4
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Setting ~ Illinois
Publication date ~ July 23, 2024
Est Page Count ~379 (95 chapters)
Audio length ~ 13 hours
Narrators ~ Vas Eli, Emana Rachelle, Lee Osorio, Natasha Soudek, Philip Hernandez
POV ~ single 1st, present tense & multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ multiple timelines, short chapters/page breaks, murder, gangsters, espionage, mentions of human trafficking and cancer

Leo is an attorney accused of murder. He might have a way to stay out of prison if he helps the FBI. I mostly enjoyed his character. He was a bit much with his love of prime numbers, but he provided enough humor that I could overlook that. One thing is for sure, he will protect his brother, Trace, at all costs.

Chris is a FBI agent and a cancer survivor.

Andi is a former cop, now a deputy director of security. She's also Leo's ex-girlfriend.

We hear from Marilyn, Leo's mom, a few times.

There is a lot going on and you can try to pay attention, but there are twists after twists after twists. Luckily they were doled out nicely and not wam wam wam smacking me in the face all at once, which I liked. The multiple timelines are easy to follow along with. It’s a bit repetitive and on the longer side, but I appreciated the short chapters and page breaks to keep the pace steady. I'd recommend it if you like an action packed thriller with some espionage and a character that strives for justice.

Thank you @putnambooks @prhaudio for a copy of this book.

After reading Look Closer, I became a fan of Ellis' books. He does such an amazing job with a morally grey character in Leo who is diagnosed as a pathological liar. He has been cornered by the FBI to go undercover. The story is told in multiple POV and a wide cast of characters which does a great job bringing the story to life. I love how we learn about Leo's past and how all these characters connect. There's so much twist and turns with this story and kept me so entertained.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I love how action packed it was. Definitely full of twists that I absolutely love! Must read this one!!!

Thank you NetGalley & Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

David Ellis is wonderful at weaving together multiple storylines that end up connecting in many different ways. I really enjoyed the way this one unfolded and how he chose when to reveal twists in the plot. I liked how we follow many different people and get to see many different perspectives of the events going on. Definitely recommend this one if you are looking for something that will keep you on your toes and flipping the pages.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the early copy in exchange for a review!

after <i>Look Closer</i> from Ellis, i knew i’d be picking up whatever he writes next. this one is definitely a departure from that (it actually seems more in line with his usual books) but it still packs solid twists. mob storylines aren’t usually my thing so this one wasn’t really set up to be my taste but I do think it was well done, if a bit too lengthy. Ellis shines in character work and I really enjoyed Leo’s backstory and it made for a unique thriller.

This is action packed and thrilling, reads like a movie or TV show. It's detailed and fast moving. I enjoyed the pacing and would recommend.

Did I like this? I think so? I was annoyed by the main character at first, but like a brother, he kinda grows on you. I enjoyed the characters' interactions and the storyline threw a couple of good curve balls. I don't know that I would go seeking another Leo Balanoff book (if one exists or comes into existence), but I'm not mad I read this. How's that? :)

My favorite book of 2024!
Wow what a thriller! If you love Law and Order SVU (x’s1000), this is it! I need to see this play out on the big screen! There was a lot thrown out at you in the beginning, lots of characters, but David Ellis does an amazing job at bringing it all together. Each twist left me dying for more. Once the story started to add up it was impossible to put down!

✨Let’s start here – but hear me out, okay? I DNF this book twice before I got into it. I kept thinking I would love the book, but it just wasn’t doing it for me in the moment. Boy, was I right. The third time was definitely a charm. So if for any reason, you are struggling to get into this one, keep going! You must trust me on this. Keep going!

✨I love the way @david_ellis_author is such an expert at misdirection and completely unpredictable twists and turns. I never see what’s coming. Ever! And I love it so much.

✨Oh, the unreliable narrators and morally grey characters you can’t help but root for – they are masterfully written in these pages! And shout out to the bad guys in this book who are “love to hate” bad.

✨This was such a satisfying high stakes thriller with an ending that is, in a word, thrilling! Don’t miss this one!


🌿Read if you like:
✨Chicago settings
✨morally grey characters
✨crime fiction
✨police procedurals
✨unreliable narrators
✨psychological thrillers

David Ellis can write himself a book! 🤯 He is so smart and almost reminds me of like a Greg Iles or John Grisham type of writer!
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There’s way too much to summarize but broad strokes would be: Morally gray lawyer Leo Balanoff gets caught up in the tangledest of webs. 🤣🤣 Organized crime, federal agents, local cops, a little bit of a love story, some family trauma, lots of lies and deception and subterfuge.
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This book should have been confusing but somehow it worked. It was intricately plotted. 🪢 The twists are written in such a way that you should see them, but you don’t until it’s right there. It’s like you’re distracted with everything and then when he reveals it you’re like, “Oh duh, obviously. I should have known.” 😆 This seems to be a hallmark of a David Ellis book and I’m a fan.
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A couple of small criticisms: the number thing (Leo spouts useless facts about prime numbers as a stress reliever) was a little overdone. And I thought it was too similar in formula to his other popular book, Look Closer. I don’t want to spoil anything but if you’ve read both I’ll tell you what I mean! 😆
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Anywho; I enjoyed it and gave it a solid four stars! Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC!

David Ellis's The Best Lies is a mysterious thriller that stands out from the crowd, weaving a complex narrative filled with suspense and unexpected twists. Each chapter brings new surprises, requiring readers to pay close attention to the details that form the backbone of the story. Ellis's talent for crafting intricate plots shines through, keeping the suspense alive from start to finish.

