Member Reviews
I love true crime, and I love the sub-genre of books about true crime podcasts. Pair that with a really fascinating mystery about who killed Savi (thanks to amnesia, nobody knows—but everyone suspects Lucy), and you have a winning plot.
I really appreciated Ben’s tenacity, and I didn’t mind his blurring the ethics lines of journalism for the sake of furthering the story.
I appreciated that Lucy and her grandma had opposing but amazing personalities together. Grandma and her lifestyle are the epitome of what I hope I’m like at 80. I would have loved to know a little more about the after. And I very much loved the voice in Lucy’s head. It added levity (though maybe not intentionally?) to some very dicey situations.
The narration was excellent and added a lot of dynamic to this book!
Overall, absolutely killer book that I enjoyed very much!
This book is an unhinged (in the best way) thrill ride as a murder suspect returns to her hometown for her grandma's birthday and gets roped in on a true crime podcast. She has no memory of what happened that night, and it comes back to her in bits and pieces with the help of her murdered best friend's voice constantly in her ear.
I really liked the way this book works as an audiobook. The chapters alternate between the main character's perspective and clips of the podcast that's delving into the unsolved murder. The narrators, especially the female narrator, are outstanding. The grandma, Beverly, needs to adopt me because she is hilarious and lovable.
The only complaint I have is that the ending felt a bit anticlimactic.
Big content warnings to anyone who is triggered by descriptions of domestic and sexual violence.
An amnesia trope combined with a true-crime podcast, what's not to love? This thriller has it all. An unsolved murder, secrets from the past, small-town gossip, sarcasm, and a true-crime podcast are just a few of the gripping, entertaining elements that make this story so enjoyable. I was immediately drawn to the mystery, while also laughing out loud at the humor sprinkled throughout this compelling whodunnit. The narration added a layer of intrigue, especially with the podcast episodes following each chapter. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my audiobook.
I love a mixed media book, and nothing has me turning on an audiobook faster than when it incorporates a true crime podcast! This has already been a great year for thrillers, and Listen for the Lie is no different. The twists and red herrings kept coming, keeping me completely hooked on this story. I loved how you didn't really know who to trust, including the narrator. It was also weirdly funny, mixing in a lot of dark humor and sarcasm -- imagine if Daria Morgendorffer (throwing back to the golden era of MTV) was accused of murder. That's what Amy Tintera has served up for us here in her first adult novel. I'm looking forward to reading what she brings us next!
If you loved the Sadie audiobook and all the production of going between a podcast and a mystery, then Listed For The Lie is the natural progression for adults. This book had me guessing who the killer was and what actually happened until almost the end and even when I figured it out, I just enjoyed the ride.
It is no surprise "Listen for the Lie" is one of the hottest books right now. With a full podcast cast and gripping plot this audiobook is as entertaining as it is enjoyable.
Woven amongst the podcast similarly titled "Listen for the Lie" is a decades old murder of Lucy's best friend Savvy. While never convicted, the whole town is convinced Lucy is her murderer, but Lucy doesn't remember anything. Returning home, reluctantly for her grandmother's birthday, Lucy is sucked back into the drama, stares, and assumptions of the town she left.
In the age of true crime podcasts, "Listen for the Lie" is determined to find the truth behind this cold case.
4.45/5 stars.
Fast paced, enjoyed the concept and the storyline. Liked the twists and quirkiness of it. Thanks NetGalley for the copy.
This book is one of THE books of early 2024, and for good reason. Even though some people think the podcast narrative is overdone, I actually really enjoyed it. The production value of this audiobook was EXCELLENT - a full cast narration complete with snippets of the actual podcast? It really felt like listening to the podcast at parts. It's definitely a new favorite audiobook of mine.
As for the story, that was excellent as well - it was filled with dark humor as it follows Lucy, who is suspected of killing her best friend, Savvy. Lucy doesn't do anything to discredit this belief, as she doesn't know if she killed Savvy either. The night of Savvy's murder is a blur. Lucy returns to her hometown after five years, running into a podcaster who is doing a story on Savvy's murder. Together, they try to piece together what happened that night. This book was SO bingeable, and I did not see the ending coming at all - I loved it!!
