Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

83 reviews

savvyrosereads's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Thank you for the free audiobook PRH Audio!

Rating: 4/5 stars

Evie Porter is a con woman who gets embroiled in a high stake cat and mouse game with her boss.

I’m not always a fan of con-woman thrillers, but this one was super entertaining and enjoyable! I listened to the audiobook, which had fantastic production quality and great narration by Saskia Maarleveld, and it held my attention the entire way through.

That said, I thought the way the plot unfolded was a bit difficult to follow at times, and I wish there had been more signposting/foreshadowing for the reader to be able to guess what was going on and predict events. Some of the characters towards the end felt thrown in with very little background, and I had a persistent feeling that I was missing something or hadn’t realized key facts (not a feeling I want to have while reading).

Still, this leaned more towards fun than not, and so, even with the imperfections, I would definitely recommend this one if you want a fast-paced and entertaining thriller!

CW: Murder/death; car accident; mentions of cancer/death of parent

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Car accident, Murder, and Alcohol

Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

ksilvio's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism

3readingcircus's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Drug abuse, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Violence

lwl000's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Does anyone else feel that this genre has <i> so </i> many titles being released, that the storylines tend to blur together and the twists get harder and harder to make pop? Admittedly, I do...

Nevertheless, I thought this book re-ignited my excitement and delivered exactly what one looks for in a read like this! I was guessing and second-guessing the next steps throughout the entire book, and I love good twists that keep you on your toes until (literally) the last sentence.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Death, Car accident, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

cayleybp's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Cancer and Death of parent

himpersonal's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Very fun book. Needed that after the heaviness of ur last one I’d read. Clever, but I have to say I had most of it figured out early on - that was a first for me, and yet, it was still an engaging read. Could be a fun TV show someday.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

heresyourletter's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I would describe this as a "cozy thriller", much like the style of Hallmark movies. It was an easy read and enjoyable for the most part, with lots of plot twists. However, I found it hard to sympathize with some of the characters' decisions.

Devon was the only character I liked and I kept wanting the main character to end up with him instead.

I also find it hard to believe that someone who spent the entire book wanting to "get out" of her line of work and have a nice quiet life in a home of her own would then become a spy boss at the end.

. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content, Blood, Murder, and Classism

Despite being a thriller, the descriptions of violence are very toned down. It's more about the threat of violence than actual violence. One character is briefly incarcerated and questioned about a crime by police. One character drinks heavily over the course of several days (and drives home after). One very brief "closed door" sex scene. Very brief mention of a character's interest in BDSM.

The main character's mother dies of cancer before the book begins. There are a couple of flashbacks to show her suffering with her terminal illness. Two characters die in a car accident after the car is tampered with. Several prominent politicians/judges are filmed in a hotel room with a group of women who are implied to be either exotic dancers or sex workers. One character threatens to cut off the fingers of another character. Brief description of a character setting fire to a hotel bed. One character falls and hits their head on the floor. Brief mention of blood. It is mentioned that all spies (except 2) were killed by their boss after a mission. One character is implied to have been killed by an organized crime boss.

bluerskies's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Terminal illness, Car accident, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

lala_reads_too's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

Huge buildup to a bunch of underwhelming nothings.   Faux thriller. I was NOT thrilled. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cancer, Death, Car accident, and Death of parent

shesflippinpages's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol