I really enjoyed this book. A great read with an unusual storyline that keeps you guessing and lots of twists and turns!! Will definitely read more from this author!

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.

Overall rating : 3*
Writing skill : 4*
Plot: 3*
Pace: 2*
Characters: 4*
Twists: 4*

This was a super intriguing story and I devoured the first few chapters, wondering where on earth this story was going to go. But unfortunately it was a little bit too slow burn for me. There were multi timelines, multi personas, and lots of twists, and at times I was left a little lost. I don’t think slow burn, spy mysteries are for me. But I can absolutely see why this is getting the rave reviews Ive seen. The writing is fantastic and it’s a well thought out story, that just didn’t work for me as a reader. I am really glad of that ending though.

Captivating and fast paced from the beginning.
Evie is moving in with her boyfriend, the day before moving she goes to the flat she had rented only at the beginning of the week to move in her few things. Who is Evie? And why she is pretending to have lived in this flat?

A great book - one you will not be able to put down.

If my first read of 2024 is anything to go by then it's going to be a fabulous year for reading!

Okay, so technically I read it in 2023, but let's not let minor details distract us...

First Lie Wins is a brilliantly written and unique thriller, focusing on Evie Porter and her less than conventional relationship with her boyfriend Ryan.

I really found this to be a refreshing and original read and I look forward to more from this author.

From the outside, their relationship is perfect. Evie Porter has everything she ever wanted, a doting boyfriend, an idyllic house in a safe, affluent neighbourhood and a job that pays well. Except, it is clear from the off that Evie hasn't been entirely honest with Ryan about who she is, but why would she jeopardise their relationship in that way?

Evie is no stranger to telling lies.

In fact she has made a career out of it. A dangerous one at that, and unfortunate, unsuspecting Ryan is part of her latest 'job'. Ryan has something that her boss wants badly, and Evie must do her best to get it.

She knows its her last chance to prove herself, despite being one the best assets her boss has, her last job went wrong, and Evie needs to make it up to him, and prove that she is still worthy of the money that he throws her way.

One day she knows she'll leave the 'game' and settle down into the life that her Mother wanted for her, which deep down Evie wants too. But for now, she must be content with making her latest job a success no matter how many times she has to lie to Ryan.

But despite having been in the same position a million times before, for some reason Evie finds it harder to mislead Ryan than anyone before him. And then she realises that its because she could genuinely see herself having a life with him.

She must get those thoughts of her head if she's to complete the job successfully, and make it out alive...

A great thriller with plenty of twists and turns. Evie Porter appears to be the perfect southern girlfriend. Except that person isn’t real. Why has Evie set out to land Ryan as a boyfriend? Past and present collide for Evie, buckle up for the ride to find out the who, what, where and when of this fast paced and original thriller. An epic first novel by Ashley Elston. Clearly a new come to watch.

Evie moves in with her boyfriend Ryan..... The thing is her name is not Evie! So what is her name and why is she pretending to be someone else? And what has Ryan got to do with it?
I would normally give more of an outline to a novel but strongly feel that if you like thrillers which have loads of plot twists and revelations in them then this is the one for you!!! I can definitely see this being made into a film it just had those kind of vibes would love to see it!
Many thanks to.NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this debut novel. Can't wait to read more from Ashley and will be looking out for her next one! It will definitely be a best seller and a must read for 2024!! Would give more than 5 stars if I could!!!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Evie Porter moves into her boyfriend's house at the start of the book after a dinner with some of his friends.

The only problem with this Evie Porter is not Evie porter.

Normally when I write a review I give a few more things about what happens in the story, however this is a thriller that is well worth going in with as little as possible of the story.

This is because First Lie wins has about as many twists in it as a bowl of Fusilli so if you want your thriller novels to be full of surprises pick up the book and read it as a reader of this genre you will not be disappointed.

So reading Ashley Elston’s debut novel will give you all the enjoyment you want from this genre, the only downside to the writing is that this book feels like a film rather than a book.

So what do i mean by this, one of the things that a novel gives more than any other art form is books are able to get into the mind of the characters, which means novelists can put a lot of the story in the mind of the characters rather than being shown it on the page directly.

I guess this is ok for the other characters in the story such as her boyfriend Ryan Sumner as First Lie Wins is told all the way through by Evie. However with Evie’s character there was little if anything the reader learns through what she is thinking in terms of her motivation.

This is especially true as the story has a number of flashbacks throughout the book giving the main character’s back story.

I am not saying that the depth of the characters' thoughts were detrimental to the story, but if the writer Ashley Elston added this to the story it would have elevated it. But as this is a debut novel it does seem a little harsh.

Having said that if you just judge First Lie Wins as a debut thriller with twist and turns throughout with red herrings all over the place than Ashley Elston Debut novel First Lie Wins is a debut book to get 2024 of to a great start.

I was intrigued by the synopsis for the author’s first novel for adults and it started off well.
First Lie Wins is a well written novel and I immediately became absorbed in Evie’s life with Ryan and was not expecting the initial breathtaking twist. I enjoyed how the novel moved between past and present to build up our understanding of Evie’s history.
However as the novel progressed I felt it became less compelling and more unbelievable. Lots of promise but ultimately a disappointing read for me.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
3.5 stars

I loved this book!! I could't put it down! You could tell from the beginning that Evie was up to no good, quite what the no good was was to be revealed - and the reveal was SO good!

Just to put it out there - I am awful at actually reading blurbs so usually have no idea what the books about! This was brilliant, as I was reading I gathered that Evie should not have been getting as attached to Ryan as it seemed that she was.

I really found that I liked Evie as we were discovering more about her 'actual' life and loved the relationship that she had with Devon. Ryan seemed to be a good guy but there was times that we saw different sides to him which made me seem to dislike him.

I loved how the storyine developed and it seemed as though we were going in one direction - however it was going completely in another direction which was brilliant!! It kept me guessing along the way as to what this 'job' was actually about. Even Evie wasn't 100% sure what her boss's endgame was.

To say that this is a debut - it is an incredible debut and I'm excited to read more from Ashley Elston.

Evie Porter has everything she thinks she has always wanted in life. A gorgeous and adoring boyfriend, a beautiful house with a white picket fence in a lovely town. A great, easy going job. Her boyfriend's friends are wonderful and are starting to accept her into their friend group. Her life is perfect, her relationship is thriving, her boyfriend, Ryan, has even asked her to move in with him. There is nothing more Evie needs in life. There is just one catch. Evie Porter doesn’t exist.

Evie is given a name and location by her employer, Mr. Smith, along with a new identity for herself. She travels there, learning everything she needs to know about the town, the people in it, her new identity, and the target of her job. In this case the target is Ryan Sumner. Her boyfriend. Evie is good at her job. The best. However she feels like this job is different. Her relationship with Ryan has started to feel real, and she starts to think about a life where her every move is not directed by Mr. Smith.

For her entire career in this twisted world she lives in, Evie protected her real identity, hoping one day to return to it. Then, at an event with Ryan, a woman who looks just like her walks in, using her closely protected real name, and full background history. Evie’s past starts to creep in and the walls start to tighten. Ryan is starting to ask more questions, and one of his friends is not as accepting of the lies she is telling to keep her cover story in place. When this mystery woman dies, taking Evies real identity with her, Evie realises that she is in trouble. Deep trouble. The lies are getting harder to manage, and she needs to think fast.

This story is full of twists from the outset. As it progresses we learn more about who Evie is, and how she has ended up in such a twisted mess. There are flashbacks which start to pull her journey together, showing us how all her identities have led to this one. This is a very cleverly written book, which keeps the tension and suspense maintained throughout. It manages multiple threads well, and pulls together long reaching elements very cleverly. Once you realise how much is at stake, and what Evie is fighting for you are gripped, and you wonder how she will manage to extricate herself from this situation. I don’t want to say any more as I don’t want to give anything away, but this book definitely deserves the category of thriller, it has you on the edge of your seat, and you won’t let up until you get to the end. I devoured it in one sitting. Utterly addictive, and mind melting!

*I received this book from NetGalley for review, but all opinions are my own.

First Lie Wins is Ashley Elston’s debut novel for adults, although she has had six books published for young adults. This books is absolutely first class and I hope that she writes many more for adults in the same genre.
Evie seems to be enjoying her current job, is happy with her boyfriend and life. But her life is not real. The how and why, and how she finds her herself in her current situation, and what she is going to do to try to recover some sense of realism is slowly revealed throughout the book. Always written from Evie’s point of view, and set over varying timelines, the narration works very well. The story flows beautifully and made me want to keep reading to try to find out what would happen to Evie and what had happened before to get her to where she was now.
An excellent read which I highly recommend. I will now go back to read some of Ashley’s YA books as the synopsis of some of them sound intriguing.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So many new books due for release early next year so trying to work out a plan to get them all read over the coming Christmas break. First one up is “First Lie Wins” by Ashley Elston, a thriller with a rollercoaster of twists!

Evie Porter has everything a nice, Southern girl could want, from the perfect, doting boyfriend, the house with a white picket fence and a garden to the fancy group of friends. There is only one catch, Evie Porter doesn’t really exist. The identity has been created for her, the name and location sent to her by her mysterious boss Mr Smith. She has a target and she has to piece all the information together to compete the assigned job. Evie has a feeling this job isn’t the same as previous ones, something doesn’t feel right, but she can’t make any mistakes, not after last time. Evie has to stay one step ahead at all times but when she is suddenly confronted by her REAL identity, she realises the stakes are as high as they can be and a challenge awaits her…

From the moment you pick up this book you are drawn into the twists and turns of Evie’s life. Despite the numerous identities it’s easy to keep track of the comings and goings, along with the coinciding flashback content supporting the backstory to the present day. Without giving too much away (because you have to read this title not knowing what comes next!) the suspense is maintained throughout, and although I’d guessed an element of the ending, it wasn’t until the very last section of the book and was perfectly executed in the tension of the writing.

The synopsis makes this title sound great and it is but if anything it doesn’t do it justice as to just how clever this book is! A game of cat and mouse, wondering who will end up with the upper hand, twists and tension galore. Would definitely read more by this author in the future and think this will be a hit in 2024.

