Note: I read this book while listening to the audio, because I heard such great things about the narration. And it's true! While I like to create a character's voice in my own head, January LaVoy perfectly captures the snarky inflection of Lucy's many tongue-in-cheek remarks. And while the inner voice that Lucy hears telling her to kill can be annoying to read, at Ms. LaVoy made it sound fiendishly haunting. Will Damron did a great job of distinguishing the male voices. Also, this book includes snippets from a podcast, and it's so fun to hear it portrayed as an actual podcast.

On to the story: I can't get enough of books about amnesia after trauma books, and Tintera gives us a real feeling of what it would be like to lose your memory. Are those scenes playing in your head bits of real memories...or are you just recalling what people have told you? I wasn't sure what to do with the character of the podcaster Ben - was he a good guy, out to prove Lucy innocent, or was he just there to capture a story? The other character that stands out and will surely give you a chuckle is Grandma Beverly. She seems to be the only one who can tell the truth in this book!

Read this. It's the author's debut foray into writing novels for adults and it will bring a smile to your face :-)

Thanks to NetGalley, Celadon Books, and Macmillan Audio for advanced copies of the eBook and audio files.

DAMN THAT WAS GOOD! I mean, once I started I didn’t want to put it down. I was thinking about it while I was cooking and doing dishes. A unique style with the podcast in between chapters made for a thrilling story! I bet the audio of this is dynamic! Definitely going to buy a copy for my keep shelf! Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this early copy for read and review

"Listen for the Lie" is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. What sets this book apart is its masterful exploration of memory, truth, and the complexities of human relationships. The author skillfully weaves together the present-day investigation with flashbacks to the fateful night, creating a compelling narrative that keeps readers guessing until the very end.

The characters are well-developed and multi-dimensional, each with their own secrets and motivations. Lucy, in particular, is a fascinating protagonist whose unreliable memory adds an extra layer of intrigue to the story. As she delves deeper into the mystery of Savvy's murder, Lucy must confront her own past and come to terms with the truth, whatever it may be.

Thank you so much @CeladonBooks for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 05 March 2024)

SYNOPSIS | Everyone thinks Lucy killed her best friend (Savvy) after she is found on the side of the road covered in her blood, but Lucy can't remember anything that happened. The police could never prove that it was her, but that doesn't matter as she is guilty in the public's eyes. Years later, a true crime podcaster (Ben) starts to investigate the small-town murder, bringing to light a lot of things that the town wanted to leave behind.

WHAT I LIKED:
- the dark humor from the very first page (Lucy is perfectly snarky & had me chuckling throughout)
- the podcast element actually drove the story forward & I loved gaining little snippets of perspectives from everyone in the town
- never a dull moment & I found myself thinking "just one more chapter" multiple times
- Lucy's grandmother is an absolute riot

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- the inner murderous voice got repetitive real quickly

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

I have read other books by this author and am a fan. This book was a different genre than her past and she absolutely nailed it! The writing is smart with snarky dialogue, well-drawn characters, and leave you on the edge of your seat, flip the pages as fast as you can suspense. Adding the podcast to the storyline was clever and draws the reader even farther into the drama.

Lucy is suspected of killing her best friend, Savvy, but was never charged due to a brain injury and amnesia stemming from the night of the murder...there was no concrete evidence. She leaves town in a fog of accusation and even her parents hold suspicion in their eyes. Years later Grandma Beverly (the only one with true belief in her innocence!) concocts a plan under the guise of her birthday party to get Lucy to come back to town. Her ultimate goal is for Lucy to meet up with Ben who is a podcaster doing the story on Savannah's murder and hoping to clear Lucy's name,

Lucy is the perfect anti-heroine! She has a such dry, dark humor and a too the point attitude...not to mention the voices in her head instructing her to kill in many an imaginative way. Don't worry, she has gone to therapy. lol Grandma Beverly is an absolute hoot and Savvy's "ghost" is a dark delight. What can I say about Ben other than he is perfectly matched to Lucy. I really enjoyed the two of them together and their twisty partnership/relationship.

As much as I adored some of our characters, I despised many of the others! Boo hiss on Lucy's parents and ex-husband! The author did an excellent job of stirring up emotions!

The whole book was masterfully done, keeping the reader guessing until the very end. I wouldn't even care if our heroine ended up being a psychopath at the last page...the question is, was she? :)

READ THIS BOOK!! 5 Stars

Thrillers are one of my favorite "palate cleanser" genres. If I've been reading a lot of any one genre and need a quick break with an exciting and fast-paced book, I almost always pick up a thriller. That said, I seldom find thrillers that I'd rate higher than 3 stars. I love the genre, but I've read so many that I am incredibly hard to impress or shock anymore. Unless a thriller does something really unique, has surprising depth, or the twists are completely bonkers then I rarely find them particularly memorable.

