Lucy is living in LA when a true crime podcast becomes popular, only thing is…it involves her. Years ago her best friend Savvy is murdered in their small Texas town. And most people think Lucy did it. The podcast star, Ben visits their hometown to interview everyone and get more information for his true crime podcast. He interviews Lucy and they start to work together to solve Savvy’s murder when they uncover some scandals.

The podcast thing is overdone, in my opinion, but this was done well! This was more of a small town drama novel vs true crime story like I was expecting. I loved Lucy’s snarky attitude!

Thanks to Net Galley and Celadon books for the ARC! Pub date 3/5/24

Calling all true crime podcast fans! This one is for you!!

“What if you thought you murdered your best friend?”

With a story that kept me guessing until the very end, Listen for the Lie was SO MUCH FUN to read (in a very murdery way)! I loved how it alternated between real life action and the podcasts - it made the story so fast paced. Lucy was a great character, darkly funny, sarcastic, self deprecating and ultimately so unsure of the truth in this situation.

What else::
•STEAMY romance(that was a surprise)
•Hilarious grandmother
•Small town
•Secret romance author
•Family drama

🎧The audio was so well narrated and the flipping between story and podcast moments were perfect! It made the book super fast paced!

Definitely my favorite thriller so far this year! Highly recommend giving it a try! This was my first by this author, but I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more!!

4.5⭐️

Listen for the Lie is a mysterious and engaging, well produced audiobook with multiple narrators and a podcast element. This will be perfect for fans of Megan Goldin's The Night Swim. Five years ago, Lucy's best friend died and Lucy doesn't remember anything from that night. She's always been suspected but without evidence, her life has gradually reached a new normal over time. That is until a true crime podcast decides to feature Lucy for their new season.

As the podcast is quite popular, Lucy's life is quickly turned upside down and she has to face her past in the small Texas town of Plumpton where everyone knows everything about everybody. Finally at the request of her grandmother, Lucy comes home to Plumpton and faces her biggest fears.

Told from many perspectives and full of questions, this is an engaging read from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed this, but I did find the end fell just a bit flat for me. I think it will be a stunner for those who don't read thrillers too often, this is just a hazard of the number of thrillers I read each year. I am hard to surprise.

Last, I think this is an audiobook for anyone. Even folks who don't typically like audiobooks or have trouble paying attention can give this a shot; with the great production value, multiple narrators, and fantastic podcast aspect, it is so easy to visualize and stay engaged with. Highly recommend!

I know that at this point, the podcast thriller set up has been played out. But just stick with me, because this book is worth it.

Listen for the Lie is a small town mystery about Lucy, who was accused of killing her best friend 5 years ago. Lucy is now living her not-so-best life in L.A. when her beloved grandmother asks her to return to celebrate her 80th birthday. (If this lady, Beverly, was my grandma, I would 100% make that trip.) Coincidentally, a podcaster has arrived in town to investigate the unsolved murder that the town decided Lucy committed. The problem is Lucy has no memory of the murder and does not know if she is the killed Savvy.

If you have not yet read a review for Listen for the Lie, let me tell you that it is getting rave reviews. You will surely see it all over whatever book-related social media you consume very soon.

I think the popularity of this book pre-release can be attributed to Amy Tintera’s writing and characters. Tintera structures the story in short, quick chapters that urge you to binge it. The narrative is interspersed with partial podcast segments as the episodes drop in the novel’s timeline. Essentially, readers are reading/listening to the podcast as the characters do. As a result, readers feel like the characters are reacting to the episodes in real time. This created an engaging story that I did not want to put down.

I also think Tintera’s writing style is a fun departure from the usual thriller/mystery faire. I was not expecting to read a book about murder that was as comedic as Listen for the Lie. The tone is consistent throughout the story and aided by the protagonist’s sassy comments. Lucy’s sarcasm was dripping off the pages. Have I mentioned the murderous voice in her head? That is not to say the writing was perfect. For example, the word smug was used over 30 times.

