Member Reviews

Listen For The Lie
By Amy Tintera

Incredible!
If you love a mystery thriller, dark humor and suspense, please read this.

A fast paced read with short chapters that will keep you guessing until the end. It’s very tense with family drama, jaw dropping secrets, characters that you will love and some you will hate, but Lucy is an amazing character that you will cheer for her the entire time, with her fun and sarcastic way. And of course, grandma Beverly, she is the adorable character of the story.

I really loved this book and you should read it too!

Coming out on March 05, 2024!

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🎧 LISTEN FOR THE LIE REVIEW 🎧
Pub date: 3/5/2024

Overview:
🤞🏼Best friends
❓Unsolved murder
🗣️ Intrusive thoughts
📍 LA ✈️ Texas
🎙️ True crime podcaster

Synopsis: It’s been five years since Lucy’s best friend, Savannah, was killed…and it might have been her who did it. The morning after Savvy’s death, Lucy is found wandering by the road, covered in Savvy’s blood. Lucy has no memory of what happened, even five years later. The people in her small town are quick to label her as guilty, and Lucy flees to LA to escape the judgment of her former community. True crime podcaster, Ben, solved his first cold case in his first season, and next he plans on solving Savvy’s unsolved murder. Ben and Lucy are both back in small town Texas, and both of them are seeking the same thing: the truth.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 This book had me close to abandoning all of my adult responsibilities to read it. I was invested in the story and dying to know what happened. There were details that made me unsure whether I could trust Lucy, and it was enough to keep me guessing about her role in Savvy’s murder. I was completely shocked by the ending, and I can’t wait for it to come out in March so I can talk to more people about it. Lucy’s grandma was one of my favorite characters and has made my list of favorite literary grandmas. Though the podcasting element is used frequently these days, I felt like the interviews revealed new information and kept me engaged. There are a LOT of potential trigger warnings, so make sure you do your research in that regard before you pick this one up. Add this to your TBR and make sure to get yourself a copy when it comes out in March!

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𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 📕
🌟🌟🌟🌟
I came across this book on my feed from some other readers and it had rave reviews. I was excited when I got a read now email from @netgalley offering it. I love a good thriller. @amytintera I really enjoyed this one. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I did not see that ending coming I really did pick the wrong killer 🤣. In the words of Stephen king this is really “a world class whodunit” book. That alone with other great reviews peeked my interest. The story is told from the POV of Lucy. She is the main character who is also a murder suspect in her besties death. Five years has passed and she doesn’t want to bring up those memories. Well with the help of her manipulative grandma and a nosey podcaster she may finally find out what happened that night. Only problem is she still has amnesia. The reader is taken back to her home town and given a first hand account of Lucy’s past life and all the people in it. After learning about the people in her life it’s a wondering she wasn’t more screwed up. Her grandma is her number one fan and I loved their relationship. By the 70 percent mark I had clearly picked the wrong killer in my mind but I mean literally it could be anyone including her parents. That’s how screwed up this small town was. I really enjoyed this one. My first time reading a plot from a true crime podcast storyline. Thank you @netgalley and @celadonbooks for the ARC. This book publishes 3/5/2024. Happy Reading.

❓what’s your favorite true crime show or podcast? I personally like unsolved mysteries (old school)

#thriller #podcast #read #reading #ilovereading #books #ilovebooks

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I am obsessed with true crime podcasts and love when books include them. This one was fantastic. I was hooked from the beginning and had no idea where it was headed. I loved the ending and thought everything was tied up with a bow. Highly recommend this one!

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Listen for the Lie follows Lucy, who is suspected to have killed her best friend, Savvy, but suffers from selective amnesia. Charismatic podcaster, Ben, travels to Lucy’s hometown at the same time Lucy returns to it, and he is determined to find out the truth about Savvy.

I found this to overall be a really entertaining and fun thriller. There were elements of dark humor and wit from Lucy, untrustworthy and shady side characters, and it was just honestly a real page-turner. I thought the ending was actually SO good, which is always a concern for me in thrillers. The book did a fantastic job putting the story together piece by piece and building up suspense for the end.

The podcast interludes have a very “None of This is True” feel, so I wasn’t sure if I would like them, but I did enjoy the unique way in which the interviews added new information to the mystery. Side characters were introduced and important parts of Lucy and co.’s history were revealed, and I thought they were very well done.

The book took me a little while to get into, but I felt like it really picked up around the 35-40% mark. From about 50% to the end, I could not put it down.

I am looking forward to reading more Amy Tintera in the future, and this book is a definite recommend from me!