Wow! Absolutely fantastic read. The story held me gripped all the way through. If I could award more than 5 stars I would. Brilliantly plotted and excellent characters. It would make a great film or series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to a great novel.

"First Lie Wins" by Ashley Elston is a captivating adult spy-thriller that skillfully weaves together themes of friendship, trust, and the complexity of human relationships. The story follows a woman who has multiple false identities over her life and the missions she carries out with those identities and the people she meets along the way. As the characters navigate the treacherous game of deceit, readers are drawn into a world of suspense and intrigue.

One of the standout qualities of the novel is Elston's ability to create multi-dimensional characters. Each character, is thoughtfully explored, adding depth to the narrative and highlighting the intricate nature of human relationships, friendships and rivalries.

If you are looking for relatable characters, with insecurities and personal traumas, this book is not the one. But if you’re looking for a Girl Boss, who is not always likeable, but has a whole lot of confidence, this book will serve your needs.

The plot unfolds at a brisk pace, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. Elston's writing is clear and evocative, effectively drawing readers into the characters' world and conveying the tension and uncertainty that permeates the story. Elston masterfully crafts a sense of unease and suspicion, keeping readers guessing as they attempt to unravel the truth alongside the characters.

While some elements of the plot may follow familiar tropes, the execution and pacing make "First Lie Wins" an enjoyable and satisfying read. The novel offers a compelling exploration of the consequences of dishonesty and the power dynamics at play within a group of rather mysterious or “shady” individuals.

Reading this book, I learned a lot of “dos and don’ts” for living a life on the run, or living undercover. (Hey, it could happen to me!) I was impressed with the cleverness and so many times I underestimated the heroine.

I received this book from Netgalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own and completely honest.

The main characters current situation plays out alongside her complicit past in an intruiging back and forth between the present day and her backstory.

It does take concentration to remember all that has happened and is going on and whilst also trying to decipher who is playing who.

A 'twist' which delivers when her sinister boss is exposed as she attempts to win back her life.

There are of course some unrealistic situations but these can be overlooked to enjoy a great debut.

The basic premise of this story is intriguing - you are working under cover for a mysterious employer and have assumed a new identity, everything appears to be going well with the assignment, and then the unthinkable happens - you bump into your doppelgänger at a party, and not only does she look like you, she goes by your name and comes from the same town. This is a classic mystery of who is messing with who’s head and develops into a pacy cat and mouse narrative with the heroine - and the reader - not knowing who to trust or who to suspect. Meticulously plotted, even if the characters appear somewhat bland.

With thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

I’d like to thank Headline and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘First Lie Wins’ written by Ashley Elston in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Evie Porter works for Mr Smith that requires changing her appearance and identity to become different people. Evie’s latest job is to meet Ryan Sumner and successfully infiltrate herself into his life, and when he takes her to a party she meets his old friend James who introduces them to his partner Lucca Marino. But everything the woman tells Evie about herself is false, and Evie should know as Lucca Marino is her own real identity. As Mr Smith appears to be playing games with Evie she has to keep one step ahead of him to avoid being dragged into deep trouble.

‘First Lie Wins’ is an excellent debut adult thriller written by this talented author who’s produced an ingenious novel that’s vastly different to those I’d normally expect to read in the thriller genre. From page one the story has been fraught with so many twists and turns that I was unsure how it would end and it became more unsettling and spine-chilling the further I got into the story. As well as copious amounts of suspense and intrigue, there’s been twists and turns that kept me turning pages plus a vast number of red herrings thrown in to confuse. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this amazing thriller that’s had all the requirements needed to be a first-class read and I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

Oh my goodness, this book is such a page turner! It follows Evie who is hired to pretend to be someone in order to infiltrate a person's life and find information about them for her boss - the enigmatic Mr Smith. It opens with her being in a relationship with Ryan and the novel goes from there. We learn how she got into this line of work and the previous jobs she's done. This book is full on cat and mouse and you're never quite sure if you can trust Evie, or the people around her. The tension in this novel just builds and builds and from the halfway point I just couldn't put it down as I was so tense and I just had to know how it was all going to end. I really enjoyed this book and I definitely recommend it!

3.5 stars

I do love a twisty thriller to curl up with in the Winter and this cat and mouse tale has more twists and turns than a mountain road.

The main character, Evie (that’s not her real name) is a con and a bloody good one. Her boss, the mysterious Mr Smith, sends her a new identity for each job, information about the mark and her task. Except this time, she’s falling for the mark and then somebody turns up who looks just like her and is using her real name….

I enjoyed reading the story play through; it was clever, sassy and the style was reminiscent of Colleen Hoover. There were a few plot holes and places where believability was stretched, but it added to the overall fun and entertainment.

The ending is very clever; it played though in my head like an Ocean’s 11 montage where the truth gets revealed.

First Lie Wins was a really interesting read, I haven't read anything like it before. I did enjoy it but found it to be a little drawn out in places. It had plenty of twists and turns and a fantastic ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for my ARC.