It's rare that an author is able to take rather unlikable characters and make them the center of an entertaining novel. Sandie Jones accomplishes that task in The First Mistake. There are 4 characters at the heart of the book; heroine, her dead husband, her current husband, and the heroine's best friend. I really appreciated Ms. Jones' ability to create complex characters that are interesting enough to keep readers guessing. At the center of the book are the questions, who can you trust, and is anyone who they say they are? The premise was strong, the pacing slow to build, and the story itself was well woven. There are enough twists and turns to keep readers engaged. 3.5
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

The book was slow for me. I could see the villain in the storyline from the very beginning. There were parts that pulled me in and kept the book from being boring. It’s worth reading it just wasn’t the book for me. I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

Wow! Sandie Jones did it again! The twists, the turns.. holy crap did I love this book! If your looking for a book with an ending you don’t see coming, this is it! Once you get into it, you probably won’t want to put it down. I know I didn’t!

This is the story of Alice. She had a wonderful life, two children, a successful business when her husband dies. She moves on with the help of her best friend, Beth and a new gentleman Nathan . Now somethings are not making sense. Nathan is acting strangely and Beth doesn't seem to be acting like a best friend should. A fast moving suspenseful story that has you quickly turning the pages. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I am a huge Sandie Jones fan since her last book, The Other Woman. This one was just as good!

This book is about a woman on her second marriage. Things are going good. They own a successful business, and have two great children. Then after a business trip and possible expanding to Japan, things start to unravel.

There was a plot twist that I didn't see coming, and it made the outcome exceed my expectations. I couldn't believe how it ended! It was so good!

I found The First Mistake to be quite clever, and I absolutely did not see the twist coming. The story was mesmerizing and one I didn't want to put down.

I found this book very interesting and really easy to read. I enjoyed the story and definitely could not guess what was coming. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers that aren't too scary.

I highly recommend this book. This book kept me guessing. I didn't expect the ending, at all. Poor Alice has been through so much and I never expected her to go through what she did after Tom's disappearance. I highly recommend you reading this book. It kept my mind going and I went through every emotion getting to know these characters.

I bet this will be one of the best domestic suspense novels in 2019. Well-developed characters, engaging plot, and an ingenious “who did it” mystery/suspense makes this book captivating and quite addictive. So addictive in fact that I read it in one day! The ending was exactly what I expect from a great suspense novel, clever and unexpected with no loose ends left to make me wonder what I might have missed. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for some thrilling and captivating summer read.

Thank you NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and the author, Sandie Jones, for giving me an opportunity to read an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

What a fantastic read.. kept me on the edge of my seat. Lots of twist and turns and makes you not want to put this one down. This author did it again!! Can't wait for the next.


Thanks to the publisher and net galley for an arc of this book.

My dislike for Alice, one of the story’s two main characters brought my rating down one star. Her paranoia, obsession, gullibility, alcohol/antidepressant addiction and neediness were so far-fetched. Just too much wrapped up into one character. I almost gave up a few times but really liked Beth’s story so kept on, hoping for more of her. I very much enjoyed Jones’ first book and felt a bit let down on this one.

I'd recommend The First Mistake as a fun beach read. I saw the ending coming, but it was still pleasant getting there. The characters were well-written, and the situation was realistic. I didn't need to suspend disbelief, which can be difficult at times if a book is less well-written.

The female friendship written in the book is one of the best parts of it, to me.

The only problem was that the twists the author factored into the plot were no different than those in other thrillers. I kept waiting for something new, but it never came. Maybe it's just too difficult since so many thrillers have been written. When you're a reader yourself, you might read so much of your same genre that it's hard not to replicate what you've read.

For the most part, this was a quick read and kept me interested. The only part that I truly did not like was the back story of Beth. She just annoyed me so much as a character and was so dumb. There were a lot of twists in this one, some easy to figure out, but it was still a fun read. Not sure I liked the ending as it left a couple of things unanswered.

After a somewhat mysterious loss of her first husband, Alice never seemed to completely recover but she meets Nathan and, between her children and work, her life seems to be going well.

I thought the story moved slowly at first but the suspense picked up and the story was full of twists and turns. Every few pages I thought events were going one way and then a new twist would pop up.

There were times I thought Alice might be in some kind of mental state and wondered if the whole story was based on hallucinations. I kept that theory in mind while more and more questions arose. I felt confused through part of the story and couldn’t determine if it was the writing or the numerous plot points.

It took me off balance just a bit when the story switched to Alice’s friend, Beth’s POV in the past, but I was intrigued with her story.

As the ending draws near, events and details become clear and you realize what’s been going on for years. I can’t even imagine going through all of the changes and emotions Alice has dealt with and as suspicions arise, it’s difficult to determine if everything is real or not. It makes you wonder who to believe. What’s the truth? Who’s lying? Are people even who she thinks they are?

I enjoy a story when I can’t figure out the entire plot too soon. Even though I had a guess, there were so many moving points that kept me wondering. I enjoyed the ending even though the story ends abruptly and left me with questions.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this early work.

This is another novel by Sandie Jones that just when you think you know what is going to happen; she throws something at you that sends you in an entirely different direction. This is fast-paced, twisted, and a fun ride that will keep you guessing until the end!
I was fully invested from the first page, and couldn’t wait to see where it went. A thrilling ride I enjoyed until the last word. Pick it up when you don’t have anywhere to go, because you won’t want to put it down.
#TheFirstMistake #MinotaurBooks

If you're looking for a good revenge story, you need look no further than The First Mistake, the second novel of domestic suspense from author Sandie Jones. I read it in one sitting, and it was a wild and twisty ride to say the least.

