wow!! i really loved this book. i flew through it, and when i wasn't reading it, i wanted to be reading it! i read most of it in one day.

i had the ebook and audio copy of this book, and i really think it was beneficial to have both. first off, there is a podcast element to this book. however, this book does something different with the podcast aspect since the podcast host, Ben, is not the protagonist. he is described as smug and self-assured, which is a departure from the podcast host being the hero of the story. the whole book is told from Lucy's perspective with podcast clips in between. the podcast clips sounded like a real podcast, and there were different voices for different characters. the audiobook narrators were absolutely fantastic! i always think January LaVoy does an incredible job, and Will Damron was also outstanding (and i'm realizing that i have loved his narration for other books). it was so cool that the title comes to life in this book, because the characters in the book listen to the podcast, and you're listening for the lie with them. sometimes you know who's lying, and sometimes you don't. i found that to be unique because the podcast was not just a means to give information to the reader--rather, the reader is questioning both sets of stories in the book (Lucy's POV and the podcast). i would HIGHLY recommend the audio for this, but i was also glad to have the words in front of me so i could see the changes in font, from Lucy's narrative to the podcast clips. Lucy can't remember what happened the night her best friend Savannah was murdered, and she hears a voice in her head (indicated by the italics). the book also used italics to indicate a flashback when we were in a present-day chapter, which was helpful. there were chapters that took place 5 years ago, too, and it was easy to distinguish which time period we were in.

Lucy is a hilarious protagonist and i enjoyed being in her head. she was a flawed, complicated, and quirky person. i felt like the (selective) amnesia trope was well done with her character. often, i feel books can be repetitive with a character trying to remember details, but this book did not feel that way. Lucy knows she isn't always a good person and doesn't try to convince anyone that she is. i found her to be very different from thriller protagonists in that sense. i had a strong sense of her character, and she was so funny! there is a cast of other characters who are brought up in this book, and it's easy to keep track of them.

i also did NOT predict who the perpetrator was. i was surprised by that reveal, and didn't feel like it was over-the-top or unrealistic by any means. i was also surprised by other reveals throughout this book.

this book discusses topics like the ethics of true crime (a topic i'm always interested in), how a narrative can divert from the truth, how much the truth matters, and the complications of victimhood. this book brings up these topics in a subtle way and doesn't hit the reader over the head with them.

i would recommend this book if you like:
- podcast elements
- audiobooks
- flawed, funny protagonists
- Texas small town settings
- compelling books
- questioning the truth
- true crime
- a teeny bit of romance in your thrillers

Listen for the Lie comes out on March 5, 2024. thank you to Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

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

I really enjoy a book with a podcast element and this one did not disappoint! Several years ago Lucy was found wandering the streets, hurt, covered in her best friend’s blood, and no memory of what happened. We jump to present day and Ben, from Listen For The Lie podcast, is determined to get to the bottom of what happened.
The book switches between the podcast episodes and Lucy's POV. It's filled with sarcastic humor that had me laughing out loud. The main characters, Lucy and Ben, were fantastic and the cast of side characters enhanced the story. The mystery of what happened that night is slowly revealed throughout the book, but that story itself was very well paced and had me fully engaged.
I would suggest listening to the audiobook, it's so well done and the perfect way to consume a book with a podcast.
This is such a fun story and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 (4.5)

Thank you to @netgalley @celadonbooks and @macmillan.audio for the gifted copy of this book.

The audiobook narrator did an excellent job with this book. The difference in tone between each character, including between two female characters, was distinct, and added to the book. The inclusion of the musical intro to each podcast episode section was also a great choice. Tintera made it clear when there were flashbacks and shifts in perspective. My only complaint about this book was that Lucy did not feel like a 28/29 year old. There were times when I thought she was married as a teen, and the story took place in her very young adulthood, as it felt like a young adult novel. Still a great read that I devoured in ~2 days (it was on audio, which takes a bit longer).

