Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera is a different sort of book. It is a murder mystery, much of it told from the perspective of the alleged murder, Luc. She supposedly killed her best friend, Savvy, five years ago after they both attended and wedding and left together. Lucy remembers nothing although she is worried she is guilty. She left Texas and moved to LA where she had been living with her boyfriend, until a true crime podcaster opened up the whole mess again. After losing her job, her boyfriend asked her to leave, which was OK with her. She accepted her grandmother’s demand that Lucy return to Texas to celebrate her 80th birthday. Little did Lucy know what would await her there.

This is a very readable book, despite bing littered with memories and transcripts of the podcasts. Lucy believes Ben, the podcaster, when he says he just wants to find the truth. So does she. Savvy has been living in her head so long that she’s about to go mad. There are interesting revelations about almost everyone involved. It is a cleverly plotted book, with the revelations unfolding so casually one almost misses them when we get there. Small towns hold secrets and this one holds a great many. People are not who they seem to be and between that and Savvy’s voice, Lucy’s thinks she’s going mad. Thank god for her grandmother, who has always believed in her. It was an intriguing story, full of innuendo and sexual tension. What a good read, Amy Tintera!

I was invited to read Listen for the Lie by Henry Hold & Co. All thoughts are opinions are mine. #Netgalley #HenryHoldAndCo #AmyTintera #ListenForTheLie

Lucy Chase hasn’t been back to her hometown in years, ever since the town deemed her guilty for the murder of her best friend Savannah. Lucy, now living in LA, has spent years putting her old life behind her but thanks to podcast Ben Owens, her life and Savannah’s murder are about to be brought back into the light.

I love listening to books with podcast angles on audio and Listen for the Lie did not disappoint. January LaVoy and Will Damron were excellent narrators to the story and the sound effects really made this feel like an actual podcast and not an audiobook. I’m honestly sad there isn’t going to be a real podcast now.

Throughout the story we flip between Lucy and the podcast itself. Sometimes I find the transitions to be clumsy, but Tintera has done a great job of seamlessly weaving the two together. Character-wise, I love all the ones and hated all the ones we were supposed to but Lucy’s Grandma was the MVP. I absolutely adored her personality and her need for drama! Combined with Lucy’s snarky attitude, and Ben’s charisma I was all in on this story!

I always enjoy thrillers that keep me guessing until the end. I think I changed my mind about the killer 76 different times, but none of our red herrings ever felt forced. For a debut this was a fast-paced mystery, and I can’t wait to see what else Amy Tintera comes up with! Highly recommend!


Listen for the Lie comes out March 5, 2024. Huge thank you to Celadon and Macmillan Audio for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof.books.

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintura is a psychological thriller written about a true crime podcast. This novel is perfect for true crime podcast fans. I’ve read similar books in the past and never enjoyed them because the plot fell flat and rested too much on telling a podcast story. This book was not like that at all. This book’s twists and turns will keep you guessing throughout and you will not be able to put it down. The podcast is element was fun, but the story did not completely depend on it. This book will keep you thinking long after you are done reading it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Another podcast book and I am not complaining.

Yes, Listen for the Lie is yet another book about a young woman who returns to her small hometown to face a terrible tragedy in her past. Yes, there's a podcast element. Yes, she is a somewhat unreliable narrator who can't really remember what happened. But it all works and is fun to read. It reminded me a bit of A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham, a favorite of mine.

Excited about Amy Tintera's adult debut as I've really enjoyed her YA books and look forward to what she writes next.

Lucy was found wandering and covered in her best friend's blood and doesn't remember what happened. Everyone believes that she killed her best friend, but Lucy herself doesn't know. I absolutely loved this one. Chapters alternate between Lucy's point of view and new episodes of a popular true crime podcast that is investigating the crime. The only thing that's immediately clear is that Lucy really doesn't know if she killed her friend or not and she's a fun character to spend some time with.

Read Completed 1/7/24 | 4.25 - 4.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley & Macmillan audio for the audiobook review copy! I was approved to listen to an early audiobook copy and this did not affect my review in any way.

I was really excited to read a thriller from Amy Tintera! I've loved seeing young adult authors venture into adult thrillers lately, and having enjoyed some of Amy Tintera's YA books, I was really curious to see her adult work, especially a thriller. LISTEN FOR THE LIE was a super fun read for me and it really filled a void in my personal thriller tastes that I've been looking for for years!

LISTEN FOR THE LIE is about main character Lucy who has become the star attraction of a true crime podcast (which shares a name with the book title) after the podcast host speculates that she killed her best friend. Lucy has a huge memory gap of the night her best friend, Savvy, died and can't clear her name. She gets fired from her job and dumped, returns home for her spunky grandma's birthday party, and it just so happens that podcast host Ben is also in town. (Though Grandma knew all along.)

