Her Greatest Mistake

by Sarah Simpson

DO WE EVER KNOW WHAT GOES ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS?

Eve and Gregg were the perfect couple, with the perfect marriage... which has become the perfect lie. Gone is the charming, attentive Gregg - instead Eve wakes up each morning beside a manipulative and sinister man who controls his wife's every move.

So Eve flees her immaculate marital home to keep herself, and young son Jack safe. Yet no matter how careful she has been, she knows Gregg will be relentless in his pursuit of his missing family. And that one day, when she's least expecting it, he will find them...

What was Eve's greatest mistake?

Marrying Gregg? Leaving him? Or leaving him alive...?

Genres: Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Fiction

488 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2018

About the author

Sarah’s books combine her professional and personal experiences with a natural curiosity for what makes the human mind tick and a deep fascination for how the mind can become so iniquitous, then - what happens next?

Her Greatest Mistake, Sarah’s debut novel, reached 16 in the overall UK Kindle chart, achieving a best-seller flag within the specific genre. It also reached the top 10 in Australia and Canada. I Know You’re There is Sarah’s third novel, an evocative, twisted look behind the closed doors of a shared Victorian residence in the picturesque coastal town of St. Ives.

Sarah lives in a small coastal town in beautiful Cornwall with her husband, three children, German Shepherd and cat. Cornwall is her choice setting for all three current novels.

Sarah loves to hear from her readers so please do visit her at:
Website: https://sarahsimpsonauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahsimpson...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahrsimpson
Instagram: SarahSimpsonAuthor

Reviews

[Dash fan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4☆ A Psychological Thriller that at times feels all too real

Her greatest mistake is a story about Domestic Abuse, Violence, Manipulation, Trying to break free, New Beginnings.

The story opens with a thrilling car ride in which Eve's husband we assume is trying to end both their lives.

Eve has been tormented, abused both physically and mentally throughout her 10years of married life to Gregg.
At first it was just small scale manipulation until the cracks start showing and Gregg's sadistic and twisted personality shines through.

All the signs are there but Eve just seems to have blinkers on to it as he grinds her down. He even uses her son to manipulate her.

Eve and their Son Jack has finally escaped.
But things start to happen the phonecalls the eerie feeling someone has been in her house.
Has Gregg found Her?
Will he go too far this time and finish the job he started?

The story is told in alternate time lines. Before which delves into the marriage and abuse Eve faced whilst married to Gregg.
Then present time 2016 she has potentially escapes from her sadistic husband.

I enjoyed both past and present as you got to see exactly why Eve needed to run.
Although I did find the time lines became disjointed at times and seemed to miss chunks out as it skips back and forth.

Her Greatest Mistake is a psychological Thriller that at times feels all too real , it's a steady paced Thriller, it's eerie, unsettling, dark and gritty.
At times it wasn't easy to read but it has a way of drawing you in.

If you enjoy thrillers that create a realistic portrayel, gripping, contain alternative time lines then you Will really enjoy Her Greatest Mistake.

Thank you to Aria for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

My Review is also on my blog website:

https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Her Greatest Mistake by Sarah Simpson is a debut psychological thriller which I picked up when I saw it compared to B.A. Paris who I’ve actually loved the books I’ve read. Unfortunately taking a chance on this new author didn’t quite work out as well as I had hoped it would.

The story in here is one that is familiar and very dark. Eve and Gregg are a married couple that from the outside seem to be absolutely perfect but what we all know is that looks can be deceiving. Eve finds that Gregg has a dark side and fears for not only her own life but that of her young son, Jack.

As soon as I started this one I knew I was going to end up having issues with it, not the story inside although I’m sure it is an obvious trigger warning for some. Instead it was the style in which the author writes that I wasn’t a fan of. I knew right away this one was on the wordy/overly descriptive side that I find a bit tedious to wade through although I’m sure others would love it more than the more straight forward style I prefer.

What really sealed the deal in this one not grabbing me at all though was also in how the story is told. We begin with a short eerie prologue to gain interest which wasn’t too bad but then come the chapters that jump all around. The sections include one week after, Cornwall 2016, the before (going further into their past) and a current time. Toss this jumping around time wise into what was already slow moving for me and it really just wasn’t my cup of tea at all unfortunately. If this one sounds good to you though I’d certainly suggest giving it a try as I know some will love it.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

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

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

What was Eve’s greatest mistake?

