Cover Image: Listen for the Lie

Listen for the Lie

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I found myself laughing out loud while reading this thriller, what a fun, entertaining book.

This book is full of interesting characters that do unpredictable things that are uncovered by Ben, a true crime podcaster. He is determined to solve this murder case that happened 5 years ago in small town Texas. The characters in this story just get better and better as you get to know them and the story unfolds. At times in the book you think you know who did it, until another fact leads you to someone else. The twists and turns of this story along with the humor is what makes this book great.

This audiobook is one of the best I have ever listened to. The narrators, January LaVoy and Will Damron, did a great job and made it very clear when the podcast started and ended. I feel like I would have missed great performances if I had read the book.

Was this review helpful?

Fantastic audiobook! The interspersed podcast episodes really added to the suspense. It had some great twists that I did not see coming.

Was this review helpful?

I loved everything about this book. I give this 5 stars for sure! I especially loved the behind the scenes look at a True Crime Podcast and the effects it had on a small town and everyone involved. The characters were well developed and the narration was great. I also really liked the way you felt you were listening to the actual podcast throughout the book. This was so entertaining and I did not see that plot twist coming. I can't to read more from this author.

Was this review helpful?

4🌟 - I liked it!

Thank you @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the early audiobook and @celadonbooks for the physical ARC!

This was such a fun and bingeable read! I listened to it in less than 24 hours and had a great time!

I love a whodunnit meets podcast trope done in a thriller, and listening to this one was the way to go because it had fun elements to emulate a real podcast!

Witty, sarcastic, and brimming with dark humor, this was such an engaging and entertaining read!

This reminded me of a darker and grown up version of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder!

Was this review helpful?

HOLY COW, this book in audio is freaking phenomenal.


Who doesn’t love a true crime podcast? Well, I think one person would be Lucy, who is the subject of Ben Owens’ hugely popular podcast, Listen for the Lie’s second season. Lucy has tried to leave her small town Texas life behind after the gruesome murder of her best friend, Savvy. No one has ever been convicted of Savy’s murder, and the whole town suspects that Lucy was the one who killed her best friend. After all, she was found walking the streets covered in Savy’s blood and she can’t remember the events of the night – at all. As the podcast unfolds, and to everyone’s surprise, Lucy agrees to work with Ben to find Savy’s killer, everyone’s secrets in Plumpton are fair game. This one is juicy, fast-paced, and extremely well written. I loved every minute.

January LaVoy and Will Damron were perfectly cast for this audiobook (I loved the intro music for the podcast chapters – so clever!) and I look forward to reading all of Amy Tintera’s novels in the future. Five big stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

What is the whole truth? I feel like this ending is incomplete because Lucy said she will just leave it as that.. that people believe Savvy is the best.. or oh! was it keeping Savvy's secret forever ?? I hope that's the case then at least the ending is complete...

Excellent story! Great audiobook! This story hooked me from start to finish. I stayed up past my bedtime to finish the story because I wanted the ending. Lucy, the main character has some sort of dry humor that I liked. Her personality is different and the suspense was good. Her parents, husband, boyfriend, friends are unexpected type of people. The clean cut people who do bad things you don't expect.

The story followed Lucy who is being accused of murder. The alternative view is the podcast covering the investigation into the murder. Lucy has the tendency to want to kill people in front of her. She constantly has this battle in her mind, sometimes with the dead girl. The murder happened years ago and it was unsolved because Lucy had no memory of the murder. She left home for years to escape the scrutiny of small town but now she's home for her grandma's birthday and the podcast guy is also there and have been wanting to interview Lucy for her side of the story.. she never gave an interview until now..

Thank you Celadonbooks and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read listen and review!

Was this review helpful?

Compelling and gripping describes this mystery thriller. When Lucy, suspected of murdering her best friend Savy five years ago, returns to her hometown in Texas to help plan her grandmother’s birthday party, she gets roped into participating in a crime podcast about Savy’s murder. Ben, the podcast host, is interviewing various people who were at the wedding the night Savy was killed, trying to solve whether Lucy, who was covered in Savy’s blood and has no recollection of the night, really is the murderer?

This book also tackled the heavier topic of domestic violence and how women can be revictimized through gaslighting by the abuser, family and friends. With respect to the mystery, there was a whole cast of suspects in this book that kept the reader guessing. The crime podcasts were a fun addition to the narrative and moved the plot along nicely. The audio performance was quite good although there were moments when the main female narrator didn’t change her voice quite enough so it was confusing as to which female character was speaking. My only criticism was that I found Lucy’s obsessive thoughts about murdering people annoying and unnecessary.

By the fifty percent mark, I was glued to the audio, and very keen to know what happened during the night in question. I read through the last half at break neck speed. Sadly, I did guess the whodunit aspect but not the why. This was one of those reads that took a bit of time to get into the story and learn all of the characters but then became full on addictive.

