Member Reviews

WOW WOW WOW, what an absolute ride this book was! I haven't enjoyed a thriller like this one in a while, and I could not recommend more! Let's set the scene: Lucy is coming back to her small Texas town for the first time in five years. This is because five years ago, she was thought to have murdered her best friend Savvy. The problem is, she has no recollection of that night. Lucy was hoping to fade into the background, but a new true crime podcast is deep diving Savvy's murder in an effort to solve the cold case.

I absolutely devoured this book. I have been loving podcast related books, and this one was incorporated so fluidly that it did not take away from the story at all. I loved getting fed more and more breadcrumbs about the murder, and solving it along with Lucy. I don't want to get into the plot any more because there are so many twists and turns, just know that you absolutely need to read this book! The character of Lucy was so well developed, I left the book feeling like I knew her personally, and was cheering her on. Also, I definitely did not predict the ending, which was nice and refreshing! Excited to read more by this author in the future!

I honestly am so glad that I was given the opportunity to listen to this book on audio. I listened it to completely in one day, unable to quit it once I started. I feel like it totally brought the book to life, and the narrators did a fantastic job! Highly recommend listening to it on audio!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced audio copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Darkly comical mystery that is centered around a young woman’s murder. Savvy and Lucy were the best of friends, both were young and beautiful, and seemed happy. One night after attending a wedding, Lucy stumbles out of the woods covered in blood with a head injury and no memory of what happened. Savvy’s dead body is soon discovered and with Lucy having no memory of what happened the case goes cold, even though most of the town believes Lucy committed the murder. Five years later, after moving to LA, Lucy returns to Texas when a podcaster starts investigating the crime. At the request of her grandmother, Lucy returns to try and find out exactly what happened even if she herself is implicated in the murder. Fast paced, humorous, dark story that is one of the best audiobooks I listened to in years.

Was this review helpful?

Read Completed 1/7/24 | 4.25 - 4.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley & Macmillan audio for the audiobook review copy! I was approved to listen to an early audiobook copy and this did not affect my review in any way.

I was really excited to read a thriller from Amy Tintera! I've loved seeing young adult authors venture into adult thrillers lately, and having enjoyed some of Amy Tintera's YA books, I was really curious to see her adult work, especially a thriller. LISTEN FOR THE LIE was a super fun read for me and it really filled a void in my personal thriller tastes that I've been looking for for years!

LISTEN FOR THE LIE is about main character Lucy who has become the star attraction of a true crime podcast (which shares a name with the book title) after the podcast host speculates that she killed her best friend. Lucy has a huge memory gap of the night her best friend, Savvy, died and can't clear her name. She gets fired from her job and dumped, returns home for her spunky grandma's birthday party, and it just so happens that podcast host Ben is also in town. (Though Grandma knew all along.)

This book has so many elements that I love in a thriller: a podcast, a great audiobook (not full cast but the narrators, especially January LaVoy, do a great job of the different voices that you forget it's not full cast), and it was FUNNY. This book had some great dark humor and I absolutely loved it. Too often, thrillers or horror novels incorporate dark humor and it gets too silly. This was just perfection (I could have even used a little more in the end) and I'm so happy to finally find a funny, dark read. It's nice to have a little change of pace reading a darker mystery/thriller vibe but it kept a lightness about it too.

Was this book perfect? No. But when I finished it, I really didn't want to round down to 4 stars. It's kind of solidly between 4.25 - 4.5 stars just because I really enjoyed. I'm sure people can guess the ending and who the killer is, and I kind of loved that everyone -- including Lucy's family -- basically believe it was her. The ending was enjoyable, I really liked all of the characters, I loved the humor, the podcast was a great element, and the mystery was fun to follow. This was a very "me" book and I really clicked with it, so I want to round up for the enjoyment factor and finding a book that I connected with!

This is definitely one I'll be recommending and I hope Amy Tintera writes more adult thrillers in the future! I'd love to see more with the dark humor in them, but I'd be happy for anything else. I think the levity will really help this one stand out, and an excellent audiobook narration will attract audio listeners too.

Was this review helpful?

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera - I really was looking forward to this book, and once I realized it was narrated by one of my favorite narrators (January LaVoy)- I was even more excited. This book did NOT disappoint. So many twists and turns, unputdownable, the definition of the perfect thriller! One of my favorites of the year, so far! Thanks Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC!

Was this review helpful?

Audiobook Review: Advanced Copy

Thank you to #NetGalley, #MacmillanAudio, and #CeladonBooks for the opportunity.

