This book, WOW. First of all, let me say, I absolutely DEVOURED this book. I can't believe it took so long for me to start, but once I did, there was no stopping me! I finished this in less than a day and the propulsive writing kept me turning pages long into the wee hours of the night.

Leo is a pathological liar, so they say. Obsessed with prime numbers and justice, I immediately loved him. His character has depth, quirks, and a hero complex to boot, complete with wittiness and a keen sense of humor.

Andi is the loss of his life. The one that got away. And maybe an even bigger liar than Leo. After turning in her badge and joining the private sector, Andi's managed to make a fine living working in corporate security. But is everything as it seems?

Small spoiler, nothing is as it seems! But the twists and turns to figure out which pieces fit where? You'll have to pick up the book to find out!

Once again, in The Best Lies, David Ellis spins out a story in which nothing is what it seems. Admittedly, being a lover of his stories, even early on I’m trying to figure out the long game of the characters and who is really the good guy and who is the bad guy. Leo Balanoff starts the story off by being arrested for murder, which to me means he is actually the good guy. He’s probably one of Ellis’ more murky good guys, one whose methods for doing the right thing are often questionable. Now he’s buried deep in a scheme that may or may not be entirely of his own making. Also telling the story is his ex, Andi, and his handler Chris, as Leo is set up to serve in place of the man he allegedly murdered for a drop. Whose side are Andi and Chris on? As always, in an Ellis novel nothing is as it seems, the question is just how many twists and turns down the rabbit hole will you go to find out. If you like stories that are less complicated or more focused as a psychological thriller around the protagonist these are probably not for you. If you like cat and mouse mysteries where you don’t know who the cat or mouse is then dive in! A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have enjoyed other books by David Ellis, and I really enjoyed this one as well! Numbers savant and pathological liar Leo Balanoff is a criminal defense attorney who becomes a suspect in the murder of a ruthless drug dealer. In attempting to clear himself and stay out of prison, Leo becomes involved in a series of suspenseful events and dealings in which lies, lies and more lies definitely abound. Told in multiple timelines and from multiple points of view, this is a well-written, well-plotted action-packed thriller replete with twists and turns that should definitely have you turning pages.

If you like twisty thrillers, The Best Lies will rock your world. This fast paced thriller begins with a bang and alternates between past and present to expertly weave twist after shocking twist.

Leo Balanoff is a recently reinstated attorney and a known pathological liar. When DNA and fingerprint evidence is found incriminating Leo in a murder, he teams up with an FBI agent to save himself from prison and also a potential brutal death.

I loved the way the story unfolded in the present timeline and then shifted gears to the past. This is not an easy feat and I felt the alternating timelines were well done adding snippets of crucial information in a seamless fashion.

I love twisty thrillers and this one had twists embedded in twists. Did I think I had it all figured out? Yes, plenty of times. And while I did figure a couple of things out, I was astonished as each, sometimes subtle sometimes blatant, revelation was exposed.

I can’t believe I have never read this author before. I’m adding him to the top of my list. This book is reminiscent of the feeling I get reading a Steve Cavanagh or Harlan Coben thriller. Likeable characters, shocking plot twists and unexpected conclusions.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam’s Sons and the author, David Ellis for this advanced digital reviewer copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Look Closer last year, so I was thrilled to get a copy of The Best Lies.

Unfortunately it didn’t grab my attention as much as Look Closer and even rough the chapters were short and quick to get through, the book felt a little too long.

I think I’m also not a huge fan of mobster stories. They usually are not as intriguing to me. So this is definitely a “me” not the book thing.

I’ll still be looking forward to future books by this author!

Leo Balanoff is a criminal defense lawyer who has been diagnosed as a pathological liar. Leo is now being accused of murdering a drug dealer/trafficker and all of his family secrets are going to potentially be exposed. This is the second book I have read by David Ellis. The first was Look Closer, which I really enjoyed. David Ellis is great at writing thrillers that have thousands of strands that finally wind together at the end to create a great ending.
What I Liked
-It is stated at the beginning that Leo Balanoff is a diagnosed pathological liar, so throughout the book, I was constantly questioning if he was a reliable narrator. Because I wasn't sure if he was telling the truth for most of the book, it was so much more interesting. I found myself constantly questioning his description of events and people in the story.
- I enjoyed Leo's sense of humor and the chapters that he narrated.
- There were many characters, but it was not too difficult to keep up with, especially as the book progressed.
-At first, I did not care for the flashback chapters, but toward the middle of the book, I understood the purpose of these chapters.
-I also really liked that you didn't know what the characters true motivations were until the end.
- The ending was surprising, but not completely outrageous.

