Thank you Netgalley and Celadon for an ARC of this fantastic thriller! This book had me hooked from the start, when we meet Eve, who was accused of killing her best friend five years ago, but had no memory of the events leading up to it. There isn't enough evidence to convict her, but the court of public opinion gave her no choice but to leave their hometown. She has rebuilt her life in Los Angeles, but her past comes back to haunt her when a popular podcaster decides to report on her case. After being fired and dumped, she decides to go back where it all started and see if she can remember what happened. I loved how this book was written, with it going back and forth between Lucy's narrative and the podcast script, and it made for a fun, FAST read with the reader guessing until the last chapter.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.25⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: mystery/thriller 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
I really enjoyed this one, it was such a quick and fun read!

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Whoodunit mysteries
True crime podcasts
Unreliable narrators
Captivating and bingeable reads
Uncovering secrets
Dark humor
Suspenseful thrillers
Dysfunction family
All the drama
Sarcastic FMC

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Grandma Beverly was the best
Short chapters

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
I’ve said it before but I’m not the biggest fan of the amnesia trope however this one wasn’t too bad lol
A little repetitive at times

LISTEN FOR THE LIE is a darkly hilarious thriller about Lucy, a woman who returns to her hometown for her grandmother’s birthday…a hometown where everyone believes she murdered her best friend, Savvy, years ago. During her visit, Lucy’s grandmother convinces her to meet with a podcaster currently investigating and producing a true crime podcast based on the Savvy’s murder.

Lucy is a sarcastic, self-assured FMC. She is hilarious and not afraid to play into the part that the town casted her in as the town’s murder suspect. She is fiercely loyal. The dark comedy murder vibes had me laughing as each chapter unraveled new layers to the night Savvy was murdered. The story was primarily told from Lucy’s point of view and Ben’s published podcasts. I enjoyed it start to finish.

I highly recommend you read this book!

Thank you to NetGalley & MacMillan Audio for this advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was fun. Nothing majorly mind blowing, but entertaining and kept me wanting to listen to just one more chapter. It's a very quick, fast paced thriller with a podcast element at its center. I have read a lot of thrillers in the past year featuring a podcast and this one did a good job - especially in the audiobook - of really bringing the podcast to life and differentiating between the cast of characters being interviewed. January LaVoy is one of my favorite audiobook narrators and she definitely elevated this entertaining, if somewhat predictable, thriller.

The amnesia trope gets old sometimes, but it didn't really bother me in this one. I did guess the whodunnit early on but it was still fun to uncover why and how as I listened. Overall, an enjoyable read and I definitely would recommend the audiobook solely for January LaVoy - but also to bring the podcast element of the book alive.

I LOVE when a psychological thriller keeps me engaged from the first page until the last page. There were SO many twists and turns and I could not figure out if Lucy had killed her best friend or not. The characters were all amazing - they were not fully trustworthy and had their own quirks, making them feel like real people and not just book characters. It was a quick read/listen - and truly enjoyable. I loved that the book alternated between Lucy's point of view and also told from the perspective of a podcast. It was done seamlessly and added to the fun of the story.

Thank you netgalley for my advanced e and audio copies!

Fans of true crime podcasts and mysteries are going to love this book!

First off: HIGHLY recommend the audiobook format for this book! Once I realized that there were podcast snippets woven throughout the story, I knew this was the format I wanted to use. I’m sure the physical copy portrays these well, but I have to say the narrator and production absolutely nailed it!

Tintera centers Listen for the Lie around our main character, Lucy, who was suspected, but never charged with killing her best friend. To make things more mysterious, Lucy also suffers from amnesia for part of the day in question. This aspect allows readers to sit side-saddle with Lucy as we work to try to uncover those lost memories and piece together the series of events. I loved this structure and all the ways Tintera comes up with for Lucy to uncover a new clue.

I don’t want to talk too much about the plot for this one because I think it’s one of those books that are better to go in blind. Just pick it up and find out what all the hype is about!

5 years ago, Savannah Harper was found dead after attending a wedding. Her best friend, who Savvy was seen leaving the wedding with, Lucy Chase was found wandering the streets covered in Savvy's blood. Lucy was never charged in the murder of her best friend, but pretty much everyone in town believes that Lucy murdered her best friend. The problem is that Lucy claims to have absolutely no memory of the night in question and leaves town shortly after.

5 years later interest is reignited in the case when podcaster Ben Owens decides to cover the case in season two of his podcast Listen for the Lie. Ben was able to solve the case he covered in season one, and the town is optimistic that he will finally be able to prove that Lucy murdered her best friend. To everyone's surprise, Lucy agrees to speak publicly for the first time and be interviewed by Ben. Will Lucy finally be able to unravel what really happened to night Savvy Harper was murdered? Will Ben Owens be able to give answers

Listen for the Lie was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and it certainly didn't disappoint! I really enjoyed the podcast format that accompanied a lot of the chapters in the book, and was completely surprised at the ending. I couldn't put this book down, and can't wait to read more from this author in the future.

“You don’t owe anyone your whole story.”

