Lucy was accused of killing her best friend Savvy years ago. Everyone thinks she did it. The problem is, Lucy has no memory of that night. When a podcaster enters the equation in hopes of discovering the truth, Lucy will have to confront her past.

Books like this are often most enjoyed in audiobook format, and this is no exception. I enjoyed the full cast aspect and sound effects— it really made it seem like a podcast.

Thanks to MacMillan Audio & NetGalley for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Yawn, another mystery built around a podcast - is what I thought when I read the synopsis for this one but I am happy to say I WAS WRONG! This was a pretty great little book with an extremely flawed heroine (who was quite funny, too).

Lucy has spent the past 5 years in L.A., escaping her hometown after her best friend Savvy was murdered. It doesn't help that A) everyone thinks she killed Savvy, B) she doesn't remember anything that happened that night, and C) there's now a popular podcast dealing with the crime and trying to solve it. She goes back home at her grandma's behest for her 80th birthday party, and chaos ensues.

Lucy isn't exactly likeable, but she is very real. She's a smart-mouthed woman who does a lot of dumb stuff, but it's largely human dumb stuff rather than trying to insert herself in the solution of the mystery. I enjoyed the family dynamics and the discussion of Lucy's previous domestic abuse situation; it felt like an accurate portrayal of a woman finally dealing with her trauma instead of just dulling the pain.

Looking forward to more adult material from this author, and January LaVoy was a great narrator, even if her "Texan middle aged woman" voice wore a little thin in spots.
3.5 stars rounded up

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me an ARC of Listen for the Lie in exchange for an honest review.

Five years ago, Savannah Harper was found brutally murdered. Her best friend Lucy Chase was found with a head injury, no memory of what happened, and an awful lot of Savvy’s blood on her dress. At first, their small town of Plumpton, Texas believed Lucy must have escaped Savvy’s unknown attacker. But soon the town turned on Lucy, believing she murdered her best friend even though she was never charged. Now, Lucy lives in Los Angeles but is still haunted by the night she can’t remember. And her old life is colliding with her new one because the true crime podcast “Listen for the Lie” has decided to investigate Savvy’s murder for the show’s second season. Encouraged by her grandmother, Lucy returns to Plumpton to reluctantly agrees to help the podcast host Ben Owens with his investigation, despite her fears that together they may prove that she was Savvy’s killer.

Listen for the Lie is a wonderfully constructed story. Much of the tale is told from Lucy’s perspective. She’s a great character, funny and snarky, yet with a troubled past and a dangerous edge because she constantly imagines murdering people, hears a voice that keeps saying “let’s kill,” and genuinely doesn’t know if she killed Savvy. But interspersed with Lucy’s chapters are outtakes from the “Listen for the Lie” podcast. Those sections are incredibly well-written, note-perfect recreations of true crime podcasts like Serial. As we meet the various characters from Plumpton—Lucy’s ex-husband Matt, her parents and scene-stealing grandmother, Nina, Emmitt, Colin, and Kyle—both from Lucy and the podcast’s perspectives, the mystery of who killed Savvy deepens until the answer is finally revealed.

Finally, a word about the narrators, January LaVoy and Will Damron. Both are Audie Award winners and it shows. Their performances are simply excellent. Additionally, the production value and background music in the podcast scenes are so well done that it sounds like an audiobook being interrupted by an actual Serial-style podcast.

Listen for the Lie is a great mystery with a compelling main character. And along the way, the story explores false memories, gaslighting, gender dynamics, and how the media has a habit of smoothing the rough edges, buffing and polishing certain people (read: pretty, young white women) into unrealistic, perfect victims. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Highly recommended, especially the audiobook.

Five years ago, twentysomethings Savannah Harper (Savvy) and Lucy Chase of Plumpton, Texas - who were best friends - went to a wedding, and drank and partied with the other guests. After the wedding, Savvy was found in the woods, with a crushed skull, and Lucy was found nearby - injured, dazed, and covered with blood.

Lucy claimed to have no memory of what happened, and the police found no evidence to prosecute her. Nevertheless, the residents of Plumpton labeled Lucy a murderer; Lucy's marriage ended; and Lucy's parents acted like she was guilty. So Lucy left town and moved to Los Angeles, California.

Now, half a decade later, Savvy's murder is in the news again. A true-crime podcaster named Ben Owens, whose podcast is called 'Listen for the Lie', has taken it upon himself to solve the case (in other words, to prove Lucy did it). Thus Ben is interviewing people who knew Savvy and Lucy, and reconstructing the night Savvy died. Ben's podcast goes viral, after which Lucy loses her job and gets the cold shoulder from her boyfriend Nathan.

