First Lie Wins
Ratings156
Average rating4
This book had me hooked!! Such a fast paced read and great twists and turns. Highly recommend!!
Could not get into the jumping back and forth, was boring and couldn't keep the story straight
this was pretty bland to me. didn't keep me on my toes or interested in what was going to happen
This is the first physical book I've read in a long time. I started it yesterday and stayed up to finish it. It was fun and compelling.
that was amazing maybe its the only thriller that i want a second book of..perfect honestly
This book hooked me and didn't let go. I loved that she labeled the chapters so you could keep up with time changes and “characters.” I will be reading more of her books. Think I may have found a new author to binge!! I thought I had this figured out...I did not.
2.5 ⭐️
I wanted to be surprised but the ending was predictable, I guessed halfway through. The ending was disappointing and the premise was really great but I was let down I don't regret reading it but I wouldn't strongly recommend it, there's better options.
What I did enjoy was hearing about the characters history through some time jumps and some of the scheming did really come together in a way that I was surprised by.
This is no doubt a 5 star book, it was character driven as well as plot and the MC was loveable in my opinion and I was rooting for her. I thought I had the twist figured out then I was shocked because I didnt guess it and I loved the way things tied up at the end.
I never go into a book thinking I'll dislike it, but sometimes I'm on the fence if I will love it or not. This was one of those books because it's not my typical kind of thriller, but I was very wrong; I LOVED this. It was so full of twists and turns that I didn't want to put it down until the last sentence.
4.5
Took me forever to finish this book. It just felt really flat, no twists, no wow factor.
i quite liked this one! it reminded me a lot of the show alias w/ jennifer garner! for some reason the end seemed a little too convenient and a little cheesy to me, but i do think it makes sense. but the plot leading up to the big reveal really had me on my toes
I had read a lot of positive things about this book and maybe I had too high of expectations for it. Overall it was a good book. It took me a bit to really get into it but I got there. The twist were good. The overall feel of this book was a movie that I feel like I have seen many times before. (Which I believe they are making this into a film) Not a bad story, just not as thrilled as I had hoped to be.
WOW! Just wow. I think the only thing that made this a 4 star instead of a 5 star is I listened to this as an audiobook. I'm certain if I read this in book form it would be an easy 5 stars. This has to be one of the best psychological thrillers I've ever read. The back and forth between aliases throws you for a loop but it is so well written, you don't get lost. The very end made me laugh. SO SO GOOD!
Fun thriller to fill my rainy days! Good for a beach read or a quick reading slump solution.
I really enjoyed “First Lie Wins”! This book is different from what I'm used to, but it turned out to be a quick read and an absolute page-turner—I finished it in a single day! The private investigator vibes added a fun twist, drawing me into the mystery from the get-go.
The intricate plot and morally complex characters completely captivated me. Right from the start, I was pulled into a web of lies and deceit, making for a thrilling ride that kept me guessing until the end. The main character's twisting nature and her alibis are as intricate as the plot itself. I found her both fascinating and frustrating; just when I thought I had a handle on her motivations, the narrative would flip, revealing new layers and truths that kept me on my toes.
Ashley Elston does a phenomenal job of crafting a suspenseful atmosphere, with each chapter peeling back more layers of the protagonist's life. The way her alibis unfold—some plausible, others questionable—adds to the tension. I often found myself questioning not only her actions but also the reliability of the people around her. Who can you trust when everyone has something to hide? This theme of deception runs throughout the novel, creating a sense of unease that lingered long after I put the book down.
The pacing is spot-on, with each twist and turn leading to unexpected revelations that kept my heart racing. I appreciated how Elston balanced the suspense with deeper emotional moments, allowing readers to connect with the characters on a personal level. The exploration of trust, betrayal, and the lengths people go to protect themselves made for a thought-provoking read.
Overall, “First Lie Wins” is a gripping psychological thriller that had me hooked from beginning to end. If you're a fan of complex characters and mind-bending plots, I highly recommend picking up this book. It's a wild ride that will keep you guessing, leaving you to ponder the fine line between truth and deception long after you've turned the last page!
Lots of twists and turns, Great ending, one of the best books I've read this year! DN
good writing, very intriguing story, SMART mc without veering into the unbelievable, lots of unexpected twists, and a nice background romance. everything made sense n thats pretty rare for a thriller. it was very good !!!!
Espionage, mystery, and high stakes situations under a carefully curated lie.
This exceeded all my expectations. I didn't anticipate I'd enjoy this as much as I did as it's not a genre I often reach for, but it hooked me early on. Once it did, I couldn't put it down.
The Plot: Non linear timeline. The characters' actions, both past and present, are truly what drive the narrative forward so you're not really getting details that don't directly serve the plot. Sometimes this makes it feel like things are happening in a giant sandbox, despite being set in multiple times and locations. It's meticulously plotted out and comes together in a satisfying end.
The Characters: Due to the fact that the main character is living under a false identity and trying to remain detached emotionally from the people within it, you really don't get a sense of who she is. Other characters feel equally flat as they really get boiled down to the information Evie has gathered about them. If the plot hadn't grabbed me the characters would not have been developed enough to get me to finish it. It does get better as you get further into the story but I didn't really feel attached to any of them until close to the end.
The Pacing: It's a quick read. You get important information often enough that it keeps the momentum going. The flashbacks are usually big moments that tie into the present day chapters around it so it flows nicely and doesn't feel like you're being held back from the main plot.
The Writing: The writing was pretty average for me. Nothing stuck out (good or bad).
I don't think I'd reread it, just because a lot of the interest comes from not knowing what's coming next, but I would definitely recommend it for someone looking for an easy to read, fast paced spy novel.
A quick and easy action read about a woman going undercover, lying about her identity to gain information from her mark.
Quick read.
Great characters. I like the way everything was tied together.
I get confused on these back and forth books, but this one wasn't so bad. In print, it might be less confusing. In the audiobook, I found that I missed a few spots where she switched, but once I went back and listened again, it was more clear.
Also, these characters are so foreign to me. I would never think about doing anything like this. I don't have the fortitude or the “hootzpa” to be able to do things like this. So, the story is a stretch, but still a very enjoyable read.
