Its not long into this book, when the reader discovers nearly everyone is a liar. Its also about the drug industry and the deception used to get people to take drugs. Ellie an investigative reporter and her ethically challenged assistant who believes the drug she is investigating causes permanent infertility and its been covered up. The ending seemed a bit preposterous, but Ryan was able to pull it off.

Ellie is an investigative journalist for a news department at a new channel in Boston. And she is hot on the trail of a big story. She’s heard that doctors are prescribing the drug Monifan to women who are having trouble conceiving. It’s an off-label use for Monifan, which isn’t illegal, but if the doctors aren’t informing their patients of the potential side effects, then they could be help liable. And if the drug company manufacturing Monifan, Pharminex is encouraging the doctors to prescribe it without informing patients of the possible side effects, then the company is in a vulnerable position.

And Ellie has found out that’s exactly what the company has been doing. How does she know this? She has an inside source, a salesperson for Pharminex who wants to share what she knows. In addition, Ellie is trying to find a patient who took Monifan and suffered the worst possible side effect for a woman struggling to conceive, the complete loss of her fertility.

Pharminex is owned by the Vanderwald family, and they are preparing to have a gala event, a celebration of the Trevor Vanderwald Memorial Fund. Trevor was their son, killed in a sailing accident 7 years ago, and the family will get together with friends and colleagues to celebrate their new charitable fund. It would be the perfect time for Ellie to reveal her investigation and bring down Pharminex for how they have destroyed women’s lives with their drug.

But Ellie’s assistant Meg has been acting a little strangely. She shows up unexpectedly, she asks questions that Ellie would have waited on, she suggests options that would violate Ellie’s journalistic ethics, and she comes on too strongly with potential sources. Ellie can’t help but wonder if she’s somehow connected to the story. Pharminex is rumored to have spies. Could she work for the company, or be connected to the family? Or is she just another pushy journalist trying to steal Ellie’s story?

The more Ellie digs into the story, the more she realizes very little is as it first seems. People are lying to her. Sources are keeping secrets. But it’s only fair—Ellie has a secret or two of her own as well. But will her secrets get in the way of her story, or worse, will they cost her her life?

The First To Lie is a complex novel with layers of deception. Each character has more secrets than they can keep track of, and the twists make your head spin. Author Hank Phillippi Ryan is known for her thrillers, and this one certainly keeps you turning the pages.

I enjoyed reading The First to Lie, and I loved the story line about the drug company. But I felt that there were some issues with these characters as well. For journalists, they made some rookie mistakes and took dangerous chances. It felt like the story got overly complicated, and it was hard to keep track of who was who in places. But it was still a good thriller with a unique plot line, and I’ve very happy that I got to read it.

Egalleys for The First to Lie were provided by the author and publisher Macmillan-Forge Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

What a tangled web of characters in this book.​

You won’t know who to trust or who is who in this twisty book that takes us into what power and money can do and what being an undercover reporter involves. ​

We get a glimpse into what people will do to save themselves, make money, reveal the truth, and keep the truth a secret.

A few of the characters were quite unlikable....well quite a few were.

​​Ms. Ryan did another marvelous job of keeping you guessing and wondering what is going to happen next.​​

Be prepared to stay up late as you near the end...it is GOOD is all I can say, and VERY clever.​​

Great story line once you have all the characters and their names straightened out. ​​:)

Be sure to make THE FIRST TO LIE part of your summer reading plans. 4/5​​

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the plot of this book! It was intriguing! The characters were easy to relate to and were complex. I loved how the book ended with a surprise reveal. I didn't see that coming! That being said, I found the storyline confusing. I think it was due to the fact that there were too many points of view and the timeline kept jumping back and forth. I felt the jumping back and forth stalled the story because it seemed to take me forever to finish reading the book. I would recommend this book to mystery/thriller readers!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillian-Tor/Forge for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, and Hank Phillippi Ryan for the opportunity to read her latest thriller - it's another great read that will have you reeling with all the twists!

The wealthy Vanderwald family owns Pharminex - a powerful drug company that is touting their latest drug's off label use for helping women with infertility, with devastating side effects for some women. Investigative reporter, Ellie, and her assistant, Meg, are looking into these claims and hope to break open the case. But not everyone is who they say they are and everyone has ulterior motives.

My synopsis will be brief to avoid giving anything away. The fun of this book is to uncover all the characters and their stories but your head will be spinning trying to keep up! There are many different points of view in the present timeframe as well as some background into the Vanderwald family in "before" chapters. Another great read by this author!

The lies! What a twisty surreal story! Who to believe, who to trust? Questions that have you on the edge till the thrilling end! Trust me, make this your next thrilling read!!!