This book has so many elements that I love in a thriller: a podcast, a great audiobook (not full cast but the narrators, especially January LaVoy, do a great job of the different voices that you forget it's not full cast), and it was FUNNY. This book had some great dark humor and I absolutely loved it. Too often, thrillers or horror novels incorporate dark humor and it gets too silly. This was just perfection (I could have even used a little more in the end) and I'm so happy to finally find a funny, dark read. It's nice to have a little change of pace reading a darker mystery/thriller vibe but it kept a lightness about it too.

Was this book perfect? No. But when I finished it, I really didn't want to round down to 4 stars. It's kind of solidly between 4.25 - 4.5 stars just because I really enjoyed. I'm sure people can guess the ending and who the killer is, and I kind of loved that everyone -- including Lucy's family -- basically believe it was her. The ending was enjoyable, I really liked all of the characters, I loved the humor, the podcast was a great element, and the mystery was fun to follow. This was a very "me" book and I really clicked with it, so I want to round up for the enjoyment factor and finding a book that I connected with!

This is definitely one I'll be recommending and I hope Amy Tintera writes more adult thrillers in the future! I'd love to see more with the dark humor in them, but I'd be happy for anything else. I think the levity will really help this one stand out, and an excellent audiobook narration will attract audio listeners too.

There is a lot going on in this book. The podcast interviews, Lucy and her toxic family, Lucy’s amnesia, flashbacks and lots of cheating (talk about getting around)! I wanted more investigating and less Lucy.

It was entertaining enough and I enjoyed the Texas setting and Lucy’s humor and witty comebacks!

I wasn’t sure what I expected here? Another twee podcaster novella? Listen for the Lie was a twisty page turner and I loved every minute of it!

Lucy has a very dark sense of humor, and I couldn’t help but smile at my Kindle as i read about her cutting veggies with a knife while her roommate/boyfriend questioned if she was a murderer. 😂🤌🏻 or quoting Beauty and the Beast when there’s a murder to be solved. because of her perspective, it was really fun to read what could have been really intense (but I want to stress that it didn’t take away from the story!!)

Throughout the whole story, I was rooting for Lucy. She’s so likable as a character, despite being so unlikeable as a human. Though, I don’t know if I was rooting for her to be deemed innocent, or rooting for her to actually be a murderer. Either way, I was Team Lucy.

Such a fun read, and perfect for fans of the Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series!

If you are just as obsessed with true crime podcasts as I am, you have to check this one out! I loved the podcast episodes interspersed throughout and Lucy in general was a sarcastic and direct FMC in the best way possible. It was intriguing, seductive, full of unexpected twists and characters you can’t trust and I couldn’t put it down. Overall, a phenomenal thriller! 4.5⭐️

Years ago, Lucy’s best friend was murdered and the culprit was never found. Even worse most people think Lucy is responsible. She fled to LA, but now there is a podcast coming about the case. Lucy reluctantly returns home for her grandma’s birthday party, and finds herself helping Ben, the podcaster, investigate.

I really enjoyed this one! It was fast-paced, suspenseful, and had lots of clues and mystery. I did find the ultimate culprit maybe a little predictable (but I read a lot of thrillers so maybe it’s just me), but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of it! I’d recommend if you are looking for a good thriller!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a well written psychological thriller that I throughly enjoyed. It contains all my favorite tropes like unreliable narrator and she was truly unreliable, messy characters of which there are many. Add to that a true crime podcast and a pace that kept me glued to the book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for a honest review 4⭐️

This book was amazing. I loved the way the author developed the characters. The main character was so sarcastic and I loved it. There were twists that I did not see coming. Everyone felt like they weren't telling truth or they were twisting the truth about what happened. It felt like they all were keeping secrets. I loved Lucy's grandmother Beverly. She was funny. I liked her relationship with Lucy. I thought I knew how it was going to end but I was not even close. I highly recommend this one.



Thank you Netgalley and Celadon Books for the digital e-arc.

How is it barely February and we already have, IMHO, a contender for book of the year?!

Five years ago, Savvy Harper was found dead along the side of the road; days later, her best friend, Lucy Chase was found wandering aimlessly along the same road covered in Saavy’s blood, with Savvy’s skin cells underneath her fingernails, and no memory of that night. But no charges were ever filed, and unofficially labeled the town resident murderer, Lucy fled to L.A. But she returns to attend her grandmother’s 80th birthday party, jobless and boyfriend-less, thanks to a new viral podcast recounting the still unsolved murder. Though Lucy has resolved never to talk about Savvy, she wonders if she should cooperate in hopes of finding out what really happened that night - even if the answer is something she doesn’t want to hear.

All I have to say about this book is WOW.

