Five years ago, Lucy was found wandering the street, covered in her best friend Savvy's blood, while Savvy lay murdered in the woods. Lucy was never able to remember what happened that night, but everyone in their small town believes Lucy killed Savvy, and she got away with murder. Now, Lucy has come back home for her grandmother's eightieth birthday, shortly after a podcaster named Ben launches a new podcast about Savvy's murder. Ben and Lucy decide to work together to try and solve the crime, and to see if Lucy will finally remember what really happened that night.

I absolutely loved this one! I really enjoyed the authors writing style, and the dark humour she injected into this story to keep it from being too heavy. All the characters in this story were so well written; I absolutely adored Lucy and her grandmother, Beverly. The plot was fast paced, and kept me turning pages because I needed to know what was going to happen. The podcast element was very well done. I loved how Ben structured his podcast to get everyone's opinion on the case first, and then collected evidence to demonstrate that the town majorly jumped to conclusions when they suspected Lucy, and confronted the major players in the case with that evidence. It gave a lot of great commentary on how quickly we rush to judge people, especially those accused of crimes, how women are penalized if they aren't seen as likable, and how we view crime victims who don't act how we imagine they should in the aftermath of a crime. I think this puts a fresh spin on the podcast thriller trope, and I really enjoyed it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW🎙️

Listen For The Lie ~ Amy Tintera
Pages: 352
Genre: Thriller/Suspense

Gist: According to everyone in their small Texas town, Lucy killed her best friend Savvy but Lucy doesn’t remember anything about the night in question. When she gets word that a true crime podcast is diving into her story, she heads back home to face the music and hopefully learn the truth.

Thoughts: Thank you to @celadonbooks for an eARC copy of this debut stunner out March 5th! This was an absolute blast from
start to finish - the suspense was enticing, the characters intriguing, and it was funny. Tintera writes with a voice that jumps off the page - sharp, witty, and real. I was just really entertained read this one and felt a hug of a book hangover when it was through.

A March BOTM pick if you feel so inclined but regardless, this one comes highly recommended by me! Preorder today!

Lucy’s best friend was murdered five years ago. She was the only suspect. She doesn’t remember a thing from what happened that night. She leaves her small town in Texas to get away from the looks, the animosity, the inability to know what even happened. But she’s drawn back 5 years later for her grandmother and a podcast that is looking into the events and kicking back up all the things she moved on from.

I enjoyed this one! I liked the podcast element. I liked having a completely unreliable narrator. I liked how it wasn’t like a oh bad things coming at every turn, there wasn’t a lingering suspense in that way. She was back in her small town and talking to people.

I always always always figure out these types of books immediately so I have stopped reading them as much because they got boring. BUT I truly had no idea who did it until the author was ready for me to know. I just couldn’t figure it out. And that was super fun.

Listen for the Lie comes out March 5, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Instagram.Com/encyclopedia_britanika

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC of Listen for the Lie. This was a solid mystery/thriller. It was a a quick and easy read. Short chapters and I loved the podcast format. I would definitely recommend when you’re in the mood for a quick fun thriller.

If you’re an audiobook listener - definitely “read” this book on audio! The narration was fantastic!

After Lucy is discovered covered in her best friend Savvy's blood, suspicions of murder haunt her small Texas town. Lucy & Savvy, once the envy of all for their charm and popularity, now cast a shadow of doubt over Lucy's innocence. Despite relocating to Los Angeles to start anew, Lucy's past catches up with her when the hit true crime podcast "Listen for the Lie" and its charismatic host, Ben Owens, decide to investigate Savvy's murder. Forced to confront her memories—or lack thereof—Lucy returns to her hometown, determined to uncover the truth behind Savvy's death, even if it implicates her in the process.

Tintera's ability to blend suspense with humor was truly excellent. Lucy's dark wit had me laughing out loud one minute and then clutching my heart in the next. It's such a unique and unexpected aspect of the story that adds so much depth to Lucy's character.

And let's not forget about Ben's podcast (which is definite made better with the audiobook version). As if the mystery surrounding Savvy's murder wasn't enough, now we have this whole other layer of investigation unfolding before our eyes. It's like being sucked into your favorite true crime series, only you're living it through the pages of a book!

