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The Other Woman
YOU DIDN'T MEAN TO DO IT.
IT WAS ONLY ONE NIGHT.
BUT NOW HE'S DEAD, AND SOMEONE HAS TO PAY . . .
'Fearsomely good' Nicci French
'Sensitive and thought-provoking' Adele Parks
'Psychological thriller writing at its very best' SD Sykes
'Few writers can match Jane Corry in her compelling portrayals of women' Cara Hunter
464 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 20, 2020
379 people are currently reading
3718 people want to read
About the author
Jane Corry
21 books1,725 followersJane Corry is a Sunday Times and Washington Post best-seller. After working as a journalist for many years, she took a job as a writer in residence of a high-security male prison out of financial necessity. But she became hooked.
Novels include MY HUSBAND'S WIFE, BLOOD SISTERS, THE DEAD EX, I MADE A MISTAKE, I LOOKED AWAY, THE LIES WE TELL, WE ALL HAVE OUR SECRETS,COMING TO FIND YOU and I DIED ON A TUESDAY. Her next novel come out in June 2025. Title to be announced soon!
She is published by Penguin in the UK and Doubleday in Canada and the US.
You can find Jane on Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, Threads and Facebook . Also on www.janecorryauthor.com
Novels include MY HUSBAND'S WIFE, BLOOD SISTERS, THE DEAD EX, I MADE A MISTAKE, I LOOKED AWAY, THE LIES WE TELL, WE ALL HAVE OUR SECRETS,COMING TO FIND YOU and I DIED ON A TUESDAY. Her next novel come out in June 2025. Title to be announced soon!
She is published by Penguin in the UK and Doubleday in Canada and the US.
You can find Jane on Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, Threads and Facebook . Also on www.janecorryauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 520 reviews
May 25, 2020
Indiscretion
I Made A Mistake is a slow-burn drama, that is carefully layered and very much in the style of Jane Corry. Having read most of her books, and been a fan for a long time, it is always a joy to read the latest novel from this very talented author. Using two first-person story threads and a court-room scene that teases with a fait accompli, Jane builds a story full of suspense and mystery. The reveal is that we know who is murdered and we have someone in court being questioned, you may think the mystery has been solved – but think again. What you do know is that over the next few hundred pages you will be taken on a ride that gives brilliantly drawn characters every motive why they should be the murderer.
Poppy Page was an aspiring actress, but when it didn’t work out she established an agency providing extras for film and TV roles. She is married to Stuart with daughters, Melissa and Daisy, and also shares her home with her mother-in-law Betty. Betty and Poppy are extremely close, more like mother and daughter and they both provide alternating accounts of their story. Poppy, as she encounters, at a Christmas party, an old partner, Matthew, who she loved many years before her husband. An encounter that leads to Poppy’s first of many mistakes. Jane Corry turns the tables really brilliantly from building excitement to arousal to a rapid descent into fear and dread. Fearful that her mistakes will be exposed and the continuing pursuit from Matthew will destroy her family.
Betty tells her story as a letter to Poppy and it accounts for her adult life, from meeting her husband, Jock, a selfish, controlling and an imperious man who has since passed away. A marriage that Betty considers a mistake, but behaved as the social pressures dictated at the time and stayed with him. She opens up to Poppy, revealing secrets and regrets from a very naïve and oppressed woman. Betty talks about tragic events and the pull to leave her husband but with her son, Stuart and a damning secret she endures her distressing life.
I find it very intriguing the mastery of the plot where you give up a potential surprise at the beginning of the novel but still manage to hold the suspense until the end with a multitude of possibilities. It’s a very clever way of watching the interaction of the victim with the other characters to see if we can spot clues. Jane develops characters with many layers and gradually she changes them over time. This is very evident in Betty’s story as she manages to turn the tables and challenge her husband’s authority.
The story builds to an enthralling conclusion with an ever-increasing pace. I would highly recommend I Made a Mistake as a great psychological crime drama that is fascinating and cleverly plotted. I would also like to thank Penguin Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC copy in return for an honest review.
I Made A Mistake is a slow-burn drama, that is carefully layered and very much in the style of Jane Corry. Having read most of her books, and been a fan for a long time, it is always a joy to read the latest novel from this very talented author. Using two first-person story threads and a court-room scene that teases with a fait accompli, Jane builds a story full of suspense and mystery. The reveal is that we know who is murdered and we have someone in court being questioned, you may think the mystery has been solved – but think again. What you do know is that over the next few hundred pages you will be taken on a ride that gives brilliantly drawn characters every motive why they should be the murderer.
Poppy Page was an aspiring actress, but when it didn’t work out she established an agency providing extras for film and TV roles. She is married to Stuart with daughters, Melissa and Daisy, and also shares her home with her mother-in-law Betty. Betty and Poppy are extremely close, more like mother and daughter and they both provide alternating accounts of their story. Poppy, as she encounters, at a Christmas party, an old partner, Matthew, who she loved many years before her husband. An encounter that leads to Poppy’s first of many mistakes. Jane Corry turns the tables really brilliantly from building excitement to arousal to a rapid descent into fear and dread. Fearful that her mistakes will be exposed and the continuing pursuit from Matthew will destroy her family.
Betty tells her story as a letter to Poppy and it accounts for her adult life, from meeting her husband, Jock, a selfish, controlling and an imperious man who has since passed away. A marriage that Betty considers a mistake, but behaved as the social pressures dictated at the time and stayed with him. She opens up to Poppy, revealing secrets and regrets from a very naïve and oppressed woman. Betty talks about tragic events and the pull to leave her husband but with her son, Stuart and a damning secret she endures her distressing life.
I find it very intriguing the mastery of the plot where you give up a potential surprise at the beginning of the novel but still manage to hold the suspense until the end with a multitude of possibilities. It’s a very clever way of watching the interaction of the victim with the other characters to see if we can spot clues. Jane develops characters with many layers and gradually she changes them over time. This is very evident in Betty’s story as she manages to turn the tables and challenge her husband’s authority.
The story builds to an enthralling conclusion with an ever-increasing pace. I would highly recommend I Made a Mistake as a great psychological crime drama that is fascinating and cleverly plotted. I would also like to thank Penguin Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC copy in return for an honest review.
May 22, 2020
Ebook publisher today 22/5/20
Well, there are plenty of mistakes here that’s for sure! Poppy Page once an aspiring actress now runs a successful extras agency. She’s been married to Stuart, a dentist, for twenty years and they have two daughters, Melissa and Daisy. At an extras party in December she meets ex-boyfriend Matthew Gordon who she’d loved dearly and hasn’t seen for many years. This is the beginning of mistakes that Poppy makes which deeply impact on the whole family. Betty is Poppy’s mother in law who lives with them. She and Poppy are very close and Betty loves Poppy as a daughter. In a series of letters to Poppy Betty describes life with her deceased husband Jock and the many mistakes she makes in their early years together. The story is told by Poppy and Betty and is interspersed with scenes at The Central Criminal Court where a murder trial is underway.
