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The Best Lies
Bestselling and award-winning author David Ellis delivers a fast-paced, twisty thriller that will surprise readers at every turn.
Leo Balanoff is a diagnosed pathological liar with unthinkable skeletons in his family's closet. He's also a crusading attorney who seeks justice at all costs. When a ruthless drug dealer is found dead and Leo’s fingerprints show up on the murder weapon, no one believes a word he says. But he might be the FBI’s only shot at taking down the dealer’s brutal syndicate.
Risk his life going undercover for the feds or head straight to prison for murder? Leo accepts the FBI’s offer—but it comes with a price, including a collision course with his ex, Andi Piotrowski, a former cop and “the one who got away.” Forced to walk a tightrope between an ambitious FBI agent and a cruel, calculating crime boss, Leo’s trapped in a corner. But he has more secrets than anyone realizes, and a few more cards left to play …
Leo Balanoff is a diagnosed pathological liar with unthinkable skeletons in his family's closet. He's also a crusading attorney who seeks justice at all costs. When a ruthless drug dealer is found dead and Leo’s fingerprints show up on the murder weapon, no one believes a word he says. But he might be the FBI’s only shot at taking down the dealer’s brutal syndicate.
Risk his life going undercover for the feds or head straight to prison for murder? Leo accepts the FBI’s offer—but it comes with a price, including a collision course with his ex, Andi Piotrowski, a former cop and “the one who got away.” Forced to walk a tightrope between an ambitious FBI agent and a cruel, calculating crime boss, Leo’s trapped in a corner. But he has more secrets than anyone realizes, and a few more cards left to play …
373 pages, Hardcover
First published July 23, 2024
901 people are currently reading
36130 people want to read
About the author
David Ellis
84 books2,294 followersDavid Ellis is a lawyer and the Edgar Allan Poe Award winner for Best First Novel for Line of Vision. Ellis attended Northwestern Law School and began his legal career in private practice in Chicago in 1993. He served as the House Prosecutor who tried and convicted Illinois Governor Blagojevich in the Impeachment Trial before the Illinois Senate. He was elected to the Illinois Appellate Court in 2014 and took office December 1, 2014. Ellis currently lives outside Chicago with his wife and three children.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,220 reviews
July 23, 2024
“Look Closer” was my 2022 THRILLER of the year and my first time reading this author.
So, to say that “The Best Lies” was one of most anticipated books for 2024 might be an understatement. But, what I did not realize was that “Look Closer” may have been atypical for the author stylistically.
When Cyrus Balik, a ruthless drug dealer and human trafficker is found dead and Leo’s fingerprints are found on the murder weapon, Leo Balanoff has a decision to make-risk his life going undercover for the Feds or head straight to prison for murder?
Leo accepts the FBI’s offer—but who should he fear more? The ambitious FBI agent, Chris Roberti who is his handler, or Cyrus’s cruel, calculating crime boss, Nico Katsaros?
And, how does his ex, Andi Piotrowski, a former cop and “the one who got away” tie into this case?
The story alternates between the POV’s of Leo, Chris and Andi, in the present day, with flashbacks to fill in the backstories.
So, I may end up being an OUTLIER for this book, but I just DO NOT personally enjoy books about mobsters and sting operations.
And 416 pages of this was way too lengthy for me.
The story seems to take a LONG time to set up, and there are a lot of minor characters to keep track of.
Honestly, I was bored and still didn’t feel invested at the 60% mark. There ARE some surprises in the last 40% but they weren’t exciting enough to raise this past a three star (average) rating for me.
As always, read a sample of reviews to see if this is a better fit for you. If you enjoy stories about gangsters and assassins, you may love this!?
AVAILABLE NOW
Thank You to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the gifted ARC. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
So, to say that “The Best Lies” was one of most anticipated books for 2024 might be an understatement. But, what I did not realize was that “Look Closer” may have been atypical for the author stylistically.
When Cyrus Balik, a ruthless drug dealer and human trafficker is found dead and Leo’s fingerprints are found on the murder weapon, Leo Balanoff has a decision to make-risk his life going undercover for the Feds or head straight to prison for murder?
Leo accepts the FBI’s offer—but who should he fear more? The ambitious FBI agent, Chris Roberti who is his handler, or Cyrus’s cruel, calculating crime boss, Nico Katsaros?
And, how does his ex, Andi Piotrowski, a former cop and “the one who got away” tie into this case?
The story alternates between the POV’s of Leo, Chris and Andi, in the present day, with flashbacks to fill in the backstories.
So, I may end up being an OUTLIER for this book, but I just DO NOT personally enjoy books about mobsters and sting operations.
And 416 pages of this was way too lengthy for me.
The story seems to take a LONG time to set up, and there are a lot of minor characters to keep track of.
Honestly, I was bored and still didn’t feel invested at the 60% mark. There ARE some surprises in the last 40% but they weren’t exciting enough to raise this past a three star (average) rating for me.
As always, read a sample of reviews to see if this is a better fit for you. If you enjoy stories about gangsters and assassins, you may love this!?
AVAILABLE NOW
Thank You to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the gifted ARC. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
April 4, 2024
It’s fitting that this book will be released just days before the Summer Olympics begin, because it has more twists and flips than an elite gymnast! The story is not without flaws, but I give it a perfect 10 on that skill.
I’m not even going to attempt any real run-down of the plot, because frankly there are too many characters and it’s too intricate a plot to even begin to explain it, and honestly you’ll be so much better served going into this as blind as possible, but I’ll give you a little nibble at least.
Do you like stories about spies, undercover agents, corporate espionage, national security, the Black Market and how someone with questionable ethics and a strong sense of loyalty behaves when push comes to shove?
Meet Leo Balanoff, an altruistic but ethically-challenged Chicago lawyer who is determined to right the wrongs he sees regardless of the personal cost. One price he’s already paid is a broken engagement to his ex, Andi (Andrea) Piotrowski, a former cop and current head of security for a medical laboratory working on a top-secret, highly lucrative breakthrough for the treatment of lung cancer. With a potential windfall at stake for the owner of this patent, foreign entities are determined to get their hands on it first. Just who’s trying to protect it and who’s trying to steal it? That’s where things get complicated!
Let’s just say it’s a big, messy stew of FBI agents, local cops, gangsters, American and Chinese operatives and people like Leo who get pulled into one of the most convoluted, twisty plots I’ve read in quite some time! I still have a bit of reader’s whiplash.
A number of my friends haven’t been too thrilled with it, and I can understand their points of view. For anyone who read Ellis’ previous book Look Closer, this is a VERY different story. It’s kind of like when many loved Alex Finlay’s first couple books and then he switched gears and wrote What Have We Done. I loved that book, but for many friends they didn’t like how different it was in nature to his first two. Where I think this one matches Ellis’ first book is in how well he plays a twist and how deliciously complicated his characters are. As with his previous book, you just can’t trust anything you see and I love that!
This story played like a movie in my mind, and I could see it working well on the big screen for those who enjoy mystery-thrillers with suspense and political intrigue. I didn’t love it as much as his previous book, but it truly grew on me as I went along and watching all the threads of the story cleverly come together in the end absolutely made it worth my time!
★★★★
Thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons, NetGalley and author David Ellis for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s due to be published July 23, 2024
I’m not even going to attempt any real run-down of the plot, because frankly there are too many characters and it’s too intricate a plot to even begin to explain it, and honestly you’ll be so much better served going into this as blind as possible, but I’ll give you a little nibble at least.
Do you like stories about spies, undercover agents, corporate espionage, national security, the Black Market and how someone with questionable ethics and a strong sense of loyalty behaves when push comes to shove?
Meet Leo Balanoff, an altruistic but ethically-challenged Chicago lawyer who is determined to right the wrongs he sees regardless of the personal cost. One price he’s already paid is a broken engagement to his ex, Andi (Andrea) Piotrowski, a former cop and current head of security for a medical laboratory working on a top-secret, highly lucrative breakthrough for the treatment of lung cancer. With a potential windfall at stake for the owner of this patent, foreign entities are determined to get their hands on it first. Just who’s trying to protect it and who’s trying to steal it? That’s where things get complicated!
Let’s just say it’s a big, messy stew of FBI agents, local cops, gangsters, American and Chinese operatives and people like Leo who get pulled into one of the most convoluted, twisty plots I’ve read in quite some time! I still have a bit of reader’s whiplash.
A number of my friends haven’t been too thrilled with it, and I can understand their points of view. For anyone who read Ellis’ previous book Look Closer, this is a VERY different story. It’s kind of like when many loved Alex Finlay’s first couple books and then he switched gears and wrote What Have We Done. I loved that book, but for many friends they didn’t like how different it was in nature to his first two. Where I think this one matches Ellis’ first book is in how well he plays a twist and how deliciously complicated his characters are. As with his previous book, you just can’t trust anything you see and I love that!
This story played like a movie in my mind, and I could see it working well on the big screen for those who enjoy mystery-thrillers with suspense and political intrigue. I didn’t love it as much as his previous book, but it truly grew on me as I went along and watching all the threads of the story cleverly come together in the end absolutely made it worth my time!
★★★★
Thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons, NetGalley and author David Ellis for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s due to be published July 23, 2024
March 26, 2024
Wow, five times over! My mind feels like it's been blown away after finishing the last chapter of the book. I'm still trying to gather my thoughts, with only a few gray cells left standing, to write a review. This extra twisty thriller completely rocked my world.
However, I'm not sure anything I write could do justice to my pure admiration. I've definitely become a dedicated fan of the author. I thoroughly enjoyed his previous thriller, but I never imagined he could write something even better. In this book, he had me gasping, shocked, and uncomfortable several times with twists hidden inside other smart twists that you never see coming.
