Sort of a modern spin on Charlie’s Angels but in this case Charlie is a mysterious criminal boss by the name of Mr. Smith.
Under the identity of Evie Porter, Evie is given a name of a person to spy and steal information from, her current mark being Ryan Sumner. I liked this book, I enjoyed how everything came together in the end and this book definetly kept me guessing!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Receiving an advanced copy was a delightful surprise. I believe both existing fans and newcomers will find it equally enjoyable.

I enjoyed this one overall after suspending some disbelief over the becoming someone else narrative. Elston did do a great job of making everything plausible and one of the twists made it really interesting! I can see why this has been a popular one! Thank you so much to Viking Books for the ARC of this one.

I don't want to give anything away by providing a recap (I think it's best to go in blind for this one), so all I will say is WOW.

This novel kept me guessing until the last page and completely blew me away. For me, First Lie Wins was a very rare 5 star thriller that was intricately and cleverly crafted to have a plot unlike any other. I absolutely loved it and had the best time reading it. I would recommend this book to practically anyone, especially thriller lovers!

5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

okayyyyyy not bad. it's very commercial in the best way. fast paced and twisty and very good. i'm so impressed!

I devoured this book! It was such a thrilling and fun read. I loved the character development and detailed descriptions. This is a perfect selection for a book club.

4.5 stars

What a page turning, addictive thriller.. I scarfed it down in a day like a giant bowl of popcorn because I couldn't put it down!! I admit that I didn't really know much about this one before starting it--I was drawn to the cover and title--so I had no idea what I was getting into when starting the book, but that's OK!

I loved being shocked by the twists and turns, which is hard to do by a genre often overdone by reveals and wrongly plotted twists. Not this time! Ashley Elston has done an excellent job with pacing, character development, and unexpected revelations. This was a super fun, mind blowing read and will be on my 2024 list of thriller faves! 🤯Highly recommend! 👏👌

Thank you Netgalley and Pamela Dorman Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This one took some time for me to get through. There was a good twist towards the beginning but I felt like it got confusing throughout the rest of the book with going between the past and present and the different names.

The reveals are not shocking but the style of being drip fed information made it so that we are constantly given little reveals and puzzle pieces and kept the tension up. It was a fun time reading.

This thriller mystery was a good time.
I normally don’t love reading psychological thrillers that rely on the main character lying all the time, but the main character says it best that the best way to lie is to stay as close to the truth.
The reveals are not shocking but the style of being drip fed information made it so that we are constantly given little reveals and puzzle pieces and kept the tension up. It’s not exactly fast paced and yet definitely a page turner.

The flash backs and forwards fed into each other very well and following the players and plot wasn’t difficult despite having plenty of complexities. The FMC was likable, and I felt myself investing in her and her relationships as the story carried on. It’s a true pager-turner that I found myself grabbing for at every free moment. I wanted ever so slightly more out of the climax, but overall wouldn’t change a thing. 4.75 stars

From the very beginning, this book had me in its grip. I really enjoyed the style of writing and the format of giving the reader flashbacks to previous identities. I liked the fact that we didn't get all of the details and were left guessing throughout this book. Every time I thought I knew where it was going we took a sharp turn and went somewhere new. The characters were fun and purposefully just a bit of a cliche. This book is an entirely different sort of thriller and I love that.

I really liked this book. I wasn’t sure I would because for me it started out slow, but as I kept reading it really pulled me in. I liked the twists and would definitely recommend it to people who want a good mystery.

A fun, twisty mystery/thriller perfect for fans of Rachel Hawkins and Laura Dave! I really enjoyed the Southern setting and guessing (mostly incorrectly) where the plot would lead next. My only complaint is that some of the characters could have been better defined/developed, but this was a quick read so I don’t mind it as much as I would in a longer book.

This book is SO entertaining and twisty. I really enjoyed it. It hooked me right from the start and kept my attention. This specific trope isn’t my favorite, but it worked for me this time! I found my self getting a little confused by all the different aliases, but I know they added to the story.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read this early!

This was a well played cat and mouse game. Loved the female main character and it definitely kept me guessing. Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Viking for the ARC in exchange for my review.

This book felt very far fetched for me. Throughout most of the story not much happens. Perhaps because I listened to the audiobook I found much of the story to be confusing mostly because each chapter is jumping to different times and different alias'.

The protagonist of the book has taken on various identities in her life, currently going by Evie Porter. Her enigmatic boss, Mr. Smith, hands her a new assignment involving Ryan Sumner, and she senses this job is unlike any she's had before. As Evie develops feelings for Ryan and envisions a different life, the complexities of her job with Mr. Smith make it impossible for her to simply walk away.
Approaching the book without reading the synopsis, I relied on the multitude of 5-star reviews on Instagram. The plot distinguishes itself from typical domestic thrillers, unfolding through the perspective of the main character across different time periods. While the flashbacks added suspense and plot twists, they occasionally made the narrative challenging to follow. Evie, the central character, emerges as a strong, self-made, intelligent, and charming woman whom readers will find themselves rooting for. Despite enjoying the unique plot and resilient main character, the occasional confusion caused by the flashbacks led to a 4-star rating for me.

First Lie Wins sucks you right in.. Starting with introducing the main character, Evie Porter. That's not her real name, that is just who she is for this job. Each job she works for Mr. Smith she has a new identity and a mark and there is something she needs to obtain for him. There is so much deception in this book you will be flipping the pages trying to figure out what is really going on.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Different from many other psychological thrillers out there.

How far would you go to protect yourself and hide your past? Told in multiple timelines revealing con artist Evie Porter's past and current cons, she asks herself just that. Weaving the past with the present to explain her actions and life, Evie works through her cons. A decent twist at the end bring everything together. Is Evie more than just a con artist? Are her actions what has kept her alive all there years?

I want to thank Netgalley & the publisher for an ARC of this book.