The book is well written with good pacing and there are plenty of twists and turns some of which you don’t see coming. The characters are very well portrayed and you get a clear sense of them. Most characters are likeable but a couple are loathsome but they are both pivotal to the novel. Betty’s story is the stand out one for me as she’s the character I like the best although she needs to ditch the purple berets! Her courtship and marriage to Jock in the late 60’s and early ‘70’s are a fascinating snapshot of that period of time. It is shortly after she gives birth to Stuart that Betty makes a mistake that is to dominate her life. Her life spirals downwards just as Poppy’s does after rejecting Matthew and Betty does all she can to help her beloved daughter in law. Although it’s undoubtedly fair to say that Poppy by no means deserves the fallout from her meeting with Matthew she does bring some of the damage upon herself. The scenes at the court are intriguing and add another layer to the storytelling. Although I like the ending I think the novel deserves a stronger one as it doesn’t quite measure up to the previous strength.
Overall, a really enjoyable read which I recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC.
Well, there are plenty of mistakes here that’s for sure! Poppy Page once an aspiring actress now runs a successful extras agency. She’s been married to Stuart, a dentist, for twenty years and they have two daughters, Melissa and Daisy. At an extras party in December she meets ex-boyfriend Matthew Gordon who she’d loved dearly and hasn’t seen for many years. This is the beginning of mistakes that Poppy makes which deeply impact on the whole family. Betty is Poppy’s mother in law who lives with them. She and Poppy are very close and Betty loves Poppy as a daughter. In a series of letters to Poppy Betty describes life with her deceased husband Jock and the many mistakes she makes in their early years together. The story is told by Poppy and Betty and is interspersed with scenes at The Central Criminal Court where a murder trial is underway.
The book is well written with good pacing and there are plenty of twists and turns some of which you don’t see coming. The characters are very well portrayed and you get a clear sense of them. Most characters are likeable but a couple are loathsome but they are both pivotal to the novel. Betty’s story is the stand out one for me as she’s the character I like the best although she needs to ditch the purple berets! Her courtship and marriage to Jock in the late 60’s and early ‘70’s are a fascinating snapshot of that period of time. It is shortly after she gives birth to Stuart that Betty makes a mistake that is to dominate her life. Her life spirals downwards just as Poppy’s does after rejecting Matthew and Betty does all she can to help her beloved daughter in law. Although it’s undoubtedly fair to say that Poppy by no means deserves the fallout from her meeting with Matthew she does bring some of the damage upon herself. The scenes at the court are intriguing and add another layer to the storytelling. Although I like the ending I think the novel deserves a stronger one as it doesn’t quite measure up to the previous strength.
Overall, a really enjoyable read which I recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC.
September 5, 2020
Jane Corry has done it again!
My fifth Jane Corry and every one has been 4 stars!
Poppy has a good life, a solid marriage, two daughters, a successful business and a wonderful relationship with her mother in law. When she attends a work party and bumps into an old ex suddenly everything goes wrong.
Matthew Gordon is charming and handsome, it doesn’t take long until Poppy has fallen under his spell once again.
Meanwhile we get alternate chapters from Betty’s perspective - Poppy’s mother in law. We read about her troubled marriage and the struggles she went through.
While I wouldn’t say Jane Corry’s books are ‘thrilling’ per se, there is just something in the way she writes about the human condition and flawed characters that just drags you in and you can’t stop reading!
Jane is on my auto-read list forever now. The woman just knows exactly the kind of thing I love to read.
My fifth Jane Corry and every one has been 4 stars!
Poppy has a good life, a solid marriage, two daughters, a successful business and a wonderful relationship with her mother in law. When she attends a work party and bumps into an old ex suddenly everything goes wrong.
Matthew Gordon is charming and handsome, it doesn’t take long until Poppy has fallen under his spell once again.
Meanwhile we get alternate chapters from Betty’s perspective - Poppy’s mother in law. We read about her troubled marriage and the struggles she went through.
While I wouldn’t say Jane Corry’s books are ‘thrilling’ per se, there is just something in the way she writes about the human condition and flawed characters that just drags you in and you can’t stop reading!
Jane is on my auto-read list forever now. The woman just knows exactly the kind of thing I love to read.
January 14, 2020
I have to say that even thinking about a new Jane Corry book makes my toes curl in anticipation. You can be sure that it will be an addictive read, that you won’t be able to put down!!
Poppy and Stuart have two daughters and have been married for twenty years. They have drifted apart as poppy runs her own business Poppy Paige Extra Agency and Stuart is a busy Dentist, with work and raising a family they have little time for one another.
When Poppy meets up with her first love Mathew at a time when she is feeling insecure, it turns her life upside down, the consequences rippling throughout the family.
The story is from Poppy’s prospective and of a London court where there is a murder case., also through a letter Betty has written to her daughter in law poppy, we get to see what her younger life was like with her husband Jock and the mistakes and regrets she has kept secret.
This is such a well written addictive twister of a book, loved how it all came together at the end. At one point when there is a reveal, I screamed out loud as I never saw that coming!!!
A must read book. Everyone makes mistakes but some are more deadly than others!!
Definitely recommend this. If you haven’t read a Jane Corry book then you are missing out on a thrilling author.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Poppy and Stuart have two daughters and have been married for twenty years. They have drifted apart as poppy runs her own business Poppy Paige Extra Agency and Stuart is a busy Dentist, with work and raising a family they have little time for one another.
When Poppy meets up with her first love Mathew at a time when she is feeling insecure, it turns her life upside down, the consequences rippling throughout the family.
The story is from Poppy’s prospective and of a London court where there is a murder case., also through a letter Betty has written to her daughter in law poppy, we get to see what her younger life was like with her husband Jock and the mistakes and regrets she has kept secret.
This is such a well written addictive twister of a book, loved how it all came together at the end. At one point when there is a reveal, I screamed out loud as I never saw that coming!!!
A must read book. Everyone makes mistakes but some are more deadly than others!!
Definitely recommend this. If you haven’t read a Jane Corry book then you are missing out on a thrilling author.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
May 20, 2020
Another sure-fire winner by Jane Corry!
Poppy Page is married, with two teenage girls, has an exciting career as a casting agent for extras, and a godsend of a mother-in-law, Betty, to help out. Sure, her marriage is a little stale and ordinary, and both her and her husband, Stuart, work a lot, and hardly see each other, but no relationship is perfect right?
Then, Poppy bumps into her first love – Matthew Gordon – at a work Christmas party, and all her old feelings come rushing back. Poppy isn't a cheater, but Matthew's seductive charms have always been her downfall. But Poppy never thought letting Matthew back into her life would lead to a screech of train brakes and a body on the tracks.
Engrossing, nail-biting, and emotionally-investing. As the title states, I Made a Mistake is exactly that, how a single action can destroy your life as you know it, the regrets and guilt associated with that, and how much you wish you could take it back. Another prominent theme is the enormous misogynist pressure society places on women to marry and have children resulting in them sometimes settling for a less than ideal husband. Deals with some heavy topics such as domestic abuse, post-natal depression, obsession and stalking.
I would categorize this crime mystery as more domestic drama than psychological thriller, so it's a bit different from Jane Corry’s norm, but nonetheless this was a fantastic read with several didn't-see-that-coming twists, and I can see this storyline appealing to a more mainstream audience. We are presented with two POV's, Poppy in the present, and Betty narrating her life story to Poppy in the form of a letter. Both timelines were engrossing and surprising and collided together in shocking and unexpected ways.