Marrying Gregg? Leaving him? Or leaving him alive


She thought there was no way he would find them,she hoped they were finally free.After suffering ten years of mental and physical abuse,living every day being manipulated and controlled by Gregg,her psychopathic,twisted ex husband.Eve packed up their belongings and fled to Cornwall with their young son Jack.But no matter how hard she tries to give Jack a normal life ,she is still constantly looking over her shoulder and living in fear.Because she knows Gregg will never stop hunting for them and one day when she is least expecting it.....he will find them.

This creepy,sinister thriller is narrated in the first person point of view by Eve.The chapters flip back and forth between before and 2016.The before chapters chronicle Eve`s ten years of hell with Gregg.I have never been able to understand how people like Gregg keep their true nature hidden for months or even years until they move in or marry their victim and then the abusers behaviour completely changes sometimes overnight.The 2016 chapters are set in Cornwall,three years after Eve fled her immaculate home.Despite outwardly appearances she is still struggling mentally due to Gregg`s years of abuse.I really liked and felt so much sympathy for Eve and her son Jack who was fourteen years old in the chapters set in 2016 and didn't behave like the obnoxious teenagers that you find in so many books and films.Has Gregg found them and if he has then why is he terrorising them again after so many years of silence?

Opening with a intense,chilling prologue,this is a spine chilling,gripping,well written debut psychological thriller.The characters are vived and realistic and the twists and turns really keep the reader guessing.I felt so many different emotions as the story unfolded including sadness,fear,intense hatred,anger and sympathy.I really enjoyed this heart string pulling thriller and look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.

Many thanks to Aria for a arc of this book via Natgalley in exchange for a honest review.

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowsers!!!! This book is INTENSE!!!!! Her Greatest Mistake is Sarah Simpson’s debut novel and what a psychological thriller it is!!! You think you know someone and they are the perfect couple but no where near was that true!! The couples’ friends were all fooled and they thought they had the perfect marriage. Yet little did they know what a psychopath Gregg truly was. Gives me the chills just to think about it. This gripped me from the very first page and had me glued to the pages until the end!!!! I’m rating it 5 stars - like i said it is INTENSE!!! Get ready, it’s unlike anything you’ve read before. Wow!!!!!!!! Thank you for this complimentary copy of this book from Aria through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a dark story. A great book, considering the content. I raced through this book wanting to know what was going to happen and hoping that Eve would get her freedom.

Eve and Greg were the perfect couple on the outside. Behind closed doors things were very different. For 10 years Eve was abused both mentally and physically by Greg until she finally got away with her son Jake. But they are forever looking over their shoulders and living in fear of being found.

I really did feel sorry for Eve.. Nothing that she did or said was ever good enough and she tried really hard. Jake was a lovely boy despite who his father was.

A really great book with some tough scenes to read. Highly recommend this book.Thanks to Aria and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest opinions

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book to take your breath away. The layers are unpeeled slowly and deliberately and it is deep, dark and tantalising!

Eve married Gregg for love; blinded by the attentive charming man and and his 'you're perfect' comments she fails to spot any of the warning signs which, with hindsight, she realises must have been there. To begin with this story reminded me of the film Sleeping with the Enemy but it's much, much grittier than that. When Eve finally leaves, her main concern is to protect her son Jack from the influence of his father, but some things never go away no matter how much you want them to.

This is a gripping read, and it wasn't until I had completed this book that I realised this is a debut novel. WOW. Author Sarah Simpson holds so much promise for what's to come and I shall certainly be watching for her future releases. As the story unfolded, I found myself worried for Eve, rooting for her and at times terrified in the face of her bravery. The love of a mother brings with it courage which many of us don't normally have, and this book displays that so well. Having run the gamut of emotions which the skilful writing evokes, I'm quite worn out! Not a novel to be taken at face value, this is an engrossing read, switching from two different timelines and harbouring secrets within. Definitely a five star read and one which I have no hesitation in recommending.

My thanks to publishers Aria for pre-approving my request via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This book certainly packed some punch! I was not surprised to find out that the author has a psychology degree and vast experience in working with patients with mental health issues. Simpson’s insights into what makes a psychopath tick and how dysfunctional dynamics are being sustained in a marriage are insightful and take this story to another level altogether.

