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The Mistake
In this family, everyone is telling lies.
Pete never wanted another child. Before baby Erin was born, they were happy. If Natalie hadn’t got pregnant, he would never have done what he did.
Natalie knows things have been difficult since the surprise arrival of Erin. Life with Pete and their two other children – Emily and Zadie – has been balancing on a knife-edge.
Now their home is full of guests at a party Natalie didn’t want to throw – and she’s about to reach breaking point.
But so is her family.
Because everyone has a secret that they’ve been hiding and when Erin suddenly disappears everyone becomes a suspect.
Surely no one here would want to harm their baby? But after the events of the party there are plenty of people who would want to hurt Natalie.
Including her husband…
Pete never wanted another child. Before baby Erin was born, they were happy. If Natalie hadn’t got pregnant, he would never have done what he did.
Natalie knows things have been difficult since the surprise arrival of Erin. Life with Pete and their two other children – Emily and Zadie – has been balancing on a knife-edge.
Now their home is full of guests at a party Natalie didn’t want to throw – and she’s about to reach breaking point.
But so is her family.
Because everyone has a secret that they’ve been hiding and when Erin suddenly disappears everyone becomes a suspect.
Surely no one here would want to harm their baby? But after the events of the party there are plenty of people who would want to hurt Natalie.
Including her husband…
297 pages, Paperback
First published January 23, 2025
226 people are currently reading
676 people want to read
About the author
M.J. Arlidge
37 books4,241 followersM.J. Arlidge has worked in television for the last 15 years, specialising in high end drama production. Arlidge has produced a number of prime-time crime serials for ITV In the last five years, and is currently working on a major adaptation of The Last of the Mohicans for the BBC.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
June 8, 2025
Massive fan of Lisa Hall’s books but have not read any by M.J. Aldridge so it was with anticipation I started ‘The Mistake’, got to be honest I couldn’t tell when one author started and the other stopped ( am presuming its chapters ) and the combo writing for me was seamless
The book is basically about a family ( Natalie and Pete and their 3 daughters ) whose lives,through a few life events starts to get chaotic, there is some major life events and some smaller events and these all come to a head at a party given for one of the daughters, Emily’s 18th, where all the chaos, anger, suspicion and hurt ends up with Erin, the baby daughter, going missing
It is a fast paced book with a lot of characters questioning their choices and characters seeing the others actions from their point of view, it gave a good insight into their minds and feelings however did not make finding the culprit easy for the reader ( I guessed just before the reveal )
It was a pacy, exciting and family led drama with the added bonus of a mention of Jill Halfpenny 😊 ( always a good thing )
This writing duo worked really well and was pretty perfect in its delivery
The book is basically about a family ( Natalie and Pete and their 3 daughters ) whose lives,through a few life events starts to get chaotic, there is some major life events and some smaller events and these all come to a head at a party given for one of the daughters, Emily’s 18th, where all the chaos, anger, suspicion and hurt ends up with Erin, the baby daughter, going missing
It is a fast paced book with a lot of characters questioning their choices and characters seeing the others actions from their point of view, it gave a good insight into their minds and feelings however did not make finding the culprit easy for the reader ( I guessed just before the reveal )
It was a pacy, exciting and family led drama with the added bonus of a mention of Jill Halfpenny 😊 ( always a good thing )
This writing duo worked really well and was pretty perfect in its delivery
July 3, 2025
A very tense and emotionally charged thriller with a tricky sensitive topic of an unwanted pregnancy and the subsequent disappearance of baby Erin.
The manner in which both authors managed to capture both parents moods and innerworkings made for a chilling read and could be a little intense for some readers.
The narrative switches between both Pete who spends far to much time at work and not overly keen on the news of a new arrival and Natalie who is clearly struggling with post natal depression and lack of sleep.
Both have reasons to be resentful of the baby, though I constantly thought throughout on how could anyone harm a baby?!?
The tension builds as everything comes to a head on the evening of the couples oldest daughter 18th birthday party.
I was completely hooked - thanks mainly to the constant hope that little baby Erin will be fine.
The manner in which both authors managed to capture both parents moods and innerworkings made for a chilling read and could be a little intense for some readers.
The narrative switches between both Pete who spends far to much time at work and not overly keen on the news of a new arrival and Natalie who is clearly struggling with post natal depression and lack of sleep.
Both have reasons to be resentful of the baby, though I constantly thought throughout on how could anyone harm a baby?!?
The tension builds as everything comes to a head on the evening of the couples oldest daughter 18th birthday party.
I was completely hooked - thanks mainly to the constant hope that little baby Erin will be fine.
May 27, 2025
When Natalie unexpectedly becomes pregnant at almost forty, it isn’t exactly welcome news. Her eldest daughter, Emily, is about to leave for university, while her youngest, Zadie, is now eight. Life is comfortable and she and her husband Pete are full of dreams for their future when the nest is empty. Another child now would disrupt all their lives. Ultimately, Natalie decides to go ahead with the pregnancy. Erin arrives after a traumatic birth and is a difficult baby who screams incessantly and doesn’t sleep. Natalie is in a downward spiral and her days are spent trying to survive. Pete is never home and the older children are also struggling. This is a family at breaking point. It all comes to a head the night of Emily’s 18th birthday party, when all the secrets, lies and resentments finally boil over and little Erin disappears. But which of their closest family and friends took their daughter? And why?
M. J. Arlidge has long been one of my favourite thriller authors and I’ve been loving his Crime Writers Room collaborations, so I was excited to read this collaboration with Lisa Hall. As I hoped, it was another cracking thriller that I devoured in just a few hours. Expertly written and deftly choreographed, Arlidge and Hall have crafted a thriller that keeps you guessing from the first page to the last. The heart-stopping prologue reeled me in and I remained glued to the pages as the story switched to a slower burn as we went back to the time where Natalie first found out she was pregnant. I was on the edge of my seat as tension escalated and suspicion swirled with multiple suspects in the frame when Erin went missing. I had my theories about who it was, but that did change a few times as Arlidge and Hall skillfully kept their identity hidden and created believable red herrings.
