5 years ago, Lucy was found walking down the road disoriented covered in her best friend Savannah, Savvy's, blood. Why would they not think that Lucy was the one who killed her? However, Lucy had zero memories of that night.

Present day, Lucy is living in LA with her boyfriend. She speaks with her grandma on the regular basis but has not been back to her Texas hometown since Savvy died. Beverly, Lucy's grandma, is having a big 80th birthday party and expects Lucy to be there. She even buys Lucy's plane ticket back home. When Lucy arrives back in Texas, she is receiving side-eyes from everyone as she suspected... they all still think she murdered her best friend, her parents too. Hell, even Lucy is convinced she did it at times. While waiting to pick up dinner at the local diner, Lucy runs into semi-famous Ben Owens, host of the "Listen for the Lie" podcast. As she soon finds out, her grandmother set all of this up. Ben wants to tell Lucy's story and get the truth out about Savvy's mother. In his first season, he solved a cold case and he thinks he can do the same for Lucy.

Lucy is reluctant at first, but after she listens to an episode or two, she agrees to give Ben an interview. She and Ben begin working together to try to piece together Lucy's missing memories of that night. Ben interviews everyone he can that was involved in or in the vicinity the night of Savvy's murder, and he does a damn good job of getting everyones stories. Lucy and Ben end up falling into a relationship which causes an interesting dynamic. Ben wants to believe Lucy is innocent, but part of him still doubts her.

Since you see the novel from Lucy's perspective, you come to know that she hears a voice inside her head telling her to "kill" at many times throughout the novel. Lucy will fantasize about killing people around her, looking at objects in the area and envisioning using them to bludgeon the surrounding unsuspecting people. Later in the novel, you come to find out that the voice inside her head is none other than Savvy herself. Lucy also sees Savvy at times, frequently wearing the bloody dress she was wearing when she died. Because of this, you come to doubt Lucy's reliability as the narrator which makes the story that much more intriguing.

You meet many characters throughout the novel including Matt, Lucy's abusive ex-husband, Emmett, Lucy's childhood best friend who has had a crush on her for a long time, Nina, Lucy's friend from high school who she doesn't quite get along with now, and many other minor characters who play important roles in the whole experience.

Overall, I found this novel impossible to put down! The narrators were incredible and created an immersive experience. I was captivated from the very beginning. I will absolutely be looking up previous works by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Did Lucy kill her best friend? This audiobook unfolds brilliantly combining the narrative with the ‘Listen for the Lie’ podcast by Ben Owen. Lucy is called back to her hometown by her grandmother to where the murder occurred. Full of twists and turns and a few lies the answer that has haunted Lucy finally surfaces.
#Netgalley #Goodreads #MacmillanAudio #mystery

What a nice change, to actually enjoy a thriller/murder mystery from beginning to end without feeling annoyed at any time!

Lucy has returned to her hometown for her grandma’s birthday party, but she’s not too excited about it, considering the entire town thinks she murdered her best friend Savannah. Lucy doesn’t think she did, but she’s not…100% sure. Due to a whack on the head that night, she has no memory of the event. To make matters worse, the podcast Listen for the Lie has just launched and members of the town are being interviewed and spilling all the dirty details of that awful event. Luckily, it seems like Ben, the host of the podcast, isn’t taking a side just yet and seems to just want to find out the truth. Together, he and Lucy work to recover her memories and figure out what really happened to Savannah.

I was hooked on this book from start to finish, which was a delight! To be honest, I’ve been really bored with thrillers lately. I’m constantly annoyed with domestic entanglements, unlikable characters, and twists that are so out of left field I refuse to believe they’re true.

Listen for the Lie was a fresh premise with a main character I really liked. She was sassy and snarky, without lacking a moral compass, and had a good head on her shoulders (though she could stand to keep it in her pants once in a while). She also has a sassy grandma who made me laugh and cry. She stole every chapter she was in and I LOVED her.

The ending wasn’t SUPER shocking, and that is fine with me because it was refreshingly within the realm of possibility.

The audiobook is particularly enjoyable because a male narrator reads the podcast sections, which makes it feel more like a separate thing from the narrated chapters.

Don’t miss this one, it’s an A+ from me!