I must also mention that Tintera is spot on in her depiction of small town dynamics. If you think they are exaggerated after reading this, I promise you Tintera has this aspect correct. I can attest to as much as someone who grew up in a town even smaller than Plumpton.

Now do I think this was a brilliantly plotted mystery? No, not really. The book provides plenty of red herrings and suspects but does not bring any new, inventive twists to the table. But in the end, that did not matter because I had such a good time reading it.

I do have a few quibbles with the book beyond some repetitive language. There is a romance storyline that is completely unnecessary. I am going to chalk this up to the fact Tintera is a YA author making the pivot to adult fiction. In addition, Lucy continually denies something that very apparently happened throughout the book. I felt like we were never given a real explanation for why, and it stuck out as an odd choice for the character. Similarly, I thought Lucy ignoring, or at least failing to call out, all the male gaslighting was unacceptable. It is 2024; let women support other women unabashedly.

If you enjoy audiobooks, this is definitely one to listen to. The audiobook really embraces the podcast format and runs with it. The narrators do a fabulous job distinguishing between and embodying the characters. The audiobook format of Listen for the Lie really elevates the story and brings it to life.

Overall, Listen to the Lie is a quick, fun mystery novel that highlights real issues while keeping a comedic tone. I definitely recommend it unless you are easily irritated by repetitive phrases, sarcasm, or the occasional immaturity.

I loved Listen for the Lie! Thrillers with podcast plots are always a must-read for me, and I could not put this book down. I loved Lucy as a protagonist - she had some excellent one-liners - but all of the characters in this book were memorable. The twists and turns in the plot were unpredictable, and the ending was very satisfying. I loved that Savvy had such a presence throughout the story. I would recommend the audiobook version as well - parts of the story were told in podcast format, The audio narration was excellent and really added to the story.

Thank you!!! Thank you!!!! Holy smokes, thank you so much NetGalley and Macmillan audio for this audio ARC.

I absofreakinglutely LOVED this story. I was so amused and immediately protective of Lucy and her grandma. Lucy’s intrusive thoughts might as well have been my own. I wasn’t sure if I should be scared for myself or not.

January LaVoy and Will Damron are downright fabulous. I adore listening to them both!!!

I loved this book! The way the podcast was interwoven was a nice touch. Grandma was the best character. If you love sarcasm and humor added to the mystery this book is for you.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Amy Tintera, January LaVoy, and Will Damron for providing this incredible mystery thriller audiobook for my honest review. I loved this audiobook so much! The narrators are both so amazing! I honestly thought there was a full cast and am shocked there were only two narrators. The story is so entertaining and funny which is hard to find in a thriller. I found myself creating excuses to do chores and even exercise so I could get more time in on this audiobook. I will buy anything this author writes in the future and I can’t wait to find more audiobooks read by both of these narrators. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys fast paced mystery thrillers with a touch of humor mixed in. There is also a podcast element to the story which I thoroughly enjoyed even though I am a bit over the podcast storylines in most books. It was perfect for this book and I loved every minute of it! If you are searching for your new favorite thriller then this is the book for you! Thank you again for allowing me to review this gem!

BLURB :: Lucy is suspected of murdering her best friend…but she has no memory of that night. Everyone in her small hometown believes she did it. So when a hit true crime podcast begins investigating Savvy’s murder, Lucy returns to the town she vowed to never set foot in again, determined to solve her friend’s murder, even if she’s the one who did it.

THOUGHTS :: I’m obsessed with stories that have mixed media, (in this case - a podcast element) ESPECIALLY when the audiobook reflects it; sounding like I’m listening to an actual podcast. LISTEN FOR THE LIE lives up to the HYPE! 👏🏽 I DEVOURED this book, not wanting to stop listening. Fast paced and suspenseful, it’s a story you can easily binge in a day!

