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daydaybookbay's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I rated this book a 7 out of 10. I was pulled into this thriller, and I love the idea of undercover work. Evie shows her cleverness over the years and pulls ahead in work. Some sections felt repetitive, but I liked how everything was revealed for a reason. I wish there had been some character development; the characters themselves were a bit flat.
This story is a quick read, but slow paced (if that makes any sense) game of cat-and-mouse. We watch the back and forth of Evie's work and personal life while she tries to keep it from crumbling.
The major plot of the story is introduced in chapters 1 and 2. We follow Evie in her undercover scheme for the first half of the book. In the second half, we have an altered plot and follow Evie in her con artist scheme. It is a bit basic at times, but the plot keeps pushing forward.
The flashbacks to Evie's previous jobs threw me through a loop a few times. It wasn't always clear why any of those moments were important. Eventually, it all comes full circle, and we understand, but I think they were more randomly distributed rather than strategically placed.
I'1l say it again here: there is next to zero character development. Here's a character at face value, and there is nothing added. I wish there would have been more there (maybe in the flashbacks) where we could understand more about the characters.
This story is a quick read, but slow paced (if that makes any sense) game of cat-and-mouse. We watch the back and forth of Evie's work and personal life while she tries to keep it from crumbling.
The major plot of the story is introduced in chapters 1 and 2. We follow Evie in her undercover scheme for the first half of the book. In the second half, we have an altered plot and follow Evie in her con artist scheme. It is a bit basic at times, but the plot keeps pushing forward.
The flashbacks to Evie's previous jobs threw me through a loop a few times. It wasn't always clear why any of those moments were important. Eventually, it all comes full circle, and we understand, but I think they were more randomly distributed rather than strategically placed.
I'1l say it again here: there is next to zero character development. Here's a character at face value, and there is nothing added. I wish there would have been more there (maybe in the flashbacks) where we could understand more about the characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
book_byrd's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Cancer, Death, and Death of parent
amandab0514's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
livreads2much's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Car accident, and Murder
Minor: Cancer and Trafficking
disguisedposer's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Gaslighting
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Car accident, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
boomwormbrittany's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
First Lie Wins follows Evie Porter who is not all as she seems. Evie Porter doesn't really exist and is a cover up for Evie's work that she does trying to attain assets that were taken from clients. But when she starts to unravel the truth of the person who gives her her assignments, she finds herself going against everything she has ever known.
I had seen someone say if you go into this book and don't try to overthink it, it's really enjoyable and I agree. I had heard mixed reviews of this book before I read it and I went into it with no expectations and was pleasantly surprised. I found the story to be one that I really enjoyed and found interesting.
I thought that the way this switched between her different persona's and the actual story was really intersting. I couldn't seem to figure out the twists that were coming in this book which made me happy because it made it an even more enjoyable experience. This book never stops and is non-stop. I thought this was really interesting to try to solve the mysteries. I liked the characters and found the plot interseting. I don't think this would be one I would read again as I have sen the twist.
I would recommend that if you are interested in this book, definitely pick it up and read it. I though tthis was a pretty solid thriller and had a lot of fun reading it.
I had seen someone say if you go into this book and don't try to overthink it, it's really enjoyable and I agree. I had heard mixed reviews of this book before I read it and I went into it with no expectations and was pleasantly surprised. I found the story to be one that I really enjoyed and found interesting.
I thought that the way this switched between her different persona's and the actual story was really intersting. I couldn't seem to figure out the twists that were coming in this book which made me happy because it made it an even more enjoyable experience. This book never stops and is non-stop. I thought this was really interesting to try to solve the mysteries. I liked the characters and found the plot interseting. I don't think this would be one I would read again as I have sen the twist.
I would recommend that if you are interested in this book, definitely pick it up and read it. I though tthis was a pretty solid thriller and had a lot of fun reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
Minor: Suicide
juanat77's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
beckyremillard's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.5
I went into this one pretty blind but enjoyed it quite a bit more than I expected to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
easyqueenie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent
nadiamasood's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I strongly recommend diving into this blind! Resist the urge to sneak a peek at the blurb or book jacket, and steer clear of any summaries. Also, for maximum enjoyment, this book demands a profound suspension of disbelief. All good? Let's continue.
I loved First Lie Wins! It's fast-paced and action-driven. There are con artists, morally grey characters, secret identities, mysteries unfolding, and did I mention lots of secrets?
I loved First Lie Wins! It's fast-paced and action-driven. There are con artists, morally grey characters, secret identities, mysteries unfolding, and did I mention lots of secrets?
There’s an old saying: The first lie wins. It’s not referring to the little white kind that tumbles out with little to no thought; it refers to the big one. The one that changes the game. The one that is deliberate. The lie that sets the stage for everything that comes after it. And once the lie is told, it’s what most people believe to be true. The first lie has to be the strongest. The most important.
Evie Porter, our main character, is already my favorite. She's smart, brave, and kind. I think her character is nicely fleshed out, and the dual flashbacks give depth to her character as we get to know her better.
While some readers may find the dual timeline, numerous aliases, and character names a bit confusing, I had no trouble keeping up when I listened to the audiobook.
The one letdown for me is the lack of insight into Mr. Smith, who is essentially the whole point of this book. Even after the mystery unravels, his character remains unexplored. It would have been a much more satisfying conclusion if we had delved deeper into his story. Nevertheless, I still found the book enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury