I really enjoyed this thriller! I don't listen to true crime podcasts but I love books that feature them!

Five years after her best friend was murdered, Lucy is living a lonely life. She gets fired from her job and is pretty sure her boyfriend is going to break up with her. This is all because everyone thinks she murdered her best friend but Lucy lost her memory of that night so can't remember what happened to prove her innocence. True Crime podcaster Ben is trying to uncover what happened that night but in the process brings new attention to Lucy.

I thought this was such an interesting thriller. I loved how the author presented the data and I kept trying to guess who did it and what happened. I thought the big reveal was good and it wasn't a crazy unbelievable revelation like some thrillers. I really enjoyed the relationship that developed with the characters and I just really enjoyed how this all played out. I read this in one day - I couldn't put it down because I had to know what happened!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

4.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads! I had seen nothing but glowing reviews for this one, so I was so excited to pick it up! I like true crime podcasts, so reading about them in books is so fun (think AGGGTM but for adults). Lucy is hilarious, and Ben is the perfect balance to her just not caring anymore about being accused of murder 😂 I guessed the killer but didn’t figure out all the details, and I liked how the story felt wrapped up but still like we don’t know everything that happened the night of the murder and between the characters. Such a fun read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the opportunity to read before pub day on March 5th! ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lucy, discovered wandering a highway drenched in her friend Savvy's blood, faced accusations of murder from the townspeople. Despite the lack of conviction, the case continues to captivate the attention of crime podcaster Ben Owens, who revisits the chilling events of that fateful night.


My experience with this book was highly enjoyable. With limited opportunities for leisurely reading, I was fortunate to have the stars align, allowing me to complete this riveting thriller in a mere 48 hours. The swift pace and succinct chapters enticed us to devour large portions of the book in one sitting. Additionally, the incorporation of podcast excerpts interspersed with present-day events added intriguing depth to the narrative, further engrossing us in the plot.

My sincerest appreciation to Celadon Books and Netgalley for graciously providing us with an advanced review copy in exchange for our candid evaluation.

I had SO MUCH fun with this book. I devoured it. I ran in to tell my husband the hot gossip as it developed. This was one of those books that I forgot I was reading as I was reading it. I loved all the characters, and the story itself. It was a genuine treat to read.

This was a unique read on a few different fronts for me. Not only do you go between the transcript of the murder podcast, but you have Lucy’s life and her memories to boot as the story unfolds. I loved that you had the plot unfold for you, like everyone listening to Ben’s Podcast. I remember specifically after finishing chapter 22. I was sitting with my mouth open going “No, she did NOT.” And the beginning of the very next chapter is a character doing almost the exact same thing. Its like we were experiencing the podcast together and tuning in to all the tea surrounding the case.

I loved Lucy’s dark humor, and Ben’s ease. I loved Beverly’s general lack of fu*ks to give. (for lack of better –if not totally appropriate, phrasing). The characters were perfect, the setting was great, and the delivery exceptional.

This is a front runner for one of my favorite books of February. I loved every second of it.

Thanks so much to Celadon Books, and NetGalley for the free copy and the opportunity to read a new favorite. I am delighted to share my honest opinion.

Five years ago, Lucy Chase left her small town of Plumpton, Texas under a cloud of suspicion. Following the murder of her best friend, Savvy Harper, what started as sympathy for Lucy quickly turned to suspicion and then certainty of guilt. After all, she’d initially been presumed to be a survivor of the brutal attack that had cost Savvy her life, despite being seen walking the streets the morning after covered in her best friend’s blood. But as new details came to light and no other suspects were found, it became obvious to everyone in Plumpton—Lucy killed Savvy.

Now drawn back to town by her grandmother on the eve of her eightieth birthday, Lucy must face not only her former friends and family, but an eager true crime podcaster as well. Ben Owens made a name for himself with his first series of Listen for the Lie and for his second highly anticipated case, he’s turning the microphone on Lucy. Not only is he and the rest of the country now primed for answers, but Lucy is as well. Given that she can’t recall anything that happened that fateful night, she’s always suspected the worst. Even if it meant she’d murdered Savvy herself.

As Ben starts to reveal dark secrets and deeply buried lies, Lucy is faced with a choice—either continue to hide from the truth or help unearth it herself. Is the small southern town actually covering up a multitude of sins? Or did her neighbors have it right five years ago when they pointed the blame squarely at her? One things for sure, by the time Ben is through, the truth will be out. Either Lucy will be relieved—or she’ll be locked up behind bars.

