I absolutely loved the cat and mouse chase vibes in this book. I love a twisty thriller so this was right up my street!

A strong cat and mouse thriller with plenty of twists. Interesting characters, a fast narrative and a story with a satisfying denouement. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Wow. Twisty, clever, gripping, great story and characters that felt real, I couldn't put this down. Evie is working for Mr Smith but she is falling for her latest mark and nothing is feeling right - especially when a woman arrives at a party saying she is Lycra - Evie,a original name. Brilliant and original thriller - just buckle up and enjoy the ride.

The authors first book for an adult audience and after reading I'm sure it won't be her last.This was a strong paced thriller filled with characters all flawed in their own different ways.The storyline was unique and told in present time and from the main character's past aliases point of view.
The twists were unpredictable and the ending was summed up perfectly.
An excellent cat and mouse thriller.
RECOMMENDED.
Thanks to Netgalley and Headline Books for the ARC.

This started well with Evie Porter enjoying life with her dream man Ryan Sumner. Soon it becomes obvious that all is not as expected as the reader becomes aware that Evie is ‘on a job’ and that Ryan is her current mark.

I was expecting a psychological thriller but found this to be more of a spy thriller. There was a lot of dialogue about Evie being undercover in previous jobs, use of burner phones and too much where I had to completely suspend belief. Evie even found her own personal sidekick, Devon, who is an expert in obtaining information whether by hacking into computer systems, using devious code systems for communications, assuming different identities and outwitting the big boss, Mr Smith. This character was all too convenient for the plot and too unbelievable for me.

If you are looking for a novel with many twists and turns with a lot of jeopardy and danger thrown in this might be good for you. I can see this will appeal to many read but not for me.

I remember when this book was originally advertised on NetGalley - and although it is not the usual genre that I would choose - I was immediately intrigued by the storyline and was eager to read it!
I was instantly captivated by the protagonist’s story and then the situations that she found herself in, desperately reading as quick as I could to find out what the outcome would be at every stage and how she would overcome the obstacles and challenges thrown her way. This story is filled with twists and turns, many of which I never saw coming, but kept me hooked throughout and they continued all the way through to the very last chapters! The story was complex, intricate, incredibly well-constructed and revealed just enough in each chapter to leave you wanting more; I read this book in only a few sittings as I just could not get enough. Told from the perspective of the protagonist, but at different times in her life, Ashley Elston has created characters that are somewhat morally grey but incredibly likeable and I constantly hoped that things would actually work out for them!
It is very cleverly written and I will honestly look for more works by this author in the future, especially since this was their debut book! I would highly recommend this book to everyone and have already been speaking to many of my colleagues about it. This is a story that will stick with me for a long time and will be one of those that other books of this genre will be compared to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ashley Elston for the ARC of this in exchange for my honest review.

This had so many good reviews so when I got the opportunity to read it I was excited.

The first few chapters were good, but then I found myself going back and forth, the chapters being told in present and some in past tense and it confused me quickly. I did however manage to finish the book but it has taken me so long to read it that I know I didn’t really enjoy it.

This just wasn’t for me but I know others have enjoyed it and other readers will.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What a great read, I really enjoyed this book. It keeps the reader engaged all the way through, usually on the edge of their seat, a real page turner!
Even though the main character is not totally law abiding you can't help but warm to her as you learn about her past life and understand her thought processes.
The back stories help to flesh out the character and fill in the details building up to the present job. There are numerous twists that you don't see coming and predicaments that you wonder how they will pan out in the end.
I really appreciate the author's skill in writing this book and I would love to read more like this.

This is a book that is really hard to review without giving away any spoilers. It certainly kept me guessing right until the very end.

When your job involves uncovering secrets and you have to change your identity every time you get a new task it’s hard to know who to trust. Even more so when you don’t actually know who you are working for.

A brilliant thriller that will keep you hooked.

