Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Her First Mistake by Kendra Elliot Narrator: Stephanie Nemeth-Parker
Series: Noelle Marshall #1
Published by Montlake Romance on June 10, 2025
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 343
Length: 10 hours, 7 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible
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 a secret about the night Derrick died that she has never told anyone.
Her First Mistake starts a new Noelle Marshall series in the same world as at least two other series. She works with Evan Bolton from the Columbia River series, which is a mix of stories utilizing characters from some of the author’s other series or supporting characters. She was in a book as a side character. Mercy Kilpatrick is in this book , of the Mercy Kilpatrick series.
This is the foundation of Noelle Marshall with her history and current case. The story does alternate between past and present. Thirteen years ago her second husband Derrick Bell, who was in Congress, was murdered. She was attacked and had a head injury and was found unconscious. The case has never been solved. Now the FBI is looking at the case again and comes to Oregon where Noelle and her family members are to ask more questions.
We learn much of her past, upbringing and family members. Noelle started with a degree in psychology. After Derrick died, she went into law enforcement where she works now. The detective, Alice, from her husband’s case encouraged her. Noelle does have some memory issues related to her head injury but works hard to compensate for them.
Now with the case reopened things go wild. I won’t spoil all the events but it escalates and hurtles along flying at the end. Because of the case, and her husband’s family always disparaging her, Nicole has been private and kept to herself and family. When in school and starting the new career, Nicole was able to regain herself. Now with the facts becoming clear, Nicole may be able to move on with her life. There is an FBI agent who may be interested in joining her. I’ll definitely be reading more next year in No One Knew.
Narration:
This narrator is in over 300 audiobooks on Audible. Many are Graphic audio with full casts. I have heard her before but not enough to discern her from other narrators yet. I was very comfortable with her voices with the females higher and a bit sharp, and the males lower and more flat toned. The performance allowed me to enjoy the story. I listened at 1.75x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Kendra Elliot
An Amazon #1 selling author, Kendra Elliot has sold over 5 million books.
She grew up in the lush Pacific Northwest and still lives there with her family and three cats. She’s fascinated with forensics, refuses to eat anything green, and dreams of living every day in flip flops.
| Rating Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Plot |
|
| Writing |
 |
| Characters |
|
| Narration (Audio) |
|
| Overall: | |
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- Read-along & #Giveaway:One Fell Sweep by Ilona Andrews @ilonaandrews.bsky.social @nyliterary.bsky.social @tantoraudio.bsky.social @CarolesLife @AudibleStudios #Read-along #GIVEAWAY #LoveAudiobooks @ilonaandrews @nyliterary @TantorAudio @reneeraudman @natalienaudus - July 18, 2025
- 🎧 Atonement Sky by Nalini Singh @authornalinisingh.bsky.social @angedawe.bsky.social @berkleyromance.bsky.social @tantoraudio.bsky.social #LoveAudiobooks @NaliniSingh @BerkleyPub @TantorAudio #Favorite - July 17, 2025
- 🎧 The Blue Horse by Bruce Borgos @BruceBorgos @jbabzbabson @recordedbooks.bsky.social @minotaurbooks.bsky.social #LoveAudiobooks @MinotaurBooks @RecordedBooks - July 15, 2025
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 25-COYER
I’m looking forward to starting this one soon. Even though I haven’t started Columbia River yet, I think I’ll be okay. By the way, who is the narrator?
The last Columbia River book has Noelle as a character. She is just becoming closer friends with Mercy in this book. The narrator is Stephanie Nemeth-Parker.
How fun that characters from other series are making appearances. I like the sound of this!
yes this is kind of a spinoff from the other 2 series but can stand on its own. I prefer to read the “world” in order and have all the background, but someone could start here.
Hopefully the next one is even better. 🙂
I always am excited to read more from this author.
I love her Mercy and Evan mysteries. Fun that she’s started a series centered around Noelle. I will definitely be checking this one out. 😀
yes Noelle works for Evan. He and Mercy are both in this story.
I read and enjoyed this one as well. Great review!
Thank you Kimberly.
I’ve enjoyed Stephanie-Nemeth Parker and I’m a fan of Kendra Elliot so I’ll add this. It’s Kindle Unlimited, too so that’s a bonus!
yes, there are some really good quality KU authors which I love.
Just wrapped this one up today. Interesting what was behind the mystery of Noelle all this time. I got distracted with the back and forth between the three timelines, but I had the murder figured out from about the midway point and only had to wait to see how everyone would figure it out. I’ll look forward to the next one, too.
I agree the back and forth was frustrating at times, but it gave us an unfolding of the story. Now hopefully we can go forward with Noelle and current cases.
Kendra Elliott’s is an auto read autor for me and this series sounds like it won’t be any different. Looking forward to digging in next week! 🙂
yes she’s really an auto read for me too. There are a few of these KU authors I just love.
Great review 💯
Thank you and thanks for visiting the blog.
You are welcome to my blog
I have only read 1 or 2 books by Elliot, but I enjoyed them and need to pick up more!
I love her. I’d probably start with the Mercy Kilpatrick series or maybe the Colombia River from the beginning.
Sounds like a great new series to get started for you! Great review!
yes. I’ve pretty much read everything else she’s written.
This author is on my list to read. It sounds like a good one and I love a good romantic suspense!
I’d recommend starting with Mercy Kilpatrick and then Columbia River, then this one. I’ve read all her books even the series she did with Melinda Leigh (who I also love).
Hopefully one day I get to start this series.
It’s the first in the series although I like having the background from the related series.
I think I still need a Romantic Suspense for the reading challenge…
Overall this one felt more like a mystery than a romantic suspense.