Her First Mistake is a serial killer thriller with a female lead and mysterious love interests.
Detective Nina Viken is no stranger to the ominous clues serial killers leave with their discarded victims. It’s a typical method used to taunt and torture the authorities who are ruthlessly hunting them down. This time though, everything seems a little too close to home.
When Nina gets a call that a dead body is being pulled from the Hollow Pointe Ravine, intuition tells her she’s going to have her work cut out for her. Upon arriving at the crime scene, she sees various photographs scattered along the ground. The photos feature completely nude women–bound, shackled, bloody and bruised. At first it looks like it’s just another sick and twisted murderer on the loose...
But upon examining the body, Nina sees the signature of one of the East Coast’s most notorious serial killers–The Saxon County Slayer.
As if the pressure of finding him before he kills again wasn’t enough, Nina gets a call from her father–a convicted murder himself–saying he knows the identity of the infamous serial killer. With little evidence to point her in any other direction, Nina begins to look into her father’s claims.
Regardless of whether her father is telling the truth or not... The Saxon County Slayer is back.
And this time, he has a vendetta against Nina. A vendetta that he will stop at nothing to satisfy.
Holy moly! I haven't read anything under Eve Parrish's real name (Victoria Ellis), but after finishing Her First Mistake I kinda feel like I should. This book was not only nonstop action, but it also did a great job of keeping me guessing and was basically unputdownable. I was hooked as soon as I started reading and I loved the fast pacing as well as Detective Nina Viken's character. The story is broken up between Nina's viewpoint, the perpetrator, and the informant (among others) which I absolutely loved, although at times I felt like her mom's POV wasn't completely necessary. It reminded me just a touch of a Criminal Minds episode, except with some really dumb choices made towards the end. Through this book, I feel like I really came to understand the phrase ‘her blood ran cold’ because there is one point where I felt that way completely.
I loved how suspenseful Her First Mistake was and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading. This is a SUPER quick read and easily bingeable in one sitting which is basically what I ended up doing. I consider this a mix of police procedural and crime fiction, but it's not so heavy on the procedural elements that you would ever be bored. I do wish some of the terms would have been explained since not all readers will know what they mean, and I would have missed out on some things if it weren’t for Google. This isn’t really necessary though and I’m sure your imagination can fill it in for you, but for personal preference I just like things being explained in the book I’m reading. I really do hope this is the beginning of a series centered around Nina, and she was a terrific female lead! I highly recommend Her First Mistake if you want something on the disturbing side with a quick pace and a surprising conclusion.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The eerie cover first caught my eye and as I investigated further, I saw – serial killer. I’m all over that. I have a fascination for serial killers, whether fact or fiction. I love teases and the Prologue did it’s job. I’m hooked.
“I’m a bad boy.” With a start like that, I think I may have issues stopping long enough to…well, whatever.
It is not bad enough they have a kidnapper, a rapist, a murderer on their hands, the Saxon County Sleeper is all three wrapped up in one and he is back with a vengeance.
Nina Viken is a detective for Saxon County, a single mother, and familiar with serial killers. She has blow after blow delivered to her, and gets up stronger each time. Her father is a convicted murdered and he says he knows who the serial killer is. The killers past is textbook, foster homes, abuse…
The book has a twist as Rayna enters the scene. Her spidey senses are sent tingling when her friend goes missing…and she wants answers, even if she has to find them herself. I love her and would hope to have a friend like her if I ever went missing.
I love reading a book with flawed, damaged characters and seeing we have a serial killer on the loose, it’s no surprise that we have one of them here. Most characters have baggage they carry, but they are caring, loyal, loving people, doing the best they can.
I love the turn the book takes at 50%. And Livie…she is so darn cute, but, aren’t most little kids?
There is a time or two where I didn’t like what NIna did or didn’t do, but I get it. That’s how we create suspense for a rousing ending. And then…another twist. Hmmmm, you are making me work for this Eve. We have plenty of suspects. My mind is bouncing around, using a process of elimination to find the last one standing. AHA…it’s you!
I felt Her First Mistake by Eve Parrish was a three star book through half of it, but the more I read, the the more the suspect list grew, the more twists that came up, the more I got involved, I knew I needed to bump it up. Good job Eve.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Her First Mistake by Eve Parrish.
This was a new to me author, and I'll definitely be going to her usual name to catch up on any thrillers I missed as it was that good. As this is one of my main genre's that I read, I'm normally pretty good at picking up things, this book kept me guessing until the last few pages and I adored that. Because there's so many twists and because this isn't a romance I'm going to leave my review here so that I don't ruin anything, but I strongly urge those who read for the joy of trying to solve mysteries, to one click immediately. I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.