I could not stop reading this, and it completely broke .my reading slump! Morally grey Female protagonist (check!), suspenseful plot racketing along at such a pace my eyes and brain almost can't keep up (double check!) And the bonus of heist twists?! Divine. Absolutely loved it and the ending is SO SATISFYING it is unreal. Roll on this being a movie.

I loved this book, twists and turns at every corner kept me guessing until the end, I definitely recommend reading it

I really enjoyed this book, loved the characters and the story. It kept me guessing and its one of those books you think about when you arent reading it.

I don't know where to start. What an absolute cracker of a book!
Evie Porter works for Mr Smith. She doesn't know anything about him and has never met him in the eight years she has worked for him.
Ryan Sumner is the target. He has something, Mr. Smith wants, but this job is different. Evie finds herself falling for Ryan. What does this mean for Evie's future?
What an ingenious and totally different book this is. So cleverly written. I was glued to the oages till the very end.
I loved the shocks and twists, which I didn't see coming, and there are plenty of them.
I can't say anymore as it would be a spoiler, but this is a definite read for next year.
I will be looking forward to reading any future books by this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I found the storyline of this book very confusing at times, as it switched between not only time lines but also the main character has many guises. I really wanted to keep up with the plot but found the constant switching hard work to follow.

My thanks to Net Galley and Headline for the ARC.

Wow this was one heck of a twisty read and just when I thought I knew what was going on BANG!! along came another twist!! This is one of those books that is impossible to describe I hadn’t read much about it but just enough to make me want to read it and I think that’s what made it all the better. It’s so damn cleverly written as just when you think you know what’s going on everything suddenly becomes a huge new puzzle and I could put the damn book down.
So that’s all I’m going to say apart from don’t miss this but prepared to have your head screwed off and your day fly by because I can guarantee this is one hell of addictive read !!
My thanks to NetGalley and Headline for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Blimey, there is so much to unpack and unravel within this book, that I’m struggling to know where to start. When you read the start of my next paragraph, please don’t think this is a romance, this is a fast paced thriller, through and through.

Evie Porter is blissfully happy, Ryan Sumner is the man of her dreams; they dote on each other, they are the perfect couple. Except, they aren’t. Evie is an illusion, a puppet, a pawn on a chessboard. This is where our rollercoaster begins, and it’s quite a ride.

The storyline moves quickly, the reality of the characters is constantly moving too. As a reader, it feels like the sand is shifting beneath your feet.
There is an intensity to the book, none of the characters do anything by half measures. I really enjoyed the dual timeline, which helps us to build a full picture of Evie. To see how deep rooted all the elements of Evie’s current predicament run.

First Lie Wins is a twisty, complex rollercoaster of a ride, and I loved it.
As the story progresses, the twists keep coming, and coming. This book is everything except predictable. The tension between the pages is high, not easing until the author writes ‘The End’. I really appreciated that all the questions posed in the book, were answered by the last page.

First Lie Wins is Ashley Elston’s first foray away from the YA genre, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I look forward to reading whatever the follow up is to this gripping, highly recommended 4.5⭐️ thriller.

Fantastic characters abound in this addictive thriller, one of those that after a few pages you know you are going to be addicted to and feel excited at what’s to come
Cleverly written with a plot to match this book kept me invested all the way through and the few twists surprised me ( which is always good )
Really good fresh enticing read

An accomplished debut novel for adults, set over a number of time lines. Lucca finds herself set with numerous tasks to carry out under cover using various aliases and wondering who exactly is Mr. Smith- the person in charge! Plenty of twists, turns with an unexpected ending!

I really enjoyed this read & couldn't put it down until id finished it.
Spent a good couple of hours thoroughly engrossed whilst travelling.
I liked that not everyone was what they seemed & I couldn't predict everything in the story. Evie was a likeable character & I was rooting for her
I had a chuckle at the end at a character having the same name as my daughter, it made our day as we were on holiday together.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for my E-ARC in return for my honest review.

Way too Americanised for me, unfinished. Trying to make sense of the references pulled me out of the narrative too often. A DNF. Not for me, this one.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.