5/5!

Thank you G. P. Putnam and Sons for the advanced reading copy!

Another fantastic thriller from David Ellis! I love his writing for a lot of reasons, one of them being its intellect; the writing is SMART and it makes you think so much harder. This story had tons of twists and surprises until the very end -- another David Ellis classic! The short chapters make it really easy to fly through and, trust me, you'll want to. With lots of action and near-constant misdirection, this book was impossible to put down. I always love multiple POVs and multiple timelines, and this had so many! I could see this being difficult to follow if you're not used to lots of perspectives, but for me this was perfect. I think David Ellis does a great job of making each character distinct, so keeping up with them is much easier. Overall, I loved this book. LOOK CLOSER was a tiny bit better, but THE BEST LIES was still a fast-paced, entertaining and riveting book!

SYNOPSIS -- Leo Balanoff, diagnosed pathological liar turned defense attorney, has just been accused of murdering a ruthless drug dealer. When offered a chance to flip and work with the FBI to take down the dealer’s boss, Leo feels he has no other options. But when his past — both his ex-girlfriend and mysterious familial history — intertwines with the present, things are going to get even more complicated than Leo realizes.

They’re either coming to arrest him….or kill him.

Given that those are the only two options currently on the table for him it’s clear that Leo Balanoff, a gifted (and possibly pathological) liar and a lawyer recently reinstated after a five year suspension, has made some less-than-stellar life choices. The story bounces back and forth between the current day, when he is arrested (rather than killed, so that’s a positive) for the murder of a human trafficker/drug dealer/overall nasty guy named Cyrus Balik, and different periods in the past that have led up to Leo’s problems in the present. He certainly had motive to kill the man; he suspects that Balik was behind the killing a year earlier of Bonnie Tressler, one of Leo’s clients and a former runaway who Cyrus had scooped up when she arrived in the city after running away from home. Cyrus fed her drugs, raped her repeatedly, got her pregnant, then took the son who whom she gave birth and sold him. 29 years later, Bonnie wanted to testify against Cyrus…she was in recovery, had found her son, and since that son’s DNA could prove that (a) she and Cyrus were the parents and (b) that she was underage when he got her pregnant, Cyrus could have been in major trouble. Bonnie’s death with a needle in her arm solved the problem for him. Law enforcement, both federal and local, want badly to get Cyrus and his boss Nico Katsaris behind bars, and think they can use Leo to do it. Cyrus and Nico are involved in a scheme to steal the technology behind a major new cancer treatment and sell it to the Chinese. Leo’s former girlfriend Andi, once a cop but now in corporate security, works for the company that has developed the new treatment. A woman she worked with who is still on the force and that woman’s brother, a special agent with the FBI (to whom Leo and Bonnie had told her story prior to her death), want Leo to be the courier between the person who steals the data and Cyrus’s people. Given the leverage the authorities have on Leo, he doesn’t have much choice, but will Leo’s ability to tell convincing lies and use them to manipulate others into a course of action he wants pursued get him out of trouble? Or has he finally encountered a problem that he can’t talk his way out of?
A thriller with at least three different plot lines woven together, The Best Lies features an endearingly flawed but quite possibly brilliant character in Leo. Raised by a woman who was herself a cop but into whose custody Leo arrived in irregular fashion, Leo has a fascination with prime numbers, is still in love with Andi, the ex-girlfriend who left him when he did something that caused his law license to be suspended, and is trying to keep his brother sober and out of trouble while getting justice for Bonnie and not getting himself killed by some truly evil people. Andi is working to prove herself in her new job by keeping her firm’s valuable data safe, and FBI agent Chris has a lot to prove to his agency now that he has returned to duty after battling cancer. Chapters are narrated in alternating fashion by Leo, Andi and Chris, and as the reader learns more about what happened a year ago, thirty years ago and at different periods in between, the complicated person that is Leo Balanoff becomes clearer. With plenty of plot twists and a main character playing the game at a much higher level than expected makes for a very smart thriller that is hard to put down once begun. Perfect for readers of James Patterson (with whom author David Ellis has co-written books), Danielle Trussoni and Araminta Hall, The Best Lies is a highly engaging thriller not to be missed. Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam/G. P. Putnam’s & Sons for allowing me early access to The Best Lies.

I was a little hesitant to pick this up when I read Leo was a pathological liar, which was a label stuck on him that may or may not have fit. Not a fan of someone who lies all the time, but if/when he lied it was for the best of reasons and I loved how Leo’s clever manipulations of the truth kept him one step ahead of the bad guys! So many things were not as they seemed. I completely rooted for Leo, especially after that backstory.

I hit the 40% mark, and the story really took off, surprising twist and revelation at every turn! I stayed up into the wee hours to finish and see how it all turned out. The Best Lies was so good!

Davis Ellis has done it again! His previous book, Look Closer, was my top read of the year in 2022. I always recommend it to readers who are looking for a great thriller read, and I'm happy to say that I'll be recommending this one as well! It was fast-paced and had so many amazing twists and turns that I wasn’t able to guess. Leo's character was the best! I laughed a lot at some of his antics! I couldn't put this book down because I was dying to know how it all was going to end up!