Her First Mistake by Eve Parrish Published: January 11, 2021 Cruel Ink Publishing Genre: Crime Thriller Series: Book 1 I received a copy of this book for free from the author, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Eve Parrish, aka Victoria Ellis, is a multi-genre author that publishes Psychological Thrillers, Suspense, and Romance novels. She is also the author of two poetry collections. Victoria is the founder of Cruel Ink Publishing, LLC. She resides near Chicago, Illinois, with her husband, newborn daughter, and an abundance of animals.
“Those are the people that need to pay.”
Nina is a hardworking, ambitious single mother. She is raising her daughter with the help of her mother. Nina is also trying to stop a serial killer from adding more victims to the list with her partner and best friend, Kent. When secrets from the last arise and threaten to take everything away, Nina is faced with the terrifying reality that she might not see tomorrow.
Hi-ya. This was one heck of a start to a series! I enjoyed everything about this book, the characters, the plot, the way the story was told, the twist, and the reveal!
This I a real “whodunnit” story, where there are several possibilities and leads to follow- but you’ll still never guess who the actual killer is.
Nina was so great. Intelligent, strong, savvy, dedicated, devoted, and not afraid to do the work. I loved her from page one.
Kent was the perfect partner for a strong character, and I loved his relationship with Nina. They have. True bond, and it shows.
Catherine was every bit the perfect book mom. She was such a genuine character. She was devoted and sincere. I enjoyed her.
The best part of this book is how well the build-up was. I had no idea until right before the reveal WHO did it. I loved how the story unfolded. The alternating perspectives added so much dimension to the tale, and it gave the reader a lot of insight into the perp without giving away their identity.
This is going to be an excellent series, I can already tell. I am already invested and a big fan of Nina, and I am excited to read more of this series.
Pull out your notepad and put on your thinking cap - This well-woven thriller will have you leaping forward believing you have all the pieces - Then backtracking because "Dang, how did I miss that?" Or that could just be me 🤷♀️ Either way, this was an edge of your seat, thrill a page read Packed with mystery, some "cop humor", lots of twists, suspense, angst... An all-around must-read for those who the thrill of the chase
Her First Mistake is a great debut under Victoria Ellis’s new pen name Eve Parrish. I loved the serial killer plot and the characters were fantastic. I can’t wait to read more by her!
5 SCRATCHING HEAD STARS!! Wow, this one kept me on the edge with who....I love these kinds of stories. I can't wait to read more from this new to me author. So Good!!
It took me a wee bit to get into but once I did, hot diggity it was so good. Took a total twist I never saw coming. I really hope there’s more in the future because wow this author knows how to gut punch you all while your mouth is hanging open from the twists.
I don’t remember the last time I flew through a book this fast! The first time I picked it up, I read almost of it in one sitting! There was maybe one or two spots where I kind of suspected what was coming, but overall, kept me guessing. The ending plot twist - 🤯 Nina was by far my favorite character. She reminded me of Lindsey Boxer from The Women’s Murder Club series. I also really liked that there weren’t any graphic sex scenes. It seems like a lot of authors go all out, in depth with them. I’m just not a fan of that. It’s nice to read a suspenseful book that isn’t full of sex and cheating. I really enjoyed this book and hope to see more of Nina Viken in the future! 1-21
I loved it. Once I started reading, I didn’t put it down. Detective Nina Viken is on the search for missing sex workers. And it all hits a little too close to home. The suspense was a great build up, granted some parts were a little predictable, but I still found it a very enjoyable read. I received an ARC from the author, review is an honest opinion of mine.
Detective Nina Viken is no stranger to the ominous clues serial killers leave with their discarded victims. It’s a typical method used to taunt and torture the authorities who are ruthlessly hunting them down. This time though, everything seems a little too close to home.
When Nina gets a call that a dead body is being pulled from the Hollow Pointe Ravine, intuition tells her she’s going to have her work cut out for her. Upon arriving at the crime scene, she sees various photographs scattered along the ground. The photos feature completely nude women–bound, shackled, bloody and bruised. At first it looks like it’s just another sick and twisted murderer on the loose...
But upon examining the body, Nina sees the signature of one of the East Coast’s most notorious serial killers–The Saxon County Slayer.
As if the pressure of finding him before he kills again wasn’t enough, Nina gets a call from her father–a convicted murder himself–saying he knows the identity of the infamous serial killer. With little evidence to point her in any other direction, Nina begins to look into her father’s claims.
Regardless of whether her father is telling the truth or not... The Saxon County Slayer is back.
And this time, he has a vendetta against Nina. A vendetta that he will stop at nothing to satisfy.
HOLY HELL! I LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED and yes, LOVED Her First Mistake so very much. Nina is a top notch detective, but at the moment she's racing against the clock to solve a case about a serial murderer that has not only activated again, but escalating to boot. And yes, that's all I'm willing to say about that. My brain is always working overtime to figure things out, so it does bleed into my books with suspense in them which I tend to figure things out before the big reveal, but I'm telling you that I had no clue until the reveal, and that makes me so stinking happy. The twists were around every corner coming in hot, and I loved all the POVs in the story because they added more layers to the story. The moment I started this book, I was in for the long haul so I didn't move until I devoured every last page, and frankly, I WANT MORE NINA VIKEN PLEASE! If you love a thriller, then this is the perfect book to hit the one click button on since I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO ALL!
