David Ellis quickly became one of my favorite authors when I discovered a previous book of his by accident. This book also did not disappoint! Full of twists and turns, David Ellis holds your attention through this page turner. Also, check out Look Closer by him. In my experience, he is a lesser known author that does not get nearly the amount of credit that he deserves!

An overall decent read, enough twists to keep me interested even if the plot was a bit thin overall. I loved Look Closer, but ended up being disappointed with this book because it didn't live up to my high expectations after that one.

I listened to this as an audiobook, and the multi-cast narration was helpful to propel the story forward. What I didn't love about the audiobook (and maybe wouldn't have liked reading it on the page either) was that there are so many jumps in time that it got a bit confusing as to what was happening when.

There are three main point of view characters: Leo, Chris, and Andi. They are all involved with a sting operation, and their roles and loyalties often come into question. That's the main idea for the story, and although it seems straightforward as it is being presented, in the end the reader's mind will be spinning.

So although I liked the twists, I didn't love how it was presented. I feel like there were way too many characters double crossing and triple crossing each other. Some of those surprises were jaw-dropping and interesting, but after a while I was thinking "Really? Another one?"

This book reminded me a lot of Alex Finlay's books--lots of action and twists but not a huge amount of plot substance. I will read another book by this author because I like his writing style, I will just keep my expectations a bit lower next time.

This book grabbed me from the first page and never let go. When we are introduced to Leo, he tells us he is a pathological liar. So you're always guessing if what he is saying is true, and looking for clues about when he's lying. The story is told from multiple POVs and shifts between present and past, so we are constantly learning the backstory to give us clues about what's really going on.

The story is fascinating, and really makes you think. Don't read before bed, it's too exciting!

David Ellis has done it again! I loved this book! A well written book that grabs you right from the start. I love the way he weaves together such a complex and detailed mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end. Nothing is as it seems. Add some humor and even a touch of romance and you’ve got yourself a perfect thriller.

Rating: 5/5 stars

“Pro tip: Make the other guy think he knows more than you.”

David Ellis is truly a master of the psychological thriller. Right from the start, this book demanded my full attention. The pace is quick, with multiple threads unfolding simultaneously. The meticulously layered plots pulled me right in and kept me fully engaged in the story.

The characters in this book are anything but simple. From the calculating MMC to the suspicious supporting cast, everyone has secrets, and no one can be trusted. Ellis does a fantastic job of keeping you on edge, constantly wondering who’s lying, who’s manipulating, and who’s about to unravel. The interactions between them feel intense and real, adding another layer of tension to the already gripping plot.

In every chapter, Ellis’s intelligence as a writer shines through. His knack for analyzing every single detail makes the story feel incredibly sharp and deliberate. There’s a real sense of sophistication in how he weaves the narrative, and you can just tell he knows how to challenge his readers.

Having loved Look Closer, I went into this book with high expectations, and it did not disappoint. It’s a gripping read with plenty of twists to keep you guessing. Believe me, this one is absolutely worth your time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the eARC!

I can’t seem to get enough of David Ellis’s stories This was definitely a fast-paced, twisty/twisted thriller. We are introduced to Leo and right off the bat he tells us that he is a pathological liar. So how much of what he is saying is going to be true? An unreliable narrator is such a fun way to read a thriller. The Best Lies is told from multiple POV and different timelines, which made some of it hard to follow but it all came together at the end and thematically made sense. And boy did it end!

We have themes of human trafficking, legal and crime aspects and some relationships. Basically, you have everything you need for an excellent crime/thriller and David Ellis didn’t disappoint. There were some slower parts in this one but overall was still fast-paced. I love how well he did with character development and things coming together at the end. I figured out a few twists but there were still some that blew my mind. Overall, great, quick, thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putman’s Sons and David Ellis for the eARC of The Best Lies in exchange for an honest review. I know I’m a little behind on this one, but the publication date for The Best Lies by David Ellis was 23 July 2024.

I was sold on reading this when I saw it described as a “fast-paced, twisty thriller that will surprise readers at every turn” on Goodreads. Honestly, it didn’t take much convincing given I loved David Ellis’ last book 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗲𝘀 is a fast-paced, twisty, and highly enjoyable read, just as it is described. But it does not come close to topping 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿. That bar was set pretty high.

What it does have is a pathological lying attorney, undercover agents, drug dealers, human traffickers, and corporate espionage. Lots to process there. My advice: go into it blind and enjoy the ride.

Details: David Ellis • 373 pages • July 23, 2024 • Gifted: @putnambooks @netgalley

I really liked how complex the story was in THE BEST LIES. The plot points were all woven in ways that I didn't predict and made it so that nothing ended up being too over-the-top coincidental. However, I didn't love that lot of the twists were caused by the author simply keeping things from the reader by using two timelines. I get that authors obviously keep things from the reader to get a twisty moment, but this felt like ALL the twists and shocks were simply because the reader wasn't privy to all the information and therefore it would be hard for the reader to predict anything on his or her own. I'm having difficulty putting into words how I felt during these reveals, but it gave me an off vibe. Overall, I still enjoyed it and the last quarter really was intense! 3.5

Thank you Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for my ARC in exchange for a review.

Thanks to PRHAudio for a free audio and NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an eArc.

Many lies, secrets and twists. But also so.many.characters to keep up with. I got confused from time to time.

Three POVs with flashbacks to get to know each of them. There was a lot to keep up with.

I found the second half of the book a bit less fulfilling, but did enjoy the ending.

Another winner from David! I loved the twists and the interweaving of characters in this one to keep you guessing.

Wow! It’s been a long time since I was captivated by a thriller. They all seem to follow the same boring storyline but not The Best Lies. It was so good. This was my first book by David Ellis and plan to read his backlog and all future books. Definitely one of my favorite books I’ve read this year.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read a copy in exchange for a honest review.

In The Best Lies, I was fascinated by Leo's character. He readily admits to the reader that he's a pathological liar, so while you're reading you never quite know who to trust. There are blatant lies thrown in to the narration here and there to remind the reader that Leo is in fact unreliable, and I thought it was a fun way to tell a story.

I didn't even read the synopsis before starting this book, so I had no idea what I was in store for. I enjoyed Leo and Andi's parallel timelines and couldn't wait to see how they would intersect.

While it didn't quite live up to my excitement for Look Closer, The Best Lies was an interesting thriller that kept me hooked. I enjoyed all the reveals as they panned out, and am excited to read more by David Ellis in the future.

4 ⭐️

This book wasn't what I had expected and wasn't the material I normally read, but it was good for what it was. Just not my cup of tea. Nothing against the book because it was well written and very well structured.

There were SO many characters to keep track of. There were three POVS. It was difficult for me to get into this book and keep everything straight. It was extremely detailed and thorough! You HAVE to pay attention. I was getting confused and it did not hold my interest (again nothing against the subject matter of the book). I am not a big crime book reader, to be honest. I don't normally read about drug dealers and the FBI catching criminals and mobsters. I am not an action fan either. This was more of a book for my husband and I will convince him to read it, as he enjoys these type of books. This was simply a good book picked up by the wrong person.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for access to the ARC of this book! I truly appreciate the opportunity!

Another great thriller that kept me turning the pages. Love the characters and the plot twists.
I will definitely read the next book by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

Loved Look Closer by this author and this though different was also good!!

I’ve seen other reviews mention “mobster” scenarios. That was so minimal in this book. Wouldn’t even use the word myself.

Human trafficking definitely a string under backstory related to the whole plot throughout. With good reason. Not going to spoil things but it will make sense why the main characters want the two main human traffickers dead by the end.

Multiple POV’s and timelines, had no trouble following or keeping things straight.

Did lag a bit for me at times, about 80% it took off like a rocket and while i did figure out a twist or two, I missed the biggest ones and didn’t see them coming!

Truly enjoyed Leo and Andi’s characters. Definitely would recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin group for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I'm either hot or cold on Ellis. I found this one to be a bit unbelievable..the premise and the story. But the next one could be great so I'm not giving up! Quick read.

Oh my goodness! This one kept me guessing! I love a good con/liar story, and this one was really good! Add in the FBI and organized crime - I am all in. Highly recommend!

David Ellis had me up many a night when I needed to sleep as I thought, “Just one more chapter”…. I love how Ellis depicts morally questionable characters that we somehow root for from the beginning. Any unbelievable aspects of the plot were quickly swept aside because it read like and felt like a screenplay— I could visualize the entire thing onscreen. And who doesn’t like to suspend belief in order to be entertained? Especially when you find the characters interesting and somewhat quirky.

To name a few snapshots : Mobsters. Politics. Music. Sickness. FBI. Kidnapping. Justice. Framing. Blackmail. Chicago.

Fast-paced, slightly unbelievable and an all around enjoyable “presto-change-o” who-can-I-trust thriller. A unique writing style and one where the author gives the reader the credit to be able to follow multiple story lines and not be able to see what’s around the next corner. Also - kudos for not leaving all of the “reveals” to the last 20 pages of the book.

I’m off to find Look Closer at my local bookstore! David Ellis, I’m a fan!

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

4 stars

Thank you to @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse for this arc e-copy!

cool book that has a lot of fun ideas. would recommend the vibes of it, definitely super cool, tysm for the arc.

THE BEST LIES - DAVID ELLIS
4⭐

A super suspenseful twisty thriller told in multiple POVs and at multiple timelines . Once you get all the characters and timelines sorted it was quite enjoyable and I could absolutely appreciate the story and more so the authors narrative and in the end all is tied up brilliantly.
One needs patience and attentive to enjoy this one.