Well, I am not usually interested in Medical-type suspense, and this is how the description made it sound. BUT being written by Hank Phillippi Ryan, it was a no-brainer. SO good!! This is one where the twists and turns just keep coming throughout and do not let up! This story has 5 strong female characters with Ellie and Nora being the main ones. Ellie is a reporter who has stumbled on an ethically shady Pharmaceutical company. She sets out to investigate. Nora is an undercover drug-rep trying to find out the truth. Both are investigating an infertility drug that has EXTREME side effects that are not being disclosed to patients.

You need to pay attention with this one, as their are a lot of characters and points of view, but it is all connected and comes together very nicely, in typical Hank fashion! READ IT and all of her other books!

Thank you to #NetGalley, #ForgeBooks and @hankpryan #HankPhillippiRyan for this ARC!

4⭐️
Talk about a book with a lot of twists!!!! If you like a book that doesn’t save all the twists for the end, I recommend this one!
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What I liked about this one was that it always had me guessing, is this person who they say they are? There are lots of different impersonations, and I did have to pay attention to make sure I understood. I found the premise of the story really interesting. I enjoyed the POV of Nora, going undercover as a drug rep, and Ellie, an investigative journalist. I speculated some of the twists, but was never really sure. However, one of the final twists seemed a little unrealistic.
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TW: infertility - SYNOPSIS: A pharmaceutical company has started encouraging doctors to prescribe their drug for off-label use. They have found that their drug helps women struggling with infertility become pregnant; however, some women lose their ability to become pregnant all together. The main issue, they aren’t telling women about this possible side effect because they just want to make money. There is a lot of sketchiness happening inside this company, so Nora applies to be a drug rep for them to find out the inside scoop. Ellie is a journalist, and she also wants to uncover their dirty secrets.

I just finished First to Lie late last night. Hank Philippi Ryan delivers a twisted thriller full of liars! Expertly woven web of deceit as news reporter Ellie goes on a quest to take down a pharmaceutical company who is knowingly causing infertility. Can you guess who is who? I bet you can't. If you are looking for your next unputdownable book, look no further.
I received an ARC from netgalley. All my opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. This is a complex read with lots of twists and turns that kept this reader glued to the pages.

Dishonest, deceitful, disquieting characters make this a delightful multi-layered thriller. The twists and turns throughout the book finally reveal who is who and what is why.

// 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 / 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝗪 //⁣⁣
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Not surprisingly, @hankpryan hits it OUT OF THE PARK AGAIN with this super twisty and intricate tale that will keep you breathless until the very end! I have to admit that after reading this, I'll probably NEVER trust a pharmaceutical company or people again 😲 This book is full of so many lies, so much deceit and characters that will literally have you shaking your head and saying WTF chapter after chapter! Literally, no one is who they say they are and its a total mindf*ck for most of the book!⁣
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With chapters ping-ponging between POVs and an intricate storyline, you wont be able to get this book out of your head. I actually lost sleep over it some nights because the subject matter is disturbing (albeit not scary or graphic), but you'll understand why ... especially if your a woman who has struggled with infertility and taken drugs to get pregnant like me. I kept thinking ... oh my gosh, these poor women could have been ME!⁣
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I wouldn't necessarily categorize this as a traditional "thriller" (though there were plenty of tense moments), but more of a psychological mystery. Every element in this story mattered and Hank did a remarkable job of pulling everything together in the end so that the "cat and mouse game" clicked into perfect harmony. Make sure to slow down, pay attention and absorb ... there are a lot of characters and storylines and I found myself re-reading some chapters just to make sure I fully understood what was happening.⁣
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I've been waiting to share my review of #TheFirstToLie for months, since I was graciously {gifted} a copy by Forge books and I couldn't be more excited that this book is finally out in the world. If you're a fan of her previous work, you must pick this up. This is my favorite book by her to date and I can't wait to hear what everyone else thinks! Hank, you're a gem and this was utterly fantastic!

The First to Lie is a spellbinding book about hidden identities and trying to find the truth. Pharminex creates a drug with the side effect of helping women get pregnant. The side effect of the side effect is that in some women it eliminates their ability to have children but this side effect is not shared with women taking the drug. The powerful family behind the company will do anything to keep this side effect quiet. A news reporter, Ellie, had found about the infertility side effect and to jump start her career at a new station, she runs with investigating the story. At the same time, women are being impacted by infertility due to this drug want revenge. The question is, who was the first to lie?

I am a fan of Hank Phillippi Ryan since her book, The Murder List, was published last year. I enjoy her writing style, which is to tell the story from different characters point of view. This book is set in Boston in the winter and it is told from the past and the present. I was caught up in this book from the first chapter as I knew people had double identities and tried to figure out which characters were the same person. As much as I tried, I was surprised at the end once the final hidden identities were revealed.