This author continues to do no wrong in my book, and I eagerly await whatever she writes next.
I'd like to thank Netgalley, Penguin Books UK, and Jane Corry for the e-ARC.
Publication Date: 22nd May, 2020.
Poppy Page is married, with two teenage girls, has an exciting career as a casting agent for extras, and a godsend of a mother-in-law, Betty, to help out. Sure, her marriage is a little stale and ordinary, and both her and her husband, Stuart, work a lot, and hardly see each other, but no relationship is perfect right?
Then, Poppy bumps into her first love – Matthew Gordon – at a work Christmas party, and all her old feelings come rushing back. Poppy isn't a cheater, but Matthew's seductive charms have always been her downfall. But Poppy never thought letting Matthew back into her life would lead to a screech of train brakes and a body on the tracks.
Engrossing, nail-biting, and emotionally-investing. As the title states, I Made a Mistake is exactly that, how a single action can destroy your life as you know it, the regrets and guilt associated with that, and how much you wish you could take it back. Another prominent theme is the enormous misogynist pressure society places on women to marry and have children resulting in them sometimes settling for a less than ideal husband. Deals with some heavy topics such as domestic abuse, post-natal depression, obsession and stalking.
I would categorize this crime mystery as more domestic drama than psychological thriller, so it's a bit different from Jane Corry’s norm, but nonetheless this was a fantastic read with several didn't-see-that-coming twists, and I can see this storyline appealing to a more mainstream audience. We are presented with two POV's, Poppy in the present, and Betty narrating her life story to Poppy in the form of a letter. Both timelines were engrossing and surprising and collided together in shocking and unexpected ways.
This author continues to do no wrong in my book, and I eagerly await whatever she writes next.
I'd like to thank Netgalley, Penguin Books UK, and Jane Corry for the e-ARC.
Publication Date: 22nd May, 2020.
February 22, 2020
'I made a mistake' the new novel by author Jane Corry and I can honestly say I didn't make a mistake reading this book.
Poppy Page makes a mistake when she lets a lost love back into her life, some twenty years after he left it. Poppy is now married with children and her life is completely different to then, but what about her feelings.
The story is told separately from both Poppy and through a letter from her Mother in Law Betty telling Poppy of her younger life with her husband Jock. The letter tells her of her mistakes and regrets that she has kept secret all these years.
A very good read and my only mistake is not reading more from this author till now.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Penguin UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Poppy Page makes a mistake when she lets a lost love back into her life, some twenty years after he left it. Poppy is now married with children and her life is completely different to then, but what about her feelings.
The story is told separately from both Poppy and through a letter from her Mother in Law Betty telling Poppy of her younger life with her husband Jock. The letter tells her of her mistakes and regrets that she has kept secret all these years.
A very good read and my only mistake is not reading more from this author till now.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Penguin UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2020
Jane Corry returns with another unputdownable slowburing domestic thriller.
Poppy and Stewart have been married for 20 years. Even though they have two content daughters, the couple find them drifting slowly apart because of work.
Poppy is busy with her film extras casting company while Stewart's time is taken with dentistry.
Through her company Poppy bumps into her first love Matthew Gordon, she struggles to resist his handsome charm.
Just meeting for a drink is one mistake that Poppy is going to regret...
The novel also follows Poppy's mother-in-law Betty's perspective as she recounts her own experience of life with Jock.
One of the strongest aspects of the novel is the exploration of different social pressures in a marriage, especially in the case of Jock and Betty.
A women was expected to bring up a child whilst the husband with rough and strict outlook expected his wife to stay at home and meet his needs.
Divorce was completely out of the question, Betty wanting some companionship during the day which was the least that she deserved.
Jock wasn't all bad and deep down he does care for Betty, the fact that his parents having lived through the Second World War teachings impacted on his judgments.
Thankfully we have moved on from that stereotypical attitude that affected so many lives, though the drama also touches on the modern pressures of career driven lives which can also drive a wedge.
Between the two narratives there's the occasional court room scene as evidence is given during a murder trial. These much needed scenes add a great sense of jeopardy as something serious had unfolded since Matthew had stepped back into Poppys life.
Another sure fire hit by Corry.
Poppy and Stewart have been married for 20 years. Even though they have two content daughters, the couple find them drifting slowly apart because of work.
Poppy is busy with her film extras casting company while Stewart's time is taken with dentistry.
Through her company Poppy bumps into her first love Matthew Gordon, she struggles to resist his handsome charm.
Just meeting for a drink is one mistake that Poppy is going to regret...
The novel also follows Poppy's mother-in-law Betty's perspective as she recounts her own experience of life with Jock.
One of the strongest aspects of the novel is the exploration of different social pressures in a marriage, especially in the case of Jock and Betty.
A women was expected to bring up a child whilst the husband with rough and strict outlook expected his wife to stay at home and meet his needs.
Divorce was completely out of the question, Betty wanting some companionship during the day which was the least that she deserved.
Jock wasn't all bad and deep down he does care for Betty, the fact that his parents having lived through the Second World War teachings impacted on his judgments.
Thankfully we have moved on from that stereotypical attitude that affected so many lives, though the drama also touches on the modern pressures of career driven lives which can also drive a wedge.
Between the two narratives there's the occasional court room scene as evidence is given during a murder trial. These much needed scenes add a great sense of jeopardy as something serious had unfolded since Matthew had stepped back into Poppys life.
Another sure fire hit by Corry.
May 21, 2020
Poppy is not just a wife and mother, she's also a successful businesswoman. She runs a successful Extras agency after failing to make it as an actress. She has a great relationship with her mother-in-law, Betty, who loves Poppy like the daughter she never had. But when Poppy meets ex-boyfriend Matthew Gordon, she makes a mistake that could devastate her whole family. Betty's life story is told in a letter to Poppy. There is also a court case where somebody is accused of murder.
I did feel that this was more a family drama than a thriller but that did not spoil my enjoyment of this story. Its told in the present day by Poppy and the past is told by Betty. It's filled with twist and turns. Each character has their own backstory. A story of mistakes, guilt, regrets, death and lost ,ove. We don't k ow until much later who had died and who had been standing trial. I really enjoyed this book. I like when all the loose ends are tied up,and all my questions are answered. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Books (UK) and the author Jane Corry for my ARC in exchange for an honest review .
I did feel that this was more a family drama than a thriller but that did not spoil my enjoyment of this story. Its told in the present day by Poppy and the past is told by Betty. It's filled with twist and turns. Each character has their own backstory. A story of mistakes, guilt, regrets, death and lost ,ove. We don't k ow until much later who had died and who had been standing trial. I really enjoyed this book. I like when all the loose ends are tied up,and all my questions are answered. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Books (UK) and the author Jane Corry for my ARC in exchange for an honest review .
March 4, 2020
I always get excited when I hear a new book by Jane Corry comes out. I made a mistake by Jane Corry is another excellent read by the author.
Poppy Page is married with two children and she owns the Poppy Page Extra company as she was an actress herself years ago. Her husband Stuart is a dentist. Their relationship has kind of distant lately. When she meets an old flame Matthew Gordon at a Christmas event. She has a few drinks and ends up sleeping with him. The next day she knows that she has made a big mistake and even so, when she finds out that he has taken a photo of her and starts blackmailing her and threatening her family.
