Five years ago, in the gleefully gossipy small town of Plumpton, Texas, Lucy Chase wandered out of the woods, covered in blood, unable to recall who killed her best friend Savannah. After first being seen as a victim, Lucy slowly became the town's prime suspect--even her parents seem to think she might be a murderess. There wasn't enough evidence to convict Lucy or, for that matter, anyone, and Savannah's murder remains unsolved. Lucy bolted to Los Angeles, rebooted her identity, and, under a pen name, became a successful romance writer. Now, she's living under the radar with with a stodgy boyfriend when her anonymity suddenly vanishes thanks to a new viral podcast called Listen for the Lie featuring investigative fame seeker Ben Owens. Ben's latest subject? Savanah's unsolved murder.

Even though she thinks it's probably a very bad idea, Lucy returns, reluctantly, to Plumpton to celebrate her grandmother's Beverley's 80th birthday. She's not been back since Savanah's death and now, being there, faced with the fallout of the podcast and the endless Plumpton gossip, she finds herself trying to figure out who really killed Savanah. At the very least, she'd like to be 100% sure it wasn't her. (I'm not a fan of plots that rely on localized amnesia, but Tintera's tale is so fun, I rolled with it.)

It's safe to say, it's not easy being home. The town is sure Lucy's the killer. Plus, now that everyone is tuning into Ben's podcast, Lucy and Savannah are all anyone wants to talk about. Ben too is in town and he really wants Lucy, her parents, her friends, and the cops to tell him their stories. The actual podcasts episodes are part of the narrative--they're excellent-and Tintera uses them to break up Lucy's snarky first person narration and to reveal a series of genuine surprises.

I do love me some will-they-or-won't-they tension and Lucy and Ben have the sexual tension of, oh, Logan and Veronica. (Please tell me you've watched Veronica Mars.) Readers will be wondering about the two until the book's end, wondering if trust is on the table along with possible hot sex. Neither character is especially moral--those who like some grey in their novels will find Listen for the Lie to be their jam--and whether it's watching the two spar over how much Lucy wishes to tell Ben (or vice versa) or watching them flirt in Plumpton's deadbeat diner, the two are always a very good time.

The supporting characters are excellent as well. Dead Savannah is hilarious and helpful. Lucy's saucy grandmother, Lucy's exhusband and his new girlfriend, as well as Lucy's complicated parents, all add to the story in startling ways. Everyone has a story, not one of which is 100% true, and finding out what really happened to Savannah is seemingly impossible. Unless, of course, you, very carefully, listen for the lie....

Listen for the Lie has got it all: a crackling plot, snarky humor, sexy banter, characters you care for, just enough well-placed female power, all combined with a tough to parse crime. This reader--along with Lucy and Ben--didn't figure out what happened five years ago until the novel's last chapters. Listen for the Lie is Tintera's first novel for adults. Here's hoping she writes many many more!

Thanks for the book hangover Amy Tinteras!

This is going to be THE book that everyone is going to be talking about in 2024! I have to shout from the roof tops and into all of my thriller book groups that I absolutely LOVED this book. I read Listen For The Lie well into the hours of the night. I COULD NOT put this book down and when I had to do those pesky adulting duties I was counting down the hours until I could pick it back up.

This book has it ALL- A murder mystery, Humor, An unreliable narrator who cannot remember the past, an abusive ex-husband, characters that cannot be trusted, friendship, romance, an awesome grandma that doesn’t give up on her grand daughter and Ben, who’s podcast is going to prove whether Lucy is a killer.

I was hooked from the very first page of this one and couldn’t wait to find out what really happened that night.

I absolutely loved Lucy’s character and how direct she is and how Ben finally helped her get to the truth by facing the past. I was VERY surprised at the ending but it was SO GOOD.

Definitely add this one to your TBR because this is going to be THE book of 2024. This was Amy Tinteras debut adult novel and I can’t wait to read more from her.


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

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.