Narrators: January LaVoy and Will Damron

This book had it all… from providing laughs and thrills as well as a mystery to find out who did
the shocking deed. This book had me fooled until the end as there were a variety of possibilities
that met the qualifications of the killer. The main plot describes two best friends who are out
together, one of them getting killed (Savvy), and the other friend, Lucy not remembering any of
it. The blame was put onto Lucy and cue the true-crime podcast’s start. Ben Owens enters
Lucy’s life with the help of her grandmother to get the truth out that Lucy was not a murder. The
end is on the thrilling side and figuring out the mystery kept me wanting to hear more.
The narration was convincing. It drew me in as the characters sounded like they were coming
off the pages and I could speak to them directly. The added voice in Lucy’s head, who we find
out later is Savvy herself, was an addition I had not read in any recent books. I thought that it
was witty and made the character more believable, although I am glad I don’t have that voice in MY head! I would recommend these narrators and would definitely listen to another book with either of them telling the tale.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced audio copy.

Savvy was murdered and everyone figured her best friend, Lucy, did it. 5 years later a podcast starts to investigate. Will the truth finally be revealed?

This was a wild ride. Lucy is a sarcastic baddie who I adored. I’m not normally one who likes podcast elements in books but this one didn’t annoy me like some do. The entire time I was wondering how it would end. I didn’t want to put it down.

Was this review helpful?

This had the potential to be a 5-star read, but fell a bit short.

I really liked the ‘true crime’ podcast premise, but several of the characters irritated me. I really did not like the ‘voice’ in Lucy’s head and think it wasn’t particularly necessary. The twist was a good one & well executed. I loved Barbara! For me she stole the show.

Narration was excellent. Listened at 1.5 speed. Overall, a solid 4 star.

***ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This is how you do an audiobook! The production was incredible, I loved it. And the story is also very good, so this is a complete win.

It's a solid thriller with good tension, intriguing characters, and a nice format and pace. The audiobook is GREAT. They ate up that production. Both January LaVoy and Will Damron did an amazing job with the narration and I loved their voices. One of the top audiobooks of the year so far!

Was this review helpful?

🎧Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera🎧
★★★★ 4/5 stars
Pub day : 3/5/24

"What if you thought you murdered your best friend?
And if everyone else thought so too?
And what if the truth doesn't matter?"

» Synopsis
5 years ago, Lucy was found walking down the road with a head injury & her best friend's blood all over her dress. Lucy claims that she doesn't remember what happened that night. Everyone in her home town thinks she's lying, but there isn't enough evidence to convict her. When true crime podcast host Ben Owens chooses to investigate her case, Lucy is forced to return home to help to solve her friend's murder…even if she is the one that did it.

» My Thoughts
Listen For The Lie is the book I didn’t know I needed - so original & down right entertaining! It has the perfect balance of dark humor, witty banter & twisty thrills.

Lucy's unhinged personality was something else, & I loved hearing her inner monologue. One of the most interesting opening lines I’ve ever read (iykyk😂) Lucy’s Grandma was the coolest character. The pacing was perfect with short, binge-able chapters. There were so many surprising twists, but the ending was something I NEVER guessed. I had several theories as a read, this would be a great book club or buddy read!

The audiobook is wonderful too, with well-produced Podcast elements & entertaining voice acting. I will definitely be looking up more titles narrated by January LaVoy.

» Read this if you like:
- Fast paced, super short chapters
- Podcast transcripts
- Dark humor & sarcasm
- Amnesia pov
- Small town unsolved murders
- Aspiring authors
- Morally grey, unreliable narrators
- Southern charm (& cattiness)

Thank you so much to netgalley + Macmillan audio for my ALC ◡̈

Was this review helpful?

This audiobook was addictive and binge worthy! I loved it. It was narrated by January LaVoy and Will Damron and they were excellent!! This was really tense and kept me guessing the whole way through. It's about Lucy, who everyone believes murdered her best friend. She doesn't even remember what happened. Now years later,Ben, who hosts his podcast “Listen For the Lie”, is investigating this case for his second season. Lucy must revisit the past to help solve the case.

I love books revolving around podcasts like this one. I found the mystery so suspenseful and I couldn't stop listening! So good and highly recommend!!

Out May 5.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. My review will be posted on Instagram, Bookbub, Goodreads, and Amazon once it publishes!

Was this review helpful?

