Review of First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston and recipe for Nashville Hot Chicken

I love a clever bit of entertainment, whether it’s a great movie or an excellent book. One of my favorite movies is The Thomas Crown Affair, in which a wealthy but bored man steals priceless art. He is being watched by an insurance investigator who suspects he is at the heart of the thefts. It’s a cat-and-mouse game throughout, and I love it.

First Lie Wins is Elston’s debut adult novel, and I sure hope she writes more, because she is a master. First Lie Wins is an outstanding example of the edge-of-your-seat thriller. Besides being well written, it grabs you from the first couple of pages, which is always a plus.

The novel opens as Evie is being grilled by Ryan’s friends, who want to know all about his new love interest. We quickly realize that Evie is not her real name, and this is just one of many facts she must hide.

Evie is really Lucca Marino, a young woman who was in high school when she began a life of crime. Her mom was dying, she lived in a run-down single-wide with little hope for the future, and she could not make ends meet by taking over her mom’s sewing jobs. She began to steal, and she was good at it. That’s why she was approached by a secretive stranger with an offer to up her game and start earning big money. Eight years later, she has taken on a new name and is in the middle of yet another crime for her mysterious boss.

So imagine her shock when she is introduced to a new woman, girlfriend of one of Ryan’s old friends, Lucca Marino. Evie is shaken to her core because that’s her name, and the woman is claiming to be from the same small town that Evie is from. What’s going on?

The novel moves back and forth between the present, where Evie scrambles to carry out her latest gig and at the same time investigate the imposter who has taken her identity, and the past, taking us through a variety of crimes she has committed. The novel culminates when past meets present, and Evie must pull off one last caper in order to save her own life.

I am in awe of this author. The crimes, the characters, the settings, the details, and the action kept my head on a swivel, trying to keep track. I can’t imagine how she wrote this, but I’m so glad she did. I give this novel 4.5 stars. Don’t miss this one; it’s a great read.

You can download the Kindle version of First Lie Wins or purchase the paperback on Amazon.

Recipe for Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders

This novel takes place in the South, and one of the cities that Evie visits is Nashville. I first had this dish at Burntwood Tavern, in Naples, FL. I absolutely loved it, and I hope you do as well!

It’s a tad on the spicey side, but you can adjust the heat according to your own taste.

Ingredients

Boneless chicken breasts, cut into size to fit on a slider bun;

1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons salt
4 eggs
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons Tabasco
4 cups all-purpose flour
Vegetable oil, for frying
4 tablespoons cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon each chili powder, garlic powder, paprika
1 cup honey
1 package slider buns (I love King Hawaiian rolls)

Instructions

In a large bowl, toss chicken pieces with pepper and 2 tablespoons of salt.
Cover and chill for at least 3 hours.
In a second large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, and hot sauce.
In a third large bowl, whisk together flour and remaining 2 teaspoons of salt.
Heat oil for frying, bringing temp to 325 degrees.
For each piece of chicken, pat dry, dredge in flour, shake off excess, dip in milk mixture, dredge again in flour, and place on a baking sheet.
Working in batches, fry chicken, turning occasionally, until skin is golden brown.
Cook boneless breasts about 8-10 minutes, depending on thickness.
Transfer cooked pieces to wire rack.
Allow oil to cool slightly.
In a medium metal bowl, whisk cayenne pepper, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder and paprika.
Carefully whisk in 1 cup of the frying oil.
Brush chicken pieces all over with the spicy oil.
Drizzle with honey.
Serve on slider rolls with bread and pickle slices.