The story focuses on a drug with devastating side effects for some women and the impact it has on their lives. I can't imagine what it would feel like to go to a doctor and take a drug that should help you become pregnant, only to have it make it impossible to have a child. The ethics behind it with the pharmaceutical reps selling the drug to doctors and to the owners of Pharminex are clear that this side effect should be disclosed. When it is not, women are determined to take matters into their own hands and expose the company.

I loved the twists in this book and it seems as if everyone has more than one identity. The fun part is trying to figure out who is who and what their motive is. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves suspense and thriller books. You won't be disappointed in this book!

HPR has done it again! HPR definitely has a way to make your head spin and question everything that you thought was gonna happen. Her ability in investigative journalism brings so many layers to her writing!

The First To Lie is a fast paced, medical thriller about a pharmaceutical company, Pharminex, using a drug for women's fertility. The cost is high. Ethical lines are crossed, and these women are bound and determined to bring the company down.

This book is told through multiple POVs and also switches to past and present. There are so many lies and deceptions that you'll never be able to guess where this ends! The hidden agendas keep piling up and this book takes you through everything you can possibly imagine!

Such a twisted and powerful revenge worthy story that blows your mind, it is already a must read for thriller fans! HPR takes you on a roller-coaster ride full of victims, heartache, compassion, lies, revenge and justice!

This was a crazy, cat and mouse type thriller that kept me turning the pages! It was fast paced and chilling from start to finish, with tons of twists and turns!

It had a wild cast of characters and the story was told through their multiple points of view. There's Ellie, a reporter attempting to take down a huge pharmaceutical company owned by the Vanderwald family which offers big promises to woman suffering from infertility. Then there's Nora, a pharmaceutical rep for the company, travelling to doctors offices pretending to be a patient. There's Brooke, the 15 year old disgruntled daughter of the powerful Vanderwald's and Lacey, set to marry Brooke's brother Trevor and finally become part of the Vanderwald family.

This story had so much suspense, deception and lies. At the very beginning, keeping track of the many characters was slightly difficult but once I got it, the story flowed really nicely. At it's core, this is a story about women who are desperate for family and children. They are willing to try anything to fulfill that dream, including trying a "miracle drug" from a big medical company which seems to only care about profit.

This author wrote one heck of a suspense filled mystery and I loved it! The plot and characters were well thought out and the story constantly kept me guessing. Looking for a thriller with some awesome story telling? Add this one to your list!

I have to always thank Netgalley and the publishers for giving this me this opportunity to read and review this book. I finished it in one seating just because it was so suspenseful. So many characters with their own stories, and it all ties in, but the keyword is to pat close attention. This book will have you at the edge of your seat.
Pharminex is a pharmaceutical company that provides meds for doctors, but these meds that are meant to help and treat are not being distributed the right way. There is a reporter, someone who’s a spy and then someone spying someone else and then some, all trying to either bring the company or bring each other down. This is a game where you don’t trust anyone! Wow!
With situations like this there is always greed, because we all know that this business is the MONEY business. I won't give too much away, but this book keeps your mind running, and running.

WOW! What did I just read? Totally blown away!

This story is about an investigative reporter who is focused on brining down a big pharma – Pharminex. Along the way you meet more characters that are connected with the company – sales rep as well as women that took Pharminex’s famous drug Monifan.

This book is fast paced and you have to pay attention right from the beginning or you will be lost. I almost had to re-read couple of first chapters because I was losing track of all the characters. But don’t give up…keep reading and everything will start to come together or will it? There are twists, flashes to the past and as much as you try to figure out who is who you just don’t know what’s coming next.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that likes fast paced mysteries with unexpected twists at the end.

Scorecards, get your scorecards, here! Believe me, you’re going to want a scorecard to keep track of all the characters in this unique suspense novel. I’ve read most of Hank Phillippi Ryan’s other books and this one is very different. Ellie is an investigative reporter in Boston like many of Ryan’s main characters and she is working on a story to expose a large pharmaceutical company’s dangerous drug and illegal distribution practices. The book includes Ellie’s point of view as well as three other characters. There are many other side characters involved with each of the main characters who are narrating the story. Things get complicated when it quickly becomes evident that almost everyone is lying and keeping secrets. You need to constantly be ready to change what you were thinking when the next twist occurs.

Saying too much about the characters and plot of this book will spoil the story. I can say the book is fast-paced and held my interest even when my head was spinning. I didn’t mind the misdirection and lies, but when the whole truth eventually comes out at the end, it was all a little too unbelievable. I was willing to go along with some of it, but it ended up being just too much. However, I applaud the author for her interesting approach to telling this story which is definitely entertaining. Overall, I enjoyed the book and am glad I read it.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Forge Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

The First to Lie is a fast paced read, that also manages to be a delicious slow burn as the truth behind the story is slowly revealed. As you no doubt understood from the title, The First to Lie, there are a lot of lies to expose and truth to unearth.

