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owlyreadsalot's review
3.0
2.5 Stars
This novel had me all over the place. It's one that sent me through some crazy loops, then really got twisted, and somehow found it's place back in a somewhat straight line. Yes, this book is that bizarre, and that unbelievable. But, for a good chunk of this, that seemed to work out fine. It just wasn't always the best of settings, or the most fun to get myself through.
There was a lot of are they aren't they? How is that all possible? Why is it so complicated? And where does that leave me as a reader who thought there is just no way. But, again, not that it was all bad, just that it took way too many twisty, windy, bendy, turns to get to the final results. Let's not forget that's what a good thriller/mystery book will have, but at many times in-between it went somewhat off-kilter rather than the latter.
What seems like a book that is following multiple characters, name after name, turns out to be nothing but, with much head scratching I could've done without. Can't leave out though, that the whole premise of an evil pharmaceutical corporation getting ridiculously out of control, is not always so far-fetched. It's what kept me invested, the over-the-top antics of this one company, everything that was behind the madness of these two women linked for all time.
There definitely was a story here that held my attention for a good chunk of the novel. Even, if everything else might have given me a bit of a headache. Well, more than just a bit, because it really started getting me all kinds of irate with how far-fetched the main characters stories were becoming. By that, I mean how they connect in the end and everything that got them there. Like really, I couldn't tell it was you at all... hmm. Still, it got my mid off of things for a bit.
***I received this copy from Forge Books, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
This novel had me all over the place. It's one that sent me through some crazy loops, then really got twisted, and somehow found it's place back in a somewhat straight line. Yes, this book is that bizarre, and that unbelievable. But, for a good chunk of this, that seemed to work out fine. It just wasn't always the best of settings, or the most fun to get myself through.
There was a lot of are they aren't they? How is that all possible? Why is it so complicated? And where does that leave me as a reader who thought there is just no way. But, again, not that it was all bad, just that it took way too many twisty, windy, bendy, turns to get to the final results. Let's not forget that's what a good thriller/mystery book will have, but at many times in-between it went somewhat off-kilter rather than the latter.
What seems like a book that is following multiple characters, name after name, turns out to be nothing but, with much head scratching I could've done without. Can't leave out though, that the whole premise of an evil pharmaceutical corporation getting ridiculously out of control, is not always so far-fetched. It's what kept me invested, the over-the-top antics of this one company, everything that was behind the madness of these two women linked for all time.
There definitely was a story here that held my attention for a good chunk of the novel. Even, if everything else might have given me a bit of a headache. Well, more than just a bit, because it really started getting me all kinds of irate with how far-fetched the main characters stories were becoming. By that, I mean how they connect in the end and everything that got them there. Like really, I couldn't tell it was you at all... hmm. Still, it got my mid off of things for a bit.
***I received this copy from Forge Books, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
bookswritingandmore's review
4.0
Strap yourself in for this crazy suspense read. So many twists and turns are coming your way, you will barely be able to keep up.
Ellie is the news anchor at the new channel 11 in Boston. She has started work on a story about a powerful company that helps women with infertility issues. Many things unfold as shes investigating and she never knows whose her ally and whose her foe. She has to be on her toes constantly.
Nora Quinn just got an amazing job at Pharminex as a sales rep. She can hardly wait to start her new job. As Nora begins working, she soon realizes nothing is as it seems and everyone is not necessarily who they claim to be.
Wildly entertaining and suspenseful, this book will have you taking guesses as to how much you know and how much more you can take. Suspense at its absolute finest.
Ellie is the news anchor at the new channel 11 in Boston. She has started work on a story about a powerful company that helps women with infertility issues. Many things unfold as shes investigating and she never knows whose her ally and whose her foe. She has to be on her toes constantly.
Nora Quinn just got an amazing job at Pharminex as a sales rep. She can hardly wait to start her new job. As Nora begins working, she soon realizes nothing is as it seems and everyone is not necessarily who they claim to be.
Wildly entertaining and suspenseful, this book will have you taking guesses as to how much you know and how much more you can take. Suspense at its absolute finest.
susanthebookbag's review against another edition
5.0
Oh wow! So many lies, secrets, deceit, and revenge all wrapped up in this amazing story. The plot and characters were so twisted, it was sometimes hard to know who was who and what their agenda was. This is not by any means a negative about this book, it's what drove me to keep reading.
I knew it would all make sense in the end—I just had to be patient—but my jaw dropped whenever one of the characters swerved in a new direction. After all the twists and turns, the author wraps up the story with an unexpected but satisfying ending.
I'm not sure why I haven't read anything by this author until now but this book will definitely not be my last. I am impressed with the depth of her writing and the intense intrigue of this story. Hank Phillippi Ryan has just been added my list of must-read authors.
I highly recommend The First to Lie for an edge-of-your seat thriller that will keep you guessing to the very end.
I knew it would all make sense in the end—I just had to be patient—but my jaw dropped whenever one of the characters swerved in a new direction. After all the twists and turns, the author wraps up the story with an unexpected but satisfying ending.