This story is about a girl named Lucy who was found walking by the side of the road covered in her best friend’s blood, except she doesn’t remember how it got there. Now in present day a true crime podcaster has come to her hometown to investigate the mystery. Lucy decides she must go back in order to figure out what really happened that night. But what if she finds out she’s the one who did it?

I really loved this fast paced mystery. The podcast element was executed really well and felt integral to the story. The dual timeline of both present day and the night of the crime five years ago kept me intrigued. I really thought Lucy was a great main character and I was rooting for her even though I disagreed with almost every decision she made throughout the story. Lucy’s grandma Beverly is perhaps my favorite character and the only who seems to truly be in Lucy’s corner. The unraveling of this story kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. A solid 4.5 stars for me.

Short synopsis: Lucy is accused of murdering her best friend, years later the case is being investigated by Ben Owens the host of a true crime podcast.

My thoughts:
I am always drawn to a podcast themed book, and this one did not disappoint! The interviews and podcast portions added such a fun element to the story and made it feel so real. The red herrings and twists kept my attention engaged throughout the entire thing and I couldn’t help but binge it!

The end left a little something lacking in my opinion, and there was a whole lot of “everyone sleeping with everyone.” The amnesia trope in general can be a bit iffy but I actually felt like it was done well in this instance.

Read if you love:
- Small town popcorn thriller
- Amnesia trope
- True crime Podcasts
- Romance subplot
- Great audio accompaniment

Our main character Lucy Chase was found stumbling by the side of the road covered in her best friend Savannah's (Savvy) blood. Savvy is dead. The event occurred five years ago and poor Lucy has no recollection of what happened. Everyone in her small Texas town believes that she is the murderer and that their local DA simply didn't try hard enough to collect all of the evidence. Even her own parents believe that she killed Savvy. Since this, Lucy has moved to Los Angeles to escape and to start over from this horrific event. She anonymously writes romance books under a pseudonym because she thinks no one would want to read them if they knew about her past.

One day, she receives a call from her grandmother, who perhaps is the only person on her side and believes in her innocence. Her grandmother has invited Lucy back to Texas to attend her 80th birthday party. Initially, Lucy brushes off the request, telling her grandmother that it will cause a scene or that no one will want to see her. Ultimately, her grandmother convinces her because grandmas do what they want. Lucy leaves her current boyfriend and their rocky relationship behind and travels to Plumpton, TX. Another piece of the puzzle is that Lucy fears that Nathan (the boyfriend) has listened to a true crime podcast for which Lucy is the main subject. Does Nathan think that Lucy is a murderer too?

The true crime podcast is called "Listen for the Lie" and the host Ben Owens is also traveling to Plumpton in order to see who from this small town will be open to an interview and what kind of evidence can he uncover. At the end of every chapter, the reader gets to read the transcript from the podcast episodes. Slowly we get clearer picture of what happened that night. While getting breakfast at a diner, Lucy meets Ben in person. Is he trying to help her or hurt her? Is he trying to exonerate her or prove her guilt? What kind of secrets about their small town will he uncover?

Overall, I loved this book! It is very engaging and moves very quickly. There is seldom a dull moment. It is a thriller but there is a little bit of romance involved. Generally, if you love Thrillers, you will likely love this one. I enjoyed the vibes of the TV show "Only Murders in the Building" as the true crime podcaster slowly uncovers the murder. 5/5 Stars

Happy pub date, two days late to Amy Tintera on the buzziest of March books. Both a Book of the Month and Good Morning America Book Club pick, I felt lucky getting able to read this one early.

I was just telling someone in my own book club there have been a lot of podcaster thrillers lately; maybe it’s becoming its own trope. In this one, Lucy has been marred by the death of her best friend, Savvy who was murdered five years ago.

Turns out, Lucy was found covered in Savvy’s blood at the time, and everyone thinks she did it. However, she was never charged with the murder, nor does she even remember what happened.

Major yikes.

Enter podcaster Ben Owens, who is investigating the murder on its 5th anniversary, and poking around Lucy’s life for interviews and clues. I don’t know if the name of his podcast (and the book) “Listen for the Lie” really applies to the story, except Lucy hears voices telling her to kill.

So, there’s that.

As in, when she’s talking to someone in a regular conversation, the voice tells her ways she could kill them. It doesn’t sound funny, but the way it was written, it’s so ridiculous it is. Whether it was meant to be comical or I have the darkest sense of humor, unclear.

The book was fast-paced with zero likable characters, so pretty much your average thriller. And while I was entertained by Lucy’s snarkiness, as I enjoy being snarky myself, it almost got to be TOO much.

But since thriller/suspense/mystery is my favorite genre, I just go wherever the story takes me.

Listen For The Lie is a mystery surrounding Lucy and how she finds herself entangled in a murder involving her best friend, Savvy. With her memory of the night lost, Lucy grapples with the uncertainty of her involvement in the murder. Even with heavy suspicion placed on Lucy, she wants to figure out what truly happened. A podcaster brings light to the story several years later and Lucy's visit to her hometown coincides with the podcaster's visit to the town to interview people involved in the story.