And can we just talk about that ending? Just when you think you've got it all figured out, Tintera hits you with another bombshell that leaves your jaw on the floor. It's the kind of ending that stays with you long after you've finished the book, and let me tell you, I am still reeling from it.

Trust me, you do not want to miss out on this must-read for 2024!

this book was phenomenal. I absolutely inhaled it and spent my workday yesterday counting down the hours until I could pick it back up. I usually find thrillers to be mediocre because they rarely strike the perfect balance of believable, intriguing, and solvable. But this one kept me on the edge of my seat without feeling like the ending was cheap. I will be recommending this one far and wide!

I have a feeling that we're going to be seeing Listen for the Lie everywhere this spring and summer. In a market where so many of the over-hyped books just don't live up to the anticipation, this one does. Not only did Amy Tintera grab me right from the very first line, but she kept me riveted until the final one. I absolutely loved the podcast interview style of moving the story forward, and Lucy is a fantastic character who is dark and gritty, but also full of snark and wit. For sure, Listen for the Lie is one I'm going to be recommending to all my thriller-loving friends.

I loved the premise of this book! The podcast to get information from other people’s perspective was catchy. I also enjoyed Savvy being in Lucy’s head (but we didn’t know it was her until the story progressed). I liked the connection Lucy and Ben had and felt like their characters developed nicely. I LOVED the snarky grandma! The plot kept me interested, engaged and I definitely wanted to know who did it. I could have done without all of the infidelity in the book. I understand small towns and the choice of partners is limited, but the cheating left and right was a distraction to the overall story. The one hiccup for me was the ending. We learned who killed Savvy and justice was served, but it was just random? Like, why was he there, why did the husband never say anything and WHY did the parents believe the husband so quickly?? Overall, I liked this book! The ending just didn’t click for me. I believe this is the author’s debut adult book and I look forward to more titles by her!

This alternates between a pod cast and the voice of Lucy, a woman who might have killed her best friend Savvy, Did she? How reliable is she as a narrator about that night? Ben, who has decided to make a pod cast about that night clearly has his doubts, Lucy is fond of sarcasm and she conveys as younger than she is. She also makes arguable bad decisions. There's a twist so no spoilers from me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read,

Very good plot following a murder investigation through a podcaster’s lens. Drama, romance, suspense all in one. Highly recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow! One of the best books I’ve read this year! Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC of Listen for the Lie. There were so many things I loved about this book: a layered plot, fast pace, a tiny dash of humor, and a flawed main character who I could root for. The author was masterful in setting up the beats of the plot and I’m already looking forward to reading her next book!
I would highly recommend the audiobook to anyone wondering the best way to read this story. The narration was excellent and I think the audio version of this book is the best way to consume it! When I was reading the print copy, I found myself thinking about the audio (which I had listened to first).

This was a good read and I loved the addition of the podcast episodes between chapters! It took me a little while to get into, but once I hit the middle of the book, I couldn’t put it down. Everyone starts to seem suspicious and I can think of at least 5 characters who were my prime suspect at one point or another. I liked learning the different dynamics of friendship and everyone’s secrets that lead to a big finale. Thanks to NetGalley for an advance read at this one and I highly suggest you check it out once released on 3/5!

4.5/5⭐️
I absolutely flew through this book and really enjoyed it. I loved the idea of a true crime podcast interviewer digging up the details from people in the small town in order to help solve this cold case.

It kept me guessing throughout as there were so many suspicious characters with intertwined storylines. It was one of those books that kept you on your toes and just when you thought you had it figured out, another curveball was thrown your way. Definitely recommend this one!

Thank you to Celadon Books & NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Grief, Blood, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic relationship, Death, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, and Violence
Minor: Sexual harassment, Vomit, Sexual content, Rape, Drug use, and Sexual assault

This is an immersive, fast-paced thriller! It has a snarky, darkly funny main character, a dysfunctional family, short chapters that end with cliffhangers demanding you read just one more chapter even late at night, and first person narration effectively alternating with podcast transcripts.

