Summary
The First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston is a thriller driven by themes of identity, ambition, and survival. The story focuses on Evie Porter, a con artist navigating a complex web of deception and danger. As characters engage in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, the plot delivers unexpected twists that challenge perceptions of honesty and trust.
Plot
First Lie Wins follows Evie Porter, a con artist working under an alias. Her real name is Lucca Marino. Employed by a mysterious Mr. Smith, Evie infiltrates the life of Ryan Sumner, a businessman with hidden secrets. The true objectives of her assignments are gradually revealed.
Evie builds an elaborate facade to become part of Ryan's life, raising suspicions among those around him. Her mission takes a startling turn when an imposter claims to be Lucca Marino. During her investigation, Evie discovers illicit operations in Ryan’s family business, Glenview Trucking, facing ethical dilemmas.
Evie is arrested in connection with a previous target, Amy Holder. As events unfold, Mr. Smith sets Evie up, arranging her imposter's demise and implicating her in Holder's death. She begins to suspect Ryan of being Mr. Smith. More secrets and shocking truths are exposed before First Lie Wins reaches its climax.
Characters
Evie Porter/Lucca Marino: Evie Porter is the alias of Lucca Marino, a con artist involved in deceitful operations. Lucca navigates her various identities under the guidance of Mr. Smith, seeking truth in a world rife with deception.
Ryan Sumner: Ryan is a businessman targeted by Evie. Their professional interaction becomes personal as Evie’s feelings complicate her mission, testing her resolve.
Mr. Smith: Mr. Smith orchestrates Evie's assignments. Understanding his motives is crucial for Lucca's safety and goal achievement.
Devon: Devon, a former MIT student with tech skills, aids Lucca independently from Mr. Smith by providing strategic insights and support.
George/Christopher Smith: Initially an ally, George is later exposed as Mr. Smith, altering Lucca's mission and alliances.
Amy Holder: Once targeted by Mr. Smith, Amy becomes Lucca’s ally in efforts to dismantle his schemes, playing a pivotal role in the plot.
Imposter Lucca Marino: An imposter manipulates Lucca’s double life, creating risks that challenge Evie's ingenuity and resilience.
Themes
First Lie Wins focuses on identity and deception. The story centers on Evie Porter, who constantly adopts new personas to carry out her missions. Her true identity, Lucca Marino, is hidden under layers of deceit, suggesting identity's fluid nature. Her integration into Ryan Sumner's life relies on constructing a facade through lies, with reality and illusion becoming indistinct. Posing as Evie Porter, she easily blends into Ryan's world but faces the risk of exposure.
Evie illustrates moral complexity by thriving in deception while following a personal ethical code. As a con artist, she at times shows empathy, avoiding unnecessary harm to her targets. This behavior hints at her underlying character, which includes redeeming qualities.
The tension peaks when Evie meets someone impersonating her true identity. This increases the risk of her lies being uncovered and adds danger to her dual existence. As her relationship with Ryan grows, questions arise about Evie's genuine self and whether her deceptions define her identity.
Narrative techniques
Alternating timelines
In First Lie Wins, Ashley Elston uses various narrative techniques to build suspense and develop the story. One key technique is alternating timelines, switching between protagonist Evie’s current challenges and significant moments from her past. This approach provides insight into her life as a con artist and gradually reveals complex plot details.
Flashbacks
Flashbacks are used to detail Evie's backstory and the stakes she faces, particularly involving the character Mr. Smith. These flashbacks offer context for her motivations and the moral dilemmas she encounters. They add depth to her character and affect the narrative's progression.
Unreliable narrators
First Lie Wins relies on unreliable narrators to maintain tension. Evie's role as a con artist raises questions about the reliability of her perspective, involving readers in a continuous puzzle of trust and suspicion. This technique aligns with themes of deception and identity, drawing readers further into the intricate plot.
Incremental revelations
The use of incremental revelations keeps the storyline engaging. Through Evie's discoveries and the unfolding of Mr. Smith's schemes, the narrative presents numerous twists. For instance, Evie discovers her identity has been manipulated by Mr. Smith, which heightens tension and suspense.
Quick facts
Published in January 2024, First Lie Wins was selected as Reese's Book Club pick and became a #1 New York Times bestseller.
First Lie Wins marked Ashley Elston’s adult fiction debut; she previously wrote six YA novels.
First Lie Wins blends suspense, mystery, and romantic elements.
The novel’s protagonist, Evie Porter, is a con artist who leaves behind origami swan calling cards after completing jobs.
Evie Porter is an alias for Lucca Marino, who also appears in the novel as an imposter.
First Lie Wins features a complex cat-and-mouse game involving deception, betrayal, revenge, and moral ambiguity.
The story alternates between two timelines, using flashbacks to intensify the narrative and reveal character motivations.
Evie unexpectedly falls in love with Ryan Sumner, after deceiving him under orders from her enigmatic employer, Mr. Smith.
The audiobook version is narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, whose skilled performance immerses listeners in the novel’s mysterious and intriguing world.
First Lie Wins is being adapted into a feature film by ABC Signature for Hulu.
Film adaptation
The First Lie Wins is set to be adapted into a film by ABC Signature for Hulu. Krista Vernoff, the Grey's Anatomy showrunner, is teaming with Academy Award-winning actress Olivia Spencer to adapt the novel for screen, with author Ashley Elston serving as executive producer. Vernoff is also penning the script with Meghann Plunkett, another Grey’s Anatomy alum. As of July 2025, casting details and the production schedule remain undisclosed.
About the author
Ashley Elston is a bestselling author best known for her thrillers. After graduating from Louisiana State University with a liberal arts degree, she worked for several years as a wedding photographer. She launched her writing career in 2013 with the young adult thriller The Rules for Disappearing, quickly followed with a sequel, The Rules for Breaking. Four successful standalone YA novels followed. In 2024, Elston made her adult fiction debut with First Lie Wins, a pulse-pounding thriller focusing on identity and deception. First Lie Wins was selected for Reese’s Book Club, became a #1 New York Times bestseller, and has been optioned for a film adaptation for Hulu. She lives in Louisiana with her husband and three sons.