This is a book that's definitely best to go in with as little information about as possible in order to avoid spoiling the twists.

Content Warnings (below):





Infertility; medical malpractice.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own. #suspense #mystery #thriller #TheFirstToLie

Hank Phillippi Ryan has hit her stride as a psychological suspense author. The First to Lie is another excellent story filled with enough twists and turns to turn you upside down! One you don't want to miss!
Thank you to the author and to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A drug company comes up with a miracle drug which is a fertility drug where a women who are unable to have children can conceive easily.
The dark side effect of this medicine can ruin a women's life but this has not been mentioned by the company nor does the doctors talks about it to their patient. And there are many who actually had side effect and there life has been ruined.
The charecters now wants to destroy Pharminex ( the company)
The plot is this simple !

This little plot get twisted till your brain burst ! With four point of views and charecters having double life made it hard for me to keep track at times. s I was writing down the charecters to remember their goals, but then the plot had so much twist and lies that it made me clueless at times, Though there were times were it was so predictable yet the charecter didnt understand whats going on . I wish it was more clear in terms of writing to enjoy the bumpy ride.

If you have the ability to take this roller coster ride with charecters and their secrets go ahead I dare you.

I started the First to Lie without reading what it was about. I saw a review on Booksta and thought I’d like that. The First to Lie is told through multiple POV. I enjoyed this fast read. It’s quick and a fun read but I don’t want to tell you to much about it. It is full of deception, lies, unpredicted narrators and full of twists. The author is an amazing writer who keeps you on the edge of your seat. I loved this fast read. Thank you to #forgebooks and #netgalley for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

This thriller is about betrayal and lies and the search for revenge and justice. The story is told in multiple timelines and different points of view.

Brooke Vanderwald is the affluent daughter of privilege whose life is shattered when her beloved older brother Trevor dies and she is the lone survivor of a sailing accident. Lacey Grisham is a golddigger who gets her dream husband when she marries Trevor. But a series of miscarriages and some rare drug reactions from a miracle drug means Lacey will never have children. Lacey blames both the Vanderwalds and Pharminex, the family's drug company, for her childless fate. Ellie Berensen is a reporter who is starting a job in Boston at the newly formed Channel 11 newsroom. Ellie's first story is to bring down Pharminex and she goes undercover to get the evidence she needs. And Meg Weest is a manipulative wannabe who latches on to Ellie as a newly hired Channel 11 producer and her next door neighbour.

When several women die in car accidents, Ellie wonders if Pharminex is trying to silence any negative publicity at any cost.

This book left me guessing and second-guessing who was telling lies and which identities were real. A chilling confrontation occurs during a ritzy gala that the Vanderwalds are hosting to launch the Trevor Vanderwald fund.

I received an eARC from Netgalley and Forge Books with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

I will leave a review on Amazon or B&N on Aug 4, 2020

The First to Lie was a book with so many twists and turns, most of the book I didn't know if I was coming or going. This book contained a little bit of everything, hatred, betrayal, deceit, revenge, search for justice. This book focuses of big Pharma and how they seem to have no moral compass. Suspense thrillers are one of my favorite genres and although I thought this was a good book, my personal opinion it didn't compare with previous books by this author. I always advise others to read a book for themself because not all people enjoy the same thing.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher an am under no obligation to leave a favorable review, all opinions expressed here are my own.

With a title like, "The First to Lie", I went in thinking EVERYONE was a liar! I couldn't trust a thing any of the characters said, which made for a wild ride. I slowly grew to love and trust that certain characters were lying for good reasons, and others were just out for revenge. I managed to figure out some of the twists before the end, so maybe that brought down the shock value a little bit, but they were still great twists!

I love the premise of the book: bringing down a pharmaceutical company for negligence. I can honestly say with the thousands of books I've read in my lifetime, this is the very first time that a book was based off of this. Which is crazy, considering we live in America, the land of medication, and it's a great topic to pursue!

The writing itself was intriguing, and kept me engaged throughout my reading experience. I always enjoy when a writer pieces together a novel with "before" and "current" events. Slowly giving you pieces to the puzzle you are trying to solve, and you crave more from each time period.

The only thing that I can see being an issue for some readers is the amount of names involved. It was a lot to juggle in your head at times and keep things straight.

Other than that, I really enjoyed this, and will definitely be recommending it to everyone!

Happy release day tomorrow!!

This is a psychological thriller where everyone is lying. If the cat could talk, she would lie. It explores the world of big pharma and how business profits can be seen as more important than the human beings who are taking the drugs. There are several points of view going on in the beginning, all with interesting stories that needed keeping up with to understand the plot. This book is full of twists and turns that will keep you reading.

I acquired this book through Net Galley and have left an honest review.