Paula Daly

Paula Daly

Paula Daly lives in Cumbria County in North West England with her husband, three children, and whippet, Skippy. She is a freelance physiotherapist. Just What Kind of Mother Are You? is her debut novel.

The Mistake I Made

By

“[Daly] writes with a singular voice and a fierce passion that roars off the page, while also displaying a visceral understanding of the betrayals and humiliations of domestic life.”—Daily Mail 

The Mistake I Made is the latest page-turner from one of the England’s most captivating new thriller writers. In her provocative and riveting third novel, Paula Daly focuses her masterful eye for psychological suspense and family drama on an indecent proposal that has fatal repercussions. 


Single mother Roz has reached the breaking point. After the dissolution of her marriage, Roz’s business has gone under, debts are racking up, the rent is late (again), and she’s struggling to provide for her nine-year-old son, who is starting to misbehave in school. Roz is in trouble. Real trouble. 

When Roz returns home from work one day and finds an eviction notice, she has two weeks to find a solution; otherwise they will be kicked out of their home. Increasingly desperate, Roz doesn’t know where to turn. Then an unusual opportunity presents itself. At her sister’s fortieth birthday party, Roz meets Scott Elias—wealthy, powerful, and very married. And she leaves an indelible impression on him. He tracks her down and makes Roz an offer to spend the night with him—for money. He wants no-strings-attached intimacy and can guarantee total discretion. Could it be as simple as it sounds? With that kind of cash, Roz could clear her debts and get her life back on track. But as the situation spirals out of her control, Roz is forced to do things she never thought herself capable of doing. Can she ever set things right again?

Read more