Der Fehler

by K.L. Slater, Miriam Neidhardt (Translator)

Du glaubst, du kennst die Wahrheit über die Menschen, die du liebst. Aber eine einzige Enthüllung kann alles verändern ...

Der achtjährige Billy verschwindet eines Tages, als er mit seiner Schwester Rose seinen Drachen steigen lässt. Zwei Tage später wird er tot aufgefunden.

Sechzehn Jahre später gibt sich Rose immer noch die Schuld an Billys Tod. Wieso konnte sie ihren kleinen Bruder nicht beschützen?

Rose hat sich nie ganz von dem Trauma dieses Tages erholt, und einer der wenigen Menschen, denen sie vertraut, ist ihr Nachbar Ronnie , den sie schon ihr ganzes Leben lang kennt. Doch was Rose eines Tages auf Ronnies Dachboden findet, stellt ihre Welt auf den Kopf.

Rose dachte, sie weiß, was mit Billy passiert ist. Sie dachte, sie kennt ihren Nachbarn. Jetzt weiß sie nur noch, dass sie in Gefahr ist …

Dieser packende Psychothriller wird dich die ganze Nacht an die Seiten fesseln. Perfekt für Fans von Romy Hausmann und Sue Watson.

Was über Der Fehler

» O. Mein. Gott. Was für ein Buch! Ich habe schon andere Bücher dieser Autorin gelesen, die mir gefallen haben, aber das hier ist das beste bisher!« Stardust Book Reviews

» WOW! Was für ein unglaubliches Buch ... Eine Achterbahnfahrt . Mein erstes Buch dieser Autorin, aber es wird nicht mein letztes sein.« Goodreads Rezensentin, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

»K.L. Slater hat einen weiteren großartigen Thriller geschrieben, das mich bis zum Ende miträtseln lassen hat. Dann hat sie mich mit dem Ende geschockt.« We‘ve Licked That Book Blog , ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

»Ich hab jedes Buch dieser Autorin verschlungen, aber meiner Meinung nach ist dieses ihr bisher bestes.« Angela Marsons, Autorin von Ihr stummer Schrei

» Eines meiner Lieblingsbücher des Jahres ... So gut geschrieben – 5 STERNE! ABSOLUTE EMPFEHLUNG! Man weiß bis zum Ende nicht, wer es getan hat!!!« Goodreads Rezensentin, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

»Ein Thriller, den man nicht aus der Hand legen kann, und wie immer fesselt K.L. Slater einen an die Seiten ... sie ist die Königin der Twists .« JDC Must Read Books , ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

»Lässt dich bis zur letzten Seite miträtseln. Wenn du denkst, du weißt es, liegst du wahrscheinlich falsch … Sehr zu empfehlen für alle, die einen psychologischen Thriller mit Spannung und Mystery mögen! « Goodreads Rezensentin, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

» Wow , was für ein fantastisches Buch! Ich war von der ersten Seite an gefesselt und konnte nicht aufhören zu lesen, bis ich es beendet hatte . Ich fand es großartig.« Bonnie‘s Book Talk , ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

»Ihr Schreibstil wird einfach immer besser. Ich kann sie nicht hoch genug loben und wünschte, ich könnte mehr als die fünf Sterne geben . Brillant geschrieben.« Goodreads Rezensentin, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

»Ein rasanter Psychothriller, den ich an einem Tag verschlungen habe.« Chloe‘s Book Blog

»Was ich an den Büchern dieser Autorin liebe, ist, dass sie einen schon auf den ersten Seiten in die Geschichte hineinzieht und bis zur letzten Seite und dem letzten Wort nicht mehr loslässt ... Wieder ein großartiger Thriller.« By the Letter Book Reviews

»Ich konnte dieses Buch einfach nicht aus der Hand legen ... Dies ist nicht mein erstes Buch von K.L. Slater und es wird auch nicht mein letztes sein .« Dark Twisty Books , ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery, Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Crime

376 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 4, 2017

About the author

Kim is the number one bestselling author of sixteen psychological crime thrillers. She has sold over two million copies of her books worldwide. She has also written four Carnegie-nominated Young Adult novels as Kim Slater for Macmillan Children’s Books. Kim has an MA in Creative Writing and lives with her husband in a small Nottinghamshire village.

Publishers: Bookouture, Sphere, Grand Central, Audible
Agent: Camilla Bolton at Darley Anderson

Author website: www.KLSlaterAuthor.com
Twitter: @KimLSlater
Facebook: KL Slater Author
Instagram: KLSlaterAuthor

Reviews

[Chelsea Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this type of book, the one where the mystery aspect of the plot isn't really the focal point, but the tension, thrills, and chills are what takes the front seat! This was actually my first read by Slater; I've been meaning to pick up her books for the past year but my schedule hadn't allowed me to participate in the blog tours until now. I had every confidence that I would enjoy this book, as I enjoy all of the books I receive from Bookouture, but this one exceeded my expectations! Sometimes you pick up a book and all you really want is for it to be enjoyable, and enjoyable this was, but it was enjoyable due to the fact it was engaging, thrilling, and exciting.

I'll admit, I almost didn't pick this up due to the fact that the premise of the story is based on the body of a young boy, Rose's brother, being found. I've had a hard time reading books relating to violence of children these days with two young children at home, but this one was relatively easy to stomach and the focus is more on the revealing of what really was the cause behind Billy's disappearance than focusing on the graphic details of his death. The characters were well done and Rose was a flawed, sometimes unlikable character, which was a nice touch being able to witness her awkward quirks and brokenness in the aftermath of a tragic childhood experience.

If you enjoy a fast paced plot with exciting twists and turns, you should definitely check out The Mistake. I can see now why people have been raving about Slater's books; they have a classic feel while adding a twist of her own that really drew me in! I'm not sure which of her books I should go back and start with first; any suggestions from fellow fans? Regardless, I don't think I can go wrong and look forward to immersing myself in more of her glorious stories!