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Wow...just WOW!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It's been a while since I've had this much fun reading a thriller! I wish I could give it 10 stars instead of just 5. The author's writing style was refreshing and captivated me with a mystery that was fast-paced, interesting and contained none of that unnecessary fluff. The "podcast" theme has been quite popular in novels recently and has become a hit or miss for many of us. I can happily say that it was done extremely well in this novel and timed perfectly with the storyline to add more insight and backstory to the murder. Now, let's talk about how much I LOVE LUCY! (My inner nerd couldn't wait to type that in this review) Her witty sarcasm and humor made this book even more enjoyable. I laughed out loud multiple times at her endless repertoire of references (Arya Stark, GOT was my favorite) and her crazy "kill" thoughts. Another of my favorites is Grandma Beverly. What a hoot! Lucy and her grandmother made me think very strongly of Stephanie Plum and Grandma Mazur, which is one of the highest compliments that I can give. And this is the author's adult debut? Please keep writing more because I will DEFINITELY read them! I highly recommend this to all mystery/thriller fans and to everyone who enjoys reading a really good book! Pub. date is 3/5/2024, so preorder and add to your TBRs now. You will not be disappointed!

Thank you to the author, Celadon Books, and NetGalley for granting me digital access in exchange for my honest review!

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With no memory of the crime she was accused of committing, Lucy escapes her Texas hometown and starts over in LA. She returns to Plumberton to celebrate her grandma’s birthday and is forced to confront the rumors and accusations. With the help of Ben, host of a true crime podcast, Lucy is able to figure out what really happened that night five years ago when her best friend was murdered.

The characters were great and the story was told in a fresh, and sometimes funny way. Lucy is sarcastic to a fault and grandma Beverly might be one of the coolest grandmothers around.

One small critique: the use of the word “smug”. I was quite sure that if I had to read the word “smug” one more time I might have screamed.

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Wow I went in blind with this one and pulled an all-nighter! Lucy fled her hometown of Plumberton, TX for LA after being accused of killing her best friend, Savannah/Savvy. Five years later she returns to attend her Grandma’s birthday party. Same time a podcaster, Ben and his show “Listen For The Lie” reignites Savvy’s death. This was fast paced and unputdownable! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy.

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Thank you Netgalley & Celadon Books for an eARC of Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera. Wow! This is going on my list as one of my favorite books of all time. What a unique plot and flawlessly executed.

What's it about?
Years ago, Lucy was found wandering the streets of her small town, covered in her best friend Savvy's blood. Everyone thinks she murdered Savvy - even Lucy. How is that possible? Because she doesn't remember anything happened that night - Including whether or not she killed her bestie.

Now living in LA after running from her old life, the true crime podcast "Listen for the Lie" has decided to turn the spotlight on Savvy's murder from years prior. This brings Lucy home, and in close proximity to Ben Owens, insanely good looking podcast host. Here, she's forced to face the truth.

This one does it all. It's suspenseful, fun, and even funny at times! I love the podcast elements to break up the chapters. Lucy's head is an extremely interesting place for us to live, and I was honestly sad to see the book end because I want more of her!

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Wow! Great book.

Five years ago Lucy’s best friend is murdered and Lucy is the prime suspect. With no memory of the night it happened, everyone assumes she’s guilty and a liar. A cold case podcaster takes up the story in her hometown to find out the truth of what happened. Lucy returns to help him solve it, even if she was the one who did it.

This was such a great book. I liked it more than I thought I would. I loved the characters. They felt authentically written. I especially loved the protagonist, Lucy and the relationship she has with her grandma. I also found the writing to be quite humorous and relatable at times.

This is a fast paced thriller and is interesting from start to finish. Chapters are interspersed with the podcast episode transcripts as well as flashbacks to five years ago.

I would 100% read whatever this author puts out next.

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I absolutely LOVED this book. I devoured it. Lucy and her grandma were hysterical. I was hooked from the first page and could not put this book down. An easy 5 stars from me!

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Interesting premise of the podcast. I quickly became engaged with the characters. While this book was a bit grittier than I normally would have liked, I had to keep reading. Did she do it? If not, who did commit murder? Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

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Oh my gosh, Amy Tintera has hit a home run, Lucy is a complex character - very blunt, confident annd enjoyably snarky. Grandma Beverly is a riot and I want to be like her when I grow old. I loved their relationship and they made me laugh so hard. Take these two plus an unsolved murder of Lucy’s best friend and a hunky true crime podcaster and I couldn’t read fast enough to find out what happens. Fantastic!

Thank you so much Celadon Books for the ARC and NetGalley! #ListenForTheLie. #NetGalley

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Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera is the story of Lucy, a woman who may or may not have murdered her best friend five years ago and who now finds her life turned upside down again when a podcast decides to investigate the case. Drama ensues!

