Last Updated Date: January 17, 2026
As an award-winning author and longtime blogger for over 10 years, I’ve personally read and analyzed the best novels on my bookshelves that answer this question. While many lists only suggest popular bestsellers, I’ve curated this eclectic mix of books because they because they mirror the edge-of-your-seat plots with complex and thought-provoking characters in First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston.
At a Glance:
The Hidden Gem: Junior Missing by Khristina Chess
A Reese’s Book Club Pick: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Nominee for Goodreads Choice Award: The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
#1 - Junior Missing by Khristina Chess: An Overlooked Jewel
Why Junior Missing Is the Best Choice for First Lie Wins Fans Seeking Similar Fast-paced and Psychologically Intense Plots
Fans of Ashley Elston’s themes of deception and control will recognize the same tension in this thriller. The kidnapping and “mind games” aspects mirror the psychological manipulation that made First Lie Wins a bestseller.
One-sentence summary for Junior Missing: A runaway teen is drawn into an intoxicating relationship with an older man who takes her in—and won’t let her go!
The Taste Test
“He called me the most willing kidnapping victim in history. I’d invited him to my house, he’d said. I’d climbed into the car. I’d packed a bag. And a parakeet.” ― Khristina Chess from Junior Missing
My Verdict: Why Chess’ Chilling Themes of Dark Romance Make This a Seductive Beach Read
This intense, thought-provoking, and morally-complex novel depicts how someone can be so easily manipulated and hurt in a toxic relationship. What makes Junior Missing so special is the slow-boil depiction of how Grace’s forbidden attraction turns into a trap.
The story starts as sixteen-year-old Grace Keegan, darling of the child pageant world with a bright future, is missing. At first, police assume she ran away. But when they find her abandoned phone along the highway, the truth becomes far more terrifying.
Readers who love thrilling novels won’t be able to put this novel down. Khristina chess is a powerful and fresh voice in fiction today.
What Other Readers Are Saying
“I actually found myself, on my feet and pacing as I reached the conclusion.” ― Mamadukes, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for Junior Missing is 5/5 stars based on its outstanding pacing and atmospheric tension.
#2 - Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens: A Cinematic Mystery
How Where the Crawdads Sing Delivers a Sympathetic But Unreliable Protagonist Like Evie Porter in First Lie Wins
One-sentence summary for Where the Crawdads Sing: A hypnotic coming-of-age mystery about an abandoned child and a murdered boy.
The Taste Test
“Unworthy boys make a lot of noise.” ― Delia Owens from Where the Crawdads Sing
What Set Where the Crawdads Sing Apart for Me: Beautiful Writing and Plotting
This novel is beautiful, thrilling, sad, surprising, and engrossing. Kya Clark is a resilient child who is abandoned by her mother at six. Her alcoholic father is barely a parent, and he soon leaves her as well. Somehow, she finds a way to survive on her own, even thrive, despite an aching loneliness.
But a beautiful young girl who lives in solitude in the woods is destined for danger. And heartbreak.
The mystery surrounding the death of Chase Andrews is the inciting incident of the novel, and it's soon clear that he was not such a swell guy. Foul play is suspected. Is Kya a murder? Or someone else?
There's plenty to love here, and the pages definitely turned quickly for me.
What Other Readers Are Saying
“I can’t get over how perfect this book is. The writing grabbed me from literally the first page and kept me entranced.” ― Liz, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for Where the Crawdads Sing is 5/5 stars based on its surprising mystery and lead character.
#3 - The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis: A Gripping Exploration of the Human Mind
Why This Roller-Coaster Plot Delivers the Same “What Did I Just Read?” Vibe as The First Lie Wins?
Released in 2016, this older Goodreads Choice Nominee has everything you want in a twisty thriller like First Lie Wins.
One-sentence summary for The Female of the Species: An unflinching, painful, searing, riveting, brutal book that will shock you to the core.
Taste Test
"I am vengeance."― Mindy McGinnis from The Female of the Species
Why I Feel McGinnis’ Cunning Protagonist and Addictive Storytelling Digs Deeper Than Other Bestsellers
I loved this book. Alex Craft is a unique female protagonist, and I had a hard time pinning her down. Sometimes I wanted to label her as a psychopath / sociopath based on her actions and reactions to things, but I don't think that's right.