The plot tropes are not new but in this adult debut author’s hands, they are done very well. There are some good red herrings, morally grey characters and a good ending although there were a couple of things that were a bit over the top but this didn’t detract from how much I enjoyed this one.

This novel is getting a lot of attention and it’s the March GMA Book Club Pick - it’s well worth the buzz. An entertaining, fast-paced, addictive read! I can’t wait to see what this author does next!

Thanks to @celadonbooks and @netgalley for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

It’s a great day when I like a new thriller!

✅ Snarky and smart FMC
✅ No miscommunication trope!
✅ wonderfully done narration
✅ well formatted between the podcast and Lucy’s POV

I wish the storyline clicked better in my head (some things I really had to think about, but maybe it’s just because I’m perpetually tired lol), and I desperately wanted a different ending. But in the end I’d recommend it!!

I needed a quick paced thriller for vacation and that is exactly what I got! Tintera's dive into the adult thriller world is such a wild ride. I absolutely devoured this book and couldn't put it down.

I really liked the true crime podcast element because it didn't sensationalize the medium. Ben (the host) was very flawed and unethical so it made that part of the story interesting. Lucy (the lead) wasn't a likeable character, but that didn't matter to me. I think thriller readers will enjoy this title!

This story was great but the ending was so very violent. It should come with trigger warnings for domestic violence & violence against women. It’s a story that backs up the idea that every woman had had negative interactions with toxic men. Lucy was an amazing character & she definitely got the short end of the stick in a lot of ways. Her Grandma was fabulous & Lucy needed that since her parents were jerks. I was always Team Lucy which allowed me to like Ben as he was trying to solve the mystery. I enjoyed Ben and the alternating segments with the podcast which made the story so much better. I hope this isn’t a spoiler but when Lucy remembered what really happened that night with Savannah I was totally surprised, Wow! It was a bit hard to deal with Lucy’s murderous imaginings especially when it was so graphic but then when that surprise got revealed I didn’t see that coming either.

Thanks to NetGalley & Celadon Books for a copy of this book. It was great!

I absolutely loved this book and pretty much finished it in one sitting. The story centers on Lucy, whose best friend Savannah was murdered 5 years ago. While Lucy was never officially implicated, she has what some believe is very convenient amnesia from that night. Now a podcaster named Ben is trying to figure out what really happened, which draws her right back into the drama.

This was a great mystery and I kept changing my mind on who I thought was guilty. That being said, the thing that made me love the book so much was the characters. Lucy was great, Ben was great, Lucy’s grandma was great, and Savannah (in flashbacks) was great. The book was filled with dark humor that made me laugh out loud a couple times. The characters weren’t perfect but they were real, and they made this book; BUT the storyline in itself was really good too. I was sad when it ended and hope the author can find a reason to write a sequel.

I strongly recommend this book but warn you that you might not be able to put it down! Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love mysteries, true crime, podcasts - all of it. And I can honestly say that this has been my most fun and engaging read of the year so far, and probably for a while! I spent an entire day by the pool on vacation and devoured this in essentially one sitting.

A true-crime podcast/mystery trope is totally interesting to me, but the characters are really what made this hit home for me. Lucy's direct and witty banter had me laughing out loud at times, and I really enjoyed her connection to Ben and both of their relationships with Lucy's grandmother. Plus I felt like I could totally picture the other people in the town, including Lucy's parents, and I felt like I was right in Texas with them. The mystery itself was fun to solve along with the podcast, and even Lucy herself who all along maintains that she has no idea what happened that night.

I really enjoyed this one overall and would highly recommend for anyone looking for a fun mystery to read in 2024! or later, of course. Get this one as it hits shelves in March! Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon books for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was INCREDIBLE. It was twisty, turny, and shockingly VERY funny. Albeit dark humor, but that's my brand!

Lucy was previously suspected of murdering her best friend Savvy. The only problem is she has no idea if she did or not. When a popular podcaster comes to town trying to solve the case, Lucy isn't sure she wants to help him and she's not sure she'll like what he finds. As Lucy and Ben dig deeper into Savvy's last night, her small town will be rocked by what they uncover.

Easily 5 stars and I wish I could read it again for the first time. SO good.