*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy; it was a pleasure to provide my honest thoughts here. 

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been reading a lot of thrillers lately that deal with obsession and manipulation.
K.L. Slater’s latest thriller Mistake shows the control one man has over a naive girl, who believes she’s found her true love. How blind we all can be when our emotions take over. How easily we put aside the warnings when our head is screaming NO! Only to follow what our heart wants. Sadly, more often than not, with painful consequences that effect our lives and relationships for years to come.

When Rose is only 18 she meets such a man. A very charming older man Gareth, who begins sweeping her off her feet. Ignoring her inner voice and friends warnings, she is soon in over her head, unable to break free.

K.L. Slater’s portrayal of Gareth is both repulsive and frightening. I felt sickened at his manipulation of Rose as she became more entangled in his web. So frighteningly real. It actually gave me chills. I found myself wanting to warn Rose! But, as with any young woman in love, they need to find out the truth themselves...even if it’s the hard way.

An extremely fast read that was difficult to put down. There are many layers to this story which kept me glued to the pages. As with any great thriller, plenty of twists to keep me satisfied! I certainly recommend!

A traveling sister read with Brenda, Norma and Susanne!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and K.L. Slater for a copy to review in exchange for an honest review.

For this review and our full traveling sister review please visit Brenda and Norma's Fantastic Traveling Sister Book Blog http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...

[Holly B · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

K.L. Slater is becoming one of my favorite authors. This was my second book by her and it did not disappoint! It was fast-paced and kept me guessing all the way through!

Rose is playing the blaming game with herself. Sixteen years ago her eight year old brother, Billy went missing while she was watching him. He was found dead and Rose is still asking herself what if....

Rose has looked in on her elderly neighbor, Ronnie since his wife passed away. He has been a good friend to her for many years and now he has taken ill. She finds him sprawled out on the floor in his house one day and has to call for an ambulance. Funny thing is he asks her Not to go upstairs! Is Ronnie hiding something or is he just embarrassed by an unkempt room?

I enjoyed the pace and I was constantly analyzing all the motives of everyone in Rose's life. This is one I enjoyed picking up and always wanted to read another chapter all the up to the twisted end!

Thank you to Netgalley/K.L.Slater and Bookouture for the ARC
Publication date is on Oct. 4,2017

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rose Tinsley, who's lived in Newstead all her life, is the librarian at the Newstead Library - one of the smallest in Nottinghamshire County.



When budget woes dictate that the library might close, Rose becomes very concerned about her job. Employment opportunities have been scarce in Newstead since the coal pits closed decades ago, and Rose - who has HUGE anxiety issues - CAN'T move away from the security of her home and her 'safety routines.'

Rose's troubles stem from things that happened sixteen years ago, when she was a naive 18-year-old college student. At that time Rose met a man - thirtyish Gareth Farnham - who was in Newstead to manage a construction project. Rose was flattered by the attentions of the handsome 'older man', and would sneak around to meet him behind her parents' backs.



Step by step Gareth manipulated Rose into isolating herself from her family and friends. He also convinced her to accede to his increasingly intrusive demands. Gareth wanted to control every aspect of Rose's life - from the movies she saw, to the flavor of ice cream she ate, to her college plans. When Rose resisted Gareth's 'requests', he became furious and made ominous threats.



In time, Rose tried to break away from Gareth.....but it was harder than she'd hoped.

At about this time, another tragedy occurred in Rose's life. One sunny afternoon Rose took her 8-year-old brother Billy to Newstead Abbey - to fly his kite - and the little boy disappeared.



His body was found two days later.

Rose and her parents were devastated by the loss and never fully recovered. Though a culprit was tried and convicted for Billy's murder, Rose became neurotically fearful. She developed compulsive behaviors like bulimia and hyper-awareness of her surroundings. From that time on Rose has been constantly looking over her shoulder for stranger-danger; has hardly ever left town; has been afraid to go out after dark; has been unable to leave her windows open; has been compulsively locking her doors; and so on.



To add to her woes, Rose lost both her parents a few years after Billy died.

Now, sixteen years after Billy's death, Rose is living a quiet, mundane, not-so-happy life. She has little fun and no friends - except for her elderly, next-door-neighbor Ronnie.



Ronnie has always been extremely solicitous of Rose's family, and Rose reciprocates by looking in on her housebound neighbor and doing his grocery shopping.

One day Ronnie is hospitalized with the flu and Rose decides to tidy his house - to thank him for being such a fine person.



While Rose is in Ronnie's attic, she finds something that casts doubt on the identity of Billy's killer. In fact, it's possible the wrong person has been imprisoned for the crime. No matter the consequences, Rose feels she MUST discover the truth.

The book alternates back and forth between 16-years-ago and the present. In the past, Ruth interacts with her parents; plays with Billy; goes to school; hangs out with her best friend Cassie; volunteers at the library; dates Gareth; and so on.



In the present, Rose goes to work; chats with the library patrons; shops at the local co-op; binges and purges; locks herself in the house; etc. Most importantly, Ruth follows up on the discovery she made in Ronnie's attic, despite getting an ominous note that says 'Let Sleeping Dogs Lie.'



The book is an engaging psychological thriller, but I'm not as big a fan as many other readers.

First, most of the story is told from Rose's point of view, in a 'step-by-step' format. I have a problem with this kind of narrative, which tends to be circumscribed and slow-moving.

Second, I have an issue with Rose as a character. Though I understand a teenage girl being infatuated with a dashing older man, Rose seems overly foolish. She constantly makes excuses for Gareth's terrible behavior; believes whatever he says; and gives in to him against her better judgement. Even as an adult, Rose has trouble dealing with the manipulative creep. I just don't like to see a character being such a doormat (and a little whiny to boot).

I do like the book's ending, and for that I give Rose three cheers.....rah rah rah Rose!!