The First to Lie is another novel from the mind of Hank Phillippi Ryan, and it is a suspense novel full of deception and intrigue.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Or a woman betrayed. Two women set out on a path for justice – or vengeance – in this latest thriller. Ellie Berensen, an investigative journalist, and her assistant Meg have a story that might just blow a drug company out of the water. If they can get the proof to back up their claims.

Naturally, it's quite a bit more complicated than that. After all, this is a huge pharmaceutical company with the lawyers to back them up. Any evidence levied against them will have to be airtight. Which makes it all the more difficult to gather.

“Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.”

Warning: The First to Lie follows the investigation into a pharmaceutical company that is selling a drug meant to help fertility, but instead causes infertility. I know that this can be an extremely sensitive subject to some, so please consider yourself warned.

The First to Lie is a suspenseful read, from the very first page down to the last. It is absolutely full of shocking twists and revelations. So many that you'll probably feel like you need a nap once it's all said and done.

I was immediately drawn into The First to Lie thanks to the description. A few women stubbornly taking on Big Pharma? Sign me up, please. I'll admit that it didn't quite live up to my expectations, but that might just as well have been my fault.

This is an incredibly complex tale to unravel, and it literally takes the whole book to get you to that dramatic revelation. Yet, right off the bat, you can get the sense that there's something more going on here. Something being intentionally obfuscated. You'd be right, and that revelation will probably blow your mind, when you finally get to it.

The whole Pharminex plot was enough to get my blood boiling, which I'm sure was the intent. Likewise, I'm sure I won't be the only one that got roped in via that emotional road. It does make for a heavy read at times though, so consider yourself forewarned

All things considered, I found The First to Lie to be a quick and intense read. The sheer number of twists in this book are out of this world, and that alone should help to hold your attention. Though it might not hurt to keep a little stack of notes by your side, to help you keep up with it all!

This was a perfect example of a book that tried to do too much.

A revenge plot book going against a rich family and big pharma that had a good character twist but then continued doing the same character twist for two other characters and then again for two characters that had already had one?!?!

Does that sound confusing? It was, but also borderline ridiculous. There were many POV's (mostly because people were pretending to be other people) and the dialogue was clunky. I can't tell you how many times a character had to take a call on their cell phone or check a text. Almost anytime Ellie had interaction with anyone, that person would need to take a call, which drove me batty!! The character Meg was one of the most annoying characters I have ever read. Her dialogue was bad, and honestly if anyone had acted the way she did around me I would have ran the opposite way because she acted psycho (or maybe just really poorly written?)

The bones to an interesting story were there but were complicated and completely over-ran by the author trying to be too deceiving with her characters. I did not like this book. I do not plan to read this author again. I would have DNF'd this book but it was a Netgalley read.

One of these statements is a lie. 1. Hank Phillippi Ryan started writing fiction before she wrote for Rolling Stone Magazine. 2. Hank carefully plots and outlines her mysteries. 3. The themes of trust vs. betrayal are never part of Ryan's oeuvre. 4. This is Hank's last novel. She has retired to grow cucumbers. Okay reader. Which of the sentences was a lie? Fans already know, readers of the First to Lie might consider, all the above sentences were lies.

This is the dazzling mystery of The First to Lie. Ryan who is well known as a pantster (an author who creates without using an outline) has been known to not know the outcome of the novel when she begins. As a character reveals themselves to both to Ryan and the reader, the plot moves beyond verisimilitude. It becomes rooted in the characters reality. Ryan's thorough knowledge of her main setting, Boston, more specifically a news station in Boston, gives such credence that I expect to be able to tune into this television station. And yet, what is real? What is false? Is there an unreliable narrator? The title suggests there might be.

Perhaps Ryan's other career as an award winning (37 Emmys and counting) have shown her enough of the world of deception that trust has become one of her overall motifs. Corporate greed, revenge, professionalism, and obsession are spun into this mystery. Ryan is also known for her twists. I will not offer spoilers, I will say this veteran mystery reader blinked and thought Wow! Did not see that coming. To make the story even more delicious, this is not only a who dunnit, it might be a when dunnit. But..I could be lying.

The First to Lie has already generated a great deal of favorable attention. Publisher's Weekly included it in it's top picks for the week of August 3 2020. Booklist says "page turning twists and mind-bending drama". I began reading The First to Lie two hours before the surgeon was due to start cutting. I was completely taken away from the fear of the pending surgery. Ryan is that good.
And, this is not a lie.

I received an advance copy of this book from the author/publisher, in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity.

Very good, twisty story. You just never know who's who in this newest book from Hank Ryan Phillippe.
A pharmaceutical empire, the family behind it, the clientele, doctors....oh, don't forget reporters! Murder!
Grab your copy to discover the truth!
Enjoy!
#HankRyanPhillippe
#netgalley

A complex, multifaceted narrative that has readers second guessing themselves the entire way through. Hank Phillippi Ryan writes a meticulous plot centered around a working conspiracy theory of a pharmaceutical company. Wonderfully written and delightfully deceitful.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #TheFirsttoLie

Dark and twisty. Another winner from Hank Phillippi Ryan. So many twists and turns it'll make you dizzy. Flawless storytelling from a true master. You'll stay up way too late because you just can't stop reading. Don't pass it up. A definite must read. Happy reading!

