People would say I’m a respectable, law-abiding citizen. But my baby niece is sick. She’s going to die without treatment — expensive treatment. The kind we don’t have money for.
So when a friend coerces me into seducing a wealthy stranger and robbing him blind, it’s temptingly simple: one act of wrongdoing in exchange for Grace’s life.
It’s a risk I’m prepared to take.
But after witnessing the murder of the man I set out to exploit, I’m left with two impossible choices: do I go to the police and tell all, or run with the funds to save my darling baby Grace?
AJ Campbell is an Amazon USA top 40 bestselling author, who loves throwing characters into unbelievable situations and figuring it out from there. The result is psychological suspense novels full of twists, turns, and torment, with gasp-worthy endings. An avid hiker, AJ lives in the UK on the Essex / Hertfordshire border with her husband, sons, and cocker spaniel, Max. She is a Netflix junkie, a theatre tragic, and a wine and Asian food enthusiast.
I’ve been a massive fan of Ms. AJ Campbell for years, so it’s no big surprise that The Mistake was another slam dunk. With an explosive start, a poignant subplot, and constant rising unease, there wasn’t a moment where my attention wavered even the slightest. But it was the young protagonist at the center of the action that kept me firmly enthralled. Naive, desperate, and wildly out of her depth, her character arc demonstrated an individual who would do anything for her family. Paired with this was a group of individuals who were suspicious in the extreme. Altogether, they had me flying through the pages until the action-packed climax and happily ever after-ish conclusion took center stage.
All in all, while there was a definite need to suspend all disbelief in this fast-paced psychological thriller, I nevertheless fell for the characters, plot, and premise hook, line, and sinker. A quick read that I finished in a handful of hours, this story of love, family, and regret was everything I wanted and more. Even better, it had me thinking long and hard about what I would’ve done had I been in just such a spot. Unable to take back my actions, but driven to save one I loved, how far would I have gone? Thought-provoking, bingeable, and utterly addictive, it was one book that I think you need to read ASAP. After all, the short chapters quite literally made it impossible to put it down as I raced through the pages. Rating of 4 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Mia is no criminal. She doesn’t even have points on her driving licence. But when her baby niece is diagnosed with a rare lung disease, and her only chance of survival is expensive, life-saving treatment in the USA, a desperate Mia is willing to do anything to help.
Even if it means turning to crime.
When her flatmate, Kat, coerces her into seducing a wealthy stranger and robbing him blind, it all seems so simple. But after Mia witnesses the murder of the man she exploits, it’s soon apparent she’s playing a far deadlier game than she ever imagined.
Especially now she’s become the killer’s next target.
As Mia fights to save her niece’s life, the net closes in, and not even her loved ones are safe. All she can do is try to survive.
Because now she understands that a single mistake can destroy everything.
Thank you to AJ Campbell and Code Grey Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Mia is about to make the biggest mistake of her life. She knows it is wrong and that she shouldn’t do it but she is desperate for money to help her young baby niece who needs to travel to the USA for treatment for her rare lung disease. Her new flatmate and work colleague talks her into it, it will be nothing, easy money. But things don’t go to plan and she finds herself being hunted by some very bad people.
I could hardly stop reading this book. As always, AJ Campbell gets you hooked right from the very start. My heart broke for Mia and her family and you feel their pain and need for this money. A story of family, desperation, love and wishing you could go back in time and change what you have done. One moment can change your life and the life of those that you love forever.
Another page turning thriller from this author who is absolutely a favourite for me.
Thank you AJ Campbell for having me on your ARC team, such a pleasure.
Mia is about to get herself in a whole heap of trouble….she knows she is dealing with danger after she accepts a ‘dodgy’ assignment from her new found friend and landlady Kat but she really doesn’t expect to be witness to something that will change hers,her families and her friends lives…..forever
After all she is just helping her baby sister and her baby who is critically ill and needs money asap for treatment in America,she will soon wish she had stayed dealing with the Go Fund Me page and work ball with silent auction that has been arranged
A tense thriller that raises questions surrounding what would you do for a family member,a baby who needs something to survive and there is a quick way to get it,easy to judge of course but no so easy when in that position
I love a tale where somebody sees something and then immediately life changes as they try and outrun whoever is now looking for them,it is a tried formula and as in this book when done well it really works and creates a fast action story…when coupled with emotion and right/wrong scenarios it’s even better
I have been on AJ Campbell’s book blitz team for about 2 years now and I am blessed! AJ Campbell is one of my favorite authors of all time. She is a fantastic thriller writer and so kind too! The Mistake is my favorite book yet! I was instantly immersed into this book and could not put it down! I love her writing style, the short chapters and all the twists and turns!
