sure what kind of character development really happened.

I think the summary is misleading, because this book is less about Billy's disappearance and more about the abusive relationship Rose was in 16 years ago, and the way it effected her family and friends, and how it relates to Billy's kidnapping. The story itself was fairly interesting, and it's told in two time periods - the present and 16 years ago - but the ending fell kind of flat to me, and the culprit came a bit out of left field, it seemed. Rose's character was interesting - very flawed - and I enjoyed reading the book from her perspective.

A good read but predictable. Perhaps I just read too many of this genre.

Big fan of K.L. Slater... this book did not disappoint! This is a fast-paced psychological thriller that hooks you in from the start. A whole lot of twists and tension in this emotional novel, with a little creep factor added in for some really great reading.

"YOU THINK YOU KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE.
BUT ONE DISCOVERY CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING..."

It's been sixteen agonizing years and Rose still blames herself for her little brother's death. How could she have failed to protect Billy? Back during the investigation, all signs pointed to one man as Billy's murderer, Gareth, Rose's boyfriend. Gareth has spent the last sixteen years behind bars for her brother's death. But now Rose has found something in her next door neighbor's attic... and what she finds will turn her world upside down. Rose thought she knew the truth about Billy, but now the only thing she knows is that someone is watching her and she is in danger!

I really enjoyed this psychological thriller from beginning to end. It definitely keeps you guessing and wanting more!

*I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for providing my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A great book that draws you into the story from the first page to the very last word and beyond. Free up a few hours because you won't be able to put this one down.

Another gripping , tense thriller by K. L. Slater . Enjoyed the book very much ! This book is centered around Rose and alternates between the past and present. Rose's brother Billy was murdered 16 years ago . Rose's boyfriend at the time was jailed for Billy's murder.
Rose spends time caring for her elderly neighbor and finds something of Billy's hid in his attic. Well crafted storyline and ending ! If you love psychological thrillers I highly recommend this book . Many thanks to Bookouture , Netgalley and K.L. Slater for the chance to review this book in exchange for my honest opinion . Leaving a review on Goodreads, Twitter, Instagram and Amazon .

I absolutely adored this book, I was hooked from the very first page!

When I began reading this, I was hoping it would live up to the claims that were made about it and that the twist would really be brilliant in the end. I'm telling you, it is. I didn't guess who was really at fault until it was nearly revealed. I loved the writing style and the way the author kept me turning pages searching for the truth.

Rose is a captivating main character and the way we get to know her through a combination of her life in the present and her experiences in the past made her seem very well rounded and realistic. I felt her pain and her stress throughout the novel and found myself gripping my Kindle with a death grip near the end when the truth was about to come out. This is one of the most fantastic books I have read this year and I strongly encourage you to read it.

The setting was perfect for this type of story and I liked the details about the closing of the mine and what happened to the workers in the years after the event. Everything in this book worked well together to make it a compelling read. I was thrilled with it and look forward to hearing what others think about it as well.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Not too long ago I discovered K. L. Slater and understood why she seems to consistently make Bestseller lists as she knows how to write books with addictive plots, surprising twists and characters that know how to amp up the shock value.

The Mistake may be in the mystery genre but that isn’t the main point of this story – Slater firmly puts the focus on creating tense, thrilling moments that engage the senses and creating exciting visual experiences.

As a parent of young children I was a little concerned I wouldn’t be able to handle this well since the premise involves finding the body of a young child the same age as my daughter; sometimes that stuff hits a little close to the fear front. Thankfully Slater handled the story well and she doesn’t make his death into some graphic exhibition but rather a more intrinsic look at how did the boy disappear and die.

Slater, like always, created well-developed characters that acted believably and with appropriate motivations. Even when they weren’t all that likable those flaws fit well into the story and helped move the plot along at a decent pace.

The Mistake is full of great twists and turns with an old school creepy feel that is reminiscent of a time when authors had to engage the mind with its own need to be shocked rather than resort to cheap theatrics. Slater is one whose works you’ll want to immerse yourself in during this Halloween season.

*3.5 stars*

'Our customers love a good mystery, a page-turner. They seem fascinated by terrifying tales or awful deeds that could quite feasibly happen to them in their own ordinary lives. But of course that’s because they are safely afraid.'