Is Lucy Chase a murderer or a victim of small-town suspicion? Five years after her best friend's murder, Lucy remains haunted by unanswered questions. With no memory of that fateful night, she faces relentless doubt and accusations from the community. But as Ben Owens delves into the mystery on his true crime podcast, 'Listen for the Lie,' the truth begins to unravel. Through podcast interviews and revelations, readers are invited to join the investigation and uncover the real culprit. This gripping thriller kept me hooked from start to finish. The inclusion of podcast scripts seamlessly enhances the narrative, making 'Listen for the Lie' a must-read for fans of suspenseful storytelling. In Plumpton, secrets lurk behind every corner, and not everyone is who they appear to be. I really enjoyed this audiobook and the narrator was wonderful!
Listen for the Lie is the most recent in a string of podcast-based thrillers and the setup is interesting. (It’s also perfect for audiobook listening.)
Lucy was the golden girl of her Texas hometown: pretty, popular, married to handsome entrepreneur Matt. Until the night she was found covered with her best friend’s blood and accused of a murder she can’t remember. Now she lives in L.A., avoiding Texas, her family, and her past at all costs. But podcast host Ben Owens may ruin Lucy’s carefully constructed new life.
As I said, the podcast element is tailor-made for audiobook listening; the narration was extremely good. That was the high point of the book, however. The plot was a big jumble of whatever twists the author could think to throw in whenever she thought to throw them in. She is apparently a ‘pantser’ rather than a meticulous plotter.
The messy plot just did not do it for me. It's not the worst book, it's not the best book, and there are better examples of the true crime podcast trope. I rate it 3 stars.
Listen for the Lie is mystery/thriller about a woman is who is accused for the murder of her best friend but has no memory of the night. A podcaster takes interest in the case and Lucy is drawn back into her small hometown where lies and deceptions are uncovered. This novel is fast paced that keeps you invested and guessing as you put the clues together with Lucy. Lucy is a character that you emphasize with, she was sarcastic and self-deprecating and dealing with trauma and the crappy people in her life. The podcast chapters added to the depth to the plot and characters. Listen for the Lie is a solid and enjoyable story with a satisfying ending. The narrators bring even more life to the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC.
LISTEN FOR THE LIE by takes a v popular trope (true crime podcast) and absolutely kills it (pun intended). It’s fast-paced, absolutely unputdownable, and constantly keeps ya guessing.
🤷♀️ UNRELIABLE NARRATOR
Lucy does not remember what happened the night Savvy, her best friend, was murdered five years ago. But the small town in Texas where she’s from is convinced she did it. Without her memory, she can’t even rule it out herself. I know this trope is also pretty common, but Lucy’s sarcastic and witty persona was SO fun and refreshing that it didn’t matter.
🎧 THE PERFECT AUDIOBOOK
The narrative is sprinkled with episode excerpts of the Listen for the Lie Podcast with Ben Owens, which he’s recording in real time as Lucy returns to town. The audiobook is produced in a way where the podcast feels so real! Music intros, full cast — it’s SO great! I definitely recommend that format!
🤌🏼 CHEF’S KISS PACING
This book FLIES by with short chapters and tons of activity (you’re never bored, promise). Even though there are a lot of characters, I never felt lost or confused.
LISTEN FOR THE LIE by Amy Tintera totally lived up to the hype for me! I really enjoyed this thriller! I love a good unreliable narrator and this book features a main character with amnesia. She returns to her hometown where she’s suspected of killing her friend and agrees to be interviewed on a true crime podcast about the case. I loved the podcast aspect which is featured in the writing. I listened to the audiobook and the two narrators were perfect for the two POVs. The narrators January LaVoy and Will Damron were excellent. It was so interesting to uncover the past and find out if she did or didn’t do it. This thriller is perfect for fans of None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell and The Night Swim and Dark Corners by Megan Goldin.
This was a wild ride! I binged this in one day and didn't see the ending coming. The sarcastic main character and the merging timelines set this one up to be compulsive from the get go. Excellent pick for a weekend read or to take to the beach this summer!
This seemed like the overly hyped book of the year so far, so I went in with higher hopes than I should have.
One disclaimer: for people boasting about this being a podcast centered story, we got maybe 10 whole minutes of the actual podcast in the entire book. I thought it would be longer than that. They were so brief I wondered why it was an element at all.
But anywho. This was definitely a book with a character you loved to hate and hated to love. She was funny and her inner monologue was great.