Listen For The Lie is one of those few that will make it onto my (very short) list of favorite thrillers.

The plot summary sounds fairly standard for a modern thriller: the main character, Lucy, was a suspect in her best friend's murder. Now, years later, a popular true-crime podcast is doing an episode on the case. Lucy has no memory of the night of her friend's death but she's back in her hometown in Texas, where the murder happened, and the podcast has stirred up renewed attention to the case and on Lucy.

The first thing I noticed and loved about Listen For The Lie is the tone. The book is genuinely funny from the very first line and manages to hold onto that sense of humor throughout the book. I found that to be very refreshing and unique from the thrillers I've read lately. The darkly humorous tone helps keep the story from ever feeling too grim. It also helps make the characters surprisingly endearing even through some dark moments. I've never read a thriller that I found quite as charming before and I really enjoyed it! It is also seriously addictive which I was thrilled about. It's been a while since a thriller hooked me so thoroughly!

If you love thrillers but need something a little different, I really recommend giving Listen For The Lie a chance. The mystery is crafted and paced perfectly, and the twists and turns will leave you unable to put this book down! For me, Listen For The Lie was the kind of thriller that reminds me why I love thrillers and why I continue to read the genre even when I don't often find many that I actually love. It's smart, funny, emotional, dark, and a genuinely fun and surprising read.

LISTEN FOR THE LIE had me intrigued from the beginning, but that’s and the podcast episodes interested throughout are where the positives end for me. There are SO many rave reviews for this one so I wanted to share the other side of why it didn’t work for me.

The MC was quite infuriating and some really dumb and questionable decisions. What frustrated me even more on top of that is that she would declare how dumb of an idea it was before she proceeded to do it 🙄 On top of all that annoyingness she isn’t very likeable and there were so many characters introduced through the podcast chapters that just seem thrown in for nothing.

I loved this book. A solid read. I am starting to tire a bit of the podcast trope but it's the trend of the moment so I'll ride along. I loved the protagonist, and I loved her grandmother the real star of the book in my opinion. I don't want to say too much but it was a good read without having too many "shocking" twists and turns, just a well written book.

Thank you to Celadon Books, NetGalley and author Amy Tintera for this ARC to read and review!

Ya’ll … this one is soooo good!! A gripping, suspenseful, mysterious whodunit thriller that oddly enough had me laughing too? The FMC Lucy is darkly humorous and uses snark and sarcasm as a coping tool … because well, she’s been through a lot, can’t remember any of it, been gaslighted into believing everyone else’s theories and doesn’t know who or what truth to trust! Right along with Lucy and Ben, the true-crime podcaster who is investigating the murder she is accused of, I was trying to figure everything out and was glued to each page right to the very satisfying end! Unputdownable!

TW: Language, drinking, toxic family relationships, cheating, alcoholism, abusive relationship, sexual assault, rape (mention), physical abuse

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
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.
Release Date: March 5th, 2024
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 352
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Podcast format
2. Narrator's voice was great
3. Loved the writing style

What I Didn't Like:
1. The insert of random romance
2. Lucy's voice of "killing" was annoying
3. Overly sexual for zero reason

Overall Thoughts:
I was sucked into this book and the story of if Lucy was guilty of killing her friend.

I keep thinking that Lucy's dad was sleeping with Lucy's friend and did something. That is why he was hovering around her and what she said.

Honestly I did not like the voice Lucy had that told her to kill. I found it annoying. It started to become more frequent. It just felt like it was out of character for this story and didn't do anything to add to it.

Ahhhhhh everyone cheats on one another. But it's pointed out that Lucy's dad was always cheating on her mom. This book is overly sexual. Everything centers around what people look naked and who is having sex with who. Then of course Lucy has sex with Ben and I don't understand the point of every thriller has a unnecessary romance. It's all so cringy.

Don't worry Lucy goes home and everyone is just obsessed with her. All the men want her.

All the men are cheaters and abuse all the women.

Final Thoughts:
This book was all over the place. At first I thought this was a book about trying to find out what happened to a woman that was killed via a podcast. I feel almost hoodwinked because what I ended up getting was a story that centered around sex and who was cheating on who. It honestly gets to be confusing trying to keep up with who was with who. I felt like I was the only person still infested in knowing who killed Savannah.

It's a shame because the writing was really good and the story was going well.

I get the impression that I will forget this book though by the time it's published. I wish there was something more memorable that happened in it.

IG | Blog

Thanks to Netgalley & Macmillan Audio for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Listen for the Lie is a fresh take on the "amnesia defense". Perfect for fans of Only Murders In the Building. Readers will find this novel funny and entertaining, not to mention captivating from the very first lines.

