Evie Porter seems like a nice, homely gal but soon we learn that her name and location changes frequently. Evie works for a shady employer targeting individuals where the aim is to blackmail them or steal something from them. The novel flits between her current target and events that have taken place in the past with previous targets. At first, it is not clear why these previous events are been described but as the book progresses, their significance becomes apparent and everything falls into place (no spoilers here!). A gripping and suspenseful thriller. This is a clever and original novel – everyone will be talking about it. You will be enthralled.

Evie Porter lives under a fake identity carrying out work for her boss Mr Smith. However whilst on one of these jobs, she comes face to face with someone claiming to be the person she is in ‘real life’ Evie is shaken and vows to find out what is going on.

This book is an absolute roller-coaster of a read. It hooked me in from the very first page and kept me that way right until the very last word. There are plenty of twists and turns and surprises along the way.

I’m sure there may be some who consider parts to be far fetched, and perhaps yes some of it may be, but I’m reading fiction not fact so I’m ok with that. I could switch off from the outside world whilst reading it and I adore that kind of escapism. It was also one that I was keen to get back to each time I had to put it down.

I’ve not read anything by this author before but based on this, I absolutely will.

Thank you to Headline Books and Netgalley for my early advanced copy. This review is my own honest opinion

I absolutely loved this book. Well written, fast paced, interesting characters in the enigmatic Evie and the not so bland Ryan, some double crossing, mysteries to figure out and a double agent in it all.
Highly recommended.

I'd seen some early buzz and rave reviews for this book so had to see for myself.

The main character, Evie Porter is on a mission, she works for a mysterious boss who sends her undercover to gather information from the unsuspecting victims whose lives she gets involves in.

It's told in past and present, the present sees her settling in her latest role, the past cover various aliases and undercover jobs at various times. There's lots going on and lots of variety. I love how the past timeframes almost seem like separate short stories, until they all start to piece together on a collision course with the present.

It's very original. It's intricately plotted, there's a lot of plot and twist after twist after twist, though you never get lost as a reader, and everything gets explained. One to read as fast as you can to try and keep up and not miss anything.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline

I don't usually read these kind of books (I read more Fantasy) but thought I'd give it a go as I thought it sounded interesting. I was totally gripped by it and loved all the twists. Such a good book!

Not the story I was expecting. Evie has an enviable life but as the truth comes out you are confused by her back story. She seems to lie about everything! All the strands of her life come together in a exceptional way. Gripping and very well plotted. Excellent read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the advance copy of this book.

Lucca has an unusual job. Not only does she not know who her employer is, but every job she takes to gather information is different than the next. To do it she has to change identity and pretend to be someone else. Her new job is to find out information about a guy called Ryan summer. This job has been more difficult than they rest, and she had to be a step ahead and on guard to make sure her real identity is revealed.
Thank you Headline for a copy of First lie wins by Ashley Elston. This is the first book from the author I have read and to be honest not heard of her popularity before. I liked the premise of the story and at first, I found it intriguing and slightly different from other thrillers I have read. But as I got deeper in the story, with all the different identities and timelines in this story and I got confused if what is happening and struggled with it, even though I managed to finish it. 3 stars from me.

Evie Porter has everything anyone could want, however Evie Porter does not exist. She is given new aliases by her shady boss and she is thrown into the new role of targeting Ryan. She needs to make sure she’s once step ahead so she isn’t caught out and her real identity isn’t revealed.

This was a very solid thriller with plenty of action and twists. The story goes off in a clever, unexpected direction and constantly left me wanting to find out more. You slowly learn about the main characters background which helps the story flow well and helps to keep the story focused. The characters were all well written and I enjoyed the mysterious vibe. Overall a very good read even though there were moments where it was slightly unbelievable. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this copy in return for an honest review.

Wow !! This book totally consumed me, I was locked in and engaged from the very first page this was an epic page turned that I just could not put down, I had to keep reading this incredible suspenseful game of deception between the main character Evie and her elusive employer. Can she remain on task? is she safe? can she reclaim her identity or will she forever be another alias moving from town to town? Can she ever get out of this entrapment and settle for a normal life with a normal relationship? Read this book !!!! Thank you to NetGalley Uk, Ashley Elston and Headline Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I was drawn into this from the start and loved the whole premise. However, I did find it very confusing towards the end and I was left feeling deflated. I think the plot was just a bit too convoluted and the way the story went backwards and forwards, with lots of different names and scenarios to remember, it took the pace out of the story.

#FirstLieWins #NetGalley This was different from my usual police procedural/crime thriller and is more of a psychological thriller - I loved it!! Fast paced and very twisty with turns I wasn't expecting. |I could not put this book down. The first book I have read by this author but I will certainly watch out for more in the future. A well deserved 5 stars!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston goes straight to my 6 ⭐ - I absolutely loved it - list!
This book was incredible!
This book was clever!
This book was full of twists!
Situations were planned up to the smallest details!
This is absolutely - definitely - for sure - MUST READ book!

Evie Porter is smart! She is so smart! Every single thing she does means something. She is like a talented spider that twists things and wraps in her web. She knows that there are limited people to trust so she must watch every step, and control every word! Her life is a suspenseful game and she is good at this game! She is a hunter! She will work out situations in the way you expect the least!

I can't express how grateful I am to get this ARC (planned publication 01/2024), thank you Headline, and NetGalley!

Brilliantly different. I was totally caught up in the story. Fresh with a beautiful twist. Highly recommend this for anyone who loves a thriller and is looking for something different.
Will definitely be looking for more from this author.

I enjoyed the great start to this book! Gradually the reader gets to know that the situation is not quite what was initially thought! I don’t want to reveal the plot – but the book has a great idea with much potential. For me, however, the darting backwards and forwards in time by months/years unravelled my enthusiasm. There were many ‘chapters’ in the life of the main characters, which were necessary for the story, and although you knew fairly early on what the conclusion would be, the convoluted story line rather spoiled the journey for me. Would like to know a little more of Devon. Enjoyed the start a lot, and can understand why it was necessary then to delve backwards – but have an issue with too many repeated time shifts. For me, clarity would have improved it. I found myself checking back to reconnect rather than being carried along with enthusiasm. Good conclusion though – well thought through and convincing!

I have recommended this book to so many of my book living friends. Clever, twisty and a complete page-turner. Brilliantly written. Five stars.

Now I like the premise for this job. But I really struggled to read it. Came very close to DNF, I did see it through to the end. Still none the wiser.
It was very much Americanised, and assumes everyone knows the references mentioned, re places, education, cars drinks Now I read a lot of books based in America, and have never had an issues before

I was not drawn in to this book from the start, and it seemed too american for me ( if that's possible?)

Eve Porter has everything you could want in life , house, garden ,job and loving boyfriend but also a mysterious boss. She ends up putting herself in to another person's life without reason, and that was enough for me!

Who was this boss? Lots of blackmail, odd deaths and Eve gets involved in some exciting 'adventures' with a good ending.

Thanks to Net Galley and Headline for the chance to read and review.

An exceptional read that compels you to question everything and everyone. I was captivated from the very beginning! It’s skilfully written and packed with unexpected twists and turns.

I’m thrilled to read that is going to be made into a TV series. I look forward to watching it.
A worthy 5⭐️ recommendation

This is definitively a different kind of thriller you will want to read.
A great story just loved Evie and her different personalities, with twists at every turn and I never could see what was about to happen, a real page turner.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review.
Posted to Goodreads

'First Lie Wins' by Ashley Elston took me a little while to get into but I speed-read past the 20% mark. There's a lot going on here and Elston does a great job of revealing everything so slowly that as the reader you're constantly worried but hopeful that everything will turn out okay, even with the twists and turns!

I did have an issue understanding the motivations for a particular character but for the sake of spoilers I don't think I can go into too much detail! There's a bit of deus ex machina about him and I never really understood if he just liked puzzles or if he was getting paid.