First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston review

About The Book

Book: First Lie Wins
Author: Ashley Elston
Standalone or Series: Standalone
Publisher: Headline
Publication Date (UK): 2nd January 2024

My Review

I started First Lie Wins on a red-eye flight back from New York City. By the time I reached 26%, I reluctantly put it down to try and catch some sleep – but it wasn’t easy with a story this gripping.

I went into the book knowing very little, but it quickly pulled me in. The story opens with Evie Porter, our main character, meeting her boyfriend Ryan’s friends for the first time. They’re protective, giving her a bit of a grilling, and as it turns out, their instincts are spot on. Evie is hiding a lot more than they realize, and their coupling wasn’t exactly fate – Evie orchestrated it.

Soon, we learn that Evie works for the mysterious Mr. Smith. Her job is simple but chilling: she’s given a new identity and a location, where she gathers intel on a target. Only after she’s immersed in the situation does she find out what the real mission is.

This job, however, is unlike any other. When one of Ryan’s old friends returns to town with a new girlfriend, the stakes skyrocket. The woman introduces herself to Evie using Evie’s real name – Lucca. Proclaiming to be her.

What follows is a tense, high-stakes game of cat and mouse as Evie fights to outwit Mr. Smith. Elston’s first venture into adult thrillers is a knockout, delivering twists that kept me turning pages long after the red-eye landed.