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A review by nadiamasood
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

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?

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.
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