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.

I really enjoyed Listen for the Lie. The narrators were excellent and the story traveled along. I figured out part of the ending before the completion of the book, but overall it was a solid suspense story!

Lucy has a job she hates and lives with her boyfriend that she doesn't really like all that much. She moved to LA five years ago, after her best friend died. Five years ago, she had it all. She lived in her hometown, a town her family has been in for generations. She was married to a handsome, rich man. She had a fabulous house. She was writing a book. But it all ended the say her best friend, Savvy, died. Because everyone thought she did it. Lucy cannot remember that night- and fears she did kill Savvy. She was covered in Savvy's blood.
So, she hides in LA. Where no one knows her. Until Savvy's story catches the attention of a popular true crime podcaster. Suddenly, all eyes are on her again.

I am going to start with the audiobook- it is very well done. January LaVoy and Will Damron narrate, both of whom can always be counted on for a stellar performance. But this went a step above- you alternate between Lucy's POV and portions of Ben's podcast. The podcast includes intro and outro music (which I actually found very annoying, lol, but it makes it more polished).

The plot had me hooked. Because Lucy does not remember the night Savvy died, you are truly in the dark as well. You learn plenty of secrets as the story unravels- and not all related to the murder.

I love that Lucy had a dark sense of humor and was very sarcastic. It was off putting to a lot of people, which made it much more interesting.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

The narrator was fantastic and truly brought Lucy’s voice to life. This is a good thriller with a unique voice.

First, massive thank you to both NetGalley & MacMillan Audio for the advanced audio copy of this super fun book!

I don’t know about you guys, but I absolutely loveeee a podcast style book via audio. The narrators here did a phenomenal job with this one!

This story was so much fun to follow along with. Amy did a wonderful job laying the details out for the different suspects and then wrapped everything up so nicely at the end!

I did have a very strong feeling of who the actual culprit was, so it took a little bit away from the story for me. But overall this was a super enjoyable read! I felt able to easily connect with the MC through the details provided and how she was shoved to the side as an outcast.

The ending was so bittersweet in my opinion & I truly enjoyed how this played out!

I’d recommend this one on audio for sure! Be on the lookout for it starting 3/5!🎉🎉

A classic whodunit with a podcast intertwine and lots of dark, sarcastic humor. I don't think I've ever laughed this much reading any thriller! I love a book that stands out from the rest!

5 years ago, Lucy's best friend Savvy is murdered.
Everyone thinks Lucy killed her.
The problem is, Lucy simply can't remember a single detail of that night!

The events of the night attract true crime podcast host, Ben Owens. And thus, Lucy finds herself at the root of a true crime podcast. Lucy gets roped into trying to find out who killed Savvy, even if it means she finds out that she was actually the one who killed her. Ben uses his podcast to investigate the murder of Lucy's best friend, casting doubt on all of the characters. As Ben delves deeper into the case, he uncovers shocking secrets and hidden motives that point to a different culprit. The tension rises as Lucy's innocence hangs in the balance, making listeners question who they can trust.

Lucy's character is great! She's quirky, snarky, and sarcastic and she is just the type of girl I can see myself being friends with!

The podcast element provided a unique way to dig deeper into the characters' backstories and motivations, making the overall experience more immersive. Additionally, the alternating perspectives between the podcast and the main narrative kept the pacing engaging and suspenseful.

January LaVoy and Will Damron are amazing narrators! They really brought the characters to life. And they do such a great job portraying all the different character voices throughout the podcast. Adding an extra flair so each character has their own distinct individuality. This is such a great audiobook listen!

Listen for the Lie comes out on March 5, 2024. Thank you to Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this early!

What just happened!?

I knew I was in for a wild wild when I saw that the front cover blurbs were written by none other than Alice Feeney, Liane Moriarty, Stephen King, Alex Michaelides, and Chandler Baker.

I have seen countless stellar reviews for this book and now I know why — the story was captivating yet funny, making for an entertaining reading experience.

The story and writing were well done, but what made this book stand out for me was the audio. If you are debating between reading the audio or physical/kindle version, let me convince you to read the audiobook! It is narrated by January LaVoy (one of my favorite audiobook narrators) and Will Damron, but it will feel like a full cast - both narrators have such an amazing ability to alter their voices with different accents. And it turns out January and Will are husband and wife?! That makes the audiobook even more special. The podcast elements and the sound effects really made the audiobook stand out.

If you are looking into giving audiobooks a try, I recommend this one. It’s fast paced and will keep you invested from start to finish.

Intriguing suspense, I would recommend listening to the audio version , the narrators bring the story to life , Lucy is accused of murdeing her best friend , the oonly problem is she dossnt remember , Ben a pod caster wants nothing more to find out the truth , the ending is a twist for sure!

Did she? Or didn't she? Savvy died, but her murderer's identity is still a mystery five years later. The whole town of Plumpton, TX seems to believe Lucy was the killer -- even though Savvy was her best friend. I am quite an outlier on this one. Here are three reasons to love this one and three reasons I did personally did not:
👍 I love a good podcast book. Had the audio all cued up and read for this one. 🎧
👍 Lucy's grandma Beverly was a hoot. Loved the faith she had in Lucy and her sense of humor. 🍸
👍 The identity of the killer really surprised me and I enjoyed the quest for whodunit. 🔎

👎 I generally appreciate a sassy MC. Lucy was too far on the snarky side for me.
👎 Every single man in this book was an a$$. Ben Owen shines in comparison, but he was a manipulator, too. So much sleeping around!
👎 Usually I enjoy January LaVoy as a narrator, BUT (view spoiler)

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

I have not read a thriller in a few weeks because I was embracing the love of Valentine's Day but boy oh boy am I glad that I switched gears with Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera. I absolutely loved this one and was sucked into the story right away. I really abandoned all responsibilities and finished this one in one sitting because I had to know what was going on and find out what happened to Savvy.

