Felt well paced. The podcast clips gave a nice break in the action and a different way to get the reader information. I was baffled by Matt and all of his bad decision making skills.
This would be a great mini series, especially with Savvy as Lucy's conscience.
Twists were effective and entertaining.

Amy Tintera’s Listen for the Lie is an electrifying dive into the world of small-town secrets, true-crime obsession, and the murky line between memory and reality. In her adult fiction debut, Tintera masterfully balances gripping suspense with dark humor, creating a story that’s impossible to put down.

The novel centers on Lucy Chase, who, five years ago, was found wandering her hometown covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood, with no memory of what happened. Though she was never charged, the town’s suspicions drove her away. Now, a hit true-crime podcast has reignited interest in the case, forcing Lucy to return to her Texas roots and face both her past and the people who never stopped believing she was guilty.

Lucy’s voice is the highlight of this novel—smart, biting, and refreshingly bold. She’s a protagonist who keeps you guessing, walking the fine line between victim and unreliable narrator. Tintera cleverly weaves in podcast transcripts, which not only add a modern edge to the story but also heighten the tension as public opinion builds against Lucy in real-time.

The pacing is sharp, with twists and turns that kept me hooked from start to finish.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 1/2 stars

Lucy chase has been the prime suspect in the murder of her best friend Savvy for five years. The police could never find enough evidence to charge her with the crime, but they’ve never given up, and the majority of the town has judged her as guilty. Now, with her grandmother’s intervention, a true-crime podcaster has decided to delve into the case to try to discover who might be behind the murder. Lucy’s grandmother finagles a way to get Lucy to come home to the small town of Plumpton, Texas from her current home in Los Angeles, so she can talk to the podcaster and give him her side of the story. Problem is that Lucy was injured the same night Savvy died, and she can’t remember anything about what happened.

Ben Owens is a successful true-crime podcaster. He’s helped solve a cold case or two, and he hopes to succeed in figuring ut what happened between Lucy and Savvy. He’s determined and thorough, but he’s also kind and likable. Will he be able to discover clues that the police missed?

I didn’t think I was going to like this book when I first started it. Lucy came across as someone less than likeable, but as I kept reading , she grew on me, and the other characters in the story added so much to the unraveling of what happened the night Savvy died. It becomes clear that Lucy feels guilty for Savvy’s death, even if she doesn’t think she did it, and she doesn’t remember anything that happened. Turns out that despite her belief that she’s capable of murder, complete with hearing voices in her head that urge her to do so, she’s actually a caring person. So did she do it, or is there another in the small Texas town responsible?

This is a story of friendship, family, traumatic amnesia, mental health, divorce, marital infidelity, betrayal, abuse, and romance. The book was well written and easy to read, and I was surprised to discover that it was believable. I don’t tend to listen to podcasts, but I could easily appreciate all that Ben did to unravel secrets and work to solve the case.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

I just finished reading Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera, and I'm so excited to share my thoughts with you!

This book is a phenomenal page-turner that perfectly blends mystery, suspense, and heartfelt moments. Tintera has crafted a story that grips you from the very beginning and doesn’t let go.

One scene that really stood out to me is when the protagonist, Jace, finds a hidden journal in his sister’s room. The entries provide cryptic clues about her disappearance, and as he reads them, you can feel the tension and urgency build. The way Tintera weaves these clues into the narrative is masterful, making you feel like you’re solving the mystery right alongside Jace.

What I love most about Listen for the Lie is how it delves into the complexities of family dynamics and the lengths we go to protect the ones we love. The characters are incredibly well-developed, and their relationships are portrayed with such depth and authenticity. Jace’s determination to uncover the truth about his sister’s disappearance is both inspiring and heartbreaking.

If you’re a fan of gripping mysteries with well-drawn characters and plenty of twists and turns, Listen for the Lie is a must-read. Trust me, you won’t be able to put it down!

I ended up immersively reading this book combining the book with the audiobook and this definitely a 5 star read for me. The character development was in depth and gave you a real look into small town life in Texas where there’s secrets, lies and relationships that both surprise, sicken and make you wonder about greater humanity.

I loved the premise of the true crime podcaster and that eventually exposed not only the truth but so many other truths about the people in this small town. I felt that Amy Tintera did an amazing job of keeping you guessing and changing your idea of who actually killed Savvy up until almost the very end.