I'm not sure why I haven't read anything by this author until now but this book will definitely not be my last. I am impressed with the depth of her writing and the intense intrigue of this story. Hank Phillippi Ryan has just been added my list of must-read authors.
I highly recommend The First to Lie for an edge-of-your seat thriller that will keep you guessing to the very end.
questsandcrimes's review against another edition
4.0
Is anyone actually who they say they are? The First to Lie is a tale of revenge. Three people are looking for answers and justice. Everyone tells lies, but who should pay for them?
Oh do I love a journalism angle. I was wrapped up in Ellie’s POV, a journalist trying to expose a pharmaceutical company’s wrongs. I didn’t realize how much I love medical thrillers, but I was so drawn in. This books is a wild ride filled with twists and reveals from the beginning to the end.
The story is told through multiple POVs, each chapter revealing a little bit more than the last. I loved the chapters from the past. They gave me real incite into who could really be under a mask.
Can there be too many reveals? I think yes. One in particular I saw coming, and was still so disappointed with it. It just was not believable for me. On the other hand, all of the other reveals were so satisfying.
I recommend this one if you love a twisty read, especially if you can suspend reality a bit. Hank Phillippi Ryan knows how to keep you investing AND keep you guessing. This is a great summer thriller.
Thank you to Getred PR and Forge Books for my review copy! The First to Lie is available NOW
Oh do I love a journalism angle. I was wrapped up in Ellie’s POV, a journalist trying to expose a pharmaceutical company’s wrongs. I didn’t realize how much I love medical thrillers, but I was so drawn in. This books is a wild ride filled with twists and reveals from the beginning to the end.
The story is told through multiple POVs, each chapter revealing a little bit more than the last. I loved the chapters from the past. They gave me real incite into who could really be under a mask.
Can there be too many reveals? I think yes. One in particular I saw coming, and was still so disappointed with it. It just was not believable for me. On the other hand, all of the other reveals were so satisfying.
I recommend this one if you love a twisty read, especially if you can suspend reality a bit. Hank Phillippi Ryan knows how to keep you investing AND keep you guessing. This is a great summer thriller.
Thank you to Getred PR and Forge Books for my review copy! The First to Lie is available NOW
bergamotandbooks's review
4.0
3.5 STARS (rounded up)
We all have our reasons for being who we are—but what if being someone else could get you what you want?
What happens when an undercover reporter gets in too deep? And when a practised liar has to face off with her own truth—how does she choose her true reality? Who will be the first to lie?
.
.
.
After seeing all the rave reviews for THE FIRST TO LIE, I knew that it was a book that I NEEDED to read. I am always on the hunt for super twisty, juicy thrillers and this definitely fit the bill!
THE FIRST TO LIE is basically a book of liars - no one is who they say they are and you are constantly questioning everyone and everything. It was almost like riding a roller coaster blindfolded - you had no idea what was going to happen next! I liked that the chapters were short and usually ended on enough of a cliffhanger to keep me frantically turning the pages.
Although I enjoyed many aspects of THE FIRST TO LIE, I never felt super invested in the medical/reporter plot (which is kind of the whole premise. Oops) I found myself skimming those aspects to get back to the juicer (character reveal) bits. I also really struggled with the latter half of the book because I found that the twists / reveals became a bit far-fetched. It's never good when you end a book with an eye-roll! However, I do recommend it to anyone looking for a quick "summer beach read" thriller.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my ARC. THE FIRST TO LIE is out now!
We all have our reasons for being who we are—but what if being someone else could get you what you want?
What happens when an undercover reporter gets in too deep? And when a practised liar has to face off with her own truth—how does she choose her true reality? Who will be the first to lie?
.
.
.
After seeing all the rave reviews for THE FIRST TO LIE, I knew that it was a book that I NEEDED to read. I am always on the hunt for super twisty, juicy thrillers and this definitely fit the bill!
THE FIRST TO LIE is basically a book of liars - no one is who they say they are and you are constantly questioning everyone and everything. It was almost like riding a roller coaster blindfolded - you had no idea what was going to happen next! I liked that the chapters were short and usually ended on enough of a cliffhanger to keep me frantically turning the pages.
Although I enjoyed many aspects of THE FIRST TO LIE, I never felt super invested in the medical/reporter plot (which is kind of the whole premise. Oops) I found myself skimming those aspects to get back to the juicer (character reveal) bits. I also really struggled with the latter half of the book because I found that the twists / reveals became a bit far-fetched. It's never good when you end a book with an eye-roll! However, I do recommend it to anyone looking for a quick "summer beach read" thriller.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my ARC. THE FIRST TO LIE is out now!
kgnade's review against another edition
3.0
I received an advanced reader copy of The First to Lie from Macmillan-Tor/Forge via NetGalley, in return for my honest opinion.
The First to Lie by Hank Phillippi Ryan is a story about deception and redemption. Ellie is an investigative news reporter, in Boston, working on the story of her life. She’s determined to expose the lies of a very large corporation.
Ellie’s new assistant Meg is eager to help but seems to always be underfoot and can be a nuisance to deal with. The closer Ellie gets to revealing the evil truths of this corporation, the less Ellie and Meg can trust anyone, including each other.