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced audio copy of “Listen for the Lie” in exchange for a review.

I cannot wait for everyone to experience this book when it releases in early March (2024). It’s one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a long time. It’s fast, keeps you guessing, and has great characters. If you get a chance to listen to it on audio, even better! The podcast sections were done so well and really added to the overall ambiance of the story.

Seriously…don’t sleep on this one.

A gripping tale with an epistolary feel with the “podcast” interspersed in the story. The two narrators are well matched for the characters they portray.

Podcast fans…here’s an audiobook for you!

Listen for the Lie is an addictive and consumable thriller focusing around a long-time cold case and the podcast that helps unveil the truth.

The narrator breezily expressed the emotions and tension in the story. She put on accents common in small town Texas and did well to differentiate tones in various characters.

The listening experience elevated this story well!

Thank you Celadon for my ALC of Listen for the Lie.

This was a fun ride and I couldn't stop listening. It hit a lot of my favorite things about the mystery/thriller genre. A snarky MC, small town setting, lots of hidden family and friend secrets, A PODCAST tie in, lost memories, and an excellently woven mystery.

I would highly recommend the audiobook. It was dual narration and definitely brings the podcast element to life.

***Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with the Audiobook for free via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

One of my favorite NetGalley Arcs I have received! I have never read Amy Tintera before and she did not disappoint. Lucy's scarlet letter after her very best friend was murdered sent her away from her hometown to California. Her grandmother, one of the Best characters I have read in a long time, pushes her home and into an u likely partnership with a podcaster live investigating her beat friend's death- and her. Witty, entertaining, with a little spice I enjoyed every minute of this audiobook.

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera is a book you want to read! The book had me engaged the whole time and I didn’t want to stop listening. I used the audiobook version published by Macmillan Audio and Narrated by January LaVoy and Will Damron.

Who thought a book about two best friends one dead and one alive was going to keep you guessing into the end! When a hit podcast starts investigating the death of a small-town Texas girl, Savvy. It starts to bring back all these painful memories, or lack of memories for Lucy. After the death of her best friend, Lucy got a divorce from her husband and moved to California. She tried to put the death behind her and the small town she lived in. She was already a murderer in the eyes of everyone back home, but she couldn’t remember what had happened. She wasn’t even convicted of the murder of Savvy, but everyone else thought otherwise. As we read/listen to the story, you slowly go through different emotions with Lucy, as being back at home starts to bring back memories of that night. By the end of the story, you find out who killed Savvy, but it’s not who you expected from the start!

I recommend this book to anyone. Whether you’re reading, or listening to the book. Every chapter had me suspecting someone different. I had so many theories of who did it. Thank you, NetGalley and MacMillian Audio, for allowing me to listen to the audiobook and give my review. Thank you, Amy Tintera, for spending the time to write this book. I look forward to reading other books by you.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to an advanced listening copy of LISTEN FOR THE LIE by Amy Tintera!

THIS IS HOW YOU DO AN AUDIOBOOK, PEOPLE!

This audiobook production was INCREDIBLE! I love a true crime podcast stylistic approach and this audiobook delivered. The narrators themselves did an amazing performance because there were times where I genuinely forgot that this was a fiction audiobook and not a real true crime podcast.

As for the story, I also found that really compelling. I mean, "young woman returns to her hometown after five years where she's believed to have murdered her best friend?" There's got to be more to the story there and I was desperate to find out!

Something that I love in a mystery thriller is when, during the first 20-30% of the book, you feel so confused as the reader because everyone you've met so far seems really normal and like a stand-up citizen. Clearly, none of these people could be a murderer, right?! But then you hit that part in the book where that facade comes crumbling down one by one and no one has pure intentions and everyone has secrets they want to keep buried. It makes for a wild ride!

There's not really a single "likable" character in this book, but I think that's fine with this genre and type of story. My one major criticism is that there comes a point where I feel like you realize the "whodunnit" and it was kind of lackluster for me. I wanted to be more taken aback by that reveal. However, with that being said, there were several other surprising reveals throughout the story.