Not only was the murder mystery amazingly interesting and Lucy incredibly fascinating (I’ll let you read some of the details, it’s better to wander upon them yourself), this book was literally LAUGH OUT LOUD HILARIOUS. I seriously had to put down this book at times to finish absolutely cackling. (The birthday party scene is unforgettable. Simply perfection.)

And the twists and turns are just perfect for a good mystery/thriller. The humor and the mystery somehow blend perfectly. I can’t explain how it works so well, but it just does.

And the message of how quick people are to cast judgement, especially on a beautiful young woman, is really laid out nicely. It isn’t preachy, but it hits right. You see it in the media all the time, and this book shows it from the other side in an exaggerated way. It was done smartly. Kudos to the author for that.

So if you take anything away from this review: just buy this book. It’ll be worth your time. Trust me.

4.25 stars

This was one of the most fun thrillers I’ve read in a while! If you like true crime, find the court of public opinion appropriately horrifying, and can appreciate dark humor, definitely add this to your TBR.

A lot of the time when I read this genre I end up irritated with the characters acting unrealistic or dumb, but I really enjoyed Lucy as an FMC and a narrator. She’s canny, snarky, and knows who she is, but isn’t a cardboard cutout “strong woman who’s not like other girls”. She has a whole host of flaws that make her a relatable and compelling character, who you’re never quite sure you can trust. But that’s ok, because she’d advise you of the same thing.

Five years ago in their small Texas town, Lucy’s best friend Savvy was brutally murdered. Lucy was found in a daze, with no memories of what happened, and covered in Savvy’s blood. There was never enough evidence for their podunk police force to make an arrest, but everyone was so convinced of Lucy’s guilt that she fled to LA to start a new life. But now a popular true crime podcast has chosen Savvy’s case for their next season, and it’s not just the people she grew up with whispering behind their hands about Lucy. Fed up with not knowing, and finding herself back in her hometown at the same time as the podcast host, Lucy becomes determined to find out what happened to Savvy once and for all. Even if it means she’s guilty.

I loved the mix of dark humor and twists and turns in this, Lucy was hilarious, and so were Beverly (her grandma) and Ben (the podcaster). There were a lot of interesting dynamics between the characters and a good dose of small-town drama to keep you guessing. Plus, as everyone knows, I love a good podcast transcript inclusion in a book, and this had a bunch. I did guess a couple of things, but the layered and interesting characters really made this story, so I wasn’t even mad. Definitely pick this up if you like thrillers but are tired of the same old and want something a little more *fun*. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Celadon Books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

A solid and fun debut. Wishing the author tons of success. If you like a great, twisty thriller, don’t miss this!

This is the first book I’ve read that’s very heavily all involved in a podcast. Ben has his own podcast called Listen for the Lie and he’s investigating a murder of Lucy’s best friend, Savvy. Did she murder her? If not, who did? Lucy can’t remember. This was very suspenseful all the way till the end. I enjoyed all the characters and how the podcast played into it. My only complaint is all the “f” bombs that were all over the place. I just don’t see why that’s necessary throughout the whole book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published March 2024.

I loved this book. It’s about a woman who everyone believes murdered her best friend. But she can’t remember it.
A handsome true crime podcaster comes around asking questions. Will he discover the truth?

When I say I'm in the mood for a mystery/thriller suspense novel this is exactly what I have in mind. Wow this book was intense but so compelling I couldn't put it down! All of the characters were interesting and were fleshed out very well. The writing style was fabulous and the story was one of the best I've read in awhile. The plot was so well done I might be in a bit of a book hangover after this one. (It's going to be hard to top it!)

The absolute worst time in Lucy Chase's life has come back to haunt her. Five years ago, her best friend, Savannah, was brutally murdered and Lucy was the prime, and only, suspect. She was never charged, but still convicted in the court of public opinion, especially in her small Texas hometown. Now, a true crime podcast is rehashing the whole thing, and Lucy's grandma is insisting she return to Texas for her birthday. To the town where everyone despises her. What could possibly go wrong?

I LOVED this book. The cover doesn't really represent what's inside, though. I was thinking I was about to dive into a gritty thriller because of it, but that's far from what I got. This is a top notch mystery with notes of comedy and romance. The banter and Lucy's sarcasm are my favorite part. Lucy's grandma is an amazing character and their relationship gave me the warm fuzzies. I probably laughed out loud way too much. The pages were flying, and so was I, after this delightful book reached the conclusion.
Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for the chance to review this advance copy. Listen for the Lie will publish 3/5/24.

3.5 stars. This was a solid 4 star review for me throughout, but the ending was not my favorite. I was fully engaged in this story. I liked the snarkiness and attitude of the main character, there was a great cast of characters/suspects, and I didn't want to put the book down. The ending itself was fine as you get resolution to the mystery, but I'm not a fan of the way it played out. I will read more from this author in the future.