Despite my usual disinterest in mobsters and stings, The Best Lies held my attention throughout. The plot's allure lies in its ability to draw readers into a world where every character, no matter how minor, plays a crucial role in the unfolding drama. The challenge of keeping track of the numerous characters and their intricate connections only adds to the book's charm, making it a captivating puzzle for the reader to solve.

Ellis's knack for creating a labyrinthine story full of twisty ties is both a strength and a potential challenge. For those who relish piecing together intricate storylines and enjoy the thrill of unexpected turns, The Best Lies is a perfect fit. This book is a must-read for fans of twisty, mobster-related tales that keep you guessing until the very end.

This book was a decent read, although it didn't hold a candle to my first David Ellis, Look Closer. I think that has to less with writing style and more with the plot details and characters. Look Closer was the perfect level of socialite and drama in a thriller, whereas The Best Lies certainly changed the dynamic to more of a police/gang/spy vibe. I still enjoyed it, but it wasn't what I was expecting since I went in blind. I think this book is best for readers that are under a cozy blanket by the fire in the fall wanting a spooky, crime, popcorn read.

Leo is an attorney seeking justice for those wronged and also a pathological liar. When he is close to being charged with murdering a notorious drug dealer and trafficker, the FBI asks him to go undercover.

I loved Look Closer so much. While this one was not my favorite, I will still read Ellis’s next work. He can write a thriller. While multiple perspectives, it was not confusing and I did not have a hard time following. The whole mafia and corporate espionage plot was just not my thing. It was slower paced , at least for the majority of it, and I just wasn’t as invested.

The Best Lies comes out 7/23.

Look Closer was my favorite book of 2022, so to say I had high hopes for this one would be an understatement. When I received the email that I was approved for an arc of this one I literally screamed with joy. That excitement was short lived though. Dare I say that there was too much going on in this one? Ultimately it all wrapped up nicely, but it drug on and on for me. I think that this one was well written, but I don't think it is the right genre for me. It felt like it required far too much brain power.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy. I always love multiple POVs, and David Ellis does this brilliantly. There's definitely lots of action, and twists in this one! Definitely made me want to find out what was going on!

Look Closer was my favorite thriller of the year last year, so I was SO incredibly excited for this newest book from David Ellis and so grateful to receive an e-ARC from the publisher!

This book had all the components that I expected from Ellis: unreliable narrators, lots of characters, multiple timelines and flashback chapters, and very smart writing when it comes to revealing what was really happening all along. He is one of the few thriller authors where I truly cannot guess the majority of the twists, and he is a master at the long-game.

I think to really enjoy one of his books, you have to be okay with a slow build that lasts for a majority of the book. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. It’s chess, not checkers ♟️ You have to settle in for the pay off, but it’s always pretty satisfying when you see how everything comes together in one of his books, and this one was no exception!

While I certainly liked this book, it wasn’t as engaging to me as Look Closer. Maybe that’s because the novelty of reading his style of storytelling wore off now that I know what to expect, or maybe it was because I’m not as big of a fan of plots revolving around organized crime. The ending was great, but the first 75% just didn’t fully hold my attention to bump this up to a 4 star, so I'm going with 3.5!

If you’ve never read this author before, I’d nudge you towards Look Closer as the best one to start with. But I think if you’re a fan of Law & Order: Organized Crime, this one might be more your speed. Hang in there to get to the ending, it’s worth it!

The Best Lies is an absolute thrill ride that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish! This fast-paced and captivating novel masterfully uses dual POVs and shifting timelines to weave a suspenseful story about Leo Balanoff, a pathological liar forced into a dangerous undercover mission to escape a murder charge. Ellis’ clever narrative structure not only propels the plot forward with relentless momentum but also deepens the emotional stakes between Leo and his ex, Andi Piotrowski. The tension is palpable, the twists are relentless, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. If you’re looking for a gripping, quick read that delivers on every level, The Best Lies is a 5 star gem.

Thank you to the author, David Ellis, Netgalley and publisher Penguin Group, Putman for an arc of this book in exchange for a review!

What a thrilling ride in the newest book by David Ellis! This police procedural has it all - FBI agents, “handlers,” traffickers, the mafia, defense lawyers, and highly protected medical treatments companies and countries would kill for to name a few!

I spent the entire time trying to figure out who to actually believe when everyone was lying.

Ellis writes such brilliant novels containing dynamic characters in the most intricate of circumstances.
You won’t want to miss this one!

There's so much about this that should've worked. It's complex and intriguing, but I just kept putting it down and was completely okay not picking it back up.

Cyrus Balick runs the trifecta of guns, girls, and drugs. Human trafficking is his main thing these days, girls from Eastern Europe but also homegrowns, runaways mostly. Leo and Trace are a product of his endeavors. Project Nano is some new cancer breakthrough developed by a private medical technology company. Nico plans on stealing the formula and selling it to the Chinese operatives. And Cyrus is supposed to help with the delivery, handing it off. But plans fall through and now Leo is on the hook for completing the transaction. With the Feds closing in and the bad guys on his tail, Leo must navigate both worlds to come out alive and stay out of prison. David Ellis takes us on a fast pace, wild ride full of intrigue and deception. He is a masterful story teller who weaves together a fascinating tale. The characters are relatable and the plot credible. I had a hard time putting this book down.