Though I have some criticisms, I'd recommend the book to fans of psychological thrillers.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author (K.L. Slater), and the publisher (Bookouture) for a copy of the book.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sixteen years ago Rose's eight year old brother Billy went missing and after two days of the town searching his body was unfortunately found. Rose has never gotten over the loss of her brother, she loved him with all her heart and blamed herself for not protecting Billy that day he disappeared. Now she forces herself through the motions of living her life each day but her heart still aches for Billy.

Back when Billy was found all the signs in the investigation pointed to one man as Billy's murderer. That man was Rose's boyfriend at the time of the disappearance and he has spent the last sixteen years behind bars for the crime. However, when Rose checks in on her elderly neighbor and finds he needs to go to the hospital she decides to help him out by cleaning his home where Rose runs into something that makes her wonder if the police captured the right man all those years ago.

The Mistake by K.L. Slater is a psychological thriller that is told by alternating the story between Rose in the current time and telling what happened sixteen years before when her brother had disappeared. The alternating timelines was extremely easy to follow along with in this book being clearly marked as to which you are reading. Being the second book I've read by K.L. Slater I was expecting the writing to be good in this one and was happy to see when I was correct.

The one thing that brought this one down a bit for me as a reader was I had a bit of trouble connecting with Rose as a character. She's definitely one that you would call flawed as she battles daily still torn with what happened in the past but when flashing back I would have expected a happier more appealing side of her but she still seemed very timid and awkward even then. Even without connecting very well to her though I still found this a solid read and enjoyed the story held within but in the end I'd probably rate this one at 3.5 stars since my disconnect with Rose didn't have me quite as hooked into this one as I would have liked.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I am not mistaken, but I may be in the minority on this one - but this book failed to WOW me. I saw a lot of 4 and 5 star reviews for this and thought "YES!!!" but I felt let down. This book just felt bland to me. I did not really see it as a psychological thriller, maybe a mystery. I am the first to admit, I like a little grit with my mystery and maybe that is why I was not wowed but also because I found I really didn't care much for the characters.

Rose blames herself for her brother's death. She had a lot going on the day she was watching him. She had been in a horrible, controlling relationship with a manipulating older man who had become more and more controlling and scary. Her best friend/former best friend had been attacked and no one knows who attacked her.

Rose is watching her eight year old brother when she takes her eyes off him, he wanders off and is not found for 2 days.....

Now Rose is 34 and working in a library and helping out her lifelong next door neighbor. When he becomes ill, she finds something in his house. This "find" triggers her need to know the truth. A man was arrested and charged with her brother's murder. But his "find" may change things. Could someone else be responsible for her brother's death. Rose starts looking into the past and talking to those involved in the investigation in order to gain some closure.

The story is told both in the past and in the present day. As the story unfolds we learn about the events leading up to Billy's disappearance and death. We meet all the players, we see how easily Rose was manipulated and controlled, we see how this affected her relationships and her self esteem, then we see Billy go missing. In the present day, we see Rose as an unmarried single woman. Her parents are dead and she is basically on her own. The the discovery turns her life upside down.

I found this book to be good not great. It wasn't a page turner for me. One plus is that I thought I had the identity of the killer figured out. I was WRONG! There is a twist but one that failed to really WOW me. It seemed to come from left field and in all honestly, I think I would have liked the killer to have been someone else.

The premise of this book was good, it just failed to grab me. I would read more of this Author in the future.

I received a copy of this book from Bookouture and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to them!

See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com

[Norma ~ The Sisters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traveling Sisters Read with Brenda, Kaceey & Susanne

THE MISTAKE by K.L. SLATER is a chilling, tense, gripping, and an angst-driven psychological thriller novel that had some exciting twists and turns that was absolutely unputdownable.  I really like these types of stories that have an impending sense of dread in the background and has me so fearful for the main character.  I had a constant uneasy feeling while I was reading this one.  

K.L. SLATER delivers a well-done and thought-out story here with short chapters to make this a quick and easy read. The story is told from Rose’s point of view in the present day and from what happened sixteen years ago.  I really enjoyed Rose’s character, she was flawed and quirky.  Some of the issues that the book addresses were sad and emotional to read at times but I think the author handled these issues very well.

To sum it all up it was an enjoyable, exciting, fast-paced, and an entertaining read with a satisfying and surprising ending.  I don’t think this story was at all predictable. Would highly recommend!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookouture, and K.L. SLATER for the opportunity to read a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

All of our Traveling Sisters Reviews can be found on our sister blog:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another freebee from audible, “The Mistake” from a favorite author, K.L. Slater. What makes Slater great is her fast-paced, easy to read crime thriller. From the start, she pulls people in.

In this one, the main character, Rose, blames herself for her brother Billy’s death. They went to a park to fly a kite, and he went missing while he was retrieving his kite. Billy’s body was found two days later after a massive search.

Slater tells the story in two timelines, the present and the time leading up to Billy’s death. Of course, there are a few possible killers, one being evident. But Slater always has surprises up her sleeve. There are twists and turns. You can’t help but becomes emotionally involved in the story.

As expected, this is a solid psychological thriller….and it was free for me!!

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars.

Addictive, Creepy and utterly Consuming.

Rose’s past isn’t a pretty one. It has haunted her for the last sixteen years. When he was just eight-years old, her little brother Billy went missing. Days later he was found dead. Billy was everything to her. And she has never forgiven herself for his death. After all these years, the only person she has been able to trust is her friend and neighbor Ronnie. When he falls ill, she is beside herself – for he is all he has left. In preparing for his return home, she decides to clean his house and she finds something of Billy’s - something that makes her question everything.

Sixteen years earlier, before Billy went missing, Rose began dating a man named Gareth. He was much older than she was. He was handsome, and seemed oh so sophisticated. He liked that she was sweet, fresh and unsoiled. When Gareth began dictating what Rose did with her time and who she was friends with, she thought he wanted the best for her, being young and naïve, Rose didn’t realize what it meant and how it would change the course of her life -until it was too late.