Lucy must return to her hometown after a five year absence, so that she can celebrate her grandmother's birthday. She has avoided the town for so long after experiencing the death of her best friend and being accused, but never charged, for the murder. An event she has no memory of. Now, adding to the gossip, a new podcaster has popped up in town wanting to rehash the events of the murder and all the aftermath in the hopes of determining the killer once and for all. Through podcast interviews the reader is able to learn what really happened bit by bit and can determine for themselves if Lucy is the victim of a biased town or just a very good liar.

Amy Tintera's characters are complex and very complicated. Each brings multiple perspectives to the murder mystery and having an unreliable narrator in Lucy only adds to the suspense. Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the opportunity to review this novel.

This was a refreshing mystery! I enjoyed Lucy and her humor to help her process/deal with the past few years of her life. While I kept ruling out who could have killed Savvy throughout the book, there were so many twists and clues that it kept me on my toes until the end!

I am not even 50% in on this book and I can already tell that I LOVE IT. If you love True Crime (check), podcasts (check) and a girl who loves her grandmother (check) you will not want to put this book down. It follows Lucy Chase a podcast begins to unravel her life about the most traumatic event in her life-her best friends death. The problem?? She cant remember anything about it.

Listen for the Lie is Amy Tintera's adult debut novel.
I was drawn to the red cover, the sinuous tape and the blurbs from some of my favorite authors.

It's no secret that I absolutely adore epistolary storytelling. Much of Listen for the Lie book is told as chapters and interviews of a true crime podcast.

And now you're wondering what that crime might be, aren't you?

Five years ago Lucy fled her small town. Why? Pretty much all of the residents believe she had murdered her best friend. She was never prosecuted for the killing - and she never went back home. Until now.

Lucy is completely different than I had expected. I appreciated something different and unexpected to catch my attention. she's got a dark sense of humor and she freely jokes that she just might be the killer. Is she a killer? Innocent? Her inner voice is loud - and very dark. It's more than a little concerning. Her behaviour just seems to purposely rile up those who loved the victim.

There is a wealth of supporting characters who provide their thoughts, memories and actions to the host of the podcast. I have to say that my favorite character was Beverly - Lucy's Grandmother. You'll see why.

Now, I mentioned the epistolary style. It's absolutely the perfect way to hide the clues. Who is lying? Who changes their narrative? Will you put the pieces together before the last page? I'm happy to say that I didn't! And again, it's nice to not know the ending.

This was a fun read and I hope that Tintera tackles another adult book.

Review: “Listen for the lie” by Amy Tintera was so much fun! 4.5⭐️’s (rounded up on Goodreads). This was so fast paced with short chapters I devoured this book!

5 years ago, Lucy is accused of killing her best friend Savvy. A true crime podcaster Ben Owens is in town to bring up the past to find out the truth. If Lucy didn’t do it, then who? The characters in this were so witty and fun it made this book so hard to put down. I enjoyed this book so much, must read for thriller fans!

https://www.instagram.com/michellereadsthrillers/

Really good thriller. I definitely knew who did it pretty early on, but I still enjoyed everyone else's secrets being uncovered. I hated some people most of the way through but then at the end I felt like I at least understood them a little bit. I didn't love the main character, Lucy but that's okay.

Thank you Netgalley & publisher for this e-arc of Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera.

This is a mystery-thriller novel. 4.5+*; one unique aspect of this novel is the prime suspect doesn't know if she did it or not either.

Synopsis:
In "Listen for the Lie," Lucy finds herself at the center of a gripping mystery when she is accused of murdering her best friend, Savvy. Despite her inability to recall the events of that fateful night, Lucy is plagued by suspicions and rumors circulating in their small Texas town. Now, years later, a true crime podcast, "Listen for the Lie," reignites interest in the case, compelling Lucy to confront her past and uncover the truth about Savvy's death. With the help of the charismatic podcast host, Ben Owens, Lucy embarks on a journey to unravel the mystery surrounding her friend's murder, even if it means facing the possibility that she may be the culprit.

Things I liked:
• Readers may be drawn to the character of Lucy for her complexity and relatability. As the protagonist of "Listen for the Lie," Lucy grapples with the weight of suspicion and uncertainty surrounding her best friend's murder, making her journey of self-discovery and redemption a compelling and emotionally resonant narrative.
• The unique aspect of Lucy's inability to recall the events of the murder night adds an intriguing layer of mystery to the story. This narrative device keeps readers guessing as they join Lucy in piecing together fragmented memories and uncovering hidden truths, creating a suspenseful and engaging reading experience.
• Lucy's internal dialogue, characterized by a twisted sense of humor and dark wit, provides a refreshing and unconventional perspective on the events unfolding around her. Through her internal monologue, readers gain insight into Lucy's psyche, as she grapples with guilt, doubt, and the absurdity of her situation, adding depth and complexity to her character and the overall narrative.

