She'll do anything to save her child. Even join a cult.
When single mom Dalice learns her toddler, Cash, needs a heart transplant, she gets desperate. There are no guarantees he’ll receive a donor heart in time. And even if he does, she can’t afford the expensive procedure.
Then Dalice meets Shane. He’s part of a mysterious group whose leader claims to be able to heal any disease or injury. Dalice is skeptical at first, and the ritual she witnesses makes her uneasy. But when a broken arm gets healed before her eyes, she can’t deny the truth, and she wants the same miracle for Cash.
As her son’s life hangs in the balance, Dalice must decide how far she’s willing to go to save him. Because the miracles in the secret group come at a steep price. A price that might be too high for even the most devoted mother.
Seriously, I just devoured the audiobook for Steph Nelson's Make No Mistake, and let me tell you, it was a total mind trip! Huge thanks to Libro.fm and Simon & Schuster Audio for hooking me up with the free copy for this review.
What made this book so creepy for me is how much it hit home. It gets right into that terrifying question every parent thinks about: How far would you actually go to save your child? That fierce, primal instinct, doing whatever it takes to make sure your babies are okay, is the strong emotional pull that just grabbed me and didn't let go. I ate up every single second of this mother's fight.
The book is fast-paced and super entertaining, mixing a compelling love story with some seriously intense religious stuff. "Delusions" is the word I landed on, but honestly, you have to read it to see how deep the rabbit hole goes. At its core, this is a thriller about a desperate woman fighting for everything she loves, and it's a ride you won't want to miss.
Keywords Good Thriller Suspense Audiobook StephNelson MakeNoMistake Mother Daughter Love Family Betrayal Religious Cult FastPaced EmotionalGripping Review
This was….something. You know when you watch horror movies and think “you can’t possibly be this stupid”? Well, Dallas is in fact that stupid. Every red flag she sees as a beacon to run towards instead of away from. That’s really all I can say about this without spoiling it but let’s just say I spent most of this annoyed
Emotional and gripping, this thriller had me hooked from the very beginning.
At its core, it asks the haunting question: How far would you go to save your child? Told through dual timelines, the story captures a mother’s desperation and fierce determination as she fights against impossible odds.
This isn’t just a twisty thriller—it’s an intense, emotional ride with well-drawn characters you can’t help but root for until the very last page. The pacing, suspense, and heartache blend beautifully, making it impossible to put down.
Thank you to Steph Nelson and Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I love books about cults and this one did not disappoint. I read it in one sitting. This is a roller coaster of a story, demonstrating the lengths folks will go through for the ones they love. Check the trigger warnings then dive in.
⭐ 3.5/5 — a good premise with strong emotional undercurrents, but I wanted more depth, more explanation, and ultimately…more thrill.
Make No Mistakes takes a cult-flavoured premise and asks the question every parent dreads: how far would you go to save your child?
When Dalice discovers her toddler Cash needs a heart transplant, she’s desperate. With time running out and no guarantee of a donor, she finds herself drawn into a secretive group that claims it can heal the sick. At first she’s skeptical, but after witnessing an injury healed before her eyes, hope takes hold. Soon she’s caught between family tensions, dangerous rituals, and the fear that the price of these miracles may be far higher than she can afford.
I appreciated how Dalice’s desperation came through, especially knowing from the author’s note that this story was inspired by her own experience of losing a child to heart disease. That emotional honesty gave the story weight. The cult meetings had good atmosphere, and the short, snappy chapters made the first and last third of the book fly by.
But there were elements that didn’t work for me. The supernatural healings were never explained—beyond “gold hands”—and I think it would have been stronger either as a hoax/scam or with more detail. The “youthful appearance” thread also wasn’t needed. Some family dynamics, like Dalice’s conflict with her sister Brandy, felt underdeveloped—especially since Brandy cared for Cash constantly, yet that love was ignored. And what about Juniper? I thought she might connect with Brandy, but her storyline was left hanging.
Characterisation often felt uneven. Reva as a lonely child in flashbacks never quite connected with the cold sociopath we see as an adult. Shane and Reva’s father is mentioned but forgotten, as is their grandfather’s suicide—threads that could have added important depth. The love story between Shane and Dalice felt forced and unnecessary, and Dalice’s own backstory didn’t always make sense (why she hadn’t finished college despite being close to graduation, or why she didn’t start until her 30s).