This a book you invest in. Full throttle. Rose is a character you just want to fix - she reminds you of someone you know. KL Slater knows how to hook you. And how to make you care about characters, love or hate.

In KL Slater’s “The Mistake” the creep factor sets in something fierce. The hair on the back of your next stands up almost immediately and it stays like that for the entirety of the novel. The author knows how to make you feel uneasy like no one else out there. My stomach was in constant knots – I admit that I had a hard time reading this one - it affected me for personal reasons, and I will leave it at that. Even when you think you have things figured out, you don’t, “The Mistake” is just that good. This is a fast-paced, easy read that was simply unputdownable.

This was a traveling sister read. It included Brenda, Norma and Kaceey. We had a blast reading it together.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and KL Slater for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley, Goodreads, Amazon, Twitter and Facebook on 11.6.17.

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I read The Mistake with three of my Traveling Sisters and we really enjoyed reading this one together and discussing “The Mistake”.

The Mistake is a chilling and unsettling story of manipulation, obsession, and control that sent chills through us yet we were unable to put the book down until we reached the satisfying ending. The story also created a feeling of dread for us as it also revolves around the disappearance of a little boy. Even though I find this type of storyline to be very unsettling we felt K.L. Slater added just the right amount of dread without causing any unsettling feelings.

K.L. Slater does a good job creating a realistic, naive and flawed character here with our main character Rose and creating a very scary and unsettling situation for her with her relationship with Gareth. We could feel the control he had over her making us a little uncomfortable but giving us just the right amount of uneasiness to make this story an intriguing nail-biting experience.

Rose’s story is told through the past and present and we learn of “The Mistake” she made and the guilt she carries. We could feel the weight of guilt and the loss that she carried allowing us to question “The Mistake” for ourselves. We recommend this with caution as some readers could find it upsetting.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookouture, and K.L. SLATER for the opportunity to read a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

All of our Traveling Sisters Reviews can be found on our sister blog:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....

[Sandysbookaday (on indefinite hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

EXCERPT: 'Billy, come out. Please. ..you're scaring me now.'

It was true. Her heart was banging against her chest wall like a tin drum and her mouth and throat were dry with fear.

For five full, long minutes she walked up and down the long road, stepping into the bushes wherever there was a gap, searching everywhere for her brother.

But Billy was nowhere to be found.'

THE BLURB: You think you know the truth about the people you love.

But one discovery can change everything…

Eight-year-old Billy goes missing one day, out flying his kite with his sister Rose. Two days later, he is found dead.

Sixteen years on, Rose still blames herself for Billy’s death. How could she have failed to protect her little brother?

Rose has never fully recovered from the trauma, and one of the few people she trusts is her neighbour Ronnie, who she has known all her life. But one day Ronnie falls ill, and Rose goes next door to help him… and what she finds in his attic room turns her world upside down.

Rose thought she knew the truth about what happened to Billy. She thought she knew her neighbour. Now the only thing she knows is that she is in danger…

MY THOUGHTS: There were things I liked about this book, and things I didn't. I will start with the negatives so that I can end on a good note.

Poor Rose was traumatized by everything that had happened. I was going to list all these things, but it would give away too much of the story. But personally, I found it all just a little too much, too overdone. It was bland and clichéd, and I failed to pick up any sense of suspense.

There was a lot of dialogue in this book, much of which didn't add any value. There were a few loose ends, unresolved that I, personally, would have liked to have seen explained. For one, the deaths of her parents. The fact that they are dead is mentioned several times. So that I began to think that it must be important in some way, to the story. But, nothing. Grace is only 34. Her parents were not old. What are the chances that both parents would be dead of natural causes? And the threatened closure of the library where Rose worked....a lot was made of this issue, but we never learn the outcome. It is probably not important, but damn it, I WANT TO KNOW! Up until the end, it was all pretty predictable.

Now, let's get to the good stuff - the end was superb. There is no doubt that Slater is a very clever writer. I have read all four of her books. Safe With Me and Liar were 5-star reads. Blink, 3-star. The Mistake 3.5-star, upgraded because of the ending, of which I am not going to speak again for fear of giving something away.

One more little niggle- authors, publishers, whoever is responsible, STOP putting things on the cover like 'an unputdownable psychological thriller with a brilliant twist'. I don't want to be looking for the twist. I want it to jump up and slap me in the face and go 'There! You weren't expecting that, were you!' I know I am not the only one who feels like this.

Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Mistake by K. L. Slater for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose's young brother was murdered sixteen years and now Rose has uncovered something that makes her think that the wrong person is in prison for the crime. An excellent psychological thriller that had me hooked from the first page. I really enjoyed this book and read it in one day as I did not want to put it down. I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah Joint · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mistake is a very chilling, unsettling story that will keep you guessing until the very end. As damaged as the main character is, you find yourself hoping that somehow she will be able to pick up the pieces and make a new life for herself. One where she can walk out of the house at night, or leave a window open to enjoy a cool breeze. She's paranoid about her own safety, but she has plenty of reasons...

When Rose was 18, her little brother vanished while they were out enjoying a windy day. She'd been spending most of her time with her new boyfriend and neglecting her little brother, and she was determined to make it up to him. Last time she saw him, he was going to retrieve his kite, insisting that he could go on his own. She regrets letting him go on his own for the rest of her life. Days later, his body is found. Her little brother is gone.

Sixteen years later, Rose has never resumed a normal life. Her visits to her elderly neighbor Ronnie are the extent of her social life. Ronnie has always been there, and after he loses his dear wife, she helps him out every once in awhile. When he falls ill and is taken to the hospital, she feels guilty as if she may not have been helping him enough. His house could use a thorough cleaning. What she finds as she tidies up will change her life and throw everything she thought she knew into doubt: did Ronnie have something to do with the death of her little brother?