The story is told from Natalie and Pete’s perspective, offering us an insight into their mindset and motivations, allowing us to understand their actions. While they were relatable characters, they weren’t always likeable and I often just wanted to shake them. I did have a lot of sympathy for Natalie, who showed signs of postnatal depression, but I’d want to hug her one minute and be frustrated with her the next. I wanted to tell her to reach out for help and just talk to her husband. Meanwhile, Pete was useless both practically and emotionally, but reading his perspective made me confront the shades of grey that led to his withdrawal from his family and other bad decisions. I still wanted to yell at him to help his wife though. And at both of them for refusing to see how their other children were struggling.
The other characters are brilliantly written but Eve, Natalie’s best friend, is most memorable. Unnerving and manipulative, she gave me the ick from the start, and I didn’t like how she behaved around Natalie’s youngest kids. It was obvious that Natalie relied on her, but this girl was toxic and I was yelling at the pages for Natalie to cut her out of her life and talk to Pete instead.
Suspenseful, dark, emotionally and totally addictive, The Mistake is a must-read for all thriller lovers.
M. J. Arlidge has long been one of my favourite thriller authors and I’ve been loving his Crime Writers Room collaborations, so I was excited to read this collaboration with Lisa Hall. As I hoped, it was another cracking thriller that I devoured in just a few hours. Expertly written and deftly choreographed, Arlidge and Hall have crafted a thriller that keeps you guessing from the first page to the last. The heart-stopping prologue reeled me in and I remained glued to the pages as the story switched to a slower burn as we went back to the time where Natalie first found out she was pregnant. I was on the edge of my seat as tension escalated and suspicion swirled with multiple suspects in the frame when Erin went missing. I had my theories about who it was, but that did change a few times as Arlidge and Hall skillfully kept their identity hidden and created believable red herrings.
The story is told from Natalie and Pete’s perspective, offering us an insight into their mindset and motivations, allowing us to understand their actions. While they were relatable characters, they weren’t always likeable and I often just wanted to shake them. I did have a lot of sympathy for Natalie, who showed signs of postnatal depression, but I’d want to hug her one minute and be frustrated with her the next. I wanted to tell her to reach out for help and just talk to her husband. Meanwhile, Pete was useless both practically and emotionally, but reading his perspective made me confront the shades of grey that led to his withdrawal from his family and other bad decisions. I still wanted to yell at him to help his wife though. And at both of them for refusing to see how their other children were struggling.
The other characters are brilliantly written but Eve, Natalie’s best friend, is most memorable. Unnerving and manipulative, she gave me the ick from the start, and I didn’t like how she behaved around Natalie’s youngest kids. It was obvious that Natalie relied on her, but this girl was toxic and I was yelling at the pages for Natalie to cut her out of her life and talk to Pete instead.
Suspenseful, dark, emotionally and totally addictive, The Mistake is a must-read for all thriller lovers.
May 27, 2025
Two phenomenal writers collaborate on this standalone thriller - part crime & part psychological. I don’t know their writing process, but you definitely can’t see the join in this tension building tale. Opening with a powerful scene which will pull on all parent’s heartstrings, I had to put my big girl pants on to continue. It was worth it believe me.
Natalie & Pete are happily married with two daughters; one getting ready to go to university (Emily) & the other nearing the end of primary school (Zadie). Imagine then, when along comes the unexpected bundle, Erin. A new baby can put stress on the strongest foundations & it is no different here. Natalie really struggles & leans on her close friend, Eve, more & more. In fact, Eve appears to be becoming the mum or is that Natalie’s imagination & Pete is working all hours to keep the family going, or is he? Add in Emily’s dubious older boyfriend & an old flame of Pete’s & the scene is set. Oh, I forgot to mention, a disastrous party celebrating Emily’s birthday & A level results where baby Erin disappears…
The opening pulls you in instantly & I wanted to know how we had got there. Told through chronological chapters from different POVs, we soon find out in glorious dysfunctional technicolor. Circumstance can be a cruel mistress & she certainly comes to the fore in this fast paced book. My only niggle is the very end, hence dropping one star, but I know many readers will accept it for what it is. I’ll say no more, because spoilers, but I do recommend that you read it for yourself.
Natalie & Pete are happily married with two daughters; one getting ready to go to university (Emily) & the other nearing the end of primary school (Zadie). Imagine then, when along comes the unexpected bundle, Erin. A new baby can put stress on the strongest foundations & it is no different here. Natalie really struggles & leans on her close friend, Eve, more & more. In fact, Eve appears to be becoming the mum or is that Natalie’s imagination & Pete is working all hours to keep the family going, or is he? Add in Emily’s dubious older boyfriend & an old flame of Pete’s & the scene is set. Oh, I forgot to mention, a disastrous party celebrating Emily’s birthday & A level results where baby Erin disappears…
The opening pulls you in instantly & I wanted to know how we had got there. Told through chronological chapters from different POVs, we soon find out in glorious dysfunctional technicolor. Circumstance can be a cruel mistress & she certainly comes to the fore in this fast paced book. My only niggle is the very end, hence dropping one star, but I know many readers will accept it for what it is. I’ll say no more, because spoilers, but I do recommend that you read it for yourself.
July 25, 2025
SPOILERS
What a boring read. None of the character were likable and MCs were the worst. ML in particular with his cheating was pathetic. He only felt bad and thought about his wife & kids after he was caught and even though he said he didn't want anything more to do with OW, especially after she outed him to his wife and destroyed his marriage, he body still reacts to her. So am I suppose to believe he won't do it again after that scene?
And the whole baby thing. It turned my stomach each time MCs talked about abortion and how unwanted the poor baby was! Every life is precious and when it's your flesh & blood, you are suppose to love it beyond life itself, but not for these 2 selfish characters!
And the whole disappearance of the kid later on, I'm suppose to believe that MMC had a change of heart when he spent the entire story not wanting her and not even doing the basics for his kid? What did the poor baby to him?
Anyway, this book left me bored to death and at the end, all it says is that he cheated on OW with his wife, then he cheats on his Wife with OW so what's it to stop him from cheating again in future? Once a cheater, always a cheater.
What a boring read. None of the character were likable and MCs were the worst. ML in particular with his cheating was pathetic. He only felt bad and thought about his wife & kids after he was caught and even though he said he didn't want anything more to do with OW, especially after she outed him to his wife and destroyed his marriage, he body still reacts to her. So am I suppose to believe he won't do it again after that scene?
