The First to Lie

by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Overview

USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

Bestselling and award-winning author and investigative reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan delivers another twisty, thrilling, cat and mouse novel of suspense that will have you guessing, and second-guessing, and then gasping with surprise.

We all have our reasons for being who we are--but what if being someone else could get you what you want?

After a devastating betrayal, a young woman sets off on an obsessive path to justice, no matter what dark family secrets are revealed. What she doesn't know is that she isn't the only one plotting her revenge.

An affluent daughter of privilege. A glamorous manipulative wannabe. A determined reporter, in too deep. A grieving widow who must choose her new reality. Who will be the first to lie? And when the stakes are life and death, do a few lies really matter?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250258816
Publisher:	Tor Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/05/2021
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	406,247
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN has won five Agatha Awards in addition to Anthony, Macavity, Daphne du Maurier, and Mary Higgins Clark Awards. As on-air investigative reporter for Boston's WHDH-TV, she's won thirty-seven Emmy Awards and many more journalism honors. Ryan is a past president of Sisters in Crime and founder of Mystery Writers of America University. Her novels include Trust Me, The Murder List, the Charlotte McNally series (starting with Prime Time), and the Jane Ryland series (which begins with The Other Woman).
She lives in Boston.

Editorial Reviews

"A twisty road of deception that starts with a bang and ends with an explosion."--Samantha Downing, USA Today bestselling

"A taut, propulsive plot with twists that will take your breath away."--Sarah Pekkanen

"Intricate, complex, and devilishly clever... like reading a burning stick of dynamite." --J. T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author

"Jaw-dropping...The First to Lie will shock even the savviest of suspense readers." --Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author

"You will tear through the pages of this breathless, keep-you-up-all-night thriller." --Jennifer Hillier, award-winning author

"Stellar... Ryan could win a sixth Agatha with this one." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A magnificent, intricately plotted thriller that will have you questioning everyone's motives until the stunning ending." --Samantha M. Bailey, bestselling author of Woman on the Edge

"Filled with sharp insights, The First to Lie is a house of mirrors, taking us on a thrilling ride of dizzying twists and shocking revelations." --Angie Kim, national bestselling author of Miracle Creek

"A must-read for thriller lovers--the compelling and twist-filled plot fearlessly delves into the intersections of revenge and family secrets." --Vanessa Lillie, bestselling author of Little Voices

"Expert pacing, richly drawn characters, and seamless storytelling are just some of the ingredients that make this novel impossible to put down. Fabulous!" --Hannah Mary McKinnon, internationally bestselling author of Sister Dear

From the Publisher

★ 06/01/2020

In this stellar standalone from five-time Agatha Award winner Ryan (The Murder List), broadcast journalist Elle Berensen relishes her first assignment for Boston’s startup Channel 11—proving that a much touted drug made by the pharmaceutical company Pharminex can make women barren. Elle wants to ferret out the information with facts and ethical journalism, but Meg Weest, her new, overly enthusiastic assistant, is consumed by the story. Lacking scruples, Meg will go to any lengths, including lying, cheating, and violence, to usurp Elle and humiliate the family who own Pharminex. Elle has to wonder whether security agents for Pharminex have uncovered her investigation after her home is broken into and she’s followed a couple of times. Meanwhile, confident Nora Quinn, the drug firm’s newest pharmaceutical sales representative, who visits doctors’ offices and chats with patients in waiting rooms, has her own agenda. The breathlessly energetic plot touches on corporate intrigue, journalism ethics, revenge, and the corrosive nature of lies. Ryan could win a sixth Agatha with this one. Agent: Lisa Gallagher, DeFiore & Co. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

What do you do when those you should be able to trust betray you? Where is the line between vengeance and justice? What if you could become someone else to get revenge? Narrator Cassandra Campbell voices a wide range of characters exploring these questions including three protagonists: Ellie Berensen, Meg Weest, and Gabe Hoyt. Each is lying about who they are, and the ways the truth comes to light have a surprising impact on those around them. Campbell’s struggles to differentiate the characters make it difficult at times to follow along. Given that there are so many twists and turns in the plot and that the storyline switches between time periods and characters, the lack of differentiation is problematic for listeners. K.S.M. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

DECEMBER 2020 - AudioFile