I really wanted to love this book because I love this author's writing. Sadly I just never was able to get into this book - I'm going to chalk it up to my current state of mind because it seems like everyone else loves this book.
The writing is good - i love the cover - but the story just didn't interest me.

A few unlikely coincidences but utterly engrossing and twisty. I figured out a few things but was wrong on some and completely surprised by others.

Loved it. First book I've read from this author but won't be the last. Couldn't put it down. What a rollercoaster ride.

Why oh why did I put off reading The First to Lie? Hank Phillippi Ryan is so talented that I should have known that she would not let me down. I found myself intrigued by the story, invested in the characters, and unable to stop turning page after page.

The characters are so unique. Each one has their own story, their own secrets, and the reader knows that the stories will be tied to together..somehow. I loved taking guesses at what would tie the characters together, how their stories would intertwined, and what the ending would entail.

The First to Lie is a roller coaster of a ride, the twists and turns, the ups and downs, and the rises and fall all kept me reading and now talking about this book. I have finished it and I am still thinking about it and asking my friends to read it. This thriller of a book is one of my favorites of 2020.

I love stories of revenge and suspense and this was one of the best . The author is a masterful author and creates a compelling charcter the reader is drawn to. She builds suspense I loved this exciting page turner . I highly recommend this exciting read for all who enjoy dramatic suspense novels.

Thank you to the author and the publisher for the opportunity.

This book was a rollercoaster. So many twists and turns that I couldn’t keep track. A big investigation into big pharma, medications and side effects.

This book was great as is the author. She is always on my to read list. I really enjoyed my time with this novel.

I was given this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is possibly the BEST book by Hank Phillippi Ryan to date - and as a huge fan of her work, I don't say that lightly.

I was blown away by how fast this book sucked me into the story and how it held on tight chapter after chapter. I absolutely LOVED the multiple POV's and how that in turn let the story unfold with dramatic twists and turns that kept me hooked from start to finish, I love the pacing of this story, and the fact that you really truly, couldn't know who to fully trust.

The suspense and intensity build perfectly and the end comes roaring in with a bang. This is the EXACT kind of thriller that I love - one that keeps me on the edge of my seat, tuned into the action with twists you never see coming. A must read for this year!

This just didn't click for me. I found it predictable and I didn't really like any of the characters. Not for me.

The premise of The First to Lie, will hook a reader fast but without stopping to write down all the characters and backstories, it got a little confusing about who was who. I believe this was meant to be intentional but for me it was distracting from the actual story.

Exciting from start to finish. I've been a fan of Philipi's for several years and she never disappoints. I read this in one sitting and can't wait for her next book!

OMG! What did I just read??

Too many lies.
Too many disguises.
Too many layers.

The First to Lie has a promising premise. An investigative journalist probing into a big pharma company hiding the side-effects of a fertility drug.

I have to say that the story started a little slow for me. For the first 90-100 pages nothing happened and then boom.. I could not foresee the twist. Slowly the layers unfolded with many unexpected twists. A couple of things that did not make this a winner for me was that the multiple layers did not tie up in the end. After a point it was super confusing to follow. One more thing I would like to say without spoilers is that the disguise was fairly simple. Not sure how much of change glasses and wig would make? Even though this one wasn't a winner for me, I will be checking out other works of this author.

Thank you SuzyApprovedBookTours and NetGalley for my copy.

I had heard so many great things about this title, from a new to me author, so I just had to request it on Netgalley and see what all the fuss was about. Thanks to Macmillan-Tor / Forge Books, I was able to read this title in exchange for my personal review.

Going into the book not knowing a ton about what the book was about - I typically avoid synopsis and other reviews, I was at times a bit confused by the multiple point of views, as the characters were not exactly who or what they claimed to be. This story was so full of twists and turns, keeping you emotionally invested as a reader and keeping us entertained through the lies and secrets throughout the plot.

Ellie is a news reporter. She is trying desperately to take down a drug company. This drug company is lying and they are killing women due to their negligence. Ellie is not going to stand for it. Then, her news station assigns her an assistant, Meg. Ellie is not a fan….at all!