Oh. My. God. It is literally only February and I think I’ve just discovered my favorite book of 2024. No joke, Listen for the Lie had it all. Superb characters, perfectly timed dialogue, and one heck of a dynamite plot. Needless to say, I was utterly blown away as I ripped through the pages. After all, it was the kind of book that I both couldn’t stop reading, but also didn’t want to finish.

Right from the start, I was head over heels for the characterization of Lucy. Brilliantly sarcastic and just a little off of her rocker, her personality was an utter hole in one from the very first word. On top of her, however, I was over the moon by the dysfunctional family dynamic and deliciously dark humor. Quite frankly, they were some of the best personas that I’ve ever read as they all felt decidedly genuine but also delightfully twisted.

The plot was one I’ll certainly remember for quite awhile. A mix of Lucy’s perspective and Ben’s podcast transcripts, there were even a few memories from five years ago thrown into the mix. All together, it formed a propulsive storyline that didn’t let up, even as it had me devolving into laughter more times than I could count. And as if that wasn’t enough, the fast pace, growing tension, and dark conclusion made me fall for this one hook, line, and sinker. In all honesty, I don’t know how anyone WOULDN’T love this book.

By the time I flipped the last page of this psychological thriller, the short chapters, snarky quips, and precise plotting meant I was utterly done for. After all, with its IV drip of revelations and one heck of an explosive climax, there was no end to the surprises. One thing I’m positive about now is that this is sure to be one of the most binge-worthy, buzzed about thrillers of the year. Now an avid fan, I cannot WAIT to see what Tintera comes up with next. If this book is anything to go by, she’s the next maestro of the whole thriller genre. Rating of 5+++ stars.

Thank you to Amy Tintera, Celadon Books, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC and audiobook for review.

I absolutely enjoyed this thriller. Lucy was an unreliable character who you don’t know if you should root for. She can’t remember what happened the night of her friend Savvy’s murder and she doubts herself. I liked both the book and the audiobook but ultimately listened to audio more. Having one narrator for the perspective of Lucy and another speaking the podcast episodes was enticing and kept me listening. I look forward to more adult novels from this author.

I haven't read any books by Amy Tintera before, but I got the ARC off NetGalley (thanks!), because it had good reviews. I was a little nervous early on because the setup reminded me a bit of a book I read last year, that I ended up not liking all that much, but luckily Listen for the Lie didn't have any of the problems that book did. It was quick to grab me, and I was quick to finish it. Enjoyable the whole way through. Great mystery, characters, and drama - five stars!

4.5 out of 5 stars rounded up!

I haven’t had this much fun reading a thriller in a while. Our main character, Lucy, was so freaking entertaining. I loved her dry, dark humor and thought she made such a compelling narrator.

This book has a lot of things I love in a thriller - short chapters, that “can’t put it down” feeling, multi-format (most chapters end with an excerpt from the podcast), entertaining characters, and twists you don’t see coming.

The small town setting was perfect - so much drama! I want to have a drink with Lucy’s grandmother stat 😂 she was hilarious!

I didn’t guess the huge twist (which is the best), but the way the book wrapped up left me wanting just a little more detail.

🎧True crime podcast
🎧Small town setting
🎧Unlikable (yet very entertaining) FMC
🎧Short chapters
🎧Unpredictable

Highly recommend if you’re in the mood for a thriller that you can’t put down!

Thank you Celadon Books for my eARC in exchange for my honest review. Listen for the Lie is out March 4th!

Such a fun, fast paced, addictive read; part murder mystery, part dark comedy. Snarky, sarcastic Lucy is accused of killing her best friend 5 years ago; however, she was never convicted and that same incident left her with a brain injury and subsequent amnesia. She leaves her small hometown in Texas for LA to start over. But a podcaster arrives in her hometown to dig into the events surrounding the murder which ultimately draws her back. The story is filled with a cast of colorful, small town characters including the witty Grandma Beverly who has always believed in Lucy’s innocence and is the ultimate puppet master bringing Lucy back to Texas and getting her to cross paths with Ben, the podcaster. As Ben and Lucy get closer to the truth, the best and worst parts of small towns are put on display. Overall, we really enjoyed the interesting, unique characters. They had more personality and depth than many in this genre, so we are looking forward to more books from this author!


Thank you to Netgalley, Henry Hold and Company, and the author for providing us with a digital reviewer copy of this book in exchange for our honest thoughts. Publication Date: March 5, 2024. Until the next murder! - Murdersibs.

Clever title from author, Amy Tintera involving a pod cast, lies and if it’s possible to absolve Lucy from the murder everyone assumes she committed, even Lucy herself. “Listen for the Lie” is Amy’s first novel for adults but one you won’t want to miss!

