WOW!! An amazing, explosive read from Hank Ryan Phillippi!!! Just when you think you figured it out it's like nope sorry. A twisty, tense, suspenseful read about revenge, justice and deception. A definite unexpected ending! A bit confusing with the amount of characters but made it through.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the advance ecopy.

Ryan has once again proven that she has the gift of making the most devious and conniving women imaginable. This timely story concerns the misrepresentation by a drug company to their "wonder" drug. One woman wants revenge, one woman wants to make the public aware, causing the story to start with a slow burn that continues to grow hotter. I was gifted this ARC from the author.

This is a book filled with liars. In the modern timeline, we alternate between Nora, a pharmaceutical rep, and Ellie an investigate journalist looking to expose the company. In a second timeline, 'before', we alternate Brooke, the daughter of the pharmaceutical company Nora later works for, and Lacey, who is marrying into the same family. There are murders, undercover investigations, family secrets, and lies.

I'm a woman who's been prescribed medications like in the book, and it added an extra layer of chill to the real power pharmaceutical companies have. This is the first novel I've read by author Hank Phillippi Ryan and I really enjoyed it! It is fast-paced, with lots of twists and reveals. At some point, it does push the boundaries of believability a bit with how obvious it seems the lies are, but maybe other people are just more trusting?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The First to Lie

A timely and dynamic story full of twists and turns.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY
Pharminex, is a pharmaceutical company owned by the powerful and wealthy Vanderwald family. The company president Winton Trevor Vanderwald, Jr, is soon to be awarded the Massachusetts Medical Science Association’s Humanitarian of the Year award for his continuing and generous contributions to science and medicine. A huge gala will also be held to raise money for a scholarship in honor of the Vanderwald’s deceased son.

Pharminex has a new drug on the market. Monifan has been approved by the FDA but only to be used to decrease recovery time after surgeries. Pharminex thinks Monifan can also help women with fertility issues who are desperate to have a child. But the drug is not approved for that. What if it doesn’t work? What are the risks associated with marketing a drug off-label Is the company willing to take that risk Exactly how much is a human life worth? Pharminex has calculated that cost.

Nora Quinn is an auburn hair new sales rep for Pharminex. According to her training she has one goal: to make sure doctors prescribed the drugs offered by Pharminex, as often as and as much as they can. The hot drug on the market...Monifan.

Ellie Berensen, a blond “wholesome” and determined reporter, is on the trail of the Monifan story. Her new job at Channel 11 depends on her producing a blockbuster story.

Brooke Vanderwald is the Vanderwald’s only daughter if her grades are good she will be headed to Vasser or Yale shortly. At least that’s what her mother thinks. Brooke has a better idea.

Lacey Grisham Vanderwald is the new wife of Trevor Vanderwald the only son and rightful heir of Pharminex. More than anything Lacey wants a baby to cement her position in the Vanderwald family.

Who will be the first to lie?

REVIEW
What a vexing book! The First to Lie is told from four perspectives and multiple time frames you’ll want to hang on to your hat, because it's going to be a bumpy ride. It’s a phycological thriller, with the emphasis on phycological. The characters are both intriguing and perplexing and propel the narrative through a plethora of twists and turns.

More than anything else I really appreciate the timely and dynamic story of a drug being marketed to women for an off-label use, with devastating consequences for some. It’s so terrifying that stories such as this have some basis in reality. We are seeing examples on the news of real life situations where pharmaceutical companies have put their profits over safety, responsibility or due diligence.

Author Hank Phillippi Ryan has plenty of tricks up her sleeve because of her real world experience as a television investigative reporter in Boston Massachusetts. Her writing deftly peels away layer after layer to reveal the truth of who is the first to lie.

She is also the best-selling author of 12 thrillers and has received numerous awards. Her most recent books include The Murder List (2019), and Trust Me (2018)

Thanks to Netgalley and Forge Books for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher Forge Books
Published August 4, 2020
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

Good luck figuring out whose who in this one!!! Do unto others that went just a little to far.

Lost of twists, turns, guessing, aha moments, and please you can't be that dumb. If you love trying to figure out what's gonna happen by whom next, than this is the book for you.

#FirstToLie #Netgalley #Brooke #Lacy #Nora #Meg #Liars #

I had such high hopes for this novel...I mean, characters trying to take down Big Pharma? Yes, please! Unfortunately, it just never quite reached the point of cohesiveness I need to feel truly excited about a story.

