This book busted my book slump! Pulled me right in at the beginning of the novel. The main character of this book is snarky and sarcastic, which is entertaining. The ending was surprising but looking back I could see hints to what happened. Part of the novel takes place in podcast format, which I LOVED! If you like true crime podcasts you’ll like this novel!

After discovering that Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera was being narrated by the married couple of January Lavoy and Will Damron, I immediately made it a MUST LISTEN. Both were primary narrators of my favorite audiobooks of 2021 (The Ursulina by Brian Freeman: her) and 2022 (Look Closer by David Ellis: him). I had never read a book by this author but the cover looked great and the early ratings were very positive.

I really enjoyed this suspenseful story and absolutely LOVED the narration. As most of my reads go, I don't read the synopsis so the story is truly revealed word by word. I will say that there was one particular 'voice' that brought some questions early on as well as the main mystery of the 'why' of 'what' happened but I feel both became good aspects of the storyline by the end. I had the perp pegged but all the characters had a good vibe of good and bad which was very effective to me.

A big WOW goes to January Lavoy for the multitude of voices for her segments plus sharing the female voices in many of the podcasts as well. She ranks in my top three narrators when it comes to top notch audiobook entertainment. I hope they enjoyed recording this one together.

This is going to be a favorite 2024 audiobook for me. A bit difficult for me to rate/rank it as just a read but as an audiobook can sometimes make or break it, I know this one was a huge MAKE for me! I will definitely read another thriller by Amy Tintera!

Thank you to both Netgalley and the publisher for this opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

I love the way this book is narrated. The back-and-forth between the main character and the podcast had me hooked. And the twist I did not disappoint. A perfect psychological who done it that kept me guessing.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ALC of "Listen for the LIe" by Amy Tintera. This was my introduction to this author and I went into this book without reading any of the blurbs. I loved this book-it must be listened to for the podcast incorporation. It worked! I was inveted in the story, hoping she didn't do it, guessed wrong a few times, and was surprised by the ending. Highly recommend!

For the dark humor lovers with snark and sarcasm.
For the lovers of books with a podcast premise. (I do think this could been adapted better for the audiobook format.)

What happens when you are found with your best friend’s blood all over you? Oh and you have amnesia.

Cue a grandmother determined to clear her grand daughter’s name. A sultry and up coming podcaster with a reputation to prove.

There is no dull moments here a wild ride to the end.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio the ALC!

Talk about a perfect thriller audiobook! LISTEN FOR THE LIE is a fast-paced unraveling of what really happened the night Lucy’s best friend Savannah was murdered… because she still can’t remember. January LaVoy and Will Damron absolutely kill this on audio, with the podcast element making it a chef’s kiss! This is fast-paced, has sarcasm that’ll make you laugh out loud, and will keep you guessing up until the end!

Did Lucy murder her best friend? Even she doesn't know. She is led to investigate this murder herself when a podcaster comes into her life to dredge up the past.

This is my first book by this author, and I really enjoyed it.

January LaVoy and Will Damron were excellent narrators.

Thank you for Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for an ARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book which is available now!

Listen for the Lie offered a thrilling audio experience with well-produced sound effects and narration for the story and podcast elements. The novel follows Lucy who has been living in LA after she left her small Texas town after the death of her best friend, Savvy. Everyone in her hometown thinks Lucy killed Savvy after she was found wandering out of the woods that night covered in her blood. The only problem being that Lucy can’t remember anything and somehow avoided charges.

In comes Ben Owens, who has a hit true crime podcast “Listen for the Lie”, and has made it his mission to investigate Savvy's murder. Lucy returns home for her grandmother's birthday and is faced with old friends, ex husbands/boyfriends, and family as she helps Ben try and solve her friend’s murder, even if it turns out to be her.

Despite its captivating presentation, I could not fully engage with this story. The main character is insufferable, and I also found the underlying romance to be out of place and incoherent with the narrative. The true crime premise had potential but the romantic subplot felt unnecessary and awkward. If you enjoy a little romance mixed with your true crime and podcast type stories, this may be for you. I have seen quite a few four and five star reviews of this book so I would encourage you to read other reviews to see different perspectives on this one. I think this one just wasn't for me and that's OK! Happy reading 😊

4.5 stars for this superb thriller! Lucy Chase is a woman with a deadly secret...that she can't even remember. She has spent years away from her hometown of Plumpton, TX, where one night her best friend Savannah "Savvy" Harper, was found murdered in the woods. Lucy was found on the side of the road, covered in blood and bruises, Savvy's skin under her nails. Everyone thinks Lucy did it but so far no one has been able to prove it, though Ben Owens hopes to find answers with his popular true crime podcast, "Listen for the Lie." After Lucy reluctantly returns to Plumpton to attend her grandmother's 80th birthday party, she's determined to avoid Ben and his probing questions. However, Ben proves rather persuasive and incredibly attractive.
The POV shifts between Lucy and Ben's podcast transcripts. Lucy is a snarky, laugh-out-loud anti-hero that you'll root for from the first line. Even if she may be a murderer.
January LaVoy and Will Damron lend their voices and expertise in narrating to this compelling novel.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*

I absolutely loved this one!!! I alternated between the physical and the audio and I have to say that this is one of those books that was made for audio. I feel like most books that have a podcast element are best to listen to and Listen for the Lie did not disappoint! I was captivated the entire time. I really enjoyed the story but I also could not wait until the end to figure out the truth. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for me and I highly recommend this audio book.

Lucy was part of her friend Savvy's murder, but did she commit the crime? She can't remember. Everyone thinks she did but there was never enough evidence for conviction. Now, a few years later, Podcast host, Ben Owens wants to find out if she was really involved.

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!