He takes you on an action-packed, heart-throbbing ride into the crime world, spanning different timelines and unreliable narrations. It all starts with his complex hero, Leo Balanoff: a man who can be described as an enigma. His life story is a combination of lies, leading to his suspension from his job as a lawyer for being considered a pathological liar. From the first chapter, you suspect he might be a murderer and a conman, yet you find yourself rooting for him despite his many negative qualities.
As you delve deeper, you uncover his painful childhood and his connections to the dangerous criminal, Cyrus Balik. Alongside him is his love of his life, ex-cop turned corporate security member, Andi Piptriwski, the one who got away. Leo finds himself surrounded by people who are better liars and more dangerous than himself. Can he save himself from his seemingly inevitable demise?
Just read on to discover who the better liar is and who's the best ringmaster in this dangerous game. Be prepared for sucker punches and hold your jaw tight because some chapters will leave you gasping with twists you never saw coming.
A quick plot recap: Leo Balanoff, an attorney who recently returned to his job after a five-year suspension, finds himself the prime suspect in the case of ruthless human trafficker, rapist, and drug lord Cyrus Balik. His fingerprints are found on the murder weapon, and his DNA is found on the victim. Leo's past assault on a police officer, which ended with only a warning, put his DNA in the system, making it easier for officers to convict him.
FBI agent Chris Roberti, a cancer survivor, sees this case as an opportunity to catch the bigger fish: Nico Katsaros, the invisible boss behind Cyrus Balik. Leo becomes the key pawn in a plan to steal a formula that could cure cancer from Quigley Crowe International, a private medical technology company, and sell it to the Chinese Government. This is the same company where Andi, Leo's former love, now works. Leo doesn't want to go to jail, and he also needs to protect the son of a deceased client, who is being hunted by dangerous individuals. Can Leo trust FBI agent Chris, who may have his own secret agenda, or Andi, who may have her own secrets? But most importantly, can he even trust himself, a man considered a pathological liar whose life story is a web of ugly lies? Let the games begin, and may the smartest one emerge victorious!
Overall, I can't express how much I enjoyed this book! It's by far my favorite psychological thriller of the year, and I highly recommend reading it as soon as possible. Don't just add it to your TBR list, dive right in!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing me with this amazing book's digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
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However, I'm not sure anything I write could do justice to my pure admiration. I've definitely become a dedicated fan of the author. I thoroughly enjoyed his previous thriller, but I never imagined he could write something even better. In this book, he had me gasping, shocked, and uncomfortable several times with twists hidden inside other smart twists that you never see coming.
He takes you on an action-packed, heart-throbbing ride into the crime world, spanning different timelines and unreliable narrations. It all starts with his complex hero, Leo Balanoff: a man who can be described as an enigma. His life story is a combination of lies, leading to his suspension from his job as a lawyer for being considered a pathological liar. From the first chapter, you suspect he might be a murderer and a conman, yet you find yourself rooting for him despite his many negative qualities.
As you delve deeper, you uncover his painful childhood and his connections to the dangerous criminal, Cyrus Balik. Alongside him is his love of his life, ex-cop turned corporate security member, Andi Piptriwski, the one who got away. Leo finds himself surrounded by people who are better liars and more dangerous than himself. Can he save himself from his seemingly inevitable demise?
Just read on to discover who the better liar is and who's the best ringmaster in this dangerous game. Be prepared for sucker punches and hold your jaw tight because some chapters will leave you gasping with twists you never saw coming.
A quick plot recap: Leo Balanoff, an attorney who recently returned to his job after a five-year suspension, finds himself the prime suspect in the case of ruthless human trafficker, rapist, and drug lord Cyrus Balik. His fingerprints are found on the murder weapon, and his DNA is found on the victim. Leo's past assault on a police officer, which ended with only a warning, put his DNA in the system, making it easier for officers to convict him.
FBI agent Chris Roberti, a cancer survivor, sees this case as an opportunity to catch the bigger fish: Nico Katsaros, the invisible boss behind Cyrus Balik. Leo becomes the key pawn in a plan to steal a formula that could cure cancer from Quigley Crowe International, a private medical technology company, and sell it to the Chinese Government. This is the same company where Andi, Leo's former love, now works. Leo doesn't want to go to jail, and he also needs to protect the son of a deceased client, who is being hunted by dangerous individuals. Can Leo trust FBI agent Chris, who may have his own secret agenda, or Andi, who may have her own secrets? But most importantly, can he even trust himself, a man considered a pathological liar whose life story is a web of ugly lies? Let the games begin, and may the smartest one emerge victorious!
Overall, I can't express how much I enjoyed this book! It's by far my favorite psychological thriller of the year, and I highly recommend reading it as soon as possible. Don't just add it to your TBR list, dive right in!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing me with this amazing book's digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
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June 17, 2024
Like so many friends here, I LOVED this author's novel, Look Closer, from 2023! 😱
This one was a bit of a struggle for me. It took awhile to really "get into" and there were many characters (police related) to keep up with! Everyone seemed to have some connection that would be revealed at the end.
Leo's POV was my favorite and he was quite the character! The last chapters really picked up the pace and I was happy with how the end played out. There were plenty of flashbacks, reveals, unreliable narrators and some very unsavory characters (drug cartels, etc,) Leo is dealing with the FBI and not feeling comfortable with what they are asking him to do (who trusts them anymore)??
I enjoyed (didn't love), I think those who enjoy crime fiction and don't mind a slower build-up, might love it.
3.5 STARS
Thanks to NG for my ARC. This one is OUT July 23, 2024
This one was a bit of a struggle for me. It took awhile to really "get into" and there were many characters (police related) to keep up with! Everyone seemed to have some connection that would be revealed at the end.
Leo's POV was my favorite and he was quite the character! The last chapters really picked up the pace and I was happy with how the end played out. There were plenty of flashbacks, reveals, unreliable narrators and some very unsavory characters (drug cartels, etc,) Leo is dealing with the FBI and not feeling comfortable with what they are asking him to do (who trusts them anymore)??
I enjoyed (didn't love), I think those who enjoy crime fiction and don't mind a slower build-up, might love it.
3.5 STARS
Thanks to NG for my ARC. This one is OUT July 23, 2024
August 5, 2024
Shortest review ever bc work is beating my ass and I have no time to stay on top of reviews anymore: Ghost written by whoever ghost writes Harlan cobens books 😂 fun, twisty, popcorn thriller with mid writing. Nowhere close to as good as look closer. Stay away if you hate mafias and the like.
August 23, 2024
Oh, how l wanted to love this, since look closer really hit the spot. Unfortunately, this didn’t. I listened to the audiobooks, and it was very hard to keep up with all the characters and how it jumped in time so often. I constantly had to think back and that isn’t easy while listening. Maybe I would have liked it more in book form, but the audiobook version got too complicated. I still enjoyed the main characters, which were sarcastic and smart, and I did feel quite excited about the ending, so it had its good moments for sure!
March 23, 2024
There were a lot of lies in this book, but were they The Best Lies???? This book is packed full of secrets, lies, revelations, and twists.
Leo Balanoff, an attorney, is a pathological liar who is determined to see justice at any cost. When a notorious criminal drug dealer is found dead with Leo's fingerprints on the murder weapon, will he be believed, or will he be the FBI's best chance at bringing down a drug syndicate? Accepting the offer brings him back into the orbit of his ex, Andi Piotrowski, a former police officer.
David Ellis threw in everything but the kitchen sink into this book. I think perhaps he threw in a little too much. I enjoyed the first half of the book but found the second half of the book to be a little much.
This book is told through the POV's of three characters. There are also flashes to the past where readers get to know the characters in their early years. This helps to provide their current motivations and relationships.
The Best Lies did have a nice amount of twists, turns, and reveals. This book also has a fair amount of action, but it wasn't enough to fully win me over. I enjoyed Look Closer and went into this book with high hopes. I would put this book in the liked but didn't love category. I do look forward to reading more of David Ellis's books in the future.
3.5 stars
**This was a buddy read with Mary Beth and Dorie. Please read their wonderful reviews as well to get their impressions of The Best Lies.
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Leo Balanoff, an attorney, is a pathological liar who is determined to see justice at any cost. When a notorious criminal drug dealer is found dead with Leo's fingerprints on the murder weapon, will he be believed, or will he be the FBI's best chance at bringing down a drug syndicate? Accepting the offer brings him back into the orbit of his ex, Andi Piotrowski, a former police officer.
David Ellis threw in everything but the kitchen sink into this book. I think perhaps he threw in a little too much. I enjoyed the first half of the book but found the second half of the book to be a little much.
This book is told through the POV's of three characters. There are also flashes to the past where readers get to know the characters in their early years. This helps to provide their current motivations and relationships.
The Best Lies did have a nice amount of twists, turns, and reveals. This book also has a fair amount of action, but it wasn't enough to fully win me over. I enjoyed Look Closer and went into this book with high hopes. I would put this book in the liked but didn't love category. I do look forward to reading more of David Ellis's books in the future.
3.5 stars
**This was a buddy read with Mary Beth and Dorie. Please read their wonderful reviews as well to get their impressions of The Best Lies.
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
June 18, 2025
What do you get when you combine a criminal organization, lawyers, a liar, federal agents, and local police officers?
The Best Lies
by David Ellis combines all of these and brings a fresh take on the subject. Leo Balanoff is an attorney with skeletons in his closet and a noted liar. When a gangster is found dead and Leo’s fingerprints are on the murder weapon, no one believes he is innocent. However, he might be the FBI’s only tool to take down the gangster’s boss. Add in his ex-girlfriend, Andi Piotrowski, a former cop and the only girlfriend he ever loved, an ambitious FBI agent, and a lethal crime boss and you have a story primed for suspense and action.