And the whole baby thing. It turned my stomach each time MCs talked about abortion and how unwanted the poor baby was! Every life is precious and when it's your flesh & blood, you are suppose to love it beyond life itself, but not for these 2 selfish characters!
And the whole disappearance of the kid later on, I'm suppose to believe that MMC had a change of heart when he spent the entire story not wanting her and not even doing the basics for his kid? What did the poor baby to him?
Anyway, this book left me bored to death and at the end, all it says is that he cheated on OW with his wife, then he cheats on his Wife with OW so what's it to stop him from cheating again in future? Once a cheater, always a cheater.
July 27, 2025
What a fantastic collaboration of writers!
This started slower than I expected, being use to Arlidge's fast paced novels. However this was equally as gripping and by the third part of the book I was unable to take my eyes from the pages!
This started slower than I expected, being use to Arlidge's fast paced novels. However this was equally as gripping and by the third part of the book I was unable to take my eyes from the pages!
October 20, 2025
Nothing motivates you more to finish a book than a trip to waterstones🤭
This book was mediocre at best, pretty average thriller if you ask me🫣
This book was mediocre at best, pretty average thriller if you ask me🫣
August 1, 2025
The end is an eqsy way out but I love the deepest topid behind the story. This could happen to anyone.
Also this book is the reason why grown men who don’t want children anymore should get a vasectomy! Really good book i loved it.
Also this book is the reason why grown men who don’t want children anymore should get a vasectomy! Really good book i loved it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ I think I’ve read too many thrillers and had guessed the culprit as soon as the incident occurred. An enjoyable read though and hooked me at the end.
June 13, 2025
Loved the Helen Grace series and Between You and Me by Lisa Hall.
This one didn't quite do it.
Figured the plot within the first few chapters.
This one didn't quite do it.
Figured the plot within the first few chapters.
June 10, 2025
I found this book to be deeply frustrating and ultimately disappointing. Nearly every character was insufferable, making it difficult to stay engaged or feel any emotional connection to their struggles. Pete, in particular, was a truly terrible husband and father—detached, selfish, and completely oblivious to the emotional needs of his family. His inability to take responsibility or even show basic empathy was maddening.
Natalie, while more sympathetic, came across as overly passive and constantly whiny. If her situation was as dire as she made it out to be, why lie to the doctor about what was really going on at home? Her lack of agency and refusal to acknowledge the serious problems unfolding around her was both baffling and infuriating. She and Pete seemed entirely blind to the fact that their other children were clearly struggling, and their constant state of denial only made things worse. It was obvious early on that the youngest child had serious issues, yet they seemed determined to ignore every red flag.
Ironically, the one character I actually didn’t mind was Eve. She was portrayed as some kind of creepy, obsessive figure, but in reality, she was the only one consistently trying to help. It made little sense that Natalie kept reaching out to Eve for support, only to later treat her like the villain. Yes, I didn’t love that Eve made Natalie feel guilty about considering an abortion—that crossed a line—but in the grand scheme of things, Eve was far more proactive and emotionally intelligent than the rest of the cast.
Overall, I found the story emotionally manipulative and the character dynamics exhausting. It was hard to root for anyone when the narrative kept undermining their credibility and decisions. This book had potential, but the execution left a lot to be desired.
Natalie, while more sympathetic, came across as overly passive and constantly whiny. If her situation was as dire as she made it out to be, why lie to the doctor about what was really going on at home? Her lack of agency and refusal to acknowledge the serious problems unfolding around her was both baffling and infuriating. She and Pete seemed entirely blind to the fact that their other children were clearly struggling, and their constant state of denial only made things worse. It was obvious early on that the youngest child had serious issues, yet they seemed determined to ignore every red flag.
Ironically, the one character I actually didn’t mind was Eve. She was portrayed as some kind of creepy, obsessive figure, but in reality, she was the only one consistently trying to help. It made little sense that Natalie kept reaching out to Eve for support, only to later treat her like the villain. Yes, I didn’t love that Eve made Natalie feel guilty about considering an abortion—that crossed a line—but in the grand scheme of things, Eve was far more proactive and emotionally intelligent than the rest of the cast.
Overall, I found the story emotionally manipulative and the character dynamics exhausting. It was hard to root for anyone when the narrative kept undermining their credibility and decisions. This book had potential, but the execution left a lot to be desired.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2025
the Mistake
Unfortunately it was a big Mistake to buy this book; it went on and on …and on. At 67% I gave up.
Predictable story about a disfunctional family but they all live happily ever after.
Unfortunately it was a big Mistake to buy this book; it went on and on …and on. At 67% I gave up.
Predictable story about a disfunctional family but they all live happily ever after.
November 2, 2025
Total crapfest.
1) No blurb should give away a plot point (a super integral plot point!) which happens like 60% into the book. Why would you do that?
2) 'The baby was supposed to save us'!? Completely false and misleading! Like the whole point was that the baby was expected to destroy them and then yeah, whatever happened, happened.
3) Natalie was not a girl's girl.
4) Peter was so ugh. Disgusting, pathetic, spineless. Like the WORST of all men! The way he's an actual POS and keeps trying to turn Natalie against her ONLY friend?
So not only is he adamant on his dream being theirs, completely unsupportive of the pregnancy, sleeps through the night while wife wakes up for multiple feedings, wants to go pubbing to relax bcoz things aren't fun anymore, does nothing around the house to help out and then wonders why his wife is in such a foul mood, goes and has an affair while she is dealing with 3 kids all on her own, is tired of house looking like a pigsty and no dinner but again, does nothing, thinks the best apology is to insist on a party without even caring or consulting with his wife who has to manage everything and just gets more frazzled?
On top of that, he hates Eve and how she 'interferes' in their lives by helping out?
And he is supposed to be a good guy?
How many more red flags are possible!?
5) How can you berate your best friend for helping you? It was so horrible to read that!
First off, YOU keep asking her to help you and then you feel jealous when she does? Secondly, ask your husband to step in, crazy woman! Thirdly, why was having a best friend demonised? Since when is it the rule that family is everything and friends are just busybodies who interfere in your life and should be kept at an arm's distance? What a misogynistic toxic take honestly!
6) So Natalie can forgive Pete for all that, but what Eve does is unforgivable?
Give me a break!
The bar was in hell and Pete still couldn't cross it but oh wow, look they are a lovey dovey family again. Hubby just made a mistake. He can't even clean sand off babys hands, isn't that just adorable? What a cutesy perfect husband, moving us to Australia so he can fob off yet more of his parenting responsibility onto the grandparents and frolic in the meadows bcoz his cow of a wife will cut off any friend she has and defend him bcoz he is a good husband.
It was such a horrible book.
Pete gets away with all of that bcoz he is family
And lovely thoughtful kind Eve.
Who canceled appointments to look after Nat and her kids, who was observant enough to notice that all wasn't right with Nat and she should go see a GP, who stepped in time and again whenever Nat called.
Supportive, angelic and having her best interests at heart... SHE is supposed to be the bad guy somehow?
Like her actions are somehow meant to be obsessive and unnatural whereas that lying cheating scumbag is normalised?
Terrible, just terrible.
1) No blurb should give away a plot point (a super integral plot point!) which happens like 60% into the book. Why would you do that?
2) 'The baby was supposed to save us'!? Completely false and misleading! Like the whole point was that the baby was expected to destroy them and then yeah, whatever happened, happened.
3) Natalie was not a girl's girl.
4) Peter was so ugh. Disgusting, pathetic, spineless. Like the WORST of all men! The way he's an actual POS and keeps trying to turn Natalie against her ONLY friend?
So not only is he adamant on his dream being theirs, completely unsupportive of the pregnancy, sleeps through the night while wife wakes up for multiple feedings, wants to go pubbing to relax bcoz things aren't fun anymore, does nothing around the house to help out and then wonders why his wife is in such a foul mood, goes and has an affair while she is dealing with 3 kids all on her own, is tired of house looking like a pigsty and no dinner but again, does nothing, thinks the best apology is to insist on a party without even caring or consulting with his wife who has to manage everything and just gets more frazzled?
On top of that, he hates Eve and how she 'interferes' in their lives by helping out?
And he is supposed to be a good guy?
How many more red flags are possible!?
5) How can you berate your best friend for helping you? It was so horrible to read that!
First off, YOU keep asking her to help you and then you feel jealous when she does? Secondly, ask your husband to step in, crazy woman! Thirdly, why was having a best friend demonised? Since when is it the rule that family is everything and friends are just busybodies who interfere in your life and should be kept at an arm's distance? What a misogynistic toxic take honestly!
6) So Natalie can forgive Pete for all that, but what Eve does is unforgivable?
Give me a break!
The bar was in hell and Pete still couldn't cross it but oh wow, look they are a lovey dovey family again. Hubby just made a mistake. He can't even clean sand off babys hands, isn't that just adorable? What a cutesy perfect husband, moving us to Australia so he can fob off yet more of his parenting responsibility onto the grandparents and frolic in the meadows bcoz his cow of a wife will cut off any friend she has and defend him bcoz he is a good husband.
It was such a horrible book.
Pete gets away with all of that bcoz he is family
And lovely thoughtful kind Eve.
Who canceled appointments to look after Nat and her kids, who was observant enough to notice that all wasn't right with Nat and she should go see a GP, who stepped in time and again whenever Nat called.
Supportive, angelic and having her best interests at heart... SHE is supposed to be the bad guy somehow?
Like her actions are somehow meant to be obsessive and unnatural whereas that lying cheating scumbag is normalised?
Terrible, just terrible.
June 3, 2025
The Mistake by M.J. Arlidge and Lisa Hall starts with tension right from the very first page and it never lets up. We meet Peter and Natalie who have found out that they are about to become parents again, eighteen years after they had their first daughter, Zadie. But it isn’t quite an exciting time for them. Peter isn’t enthusiastic about the prospect of having another baby, particularly as they both feel settled in their lives right now. It also leaves him feeling dispirited when their plans have to change. What follows is a really gripping read and the emotions of both characters pour out on the page as they adjust to this new situation they find themselves in. But they both soon begin to feel that having their new baby was a big mistake that could destroy their marriage and their family.
I loved how M.J. Arlidge and Lisa Hall told the book both from Peter and Natalie’s perspectives. We really get to see what is going on in their heads and we can understand why they are both reacting the way they are. It provides a deep psychological insight which makes this book all the more gripping and fascinating. Things really do heat up when their new daughter arrives, particularly as she proves to be quite a difficult baby, which takes it’s toll on both Peter and Natalie.
I really wanted to know how things were going to pan out for both Peter and Natalie and if their marriage was going to survive. It’s what really kept me hooked as I was reading, and the tension and pace really picks up in the third act of the book when the stakes really do rise. I must admit I really didn’t like Peter in the first half of this book and his actions did make me feel sorry for Natalie, particularly with the way how he reacted when she told him about the pregnancy. I could feel how difficult Natalie was finding being a mother again to a young baby, and this did make me feel for her and connect to her character.
The Mistake is a tense, emotive read and M.J. Arlidge and Lisa Hall did a brilliant job of drawing me into the lives of their characters. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
I loved how M.J. Arlidge and Lisa Hall told the book both from Peter and Natalie’s perspectives. We really get to see what is going on in their heads and we can understand why they are both reacting the way they are. It provides a deep psychological insight which makes this book all the more gripping and fascinating. Things really do heat up when their new daughter arrives, particularly as she proves to be quite a difficult baby, which takes it’s toll on both Peter and Natalie.
I really wanted to know how things were going to pan out for both Peter and Natalie and if their marriage was going to survive. It’s what really kept me hooked as I was reading, and the tension and pace really picks up in the third act of the book when the stakes really do rise. I must admit I really didn’t like Peter in the first half of this book and his actions did make me feel sorry for Natalie, particularly with the way how he reacted when she told him about the pregnancy. I could feel how difficult Natalie was finding being a mother again to a young baby, and this did make me feel for her and connect to her character.
The Mistake is a tense, emotive read and M.J. Arlidge and Lisa Hall did a brilliant job of drawing me into the lives of their characters. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
May 26, 2025
I really enjoyed this and read it over two days. But there are a few things that wound me up about Natalie. This is her third child, so I get it – the other two were easy and Erin cries all the time. Natalie even imagines her baby hates her.
It’s obvious Natalie is suffering from post-natal depression. But when she goes to the doctor, she makes light of her desperation. Lay it on thick Nat. Get some help. Forget Valium (no-one takes that nowadays and ask for a modern anti-depressant together with some form of talking therapy). Take the baby in with you and get her checked over just in case she is suffering from colic, or is lactose intolerant or something else. Your husband can afford tickets to Australia and a diamond ring – spend it on a domestic cleaner and/or even a part-time nanny. I’m fuming!!
I was so involved in their lives (not in a creepy way like Natalie’s friend Eve), that I just had to keep reading. I did actually guess who took Erin and I almost snuck a quick peep at the ending to see if I was correct, but I resisted the temptation. Because everyone’s a suspect.
Pete is a bit of a prat, though nowhere near as bad as Eve makes him out to be, but Natalie doesn’t really help herself. Not that I’m blaming her, but she’s gradually sinking into a ‘slough of despond’, but instead of seeking help, she’s in denial. Not that I’m one to talk – denial is often the easy way out of facing the truth – but when your other children are suffering, you have to seek help. Teenager Emily feels that she is being put upon too much, being asked to help with the baby, while 8-year-old Zadie is wetting the bed and being disruptive at school.
Soon the whole family is falling apart and Pete is even more in denial than Natalie. You just want to knock their heads together and shout at them. Pete has his own answer to their problems – it’s based on rank stupidity – and things go from bad to worse.
Poor Erin. When she grows up, if she ever finds out what happened, or that she was initially unwanted, she’ll need therapy for many years.
Many thanks to #CompulsiveReaders for inviting me to be part of the #blogtour and to NetGalley for an ARC.
It’s obvious Natalie is suffering from post-natal depression. But when she goes to the doctor, she makes light of her desperation. Lay it on thick Nat. Get some help. Forget Valium (no-one takes that nowadays and ask for a modern anti-depressant together with some form of talking therapy). Take the baby in with you and get her checked over just in case she is suffering from colic, or is lactose intolerant or something else. Your husband can afford tickets to Australia and a diamond ring – spend it on a domestic cleaner and/or even a part-time nanny. I’m fuming!!
I was so involved in their lives (not in a creepy way like Natalie’s friend Eve), that I just had to keep reading. I did actually guess who took Erin and I almost snuck a quick peep at the ending to see if I was correct, but I resisted the temptation. Because everyone’s a suspect.
Pete is a bit of a prat, though nowhere near as bad as Eve makes him out to be, but Natalie doesn’t really help herself. Not that I’m blaming her, but she’s gradually sinking into a ‘slough of despond’, but instead of seeking help, she’s in denial. Not that I’m one to talk – denial is often the easy way out of facing the truth – but when your other children are suffering, you have to seek help. Teenager Emily feels that she is being put upon too much, being asked to help with the baby, while 8-year-old Zadie is wetting the bed and being disruptive at school.
Soon the whole family is falling apart and Pete is even more in denial than Natalie. You just want to knock their heads together and shout at them. Pete has his own answer to their problems – it’s based on rank stupidity – and things go from bad to worse.
Poor Erin. When she grows up, if she ever finds out what happened, or that she was initially unwanted, she’ll need therapy for many years.
Many thanks to #CompulsiveReaders for inviting me to be part of the #blogtour and to NetGalley for an ARC.
June 1, 2025
Natalie and Pete Maxwell have been together since their uni days, now twenty years later they are happily married with two daughters, seventeen year old Emily and eight year old Zadie when Natalie discovers she is pregnant. They struggle to come to terms with the idea of being parents again at this stage in their lives, especially when Pete had major plans in place for their future, but Natalie is determined she's keeping the baby and she goes on to give birth to another daughter, Erin. This time round it's harder, Erin isn't an easy baby, she rarely sleeps, Natalie is exhausted and Pete, well he's never there. When it's decided to throw an eighteenth birthday party for Emily at the house, Natalie is immediately regretting agreeing to it, especially when, at the end of the night, they discover Erin is missing and a search party gathers to look for her, she's found sometime after and rushed to ICU, but who would want to harm an innocent child? DI Travis sets out to discover the truth while both Pete and Natalie have their suspicions, but they are both shocked when the perpetrator is revealed.
The Mistake is the latest collaboration by M J Arlidge and this time with author Lisa Hall. This domestic thriller starts off as a slow burn while it introduces all the characters but soon ramps up the pace and I struggled to put it down, devouring it in less than 24 hours. As with his previous collaborations, you wouldn't know this was written by two authors as the story flows so seamlessly and the plot is excellently portrayed. There are some great characters in this tale and some rather dubious ones who, when Erin went missing, I had my suspicions about but then I had a lightbulb moment and realised who was really responsible, though this didn't spoil the rest of the story for me. This is a compelling read full of intrigue, secrets and lies by two fabulous authors that certainly kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
I'd like to thank Orion Publishing Group and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.
The Mistake is the latest collaboration by M J Arlidge and this time with author Lisa Hall. This domestic thriller starts off as a slow burn while it introduces all the characters but soon ramps up the pace and I struggled to put it down, devouring it in less than 24 hours. As with his previous collaborations, you wouldn't know this was written by two authors as the story flows so seamlessly and the plot is excellently portrayed. There are some great characters in this tale and some rather dubious ones who, when Erin went missing, I had my suspicions about but then I had a lightbulb moment and realised who was really responsible, though this didn't spoil the rest of the story for me. This is a compelling read full of intrigue, secrets and lies by two fabulous authors that certainly kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
I'd like to thank Orion Publishing Group and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.
May 10, 2025
Natalie Maxwell is pregnant with her third child. Her two other children are Emily, 17 and Zadie, 8 and this one is an unexpected shock for both herself and husband Peter. Peter had in fact been planning for the family to move to Australia, where his parents live, but that goes by the board very quickly. A slow burning start as the main characters are introduced but still a compelling read, told from the duel perspectives of Peter and Natalie.
Briefly, Natalie has a difficult birth, subsequently baby Erin seems to never stop crying and Natalie very quickly finds herself going into a downward spiral clearly suffering from post natal depression. The house starts to look neglected, the two other daughters feel ignored and Peter doesn’t want to know! At a birthday party to celebrate Emily’s 18th matters come to a head between Natalie and Peters can things get any worse? Yes they can when Erin goes missing!
