I thought this story was SO GOOD! I LOVE a story with some mixed media and this one has podcase episodes sprinkled throughout which brought a lot to the story. Instead of the author telling what the townspeople think, Ben (the podcaster) interviews people and that's how readers learn the perceptions of the story. It was intriguing.

My reasoning for 4 stars instead of 5 boils down to the ending. It was pretty 'meh' for me, after all the secrets and lies that are uncovered throughout Ben's 'investigation' the reasoning for the Big Bad Thing was slightly underwhelming. But that said, this was so fun to read throughout. Lucy's character is super snarky and her dark humor kept me laughing and reading.

Would recommend if you love:
-past mystery slowly unraveled
-snarky FMC
-podcast format & transcripts

This thriller has been all over my bookstagram and has gotten a lot of hype, so of course I was excited to pick it up. I liked the premise and the writing was fun and went down easy. I enjoyed the dark humor throughout the book and found Lucy to be an entertaining character.

I liked this book and had fun reading it; however, it didn’t quite blow me away like I expected based on reviews. At times it was hard to keep track of all the characters to remember who was who, and I’m not sure it was worth it for the way the story unfolded. In the end, the reveal/resolution seemed a little overly simplistic to me.

Like I said, it was enjoyable and I would read this author again, but I don’t think this will really be a book that sticks with me. Still, if you like a good popcorn thriller, this one would probably fit the bill, especially since it seems like many readers are loving this one!

Amy Tintera has a way with words that casted a spell upon me, weaving enchantments with every turn of the story. She has undoubtedly earned the title of a Word Witch in my grimoire of literary wonders.

Amy Tintera offers a captivating twist on the true crime genre, incorporating the popular podcast trope and casting a fascinating light on feminist themes. Departing from the typical narrative, Tintera casts women as the "villains" instead of men, disrupting traditional roles, expectations, and tropes with a magical flourish. Her entertaining prickly narrative crackles with energy, punctuated by sharp comebacks, and commentary with a hint of satire.

Years ago, whispers swirled through Lucy’s small town, accusing her of conjuring the demise of her best friend, Savvy. Yet Lucy's memory remains as foggy as a misty cauldron. Now, drawn back to her hometown after years of exile, Lucy finds herself haunted by the shadows of her past as she unravels the threads of truth, as to what happened that fateful night. Tintera uniquely navigates the dual narrative of past and present, unraveling layers of secrets and lies with each twist and turn. Lucy's quest for answers is further heightened by the investigation of a true crime podcast and its charismatic host, Ben Owens.

As the final pages come to a thrilling unique close and rewarding payoff, Amy Tintera sealed her fate as a word witch. With the flick of her pen, she deftly flips through those tired and predictable true crime podcast tropes, leaving behind a trail of magic and mystery long after the final page is turned.

Amy Tintera is a new author for me. "Listen for the Lie" is a captivating thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Tintera's masterful storytelling draws readers into a world filled with suspense, deception, and unexpected twists. The protagonist's journey is both compelling and relatable, making it easy to root for them throughout the story. Skillful character development adds depth to the narrative, allowing readers to connect with the characters on a profound level. With its fast-paced plot and intriguing premise, "Listen for the Lie" is a must-read for fans of mystery and suspense. Tintera's writing is sharp, engaging, and impossible to put down, making this book an exhilarating ride from beginning to end.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’m really backlogged with ARC’s but trying my best to play catch up. I’m really sorry I didn’t get to this book sooner, it was fantastic! I honestly didn’t know who murdered Savanah until the very end of the book! The characters are all very complex and well developed and the amount of twists and turns will make your head spin! I also really enjoyed how parts were told as if it was the podcast playing, really makes you feel like a part of the story! I would highly recommend to anyone who likes psychological thrillers and mysteries!

I started this at 9pm one night and immedistely regretted it because I could NOT put this down and knew I’d lose so much sleep reading this. I needed to know what happened.

I really enjoyed the podcast aspects and I loved the main character, Lucy, and her sarcastic wittiness. I highly recommend this especially if you enjoy murder mysteries, thrillers and true crime podcasts!

Literally SOOO GOOD! The hype is real! Might be the book of 2024!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced ARC of LISTEN FOR THE LIE. What a fun, twisty and hilarious who-dun-it! I love podcasts too, so the multimedia approach to tell the story was sooo captivating and fun. I was hooked and could not put it down. I highly recommend!

I've read a decent amount of thrillers and they can start to get predictable. This one? This one genuinely kept surprising me. There were funny lines, clever reveals, and a satisfying conclusion. A stand out read for this year.

Snarky main character (a little too much at times). Story kept me interested. A lot of characters, but easy to follow as the author reminds you who is who. Ending....🤔

The ending of the novel was satisfying. I could have done without the “kill, kill, kill” thoughts popping up and the amnesia of the main character. Overall, it was a well plotted novel.

A favorite of 2024!

Lucy is living in LA when she is fired from her job. She also knows her current relationship must come to an end. She sees no future with him. She knows the main reason is that finally, her past has come back to haunt her.

In her small hometown in Texas, everyone believes she killed her best friend Savvy. She was found with Savvy's blood but Lucy has absolutely no memory of the event. The local police were unable to prove she killed Savvy. After, Savvy's death Lucy divorces her husband and she moves away to begin a new life.

