The First to Lie by Hank Phillippi Ryan
“Intricate, complex and devilishly clever, The First to Lie is like reading a burning stick of dynamite.”
— J.T. Ellison, NYT bestselling author
“A twisty, winding road of deception and secrets that starts with a bang and ends with an explosion.”
— Samantha Downing, author of My Lovely Wife
Confession: I’m a huge fan of Hank Phillippi Ryan and will automatically buy any book with her name on the cover. She’s whip smart, a master storyteller and the woman knows how to turn a phrase. Ryan’s books all have a sense of immediacy that I just love, a ripped-from-the-headlines intensity that keep the pages whipping by. So when I picked up The First to Lie (Forge Books), I have to admit I had pretty high expectations. Fast on the heels of the unputdownable The Murder List, it was hard to imagine Ryan could once again write a blockbuster. I needn’t have worried: The First to Lie did not disappoint.
Ryan thrusts her readers straight into the action by introducing us to Nora, an ambitious, confident, up-and-coming sales representative for a major pharmaceutical company. Pharminex specializes in women’s medicine, but its flagship drug is a bit of an accident — Monifan is used off-label for infertility and heralded as a miracle for women who long to get pregnant. However, readers will quickly realize that not everything is as it seems when Nora blurs professional and ethical lines by posing as a patient in medical waiting rooms, carefully trying to learn more about the people who take the drugs she peddles.
Enter Ellie, a passionate, young reporter determined to bring Pharminex to its knees. Convinced that Monifan has devastating side effects, Ellie will stop at nothing to expose the lies and corruption of Pharminex executives. But when Meg — Ellie’s new neighbor and over-eager assistant — steps onto the scene, discovering the truth becomes much more complicated than either woman anticipated.
As the story flips between Nora, Ellie and Meg in the present day, readers are also given a glimpse into the history of the Vanderwald family and the origin of Pharminex and their miracle drug. Of course, nothing is as simple or as straightforward as it seems, and even the best of intentions can ultimately lead to tragic ends.
The First to Lie is a breathless — and breathtaking — whodunit that twists on an increasingly complicated axis of lies and secrets. Trying to unravel the knot of complicity is a spellbinding puzzle that will keep readers on edge from the first page to the very last. Best of all, while Ryan weaves a fascinating plot, she also manages to infuse the entire novel with deep emotion. Readers will be touched by the stories of longing and loss, and find it impossible not to relate to women at their most vulnerable. Thankfully, Ryan’s characters are not mere victims, though. There is much to admire in this cast of fierce and fiery women who will stop at nothing to fight for justice.
Perfect for fans of smart, twisty thrillers, The First to Lie is another winner from the accomplished, masterful Ryan. I already can’t wait to buy her next book.
MORE FROM HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN
Thriller Fans Will Be Legally Fond of The Murder List
Say No More: An Investigation at a Boston College Turns Deadly
