Tuesday, August 4, 2020

The First Day of The First to Lie!

DEBORAH CROMBIE:  How lucky am I to be hosting our dear Hank and Rhys with their book launches this week?? And I can tell you, THE FIRST TO LIE is a terrific book! But watch out--it may give you whiplash, trying to decide what's true and what's not, and you will love it right up to the very last page! 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:  Launch day jitters! Yes, dear Reds and readers, we are in the full throes of them around here. (And at Rhys’ house, too! And she will tell us all about that tomorrow!)

Yes, I know, THE FIRST TO LIE has gotten amazing astonishing buzz and fabulous reviews--it’s PopSugar’s number one pick for August, and CrimeReads picked it, too, and Publishers Weekly starred review calls it “stellar.“ Booklist says “page turning twists and mind-bending drama.” So that’s excellent. And reassuring. 

Oh, and this just in as I am typing: It’s a Publishers Weekly top pick of the week!  And more about the book below.

I have a full calendar of events – – including two appearances on Canadian television and A Mighty Blaze and BookTrib live interviews  (whoa!) and visits to so many wonderful bookstores! Here are the events—please find one that you love!

Tonight is the big launch at my local dear Brookline Booksmith, and it is quite a wave of nostalgia. For the past eight years, I have had an exciting overwhelming joyful celebration at the Booksmith, friends and family and readers and a wall-to-wall filled to the rafters room. It is hard even to imagine that now.

But I am trying to look at the bright side. Any other launch day, I would be full of worry, because it is supposed to rain like crazy here in Boston, and that would keep people away from the event. No problem with that now, right?

And people who can’t get a babysitter--well, they don’t need one!

And no one has to put on shoes. So all good, right?

So here, by the numbers, is The First to Lie.

1. The first line: “Lies have a complicated half-life.”

2.  The first two main characters: Ellie Berensen— A determined reporter on the trail of an expose of a pharmaceutical company. And Nora Quinn, a determined pharmaceutical sales person. Who may not be quite what she seems.  

3.  Three? This is my third psychological standalone!

4. There’s a fun thing on social media where you have to describe your book in four words. So THE FIRST TO LIE is: Betrayal. Motherhood. Obsession. Revenge.

5. Another fun thing is to reveal your book’s five crucial elements. For THE FIRST TO LIE  it’s:
1. A devastating childhood betrayal
2. An undercover reporter, in too deep
3. A beautiful sailboat on the Chesapeake Bay
4. A rich and powerful family
5. An ice pick that is not used for ice

What it all adds up to:  THE FIRST TO LIE is two strong women, facing off in a high stakes psychological cat and mouse game to get revenge for a terrible childhood betrayal. But which one is the cat, and which one is the mouse? And for one to succeed, the other must fail.

The idea for THE FIRST TO LIE  came after all of my experiences as an undercover reporter. I thought:  what if someone decided that being their undercover persona was more desirable than being who they really were? What if being someone else could get you what you want?

So, my darling Reds and Readers--here we go! Thank you thank you for buying this book, and for your reviews. Posting  them is so crucial for the book’s success. 

I am endlessly grateful for any help you can give--but you know that. Speaking of which: here’s a link.  

Oh, I know you will buy it, so I have one advance review copy for one lucky commenter! Just tell me--something GOOD in your life that was a first!

Love you all so much. Wish me luck! 












86 comments:

  1. Happy Book Birthday, Hank . . . I loved “The First To Lie” . . . .

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  2. Hurray! Thank you so much— You are such a treasured friend!

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  3. Happy Book Birthday! Sounds intriguing. I definitely need to slip this into my TBR pile soon.

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  4. First to Lie is absolutely headspinning at times. And that’s a good thing!

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  5. Happy book birthday, Hank! I love that first line from FIRST TO LIE. I'm adding this to my reading list. Looks like August will be a month of Jungle Reds books for me - your book, Rhys' THE LAST MRS. SUMMERS and Jenn's PARIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA.

    Will there be other Jungle Reds publishing new books in August?

    Diana

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    1. LUCY! Chime in here! (And Hallie's paperback!)

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    2. Hank, thanks! Is there a link to your virtual book event at Brookline?

      xoxo

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    3. Diana, if you go back to Hank's post, she has a link to all her upcoming events; you can find to tonight's link if you click through.

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    4. Julia, thanks! I will look for the link to the upcoming events.

      Diana

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  6. And Happy Book birthday to Rhys!

    Diana

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  7. So happy for you, Hank - see you tonight!

    Here's my exciting first: Sunday night I was interviewed on my first NPR show, and for a decades-long NPR junkie like me, it's a pinnacle of sort. The foodie cozy mystery episode of Callie Crossley's Under the Radar is now on the NPR podcast site!

