Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for the free e-book in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first read by this author and it will not be my last! I looked for every opportunity to continue listening to this one! I love authors that have the ability to completely pull you into the story that time and responsibilities become irrelevant!

Lucy was found wandering in the woods with no memory of how she got there...and was covered in her best friend's blood. The whole town thinks Lucy killed Savannah and yet she was never charged. Fast forward 5 years where Lucy is scraping by in LA. Returning home for her grandmother's birthday, Lucy finds out that the podcaster hot on her trail also has come to her hometown to set up shop and interview everyone about the night Lucy cannot remember.

Told in alternating time lines with multiple plots and well developed characters, this is a consuming and suspenseful read!

5 stars - Highly recommend!!!

I love books that work podcasts into the story (like Night Swim) since it's combining two of my favorite things. Super fast paced, did not want to put it down. Loved the characters, Lucy was so unique. Great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in advance of publication.

Thanks to Henry Holt and NetGalley for the ARC. Wow. I had never heard of this author. About half into the book I was loving the writing style and decided to find out why I had never read her. This is her first book in this genre and I really really hope she continues to give us more. Great book,

Eek! Did I just cheer out loud?!

Five years ago, Lucy Chase was found staggering along a highway with a welt on her forehead, make up running down her face, and her best friend’s blood all over her dress. So, how did she go from “fellow victim” to the only suspect in Savannah’s murder?

Lucy claims that she cannot remember what happened that night, but everyone in the small town of Plumpton, TX thinks that she is lying ( including her own parents) despite the fact that there isn’t enough evidence to convict her.

And, that has convinced her that maybe it’s true, and she did kill her friend.

Once sufficiently recovered from her physical injuries, she moved to Los Angeles and she now writes romance books under a pseudonym, because “nobody would want to read them if they knew she was a suspected killer.” L.A. seems like the perfect place to be anonymous for a girl who continually makes poor decisions, and keeps hearing her friend Savvy’s voice in her head saying “LET’S KILL”!

But, you can’t hide forever.

Ben Owens has just decided to make Lucy Chase the subject of the second season of his popular podcast, “LISTEN FOR THE LIE” .

So when Lucy’s grandmother Beverly calls insisting that she come home for her 80th birthday celebration, she can’t say no-especially her “scene stealing” Grandma is the only one who ever believed in her innocence. Also, the announcement of the Podcast just cost her, her “day job” and her “boyfriend” who suggested that she not return after her visit to Texas-so she may as well return home to see what the podcaster digs up.

But, “What If The Truth Doesn’t Matter?”

The story unfolds mainly from the the first person POV of Lucy and she is a hot mess! If you appreciate SARCASM, SNARK, and DARK HUMOR like I do, you will LOVE her! I laughed out loud several times, and that rarely happens when I read a book.

Her chapters occasionally alternate with the “Podcast interviews” so the residents of Plumpton can “shed light” on the crime “as they know it”. And, in this book, the podcast chapters work well and are an integral part of the narrative.

The pace is FAST, with never a dull moment as tempers flare and hormones rage-yes, the men and women of this town love secrets, sparring and sex in equal measure!

SO MUCH FUN!

And, what had me cheering out loud at 95%? (No peeking!!🫣) Just one of my favorite scenes EVER in a mystery/suspense book! 📕

Mark your calendar for March 5, 2024 or pre-order now!

Thank You to the Publisher and NetGalley for the gifted copy. It was my pleasure to share my candid review!

This book was enthralling. I really enjoyed the podcast element, as well as the memory loss. I will be recommending this to others!

Listen for the Lie is my first read by author Tintera. I am always hesitant to pick up a new author because of fear of disappointment. I'm set in my ways with authors I enjoy but Oh man am I glad I gave this book a chance. The title sucked me in and then the description sealed the deal for me. I dove in a couple days ago and let me tell you, it has been A WHILE since I finished a book in just a couple days time. I was upset when I had to put it down and go to work. I was angry when bedtime came around. Last night, I woke up and could not stop thinking about the book so I picked it back up and finished in the middle of the night. No regrets despite my tired mind today.

If you like podcast thrillers, you will highly enjoy this book. The series of events was laid out in a way that created suspense and enough curiosity at the end of each chapter to make you want to read "just one more chapter." I LOVED the characters and their different personalities. I loved the portrayal of trauma and what it can do to the mind. It is not uncommon for victims of trauma to hear or see things that aren't there. It wasn't too in your face but the perfect amount of hallucinatory events. I also liked the humor which was totally up my alley. The grandmother was a riot and wish I could adopt her. I really cannot say a bad thing about this book. It was perfect. I will be on the lookout for Tintera's next thriller. Hands down five stars.