Mia is about to make the biggest mistake of her life. Even though she knows it is wrong, she can’t help but do it anyway for the money. Her niece is has a lung disease and needs to travel to the US for a treatment to save her life and Mia and her family need to raise a ton of money to get her there. Her job and colleagues have been helping her by planning a ball with great prizes, her brother hosted a fun run and her roommate came up with a devious plan to get a large sum! She just has to seduce and drug a man and steal from him. What could possibly go wrong??!! Mia and her family are up against the race of time to save Grace.
I absolutely loved the character of Mia in this book. I could feel her pain, anxiety and desperation in trying to save her niece. Mia was complex with a heart of gold. I could absolutely relate to her! I had a hard time figuring out who was innocent and who was devious. AJ Campbell has once again written a binge worthy thriller!
Thank you to AJ Campbell for allowing me to be on her ARC team and for the opportunity to read this book. My opinions are honest and my own!
At its heart, this is a story about the lengths people will go to for one another - with what can be devastating consequences. I cared deeply about the characters and was turning the pages well into the early hours to find out what would happen. I highly recommend this book - and all this author’s books!
Well what can I say, I don’t know how AJC does it time and time again!! Brilliant brilliant work. Kept me gripped throughout. The intense atmosphere during the unfolding storyline was fantastically created from the off! The two side story’s coming together in a fab way. I was praying the good characters who you invested in didn’t turn out to be involved all the while I was fully invested in the running total of donations and if they were going to achieve the goal!! Amazing work once again. Thank you for allowing me to be part of the ARC on this one
Another one of my faves dropped a new book! A.J. Campbell always writes bingeable, edge-of-your-seat thrillers, and this one fits right into that category. Full of action and fast-paced, The Mistake starts off with a bang and keeps you engrossed until the very end. The chapters are short, and most of them end on small cliffhangers which keeps you furiously flipping the pages wanting to know what's coming next.
Mia's niece is sick and needs money for a helpful treatment. Mia makes a questionable decision to get money to help her niece, but what is brings her instead is loads of trouble. What follow is Mia trying to save herself and her family while trying to help her niece at the same time.
There were so many layers to the suspense and tension in this book. There were twists and turns that had me guessing right up until the very end. Campbell's writing style made me feel all the emotions throughout this story. Such a tense and emotional thriller that will have you captivated!
Wowza! I swear AJ Campbell’s writing drugged me because I am addicted to her books. The Mistake is a wild ride that kept me flipping the pages late into the night. This fast paced thriller had me second guessing everything and this is why I highly recommend all of her books, especially this one.
Just do yourself a favor and add The Mistake to your TBR!
****Many thanks to AJ Campbell for my gifted copy in turn for an honest/unbiased review.
Mia and her family are desperate. Her niece Grace has been diagnosed with a life threatening condition, and they need to raise money to send her to USA for treatment. While her family are fundraising, Mia finds herself listening to her flatmate and turning to crime. Only what was meant to be a simple case of blackmail, turned into murder and conspiracy. Now Grace isn’t the only one at risk of losing her life.
Yet another 5 star read from this author. This was one of her best and I flew through it in under three hours. I couldn’t put it down. A book filled with twists that had me crying by the end. Reading this on the anniversary of my nans death probably wasn't the best idea because now I'm an emotional wreck 😅
This psychological thriller is like no other I have read, meaning I got drawn in really quickly by the blurb. The storyline hooked me almost immediately hooked. The chapters being short and snappy made me fly through it also. The cover also adds to the intrigue of the book and doesn’t give away much of what to expect.
Plot
The plot is certainly unique as we follow Mia, trying to raise funds for her baby niece. Its impactful, eye-opening and intriguing. I found myself annoting my thoughts for the bigger picture and doing the detective work because I was just so invested.
