Cover Image: The First to Lie

The First to Lie

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Member Reviews

This book was a fantastic thriller and had me turning the page faster than I could comprehend what was going on. The differing POVs made this story more complex, and when we finally came to a point where the story ended, i had to take a step back and reel in what i had just read.

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I loved the suspense that Hank Phillippi Ryan puts in her books and this one had a lot along with some twists. It is not my favorite of hers, but it was still a good thriller. I loved the ethical story line that takes place. There were some major plot twists and overall the story was well written. She has just outdone herself in the past and this did not live up to what I am used to from the author. Still recommend reading it though!

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I enjoy Hank Phillippi Ryan’s writing and this was another great story. He throughly engages his read right from the start and keeps them hooked throughout.

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Taught thriller. I really got sucked in to the story right away with a main character who I cared about even though she wasn't telling me the whole truth yet. Great read!

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Eh, I couldn't get into this one.
There are too many characters to keep track of and even though I liked the setting and idea of the story nothing seemed to be happening.

This was a book I didn't finish

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One of the best I've read. Just enough revealed at just the right time. Hank Phillippi Ryan is well known for her great character development and this book is no different. Just when I thought I had it figured out something new came up and I switched beliefs on who the protagonist was. Couldn't put the book down once I got started.

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“An identity changing record”-induce eye roll! This book is just messy with all of the characters who are also these characters and then why not also have them be.....just no!

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This one has so many twists & turns! I’m enthralled, entertained & just when I think the author is going one way & I have it figured out, we switch gears.
💥
I did have a little trouble keeping everyone straight but I couldn’t wait to get to the end. This is a great read. If you’re looking for a thriller that keeps you guessing- this is it!

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A thrill, a chase, a rollercoaster ride of suspenseful writing. I struggled at the very beginning but was soon caught up all the way to the somewhat surprising end.

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The concept of this book was very interesting & different storyline than what I’m used to reading. There were so many characters that at times it was hard to keep track of them all & I found myself getting confused easily. The plot twists were definitely surprising and left my head spinning.

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Hank Phillippi Ryan delivers another twisty and suspenseful story that will keep you guessing and turning pages until the end. Full of family secrets and deceptions, you won't know who to believe, and if you're an avid thriller and mystery reader who likes to figure things out, this one will surprise you. Written in Hank's signature strong voice, this is a fantastic read. Pick it up--you won't be able to put it down.

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This was one twisted tale where no one was what they seemed to be. My second book by this author, the story was quite convoluted in its plotline where I was left confused in the first half and exhilarated in the second.

The story revolved around the lack of ethics of a pharmaceutical company, Pharminex, that had produced a magic infertility med without making the people aware of the side-effects. The book was extremely slow at the beginning where nothing really seemed to fit in the slot, even the format of the story made it difficult to be interested in the story. Told in multiple POV, all I knew in this tale was that nobody was telling me the truth. Lies abounded within the hearts of the characters until I felt none of them really knew what they purported to be.

This was a book about revenge, secrets, profits, and from my experience dealing with the pharma companies, they were all liars whose basic aim in life was a rise in profit at any cost. I loved how the author could bring home that fact in a fictional tale.

Overall, an interesting story with many many twists.

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The main characters are unlike those in any other book I’ve read. Sympathetic and dislikable at the same time. Complex and full of surprises. The story is told from multiple points of view, and jumps back and forth between viewpoints and past and present. Yes, it can be a bit confusing at first. But, hang in there. It gets easier as you read on. The plot is intricate, with multiple twists and turns unfolding as the tension builds and the stakes rise, keeping those pages turning until the end.

This well-written story also provides an interesting glimpse into the ethical issues related to the marketing of pharmaceutical products and our vulnerability in taking meds without truly considering their potential side effects. A suspenseful read, served with food for thought.

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This is a rather unique, complex and enjoyable story that is a refreshing change from the usual crime thriller format. It is a tale of deception and duplicity about the lies that we not only tell ourselves, but the lies told to others and the lengths people will go to to expose the truth. Whilst some of the “truth” is easy to work out or guess at and revealed quite early on, some bits are hidden right to the end giving some nice twists and turns along the way.

If you like crime novels and want something that goes in a different direction than the bulk of the crime genre then Hank Phillippi Ryan has just the novel for you, just be prepared to get lost in the book and not surface again until it’s finished.

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Honestly, I found this book confusing. I had a hard time figuring out what was going on at the beginning and it just didn't pull me into the story. I usually love these types of books but for some reason I just couldn't get into it and ultimately put it down about a third of the way in. Maybe I'll try again!

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This was the first Hank Phillippi Ryan novel that I have read and I am very intrigued on her other works. I am definitely going to put her other novels on my TBR!

Ellie Berensen is an investigative journalist who is working on a story about a well known pharmaceutical company. She isn't alone in doing this, she works with her assistant Meg. Meg is a "newbie" and could sometimes be a lot of work. The story they are working on is about this company's drug that causes infertility problems. There are certain problems that this company isn't disclosing and Ellie won't stop until she tells the world and saves as much women as she can. But how could she? She is just an ordinary woman against a Goliath?

The story was told in multiple POVs and let me tell you... I dislike multiple POVs sometimes. But this novel was different! Despite being told in multiple POVs the story keeps on flowing smoothly.
The novel was quite slow in the beginning, I think it took me a couple of days to get through the first half but the second half was like fireworks! Every revelation has deception which makes me shout in the my head WHO AM I SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE NOW?
and for me, this is beautiful. Thriller novels are supposed to make you question everyone in the story and this novel did.

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An amazingly twisted book filled with mystery that will literally fry your brain thanks to the multiple characters and deception all through the book.

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After finishing this book, be prepared to be totally mind blown!! Nothing like I have ever read before & you cannot trust ANYONE! What the heck lol. Will be thinking about this one for a long time! I am anxious to read more by this author now!

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Lies....and more lies.....and more lies. The story revolves around who is telling the biggest lie and who will get caught first? A big pharma company is promoting the use of a fertility drug without disclosing the risks, even to family members. An investigative journalist is trying to catch them. Alternating POV from the journalist and one of the pharma reps keeps the story moving, but exactly which parts are lies? The tension builds and the consequences escalate until it's anyone's guess how bad this information could be if released and what the company will do to stop it.

A very different kind of story line that is confusing to start until you remember the premise is that everyone is lying. The mystery is finding the truth. A very good example of how to build a story until it explodes, leaving the reader with a solution and sometimes a headache.

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I really wanted to love this book because I love this author's writing. Sadly I just never was able to get into this book - I'm going to chalk it up to my current state of mind because it seems like everyone else loves this book.
The writing is good - i love the cover - but the story just didn't interest me.

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