Ellie is a great character. She is tough and smart. Plus she is out to see justice done. Then there is Nora. Nora is a pharmaceutical rep. She is iffy. As a reader…you can’t quite put your finger on why. Then there is Meg…oh Meg is an odd duck for sure. Finally, there is Gabe…or is it Guy?

Wow! Talk about completely twisted. This book is twisted all around itself and you are guessing who is who and what is what. You think you know who this person is….but you don’t! Now, I did figure out bits and pieces. But when the whole picture came together, that was an “AH HA!” moment!

Need a good guessing game! Y’all! This is it! Now, you can’t take your eye off the ball or you will miss something. Pay attention!!!

Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

This was my first book by Hank Phillippi Ryan, and it definitely won’t be my last. I can sum up the whole story with 2 points - No one is who they say they are, and Big pharma sucks!! The story follows an investigative journalist who is researching a drug made by a big pharmaceutical company in Boston. During her investigation, she meets some shady characters and tries to figure out who is actually telling the truth. I really enjoyed seeing how she handled all of the stressful situations and dishonest people she came in contact with. I was totally there with her in guessing and second-guessing what each character’s motivations were. There are several characters and POVs, so it may help if you take notes. The story showed the corrupt practices and influences of big pharma while also telling the humanizing stories of the company’s victims. Overall, a very enjoyable read with just enough twists and turns to keep me interested. I’m happy to have found another great thriller writer!

This was a great suspenseful mystery! I felt as if there was always something going to happen next as the tone was very ominous in a captivating way. The story is full of so many people who are keeping secrets. The secrets of the past are revealed a little bit at a time.

Intriguing. Is anyone who they say they are? Well-rounded personalities with interesting occupations - pharmaceutical rep, investigative reporter, production assistant, lawyer. Hints throughout that keep you guessing about who is the good guy and who is the bad guy. Ryan switches between the present and past to flesh out the character's back stories. Recommend this book!

This book is super convoluted and from the title you can guess that it is built on the framework of the unreliable narrator. Trying to figure out who the 'good guys' are is a bit more of a struggle. The main characters all reflect on their lives, each affected by the fallout of a pharmaceutical company using one of their drugs off-label for women with fertility problems. The primary protagonist is a news reporter who gets takes a job as a rep for the company in order to research the tactics used to encourage the doctors to try the off-label use. There is a production assistant who seems to always be one step ahead and an attorney who may not be who he says he is. Butt who is the first to lie? I loved this book and the twists and turns will keep you guessing until the end!

In The First to Lie, every character is not who/what they seem. The author picked the perfect title because there are so many lies woven and embedded in this story. To be completely honest, there are a lot of characters and that made it start off a little rocky for me. I was having a hard keeping track of all the players and different narratives. BUT.. let me tell you that I am so glad I stuck with it. I absolutely love a story about redemption and watching wrongs get righted (is that a word? 🤣) and @hank serves us a twisty, suspenseful, and smart tale of revenge which we all know is a dish best served cold!

For the entirety of the book, I was trying to guess what the hell was happening. I changed my mind like 20 times, and turned out I was wrong every single time. It kept me guessing but also kept me totally intrigued.

An elite family. Pharmaceutical companies selling drugs with life alternating side effects. Investigative journalism. Deceit. Murder. Revenge. This book now LIES at the top of my 2020 favorite list. Me and this book clearly got started on the wrong foot so going from that to becoming a favorite is no small feat.

Another terrific read from one of my favorite authors. While the basis of the story involves a pharmaceutical firm, owned by a very wealthy family, purporting to make a drug meant to help women conceive they fail to reveal the side effects nor the risk that they may never be able to conceive even when it affects their own family. Obviously there are victims seeking revenge and threatening to bring the firm to its knees.
An investigation ensues involving a law firm, a reporter for an up and coming news network and the police. There are secrets galore and you’ll need a scorecard to figure out who’s who. It will keep you guessing and wanting to read without stop. Another great read from Ryan.

This was my first go around with this author. I feel that that it had a slow, yet interesting start as it did lay the ground work for the rest of the plot. And boy does that plot thicken throughout the book. With every one not being who they seem to be, it can be tricky to keep up, but you are in for a ride.