Eve, our main protagonist, is a successful psychologist with parents, friends and colleagues who love and value her. All that changes when she meets Gregg, falls in love and gets married. It doesn’t take long for the cracks to appear as the marriage slides into a game of power and control in which Eve finds herself ensnared. Have you ever looked at a domestic violence situation and wondered why the victim stays with her partner? Have you ever blamed her for her own situation? Be honest! Eve is aware of what is happening to her, and yet she allows herself to become estranged and isolated from all her support people until she is solely at the mercy of her controlling spouse. How could this happen? Over the course of the story, Simpson carefully explores Eve’s insights into her own situation, and they will shock and surprise you.

But this is not simply a book about marriage and abuse, because Simpson has spun it into a riveting thriller that picks up pace as the story moves along, right up to its explosive finale. Because it is now twelve years later, and Eve has made a new life for herself and her teenage son, away from Gregg’s clutches. Gregg appears to have disappeared off the face of the earth, and Eve prays that it will remain so. Until a note is slipped into her briefcase, and she is forced to relive the trauma of her marriage all over again. Will she ever be able to break free from Gregg’s clutches?

I admit that it took me a little while to get used to the narration style, which is mainly Eve “talking to” Gregg as she recaps the events that led up to her current situation. It’s an unusual style I’m not usually fond of, but as the story progressed I found that it was befitting this tale of power and abuse and helped to explore the dynamics that drive these characters. Once I got into the story, it carried me with it like a runaway train, depositing me firmly into the midst of troubled minds – that of the abuser and the victim. Fascinating? Yes. Disturbing? Definitely! Some passages evoked an almost visceral response of anger and disgust that made me want do away with Gregg myself. It always reflects the skill of a writer to be able to kindle such sparks in the minds of her readers!

Without any further ado, and for fear of giving something away that would spoil the suspense for other readers, just let me say that I really enjoyed Simpson’s debut novel and look forward to reading more from this talented author. Her insights into the dynamics that sustain dysfunctional relationships and her experience in exploring the dark corners of the human psyche provided additional depth to this suspenseful thriller that is often lacking in similar novels. Highly recommended to lovers of the genre who enjoy character driven stories of suspense that focus on relationship dynamics.

Thank you to Netgalley and Aria Fiction for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.

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[Inn Auni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another past-present format in my collection. Wow, seems like many authors like this format. Does it work for Her Greatest Mistake? Nope! So we have the past where Eve take us from the time she met Gregg and how they end up together and of course all the abuse that come with it. We also have the present where Eve and her son, Jack, escape from Gregg and living in constant fear that he may one day find them. The past-present format doesn't work with me because I know Eve and Jack escape. I just wanted to know what's their plan to survive. I don't need to know why they escape. I don't need to know how evil Gregg is. It will probably work better if the story build up from the start, slow and steady and I'm on edge wanting both of them to escape Gregg's grip. But, from the first chapter, I know they have already escape. Okay, I'm repeating myself.

It's good and everything when a writer wanted to be different. But, it have to be done flawlessly. I think it was an ad where a daughter was asking her mother how to cook a recipe. We can see the mother, in another room doing the laundry, telling her daughter what to do and how much to add. When the food was done, the camera pan to the father tasting the food and saying how much it tasted like his wife cooking only for us to finally see that the sit where the wife was suppose to sit, was empty. And even without word, we know that the mother had past away and her teaching her daughter how to cook was just the daughter's memory. That's my meaning. Make readers believe Gregg is still in the picture, together with Eve and Jack, up until the end where readers finally connect the dot that Gregg wasn't there. He's only a dark memory. It doesn't work for me but, it work for others. To each their won.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 1 out of 5]

SYNOPSIS:

Do we ever know what goes on behind closed doors?

Eve and Gregg were the perfect couple, with the perfect marriage...which has become the perfect lie. Gone is the charming, attentive Gregg - instead Eve wakes up each morning beside a manipulative and sinister man who controls his wife’s every move.

So Eve flees her immaculate marital home to keep herself, and young son Jack safe.Yet no matter how careful she has been, she knows Gregg will be relentless in his pursuit of his missing family. And that one day, when she's least expecting it, he will find them...