Sixteen years after Rose's little brother was found dead, Rose no longer has the luxury of being 'safely afraid', she lived the 'terrifying tale' and is still suffering the devastating consequences.

She is now a sad, flawed, broken woman, never getting over the loss of little Billy, guilt ridden as she blames herself for introducing the controlling, abusive monster, Gareth, the man convicted and currently serving time for Billy's murder, into the family. Rose's life is now one of routinely going through the motions of life, day after day. But the past has not lost its grip on her, tirelessly affecting the ins and outs of every day.

When her elderly neighbour who is practically family falls ill and is taken to hospital, Rose thoughtfully gives his house a good clean. It is here that she unwittingly discovers a crucial piece of evidence relating to her brother's death all those years ago, turning all certainty Rose thought she knew about Billy's death on its head. She is deeply plagued with the possibility of whether her beloved neighbour could in actual fact be responsible for Billy's murder, translating into a possibility of Gareth's innocence.

This story led me in a different direction and is far deeper than I was led to believe by the somewhat misleading blurb.

It extensively covers the effects of being at the receiving end of a controlling relationship and it's long lasting effects on a person, long after the relationship has ended. I grew to intensely loathe Gareth the more I read of him...what a despicable, abhorrent excuse for a man!!!

It also covers the destructive coping mechanisms in which people try to control their lives after having control taken away from them, such as sticking to a strict routine, too afraid to do anything out of the ordinary, sadly, limiting life experiences and also the control over food via eating disorders.

I truly felt great sympathy for Rose. Her life was irrevocably turned upside down after naively falling head over heels for a manipulative, dictating man, causing a domino effect of all the tragedy that followed.

With each page turned as I drew closer to the end of this story, I found that I was rooting for Rose; that Billy get the justice he deserved and that Gareth get his just desserts and stay behind bars for the rest of his miserable life.

I smugly thought I knew which direction the author was going with this one, yet I was thrilled to discover I was dead wrong, surprised that K.L. Slater had a far better, much more satisfying ending than I could've conjured up in my imagination.

So why not 5 stars?

*This one built up tension rather slowly for me, the suspense not as much as I would've liked to have seen for a book categorised as a psychological thriller.
*Like I mentioned earlier, the misleading blurb had me thinking this was an entirely different book than what it was.
*Although the story focuses greatly on Rose, her abduction by Gareth was for some reason downplayed. We were not given many details as to what happened to her during that time before she was found. The same applies to Rose 's breakdown and the emotional turmoil she must have gone through after the deaths of her beloved brother and friend. This unfortunately had me feeling somewhat of a disconnect to Rose, and therefore to the story.

Apart from that, and although this was a somewhat depressing and at times an uncomfortable read, I enjoyed getting to the end knowing there was a light at the end of this very dark tunnel.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of this book.

The Mistake was such a gripping read, I really enjoyed it, have loved all books by this author and look forward to more.

Rose is a crushed woman, ok she has over the last 16 years muddled through life existing but not living, not trusting and definitely not falling in love. I mean how could she when her brother was dead because of her and her parents had never been the same. They had both died a while ago so now it was just her. But the nightmares had come back and all because of a kindly neighbour that lived next door.
This is my first K. L. Slater novel and I am over the moon that I have finally read one of her books. Set in two-time zones the first the months leading up to 8-year-old Billy’s disappearance and murder while he had been in Rose’s care and present day when an accidental discovery of an item from that fateful day throws her into turmoil.
What a brilliant story, I don’t really want to go in to too much detail because that would take the edge from it. I was immersed in this story from the very first chapter with both time lines taking my breath with events that were happening. My heart was breaking for the loss of innocence of a young naive girl in such a wicked way and my heart was pounding for the woman in present day as she had to face the past and find a future.
I connected with Rose straight away, who even as an adult still seemed child like at times stuck in the past and not wanting to really grow up. Kim Slater tells a wicked story and I mean wicked as this is so darn good. I still shudder at the thought of a particular nasty piece of work even 16 years later. He made my blood run cold and although I was only reading words they penetrated into my mind like it was him staring at me. God damn it he scared the heebie-jeebies out of me.
A fantastic story and definite must read.
I wish to thank the publisher for an ARC of this book which I have reviewed honestly

I’ve granted K.L. Slater a Best Unforeseen Ending Plot Twist award three times in a row so the odds were against us this time.
Now this sentence might tell you right away that I did not like The Mistake. I did! Let’s not be mistaken here! (See what I did here?)