I want to say so many characters were thrown at you at once that I got a tad confused. The ending was very underwhelming, but I had a great time reading it so I bumped up a star.
Wow, that was such a "page turner" I'm not sure what the equivalent term is for when you're listening to the audiobook. It's a fast-paced mystery with a podcast element that fits perfectly. I like how the narrators had distinct voices for all the characters especially when there are so many different characters. I couldn't stop listening and finished it the same day. The way we are just pulled into the story of Lucy and her best friend Savvy's death mystery was a perfect choice. We are uncovering the mystery at the same time as everyone else. Once I finished the book I had to return to some parts after I had more context. I'm not a fan of the romance pieces but overall a great read.
This book was a fun myster read. Short chapters left you wanting more and keep reading. Loved the style and alternating pov. Great fast read. Loved the audio.
I'm so glad I listened to this in audio format. I'm struggling with thrillers lately and January LaVoy and her IRL husband, Will Damron did a FABULOUS job of narrating the many characters in this book. It is the primary reason I kept listening. January LaVoy is one of my favorite narrators and I will pretty much listen to any book she does.
I liked that this book didn't necessarily follow a specific formula that we've seen in the past? I liked the small two Texas vibe and unlikable characters. Lucy's grandmother was my favorite character. Where I struggled with the book a little was consistency with regard to Lucy's character. The first half of the book sets a very distinct tone in that Lucy does not GAF about anything or anyone, but by the end of the book that really isn't true and there wasn't much of an explanation. Also, the scene with Lucy, Ben and the knife did not fit either and was kind of strange in terms of what the author was trying to do. Is Lucy a terrible person or isn't she? She can't be both.
Also, the voice that Lucy hears, that wasn't explained very well either once you find out what it was. Why could she hear that voice and I've talked this over with other readers who felt it was PTSD, but I think that could have been explained a little.
Overall, this was a decent thriller, but my enjoyment from it mostly came from listening to the narrators read the book. If I had read the book in print, I wouldn't have liked it as much.
Five years ago, Lucy’s best friend Savvy was murdered, and everyone thinks that Lucy was the perpetrator. Lucy claims that she can’t remember the night in question but her small hometown community does not believe her.
Ben hosts a podcast titled “Listen for the Lie” and he is determined to find answers. He didn’t expect Lucy to return to the small town to support his search for the truth.
I LOVED this whole book, especially as an audiobook. The writing style was interesting and I loved the element of podcast episodes. It kept me intrigued and interested from start to finish. The narrators incorporated music and production elements that I’ve never heard in an audiobook before and I was all for it! If you are searching for a good thriller, I’d 100% recommend this one. 5/5 ⭐️
𝘈 𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘴𝘰 𝘐'𝘮 𝘣𝘶𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘯.
Lucy Chase returns to her small hometown in Texas after five years in LA. She left Plumpton under a cloud of suspicion after her best friend, Savvy Harper, was murdered and Lucy was found wandering disheveled and dazed, covered with Savvy's blood, but with no memory of the previous night's events. Now, Ben Owens has chosen to spotlight Savvy Harper's murder in the second season of his popular podcast "LISTEN FOR THE LIE." Interest in the events of that night has been renewed, the people of Plumpton are eager to be interviewed for their "two cents worth," and Lucy's grandma has tricked her into returning home so that she can tell her side of the story. Episodes of the podcast are broadcast "in real time" during Lucy's visit, and even Lucy doesn't know what Ben's investigation will uncover.
𝘐'𝘮 𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘥. 𝘊𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘪𝘵.
I thoroughly enjoyed this whodunit. Most of the town has taken sides, "Savvy's side." Even Lucy's parents are acting weird around her. Is there anybody who doesn't think Lucy did it? Lucy, for her part, is so sarcastic, ironic, and surprisingly resilient. I loved her so much. I really wanted her to get it on with the handsome podcaster who "looked like a Marvel hero" and had a constantly smug smile on his face. I really wanted him to find out she didn't kill Savvy. But people can be stubborn, and judgmental, and biased. It makes it hard to get to the truth. Does the truth even matter?
𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦. 𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭.
This book was so much fun. The audiobook version was expertly narrated and dramatized. It will keep you guessing until the very end.
This ALC is gratefully received, listened, and reviewed for NetGalley and the publisher.