The characters were compelling and had depth with believable motivations. However, the story moves back and forth in time and changes points of view frequently. While this gives readers information on the various characters’ motivations and their relationships, it adversely affected the pacing for me. Additionally, Leo’s talent for numbers felt unnecessary and distracting without adding to the plot. Despite this, the story is full of twists, fascinating characters, and a few surprises. The last third or so of the book starts putting to pieces together and leads to an exciting conclusion.
Overall, this is a solid read with good characterization, originality, and plenty of twists and surprises. The story delivers on the promise of its premise with a fresh perspective.
PENGUIN GROUP Putnam – G.P. Putnam’s Sons and David Ellis provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The original publication date was July 23, 2024.
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My 3.05 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
The characters were compelling and had depth with believable motivations. However, the story moves back and forth in time and changes points of view frequently. While this gives readers information on the various characters’ motivations and their relationships, it adversely affected the pacing for me. Additionally, Leo’s talent for numbers felt unnecessary and distracting without adding to the plot. Despite this, the story is full of twists, fascinating characters, and a few surprises. The last third or so of the book starts putting to pieces together and leads to an exciting conclusion.
Overall, this is a solid read with good characterization, originality, and plenty of twists and surprises. The story delivers on the promise of its premise with a fresh perspective.
PENGUIN GROUP Putnam – G.P. Putnam’s Sons and David Ellis provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The original publication date was July 23, 2024.
------------------------------------------
My 3.05 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
August 11, 2024
4⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Setting ~ Illinois
Publication date ~ July 23, 2024
Est Page Count ~379 (95 chapters)
Audio length ~ 13 hours
Narrators ~ Vas Eli, Emana Rachelle, Lee Osorio, Natasha Soudek, Philip Hernandez
POV ~ single 1st, present tense & multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ multiple timelines, short chapters/page breaks, murder, gangsters, espionage, mentions of human trafficking and cancer
Leo is an attorney accused of murder. He might have a way to stay out of prison if he helps the FBI. I mostly enjoyed his character. He was a bit much with his love of prime numbers, but he provided enough humor that I could overlook that. One thing is for sure, he will protect his brother, Trace, at all costs.
Chris is a FBI agent and a cancer survivor.
Andi is a former cop, now a deputy director of security. She's also Leo's ex-girlfriend.
We hear from Marilyn, Leo's mom, a few times.
There is a lot going on and you can try to pay attention, but there are twists after twists after twists. Luckily they were doled out nicely and not wam wam wam smacking me in the face all at once, which I liked. The multiple timelines are easy to follow along with. It’s a bit repetitive and on the longer side, but I appreciated the short chapters and page breaks to keep the pace steady. I'd recommend it if you like an action packed thriller with some espionage and a character that strives for justice.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference. Seems like it would be good with a full cast of narrators.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Setting ~ Illinois
Publication date ~ July 23, 2024
Est Page Count ~379 (95 chapters)
Audio length ~ 13 hours
Narrators ~ Vas Eli, Emana Rachelle, Lee Osorio, Natasha Soudek, Philip Hernandez
POV ~ single 1st, present tense & multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ multiple timelines, short chapters/page breaks, murder, gangsters, espionage, mentions of human trafficking and cancer
Leo is an attorney accused of murder. He might have a way to stay out of prison if he helps the FBI. I mostly enjoyed his character. He was a bit much with his love of prime numbers, but he provided enough humor that I could overlook that. One thing is for sure, he will protect his brother, Trace, at all costs.
Chris is a FBI agent and a cancer survivor.
Andi is a former cop, now a deputy director of security. She's also Leo's ex-girlfriend.
We hear from Marilyn, Leo's mom, a few times.
There is a lot going on and you can try to pay attention, but there are twists after twists after twists. Luckily they were doled out nicely and not wam wam wam smacking me in the face all at once, which I liked. The multiple timelines are easy to follow along with. It’s a bit repetitive and on the longer side, but I appreciated the short chapters and page breaks to keep the pace steady. I'd recommend it if you like an action packed thriller with some espionage and a character that strives for justice.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference. Seems like it would be good with a full cast of narrators.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
August 12, 2024
Please don’t read the synopsis for this book. Although not one that presents any spoilers per se, the head games were so much better going in completely blind. That said, though, if you must check it out before diving into this phenomenal novel, you’ll find the publisher provided blurb at the end of my review…
OHHHEMMMGEEE! I knew going into The Best Lies that it was going to be good. I mean, David Ellis wrote it, after all. But I had no clue that it was going to be so mind-blowingly stellar. From the twisty, twisty plot to the dynamite characters, there wasn’t a piece to this puzzle that didn’t make me want to shout from the rafters. The plot itself was a finely tuned masterpiece that easily took my breath away as I flew through the pages. In short, the whole thing was downright perfection.
How exactly was the storyline so utterly dazzling? Complex yet not confusing in the slightest, the multiple POVs and decade-jumping flashbacks meant for a deep look beneath the surface of this skillfully orchestrated premise. But the surprises were easily the star of the show. With twists hidden within twists, the deliciously shrewd plot was wholly beyond my armchair sleuthing. More than once I was caught by my family shouting “Wait, WHAT?!” as the rug was pulled right out from under me in the best possible way.
While the plot was hardly character-driven, the slew of personas still had me in the palm of their hands. With a whole host of individuals skilled at the deft act of deception, pathological liar Leo had quite the job staying one step ahead. But it was the rest of the cast that rounded out this slam dunk success. From the supposed good guys to the out-and-out villains, no one was who they seemed to be at the outset. In short, they ALL got a serious side-eye from me. Even Leo himself.
Done and dusted, I am still completely awe. With more going on behind the scenes than I could’ve ever imagined, the plot was beyond action-packed and propulsive. Smart and suspenseful, it was Ellis at his best thanks to his trademark immersive storytelling and positively wicked twists. Sure to be one of the most binge-worthy, buzzed about thrillers of the year, it should most definitely be your next must read novel. So go ahead. Pre-order it now. You won’t regret. I promise. Rating of 5+ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Leo Balanoff is a diagnosed pathological liar with unthinkable skeletons in his family's closet. He's also a crusading attorney who seeks justice at all costs. When a ruthless drug dealer is found dead and Leo’s fingerprints show up on the murder weapon, no one believes a word he says. But he might be the FBI’s only shot at taking down the dealer’s brutal syndicate.
Risk his life going undercover for the feds or head straight to prison for murder? Leo accepts the FBI’s offer—but it comes with a price, including a collision course with his ex, Andi Piotrowski, a former cop and “the one who got away.” Forced to walk a tightrope between an ambitious FBI agent and a cruel, calculating crime boss, Leo’s trapped in a corner. But he has more secrets than anyone realizes, and a few more cards left to play
Thank you to David Ellis and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 23, 2024
Trigger warning: human trafficking, espionage, mention of: carbon monoxide poisoning
OHHHEMMMGEEE! I knew going into The Best Lies that it was going to be good. I mean, David Ellis wrote it, after all. But I had no clue that it was going to be so mind-blowingly stellar. From the twisty, twisty plot to the dynamite characters, there wasn’t a piece to this puzzle that didn’t make me want to shout from the rafters. The plot itself was a finely tuned masterpiece that easily took my breath away as I flew through the pages. In short, the whole thing was downright perfection.
How exactly was the storyline so utterly dazzling? Complex yet not confusing in the slightest, the multiple POVs and decade-jumping flashbacks meant for a deep look beneath the surface of this skillfully orchestrated premise. But the surprises were easily the star of the show. With twists hidden within twists, the deliciously shrewd plot was wholly beyond my armchair sleuthing. More than once I was caught by my family shouting “Wait, WHAT?!” as the rug was pulled right out from under me in the best possible way.
While the plot was hardly character-driven, the slew of personas still had me in the palm of their hands. With a whole host of individuals skilled at the deft act of deception, pathological liar Leo had quite the job staying one step ahead. But it was the rest of the cast that rounded out this slam dunk success. From the supposed good guys to the out-and-out villains, no one was who they seemed to be at the outset. In short, they ALL got a serious side-eye from me. Even Leo himself.
Done and dusted, I am still completely awe. With more going on behind the scenes than I could’ve ever imagined, the plot was beyond action-packed and propulsive. Smart and suspenseful, it was Ellis at his best thanks to his trademark immersive storytelling and positively wicked twists. Sure to be one of the most binge-worthy, buzzed about thrillers of the year, it should most definitely be your next must read novel. So go ahead. Pre-order it now. You won’t regret. I promise. Rating of 5+ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Leo Balanoff is a diagnosed pathological liar with unthinkable skeletons in his family's closet. He's also a crusading attorney who seeks justice at all costs. When a ruthless drug dealer is found dead and Leo’s fingerprints show up on the murder weapon, no one believes a word he says. But he might be the FBI’s only shot at taking down the dealer’s brutal syndicate.
Risk his life going undercover for the feds or head straight to prison for murder? Leo accepts the FBI’s offer—but it comes with a price, including a collision course with his ex, Andi Piotrowski, a former cop and “the one who got away.” Forced to walk a tightrope between an ambitious FBI agent and a cruel, calculating crime boss, Leo’s trapped in a corner. But he has more secrets than anyone realizes, and a few more cards left to play
Thank you to David Ellis and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 23, 2024
Trigger warning: human trafficking, espionage, mention of: carbon monoxide poisoning
Want to read
July 27, 2024 I loved David Ellis's book - Look Closer so I'm super excited to jump into this one. Also looking forward to going back and reading the novels he co-authored with James Patterson. Quickly becoming a favorite...🤩
╰⪼ Multiple POV
╰⪼ Short chapters
╰⪼ Crime Thriller
╰⪼ Undercover/Espionage
╰⪼ Multi-Timeline
╰⪼ Police Procedurals
╰⪼ Cork-Screw Turns
╰⪼ Multiple POV
╰⪼ Short chapters
╰⪼ Crime Thriller
╰⪼ Undercover/Espionage
╰⪼ Multi-Timeline
╰⪼ Police Procedurals
╰⪼ Cork-Screw Turns
August 3, 2024
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin - Putnam, and David Ellis for an ARC of this book!**
"Beware the clever man that makes the wrong look right." - Lawrence Hill
Meet Leo Balanoff: he's the type of defense attorney that, well, needs his OWN defense attorney. After a hard knock life of sorts and plenty of secrets in his past, he has TRIED to live life on the up and up... but nobody said it would be easy. When his prints are found on the murder weapon that took out notorious drug dealer and criminal mastermind Cyrus Balik, however, of COURSE all eyes are cast in his direction....but did Leo actually have the guts, the motive, and the chutzpah to take out Cyrus? Or was there a more dynamic, convoluted, and intricate scheme in play? Will his skills as a professional liar of sorts get him out of trouble...or drag him even deeper into the mire?
