First Lie Wins: A Novel

First Lie Wins: A Novel by Ashley Elston

The novel gradual unfolds with narratives from different time periods. The narrator has assumed various identities and has worked a few jobs. She often does "dirty work", sometimes uncovering dirt on public figures. She gets assignments via a Mr. Smith with a computer voice on the phone. She also received packages from "George". She had been interested in the business. However, she also has realized there is no easy way out. Her employer has dirt on her and can easily get her in trouble.

She is involved in one case that really spooks her. Somebody has her history. She also ends up being tracked in a murder investigation. We learn that she had first become spooked earlier when the employer had multiple people attempt an art heist. She was able to get it (with the help of a computer geek friend she has. She decides to try to trace some of the others involved and found that many had disappeared or died. This lead to her attempt to work with her friend to trace Mr. Smith. 

Until the end, I was not sure where the novel was going. It seemed to bounce all over the place. However, it came to a satisfying ending, with all the pieces now making sense.