The story also tells us of Betty Page’s Mother in law. How she met her husband Jock who was loving at first but came domineering. But later in life, did everything for her grandchildren and thought of Page as the daughter that she never had.
I really enjoyed I made a mistake by Jane Corry. This is a gripping story told in three points of view. What decision we make in life are not always the correct ones and there are always consequences to the decisions we make. 5 stars from me.
Poppy Page is married with two children and she owns the Poppy Page Extra company as she was an actress herself years ago. Her husband Stuart is a dentist. Their relationship has kind of distant lately. When she meets an old flame Matthew Gordon at a Christmas event. She has a few drinks and ends up sleeping with him. The next day she knows that she has made a big mistake and even so, when she finds out that he has taken a photo of her and starts blackmailing her and threatening her family.
The story also tells us of Betty Page’s Mother in law. How she met her husband Jock who was loving at first but came domineering. But later in life, did everything for her grandchildren and thought of Page as the daughter that she never had.
I really enjoyed I made a mistake by Jane Corry. This is a gripping story told in three points of view. What decision we make in life are not always the correct ones and there are always consequences to the decisions we make. 5 stars from me.
August 19, 2025
"We all make mistakes.
That's why pencils have erasers."
This was my second "MISTAKE" book of the week.
"THE MISTAKE" by A.J. Campbell left me cold.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
"I MADE A MISTAKE" by Jane Corry was sizzling hot.
Mixed with a suspenseful crime element, Jane Correy's riveting, pacey, twisty, and intricately plotted domestic drama brilliantly showcased the life-altering mistakes of two deeply flawed women.
I especially enjoyed the book's gripping trial and many GOL (Gasp Out Loud) moments.
I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Emilia Fox.
Since the book unfolded from two POVs, I would have preferred two narrators but kudos to Emilia Fox for her outstanding performance.
For the second time this month, author Jane Corry wowed this Jayne.
This 2020 book was one of my besties of 2025.
All the stars!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 27, 2020
A slow moving story told by two different women.
Poppy has met an old flame at a party and is smitten with him all over again.
Her mother in law Betty is trapped in a loveless marriage.
A murder mystery with some twists.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Poppy has met an old flame at a party and is smitten with him all over again.
Her mother in law Betty is trapped in a loveless marriage.
A murder mystery with some twists.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 18, 2020
Slow-moving but very readable domestic drama centred on the theme of mistakes - no thriller.
I Made a Mistake is a slow-moving but very readable domestic drama centred around on the repercussions of a much regretted mistake by married mother, Poppy Page, just prior to her twentieth wedding anniversary. It is not a thriller and comes with the caveat that events do become rather far-fetched but I found it a very solid read that does an excellent job of giving a real voice to an older character in seventy-year-old Betty, Poppy’s mother-in-law. Neither the archetypal toxic mother-in-law or simply a secondary filler character in the background, half of the narrative is presented from Betty’s point-of-view and she is portrayed with empathy.
Poppy Page was once an aspiring actress but after giving up on her dream she now runs her own agency supplying extras and is married to dentist, Stuart, with two teenage daughters and a live-in mother-in-law who picks up the slack given Poppy and Stuart are both immersed in their careers. Virtually living separate lives and drifting further apart from Stuart, the unexpected arrival of her first love and the man who broke her heart at a showbiz party reignites a barrage of emotions in Poppy. Matthew Gordon was the one that got away and after a passionate affair during their three years at drama school he unceremoniously dumped Poppy and it doesn’t take too much smooth talking for Poppy to fall into bed with him and commit a monumental mistake. But her old flame isn’t going away easily and inveigles himself into every area of her life, including registering as a patient at her husband surgery and visiting Poppy’s dementia suffering dad. But where will it end and how long can Poppy keep scrambling to prevent her family and husband from discovering the truth..?
The novel cuts between Poppy’s story to the Central Criminal Court where a murder trial is taking place to heartfelt letters that Betty has written to her daughter-in-law. Whilst we do not know who is on trial readers learn the name of the deceased on page sixteen, effectively putting the kibosh on the build up of any meaningful suspense. Poppy isn’t characterised with any real depth and much of her self-involved narrative is nothing more than padding making her feel rather like a flimsy caricature. Less fluff from Poppy about the agency and the book could easily have been a hundred pages shorter but her story illustrates that big lies often begin with small ones and an often unstoppable chain of events can ensue.
For me it was Betty’s part of the narrative where she recounts her experiences of marriage and motherhood and talks honesty about the mistakes in her life that held my attention. I really warmed to her character, admired her attitude and her letters to Poppy reveal a complicated woman plagued by guilt and sadness all hidden behind her sunny disposition. Whilst I wasn’t at all convinced that Poppy’s mistake merited the sympathy and understanding that Betty’s story moved me too I appreciated the attempt to draw comparisons between the two women across the eras. Undemanding women’s fiction with a moral!
I Made a Mistake is a slow-moving but very readable domestic drama centred around on the repercussions of a much regretted mistake by married mother, Poppy Page, just prior to her twentieth wedding anniversary. It is not a thriller and comes with the caveat that events do become rather far-fetched but I found it a very solid read that does an excellent job of giving a real voice to an older character in seventy-year-old Betty, Poppy’s mother-in-law. Neither the archetypal toxic mother-in-law or simply a secondary filler character in the background, half of the narrative is presented from Betty’s point-of-view and she is portrayed with empathy.
Poppy Page was once an aspiring actress but after giving up on her dream she now runs her own agency supplying extras and is married to dentist, Stuart, with two teenage daughters and a live-in mother-in-law who picks up the slack given Poppy and Stuart are both immersed in their careers. Virtually living separate lives and drifting further apart from Stuart, the unexpected arrival of her first love and the man who broke her heart at a showbiz party reignites a barrage of emotions in Poppy. Matthew Gordon was the one that got away and after a passionate affair during their three years at drama school he unceremoniously dumped Poppy and it doesn’t take too much smooth talking for Poppy to fall into bed with him and commit a monumental mistake. But her old flame isn’t going away easily and inveigles himself into every area of her life, including registering as a patient at her husband surgery and visiting Poppy’s dementia suffering dad. But where will it end and how long can Poppy keep scrambling to prevent her family and husband from discovering the truth..?
The novel cuts between Poppy’s story to the Central Criminal Court where a murder trial is taking place to heartfelt letters that Betty has written to her daughter-in-law. Whilst we do not know who is on trial readers learn the name of the deceased on page sixteen, effectively putting the kibosh on the build up of any meaningful suspense. Poppy isn’t characterised with any real depth and much of her self-involved narrative is nothing more than padding making her feel rather like a flimsy caricature. Less fluff from Poppy about the agency and the book could easily have been a hundred pages shorter but her story illustrates that big lies often begin with small ones and an often unstoppable chain of events can ensue.
For me it was Betty’s part of the narrative where she recounts her experiences of marriage and motherhood and talks honesty about the mistakes in her life that held my attention. I really warmed to her character, admired her attitude and her letters to Poppy reveal a complicated woman plagued by guilt and sadness all hidden behind her sunny disposition. Whilst I wasn’t at all convinced that Poppy’s mistake merited the sympathy and understanding that Betty’s story moved me too I appreciated the attempt to draw comparisons between the two women across the eras. Undemanding women’s fiction with a moral!
