Scan barcode
A review by mg_in_md_
The First to Lie by Hank Phillippi Ryan
4.0
One of the things that I love about this author is her ability to keep me guessing as the plots unfold. Her ability to introduce believable twists and impeccable pacing are second to none. This latest standalone novel certainly delivers on this front and takes things up a notch. In fact, there are so many twists that your head may be spinning by the end! The chapters alternate between a present-day storyline involving an investigative journalist in the Boston area looking into a pharmaceutical company and a storyline that takes place about 15 years prior in Maryland. The Chesapeake Bay plays a starring role in the Maryland-centric storyline, which I really enjoyed as a native Marylander :) I would've described it as the Western Shore, rather than the Eastern Shore, since Anne Arundel County is the locale but that's a small quibble on my part.
Both storylines are presented in alternating chapters from different characters perspectives. The present is told from the perspectives of Ellie (the journalist) and Nora (a pharmaceutical sales rep at the company Ellie is investigating). The past is told from the perspectives of Brooke (the daughter of the family that owns the pharmaceutical company) and Lacey (the daughter-in-law of the same family). Ellie believes that the company is preying on women who are having trouble getting pregnant and are desperate to have a child. Ellie is keen to expose the company and is willing to go as far as possible for the story. Her employer is a new channel that is just a few weeks away from making its debut, placing extra pressure on Ellie to get the story down fast and airtight, The station assigns Meg to help Ellie with the story and it soon becomes clear that Meg has her own reasons for ensuring the story airs as soon as possible.
Many of the characters are not who they seem (this is hinted at in the book's description), which will keep the reader guessing about who they truly are and what their true motivations may be. I did figure out one of the twists fairly early on before it was revealed, but I didn't quite guess the follow-on twists. I was close on one of them, but had a key piece backwards. The author plays fair with the reader and I really appreciated the way the clues were presented and how the story progressed. It was a compelling page-turner from start to finish and definitely kept me on my toes.
This review is based on an advanced reader's edition copy that I received via NetGalley and Forge as part of the author's "super reader" team. Many thanks to Forge for providing me with a sneak peek of the latest standalone novel by this author! It is always a treat to dive into one of her twisty thrillers.
Both storylines are presented in alternating chapters from different characters perspectives. The present is told from the perspectives of Ellie (the journalist) and Nora (a pharmaceutical sales rep at the company Ellie is investigating). The past is told from the perspectives of Brooke (the daughter of the family that owns the pharmaceutical company) and Lacey (the daughter-in-law of the same family). Ellie believes that the company is preying on women who are having trouble getting pregnant and are desperate to have a child. Ellie is keen to expose the company and is willing to go as far as possible for the story. Her employer is a new channel that is just a few weeks away from making its debut, placing extra pressure on Ellie to get the story down fast and airtight, The station assigns Meg to help Ellie with the story and it soon becomes clear that Meg has her own reasons for ensuring the story airs as soon as possible.
Many of the characters are not who they seem (this is hinted at in the book's description), which will keep the reader guessing about who they truly are and what their true motivations may be. I did figure out one of the twists fairly early on before it was revealed, but I didn't quite guess the follow-on twists. I was close on one of them, but had a key piece backwards. The author plays fair with the reader and I really appreciated the way the clues were presented and how the story progressed. It was a compelling page-turner from start to finish and definitely kept me on my toes.
This review is based on an advanced reader's edition copy that I received via NetGalley and Forge as part of the author's "super reader" team. Many thanks to Forge for providing me with a sneak peek of the latest standalone novel by this author! It is always a treat to dive into one of her twisty thrillers.