A review by amy_alwaysreading
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

5.0

Many thanks to my friends @prhaudio for the #gifted free audiobook.  

 

Wildly entertaining and impossible to put down.  This book was SO MUCH FUN.  (Yes, the hype is real!)  

 

I tend to have high expectations for con artist/cat and mouse thrillers.  Frank in Catch Me If You Can was my first and favorite.  Boy did he set the bar high.  

 

But this one… I couldn’t devour it fast enough! 

 

The storyline was expertly plotted, clever, and fast paced.  The main character was full of complexity… whip smart, brave, bold, devious, resourceful, charming.  I couldn’t help but like her and root for her.  The twists were surprising in a way that made sense to the plot and left me even more addicted.  

 

I had the best time unraveling this mystery.  I had theories.  LOTS of them. That’s one of the highest compliments I can pay a mystery/thriller.  I love when the wheels in my brain are spinning… plotting… reevaluating… And while I did figure out most of the closely held secrets, the journey to get there was a BLAST.  

 

And that ending.  Chef’s kiss.  Dare I hope that we might see more from Evie Porter?!

 

🎧 The audiobook is the way to go!  Saskia Maarleveld is one of my favorite narrators in any genre, and once again her narration really shined.  Not only did her portrayal bring to life the various shades of Evie, it also accentuated the tension and suspense throughout. I could not stop listening to this one.  

 

➡️ Worth noting:  This was a @reesebookclub for January