HER FIRST MISTAKE is the start of a new series, which is based on a minor character from Kendra Elliot’s Columbia River series. If you have not read those books, rest assured that you still will completely enjoy this novel.

Noelle Marshall is currently a detective in Deschutes County, Oregon. Her past, though, was filled with violence when her husband, California assemblyman Derrick Bell, was brutally murdered 13 years ago. Noelle also was attacked and left for dead. The crimes remain unsolved, and while Noelle has moved on, some fragments of what she endured will haunt her forever.

"As in any good thriller, the narration, the dialogue and the action draw us deeper and deeper into the life of the main character."

Elliot's clever use of a timeline that is not chronological --- but rather takes us back to when Derrick was still alive, along with the current narrative --- works extremely well. While he left her for a wealthy woman, Noelle was inspired by the investigation into his death and decided, with the encouragement of the FBI agent who protected her during the aftermath, to go into law enforcement. Noelle is surprised when, so many years after the murder, two FBI agents appear and want to question her about the cold case.

Noelle repeats to the agents what she has said about that night, and they plan to talk to her two sisters and her great-aunt Daisy. But shortly after her interview, her car is bombed. It's pure luck that she and her sisters aren't seriously harmed, but the coincidence of the bombing and the renewed investigation puts her on edge.

Noelle has never been able to remember what happened the night that Derrick was bludgeoned by a statue in their home and repeatedly hit with a crowbar, while she was struck in the back of the head with the crowbar and left with some serious injuries. She still has some problems with her short-term memory, which she carefully covers up by assiduous note-taking and other compensatory strategies.

As in any good thriller, the narration, the dialogue and the action draw us deeper and deeper into the life of the main character. Elliot really does lead us on a goose chase as we do not expect what is finally revealed at the conclusion of the novel. In fact, even the title seems to be a clue about the mysterious killer, "her first mistake" being referenced in the story as part of Noelle's past. But is that really a clue, or is it clever misdirection?

What I do know is that by the end of the book, we feel a connection with Noelle. The budding romance with one of the FBI agents is well crafted and touching. While the mystery about Noelle's past is now solved, I can't wait to see what her future brings.