First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston absolutely knocked my socks off, and I’m still reeling from this whirlwind of a thriller! You know how sometimes you pick up a book with sky-high expectations and end up disappointed? Well, this one actually lived up to the hype for me.
I’ve read SO many thrillers lately (probably too many, if I’m being honest), and they’re starting to blur together in that “is the husband trying to kill the wife or is the wife trying to kill the husband” kind of way. But this? This was different. It reminded me of watching Alias back in college, where I’d stay up way too late binge-watching episodes because I just HAD to know what happened next. The same thing happened with this book – I may have ordered takeout two nights in a row because I couldn’t bear to put it down long enough to cook dinner!
The plotting in this book is absolutely masterful. You know how sometimes thriller writers save all their twists for the end and dump them on you at once? Not here. Elston weaves her revelations throughout the story like she’s conducting an orchestra, and each twist hits at exactly the right moment. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another surprise would pop up and I’d have to completely reassess everything I thought I knew. I lost count of how many times I gasped out loud – my cat probably thinks I’m losing it!
Evie Porter is such a fascinating protagonist. She’s working for the mysterious Mr. Smith (whom she’s never met), taking on different identities for different assignments. When we meet her, she’s gotten close to Ryan Sumner for a job, but things start getting complicated when real feelings develop. I loved watching her navigate the increasingly complex web she finds herself in, especially when her past starts catching up with her. The way Elston develops Evie’s character throughout the story made me really invest in her journey, even though I wasn’t always sure if I should trust her!
The supporting cast is equally well-crafted. Ryan’s friend group, particularly, adds an interesting dynamic to the story. Their suspicions about Evie create this wonderful tension that had me squirming in my seat. And when a woman shows up claiming to be someone from Evie’s past? Let’s just say I may have scared my neighbors with my shocked gasp!
Now, if I had one tiny nitpick (and you know me, I always do), it would be that sometimes the writing felt a bit clunky, especially during some of the explanation-heavy scenes. It occasionally pulled me out of the story when I had to reread a paragraph to make sure I understood all the plot threads correctly. But honestly? That’s such a minor complaint compared to how much I enjoyed everything else.
PLEASE, whatever you do, go into this book as blind as possible. Don’t read the jacket copy, don’t read summaries, just dive in. I made the mistake of reading the book jacket during one of my late-night feeding sessions with the baby (why do I always do this to myself?), and while it wasn’t a huge spoiler, I wish I hadn’t known even that much going in.
I have a feeling this is going to be one of the biggest thrillers of the year, and honestly? It deserves to be. If you’re looking for something that will actually surprise you and keep you guessing until the very end, pick this one up. Just make sure you’ve got some easy dinner options ready – you won’t want to stop reading long enough to cook!
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