Thank you @netgalley and @celadonbooks for the e-ARC of this book.

I LOVED how this book was laid out with snippets of the Podcast within the chapters. I could read it with that mindset and it worked so well.

I appreciated the sarcastic humor of Lucy and how Tintera portrayed Lucy’s relationships with the other characters so well. I loved how Savvy kept popping up randomly and how the storyline kept you on your toes.

I feel like I am so good at guessing endings and I did NOT see this one coming. And that made me like it that much more.

I don’t enjoy or seek out audiobooks but this one made me itch for an audiobook version. I might have to check that out next time.

Lucy Chase is returning to her small home town in Texas after being away for the last five years. She left because her best friend, Savvy, was brutally murdered and many in her town think she did it. She suffered a traumatic brain injury and has amnesia about what happened that fateful night.

Podcaster Ben Owens has decided to focus on Savvy's unsolved murder for his newest season. Lucy is a sarcastic and direct woman living in Los Angeles after divorcing her husband who she shared a chaotic relationship with. Lucy's dear, no-nonsense grandmother has lured her back for her 80th birthday party, but Ben is also in town investigating what happened to Savvy.

I listened to the audiobook, which moves quickly. The audiobook is perfectly narrated by January LaVoy as Lucy and Will Damron as Ben. They both have such pitch perfect delivery. Audiobook is the perfect medium for this book as you get a real sense for the podcast episodes and interviews. I loved Lucy's snarky attitude and commentary. She has a "dark passenger," which causes her to have intrusive thoughts about k!ll!ng people she meets. The story is really fun and twisty and we learn that many in the town have secrets. It's a fun and sometimes salacious read.

Thank you Celadon / Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing this ebook / audiobook ARC. All thoughts are my own.

"Listen for the Lie" by Amy Tintera is an electrifying thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Tintera masterfully weaves a gripping narrative filled with twists, turns, and shocking revelations that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

The story follows Lucy, who finds herself at the center of a murder investigation after her best friend Savvy is found dead. With everyone convinced of her guilt, Lucy must confront her past and uncover the truth behind that fateful night, even if it means facing her own demons.

Tintera's writing is immersive and atmospheric, drawing readers into the dark and mysterious world of a small Texas town where secrets run deep and trust is hard to come by. The characters are vividly drawn, each with their own motives and secrets, adding layers of complexity to the story.

What sets "Listen for the Lie" apart is its exploration of themes such as guilt, redemption, and the power of truth. As Lucy delves deeper into the investigation, she is forced to confront uncomfortable truths about herself and those around her, leading to a thrilling and ultimately satisfying conclusion.

Overall, "Listen for the Lie" is a riveting page-turner that will keep you guessing until the very end. With its compelling characters, suspenseful plot, and thought-provoking themes, this book is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and mystery novels.

Woohoo—what a book! This book was a complete page turner, it kept me hooked from page one to the very end. The chapters were super short which is always a plus for me. I really enjoyed how the chapters went back and forth between Lucy’s narration and episodes from the podcast. It was the perfect way to drive the plot and get POVs from other characters. If you’re looking for a book that mixes None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell and Final Girls by Riley Sager, this is it!

Sexy, thrilling, Southern, and witty; these are all words that I would use to describe Amy Tintera's new novel, Listen for the Lie. I had so much fun reading this, and I honestly can say that I have not had a book sink its claws into me and demand my attention like this in quite some time. I constantly found myself thinking about this book and wanting to read it at any spare moment I had. To say that this novel is unputdownable would be an understatement.

To start, I would love to talk about the setting of this novel. Tintera does a superb job at transporting me into the small town of Plumpton. I could feel the humidity seeping through the novel and sticking to my hair and skin. I could see the neon Shiner beer light flashing outside the local bar. I knew exactly what type of trees she was describing, right down to the soil, and I definitely knew what guitars she was referencing to when Lucy was at the airport (shout-out ABIA). Having been raised in Austin, Texas like Tintera, I already had an idea of what Plumpton and its people would be like and I often found myself trying to guess what tiny town she had in mind when creating it (my guess is either Junction or Waxahachie). I think the setting was perfect for this novel, and it really gave it that kind of Southern gothic feel that you find in novels like Sharp Objects or Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. But I digress. Now, I want to move on to the protagonist of this novel: Lucy Chase.

Lucy Chase is complicated. She is not a character that you are meant to love or even like for that matter. In fact, I'm still trying to figure out if I even liked her myself. Having been the center of an unsolved murder case, Lucy is definitely used to people not liking her. In fact, they send her hate constantly, whether it's via email, DM, or even snail mail. One of my favorite things about Lucy is that even though she went through something extremely traumatic, she still writes her romance novels (under a secret pen name of course) and stays in touch with her grandma, even going so far as to return to Plumpton, where everyone hates her, just to celebrate her grandmothers birthday. I think that in itself shows us a bit about Lucy and who she is down deep at her core.

