This was excellent. Well paced, twisty without being convoluted, a good mystery and darkly funny. I liked Lucy, with her plans for apology chicken, from the start and adored her grandmother. It’s not often that dark comedy can really work in a murder mystery that also includes abuse, infidelity, and alcoholism. The author is very careful where the humor is placed and it really works. I laughed out loud at the birthday scene and others where the comedic timing is perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy and a chance to read this early. All opinions are my own.

Twisty-turny mystery, but the best part is the characters. They're well written, well rounded, faults and all.

Finally! A mystery thriller that I can't immediately predict the ending to right away! I'll say that this book had a lot of turns I wasn't expecting and I liked where most of them went. There were a lot of players in this murder and you didn't know their true motivations until it was starring you in the face.

I am a big believer in short chapters and this book delivered on those as well as a fast moving plot. The podcast episodes between chapters was a breath of fresh air and I loved reading about the DRAMA. I will have to say that I didn't like how much the author relied on cheating as a "gotcha" moment. It seemed like every person in this book was cheating on someone at some point and it turned out that none of those threads led anywhere specifically for the main plot. However, the best part of all of the cheating was the DRAMA that came out of it. The dynamics between her family and friends was so weird and felt like you were living in that small-town setting with her.

The descriptions of the Texas summer heat and the greasy diner burgers made me live in that moment with Lucy. It almost felt like we were there with her and shouting at her to stop making bad decisions! It almost felt like a horror movie when we were watching her let things happen to her and not talk about her previous abuse. BUT!! It makes sense for the world we live in. The author dives deep into the world of an imperfect victim, where it seems like no one will believe you.

I was pulled into the plot of “Listen for the Lie” from the very first page and couldn’t put it down; finishing in less than 24 hours. A fast paced, nail-biting, suspenseful thriller that will have you laughing out loud unexpectedly, this book will have you wondering who the murderer really is and if Lucy really did kill her best friend. You’ll question Lucy’s sanity, the loyalty of her family, and everything you think you know about what you think you know. This thriller will leave you cheering, annoyed, ready to leap in to defend both Lucy and Savvy, in love with and hating Ben, and going through the emotional roller coaster that Lucy has been chained to for the last five years since being accused and suspected of murder.

Five years ago, Lucy was found stumbling along a road with a head injury covered in her best friend’s blood. Savvy, her friend, was murdered and the only suspect they had was Lucy who had no recollection of what had happened. The result: Lucy is presumed to be the murderer by everyone except her grandmother. Five years later Ben Owens and the “Listen for the Lie” Podcast is investigating the case and opening up old wounds. Lucy reluctantly returns home and agrees to be interviewed, deciding once and for all that she wants to know what happened to Savvy, even if it means finding out that she herself is the murderer.

Told from the perspective of Lucy as well as through the podcast hosted by Ben and his interviewees, the plot will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

This book is chock full of witty banter, understated humour, a whole lot of sarcasm, a voice that plots every possible way to murder someone as soon as they enter the room, and a grandmother that will keep things hopping! You’ll love this novel that’s filled with secrets, twists, and lies. Most everyone in the story will fall under suspicion at some point and you won’t know who Lucy should trust.

Thank you to @netgalley , @celadonbooks and @amytintera for the advance digital copy. I loved every minute and cannot recommend this title enough! Preorder today so you’ll have your own copy on release day - March 5, 2024.

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Sophisticated, twisty, and gripping!

Listen for the Lie is an edgy, menacing tale that takes you into the life of Lucy Chase, a young woman who, after staying as far away from her hometown as she possibly could for the past five years, reluctantly returns to celebrate her grandmother’s birthday even knowing that the whole town still thinks she murdered her best friend and the persistent true-crime podcaster Ben Owens is hanging around stirring up trouble and trying to finally discover what really happened on that stormy night all those years ago.

The writing is brisk and tight. The characters are layered, secretive, and troubled. And the plot builds quickly as it twists, turns and unravels all the personalities, motivations, actions, and relationships within it.

Overall, Listen for the Lie, at its core, is a novel about family, friendship, secrets, manipulation, obsession, red herrings, revelations, violence, and murder. It’s a fast-paced, riveting, tortuous tale by Tintera that highlights everything is not always as it seems and is a real page-turner I highly recommend, and one you definitely don’t want to miss.

Lucy Chase hasn’t been back to her hometown in years, ever since the town deemed her guilty for the murder of her best friend Savannah. Lucy, now living in LA, has spent years putting her old life behind her but thanks to podcast Ben Owens, her life and Savannah’s murder are about to be brought back into the light.