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    1. Way to go, Edith! As a radiophile and fellow public broadcasting junkie, I can understand what you mean about the interview being a pinnacle for you. I'm going to search for it online.

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    2. Thanks, Amanda! https://www.npr.org/podcasts/732415523/under-the-radar-with-callie-crossley

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    3. That's a darned exciting first, Edith!

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    4. Wow, Edith. My husband is an NPR junkie, as well. I have sworn off news, mostly, until after November.

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    5. YAY! I loved being on that show! Gosh, two years ago. I was on with Peter Swanson and Clea Simon. She's terrific. And she interviewed my solo for my appearance at the Brookline public Library.

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    6. I met Callie at one of your Brookline Booksmith launches a few years ago. I recognized her and introduced myself. She was ever gracious, of course.

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    7. What fun, Edith! Congratulations!

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  8. What an exciting day to be back from my holiday at the cottage (lovely) without internet access (purgatory). CONGRATULATIONS, Hank! Happy launch day to you; the advance buzz has been crazy good and I'm sure that will grow exponentially now that First to Lie is out there. I'm looking forward to the twists and turns!

    As for a good first, hmmmmm. That's an intriguing question; I'll have to think on that and stop back later if I come up with anything...

    Hank: Enjoy every minute of your book baby's launch into the hands of readers today!

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  9. Happy book birthday Hank! You are such an inspiration and your book is next up on my pile!!! xoxox

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  10. Happy book birthday, Hank - First to Lie sounds like a huge success. I'm looking forward to a great read.

    A good first???? All firsts are good, they are fraught with the promise of greatness, the edge of the unknown, and a huge sense of accomplishment that, well, you did it!

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  11. This turned up on my Kindle this morning. And so did Rhys's newest. Plus one from Ann Cleeves. And yesterday's newest from Catriona McPherson. As Isaias is bringing us rain and thunderstorms, and since there are plenty of leftovers from last night, and the house got cleaned top to bottom on Sunday, I have no reason to get out of bed today.

    Except for Sergeant Pepper. (He's sleeping 8-10 hours at night now. 10 weeks old today. What a guy!)

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    1. Something good in my life that was a first? Meeting a real live author in her habitat! Thank you Debs, for introducing me to the joys of being a fangirl.

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    2. Ann, I am dying to see your baby boy!! Sounds like a perfect little gentleman!!

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    3. Oooo! Perfect opportunity to teach Sgt. Pepper the joys of cuddling up to a reader. Enjoy your day!

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    4. Gigi, he just put himself down for a nap in his crate. Who’s a good boy? 😂

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    5. Ann, wasn't that a fun day?? Believe me, it was just as big a treat for me! And I'm determined that we'll be able to do it again.

      And Sgt. Pepper is such a GOOD boy!!!

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  12. Hank, congrats on the new book. I'm sure it will be another smash hit thriller and I'm looking forward to getting my copy. I'm just sorry that there isn't any in-person signings to attend so that I can get my copy signed.

    After all, a signed book does still make a great gift, right?

    Damn pandemic...with a dash of a tropical storm thrown in.

    While there are always things that are good first time experiences, I think I'll go with the first time I was coaching as a part of a team that won a championship. I was an assistant coach at that time and the team was damn good. Before then, none of the teams I was a part of had won a title and it was kind of a running joke that I'd never coached a winning team. So it was a big relief to get that particular monkey off my back. And it helped change things around luck-wise because a couple years later I was back to being a head coach and my teams went on to win 10 more titles.

    But that first one was just SOOOOO good!

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    1. We have personalized copies with FREE shipping! Just click through the link below (or copy and paste) and register for tonight's event--yay! And even if you can't come, you can get a personalized book with free shipping!

      https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hank-phillippi-ryan-the-first-to-lie-launch-tickets-113796672912

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    2. Jay, we'll all miss seeing you live and in person at Brookline!

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  13. Happy book birthday, Hank! I'll be off to pick up my copy shortly.

    My first? Birth of my first child, 20 years ago.

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    1. That was a big first for me, too!

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    2. And I just saw on Hank's page that all the Reds will be "at" the Poisoned Pen on August 22. That's move-in day weekend for my son at college. Waah!

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  14. Congrats to Hank and Rhys! Can't wait to get hold of these. My best new thing lately was seeing a video sent by my daughter-in-law, of my almost five-year-old grandson zipping around a big empty parking lot on his bike with no training wheels. He looks exuberant. I've watched it numerous times.

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    1. Jim, that sounds like a lovely first. Modern technology is making it so much easier to be a long-distance grandparent!

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  15. Congrats to Hank and Rhys! Can't wait to get hold of these. My best new thing lately was seeing a video sent by my daughter-in-law, of my almost five-year-old grandson zipping around a big empty parking lot on his bike with no training wheels. He looks exuberant. I've watched it numerous times.