I absolutely loved this book. The main character Lucy is funny and dark at the same time. I finished the book and have been going back and forth with what the true story is. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved it! Love the podcast element, the small-town secrets vibes, the unlikable Lucy, and the big reveal. It kept me reading, racing to the end to uncover all the twists and turns.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of "Listen for the Lie" by Amy Tintera. Twisty, binge-worthy and funny. A trifecta of good reading in this sure-to-be hit by Tintera. I love humor in a mystery/thriller book and thanks so much for the writing wit of the author. It MADE the story for me.

Amy Tintera's debut thriller snuck up on me in the best kind of way. I'm a sucker for a podcast story and this was so well done. While I had been tired of the unreliable narrator trope, this was done in a unique and fresh way that kept me glued to the pages.

To solve a murder, you want answers….but do they have to be the truth?

Lucy left her small Texas hometown of Plumpton several years ago and moved to LA after her best friend Savvy was murdered. Hours after Savvy’s body was discovered, Lucy was found dazed and wandering down a street nearby, covered in blood. Savvy’s blood. She claimed she had no memory of what had happened in the preceding hours. At first, people thought that both young women had been attacked and that Lucy had been lucky to escape with her life. But soon that view shifted, and Lucy was assumed to have been the killer. Her husband, even her own mother and father, believed it to be true, and soon not even Lucy could be certain that she didn’t do it. She was never charged with the crime but was convicted in the court of public opinion, with only her grandmother believing in her innocence. Ever since, Lucy has steered clear of Plumpton, but two things happen that change that stance. First a popular podcaster named Ben Owens has decided to follow up the smash first season of his podcast, Listen for the Lie, by looking into the death of Savannah “Savvy” Harper. The rumors that had swirled around Lucy for years are now being heard everywhere, including in the office where she works and in the apartment she shares with her boyfriend Nathan. Soon thereafter she is let go from her job and is getting the distinct impression that Nathan is working up the courage to ask her to move out. Honestly the job isn’t that great and neither is Nathan, but losing both employment and a place to live at the same time is a real kick in the pants. Then Lucy gets a call from her grandmother, who has decided she wants a big family party for her 80th birthday and is insistent that Lucy be there. Plumpton is the last place that Lucy wants to show up, especially unemployed and unattached, but she really loves her grandmother and certainly can’t claim that she’s too busy to go. She arrives in Plumpton and discovers that (a) Ben Owens is in town doing interviews and digging up secrets, and (b) Lucy’s grandmother insists that Lucy give Ben an interview. Bad idea or genius? Hard to say. But Lucy knows one thing…..Savvy deserves to have the truth of that night come out, even if it means that Lucy did indeed kill her. Lucy reluctantly starts collaborating with Ben, and begins unearthing memories of that night as well as all sorts of other dirty secrets in this small Texas town. Could everyone have been wrong about Lucy, or will she be the last to know that she is a killer?
This isn’t the first podcast-themed mystery that I’ve read lately, and I suspect it won’t be the last. GIven the popularity of true-crime shows and podcasts, its a natural jump to use one as the framework for a novel. Listen for the Lie is one of the best that I’ve read, because it is not only a really good whodunnit but it also features a brave, funny and plausible protagonist in Lucy. The mystery captured me from the very beginning, and there were plenty of unexpected twists and potential alternate suspects along the way. I like Lucy straight away too; she has had to live with the fact that, with one notable exception, all of the people in her life including her parents and (now ex) husband truly accept that she was capable of killing her best friend. She can’t say with certainty that they’re wrong, as she still has no memory of the night in question. Could you believe strongly enough in your innocence when everyone around you says you’re guilty? And would you be willing to risk everything, including your freedom, to search out answers and learn the truth? Lucy is no angel, and there are more than a few secrets in her past of which she is less than proud, but the loyalty she feels to Savvy is motivation enough to compel her to work with Ben and find answers. There is laughter to be found in these pages as well as some ugly and uncomfortable truths, but it was impossible for me to put this down until, like Lucy, I found out what really happened that night. Readers of Alice Feeney, Liane Moriarty and Holly Jackson should scoop up a copy of Listen for the Lie, as should anyone who is looking for a whodunnit that they consume in one go. Many thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company/Celadon Books for allowing me access to an advanced reader’s copy in return for my honest review.

Everyone in Lucy's hometown thinks she murdered her best friend. She can't remember what happened, so she can't defend herself. When a podcast stirs up interest in the murder at the same time as her first visit home since moving away, she teams up with Ben, the podcaster, to finally find out the truth.

This was fun and gripping, and since Lucy can't remember her own actions the night of the murder, she makes for an intriguing narrator—not quite unreliable, but definitely memorable. Most of the plot centered on her regaining her memories to solve the murder, as opposed to a stricter investigation. I enjoyed the podcast transcript entries, and the way each episode or interview seemed to point to a different person. I wish we had spent a little more time exploring Lucy's feelings on that, as she started to suspect different people from her past. I thought the end came on a little abruptly, but I was glued to the page as we built towards the conclusion.

