First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston Book Review & Summary

Check out my review of First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

Published: January 2, 2024

Genre: Psychological Thriller, Suspense

Pages: 348 pages

Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books

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Introduction

First Lie Wins is a fast-paced, character-driven thriller that I really loved. I also enjoyed the strong female protagonist, the unique setting , and engaging writing. But here is my detailed review about the book.

Synopsis (Spoiler-Free)

Evie Porter isn’t real. She has a carefully fabricated identity for one purpose. Her new task includes infiltrating the life of Ryan Sumner. As always she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to complete the job. However, this time, something feels different. As Evie starts to doubt everything, her carefully constructed past invades her present.

What I Loved

 A Strong Protagonist – Evie is a great lead. She’s clever, and layered. I loved her backstory. I also enjoyed her present despite her morally gray choices.

 Interesting Writing Style – I’m a huge fan of thrillers that keep you hooked. I was on the edge of my seat, unable to relax because I had to know what would happen next. I loved every twist and was dying to uncover the secrets.

Something New and Different– I haven’t read anything like this before, so it was definitely interesting and kept me curious. The idea of constantly shifting identities and living multiple lives was really intriguing and well-executed.

Best Quotes from First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

“You can tell a lot about a person by the way they act when they are left waiting too long.”

“Blunt honesty has more value than blind worship.”

“She learned that no matter how hard you try, sometimes it’s not enough. She learned the only person you could trust, the only person you could truly rely on, was yourself.”

What Could Be Better

 The Twists Weren’t Shocking Enough – Like I said before, the plot was really interesting. I was excited to see how everything would come together, but nothing really shocked me. The twists were just okay.

 The Ending Felt a Bit Underwhelming –While I’m kind of satisfied with the ending, I didn’t love it. It felt a bit disappointing. The ending didn’t have enough detail or surprises, and I wanted more.

Who Should Read This?

 If you are a fan of strong female protagonists and fast-paced psychological thrillers.

If you are into books with con artists, and shifting identities.

Final Rating:  3.5/5

First Lie Wins was a pretty good thriller. It could’ve been more gripping if the ending had a few more twists, but overall, it’s still a solid pick for anyone looking for a fast-paced read.

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