This was a rollercoaster ride I didn't want to get off of. Was the ending the actual truth? Do I think it was? I'm not sure. But I loved it.

If you want a mystery thriller with a sharp and somewhat unreliable narrator (due to amnesia and also secrets) with a podcast element, you should absolutely give this a go. Because most of this really worked for me.

I think where I lost some of the fun — and don’t get me wrong, there is a surprising amount of fun to be had with this reading experience, especially considering the subject mater — was where it devolved into focusing a lot on the very messy romantic entanglements that seemed very common and popular in this small town. Everyone’s a liar, everyone’s a cheater, there’s a prevalence of violence that most people look away from in the same way no one really acknowledges the infidelity except it’s, of course, worse, and.. yeah. It was messy.

I’m also struggling a little bit with the big solve and the aftermath of what realistically happened with said character between then and when this story picks up because I just don’t really get it.

Outside of that though? Lucy constantly imagining how to kill people while also not knowing if she killed her bestie? Very entertaining. Lucy’s constantly-drinking grandmother? Amazing. The dynamic between Lucy and the podcast host? Flirty with a side of fuck yeah. Plus, you know, I loved the whole podcast except elements. It’s probably great on audio, too. There was also something particularly sharp and poignant, and dark, about how the truth didn’t ever really matter, that everyone’s mind was made up, no matter what evidence did or didn’t exist, and the sad reality that it’s easier to believe a man’s version of events than a woman’s.

So, yes, a surprisingly mostly fun murdery time was had. And I would definitely read more from Tintera if this is the direction she is going in these days (I remember really loving her zombie sci-fi YA from way back in the day so this was a cool way to reconnect with her writing) and oh, yeah, that’s another thing I loved. The writing was really well suited for Lucy’s narrative voice and that helped make this a one-sitting kind of read which is exactly what I needed right now.

Wow! This was certainly a page turner! I was sneaking chapters in on my phone, in the shower, wherever. The dry sarcasm of the main character, Lucy, speaks to me. I love her. The set up of this book is super fun. The premise is a podcast made by a journalist about the murder of a young woman. Lucy is the main suspect but can't remember anything from that night. The entire town of Plumpton believes Lucy is guilty but will this podcast prove otherwise? Will it send Lucy to jail? I definitely had fun finding out! This incredibly twisted tale of deceit will definitely keep the pages turning!

Five years ago, Lucy Chase was found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend's blood. Her best friend is dead and she can't remember a thing. The entire town and even her family turn on her and believe she's murdered her best friend. And now a popular podcaster has come to town to investigate. Will this podcaster discover Lucy's deepest, darkest secrets? Did Lucy really kill her best friend or is she another victim in this case?

This book was engrossing and addictive from the start! I loved the short chapters, the podcast interviews sprinkled within, and the dark humor was highly enjoyable!

Gripping, suspenseful, and impossible to put down. Amy Tintera has knocked it out of the park in her adult debut and I can't wait to read more from her in this space!

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Book for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A fast, fun mystery thriller that was nearly impossible to put down.

This was a twisty and darkly humorous story that uses the framework of a true crime podcast and its host, Ben Owens, to solve a murder. Five years ago, Lucy Chase was found covered in blood -- the blood of her best friend, Savvy, who was dead in the woods. It's widely believed by everyone in their hometown that Lucy killed Savvy. No murder weapon or other evidence was found, and Lucy had a traumatic brain injury from her own head wound that caused amnesia about the events of that night. Ben is using his podcast to investigate the case and Lucy decides to help him to finally find out if she really did it.

I really enjoyed this one. The characters were very well drawn, and Lucy was the sort of protagonist that you are skeptical of but root for nevertheless. She's very witty, sarcastic, and snarky -- and admits she makes very bad decisions. Her grandma is a hoot. There are frenemies and nasty small-town minds all weighing in during Ben's interviews with their perceptions of Lucy and the night in question. I loved the way the narrative shifted between episodes of the podcast and the voice of Lucy.

If you are looking for a topnotch whodunit with small town gossip, secrets, and lies -- this is it. I believe this is the author's adult fiction debut. Don't miss it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon for this e-book ARC to read, review, and highly recommend.

My favorite thriller thus far in 2024! The story is told mostly through the eyes of Lucy, a woman who has been convicted in the eyes of the public (but not actually in court) of the murder of her best friend five years previously. Her chapters alternate with transcripts of a true crime podcast that is attempting to find out the truth behind the murder. I listened and read this one simultaneously, and in the audiobook the podcast chapters are done like actual podcasts...with music and differing character voices. It is so much fun to listen to these chapters interspersed with the rest of the story. Bravo Amy Tintera on your first adult novel--this will be such a big hit.

When I first realized that this book was about a true crime podcast and that I’d be reading the scripts of the podcast episodes throughout the book, I groaned and thought I’d hate it. Turns out, it was written in a way that I didn’t mind! I also didn’t know who the killer was until the final reveal, and that is a sign of a good thriller to me. I could have done without all the cheating and sleeping around, but enjoyed the book overall.