Well, this is a fun one! The quality of the book isn’t five stars worthy, but it’s fun
I would 100% recommend listening to it rather than reading it. The narrator does a fantastic job. Also, because it has a podcast element. It really helps to listen to it. I’m not everyone will like the main character, I really liked her. She’s sarcastic and a smart Alec. She’s funny too. But my favorite character hands-down was grandma. We all need a grandma like that in our lives. . Be prepared that there is a lot of dark humor. Also, trigger warning for domestic abuse.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

Could not stop listening. Loved the premise. Loved the plot. Would definitely recommend for any thriller/mystery lover. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review!

Was this review helpful?

I recently listened to an audiobook version of a tense, gripping thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. The story centers around a young woman who begins to question whether she killed her best friend years ago. As she tries to clear her name, an actual crime podcaster steps in to help her. The story is darkly humorous, thought-provoking, and full of twists and turns. The audiobook was read by two excellent actors, January LaVoy and Will Damron, who brought the characters to life. The brief chapters included all the elements of a mystery/thriller, such as sarcasm, secrets, dysfunctional family members, observant neighbors, and unexpected plot twists. I finished the audiobook in a single day (even though I was busy). I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone who enjoys a fast-paced and entertaining whodunit. And brought the characters to life and nailed it! I finished listening to it in a single day, and I heartily suggest the audiobook. It moved so quickly and kept me wondering what the real story was. The brief chapters included all the elements of a mystery/thriller one could want, including sarcasm, secrets, dysfunctional family members, observant neighbors, twists, and turns. A super strong five of five stars!

Was this review helpful?

This Book was so much fun! Want a book to listen to that doesn't feel like a book? Look no further!

Our main character Lucy was found covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood. Everyone in town has their fingers pointed at her as the suspect when it comes to Savvy's murder.... BUT the police don't have enough to charge her. Lucy left town and did her best to carve out a life for herself in LA. When her grandmother invites her to come home for her party, Lucy can't help but say yes.

Ben Owens is a handsome and charming true crime podcaster ("Listen for the Lie") who is in Lucy's hometown to investigate Savvy's murder. Lucy finds herself back amongst the finger pointers and finds herself in the middle of Ben's investigation.

I think the audio really had me glued to my seat. I, as the listeners of the podcast wanted to know whodunit. I truly felt like I was a part of the story and not necessarily just listening to the story.


Gripping, dark, funny and well thought out.

I highly recommend the audiobook.


5 stars

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for the gifted ARC of LISTEN FOR THE LIE by Amy Tintera!

LISTEN FOR THE LIE follows Lucy, a young woman who has lived with the question of whether or not she murdered her best friend years ago. Everyone else is convinced she’s guilty, but Lucy has no memories of the night she is found covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood and no explanation for her own injuries that night.

Lucy has cut ties with her home town in the years that have passed since that tragic night, but a request from her grandmother, the one person that has stood by Lucy’s side all this time, has her heading back home. A hit true crime podcast of the same title as the novel is investigating Savvy’s murder and Lucy must decide if the time is right to participate and finally get answers.

I am really drawn to books with a podcast element and I really appreciate when that is incorporated well into a book. I am happy to say that the podcast was really well done here and I think that the audiobook was a fantastic way to consume this story. With multiple narrators and additional production elements, the audio takes full advantage of the mixed media format.

Lucy was a complicated character and had me really wondering what happened all those years ago. I didn’t always love her and there were times I definitely questioned her decisions, but she was very compelling to read about. This book takes on some serious subjects as well, so I do recommend checking out trigger warnings if those may be a concern.

I started this book on my flight to Thailand and it instantly had me hooked. I had to put it down for a while as I didn’t get much reading done after my initial flight, but I kept wanting to get back into the story and I binged the last 70% on my flight home.

I really enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend, especially on audio!

Was this review helpful?

This book was so twisty and suspenseful. I abolutely loced the audiobook narration paired with reading this book. It was very much like listening to a true crime podcast and I though the storytelling was amazing. The ending was wild and this book is one of my new favorite thrillers. 5/5 highly recommend and a special thank you to NetGalley and Amy Tintera, and MacMillan for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Feeling like her life in LA had come to a bit of a standstill-- she's lost her job and her relationship with her boring boyfriend seems to have run its course- Lucy decides a change of scenery is overdue. Heading back to her hometown for her Grandmother's birthday celebration, Lucy confronts a town full of people who still think she murdered her best friend Savvy (being found covered her blood didn't do much to ease their accusations) and a Podcaster who hasn't yet made up his mind.

