Point of View

First Lie Wins is written from the first person point of view of the protagonist, Evie Porter. Evie’s thoughts, experiences, and way of processing reality therefore dictates the narrative world, tension, stakes, and themes. In large part, Evie’s life, world, and character are defined by her ongoing job with the mysterious Mr. Smith. However, this job requires Evie to detach from her true identity and to fully embed herself in the lives and identities of others. Therefore, her first person narration is often caught between the lies Evie is telling and the truth she longs to embrace. For example, during the party with Ryan Summer’s friends in Chapter 1, Evie feels uncomfortable because she envies “the ease [Ryan’s friends] feel” and the way that they know "exactly what to expect and what is expected of them” (2). She wants to inhabit her alias...