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  16. Happy book birthday Hank ! So happy for you . The First to Lie is my next read.

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    1. À good first to me was when I met you at Bouchercon Toronto while you were signing your book. When I told you I commented here as danielle-momo, you got up, came around the table to give me a hug. I was amazed and thrilled that such a loved author did this : a very good feeling indeed !

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    2. Danielle: Thank you for jogging my mind about a good first. Mine was the Bouchercon in Toronto. I met the Reds, loved the game-show panel -- even got to play (but didn't win) -- and enjoyed every minute of the hustle and bustle of writers and readers being together. My one serious regret about this good first is that I didn't meet the JRW regular commenters like you and Ann and Grace and all the others, too!

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    3. Sorry that I did not get to meet you and the other Reds commentators at the 2017 Bouchercon, Amanda. Bouchercon 2022 in Minneapolis?

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    4. Sorry I missed you in Toronto Amanda, I also got to play and was lucky enough to win.
      However I met Grace. You may not remember Grace but I volunteered to help Deborah and Hallie while they signed books and at the end of Hallie's line, I was able to have a few words with you.
      Meeting a couple of commenters in Toronto and in Dallas was was really a highlight of Bouchercons.

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    5. Grace -- yes! I have Minneapolis on my list for 2022. Fingers crossed the new normal will include in-person Bouchercons and other conferences!

      Danielle: You come, too, ok?

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    6. Right now, I can't see myself so far away but we will see...

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    7. Danielle, yes I do remember meeting you in Toronto during the book signings for Hallie and Deborah!

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  17. Happy book birthday, Hank!!

    I finished reading The First to Lie this weekend....wow! Very twisty and devious. Those four words listed above hit the mark.

    NOTE: Hannah reads the first chapter of The First to Lie on First Chapter Fun @11:30 EST TODAY. I will be watching!!

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  18. Congratulations! My life is full of firsts, which is both exciting and gratifying.

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  19. OMG, First Chapter Fun today, yay! Congratulations on your new book, Hank. The plot sounds devious and delicious. I may have to set aside all those cozies and start this thriller tonight!

    The first Mrs. Summers should arrive any day and Lucy's book will be on my Kindle very soon, too. Jim Benn's new book is on the way and I have asked my library for the first 3 books in 2 JRW series that I haven't read yet.

    My firsts are very recent, my first Kindle and my first Audible. I never thought I'd enjoy either, and thus the huge amount of time before I got onto the bandwagon. And now, that bandwagon drags me out of bed at 5:00 am so that I can resume the book from the night before. Audible keeps me company while I cook and bake and never makes me turn my head and rewind because I missed the scene like my tv used to do. It's like a new romance, almost. There is a hurricane headed to Connecticut, but my Kindle will not care!

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    1. Judy, the hurricane is just a great excuse to stay cozy at home and read. And the great thing about a Kindle is that you can keep reading, even if the lights go off!

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  20. Congratulations, Hank! (And Rhys!) It's a red-letter day, to be sure.

    My first Bouchercon was amazing, eye-opening, and irresistible. And it's influenced me in a million ways since. Best of all, I got to meet you, Hank, that day. Cheers, to firsts, to friendship, and to a fabulous launch of The First to Lie!

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    1. My first Malice was amazing! That's when I met Hank!

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  21. Hank, see, you did it again! Hit another one out of the ballpark effortlessly! Can I be on your team?! :-) I am also thinking that a virtual event might allow more people to attend. The bookstore can only hold so many people, right? And, Boston's a bit far to drive for some of us!

    A sweet first--my youngest nephew--on his 22nd birthday last week, putting his arms around me and telling me that I've always been and always will be 'Mom.' They aren't very sentimental, those youngest of our nephews, so this was especially sweet to hear.

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    1. Aw, Flora, that's lovely. You've raised your nephews to be wonderful young men.

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    2. Thanks, Deborah! Those two came along in the midst of losing both of our parents--they've always been special to us all. P.S. I adored the photos of Wren in her fancy dress and boots--that girl's got style!

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  22. Happy Book Day, Hank! I'm sure you will be on the NY Times best-seller list by next week.

    Happy First: My first mystery conference was Magna cum Murder. I made life-long friends and met many authors there. I was hooked and attended almost all 25 of them.

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    1. Kathy, I only did one Magna cum Murder, but I remember it fondly as a delightful and well-run conference.

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    2. I only went to Magna once, too, and loved it.

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  23. Congratulations, Hank!!! This is so fabulous and amazing and terrific and I'm just in awe!!!! Bravo, my dear. I am just tucking into my copy and I am absolutely enthralled. Well done!

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  24. Congratulations Hank and Rhys! I'm wishing great success for both of you.