What I Disliked
There really wasn't anything I disliked. The book was very well written and fast paced.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely reccomend.
Thanks for the advanced copy.

THANK YOU netgalley for this amazing arc!

i was excited to receive this after reading “look closer” earlier this year (or maybe last year??? it’s all a blur). this did not disappoint and i will be recommending it to everyone when it comes out!

i loved leo’s narrative and his quirks and was instantly drawn into his story of events. the dual timelines added extra layers to an already complex storyline. it was a little hard to keep up with initially, but as things started coming together it was easier to follow along. and it made me feel smart in so many ways. 🤣 i’m a sucker for multiple POV, cat & mouse, constant changes in who’s one step ahead, and this book had everything and more.

the twists and turns never stop coming from the very first page. david ellis has solidified himself as a “must read” for all new releases!

🔍 David Ellis has got to be the SMARTEST thriller writer in the game, right?! Thank you so much to @putnambooks for sending me this #gifted copy of this book. It’s out July 23rd!

🔍 If you read Look Closer by this author you know what to expect with this book. There’s going to be about a million little pieces all moving at the same time, and like the chess master he is, Ellis is going to move them all in the right places at the right time. He is truly brilliant.

🔍 Ellis’ books are just so much FUN to read. He keeps you guessing and your jaw is perpetually dropping at every turn. Every time you think you’ve got things figured out, you get a new piece of the puzzle.

🔍 This time around, I think you’ll find the MC very endearing. His lies seem to be for good, rather than evil. And his personal vendetta is much bigger and broader than what drove the MC in Look Closer.

🔍 This book cemented Ellis as an auto-read author for me, and I highly recommend you check it out when it’s released later this month

I first fell in love with David Ellis's work when I read Look Closer, so I was excited to get my greedy little hands on The Best Lies. Ellis has once again created a beautiful spider web of deceit, questionable ethics, and corporate espionage. Don't bother reading the plot synopsis, because the web is so intricate that those words don't even matter. If you like 3-letter agencies, spies, gangsters, lies, and more twists than a country backroad, just go in blind and settle in for a fast paced reading experience that is sure to have you gasping in surprise and laughing out loud mere pages apart. The book goes down smoother if you like unreliable characters with grey morals and a penchant for stretching the rules. He's no angel, but I definitely have a soft spot for Leo after spending this time with him. Without a doubt, David Ellis has been promoted to my "auto-buy author" list!

Thank you to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and David Ellis for the advanced review copy of this thriller in exchange for my honest review.

I figured this book would have a lot of twists after reading Look Closer by the same author. I ended up enjoying this one a lot more. The unreliable narrator(s) were fun. Leo is written in a way that was really likable; he’s sarcastic, clever, and a little odd. The chapters are short which increases the pace of the book. It felt like a twist was revealed after every chapter, which really keeps you hooked. While some of the twists were predictable, I thought the booked resolved neatly and in a really fun way. (4.25/5)

**This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

I loved David Ellis’s previous book Look Closer. I was really excited to read this one.

The Best Lies has a complex plot with lots of characters and moving parts to keep track of. The timeline also shifts between past and present and there are multiple points of view. The bare bones story is Leo, a lawyer with questionable ethics, gets caught up in an FBI sting operation. He has a choice between testifying against a viscous monster or going to jail for murder. Leo’s character was a little too smarmy for my taste. He’s like the smartest kid in the class who knows it and likes to show it off.

The first half of the story felt like a lot of loose threads, but they eventually all come together. The twists and turns are plentiful and will keep readers guessing. I found this to be an entertaining and engaging read.

David Ellis is the king of writing twisty thrillers!

I ended up giving this 4 stars because I felt like it dragged a little in the middle, or at least it felt like it did until everything was tied up nice and neat in the end (just like Ellis always does!)

Ellis is really phenomenal at weaving together multiple storylines with shocking twists and turns through out and this was no different. I was shocked multiple times. He does a great job or writing stories that truly read like movies. The character development in The Best Lies was great and the plot was strong and unique.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the opportunity to read this ARC before it’s intended publication date of July 23, 2024.

Ellis is a professional at delivering twist after twist effortlessly and efficiently. Just when you think you know what’s next or who to trust…WRONG. I loved the sibling relationship and backstory. Arguably my favorite aspect of the story, idk what that says about me 😂

Leo was such a captivating main character. So complex and interesting from start to finish

Thank you @netgalley for my advance copy! I about died as this was my #1 Most Anticipated Read of the Year! Its no surprise that Look Closer is one of my favorites of all time!