Characters
Mia is the fmc and although she made a questionable choice, you can completely see why and route for her and the fact she just really wants to help her niece. Kat is another kettle of fish, the complete opposite of Mia and I really did not like her or even the KM group. Callum had me questioning everything I knew and Ruby and Grace, they broke my heart.
Recommend
This is an amazing thriller that doesn’t follow the normal, so if you are after a refreshing thriller read but one that will pull at your heartstrings and morals, then pick this up on release day!
Favourite Quotes
“We all make mistakes. It’s how we learn from them that counts.”
“I was in awe of her, you know. It sounds stupid, but she had me under her spell. I went along with stuff I shouldn’t have.”
“That’s what happened when you played with fire. You end up getting burnt.”
Favourite Chapter/s No chapter was my favourite, I did enjoy this book as a whole.
Summed up in one sentence
A book that will not only pull at your heartstrings but also have you second guessing everyone’s intentions.
Overall Wrap up
This book shocked me with just how much I really enjoyed it. I was apprehensive to start because I knew it was about a sick child but once I started there was no putting it down! The chapters are short and snappy and just roll onto the next. Before you know it you’ve read so much and there isn’t a good time to put it down!
Stars. 4.75 stars. Book Information – The Mistake by A.J Campbell.
Genre – Psychological thriller.
Pages – 316 pages.
Available on Kindle Unlimited – Yes, available on kindle unlimited now.
Available Formats – Kindle only.
Publishing Information – Published on 28th February 25 by Code Grey Publisher.
Format in Which I Read – Kindle.
Where my copy come From – From the author.
POVs – Single pov, Mia.
Single/Dual/Multiple Timelines – Single timeline.
1st or 3rd Person – 1st person.
HEA, HFN or Cliff hanger – Wrapped up.
Series or Standalone – Standalone.
Trigger Warnings – Please check content warnings before reading if necessary and please always remember that your mental health matters.
The Mistake is a riveting novel that will have you gripping the edge of your seat, unable to tear yourself away.
Mia's (our FMC) desperate journey to save her niece from a rare lung disease plunges her into a dark and dangerous world.
The scene where Mia witnesses a murder is particularly chilling, setting the tone for the nail-biting tension that follows.
As Mia falls into the crosshairs of the killer, the tension surges, and the stakes become incredibly high, gripping you so tightly that you can't put the book down.
AJ masterfully crafts a story that is both heart-wrenching and thrilling. The ethical quandaries introduce a richness that elevates this book beyond a typical crime thriller.
The Mistake is a remarkable story full of suspense and emotional complexity, ensuring that readers remain captivated until the final page.
I absolutely love AJ Campbell's books, she's one of my favourite authors and I live for her book releases, and unsurprisingly The Mistake is another fantastic read that I devoured & adored. The Mistake kicks straight off with a bang, grabbing your attention and holding on for dear life until the very end.
I loved the main character Mia, yes she made a very big mistake that leads her down a very dangerous path but she was doing it all for the right reasons, she cares deeply about her family and wants so desperately to help save her baby nieces life. My heart broke for her and was constantly racing in fear for her.
The Mistake was an addictive, gripping page turner that kept me on the edge of my seat and holding my breath for what was coming next. It's a story of desperation, how one choice can impact the rest of your life and those who mean the world to you. It's a story of love & family and how far would you go to protect those you love? Would you sacrifice yourself to save someone you love who can't save themselves?
Another cracking read from an author that I will recommend time & time again.
I received an advanced copy of The Mistake from the author, all thoughts are my own.
Poor Mia makes some pretty stupid decisions which drive the whole book. It starts with a bang! Mia spends the rest of the story trying to decide how to correct her misdeeds and earn money for her niece’s medical bills. A fast paced book.
I have never read AJ Campbell’s books before. And this book titled the mistake was absolutely wonderful. I love thriller books and this one was right up there this young girl Mia. She’s one of the main characters in this book. She met up with a girl from work her name was Kat , wow she took sympathy on Mia and her plea for setting up a GoFundMe page and Kat convinced her to help her put it really well out there so she could gain more funding. Mia had a brother named Callum and he was a police officer and worked in the police department in their town. this book was so good. It had me from page one I could not put it down. It was full of so many twists and turns it was thrilling. It will capture you and pull you in such a great read.