I hope to read more books by this author as I enjoyed her writing and the way she structured this thriller. Amazing debut novel!

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera is a fast-paced, twisty thriller that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. The story follows a girl named Cally, who lives in a world where lying is literally illegal. She’s part of a secret government operation where people are trained to be perfect liars for a special mission. Cally gets tangled up in a dangerous game of deception, betrayal, and truth, and she has no idea who she can trust.

What I really loved about this book is how tense it is. Every chapter has you questioning who’s telling the truth and who’s hiding something, which makes it impossible to put down. Cally is a really strong, smart protagonist, and you’re right there with her trying to figure out what’s real and what’s not. The twists are insane, just when you think you know where the story is going, it completely flips on you.

There’s also some romance mixed in, but it doesn’t take over the story. It’s more about Cally finding out who she really is and navigating all the lies around her. The pacing is great, and it never slows down. It’s one of those books where you just keep turning pages because you have to know what happens next.

Lucy’s best friend Savvy is found dead and Lucy is found wandering with blood all over her. Lucy has no memory of the night but everyone has decided she killed her friend. Ben Owens is the host of a true crime podcast and was successful in solving a cold case during his first season. His next will be about Savvy’s murder.

I love books that involve podcasts and this one was well done! It’s told from Lucy’s pov, past and present, with podcast episodes scattered throughout. The chapters are short which kept the pace fast. I also enjoyed the dark humor. I would love to see this become a series with Lucy and Ben working on cases together.

The audiobook is narrated by January LaVoy and Will Damron and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to @netgalley and @celadonbooks for the eARC of this book. I also bought a copy from BOTM. I both listened and read this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera!

I flew through Listen for the Lie! The pacing is done phenomenally and the narrating kept you on the edge of your seat.

Amy Tintera's Listen for the Lie is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep readers guessing until the very end. The novel follows a young woman who becomes entangled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a charismatic and manipulative man.

Tintera's masterful storytelling and ability to build suspense create a tense and atmospheric read. The characters are complex and morally ambiguous, making it difficult to determine who is truly trustworthy. The author's exploration of themes such as gaslighting, manipulation, and the blurred lines between love and obsession is both thought-provoking and disturbing.

Listen for the Lie is a page-turning thriller that will leave readers questioning their own perceptions of reality. It's a must-read for fans of psychological suspense. This was a fun time!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Lucy was the prime suspect in her best friend Savvy’s murder, but has no memory of that night. When a podcaster begins to investigate, it may finally be time for the truth to come to light…

I really enjoyed this one! It is a fantastic feminine rage book, which is frankly exactly what I needed this week (and always, who are we kidding) and I really appreciated both Lucy and Savvy’s characters and the flashback glimpses of their friendship. There were tons of twists and turns that kept me invested, and I thought the audio production was excellent and the perfect format to consume this book!

I also really appreciated the way this book handled important and difficult topics, and the nuanced exploration of victimhood and who makes a “good” victim. These are topics that are often deeply misunderstood and seeing them reflected and explored in literature is so meaningful!

CW: Death/violence/blood; domestic violence; misogyny

Oh my word, did I love this book. I found the main character's ability to live in the unknown and slowly but surely trust herself to test the waters and uncover what may or may not have occurred all those years ago is amazingly compelling. Each new character added brought a new dimension, although I am partial to the grandmother- she is the best. Highly recommend.

4.5 stars - This book was a fun, twisty read. I love an unreliable narrator, and this main character was perfect in that regard. There were also several twists that I didn't see coming. The only downside in my opinion (and I had to knock a half star off for this) is that some of the plot threads just felt unrealistic to me. Pretty much every character had slept with each other, and some of the behaviors felt odd to me. I know these aspects were supposed to be red herrings, but it caused some disbelief for me. However, I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who's looking for a fast-paced suspenseful thriller.