Andi Piotrowski is not only a cop tied up in this particular case, but she boasts a more personal connection: she is Leo's ex, and not only that, but his former soulmate and the proverbial one that got away. After a chance meeting in a bar led to a long courtship, the pair got engaged, but have gone their separate ways...until now, anyway. When Leo's intel and ability to talk his way in (or out) of any situation as an invaluable asset to the FBI, they make a deal with him: go undercover and blow up the whole scheme in exchange for protection and Leo is quick to accept the proposal. But what he DOESN'T know is that the pinnacle of this take-down will put him squarely in Andi's path once again. As the sting operation goes from inception to fulfillment, will this climactic showdown expose Leo for every wrong he's committed. Or is there yet ANOTHER wolf in sheep's clothing, waiting for the opportunity to take a little piece of the pie for his - or her- self?
It's hard to imagine a world where I WOULDN'T have raced to request an early copy of this book after being nothing short of FLOORED by Ellis' Look Closer and I waited ANXIOUSLY for this release. As a psychological thriller lover at my very core (the more twists the better...unless it's Sager, of course! 😉) I was enthralled by Ellis' quirky, morally ambiguous characters and racing, exciting plots. His previous book had me CONSTANTLY questioning: who was right and who was wrong? What end justifies the means when it comes to 'bad' behavior? And most importantly...WHEN was the next twist coming because after a while, I just knew each progressive plot turn was going to up the ante...and needless to say, it did NOT disappoint!
But when it comes to this one, I suddenly realized that while Look Closer may have been a one-off, rip-roaring ride into my favorite thriller territory...Ellis' NORMAL lane seems to be in the crossroads of the Police Procedural, Sting Operation, Mob, and Action Thriller streets...and let's just say, that's an area I don't visit too often.
To start, it seemed like these two books could be SOMEWHAT similar, with the questionable morals, clever thinking, and bizarre habits (Leo has a fascination with prime numbers and math as sort of a coping mechanism throughout the book) and he seemed like the sort of unreliable and intriguing narrator that kept me wanting more. But the minute he started delving into specifics about the crime lords, the mob, drugs etc., I could see this was going in an ENTIRELY different direction....and it had me longing for the 'simple' Simon of Look Closer.
At its core, I think one of the struggles for me here was that there was so much PLOT going on and so many intricate details about the crime syndicate's plans that some of the impact that Ellis' past characters had on me got lost along the way. I was so busy trying to keep up with who was telling the truth, the timeline (which was confusing, to say the least) and the next steps of the plan at any given moment that the story just didn't have enough time to breathe...because trust me, I FELT that ticking clock. 🕔
Except it felt more like a ticking clock at the front of the room during a loooong exam; the kind of exam that essentially stumped me.
There ARE twists here, sure; but none that had so great an impact as any from his previous book. A few made me smile and were clever, but none compelled me to start racing through the pages. One of the main reasons for this was just the length of the book itself, and there's really no way around it: it's just LONG. The great irony is that looking back, Look Closer was JUST as long...but while I finished that in short order, while I had no problem setting this one down for a while and coming back to it at my leisure. I'm not sure if it's just how I feel about these sort of books, but while I was invested enough to care how the "big operation" played out....I don't think I cared nearly as much as I SHOULD have for the depth and breadth of the story.
One area that WAS somewhat of a highlight for me was, ironically, the love story (of sorts) between Leo and Andi. The scenes of their meet cute and the tortured state of their current interactions was far more exciting to me than any plans involving the development of secret drugs or how best to hoodwink the bad guys. Perhaps this was my way of yet again yearning for the Simon and Vicky days in Look Closer and the uh, 'messy' relationship there...but I think Ellis' ability to write a sort of tortured love story with 'will they won't they' undertones shouldn't be ignored. As a judge and a lawyer in his own life, Ellis also makes these scenes sing: there's one in particular that sort of sets the scene for Leo's character early on that was particularly memorable and DYNAMICALLY clever that also pays off toward the end of the book, so there are bright spots to be found amidst the heavy darkness of the sting op and all that surrounds it...you just have to LOOK for them.
And although I am personally longing for Ellis to take a sharp turn back into the of the mile-a-minute, so many twists you'll get whiplash, Psychological Thriller Fast Lane...this one unfortunately felt like it put the 'pit' back in pit stop. 🏁
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
"Beware the clever man that makes the wrong look right." - Lawrence Hill
Meet Leo Balanoff: he's the type of defense attorney that, well, needs his OWN defense attorney. After a hard knock life of sorts and plenty of secrets in his past, he has TRIED to live life on the up and up... but nobody said it would be easy. When his prints are found on the murder weapon that took out notorious drug dealer and criminal mastermind Cyrus Balik, however, of COURSE all eyes are cast in his direction....but did Leo actually have the guts, the motive, and the chutzpah to take out Cyrus? Or was there a more dynamic, convoluted, and intricate scheme in play? Will his skills as a professional liar of sorts get him out of trouble...or drag him even deeper into the mire?
Andi Piotrowski is not only a cop tied up in this particular case, but she boasts a more personal connection: she is Leo's ex, and not only that, but his former soulmate and the proverbial one that got away. After a chance meeting in a bar led to a long courtship, the pair got engaged, but have gone their separate ways...until now, anyway. When Leo's intel and ability to talk his way in (or out) of any situation as an invaluable asset to the FBI, they make a deal with him: go undercover and blow up the whole scheme in exchange for protection and Leo is quick to accept the proposal. But what he DOESN'T know is that the pinnacle of this take-down will put him squarely in Andi's path once again. As the sting operation goes from inception to fulfillment, will this climactic showdown expose Leo for every wrong he's committed. Or is there yet ANOTHER wolf in sheep's clothing, waiting for the opportunity to take a little piece of the pie for his - or her- self?
It's hard to imagine a world where I WOULDN'T have raced to request an early copy of this book after being nothing short of FLOORED by Ellis' Look Closer and I waited ANXIOUSLY for this release. As a psychological thriller lover at my very core (the more twists the better...unless it's Sager, of course! 😉) I was enthralled by Ellis' quirky, morally ambiguous characters and racing, exciting plots. His previous book had me CONSTANTLY questioning: who was right and who was wrong? What end justifies the means when it comes to 'bad' behavior? And most importantly...WHEN was the next twist coming because after a while, I just knew each progressive plot turn was going to up the ante...and needless to say, it did NOT disappoint!
But when it comes to this one, I suddenly realized that while Look Closer may have been a one-off, rip-roaring ride into my favorite thriller territory...Ellis' NORMAL lane seems to be in the crossroads of the Police Procedural, Sting Operation, Mob, and Action Thriller streets...and let's just say, that's an area I don't visit too often.
To start, it seemed like these two books could be SOMEWHAT similar, with the questionable morals, clever thinking, and bizarre habits (Leo has a fascination with prime numbers and math as sort of a coping mechanism throughout the book) and he seemed like the sort of unreliable and intriguing narrator that kept me wanting more. But the minute he started delving into specifics about the crime lords, the mob, drugs etc., I could see this was going in an ENTIRELY different direction....and it had me longing for the 'simple' Simon of Look Closer.
At its core, I think one of the struggles for me here was that there was so much PLOT going on and so many intricate details about the crime syndicate's plans that some of the impact that Ellis' past characters had on me got lost along the way. I was so busy trying to keep up with who was telling the truth, the timeline (which was confusing, to say the least) and the next steps of the plan at any given moment that the story just didn't have enough time to breathe...because trust me, I FELT that ticking clock. 🕔
Except it felt more like a ticking clock at the front of the room during a loooong exam; the kind of exam that essentially stumped me.
There ARE twists here, sure; but none that had so great an impact as any from his previous book. A few made me smile and were clever, but none compelled me to start racing through the pages. One of the main reasons for this was just the length of the book itself, and there's really no way around it: it's just LONG. The great irony is that looking back, Look Closer was JUST as long...but while I finished that in short order, while I had no problem setting this one down for a while and coming back to it at my leisure. I'm not sure if it's just how I feel about these sort of books, but while I was invested enough to care how the "big operation" played out....I don't think I cared nearly as much as I SHOULD have for the depth and breadth of the story.
One area that WAS somewhat of a highlight for me was, ironically, the love story (of sorts) between Leo and Andi. The scenes of their meet cute and the tortured state of their current interactions was far more exciting to me than any plans involving the development of secret drugs or how best to hoodwink the bad guys. Perhaps this was my way of yet again yearning for the Simon and Vicky days in Look Closer and the uh, 'messy' relationship there...but I think Ellis' ability to write a sort of tortured love story with 'will they won't they' undertones shouldn't be ignored. As a judge and a lawyer in his own life, Ellis also makes these scenes sing: there's one in particular that sort of sets the scene for Leo's character early on that was particularly memorable and DYNAMICALLY clever that also pays off toward the end of the book, so there are bright spots to be found amidst the heavy darkness of the sting op and all that surrounds it...you just have to LOOK for them.