Ellis is back with more twists, sleight of hand, whip smart characters and mind blowing endings! Mobsters, “corrupt police” and some very colorful characters around out this story told in dual time lines and multiple POVs. I love when thrillers do that! There are a lot of moving parts so you have to pay attention but I loved trying to connect the dots. Leo was a great main character. He was sarcastic and the wit of his character really helped break up all the heavier topics.

Although this is a different style of story than Look Closer, it is still similar Ellis fashion where I was left wanting to spend a day in his brain.

🔵𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐞𝐬🔵
𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔦𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔯
🗓️𝖯𝗎𝖻 𝖽𝖺𝗍𝖾: 𝖩𝗎𝗅𝗒 𝟤𝟥, 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟦 (𝖺𝗅𝗆𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗈𝗎𝗍!)
𝕄𝕪 𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: 𝟜.𝟚𝟝 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤! ★★★★✫

♡This book has so many deets so the tidbit isnt so teeny.

🤏𝚃𝚎𝚎𝚗𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚍𝚋𝚒𝚝....”Leo is a pathological liar with unthinkable skeletons in his closet. He’s also an attorney who seeks justice at all costs. When a ruthless drug dealer is found dead”, he might be the only one to help the FBI take down this syndicate.

♥︎𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚊𝚢...It is no secret that Look Closer(@david previous thriller) is prob my fav thriller ever so to get the opportunity to read this one early nearly had me squealing. 🎉With that, I tried hard not to constantly compare the two & go in calmly🙃 as to not overhype it..which by the way is hard. 🤨Okay, so this book has A LOT going on..like holy hell! Drug dealers, murder, human trafficking, FBI investigations..that kind of thing. It is brilliantly plotted, but no surprise there. Has twists you don’t see coming. 👌The pieces of all these puzzles 🧩sent my ADD at one point spiraling 🌀 but the humor of the pathological liar main character is absolutely the best😆& took the seriousness of some of these things(like human trafficking) down a notch which I appreciated. I mean this guy truly tells The Best Lies..hence the title of the book. I hope you will pick this one up when it comes out in a few weeks & if you haven’t yet read Look Closer get on that ASAP!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC!!

This book was such a rollercoaster ride. The characters were so much fun to learn more about as the story went on. I did not really expect most of the twists either. I gave this 4 stars instead of 5, because the story line was often confusing when jumping between timelines, but overall amazing.

I have been craving a legit thriller and I finally got one. I loved the way all pieces came together. There were little bits of twists and secrets revealed throughout which kept the book moving at a thrilling place. I did not guess all the twists and that is my favorite kind of book. The multiple points of view were interesting and I didn't hate a single one. There is normally one I skip over, but I read all of them willingly. The author did an amazing job at bringing all the storelines full circle. I thought the idea of original and well executed.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thriller to read this summer.

Thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons, NetGalley and author David Ellis for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s due to be published July 23, 2024

4.5/5

Based on the title you obviously know this will be full of secrets and lies but I was actually surprised by how many twists and turns this had. There were so many reveals I lost count, it was a constant and steady stream of subtle turns and sometimes downright shocking twists. It definitely kept me engaged and ready, I truly never knew exactly what would happen next. This is complex and intricately plotted, I would describe it as a smart thriller where not every single thing is spelled out for you but the author lays a trail and allows you to put the pieces together yourself. While it’s heavily plot driven there was also really good character development and depth making it such a multifaceted read. Fans of Harlan Coben will like this one, definitely similar vibes for me.

This book was really enjoyable! The book itself was very well planned out. There were so many connections made throughout the book that tied it together perfectly! I liked that the storyline was easy to follow throughout the different timelines presented and the chapters were then broken into character point of views. Highly recommend, for a bit of crime and suspense!

Another great one from David Ellis! I really enjoyed Look Closer but have been a bit turned away from thrillers lately in general due to the same tropes being used over and over again. Luckily, I dove in despite my hesitancy and really enjoyed the book. It’s so nice to read a thriller where infidelity isn’t integral to the plot. The plot is super twisty to the point where a flow chart would come in handy. Even when you think one person is in a certain position Ellis switches it up.

I remember having similar struggles during Look Closer where at times I would have a hard time keeping track of everyone’s motives and true personas. I blew through this book in a day which likely helped me keep track of everyone.

It’s definitely a book that requires focus, but Ellis does a fantastic job at keeping it accessible. He reiterates details without it feeling like the entire plot is being spelled out for you.

The characters felt solid. I loved that Leo appeared neurodivergent in some aspect and the characters were appropriately flawed.

Highly recommend this thriller.