Absolutely loved this book! Listen for the lie had me hooked instantly with the funny FMC, Lucy, true crime vibes, and a who-done-it podcast.

Imagine being found wandering around covered in your best friends blood, with no memory of what happened.
Although Lucy was never convicted, her small town insists she murdered her best friend,y6y Savvy. Lucy moved far away, but is back in town to celebrate her grandmothers birthday, conveniently a well known podcaster, Ben, is also in town, interviewing people on the murder.
Lucy agrees to talking on the podcast to try and clear her name. The more podcasts Ben releases, the closer he is to finding the true killer.

The narrators was PERFECT for this book! It felt like I was listening to a real podcast!!!

5 years ago, Lucy murdered her best friend, Savvy…. Or did she? She has no recollection of the events that occurred on the night Savvy died, but everyone thinks she did it. When the “Listen For The Lie” podcast starts investigating the cold case, new timelines and events and stories are brought to light. Will Ben solve the cold case and find out what happened to Savvy?

This. Book. Oh my gosh! Tintera breathed new life into this genre for me with this story. It was original and unique in its set up. While I’m sure it would be a great physical read as well, I highly highly recommend this as an audio. The BEST audio I’ve ever listened to, as the story weaved between Lucy’s story, and Ben’s podcast series. I was hooked from the first chapter and I loved how much dark humor and sarcasm was weaved into the story throughout. I found myself cackling several times, was on the edge of my seat for more, and my mind was blown at the end. I wish I could give this audio more than 5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my ALC in exchange for my honest feedback. This one’s a winner!

I can only say that this book exceeded my expectations! I was so excited to read it due to the early buzz it was getting, but it absolutely floored me! It will easily end up in my Top 10 reads of 2024!

I love true crime podcasts, so when a book hints at including that subject, it goes onto my “to be read” list. But when I started this audiobook, I was very happy to hear Ben’s chapters set up like mini episodes of his podcast. I loved the interviews, and how he would weave the narrative he was creating through Lucy’s story. The format of this book was made to be an audiobook.

Lucy’s story was original, intriguing, and maddening at times. It is hard for me to put this into words without spoilers. Her thoughts throughout this book were complicated and fascinating. She has spent 5 years wondering what happened the night her best friend Savannah died, and living with the blame. The other players in this story have secrets of their own. This story made me so angry at times, shocked at others, and has an ending that will leave you stunned. This book is perfect for book clubs. I want to talk about it with everyone!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for giving me one of the best audiobook listening experiences I have ever had! January LaVoy and Will Damron put on an audiobook narration master class in this one. I will be purchasing a hard copy of this one as well. This book releases on March 5th - preorder it now! You will not want to miss this one!

What a treat!! Fresh, fun, dark, twisted, and deliciously entertaining. Our MC Lucy is sardonic and sarcastic with witty dry humor that reminds me a bit of Vesper from Black Sheep. I couldn't stop listening! This is the kind of book that was made for audio. January Lavoy and Will Damron deliver epic performances - giving us not just dual narration, but co-narration (often appearing together in the same scene). Both Lavoy and Damron perform large casts, giving each character a unique voice. Just outstanding! There were also podcast sound effects, which I LOVE! If you liked Night Swim on audio, you'll love this one!

Thank you Macmillan Audio for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Listen for the Lie was a fun, quirky little thriller about Lucy, who returns to a small town in Texas to celebrate her grandmother's birthday years after her divorce and perhaps most importantly, the accusation that she murdered her best friend. The worst part is that Lucy has no memory whether she killed her friend or not. However, being surrounded with the same people in addition to a true crime podcaster eager to unlock new facts is slowly but surely bringing some memories back to the surface.

My favorite part of this book was Lucy, who, unlike many protagonists in thrillers, had a backbone and dark, sarcastic sense of humor. She wasn't afraid to make people feel uncomfortable, and her no-nonsense attitude made her an enjoyable character to read. The narrator did a fantastic job conveying this spirit throughout the audiobook. Her grandmother was also a riot.

I was less wild about the mystery itself and didn't find it super groundbreaking from other books I read. I was still curious to find out how events played out and found the ending fairly satisfying. It was a little baffling that basically every character slept with so many other characters in the book, but maybe that's just how life is in small-town Texas. Kidding aside, I'm sure others will flock to this book and will certainly enjoy its unique charms.

There is so much hype about this book and I can see why. It was a dark thriller, with plenty of humour, twists and turns and not at all predictable which is always good. Once you start reading this book you will not want to put it down so be warned.

Lucy Chase doesn’t remember killing her best friend Savvy, but everyone says she did so she believes it. She hasn’t been back to her hometown since that night but now she is heading back for her grandmothers birthday party. A new podcast has started up and is getting a lot of attention. The Listen For The Lie Podcast is delving into the night of the murder, and all the possible suspects. It turns out there are many. Ben from the podcast is in town and Lucy decides to work with him to finally learn the truth.

I do love a podcast element in a book and it worked so well in this one. We are fed information and posts of view throughout the story and the reader can start to put the pieces together. It was very clever and fun to listen to. January LaVoy and Will Damron were brilliant as always, really bringing the story and podcast to life

Thanks so much to Macmillan Audio for my advanced copy to read. Published on March 14th and well worth a read.

What a breath of fresh air Amy Tintera has breathed into the stale thriller genre. I LOVED this book. Who knew thrillers could be so funny? And the humor did not detract from the thrills and suspense, at all. In fact, it endeared me to what could have potentially been an otherwise unlikable character. I loved her macabre sense of humor! And I like the fact that she was unabashedly interested in sex. Women have sex. And ain’t no shame in it! And the audiobook was excellent. I loved the dual narrators and I especially loved the quality of the podcast chapters. My one suggestion would have been to have the male narrator do all the male voices, even those in the Lucy chapters and not just the podcast chapters. Also, the male narrator needed to give a little more variety in the voices. Some of them sounded the same to me, Gil and Ben sounded EXACTLY the same. But no matter, loved this. 10/10 would recommend to everybody.

Lucy killed her best friend. Or did she? She can’t remember anything from that night 5 years ago, but a new podcast is bringing up old memories.
‘Listen for the Lie’ is a non stop, action packed, and thrilling story. I didn’t know who to trust, even at the very end.

Novels based on podcasts are always amazing in audiobook format. Such a great way to integrate music, and multiple narrators. This was so much fun to listen to!
The characters that Tintera created were full of their own personalities. I actually felt like I was back in my small hometown, and could relate each character to people in my own life.

January LaVoy is a top notch narrator, and one of my all-time favorites. She has an excellent sense of the characters she speaks for, and really makes you feel like you’re listening to your friend tell a story.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Celadon Books for early access, in exchange for my honest review.

Listen for the Lie remained consistently interesting, with frequent new developments to the story. I liked the podcast style and the organized way in which each character was included in the story. I think that by the end, I couldn't truly guess who would be guilty so I found it unpredictable. Unpredictability is my favorite thing in a suspense novel!

Great book. The twist wasn’t quite as shocking as I was expecting. But it did really good at keeping me interested. I liked learning things from the podcast like the audience.

This book was sooo good and so fun to listen to! It wove between the main story and an investigative true crime style podcast - a very clever idea for an audiobook. I hope more books will follow this lead because it was great!

The story was also wonderful - about a woman whose best friend died on a night she can not remember, and everyone, including herself, thinks she killed her. But there are so many twists and turns, and the BETRAYAL at the end. Omg.

Thank you Amy Tintera and Macmillan Audio for this ALC. 4/5 stars
I absolutely adored this book! I am a sucker for true crime podcast, thrillers, and a great whodunit and this book was all of that wrapped in one. It even had some elements of spice that was the cherry on top.
Lucy is the FMC and she is sassy, sarcastic, and honestly quite hilarious. Five years ago her best friend was murdered and she is the prime suspect. However, she has no memory of the event and never enough proof to arrest her. Insert true crime podcaster Ben Owens and the story begins to unfold in one fast paced thrill ride. The audio was fantastic and I never felt bored. Sometimes when the story is set in the south, the narrators can sound so unrealistically twangy. Being from Louisiana that drives me crazy!
I would recommend Listen for The Lie to anyone who enjoys a little humor mixed in with their thrillers. Such a fun book!

