Evie Porter finds herself in trouble and the reasons for this unravel as the story progresses. In many ways this works as the perfect mystery thriller, and will make a pretty good Hollywood film. Sure, there are times when you have to suspend your disbelief, but that's ok, it's still a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to the editor and Netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest and impartial review.

This is excellent. It takes you on an absolute rollercoaster and just as you think you’ve sussed it, it wrists and turns again. I’m really excited to read more by this writer. Her characters are really detailed and you will put the book down really rooting for some and floored by others!

It is a great vacation book. It is like a story we have seen many times before in books and movies of spy's...but even so, still fun and enjoyable.

I didn’t except the book I read based on the summary on the website.
I felt as if there was just too much confusion with the name changes and time jumps.
I overall wasn’t a fan of this one.
I felt Evie was annoying and Ryan being made the be the red herring for Mr Smith was predictable.

I loved this book, there were so many twists and turns and I loved how the story was written and came together. I was completely invested from the start and connected with the characters.

The perfect suspense read, I literally could not put this down (my fitbit would have liked it more if my heart rate was reduced)

I like that there were multiple narrators for this book (iykyk) and that they all gave little bits of information to bring the story together. This is book about how to pay the long game and how it all comes together at the very end. A great psychological thriller that stands up in the genre.

A gripping psychological thriller with many twists and turns to keep you guessing. I was glued to the pages trying to figure out where Evie was going as she carried out her intricate plan to free herself from Mr Smith. An entertaining read!

"First Lie Wins" by Ashley Elston is a thrilling ride from start to finish. Evie Porter is the main character, and she’s been sent on a mysterious job. The details of this job are kept under wraps for most of the book, but we know she’s dating a wealthy man and is about to move in with him after only two months. The man, as we later find out, is named Ryan, and Evie’s job revolves around him.
The book does a great job of delving into Evie’s past, showcasing her previous 'jobs' in great detail. While these backstories are rich and intricate, they can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming. There were moments when I found myself skimming through these sections, which isn't something I usually like to do. The extensive details, while interesting, could have been trimmed down a bit without losing the essence of the story.
Evie is portrayed as a skilled thief, which adds an exciting layer to her character. However, I kept waiting for a major twist or big event to shake things up. The suspense builds nicely, but the payoff felt a bit delayed.
Mr. Smith, the enigmatic figure giving Evie her orders, adds another layer of mystery to the story. His true motives are kept hidden, making you question whether there's something more sinister at play.
Overall, "First Lie Wins" is an engaging and suspenseful read with a strong, intriguing protagonist. Despite some overly detailed sections, it's a book that keeps you hooked and makes you think about the true nature of trust and deception. If you’re a fan of thrillers with complex characters and a bit of mystery, this one’s worth picking up.

This was great! Really exciting and pacey. I love heists and this had lots of mini ones in it. Plus romance. Plus 'on-the-run' tropes. Pretty much all my favourite things mixed into a book!

A clever cat-and-mouse thrill-ride. Evie is a con artist who assumes a false identity on each job she is assigned by her mysterious boss Mr Smith. But is the game up for Evie when a woman turns up on her latest job, claiming her real identity? A twisty tale of double dealing.

I can honestly say, NOTHING with this book is as it seems. Just as soon as you think you have things figured out, whoops, you get hit on the head, and are left with a WTF moment. This book was very very well written, and I couldn't finish it quickly enough! Really highly recommended!!
TB

A gripping read with twists and turns on each page … Evie has a job to do taking on the role of faithful girlfriend to successful Ryan isn’t all it seems she’s been sent to take on this role and awaits instructions from above as to her next step. Evie isn’t her real name tho and here the plot thickens …. Loved this book the characters the suspense and a great story line

Who is the real Evie Porter? When con artist for hire Evie comes face to face with someone claiming to be her, her life is thrown in to disarray as she tries to fathom out just why the infamous Mr Smith has sent the imposter to unsettle her as she works her latest project. Can she complete her task without being arrested and imprisoned after she is set up?

Who is Evie Porter, that is the question? She’s perfect in every way, but with a dark secret.

This was a great story, plot line was well thought out and great twists. It jumps back and forth to before and present day so you got a full picture of Evie. Her character was entertaining and it kept me wanting more.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

Such a great thriller, had me hooked in from the start.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

What an incredibly amazing thriller! This book is excellently fast paced, incredibly gripping, and I raced through it because I could not put it down. One of those books who when you have to stop to go to work or whatever, you're constantly thinking about getting back into reading it. I loved Evie as a character and loved seeing the flashbacks into different times of her life. I've read Ashley Elston before but this is her first adult thriller and it was amazing! I absolutely can't wait to read more from her,

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, the first one I've read by this author.
It had all the ingredients I like in a thriller - good plotline, interesting characters. No one is who they say they are and nothing is as it appears.
Lots of intrigue building to a conclusion that I didn't see coming.⁹

I so really wanted to enjoy the book, the premise was exactly what I’d go for in a book… however it just wasn’t twisty enough for me. I did like the characters but it lacked a little something for me sadly.

Hyped as one of the top thrillers of 2024 and also a Reece Witherspoon pick.

Evie Porter has just moved in with her boyfriend Ryan and everything is going to plan. Her perfect life is within reach. The only problem is that she finds herself falling for Ryan and Evie is not who he thinks she is. In fact Ryan is also leading a double life. Will their relationship survive?

I found this to be a bit of a slow burn Cat and Mouse thriller. Along with unlikeable characters and multiple flashbacks some of the story line just felt too unbelievable at times. I felt myself eager to get the end as it wasn't holding my interest.


Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC.

I was really looking forward to this one as love a good domestic thriller. It started off really well as I also love when someone is not who they say they are. However it quickly went downhill from there. No twists, no excitement, I just thought everything was explained away very quickly and left me feeling disappointed.