And although I am personally longing for Ellis to take a sharp turn back into the of the mile-a-minute, so many twists you'll get whiplash, Psychological Thriller Fast Lane...this one unfortunately felt like it put the 'pit' back in pit stop. 🏁
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
July 8, 2025
Me after the twists in this book:
This gave off James Bond and Mission Impossible vibes. It had espionage, twists, completely and unreliable narrators to the point of not trusting a single one. It was so different than his other novel "Look Closer" which is absolutely incredible, but that isn't a bad thing.
This was very entertaining, funny, dark at times but super witty with a cute tiny romantic subplot. Great audiobook too!
pre-read:
I need to scrub my memory of my previous read😵💫 The MC is a diagnosed pathological liar and I LOVE unreliable narrators!
This gave off James Bond and Mission Impossible vibes. It had espionage, twists, completely and unreliable narrators to the point of not trusting a single one. It was so different than his other novel "Look Closer" which is absolutely incredible, but that isn't a bad thing.
This was very entertaining, funny, dark at times but super witty with a cute tiny romantic subplot. Great audiobook too!
pre-read:
I need to scrub my memory of my previous read😵💫 The MC is a diagnosed pathological liar and I LOVE unreliable narrators!
August 6, 2024
*4.5 stars rounded up
David Ellis took the book community by storm with his 22’ release Look Closer. I loved Look Closer so I immediately had to check out the author's backlist (which I highly recommend). When I heard he was releasing a new book this summer, I just knew that I would love it too!
From the beginning, I was immediately hooked and I couldn't stop listening until I finished. Going into this one I had high expectations and i’m happy to report that The Best Lies did not disappoint! I love a good crime thriller and The Best Lies has all of the best elements of the genre including,
✓fast paced & action packed
✓multiple shocking twists
✓unique/original plot
✓multifaceted characters
✓FBI vs underground crime world
✓likable and morally grey antihero
David Ellis is such a brilliant author and his books deserve all the hype and attention they have been receiving! I am convinced that The Best Lies will make David Ellis a household name and he will be known as one of the greatest thriller authors of our time.
I listened to the audiobook of The Best Lies which was read by a full cast including Vas Eli, Emana Rachelle, Lee Osorio, Natasha Soudek, and Philip Hernandez. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format!
The Best Lies by David Ellis was published on July 23 so it is available now in all formats! Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted copy!!
David Ellis took the book community by storm with his 22’ release Look Closer. I loved Look Closer so I immediately had to check out the author's backlist (which I highly recommend). When I heard he was releasing a new book this summer, I just knew that I would love it too!
From the beginning, I was immediately hooked and I couldn't stop listening until I finished. Going into this one I had high expectations and i’m happy to report that The Best Lies did not disappoint! I love a good crime thriller and The Best Lies has all of the best elements of the genre including,
✓fast paced & action packed
✓multiple shocking twists
✓unique/original plot
✓multifaceted characters
✓FBI vs underground crime world
✓likable and morally grey antihero
David Ellis is such a brilliant author and his books deserve all the hype and attention they have been receiving! I am convinced that The Best Lies will make David Ellis a household name and he will be known as one of the greatest thriller authors of our time.
I listened to the audiobook of The Best Lies which was read by a full cast including Vas Eli, Emana Rachelle, Lee Osorio, Natasha Soudek, and Philip Hernandez. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format!
The Best Lies by David Ellis was published on July 23 so it is available now in all formats! Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted copy!!
August 30, 2024
4,5/5
Autor ma niemały dorobek literacki. Powieść "Przyjrzyj się" została stworzona po kilkuletniej przerwie i szybko stała się literackim hitem, zbierającym ogrom pozytywnych ocen oraz zyskującym czytelników, dla których było to pierwsze spotkanie z dziełami pisarza. Ja również byłam oczarowana tą książką. Pewnie przez tę przerwę najnowszy thriller autora bardzo często jest porównywany do "Przyjrzyj się". Osobiście postanowiłam nie konfrontować poprzedniej książki do "W sieci kłamstw".
Powieść zaczyna się od końca. W Walentynki 2024 Leo Balanoff dzwoni do wspólnika z kancelarii, Montgomery’ego Morrisa z informacją, że zaraz zostanie aresztowany. Nie potrafi sprecyzować, jakie zarzuty zostaną mu postawione. To ma zależeć od tego, jakie służby po niego idą. Zatrzymania nie dokonuje FBI, a policjanci z komisariatu w Deemer Park. Leo jest aresztowany za zabójstwo Cyrusa Balika, handlarza ludźmi, narkotyków, przemytnika broni i odpowiedzialnego za nieznaną ilość morderstw.
W kolejnych rozdziałach następują przeskoki czasowe, ukazujące wydarzenia z dalszej, nawet 30-letniej, lub bliższej, kilkutygodniowej przeszłości, które miały wpływ na teraźniejszość. Rok wcześniej Leo odzyskał prawo do wykonywania zawodu adwokata. Zajął się sprawą Bonnie Tressler, która dwadzieścia lat wcześniej uciekła od Cyrusa Balika. W wieku 14 lat Bonnie była uwięziona, narkotyzowana i gwałcona przez Cyrusa. Ma syna, którego chce odnaleźć i ochronić przed jego biologicznym ojcem. Leo uczestniczy w przesłuchaniu swojej klientki przez sierżant Mary Cagnola z policji w Deemer Park i agenta FBI Christophera Robertiego, prywatnie brata Mary.
Inna perspektywa ukazuje pracę byłej funkcjonariuszki, a obecnie szefowej ochrony w korporacji Andi Piotrowski. Kobieta ma za zadanie nie dopuścić do wykradzenia formuły na przełomowy lek na raka, nazwanego Projektem Nano.
W różnych ramach czasowych historia jest opowiadana przez kilka postaci. Andi i Chris są trzecioosobowymi narratorami. Bogata przeszłość obojga i dynamiczne wydarzenia z teraźniejszości sprawiają, że od historii ciężko się oderwać. Chris po leczeniu choroby nowotworowej ma mało satysfakcjonującą pracę w wydziale przestępczości zorganizowanej. Za wszelką cenę stara się wrócić do życia sprzed choroby. Andi... No cóż... Przede wszystkim jest pół-Polką, co już wydaje mi się wystarczającym argumentem, żeby ją lubić. To inteligentna, przebiegła kobieta z bogatym wnętrzem i piękna na zewnątrz. Typowa Polka ;) ...choć czarnoskóra.
Perspektywa Leo jest przedstawiona pierwszoosobowo, co daje ciekawy kontrast dla historii Andi i Chrisa. Jego pokręcona psychika sprawia, że opowiadana przez niego historia jest intrygująca, tajemnicza i mroczna. Mężczyznę oraz jego brata Trace prześladują demony z dzieciństwa. Leo jest zdiagnozowany jako patologiczny kłamca i ma natręctwo na temat liczb pierwszych:
"– Bliźniacza liczba pierwsza – wymamrotał pod nosem, chichocząc.
– To po prostu dwie liczby pierwsze, które dzieli od siebie liczba dwa, jak pięćdziesiąt dziewięć i sześćdziesiąt jeden. Są wyjątkowe. Oprócz trójki i piątki, ponieważ te są zbyt małe, ale poza nimi suma każdej liczby pierwszej bliźniaczej jest podzielna przez dwanaście."
Początkowe zarysy wątków z czasem coraz ciaśniej się łączą, tworząc sieć powiązań. Fabuła toczy się w teraźniejszości, a przeszłość daje czytelnikowi wskazówki. Każdy kolejny wątek jest wplatany w świetnie już zbudowaną intrygę.
To, co mnie najbardziej urzekło w tej powieści to poziom zagmatwania. Początkowo wydawało się, że historia jest oczywista, czytelnik zna domniemanego sprawcę morderstwa, a reszta to tylko formalność, wyjaśnienie autora jak doszło do zbrodni. Z każdą kolejną stroną, nowym faktem historia stawała się coraz mniej oczywista. Zaczyna dominować temat szpiegostwa gospodarczego, kradzieży własności intelektualnej. Bohaterowie rozgrywają się wzajemnie, tworząc misternie tkaną sieć kłamstw. Tytuł powieści adekwatny do treści.
Na podkreślenie zasługuje rewelacyjne tłumaczenie, które sprawiło, że czytanie było przyjemnością. Wspominam o tym, ponieważ jeden z bohaterów bawi się językiem. W tym thrillerze Chris opowiada "suchary" dla odstresowania. Brawo, Pani Marto. To prawdziwy wyczyn stworzyć polski odpowiednik angielskojęzycznej żonglerki słownej.
"Chris pomyślał przez chwilę.
– Jak się nazywa kwiat, który zabił żonę? Żonkil.
Leo spróbował się uśmiechnąć.
– Jaki jest magik, kiedy traci pracę? Rozczarowany."
Autor ma niemały dorobek literacki. Powieść "Przyjrzyj się" została stworzona po kilkuletniej przerwie i szybko stała się literackim hitem, zbierającym ogrom pozytywnych ocen oraz zyskującym czytelników, dla których było to pierwsze spotkanie z dziełami pisarza. Ja również byłam oczarowana tą książką. Pewnie przez tę przerwę najnowszy thriller autora bardzo często jest porównywany do "Przyjrzyj się". Osobiście postanowiłam nie konfrontować poprzedniej książki do "W sieci kłamstw".
Powieść zaczyna się od końca. W Walentynki 2024 Leo Balanoff dzwoni do wspólnika z kancelarii, Montgomery’ego Morrisa z informacją, że zaraz zostanie aresztowany. Nie potrafi sprecyzować, jakie zarzuty zostaną mu postawione. To ma zależeć od tego, jakie służby po niego idą. Zatrzymania nie dokonuje FBI, a policjanci z komisariatu w Deemer Park. Leo jest aresztowany za zabójstwo Cyrusa Balika, handlarza ludźmi, narkotyków, przemytnika broni i odpowiedzialnego za nieznaną ilość morderstw.