Now, a podcast called Listen to the Lie by Ben Owens is bringing it all back.

When her grandmother calls and tells her to return to Texas for her birthday, Lucy can't say no. Her grandmother has been the one person who has always believed in her. When she arrives, her grandmother convinces her to talk to Ben. At first, Lucy doesn't want anything to do with the podcast but she is done running. She wants the truth to come out even if the truth is that she is the one responsible for Savvy's death.

Listen for the Lie had a great female character. Lucy was extremely likable because she felt real. She didn't show as a damaged drunk or addicted to some type of drug like many of the other female characters in so many plots lately. I liked that we didn't know if she was guilty because she didn't remember it either. We were constantly guessing about the culprit. I did guess who it was but not from the start.

I want to read whatever is next for Amy Tintera.

Cliffhanger: No

5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Celadon Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. It was different than most mystery books I have read. I loved the dry humor in it and the main characters! Definitely give this read a try! #ListenfortheLie #NetGalley

Yay!! A 5 star read!! So good!! This is definitely going to be one of my favorites of the year! Loved every second! If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller, look no further!! I could not stop reading, and I just loved the podcast episodes scattered throughout. Highly recommend!!!

*Thank you so much @celadonbooks for the #gifted egalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Did Lucy kill her best friend Savvy and she just can’t remember it? That’s the question at the heart of Listen for the Lie, by Amy Tintera.

The novel uses the device of a true-crime podcast to propel the plot, and although this particular trope is getting a workout these days, the book still feels fresh.

Goaded by the podcast’s spotlight on the case (and her grandmother’s birthday party), Lucy returns to the small Texas town where she grew up. Everyone there - including her parents - seems convinced that Lucy murdered her friend Savvy in a drunken fit of anger after a wedding reception. Lucy was found covered in Savvy’s blood, after all. But Lucy suffered a blow to the head that night, and her memories are fragmented. Did she do it? Even she’s not sure.

As the podcaster digs in, Lucy (and his audience) discover that many people haven’t told the truth about where they were that night.

The resolution of the mystery (the who, anyway, if not the how) may not surprise you. But Lucy’s an amusing companion; I didn’t mind that I guessed the twist.

You can while away a couple hours by the pool with this book and be completely entertained. But Tintera is doing more than spinning a “ripped from the headlines” tale. The book raises interesting questions about whose stories we believe and why.

I received an early review copy from NetGalley.

What can I say? This book is your typical podcast whodunit murder mystery.

However, while that’s true, it was done incredibly well. I didn’t want to put this one down. I even considered staying up and reading through the night… (I didn’t only because I’m recovering from illness).

Did Lucy kill her best friend? Even she can’t remember and now a podcaster is going to solve this cold case.

It really was a fun mystery filled with awful people and no one to really root for. Which is for me.

Triggers: domestic violence and sexual assault

Listen for the Lie fulfilled every expectation I had going into the book. It is a cleverly done psychological thriller that you won't be able to set down. It also has a dose of humor and sarcasm woven into it that adds so much to the storyline.

ARC provided via Netgalley and Celadon Books in exchange for a review.

Listen for the Lie is mystery full of unreliable characters. The plot is reminiscent of the classic game Clue to figure out the murderer. I started reading the print version, but switched to the audio after listening to the sample - fantastic narration! Started and finished the same day.

This was SO fun!! I'm obsessed with books and true crime podcasts, so anytime the two come together I know I'm going to love it. This was my first by Amy Tintera and I really enjoyed her writing style. I had many guesses, but really didn't know where this book was going to end up.

4/5 ⭐️

I listened to the audiobook while also reading the ARC. What a FUN audiobook! I loved how there were multiple people in the audiobooks, which really pulled me in. The unique storytelling was refreshing. I was a little sad with the ending, as it did not seem as "closed" as I was hoping, but maybe that's just me. Overall, I really liked this one.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Everyone thinks Lucy murdered her best friend Savvy, but Lucy is completely in the dark about what happened that night.

Listen For The Lie is told by Lucy in first person, which I really enjoyed, I sometimes get tired of thee multi POV trend that is so popular right now, many authors tend to try to push way to many narratives and it gets somewhat confusing trying to keep all the characters straight . Lucy is an unreliable narrator however, due to the head injury she received and her amnesia about the murder. There are chapters between Lucy's that are Ben's podcast LISTEN FOR THE LIE. He was doing research on Savvy's murder. Podcasts in books are very common these days and I am very skeptical about them, but this one worked well in the story and was the perfect addition.

I did love Lucy however, she was funny, sarcastic and best of all snarky, her character alone will keep you reading if nothing else will. I really enjoyed Ben the podcaster, but I think one of my favorite characters in the book is Lucy's grandmother, the narrative between her and Lucy is excellent and well thought out, probably my favorite part of the story.

Along with reading the book, I also listened to the audio, which I highly recommend, the narrators on it were perfection and this as of now is my favorite audio book because of them.

Listen For The Lie is a fast paced read, it is also, suspenseful, exciting, and funny. It is one of those book that will keep you guessing until the end, and even better, it has short chapters, which is always a plus for me!

A great book for any mystery/thriller reader