Everyone thinks that Lucy murdered her best friend and its the subject of a very popular podcast. After 5 years, Lucy returns to her hometown where everyone has assumed her guilt. Here’s the kicker, she doesn’t remember the night in question!

Wow, this one was a good mystery and you will not guess the ending. I really enjoyed this one. Really picks up halfway through as we get closer to the truth!!

I really loved this book. Amy Tintera did a great job of crafting a narrator who was believable and who you wanted to root for, even though Lucy was so very complicated. I love podcasts and the blurb on this one sounded right up my alley. I enjoyed it immensely and can’t wait to recommend it to others.

📚PRE-PUBLICATION BOOK REVIEW📚

"Listen For The Lie"
By Amy Tintera
Publication Date: March 5th

MY RATING:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

THE SYNOPSIS:

"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."

MY REVIEW:

Wow. Just...wow.

This book was an incredibly thrilling whodunnit! A quick read that captured my interest immediately and was highly unputdownable...

The intersection of Lucy's narrative now, her narrative from five years ago, and the podcast episodes were woven together perfectly to create a storyline that left a trail of breadcrumbs from one chapter to the next. This is my favorite style of writing - just enough changing POVs to keep it interesting! And the suspense of the story left me ferociously turning pages to see what would be revealed next. Quirky and flawed characters, a small town, several possible suspects, a sarcastically endearing main character, and even a little romance...This book has everything you'd want in a thriller and I highly recommend picking up a copy as soon as you can!!

Thank you to Net Galley and Celadon Books for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! I was really excited to have been given this book and it definitely lived up to the hype and excitement!!

#ListenForTheLie #AmyTintera #NetGalley #advancedreaderscopy

One word: spectacular!

Thrillers and mysteries have become so formulaic lately that it’s hardly worth the time to read them anymore. Everyone is trying to be the next 𝐆𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥 and it’s as if they add plot twists just for the sake of shock value with no regard to how that works with the story they were weaving.

This book is refreshingly different. Between the host of deeply unlikable characters, the sarcastic inner monologue of our protagonist, and the podcast peppered throughout, this mystery remains fresh and interesting. Grandma might be the only truly likable character and I loved the hell out of her. Honestly, despite early misgivings, I even really like Lucy. She’s an unlikable heroine in the best and worst possible ways.

The fun of this book for me was not really knowing where it was going. I didn’t spend a lot of time trying to speculate what the truth was because I was having more fun letting the story unfold naturally. Once I got into this book, there was no putting it down.

Thank you to @netgalley for this early review copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved this and think my fellow mystery thriller readers should check it out when it drops on March 5! Fresh, fun, and quite a journey - five stars!

Binged this thriller while sick and was super impressed. Though the true crime podcast premise was not necessarily groundbreaking, the delivery was still entertaining and the narration was hilarious. Honestly after reading the first line (“A podcaster has decided to ruin my life so I’m buying a chicken.”), I knew I would be enjoying this book.
I did not read the Flight Attendant, but I did watch the show and thought the dark humor and plot (amnesiac unsure if she’s is guilty of murder) was very similar to this (I actually frequently pictured Kaley Cuoco as Savvy). Pick this up for a quick, fun weekend read!
TW: domestic abuse

Thanks @netgalley and @celadonbooks for the ARC!

#reader #read #bookreview #newbooks #thriller #justread #books #bookstagram #booklover #bookworm #bibliophile #instaread #readersofinstagram #listenforthelie

I just love a book with mixed media formatting! Listen for the Lie was fast-paced, with unreliable characters, and a mystery you can’t wait to uncover. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Celadon Books for this early copy!

Five years ago, Lucy is found walking down the street covered in her best friend Savvy's blood. But, Lucy can't remember anything that happened that night after a serious brain injury from being hit in the head. Everyone in town thinks she killed her best friend, but then how did Lucy get so injured herself? Five years later, Ben Owens arrives in Lucy's hometown. Ben is a true crime podcaster who had success finding the killer in the first season of his podcast. Lucy was living in Los Angeles, but comes back to her hometown for the first time since that tragic night to attend her grandmother's birthday party. Ben had reached out to Lucy a few times by email to get an interview, but she had ignored him. Can she avoid him now that they are both in her home town? And will memories of that night come back now that she is back where the tragedy happened?

Opinion:
I LOVED this book!!! It gripped me from the very start. I loved how many times I laughed out loud from Lucy's quirky personality and her even funnier dark thoughts. I absolutely devoured the podcast episodes throughout the book. I was completely immersed in the story to find out whodunit. I did not want to put it down. It was easy to read, had short chapters, made me laugh, and was absolute perfection! I HIGHLY recommend picking this one up! It will definitely be in my top books for this year!

Thank you NetGalley, Amy Tintera, and Celadon Books for this ARC of Listen for the Lie in exchange for an honest review!! Listen for a Lie is out on March 5th, make sure to pick up your copy!!!

I absolutely LOVED this book! It was everything I wanted from a thriller mystery novel. The author's voice immediately pulled me in and I couldn't put it down once I started it.

