3.5 stars.

Another thriller, another crazy ride.

Truthfully though, the more thrillers I read, the more I feel that my life isn't nearly as screwed up as I think it is sometimes!

Alice had an idyllic life with her husband Tom, a growing business, and a beautiful young daughter. His sudden death at a young age tore Alice apart, leaving her shattered, and unable to regain control of her life for a short while. Ultimately she realized her daughter meant the world to her, and she owed it to her—to the both of them—to pull herself together.

Years later, Alice feels like she has a second chance at happiness. Her second husband, Nathan, has stood by her through thick and thin, indulging her anxieties and her fears. She now has two daughters, and the business she started building with Tom is now flourishing.

But when Nathan starts acting suspiciously, Alice's sense of security starts to erode. Her best friend, Beth, tells her that she has every right to be concerned about Nathan, but Beth is dealing with her own issues as well. And then bombshell after bombshell is revealed, leaving Alice to wonder whom she can trust—and how much of her life and her relationships have been a lie.

Sandie Jones throws a lot of twists into The First Mistake, so I'm being purposely vague on my plot summary, even though many of the surprises seemed well-telegraphed early on. But having read so many thrillers, some of the things I was expecting didn't materialize, and I always love when an author pulls a fast one on me!

This was a quick and satisfying read, although there was definitely more than enough melodrama to go around. Jones created some complex characters, none of whom is entirely likable, but I couldn't tear myself away from the book even as I was getting annoyed with how long it seemed to take for characters to confront one another.

I definitely expect to see the gorgeous cover of The First Mistake in the hands of many readers this summer. Suspicion, jealousy, marital dysfunction, and melodrama? Sounds like the recipe for a perfect summer read. And with Jones as the chef, there's a lot to savor here.

NetGalley and Minotaur Books provided me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!

This book will be published June 11, 2019.

Sandie Jones is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers! Her characters are devilish and conniving and I am there for it! I enjoy following along on their revenge, trying to figure out what will happen next and guessing the twist the entire time. I liked The Other Woman just a teensy bit more but both were really enthralling and super quick reads. Another thing I liked about this was that she made Alice's character both strong and vulnerable. She had trials, she had breakdowns, but she was coming back into her own and still ran a company and a home. I appreciate her strong woman characters! I wish the epilogue was a bit longer and that we would have been privy to what transpired after the fall and the relationship between Beth and Alice. All we saw was who she picked to save.
I will be posting to my instagram stories and wall at the end of May, a week prior to publication.
Thank you to minotaur and net galley for the copy in exchange for a fair review.

WOW twisted and entertains. A lady Alice turns to Beth when her husband Nathan starts acting differently. We all think we know and can trust our friends. But that is not always the case. I really liked the book and it make you stop and think if you should share what’s on your mind n

Sadie Jones has done it again. Edge of your seat read and will keep you guessing till the very end! Very realistic characters and plot. Never know what will happen next and to whom.

The First Mistake was an amazing book filled with tons of twists and those OMG moments! I found myself staying up late into the night not wanting to put it down! Alice wonders if the world she once knew was true or all a lie. Can she trust her new husband Nathan, her best friend Beth. You will find yourself coming up with idea after idea and be shocked with each turn of the page. This is a must read, if not that will be your First Mistake!

I just loved The Other Woman, for the sneaky surprise and Jones’ warm style so I was excited to start this book. It took a while to pick up in terms of getting past the necessary setting up of characters and basic plot line. I wasn’t too excited about the protagonist being one of those strong successful types who still requires a drink and Valium to face the day. I was also a little disappointed that at 30% into the book, not much had developed and Alice was still mulling over the earring she found in her husband’s car...Next, please. Even at this point, her main emotion seems to be confusion, including whether to make love to her husband who she’s suspicious of but still makes her knees go weak....mmm, that does not endear a main character to me, as I don’t respect her. But when the story turned, it turned for the better and then I recognized the Sandie Jones writing that I love! For some reason, Beth’s viewpoint flowed much better and I was invested in her, though I could spot her Mistake a mile away, I was intrigued. And the intrigue continues to grow, with nicely paced writing, though Alice’s constant emotional roller coaster can seem unrealistic at times. But the reveal and the resolution of the mystery is a worthwhile payoff. Sit back, take in all the details and character development and enjoy the satisfaction of this terrific ending.

Sandie Jones is an excellent author who knows how to build suspense and keep readers hooked into the story! 

Alice was such a great character. She has risen through a horrendous tragedy and has found joy in her family, her work, and her new husband. You really feel for her in this book as her suspicious rise and she needs to uncover a mystery in her life. 

The book has lots of surprises and an ending that you will want to discuss with your book loving friends!

This book centers around a woman, her husband, and her best friend. A mystery is involved between all three characters and it's not your typical mystery. Alice and her husband Nathan own an architectural design company. Farewell off because it is a successful company that was established prior to the second marriage of hers with her first husband. Alice is really devoted to this company and is not really friendly with most of the other mothers in the group of her younger daughter. She has one friend, Beth, they have daughters of the same age, who seemed to be best friends. Alice starts noticing some peculiarities with her husband. And fears that he is having an affair. She confides her fears to her friend Beth.

I don't really want to go into this much more, without giving away the premise of the book. Honestly, I found some of it more predictable. And can see where it was going. I did however find that the writing was spot-on. This author is excellent with her character development. You find the characters seem to pop right off the page. I found myself relating most to Beth. I found Nathan very unlikable. And Alice seems cold and standoffish, or else fiery end her temper seemed out of control at times. I do however recommend this book for people who love psychological thrillers, or domestic thrillers. The setting takes place in both England and Japan.