Things one might dislike (if you can call it that; I liked pretty much everything):
• Some readers might find Lucy's character too intricate, as her internal struggles and emotional depth might require closer attention. However, this complexity ultimately adds layers to the story, making it more immersive and rewarding for those who enjoy delving into nuanced character development.
• The unresolved mystery surrounding Lucy's memory loss and potential involvement in her friend's murder may leave some readers feeling uncertain or frustrated. Nevertheless, this ambiguity serves to maintain suspense and intrigue throughout the novel, keeping readers engaged as they navigate the twists and turns of the plot.
• The dark humor and twisted perspective presented through Lucy's internal dialogue may not resonate with every reader's taste. However, this unique narrative voice offers a fresh and unconventional take on the psychological thriller genre, appealing to those who appreciate inventive storytelling and complex character dynamics.

In Amy Tintera's suspenseful novel, "Listen for the Lie," Lucy finds herself at the center of a chilling mystery after being accused of murdering her best friend, Savvy. Despite years passing since the gruesome incident, Lucy's memory remains blank, leaving her haunted by doubts and uncertainty. Now, as a popular true crime podcast delves into Savvy's murder, Lucy is drawn back to her hometown, forced to confront painful truths and unravel the secrets hidden beneath the surface. With the stakes higher than ever and the truth elusive, Lucy must navigate a web of deception and suspicion to uncover what really happened that fateful night.

Amy Tintera crafts a gripping narrative that hooks readers from the outset. I found myself devouring the pages, unable to put the book down until I reached its satisfying conclusion. The intricate storyline, filled with unexpected twists and turns, kept me guessing until the very end. Tintera expertly navigates the complexity of Lucy's predicament, leaving readers questioning the truth alongside her. While Lucy's sharp wit and sarcasm made her an endearing protagonist, I found Ben, the podcast host, lacking depth. He felt like he was missing something throughout the novel. Despite this, Tintera skillfully captures the essence of small-town life, making Lucy's experiences feel relatable and authentic.

Overall, "Listen for the Lie" is a compelling thriller that grips you from page one and doesn't let go until the final sentence. I eagerly anticipate Tintera's next literary venture, confident that it will be just as captivating as this one.

This is EXACTLY my kind of book. A riveting mystery-thriller filled to the brim with dark humor, sarcasm, suspense, and fast-paced drama.

Lucy is found bruised, broken, and covered in her best friend's blood. Being the only person in the area at the time, she quickly goes from fellow victim to number one suspect in the murder. With little to convict her on, she's free, but not free from judgment as everyone believes she did it. That everyone includes one podcast called Listen for the Lie which brings her story back to the forefront of people's memories 5 years later. Lucy has no way of defending herself from any claims due to having no recollection of the events from that night. And when she's called back to her hometown for her grandmother's birthday party she has to face her fears and attempt to search for what actually happened that night.

Listen for the Lie had me consuming each page with reckless abandon, attempting to take the story with me no matter where I went or what I did. This was an unputdownable read that had me captivated from the first sentence, "A podcaster has decided to ruin my life, so I'm buying a chicken".

Special thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest rate and review.

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera is a smashing thriller by a great new voice in adult murder-mystery novels! The characters and plotting are engaging and encourage binge reading! The writing is so clever and bright! And the twists? Let’s just say the book’s subtitle should be, in the words of Lucy, “The truth doesn’t matter.”
Lucy Chase, 30ish and living in LA, is lured back to her hometown of Plumpton, Texas, by favorite grandma Beverly, to attend her 80th birthday celebration. For Lucy, this is a return to a terrible time, five years before, when her best friend Savvy was found murdered in the woods, and Lucy was covered in Savvy’s blood. The murderer was never found, and Lucy has been eyed with suspicion by the town’s local residents every since. To complicate the visit for Lucy, now a true-crime podcaster has reopened a deep dive into the case. Lucy opines, “A podcaster has decided to ruin my life, so I’m buying a chicken,” an apology chicken for her LA boyfriend, who is dropping her like a hot potato when he hears she is a murder suspect.
This is just a taste of the sly, witty contemporary writing style of this book that is fresh, engaging and plot perfect all the way.
While there is certainly plenty of action in the present-day investigation and in flashbacks to the night of the murder, I enjoyed this as a character driven story.
Lucy, the protagonist, is sassy and defensive to the world as she tries to cover up her insecurities and frustrations with her unsupportive family. The podcaster trope may be common, but Ben Owen gives the role a fresh voice and depth. And the “voice” in Lucy’s head is an entertaining, mysterious, devious character revealed at the halfway mark (unless you have read reviews that reveal the identity—I had a guess, but was happy to wait until the author’s chosen point of revelation.) There is also a chorus of locals, whose characters were developed nicely as the story went on.
This is such a fun, fresh murder mystery—highly readable and believable. Ms. Tintera is known for her previous YA novels, but I really hope she will continue writing more intelligent, witty thrillers for adult readers!

Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.