Probably one the best audio books I’ve listened to, this story combines murder, amnesia, misogyny and one of the best female friendships since Thelma and Louise. It’s been five years since Lucy’s best friend Savvy was murdered and Lucy was suspected of killing her. Lucy has no memory of the incident and isn’t really sure if she killed her bff or not. Now, she’s returned home, to face the podcaster who’s determined to uncover the truth. Funny, sad and full of surprises, this is a must read/listen

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this audio ARC. I really enjoyed this book and was constantly wondering and guessing at who actually committed the crime. I loved the podcast element and was thoroughly entertained. A must read!

LISTEN TO THE TRUTH.....
about "LISTEN FOR THE LIE":

1) Audiobook narrators can make or break a book.

Audiobook narrators January Lavoy and Will Damron gave brilliant performances and it was these two Oscar-worthy performances that elevated my star rating for this book.

Kudos, too, to the publisher for an outstanding job with the audiobook's production.

2) The book's premise was intriguing:
What if you thought you murdered your best friend and everyone else thought that you did, too?"

3) Even though I enjoyed the book's premise and the author's crisp and snarky dialogue, the book was "same old, same old".

Just ANOTHER book showcasing a true crime podcast reveal that failed to stand out from the crowd.
😭😭😭

4) The book was a 9-hour audiobook that easily could have been a 6.5-hour book.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm nearing 60 and am now part of the generation that has seen tremendous advances in science and technology, AND, can remember the time before. Apparently, the new thing these days are books about influencers and true crime podcasts. Until berated by my adult sons, I never even listened to a podcast because why? It seemed odd to me, and difficult to understand the mechanics of how it all worked. Now, I get it. It's like binge watching a Netflix series in your head as you walk on the treadmill or take out the garbage.

Influencers? No, there is nothing my boys could say to make me enjoy books about them.

My biggest applause for Listen for the Lie is for the production value of the entire audio book. This felt like two (good) books in one. Main character, Lucy, victim of a head injury and very real amnesia, has walked around for years with everyone believing she murdered her own best friend. She created a new life, crafted a career under a pseudonym, and avoided hometown and family until her very delightful 80 year old grandma called her home to attend her big birthday.

At home was podcaster Ben who has mastered the art of digging into old crimes and talking about them. Author Amy Tintera and Macmillan Audio were genius in the way the book was written (past and present), with snarky inner monologue from Lucy and interspersing the podcast amongst the book. Seriously, I became so engrossed in the story I was hearing that when it flipped to the podcast, it felt like a commercial into another show that also managed to keep my interest. Even the sound quality itself felt different when it flipped from narrator January LaVoy voicing Lucy to professional moneymaker Ben being voiced by Will Damron.

Well done. Highly recommend.

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!!