3.5 Stars

This was a thriller with a compelling premise- a pathological liar accused of murdering a ruthless drug dealer. His fingerprints were on the murder weapon, but did he really do it?

While the plot twists keep you guessing, the pacing was off. The beginning was slow and I struggled picking it up. I’m glad I stuck with it because the last 25% of the book was so good – filled with so much suspense and twists that I couldn’t put it down.

If you can look past the slower beginning, I definitely recommend it because the ending was so worth it!

Thank you to Putnam Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book didn’t work for me. I really loved Look Closer so I had high hopes, but they are very different types of thrillers. This one is more the traditional cop/legal/crime thriller, which are hit or miss for me. This one I couldn’t connect with and had to DNF.

David Ellis is a master at crime novels! I adored Look Closer and his next book does not disappoint. Told from multiple povs this plot left my head spinning. I thought I knew what was happening but it once again I did not. Fantastic!!

The Best Lies was the first David Ellis book that I've read. Filled full of suspense the multiple POV and timelines this book kept me on my toes. At times It was hard to keep track of who was speaking and at what time. The chapters were short which made it really fast to read.

I did enjoy the story line and there were so many twists and turns. I definitely will pick up another David Ellis book in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for an ARC of The Best Lies by David Ellis for an honest review.

I went into this book completely blind, without reading the synopsis beforehand, simply because it was written by David Ellis. As always, he didn’t disappoint! Right from the start, Leo’s sense of humor added a delightful touch to his character.

The story is told from three different perspectives: Leo, a lawyer who feels more like a cop or vigilante; Chris, an FBI agent; and Andi/Andrea, Leo’s ex-girlfriend. Each character is distinct, with unique personalities and quirks, thanks to Ellis’s skillful writing. While Leo was the only character I truly liked, having at least one sympathetic character helped keep me engaged, as I often struggle with books where I dislike all the characters.

The plot was clever and well-executed, though it wasn’t my absolute favorite—personal preference, not a flaw in the book or the author. I didn’t see the twists coming, and Ellis’s way of bringing all the characters full circle was brilliant. The ending was satisfying and not rushed, which I greatly appreciated.

The only aspect I didn’t love was the excessive focus on Leo’s fascination with prime numbers. It felt a bit distracting and could have been toned down. Despite this, the book was fantastic overall. I’d be thrilled to see a sequel or another book featuring Leo and Andi.

Definitely add this to your TBR list!

A big thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the advanced copy—I always appreciate the opportunity!

Judge, crime fiction writer and James Patterson co-author David Ellis returns with a gripping thriller featuring a very slippery truth.

At the forefront of “The Best Lies” (G.P. Putnam, $29) is attorney Leo Balanoff, also known to be a pathological liar. So you can bet the odds are not in his favor when the FBI names Leo one of its top suspects in the brutal murder of local drug dealer Cyrus Balik.

The stakes have never been higher as the FBI gives Leo two options. He can either go to prison for the rest of his life or go undercover to expose the entire mob syndicate. “Law & Order” gets a cynical twist, with plenty of drama to keep the pages turning until the sun rises.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

After Look Closer, David Ellis had a lot to live up to with his new novel, The Best Lies. I’m happy to report that he knocked it out of the park! He is officially an author I will read anything from. I’m sure he could even manage to write a few good twists into a grocery list, haha.

This had everything I loved about Look Closer—amazing pacing, short chapters, multiple POVs, and too many twists to count—but it had a fresh new plot and new characters to root for. Leo may be a pathological liar but he’s also funny and whip-smart and I couldn’t help but like him anyways (not sure what that says about me, haha). Something else this had in common with Look Closer was that nothing was as it seemed, which made for a series of fun, exciting reveals. A bonus aspect of The Best Lies that I loved was Leo’s obsession with numbers. Learning why he thinks about them so much broke my heart, but as someone who majored in math in college, I found all of the facts about numbers fascinating.

Overall, I can’t recommend The Best Lies highly enough. If you want a mystery/thriller with twists upon twists, look no further!

Read if you like books with:
#️⃣ Multiple POV
🔃 Inter-connected POV’s
🔀 Twists and Turns
💨 Fast Paced Reads
🤥 Unreliable Narrators
🧐 Questioning Everything
🔪 Murder and More?!

Omg, I just love love love David Ellis’ writing style! I absolutely love thrillers with the dynamics he gives with multiple POV, so many twists and turns, not knowing what’s real and what’s a lie… it makes me unable to put his books down because I need to work out the puzzle to see if I even come close to figuring out the intricately tangled webs that he weaves in his thrillers.

Between this and his 2022 release, David Ellis (solo authored books) is an auto-read author for me and I’m already dying for his next book to come out so I can read all the twists and turns!

I don’t want to say more than I have about this actual story, because truly I think going into David’s books blind is the best way to experience them!