It's been nearly ten years since the man Alice considered the love of her life died in a tragic ski accident. Since then, Alice has done her best to move on, and most people would say she's done a great job of it. She and her second husband Nathan have a successful interior design firm, two beautiful children, a lovely home, and a marriage that is pretty close to perfect - and yet, there's a part of Alice that has never quite managed to get over losing Tom. She's terrified of losing someone else she loves. It's nearly impossible for her to spend any time away from Nathan or the children, but every day, she makes a valiant effort to conquer her demons.

Beth and Alice have been best friends for the past three or four years. Beth is exactly the kind of warm, calming presence Alice needs in her life, and she's pretty sure that as long as Beth is by her side, she'll be able to weather whatever storms life throws at her. So when she begins to suspect Nathan of being unfaithful, she confides her worries to Beth, who seems to agree that Nathan is up to something shady.

Alice hates confrontations, but she knows she needs to tell Nathan what she suspects if they have any hope of saving their marriage. As one might expect, Nathan denies everything, chalking Alice's suspicions up to paranoia. Now, Alice doesn't know what to think. She desperately wants to believe Nathan is telling the truth, but the evidence against him is damning.

Beth's role in all of this is quite complicated. On the surface, things seem straightforward, but the more you read, the more confused you'll be. There were several times I applauded my ability to figure things out, only to discover my suspicions were totally off base.

I love stories filled with complex characters, and The First Mistake is one of the best I've come across. Every character has emotional depth, and even the villains are relatable. I was drawn in by the layers upon layers of secrets these people were keeping, both from themselves and one another.

Alice is one of the very best things about this book. She's got an awful lot of baggage when we first meet her, and things only get worse as the story progresses. Still, she manages to stay strong as she attempts to unravel the massive web of lies she finds herself embroiled in. Ms. Jones does a great job highlighting the things that make her vulnerable, but I never doubted she'd come out on top.

Like most mysteries, The First Mistake is full of surprises, although some of them might feel a bit melodramatic to some readers. They're not at all the kinds of things that happen in real life, but for me, that was part of this novel's charm. It provided me exactly the kind of delicious escape from the real world I was seeking, and I'm pretty sure it will do the same for you.

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I got what I asked for because Sandie Jones gave me another emotional rollercoaster with The First Mistake! After her debut novel The Other Woman, I thought I couldn’t take another cluster-f**k of emotions, but sure enough Jones came back for seconds!

Alice once had a perfect life — a beautiful daughter, thriving business and a charming marriage to her husband, Tom. One day her world comes crashing down when Tom leaves for a ski business trip and never returns. As her world falls into darkness while she is grieving for Tom, she meets Nathan. Pulling Alice out of crippling depression and grief, he is there to stand by her side, pulling her back up and getting her back to work.

As years pass, Nathan and Alice are now happily married, they have their own daughter and their business is booming. When Nathan starts acting suspiciously, Alice fears for the worst. Confiding in her best friend Beth, who’s also dealt with something similar, she realises her friendship may be more challenging than she ever thought it would be. After a whirlwind of revelations, twists and turns, Alice has to decide who she can trust and who is out to get her, and even her money!

This book has everything you’re looking for in a suspenseful psychological thriller — cheating husbands, double lives, money laundering and even whimsical dialogues with snotty teenagers! It left me questioning how well do I really know people — my best friends, love interests, even my family. Who can you really trust? And are you really sure you can?

The only downside to this book is it was a tad predictable and a little cheesy at times. I will honestly say, I enjoyed Sandie Jones’ debut novel more. That being said, Jones’ writing is immaculate. The characters are engaging and the dialogues are exciting. Like Jones’ first book, I finished this in one sitting, desperately waiting for that massive shock twist at the end, and sure enough, Jones out did herself, again!

If you’re looking for a magnificently crafter, twisty suspense thriller that’s assured to keep you on the edge of your seat, Sandie Jones’ The First Mistake is the book for you! You’ll be questioning everything from start to finish — Who do I hate? Who is the good guy? And even, who do I root for? This suspenseful psychological thriller packs quite a punch — love, friendship, betray and even sex (WOOT) — it certainly has it all!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Sandie Jones for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Wow Sandie Jones has written a twisty turning page turner .Just like her first thriller I picked it up could not put down.Marriage friendship lies deceit a twist you will never see coming.Predict this will be a best seller.#netgalley #st.martinsbooks

Well interesting to say the least. Very predictable but still engaging. This is my first read of Sandie Jones book and I feel like I would definitely read her other books.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After the shocking and sudden death of her first husband, Tom, Alice believes that her life is finally back on track. She is remarried, the mother of two, and runs a successful business. She also has the support of her extremely loyal best friend, Beth.

When Alice begins to suspect that her husband Nathan is having an affair, she turns to Beth for help in seeking the truth. After all, she trusts Beth with her daughter, her secrets, and to give her advice. But Alice begins to wonder if that trust is misplaced...

I do love a domestic thriller and Jones' sophomore effort does not disappoint. And by way of thrillers, the Brits are masters. This was a quick and satisfying read with just enough wicked, just enough suspense, and the perfect amount of twists.

Told from multiple points of view, Jones' writing is unflinching and astute. Her characters are carefully crafted and believable. She tells a mesmerizing story and I couldn't put it down.

My only criticism is that it seemed like it took forever for the characters to confront one another. That being said, this is probably more of a comment about the genre as of late with many books falling victim to this.

With the multitude of themes and plot twists that have been overdone in the domestic thriller arena, Jones was fresh and exciting. That Hitchcockian ending will have readers second guessing what they just read. Brilliant!