Her writing style is sharp.
Her understanding of human beings and their motives is very accurate.
The path she creates for you to follow her characters on are always muddy, dark, and creepy.
She weaves some of the best psychological plots ever
She’s the queen of sentences that haunt you long after you’ve read them.


Truth never disappears or deserts us; it’s there forever, shining strong.


I mean, take a look at this sentence! It sent shivers down my spine. Not that I have anything very serious to hide!!

Now off to the story. Oh my! So many layers! I warmed to Rose very early on, she’s damaged good. She’s surviving, not living, and it was heart-breaking. The words glued her to her past, and the beauty of this story is the character development, it is the what behind it all, it is the way Rose is, becomes, and ends up being.



Books helped me get well back then and I feel happiest now when I’m around them.


Rose is a special character. She’s a bookworm! But she also had to go through a tragedy, and most of all, she’s alone in the world. The more I read about her, the more I recognized feelings I’d experienced, feared, or imagined, and I just wanted to be her friend. I know you can enjoy a book without any bound to the main character but Rose, shy, torn, sad, and broken Rose, unable to see her own courage and warrior side (after all, she’s still here and living, no matter how hard it is) just won my heart and I felt true love towards her.

Other characters did not obtain my sympathy, but gosh did I love the layers The Mistake is composed of! This story is a giant poisoned cake sitting on the edge of the table, and Rose makes it topple, along with her world, just out of a good intention. Before you know it, everything is messed up, questions are raised, suspicions are around, and you’re lost in a pool of cream, sugar, and blood-red cherries. I can’t say more without spoiling anything!



Sometimes, misery is a comfort to the soul… like a bitter poultice.


I was hooked from the very first page, as always with Kim’s books. The Mistake is made of the past and the present intertwined, keeping scars open for you to discover the truth, the one we see, the one we think we know, the one we can't imagine. All kinds of truths, all kinds of mistakes, in a single shattering and riveting story that creeps on you like a stranger in the night!

The book is darker than I thought, and the only niggle I have with it is that X factor twist that went missing, leaving me with a different but just as intense reading experience!

What do YOU consider to be a mistake?

I am a massive fan of KL Slater so couldn't wait to get my teeth into this beauty after seeing the stunning cover. Has always KL Slater doesn't disappoint with yet another brilliant psychological thriller. Grabbing my attention from the beginning with an intriguing start right until the very end.

We follow the story of Rose whose 8 year old brother Billy goes missing one day and is found dead two days later 16 years ago. To this day she still blames herself. She has never got over the trauma and keeps herself to herself each day she follows the same routine. Until her neighbour Ronnie falls ill and she makes a shocking discovery in his attic.Weaving a story where we follow two time lines,what is happening now. And we alternate between the present of what happened 16 years ago.

Wowsers I couldn't put this down the author does a brilliant job of sucking you in and I actually started to question every single character in this story. This will certainly keep you guessing until the end…...and OMG what an ending, I flipping loved it.

If you are looking for a page turner that is full of mystery and suspense then this is the book for you which I highly recommend giving it 4 stars.

Thank you to Bookouture for a copy and inviting me to take part on this fab tour.

Another hit by K. L. Slater! Keep them coming please! I have now read all four of her books and have thoroughly enjoyed them all!

The Mistake centers around Rose, alternating between her past and present life. Oh how I felt for her, this poor tortured soul. She fell for a controlling manipulative narcissistic monster who brought danger to all near and dear to her and is still torturing and blaming herself sixteen years later. Will she ever really know what happened to her brother Billy? Everything she thought to be true is unraveling around her and she needs to finally find out the truth.

Another well written, engaging and suspenseful read by K. L. Slater. Looking forward to more! 4/5 stars. I would like to thank, Bookouture, NetGalley and K. L. Slater for an advance copy of this book.

