Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera!

I'm a sucker for true crime podcast, so when I saw this was a "story within a story" type, podcast murder mystery investigation, I had to grab it! I was NOT disappointed, EASY 5 stars! In fact do yourself a favor and grab the audio as well! Fantastic narrators! The podcast angle is perfect for audio!

Ben Owens, a sexy and charismatic podcaster is investigating a past small town crime where Lucy was found wandering the streets covered in her best friend's blood. The entire town and even Lucy herself thinks she must have murdered her best friend, yet Lucy still can't remember anything about that night and has been trying to start a fresh life far away from her small Texas hometown. With the podcast being a huge hit, Lucy is forced to return to her hometown and try to help solve the mystery of what really happened that night. Full of scandalous small town gossip, saucy characters, forbidden rendezvous and a good ol' whodunit spirit, this was a streamy 5 star mystery!

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera is a perfect addition to the thriller genre! Plus, the novel is wonderfully written, the story tight, the main character endearing and funny. Definitely a page turner!

I know a lot of readers and some friends really enjoyed this book but honestly it was only "meh" for me.
Podcasts are very trendy right now so I understand why so many authors are running with them but if you've ever listened to a crime podcast then you would know it's nothing like portrayed in this book, so for me that messed up the entire book. The story was fine, Lucy wasn't very likable so that also made reading her story a chore.

I did have my book club read this last month because I know books are subjective but they weren't that into it either.

Now this book…. Wow. Could not put it down. What a riveting story with a whole bunch of twists and turns and a main character that I definitely connected with.

I also really loved Ben and would read another book about his podcast

LISTEN FOR THE LIE by Amy Tintera was a darkly comedic whodunnit. (I can’t believe I’m putting those descriptive words together.)

When Savannah Harper was murdered five years ago and her best friend Lucy Chase, a secret romance novelist, was found walking, dazed and confused and covered in Savannah‘s blood, down the road near Savannah’s body., there wasn’t enough evidence to charge Lucy. She has spent the last five years trying desperately not to remember that night but dreaming of ways to violently rub people out. Lucy is grudgingly returning to her hometown for Beverley Moore, her beloved grandmother‘s birthday celebration. She is contacted by Ben Owens, a true crime podcaster who is looking into the case for his current season.

Suspects were aplenty as many people from their past were all attending a wedding on the night of the murder. Lucy‘s now ex-husband, Matt, with no clear evidence, but hearing small town rumours, immediately kicked Lucy out of the home and they divorced. Lucy had left town vowing never to return. And she hasn’t, until now. As Ben Owens looks into things, interviewing wedding guests, family members, townsfolk and Lucy herself, we read the transcripts of his episodes and begin to put the pieces together leasing to the final reveal, and what a reveal it is! I kept thinking, ‘oh, it’s’ so and so, only to be proven wrong.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one and it had me chuckling at some of the ways Lucy was envisioning other’s demise. The clues in the podcasts were subtle and I enjoyed piecing things together right along with Ben and Lucy. The writing was clear and concise which led to a very enjoyable read. I will definitely be looking for other works by Amy Tintera and she will be an author I keep on my radar.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

Such a good binge read! I loved the podcast element, the story was great, and loved the reveal! I highly recommend if you're looking for something to get you out of a reading slump.

This book was so good!! It kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen next. This is one of my favorite thrillers. I definitely recommend it!

This book was written for fans of true crime podcasts, but will find an audience among thriller readers who have never pressed play. One of the most intriguing parts of this book was having an unreliable narrator who not only leans into their unreliability, but announces it multiple times for the world, or at least her small town, to hear. The reveal for this book was so well done that I went back to see if I had missed the clues.

Another thing I enjoyed in this story was seeing the care the author took with the podcast episodes - both by using them as an additional point of view and as informational. Even though they were full of backstory and information, they felt like an organic way of learning those things.

If you enjoy true crime, podcasts, or a thriller that leaves you flipping the pages back, I would highly recommend picking up Listen for the Lie!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Celadon Books and Netgalley for the advanced review copy.

This book was quite a bit more entertaining than I thought it would be, considering the dark plotline. The podcast chapters were very well done and I loved the small town gossipy feel to them. The main character is mildly unlikeable, but so self-aware that she is unlikeable that she becomes more likeable as the story goes on, if that makes sense.

While it seems like every person in town has cause to be a suspect and, as with most thrillers / mysteries these days, there are plenty of twists, the thing that stands out to me the most is the sheer amount of STDS that must be floating around that town - I needed some kind of string on a bulletin board kind of set up to keep all the relationships, one night stands, and timelines straight.

“Listen for the Lie” is a true crime podcast in its second season. The show’s host Ben is focusing on the unsolved murder of Savvy. Her body was found 5 years ago in the woods after a wedding nearby. Her best friend Lucy is found wandering down the road with head trauma and no recollection of the evening. Savvy has scratches on her arms and Lucy has Savvy’s skin under her nails. Lucy has since moved from their small Texas town to LA after there was insufficient evidence to formally charge her… but did she murder her friend? She genuinely cannot remember. When Ben starts the podcast about the case, Lucy happens to be home for her Grandma’s birthday and her interest is peaked. Will she finally get answers about that night?

I flew through this one. I was captivated and did not want to put it down. Definitely recommend this one!

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review!

*3.5 stars

A twisty, fun thriller with podcast elements that helped carry me through the story.

The podcast elements, especially on audio, elevated the reading experience for me. It was a great way to introduce other characters’ perspectives without cluttering up the main story with chapters from lots of different characters.

