Wow! What an engaging, clever psychological thriller!

Five years ago Lucy Chase left her hometown of Plumpton, Texas, after being accused of killing her best friend. Now, she is returning for her grandmothers birthday and will inevitably have to deal with some of her past demons.

Lucy has no recollection of that fateful evening. All she knows is that she was found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood. Lucy wants to uncover the truth of happened as much as anyone as that night still haunts her.

Ben Owens, true crime podcaster of the famous “Listen for the Lie” podcast is in town for what is expected to be another hit season, unearthing the truth of the murder. Did Lucy really kill her best friend or is she a victim and being wrongly accused?

As reluctant as Lucy is to begin with, Ben convinces her to join him in uncovering the truth. Through interviews with residents, past witnesses, coaxing Lucy to recall her deep seeded memory loss, they are both able to start uncovering new evidence leading the path to reveal the truth, once and for all.

Told primarily through Lucy’s POV and segments of the podcast, the author cleverly gives the reader an intimate portrayal into Lucy’s life, slowly un-peeling layers of hidden secrets, small town prejudices and how sadly too often, women who don’t conform to societal norms are considered heretic — outcasts.

Overall, a totally unputdownable, suspenseful, creatively brilliant new novel.

4.5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️💫

🎧 Narrated by January LaVoy and Will Damron. Huge thanks to @macmillan_audio @netgalley for an ALC - The audio was fantastic, highly recommended for those that love a good whodunit audiobook.

What a fun whodunnit thriller! I love unreliable narrators, so having a MC with amnesia is a trope I'm always down for, but I know it's not for everyone.

Speaking of the Main Character, Lucy is extremely sarcastic and straightforward, which I find to be relatable. Heck, I'd be extra snarky if everyone said I killed my best friend and didn't believe me when I said I didn't remember. I feel like her attitude is either going to have you loving the book, or feeling it was 'meh' because she annoys you.

Chapters are short and snappy. Podcast portions are well executed. I listened to the audiobook and the two narrators were awesome! This is one of those books that'll have you saying, "just one more chapter" then next thing you know, you've finished the book lol.

I didn't care for how awful everyone in that small town was. Grandma was the only good character there (and she's awesome!). I get wanting red herrings, but come on now. Everyone was sleeping around, having affairs, and there was domestic violence.

Overall, it was a super fun, quick read/listen. If you like sarcastic, unreliable narrators, you'll probably like this one a lot!

Thank you, Celadon Books and NetGalley, for the ALC.

I love a podcast style audiobook and this one did not disappoint! It was the perfect whodunit with a witty MC and a cast of likeable and unlikeable characters. With an unreliable narrator, it was hard to tell who to believe. It all came together in the end, sort of. The truth doesn’t matter.

I was provided both the print and audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this. It is told in mixed media format in alternating chapters told from Lucy's point of view and through a podcast episode from Ben's eyes as the story unfolds. I think the audiobook was really well done and is a great way to enjoy books delivered in this format. The narrators are excellent. January Lavoy is amazing in this with all the various characters she does and Will Damron does a great job with his role as Ben. Similar books/audio performances in this format are Sadie, The Night Swim, and Dark Corners with the story unfolding in real time as well as via a podcast. If you liked those I think you really enjoy this, and I recommend them if you end up liking this book.

Lucy doesn't remember what happened on the night her best friend was murdered. Naturally everyone in her small town thinks she did it when there weren't any other suspects. Tired of the gossip and accusations, Lucy moved away to start over. When Ben Owens begins investigating Savvy's murder for his popular podcast, word gets out about Lucy's involvement and her life is once again turned upside down. She returns home to celebrate her hilarious grandmother's birthday and ends up meeting with the handsome podcaster. Ben convinces her to reconnect with old friends and places in an attempt to figure out what really happened that night and set the record straight despite years of avoiding those exact things. As Ben's podcast gains momentum, Lucy begins to understand that there is so much more that happened that night that what she's forgotten.