I hope that Amy continues to write more adult novels in this genre!

I really enjoyed this thriller. I have never read anything else by the author. I liked that we were in the same situation as the main character in that we didn’t know what happened And I found the killer to be surprising. I would definitely read future work by this author. 4.5 overall.

Grab your detective hat and get ready to dive into the thrilling world of "Listen for the Lie" by Amy Tintera! 🕵️‍♂️ This book is causing quite the stir among readers, and let me tell you, the hype is well-deserved! It's like a rollercoaster ride through a maze of secrets and surprises.
First off, let's talk about how addictive this book is. I mean, seriously, once you start, good luck trying to put it down! With short chapters that practically beg you to keep turning the pages, it's the literary equivalent of a bag of potato chips—you just can't have one chapter!
And can we talk about the podcast element? Genius! It's like having your very own Sherlock Holmes whispering clues directly into your earbuds. It adds a whole new layer of fun to the guessing game—who needs Clue when you've got "Listen for the Lie"?
Now, I won't spill the beans on any spoilers because that's just not cool, but let me tell you, trying to unravel the mystery of 'who dunnit' kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. And just when you think you've got it all figured out, BAM! Plot twist city, my friend. Amy Tintera isn't afraid to throw a curveball or two, and let me tell you, I was left reeling.
Now, I will say, if you're expecting some highbrow, Pulitzer Prize-winning literature, you might want to adjust your expectations a tad. This book definitely has a young adult vibe, but hey, who doesn't love a good YA romp every now and then?
Overall, "Listen for the Lie" gets two thumbs up from me! Sure, I might be a bit biased, but hey, I'm not alone in my love for this book. So, if you're looking for a gripping mystery that'll have you second-guessing everything, do yourself a favor and give this one a listen. You won't be disappointed! 🎧📘

Thank you to Celadon for my gifted copy and audiobook as well.

Hello, summer hit!

Listen for the Lie is for fans of the small town gossip ring. This book instantly jolts you into a salacious mystery about a woman's murder...and yes, her best friend is the prime suspect. What makes the stakes grow higher in this story is a podcast erupts new evidence that has a small Texas town reeling about what actually happened so many years ago in this cold case brought back to life. I suggest reading this through audiobook for the layered narrations. You will get bits of the podcast, but the main story is told through a FMC who has quite the dark humor. At times the story is unhinged and wacky, but it is so much fun. You will be guessing until the very end!

I recommend this for a beach vacations or a long flight where you have time to spend a few hours inside this tale.

4.5 stars! I really enjoyed this book a lot! This surprised me as it had unlikeable characters and was about a podcast. I actually looked forward to the podcast transcript chapters as they gave more and more insight into Lucy's memory loss. The story was very well written and well paced. It didn't drag on and kept me completely enthralled. I liked how the podcast episodes were how the various suspects were introduced and investigated. This is a must read! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Listen for the Lie, by Amy Tintera, investigates a small-town mystery when a true-crime podcaster comes to town. Years ago, Lucy's best friend Savvy was murdered, and Lucy was found a few hours later, covered in Savvy's blood, confused and disoriented with no memory of what happened. Although there wasn't enough evidence to convict her, everyone in their hometown believes Lucy killed Savvy.  Naturally, Lucy left town and hasn't been back since. Now, a super hot true-crime podcaster is in town investigating the night of Savvy's murder, and after being dragged home for her grandmother's birthday, Lucy decides to stay in the town she hates, full of people she hates, and talk to him on his public podcast.

This suspense novel was pretty meh for me. It has such good reviews and pullquotes from other authors I like! I had high expectations going in! The problem definitely wasn't the overall plot. The murder and aftermath is very well-plotted, and the true-crime podcaster in town makes a solid explanation for all the revelations. I didn't fully understand why Lucy was willing to talk to Ben, but whatever, it would be boring to only read books about characters that do what I would do. Besides, I can accept when fictional characters find time to write detailed diaries of key plot moments (and often leave them for other characters to find), so why not accept a podcast version?

I think it was underwhelming for me because I just didn't worry about Lucy's story or situation. Lucy doesn't care about her underwhelming day job, her secret successful-author job, her boyfriend in LA, her parents, her old friends, or anything really, she didn't have much motivation for anything beside snarkily skating on the edge of being blamed for her Savvy's murder. Even parts of her life that were objectively going well, she just shrugged.  Because readers never really get to see her liking or disliking something, it was hard to connect with, which made it hard to care about her. Even her romance with Ben the true-crime podcaster -- this does not count as a spoiler, it's very clearly signposted -- doesn't feel like a connection. (I guess Lucy likes her grandmother, or at least, her grandmother loves her so much that Lucy has more than an annoyed shrug for her grandmother.) I think my problem with the novel was that I didn't care much about Lucy, which made it hard to worry about if she was guilty or not. She's not risking arrest or jail, she's just risking the bad opinions of people she doesn't care about and hasn't seen in years, and who already don't like her. So I felt more of a general curiosity about what Ben would uncover than any concern for Lucy (or Savvy), and as I read, my feelings never really turned into suspense or tension.