As a criminal investigation is launched the officer in charge Max Fleming questions the once close family members and any number of secrets and lies raise their ugly heads. I felt some sympathy with Natalie as she struggled with this pregnancy and subsequently with Erin as for Peter he was about as useful as a chocolate teapot. I did find the perpetrators identity to be well hidden and I changed my opinion more than once. A well written, tense and entertaining domestic thriller.
Briefly, Natalie has a difficult birth, subsequently baby Erin seems to never stop crying and Natalie very quickly finds herself going into a downward spiral clearly suffering from post natal depression. The house starts to look neglected, the two other daughters feel ignored and Peter doesn’t want to know! At a birthday party to celebrate Emily’s 18th matters come to a head between Natalie and Peters can things get any worse? Yes they can when Erin goes missing!
As a criminal investigation is launched the officer in charge Max Fleming questions the once close family members and any number of secrets and lies raise their ugly heads. I felt some sympathy with Natalie as she struggled with this pregnancy and subsequently with Erin as for Peter he was about as useful as a chocolate teapot. I did find the perpetrators identity to be well hidden and I changed my opinion more than once. A well written, tense and entertaining domestic thriller.
July 31, 2025
Natalie and Pete are looking forward to reclaiming their lives as their eldest daughter prepares for university and their other daughter is growing up rapidly. Finally they will have time to travel and spend more time together. But Natalie discovers she is pregnant and all plans are put on hold…
The Mistake is a psychological thriller set in the UK.
Natalie is happy but worried about having another baby. In particular she is concerned about her husband's reaction. Things escalate after the birth: Baby Erin is not an easy child, always crying. At times Natalie regrets her choice and Pete is working too much and never home to support her. Her older daughters are unhappy too and the dynamic with her best friend is off kilter as Eve smothers the family in her attempts to be helpful.
Despite the title, this book actually contains a series of mistakes. The couple are totally not in tune with each other which leads to secrets and lies which are then exposed. Both Pete and Natalie's perspectives are written in the third person but the emotions are deftly and thoroughly explored. I think parents will be able to identify with the difficult days of having a newborn and the relentlessness of parenthood. The dynamic changes as a mystery develops and adds to the tension and drama.
The Mistake is full of emotion and tension.
The Mistake is a psychological thriller set in the UK.
Natalie is happy but worried about having another baby. In particular she is concerned about her husband's reaction. Things escalate after the birth: Baby Erin is not an easy child, always crying. At times Natalie regrets her choice and Pete is working too much and never home to support her. Her older daughters are unhappy too and the dynamic with her best friend is off kilter as Eve smothers the family in her attempts to be helpful.
Despite the title, this book actually contains a series of mistakes. The couple are totally not in tune with each other which leads to secrets and lies which are then exposed. Both Pete and Natalie's perspectives are written in the third person but the emotions are deftly and thoroughly explored. I think parents will be able to identify with the difficult days of having a newborn and the relentlessness of parenthood. The dynamic changes as a mystery develops and adds to the tension and drama.
The Mistake is full of emotion and tension.
June 1, 2025
When Natalie unexpectedly gets pregnant with her third child, it comes as quite a shock to both her and husband Pete. With daughter Emily about to leave for university and an eight year old, a new baby has an impact on the whole family - and Erin proves to be a difficult baby who doesn’t sleep much. Natalie struggles to cope, Pete is rarely home and it is impacting both the girls. Things come to a head at Emily’s eighteenth birthday party - and then they realise that Erin is no longer in her cot. Who could have taken her and why?
With a prologue that draws you in from the very first page, this is a story that builds as it goes, taking some time to get to the drama at the heart of it, but allows the reader to get to know the family, as well as some other characters who are very much brought to life and who might have had their own reasons for taking Erin.
The tension builds once Erin goes missing - and with no shortage of suspects, I found myself changing my mind several times about who might be responsible. It is a gripping read and one that kept me on the edge of my seat as I raced through it - another successful collaboration in this enormously enjoyable series.
With a prologue that draws you in from the very first page, this is a story that builds as it goes, taking some time to get to the drama at the heart of it, but allows the reader to get to know the family, as well as some other characters who are very much brought to life and who might have had their own reasons for taking Erin.
The tension builds once Erin goes missing - and with no shortage of suspects, I found myself changing my mind several times about who might be responsible. It is a gripping read and one that kept me on the edge of my seat as I raced through it - another successful collaboration in this enormously enjoyable series.
June 4, 2025
Natalie and Pete seem to have a settled life with their two daughters, but everything changes when Natalie unexpectedly becomes pregnant again. The arrival of baby Erin turns their world upside down, and the struggles of adjusting to this new reality begin to strain their relationship. Natalie faces exhaustion and overwhelming emotions, while Pete seems distant, leaving her to manage everything alone. As tensions rise and emotions run high, everything reaches a breaking point on the night of Emily’s 18th birthday party—when baby Erin suddenly disappears. This shakes the family to its core.
The way the book built suspense was incredible. Every chapter made me eager to uncover more, and the pacing kept me completely hooked. I loved how the authors explored the characters, making their struggles feel raw and realistic. Natalie’s journey was especially powerful, and I could really feel her frustration, loneliness, and uncertainty.
What stood out most was how well the book balanced mystery and psychological drama. The twists were unpredictable.
The way the book built suspense was incredible. Every chapter made me eager to uncover more, and the pacing kept me completely hooked. I loved how the authors explored the characters, making their struggles feel raw and realistic. Natalie’s journey was especially powerful, and I could really feel her frustration, loneliness, and uncertainty.
What stood out most was how well the book balanced mystery and psychological drama. The twists were unpredictable.
June 4, 2025
The Prologue has me hooked! A baby abandoned in the woods, crying. Whose baby is it? Why is it there? What has happened?
Natalie & Pete are happily married. They have 2 daughters. Emily, who is due to be heading off to university, and Zadie, who is several years younger and still at primary school. They are finally getting their lives back when a spanner is thrown in the works. Natalie discovers she's pregnant. Pete isn't chuffed with the idea as he'd planned for them to emigrate to be closer to his family in Australia. Cracks start to appear.
Natalie has the baby and struggles coping with constant crying and not much support. She has her friend (Eve), but Pete is increasingly working late. Oh and his contractor happens to be his ex, Vanessa. We can all see where that's going.
