Books Like First Lie Wins (Con Artist Thrillers)
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First Lie Wins is Ashley Elston’s adult thriller debut novel. It is a NY Times Best Seller and happened to be Reese’s Book Club’s January 2024 pick.
First Lie Wins has been a popular book club pick. It is a fast-paced thriller featuring a con artist working what seems to be her last job. The book is full of twists and turns, but it does not have gore. It is a cat-and-mouse chase as Evie tries to figure out how to escape her mess.
Evie Porter is a stolen identity. She has worked various jobs under different identities for the past eight years. Told in alternating vignettes of timelines, we learn about the different jobs Evie has worked on as we try to uncover who is behind the tasks. Even though we know that Evie is a con artist, we are rooting for her to escape this mess.
In this blog post, we feature a list of 5 edge-of-your-seat thrillers about con artists. These books are perfect to read after First Lie Wins.
About First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
Evie Porter has everything a nice, Southern girl could want: a perfect, doting boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence and a garden, and 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…
Why Should You Read First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston?
First Lie Wins is a page-turning psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the end. This book features a con artist trying to get out of a job whose mysterious boss traps her in lies. In this cat-and-mouse game, we root for Evie to succeed, but as readers, we can’t imagine how.
Books Like First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
Cover Story by Susan Rigetti
Aspiring writer Lora Ricci lands an internship at ELLE magazine, where she befriends the enigmatic Cat Wolff, a contributing editor with a wealthy background. Cat proposes Lora drop out of NYU to become her ghostwriter, offering a life of luxury in exchange. Lora is soon living at the Plaza Hotel and enjoying a glamorous lifestyle, but as she becomes more entangled in Cat’s world, she uncovers a darker side filled with deceit. Told through various documents, Cover Story delves into the complexities of scam culture and power dynamics.
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Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen
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Money can’t buy happiness… but it can buy a decent fake.
Ava Wong, a rule-abiding lawyer with a seemingly perfect life, reconnects with her enigmatic college roommate, Winnie Fang, who has transformed into a confident, luxury-laden businesswoman. Winnie reveals her success stems from a counterfeit scheme, importing nearly identical replicas of luxury handbags. Winnie recruits Ava to manage the business and needs a partner with a clean image. As their operation flourishes, things turn dark when Winnie suddenly disappears, leaving Ava to deal with the fallout. Counterfeit explores themes of ambition, identity, and the model minority myth through a sharp and stylish lens.
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Stone Cold Fox by Rachel Koller Croft
Bea, a master manipulator trained by her con-artist mother, has one goal: to marry into wealth and secure a life of luxury. Her target is Collin Case, a wealthy and predictable man from an old-money family. As Bea maneuvers through high society to gain acceptance, she faces a formidable opponent in Collin’s best friend, Gale Wallace-Leicester. What starts as a strategic game turns dangerous as Bea uncovers unsettling truths. Now, she must confront her own identity and decide if she’s destined to follow in her mother’s footsteps.
The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins
This book is available on Kindle Unlimited. Don’t have KU? Check your Best KU Subscription Offer.
Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, North Carolina’s wealthiest and most infamous woman, dies, leaving behind a legacy of mystery and scandal. Her adopted son, Camden, rejects his inheritance to lead a quiet life with his wife, Jules. However, they are drawn back to Ashby House, the family’s estate, ten years later. As they settle into the eerie mansion, long-buried secrets about Ruby’s kidnapping, her four husbands’ mysterious deaths, and Cam’s adoption come to light. Jules and Cam soon discover that Ruby’s legacy is more sinister and far-reaching than they imagined.
You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard
Summer and Leo, best friends and con artists, live a nomadic life in California, funding their freedom through theft and scams. Eager for a big score, Leo targets Michael Forrester, a billionaire, and charms her way to his private island, planning to return with valuables and stories. But when Leo vanishes, Summer is left to infiltrate the island alone, searching for answers. Facing a web of secrets and isolation, Summer must uncover the truth about Leo’s disappearance and confront the possibility that they’ve tangled with someone more dangerous than they anticipated.
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Did you enjoy First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston?
Want more book recommendations?
Check out our books like list for Courtefeit by Kristen Chen and Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering.