The Best Lies

Author: David Ellis
Genre: Psychological Thriller
373 pages
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2024

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 …

My review
The Best Lies by David Ellis is an engaging and entertaining psychological thriller. If you enjoy stories about spies, undercover agents, corporate espionage, national security, the black market, and characters with questionable ethics yet unwavering loyalty, this twist-filled novel will be right up your alley. Though the plot has its imperfections, it delivers the signature twists and gripping entertainment Ellis is known for.

The storyline of The Best Lies takes a different direction from David Ellis’s previous book, Look Closer, which I have to say I preferred. That’s not to say The Best Lies isn’t enjoyable — it’s just slower paced. One of Ellis’s strengths lies in creating quirky, highly likable characters, and I found the protagonist, Leo Balanoff, particularly memorable, layered, and morally complex. The story unfolds across multiple timelines, which can occasionally feel a bit repetitive, but the short chapters maintain the pacing and keep things moving. The backstories add valuable insight into the characters’ motivations, and the twists just keep coming!

The Best Lies is a clever, unpredictable, and thoroughly entertaining novel — well worth the read. Keep in mind it has a slower pace than Look Closer, as Ellis takes his time developing characters across past and present timelines. As a devoted fan of Ellis, I’m excited to see what he brings in his next novel!

My recommendation: read it!