Many mistakes are made along the way but still what happened to the baby? Well....you'll just have to read this fantastic thriller to find out. I felt so sorry for Natalie and detested Pete at times. Highly recommend 👌
Natalie & Pete are happily married. They have 2 daughters. Emily, who is due to be heading off to university, and Zadie, who is several years younger and still at primary school. They are finally getting their lives back when a spanner is thrown in the works. Natalie discovers she's pregnant. Pete isn't chuffed with the idea as he'd planned for them to emigrate to be closer to his family in Australia. Cracks start to appear.
Natalie has the baby and struggles coping with constant crying and not much support. She has her friend (Eve), but Pete is increasingly working late. Oh and his contractor happens to be his ex, Vanessa. We can all see where that's going.
Many mistakes are made along the way but still what happened to the baby? Well....you'll just have to read this fantastic thriller to find out. I felt so sorry for Natalie and detested Pete at times. Highly recommend 👌
June 22, 2025
Loved!!!!! What a fantastic read by these fantastic authors. I’ve never read anything by MJ Arlidge but I have by Lisa Hall. Lisa Hall is great and you better believe I will definitely be reading MJ Arlidge books from here on out. Now let’s talk about this one. What made this an awesome read was the characters. They were all relatable to real life. One reason they were relatable to me was that they each had flaws. People are not perfect and this should be talked about more. You can come back from mistakes and learn from them to make a better future. Up next, the plot. I love any books that have to deal with family issues and children. Who doesn’t????? Now I want to talk about that speechless ending. This book from the very beginning was such a roller coaster ride up until that WOW of an ending. There were so many suspects and motives. I couldn’t believe what really happened in the end though. My jaw dropped all the way to the floor. I can’t wait for either these authors next book. I will definitely be reading them.
May 28, 2025
This is the fourth book in an enjoyable series of collaborations that MJ Arlidge has undertaken with other authors. While the previous three were out-and-out thrillers, The Mistake has a very different vibe, being more of a domestic drama, but a clever one at that and no less readable.
It gets off to a flying start, with a prologue describing an abandoned baby in woods that are supposedly haunted. As a hook, it’s absolutely brilliant.
Beware, going in, that what follows is a slow burn of a read, one more about intrigue than suspense, with the first two-thirds of the book taken up with scene setting and the fleshing out of players, before the trigger that sets the plot alight.
It’s a not unfamiliar story: late, unplanned third pregnancy; fussy, crying baby; mum descending into post-natal depression; dad too busy with work. Result: the disintegration of a formerly solid and happy family unit.
I won’t deny that I tore through the pages, anxious to find out where the abandoned baby would come in.
By the time this twist hit, the authors had cleverly invested multiple characters with a motive for snatching baby Erin, including people on the fringes of the family and even mum Natalie herself, whose foggy state of mind adds to the confusion.
The closing chapters are filled with tension, amid concerns over Erin’s whereabouts and survival and efforts to identify her abductor. Everything is teed up for a spectacular conclusion.
Sadly, for me, the ending felt a bit of a letdown, as I had long guessed the perpetrator. That said, it’s the only weakness in an otherwise compulsive read. It may catch some readers off guard, but seasoned armchair sleuths like myself will almost certainly have everything sussed.
It gets off to a flying start, with a prologue describing an abandoned baby in woods that are supposedly haunted. As a hook, it’s absolutely brilliant.
Beware, going in, that what follows is a slow burn of a read, one more about intrigue than suspense, with the first two-thirds of the book taken up with scene setting and the fleshing out of players, before the trigger that sets the plot alight.
It’s a not unfamiliar story: late, unplanned third pregnancy; fussy, crying baby; mum descending into post-natal depression; dad too busy with work. Result: the disintegration of a formerly solid and happy family unit.
I won’t deny that I tore through the pages, anxious to find out where the abandoned baby would come in.
By the time this twist hit, the authors had cleverly invested multiple characters with a motive for snatching baby Erin, including people on the fringes of the family and even mum Natalie herself, whose foggy state of mind adds to the confusion.
The closing chapters are filled with tension, amid concerns over Erin’s whereabouts and survival and efforts to identify her abductor. Everything is teed up for a spectacular conclusion.
Sadly, for me, the ending felt a bit of a letdown, as I had long guessed the perpetrator. That said, it’s the only weakness in an otherwise compulsive read. It may catch some readers off guard, but seasoned armchair sleuths like myself will almost certainly have everything sussed.
August 10, 2025
Review:
I’ve read a lot of M J Arlidges books over the years, and he’s an excellent author.
This book is definitely different. However, I can say, hand on heart, I can relate to poor Natalie, as my daughter was exactly the same. Hardly any sleep at all for about 12 months. I did wonder, although I know it’s only a story if Erin was allergic to her milk, and I’m saying to Natalie, change her milk 🤣🤣🤣.
I did think Pete was a selfish individual , and all men should look after screaming babies and know how debilitating it is.
However, after saying all this I did find the book tedious and drawn out. Could have cut it down by a quarter at least. It wasn’t exactly thrilling and Natalie’s problems were repeated again and again.
I nearly didn’t finish it but wanted to see what “the shocking twist” was. It wasn’t exactly earth shattering and pretty obvious.
Hopefully Mr Arlidge will continue with his crime novels.
I’ve read a lot of M J Arlidges books over the years, and he’s an excellent author.
This book is definitely different. However, I can say, hand on heart, I can relate to poor Natalie, as my daughter was exactly the same. Hardly any sleep at all for about 12 months. I did wonder, although I know it’s only a story if Erin was allergic to her milk, and I’m saying to Natalie, change her milk 🤣🤣🤣.
I did think Pete was a selfish individual , and all men should look after screaming babies and know how debilitating it is.
However, after saying all this I did find the book tedious and drawn out. Could have cut it down by a quarter at least. It wasn’t exactly thrilling and Natalie’s problems were repeated again and again.
I nearly didn’t finish it but wanted to see what “the shocking twist” was. It wasn’t exactly earth shattering and pretty obvious.
Hopefully Mr Arlidge will continue with his crime novels.
October 22, 2025
A really good book that I enjoyed and devoured. The plot is that baby Erin has disappeared from her cot during a family party, who has taken her and why. This only happens in the last quarter of the book as there is so much more to the plot that has to be introduced first.