W kolejnych rozdziałach następują przeskoki czasowe, ukazujące wydarzenia z dalszej, nawet 30-letniej, lub bliższej, kilkutygodniowej przeszłości, które miały wpływ na teraźniejszość. Rok wcześniej Leo odzyskał prawo do wykonywania zawodu adwokata. Zajął się sprawą Bonnie Tressler, która dwadzieścia lat wcześniej uciekła od Cyrusa Balika. W wieku 14 lat Bonnie była uwięziona, narkotyzowana i gwałcona przez Cyrusa. Ma syna, którego chce odnaleźć i ochronić przed jego biologicznym ojcem. Leo uczestniczy w przesłuchaniu swojej klientki przez sierżant Mary Cagnola z policji w Deemer Park i agenta FBI Christophera Robertiego, prywatnie brata Mary.
Inna perspektywa ukazuje pracę byłej funkcjonariuszki, a obecnie szefowej ochrony w korporacji Andi Piotrowski. Kobieta ma za zadanie nie dopuścić do wykradzenia formuły na przełomowy lek na raka, nazwanego Projektem Nano.
W różnych ramach czasowych historia jest opowiadana przez kilka postaci. Andi i Chris są trzecioosobowymi narratorami. Bogata przeszłość obojga i dynamiczne wydarzenia z teraźniejszości sprawiają, że od historii ciężko się oderwać. Chris po leczeniu choroby nowotworowej ma mało satysfakcjonującą pracę w wydziale przestępczości zorganizowanej. Za wszelką cenę stara się wrócić do życia sprzed choroby. Andi... No cóż... Przede wszystkim jest pół-Polką, co już wydaje mi się wystarczającym argumentem, żeby ją lubić. To inteligentna, przebiegła kobieta z bogatym wnętrzem i piękna na zewnątrz. Typowa Polka ;) ...choć czarnoskóra.
Perspektywa Leo jest przedstawiona pierwszoosobowo, co daje ciekawy kontrast dla historii Andi i Chrisa. Jego pokręcona psychika sprawia, że opowiadana przez niego historia jest intrygująca, tajemnicza i mroczna. Mężczyznę oraz jego brata Trace prześladują demony z dzieciństwa. Leo jest zdiagnozowany jako patologiczny kłamca i ma natręctwo na temat liczb pierwszych:
"– Bliźniacza liczba pierwsza – wymamrotał pod nosem, chichocząc.
– To po prostu dwie liczby pierwsze, które dzieli od siebie liczba dwa, jak pięćdziesiąt dziewięć i sześćdziesiąt jeden. Są wyjątkowe. Oprócz trójki i piątki, ponieważ te są zbyt małe, ale poza nimi suma każdej liczby pierwszej bliźniaczej jest podzielna przez dwanaście."
Początkowe zarysy wątków z czasem coraz ciaśniej się łączą, tworząc sieć powiązań. Fabuła toczy się w teraźniejszości, a przeszłość daje czytelnikowi wskazówki. Każdy kolejny wątek jest wplatany w świetnie już zbudowaną intrygę.
To, co mnie najbardziej urzekło w tej powieści to poziom zagmatwania. Początkowo wydawało się, że historia jest oczywista, czytelnik zna domniemanego sprawcę morderstwa, a reszta to tylko formalność, wyjaśnienie autora jak doszło do zbrodni. Z każdą kolejną stroną, nowym faktem historia stawała się coraz mniej oczywista. Zaczyna dominować temat szpiegostwa gospodarczego, kradzieży własności intelektualnej. Bohaterowie rozgrywają się wzajemnie, tworząc misternie tkaną sieć kłamstw. Tytuł powieści adekwatny do treści.
Na podkreślenie zasługuje rewelacyjne tłumaczenie, które sprawiło, że czytanie było przyjemnością. Wspominam o tym, ponieważ jeden z bohaterów bawi się językiem. W tym thrillerze Chris opowiada "suchary" dla odstresowania. Brawo, Pani Marto. To prawdziwy wyczyn stworzyć polski odpowiednik angielskojęzycznej żonglerki słownej.
"Chris pomyślał przez chwilę.
– Jak się nazywa kwiat, który zabił żonę? Żonkil.
Leo spróbował się uśmiechnąć.
– Jaki jest magik, kiedy traci pracę? Rozczarowany."
April 12, 2025
4.5⭐️ Leo Balanoff is a pathological liar and a justice-seeking attorney caught in the middle of a crime syndicate. As the FBI's only real shot at bringing down this treacherous group, Leo must decide if he would rather risk his life to help them or go to prison for murder. Soon Leo's new role brings him back into the orbit of his ex, former cop Andi Piotrowski, who might just know more than she is letting on.
David Ellis’s ability to write morally grey characters you cannot help but *vehemently* root for, and twists like no one else, means I will forever and always devour anything he writes. This book starts off with a bang, but soon, we are lead through a story, set in both the past and present, that will have us questioning everyone.
While this was perhaps a bit more of a slow burn than his previous book, Look Closer, I enjoyed it nonetheless. Leo is one of the most interesting characters I have read of late. His complex family dynamics and background, as well as the dichotomy of his desire to do good in the world and but as a pathological liar, kept me turning the pages. And the subplot of his relationship with Andi was chef's kiss.
🎧 While I started out reading this one with my eyes, I found myself gravitating towards the audiobook. With a full cast of narrators, and an action movie type plot line, the audiobook brought this one to life for me. I would suggest doing an immersive read, pairing the physical or ebook with the audiobook for the best and most entertaining reading experience.
Read if you like:
•cat and mouse plot lines
•psychological thrillers
•police procedurals
•morally grey characters
•ensemble casts
•twisty thrillers
Thank you Puntam Books, Kaye Publicity and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
David Ellis’s ability to write morally grey characters you cannot help but *vehemently* root for, and twists like no one else, means I will forever and always devour anything he writes. This book starts off with a bang, but soon, we are lead through a story, set in both the past and present, that will have us questioning everyone.
While this was perhaps a bit more of a slow burn than his previous book, Look Closer, I enjoyed it nonetheless. Leo is one of the most interesting characters I have read of late. His complex family dynamics and background, as well as the dichotomy of his desire to do good in the world and but as a pathological liar, kept me turning the pages. And the subplot of his relationship with Andi was chef's kiss.
🎧 While I started out reading this one with my eyes, I found myself gravitating towards the audiobook. With a full cast of narrators, and an action movie type plot line, the audiobook brought this one to life for me. I would suggest doing an immersive read, pairing the physical or ebook with the audiobook for the best and most entertaining reading experience.
Read if you like:
•cat and mouse plot lines
•psychological thrillers
•police procedurals
•morally grey characters
•ensemble casts
•twisty thrillers
Thank you Puntam Books, Kaye Publicity and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
July 21, 2025
If you are expecting a Look Closer 2.0 you will be disappointed. This suspense novel definitely moves at a slower pace. This one is a story that you invest in.
Again, Ellis writes another amazing story. I will tell you that more than halfway through I still didn’t have a clue to where this was going. Then about 65% I had an idea.
The Best Lies is told from timelines of the past and the present. It involves bad guys, detectives and a lawyer. What I thought was the focus was only a small fraction of the tale.
Definitely worth the read. Just remember this moves slower and Ellis spends time developing his characters from the past and present. I will always be a loyal David Ellis fan for life and I had the great pleasure of meeting him on his debut 7/23/24. Stellar author who is also an appeals judge during the day.
Fun fact— He wakes at 3:30 in the morning to dedicate to writing and then does his judgy stuff for the day.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Again, Ellis writes another amazing story. I will tell you that more than halfway through I still didn’t have a clue to where this was going. Then about 65% I had an idea.
The Best Lies is told from timelines of the past and the present. It involves bad guys, detectives and a lawyer. What I thought was the focus was only a small fraction of the tale.
Definitely worth the read. Just remember this moves slower and Ellis spends time developing his characters from the past and present. I will always be a loyal David Ellis fan for life and I had the great pleasure of meeting him on his debut 7/23/24. Stellar author who is also an appeals judge during the day.
Fun fact— He wakes at 3:30 in the morning to dedicate to writing and then does his judgy stuff for the day.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 9, 2024
”There are so many moving parts, so many players, so much I don’t know. It’s gonna be a wild ride."
Leo Balanoff
Night Before the Drop
Well, that’s putting it mildly! And those skeletons in Leo’s family closet? Oh, they’re some crazy $#!^!!! And it all comes out in one crazy, wild ride. The book summary is basically an introduction to the primary storyline. What the book summary doesn’t say is that the “drug dealer”, Cyrus, that Leo is arrested for killing, was also a human trafficker and murderer. Scum of earth in pretty much everyone’s book. Cyrus killed one of Leo’s clients, Bonnie, and now Cyrus is hunting down one of Leo’s other clients, Trace, who is Bonnie’s son as well as Cyrus’s biological son. Cyrus kidnapped Trace from Bonnie (one of the prostitutes he ran) when Trace was five and sold him to a woman named Marilyn. A few months earlier, Cyrus kidnapped Leo from his mother (another one of Cyrus’s prostitutes), when he was six, and also sold him to Marilyn, so Leo and Trace grew up adopted brothers. Marilyn was a grieving widow, as well as a cop, who accidentally killed her own two sons (5&6) while in a drunken stupor. She bought Leo and Trace on the black market to replace her own sons. She even died Leo’s hair and forced him to become left-handed in order to mimic her own son. Yeah, mama Marilyn was a wacko with a lot of secrets and unresolved issues. None of this is a spoiler since it happened in the first 20% of the story.