The perplexity of Lucy and all of her relationships were honestly the star of the show. Not only are we trying to figure out who murdered Savannah "Savvy" Harper, her best friend, but we get to see all of Lucy's relationships unfold and understand how each and every one of them affected her life, whether it was pre-murder or post. Some of those characters are her ex-husband, Matt, her childhood friend Emmett, and the man who is making a podcast out of the murder case named Ben. I truly believe we get to see each and every side of Lucy when she interacts with those characters. I especially loved how much character development we see from her towards the end of the novel.

I loved the pacing of this book and felt that the ending was very satisfying. Lucy Chase, while not a completely lovable character, was the definition of a strong female lead. She kicked ass I loved that she always stayed true to herself despite all of the negativity that she receieved. The podcast element was a great touch. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers and murder mysteries with a sprinkle of spice. This was one of my favorite books that I have read so far in 2023, and I can't wait to see what else Amy Tintera releases in the future!

Thank you Celadon for letting me read this amazing novel! #CeladonReader #NetGalley #ListenfortheLie #AmyTintera #MurderMystery #Thriller

4 stars, I really enjoy the true crime podcast trope (Is it a trope? Either way I enjoy it). The book had a good pace to keep the reader engaged. A good book if you’re looking for a quick thriller.

I was weary of this book because there seems to be so many mystery/thriller/crime books that have podcasting at the center of them, but I really enjoyed this one! The pacing was good, there was a good amount of humor for it being a book about a murder, and the podcast element was done so well. I wish I had the audio of this, but it still was very effective reading it!

As a podcast lover, the premise of Listen for the Lie immediately intrigued me. You’ve got Lucy, who’s back in town for her grandmothers birthday, 5 years after she “allegedly” murdered her best friend Savvy. The kicker, Lucy has no recollection of that night and doesn’t know what’s true or not.

The book toggles between Lucy’s POV and snips from the podcast investigating Savvy’s murder. It keeps you engaged and provides additional information that you wouldn’t get just from Lucy’s POV.

My main critique was the sheer number of characters. At one point I was reading a podcast portion and genuinely didn’t remember who the interviewee was. I also want to just shake certain characters and ask, “why didn’t you ask more questions???”

Overall, 4.5/5, the ending was amazing, I loved seeing how all the different characters and timelines came together.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and mostly Amy Tintera for providing me with this unputdownable book!

Is it bad to want to be friends with a potential murderer? After leaving Texas after being suspected of her best friend's murder (in the Town's defense, Lucy was spotted walking down a backroad covered in Savvy's blood with no memory of the event), Lucy is lured home by her grandmother under the guise of an 80th birthday party. However, a smug podcaster is waiting to interview Lucy and share her side of the story. The only problem, Lucy has not been able to recall anything from the murder.

I LOVE a sarcastic female lead and Lucy does not disappoint, neither does the snarky voice in her head that encourages her to kill creatively with objects nearby.

This book does a great job with quirky characters; a balance of present, past, and podcast and coaxing out the truth from the town folk.

While I guessed the ending, I enjoyed every chapter along the way and appreciate the freshness of Amy Tintera's voice in the thriller market.

Thank you Celeron Books and NetGalley for the ARC of the book.

Lucy Clark has to relive the worst time of her life thanks to the true crime podcast that is trying to look into her best friend's murder. As Lucy was the main suspect in it but there was not enough evidence to convict her. Lucy still doesn't remember what happened that night and whether she is guilty as her small hometown thinks.

Lucy's sarcasm and dark sense of humor and smug podcaster Ben made really hard to put this book down. Lucy's family and some neighbors threw some shade on her and their innocence in this crime. It was a fun read with an elements of a suspense.

This book! It’s SO GOOD. If you love a suspense novel that has you reading quickly and staying up into the night, then you need Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera. The story centers around Lucy, who has lived with the guilt of possibly murdering her best friend. When a true-crime podcast dips into the story, Lucy must revisit the night her friend died and come to terms with the truth, whatever that may be.

I’ve seen many books with a similar plot but this didn’t feel stale or boring. I enjoyed it and have been recommending it to my friends, its a captivating novel! Its not just me who loved it, this is consistently receiving four and five stars along with glowing reviews!

Synopsis:

What if you thought you murdered your best friend? And if everyone else thought so too? And what if the truth doesn’t matter?

After Lucy is found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood, everyone thinks she is a murderer. Lucy and Savvy were the golden girls of their small Texas town: pretty, smart, and enviable. Lucy married a dream guy with a big ring and an even bigger new home. Savvy was the social butterfly loved by all, and if you believe the rumors, especially popular with the men in town. It’s been years since that horrible night, a night Lucy can’t remember anything about, and she has since moved to LA and started a new life.

But now the phenomenally huge hit true crime podcast “Listen for the Lie,” and its too-good looking host Ben Owens, have decided to investigate Savvy’s murder for the show’s second season. Lucy is forced to return to the place she vowed never to set foot in again to solve her friend’s murder, even if she is the one that did it.

The truth is out there, if we just listen.

Out now!

Wow! This book was exactly what I was looking for...and then some. Twisty, suspenseful, and full of laughs too. Part past, part present, part podcast. There are a whole host of characters and getting them all sorted took a minute but overall this book drew me in and kept me there until the last page. 4 stars.