K L Slater's latest novel, The Mistake is a tense and absorbing psychological thriller. Cleverly written packed full of suspense and twists and turns, this story will have you wanting more till you finish the last page. And a superb ending, I loved it!
A real page turner of a psychological thriller incredibly written, K L Slater is now one of my favourite authors, roll on the next the book.

Told in alternating chapters, the story about Rose and Gareth enfolds in the past and present. In present day Rose is a woman filled with anxiety and barely able to kep up posing a normal life. The death of her brother Billy is brought up again, after 16 years, when her elderly neighbor Ronnie fells ill and Rose makes a discovery, that makes her questioning everything she thought she knew about the past.
Roses past is a very well written description how easy it is to get into a controlling relationship, given the right circumstances. Getting isolated from family and friends, manipulated and brainwashed. Rose is the perfect victim, she feels lonely, misunderstood and desperately wants to be loved. As the story progresses you can feel the urge to grab Rose, shaking her and scream at her. Ask her to stop being so naiv, to open her eyes and see Gareth for who he is, before it’s too late. But Gareth is sophisticated, smart and, like a real sociopath, he doesn’t show his hands before Rose has no other chance then to do exactly like she’s told.
I loved this book and had a great time reading it. Especially the ending was very satisfying. I did a little joyful dance, seeing, how Gareth lost control and Rose finally could go on with her life. Highly recommended psychological thriller! I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture!

Having read the authors previous book I was really looking forward to reading this.
I love psychological thrillers that keep you guessing whodunnit and this one is no exception. Did I guess it? No! It is a cleverly woven tale with lots of twists that makes you suspicious of half the characters. The ending was very satisfactory.
4 stars

Oh my goodness! I don't even know where to begin with my review of this. I mean, there's just so much to this storyline, where on earth do I begin without giving anything away?!

Truth be told, I genuinely can't write this review like many of my others! The storyline is so intricately woven to every single incident, scenario, and character within the book, it would be incredibly difficult to share my thoughts on those events, without undoing the authors hard work. I have no idea how people can write spoilers in a review, but I really don't want to take the chance.

However, I am more than willing to go 'OH MY GOD' several times over whilst you try to work out my reasoning behind those 'OH MY GOD'S'. I am also more than willing to compliment the authors writing like I would compliment a pair of shoes (shoe addict right here fyi). Hmm, I suppose I can be vague....

Life hasn't been the same for Rose since the death of her brother, Billy. A day doesn't go by where she doesn't think about him or the events which led up to his death. I couldn't really blame her to be honest, especially seeing as us readers get to go back in time with the storyline and read about what happened. And now, sixteen years later, Rose finds something which shakes her to her core...

As I'm sure you're well aware by now, me acting Detective isn't a good idea at all. But of course I had to go and play Detective again in this storyline. I had my suspicions of the person who had to be in the firing line. Just to be even more vague and confuse you; whilst said person was in the firing line, said person was also NOT in the firing line. Did my detective work go well this time? Oh did it hell. I didn't see it coming at all! I was so shocked by the turn of events, I had to stand outside in the rain to calm me down. I had become so het up with the intensity of the novel, I ended up channeling Rose's emotions and anger. I even found myself getting annoyed by the fact I didn't see it sooner! Not that it would have changed anything of course, being fictional and everything. It really is crazy how one author can write one storyline which makes you feel as though you're slap bang in the middle of the situation happening in the book.

K.L.Slater, as I've said before, is a literary goddess. This author manages to dangle a carrot in front of you from the beginning of her books, yet changes that carrot into something shocking at the very last-minute, leaving you in a state of shock whilst being unable to fathom what the hell is going on. I know, I know, a weird analogy but that's the only way I can explain it. Sorry to put a dampener on it ever so slightly, but whilst 'The Mistake' left me reeling in more ways than one (and enjoying it of course!), it didn't quite live up to one of the authors previous books in my eyes. I'm not saying that this storyline isn't good, because it is brilliant. I guess I just felt like I wanted a teeny bit more.

'The Mistake' is an intense, unputdownable read which will leave you thinking 'what the.....' more than once. K.L.Slater's writing skills are the star of the show once again. A fantastic conclusion to an eye-opening novel.

Thanks Bookouture.