Lucy has left small town Texas for LA, trying to escape her past. Her best friend Savvy was murdered 5 years ago, and everyone thinks Lucy did it. When a true crime podcaster decides to cover her as his next project, Lucy will be forced to return to Texas and confront the secrets and lies of the past.

I enjoyed this much more than your usual novel in the mystery genre. Firstly, Lucy is a unique, complicated and quite funny character. Her sarcasm and deadpan humor made me laugh out loud at times and her family in Texas was quirky and messed up in the best way. She makes very questionable decisions and is not always likable, but I did think her actions fit in with her general character (don’t want to say too much due to possible spoilers). The dark humor in this book was so well done.

Secondly, as a podcast addict, I am really enjoying all the books that include this element as an important plot point, but I don’t think I’ve encountered one that does it as well as this one does. (As soon as I discovered that podcast episodes were a part of the plot, I immediately started listening to the audiobook, which is fabulous).

I do think that if you go in with too high expectations (I mean, for goodness sakes, there is a blurb from Stephen King on the cover!) you might be disappointed. This is not a thriller, but a unique mystery novel with unforgettable characters and a lot of dark humor.

There is a lot to unpack in this book, but to mention all the different elements would be spoilers; this would be great for a book club or buddy read, because you will want to discuss it with someone!

Listen for the Lie
by Amy Tintera

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
Brilliantly written!! I LOVED the podcast, and how well the whole town was played. Filled with twists, humor, and mystery!! I will need to buy the hardcover!!

I was fortunate enough to snag a ARC of Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera. I usually don't like to do a synopsis, because you can read that anywhere! However, this book is about Lucy who, about 5 years prior to the current timeline, was accused of murdering her best friend, Savvy. Problem is, Lucy can't remember what happened due to her getting her own traumatic brain injury on the night of the murder.

A podcast about the murder has started and tries to get to the truth of what happened to Savvy. The author has really wowed me with the insert of the podcast in the story. I thought it was very creative and fun to read the "transcripts" of the episodes.

Now, that was one good aspect for me. The other was that it really was a good mystery with several surprises in the book. So, it was really good in that in kept my interest and that I finished it very quickly. However, the downside was that (AND THIS IS JUST MY OPINION) in some instances it became a man bashing festival. EVERY man portrayed in this book as a bad person. The law of probability says this is impossible. I joke, but really, why make EVERY one look bad? In fact, there were several comments in there that made me feel like the author was trying to jump on a recent bandwagon.

All in all, I really enjoyed the story and I have to add, I just loved the Grandma. She cracked me up. I hope you enjoy this book and would love to hear your thoughts.

Another winning suspense from Celadon books. What an amazing adult debut from Amy Tintera! I was hooked from beginning to end- such a unique narrative voice. I loved the self doubt and self deprecation that Lucy exhibits throughout, and the suspense is riveting until the very end. I’ve always enjoyed a podcast element in suspense books and this one might be one of my favorites of this trope!

Ever wonder what happens to the small towns featured in true-crime podcasts when they dig up an unsolved murder?

It freaks out the whole damn town.

The story is written from the POV of Lucy Chase, a young woman whose life is turned upside-down after a true crime podcast devotes an episode to the murder of her best friend, Savvy. Unfortunately for her, the residents of the town where she’s from , Plumpton, TX, are convinced she's responsible for Savvy's death. The author does an amazing job of capturing the chaos that ensues after the podcast starts digging up the town's history.

I'm, admittedly, a slow reader, but I demolished this book in 3 days. By day 2, I was no longer a reader, but a criminal investigator hell-bent on solving the murder. My girlfriend graciously said nothing about my frantically writing in a notepad under the glow of a reading light. 😂

The author writes murder mystery with a southern sweet tea charm that is absolutely addictive. Lucy is full of snark and sarcasm that is often hilariously inappropriate to the situation she's in. I mean, how can you not root for a witty, anti-heroine...even if she might, possibly, maybe be a murderer?