🎧 Listen For The Lie 🎧

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@potatoesandpaperbacks 4.5 ⭐️

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Thank you @celadonbooks for the arc!

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Lucy Clarke might have murdered her best friend. After amnesia leaves her with no memories of the night of Savvy’s death, she flees the suspicion and ostracism of her Texas small town for the anonymity of LA. However, years later Savvy’s murder becomes the subject of a true crime podcast, and Lucy is dragged back into the spotlight. Reluctantly, Lucy returns home and works with podcast host Ben to try to recover her memories of that night. Will the truth matter? Or will Lucy always question what happened that night?

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💭 Thoughts 💭

I really liked this book! Lucy’s inner monologue was so snarky and had me laughing out loud, she reminded me a lot of Ani from Luckiest Girl Alive. I always enjoy a podcast angle (it’s giving A Good Girls Guide to Murder for grown ups) and I did not guess what had actually happened to Savvy.

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⌛️ Favorite Moment ⌛️

Favorite character- Lucy’s grandmother! Beverly was a fire cracker who drank, has numerous boyfriends, and told it like it is. She reminded me of Betty White’s character in The Proposal!

In the past I have read a few podcast focused books and thought they were just ok. This one was different for me. I liked it much more than the others I have read.

Years ago, Lucy was with her best friend on the night she was murdered. Lucy has no memory of what happened. Everyone thinks she is the killer. But is she?
Now Lucy is back in town and everyone is watching her. Including the podcast host.

For once I actually enjoyed the podcast portion of the book. It seemed much more realistic than others I have read.

Lucy is a fun character for the most part. Considering what she is dealing with, she is holding up well.

Grandma Beverly is the best character. She is funny, conniving and a little bit drunk.

I switched back and forth between the ebook and the audio book versions of this book.

Thanks to netgalley and Celadon Books for the arc.

I really loved this Thriller. I was absolutely hooked until the very end. I have heard that the audio version is excellent. I listened to a sample of the audio and it was fun to have the podcast episode have music playing and act like it was an actual podcast. I think many non-Thriller readers would actually enjoy this. The MC was sarcastic and funny in the midst of this true crime thriller. Also, MC's grandma is a pure gem.

I was thrilled to see this as a read now on NetGalley after it was chosen as an option for Book of the Month. I grabbed it right away and I couldn’t wait to start it.
Unfortunately…it was just ok for me. Although the chapters were short or in interview form, it moved slow in places. I found most of the characters unlikeable and only out for themselves. The violent men, Lucy, Nina, Ben. Only the snarky, drinking at 10 am, grandma Beverly, was truly real. I also never understood why Lucy waited 5 years to figure out who murdered her best friend!! I did give this 3 stars because the ending was unexpected.

3.5. I was hesitant to read this because I feel podcast thrillers are so overdone but I’ve seen a ton of good reviews so I was Influenced. This was a really fun read, not super unique but I liked the writing and the funny spin on it. The FMC & the grandma were very entertaining.

PHEW okay, if you pick this book up just know you're in for a suspenseful ride!! Right from the beginning I was drawn into the book, the author puts the right amount of humor that tops it off. Then there's the *internal voice* that practically added an extra character to the book which was different than most if not all thriller books I've read. The chapters are fairly short so you'll keep telling yourself *one more* only to end up reading half the book in one sitting.

I give SO many props to the main character and the BS she's put through in the book, oof. Lucy's resilience, strength, and compassion was inspiring to read. Yes she has her flaws but as do all of us.
By far my favorite thriller book of this year so far, I HIGHLY recommend!! 5 stars all the way!

Looking for a page turner you can’t put down? I got you! Pick up Listen for the Lie by @amytintera It was so well done.

Everyone in Lucy's small Texas hometown is convinced that she murdered her best friend, Savvy, five years ago. She has done her best to escape the stares and judgements by moving to LA, but a popular podcast is now focusing on Savvy’s unsolved mystery as the topic for their second season. Lucy reluctantly returns to Texas to face the unanswered questions about the night she can’t remember.

I devoured this book! The short chapters made this a very quick-paced book. (Why do short chapters do that? Mind games!) This book has possibly one of the best first lines ever, “A podcaster has decided to ruin my life, so I am buying a chicken.” Lucy’s dry wit and sarcasm was one of the best parts of the book. It helped to capture that “I am so over people thinking I am a murder…but maybe I am a murder?” vibe. Every chapter is told from Lucy’s POV, with some jumping back and forth to her life five years before. We, mostly, get everyone else’s perspectives from the podcast episodes. This was something I didn’t realize I enjoyed until after I finished the book. Not jumping back and forth between chapters devoted to multiple characters maintained the flow of the narrative.

Thank you to @celadonbooks and @netgalley for my gifted digital copy,

Good read - I like the podcast direction that some newer thriller have explored. For me It gives the book the illusion that the characters and the readers are taking the steps to solve the murder at the same time. Keeping everything in pace but also keeping momentum and solving the mid book slump.

I don’t think this book had anything stylistically that I could comment on other than waste of some characters. The mother and father were for a lack of a better word useless. Didn’t try to help the daughter, protect her, literally sent her to the store in the town where everyone thought she was a murderer.

Would read this author again