First Lie Wins Hardcover – January 2, 2024

The novel, "First Lie Wins," by Ashley Elston, published in 2024 comes on like gangbusters as a fast-paced, live-feed action thriller from the very beginning to the grand finale. The main characters go on the non-stop thrill ride of their lives, one lasting a matter of years, instead of a mere 10-15 minutes at the state fair. There must be an easier way for Cinderella to make a decent living. She should have had her head examined for climbing aboard that absurdly treacherous carnival ride in the first place. Her latest prospective employer basically wants her to "Do me a favor, walk a crooked mile and wear a wicked smile," in the metaphorical and metaphysical sense, if you know what I mean, even if he doesn't exactly come right out and explicitly say so, or spell it out in terms we can all understand. She has certainly put herself in a perilous bind and has few other options available to her, if any at all, at that particular moment. "Have you ever worked in a soup kitchen before?" someone inquires, interrupting her train of thought. Hence, she is further incentivized to think quickly on her feet, as the sword of Damocles sways menacingly above her, dangling by a single thread, just about ready to drop. When her single golden opportunity has suddenly been squashed and squandered away, if not severely limited and curtailed altogether, a benevolent-appearing benefactor emerges. He comes to her immediate rescue, just in the nick of time, and supports her magnificently throughout the potentially grim proceedings, considering her present predicament. She could have gone directly to jail had she been duly and properly arrested by the first police officers arriving on the scene. Had they not been flummoxed by the damsel in distress routine, and found out what really transpired, the prosecution might have wanted to lock her up and throw away the key then and there. Truthfully, Cinderella's moral compass may have wavered and temporarily veered way off course, but at least for the time being she isn't completely bankrupt, destitute and cast out in the streets, without any hope whatsoever for a bright, promising future. To her credit, she does possess the uncanny ability to distinguish right from wrong. She is acutely aware of the vaguely ethical gray areas, it seems, and can react accordingly, but this admirable attribute doesn't necessarily constitute slowing her down much, or impeding the progress and rapid advancement she makes in her current line of employment. Undoubtedly, her life has taken a dramatic turn for the better, and it appears that she is indeed moving up on the totem pole. Her intention is to propel herself to the top of the organizational charts like a skyrocket, at least until she accelerates into a brick wall or bounces off the Plexi-glass ceiling. Following the unlikelihood that the initial scenario actually plays out, pans out, or fizzles out, the members of an elite surveillance team working discretely in the background have a brief conversation among themselves before continuing to monitor the situation more closely and carefully. They have a big decision to make, work with her or against her. Up to this point, she has generally been unaware of their physical presence and proximity in the vicinity. But this is all about to change. I'm guessing I can dispense with the elaborate diatribe at this point. The above generic synopsis as it stands should suffice sufficiently in whetting readers' appetites. As you may have already suspected, the novel involves a close-knit group of talented actors with a unique set of specialized skills and character traits. The plot evolves in a boldly dynamic, terrifically suspenseful manner, guaranteed to keep you perched on the edge of your seat throughout the story, wondering what happens next, as they cover a great deal of territory on their quest. Thus, the book represents the category of "most intriguing new fiction" quite well, revealing great imagination on the part of the author.

The book is OK...has some nice twists. Worth a read. But two things bothered me. The first is that she, and obviously her editor, failed to notice a raft of grammatical mistakes...a bunch. But more than that she employed a technique that Robert Crais, and Harlan Coben when he writes a Myron Bolitar story, use, and it's weak in my opinion. And that is that the protagonist has a sidekick with superhuman abilities. The main person gets stuck and the sidekick gets it all worked out even if the actions defy logic.

First Lie Winsby Ashley Elston5/5 ⭐️Evie Porter is not who she says she is. She could be Lucca, Izzy, Mia, or Wendy. When working for the mysterious Mr. Smith, the identity always gets assigned first. Then she learns everything she needs to know about the target’s name and town. The last thing she is privy to is the job.Now in her new job, Evie needs to be on her best behavior. She cannot make another mistake like the last time. Ryan, her new target and boyfriend, is getting in her head though. He is making her believe that life could be different. Maybe she could have a normal life with him.Evie is thrown for a loop when her “real identity” shows up at the dinner party. Evie knows she is the real Lucca Marino but the resemblance to the fake one is uncanny. This has to be a test from Mr. Smith. While trying to figure out what to do with this imposter, Evie finds herself messed up in another sticky citation. An old job bleeds into this one and the lies get scrambled. Evie needs to protect her past while she prepares for the future.This was my first book by Ashley Elston, and she hooked me from the first chapter. My mind was racing with questions and possibilities throughout the entire book. The dual timelines and multiple identities create an addictive, wild ride. Evie or whatever you want to call her is one of the most morally gray main characters. Although even with my suspicions, I found myself cheering her on. In addition, the plot is so complex and intense you find yourself going over every detail with a fine-tooth comb. I highly recommend this thriller and can see why everyone is loving it!

First Lie Wins is the cat and mouse wild ride Evie Porter takes you on as she works a job now and looks back at previous jobs trying to piece together what’s really going on.Here’s what worked for me:•The pace is nuts. You won’t be able to put it down because there is never a lull in the action.•Evie is a likable, if morally ambiguous, character and you’ll root for her. She’s starting to want better for herself and you’ll want her to have it, too.•There are a lot of twists and turns, but it’s easy enough for anyone to follow.And page 44, man. Your head will spin.Here’s what didn’t work for me:•There are obviously characters who are red herrings — Is SHE the twist? Is HE? — which is necessary, but can be a little heavy handed. There’s a good amount of emphasis on one character who turns out to be (disappointingly) inconsequential.Evie Porter was sent to Louisiana for a job. In a sealed envelope, she has her identity, a person of interest, and some money to get started, but like all other jobs, she doesn’t immediately know the purpose. She moves in with Ryan, her boyfriend. She knows he’s shady and had something to do with the job but for now exactly what is unclear.But slowly, things begin to fall apart. Evie feels like she’s the one being set up. And so, told in current time and through flashbacks to previous jobs, she tries to figure out what Mr. Smith, the disembodied voice who gives instructions and pays handsomely, is up to.I rarely read thrillers because I find I cannot put them down. I have to know. This was no exception; I read it in a day. It’s fantastic!

A wonderful must read thriller with endless twists and turns - you will have no idea where it’s going next!

Die Story hat mich von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite gepackt. Spannend geschrieben. Ich konnte zwischenzeitlich kaum aufhören zu lesen.

Everything you expect from a book like this, it delivers. This needs to be a series. Like now! Loved it.

Another great pic for bookclub by Reece Witherspoon. Lots of plot twists and turns. Highly recommend this thriller, fast paced and clever. Well done Ashley :-)

I enjoyed the story line and the suspense made it a non stop exciting book! Characters were both likeable and not likeable in the case of Mr. Smith. The ending of the book was the reason I took a star away. I didn’t find it believable that the main character would take over the con business. The books story was unique & different and that was what kept my interest to finish reading it once I knew who Mr Smith was about half way into the book. 📕