This was a very gripping book, and K.L. Slater's descriptions of Rosie's relationship with her manipulative boyfriend were chilling and came across as very realistic. It always starts off as something small, just a bit of control... and then you realize your opinions and thoughts no longer really matter. It was a book I found hard to put down and finished in only two sittings. I'm really looking forward to reading even more of the author's work!

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

[Linda Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sixteen years ago, Rose made a mistake. She fell in love with a man who really wasn't the best choice for any woman, especially a young virginal teenager. Things seemed to happen to the people around her ... her friends, her family, her brother.

Her friend was assaulted one night by a masked man ... a man who had declared to Rose that the friend would pay for trying to break them up. She eventually committed suicide without ever having spoken to Rose again.

Her then 8-year-old brother went missing. He was grabbed in the bushes and smothered to death. Rose has always felt guilty about his death ... about bringing this human monster into all their lives.

But Rose has found something .... and what she found will change her entire life and everything she ever believed.

K. L. Slater is such a tremendous author. This isn't my first book by her and it certainly won't be the last. She writes psychological thrillers with a sure hand, deftly defined characters that you won't forget easily, and a story premise second to none.

Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the advance digital copy of THE MISTAKE. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose regrets the day she met Gareth Farnham sixteen years ago. Her first boyfriend, he weasled his way into her life gradually controlling every aspect of her life. She had no idea that he would totally destroy her hopes and dreams, her family and best friend, leaving her a fearful, lonely woman. She has always blamed herself for all that happened, but now sixteen years later she discovers something that totally changes everything she believed happened all those years ago.

This was such a good slow burning psychological thriller with great characters. Ms Slater has created a monster in Gareth Farnham and a nervous browbeaten woman in Rose. I loved the ending of the book where Rose gets the chance to take back control of her life.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Bookouture for a copy of this book to read and review

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished reading K.L Slater The Mistake last night & I loved every damn minute I was hooked from the beginning to the end There was not one character I didn't like, when I say that I mean the bad guys made it for me & as usual Miss Slater throws one curveball I never saw coming at the end I said to myself NO it couldn't be but it was & it left me gobsmacked.


I wont give a long review as the book speaks for itself its a story of one mans manipulation & obsession over Rose she falls for Gareth a much older man Rose is 18 & is smitten with Gareth she falls badly for him not heeding warnings by her best friend Cassie who is a bit more worldly than Rose is.


Its not until Rose sees his demeanour change & his obsessive controlling persona comes out she tries to get away but is very scared & naïve. This story is powerful & could happen to anyone of us I found the book unputdownable it goes to show you never know what a person is like until you get locked in an evil web of lies & truths Rose finally woke up but was it to late.

MY THOUGHTS
This is one book you cant stop reading the pace is quick & the characters are engaging I loved how the author wrote Rose her character was well written showing how one can be naïve but at the end of the book was a strong woman who wouldn't stop finding the truth.

So many emotions were going through my head I found myself screaming for Rose to get out you deserve better as for all characters as I said there wasn't one I didn't like, I have already put The Visitor on wish list its not released till March 2018 next year in Australia.

Oh yeah the book goes from 16 years before to present day & is told by Rose POV. a massive 5 stars.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great find, I love discovering new authors I've not read before and picking up K.L Slater's The Mistake was a gem indeed, though a very sad story this had me hooked and invested from the start.

Sixteen years ago Rose's life changed forever, her younger brother Billy was murdered, with Rose's bullying boyfriend convicted of his murder, but when Rose's kindly neighbour Ronnie is taken ill, Rose discovers a horrifying piece of evidence in his spare room, something which rocks her world.

This must be a mistake, Ronnie, a man Rose has known her whole life, neighbours and friends with Rose's now deceased parents, Rose and young Billy were often round Ronnie's for family barbecues, knowing Ronnie's son too, surely Ronnie can't be the monster who killed Billy, but why is Billy's blanket in the spare room?

Rose has to try and get to the truth, especially as she receives a threatening letter to keep her nose out, this frightens Rose, who is already a timid and lonely woman, taking solace as her job in the local library (which Rose fears may close soon), and keeping to rigid routines, she also has an eating disorder, a very troubled young woman, emotionally scarred after what happened to Billy, as well as never getting over what her ex boyfriend Gareth put her through, emotionally bullying her and isolating her from her family and only friend.

Set between now and sixteen years prior, when Rose was a young 17/18 year old teenager, this is a gripping tale, and often uncomfortable, as it's hard reading of Rose being emotionally abused by Gareth, Rose really hasn't had an easy life and seems too sensitive and broken for such a cruel world, but Rose is an interesting character, and this time she's determined to find the truth.

I was highly impressed with this novel, and KL Slater is an author I will definitely look out for in the future, the only downside to this book in my opinion was the ending, which knocks off half a star or so, but that's just me, other than that I highly recommend this book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐1/3 Stars

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

Over the past year or so I’ve become a HUGE fan of Slater, she writes dark, twisty tales with complicated but realistic characters in frightening situations that make them SUCH addictive reads. I’ve said it before, but her books really should come with a warning label so you know that once you start one you will not be able to put it down until you’ve discovered the truth.

This is told from Rose’s point of view in the present day and sixteen years prior. Her little brother Billy, was murdered and her life was forever and irrevocably changed. The details of his death aren’t totally revealed until close to the end, but there is so much more explored throughout than Billy’s death alone. Rose in only eighteen in the flashbacks and she begins dating an older man named Gareth and is totally besotted. By the time she realizes he’s a controlling manipulator he has already begun grooming her and dictating her entire life. I felt so much sympathy for this sweet young woman, and though she has healed in some ways, sixteen years on and she still has many issues. When she discovers something shocking from the past in her neighbor Ronnie’s attic she begins to doubt everything she thought she knew and everyone she thought she knew and could trust.