Mia Hamilton is trying to do the best by her family and is raising money to send her sick niece Grace to America for life-saving treatment. When her flatmate offers her an easy way to earn some cash, she finds herself saying yes. But that one decision lands her in a whole heap of trouble when she witnesses a murder. Mia hits dead end after dead end in her race to find out who is behind the killing before the culprit can catch up with her. The short chapters and myriad of cliff-hangers, complications and revelations ensure this book is a roller-coaster read. I love how The Mistake takes a deep dive into how quickly your life can unravel due to one stupid mistake. If you enjoyed The Phone Call, you will race through AJ Campbell’s latest book. It’s another fast-paced thriller with plenty of twists and turns and a protagonist you can root for. One of those ‘just one more chapter’ books that will keep you reading long past your bedtime.
An engaging psychological thriller that you cannot help but speed through! 😍
I always love Campbell’s psychological thrillers and this was no different. Easy to binge, twisty and engrossing, I lapped this one up in no time.
I was completely hooked from the onset, with the opening chapters steadfastly enticing me to turn the page. There was, quite literally, a bang that set this thriller into commotion and Campbell thrusts you alongside Mia as she scrambles in the aftermath.
What I really liked about this read was the untrustworthy characters. I had my suspicions about everyone Mia encountered and this made the read really engaging. I also loved how I got annoyed with Mia’s decisions too, as this encouraged me to read on.
The pacing dipped a little in the middle, but soon picked up towards the end. I also thought this book had a level of predictability to it and I did guess the culprit, though I was surprised with the last few chapters.
Overall, Campbell has delivered another thriller that felt incredibly realistic at times and was so easy to read.
A huge thank you to @ajcampbellauthor for this ARC and for having me on your ARC Team. The Mistake is released today and I recommend this read! ☺️
I had high hope and high expectations, and not surprisingly, they were met and exceeded. Another 5 star read from this author.
Mia has always been a straight-up woman, with no criminal record and not even a mark against her driving license. However, when faced with an eye-watering bill for life-saving treatment for her baby niece, Mia finds herself influenced by her friend/flatmates, not so legal money making ways. This quickly escalates and leads to a trail of bodies being left in her path. Despite not being the perpetrator, Mia ends up tangled in something way beyond anything she could have ever imagined. But just how far will she go for her family?
It goes without saying that I got hooked and fully engrossed in this book, and once I was in it, I couldn't put it down. My heart raced, my heartstrings were pulled, and my brain couldn't keep up with connecting the pieces. I felt so much empathy towards Mia, and all of her family. The story is super fast-paced, but even the times when it slows down briefly to build tension and set the scene, it's captivating and holds your attention.
As always, I'd hugely recommend this book (and any others by this author) to any psychological thriller fans.
Thank you @ajcampbell for my gifted ebook. The Mistake is out now and is available with #kindleunlimited!
Mia will do anything to get her niece a life saving procedure. Grace means everything to her and she takes drastic measures to help her young sister. When a new work friend (and soon new roommate) tells Mia how she make money quick, Mia quickly agrees. She’s going to meet a wealthy man, take him back to his hotel room and rob him, then make a fast getaway. They will then flip the watches for a fast profit. But when things don’t go to plan, and someone else kills her mark. She witnesses the whole thing and suddenly she’s in the run for her own life.
This book is such a fast read! If you like books like Frieda McFadden, you will love Amanda’s books. This book definitely made me think of the lengths you would go to save a loved one’s life. It brings up lots of feelings and twists you don’t see coming!