This was a fast, enjoyable read filled with lots of trickery from unreliable characters. The First to Lie will be available tomorrow, Tuesday, August 4, 2020.
#hankphillippiryan #thefirsttolie #netgalley #arcs #advancedreadercopy #mystery #msyterybooks #readin2020 #forgebooks #forgereads #whatthebook #bookreviews #readersofinstagram #bookaholic
For more of my reviews visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhattheBook/ or http://whatthebook-reviews.tumblr.com/ or follow me on Instagram @whatthebook__.
The First to Lie by Hank Phillippi Ryan is a story about deception and redemption. Ellie is an investigative news reporter, in Boston, working on the story of her life. She’s determined to expose the lies of a very large corporation.
Ellie’s new assistant Meg is eager to help but seems to always be underfoot and can be a nuisance to deal with. The closer Ellie gets to revealing the evil truths of this corporation, the less Ellie and Meg can trust anyone, including each other.
This was a fast, enjoyable read filled with lots of trickery from unreliable characters. The First to Lie will be available tomorrow, Tuesday, August 4, 2020.
#hankphillippiryan #thefirsttolie #netgalley #arcs #advancedreadercopy #mystery #msyterybooks #readin2020 #forgebooks #forgereads #whatthebook #bookreviews #readersofinstagram #bookaholic
For more of my reviews visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhattheBook/ or http://whatthebook-reviews.tumblr.com/ or follow me on Instagram @whatthebook__.
sbojo32's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the premise of this book - a reporter trying to take down a big Pharma company that is promoting a drug to help with fertility but also has a side effect that they don't talk about - it can make you completely infertile. The book starts with Nora's point of view. It's clear Nora is someone else - she talks about her disguise and being another person - but we don't know who. Then we get Ellie's perspective. She seems a bit naive and way too trusting for a reporter.
We also get flashbacks of Lacey and Brooke. The reader will likely spend some time trying to figure out who is who. The entire book is based on lies and deception. You have to try to figure out who is lying and when and why. It was interesting... but I think it was over-written. There were too many people and too many lies. It was hard to keep track, yet at the same time, predictable.
I liked the story but there were definitely plot holes that were not resolved. There were things that seemed that they should have been clearer to the characters but weren't. There were also things that one character said but that character wouldn't have known those things (character A, who has personas as Character A and B, starts telling a police offer things that only Character B would know, but is dressed as Character A). I know that sounds confusing, but that's pretty much the gist of the book.
We also get flashbacks of Lacey and Brooke. The reader will likely spend some time trying to figure out who is who. The entire book is based on lies and deception. You have to try to figure out who is lying and when and why. It was interesting... but I think it was over-written. There were too many people and too many lies. It was hard to keep track, yet at the same time, predictable.
I liked the story but there were definitely plot holes that were not resolved. There were things that seemed that they should have been clearer to the characters but weren't. There were also things that one character said but that character wouldn't have known those things (character A, who has personas as Character A and B, starts telling a police offer things that only Character B would know, but is dressed as Character A). I know that sounds confusing, but that's pretty much the gist of the book.
bookishwithwine's review
4.0
Today I am on tour with Suzy Approved Book Tours and Author Hank Phillippi Ryan.
This book will have your head spinning in the best way. We were introduced to multiple characters, which was confusing at first, but after a while it was easy to catch up. The story starts off with two points of views, Nora and Ellie. Nora works for a pharmaceutical company and Ellie is a reporter who is trying to bring down the very company Nora works for. After you get used to the back and forth between the two women, here come Lacey and Brookes point of views. Now we have four very different women in two different time periods. Nora and Ellie are in the present and Brooke and Lacey are from the past, and they are all tied together in one little crazy bow.
After we have all four women involved, one will disappear and the twist I didn't see coming will be revealed. The author does a good job of throwing in a few "what the heck" moments. I was left with a question about an accusation made towards the end, but thankfully it was answered in the very last pages.
This is a book about revenge, justice and how far the women are willing to go to find peace. I went into this blind, and I'm glad I did. If you like a suspenseful read with some good twists then this is the book for you! This one is out now!
Book Rating: 4/5
Wine Pairing: Penfolds Bin 9 Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
This book will have your head spinning in the best way. We were introduced to multiple characters, which was confusing at first, but after a while it was easy to catch up. The story starts off with two points of views, Nora and Ellie. Nora works for a pharmaceutical company and Ellie is a reporter who is trying to bring down the very company Nora works for. After you get used to the back and forth between the two women, here come Lacey and Brookes point of views. Now we have four very different women in two different time periods. Nora and Ellie are in the present and Brooke and Lacey are from the past, and they are all tied together in one little crazy bow.
After we have all four women involved, one will disappear and the twist I didn't see coming will be revealed. The author does a good job of throwing in a few "what the heck" moments. I was left with a question about an accusation made towards the end, but thankfully it was answered in the very last pages.
This is a book about revenge, justice and how far the women are willing to go to find peace. I went into this blind, and I'm glad I did. If you like a suspenseful read with some good twists then this is the book for you! This one is out now!
Book Rating: 4/5
Wine Pairing: Penfolds Bin 9 Cabernet Sauvignon 2014