Meanwhile, Lucy's grandmother Beverly is planning a big bash for her 80th birthday, and she implores Lucy to come to Plumpton for the celebration. Lucy is VERY reluctant to set foot in her hometown, knowing that people will stare and whisper and possibly do worse. Nevertheless, Lucy agrees to visit Plumpton for her grandma's party.

As it happens, podcaster Ben Owens is in Plumpton at the same time as Lucy, and he asks her to give him an interview. Lucy is tempted, but the truth is, Lucy isn't convinced of her own innocence. She continually hears a voice in her head telling her to kill people, and suggesting ways to do it.

Still, Ben seems to be getting the local folks to open up and reveal new evidence. Moreover, Ben is handsome and personable, and Lucy finds him very attractive. After awhile Ben and Lucy get friendly, and decide to work together to reveal the truth.....even if it means proving Lucy DID kill Savvy.

The narrative is interspersed with episodes of the 'Listen to the Lie' podcast, where we learn - bit by bit - about what happened in Plumpton five years ago. The town was chock full of podcast-worthy occurrences, such as unrequited love; domestic abuse; violent outbursts; marital infidelity; and more.

At the book's climax we see how all the chicanery in Plumpton resulted in Savvy's death.

The best characters in the book are Lucy, whose observations are sarcastic and amusing; and grandma Beverly, a feisty octogenarian with a long line of admirers.

I enjoyed the mystery, but the plot isn't totally realistic. It seems that ALMOST EVERYONE in Plumpton lied about where they were at the time of Savvy's murder, but the police (apparently) didn't suss any of this out. They just focused on Lucy and let the investigation go stale.

Still, this is an engaging thriller with interesting characters and a touch of romance.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by January LaVoy and Will Damron, who do a fine job.

Thanks to Netgalley, Amy Tintera, and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the book.

Get the audio!!
Narrators: January Lavoy, Will Damron

I absolutely love Lucy Chase. She is my kinda gal - smart, sarcastic and she doesn’t take crap from anyone. She returns home to Texas for her Grandma’s birthday. It’s been 5 years since she was found covered in the blood of her bff, Savvy. The town was convinced she committed the murder, but there was not enough evidence to convict her.

True Crime Podcaster, “Listen for the Lie”, Ben Owen’s arrives in town and is determined to figure out what happened to Savvy. There were so many twists and turns in this story.

I listened to this one and highly recommend it. The narration was very well done. Being able to hear Lucy’s sarcasm and Savvy talking to Lucy in her head adds to the story.

Thank you @celadonbooks @macmillan.audio for the #gifted copy.

4.5/5
Do yourself a favor and listen to this one!
Well, this was fun! I loved listening to the combination of past and presents storyline with the podcast episodes. Listen for the Lie held my interest from start to finish. The plot moves at a perfect pace and the characters are extremely well developed. I also really enjoyed the humorous snarky bits of dialogue woven into the story. The narration and music added for the podcast set the tone beautifully for this twisty, slow-burn, thrilling whodunit. A huge thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and the author for an ALC in exchange for my honest review. So good!

Once I started listening to this audiobook I could not stop. I loved the narration and it was very interesting to have the mix of the story and the podcasts.
I found myself really invested in the characters, there was great character development.the twists were great! I was on the edge of my seat for the last few chapters.

5 years ago, Lucy was found wandering in the woods, covered in blood and her best friend, Savvy found dead. The whole town thinks Lucy killed her but Lucy has no memory of that night. 5 years later, Ben, the creator of Listen For the Lie Podcast, is creating a series on the death of Savannah. He wants to get to the truth if it really was Lucy or someone else. Lucy returns to her hometown for her grandmas birthday and comes to find Ben is there. As the story goes on, we find out little clues about what really happened. Was it Lucy or someone else?

I loved the audio of this book! There is a past and present storyline with a podcast too. Listening made me feel like I was actually listening to the podcast and book at the same time. This book was a page turner and kept me guessing till the end! I couldn’t put this book down, definitely add it to your list to read when it comes out on March 5, 2024!

Thank you to Amy Tintera, @netgalley and @celadonbooks for an arc of Listen For the Lie in exchange for an honest review!

Listen for the Lie is a well-developed story with truly interesting characters. There’s a lot to love about this novel. It twists and turns in all the right places. I was drawn to Lucy. She is engaging. The relationships are really what moves this storyline along. I was invested from beginning to end. The truth really is out there. January LaVoy is a fabulous narrator.

This was a well written and organized book it was kept my interest to the end of it it is a mystery unraveled lovable level and it is very good I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Mysteries and I would read it again

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

I *loved* this book! I honestly think the podcast element in thrillers is kind of played out but the way this one was incorporated totally worked for me.

Every time I thought I had something figured out I was totally thrown for a loop, and I found the ending very satisfying.

I hope Tintera continues to publish adult novels because I will gladly continue reading them!

I highly recommend the audio because the podcast chapters are fully produced with music so they are extra authentic.

Listen For the Lie will be on US bookshelves March 5!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I read and listened to this one. I liked the format. You get past and present views and also clips from the podcast. It's a slow build up and I didn't see the twist coming. Very good read!

This book was both mysterious, murderous, and funny, plus a little slutty, which is just a super fun combination. Lucy was accused of murdering her best friend five years ago. She doesn't remember anything that happened that night, just that she woke up with a head wound, covered in her friends blood, wandering the high way of her small Texas town. Without enough evidence to be convicted, she rebuilds her life in LA. Enter Ben, charmingly handsome podcaster who can solve cold cases (because can't they always?) This is a really popular trope in mystery writing, and this time, it had a little romantic twist... or should I say, tryst??) Anyway, I digress. We don't really learn a ton about Lucy below the surface level, which is what keeps this book sharp and witty. We do learn that her town of gossipy Texans is full of misogynistic asshats and people who sleep around. This is a fast paced book that keeps you guessing till the end, and January LaVoy does a fantastic job narrating, as always. Highly recommend!

Alright Amy girl…you got it

This book is *chefs kiss*

Listen for the Lie is the perfect blend of classic thriller for a new aged audience.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an early copy of this audiobook.

Listen for the Lie follows Lucy, a girl who’s suspected of murdering her best friend Savannah five years prior. Because a famous true crime podcaster is interested in Savannah’s death, people in Lucy’s hometown are being interviewed to try and solve the cold case. Lucy has no plans to go back to Texas. But she finds herself thrown back into the chaos, harsh glances, and even harsher words cast from everyone in her hometown. From her ex-husband to her own parents, everyone suspects Lucy to be Savannah’s murderer. Well….not everyone.

I could NOT put this book down. I ate up every page and was at the edge of my seat, even at work, trying to figure out who actually killed Savannah.

The twists and turns from this book were so good. I didn’t know what was going to happen next. I especially enjoyed the combination of Lucy’s past, her present, and the podcast episodes all mixed into the chapters. It clearly guided the readers of what to pay attention to without overwhelming them with too much information.

The characters were very well written. I knew who were key players and got a sense of their personalities. Good gracious I hated Matt. I definitely thought he was the killer and was mad that I was wrong. I wanted him to go to jail for being so violent and scary. Lucy’s parents were no better. Her mom was intolerable and her dad was a jerk. I’m glad Lucy got redemption and closure from her ordeal. And I laughed every time she made a joke about her being the murderer.

This book is set over two to three weeks or so. Although it seems like a short time, nothing about this book is rushed or glazed over.

Listen for the Lie is great for true crime lovers, readers who enjoy mysteries and thrillers without the ominous, horror film vibes, and those who want an introductory read for the thriller genre.
Each chapter goes back and forth from five years ago to present time to reveal more and more pieces of Savannah’s murder. And as Lucy starts to remember what happened that night, the people she used to trust show themselves as being incredibly suspicious.

Listen for the Lie kept me guessing. Usually with thrillers or mysteries, the reader tries to figure out who committed the crime. And at one point, I really thought I did. But I was pleasantly surprised with the reveal of who it was.