The Mistake was engrossing from the start and had me reading well into the night as I raced from chapter to chapter feeling so much concern for the main character. Mia comes from a close knit family who really care for one another. Her mother has brought up her three children to be truthful and law abiding. In fact under normal circumstances Mia would have lived up to her Mum’s expectations as there would have been no reason for her to digress. However, Mia has a weakness that will cause her to divert from her honest nature. When her younger sister’s baby, Grace is found to have a life threatening lung condition Mia sets up a funding page to raise £300,000 for treatment in the USA. Her employers, a PR company are immensely supportive in her fund raising but when Mia’s work colleague, Kat suggests a more unscrupulous way of making money for Grace’s treatment Mia is sorely tempted. Kat has befriended her from her first day working at K M Group and even rented her a room in her up market flat. In many ways Mia feels manipulated by Kat but she also realises that Kat’s dubious sideline may be something she could do just once to help get her niece the treatment she so desperately needs. Of course, there is always the chance of being caught but in a terrible series of events Mia’s mistake in taking part in Kat’s plan results in something much more sinister. As Mia gets herself into even deeper trouble whilst trying to hide her involvement in Kat’s criminal activity but still having to function at work and also support her sister and niece it isn’t long before she reaches breaking point. The Mistake gave me the same roller coaster feeling as A J Campbell’s The Phone Call and The Wrong Key, two of my favourite books by the author. If you enjoy a punchy thriller with lots of heart stopping moments you will love this book. I feel so privileged to have had the chance to read an ARC of The Mistake and I highly recommend it as a 5* read.
The Mistake by AJ Campbell is an action-packed thriller that grips you from the very first page. The short chapters and deep emotional stakes make it impossible to put down—you’ll tear through it in one sitting because you simply have to know what happens next.
The story follows Mia, who adores her little niece—a child in desperate need of a miracle. Or, more precisely, a lot of money. Or Mia making a choice she would never have considered if she had any other option.
When Mia takes a risk, she sets off a terrifying chain of events that will leave you breathless, flipping pages at lightning speed. This adrenaline-fueled thriller unfolds like an action movie—think Liam Neeson levels of intensity!
I have been a fan of British psychological thriller author A.J. Campbell for the past 4 years. I have read all but one of her books, and all were 5 star reads. So when I was given the opportunity to read and review an arc of her upcoming book The Mistake, I jumped at the opportunity. The Mistake was a phenomenal page-turning thriller, that was impossible to put down until the very last page!
What would you do if your baby niece required life saving surgery but your family couldn’t afford the astronomical price tag? Mia is trying all avenues to raise money. She organized a charity ball, a silent auction and a GoFund Me page, but time is running out. So when Mia’s roommate Kat offers her a lucrative but illegal opportunity to make some fast money, Mia feels like she has no choice but to participate. Without more money her baby niece will die. What should have been a quick and simple scam, turns into a life and death situation. Mia just witnessed the man she drugged, so she could steal his expensive watch, get shot to death. And now the murderer is after her. Not only is Mia a witness to the murder, she also has something the murderer wants. And he will stop at nothing to get it. What ensues is a game of cat and mouse and for now Mia is one step ahead of the killer. But how long will her luck last before fate catches up to her?
The Mistake is hands-down, my favourite book of 2025. And in my opinion, Ms Campbell’s most spectacular book to date. Thank you A.J. Campbell for continuing to write mind-blowing, binge worthy, twisty-turny, all-consuming, entertaining thriller books! And thank you for sending me an e-arc of The Mistake.
THE MISTAKE gripped me right from the start! This is something I always appreciate in a thriller book. With short chapters and plenty of twists, I was on the edge of my seat throughout the story. I really enjoyed the character of Mia and the author did a phenomenal job to develop this character. Highly recommend this one!
Many thanks to A.J. Campbell for my gifted copy.
This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.
This is a fast paced psychological thriller that had me invested from the beginning. I’ve read most books by this author and they never fail to disappoint.
I really liked the main character Mia, she wasn’t a bad person she just wanted to help her baby niece, Grace who was ill. She ends up mixed up in something she shouldn’t be and things get so tense. I couldn’t put this down!
I had no idea how things were going to turn out and the twists were so good! The ending was completely unexpected too.
Thank you to AJ for my gifted ebook and having me on the tour.
Not enough stars for what it deserves. Absolutely riveting! This book grabs you by the scruff of the neck and doesn't let go until the final pages. Mia has got herself deep into a sinister world with one mistake. The way the unravelling of her life is portrayed here is masterful. The writing conveys every emotion as you turn the pages at a rate of knots. AJ gets better with every publication. The ending is perfectly tied up with a huge bow and all loose ends are neatly covered. Read this and you won't be disappointed!