Wow is all I can say! I loved this book so much and couldn’t put it down. I received a copy of this book for free for an honest review.
Detective Nina Viken is a single hardworking mother who is raising her daughter with the help of her mother. Her work life has been extremely busy trying to catch a serial killer. The serial killer is going after sex workers and the time between kills keeps getting smaller and smaller. There is a race against the clock to save these women.
This story has such an amazing build up. I love everything about this story including the characters. Kent (Nina’s partner at work) and Nina have an amazing friendship and bond that undeniable. Catherine (Nina’s mother) is such a loving mother and grandmother.
This is an amazing start to a series and can’t wait to read more.
Her First Mistake was the first book I read by Eve Parrish, and it was a thrilling ride. She wove her story well from the very beginning and kept you guessing all the way through. Our Heroine, Nina, is a hard-working detective and single mom. She's really good at her job, and she loves what she does. Her partner, Kent, is becoming more than a partner or friend, but that relationship does not take precedence over the book's mystery. The main point of this story is the mystery, not the romance, and that's fine as any more attention to the relationship would detract from the thrilling elements of the story. This book reminds me of Kendra Elliott and Melinda Leigh, who write suspenseful mysteries with a bit of romance. I hope this author continues to write books in this series as getting to know more about Nina and Kent and their mystery-solving would be fun.
Building tension, fast-paced investigation, a serial killer, and a few red herrings make up this first book by Victoria Ellis writing as Eve Parrish. We get this story by way of Nina who is the detective on the hunt for the Saxon County Slayer, Nina's mother, the perpetrator, and the informant. I usually don't care for more than a couple of points of view in a thriller because it often gives too much away, but it works for this one. There are parts of this one that are hard to get through due to the content, and the story does get dark. It's also a compelling read that kept me guessing right up until the big reveal. From there, it's a fast-paced whirlwind to the last word. I'll stop there rather than give away any of the book's secrets and finish by saying this is one dark and twisted thriller, and it kept my on the edge of my seat all the way through.
This story was exciting, with edge of your seat suspense, heart racing twists and turns and utterly intense moments that had me biting my nails. It had me gripping my kindle tightly and shocked at the unbelievable pieces of the story being thrown at me with every turn of the page. I kept making guesses on who the killer was and was shocked when I was wrong.
Really well written story that had me completely captivated, utterly hooked and highly entertained right to the very end. I hope that there will be future Detective Nina Viken stories to come as this was a fantastic read.
I absolutely loved this story and highly recommend for all crime thriller lovers.
The zigs and zags in this novel will keep you guessing and that's a promise. There is a bit of romance but that is secondary to the real reason you will want to read Her First Mistake. It is an exciting, full-on roller coaster ride you won't want to end. Nina Viken is a character I am looking forward to meeting again. She is smart, she is savvy - she will win your heart. Very Highly Recommended.
This was my first read by Eve & I really enjoyed it! Honestly at times I had to put it down cause it creeped me out & I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I continued to read it. It’s dark, twisted & disturbing! I really liked Nina’s character & I hope there are more books in this series. I wasn’t a huge huge fan of all the different POV’s but it made for an interesting read.
I really enjoyed how this story was set up. I loved all the POVs and the twists in the plot! I have never read this story before but I’m so glad I picked it up. The characters were super intriguing and I was in awe at how everything came together! I will absolutely be reading this author again.
Her First Mistake by Eve Parrish is the start of one those series you do not want to miss out on. This is a psychological thriller that had me guessing to the very last page. A very well written thriller that deals with a serial killer with very descriptive images. The characters are well developed and hard not to like! The twist and turns are so very very twisted!! It had me on the edge of my seat until the unexpected reveal of who did it!! A very exciting and shocking book!!! I cannot wait for the next one!
Thank you Eve Parrish and Cruel Ink Publishing for an advanced copy of this exhilarating novel in exchange for my honest unbiased review. #herfirstmistake #eveparrish #cruelinkpublishing #arc. #psychologicalthriller
I was floored by this book. Like literally on the ground but then end going OMG! Eve brought such a vividness to all that was unfolding it almost was like I was watching it with my own eyes and not just reading the words.
I won’t give anything away, but Nina Viken is a woman we can inspire to be a mom, a badass and compassionate. She won’t let mistakes be forgotten until she figures out all the layers to the first.
This is definitely a must read for all who love to read.
Oh, my goodness!! This book had me hooked. I did not want to put it down. I found it well written. The characters so vivid, I felt I was part of the story. This thriller had me on the edge of my seat, guessing "who did it". I was shocked!! I'm ready for the next story!
I was given an ARC from the author. This review is my own opinion.