I generally do not understand the Podcast thing and typically stay away from books with that set up but I kept seeing this book get rave reviews on the book blogs and I am so glad I gave it a go. I could not put it down! I loved most of the characters in this book, they all felt very real. I also loved the way the author consistently described the heat and humidity in Texas and really set the scene. It's hard to explain without spoilers, but I also thought there was one element concerning one of the characters that really made the book distinctive and gave the whole story another dimension. I loved that this was part small-town story, part Basic Instinct. It was just a really solid story all around.

Was this review helpful?

4.5⭐️

I had the audiobook read by January LaVoy and Will Damron. Both are great. The voice of the podcaster is silky smooth

It’s listed as mystery & thriller and women’s fiction. It fits well as a mystery, but more suspense than thriller for me.

The story is told from Lucy’s POV who was accused of k*lling her friend after initially being thought of as a second victim, but wasn’t charged. Ben with a podcast called Listen for the lie is investigating the crime provides a second POV.

Lucy’s first person point of view shows her as young and trendy, bluntly spoken, chatty to the reader with her observations and internal dialogue/voice in her head but I found that aspect irritating, no it was more than irritating I was losing the will! But I think either the level of that decreased in the second half of the book, or I just got used to it allowing me to settle into enjoying it. Initially I didn’t find Lucy likeable, she grow on me by the end. Oh my Ben is as smooth as butter! Which in itself instantly made me suspicious of him. Grandma (Beverley) was my favourite character, she is funny and hip.

There’s some good plot developments and reveals with plenty going on throughout. Once I got over my irritation with the internal dialogue I really loved this book, it’s just I could really have done with that aspect being dialled right down. This could so easily have been a 5⭐️ for me. I also think the narrators added a lot to the story for me

The podcast sections are very short, concise, and work well.

If you loved Sweetpea C J Skuse I think you’ll enjoy this one.

Was this review helpful?

This was such a fun one! I really enjoyed the snark/sarcasm from our main character, Lucy. She was cracking me up and I couldn’t help but root for her. I’m not a huge fan of the amnesia trope but I do think it worked here, and I loved how she started to piece things together.

I kept changing my mind about what happened that night and who killed Savvy. I think I suspected everyone BUT the actual killer.

The audiobook was excellent. The narrators did a great job, and I love the use of different narrators for difference characters. The podcast narrations had added sound effects, like sounds of the microphone being disturbed during an altercation. Little things like that made me feel like I was listening to an actual podcast.

Definitely looking forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Amy Tintera, and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

New to the world of Amy Tintera, I became curious with the book summary for this ARC. A mystery told through the eyes of the prime suspect and a podcaster, Tintera offers the reader a keen look into the case. As the story progresses, more is revealed and the reader is privy to some startling information, only to add to the depth of events and the truth soon peeks out for all to see. A unique story perspective allows Tintera to showcase her abilities and keeps the reader on edge throughout. Tintera impresses and keeps the story edgy for all.

On the night Lucy turned up wandering along the streets of her Texas town, she’s covered in her best friend’s blood with no idea what happened, her memory completely blank. Savvy is a social butterfly loved by all, while Lucy was the prom queen who made all the right choices in her young life. Savvy’s dead and Lucy is the prime suspect, leaving the authorities to want answers. None are forthcoming and a definitive decision on the murder cannot be made.

At present, with Lucy having moved to L.A., there are so many unanswered questions.
The case has caught the attention of a popular podcast, it is not only the local police who want answers. Ben Owens has made it his business to use his soapbox in “Listen for the Lie” to air everything and dig deeper than anyone else has done in the past. As Ben opens new angles and keeps this fans trying to come up with answers as well, Lucy returns to town and takes some risky options to get to the truth. What will Ben discover and how will it change the narrative that Lucy has been living? With each episode, new truths are revealed and Lucy’s memory is triggered with an aim towards what actually happened. Tintera offers up a great story that keeps the reader guessing until all is revealed at the very end!

I was eager to get my hands on this latest novel by Amy Tintera. It sounded like a great story that offered up a unique perspective when it comes to a murder in small-town USA. As the narrative gains momentum, the story takes on a life of its own, giving the reader a great perspective of all things and from every perspective. There are other elements that seek to make the reader care more about all that is going on, slowly revealing the truth for all to see. Tintera uses good character development to keep the reader engaged and provides some wonderful depth as the story progresses.

Plot twists pepper the story and keep things on edge. There are elements one might not have predicted, as well as perspectives that were missing in the early point of the story. I am eager to see what else Tintera has penned to see how it will compare.

Kudos, Madam Tintera, for this gripping story.

Was this review helpful?