The middle section dragged, and the “twist” was fairly predictable, but the ending ramped up into a wild, page-turning ride. Overall, this was less cult thriller and more family drama with odd soap-opera vibes. Still, it was a quick and suspenseful read, even if it lacked the shock factor to make it truly memorable.
Thank you to the author, Ticking Clock Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.
📚Make No Mistake ✍🏻Steph Nelson Blurb: She needs a miracle. What she gets is a nightmare.
Dalice is barely keeping it together. Not only is she a single parent juggling two dead-end jobs. She's also caring for her critically ill toddler, scraping together every dollar she can for the heart transplant he’ll need someday.
But when someday becomes today, she gets desperate.
Then Dalice meets Shane. He’s charming, kind, and part of a mysterious group led by a woman who claims to have healing abilities.
Dalice is skeptical at first. But the miracles the group promises seem alluringly real. And with her son’s life hanging in the balance, she’s willing to overlook the fact that the supposed healings come at a devastating cost … one that even the most devoted mother may not be able to pay. My Thoughts: Told in multiple POVs and a dual timeline, this was such an intense listen. Dalice is a single mom trying to make ends meet while caring for her toddler with a critical condition. She feels alone until Shane walks into her life, a guy who seems good, kind, and doesn’t run away when he finds out she’s a single mom.
I wasn’t sure if this one would be too heavy for me with a child in critical condition, but I’m glad I gave it a chance. It was easy to follow, and I liked most of the characters. The mystery surrounding the group and “the one” kept me hooked. There are some twisted family dynamics on both sides and a definite cult storyline woven throughout the story.
I was really moved by the author’s note at the end. So be sure to read that. The author captured Dalice’s emotions so well. In the end, it’s all about how far a mother is willing to go to save her child. It's honestly a bit scary to think that this can happen to anyone. No one is safe.
The narrators, Lexis Danca, and Ryan H. Reid both did a wonderful job portraying Dalice, Shane and several of the characters throughout the book. The tones and inflections were spot on. Lexis' narration of Dalice was great. You could feel the emotions of a mother willing to do anything to save their child. Very well done. Thanks NetGalley, Ticking Clock Press and Author Stephen Nelson for the advanced copy of "Make No Mistake" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation. #NetGalley #TickingClockPress #StephenNelson #MakeNoMistake ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗞 Dalice will do anything to save her toddler, Cash, who desperately needs a heart transplant. Through her brother Shane, she discovers Reva - a mysterious healer - and attends a “Threshing Floor” meeting where miracles seem real.
𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 Both narrators were engaging and brought the characters to life. I really liked the male narrator as Shane, but when he voiced Reva it got a little cringe - I often struggle with male narrators doing female voices because they can come off a little campy. Still, the audiobook kept me going; I might’ve stalled halfway if I’d been reading instead.
𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 At its heart, this is a story of desperation. Dalice’s fight to save her son drives everything, while Reva’s own twisted desperation manifests in harmful ways. There’s a paranormal thread with Reva’s supernatural healing, plus an insta-romance between Dalice and Shane.
We also get flashbacks to Reva and Shane’s childhood and how her abilities were exploited, but the story still feels like Dalice’s. She’s sympathetic and believable, but I found the others didn’t get the same depth.
The cult element is lighter than I hoped for - beyond a few healing meetings and those flashbacks, it doesn’t go very far. The pace ramps up at the end and gets pretty wild, but the conclusion was fairly predictable.
𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗? This would be fun for readers who like a blend of romance, paranormal, and suspense. It dips into darkness, but all off-page and on the mild side.
Thank you Simon Maverick and LibroFM for this #gifted ARC.
Told in multiple POVs and a dual timeline, this was such an intense listen. Dalice is a single mom trying to make ends meet while caring for her toddler with a critical condition. She feels alone until Shane walks into her life, a guy who seems good, kind, and doesn’t run away when he finds out she’s a single mom.