I've read several other of Tintera's books and I was really intrigued by how she would do a mystery/thriller. I hope she writes more in this genre!

I wanted to rave about this 15 minutes into it. This was a fantastic listen! Dark, snappy, clever. Brilliant formatting and outstanding voice acting for the audio especially the podcast sections. They sounded so real my husband thought I was listening to an actual true crime podcast. The addition of information via the interview interjections kept thickening the plot and keeping me guessing.

There was such a strong sense of place with the small town Texas setting, and I loved it. Good suspense, drama and surprises. Complex, dark characters. I really liked the main character and her sarcastic wit. The grandma was the redeeming character for both morality and levity. I was laughing out loud.

I do wish there was a bit more at the end. I think I could have done without the romance subplot and there’s an open door scene that was too…perverse for me and over-the-top. Having said that I understand how it all added to the atmosphere of the book and to keeping the narrator morally grey.

I did really enjoy the spin on the unreliable narrator and found this to be an engrossing and well written thriller. I really recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for letting me listen early. Publication day is March 5th! Preorder or put it on hold at your library now.

What if you thought you murdered your best friend? And everyone thought it too? And what if the truth didn’t matter?

Listen for the Lie audiobook narrated by January LaVoy & Will Damron is a captivating mystery that hooks you from the moment you hit play. Lucy, our main character, cannot remember anything from the night her best friend was murdered. All she knows is she was found wondering the streets in the early hours of the morning covered in her blood and the whole town considered her to be suspect number one.

Years later; after starting a new life in L.A a viral true crime podcast show, Listen for the Lie, picks up her story and begins unraveling all the bits and pieces of the unsolved crime. Lucy is forced to return to her hometown to help solve her friends murder.

I absolutely loved the formatting of this book. The combination of Lucy’s point of view and podcaster interviews makes the audiobook flow so seamlessly I never wanted it to stop. The two narrators voices were absolutely perfect for the storyline and made this book one of my favorite listens for the year so far! Five stars across the board!

Thank you #netgalley and #macmillanaudio for the chance to review this ARC!

4.5 Stars
A story that will keep you guessing until the very end!

A few years ago, Lucy was discovered covered in blood on the night of her best friend Savvy's murder. Many people suspected Lucy of being responsible for what happened to Savvy, despite the lack of concrete evidence. It doesn't help that Lucy has no recollection of that fateful night. Exhausted from being treated like an outcast, she made the difficult decision to leave her Texas home and start afresh in California, hoping to leave her dark past behind. However, her hope of escaping the past is shattered when a popular Podcast brings her haunted past back into the spotlight. Ben, the enigmatic host, has been delving into the case and holds firm in his belief that he will uncover the truth. Is Lucy truly guilty but unable to recall it? Or is there more to this perplexing case than meets the eye?

This was an absolutely captivating read! I highly recommend giving the audiobook a listen! The narrators truly outdid themselves, creating an immersive experience that makes you feel like you're actually listening to a real podcast. The story had me hooked from start to finish. I found myself questioning the reliability of Lucy, and the unexpected twist ending took me by surprise! The only aspect that didn't quite resonate with me was the romantic subplot, which felt a tad unnecessary. But aside from that, it was a fantastic read! Highly recommend it to fans of mystery and thrillers.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Amy Tintera, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

The way I just binged this audiobook in two days 😅 this was one of the best thrillers I have read in a longggg time.

This is about a woman named Lucy who was accused of killing her best friend years ago. Due to memory loss from a brain injury from that night and no weapon ever being found, she has no idea whether she really did it or not. However, everyone in her hometown in Texas is convinced she did. Years go by, and she’s living in LA when a famous true crime podcaster named Ben Owens decides to investigate her case - bringing new eyes and attention to Lucy. The podcast upheaves her new life, and she is forced to return home by her grandma (who was the best & I love her. She’s my fave character for sure).

