Book Review: First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

Even when I didn’t have a weak point for tales of con artists overcoming all adversity to seek out their very own, often idiosyncratic, fortunately ever afters, I’d nonetheless be blown away by this good, terrific story of the proper Southern lady utilizing her wits to beat all.

Evie Porter is a Southern lady, however that’s about the one factor about her that’s factual. Because the comparatively new girlfriend of Ryan Sumner, who’s form of an enormous deal in his small Louisiana city of Lake Forbing, she’s able to face the scrutiny of his tight circle of childhood associates, regardless of how intrusive their questioning:

There’s an previous saying: The primary lie wins. It’s not referring to the little white variety that tumble out with little to no thought; it refers back to the massive one. The one which adjustments the sport. The one that’s deliberate. The lie that units the stage for every thing that comes after it. And as soon as the lie is advised, it’s what most individuals imagine to be true. The primary lie needs to be the strongest. A very powerful. [“]I went to Bama for a few years however didn’t graduate. My dad and mom and I have been in a nasty accident a couple of years in the past. I used to be the one survivor.[“]

Their expressions change immediately. This could finish the questions, as a result of they’ll appear to be assholes in the event that they hold prying.

However Evie isn’t the social climber or gold digger that Ryan’s associates worry. She’s really an achieved con artist, assigned to embed herself into Ryan’s life by the mysterious mastermind referred to as Mr. Smith, who’s employed her since she was a teen determined to pay her dying mom’s medical payments. To date, she’s accomplished a fantastic job of her project, even when she’s not completely certain why she’s right here. Her experience lies within the theft of essentially the most carefully guarded of property, however she has but to be advised what precisely she’s been despatched right here to steal.

Sadly for her, it appears to be like like she is likely to be on the receiving finish of one other form of theft, as good-looking, charming Ryan worms his method underneath her pores and skin and begins the method of stealing her coronary heart:

Ryan leans in for a kiss and I don’t resist him. It’s sluggish and candy, the form of kiss that makes you need extra.

 

And wanting extra is harmful.

 

I give myself thirty seconds to stay on the earth the place that is actual. The place my boyfriend is declaring his affection for me in entrance of all these individuals and there’s nothing to cease this relationship from persevering with indefinitely. The place there isn’t any query about who I actually am or what my motives are.

 

However too quickly, time is up.

The extra Evie discovers about Ryan, the tougher she finds herself falling for him. That is harmful, she is aware of, even when she wasn’t already concerned in a number of layers of duplicity involving violent characters working to opposing ends. However when her doppelganger immediately reveals up in Lake Forbing and homicide enters the scene, Evie should shortly get her priorities so as if she is to have any probability of getting out of this complete state of affairs alive.

I beloved this contemporary tackle con artistry, as Evie fights tooth and nail to flee the noose slowly tightening round her. Evie is extraordinarily sympathetic even within the worst of circumstances, as she walks a deadly tightrope between morality and survival. The obstacles Ashley Elston slings her method are actually breathtaking, making readers consistently second-guess every thing we’d assumed to be true because the plot swerves deftly between previous and current. It’s so arduous to speak about this e-book with out worry of giving freely any of the fixed however tremendously satisfying plot twists. What I can safely say is that Ms. Elston’s grownup debut has been my first favourite e-book of 2024 and that I can’t wait to learn extra of her work!

Study Extra Or Order A Copy