She is a criminal. It's easy to forget that about her because she makes friends, takes care of kittens, shows compassion to other kids, and falls in love. But she also kills people. So there's that.
This was my third Mindy McGinnis novel, and I'm hooked on her. She writes compelling stories and tough, unflinching characters, and she’s also one of the top authors in my list of the Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited.
What Other Readers Are Saying
“5 is not enough, it deserves 10 brutal, brilliant, heart wrenching stars!”―Nilufer, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for The Female of the Species is 5/5 stars because of its unusual protagonist and plot.
#4 - Verity by Colleen Hoover: A Jaw-Dropping Twist that Rivals First Lie Wins
Why Verity Might Be Even Better Than First Lie Wins
With its unusual premise, dark romance, and insane ending, Colleen Hoover’s mega bestselling novel is a strong competitor for Ashley Elston’s First Lie Wins.
One-sentence summary for Verity by Colleen Hoover: A struggling writer takes an unusual job and discovers disturbing information that puts her in danger.
The Taste Test
"Some families are lucky enough to never experience a single tragedy. But then there are those families that see to have tragedies waiting on the back burner. What can go wrong, goes wrong. And then gets worse."—Colleen Hoover from Verity
What Set This Apart for Me: The Most Inventive Plot I’ve Ever Read
Colleen Hoover is a mega bestselling author of both adult and young adult fiction. Verity is my personal favorite. The hot (hot, hot) romance was definitely a big part of the appeal, but the spicy sex wasn’t the only part. This is more than a romance novel. I loved the twisty, dark, and disorienting plot that kept me guessing until the very end. In this novel, the characters aren’t who they seem to be, and that multi-dimensional layer was the aspect that made Verity so wonderful for me.
In fact, all Colleen Hoover’s novels are amazing!
What Other Readers Are Saying
“Want to know whats even more shocking than this dark and twisted book?? its the fact that one of the most suspenseful stories i have ever read is written by my fave romance author!” — Jessica, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for Verity is 5/5 stars because of Verity’s mind-bending and unexpected last chapter.
#5 - Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell: A Bestselling Psychological Mystery
Why Then She Was Gone Delivers a Similar Dark and Unexpected Twist as First Lie Wins
Like Ashley Elston’s First Lie Wins, the deeply unsettling ending of this novel was not predictable, and the path to reach the conclusion was not straight.
One-sentence summary for Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell: A gut-wrenching and unpredictable novel about a missing girl, a desperate mother, and the bizarre lengths people will go for the people they love.
The Taste Test
"If she could rewind the timeline, untwist it and roll it back the other way like a ball of wool, she'd see the knots in the yarn, the warning signs. Looking at it backward it was obvious all along. But back then, when she knew nothing about anything, she had not seen it coming. She had walked straight into it with her eyes open." ― Lisa Jewell from Then She Was Gone
My Authentic Review: Why Jewell’s Bestseller Is Unputdownable
I was about 20 pages into the story when I realized I was reading much too fast and maybe, like the missing girl Ellie, I was overlooking important clues, so I returned to page one and started again.
I had to know what happened to Ellie. with each chapter, new mysteries began to emerge. Fresh horrors. The more I learned about Ellie and Noelle, the worse things became. The whole story became very... weird. Scary!
The relationship between Ellie’s mom and the American writer, Floyd, is where things take a turn. Floyd has a daughter who looks just like Ellie. I mean, how weird is that?
The ending was totally not predictable to me, and the path to reach the conclusion was not straight.
What Other Readers Are Saying
“This turned out to be quite a stunner. I’ve read lots of psychological thrillers and this one caught me off guard.“ ― Holly, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for Then She Was Gone is 5/5 stars based on its weird and twisted storytelling.
#6 - Forgotten But Never Gone by Khristina Chess: Ideal for Fans of Small-town Cold Cases
Why This New Mystery by Khristina Chess Is A Must-Read for Fans of Ashley Elston's Pacing
Fans of the fast-paced plotting of First Lie Wins will appreciate the similar gripping suspense, web of deceit, and surprise ending in Forgotten But Never Gone. Bobby, the amateur sleuth protagonist, is similar to Evie’s relatable and multifaceted character in First Lie Wins.