With Ben’s help, she revisits her past and decides to figure out what really happened for once and for all.

First of all, the audiobook was so fun. It has special effects, two narrators, and a podcast-style format. It’s super engaging and sounds like a real-life true crime podcast. Also, January LaVoy can do no wrong.

Second, the actual writing was a delight. ‘We’re Stars Hollow, but with more wine and cowboy boots.’ That’s just one of the many delightful lines in this book & I ate up every word. There are so many quotes I’d love to share, but our main character Lucy is unhinged & funny as hell, and I wish she were a real person because her sarcasm & sass were everything.

Third, this book will keep you hooked. I was obsessed with each interview & each revelation that was made, and I also loved the romance. This was so suspenseful and compelling. I was addicted to this story and could not stop listening.

Thank you NetGalley & Celadon for the ARC and Macmillan for the ALC. You guys can get your hands on this on 3/5/24!

Lucy Chase was found stumbling from the woods covered in her best friend’s blood. Though the police could not find the weapon, nor did they have any eyewitnesses to charge her, everyone believed she killed Savvy. Life in her small Texas town quickly fell apart, and Lucy left her husband and her home for a new start in LA. In the big city she was just another person, and in a town like LA where movie and television stars abound, Lucy was an unlikely source of interest—until a new podcast debuted with her as the main character.

Listen for the Lies Ben Owens’ true crime podcast brought Lucy’s worst nightmare back into the limelight. Despite not remembering anything that happened, and the police having no way to charge her, Ben believed he could solve Savvy’s murder. Lucy denied him interviews and was able to generally keep to herself until they crossed paths in her hometown, while home for her grandmother’s birthday. Lucy, recently unemployed and single because of his podcast, is surprised to find Ben Owens both a good listener and very attractive. Back at the literal scene of the crime, she and Ben attempt to retrieve her blocked memories and finally find out what happened that night.

Full of dark twists and turns, Amy Tintera keeps the reader guessing until the very end. Listen for the Lies is full of tension and dark humor, with an incredibly self-deprecating and acerbic main character. Other than Savvy’s voice in Lucy’s head, which grated in my opinion, but was necessary for the plot, I enjoyed this fast-paced read. I should have read a physical copy instead. Be warned besides murder there is domestic abuse in this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and of course the author Amy Tintera for the advanced copy of the audiobook. Listen for the Lie is out in audio format on March 5th. All opinions are my own.

Wow, this book was amazing! I've read several books by Amy Tintera and this is definitely my favorite. I was intrigued 100% of the time and I couldn't stop thinking about it when I wasn't reading it.
Main character Lucy returns to her hometown for her grandmother's birthday (the only family member she likes). The thing is, she was accused of murdering her best friend 5 years ago. Everyone thinks she did it, but she was never arrested. Lucy suffered a head injury that night and can't remember anything at all. True crime podcaster Ben is doing a season on this murder and he is in town when Lucy gets back. Will he find new information on the murder? Will Lucy remember anything being back home?
I loved Lucy. She was so unreliable and funny. But like in a dark way. She honestly didn't know if she killed Savvy or not. She had dealt with it so long, she even made jokes about it. I loved Ben too, he was chill and just wanted to figure out the murder. My favorite character was Lucy's grandmother. She was absolutely hilarious. Her and Ben got close during the podcast and their relationship was so cute. Lucy's parents sucked and so did mostly everyone else in town. But that was their job.
The writing style was fantastic. I laughed out loud so many times and I never do that. I was absolutely intrigued and did not want to stop listening. Everything really made sense. There were so many believable suspects including Lucy herself. We learn so many juicy details and I just couldn't wait to find out who did it. We get actual episodes of the podcast too with interviews which was really fun.
January LaVoy is one of my favorite narrators and she did an absolutely fantastic job with this book. She did great with the characters and really put the suspense in the story. The male narrator who did the podcast was great too.