What was Eve’s greatest mistake? Marrying Gregg? Leaving him? Or leaving him alive... (From Publishers)

HER GREATEST MISTAKE

Written by Sarah Simpson
APRIL 1st, 2018; Head of Zeus/Aria (301 Pages)
Genre: domestic suspense, fiction, family drama, domestic abuse

RATING: DNF (@35%)

This is Sarah Simpson's debut novel so I want to say that despite the low rating I would try this author again. The main reason for this is the writing. I did not even get to enjoy the books as it drowns in over description and head shaking phrases. But what made me abandon ship was having to reread certain paragraphs to find out where we were in the timeline. When I put it down it was as if my mind erased everything I just read as I could not hold the synopsis or characters in my mind to read more. Please note this novel has a lot of 5 stars with some 4 and 3 and a few 2, with me maybe being the only one to rate it an one. When I am going to rate a novel less than a 3, I have to check other reviews on Goodreads. Not for the reasons you think, to see if others felt the same, but rather if there are too many bad reviews I don't want to add another horrible one. I feel not so guilty knowing others loved it, and maybe it's me.

***I received an eARC from the PUBLISHER via NETGALLEY***

My Novelesque Blog

[Louise Mullins · Rating 5 out of 5]

It takes a genius to be able to write a psychological thriller covering the gritty subject of domestic abuse, beautifully, but Simpson has achieved just this. It takes an incredibly talented author to write a novel depicting the female perspective of domestic violence with grace, authenticity, and effective research, but I suspect Sarah's experience working as a psychologist is responsible for enabling her to write the most realistic portrayal I've ever read- and I've written one myself.

The prose is eloquent, the sentences crisp, the dialogue sharp, the poetic description spellbinding, and the twist completely unexpected. A definite five star read for me. A book I will treasure on my top shelf of favourite reads for many years to come.

Extraordinarily powerful, this psychological thriller doesn't just offer the reader the antagonists narrative- a new perspective, but clearly demonstrates the difficulties women face once they have escaped their abuser. Family courts- a law unto themselves, a secret society where media aren't allowed to tread, and the public are unaware of how brutal the interrogation processes are; no different to a criminal law trial for victims. This could easily have been another survival story, but Simpson offers victims of domestic abuse hope, by proving they can thrive and justice, no matter what form it takes, can prevail, regardless of whether this is via the negatively plagued underfunded serves of CAFCASS or the court system.

This is a must read for anyone who truly wishes to understand the female experience of domestic violence without censor or fluffy padding.

[Patricia Romero · Rating 2 out of 5]

After a good, eerie beginning, this book unfortunately settled in to the poor clueless wife who marries the perfect man who becomes abusive and cruel. 

This is nothing like a Liane Moriarty book.  The style of writing was odd and didn't flow well for me. It was too wordy and it felt like the author was trying too hard.

One of my biggest peeves is when a book is compared to other writers works. Come on, this isn't close to Moriarty.

And I would really like to see this template of supposedly smart women marrying evil, crazy men and just becoming simpering, helpless victims. It's a template that has been overused and just feels insulting to the reader.

Thanks NetGalley/ April 1st 2018 by Head of Zeus, Aria

[Lorraine Walker · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are very few books that I give up on, but this was one of them. I read the first five chapters, although it was hard going and I just couldn't get past how 'wordy' it is! Descriptions are good, but in my opinion this was over the top and really spoilt for me.

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
I think when you read a lot of a specific genre your expectations are high, as there have been so many good psychological thrillers lately.
Unfortunately I found this book lacking in pace and intensity. On a positive note the characters were good and well developed, despite Gregg being so evil that he made my skin crawl. I wanted to shout at Eve and tell her to have some backbone and stand up to him, so I was a bit frustrated with her.
The last 20% of the book was more exciting upgrading this to a 3.5 Star review.