I wasn’t sure if this one would be too heavy for me with a child in critical condition, but I’m glad I gave it a chance. It was easy to follow, and I liked most of the characters. The mystery surrounding the group and “the one” kept me hooked. There are some twisted family dynamics on both sides and a definite cult storyline woven throughout the story.
I was really moved by the author’s note at the end. So be sure to read that. The author captured Dalice’s emotions so well. In the end, it’s all about how far a mother is willing to go to save her child. It's honestly a bit scary to think that this can happen to anyone. No one is safe.
The narrators, Lexis Danca, and Ryan H. Reid both did a wonderful job portraying Dalice, Shane and several of the characters throughout the book. The tones and inflections were spot on. Lexis' narration of Dalice was great. You could feel the emotions of a mother willing to do anything to save their child. Very well done.
A very special thanks to Simon Maverick and Libro.fm for the gifted ALC.
Dalice is barely keeping it together. Not only is she a single parent juggling two dead-end jobs. She's also caring for her critically ill toddler, scraping together every dollar she can for the heart transplant he’ll need someday.
But when someday becomes today, she gets desperate.
Then Dalice meets Shane. He’s charming, kind, and part of a mysterious group led by a woman who claims to have healing abilities.
Dalice is skeptical at first. But the miracles the group promises seem alluringly real. And with her son’s life hanging in the balance, she’s willing to overlook the fact that the supposed healings come at a devastating cost … one that even the most devoted mother may not be able to pay.
Call me a fan! I have enjoyed every single Steph Nelson thriller I’ve read. The way this one had me on the edge of my seat. I did NOT want to stop listening to it.
A thriller about a cult that was fast-paced, chilling, and had a few twists. It was a moving book as it will show you just how much a mother is willing to go through to save their child’s life ( anything and everything).
Dual narration made this audiobook more engaging. First time I hear both narrators, but each kept the suspense going.
I do want to add it is an emotionally heavy book, and I suggest you not skip the author’s note. It will add a special touch to the book.
Thank you @simonmaverickaudio for the #gifted ALC! 🫶
I absolutely loved The Final Scene when I read it last year, so I quickly requested an ARC of this book when I saw it was the same author. This book definitely hooked me in the first few chapters, but I became a little disinterested when it began talking about magic powers. That isn't the type of thriller book I'm into. But I wanted to stick it out for a proper review, and the last sentence of the book jumped this to a 4 star rating! Steph Nelson will continue to be an auto-buy author for me.
Thank you to Netgalley, Steph Nelson, and Ticking Clock Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. Sorry it's a tad late.
Steph Nelson is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I read everything she writes, and Make No Mistake may just be my new favorite.
This novel is tightly plotted and brimming with tension and suspense. The primary theme revolves around just how far a mother will go to save her son, who is struggling with a heart condition. Dalice's time is short, and so are her options. However, there's a group in town that might be able to provide a solution — at a cost. And what a cost it is.
Trust me, you don't want to miss this one. It's fantastic!
3.5 stars. I wanted to like this one way more than I did. Unfortunately I did have a harder time with it. I love Steph Nelson’s books and writing. I love the thought and where she was trying to go with it, but it just didn’t fit for me. It also didn’t help that I loathed Dallas. I think if she was not a part of the story I’d love this even more!!
Thank you NetGalley and Simon Maverick for the gifted copies!
Make no Mistake was good but not great. It was an interesting story, I enjoyed the cult and supernatural powers combination. It was good enough to keep me interested and wanting to find out how it ends, but did not blow my mind with excitement. The chapters are short which moves the story along nicely. I always like multiple POVS to get the different perspectives.
Rounded up because I would have gone 3.5 but this was about my ceiling for ‘unrealistic’ but it had a good story rooted in morality of choices and how we prioritize things. Moved at a really good pace
First, I want to congratulate Steph for getting her rights back to this book. Second, I need to express how good this one is! This had me hooked from the start! I will recommend this book to all my friends who love a great thriller.
All I can say is WOW this book is so well written that it had me on the edge of my seat throughout! This is the second book I’ve read by this author and she does not disappoint! I cannot recommend this book enough to thriller readers.
What did Steph put in this book? I couldn't put it down. This shows how far a mother would go to help her child, including join a cult. This was an emotionally chilling read.