There’s dark humor, witty banter, a hint of romance and a protagonist whose SASS is unmatched. Lucy has an UNHINGED, sarcastic persona and I loved her. 🤣 This isn’t your typical predictable thriller; I was guessing until the very end…did she? Didn’t she? If not, who did? That’s a sign of a great unreliable character and a solid plot line. Also >>> Grandma Beverly is a showstopper. 🤭

The chapters alternate between Lucy’s POV and the podcast interviews of her friends, family and town locals who ALL had an opinion on what transpired that fateful night. **I HIGHLY recommend consuming this on audio for a full experience!!**

4.5 ⭐️

Looking for your next one-sitting read? Here it is.

I had so much fun with LISTEN FOR THE LIE. And yup - I listened to it in one fell swoop. Could not put it down.

Here's the thing: Just skip the synopsis. Return to a small town, mysterious death, podcast investigation - none of these elements are "new" to the genre. But author Amy Tintera uses them to craft such a great, compelling story. Dive in and enjoy.

I'd particularly recommend the audiobook. Narrators January LaVoy and Will Damron are superb.

Out March 5 from Macmillan Audio.

Listen up! This book may be THE bingeable thriller of the year (and that's no lie). Amy Tintera's Listen for the Lie is a fabulously crafted thriller that taps into pop culture as it centers around a popular podcast and society's obsession with true crime. When I say this one has it all, I mean it has. it. all. One of my favorite things about this book was the unexpected humor. I laughed out loud multiple times and couldn't help but appreciate Lucy's dark sarcasm. I also really enjoyed the quaint, small-town setting and unforgettable characters that are all tied to the unsolved murder (and murderer) in some way. I should definitely point out this is a mystery as much as a thriller and you'll be kept on your toes trying to figure out who committed the crime. There's a powerful commentary wrapped up in this book--about manipulation, assumptions and sexism. It's also a powerful story of friendship. I loved the podcast angle as well, and if you have a chance to listen to this on audio absolutely, 1000% do so. The audio takes it to a whole new level of enjoyment. A fantastic read that mystery/thriller fans need to snag asap.

The alternating chapters of Lucy’s OIV and Ben’s podcast worked seamlessly. There were so many possible suspects and the killer still managed to be a surprise. If you like true crime podcasts this is for you. CW: spouse abuse, rape,

Oh my goodness, this was fantastic! I was craving a really satisfying thriller, and I love plots where a character has to go back and face their past to discover what really happened. And Listen For The Lie had all that and more! I loved the true crime aspect of it and the main character, Lucy, was fantastic. This story was gripping and hilarious and I loved every minute of it! And the audiobook narration was FANTASTIC! I couldn’t stop listening!

Ok, this novel was just plain fun! Yes, it was a domestic thriller, but it was also highly entertaining. The audio production was superb! I would absolutely recommend listening to this book over reading it. If you are a true crime podcast fan, the audio presents the novel in this format with interviews being performed with possible witnesses and community members. A great way to pull the reader in and I felt committed to finding out who really did commit the murder.

Luck is not going Lucy’s way. She recently lost her job, possibly boyfriend and place she was living, and the whole world is now being clued into the fact that she is the suspected murderer of a former friend. Ben Owens, producer of a popular true crime podcast, has begun investigating Savannah’s death and Lucy’s connection to it. Lucy’s grandmother gets her return to her hometown under the guise of celebrating her birthday, but really to get her to meetup with Ben and clear her name.

Lucy is an interesting character. She has an internal monologue running continuously about committing murder. Even with this, the reader is led from the beginning to look for other possibilities on who really killed Savvy. This book is a fantastic read for a rainy or beach day.

✨Book Review✨

Listen for the Lie
Amy Tintera @amytintera
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: March 5, 2024

A special thank you to @celadonbooks for #gifted copy of this book. As well as a thank you to @netgalley & @macmillan.audio for an audio copy.