The First to Lie had so many things I love...an interesting plot, intrigue, endless mystery and suspense, and twists galore. What it didn't have was believable characters...or believability, in general.

Characters impersonating other characters; and characters who were hired to spy, spying on characters who were spying for their own reasons, made up a huge portion of the story. Confusing, right? Oh, and I figured out one of the earlier twists within the first two chapters. Further, I'm sorry, but dressing up like a doctor (no spoilers) to spy on an organization might work in a hospital, where it's easy to blend in...but it would NEVER fly in a doctor's office, where the staff is small and typically closely knit.

The novel felt clunky in the way it was structured, which made for a somewhat confusing read. It also suffered from that unfortunate syndrome of having one too many twists. Another thing that annoyed me? Characters changing their appearances so they wouldn't be recognized. I can't say much more than that for fear of spoilers, but a wig is not going to make your skeletal structure, or features, appear any different.

I read another review for this book which described it as "breathlessly energetic." I'd say that's true. Probably not in the way the reviewer intended though. This isn't the delightful, endorphin-filled breathlessness one might get after a particularly productive roll in the hay...this was more like the, "I think I'm having a heart attack, call 911," kind. In other words, not delightful at all.

The story used multiple narrators, both in the past and present, but was primarily told from journalist, Ellie's perspective. It focuses on themes like corruption/lack of ethics in big business, journalistic integrity, and revenge.

Overall, it all fell a little flat for me. I do think it's worth reading, and I'd probably even read other selections from Hank Phillippi Ryan's extensive library, but this one, unfortunately, missed the mark.

Available for purchase August 4, 2020.

**My sincere, heartfelt appreciate to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for my review copy.

What would you do if you lost everything you cared about? And you knew exactly who was responsible? And what was responsible? And why? How far would you go for revenge? And would you be alone?

I know to expect heart-stopping suspense from Hank Phillippi Ryan. I was excited to receive an ARC of this thriller and it is most definitely a 5 star read! Here’s the thing: I can’t write a descriptive review without spoilers. Ryan has packaged this story in a convoluted mystery that you’ll just have to figure out for yourself. And you will love every exciting minute of it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan-Tor/Forge and Hank Phillippi for this ARC.

I love a twisty turny thriller that keeps you on your toes! Like Robin Cook or Michael Crichton, Ryan masterfully weaves medical intrigue with who-dun-it that will keep you guessing.

Told through alternating timelines and POV‘s, the story slowly unravels bit by bit until it reaches the breakneck speed finale. There are so many details and lies it will keep your head spinning as you try to figure out exactly what is going on. The last quarter reveals twist after twist, some of which I figured out but a few that I didn’t. This is one every thriller lover should add to their TBR pile!

Thanks to Forge Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A smorgasbord of subterfuge throughout. You don’t know who is telling the truth, nor do you know what they are hiding. It is what made this psychological thriller dramatically consuming as the narrative propelled me towards the frenetic ending that I could not put down until all was said and done. What took this riveting and grippingly intoxicating thriller to a higher level is how cleverly the author led us on a chase and once the truth was revealed, I relished it in all its worthiness.

WOW!! This book will leave your head spinning. The twists, suspense, surprise in this book and the characters?! Some of them will blow your mind. The lies and the deception will leave you questioning right and wrong for sure. It is definitely a riveting book, kept me on the edge of my seat and turning the pages.

This is a must read for suspense fans. Families who control with power. Secrets in the past and present. How far would you go and what lies would you tell to take down a corrupt company. Wash page will have you asking who is who and who was the first to lie.

I really enjoyed this twisty turny book of suspense. An action packed book centered on infertility. The suspense is definitely here. I absolutely love this Author and she knows how to keep her readers on the edge of their seats!

Thank you Netgalley for a copy for a fair an honest review.
THE FIRST TO LIE is my first Hank Phillippi Ryan novel and I enjoyed it a lot. It had my attention right away and kept it the whole time, the ending was a bit unbelievable but that's ok I enjoyed the journey. A little obvious in parts but I didn't mind. Will definitely read more from Hank Phillippi Ryan.

Ryan did it again! This was a action packed book that keeps you guessing. We have multiple POV. It also go from past to present. I loved the action and suspense. Its a given if Hank Phillippi Ryan writes a book then I am reading it!