May 21, 2020
Poppy is not just a wife and mother, shes also a successful businesswoman. She runs an Extras agency after failing to make it as a actress. She has a great relationship with her mother-in-law, Betty, who loves Poppy like the daughter she never had. But when Poppy meets ex-boyfriend Matthew Gordon, she makes a mistake that could devastate her whole family. Betty's life story is told in a letter to Poppy. There is also a court case where somebody is accused of murder.
I did feel this was more a family drama than a thriller but that did ot spoil my enjoyment of this story. It's told in the present day by Poppy and the past is told by Betty. Its filled with twist and turns. Each character has their own backstory. A story of mistakes, guilt, regrets, death and lost love. We don't know until much later who had died and who had been standing trial. I really enjoyed this book. I love it when all the loose ends are tied up and all my questions are answered. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Books (UK) and the author Jane Corry for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I did feel this was more a family drama than a thriller but that did ot spoil my enjoyment of this story. It's told in the present day by Poppy and the past is told by Betty. Its filled with twist and turns. Each character has their own backstory. A story of mistakes, guilt, regrets, death and lost love. We don't know until much later who had died and who had been standing trial. I really enjoyed this book. I love it when all the loose ends are tied up and all my questions are answered. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Books (UK) and the author Jane Corry for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2020
Jane Corry in my humble opinion can make no mistake. Her latest release I Made A Mistake takes us thru the lives of 2 women Poppy and Betty who teaches us that To Err is Human and it may be only one mistake but we need not pay it with our lives.
The story is comparatively much simpler than some of her other books that I have read which were sufficiently more entangled and convoluted. Poppy Paige is enjoying motherhood to 2 teenage girls, she’s running an agency from her home and is happily married to her husband who is a dentist. Her mother-in-law Betty is also in residence and it is thanks to her immense help that Poppy is able to successfully manage her various responsibilities in addition to the stress of worrying about her father who is showing early signs of dementia.
Love at 17 maybe frivolous for many but Poppy’s experience has been terribly bad but when a chance meeting with her ex, Mathew opens up new avenues, Poppy craving for recognition and love commits one single mistake of her life! But is it such an unforgivable crime or as adults, are we more vulnerable than children in committing mistakes and repenting for them?
Jane Corry has used theme of love and recognition needed and about lost love thru Betty’s and Poppy’s lives. Betty’s past and how it echoes in similar theme to Poppy’s but carries different momentum was extremely touching and the mystery that is woven thru the story and how it adds to the emotional drama was an added plus.
If you are a first-time reader of Jane Corry, I would suggest Blood Sisters which was an extremely fantastic thriller but I Made A Mistake holds on its own even though the adrenaline rush was on the low side in this book. What makes it superb is the nuanced story-telling as we get scenes from the court-room and then the reveal of the story thru Betty and Poppy. I Made A Mistake is definitely a cleverly crafted slow burning thriller.
The story is comparatively much simpler than some of her other books that I have read which were sufficiently more entangled and convoluted. Poppy Paige is enjoying motherhood to 2 teenage girls, she’s running an agency from her home and is happily married to her husband who is a dentist. Her mother-in-law Betty is also in residence and it is thanks to her immense help that Poppy is able to successfully manage her various responsibilities in addition to the stress of worrying about her father who is showing early signs of dementia.
Love at 17 maybe frivolous for many but Poppy’s experience has been terribly bad but when a chance meeting with her ex, Mathew opens up new avenues, Poppy craving for recognition and love commits one single mistake of her life! But is it such an unforgivable crime or as adults, are we more vulnerable than children in committing mistakes and repenting for them?
Jane Corry has used theme of love and recognition needed and about lost love thru Betty’s and Poppy’s lives. Betty’s past and how it echoes in similar theme to Poppy’s but carries different momentum was extremely touching and the mystery that is woven thru the story and how it adds to the emotional drama was an added plus.
If you are a first-time reader of Jane Corry, I would suggest Blood Sisters which was an extremely fantastic thriller but I Made A Mistake holds on its own even though the adrenaline rush was on the low side in this book. What makes it superb is the nuanced story-telling as we get scenes from the court-room and then the reveal of the story thru Betty and Poppy. I Made A Mistake is definitely a cleverly crafted slow burning thriller.
May 26, 2020
I Made A Mistake is a slow burn of a story featuring two women living in very different times and one mistake that unites them in an unexpected way.
Admittedly the mystery element of this wasn't what made it great for me, I was fascinated by Betty and her marriage and choices and how that played into what was happening to her daughter in law Poppy- whose own marriage is floundering and whose mistake has lead to a death.
As the two stories unfold it's an interesting and very well written perspective on women's choices- both then and now- which whilst seemingly very different often find them caught in similar traps.
I Made A Mistake is a perceptive novel that doesn't page turn it's way towards a resolution using twists and turns but more unfolds as a real time comparative life drama between two very different yet equally engaging characters and as such it was an intriguing, clever read.
Recommended.
Admittedly the mystery element of this wasn't what made it great for me, I was fascinated by Betty and her marriage and choices and how that played into what was happening to her daughter in law Poppy- whose own marriage is floundering and whose mistake has lead to a death.
As the two stories unfold it's an interesting and very well written perspective on women's choices- both then and now- which whilst seemingly very different often find them caught in similar traps.
I Made A Mistake is a perceptive novel that doesn't page turn it's way towards a resolution using twists and turns but more unfolds as a real time comparative life drama between two very different yet equally engaging characters and as such it was an intriguing, clever read.
Recommended.
March 6, 2020
This book is marketed as a thriller. The blurb and the cover lie. What it really is, is an overly long, extremely slow-burn domestic drama that barely has enough meaningful content to fill 50 pages, let alone 432.
Some specific problems I had with I Made a Mistake are as follows:
-The book reads as a journal by the author, where she airs every single grievance with men she can possibly imagine, and then tries to add a barebones structure that does not hold its weight as a thriller. The denouement is more than 10% of the book! I'm not exaggerating when I say 50% of the content could have been removed with no detriment to the story.
-Half of the characters and their subplots were pointless.
-The few twists in the book were mundane and had no impact on the plot.
-The first chapter after the prologue was a giant info-dump and had no action or hook.
-EVERYTHING in this book is told instead of shown.
-Both protagonists were unlikeable, to me. They complained about everything they could possibly complain about and came across as spineless, sanctimonious perpetual victims, never taking responsibility for their own shortcomings or mistakes. Because of this, I couldn't root for either of them.
-Some of the writing itself didn't make sense. For example "She has a habit of speaking in capital letters to convey her infectious enthusiasm." And Her baby bump was neatly centred. ...Is it possible to have a lopsided baby bump?
-The court scenes are some of the most laughably melodramatic pieces of text I've ever read.
Some of the logic in this book is also off:
-In reference to a clothing store one of the protagonists worked at: It had blacked-out windows and dim lighting inside so you could hardly see the clothes. I'm assuming the author doesn't understand the concept of clothes shopping if she thinks a store like this could ever survive. And this ridiculous detail was totally irrelevant to the book so why include it?