I tandem read the ALC and ARC. Highly, highly recommend the audiobook! It is extremely well done via audio, especially the podcast portions. This fast-paced mystery crime thriller restored my faith in the thriller genre after being sorely disappointed for the past year.

Long story short: Lucy is the #1 suspect in her best friend’s murder, but due to a head injury that resulted in memory loss the case is closed without being solved due to lack of evidence. Five years later, Ben decided to highlight the case in his unsolved murder podcast. With everything coming to the surface, Lucy isn’t sure she wants to know what exactly happened that night.

Look, amnesia in thrillers doesn’t really work for me. I feel like it’s a tired trope. But damn did Tintera prove me wrong. Listen for the Lie is so fresh, fun, and completely unputdownable. I loved the slow reveals, the surprisingly sweet romance, and the small town Texas setting. Lucy is an utterly charming protagonist and I loved being in her messed up little brain.

This book is definitely going to be a hit with all the crime thriller and murder mystery fans!

4.5

I was intrigued by this book as soon as I read the summary, and it did not disappoint. I liked the time jumps and multiple POVs which, if done well as they are here, I always find add depth to a story, particularly when the narrators are unreliable. I did feel the ending was a little rushed, but all in all, an entertaining read! I'll keep an eye out for this author's next book!

Listen For the Lie by Amy Tintera
Narrators: January LaVoy; Will Damron
Rating: 5 stars
Pub date: 3/5

This gripping true crime podcast whodunit had me on the edge of my seat from the get-go. The audiobook narration was phenomenal, adding an extra layer of excitement to an already captivating plot.

Five years ago, Lucy’s best friend Savannah (Savvy) was murdered, and everyone (including Lucy’s parents) thinks Lucy did it. Lucy has no memory of the night of the murder, and now that the Listen For The Lie podcast is starting to dredge up the past, she’s forced to retrace her steps and help figure out who killed her friend.

The premise of this story is brilliant. Tintera weaves a tale that's equal parts suspenseful and humorous. Lucy is sarcastic, and her dark sense of humor had me cackling. She’s engaging and relatable, and I loved every scene with her in it.

The supporting characters, particularly Lucy's sassy grandmother, fill the story with even more delightful humor. The witty banter and quick-witted exchanges between Lucy and her family kept a smile on my face throughout the read. Ben Owens, the charming true-crime podcaster who looks like an Avenger, added an extra layer of intrigue and romance, making the investigation even more thrilling.

The incorporation of Savvy's voice echoing in Lucy's head was a creepy yet fascinating element to the narrative. I had no idea where the story was going, but as we got closer to the truth, I became even more invested in the outcome.

Listen for the Lie is a must-read for fans of gripping mysteries with a dash of humor. I highly recommend listening to this one on audio. The narrators truly nailed it, making it an immersive and unputdownable experience. If you're looking for a book that's gripping, dark, humorous, and well thought out, this one is the perfect choice.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary ALC.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐


Overall Review (spoilers)

Listen for the Lie is such a great book, I really enjoyed reading it and thank you Netgalley and Celadon books for an ARC of this.

Murder mystery books that poke fun at true crime podcasts are some of my favorite books out there. If you are a fan of Only Murders in the Building, The Good Girls Guide to Murder, or the Sorority Murders, you will love this book. The main character, Lucy, is not 100% sure she murdered her best friend or if she didn’t but everyone else is. Ben, a hot podcast guy, decides to do a podcast on the murder and ask Lucy for helps. Lucy, after being bullied into it, agrees. But how can she truly help if she doesn’t even know what happens? And does it even matter if she is innocent, when society has deemed her guilty?

I can usually predict who did it pretty early into the book, but this one took me almost to the last chapter to figure it out, so hats off. I also love the Texas setting, especially as someone from Texas because the description of the southern culture. Top tier. Also, the whole story about how men never believe women and how the word of a man matters more than the word of a woman just. Wow. Top tier.

Plot Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Genre: fiction, murder, mystery, thriller

Trigger Warnings: sexism, attempted SA, gore, murder, graphic description of intrusive thoughts

Thank you to Amy Tintera, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for this audiobook.

This was my first audiobook ever and I was not disappointed. Yes, I did listen while reading (that still counts right?), but it made it so much better.

It added so much more to the podcast parts. It held my attention and the narrators did an amazing job.