Tintera does an amazing job crafting this story. I was hooked from the beginning. Lucy is a bit of a sarcastic, no-nonsense character. She has developed a think skin and makes jokes to deal with the constant accusations and harassment. The story unfolds, her demeanor makes sense. While I enjoyed Lucy's chapters as she revisits her old stomping ground and works with Ben to figure out what happened, I was always so anxious for the podcast chapters to find out what Ben had uncovered about the case. Those chapters drove where the storyline was going to go next and kept things exciting and kept the pace moving. This had great pacing by the way. I had a hard time putting this down once I started. I could have done without the romance subplot. I don't think it really added anything to the book, but it didn't detract either.

If you are looking for a fast paced thriller, look no further. This is out March 5, 2024 and is going to be a huge hit!

4.5/5 ⭐️ Thank you Celedon for the free physical arc and alc of this book! This was so good. Honestly I have never read a thriller that was as funny as this one. I was laughing throughout the book at how unserious the main character was. The thriller aspect ended up being really good as well. All around a great book and I highly recommend to all the thriller fans out there! I will definitely be checking out more books by this author.

4.75⭐️

Dark, twisty and surprisingly funny? The characters in this book were exquisite. Mystery aside, I was laughing out loud at the FMC and at how witty she was. The side characters, especially the grandmother also had me cackling. For a thriller about a woman’s murder in a small town, it was quite humorous. As for the mystery aspect of the book, it was a very gripping and twisty story. The ending left a bit to interpretation in my opinion and I wonder if that was on purpose or because the ending was slightly rushed. However, I couldn’t give this book anything lower than 4.75⭐️ because of how much I enjoyed every aspect of the book.

Thank you Celadon for sending me the physical copy and the audiobook for Listen for the Lie. I had a blast.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the audiobook version of this book. I am not compensated for my review.
I really enjoyed this book. The writing style was amazing going from podcast type listening to investigating to hearing a unknown voice in Lucy's head. This book will grab your attention from the first line.

Listen for the Lie grips readers from the start, weaving a tale of mystery and suspense. The protagonist, Lucy, finds herself entangled in the aftermath of a gruesome crime, her life forever altered. As the true crime podcast delves into the dark past, the narrative skillfully unfolds, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The exploration of small-town dynamics, coupled with Lucy's journey to uncover the truth adds depth to the story. The podcast element adds a modern twist, making the novel a compelling read. With its well-crafted plot and engaging characters, Listen for the Lie is a captivating thriller that leaves readers eagerly anticipating each revelation. An easy decision to rate this 5 stars!

*This was an audiobook and it was phenomenal!

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC.

I read the book with a buddy and left a prior review! audio is also amazing! i may have enjoyed it more!

Rating: 4.5 rolled up to 5
First off, LOVE the narrators and the format. It was very well done and I was hooked from the beginning. The summary teased at what was to come but it didn’t prepare me for the wild wonderful ride I was in for.

I really liked Grandma Beverly. Not only for her spunk but for her support of Lucy. You may have some issue with her “activities” but to each its own. Grandma sets the ball rolling to close the loop on what really happened to Savvy (Savannah). Everyone needs grandma in their corner when hunting for the truth and no one else can be trusted.

Ben, the podcaster, seemed to be impartial but he also understood how people think. I thought at first that the interspersing of the podcasts would bother me, but oh no they are fantastic for the reveals.

There are some lines crossed all over the place with words, actions and thoughts. I didn’t wonder who did it because I was too engrossed in the unraveling of the story. There are so many “heavy’ themes running through in a delicate way as to not overwhelm the reader that at least for me I was commenting out loud. (Wait, what?!, OMG what did they say? NOOO They didn’t really do that).

“I’ve imagined killing a lot of people” - this along with “Let’s. Kill. Him” are creepy good and well placed in the story
“Telemarketers and grandmas are the only ones who use the phone as intended” - first chuckle
“Of course I’m not drunk, it’s 2 0’clock in the afternoon…I’m just merely tipsy” - second chuckle

And many more throughout, some providing levity and others furthering the narrative. Nicely done, even those not G-rated enough for this review.