-The MC says she went shopping with her 14-year-old daughter and had to go into 7 shoe shops before they could find ONE single pair of shoes that would fit her daughter. There's no mention of her daughter having deformed or weirdly sized feet, so how could they find not one pair of shoes in 6 shops in her daughter's size? And this trip leads nowhere so it's yet another really weird concept that seems thrown in for no reason.
-A character is charged and tried for murder on the testimony of just one woman who says she's "pretty sure" the character is guilty. As if that would ever happen in real life.
-Poppy hides the photo Matthew sent her of them cheating, in a secret folder in her phone, 'in case' she ever needs it... Who would do that?
-What's even more ridiculous is the fact her 70-year-old mother in law can magically hack into that secret, secure file, just by virtue of learning of those files' existence in one of her I.T courses lol. There's a difference between learning about the existence of a piece of technology, and learning how to actually hack that piece of technology. This mistake was especially cringey.
-Poppy who is kind of broke is paying top dollar for extra French lessons for her 14-year-old non-academic daughter, who wants to be an artist, not teach French. Totally senseless. And no, the French lessons and the fact Poppy's daughter wants to be an artist are not relevant to the story.
I really don't understand how this author has multiple books published by a great publisher, when she doesn't seem to understand simple story structure. I've read reviews of her other books and they all seem to be the same. Opening prologue where something vaguely interesting happens, and then the next chapter and onwards is a huge backstory info-dump that's full of overwrought family drama and isn't really relevant to the action at the start. Readers have to slog through hundreds of pages of filler just to get back to the action at the end.
I guess a lot of people just love to be bored.
I hope the next time I pick up a thriller, it actually is one.
A generous 2*
Some specific problems I had with I Made a Mistake are as follows:
-The book reads as a journal by the author, where she airs every single grievance with men she can possibly imagine, and then tries to add a barebones structure that does not hold its weight as a thriller. The denouement is more than 10% of the book! I'm not exaggerating when I say 50% of the content could have been removed with no detriment to the story.
-Half of the characters and their subplots were pointless.
-The few twists in the book were mundane and had no impact on the plot.
-The first chapter after the prologue was a giant info-dump and had no action or hook.
-EVERYTHING in this book is told instead of shown.
-Both protagonists were unlikeable, to me. They complained about everything they could possibly complain about and came across as spineless, sanctimonious perpetual victims, never taking responsibility for their own shortcomings or mistakes. Because of this, I couldn't root for either of them.
-Some of the writing itself didn't make sense. For example "She has a habit of speaking in capital letters to convey her infectious enthusiasm." And Her baby bump was neatly centred. ...Is it possible to have a lopsided baby bump?
-The court scenes are some of the most laughably melodramatic pieces of text I've ever read.
Some of the logic in this book is also off:
-In reference to a clothing store one of the protagonists worked at: It had blacked-out windows and dim lighting inside so you could hardly see the clothes. I'm assuming the author doesn't understand the concept of clothes shopping if she thinks a store like this could ever survive. And this ridiculous detail was totally irrelevant to the book so why include it?
-The MC says she went shopping with her 14-year-old daughter and had to go into 7 shoe shops before they could find ONE single pair of shoes that would fit her daughter. There's no mention of her daughter having deformed or weirdly sized feet, so how could they find not one pair of shoes in 6 shops in her daughter's size? And this trip leads nowhere so it's yet another really weird concept that seems thrown in for no reason.
-A character is charged and tried for murder on the testimony of just one woman who says she's "pretty sure" the character is guilty. As if that would ever happen in real life.
-Poppy hides the photo Matthew sent her of them cheating, in a secret folder in her phone, 'in case' she ever needs it... Who would do that?
-What's even more ridiculous is the fact her 70-year-old mother in law can magically hack into that secret, secure file, just by virtue of learning of those files' existence in one of her I.T courses lol. There's a difference between learning about the existence of a piece of technology, and learning how to actually hack that piece of technology. This mistake was especially cringey.
-Poppy who is kind of broke is paying top dollar for extra French lessons for her 14-year-old non-academic daughter, who wants to be an artist, not teach French. Totally senseless. And no, the French lessons and the fact Poppy's daughter wants to be an artist are not relevant to the story.
I really don't understand how this author has multiple books published by a great publisher, when she doesn't seem to understand simple story structure. I've read reviews of her other books and they all seem to be the same. Opening prologue where something vaguely interesting happens, and then the next chapter and onwards is a huge backstory info-dump that's full of overwrought family drama and isn't really relevant to the action at the start. Readers have to slog through hundreds of pages of filler just to get back to the action at the end.
I guess a lot of people just love to be bored.
I hope the next time I pick up a thriller, it actually is one.
A generous 2*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2020
3.5 stars
August 22, 2020
Very enjoyable read. We hear from both Poppy and Betty and also another who is on trial for murder. The story is written via chapters interspersed with letters and this is a great way to lay out the story. I made a mistake is indeed about a mistake, or two, or three... It seems no one is perfect and mistakes make us who we are. Sometimes in a deadly way. A great read, I'd recommend, this is one of Jane Corry's best I think.
https://thebeautifulbookbreak.com
https://thebeautifulbookbreak.com
September 8, 2022
I see that many of my friends here on Goodreads enjoyed this. I really was gripped initially but this soon dropped off and I then found it far too slow.
The world in which this was set didn't thrill me either.
I would definitely give this author another go. Maybe I just struck unlucky this time.
The world in which this was set didn't thrill me either.
I would definitely give this author another go. Maybe I just struck unlucky this time.
December 9, 2020
"It started with a kiss...and ended with murder!"
Although I have a couple of Jane Corry's books on my TBR list, this is the first book I have read by this author. And although I MADE A MISTAKE is a very slow burn to begin with, it does pick up the pace further in with a mystery to make you glad you stuck around for it. I wouldn't class it as a thriller as such - more of a domestic drama tinged with some thriller aspects. These types of books are generally difficult to categorise as they tend to fall between genres - not quite in but not quite out either.
Beginning with a tragic accident at Waterloo underground station, we don't discover who is involved till further in. And only then we are given tidbits to flesh out in our imaginations as to what really happened on that fateful day. It soon becomes clear a few chapters in that someone is on trial for murder and, though we don't know who, the deceased's identity is soon revealed...leaving us trying to piece the puzzle together.
Rewind six weeks prior and Poppy Page is at a Christmas party where she bumps into an old boyfriend. But not any old boyfriend. Matthew Gordon was her first love and they were together for three years before he upped and left with another student from their drama class, whom he later married. Matthew went on to become a successful actor in the title role of a popular drama in the nineties...although he hasn't been in anything since. He claims to be at the party to network amongst directors and producers, hoping to land himself something.
Although Poppy's dreams of becoming an actress never came to fruition, she now runs a successful agency for "extras" negotiating with casting directors for films, TV and commercials. The last thing she expected, or even wanted, was to chance upon Matthew bloody Gordon. But she soon catches his eye and he hones in on her almost immediately, batting away a string of admirers along the way. The meeting is tentative and awkward at first but Poppy soon finds herself reminiscing about the man who could ignite a passion in her she has never felt since. And what was at first a chance encounter leads to a mistake with such repercussions that could devastate her entire family.