Thank you to #MacMillanAudio and #NetGalley for an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
#ListenForTheLie

Was this review helpful?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 {4}

A big thank you to @netgalley & @macmillianaudio for the ALC of this book!

When your memory fails you, your best friend is dead and you’re found wandering the streets covered in her blood - you’re quickly deemed the prime suspect in her murder. Which is exactly the case for Lucy & due to the amnesia surrounding the event, she has a very challenging time exonerating her name.

This story was told through Lucy’s POV, with interspersed chapters done by the True Crime Podcaster Ben, which was a fun listen on audio!
Small town Texas dynamics play out in this story, which include a lot of dark humor and witty one-liners, which in my thoughts are always appreciated 😂 I will be honest, I did not guess the ending on this one & that is always a good thing for me as a reader - but I do not want to spoil anything else, so I’ll leave it at that!

If you’re looking for a funny, mysterious & unique thriller - look no further than Listen For The Lie!

Was this review helpful?

Definitely worth the hype! Also the audiobook version is so good it feels like you’re listening to a real podcast! Finished this book in a day or so <3

Was this review helpful?

Do I love an unreliable narrator? Yes. Do I hate an unreliable narrator? Yes. Does LISTEN FOR THE LIE have an unreliable narrator? Yes. Did I like LISTEN FOR THE LIE? Yes, only when I wasn’t hating it for being lied to, lol.

Amy Tintera crafted her novel brilliantly. I loved how the plot went back and forth in time for the FMC, Lucy (narrated by the exceptional, as always, January LaVoy), and the other half in podcast format (narrated by Will Darmon).

At first, I switched between reading and listening to the book, which made the mystery even more confusing. About a third of the way through, I switched entirely to audio and no longer dealt with my own confusion, only the unreliable narrator.

It’s rare for me to guess whodunit. I thought I had an idea with this one, and then I reached the end. Poof! All my theories dissolved. I have an ending theory that seems to differ from my friends, and I’m the only one who listened to it while they read. So now I want to go back and read the book to see if I get influenced differently. 😅

This novel makes you think, and I love that. I also like that it uses different mediums to move the plot along. It’s a book that you can read and enjoy even if you aren’t a thriller lover!

Thanks, Macmillan Audio, for the ALC!

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars
First off, the narration for this book was amazing! January LaVoy always delivers! Five solid stars for the audio.
That said, amnesia books are tough to pull off. This one had some hits and misses for me. I loved the podcast format. I didn’t love how repetitive the “voices” were. It went beyond foreshadow and into annoying. I enjoyed digging up all the secrets and lies from the past. I didn’t enjoy the fact that everyone was cheating with everyone and most of them were physically abusive and/or alcoholics as well. It was overdone. I was also conflicted about the ending. It didn’t really stick the landing but I did ultimately like how it all worked out. So, it was a mixed bag for me but I did like it and do recommend it for others!

Was this review helpful?

This book was unhinged and I loved it! Books with podcasts are always better on audio in my opinion. I love a full cast and the podcast sound effects.

This book felt like reality tv met a true crime documentary and had a podcast baby. The characters are all wild. I laughed. I was shocked. It was a hell of a ride and it was so good!

The only reason it wasn’t 5 stars was because I was a little disappointed in the ending. I did not quite predict it but after such a crazy roller coaster to get there I just wanted to be a little more shocked.

Was this review helpful?

Listen for the Lie is a gripping unputdownable thriller, and a fantastic adult debut.

Lucy is thought to have killed her best friend Savvy five years ago, except Lucy has no memory of it. She builds a new life for herself in Los Angeles, far away from her Texas hometown.

Unfortunately for Lucy, a true crime podcaster has decided to revisit the crime in the hopes of revealing the truth.

This story is full of many unlikeable characters, characters who made bad choices both then and now.

Thr story is told in present day, with sections of the podcast imbedded throughout the book along with brief flashbacks to 5 years ago. I really enjoyed this format of storytelling, as it kept me engaged and flying through the pages.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this fast-paced, quirky thriller. The MC was delightfully snarky and jaded. Her relationships were believable and shown well. And for a thriller, the characterizations were very good. The podcast episodes made this read especially quickly.

Beverly was my favorite.

I liked the voice actors (the Lets Kill thing got old).

Thank you NetGalley and LibroFM for the ARC! I purchased a copy for my library.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to @netgalley for the ARC & ALC!

