Leo Balanoff is an attorney who treads a delicate line between righteousness and legality. While diagnosed as a pathological liar, he's as smart as a whip. He's a math whiz who thinks in permutations of prime numbers (which completely flew over my head). This wild story unfolds as Leo is arrested for the murder of Cyrus Balik; a notorious gangster involved in heinous crimes. DNA found at the scene combined with a clear motive implicates Leo in the murder. It is revealed that Cyrus and his criminal syndicate, led by the even more ruthless Nico Katsaros, has been working on a major scheme involving international espionage. FBI Special Agent Chris Roberti strikes a deal with Leo to avoid imprisonment by going undercover to do an important job for Nico. Leo also runs into his ex-girlfriend Andi, a former police officer now working in private security. The story weaves recollections of the past with present events, resulting in a series of unexpected twists and turns. When everything masterfully comes together, get ready to fall off your chair.
Seems like author David Ellis decided he was going to challenge his readers to really stay on their toes. In The Best Lies, the lies and the twists keep coming and coming. I lost count. Having loved his previous work, Look Closer, my expectations for this new book were very high. It did not disappoint. Leo Balanoff is a morally ambiguous character you can't help but root for. The skillful blending together of different perspectives and timelines is a testament to the author's talent. It completely blew my mind. Don't miss this book.
Many thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons | Penguin Group for the opportunity to read this incredibly gripping, enjoyable book before its official release.
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Mystery Thriller.
Publication Date: July 23, 2024.
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I'm glad to read this positive review.
One more sleep.
Probably about 8 or 9 years ago, I started reading James Patterson. I liked his books, and started looking for more.
While looking for more JP books, I saw one with an interesting cover: The Murder House. It was co-written with someone I hadn't read before: David Ellis. It was an interesting read, and I continued reading Patterson-Ellis books: The Black Book, Invisible, Unsolved, and The Red Book.
At this point, I had a liking for Ellis' books, and around August of 2022, I was delighted to find that he had released Look Closer. I ordered it (as a book and audiobook), and thoroughly enjoyed it. I even wrote a…