Covered in blood , Lucy is spotted staggering down the street with a gash to her head. Savvy, her best friend, lies dead after they both attended a wedding. With surmountable evidence against Lucy, but not enough for conviction, she flees her hometown where she grew up. After 5 years, a true crime podcaster, Ben Owen’s is determined to dig into the details and find out for himself what truly happened the night Savvy was murdered. Lucy comes “home” for a family gathering and is tormented by her past, her destroyed marriage and Ben, who won’t take no for an answer.

I enjoyed this novel for its intriguing plot and highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a suspenseful storyline.
Favorite character: Lucy’s grandmother, Beverly
Least favorite: Matt, Lucy’s ex-husband
What I liked: Lucy’s judgment and recourse after suffering amnesia from the trauma she experienced.

“Listen for the Lie”, is a thrilling novel of “whodunit”. ENTERTAINING! Told in dual timelines, before and after that fateful night. Gripping yet slap stick funny with Lucy’s matter of fact idiosyncratic attitude. Some spice, wit and a fiercely tense novel that will keep you guessing.

Thanks to @celadonbooks @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review

A mix of a podcast season with the POV of Lucy, the woman the podcast is about surrounding an unsolved murder she was involved in. Lucy was never charged with the murder of her best friend, but that doesn't need to happen for a community to blame Lucy. After all she was covered in blood and her skin was found under the nails of her friend who was killed.

Fast forward 5 years and the podcaster is beginning season 2 and including all the towns opinions on what they think happened along with those that knew the girls.

A plot line that I was interested and intrigued by. But, by 30% in or so I wondered if it was going to continue down the path that I wasn't loving and it did, but I finished to the end. I really did need to know what the heck happened that night.

I didn't love the use of the drunk and amnesia trope that was keeping this mystery unsolved. Very few characters were likable. Promiscuity amongst the whole community was commonplace. It felt a little like a new adult book as far as how the plot was worked out.

Publishes March 5th

Thank you to NetGalley and Celedon Books for the advance e-copy of this book.

Read this if you like:
•a hilarious grandma
•podcast / true crime
•small town
•twisty book

This audiobook was fantastic. I love thrillers with a podcast / true crime element. I finished this one in a matter of hours. This is such a fun unique read you’ll want to give it a shot.

Thank you Celadon for eARC!

A girl whose own memories jeopardize her reputation and her future grapples with what to do in the face of local and national attention.

Lucy, a 20-something living in California, experienced a tragedy in her early 20s. When called to return home to small-town Texas, the incident is examined again, this time by a smug podcaster. Ben Owens wants the truth, and he‘ll walk Lucy through every moment to get it. What starts as a woman at a crossroads develops into a woman tripping to hold onto what she knows.

This book held my attention and kept me wanting more from beginning to end. No character is trustworthy, and I wasn’t sure who to root for. This led me to think about this story even when I was busy doing other things. A solid 4-4.5 stars.

I lowered the rating from 5 stars for two reasons: 1. The formatting felt inconsistent and confusing at times. Text messages, podcast clips, and internal and external conversations were formatted in different ways throughout some of the book, which caused some difficulty keeping track of conversations. 2. The ending felt a bit lackluster. While I did not predict the ending, nor do I dislike it, it did not feel like the earth-shattering reveal it should have.

I read this on my kindle; however, I recommend the audio for the podcast elements!

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the eARC! Listen for the Lie is out March 5th!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Yes, I'm starting with stars, because that is how much I enjoyed this story!

🎧LISTEN FOR THE LIE by Amy Tintera and narrated by a favorite January LaVoy and Will Damron is a riotous, darkly funny, suspense thriller that had me engaged and entertained from start to finish.

Lucy is trying to live her life away from her hometown where 5 years ago she was found wandering, covered in her best friends blood, and no memory of the incident (but with a head injury, so...). Everyone believes she is a murderer, and she isn't so sure herself. When a cute Podcaster comes to take a new look at the cold case, he gets Lucy's Grandmother to convince her to come back.

This story is absolutely me. I loved the dark humor, the snark, the witty dialog, the tension that built through the podcasts, the amazing Grandma! Seriously, I have major goals in how I want to behave when it becomes acceptable to do so, due to Grandma. The mystery was clever and I had no idea. The last chapters were tense and extra riveting, but I think the magic here is really the journey. I didn't want this to end! I don't usually feel this way with thrillers, but this was so so fun!

If you enjoy a lot of darkly funny banter and snark, then March 5th should be on your calendar as THE DAY to go get this! The narration was absolute perfection as husband and wife LaVoy and Damron killed it. I did have digital copy which was great for the one late night I could keep reading, but this was a story that lent itself to audio; with these narrators.

Thank you @netgalley @celadonbooks & @macmillan.audio for these advanced copies. This will be a top thriller for this year for sure.