BTW, there are numerous mature themes well done and not too over-the-top.

This is my first time reading this author and I look forward to reading more.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story.
Happy Reading!

OH MY GOD THIS BOOK!

Do you ever read a novel and 30 seconds in you just think, "wow, I'm going to love this one"? Right off the bat, Listen for the Lie was that book for me. It was the PERFECT choice for an audio book - man I just love January LaVoy - and the way they aired the podcast was just icing on the cake.

This book kept me guessing from moment one. Five years after Savvy was murdered, her best friend Lucy is still the prime suspect but no one has been arrested. I was curious as to how all the circumstantial evidence kept Lucy free from custody and loved how everything played out. It was a great case for a podcaster and it was really fun suspecting everyone and trying to solve the mystery on my own - spoiler alert, I had no freaking clue until about 30 seconds before the reveal!

Lucy was such a stellar protagonist. I loved that she was kind of a bad B, smart, independent, unflappable, and totally her own person. She embodied that "I don't care what you think about me" persona and it totally worked. She was definitely too cool for school. Savvy was also the perfect victim. I loved that she wasn't the sweet, beautiful, innocent woman the media wanted to portray but that her being real and flawed didn't lessen the rosy effect the media put on her anyway.

The amnesia aspect of this book really worked. While it's not an entirely unique plotline, it felt so fresh and exciting in this book. It also added another layer for me to decide who and what I believed.

This book was perfection. I loved every minute, the audio was next level entertaining, and it's one I know I'll be recommending regularly. If it's not on your radar, it needs to be! And if you're new to audio or on the fence, this is the book to give it a go!

Thank you to Celadon Book and MacMillan Audio for the copy.

Loved this read! A classic missing memory murder mystery, Listen for the Lie has a great cast of characters, plenty of secrets to share, and a satisfying ending.

5/5 stars!!

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

My first 5 star of 2024!

SYNOPSIS -- Everyone has blamed Lucy for her best friend Savvy's murder ever since Lucy was found wandering the streets of their sleepy Texas town covered in Savvy's blood. At the time, Lucy's life appeared picture perfect, and so did her best friend. When Savvy is found dead, Lucy can't remember a single thing about their last night together or Savvy's death. Since retreating to LA to start a new life, Lucy has been doing everything in her power to be disconnected from that town and accusation. With her Grandma's birthday party and new podcast re-opening the case, Lucy is suddenly pulled back into her past and all of the people and questions that this brings.

This book was EVERYTHING that I want in a thriller: multiple timelines, different POV's, a potentially unreliable narrator, a major whodunnit, a bit of romantic tension, fun side characters, a small town and a big secret. I could not have flown through this faster; every opportunity I had to read, I was reading. I did this book like 25% on audio and 75% physical, and the physical really connected more for me, which is usually the opposite. The audio had some really fun components -- like podcast episodes with full production and a theme song! -- but just wasn't adding anything to the already wild story for me.

Lucy was a great main character for this book. Sometimes thriller MC's, especially unreliable ones, can be so disheveled and sulky and full of self sabotage. I really struggle with main characters that are drinking all the time or super self-destructive, and Lucy was not that. Did she make a few self-destructive decisions? Of course. But that wasn't her go-to and, ultimately, I think she handled the chaos of a murder accusation with about as much grace and humility as you could. Her dry sense of humor and inner monologue was intriguing and, at a lot of points, pretty funny.

The whodunnit aspect of this book was top tier. Of course, I had a number of suspicions and really didn't know who to blame for Savvy's death until the very end. There have been a bunch of books in the last year or two that have included some sort of true crime podcast, and this was my favorite one. The podcast only added to the story and character development, and didn't feel like useless, repetitive information like they do sometimes. I liken this book to NONE OF THIS IS TRUE -- though it is different and, ultimately, that is what make it special. You'll absolutely be surprised by this book and, if you're anything like me, you'll love it. I want more like this!!