There are secondary storylines like the one of Leo meeting Andi in college 14yrs ago and were a couple for many years until she dumped him because of his crazy stunts. It bears mentioning that Andi has some of her own cobwebs in her family closet too. While Leo is still in love with Andi, the feelings aren’t exactly mutual. Andi used to be a cop but now does private security for a large pharmaceutical company. There’s another one of an FBI agent, Chris, who is back at work after beating cancer and is trying to prove himself as being just as good as ever (even though he’s really not) and trying to get back on his old task force and capturing the infamous criminal, Nico (who Cyrus worked for), will put him back in the FBI’s good graces.
The story flips back and forth between Leo, Andi and Chris as well as between seven different time frames. The story starts in present day and then flips back to a year ago, then back to the present day, then 30yrs ago, then back to present day, then 14yrs ago, then back to the present day, yada, yada, yada. This goes on throughout the whole book so that the reader never really has the big picture or the background info on the characters or what is truly going on until the very end. This is one way of building interest and engaging the reader. While I don’t mind a couple of MCs or two or three timeframes, the constant flipping back and forth can get a little irksome because it can rattle the flow of the story if not done right. Fortunately, Ellis manages most of the transitions smoothly enough with a minimum of bumpy transitions.
Most of the story revolves around “the drop” that Cyrus/Nico want Leo to do and how Leo got arrested for killing Cyrus (how the story started). There are so many moving parts in this story along with all the different machinations of the cast of characters for a reader to stay on top of (at least for me there was). It’s well into the second half that the storylines begin to merge together and a clearer picture is developing of just how elaborate and maybe just a little convoluted this story has become. The ending was a massive collision (no other way it could have ended) of all the characters and their individual end games.
The character development for the MCs was well done, which are the most important characters. Although, I would have liked to have known a little more about Trace and Brando (Andi’s “dad” for most of the story). The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline very interesting. It was a late-night night to finish the book because I could not go to sleep until I knew how this story ended. This is the sixth book I have read by David Ellis, with almost all of them being 4-5star ratings. Suffice it to say, I like Ellis; he’s a good writer and storyteller. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.1 that I will be rounding down to a 4star rating. I want to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #PenguinGroupPutnam #TheBestLies
Leo Balanoff
Night Before the Drop
Well, that’s putting it mildly! And those skeletons in Leo’s family closet? Oh, they’re some crazy $#!^!!! And it all comes out in one crazy, wild ride. The book summary is basically an introduction to the primary storyline. What the book summary doesn’t say is that the “drug dealer”, Cyrus, that Leo is arrested for killing, was also a human trafficker and murderer. Scum of earth in pretty much everyone’s book. Cyrus killed one of Leo’s clients, Bonnie, and now Cyrus is hunting down one of Leo’s other clients, Trace, who is Bonnie’s son as well as Cyrus’s biological son. Cyrus kidnapped Trace from Bonnie (one of the prostitutes he ran) when Trace was five and sold him to a woman named Marilyn. A few months earlier, Cyrus kidnapped Leo from his mother (another one of Cyrus’s prostitutes), when he was six, and also sold him to Marilyn, so Leo and Trace grew up adopted brothers. Marilyn was a grieving widow, as well as a cop, who accidentally killed her own two sons (5&6) while in a drunken stupor. She bought Leo and Trace on the black market to replace her own sons. She even died Leo’s hair and forced him to become left-handed in order to mimic her own son. Yeah, mama Marilyn was a wacko with a lot of secrets and unresolved issues. None of this is a spoiler since it happened in the first 20% of the story.
There are secondary storylines like the one of Leo meeting Andi in college 14yrs ago and were a couple for many years until she dumped him because of his crazy stunts. It bears mentioning that Andi has some of her own cobwebs in her family closet too. While Leo is still in love with Andi, the feelings aren’t exactly mutual. Andi used to be a cop but now does private security for a large pharmaceutical company. There’s another one of an FBI agent, Chris, who is back at work after beating cancer and is trying to prove himself as being just as good as ever (even though he’s really not) and trying to get back on his old task force and capturing the infamous criminal, Nico (who Cyrus worked for), will put him back in the FBI’s good graces.
The story flips back and forth between Leo, Andi and Chris as well as between seven different time frames. The story starts in present day and then flips back to a year ago, then back to the present day, then 30yrs ago, then back to present day, then 14yrs ago, then back to the present day, yada, yada, yada. This goes on throughout the whole book so that the reader never really has the big picture or the background info on the characters or what is truly going on until the very end. This is one way of building interest and engaging the reader. While I don’t mind a couple of MCs or two or three timeframes, the constant flipping back and forth can get a little irksome because it can rattle the flow of the story if not done right. Fortunately, Ellis manages most of the transitions smoothly enough with a minimum of bumpy transitions.
Most of the story revolves around “the drop” that Cyrus/Nico want Leo to do and how Leo got arrested for killing Cyrus (how the story started). There are so many moving parts in this story along with all the different machinations of the cast of characters for a reader to stay on top of (at least for me there was). It’s well into the second half that the storylines begin to merge together and a clearer picture is developing of just how elaborate and maybe just a little convoluted this story has become. The ending was a massive collision (no other way it could have ended) of all the characters and their individual end games.
The character development for the MCs was well done, which are the most important characters. Although, I would have liked to have known a little more about Trace and Brando (Andi’s “dad” for most of the story). The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline very interesting. It was a late-night night to finish the book because I could not go to sleep until I knew how this story ended. This is the sixth book I have read by David Ellis, with almost all of them being 4-5star ratings. Suffice it to say, I like Ellis; he’s a good writer and storyteller. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.1 that I will be rounding down to a 4star rating. I want to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #PenguinGroupPutnam #TheBestLies
August 26, 2024
As others have said, you're best to go into this book without knowing a whole lot about the story. It's a very convoluted plot featuring child trafficking in the past, a few deaths in the present, a great deal of subterfuge and some really intriguing characters. Not to mention way more than I ever wanted to know about prime numbers. In the end somehow the various threads come together and I was left feeling satisfied. The writing is top rate and the chapters are nice and short. Although I didn't enjoy it as much as "Look Closer" by this author, it was an enjoyable read. 3.5 Stars rounded up.
My thanks to the London Public Library for the loan of this novel.
My thanks to the London Public Library for the loan of this novel.
July 10, 2024
David Ellis was brought to my attention last year with his 2023 release, Look Closer, which was a top read of 2023 for me, so when I heard about his upcoming novel, THE BEST LIES, I jumped at the chance to read it! Look Closer was a very popular, yet polarizing read due to the amount of twists it took, but THE BEST LIES is much more straightforward.
The story is centered around attorney Leo Balanoff seeking justice for his client, but when he is accused of murdering a high-profile drug dealer and human trafficker, he is left to take matters in his own hands. Leo was diagnosed as a pathological liar in the past and the FBI offers him an opportunity for justice. Leo must walk a fine line between going undercover and also protecting his ex, Andi Piotrowski, at all costs.
I don't want to dive too much into the story because I actually didn't even read the synopsis! I just knew that I needed to read another David Ellis novel. This one is much more of a Harlan Coben vibe than his last book—dark, gritty, and more crime-focused than his last book. This story involves serious topics such as human trafficking, sex crimes, and violence, but it's needed to tell the story carefully. We have multiple POVs, but Leo's is 100% hands down my favorite and if Ellis just stayed with him, this book would be 5 stars. There's so many unique characters in this novel and I loved some, hated others, and loved to hate a few as well. David Ellis is an amazing author and has become an auto-read author for me!
The story is centered around attorney Leo Balanoff seeking justice for his client, but when he is accused of murdering a high-profile drug dealer and human trafficker, he is left to take matters in his own hands. Leo was diagnosed as a pathological liar in the past and the FBI offers him an opportunity for justice. Leo must walk a fine line between going undercover and also protecting his ex, Andi Piotrowski, at all costs.
I don't want to dive too much into the story because I actually didn't even read the synopsis! I just knew that I needed to read another David Ellis novel. This one is much more of a Harlan Coben vibe than his last book—dark, gritty, and more crime-focused than his last book. This story involves serious topics such as human trafficking, sex crimes, and violence, but it's needed to tell the story carefully. We have multiple POVs, but Leo's is 100% hands down my favorite and if Ellis just stayed with him, this book would be 5 stars. There's so many unique characters in this novel and I loved some, hated others, and loved to hate a few as well. David Ellis is an amazing author and has become an auto-read author for me!
July 29, 2024
4⭐️ One word to describe this book: CLEVER.
There are a million moving pieces in this story and I’m not sure that even a quarter of them could feasibly fall into place in real life, but it all worked perfectly to create an entertaining work of fiction.
I doubt I could even attempt to describe the plot of this book but I will say, and this is coming from someone who avoids them at all costs, the synopsis for THE BEST LIES isn’t terrible if you must read it! At first glance it might seem like it gives away a lot of details, but honestly what’s mentioned is only the tip of the iceberg.
If you enjoyed LOOK CLOSER, you’ll very likely want to pick up THE BEST LIES. I’m not sure which book I enjoyed more but to me, THE BEST LIES felt even twistier and more addictive.
I really liked LOOK CLOSER but I think I made a mistake by listening to it on audio. In the same vein, I’m glad I read a kindle copy of THE BEST LIES because I was frequently skipping back to previous chapters or searching a character’s name to remind myself who they were and when I first met them. The story isn’t confusing by any means but there is a lot going on and it really kept me on my toes. Having the words in front of me allowed for a more immersive read and I think made it more enjoyable.
There are so many twists in this book that I altogether stopped trying to predict a single thing that would happen. Sometimes it’s more fun to just sit back and enjoy the ride!
This might not have been the perfect book but it was a fast-paced thriller that held my attention from beginning to end and I really enjoyed getting lost in the story.
Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader. All opinions are my own!
There are a million moving pieces in this story and I’m not sure that even a quarter of them could feasibly fall into place in real life, but it all worked perfectly to create an entertaining work of fiction.