    So many firsts, but the first "first" that sprang to mind was my first Bouchercon, here in Dallas last fall. I wasn't sure I wanted to go. I'd been to a lot of science fiction conventions, starring as my late husband's arm ornament, and after a while I got tired of being unimportant in any conversation. I figured it could be much the same, trailing Deb around for the weekend.

    But the mystery community was so lovely and welcoming! I got to meet all the Reds and some of you Reds Readers introduced yourselves to me because you had read and enjoyed what I post here. I went home feeling like I might actually amount to something in the writing world some day. So thank you all for that!

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    1. The first of many, I hope, Gigi! When we can do them again. And no doubt you will have your own fan club!

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    2. Gigi, when you publish, I will read!!!

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    3. Thank you, Judy. I have two in the pipeline right now. I'll keep you posted.

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  25. Hank,

    Just recalled my first Malice Domestic when I met you for the first time. I wondered how you could walk in these high heels! My first mystery conference was Malice and it was amazing! I got to meet many of my favorite authors and new to me authors like you and Ellie Alexander. Congratulations again!

    Diana xoxo

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  26. An ice pick?!? Chills remembering. This book is Hank at the very tippy top of her game. We're thrilled for her!!

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  27. A first for me was selling my house, buying a house closer to my grandchildren, and moving--all during lockdown days and without my husband, who passed away last year. My older son put it best: look at it this way, Mom, you are learning how to do all kinds of things that Dad would have done if he were here.

    Much success with your new book, Hank, and thank you for inviting me to your Zoom meeting last week, even though I don't really qualify as a Super Reader! Will be looking for your book at the library.

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    1. Congratulations, Margie! Speaking from experience, there is something deeply satisfying about managing those tasks that were once your husband's. I wish Ross were still here to do them, but when I prime the furnace or paint the porch myself, I feel a great sense of accomplishment.

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  28. Happy book birthday, Hank! You don't need me to wish you luck - you nailed it! How do you manage to make each book better than the one before?

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  29. Happy pub day, Hank! It's a fabulous book, such fun, and I think you've got a big winner with this one!!!!

    Since we're talking books, the first that came to mind was getting the call from my agent that we had sold A Share in Death, my first novel. I was absolutely gobsmacked.

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    1. OMG, Deb. I am so glad that happened! The rest is happy history. Hurray for your "first."

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    2. Deborah, that is a great first story! Happy that your books are published because I love your books!

      Diana

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  30. Shalom Friends

    Congratulations Hank on The First To Lie. I will pick it up from Amazon’s Kindle store.

    We are getting some monster rain, the tail of the east coast hurricane. Hurricanes are all right, unless the power gets cut off. People here always clear the stores of milk, bread and eggs. I am fine if I have coffee, cigarettes and an internet signal.

    I will always remember my first hurricane. It was Hurricane Donna. I was in the second grade and somehow the school hadn’t foresaw how crippling the storm would be. School was cancelled around noon and parents were allowed to pick their children up provided they did so by 1 pm. My mom was home with a toddler and one soon to be delivered, and no car. So, she dispatched a neighbor to pick me up together with her own son. It took us a while to find an exit from the school. Then, we walked home, maybe 2 miles, and got drenched in the process. It was only half a mile home, but it felt much longer as a 6 year old.

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    1. David, I remember Hurricane Donna. So much devastation here! Rivers running wild. Main Streets washed away. I was little but the damage was daunting.

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  31. Hank - Congratulations and Happy Happy Pub Day!!! SO proud of you I could pop. I hope you're taking a few minutes to sit back and soak up all the wonderful things that are being said about your newest book. Enjoy every second. You deserve them all.
    xxoo

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  32. Hank, I know how terrific THE FIRST TO LIE is, so I know it's going to sell like gangbusters! Congratulations on making it to pub day after this crazy, crazy spring and summer we've all had.

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  33. First time attending a virtual book event! I live in a rural area and there are no bookstores close by, and when I lived in much bigger cities I just never had time to make it to a book event. I've loved these virtual tours. They're so fun, and a wonderful way to connect with people during these quarantines.

    Congrats on the book birthday!

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  34. Congratulations on this outstanding new book, Hank! I’ve posted my review where I praised it as well as my abilities could. I always feel a bit inadequate in expressing just how great a read a book like The First to Lie is. Enjoy this day and all the accolades.

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  35. Oh, thank you thank you all! I am crazed and will be back to answer very single one of these-thank you!!! xoo

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  36. Happy Book Birthday, Hank! It sounds wonderful!

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  37. Congratulations! I was the first of all my cousins to graduate from college with a MA! lindaherold999(at)gmail(dot)com

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  38. How I wish I was a fly on the wall for this! So awesome.

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