Evie Porter is a con artist. And she's very good at her job. That's not even her real name. She works for the mysterious Mr. Smith who has a lot to hold over her head, so she is essentially held captive in his employ. Her current mark is Ryan Sumner. She has found a way to infiltrate herself into his life. She's moved in with him keeps the con going while settling into a comfortable life as his girlfriend. And living with such a hunky guy doesn't seem like a huge sacrifice to Evie. A series of flashbacks reveal how Evie got into this line of work and how her many previous jobs have set the stage for what lies ahead. Evie's current con is turned on its head when an old friend of Ryan's shows up in town with a new girlfriend - a woman who looks just like Evie and is using Evie's real name. Is Mr. Smith behind this woman's sudden appearance? A fun cat-and-mouse game begins between Evie and Mr. Smith.Â
In First Lie Wins, author Ashley Elston created a fast-paced thriller that was very enjoyable to read. Evie is an anti-heroine to root for. She's a complex character who has found herself in an impossible situation. But while she is essentially trapped in a life of crime, you sense that she likes what she's doing and is proud of how talented she is and her ability to deceive people. There are many situations which strained credulity but in an entertaining book like this, I looked the other way and enjoyed the action and its twists and turns.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy. If you are a thriller fan, this is a perfect book to start the new year.
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Mystery Thriller.
Publication Date: January 2, 2024.
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