Slater’s signature style of injecting a heavy sense of dread and uneasiness is back again and she leads the reader down a tangled path of lies and misdirection that will leave your head spinning. The plot is strong and very well developed and the ending was a surprise, she sure knows how to end things on a killer twist. If you like psychological thrillers and haven’t read Slater yet you MUST, she’s a fantastic author!

[Angela Marsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I absolutely flew through this book. Once I began to follow Rose's journey between the events of her brother's death and her current issues I just had to find out what happened sixteen years earlier that reduced her to the meek, fretful and anxious shell she'd become. Rose's character was so expertly drawn that I wanted to both slap and hug her all at the same time. I actually felt like I knew her personally and could alter the sequence of events by shouting loudly at my kindle. The portrayal of a controlling, abusive relationship was handled skilfully. The suspense built and weaved towards an ending that I didn't see coming and left me open mouthed. I devoured the last 40% in one delicious sitting resolute that I was doing nothing else until I had learned the truth. I found the ending tense, suspenseful and incredibly satisfying. I have gobbled up every book by this author but in my opinion this is definitely her best yet.

[Erin Clemence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a free electronic ARC of this novel, received in exchange for an honest review.

When Rose was eighteen, her eight year old brother was abducted and killed, and to this day she lives with the guilt. She should’ve watched him closer, she should’ve spent more time with him. And, most importantly, she should’ve stayed the hell away from Gareth. Now, sixteen years later, Rose is riddled with anxiety, ill and living as a shut-in. When she discovers her brother’s blanket in a box in her neighbour’s attic, she is forced to reconsider Gareth’s role in her brother’s death. Could that monster possibly be innocent? Rose must overcome her internal guilt and fears and confront Gareth one final time to get to the bottom of what happened to her brother.

I was introduced to K.L Slater with her novel, “Liar”. Although I was a huge fan of “Liar”, I am an even bigger fan of “The Mistake”.

The novel is gripping and filled with suspense, alternating storylines between present day and sixteen years ago, all told from the perspective of Rose. Rose is a fabulous character, full of flaws and eccentricities that have resulted from the loss of her brother and the responsibility she feels.

A non-stop plot, this story was next to impossible to put down. It pulled me in from the start, and I was immediately cheering for Rose, praying that Gareth would get his just desserts, and hoping for justice for young Billy. Even the ending was unpredictable- just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist would blow my assumption out of the water. It ended so fabulously, I practically cheered.

There is nothing bad to say about this novel- creative, addictive writing, suspense-fueled plot, passionate and honest characters (both good and evil alike). Surprises at every turn will leave the reader constantly wondering what’s going to happen next. “The Mistake” has it all- young, teenage romance and the passion that could go horribly wrong, the murder of a young boy and the mystery that shrouds the sadness, and the quest of an older sister to bring the killer to justice.
I was delighted to get the chance to read this story and cannot wait to experience her other works. This novel is definitely not a “mistake”, and I highly recommend it to everyone who needs a great, chilling, psychological thriller with a flair of mystery.

[Jill McGill · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Malia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
The Mistake was my second book by K.L.Slater and though I did not like it as much as The Liar, it was still a well written, entertaining mystery. I did guess who the culprit was before the ending, which took a little of the suspense out of the story for me, but overall, it was a solid book and I will continue to read his author's work.

Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read the 3 previous novel by KL Slater and find her novels very enjoyable and of a consistently high standard. This is a fast paced psychological thriller that gets the reader hooked and wanting to learn more. I was certainly hooked and just had to learn the truth causing me to stay up into the early hours to finish it.
Sixteen years ago, Rose made a mistake when she fell in love with a man who was bad news. Things started to happen to her friends and family and when her 8-year-old brother went missing, he was found smothered to death. Rose had always felt guilty about his death and years later she is still coming to terms with the past when she discovers new evidence that may reopen the case. Doubt over her boyfriends conviction is uncovered leaving Rose unsure of the truth.

I really enjoyed this novel, it is always a privilege to read this authors work.

I would like to thank Bookouture and Net Galley for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sixteen years ago Rose's little brother was killed, after that her life changed forever. Now she's a librarian who spends her days looking over her shoulder. She doesn't have much of a life. She's either at the library, her home--a place that keeps herself prisoner, or looking after her elderly neighbor. When her neighbor has to be hospitalized for a few days, she decides to clean his place up. While doing so she comes across something that will put her life into a spin. She starts looking at things a little differently.

The story is told in past and present. The past that happened 16 years ago. A lot happened back then that stayed with her for all these years. I liked getting a glimpse into what happened with Rose and her brother. None of it good. The book was well-written and the whole time I was curious to know all that had happened. I didn't feel that sense of suspense I normally would get while reading a mystery but it was still a good story. I enjoyed how it was told and I find that I would definitely read more by this author.

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[BIBLIOMANIAC MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

*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 the 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 and 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 tragedies befalling her loved ones. 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.

[NILTON TEIXEIRA · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 rounded up to 4 stars.

Well, finally, one that did not disappoint me.
Although the writing here was a bit repetitive I liked the development of the storyline, and although the conclusion wasn’t shocking, I thought that it was brilliant.
This is another fast read (about 86k words, if that many), but it was not as gripping as her previous books.
The timeline structure is almost the same. The mental health issues are present.
Same pathetic male character and naive women.
But a different storyline that again held my curiosity.
This one is by far my favourite book by this author, but it’s not a mind blowing read.

Trigger warnings: bulimia, rape (but no graphic details)

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another fabulous title to add to my Bookouture beauties! I have recently come to associate Bookouture with a love of books and probably the most consistent crime thriller collection out there today. That is why each time I get to read an ARC of one of their killer thrillers, I just can't say no! Clear the calendar.... Here comes K.L. Slater's new title, THE MISTAKE!

K.L. slater is becoming one of my favourite authors. I have read LIAR and THE MISTAKE is my second novel by her. Both of these are exemplary mystery/thriller books. The pacing was fast and the twists and turns kept me guessing right the way through.

