August 4, 2020 – Gwendalyn’s Books

Happy pub day

to The First To Lie!
Thank you to @getredpr @forgereads and @hankpryan for this advanced copy!⁣

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝑻𝒐 𝑳𝒊𝒆⁣

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒊 𝑹𝒚𝒂𝒏⁣

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓⁣

𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞: 𝑨𝒖𝒈𝒖𝒔𝒕 4,2020

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―she isn’t the only one plotting revenge.

An affluent daughter of privilege. A glamorous manipulative wannabe. A determined reporter, in too deep. A grieving widow who has to 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?

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.

Hank Phillippi Ryan is at the top of her game. THE FIRST TO LIE is a masterfully twisty tale full of all my favorite things: interesting women, family secrets, and well-plotted revenge. Start reading early, because you will tear through the pages of this breathless, keep-you-up-all-night thriller.”—Jennifer Hillier, award-winning author of JAR OF HEARTS and LITTLE SECRETS

“The First to Lie is a twisty, winding road of deception and secrets that starts with a bang and ends with an explosion. Put this one on your list because Hank Phillippi Ryan is at the top of her game.”—Samantha Downing, USA Today bestselling author of My Lovely Wife and He Started It

”With flawless pacing and impeccable character development, Hank Phillippi Ryan delivers yet another powerful, relevant story of deceit, betrayal, and the extent to which someone will go to right the wrongs they have suffered. The First to Lie is 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

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

A complex riveting tale of betrayal, deceit, revenge.

A complex steam rolling betrayal of deceit, revenge and lies. This is one wild ride of a thrilling storyline. It involves a ruthless Big Pharma company of Pharminex, that uses unethical business practices. They are being investigated because of pushing a so called “miracle drug, Monifan. Its being used to treat infertility, with astonishing results. Not all have a positive out come

The First to Lie by Hank Phillippi Ryan had me second guessing everything.

A cat and mouse game of suspense and drama. This is one of those reads that is cleverly executed, and you need to pay attention. The narration flows seamlessly between the multiple POV’s, It was easy to follow even when the storyline shifts timeframes. The well developed fleshed out characters will keep you on your toes. Some are down right sketchy. The twist keep coming, and that is what makes this book a spectacular and one you definitely won’t forget. I was completely immersed in this book and seriously enjoyed reading it all the way up to the Shocking ending.

Ellie Berensen is a reporter trying to break a story about Pharminex, a drug company that pushes off-label use Monifan.

Pharminex does not disclose information about the dire consequences that this drug can cause. leaving a wake of heartbreak and destruction in its aftermath.

What Ellie doesn’t seem to understand, is that she is not the only one trying to bring this incriminating evidence to light

Hank Phillippi Ryan is the bestselling author of eleven award winning novels of suspense. National reviews have called her a “master at crafting suspenseful mysteries” and “a superb and gifted storyteller.”

Her upcoming domestic suspense thriller THE MURDER LIST is a Most Anticipated Book of Summer 2019 from Criminal Element. AJ Finn calls it “a fireworks display of a novel–explosive, exciting and likely to leave you gasping.” BA Paris says: “A cracker of a read!”

Her first psychological standalone, TRUST ME, is an *AGATHA AWARD* nominee. It was named a Best Book of 2018 from REAL SIMPLE Magazine, BookBub, PopSugar, Bustle, CrimeReads and The New York Post. Mary Kubica says: “Dazzling!” and Lisa Gardner says “Mesmerizing!” The Booklist STARRED review says “..it’s a knockout. First-rate psychological suspense.”

Her thriller SAY NO MORE is a Library Journal BEST OF 2016. And a nominee for the AGATHA AWARD, the DAPHNE award, and the MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD! Associated Press calls it “stellar” and Publishers Weekly calls it “thrilling” “unflinching” and “gratifying.”

Her 2015 book, WHAT YOU SEE, is a Library Journal BEST of 2015, an ANTHONY and AGATHA Award nominee, and a Top Pick!, dubbed “exceptional suspense.” It received a starred review from Library Journal which says: “Readers will find themselves racing to the finish!”

Her 2014 book, TRUTH BE TOLD, won the AGATHA Award for best mystery, and is a Library Journal Best of 2014. It received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal, which says, “Drop everything and binge read!”

THE WRONG GIRL won the Agatha Award and the Daphne Award, and is a seven-week Boston Globe bestseller and Anthony Award nominee.

THE OTHER WOMAN won the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award, and was listed as a Best Book of 2012 by the Kansas City Star, the Sacramento Bee, Suspense Magazine, and The Boston Globe, won the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award, and was the only novel nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, Macavity, Shamus and Daphne awards for Best Novel of 2012.

Her first four mysteries, beginning with the Agatha Award-winning PRIME TIME, feature Charlotte McNally, a Boston television reporter. FACE TIME was a BookSense Notable Book, and AIR TIME and DRIVE TIME were both Anthony and Agatha Award nominees for best novel of 2009 and 2010. They are now available in all new editions.

Hank is also an award-winning investigative reporter at Boston’s WHDH-TV. In addition to 36 EMMYs and 14 Edward R. Murrow awards, Hank’s won dozens of other honors for her ground-breaking journalism.

Her work has resulted in new laws, people sent to prison, homes removed from foreclosure, and millions of dollars in refunds and restitution for victims and consumers. She’s been a radio reporter, a legislative aide in the United States Senate and an editorial assistant at Rolling Stone Magazine, working with Hunter S. Thompson, Richard Avedon and Richard Goodwin.

Hank is a founding teacher at Mystery Writers of America University and served as 2013 president of national Sisters in Crime. She blogs at Jungle Red Writers and Career Authors.

Learn more about Hank at www.HankPhillippiRyan.com

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HankPhillippiRyanAuthor/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/hankpryan

Twitter: @HankPRyan