I had so much fun reading this! I highly recommend this to readers who love mystery and/or dark comedies!

Thanks to New Galley and Celadon for providing me with an advance digital copy!

INCREDIBLE!!! Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a riveting and suspenseful mystery thriller that will keep readers engaged to the very end!! The insane tension, dark humor, suspense, fast pacing, drama, short chapters, secrets, podcast interviews, dysfunctional family, biased neighbors and a main character that you cannot help but cheer for is what makes this a phenomenal thriller!! Also, I absolutely loved the ending and found myself shouting YESSSS!!!! Everything you could possibly want in a book and MORE!! This is my first read by Amy Tintera and it will not be my last! I cannot wait to read more of her books! Another thriller to add to my favorites list for 2024!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Five years ago, Lucy is found wandering the streets with a head wound, covered in dirt and her best friend Savvy's blood and everyone thinks she is a murderer. The problem is she can't remember anything about that night! To make matters worse, her own parents and community think she is lying despite there being no evidence to charge her of murder. But now the phenomenally huge hit true crime podcast "Listen for the Lie," host Ben Owens, has decided to investigate Savvy's murder for the show's second season. Will he be able to uncover the truth? Did Lucy really kill her best friend or is she another victim wrongly accused by everyone? But does the truth really matter? I guess you will have to listen for the lie to find out!! 🫢

Overall, I was totally engrossed from start to finish!! If you're looking for a gripping suspenseful whodunit thriller that is unputdownable then this is the book for you! I highly recommend and it deserves ALL the stars!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

OMG!

I could not put this book down! I love love loved it!

This is Amy Tintera's first adult book but I sincerely hope it is not her last (she's previously written YA books).

I loved Lucy, the main character, who is suspected of murdering her best friend after leaving a wedding. In fact, all the characters were excellently developed and they leapt off the page. I couldn't get enough of Lucy's sarcastic quips and just overall the way she thought and spoke. Her grandmother was my second favorite character, she was a hoot.

Did Lucy bash Savvy's (her best friend) skull? She can't remember because she also took a blow to the head and was found wandering down the street covered in Savvy's blood.

The town thinks she did it and so does her husband and parents.

Five years later, Ben, a true-crime podcaster comes to town to investigate Lucy's case for his second season. Lucy at first wants nothing to do with it but she soon is convinced by her grandmother to talk to Ben an participate in the podcast's investigation.

I will leave it there so there are no spoilers.

This book is fabulous and my favorite read so far this year and it will make my favorite reads of the year.

⭐: 4.5/5

This book was amazing!!

I loved the story and its execution! What I loved, even more was the fact that I didn’t realize I was actually reading and when an author can do that, hands off to them for creating that experience, because I freakin’ love it! I love it! I love it! I couldn’t stop turning the pages because the story was SO GOOD, and I was invested in it. Plus, the podcast element to this story was brilliant👏👏 I love it when a story is done through a podcast lens because it’s suspenseful, mysterious, and filled with juicy details.

I loved the story as a whole and the main character, Lucy. Her character was absolutely well-written! I loved each and every chapter of hers. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I loved how her character was constructed.

The only reason this lost half a ⭐ was because I knew who the story’s villain was. Other than that, I highly highly recommend you read this book because damn hell! it was freakin’ GOOD! It literally kept me on the edge and I freaking loved that🙌

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I’m a sucker for a thriller with a true crime podcast. Listen For The Lie is one of the best books I’ve read in a very long time. As a narrator, Lucy is unpredictable, unreliable and untrustworthy. This book was amazing and devoured in a day. Can’t wait to see more from Amy Tintera.

I don't listen to podcasts. I don't typically like them. This book though, this book was everything. Twisty turns and a fabulous who done it. I laughed and I wondered. I would recommend this book to anybody who needs a pallet cleanser from the cookie cutter books that come out, seems like everyday. Grab this one, read it with a friend. You're going to enjoy it

5.00 stars
-
TW: Domestic abuse, Blood, Murder, Death, Addiction, Alcoholism
-
Five years ago, Savannah's (Savvy) body was found in the woods with her skull caved in after a wedding she attended. That same night her best friend Lucy was found walking around with Savvy's blood covering her dress. The town immediately begins to speculate and assume that Lucy killed her best friend, although no proof, and Lucy can't remember the night all charges are dropped. Although not charged, the town is convinced that Lucy killed her best friend and is faking not remembering the entire evening.

Present time - Ben Owens a smug true-crime podcaster decides to take on the Lucy Chase case and get to the bottom of what truly happened that evening. I loved the multi-media format, each chapter is broken up with a segment (interview) from the podcast and it was interesting getting to see our characters react to the drama as it unfolds. The podcast is aimed at revealing the truth about Savvy's death but reveals some well-kept secrets along the way. Lucy is such a badass character, she's witty and snarky and has the most amazing banter with Ben.

Lucy decides to team up with Ben (with the help of her grandmother) and give him the interview that everyone's been waiting for. Going in, I was certain that Lucy had done it as nothing else made sense to me but the ending shocked me. It came out of nowhere and secures the whole small-town vibe this novel has.
-
I would like to thank NetGalley, Celadon Books, and Amy Tintera for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This book will publish on March 5th 2024.

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
Pub date: March 5, 2024
LOVED!

This is one of those stories that I was obsessed with! I went back and forth in my accusatory mind blaming every character for the death of Savvy.
Is it Lucy, her bestie who came back bloodied and amnesiac? Or someone else who didn’t like Savvy, the towns professed sweetheart that everyone loved. Well, clearly, not everyone ….

When true crime podcaster, Ben Owens, host of Listen for the Lie, decides to focus his second season on the cold case that is the death of Savvy, it opens up a whole can of worms in a lot of people’s lives, most of all, that of the prime suspect, Lucy.

Lucy’s now living in somewhat anonymity in LA, far away from the glares and accusations of the locals who think she murdered her best friend in cold blood and then got away with it.

Coming home for her spicy grandma’s 80th birthday party coincides with the podcast, Lucy decides to use this opportunity to solve Savvy’s murder, even if it means she’s the guilty one.

I loved the way this story was told; in turns by Lucy and then by others, through Ben’s podcast.

Lucy is one of the most flawed characters but she never pretends to be anything else – she is blunt, bitchy, and unapologetic. Ben, handsome and fearless, has no problem delving in to people’s lives but with his irresistible charm, he manages to get secrets out of even the tightest of lips.

I can’t recommend this one enough!

I partnered this with the audio narrated by January LaVoy and Will Damron, I can’t say enough about what a wonderful listening experience this was. The snark, the banter, the inner thoughts of Lucy – amazing!

Highly recommend this one!

My thanks, again, to @CeladonBooks for this gifted copy!

Listen for the Lie. I enjoyed this dark, thrilling comedy so much! The narrator was funny, witty and likable.

Lucy returns back home to where everyone is convinced she is a murderer. The problem is she can’t remember a detail from the night her best friend was killed. Reluctantly, Lucy agrees to an interview with podcaster, Ben. Soon she find herself remembering more of that night and the truth isn’t what you expect!

#Unputdownable!
Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC!

They say that you can never really go home again.

Lucy wants to undo the undone.

It's a slippery slope to mount to the top when everyone, including friends and family, think that you are guilty. Lucy still has no memory of what occured the night that her best friend, Savvy, was murdered five years ago. Lucy was found with a head injury and Savvy's blood on her clothing. But there was no definitive evidence or witnesses to justify an arrest of Lucy that night. Nevertheless, Lucy has been judged, tried, and convicted by the small town of Plumpton, Texas. A done deal.