I doubt I could even attempt to describe the plot of this book but I will say, and this is coming from someone who avoids them at all costs, the synopsis for THE BEST LIES isn’t terrible if you must read it! At first glance it might seem like it gives away a lot of details, but honestly what’s mentioned is only the tip of the iceberg.
If you enjoyed LOOK CLOSER, you’ll very likely want to pick up THE BEST LIES. I’m not sure which book I enjoyed more but to me, THE BEST LIES felt even twistier and more addictive.
I really liked LOOK CLOSER but I think I made a mistake by listening to it on audio. In the same vein, I’m glad I read a kindle copy of THE BEST LIES because I was frequently skipping back to previous chapters or searching a character’s name to remind myself who they were and when I first met them. The story isn’t confusing by any means but there is a lot going on and it really kept me on my toes. Having the words in front of me allowed for a more immersive read and I think made it more enjoyable.
There are so many twists in this book that I altogether stopped trying to predict a single thing that would happen. Sometimes it’s more fun to just sit back and enjoy the ride!
This might not have been the perfect book but it was a fast-paced thriller that held my attention from beginning to end and I really enjoyed getting lost in the story.
Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader. All opinions are my own!
May 13, 2024
I have been a fan of David Ellis since reading Look Closer which was one of my favorite thriller books in 2022. Though I am not the biggest fan of spies and corporate espionage this book still kept my interest. Leo Balanoff is a liar and a crusading attorney who will do anything to acquire justice for his clients. But when Leo's fingerprints are found at the crime scene of a ruthless drug dealer, he is coerced to help the FBI or go to jail. Forced to work with an ambitious agent, a former cop and ex Andi, while going undercover against a merciless crime boss, he risks his life to find out the truth but Leo has a mind of his own.
There were a lot of minor characters to keep track of, but I loved the twists at the end that I didn't see coming. While I preferred Look Closer, I still enjoyed this one and I look forward to more books by David Ellis
There were a lot of minor characters to keep track of, but I loved the twists at the end that I didn't see coming. While I preferred Look Closer, I still enjoyed this one and I look forward to more books by David Ellis
July 24, 2024
Leo Balanoff is in a world of trouble. He was just arrested after his fingerprints were found on the murder weapon used to kill a well known drug dealer. But, the FBI has a deal to make. Help them by going undercover to take down the drug dealer’s boss, the circus leader of their whole operation, or go to jail for the murder. Of course, Leo chooses to avoid prison and go undercover, but he is in for a wild ride, one he didn’t even see coming.
Review:
I loved Look Closer by David Ellis and was so excited to read The Best Lies. Look Closer still takes the cake for me in comparison to David Ellis’ new novel. But, I did really enjoy this read as well. It sucks you in right away. You know that you are in for a world of twists and turns with this author and I certainly was not disappointed! I did not anticipate them in the slightest. This is very heavy on organized crime and sometimes I felt lost and just not smart enough for these criminals and their shenanigans. I had to reread a few times especially because there are a lot of characters to keep track of. But overall, I really enjoyed my time reading this one and would highly recommend it! The Best Lies published today, 7/23! Go pick up your copy!
Thank you to NetGalley, David Ellis, and Penguin Group for this ARC of The Best Lies in exchange for an honest review!
Review:
I loved Look Closer by David Ellis and was so excited to read The Best Lies. Look Closer still takes the cake for me in comparison to David Ellis’ new novel. But, I did really enjoy this read as well. It sucks you in right away. You know that you are in for a world of twists and turns with this author and I certainly was not disappointed! I did not anticipate them in the slightest. This is very heavy on organized crime and sometimes I felt lost and just not smart enough for these criminals and their shenanigans. I had to reread a few times especially because there are a lot of characters to keep track of. But overall, I really enjoyed my time reading this one and would highly recommend it! The Best Lies published today, 7/23! Go pick up your copy!
Thank you to NetGalley, David Ellis, and Penguin Group for this ARC of The Best Lies in exchange for an honest review!
July 25, 2024
After reading the glowing reviews, I couldn't resist "The Best Lies" by David Ellis, and it did not disappoint! This book took me on an exhilarating journey filled with unexpected plot twists and jaw-dropping surprises that kept me on the edge of my seat.
The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, skillfully blending past and present events to deliver a wild ride of exhilarating twists and turns. When everything finally comes together, be prepared to have your mind blown. Ellis' storytelling is top-notch, and the characters are well-developed and fascinating. I particularly enjoyed Leo's unique talent for numbers. His quirky gift added a layer of amusement to the story. This book is a whirlwind of thrilling surprises and reveals that will leave you reeling.
I'd like to thank G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with this complimentary ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#TheBestLies #DavidEllis #NetGalley #GPPutnamsSons #PenguinGroup
The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, skillfully blending past and present events to deliver a wild ride of exhilarating twists and turns. When everything finally comes together, be prepared to have your mind blown. Ellis' storytelling is top-notch, and the characters are well-developed and fascinating. I particularly enjoyed Leo's unique talent for numbers. His quirky gift added a layer of amusement to the story. This book is a whirlwind of thrilling surprises and reveals that will leave you reeling.
I'd like to thank G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with this complimentary ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#TheBestLies #DavidEllis #NetGalley #GPPutnamsSons #PenguinGroup
June 30, 2024
4.5/5
Based on the title you obviously know this will be full of secrets and lies but I was actually surprised by how many twists and turns this had. There were so many reveals I lost count, it was a constant and steady stream of subtle turns and sometimes downright shocking twists. It definitely kept me engaged and ready, I truly never knew exactly what would happen next. This is complex and intricately plotted, I would describe it as a smart thriller where not every single thing is spelled out for you but the author lays a trail and allows you to put the pieces together yourself. While it’s heavily plot driven there was also really good character development and depth making it such a multifaceted read. Fans of Harlan Coben will like this one, definitely similar vibes for me.
Based on the title you obviously know this will be full of secrets and lies but I was actually surprised by how many twists and turns this had. There were so many reveals I lost count, it was a constant and steady stream of subtle turns and sometimes downright shocking twists. It definitely kept me engaged and ready, I truly never knew exactly what would happen next. This is complex and intricately plotted, I would describe it as a smart thriller where not every single thing is spelled out for you but the author lays a trail and allows you to put the pieces together yourself. While it’s heavily plot driven there was also really good character development and depth making it such a multifaceted read. Fans of Harlan Coben will like this one, definitely similar vibes for me.
August 26, 2024
Scratching my head finishing this book. Maybe it was the wrong choice to read on audio but good grief!!!! What in the world was up with this story?? The author wanted to do everything he could to over complicate it and it left me confused the entire time. Too much going on!
I have heard his other book is worth it so I’ll pick that one up!
I have heard his other book is worth it so I’ll pick that one up!
August 29, 2024
After loving Look Closer, I was eager to dive into this one. The synopsis described it as "fast-paced," but I didn't find that to be entirely accurate since the build-up was rather slow. Initially, it didn't hold my interest, and I never felt a strong urge to return to it. However, given how much I enjoyed his previous book, I decided to stick with it. The plot was intriguing, with many moving parts, and the characters were smart and well-written. There were a few twists and turns, but the time jumps were a challenge for me. They didn't flow smoothly and were not written in a way that made them easy to follow. I was curious to see how it would all come together, and fortunately, the pacing picked up, and the ending was satisfying. Overall 3.5 stars.
Available now.
My thanks to Putnam Books and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Available now.
My thanks to Putnam Books and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 29, 2024
I was a little hesitant to pick this up when I read Leo was a pathological liar, which was a label stuck on him that may or may not have fit. Not a fan of someone who lies all the time, but if/when he lied it was for the best of reasons and I loved how Leo’s clever manipulations of the truth kept him one step ahead of the bad guys! So many things were not as they seemed. I completely rooted for Leo, especially after that backstory.
I hit the 40% mark, and the story really took off, surprising twist and revelation at every turn! I stayed up into the wee hours to finish and see how it all turned out. The Best Lies was so good!
A copy was kindly provided by G.P. Putnam's Sons. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
I hit the 40% mark, and the story really took off, surprising twist and revelation at every turn! I stayed up into the wee hours to finish and see how it all turned out. The Best Lies was so good!
A copy was kindly provided by G.P. Putnam's Sons. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 8, 2024
I I really enjoyed the previous book LOOK CLOSER and was really excited for this one. Leo Balanoff I'd an attorney and a diagnosed pathological liar. A Drug dealer is found dead and his fingerprints are on the murder weapon. The FBI wants his help, but can they really believe him? And do they really have a choice? Leo is caught in the middle…between the FBI and a cruel mob boss.
There's plenty of twists to keep you turning the pages in this one. The beginning pulled me in and I was hooked. Halfway through, It felt like it lost steam but then picked up again. I loved how well written this one was, and the characters were well developed. I loved how it all played out in the end too. Looking forward to more by David Ellis.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
There's plenty of twists to keep you turning the pages in this one. The beginning pulled me in and I was hooked. Halfway through, It felt like it lost steam but then picked up again. I loved how well written this one was, and the characters were well developed. I loved how it all played out in the end too. Looking forward to more by David Ellis.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 9, 2024
Did I finish this book in one sitting? Yes. Yes I did.
I loved this book so much I couldn’t put it down! After reading Look Closer earlier this year, I had such high expectations for @david_ellis_author’s newest book and boy, did he deliver! The short chapters of course, were EVERYTHING. Ellis knows how to write unreliable characters and how everything came together in the end was twisted perfection!
I loved this book so much I couldn’t put it down! After reading Look Closer earlier this year, I had such high expectations for @david_ellis_author’s newest book and boy, did he deliver! The short chapters of course, were EVERYTHING. Ellis knows how to write unreliable characters and how everything came together in the end was twisted perfection!
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