My final five star review of the year
I am a huge fan of the well done, snarky style of a mystery. The one that effortlessly blends humor with a good whodunit. The kind that at the same time you’re chuckling, you’re thinking OMG. Listen for the Lie fits the bill perfectly. Lucy is five years out from the murder of her best friend. A murder that most people believe she was guilty of. But Lucy has no memory of the night and the police didn’t have enough evidence to charge anyone. By moving away from the small Texas town, she had managed to move on. But now, a true crime podcast is taking up the investigation of the unsolved case. And Lucy is back in town, drawn back by her grandmother’s 80th birthday party.
I was a big fan of Lucy. She’s a grammar nerd - as a fifteen year old, she corrected all the typos in the church bulletin to turn it in at the end of every service. She has a Mikado style brain (remember the song “I’ve Got A Little List?) which envisions killing everyone that crosses her. Some of the funniest bits are of her thoughts on how to do someone in. Initially, I found the voice in Lucy’s head a bit overdone (part of this was January LaVoy’s depiction of it). But midway through the book, it came together and made perfect sense to me.
And even more than Lucy, I loved her grandmother who has a way of always getting what she wants. I want to be Beverly when I’m 80!
So often, mysteries fall apart at the end. Not this one. I found the ending perfect and I loved that it caught me off balance. (All of it, right down to the final minutes.)
Overall, I was pleased with January LaVoy and Will Damron, other than that one annoying voice. The audio goes above and beyond just reading, adding music to differentiate the podcast recordings.
My thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook.

First off, listen to the audiobook for this one it is so good and so well done. I was addicted and couldn't stop listening to it I needed to know what the outcome and the truth was.

Lucy is one heck of a character, to say she's a hot mess is putting it lightly but oh man did I love her sarcasm, snark and humor. She's easy to root for, but can she be trusted ? The little voice in her head tells otherwise. Not saying more !

The chapters alternate with Lucy and the podcast, the podcast was a necessity to the narrative of this story. In the audio the podcast part is so fun, there's this music playing before and after to put you in context. I really thought it made for a great listening experience.

This fast paced funny twisty, dark and riveting book is one not to be missed. The conclusion left me feeling relieved and happy. This was such a brilliant book, loved every second !

🎧 I listened to this one and as mentioned in the beginning, listen to this one !! The narrator @januarylavoy did a fantastic job with the character of Lucy and portraying her so well. Also that little voice inside her head she was doing was so creepy !! Great job !

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @macmillanaudio & @amytintera for my free audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

WOWZA!

This is how you do it! This was a great true crime podcast whodunit! I was instantly drawn into the plot, loving how captivating and fun this book was. I had the audiobook and loved the narration. The premise was so intriguing: a woman who everyone believes killed her best friend. She isn't sure if she murdered her friend as she can't remember the night in question. She loved her friend and is certain she would never harm her but can't explain why she was found covered in her friend's blood. Buckle yourself in for this amazing and thrilling ride!

Lucy was found covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood. Everyone in town has their fingers pointed at her but the police don't have enough to charge her with murder. 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 as she and her grandmother are close.

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.

This was soooo good. I love books with snarky and witty characters. Lucy's sarcasm at times was dripping off the pages. Plus, her grandmother is a hoot! She was fun, sassy, and quick witted. She provided humor and put a smile on my face.

I enjoyed being a fly on the wall during this book. Lucy hears Savvy's voice in her head throughout the book. It's a little creepy but also interesting. What is up with that? I thought I was done reading books with podcasts but Listen for the Lie was fantastic. I found it to be a well thought out, well written and riveting book. Plus, the narrators nailed it. I didn't want to stop listening. I too wanted to know whodunit. Was it Lucy? If not her, then who?


Gripping, dark, humorous, and well thought out.

I highly recommend the audiobook.

Of all the books I've read this year, many of them have centered around a podcast, but Listen for the Lie blew those out of the water. The audiobook listening experience was top notch with a full cast and great narration. The story relies on some pretty standard tropes in mystery-thrillers, but the execution is what took this to the next level. Most of the time it's not what happens but the journey to how you get there and Amy Tintera does a great job of unraveling the mystery of Savvy's death and the role Lucy played that night in a way that felt new and the pacing was fantastic. Overall, highly recommend (especially the audiobook) to anyone who loves the genre and is looking for something new!

This is absolutely a must-read in 2024. Who killed Savvy?? There's no way to know. Even our MC Lucy doesn't know and she was there when the murder happened. I highly, HIGHLY recommend the audiobook. I was invested in these characters like I knew them personally. The podcast addition after each chapter was exceptional and had me forgetting I was listening to a fictional book and wishing Grandma Bev was my granny.

Please, for the love of God, read if you like:

🎧 Sarcastic and dark humor
🎧 Crime novels
🎧 Fast-paced chapters
🎧 Twists on twists

All of the thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Expected publication date of March 5, 2024.

I love books that work podcasts into the story (like Night Swim) since it's combining two of my favorite things. Super fast paced, did not want to put it down. Loved the characters, Lucy was so unique. Great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in advance of publication.