This was an interesting thriller. The story kept me guessing. The storyline did get a bit more complicated then it needed to be toward the end and I had to re-read parts to fully absorb details. I was excited to pick the book up and continue the story when I had spare time. Overall I would definitely recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒔. 𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒏𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕; 𝒊𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒊𝒈 𝒐𝒏𝒆...𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒕. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅, 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆.

I love thrillers featuring cons and grifters, and FIRST LIE WINS wildly exceeded my expectations! Evie Porter has everything--a perfect boyfriend, a perfect house with a white picket fence and bountiful garden, and the perfect group of friends--however, Evie Porter doesn't exist; it's an identity, a ruse, all created so she can get close to her mark, Ryan Sumner. For Evie, this is how it works: she's given a name and location by her mysterious boss "Mr. Smith" and then she finds out everything about both the town and the people in it.

Evie makes a rookie mistake with Ryan--because she can actually see herself living this life with him, she lets her guard down, and that's when another stranger turns up in town. To Evie's horror, the stranger introduces herself with Evie's real name, and every detail she provides about her life is Evie's. Who is this woman, what does she want, and did Mr. Smith send her as punishment for a mistake Evie made on her last job?

The plot was painstakingly intricate; a web of deceit and layers of identity that unfolded piece by piece in the dual timelines. "Evie" was such a sympathetic character with her well fleshed-out backstory, and I was in awe of her natural ability to read people and stay one step ahead. I was completely engaged throughout, and the ending was quite satisfying. I am so grateful to Viking/Pamela Dorman Books for sharing this early read with me. This title will publish January 9, 2024.

4.5/5 stars
I got an email today saying Lisa Gardner (an author I really love) said this had some of the best cat and mouse suspense she's seen in years, so I requested it the same day and got approved the same day. Then I got going on reading and finished it in one sitting. It was excellent and Lisa Gardner's quote stands. It is an excellent slow-burn/ long game thriller that will keep you guessing till the very end. I did guess one plot twist right but the rest were a genuine surprise.
Our main character Evie Porter is given a series of missions. She always gets a new name and a location. Once she gets here, her job is to learn everything she can about a certain target before being asked to do something from an unknown Mr. Smith. She has spoken to him on the phone, but doesn't know his true identity. For the most part, her missions go well and she is able to retrieve the information Mr. Smith requests. Enter Ryan Summer and everything changes.
I loved reading about all of her previous missions and identities. The pacing was just right as I was truly hooked the entire time. The one thing I needed out of this book was Mr. Smith's motivation/ back story. I can't say too much without spoiling it, but I needed it to make peace with his fate.
It also looks like there might be a sequel based on the ending chapter, which I would love to read! This is an excellent adult thriller. Apparently this author has YA mysteries so I will be sure to check those out as well.

This was great! Very suspenseful and twisty. I love stories like this one where all of the complications make sense and are resolved in satisfying ways. I will look forward to reading more from this author—maybe a sequel? Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! I was really intrigued by the premise and I was not disappointed! I was immediately drawn into the story and liked all of the characters. The story was a bit complicated since the main character used aliases but the author did a great job of keeping things clear. I was not expecting the ending at all. I really liked how the author tied everything up in a way that felt natural. I am excited for more books by this author! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5)

Wow! This is my first book by Ashley Elston and it won’t certainly be my last.

Evie Porter and Ryan Sumner seem like the perfect “IT” couple in town, but both are hiding secrets from each other. Evie was sent to town to gather information on Ryan and send it back to her boss, Mr. Smith.

Whenever she’s given an assignment by Mr. Smith, Evie’s never told what the job actually is, but she is to provide whatever information she’s asked for. She’s been working for him over the last eight years and still doesn’t know his identity. She has to handle this Ryan Sumner job perfectly, as jobs in the past haven’t gone the way Mr. Smith planned.

This is a game of cat and mouse, where you don’t know who is the cat and who is the mouse. The story has multiple timelines to cover Evie’s different assignments, which help tell the story wonderfully. There are many characters in the book, which at first was confusing, however you slowly start to understand their role in everything.

This was a fun, quick read and kept me on my toes. I would highly recommend!

#FirstLieWins #NetGalley

Pub date; 1/9/24
Genre: suspense/thriller
Quick summary: Con artist Evie Porter has been given her newest mark - the very attractive Ryan Sumner. But when someone shows up using Evie's original name, she'll have to figure out the truth to stay ahead.

It's rare that a thriller exceeds my expectations, but this book by Elston did! I've read plenty of con artist books, but this one had SO MANY twists that I could not keep ahead of it all. I read this one in about a day, and when it comes out this winter, I recommend you do the same!

Thank you to Pamela Dorman Books for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston was such a fun thriller, my first by this author but definitely not my last. I absolutely fell in love with the protagonist, Evie. She had me rooting for her from the very first page and I thoroughly enjoyed watching her navigate through some very choppy waters. Highly recommend!

I’ve been a fan of Ashley Elston since her YA debut and when I heard she was releasing an adult thriller, I was beyond excited. I loved this cat and mouse story and hope Elston continues to write more in the adult genre.

