Twist turny story about a woman who can not remember what happened the night of the death of her best friend. As a podcaster decides to dig into the case again, Lucy makes her way back home to clear her name and try to remember that night.

I listened to the audiobook of this which I really liked. The voices were great and it was easy to know what was going on. This had a good twist but also felt predictable at times.

This was a fun mystery-thriller, perfect for podcast fans and true crime enthusiasts!

Premise - Lucy is suspected of the murder of her best friend and flees to LA to try to start over. The problem? She can’t remember if she did it or not. When a true crime podcaster, Ben, opens up the story again, she heads home to try to get answers once and for all.

The characters were well developed and I really liked how Lucy’s intrusive thoughts cast doubt on her innocence - I’m going to call the reason behind the intrusive thoughts a result of brain damage (because I don’t think this story needs to veer into the paranormal) and it works as such.

The final whodunnit isn’t anything new if you’re aware of the general political moment of the past ten-ish years, but the story is well told and an all around good read.

Thanks, NetGalley and Celadon, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC for this book.

At first, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this book, but as it went on, I kept getting more and more gripped into the story. The twists were well done and the podcast aspect worked with how the reader was getting information. I love how everything played out and how easy this was to get through.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amy Tintera and MacMillan Audio for an audio arc of Listen for the Lie in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis Quoted: "After Lucy is found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood, everyone thinks she is a murderer. Lucy and Savvy were the golden girls of their small Texas town: pretty, smart, and enviable. Lucy married a dream guy with a big ring and an even bigger new home. Savvy was the social butterfly loved by all, and if you believe the rumors, especially popular with the men in town. It’s been years since that horrible night, a night Lucy can’t remember anything about, and she has since moved to LA and started a new life.

But now the phenomenally huge hit true crime podcast "Listen for the Lie," and its too-good looking host Ben Owens, have decided to investigate Savvy’s murder for the show’s second season. Lucy is forced to return to the place she vowed never to set foot in again to solve her friend’s murder, even if she is the one that did it.

The truth is out there, if we just listen."

This was a HIGHLY anticipated 2024 title for me, so I was thrilled to have been approved for the audiobook!

I rate this book at 4 Stars, overall. In a nutshell, it held my attention and was quickly paced and overall a solid read for the genre. With that said, I didn't feel like it was anything new or original. I would definitely recommend to my audience, but truthfully speaking, this story didn't stick out as something I'm going to remember next week. It was good in the moment but did not leave any lasting memory with me.

I am mad at myself because I almost always figure out the whodunit ahead of time, but didn't with this one. But, I absolutely should have. If I'd put more effort into it, I know I would have, but this was just an easy listen that didn't require too much thought.

I like the characters well enough, but Savvy's voice on the audio was CREEPY & weird! LOL

I do plan to promote this title with a more in depth review, focusing on the good parts.

Easily one of the BEST books I have ever read. Why was this so good?!?!?

Lucy is known as the girl who killed her best friend, Savvy, since that fateful night five years ago, though she was never charged and has zero memory of what happened that night.

She fled her home in Texas to LA and now she has come home for her grandmother’s birthday party. Also in town is Ben, the ridiculously cute podcaster trying to get to the truth of the murder of Savvy.

In a nutshell, that is what this is about, but in actuality, there is so much more!! There is discussion of abuse, small town secrets, infidelity and crazy and hilarious Texans… This book had me laughing out loud, whooping for joy at moments and audibly gasping at shocking reveals.

If you love a good murder mystery, if you love female friendships, and if you love books about podcasters investigating cold cases, I beg you to read this book!!!

Audiobook is the way to go, too, because this was done superbly. I would be happy if all future audiobooks were narrated by these individuals, especially January LaVoy!!