Narrated by: January LaVoy & Will Damron

For a while there I was seeing this book EVERYWHERE and therefore had to read it. It definitely didn’t let me down. I listened to most of this while on my way to and from work and the audio is *chef’s kiss*. Who doesn’t love a storyline with a true crime podcast? This had me on the edge of my seat till the very end and I never saw it coming. Set in a small Texas town, the location also plays a large part in transporting you and keeping you locked in this town while providing suspense and continued intrigue in the story. Lucy’s character was also absolutely hilarious. Having the story from her POV, we were given an inside scoop on her thoughts and feelings and MAN were they dark but funny. It added comical relief that I feel a lot of thriller books need.

Was this review helpful?

Listen For The Lie is an easy-read mystery drama. With its short chapters, I found myself flying through this title. I highly recommend picking up the audio recording of Listen For The Lie so you can get the full experience of the podcast element of this story. Special shoutout to the protagonist’s grandmother. She was my favorite character by far and provided some much-needed comedic relief throughout the story.

Was this review helpful?

Lucy has been living under the pressure of not knowing what happened on an evening five years ago when she went to a wedding with her at the time husband and was found wondering down a road covered in her best friend, Savvy's, blood.
Everyone in her hometown believes Lucy killed Savvy but she was injured herself and lost all memory of that night. Hiding out from the neighbors' stares and whispers in California, she returns home to Texas for her grandmother's birthday at the same time as Ben Owens, a true crime podcaster, picks up Savvy's unsolved murder. His podcast is Listen for the Lie, and he needs Lucy to come on and present her side - if she ever remembers.
I loved this fast paced, fun, snarky thriller. Lucy is tough and witty, clear eyed about her situation even aware she could be a killer. Her grandmother Beverly is a fabulous character - my absolute favorite in this book- and is the only person who believes Lucy is innocent. I enjoyed the podcast element and felt it was done well - especially in the audio version with the podcast parts feeling truly like a true crime podcast.
So many great characters that offered twists and red herrings and secrets revealed. The thriller was paced well and the suspense was kept on high The ending was good and while I had an inkling it may be who the killer was, I was by no means certain.
Thanks to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the advance audio - I loved my listening.

Was this review helpful?

Please note: I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley. I absolutely loved this book! Switching the perspective from protagonist to podcast was a really fun way to get some background information, without revealing the plot. There were really satisfying twists and turns, and I would wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone who likes a good thriller.

Was this review helpful?

Listen for the Lie is about Lucy who everyone in her hometown is convinced was involved in the murder of her friend. 5 years later she's now distanced herself from what happened in many ways, until a podcast starts covering the murder, pulling her back in.

What can I say other than the hype is definitely real and well earned. It was not just a great book but a fantastic listening experience as well. I had so much fun reading this book that I was listening to it until 6am the day before a work conference when I’d have to wake up a mere 2 hours later. I just couldn’t put it down. It built up and up and I just had to know where it was going.

From the first few chapters I knew this was gonna be a very fun read and I immediately messaged my mystery loving friends to pick it up when it gets released.

First off, I highly recommend reading this as an audiobook. The narration is done really well, easy to distinguish the characters by the various voices January LaVoy and Will Damron gave them but most importantly, the podcast bits feel like a true podcast in the audiobook making it an even more immersive experience.

The main character’s wry humor and delivery were fantastic. Beyond being a fun character to read it also really added to all the suspicions and the feeling that she doesn’t really fit in. Her grandmother was such a sweetheart and possibly the only character who wasn’t highly flawed.

I loved the way Amy Tintera slowly undid the layers of the mystery, having the main character give us tidbits here and there, as well as the many great reveals by the podcast. It’s not easy to make an amnesia plotline feel not cliche but this really worked in my opinion.

The twists were twisting and made me exclaim “I knew it!” or “No way!” spontaneously, making my husband jump.

The book also covers many different types of shitty relationships, with parents or significant others, from abuse, to gaslighting and cheating.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

Was this review helpful?

I was hooked from the start. It is told from Lucy's viewpoint, and she makes for a very unreliable narrator. Lucy has amnesia, and does not remember the night her best friend, Savvy, died or if she is the one responsible for her death. I really loved Lucy's character. She was snarky, funny and so over people thinking she is a murderer. The chapters are broken up by transcripts from a podcast that is being done on Savvy's murder, where Ben Owen interviews the townspeople looking for new evidence. I really enjoy books that are told with podcasts revealing new information throughout the story. They especially make great audiobooks, and this one was no different. I tend to bounce between a physical book and the audiobook when I read so that I can continue the story while I drive. I really enjoyed both experiences with this book. Overall, this book was a fun ride. I loved Lucy, her grandmother (she is a riot) and Ben. I also disliked several characters (but I am pretty sure I was supposed to). I felt Lucy's need to finally know what happened that night, and appreciated the fact that she was willing to try anything to get to the truth even if it meant finding out that she really did it. The big reveal was an interesting turn and not what I was expecting. This book definitely lives up to the hype. I highly recommend it! I loved the narrators! They really brought the story to life!

Was this review helpful?