If you were a fan of Stone Cold Fox, this one is definitely for you!

I was gobsmacked with how good this book is! It’s confusing and complex in the best ways possible.

Evie Porter and her boyfriend, Ryan, have just moved in together and their lives couldn’t be more idyllic, at least from all appearances. But Evie isn’t who she says she is. Her life is complicated and it’s one big lie. But does Ryan know what Evie is up to, or is he in over his head?

This book is addictive and so, so clever. I would love there to be a sequel. I highly recommend this 5-star read. It is due to hit the shelves on January 9, 2024. Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for the eARC.

First the good: I liked this book and found the premise different and compelling. It was a very strong start to a thriller by a debut author. One of the best ones out there.

Now the not so stellar: It was a lot to take in and therefore seemed all over the place at times. I’m not sure I ever understood the point of Mr. Smith’s business. Of course it was shady and she was infiltrating in different situations. I’m not sure the why was explained enough.

Overall this was a strong thriller and it came to be pages turning and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Evie Porter has been playing a role for a long time. She’s not an actress on the stage or screen, and she’ll never win an award from an academy, peers, or audience. Still, she is among the best as she knows better than almost anyone … "First Lie Wins."

The intricate plot is a masterpiece. As the tangled web is unraveled thread by thread, the details are gripping, clever, and astonishing. Each thread jolts to impact the next reveal.

Evie Porter’s actions demand your attention. There is a need to know how the lie you knew was the truth you didn’t know.

I loved it! The adrenalin. The speed. The pace. The deception. The secrets. The lies. The truth. The thrills of it all. Incomparable.

Highly recommended.

Thank you to Ashley Elston, Penguin Group Viking, Pamela Dorman Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.

#FirstLieWins #NetGalley

First Lie Wins is one of those intensely fun, well thought out thrillers that has you happy that you read mysteries! All of the characters are intriguing, so that you can’t help but continue reading after hours and hours. You really feel for Evie, as she comes off as empathetic and intelligent, and all the side characters who support her garner your interest in this story. There were so many new revelations and discoveries about Evie’s past, this book kept me on my toes until the very last page.

I didn’t expect all the twists that came to light near the end of the book, but I personally felt like the tone of the very end was way more optimistic than the rest of the book. Regardless, I had SUCH a fun time reading First Lie Wins and will be reading more of Ashley Elston’s books.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I always love a good thriller and this one did not disappoint! “First Lie Wins” by Ashley Elston pulled me in from the very first paragraph. It is fast paced and intelligently written about a woman whose story you think you might know…..but I promise the twists and turns will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat! If you are looking for an exciting and suspenseful book this is it.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Viking, and the author for allowing me to review this book.

Wow wow wow! I absolutely loved this book. What a fun and twisty read with twists you won’t see coming (especially that ending)! I really don’t know what I was expecting but it was just different than what I was expecting and in the most pleasant way! Highly recommend!!!

I read somewhere that this is the author's first book written for an adult audience, and I think she knocked it out of the park. It was well-written and impressively though out. I'd classify it as a "thinking person's book" because the plot was so smart. (At least it was to me!) Although "Evie"s job is morally questionable, you can't help but root for her (and Ryan), and hope she gets the happy ending she deserves. Although I had a sneaking suspicion about who "Mr Smith" actually was (and was correct in the end), that fact did not detract from the excitement or experience of reading this book. Even if you figure it out, stay the course- It is definitely a book worth finishing! Definitely plan to recommend this one, obviously.

Evie Porter is an intelligent, charming woman living a simple and idyllic life in Lake Forbing, Louisiana with her new boyfriend, Ryan — or so it would seem. In reality, “Evie” is just the latest in a long line of our protagonist’s aliases and Ryan is the newest mark given to Evie by her mysterious boss, Mr. Smith. Her assignment is to learn everything she can about Ryan while awaiting the next set of instructions. However, all of her plans are derailed when she’s faced with a newcomer to town who bares an uncanny resemblance to Evie and is using her real name and background. Now Evie must figure out where this imposter has come from and why she’s here in the first place.

This thriller from Ashley Elston was a really enjoyable and quick-paced read. It truly kept me on my toes throughout, and I could never quite tell where it was going (in the best way). The plot felt very unique and interesting, but never too far fetched as some thrillers can be. I highly recommend adding it to your TBR and looking out for it when it’s released in January 2024. First Lie Wins was my first book by this author, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for the ARC.

Wow !! I loved this book!!! This thriller had me in complete suspense til the end. There were so many twists and turns at every corner. I could not stop reading ! My first time reading a book by this author and I look forward to reading more of her books. I will not forget this thriller for a long time. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Viking for the digital arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book had absolutely everything I look for in a great book… Romance, intrigue,and more twists than I could keep up with! I literally could not put it down!

What an amazing book! The plot is so different and skillfully done. I love the strong, smart “Evie”. She is one tough cookie who flows through a life that is impossible with the smarts that best a creative “boss”. This will be easy to promote- a delicious ride with a great ending.