Thank you so so so much to GP Putnam’s Sons for my gifted E-ARC and my finished copy in exchange for my honest review!

I liked "The Best Lies" way more than "Look Closer". It's an entertaining page-turner with snarky protagonist Leo Balanoff, a diagnosed pathological liar who could just be one of the good guys.

There are a few interesting characters and some fun twists. It's an intricate plot that's also well-written.

I can't wait for the next book by David Ellis. Thanks to Netgalley & Penguin group for the e-book!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

David Ellis, the master of intricate thrillers, delivers a pulse-pounding narrative in “The Best Lies.” Brace yourself for a high-stakes game where deception runs rampant, and every character harbors secrets that could shatter lives.

Leo Balanoff, a diagnosed pathological liar, faces a choice: risk his life uby going ndercover for the FBI or head straight to prison for murder. When ruthless drug dealer Cyrus Balik is found dead, Leo’s fingerprints on the murder weapon make him the prime suspect. But there’s more at play—a cruel crime boss, Nico Katsaros, and an ambitious FBI agent, Chris Roberti, both pulling strings. And then there’s Andi Piotrowski, Leo’s ex and the one who got away. As the web of lies tightens, Leo’s secrets threaten to unravel everything.

The Best Lies” defies predictability as Ellis weaves a tapestry of suspense where justice and survival collide.

Leo’s character, with his labyrinthine past, keeps readers guessing. The plot twists are sharp, and the ending—an electrifying revelation—left me breathless. Ellis’s prose is a symphony of tension, urging you to read just one more chapter.

Firor fans of psychological thrillers, “The Best Lies” is a rollercoaster ride through deception, betrayal, and redemption. Ellis’s storytelling prowess shines, leaving you haunted by the echoes of truth and lies.

I really enjoyed this story and all of the different characters POV. I had trouble keeping. Few of them straight with timelines vir overall had a great time with it!

David Ellis is amazing! Look Closer is a top tier thriller, and it worked for me on all levels.

The Best Lies has a lot of similar qualities that I appreciate:
- short chapters with mini cliffhanger endings
- a fun voice for his sneaky characters
- plenty of twists and turns that pop up throughout the book

The thing that didn't work for me about The Best Lies is the general subject matter. I wanted to give it a try because I love the author, but corporate greed/mafia/corruption type thrillers aren't for me. I tried, and I thought I could do it, but I just didn't get excited to pick the book back up.

I do recommend this book because I think plenty of people will enjoy it. I'm absolutely in the minority here!

Thanks so much to my Thrillers by the Book club leaders for working with Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

It’s official! I am OBSESSED with David Ellis! Take all my money! I wasn’t sure what to expect from this after reading Look Closer, my favorite thriller of 2023. This book was very different, but just as good! My favorite thing about his brilliant writing is that everything always comes full circle in best way! I find a lot of books these days, specifically thrillers, tend to have quite a few plot holes, but this is never the case with him! I cannot wait for more books in the future! I will be preordering them all, just as I did with this one! This was a work of art!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC.

Twisty and dramatic, this book will keep you on your toes. For those who are seeking a similar experience to his last work "Look Closer" you likely won't get it. But, still worth the read.

"I don't really like talking to people. Especially about myself. But really just generally."

Leo Balanoff is a criminal defense attorney dedicated to his clients. Sadly due to a somewhat checkered past, he’s also considered a pathological liar. When his fingerprints and DNA show up at the murder scene of a known gangster, Leo is coerced into working for the FBI to take down an even bigger fish, the dead man’s boss.

I LOVED Leo. He’s clever, a little nutty, a justice warrior, and full of sarcasm and sardonic wit; I chuckled often. As I got to know Leo, I was able to predict some of his behavior and saw some twists coming...but not always. The rug was pulled out from underneath me more than once and not just by him! The switch in POV’s between Leo, his ex-girlfriend Andi, and his FBI handler Chris, AND jumps to the past, added to the breakneck pace. I was hanging on for dear life in this TWISTY fast paced thriller. Nothing is what it seems and reveal after reveal made my head spin!

The Best Lies is complex in the best way possible with nuanced layers and intricate moving pieces that all come together in a fully satisfying conclusion! David Ellis played those strings of multiple plot points like a violin virtuoso. Bravo sir! I am in awe of your complicated mind, brilliant turn of phrase and ability to induce laughter! I’m a little sad this isn’t book one, because Leo almost DEMANDS his own series.
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Thank you G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the gifted physical and digital copy. All opinions are mine.

Potential spoiler content warnings below.





























⚠️Content Warnings: language, alcoholism, cancer, mention of: human trafficking, forced prostitution and forced drug use

David Ellis's Look Closer was my favorite read of 2023 leading this to be one of my most anticipated reads of this year. Unfortunately, this did not do the same for me as his last work.

The story seemed interesting and there are plenty of twists and turns, but I found The Best Lies hard to get into and at times hard to follow.

Thank you NetGalley and PenguinGroup PUTNAM for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.