5 Incredible Stars!

First of all, I was ALL CONSUMED by The First to Lie!!! The story is brilliant and addicting. This book is so twisted that you literally will not know which end is up and in the BEST POSSIBLE WAY!

Perfectly paced and brilliantly executed, there are lies within lies with the lies in this book and its delicious!

Characters that are complex, complicated and completely fleshed out in a way that you actually believe in them and cheer them on even if they may be a psychopath.

My excitement was palpable as I read this novel of justice and revenge filled with so many twists , I could not put this book down.

I devoured the story and my jaw was hanging open at the end.

Highly recommend !!!!!

Keeping up with the twists and turns in Hank Phillippi Ryan’s latest novel is a challenge, but well worth it.

Pharmaceutical sales person Nora knows she was hired by Pharminex because she’s attractive, but Pharminex doesn’t know she has other motives beyond earning a living in working for them.

Investigative reporter Ellie is also looking into Pharminex’s claims and deliberate cover up of the devastating side effects of the medication they’re urging on women with fertility problems. Her annoying new neighbor, Meg, turns out to be working for the same station, assisting Ellie with her story. Ellie isn’t sure if Meg is merely clueless and interfering or if she’s trying to sabotage Ellie’s investigation..

Ellie soon enlists the help of attorney Gabe, while Nora transitions from sales to spy for Pharminex. The backstory of the family behind Pharminex—and the son, Trevor, who presumably drowned years ago— is interspersed in the contemporary story. In The First to Lie, nobody is who you think they are, and you’ll never guess who the real culprit is. Hank Phillippi Ryan always writes brilliant suspense, but she’s outdone herself this time. #TheFirsttoLie #NetGalley

I loved The First to Lie by Hank Phillippi Ryan! Lots of twists and turns to keep the reader interested and want to find out the answers in the end. Very effective use of moving from present-day events to the past to fill in lots of information. Lots of red herrings to keep you guessing! I would definitely recommend this book.

Hank Phillippi Ryan has done it again! She’s written another story full of twists and turns and suspense and surprises that will have you changing your best guess over and over. Full of characters who aren’t always who you think they are, who have strong motives to get back at Big Pharma. And as the title of this book is “The First to Lie” then you know that all of these people are going to have secrets and stories they won’t want you to know and won’t hesitate to lie when they think it’s justified.

Be prepared for a thrill ride. Be prepared to meet a whole cast of characters who will make you like them, then mistrust them, then fear them. Non-stop action and intrigue start to finish. Once you start you won’t be able to put it down – I couldn’t.

Thanks to author Hank Phillippi Ryan, publisher Forge Books and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of The First to Lie for my reading pleasure and honest opinion. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it. Another great addition to your library of this author’s work.

Pharminex are a big pharmaceutical company that have developed a drug to help women who are struggling to get pregnant. Sounds like a miracle drug right?! However, they forget to mention in many cases this can leave women completely infertile. We follow the narratives of Ellie, Brooke, Nora and Lacey. Each woman has had their lives ruined by Pharminex in one way or another. This is a fast paced thriller full of revenge, desperation and devastation. Trust no one..

Overall, as far as thrillers go I did enjoy this one. I would say the first 20% is a little bit confusing as we jump back and fore between all the different perspectives. I liked the the plot and it felt really believable, as drug companies will really push their products without thinking about all the horrific side effects. This will definitely get you questioning ethics and morals!

I saw some plot twists coming but there was one I really didn't see coming! I did find the ending a tiny bit rushed and I was a little bit upset with how it all ended. I found myself feeling sympathy for characters who were supposed to be the 'villains'.

I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan for providing me a copy to read.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest, voluntary review. If you want twists and turns in a book then you have come to the right place with a Hank Phillippi Ryan book! She will take you on a ride of your life. All of her books are superbly written and her characters are exceptional and her plots will keep you up at night. You need to go buy this book today and sit down and open it and ENJOY!!! 📚

As much as I wanted to like this book, I just couldn’t get into it. It seemed like every character had an alternate identity. And there are so many characters. It was just too confusing. And, the going back and forth in time......just too much. On the positive side, it is a very entertaining mystery. There are twists and turns all the way through to the end. Although this one did not appeal to me, I will definitely read more of her books, because I’ve read other books, written by her, that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Who’s on first? This book is definitely full of twists and turns, so many your head will spin! It’s a story of revenge, of big pharma and of justice. Compelling from start to finish, you’d best batten down the hatches or you might just be blown away!