[Katie Pouncy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cleverly plotted book with some dark, but true to life issues that are handled in a sympathetic way and I thoroughly enjoyed the psychological element and the author's way of betraying this. The charming, idyllic setting of the book juxtaposed alongside the heart-breaking, chilling (at times) plot was absolutely fantastic and took me on a journey through all the emotions; fear, sadness, happiness, relief, anxiety and anger. I felt a close, personal connection with the characters, so much so, that I even found myself regarding Eve, the main protagonist as a real life close friend who I found myself worrying about throughout the day, yearning to know what if she'd be ok!! I am extremely fussy with my books, however, this book completely won me over and I couldn't wait to get back to reading it every time I stepped away. The ending was totally unexpected and certainly lived up to the rest of the book, something I find not always to be true.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good psychological thriller, and I really think this book could be a great help and comfort to those who may be caught in a similar situation!! Read now!! You will not regret it! One of the most heart-breaking, but raw stories I've read in a long time and I cannot wait to see what is next for this author!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the debut psychological thriller by Sarah Simpson. I read the blurb and it sounded just my kind of read, so it was with some excitement that I picked the book up and started reading. I was not to be disappointed. I really enjoyed the book but more about that in a bit.
I really felt for Eve and her young son. Eve entered into a relationship with Gregg, believing that he was as nice as he appeared to be. However it doesn’t take long for the rose tinted spectacles to fall from her eyes and she is horrified to learn what Gregg is really like. Gradually the abusive side of the relationship starts to take over and it isn’t long until Eve becomes a classic victim of domestic violence. She is careful as to what she says and does because she knows that he will make her pay for it when she gets home. Eventually Eve makes the brave decision to escape with her son but even then she is not free as she knows that Gregg will track her down. She lives in constant fear that he will find them and make them pay. I got the impression that Eve had led a life of regret as she wondered if her worst mistake was firstly meeting Gregg for the first time, or getting married to him or leaving the marital/ family home or to leave him alive. About the only thing she doesn’t regret is having her son. What can I say about the delightful charmer Gregg (note the sarcasm)? Gregg is a complete and utter nightmare. He creates a good first impression but his mask soon slips. He is a complete and utter control freak and he basically runs Eve’s life for her. He tells her what to say and what to do and when to do it. He is clever in one sense because he presents one persona in public and one at home with Eve and he knows that if she reports him, nobody would believe that he would abuse her. When she leaves him, she is convinced that he will chase after her. His attitude is that she is his property and he is going to do what he can to get her back. He is a manipulative psychopath, who has no redeeming features whatsoever. If there was any way that I could have leapt into the pages of this book to sort him out then I would have done. I can’t stand those who bully others, make people live in fear and who try to dominate somebody by scaring them half to death. Those who commit domestic abuse are a special sort of coward. I think part of my reaction to domestic violence stems from my work experiences in both child and adult protection, where I came across many such cases as that of Eve and Gregg.
I must admit that it took me a little while to get into this book and it was a bit of a slow burner. However after I had read a few chapters, I became addicted to the book and I just had to read on to see how the story concluded. I was really rooting for Eve and I was silently cheering her on in my head. I kept hoping that Gregg would accidentally on purpose take a very long walk off a very short cliff or someone would put an end to his reign of terror and do the world a favour. Reading this book was very much like riding on a very unpredictable and scary rollercoaster ride. There were lots of twists and turns, there were moments when I could sense what was going to happen but I was frustrated because there wasn’t a darn thing that I could do about it and there were moments when I almost had to read through my fingers as I feared what was going to happen next. This is certainly a difficult read in the sense that it deals with some pretty heavy topics, such as domestic abuse, but the author writes about them with great sensitivity.
In short I really did enjoy reading this great book and I would recommend it to other readers. I can’t wait for what comes next from Sarah Simpson. She is certainly an author to watch. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 4* out of 5*.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eve, a psychologist, married Gregg, a successful solicitor. They have a son named Jack. Shortly after their marriage, Eve started seeing the real Gregg. He is a controlling, arrogant, selfish, cruel and evil man - a complete psychopath. Eve tried hard to make the marriage work but realized it would not. He demeaned her, took her credit cards away from her, insisted that the house be perfect, and beat her many times. Some years later, she just had to leave. So, she and Jack packed up the little that they could and ran away from Warwickshire to Cornwall.

Eve finally divorced Gregg but always felt that he knew where she and Jack were. Now that Jack is a young teen, Eve never stops worrying about him and being afraid.

The story goes back and forth from the days of their marriage to present time. We meet Eve’s friends and coworkers in the clinic where she works. Things start to happen that makes Eve know that Gregg is near by and she fears for her’s and Jack’s lives.

This is an powerful book about spousal abuse in the extreme. While I found the story interesting, I could not fully understand why a woman who is a psychologist did not manage to get away from this man. It alludes to the fact that the British legal system is quite lenient to a man with money and power. I think that had Eve asked for help from the authorities earlier, she might had stood a better chance of getting away from this man. The author writes Eve as a strong woman but I felt that she was just weak.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thrillers based on domestic violence are a favourite psychological thriller theme, but this one makes an impact because of its professional language and authenticity. It's not easy to read, the author jumps between timelines, the abuser and his victims but although it is sometimes difficult to follow, it makes it realistic and believable.

