Publishers Weekly
12/11/2023
Eighty-six-year-old Star Wars actor Williams provides a candid look back at his life and career in this genial debut memoir. Williams grew up in New York City in the 1940s and landed his first role, at seven years old, via his mother, who worked as a secretary for a Broadway producer. Bigger stage roles soon followed, and he eventually succeeded James Earl Jones as the lead in the original Broadway production of August Wilson’s Fences in 1988. Williams’s breakout film role was opposite Diana Ross in 1972’s Lady Sings the Blues, in which his charm and good looks led the press to dub him “the Black Clark Gable.” Following that success, he turned down several roles in Blacksploitation films, fearing they’d “put in a box,” and his career stalled until George Lucas’s desire to racially diversify the Star Wars series led to Williams being cast as Lando Calrissian in 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back. Williams ruminates on his professional triumphs, disappointments (including being passed over for the role of Harvey Dent in Tim Burton’s Batman), and friendships (he counted Laurence Olivier and James Baldwin among his peers), as well as his three failed marriages and his love of painting. Even as he catalogs losses and missteps, Williams writes with the panache and suavity that characterize his screen presence. The result is a heartfelt Hollywood self-portrait. Agent: Dan Strone, Trident Media Group. (Feb.)
bestselling author of Don't Look Away Rachel Abbott
"An absolute CRACKER of a book—clever, original and compelling.
New York Times bestselling author of Malice House Megan Shepherd
"A suspenseful and taut page-turner that is impossible to put down! First Lie Wins captivated me with its twisty premise and left me spellbound by the memory of its richly-drawn characters.
Elle
A relentless cat-and-mouse thriller. . . This is a classic twist-stuffed suspense for fans who plan to read late into the night.
New York Times bestselling author of The Last Hous Diane Chamberlain
"Who is the cat and who is the mouse? It’s hard to tell when even the bad guys are so likable that you can’t help but root for them. Clever, twisty, and suspenseful, First Lie Wins kept me on my toes right up to the satisfying conclusion.
bestselling author of Blood Orange and The L Harriet Tyce
"I really enjoyed this – very unexpected and pacy with a brilliant central character.
New York Post“First Lie Wins delivers a fun and unpredictable suspense ride that keeps the gue
“You’re in for a thrill ride of twists in this fast-paced novel that kept me on my toes from start to finish.
author of Maybe Next Time Cesca Major
A propulsive, note-perfect thriller.
Reese Witherspoon
This fast-paced read has everything you could want in a thriller: secret identities, a mysterious boss and a cat & mouse game that kept me guessing the whole way through.”
bestselling author of The Whispers Heidi Perks
"Absolutely brilliant. I devoured it.
Lucy Foley
Riveting!
Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club January ’24 Pick)
This fast-paced read has everything you could want in a thriller: secret identities, a mysterious boss and a cat & mouse game that kept me guessing the whole way through.
New York Times bestselling author of Local Woman M Mary Kubica
"You don't know who to trust in this taut and expertly plotted thriller from Ashley Elston. First Lie Wins is an edge-of-your-seat read that's as emotionally moving as it is gripping. I loved every minute of it!
Sunday Times (London)
“Ashley Elston handles a highly complicated plot with the assurance of someone who has been writing psychological suspense all her life. . . No wonder Reese Witherspoon has made First Lie Wins her book club choice for this month.
author of Midnight is the Darkest Hour Ashley Winstead
Prepare to trust no one on this high-speed thrill ride through timelines, identities, and motives as you work to piece together Elston's expertly crafted puzzle. First Lie Wins is a fun, clever spin on the con artist novel, perfect for fans of The Lies I Tell and The Lady Upstairs.
Jesse Watters
“One of the best thrillers I’ve ever read. . . Amazing.
#1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman A.J. Finn
“What a box of tricks! First Lie Wins flickers past like a shadow-play: just when you think you've worked out what you're seeing, the shapes shift, the scene transforms, and — hold on — maybe you had it wrong a moment ago? Cool and clever and full-on fun, the sort of slippery high-stakes now-you-see-me-now-you-don't thriller that few novelists are bold enough to attempt these days. Pick it up, please. This is a good one.
The cleverly crafted plot and whip-smart protagonist mean you won’t know who to trust in this edge-of-your-seat thriller…Riveting.”
’s Digest
author of Out of the Ashes Kara Thomas
"A whip-smart, twisty thriller with a surprisingly big heart. First Lie Wins is the type of book that begs to be read in one sitting.