Five years ago, Lucy’s friend Savvy was found murdered in the woods, with Lucy stumbling around nearby covered in blood. You might be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, but small towns don’t work that way. Even though it was never proven, pretty much everyone thinks Lucy was the killer, even her own parents! Even Lucy herself isn’t sure because she can’t remember anything that happened that night. Now Ben, host of popular podcast “Listen for the Lie” is in town and he’s determined to solve the mystery of what really happened that night.

This book is fantastic! Not only do you have a small-town murder and true crime podcast, but you’ve also got a sarcastic, funny protagonist who just might be a murderer if the voice in her head is any indication. The writing style is so snappy, with lots of witty banter, and I loved how Lucy’s wry humor adds some levity to the whole dark mess. So entertaining and twisty, and the alternating perspectives between Lucy and the podcast episodes kept me engrossed the entire time. Thriller lovers will not want to miss this one!

Now onto the audiobook! I both read and listened to this one and if you have the choice, I can’t recommend highly enough to give this one a LISTEN! The narration really takes this fantastic story to the next level! The uber-talented January LaVoy infuses Lucy’s perspective with wit and dark humor and IDGAF-ness, and all of the other voices and inflections LaVoy adopts are amazing too. Will Damron lends his deep smoky voice to hosting the podcast – I could have listened to him all day! Easily one of my all-time favorite audiobooks!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Celadon Readers, and Macmillan Audio for providing me an advance copy of this book.

I'm a sucker for a true crime podcast book and Amy Tintera didn't let me down. The only thing better than a fictional murder in a small town is one where the supposed murderer can't remember anything. Lucy is unreliable to a fault, especially with her murderous intrusive thoughts, and that's part of what kept me hooked the entire time. Because what if she really DID do it?

The hints and clues were well-foreshadowed and I was picking between 2 characters for my murderer. I did ultimately guess wrong, but I was happy with the result. The podcast elements were so well-done in the audiobook, complete with the theme music and intro for Listen for the Lie. And Ben.... So dreamy.

I really hope that we get to see more of Lucy and Ben, maybe with a team-up in a new town? Regardless I'm absolutely hooked on Amy Tintera's mystery/thrillers now.

*Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review and to Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC*

First off- JANUARY LAVOY...say no more. 100,000 percent YES. One of my favorite narrators, January did not disappoint with this one.

I loved the Podcast aspect (and the sound effects signaling when you were tuned into it versus not). I will say I hated almost every character in Listen for the Lie (albeit I was supposed to) but I did love Lucy's sense of humor and her quirkiness. She doesn't give a flying french horn what anyone thinks of her, just like her grandma who is also THE BEST.

Quick and twisty, I would highly recommend this (especially on audio!) to thriller lovers across the board!

📚Review: Listen For The Lie 🎤🎧
Wow!! I REALLY enjoyed this book!! What a nice surprise I wasn’t expecting. I only saw a couple reviews for it before I took the chance to request it on NetGalley. So I was hoping I was going to like it. And I really did. I listened to the audiobook for this. Let me just say, it was so good. January LaVoy (Night Swim) and Will Damron (Look Closer) were the narrators. They did a such a great job. 👏🏻👏🏻 The book is set around a podcast and it was just done so well. It reminded me a lot of the None Of This Is True audiobook. So it was fun. IYKYK.
As for the book itself, if you’re unfamiliar, I’ll give a quick overview. Lucy is found wandering around and covered in her best friend, Savvy’s blood, but can’t remember anything about what happened. Five years have passed and the highly popular true crime podcast (Listen For The Lie) is investigating the murder of Savvy, since it is still unsolved. The host Ben, contacts Lucy and wants to interview her for the show, she agrees because she wants desperately to find out what happened to her best friend. Even if it means finding out that she’s been guilty of this crime all along.
This was just so so good. It was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5 stars for me! I highly recommend it and even more so to listen to the audiobook, if that’s your thing too.
Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillanaudio for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: Mar 5, 2024
Be sure to pick up your copy. This is one not to be missed.