The premise drew me in, and in many ways, it does fulfil its promise. The descriptions of Eve's life with Gregg are detailed and vivid. There's no doubt about his systematic destruction of her. For me, there is too much detail and too many examples of abuse. I don't need to drown in detail to understand.

His pursuit of her after ten years is carried out with similar ruthless intent. Again this is overlong for me; the medical detail sometimes detracts from the story's compelling suspense element. The characters are not easy to empathise. Mainly due to the writing style relying more on narration than showing how the characters feel through their actions and emotions.

Overall it is a promising debut, with explicit professional knowledge and experience, a little more storytelling and a little less professional speke would make this a real page-turner.

I received a copy of this book from Aria via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars
I would like to thank Netgalley, Aria Fiction and Sarah Simpson
For giving me a copy of this book.

This is Sarah's debut psychological thriller, and I must say that that
I am really impressed with it. I don’t want to give away the plot and
spoil it for people as it is that good. But what I will say is that it is dark, full of unexpected twists and turns (I wasn’t expecting some of them anyway.)

While I was reading the book I found myself fully hooked right from the start. I think that Sarah has done a brilliant job of keeping the reader entertained throughout and not made us lose interest.

I would highly recommend this book.

[Mary Christoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed Her Greatest Mistake by Sarah Simpson. I liked the premise (reminded me of Sleeping with the Enemy a bit) and the way the story is told (alternating between the present and past). The characters were well-developed, although I wish Jack were a bit more so. I definitely found myself surprised by some of the plot twists. It was a fun read!

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably a good description of domestic abuse & coercive control but the ending, oh dear what a let down

[Julie Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping thriller let down by the ending and the sometimes odd writing style. The main part of the book is a real page turner as you learn about Eve's past life with Gregg and her present paranoia. Along the way there are several plot twists as we build to the finale
Not an easy read at times particularly the sections dealing with the abuse Eve suffered and many will find it hard to beleive she endured it for so long.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced reading copy of the novel in return for an honest review

[Grass monster · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Blurb :
Eve and Gregg were the perfect couple, with the perfect marriage... which has become the perfect lie. Gone is the charming, attentive Gregg - instead Eve wakes up each morning beside a manipulative and sinister man who controls his wife’s every move.
So Eve flees her immaculate marital home to keep herself, and young son Jack safe. Yet no matter how careful she has been, she knows Gregg will be relentless in his pursuit of his missing family. And that one day, when she's least expecting it, he will find them...
What was Eve’s greatest mistake?
Marrying Gregg? Leaving him? Or leaving him alive…?

My Thoughts :
The blurb and cover looked very intriguing on this book, but it took me a little whille to get into the book as for me it was confusing with the jumping around from present day to eve’s past in flashbacks.
As we learn about the marriage of Eve and Gregg, we see Gregg is a twisted Psychopath who has controlled and manipulated Eve for many years.
Eve finally took their son Jack and fled to Cornwall to start a new life. Eve had to live in constant fear that Gregg will find them one day. As we read in Eve’s flashbacks we learn what Gregg did and how he treated Eve throughout the course of their 10 year marriage.
Although this had the potential to be a great book it sadly wasnt for me and didnt keep me as captivated as id hoped, I felt very frustrated with Eve as times and wanted to take her by the hand and get her to harden up a bit. It does make a a good psychological thriller and I am sure it would make great reading for many others, it will certainly have your emotions all over the place.
A great debut from Sarah Simpson and I would certainly like to read more from this Author.

[Cathy Zane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up because the premise was similar to my novel, Better Than This, and I saw that it was written by a psychologist. As a psychotherapist myself, I love any book that explores the realms of psychology, from the normal and expected responses to everyday stressors or past traumas to the extremes of psychological disfunction and sociopathy. Well, Simpson’s book definitely falls into that later category. An intense inside look at the impossible no-win situation of extreme abuse and how terror can impact even the sanest of minds, it is hard to put down. Simpson’s experience as a psychologist definitely shines through in this riveting debut.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately I didn't like this book and I hate giving bad reviews but this story has been told over and over.. This book was to descriptive almost to the point I was just skimming the pages to finish the book. Just couldn't get into this wasn't suspenseful enough for me.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the Publisher, Aria for this review copy given in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately I really struggled with this one. The writing from the beginning was very confusing and I struggled to understand what was going on. Perhaps if I had persevered with it a bit longer it may have got better, but to be honest I had lost interest by that point. It has had some good reviews and the actual plot of the story sounded good, but it just wasn't for me. Sorry!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It would be a mistake to miss Sarah Simpson’s tense, thrilling and terrifying debut novel that is sure to propel her straight to the top of the grip-lit genre: Her Greatest Mistake. If you were riveted by Gone Girl and were glued to the pages of The Girl on the Train, then Her Greatest Mistake is another book that will make you switch off your phone, cancel all social engagements and keep you reading until the early hours of the morning!