Lucy and Savvy were best friends, the kind of women that others envied. lucy had a great life ahead of her and Savvy was loved by all. Until one fateful day Lucy is found incoherent, disheveled, and covered in Savvy's blood. She cannot recall what have happened the previous days or where her friend is. Lucy decides to move away from her hometown and start anew in California. True Crime podcasts have become popular, and their subjects tend to be about cold cases. Just like the one Ben Owens broadcasts. Deep down Lucy thinks that she might have been the one who is responsible for her friend's demise and so does her hometown. But will Ben bring light and fresh eyes on this cold case? Lucy hopes that the truth will set her free and confirm what everyone thinks. A masterfully written mystery, the story and plot grabs the reader and doesn't let go until the very end. Well written characters.

Disclaimer: Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for this review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I absolutely loved the concept of this book! I thought it was brilliant the way the podcast was interwoven into the story. I enjoyed Lucy and her self deprecating humor. She had me cracking up through some of the darker parts of the story. I love an unreliable narrator and Lucy didn’t disappoint. This was a fast paced mystery and I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a lighter thriller.

Lucy has tried to go on with her life after the murder of her friend Savvy. She has moved away from her little town and started a new life, until a Podcast begins about Savvy's murder. It was never solved and the main suspect is Lucy. She was found wandering around with a branch in her hand and Savvy's blood all over her dress. The problem is ....Lucy doesn't remember anything. She had a head injury and doesn't have any recall of what happened.

When her grandmother asks her to come back home for her birthday party, she agrees. People still blame her for the murder. She agrees to talk to the Podcast host Ben and things slowly start coming back in bits and pieces.

Lucy is a kick. She is such a smartass. I know it is probably a self defense mechanism but it works for her. Her constant thoughts of murder are a little disconcerting. It is a very well-rounded storyline and all the characters fit perfectly together. It is a nice twisty mystery with a very satisfying conclusion.

Thanks to Netgalley and Celadon Books for a copy for review.

Another BOTM that had a ton of hype but that I did not care for at all (looking at you, First Lie Wins). I think I have finally tired of the true crime podcast trope. The main character was annoying and crass - I usually enjoy snark and sarcasm, but it was constant and got to be too much. It also read like a romance at times and there were some things that didn’t make sense.

Round up to 3.5 stars! Decent book, it did keep me very interested almost the whole way through. It just felt like there are a bunch of books out currently with a similar concept and plot. The ending did fall flat for me! But like I said, I was hooked for 75% of the book, and I did listen to this on audiobook as well, which I actually enjoyed more than reading the physical book!

As an avid reader of the thriller genre, I often find it difficult to remain thrilled by new releases. After all, there are only so many twists, turns, and tropes to be explored before a story feels overly familiar. However, *Listen to the Lie* by Amy Tintera stands out as a refreshing and compelling debut, offering a masterclass in how to keep a reader engaged without relying on predictability or overused narrative tricks.

One of the novel's strongest features is its use of the unreliable narrator, a device that can be tricky to pull off. Tintera walks the fine line between withholding just enough information to keep readers on edge and revealing enough that we never feel completely bamboozled by the story's twists. This balance is key to maintaining suspense and tension, and Tintera executes it expertly. By the time the final revelations unfold, they feel earned rather than forced, leaving you with that satisfying "aha!" moment that a good thriller should provide.

Lucy, the novel’s protagonist, initially comes across as unlikeable, particularly in the first few chapters. She’s passive aggressive, distant, and makes decisions that are difficult to sympathize with. Yet, as the story progresses, I found myself more and more intrigued by her character. The deeper we delve into her backstory and motivations, the clearer her complexities become. Tintera skillfully reveals the layers behind Lucy’s actions and personality, transforming her from a character I almost wanted to hate, into one I genuinely cared about by the end of the book.

Overall, *Listen to the Lie* is a standout debut thriller that I would wholeheartedly recommend to both newcomers and long-time fans of the genre. Tintera’s deft storytelling keeps the suspense high, her character development is sharp and rewarding, and the twists are satisfying without feeling contrived. I’m excited to see what Tintera will come up with next and look forward to her future works. If you're a lover of thrilling, character-driven narratives, this book is certainly one to pick up.

A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for gifting me with an eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I really enjoyed this fast paced mystery featuring Lucy a young women who has no memory of her best friends murder (and the possibility of her committing the crime) and Ben, the pod caster on a mission to find out the truth.

The uncertainty and unreliability of the main character kept me turning the pages. Looking forward to future books by this author.