As layers of the truth to start to be revealed, the story keeps readers interested by testing out different theories of who could be involved until the end. The pacing of the novel is great and weaves suspense and intrigue throughout. The podcast interviews offer a glimpse into each character's perspective and shows the complexity of relationships and possible motives for each. Lucy's haunting visions of Savvy guides her in her quest for answers and clarity of the night in question and adds a nice supernatural element to the story. The Grandma character also stands out adding warmth to both the character Lucy and the story.

Overall, Listen For The Lie captivates with its storytelling, and keeps readers interested as they untangle the truth amidst a backdrop of uncertainty, secrets and deception.

I loved this one! I've read thrillers with the murder podcast theme, and I feel like this one was done in a fresh, interesting, & slightly quirky way. I loved the MC and her dark sense of humor, as well as the humor throughout. Such a fun, easy read, that was hard to put down. For the audiobook lovers out there, I think this would be a good one to listen to.

Fun, fun, fun, fun. I enjoyed the heck out of this book. What captured my attention to Listen For The Lie by Amy Tintera was that it had a plot that involved a true-crime podcast. Though that is being done a lot lately, I enjoy that theme as it covers two of my favorite genres: True Crime and Thrillers. One unique facet of this novel was that the main character was kind of a jerk, but somehow she grew on me. She doesn't know if she killed her best friend, but she is fully down to figure it out. The voice in her head was annoying, but also played a bit for dark humor. At the end of the novel, it was not an ending I predicted, and nothing in the story was life changing, but it was just a really good time. I would recommend this to any thriller lover as it is just enough unique in tone and characters that it will be a refreshing change. And if for no other reason, read it for the hilarious grandma!

Would recommend for fans of…
🎧 The Hunting Wives
🎧 Gone Girl
🎧 The Night Swim

Podcast thrillers are EVERYWHERE right now, and while I enjoy the format, I am always on the lookout for an author who can put a unique spin on the trope and that’s exactly what Amy Tintera has done with Listen for the Lie.

The novel follows Lucy, a woman with a concerning little voice in her head who might just have had something to do with her best friend’s death. Everyone in town thinks she did it, until podcaster Ben comes along, searching for the truth.

Listen for the Lie is ultimately a plot-first thriller, but surprisingly the characters are what made this book stand out for me. Lucy in particular had such a distinct voice. She’s lemonade that’s just a bit too sour and her unfiltered commentary throughout added a lot to the story. I think she’s one of the best “unlikable” female protagonists in a thriller since Amy Dunne in Gone Girl.

Yes, the mystery itself was a little predictable, but Lucy’s voice combined with the podcast script elements made this such a great read (which I’ve heard is also fantastic on audio). I’m already eagerly awaiting Amy Tintera’s next book!

Listen for the Lie is out now. Thanks to Celadon and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I happily requested an ARC of Listen for the Lie after reading the description. I love a good murder mystery with a podcast plotline. Tintera's writing style reminded me so much of Elizabeth Little in Dear Daughter. I loved the sassy, sharp witted protagonist, who kept me entertained for the entire book. This was truly one of my favorites for this year, and I cannot wait to see what Amy Tintera comes up with next!

Very impressive debut! At first I thought “not another podcast driven story”, there’s alot of them these days, but this was fresh and unique as it gave us full episodes as well as making the host a main character of the non-podcast chapters. Lucy, our main character, is sarcastic and witty and downright dry at some times and I freaking LOVED. HER. Cracking jokes as a trauma response is quite common irl and Lucy nailed it every single time. I also loved that Savvy was her little shoulder devil throughout the book.

What did not work for me was there being a few too many characters for my liking. Which of course was done so we couldn’t figure out the who done it part, but in the end I was disappointed in who actually done it 😅. Lucy’s parents were definitely featured too often and her mom’s storyline was ick. I’d have been happy with more grandma and her being the only family character of Lucy. And lastly, while domestic abuse is a very real thing in marriages, Matt’s character and the way Lucy interacted with him wasn’t realistic imo and then to bring Emmett into that same fold was over the top.

Overall I’d love to see this turned into a series with Ben as the lead solving a different case. Married to Lucy, because we need her sly remarks to add comedy to the tragedy. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a buzzy book about town. I am always kinda half and half on enjoying thrillers but this was definitely one i enjoyed. The audio itself wss really well done and i could see this being made into a series.
I loved the podcast vibes and the characters, the grandma was amazing, What made this for me was the dialogue and the writing, The mystery was kinda meh but in the end i still enjoyed the ride.

One of the best thrillers I’ve read this year! Well written, surprising ending & kept me locked in the entire time. Loved the character of Lucy, flaws and all & was rooting for her the entire time. Also loved the character of Beverly, Lucy’s grandmother. This is one book that I’m recommending to everyone

I really liked this book! It was super captivating and I loved the podcast format. The ending felt a little rushed and like it was missing some things, but overall a great read.

Thank you to Amy Tintera, Celadon Books and NetGalley for the ARC.