I really enjoyed the main’s character’s voice. There was just the right amount of snark and humor that made her feel distinct without becoming too annoying, although she did make many decisions that left me with my eyebrows raised.

My one critique is with those questionable character choices. The plot became a bit far fetched for me, especially toward the end. The tone wasn’t like Finlay Donovan or the Stephanie Plum books where you’re prepared for an over-the-top plot. The book tackled some more difficult themes, which I appreciated, but the tonal shift from wacky to serious would throw me off sometimes.

If you’re looking for a book that incorporates podcast elements in a fresh new way, and if you like thrillers that have unhinged plot lines and characters, I think you’d have a fun time reading this book!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the digital arc. All opinions are my own.

Wow. Just wow. This book was fantastic. I am a sucker for thrillers and this one did not disappoint. The way this book was written by way of a true crime podcast, and what this podcast did to a suspect in an unsolved murder from five years ago really made it unique and entertaining. Although it is kind of a brutal murder, I found myself laughing out loud a few times as well. I just couldn’t seem to turn the pages fast enough.

Very good book, possibly my fave of the year so far!

Imagine losing your best friend 5 years ago and being the main suspect in her murder ever since, but having no recollection of what happened the night she died. Listen for the Lie was such a creatively, twisted story!! I was immediately drawn into Lucy's dark sense of humor and the plot; a combination of Lucy's firsthand account and the audio recording of the podcast actively trying to solve the open case of who killed her best friend Savvy. Absolutely devoured this book! Thank you Celadon Books and Amy Tintera for the eARC!!

I don’t read a lot of thrillers but when I do, I gravitate towards twisty, fun reads versus scary thrillers. 🫣

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera fit the bill! This book had an unreliable narrator, a bunch of unlikeable characters, and a few twists I didn’t see coming at all. It made me laugh, it made me gasp; it was perfect!

I was never entirely sure where the book was heading, and the juicy and scandalous details made this a total binge read. I didn’t want to put it down!

The ending *almost* felt like the story wrapped up but it also left me wondering “do I ACTUALLY know what happened?!” 😆 Normally I need my book endings to be tidy but the up-in-the-air final chapter worked perfectly for this one.

I gave this one 5 stars!

Listen for the Lie was completely addicting and I couldn't put it down! The mystery was compelling and believable, and woven with care. I loved how the podcast helped to tie parts of the mystery together. The character development was great and I loved the supporting cast so much - especially Lucy's grandmother.

Was a good read. First time author for me and I’ll be checking out more books by her. Finished it in one day.

This book was so hard to put down, and I wish I had more time to binge read it, because I was constantly thinking about it when I wasn't reading it. Throughout the book, I found myself rehashing the events I had read about and went back and forth with myself about whether Lucy actually killed Savvy or not.
The twists were suspenseful and I honestly had no idea what to expect with the ending.
The podcast element was done perfectly in print, but I've heard multiple people say the audio for this one is even better, so now I want to listen to the audio version!
I found myself laughing at things that Lucy said or thought one minute, and then thinking to myself "wait...what 😳🤯?!" the next minute. I'm not sure what this says about me, but the dark humor sprinkled throughout the book is right up my alley 😂😅
If you are looking for a binge worthy thriller with mysterious characters, and a mixed media element, definitely give this one a try!!

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exhange for my honest review!

Imagine your best friend has been brutally murdered and you are discovered covered in blood, hers and your own. And what if you can't remember anything about what happened? Do you believe your friends and family and a whole small town that say you must have done it or do you not?
This is what Lucy is facing. It has been five years since Savannah's tragic death and a popular true crime podcast has decided her unsolved case is the perfect content for their new season. And the podcast's host, Ben, is known for solving mysteries that the police have abandoned. Does Lucy hope he uncovers the truth, or should she be afraid it will condemn her once and for all?

This book was such a quick read and so much fun! The flashbacks to Savannah made me wish she was my best friend. And her grandmother, Beverly, is a national treasure! At eighty years old, she officially has no more fu cares to give and is living her life to the fullest. She is absolutely hilarious, and her granddaughter clearly inherited her stand-out humor and sarcasm.

The mystery at the heart of this story kept me guessing, and the flip flops and twisty turns had me holding on with all I had. And yet, it wasn't dark like so many of these thrillers are. I prefer humor and this book delivered that, lightening the mood just when it was needed. I really liked this book and I think you will, too, SmartGirl!

I have heard nothing but good things about this book, and it did not disappoint! I devoured it so quickly because I needed to know what was going to happen next.

A lot of people say that the podcast storyline in a thriller is overdone. I can see why many feel that way, but I always love when a podcast pops up. I especially felt that it was used well here. There was a lot of nuance used in the podcast pieces that kept things interesting.

I was also obsessed with the MC, Lucy. She was hilarious and sarcastic and I was here for it.

Best of all, I couldn’t figure out who the killer was! I kept changing my theory right up until the reveal, and I love when I can’t predict what’s going to happen.

Thank you to Celadon Books for my gifted copy!

This was a true page turner. I couldn’t put the book down! I would recommend and can see this being a great hit this year. ⁣
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We meet Lucy, a shell of a woman who flees her Texas hometown to Los Angeles after her best friend is found murdered. Trouble is, the entire town thinks she did it. She has no memory of the events, only that she was found wondering the woods with her best friend’s blood on her hands. ⁣
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Suddenly, her new life is turned upside down when a podcaster decides to dig into the mystery of her friend’s murder. She visits her hometown and together with the podcaster starts to dig for the truth of what happened that night. Problem is, she is not sure if she wants to find out the awful truth.