*I would like to thank the author/publisher/Netgalley for the opportunity read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I absolutely loved The Other Woman and I had high hopes for The First Mistake. I was not disappointed. I received this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Ms. Jones is a fantastic writer and really nails the twisty plots and endings. This books grabs you early on and I found myself not wanting to put it down! Definitely puck up The First Mistake on 6/11/2019 when it is released!

Thank you to Minotaur books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hang on tight for this edge of your seat psychological thriller! I read a few reviews and I am in the minority, I did not think it was predictable and I was definitely thrown for a loop quite a few times! It was a fast and easy read and I was extremely frustrated when I discovered there weren’t any more pages to turn after the one page epilogue - I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next! Compelling, intriguing, gripping... A great read!

I was highly anticipating this author's new novel since I love The Other Woman! I am so happy to report that this one did not disappoint and it was even better!! The whole relationship between the sister and husband with the main character just felt so raw and emotional, and even real. The author definitely knows how to draw in her readers from the beginning and still keep their attention throughout the entirety of the novel. I will be recommending this one to all my reader friends!

This book was amazing. It was the first book I have read by this author and I cannot wait to read more. I finished this book, read two other books, and I am STILL thinking about this one. The story was so well developed, the characters were nuanced and dimensional and there were unexpected twists and turns. Would highly recommend!

This is the best psychological thriller I’ve read in ages, I couldn’t put it down. It was twisted and scary, and trying to visualize an ending was impossible.
Sandie Jones writes a web of deception that rivals the best, as she tells the story of Alice, who lost her husband in a tragic ski accident. After bottoming out in her grief she meets Nathan, the perfect guy to get her back on her feet and running her profitable company. He’s a great husband and father, and they build a wonderful life together.
This author is a great storyteller, with great character development, giving you a fun and likable cast. She skillfully brings you along as the secrets, lies and deceit become apparent, resulting in an ending that blindsides. This is a must read, or that would be the second mistake. My thanks to the author, Minotaur ?Books and St Martin’s Press for the advanced readers copy.
#TheFirstMistake #MinotaurBooks #StMartinsPress

I powered through this book, it had me hooked almost instantly. I do love a good thriller so this is a genre I prefer to read and Sandie Jones nailed it. The characters were engrossing and I was very invested in unraveling the story and figuring out how everyone was involved.

The main character lost her first husband but today is married with two kids and what appears to be the perfect guy, however, she confides in her best friend Beth that something else might be going on. Beth has also had her share of guy troubles in what reminded me of a Dirty John type of situation for anyone who was a fan of that podcast/show/documentary.

A very entertaining read with some great twists, highly recommended for psychological thriller fans.

Oh, the betrayal! Oh, the mystery! The First Mistake is such a juicy read. If you’re in the mood for a dramatic storyline, step this way. This book made me grateful for the life I had while simultaneously making me feel like the plot could happen to just about any women given the right circumstances. However, I did find myself feeling extremely frustrated with some of the characters, nonetheless. This kept me on my toes. So much craziness! I enjoyed it as a chick-lit quick read. 3.5/5 stars rounded up to 4.

I did not read much on the plot of this book ahead of time so went in a bit blind. I found myself a little lost through the first 2 chapters but then wow...just wow... this book took on the speed of a freight train and never stopped. There were twists throughout that you NEVER see coming...I even had to go back a page a couple of times because I could not believe what I was reading! I could not tell who was lying, who to believe and where on earth the story was going (in the best possible way) until the very end. Lots of twists and thrills throughout will have you up way past your bedtime! Fabulous read and I highly recommend! Thank you to NetGalley. the author and publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed Sandie Jones' first book, The Other Woman, and this one didn't disappoint. The author creates really likeable characters who you find yourself routing for. Immediately you like Alice, who lost her husband, Tom, and was left with a young child. How wonderful it is that she finds love a second time.

The First Mistake is the first book I have read in an entirely new genre for me...psychological fantasy thriller. This story first revolves around Alice and her relationship with Tom who died tragically. She is now married to Nathan and building a new life. The next section concerns her present day friend Beth and her past relationship. Finally we see how their pasts are intertwined and totally messed up. The relationships and encounters in this book are so fantastical that when Ms. Jones reveals a spicy nugget I argue with her and say no, you can't write that, it isn't believable. But then, it is so entrancing that I say ok, keep going, I'll believe that! What else ya got?? This was a fun, race-through read that I am so grateful to Netgalley/St. Martin's Press for granting me an advanced copy. It deserves all the buzz I'm sure it will receive. 4.5 stars

The First Mistake by Sandie Jones was a highly anticipated book for me. I love her writing style and she is skilled at writing captivating and engaging domestic thrillers. I was drawn into this story but was left with a lot of unanswered questions and an ending that didn't entirely work for me because it was all wrapped up so quickly.

I am one who likes a little more substance and depth and I understand that with this type of book you don't always get that, but this just left me wanting more.

The First Mistake was very engaging but I felt like I needed more of the backstory to feel connected to Alice, Beth, and Nathan. I found myself feeling quite frustrated with the characters not being able to react reasonably when time and time again there were major issues that were either being ignored or not taken seriously...

All in all, this was a fast-paced book that definitely is entertaining, I just don't think it was the perfect fit for me. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for an e-arc of Sandie Jones’s The First Mistake.

I really enjoyed Jone’s first book, The Other Woman. I think The First Mistake was even better. There were so many twists. Each one caught me by surprise and I did not know who to trust. At one point, all the characters seemed very shady. The ending did leave more questions than answers but you do get a sense of what will the characters will do next.

I believe this one will also be a hit for Jones and I can not wait for her next book already.