Thank you to Celadon Books and Netgalley for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. And thank you to my favourite bookshop, The Bookshelf, for a paper copy!

Several years ago, Lucy was found wandering a highway covered in her friend Savvy’s blood. Everyone in town assumed she was the murderer, but she was never found guilty. Ben Owens’ crime podcast now focuses on the case and brings that night back to the present.

I enjoyed this book. It’s rare that I have the time to sit and just read a book in a short period, but the planets aligned, and I read this one in about 36 hours. It’s a fast-paced thriller with short chapters, which led to me reading 100-page chunks at a time. I think the chunks of podcast excerpts paired with the present day also kept me invested in the storyline.

Most of the characters are a mess, but in an entertaining way that you can’t seem to look away from. I liked Lucy’s wit but didn’t relate much to her character. My favourite character was probably Lucy’s grandmother; there was something so fiery yet sweet and comforting about her.

This is an excellent adult debut for the author, with many twists and turns. As a warning, there is a discussion of domestic abuse throughout the novel. A refreshing feminist undertone to the story makes the reader question, “Why is it often men are believed and women are not?”

It's a great thriller that did everything I wanted in a suspenseful mystery!

Wow. I loved this. Couldn't stop reading. It grabbed ne early on and didn't let up. Well written characters, even though I only like Grandma. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

I have a feeling this isn’t the first, second, or even tenth time you have seen this book — and rightly so. The hype surrounding LISTEN FOR THE LIE, the word-of-mouth excitement, has been like none other, and I’m thrilled to say it’s true.

Savannah — Savvy — was the golden girl in her tiny Texas town. Beautiful, smart, oh so sweet. Her best friend Lucy came from one of the town’s founding families, and in a town like theirs, that capital L Lineage means something. Though the girls made an unlikely pair, they were best friends, which was why everyone was shocked when Savvy was murdered…and Lucy was covered in her blood.

With no memories of what happened that night, Lucy becomes the prime suspect. The case eventually goes cold without any evidence and Lucy leaves for LA where she writes novels under a pseudonym. When a popular true crime podcast announces the upcoming season will look into Savvy’s murder, Lucy’s carefully crafted new life is suddenly exposed and secrets of what happened that night become revealed.

If loving the podcast trope is wrong, I don’t want to be right! A plot revolving around a podcast digging into an old case is a sure-fire way to get me to pick up a book. Episode transcripts, short rapid pace chapters, Southern charm that might just be for show, I was hooked on it all and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

While I had some issues with Lucy’s character, overall LISTEN FOR THE LIE was such a fun weekend read. It’s intense and wildly entertaining with writing that practically leaps off the page it’s so action-packed. Just one more chapter turned into two, turned into three. This is a book that’ll grab you and refuse to let go!

I was freaking hooked from the first page on! Quick wit, humor, drama…and murder! Yes, please!

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for allowing me access to this ARC.

I loved the true crime podcast storyline. It was something different that really worked here. As the reader you will question everyone and won’t trust anyone.

Listen For The Lie is what I would consider a popcorn thriller and is exactly my cup of tea. Short chapters that don’t require a lot of thought and keep you flipping the pages. I absolutely devoured this and loved all of the added drama sprinkled throughout. Questionable characters, shady family members, a very scandalous and promiscuous neighborhood, plus my favorite…the very best Grandma around (who may or may not have a drinking problem). She was great!

I had no idea what to think or who did it until it was all spelled out in the final chapters. That shock factor ending is exactly what makes a fantastic thriller in my opinion and this didn’t let me down!

The only part I wasn’t a huge fan of is the “dead person talking/voices in my head” piece which I found overdone and distracting but it was also pretty funny at times.

Def recommend adding this to your 2024 TBR if you love a quick thriller with a shocking end!

4.5/5⭐️

Did Lucy Chase murder her best friend? That’s what Ben Owen an up and coming true crime podcaster wants to know. How is he going to find the truth when Lucy can’t remember the events of the night of the murder?
You will not love any of the characters in the story, they are all hiding deep seated lies and secrets. They are snarky, smug, arrogant and sometimes abusive. What you will love is the story that will keep you guessing as to who really killed Savvy. Settle in to a comfortable chair when you start this one because you will be there burning the late night candle to get to the bottom of the murder.
A great mystery that I highly recommend.
Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for my ARC.

I did not see that ending coming! This book will have you thinking you have it figured it out, but you don’t. I found myself binging this book in less than 48 hours because the plot was so gripping; I had to know how it ended. I loved the integration of the podcast episodes right into the story. The overall flow of the story and the transitions at all the right times kept me hooked. One of the best thriller/suspense novels I have ever read!