This book was exactly what I needed: a fast-paced thrill-ride I could not put down! With its brisk pace and breezy but clever writing style, the novel never lost momentum. Ashley Elston did a brilliant job with the story's structure, smartly hiding secrets in plain sight until just the right moment, ensuring the tension and conflict kept ratcheting up.

I found myself not only rooting for the main character, who is genuinely smart and likeable, but also trying to guess how things would pan out. (I thought I had it, but I was wrong.) Evie is a true gem of a heroine: intelligent and compelling. I was cheering for her right from the outset. Her smart decisions and the complex layers of her personality kept me glued to the pages.

The narrative is as original and engaging as any top-tier thriller I've ever read. I'd compare it to "Gone Girl," another favorite of mine, as both books share sharp twists and clever writing. (However, Evie is much more likeable than either of the protagonists in "Gone Girl.")

While some moments required me to heavily suspend my disbelief—particularly the almost magical timing of some genius IT solutions—those didn’t detract from the story. Instead, they added an element of fun to the unfolding drama, reminding me to just enjoy the ride.

I was thoroughly impressed with my first book by Ashley Elston, and I can't wait to see what she does next in this genre. ( )

Too twisty. ( )

I can see why people would like this with the different twists and evie being so many different people for different jobs she was hired by Mr smith to do but i was kinda bored and struggled reading this book. Not my favorite but it was ok. ( )

Wow wow wow. SO GOOD.

First Lie Wins confirmed for me that this is my preferred genre—psychological thriller, not horror, not scary, not gory, just intensely suspenseful and unpredictable. I guessed maybe one thing correct in the whole book, and that was pretty late in the game. Lots of twists, several jaw-drop moments, all good writing and characters that are easy to visualize. The plot bounces around the timeline but is never confusing or hard to follow. So good. It’s only January but I can already say this will be one of my favorites this year. ( )

Ugh. Too much backstory and explanation. ( )