I love listening to books with podcast angles on audio and Listen for the Lie did not disappoint. January LaVoy and Will Damron were excellent narrators to the story and the sound effects really made this feel like an actual podcast and not an audiobook. I’m honestly sad there isn’t going to be a real podcast now.

Throughout the story we flip between Lucy and the podcast itself. Sometimes I find the transitions to be clumsy, but Tintera has done a great job of seamlessly weaving the two together. Character-wise, I love all the ones and hated all the ones we were supposed to, but Lucy’s Grandma was the MVP. I absolutely adored her personality and her need for drama! Combined with Lucy’s snarky attitude, and Ben’s charisma I was all in on this story!

I always enjoy thrillers that keep me guessing until the end. I think I changed my mind about the killer 76 different times, but none of our red herrings ever felt forced. For a debut this was a fast-paced mystery, and I can’t wait to see what else Amy Tintera comes up with! Highly recommend!

Listen for the Lie comes out March 5, 2024. Huge thank you to Celadon and Macmillan Audio for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof.books.

Thank you Netgalley and Celadon Books Publishing for an ARC ♥️♥️

Listen for the lie is a total addiction! It's like a true crime podcast come to life, with a murder in a small town, a protagonist who can't remember what happened, and a podcast host trying to figure it all out. The writing is super engaging, with a perfect blend of suspense, intrigue, and clever reveals. The plot twists are expertly handled, keeping me guessing until the very end.

The characters are richly developed, with complex motivations and secrets. Lucy's parents are especially well-crafted, with a creepy vibe that had me squirming in my seat. And her grandma is a wonderful addition, bringing some much-needed warmth and humor to the story. As for the townspeople, they're all suspects in my book - the author does a great job of casting doubt on everyone.

I couldn't put this book down, finishing it in two sittings because I just had to know what happened next. The pacing is expertly managed, with short chapters and a driving narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat. If you're a fan of true crime or thrillers, you'll love this book😍 Just be prepared to stay up way too late, because once you start reading, you won't want to stop!

Listen for the Lie
by Amy Tintera

After Lucy Chase is found wandering the side of the road in her Texas hometown, injured and covered in her murdered best friend’s blood, almost everyone assumes she is the murderer. Including Lucy herself. Especially when Lucy can’t remember a single thing from that night, and soon flees to the safety and anonymity of LA. When she reluctantly returns to her hometown years later for her grandmothers birthday, Lucy can’t avoid her demons any longer. It doesn’t help that Ben Owens, the hit podcaster of ‘Listen for the Lie’, has made his entire new season about Lucy, and getting to the bottom of her friend’s unsolved murder. Did Lucy really murder her best friend? And does the truth even really matter when everyone believes you’re guilty?

This was a quick and fun read for me. Tintera provides a great mix of humor and suspense. Lucy’s voice was unique and quirky; I liked her sarcasm and witty humor. The book being split between Lucy’s point of view and the podcast episodes was also fun and different. I did kind of see the ending coming, but overall this was such a fun read! Perfect for fans of true crime podcasts and popcorn thrillers!

Thank you to netgalley and Celadon Books for the free copy in exchange for my review!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book , did a buddy read with a friend and IT WAS AWSOME! The characters were so believable! I loved the GRANDMA the most she was so funny! The banter between Lucy and Savvy was everything! the twist at the end I didn't see coming with was great!

Wow wowowwow. I absolutely adored this book. I could not put it down and was obsessed from day one. The plot unfurls with perfect timing, the main character is a strong female who makes terrible decisions (self-admittedly) and has a wonderful sense of dry humor. There is a lot of misdirection and superfluous information to sort through to help solve the case in a way that is not overwhelming. It felt like Sharp Objects meets The Girl on The Train and I highly recommend it if you enjoy memory loss thrillers!

You've got a main character who speaks fluent sarcasm and takes baths in dry humor. You've also got a sassy grandma who's main life goal is shocking those around her (especially her daughter). Toss in a murder mystery and a podcaster determined to get the answers and you've got the main ingredients for Listen for the Lie.
There are a few things that to me seemed a little far fetched but I was so thoroughly entertained it was easy to look past. Due to the podcast element this might be one to read with your ears via audiobook.

This was such a fun audiobook and if you are looking to read this one, I highly recommend it on audio! A podcast in book form where the accused is the main character. It felt very unique in terms of plot and story line which I always appreciate. I also am a sucker for a true crime podcast in my daily life so this one really intrigued me from the start!