Everybody thinks that Eve and Gregg have the perfect marriage. Eve’s friends and family think that Gregg is the perfect man: he’s good-looking, charming and successful and seems to worship the ground Eve walks on. But behind closed doors, Gregg’s charismatic facade slips to reveal a cruel, abusive and twisted man who delights in torturing and abusing his wife. Belittling her and destroying what little self-esteem Eve has left is Gregg’s favourite hobby and most precious past time. But Eve has had enough. Determined not to let their son Jack grow up in such a toxic environment, Eve realises that she has no other option but to pack her bags and leave Gregg and their poisonous marriage behind. But no matter how far she runs, Gregg is always behind her forever haunting her footsteps and dogging her every move…

Gregg will not rest until he has tracked his family down and punished Eve for having the temerity to abandon their immaculate home and depriving him of his son. Gregg is relentless in his pursuit to find and claim the family he regards as his possessions. Although Eve has tried her best to make a fresh start for herself and Jack and to make a new life for herself, she is forever looking over her shoulder for she knows that sooner or later, Jack will track her down and make her pay. The more time passes, the more that dreadful day approaches. Will Eve ever be free from her tormentor? Or will she continue to be shackled to the man who has made her life hell – her husband, Gregg?

What was Eve’s greatest mistake? Was it marrying him in the first place? Leaving him? Or was it leaving him still alive?

It’s hard to believe that this is a debut novel! Her Greatest Mistake is a shocking, engrossing and jaw-dropping domestic thriller that had me chewing my nails to the elbow! Packed with twists and turns and heart-pounding suspense that would have made Alfred Hitchcock turn green with envy, Her Greatest Mistake is one of those books that you will devour and which you will simply not be able to stop reading.

A book that will haunt, captivate and scare you, Her Greatest Mistake is a stunning debut novel from a writer set to become one of the queens of the genre: Sarah Simpson!

[Hansen Annabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Attracted to mostly the thriller genre I decided to give this new Novel a go, and I was so very glad that I did. A brilliantly written psychological thriller by Sarah Simpson in which grips you from the very first page with its deep and dark
story line. Couldn’t put it down. The chapters are intertwined very cleverly in a way which intrigues you to read more and before you know it you are 100 pages deep into the novel and cannot stop. Excited is an understatement when I was able to pick up Sarah’s book and carry on from where I left off. Being so well written you are engaged in every word, every sentence and every chapter of the book, almost as though you are a real life spectator upon Eves life. I felt every emotion Eve went through and sympathised with her greatly. Each character had their own unique and strong personality in a way in which enabled me to picture and create vivid figures within my mind whilst reading the book. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. You prove to be a real author when you are able to write a book of this context in this manner and portray it in the way Sarah has so very well. An exceptional and captivating read in which I thoroughly enjoyed !!

[Cheryl. B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow... couldn't this down
Loved the characters, so believable. Loved the 'behind closed doors' look at a relationship so very wrong. Think I felt every conceivable emotion throughout. The way the whole story was weaved together was so clever. And sadly, I think many people will be able to relate to elements of this story and the reasoning of Eve. At times it felt so very raw and close to the bone and I had no idea where it was all leading. Highly recommend this one. Will definitely look out for book two.

[Cecile · Rating 4 out of 5]

This psychological thriller is difficult to put down. Domestic abuse is a reality and this book really illustrates years of silence from an ashamed woman who went through the complete ladder of abuse in those situations. The fear, the protective instinct for her child and the constant run makes this book an addictive book to read.

[Linda Burns · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard going

The writing self indulgent. The story not bad but difficult to follow and I was not convinced by Eve' s reasoning for staying with Gregg as long as she did. I'm afraid I got bored with it and skimmed through the last quarter of the book.