SYNOPSIS - You think you know the truth about the people you love.

But one discovery can change everything…

Eight-year-old Billy goes missing one day, out flying his kite with his sister Rose. Two days later, he is found dead.

Sixteen years on, Rose still blames herself for Billy’s death. How could she have failed to protect her little brother?

Rose has never fully recovered from the trauma, and one of the few people she trusts is her neighbour Ronnie, who she has known all her life. But one day Ronnie falls ill, and Rose goes next door to help him… and what she finds in his attic room turns her world upside down.

Rose thought she knew the truth about what happened to Billy. She thought she knew her neighbour. Now the only thing she knows is that she is in danger...

The characters are very believable which is what makes the story so terrifying, Slater seems to achieve this in all of her books. The chapters are alternating - going back and forth between the past and present, revealing to the reader the background that Rose comes from. Some of the issues the book addresses are hard to read at times but are well handled. Also, the relatively short length of the chapters mean it is very easy to go through page after page without even realising it! Next time you look you've been up half the night and you're nearly finished.

A tense mystery thriller that had me completely engrossed. An unputdownable and compulsive read and a must for crime fans. K.L. Slater sure knows what she's doing when writing a psychological thriller. I'm sure whatever she comes up with next will be just as good and I will definitely be grabbing a copy.

Highly recommended.

I would like to thank Bookouture/K.L. Slater and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

------------------------------------------------

I would also like to mention the publisher and just how special they are! I wouldn't normally write about a publisher during a book review but this is how I feel and wanted to express it. I discovered Bookouture while scouring the NetGalley recently added titles and I noticed right away after reading the synopsis for a handful of their books that every synopsis I had read, for what had been classed as mystery/thriller/crime title, sounded so damn exciting that I wanted to request and read them all. I knew from then that they were going to be a massive part of my NetGalley journey as quite frankly they just have so many fantastic books. I ended up limiting myself a little and THE MISTAKE was just one of my picks.

I have read that Bookouture only choose a small selection of great books for a reason - so they can focus all their attention on helping those select few succeed. This doesn't just help the writer but also helps a reader like me as I know that their mystery/thrillers are something I can rely on to be right up street! So, as you can see, I have quite the thing for Bookouture! I can see that this will be a publisher I will be reading (hopefully) and reviewing a lot through NetGalley. Seriously, if you are a fan of mystery/thriller novels you NEED Bookouture in your life!

Merged review:

Yet another fabulous title to add to my Bookouture beauties! I have recently come to associate Bookouture with a love of books and probably the most consistent crime thriller collection out there today. That is why each time I get to read an ARC copy of one of their killer thrillers, I just can't say no! Clear the calendar.... Here comes K.L. Slater's new title, THE MISTAKE!

K.L. slater is becoming one of my favourite authors. I have read LIAR and THE MISTAKE is my second novel by her. Both of these are exemplary mystery/thriller books. The pacing was fast and the twists and turns kept me guessing right the way through.

SYNOPSIS - You think you know the truth about the people you love.

But one discovery can change everything…

Eight-year-old Billy goes missing one day, out flying his kite with his sister Rose. Two days later, he is found dead.

Sixteen years on, Rose still blames herself for Billy’s death. How could she have failed to protect her little brother?

Rose has never fully recovered from the trauma, and one of the few people she trusts is her neighbour Ronnie, who she has known all her life. But one day Ronnie falls ill, and Rose goes next door to help him… and what she finds in his attic room turns her world upside down.

Rose thought she knew the truth about what happened to Billy. She thought she knew her neighbour. Now the only thing she knows is that she is in danger...

The characters are very believable which is what makes the story so terrifying, Slater seems to achieve this in all of her books. The chapters are alternating - going back and forth between the past and present, revealing to the reader the background that Rose comes from. Some of the issues the book addresses are hard to read at times but are well handled. Also, the relatively short length of the chapters mean it is very easy to go through page after page without even realising it! Next time you look you've been up half the night and you're nearly finished.

A tense mystery thriller that had me completely engrossed. An unputdownable and compulsive read and a must for crime fans. K.L. Slater sure knows what she's doing when writing a psychological thriller. I'm sure whatever she comes up with next will be just as good and I will definitely be grabbing a copy.

Highly recommended.

I would like to thank Bookouture/K.L. Slater and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date is October 4, 2017.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sixteen years ago, Rose’s eight-year-old brother Billy went missing. His body was found two days later. After all this time, Rose still blames herself for his death and her failure to protect him. Someone was ultimately convicted of Billy’s murder but was it the right person? Rose thought she knew the truth but when she finds something in her neighbour’s house, doubts creep in and her world is turned upside down once again.

As always, there’s something quite delightful about never knowing who to believe or trust. I had an inkling about what had happened to Billy sixteen years ago but when things were finally revealed, they still felt like a royal punch to the stomach.

I felt for Rose immensely. One mistake at a young age had such devastating consequences. She desperately tries to cope and deal with loss, grief and guilt in any way she can in a world that has made her so unbelievably scared. And yet, she somehow digs deep and finds the determination to finally know the truth about her brother’s death. Even if it means facing her worst nightmare.

Chapters switch between the present and the past, giving the reader an excellent and quite heartbreaking background story on why Rose is who she is as the author explores the effects of a controlling relationship. I found those particular chapters quite hard to read at times, especially as we were dealing with a rather naive and innocent eighteen year old who didn’t know any better.

While I felt The Mistake started off a tad slowly at first, the relatively short chapters made me flip the pages so quickly, I soon found myself utterly engrossed and the level of suspense made it unable for me to put this book down. Just like in her previous books, the author sure knows how to hook a reader from the very first page and keep them gripped as the tension and the pace builds up.

K.L. Slater has been on my list of must-read authors since Safe With Me and firmly remains there as she once again delivers an excellent psychological thriller with complicated characters and a compelling plot. I look forward to whatever she comes up with next.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I love about this authors books is that she draws you into the story within the first few pages and holds you there, right up until the very last page and word.