The big twist in this one is something I didn’t see coming. It was a true tangled mess of a story and small town gossip. We get to meet so many characters and these players are very interconnected when you didn’t expect them to be. All of the different characters and secrets made it easy to imagine this story actually being real.

I ended up liking this book more than anticipated. The pacing was great and kept my interest the entire time. I've always enjoyed thrillers that revolve around a podcast and this was one very well done. I liked that the book built towards the climax in a believable way and that there weren't too many red herrings or twists that came out of nowhere. The ending was really satisfying and that's all I want out of a thriller.

Imagine that everyone you knew thought that you killed your best friend after an argument. Not only did you lose your best friend but now nobody trusts you. And your only defense is amnesia, it's really not looking good for Lucy.

Lucy left her hometown for L.A. after all these events took place. She left her ex husband and all her doubters in the dust. Well she's down on her luck and her beloved grandmother convinces her to come back to Texas for her 80th birthday party. Unknowingly, it's part of an elaborate scheme to get Lucy to finally tell her story to a podcast that had recently been started to investigate what really happened. Will Abby continue to have amnesia or will the podcaster uncover someone more sinister in Lucy's hometown?

Very, very good book. It kept my attention and kept me guessing until the end. The more you learn, it dawns on you just how much you may not truly know about those around you. I would definitely recommend.

This was such a good thriller! I had a lot of fun reading this and I flew through it on my recent flight.

I really enjoyed the podcast elements of the book and Lucy was hilarious. Her inner dialogue was the perfect dark humor for me and I loved her grandmother!

I didn’t see the twist coming and I was definitely giving the side eye to a bunch of people.

& listen, who needs enemies with parents like Lucy’s? 😂

Special thanks to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed this book and was able to also get it in audio. I would recommend getting it in audio because there is a nursery, kind of a cold case where a girl named Lucy supposedly murdered her best friend Savvie but there's hardly any proof besides the fact that Lucy was covered in Savvie's blood and her own blood when she stumbled out of the woods the night Savvie was killed in the woods not far from attending the wedding they were at. Only problem is Lucy doesn't remember a thing about what happened.

Lucy goes back to the town for her grandmother's 80th birthday and her grandmother also invited Ben, host and podcaster of "Listen for the Lie", where he tries to solve cold cases by interviewing people on his podcast that were tied to the case somehow. I liked it in audio because Lucy is laugh out loud funny and also I had a lot of theories on who killed Savvie, but I have to say I didn't guess so this book is a 4-star from me!

I enjoyed this book so much - I really did not want to put it down. I expected an up-all-night- page-turner. But the dark humor and sarcasm surprised me. With Lucy’s snark, the banter (and sparks) between Lucy and Ben, and Beverly’s scene-stealing, this book is great fun. And it is a solid mystery that really does a terrific job of pointing the finger at just about everyone. Since Lucy is such an unreliable narrator, even when the truth starts coming out, you may still wonder if it’s the true story or more false memories/lies.
The book is a fast read, aided by the format of switching between Lucy’s narration and the podcast episodes. This smart plotting allows for multiple voices and really propels the story forward.
I loved this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books, and Amy Tintera for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the format of this book, written as a murder podcast with narrative as an enhancement. Lucy, was the presumptive murderer but never charged or convicted except in the minds of all those in town, heads back home for her grandma's birthday, having left 5 years ago after her best friend Savvy was murdered. Having lost all memory of that horrible night, Lucy herself is unsure whether she is guilty or not, as she was covered in Savvy's blood with a bump on her head. Seeing her ex-husband, and former friends, hearing other peoples accounts as they speak to Ben on the Listen for the Lie Podcast, Lucy slowly begins to remember which puts her in jeopardy. So many twists and turns, I loved the surprises at the end. Fast paced, this will keep you on the edge of your seat for an ending that you won't see coming. many thanks to #netgalley #listenforthelie #amytintera #celadonbooks for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Very quick read. Great balance between humor and mystery plus a little bit of steamy. This was my first Amy Tintera book. I liked her style and am adding her earlier books to my TBR.

4.5 stars rounded up. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I am not going to lie, I actually enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would. I am not much of a podcast’y person, so I honestly wasn’t sure if I would like reading about one. None of the characters (except the grandma- I loved her!!) were particularly likable, which was actually perfect given the context of what happened. There were some far fetched parts but in the best possible dark and twisty ways. I literally sped through this book. I did figure out the “who done it” early on but that didn’t detract from the book at all. Read it- trust me!