Booklist Sharon Wyatt
Billy Dee Williams, an iconic actor, has been a significant part of the entertainment industry for nearly eight decades. . . . In his memoir, he recounts his growing up in Harlem, his friendships with such luminaries as Laurence Olivier, Marlon Brando, James Baldwin, and Diana Ross, and his three marriages. As he inspires readers to seize every moment, follow their dreams, and never let anything hold them back, his life story serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration . . . Williams will be as much of a draw on the page as he is on the screen.
The New York Times Book Review Maya S. Cade
Effortlessly charming. . . [Williams] writes with clarity and intimacy, revealing the person behind the persona. . . . At 86, he still enjoys the ride, but hasn’t forgotten to savor the magic. This book is an invitation to join him.
J. J. Abrams
The story of a legend, written by the legend himself! Reading What Have We Here? is nearly as good as actually sitting with Billy Dee Williams and listening to his myriad remarkable stories. Impressive, inspiring, entertaining and endearing.
Motown Berry Gordy Founder
Billy Dee Williams is a man of wonderful talents - a great actor, a renowned artist and now terrific writer. He takes us behind the scenes of his journey from Harlem to Hollywood and beyond. His star quality is magnetic on screen and off and I invite you to share in his most revealing and compelling story.
New York Times Book Review
Effortlessly charming…[Williams] writes with clarity and intimacy, revealing the person behind the persona…At 86, he still enjoys the ride, but hasn’t forgotten to savor the magic.”
Library Journal
01/01/2024
Young moviegoers today are likely to think of actor Williams as the character Lando Calrissian in three Star Wars movies, but older folks will remember him as a suave leading man in such dramas as Mahogany and Lady Sings the Blues. At 86, he looks back on his life and storied career. Growing up in Harlem, he had an early love of the arts. But despite a role on Broadway when he was seven, Williams didn't plan to be an actor. He wanted to be a painter and was admitted to the National Academy of Fine Arts and Design, where he earned extra money by booking acting roles. He toiled on Broadway and rubbed elbows with the likes of James Earl Jones, Laurence Olivier, and Sidney Poitier. In 1971, he appeared as Gale Sayers in the tearjerker TV movie Brian's Song, which was seen by 55 million people and launched his stardom. Williams writes candidly about his marriages, his love affairs, interactions with his costars, and the frustrations of being a Black actor in the 1970s. VERDICT A juicy memoir from a legendary actor. Celebrity watchers will enjoy.—Rosellen "Rosy" Brewer
FEBRUARY 2024 - AudioFile
Every one of performer Billy Dee Williams's well-lived 86 years can be heard in this candid memoir. Williams's somewhat tired vocal demeanor sharply contrasts with his cool and crisp delivery of the fascinating events of his life, beginning with his childhood appearance in a Broadway show. He has a tinge of a New York City accent. And--make no mistake--his frequent odd pauses make this a somewhat difficult listening experience. The moving events of his life are all here: a career-defining role in the movie BRIAN'S SONG; stories of working with Diana Ross and the Motown empire; and anecdotes about plays, occasional musicals, nightclub shows, and his role as an accomplished painter. His suave, ultra-cool style is apparent both in the text and in his performances at any age--including in this audiobook. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2023-10-24
The debonair actor crafts a memoir that rivals his greatest characters.
The narrative often reads like fiction, especially the chronicle of his early years, when Williams (b. 1937) describes growing up in Harlem with his mother, singer and actor Loretta Bodkin, who counted Lena Horne among her friends and was the sister of Bill Bodkin, a singer who made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1948. The author always retains his cool, laid-back style, whether he’s discussing how he landed breakthrough roles as Gale Sayers in Brian’s Song and Lando Calrissian in the Star Wars franchise, or his friendships with great actors such as Laurence Olivier and Marlon Brando or author James Baldwin. “I sensed he was a revolutionary at heart, someone who was driven to give voice to the voiceless and power to those without it,” Williams writes about Brando. “Like Jimmy [Baldwin], a fire burned inside him.” Despite his own numerous issues with racism and discrimination, Williams has always maintained a cool head and used his experiences as a Black man to inform his art in a way that is relatable to all people. When he was working on Lady Sings the Blues, Williams wanted to create “something that nobody had ever seen before on a 30-foot-tall and 90-foot-wide movie screen: a romantic leading man with brown skin who women of all colors—Black, White and everything else—were going to talk about as they left the theater and think about as they got ready for bed that night.” That’s a goal he’s accomplished while remaining the same suave personality he’s cultivated in real life. Though he discusses his three marriages and the occasional moments he lost his temper, the author focuses on blessings and gratitude.
Normally, the successes of an attractive actor wouldn’t make for great reading, but Williams makes it all sound fascinating.