I sometimes question why I keep reading Adult thrillers/mysteries when I absolutely hate the most common tropes (cheating, domestic abuse, childhood trauma, sometimes a surprise pregnancy!) But apparently all I really needed was some great dark humor to be able to ignore my least favorite tropes because I thought this book was fantastic!

Fair warning, if you don’t like dark humor or unlikable main characters than this book probably isn’t for you. Lucy is sarcastic, dry, combative, and is constantly thinking about how to murder everyone! (This will make sense once you read the book). Yet I loved seeing things from her perspective and watching the mystery unfold. I know the amnesia trope isn’t everyone’s favorite but I think it really worked for this story and helped you as the reader to parse through what Lucy is trying to remember and what she is withholding. There were some really great twists that just made me love Lucy more. Even when I felt she was making some questionable decisions. The interwoven podcast elements were great too and I bet they’ll make for a fun audiobook. And Grandma Beverly was totally my favorite character. Love a supportive grandma!

Overall I thought this was a great read, I literally read it in less than 24 hours I couldn’t put it down, and I think fans of this genre (and those of us who appreciate a little sarcasm with their murder) will love this one.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera is a superbly done thriller. I love the reality show / podcast / documentary formats for thrillers. Similar to None of This is True by Lisa Jewell in following the podcast structure, this stood on its own but was also well written and keeps the reader engaged. I loved the suspense and the twists throughout the book which helped us understand the main character, Lucy, better while also learning more about the circumstances that may have led to the murder of her best friend, Savvy.

One of the best thrillers of this year, if you love mysteries and are bored with books following the same plot lines and twists, I highly recommend this book.

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Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publishes March 5, 2024

Synopsis: “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.

The truth is out there, if we just listen.”

This book was fast paced, the story kept moving, and I thought it was a clever plot. I had a hard time putting the story down because I wanted to know more, and I thought the ending was well done. I thought some of the dialogue seemed a bit over the top far fetched, and knocked down the story a bit. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

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Loved it! Kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I love when a book keeps you hanging until the very end. Lots of twists that make you think you have it figured out and then you don’t.

If you like thrillers and suspense stories, this one is for you. I liked the way that it went back-and-forth from the podcast/interviews to the present narrative. it was not hard to follow. Not too many characters to keep track of. Definitely add this one to your list.

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Thank you Net Galley and Celadon Books for the advanced copy of this book.
Let me just tell you that I was hooked on this story from the VERY FIRST Line. Why not go buy a chicken when you life is being ruined by a podcaster!? Despite this being a who dun it type of murder mystery, it managed to be a comedy as well because of how well Lucy's character was written. I loved her sarcastic attitude, and frankly her nonchalance towards most people in her hometown who assume she is the murderer of her best friend Savvy. Podcast books are becoming quite popular, this one is one of my favorites that I have read lately. I did not see the ending coming as it did and overall it was a very solid thriller. I will definitely be recommending it to all my friends.

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I really enjoyed this book. I loved the alternating chapters between Lucy's POV and the podcast episodes. Tintera did a really great job of world building and characterization. I FELT like I was reading about a real small town in Texas, and all of the characters felt like real people that you could meet in said small town. That being said, I felt like the plot struggled a little bit. It got a tad "soap operatic" in the sense that it felt like any time we needed to shift suspicion from one character to another, we just had them sleep with someone questionable. The number of "Surprise! Character X slept with Character Y" moments were truly over the top. It got to the point that every time we heard from a new townie, I was like..."well, I wonder what irresponsible romantic decision THIS character made 5 years ago when there also happened to be a murder happening." I mean, I understand infidelity being a sub-plot of a mystery book, but this was the ONLY sub-plot. It just felt like a little much. That's really my only complaint with this one. I enjoyed the podcast angle, and I think that would be REALLY cool on audiobook if done well. Decent book.

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I enjoyed this one! I liked the writing style and the idea of the podcasts incorporated into the story. This one kept me flipping the pages because I couldn't figure out just what really happened.

Five years ago there was a murder in the small town of Plumpton, Texas. Lucy Chase has never been charged for her best friend, Savannah's (Savvy's) murder. But she was there and later found covered in her blood. The only thing is she can't remember a single thing! Five years later she's moved to L.A. to get away from all the accusations but has come home for the week to attend her Grandmother's 80th Birthday Party. Also podcaster, Ben Owens comes to town and features Lucy and the murder for his new podcast. Together can they figure out just what happened on that fateful night 5 years ago?

This one kept me invested. There are a lot of shady people in town and I did not particularly like Lucy's parents. Lucy's Grandmother was refreshingly different and added some fun into this otherwise dark story.

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