A Game of Lies: Breaking Down First Lie Wins

How many secrets can one woman keep before her world unravels?

I’m back! How is everyone doing? I hope you’re all having a great middle of the week. Anyway, last weekend, I decided to read some mysteries on my TBR and this one from Ashley Elston is soooo good. If you love con artists, unreliable narrators, and books that make you question EVERYTHING, buckle up. First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston is here to mess with your head in the best way possible.

Stay tuned, grab your favorite mug, and let’s do this! 🐺☕🔥

Synopsis: Evie Porter has everything a nice, Southern girl could want: a perfect, doting boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence and a garden, a fancy group of friends. The only catch: Evie Porter doesn’t exist.
The identity comes first: Evie Porter. Once she’s given a name and location by her mysterious boss Mr. Smith, she learns everything there is to know about the town and the people in it. Then the mark: Ryan Sumner. The last piece of the puzzle is the job.
Evie isn’t privy to Mr. Smith’s real identity, but she knows this job will be different. Ryan has gotten under her skin, and she’s starting to envision a different sort of life for herself. But Evie can’t make any mistakes—especially after what happened last time.
Because the one thing she’s worked her entire life to keep clean, the one identity she could always go back to—her real identity—just walked right into this town. Evie Porter must stay one step ahead of her past while making sure there’s still a future in front of her. The stakes couldn't be higher—but then, Evie has always liked a challenge…

☕ Spoiler Warning: Minor spoilers ahead, but I promise to keep the major plot twists on lockdown. You’re safe… for now.

Alright, pack, let’s talk about a book that had me side-eyeing every single character and triple-checking my own reality. First Lie Wins is a twisty psychological thriller that throws us into a world of deception, secrets, and an identity so tangled even our protagonist isn’t sure who she really is. The question is: does this book deliver the mind-blowing experience it promises? Let’s get it on…

🃏 Plot & Suspense: 4.5/5

Meet Evie Porter, or at least, that’s who she’s pretending to be. In reality, she’s a master of deception, living under an assumed identity and working for the elusive Mr. Smith, who assigns her to get close to a man named Ryan Sumner. Her job? Make him trust her. Simple, right?

Wrong. Because Evie is tired of running, of lying, of constantly being someone else. But when a woman who looks exactly like her turns up dead, things spiral fast. Who’s watching Evie? Who’s pulling the strings? And, most importantly, how many lies does it take before the truth disappears completely?

This book is like peeling an onion, layer after layer of twists, turns, and misdirection. Just when you think you’ve figured something out, BAM! Another revelation smacks you in the face. The suspense? Top-tier. The paranoia? Real. I was hooked from page one.

🕵️‍♀️ Character Development: 4.5/5

Evie is one of those protagonists who keeps you on your toes. She’s smart, calculating, and constantly adapting, but underneath all the manipulation, you can feel her exhaustion. She wants out. She wants to stop running. And that inner conflict makes her incredibly compelling.

Ryan Sumner? He’s charming and seemingly genuine… but in a book like this, trust is a dangerous thing. Let’s just say I had my suspicions. The side characters, from Evie’s past and present, all add to the eerie sense that nothing is as it seems. Everyone has secrets, and that just fuels the tension.

💔 Romance: 3.5/5

There’s definitely a slow-burning romance subplot, but it’s more of a dangerous game than a swoon-worthy love story. Can Evie really fall for someone when she’s lying about who she is? Can Ryan be trusted? Every moment between them is layered with uncertainty, which makes for some delicious tension, but don’t expect this to be a love story with a neat little bow on top.

⚡ Pacing: 5/5

Short chapters. Sharp dialogue. Constant tension. This book moves. The writing is sleek and efficient, with no unnecessary fluff, just straight-up intrigue. This is the kind of book that makes me stay up way past my bedtime muttering, just one more chapter, and I am sure you’d be murmuring those words, too.

🏆 Final Thoughts

Did First Lie Wins break new ground in the psychological thriller genre? Not necessarily. But did I have an absolute blast reading it? Oh, 1000%. It’s gripping, fast-paced, and packed with twists that had me gasping out loud. If you love stories about deception, danger, and protagonists who might be one step away from losing control, this book is a must-read.

☕ Would I Recommend It? Absolutely. If Gone Girl, The Last Mrs. Parrish, and The Girl on the Train had a chaotic, anxiety-inducing love child, it would be First Lie Wins, but with even more identity games. And if you do read it? Be warned: you’ll be questioning everyone for days after.

🔥 Overall Rating: 4.5/5 ☕☕☕☕

Now tell me, those of you who have read this book, did it keep you guessing? Did you suspect everything like I did? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and let’s talk about it!

Until our next book to review!

Claire Wolff 🐺