As a mother to 17 year old Melissa and 14 year old Daisy, Poppy has been married to her dentist husband Stuart for nearly twenty years. Her family mean everything to her. Including her mother-in-law Betty, who also lives with them since the death of her husband Jock. Since starting up her extras agency business, which she runs from home, Poppy has welcomed Betty's presence even moreso and her invaluable help with the girls when it is most needed. For Poppy, Betty has been like a mother to her...especially since her own mother abandoned her and her father when she was 18 and she hasn't heard from her since. But what Poppy doesn't know is that in a secret lifelong desire, Poppy is the daughter that Betty never had. Perhaps that's why the two women are especially close.
So when Poppy makes a horrible mistake that inevitably puts everything she values most at risk, she soon discovers that the ripple effect she has set in motion by diving head first into the deep end has far-reaching consequences that could destroy everything. Can Poppy's family survive the fallout from that one mistake? Can her marriage?
I MADE A MISTAKE unfolds rather cleverly through the eyes of both Poppy and Betty. As Poppy takes us on a journey through lost love, mistakes and repercussions, Betty recounts her own story in the format of a series of letters to her daughter-in-law. There is also the inclusion of excerpts from a trial at the Criminal Court where Poppy finds herself under brutal cross examination. And while we discover the identity of the deceased in the first of these (court trial) chapters, exactly who is on trial remains a mystery until about three quarters of the way through. Though I pieced it together in a random moment of clarity just before it was revealed.
Although there are two stories unfolding throughout, whilst seemingly different in the past and present, the choices each makes can often find two different women in somewhat similar circumstances. However, while Poppy's story is primarily the focus here that wasn't what made it interesting for me. I was more fascinated and invested in Betty's own story and the choices (and mistakes) she made as a young wife and mother and how that played into the circumstances Poppy ultimately finds herself in. It was Betty's story that kept me turning the pages. That, and the criminal trial which was also proving to be compelling. Poppy's story had me tearing my hair out at its slow progression to anywhere...and then when it did, I found I wanted to shake her for her stupidity. But then stress does make people do strange and idiotic things that another simply cannot fathom. And what with her already floundering marriage, her bickering teenagers, her busy lifestyle, running a house AND trying to cope with her father in the early stages of dementia...Poppy sure had her fair share of stress.
I have to admit, every time her name was mentioned in full - Poppy Page - I found myself hearing "Polly Page" from The Bill. And then to realise her mother-in-law's name was Betty Page...but somehow I didn't picture the 70 year old grandmother as a buxom pin-up model of the 1950s. I think hubby Jock might have had something to say about that, that's for sure!
Initially dubbed as a thriller, I MADE A MISTAKE is more of a family domestic drama that starts of very slowly but gains momentum about halfway through. Admittedly, I nearly gave up several times but it was Betty's story that kept me anchored in the hope the rest of the book would pick up pace. Not soon enough though, but enough to say that I am glad I stuck with it because in the end, I did enjoy it.
A story of mistakes, guilt, regrets, death and lost love, I MADE A MISTAKE will appeal to fans of slow burning domestic drama and women's fiction.
I would like to thank #JaneCorry, #NetGalley and #PenguinUK for an ARC of #IMadeAMistake in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Although I have a couple of Jane Corry's books on my TBR list, this is the first book I have read by this author. And although I MADE A MISTAKE is a very slow burn to begin with, it does pick up the pace further in with a mystery to make you glad you stuck around for it. I wouldn't class it as a thriller as such - more of a domestic drama tinged with some thriller aspects. These types of books are generally difficult to categorise as they tend to fall between genres - not quite in but not quite out either.
Beginning with a tragic accident at Waterloo underground station, we don't discover who is involved till further in. And only then we are given tidbits to flesh out in our imaginations as to what really happened on that fateful day. It soon becomes clear a few chapters in that someone is on trial for murder and, though we don't know who, the deceased's identity is soon revealed...leaving us trying to piece the puzzle together.
Rewind six weeks prior and Poppy Page is at a Christmas party where she bumps into an old boyfriend. But not any old boyfriend. Matthew Gordon was her first love and they were together for three years before he upped and left with another student from their drama class, whom he later married. Matthew went on to become a successful actor in the title role of a popular drama in the nineties...although he hasn't been in anything since. He claims to be at the party to network amongst directors and producers, hoping to land himself something.
Although Poppy's dreams of becoming an actress never came to fruition, she now runs a successful agency for "extras" negotiating with casting directors for films, TV and commercials. The last thing she expected, or even wanted, was to chance upon Matthew bloody Gordon. But she soon catches his eye and he hones in on her almost immediately, batting away a string of admirers along the way. The meeting is tentative and awkward at first but Poppy soon finds herself reminiscing about the man who could ignite a passion in her she has never felt since. And what was at first a chance encounter leads to a mistake with such repercussions that could devastate her entire family.
As a mother to 17 year old Melissa and 14 year old Daisy, Poppy has been married to her dentist husband Stuart for nearly twenty years. Her family mean everything to her. Including her mother-in-law Betty, who also lives with them since the death of her husband Jock. Since starting up her extras agency business, which she runs from home, Poppy has welcomed Betty's presence even moreso and her invaluable help with the girls when it is most needed. For Poppy, Betty has been like a mother to her...especially since her own mother abandoned her and her father when she was 18 and she hasn't heard from her since. But what Poppy doesn't know is that in a secret lifelong desire, Poppy is the daughter that Betty never had. Perhaps that's why the two women are especially close.
So when Poppy makes a horrible mistake that inevitably puts everything she values most at risk, she soon discovers that the ripple effect she has set in motion by diving head first into the deep end has far-reaching consequences that could destroy everything. Can Poppy's family survive the fallout from that one mistake? Can her marriage?
I MADE A MISTAKE unfolds rather cleverly through the eyes of both Poppy and Betty. As Poppy takes us on a journey through lost love, mistakes and repercussions, Betty recounts her own story in the format of a series of letters to her daughter-in-law. There is also the inclusion of excerpts from a trial at the Criminal Court where Poppy finds herself under brutal cross examination. And while we discover the identity of the deceased in the first of these (court trial) chapters, exactly who is on trial remains a mystery until about three quarters of the way through. Though I pieced it together in a random moment of clarity just before it was revealed.
Although there are two stories unfolding throughout, whilst seemingly different in the past and present, the choices each makes can often find two different women in somewhat similar circumstances. However, while Poppy's story is primarily the focus here that wasn't what made it interesting for me. I was more fascinated and invested in Betty's own story and the choices (and mistakes) she made as a young wife and mother and how that played into the circumstances Poppy ultimately finds herself in. It was Betty's story that kept me turning the pages. That, and the criminal trial which was also proving to be compelling. Poppy's story had me tearing my hair out at its slow progression to anywhere...and then when it did, I found I wanted to shake her for her stupidity. But then stress does make people do strange and idiotic things that another simply cannot fathom. And what with her already floundering marriage, her bickering teenagers, her busy lifestyle, running a house AND trying to cope with her father in the early stages of dementia...Poppy sure had her fair share of stress.