One-sentence summary for Forgotten But Never Gone by Khristina Chess: Set in 1980, a girl walks up the road and vanishes from sight, and the town’s apathy proves as terrifying as the darkness that swallowed her.
The Taste Test
“I think it was this rebellious quality about her that allowed everyone to write off her disappearance so easily. Kids like Half-pint ran away. This whole generation was full of delinquents. Blah, blah, blah.” – Khristina Chess from Forgotten But Never Gone
My Reading Experience: Why This Book Is More Than Just Your Average Mystery
Unlike most thrillers that focus purely on the “whodunit, Chess focuses on the social apathy of the era, which I found to be the most terrifying element of the mystery.
If you’re drawn to those cold case shows and unsolved mysteries of the 70s and 80s, those heartbreaking stories of missing girls and unclaimed Jane Does, Forgotten But Never Gone will appeal to you. This compelling mystery transports readers back to a time before AMBER alerts and 24-hour news cycles, when carefree kids roamed neighborhoods with little supervision and always returned home in time for supper.
Except sometimes they didn’t.
What makes this novel especially powerful is its dual resonance: it’s both a gripping page-turner and a thoughtful exploration of how society failed these vulnerable youth. Bobby’s determination reminds us that sometimes the most unlikely person can become the keeper of truth, and that refusing to forget is itself an act of justice.
Half-pint’s story lingers long after the final page, leaving you haunted not only by her fate but by the mysteries of real-life children who have never been found.
Key takeaway: My rating for Forgotten But Never Gone is 5/5 stars because the layered and complex mystery has such an unexpected ending.
#7 - The God of the Woods by Liz Moore: The Perfect Blend of Mystery and Unpredictable Storytelling
Why The God of the Woods Delivers the Same Danger, Mystery, and Buries Secrets As First Lie Wins
An Amazon Best Books of the Year Pick for 2024 but new to me in 2026, this sleeper hit took me by surprise with its twists and turns.
One-sentence summary for The God of the Woods by Liz Moore: After a girl in summer camp goes missing, dark family secrets become revealed.
The Taste Test
“When lost, sit down and yell.”—Liz Moore from God of the Woods
My Verdict: What I Loved (and What Fell Flat) in Moore’s Complex Narrative
The Bad: I liked The God of the Woods but struggled with a few "technical" things. In my printed copy, the paragraph breaks were wrong, which doesn't seem like a bad thing, but I was often confused about who was speaking because both speakers were on the same line, or the same speaker broke across two lines. It was very strange and kept knocking me out of the reading magic. Also, there are many, many separate viewpoint characters, and there are dates at the top of each character's chapter that I never figured out. I'm sure they meant something.
From early on, I thought I knew what happened, but I didn't. Not quite.
The Good: Still, The God of the Woods is a good story and worth hanging on past the first 60 pages. This book was the winner of the Goodreads Choice Award (2024) for Readers Favorite Mystery & Thriller.
What Other Readers Are Saying
“This book!!!!! Such a slooowwww moving story, but the storytelling was done so well!!!” — Sara, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for The God of the Woods is 4/5 stars based on its unexpected conclusion to the mystery.
Other Books You’ll Devour If You Liked First Lie Wins by Ashley Elsten
There are so many other popular titles to recommend:
Layla by Colleen Hoover - A unique premise: a romantic suspense novel that includes a love triangle with a ghost!
Never Lie by Frieda McFadden - Newlyweds trapped in a snowstorm inside the abandoned home of a missing psychiatrist discover hidden tapes that expose murder and deception.
The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden - A tense thriller about a woman who takes a housemaid job and gets much more than she bargained for.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides - A famous painter accused of murdering her husband quits talking--but why?
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell - A dark thriller in which three characters share unexpectedly intertwined lives and memories of growing up in a mansion under strange circumstances.
The Pilot’s Wife by Anita Shreve - A slowly unraveling mystery that just keeps going…
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins - An alcoholic divorcee becomes obsessed with a couple and becomes entangled in an investigation.
If you are looking for other books like First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston, Goodreads also offers a great book list: Readers Who Enjoyed First Lie Wins. You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads.
About the Author: Khristina Chess
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of more than a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Her novel about eating disorders, Hollow Beauty, was named a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, dystopian, and adventure.