The perfect suspense novel for audiobook lovers!

Listen for the Lie brings us Lucy’s story, alongside a podcast about the murder that’s now a cold case. The production is fully immersive. January LaVoy and Will Damron absolutely nail the narration.

Other things I loved:

The characters!
Small town drama
Secrets and tangled relationships

I was on edge and suspicious of everyone all the way through to the end.

*Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook download!*

This book had me on my toes the whole time! I loved the twists. I loved that I could not pin down the murderer right away. I loved the relationship between Gran and Ben. I loved that Gran never doubted Lucy. AND I loved the plot. Very original! The character development was excellent!
As far as the audiobook goes, well done! The narrator does a fantastic job keeping you hooked in the story. I especially liked the moments when it would pan to the podcast episodes. It reminded me of the narration from Lisa Jewel’s “None of This Is True” in which the narration made the audiobook better than the actual book. I will be posting this on my Bookstagram page @steph.overbooked .

Well that was freaking delightful!
An unreliable narrator can be good or bad.
Lucy is very very good!
I adored everything about this book right from the start.
The case, the town, the jump to judgement and the bananas thoughts of our dear Lucy.
This book has murder, a podcast tryin to drudge it all up, small town, feisty grandma and an ending that had me guessing till the last.
And the narration? Wow, well done January LaVoy & Will Damron! I will be searching for more from these two kittens; impressive!
Much love to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for my ALC.

I listened to the audiobook for most of this one and it was wonderful. I liked both narrators a lot and I really think the format was great. The podcast chapters really felt like they were part of a podcast and added to the story. This was a twisty mystery and I liked that the main character (and suspect) honestly didn’t remember what happened. Lucy left her hometown after he best friend was murdered and while she wasn’t charged everyone in the town was convinced she did it. Lucy doesn’t think she would murder her best friend, but things hadn’t looked great. She doesn’t have any memory of it and she was found covered in Savy’s blood. She has mostly managed to carve out a life for herself, but when Ben starts a podcast to investigate Savy’s murder the whole world now is determined that she is a murder and her life falls apart. After her grandmother guilts her into coming home so she can attend her 80th birthday Lucy finds herself trying to help Ben figure it out because after everything she loved Savy and does want to know what happened. I gave this one 4.5 stars which I rounded up for how great the audiobook was.

I somehow got approved for the audiobook after I had already finished my kindle copy, but let me tell you it did not stop me from reading it again! I didn’t think it could even get any better the second time because I already knew who did it, but damn was I wrong! The audiobook made all the difference! With switching back and forth between the podcast and all of the different characters, it really felt like I was living in the town and just as curious about what happened and was tuning into the actual podcast with everyone else. The banter was amazing! Talk about an amazing debut novel! I cannot wait to see what else Amy writes!

Listen for the Lie is exactly what I’m looking for in a thriller! When I told a friend I was going to start it tonight she suggested I start right after work because I wouldn’t want to stop and she was right - it’s a one sitting read!

I’m also really glad I waited to read this on audiobook - perfect format for the book and I loved the narration. Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook and to Celadon and Netgalley for the gifted ebook.

Lucy can’t remember what happened 5 years ago - the night her best friend was murdered. And a true crime podcast has her back in the spotlight as Ben digs into the case to find out what really happened.

Highly recommend!

Thanks NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read/listen to this book! Wow this book grabs you right from the beginning. I started reading it and switched back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook. The narration for the audiobook was fantastic! It added so much hearing the podcasts vs just reading them. It's suspected that Lucy killed her best friend, Savvy. She has no memory of Savvy's death, but it's haunted her ever since. Did Lucy do it? After some unfortunate life changes Lucy decides to return home to Texas for her Grandmother's birthday. There is a true crime podcaster named Ben in town trying to solve the mystery of Savvy's murder. Is he trying to convict Lucy or help her figure out the truth about what happened that night?