I have to admit, every time her name was mentioned in full - Poppy Page - I found myself hearing "Polly Page" from The Bill. And then to realise her mother-in-law's name was Betty Page...but somehow I didn't picture the 70 year old grandmother as a buxom pin-up model of the 1950s. I think hubby Jock might have had something to say about that, that's for sure!
Initially dubbed as a thriller, I MADE A MISTAKE is more of a family domestic drama that starts of very slowly but gains momentum about halfway through. Admittedly, I nearly gave up several times but it was Betty's story that kept me anchored in the hope the rest of the book would pick up pace. Not soon enough though, but enough to say that I am glad I stuck with it because in the end, I did enjoy it.
A story of mistakes, guilt, regrets, death and lost love, I MADE A MISTAKE will appeal to fans of slow burning domestic drama and women's fiction.
I would like to thank #JaneCorry, #NetGalley and #PenguinUK for an ARC of #IMadeAMistake in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
October 31, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up
I've enjoyed this book, a lot! It's a beautiful combination of mystery, family drama, past, present, relationships, marriages, men vs woman and so on.
The writing is exquisite! Once again Jane Corry did a fantastic job and created a heartwarming and heart wrenching story.
I've enjoyed this book, a lot! It's a beautiful combination of mystery, family drama, past, present, relationships, marriages, men vs woman and so on.
The writing is exquisite! Once again Jane Corry did a fantastic job and created a heartwarming and heart wrenching story.
August 24, 2020
Jane Correy is a master at creating thrilling page turners however I think she has set the bar so high with her earlier books that we expect an edge of your seat experience with every book. This one definitely kept me turning the pages but mainly in search of something major to happen. I felt quite let down that the only twist was pretty predictable from about half way through. The dual narrative was interesting & I particular enjoyed Betty’s story, but Poppy (who failed to deal sensibly with any area of her life) was quite frustrating to read. All in all it’s a good read but aspects of the plot are too far fetched and the writing in the last few chapters too ‘rambly’ to be great.
February 22, 2020
'I made a mistake' the new novel by author Jane Corry and I can honestly say I didn't make a mistake reading this book.
Poppy Page makes a mistake when she lets a lost love back into her life, some twenty years after he left it. Poppy is now married with children and her life is completely different to then, but what about her feelings.
The story is told separately from both Poppy and through a letter from her Mother in Law Betty telling Poppy of her younger life with her husband Jock. The letter tells her of her mistakes and regrets that she has kept secret all these years.
A very good read and my only mistake is not reading more from this author till now.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Penguin UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Poppy Page makes a mistake when she lets a lost love back into her life, some twenty years after he left it. Poppy is now married with children and her life is completely different to then, but what about her feelings.
The story is told separately from both Poppy and through a letter from her Mother in Law Betty telling Poppy of her younger life with her husband Jock. The letter tells her of her mistakes and regrets that she has kept secret all these years.
A very good read and my only mistake is not reading more from this author till now.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Penguin UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2020
Jane Corry is very quickly becoming one of my favourite authors.
Her books are full of thrills and suspense and keep you gripped throughout , this one was no exception. The story follows Poppy and her family and is told from two perspectives one being Poppy and the other being her mother in law. The story shows how a whole series of mistakes can result in great tragedy.
This was a great book and kept me guessing throughout and I would most definitely recommend it.
Her books are full of thrills and suspense and keep you gripped throughout , this one was no exception. The story follows Poppy and her family and is told from two perspectives one being Poppy and the other being her mother in law. The story shows how a whole series of mistakes can result in great tragedy.
This was a great book and kept me guessing throughout and I would most definitely recommend it.
July 30, 2020
WOW. I loved this book. It flipped between Poppy and Betty's letter to Poppy, which kept the story so interesting! I loved how the author made both Poppy and Betty strong characters, with the twists along the way. Amazing book.
January 26, 2021
3.5 ⭐️
Compelling domestic drama with twisty tension buildup. Themes dealing with adultery, mental illness, importance of family are explored. Brilliantly written dual POVs centering on mistakes that cannot be renounced or consigned to oblivion.
Compelling domestic drama with twisty tension buildup. Themes dealing with adultery, mental illness, importance of family are explored. Brilliantly written dual POVs centering on mistakes that cannot be renounced or consigned to oblivion.
May 25, 2020
YOU DIDN'T MEAN TO DO IT.
IT WAS ONLY ONCE.
BUT NOW HE'S DEAD, AND SOMEONE HAS TO PAY . . .
This book begins with a tragic accident at the train station, rewind six weeks when Poppy bumps into an old flame and the circumstances that follow determine that the life that she had built for her, and her family, will never be the same again. Poppy is a successful businesswoman, married to Stuart and living with their two teenage daughters Melissa and Daisy and her mother in law, Betty who loves Poppy like the daughter she never had.
The story is told from the perspectives of both Poppy and Betty, with random court case chapters in between. It's a slow burner to begin with but soon builds up pace and I found myself becoming immersed deeper with the turn of every page. I adored Betty and just wanted to give her a huge hug every time she told us more about the early years of her marriage to Jock, I was frustrated by the tale of Poppy and Stuart's relationship and groaned outwardly at the mess she was getting herself into. There were a few small twists along the way, all leading up to the major one, which I had sort of guessed before it was revealed, but it didn't ruin the story for me. This is the third book I've read by Jane Corry and she delivers yet again. A perfectly executed plot with the right amount of suspense to keep the reader hooked. Definitely recommend.
I'd like to thank Penguin Books UK and Netgalley for the approval. I will post my review on Amazon and Goodreads.
IT WAS ONLY ONCE.
BUT NOW HE'S DEAD, AND SOMEONE HAS TO PAY . . .
This book begins with a tragic accident at the train station, rewind six weeks when Poppy bumps into an old flame and the circumstances that follow determine that the life that she had built for her, and her family, will never be the same again. Poppy is a successful businesswoman, married to Stuart and living with their two teenage daughters Melissa and Daisy and her mother in law, Betty who loves Poppy like the daughter she never had.
The story is told from the perspectives of both Poppy and Betty, with random court case chapters in between. It's a slow burner to begin with but soon builds up pace and I found myself becoming immersed deeper with the turn of every page. I adored Betty and just wanted to give her a huge hug every time she told us more about the early years of her marriage to Jock, I was frustrated by the tale of Poppy and Stuart's relationship and groaned outwardly at the mess she was getting herself into. There were a few small twists along the way, all leading up to the major one, which I had sort of guessed before it was revealed, but it didn't ruin the story for me. This is the third book I've read by Jane Corry and she delivers yet again. A perfectly executed plot with the right amount of suspense to keep the reader hooked. Definitely recommend.
I'd like to thank Penguin Books UK and Netgalley for the approval. I will post my review on Amazon and Goodreads.
July 28, 2020
3.5. This book is quite fast paced, a little bit twisty and has a smidgen of suspense. I liked the dual narration of this book between two of the main characters and the story easily flowed. It just didn’t grip me enough for me to give it more stars.
May 18, 2020
A courtroom drama and some clever twists manage to elevate this story from a rather ordinary morality tale about having an affair to more of a page turner.
Thank you to netgalley and penguin books for an advance copy of this book
Thank you to netgalley and penguin books for an advance copy of this book
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