This book absolutely kept me guessing. As an avid lover of true crime podcasts this book was perfect.

This story was so unique and captured my interest immediately. It was one that I didn’t want to put down once I got started. Lucy’s inner monologue was one of my favorite parts of this book. She embraced her unfortunate role in her friend’s murder and played it off with witty comments and sarcastic remarks. Lucy’s family dynamic broke my heart but I’m so happy she had the love and support of her grandmother. Her character was probably my favorite in the book! 🤣

Quote: “Sugar is my main weakness, unless you count my inability to stop murdering people in my head.”

I enjoyed the twists and whodunnit vibes. I definitely was a little creeped out at times as well! I absolutely recommend this one to everyone who enjoys a twisty thriller!

Narration: Major props to January LaVoy @januarylavoy & Will Damron! I love to read along with a physical book while listening to the audio version and these two just made this book come to life! The podcast sections were my favorite! Each character was performed so well. If you have a chance to listen to the audio please go that route for this one, you will not be disappointed!

I kinda loved this. Lucy with her intrusive thoughts, gallows humor and general dysfunction was a delight. All the side characters were so well written and equal parts dark and hilarious - except the grandma who was just hilarious.

I'm not familiar with this author and it looks like this may be her first foray into adult thrillers? But I'm going to check out her YA and am looking forward to her other books in the future. It's not often that I snort-laugh during a thriller, but I just about lost it when Ben said "It was, indeed, a bummer" when referencing the murder.

The audiobook production was so well done and I'd highly recommend people checking it out in that format if they can. This is obviously because January LaVoy is wonderful, but also it's like you're listening to podcast episodes within the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!

Did Lucy kill Savannah as everyone believes?
But Lucy can’t remember everything about that night. Could she be guilty?
A friendship that ended in murder. Betrayal, secrets and lies.
Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan Publishing for the audio version of this good ‘whodunit’ book. January LaVoy is one of my favorite narrators. She and Will Damron kept a good pace and their portrayal of the characters made for a good listen.
This review is voluntary and my opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced audio copy of Listen For The Lie by Amy Tintera

I really liked the back and forth between the main character Lucy and the podcast. The audio narration by January Lavoy and Will Damron was great! I didn’t find the twist at the end surprising, but all in all this was a really good read.

LISTEN FOR THE LIE by Amy Tintera

I started my audiobook journey listening to the podcast Serial in 2014. Then, Up and Vanished! You know the epic podcasts where some random person just decided to investigate unsolved murders or missing people and then break the case wide open and solve it! Then, I got into thriller audiobooks and true crime books, etc.

So…

March 5, you will go to where you listen to audiobooks, and you will choose this epic unsolved mystery braided with a podcast and solve the mystery of who really killed Savvy. Was it really her best friend Lucy as everyone in small town Texas would like you to believe? (Even her parents think she did it!) Lucy, herself, can’t remember the details of that night. But Ben Owen, the guy behind the (fictional) podcast, Listen for the Lie, is in town asking all the locals about that night.

The best thing about this audiobook is the married couple, January LaVoy and Will Damron who narrate Lucy and Ben. My favorite part is the voice inside Lucy’s head! This book captivated me from the beginning. I loved every second.

If you choose to read this book, I hope it’s with your ears!

Thank you @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for this epic #arc

I thoroughly enjoyed the audio for this book. It was half podcast, half first person POV. The podcast portions were duet narration which I love and was really well done.

I genuinely thought the story was going to have a certain outcome, and I am very glad I was wrong. I do think the first half was more exciting than the very end, but the pace and cadence of drama was great. I wasn't bored at all, there was plenty of suspense, and the author does a great job keeping you guessing and bringing you along the journey of figuring out who did it.

I listened at 2x and that was perfect. I flew through this book and will definitely recommend the audio.

Fans of podcasting, true crime, stabby women, and small town drama will love this book.