Erin was an unexpected baby and it threw her family ink chaos and it’s been chaotic every since and there are so many dysfunctional people surrounding the family also, that it means that it could be a multitude of people that took Erin, but are they all red herrings!
I didn’t give this book full stars because it was for me so easy to work out who had taken Erin and the reason why. It was so obvious and I really didn’t want it to be this person or for the whole plot and conclusion to be so predictable. But unfortunately it was!
I was also a bit annoyed at the way it was dealt with afterwards, this person needed help or therapy and it looks like it was just brushed under the carpet.
Erin was an unexpected baby and it threw her family ink chaos and it’s been chaotic every since and there are so many dysfunctional people surrounding the family also, that it means that it could be a multitude of people that took Erin, but are they all red herrings!
I didn’t give this book full stars because it was for me so easy to work out who had taken Erin and the reason why. It was so obvious and I really didn’t want it to be this person or for the whole plot and conclusion to be so predictable. But unfortunately it was!
I was also a bit annoyed at the way it was dealt with afterwards, this person needed help or therapy and it looks like it was just brushed under the carpet.
June 18, 2025
An enjoyable psychological read with lots of secrets and lies and twists to keep the reader interested.
When baby Erin vanishes at a family party for her big sisters 18th birthday there are plenty of suspects....
Natalie Erin's Mum,
Pete Erin's Dad,
Eve Natalie's Best Friend
Jake Emily's Boyfriend
Emily Erin's Big Sister
The Neighbours
Vanessa Peter's Ex Girlfriend and Current Boss
The Only Non Suspect is Zadie, Natalie and Pete's 8 Year Old Daughter who would struggle to carry her sister down the stairs from the bedroom she was last seem in her cot sleeping according to her Mum.
What happened to Erin? You will have to read it yourself to find out.
I had my suspicions from around half way through the book and was quite smug with myself when I was proved correct on getting to the end.
When baby Erin vanishes at a family party for her big sisters 18th birthday there are plenty of suspects....
Natalie Erin's Mum,
Pete Erin's Dad,
Eve Natalie's Best Friend
Jake Emily's Boyfriend
Emily Erin's Big Sister
The Neighbours
Vanessa Peter's Ex Girlfriend and Current Boss
The Only Non Suspect is Zadie, Natalie and Pete's 8 Year Old Daughter who would struggle to carry her sister down the stairs from the bedroom she was last seem in her cot sleeping according to her Mum.
What happened to Erin? You will have to read it yourself to find out.
I had my suspicions from around half way through the book and was quite smug with myself when I was proved correct on getting to the end.
May 9, 2025
The Mistake is a compelling family drama plotted with physcological thriller lies and secrets wrapped in mystery. Natalie and Pete have two daughters and Pete is planning for all their futures. That is until Natalie reveals that she is pregnant with their third child. Then when the baby is born Natalie is struggling and Pete is never home. It's a miracle she can keep it together between Pete's ex girlfriend who has come back on the scene and Natalie's interfering best friend. The tensions come to a head at a party where baby Erin disappears. The writing in this is outstanding as it captures every thought and feeling well and I didn't want to put it down. It has a element of surprise and intrigue about it!
May 28, 2025
This was a gripping read, it started off as a slow burn but once it got going I couldn’t put it down!
Natalie and Pete have a new baby and this time round they aren’t finding things to be going quite the same as with their first two children.
Told from the POV’s of both Natalie and Pete we get to find out more about each of them and their thoughts behind their actions. I felt for Natalie being left with Erin a lot of time when she was clearly struggling where Pete just seemed to go and do his own thing.
There were some characters who I really didn’t like especially Natalie’s friend Eve she really got under my skin.
This was a quick and easy read that kept me hooked.
Thank you to Compulsive Readers for having me on the tour and to the publisher for my gifted copy of the book.
Natalie and Pete have a new baby and this time round they aren’t finding things to be going quite the same as with their first two children.
Told from the POV’s of both Natalie and Pete we get to find out more about each of them and their thoughts behind their actions. I felt for Natalie being left with Erin a lot of time when she was clearly struggling where Pete just seemed to go and do his own thing.
There were some characters who I really didn’t like especially Natalie’s friend Eve she really got under my skin.
This was a quick and easy read that kept me hooked.
Thank you to Compulsive Readers for having me on the tour and to the publisher for my gifted copy of the book.
June 25, 2025
Wow this was an entertaining book, whilst I could feel the dramatic events unfolding one by one, I had guessed it all well before it was revealed. With mixed and frustrating emotions coming in waives, I wanted to scream 😱 sometimes. Being a practical and realistic person I was judgy from the get go. Age gaps and moody teenagers coupled with the lack of honesty within this marriage. A part of me wanted a darker outcome to punish the lot of them, as they all played their part. Counting the plusses and there was a lot of them I have never held my breath and crossed my fingers, wandering WTFs , going to happen next, it’s fair to say the end was a welcomed reprieve .
A worthy 3.75 stars . Marked down because the sheer frustration I felt many times throughout this one.
A worthy 3.75 stars . Marked down because the sheer frustration I felt many times throughout this one.
October 26, 2025
I enjoyed reading 'The Mistake' by Arlidge and Hall, though it didn't quite deliver the intense suspense I've come to expect from Arlidge—and I've read all of his books.
The characters are relatable, and I felt genuine empathy for Nathalie as she struggled to hold herself together. Though it was perhaps not entirely believable that she wouldn't seek proper help, her emotional journey was compelling.
This book focuses more on the psychological weight of guilt, shame, and regret than on traditional thriller elements like suspects, twists, and suspense. If you're looking for Arlidge's usual edge-of-your-seat tension, you might find this a bit different. That said, it's still a good read—just not what I'd consider typical from this author.
The characters are relatable, and I felt genuine empathy for Nathalie as she struggled to hold herself together. Though it was perhaps not entirely believable that she wouldn't seek proper help, her emotional journey was compelling.
This book focuses more on the psychological weight of guilt, shame, and regret than on traditional thriller elements like suspects, twists, and suspense. If you're looking for Arlidge's usual edge-of-your-seat tension, you might find this a bit different. That said, it's still a good read—just not what I'd consider typical from this author.
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