This was a well written psychological thriller, good for adults as well as teenagers. :Likeable interesting main character and a chance to clear her name or own that she did murder her best friend, as she has memory loss from an attack that night. Enjoyed it alot

I absolutely loved this book, Lucy, the sarcastic damaged but strong, her friendship with Savvy , Ben and most of all her grandmother. Interesting mix of true crime podcast with a woman trying to reclaim her memories of the night her friend was killed , back in the town where she is the suspected murderer. Five big stars

A new spin on a whodunnit murder mystery where we know who the murderer is from the beginning. Or do we? First, great title! The title alone captured my attention and the story did not disappoint. Listen for the Lie is a story about a podcaster investigating a death in a small town and while no one was convicted of murder, most in the town believe it to be the victim’s best friend. The characters are well-developed and their personalities resemble just what I’d expect in a small town.

Listen for the Lie is a fast-paced mystery that kept me entertained. Highly recommend for your 2024 reading list.

Thank you NetGalley, Henry Holt & Company and Celadon Books in exchange for an honest review.

I once fancied myself a bit of a clever reader of whodunits... but this one stole my mojo.

Lucy may or may not have killed her best friend Savannah. She sustained a head injury the same night and hasn't been able to reliably recover any memories. But she knows she loved Savvy, so what would've led her to kill her?
With her marriage in shambles and everyone in her hometown convinced she's a murderer, although there wasn't evidence to arrest her, Lucy leaves town and vows never to return.
When her grandmother requests that Lucy come home, and a murder podcaster lurking about, the missing pieces begin to fill in.
Thank you to Henry Holt & Company and Celadon Books for an ARC of this thriller in exchange for my honest review.

This debut thriller was so entertaining I hope the author will be writing many more. Our memory is affected by so many external influences, people, environment, emotion, places, scents and suggestions. As Lucy will find out in this story, her own lost memories may need to be left forgotten. Lucy suffered extreme trauma in an attack which left her best friend, Savvy, dead. Years later she still has no answers about what happened that night. She’s always blamed herself and continues to harbor guilt. Her Grandma has summoned Lucy from CA home to TX for a milestone birthday party. True Crime Podcaster, Ben, just happens to be in town for his next feature story about the still unsolved murder. Lucy will confront him, her X-husband, along with many old friends, family and enemies. She had an annoying coping mechanism of repeating a disturbing saying in her head when dealing with unpleasant people throughout the story, it drove me bonkers! Her Grandma was a wonderfully wise, interesting character with an affinity for drinking. As Lucy gets closer to finding out what happened and who was responsible the stakes become deadly. Affairs are exposed, relationships threatened, long buried secrets divulged and not everyone wants the facts unburied. I was not expecting the truth when it was revealed, many turns and a twisted plot. It was a terrific read with some stellar characters and a solid plot.
Thanks to NetGalley for the digital advance reader copy of “Listen For The Lie” by Amy Tintera, Henry Holt and Company, Celadon Books. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

Thank you NetGallery for the arc! The premise sounded right up my alley, but unfortunately DNF. The narrator was not someone I could resonate with and I found her annoying

Thank you Henry Holt Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book “Listen for the Lie” by Amy Tintera.

What I loved:
How Lucy’s, the main character, traumatic brain injury shaped the story. I thought this was super clever. I don’t want to give anything away, but I think this is one of those great tools in a thriller. Reminded me of Women in the Window, which is high praise!

There is abuse and domestic violence in this novel. I appreciate that the author makes no attempts to romanticize it, which I’ve recently seen in other popular fiction novels recently.

The mystery and how it unfolds is fantastic. There are so many different characters (including the main character) who seem highly suspicious of being murderer and I love that I wasn’t quite sure how it was all going to play out until the end.

The title of this novel is perfect. It’s the name of the podcast, but it also sets the tone for the entire story. Again, don’t want to give anything away, but this is not an insignificant title. It absolutely sets the tone for the story and I simply love that.

The only thing I wish we had was a little more explanation of Nina. I feel like she didn’t get a complete story. I wish I knew more about her first husband and how she ended up with the two men in the story, since it parallels Lucy’s life. I also wish that we knew more about the guy in high school that Savvy and Nina fought over. I thought for sure the guy was going to be Emmett.

Ultimately, this is a fantastically written and phenomenally well paced adult thriller. I hope the author continues to write adult fiction. I certainly will be repeat reader!

This is a resounding 5 star read. I wish it was already out, so I could start recommending it!

PS There is a typo in the acknowledgments. It says “I don’t always TO GET meet all of you.” But this is the only typo I found :)

This was a fun one! The writing style sort of reminded me of Janet Evanovich; I enjoyed the humor. I did think that it felt as if anyone could have been the murderer, so I wasn't really invested in finding out who did it, But that didn't matter, I still really enjoyed this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.