Let me first say that I have read and enjoyed almost every book that Ms. Ryan has written, but I could not recommend this one. I tried over and over again to start and make sense of the story, but the characters are not who you think they are as they are using other names and have a very convoluted reason for doing so. The women are trying to take down a pharmaceutical company who developed a drug to help women become pregnant, but it has the opposite effect. There was so much confusion that even at the very end I still wasn’t sure who was who. I give it 2 stars as this is not a story that I look forward to from Ms. Ryan. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Wow, just wow! Another twisty and fun suspense from Hank Phillippi Ryan, that I raced through on my first vacation day. A book in which no-one is who they seem or claim to be, and every twisty turn is delicious to read.

The book has a strong sense of place – almost mesmerizing. I read this hanging in a hammock overlooking the ocean and felt transported into her scene-making. Hank's language and descriptions are so strong that Boston almost becomes a character.

Such a fun read, where no-one is who they seem at first to be. If you’re a lover of domestic thrillers you can’t go wrong with this one.

Just finished this book right before July ends. What a ride. First off, I'd like to thank NetGalley and Macmillan/Tor-Forge Books for providing me an E-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mystery stories have always been a picky genre for me. The First to Lie, admittedly started slow but it built its pace with a lot of ominous air and plenty of twists and turns as the story progressed. The story is about, news reporter, Ellie Berensen, on the hot pursuit of writing a story about a pharmaceutical company that tricks unknowing victims of their off-label medicine. The story mainly focuses on deception and retribution. Ellie was definitely a great character that always seemed to be constantly looking at the chessboard of the intricate problem at hand. Throughout the book, I did guess a lot about who to trust and who were fishy characters. I'm still trying to fully gather my thoughts on the overall experience in reading this.

One thing for sure is that I enjoyed the mystery to the identities of each character, it was definitely a good modern-day cat and mouse chase. There were parts in the book that felt a bit too dragging, but many of the plot twists did mislead me and made me question which who truly the good and bad guys. In the end, I am rating this book a four out of five stars. While I did catch on along the last ten chapters on who's who, it was still a very satisfying read.

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave. When first we practise to deceive!" -Sir Walter Scott-

Aliases, conflicting stories and grand deception - this book has it all. There's Ellie, the eager investigative reporter who steps up her game as she assumes a position at a new Boston news agency. She's certain that digging into a Big Pharma company's secrets will be the big break she needs to make a name for herself. Then there's Nora who goes undercover at that same pharmaceutical firm to break this same news story, to reveal the company for its charlatan practices and bring the company down. Don't forget Meg, who may be even more eager than Ellie to break that earth shattering news story. Although much to Meg's frustration, she's been assigned as Ellie's assistant and steps over the line on way too many occasions. There's also that really cute lawyer who wants to help Ellie get the goods on this family held company. "So what's his motive?", Ellie wonders. Alternating chapters are presented with various characters' narratives across two time periods - current day and before "the accident".

Author Hank Philippi Ryan does a spectacular job of keeping the reader just a touch off balance as characters and their motivations are introduced. Her writing style flows smoothly as she deftly interweaves the various narratives. The tension is well maintained throughout the course of the book with heightened increase at the penultimate moment. It's a twisty tale where the differing narratives all come together in a spectacular climax. I just could not put this book down.

Trigger warning: Infertility stress and depression therefrom play strong roles.

I am grateful to author Hank Phillipi Ryan and her publisher MacMillan Publishing Group, LLC for having provided a free uncorrected digital galley through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Amazing author Hank Phillipi Ryan‘s new book is The First to Lie and you will want to read it!

SUCH A GREAT BOOK! She is a fantastic author.

If you are into the themes of deceit, revenge, justice, ethics, and into pharmaceutical companies, secrets, and lies combined with twists and turns, then this is the book for you. Honestly, go into this not knowing much so it can surprise you and you can be fully engaged.

Here’s a little synopsis:

After a devastating betrayal, a young woman sets off on an obsessive path to justice, no matter what dark family secrets are revealed. What she doesn’t know—she isn’t the only one plotting her revenge.

Everything about this story was perfect. I love a book that takes hold of me and refuses to let go.

This comes out on August 4 and you can pre-order it here!

The story centers on an investigation into the operations of Pharminex, a company promoting miracle drug Monifan, to help women get pregnant. Point of view alternates between Nora Quinn and Ellie Berensen. The former is investigative reporter Ellie's undercover identity as a pharmaceutical salesperson.

Ellie seeks evidence that Monifan can cause women to be unable to ever have children, and justice for the women harmed. After multiple murders, all is eventually revealed and justice served. The First to Lie is another absorbing puzzler from Hank Phillippi Ryan.