I loved the true crime podcast bits as well and even though I say I am not a true crime fan, this book had me eating out of the True Crime buffet and I was here for it.

I enjoyed the backstory. I felt that it was interesting and kept me engaged. It added to the plot and getting to know the characters kept me guess. I really though I knew what was going to happen in this one but I was thrown for a loop at the end. LOVED THIS ONE SO MUCH!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for my gifted audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

I tandem listened and read this book. Honestly, I rarely enjoy the audio more than reading the book itself but this audio was AMAZING.
I found myself wanting to listen to it more than read it myself.
The narrators were incredible and really brought this story to life. I also loved how they did the podcast POV. It truly felt like I was listening to a podcast during those chapters.
Macmillan Audio and the narrators really knocked this one out of the park and I 100% recommend this audio book to all mystery lovers!

As for the story itself…
Five years ago, Lucy Chase was found wandering down the road covered in the blood of her best friend, Savvy, with no memory of the past 12 hours.
Lucy became the prime suspect in her murder. But, without enough evidence, Lucy is never charged and moves away to Los Angeles.
Podcaster, Ben, decides to dig up this cold case determined to find the truth. Lucy and Ben find themselves in an unlikely alliance to uncover what truly happened that night five years ago.
Everyone is hiding something and damning secrets are finally revealed.
And everyone is tuning in to find out, did Lucy Chase truly kill her best friend?

This was such a great, fast paced thriller.
I couldn’t devour this book fast enough.
I loved Lucy (no pun intended) She was so unapologetically herself. Dark humor with zero fucks to give.
Ben was such a fun character. Him and Lucy had such great chemistry and I loved seeing them work their way through this mystery.
But the best character by far was 100% Lucy’s grandma! She was sassy with such spunk and so loving.
This book was a wild, twisty ride filled with secrets and shocking revelations.
You’ll love this book if you enjoy
- Murder mysteries
- Return to hometown
- Amnesia
- Small town secrets
- Dark humor

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera is an upcoming mystery/thriller and one that you will not want to miss. After a long time, I felt completely captivated by a mystery and for fans of the genre, I suggest you save this post or add it to your digital bookshelf because you will want to get in on the action.

Tintera’s novel follows a girl named Lucy who is living away from the small town she grew up in because in this town she is accused of murdering her childhood best friend Savvy. And as it often happens in small towns, the people play judge, jury & executioner forcing Lucy to stay away even though she has never been convicted for Savvy’s murder.

The story begins with Ben Owens, a popular podcast host who runs a podcast called “Listen for the Lie,” and Lucy and Savvy just so happen to be the topic of discussion this season.

When Lucy find herself back home for her grandmother’s birthday, who happens to be investigating? Well, none other than podcaster, Ben.

Through a web of characters and storylines, and of course many, many lies, Ben must piece together what really happened to Savvy and who is responsible. Could it be that Lucy did it? Or was it someone else? And why can’t Lucy remember anything?

Reading this book was an experience like none other and listening to it is even better because the podcast chapters were so cool!

I truly did not see the twists and turns coming and I loved this book! Highly recommend for the true crime/thriller aficionados.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio & Celadon Books for the e-ARCs.

#ListenfortheLie #AmyTintera #BookReview

What a surprisingly fun novel that I flew through! “Listen for the Lie” is dark, yet incredibly funny. Yes, funny! I’m not sure I’ve read a thriller with so much humor and snark mixed in, but that is definitely what made this one stand out among the spate of mediocre thrillers that bombard bookstores these days.

Although not as unique anymore, I’m also a sucker for a book that features a true crime podcast, and this one did not disappoint. With that in mind, I wholeheartedly recommend the audiobook for this one! The production was wonderful and they really brought the podcast aspect alive. I’m talking sound effects, intro and outro music, plus two separate actors playing the various parts. It was quite the listening experience and kept me captivated the entire time!

US release date: March 5, 2024.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Celadon Books for this advanced copy!

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Book for the advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review..

What happens when your best friend is murders and you're the only suspect? And on top of that you don't remember if you did it or not. Thats the premise of this amazing who done it? I don't want to give anymore away about the plot because I think it's best to go into this book blind.

What I loved about this book is the format. We went between Lucy and the podcast being written about her crime case. I highly recommend the audiobook. It was one of the best audiobooks I have ever read. There was so much production added to the podcast parts of the book that I felt like I was listening to a real podcast. It has sound effects and intro and outdo music each time it came on. On top of that there were actually two people talking in the interviews which I loved. It felt like a real interview.

It was very much "What Lies in the Woods" meets "Things We Do in the Dark". If you love a great who done it? with an unreliable narrator that is fast paced and fun I highly recommend this. Especially the audiobook!

The podcast backdrop is becoming popular in mystery/thriller books. I thought this one was well done, and it kept me guessing the entire time. Just when you think you might have figured it out, you end up guessing again. I do have a question about the ending that I would love to chat about with someone. January Lavoy is one of my favorite audiobook narrators, and this book benefits even more from her narration. I loved how many of the characters have so much nuance to them and are neither all good or all bad, but rather messy people with messy lives. This is Tintera's first foray into adult fiction, and I cannot wait to see what she does next!

Ben is going a pod cast on an old murder. Lucy was never convicted, but everyone believed she did it because she had blood on her. Lucy could not remember the details from that night until years later. As the podcast continued, and new evidence came into view, Lucy started remembering the events of the evening!
Who did kill her best friend Savvy?