Rose is someone who has been dealt a bad hand in life. From events when she was younger surrounding the death of her brother Billy, she basically just exists from day to day. As a book lover, working in a library would be a wonderful job. For Rose it’s her only highlight of each day and she constantly finds things to do so that she runs well past home time before having to leave work for the day and return home. I thought it was very sad that someone would not be able to let go of the past and basically be a prisoner in their own home and head.

The story flicks between present day and back to Rose as a teenager building up to her brothers death. The book description didn’t prepare me for one of the horrible characters in this novel who I grew to loath the more I read of them. You just know when you meet them that all is not quite right. As a typical teenager though, Rose knows better and doesn’t listen to anyone or even the alarm bells in her own head.

There is quite a big age gap between Billy and Rose but I loved the brotherly and sisterly love between the both. Even though there isn’t many chapters with them both in together, the love that Rose feels for her brother, really does shine through and found myself quite a few times with a lump in my throat.

The Mistake is shrouded with suspense that took a direction that I did not see coming. Hooked from beginning to end, this is certainly a book that swallows you up and spits you out at the end when it’s done with you. Yet another great read from one of my must read authors.

My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[Judy Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Pub Day!

K. L. Slater returns following (2017) Liar, and Blink plus her debut (2016) Safe with Me with her fourth hit in a row THE MISTAKE — a twisty psychological thriller with a satisfying conclusion.

Fans of Kaira Rouda’s Best Day Ever, will enjoy The Mistake. (especially the ending). Gareth and Paul have a lot in common. Payback is a bitch.

Rose is a librarian who lives alone with a cat. Anxiety filled, with an eating disorder (when under stress), she pretty much stays to herself and never goes out at night. Books help her back to some sense of normal.

She used to read crime novels, but she has not touched a book like that in sixteen years. She had a therapist. She had experienced true terror. She now builds her life around food, drink, books, and TV.

"Reading about deceitful personalities, the hidden underbelly of society and unreliable characters who appear to be one thing but are soon found out to be something else entirely . . . all that stuff now fills me with a curdling discomfort that can last for days."

A trauma, from an event which occurred some sixteen years earlier. Her safe and ordinary life disappeared in the space of a heartbeat.

Guilt-ridden, she was with her younger eight-year-old brother, Billy. She should have been watching him closer the day they were flying his kite. However, something grabbed him in the woods and after missing for two days they found him dead. Strangled.

Her parents are now deceased, and she still lives next door to an elderly man, Ronnie. He was a nice man who everyone loves and helped search for her brother years ago. She tries to help him out with picking up food from the market and checking on him. She has a key for emergencies.

Ronnie has some sort of virus and has fallen. She finds in the bathroom and the medical team has arrived and as he is leaving, he tells her not to look in the attic.

Later, Rose decides she will do something to help the kind man which everyone loves in the small village. She decides to clean his house for him so it will be nice when he gets well and returns home.

However, she recalls his warning of the attic. She thinks possibly he is embarrassed because it is messy, so she decided to clean the upstairs as well.

Then she stumbles upon a blanket. The blanket was her brothers. The one he had the day of his death that no one has ever found. Rose is now beside herself. How could Ronnie, this nice man have her brother’s blanket? She desperately needs answers.

Has she been living next to her brother's killer all along?

We revisit the events leading up to Billy’s disappearance and death. Rose had a best friend Cassie. They did everything together. One day walking home with her art, this good-looking guy stops her. Gareth. Cassie encourages her.

Gareth was in his twenties and seemed worldly. He was responsible for the regeneration of the village with new plans. He seemed interested in her. Soon she becomes engrossed with this new guy. However, he soon turns into a controlling narcissist, but not before he charms Rose and pulls her in with manipulation.

Cassie warns her to stay away after she sees how controlling he is. Gareth says Cassie is jealous. He makes her choose. Soon he manipulates his way into their family with her dad, offering him a volunteer job and promises of a paid job.

However, he dislikes her little brother Billy and does not want her to have any friends. He tells her he loves her. Yet he tells her what to wear, how to act, and wants to control everything in her life.

Cassie later is raped and now is estranged from Rose. Rose tried to see her but her protective brother Jeb turned her away. Not until the abuse begins does she realize how deep she is in. She must break things off with this monster. However, it is not so simple. He will not let her go.

She has lost everyone she is close to. It is her fault for allowing this monster into their lives.

Moving back and forth from past to present in alternating chapters, readers are dying to know about what really happened to Billy. Gareth was in prison. However, was he the real killer? He was a bad person but is Ronnie the real killer? On her father’s deathbed, Rose promised her dad she would never see Gareth again. However, will she have to face down her worst nightmare in order to help Billy?

She is receiving threatening notes. Someone is watching her every move.

She has to find the courage and find out once and for all who killed him. In the process, she could be trying to help a monster go free. She is only safe with him behind a jail cell. She has to be smart to stay one step ahead of Gareth. She gets in touch with the detective, Mike North who was on the case.

What about Ronnie, her neighbor? She must solve this mystery to put this nightmare behind her once and for all. Was it Gareth, Ronnie, or someone else? Motive for harming an innocent child?

However, she has to keep Gareth in prison. He is evil, abusive, a psychopath, liar, and a rapist. A killer?

An unputdownable thriller, and as always Kim keeps you glued to the pages. If you have read her other books, you know she is the queen of killer twists. The Mistake is another one which keeps you on the edge-of-your-seat. A Sleeping with the Enemy with a twist.

I especially enjoyed seeing Rose stand up to Gareth, after the abusive relationship and everything he put her through. This one will leave you smiling.

A cautionary tale of coercive, manipulative, abusive, and controlling relationships and the lost-lasting effect such a negative experience can have on a person. The author also addresses help for anyone who thinks they may find themselves in this type of relationship full of criticisms.

A special thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy.

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