Lucy escaped the impact of that night by moving to L.A. in a heartbeat. She chose to live among strangers. But a call comes in from her grandmother who wants Lucy to return to celebrate her 80th birthday. Wedged into a corner by a deadend boyfriend, Lucy decides to return. And the threads begin to unravel once again.

This time we've got a different vibe permeating into this storyline. Ben Owen, a true crime podcaster, is hot on Lucy's trail. He's set up his base in a local Plumpton hotel room interviewing individuals associated with Lucy. He and his listeners want to zero in on exactly what happened that night. The grand prize would be Lucy herself.

Amy Tintera has done what few authors do. We're allowed inside of Lucy's persona. It's not just hearsay from other unreliable characters. Lucy is packed with wit and humorous comebacks. She's got "murderous" thoughts floating around inside of her. Does that make the girl a real murderer? Maybe yes and maybe no. The addition of her 80 year old feisty grandmother adds a bit of relief as a pressure valve. Ben's investigation is tangling up some individuals to a sticky web. Will he help or will he uncover more damning evidence? Stay tuned. A gripping read with some crazy happenings.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Celadon Books and to Amy Tintera for the opportunity.

Listen for the lie
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Publication date: March 5, 2024

Lucy can’t get out of her hometown fast enough after she’s accused of murdering her best friend. Did she do it? Here’s the problem, Lucy doesn’t know either. She woke up covered in blood and has amnesia around the entire night. Five years later, after being persuaded to come back to her hometown for her grandmothers birthday she is pulled right back into the mystery surrounding her best friend Savvy’s death. Enter Ben Owens, the dreamy host of a hit true crime podcast, to help and solve the mystery, but whose side is he really on?

I really enjoyed this book. I even laughed out loud. Lucy isn’t exactly everyone’s cup of tea but she is sarcastically funny and is coping through the dark of the darkest humor. Her grandmother is phenomenal. She’s hilarious, brash and really living out loud. These characters have rich and endearing qualities. This is a modern whodunnit that really is gripping and thrilling. There are twists and turns that I did not anticipate.

I love gossip and scandal and this small town is ripe with it. There’s cheating across the board, and lots of lies and secrets. More than one person seemingly has a motive, but Savvy was the sweetest girl you ever met. Really, was she?

For me, Lucy’s character has redeemable qualities but she isn’t the protagonist oozing with charm that we are all rooting for. It’s more like, for better or worse you just want to find out the truth with her. The truth being, whether she murdered her best friend Savvy.

I recommend this book for the proper mystery, gripping, dark and funny.

This book is an amazing layered piece of literature that will keep the reader guessing until the very end. Amy Tintera does an outstanding job of building up the suspense, while letting the reader in on little secrets and lies along the way, captivating the audience. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a well crafted story with memorable characters.

I was in a book slump but I have been reading this since I was approved with little to no sleep. This is such an interesting and amazing way to use my favorite style of writing- epistolary and I want more as soon as possible. Lucy the main character is hysterical and possibly just insane and I love her. The mystery is so twisty that I don’t have words for whodunnit except just whoa. I’m so grateful to have gotten to read this but now back to the book slump because how do you move on from this AWESOMENESS
TL/DR THIS BOOK ROCKS READ IT IMMEDIATELY

I swore off podcast stories because I read so many of them the last couple of years. That is, until I read the synopsis of LISTEN FOR THE LIE and made an exception because it sounded so good. And let me tell you… this story, IT WAS SO GOOD! Definitely a top read so far this year.

Do you enjoy a sarcastic, funny and incredibly unreliable narrator? Do you enjoy small town muuurder? Do you like donning your detective cap and dare I say… listening for the lie? Well, say no more. This book has it all, including a laundry list of suspects, adults behaving badly, and a grandma who needs her own spin-off. Go Beverly! My grandmother’s name is also Beverly, but she’s not nearly as naughty as this one!

This story is fun, fast paced, and will keep you flipping those short chapters in the late hours because you cannot put it down. Go buy a copy, read it within a day (like me) and let’s discuss that ending.