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Listen for the Lie
What if you thought you murdered your best friend? And if everyone else thought so too? And what if the truth doesn't matter?
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.
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.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 5, 2024
About the author
Amy Tintera
11 books4,331 followersAmy Tintera started writing novels as a kid during her middle school science classes, which probably explains why she has always been very bad at science. She is now the author of several novels for young adults, including Reboot, a Kids Indie Next pick and YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, the Ruined series, The Q, and All These Monsters, a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection. Her novels have been translated into 16 languages and sold into more than 20 territories.
She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas A&M and a master’s degree in media arts/screenwriting from Emerson College. She worked as a talent agency assistant in Hollywood before becoming an author. Raised in Austin, Texas, she frequently sets her novels in the Lone Star state, but she now lives in Los Angeles, where there's far less humidity, but not nearly enough Tex-Mex.
Her first novel for adults, Listen for the Lie, will be published March 5, 2024 by Celadon/Macmillan.
She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas A&M and a master’s degree in media arts/screenwriting from Emerson College. She worked as a talent agency assistant in Hollywood before becoming an author. Raised in Austin, Texas, she frequently sets her novels in the Lone Star state, but she now lives in Los Angeles, where there's far less humidity, but not nearly enough Tex-Mex.
Her first novel for adults, Listen for the Lie, will be published March 5, 2024 by Celadon/Macmillan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 15,648 reviews
March 17, 2024
Oh yes I do enjoy a humorous thriller, thank you very much!
When it comes to this genre, it often feels like it's a race to see who's got the darkest, grittiest, most nail-biting, anxiety-inducing story. And that's all good and fine. But I don't always want dark, darker, darkest. Sometimes, I just want a bit of fun, and Listen for the Lie is exactly that.
From the very first page, this was unputdownable. The format of alternating between Lucy and the podcast and having each chapter be nice and short kept me turning the pages, wanting to read just one more page. The podcast transcripts were surprisingly engaging, with every character dishing on every other character and stirring up small-town drama.
I was worried this would turn out to be another one of those dreaded unreliable narrator situations, where the main female character drinks to excess and indulges in woe-is-me pity parties. But thankfully it wasn't. Instead, Lucy's voice is so fresh and wickedly honest. She's often sarcastic and funny, and it sets the tone for an extremely entertaining read.
As for the actual mystery itself, my feelings are a bit mixed. On the one hand, this story certainly doesn't scrimp on the twists and turns just because it's humorous. We are directed one way, then another. You never know what's going to happen next, and that's always great fun. I suspect there are enough surprises here to satisfy even the most seasoned of thriller junkies.
But on the other hand, calling this a "world-class whodunit" (I'm looking at you, Stephen King) is taking it a step too far. As is typical of modern thrillers, there aren't really clues. You find out each twist as the book reveals it to you, often via the podcast interviews. Apparently—and I must try this in real life—you just need to badger people with enough questions and they'll tell you all their secrets. And eventually, Lucy remembers the whole thing and that's the denouement. It did feel a bit anticlimactic after all that buildup.
Small quibble aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this. It's always a great delight to find a book that keeps you up past your bedtime and even though you know you're going to pay for it the next day, you just don't care.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
When it comes to this genre, it often feels like it's a race to see who's got the darkest, grittiest, most nail-biting, anxiety-inducing story. And that's all good and fine. But I don't always want dark, darker, darkest. Sometimes, I just want a bit of fun, and Listen for the Lie is exactly that.
From the very first page, this was unputdownable. The format of alternating between Lucy and the podcast and having each chapter be nice and short kept me turning the pages, wanting to read just one more page. The podcast transcripts were surprisingly engaging, with every character dishing on every other character and stirring up small-town drama.
I was worried this would turn out to be another one of those dreaded unreliable narrator situations, where the main female character drinks to excess and indulges in woe-is-me pity parties. But thankfully it wasn't. Instead, Lucy's voice is so fresh and wickedly honest. She's often sarcastic and funny, and it sets the tone for an extremely entertaining read.
As for the actual mystery itself, my feelings are a bit mixed. On the one hand, this story certainly doesn't scrimp on the twists and turns just because it's humorous. We are directed one way, then another. You never know what's going to happen next, and that's always great fun. I suspect there are enough surprises here to satisfy even the most seasoned of thriller junkies.
But on the other hand, calling this a "world-class whodunit" (I'm looking at you, Stephen King) is taking it a step too far. As is typical of modern thrillers, there aren't really clues. You find out each twist as the book reveals it to you, often via the podcast interviews. Apparently—and I must try this in real life—you just need to badger people with enough questions and they'll tell you all their secrets. And eventually, Lucy remembers the whole thing and that's the denouement. It did feel a bit anticlimactic after all that buildup.
Small quibble aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this. It's always a great delight to find a book that keeps you up past your bedtime and even though you know you're going to pay for it the next day, you just don't care.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
March 29, 2024
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2.5 Stars
Another disappointing thriller with 4+ star rating and I am an outlier once again. I don't agree with the rave reviews for this one either, but I can understand the hype...The chapters were short and punchy making them easy to read and the pages did turn quickly. It just didn't work for me personally for a couple of reasons.
That stupid voice inside the main character, Lucy's head became annoying and repetitive. I know some found it funny but to me it was just dumb. Police didn't check the blood on Lucy, was it splattered there? Is it dripped? Was it because she was holding her friend? Forensics nowadays can figure this out easily. I think Lucy and the police quit too soon, which was unrealistic. It was like Lucy didn't care about the murder of her best friend and that isn't true because throughout the book she makes it clear it is important to her.
Lucy comes off as snarky and downright rude. I didn't find it humorous at all as some have. It grated on my nerves. She is accused by many of being a murderer and she doesn't remember anything so it is quite possible she is a murderer. She uses sarcasm to deal with it instead of trying to find out the truth and I am so over the amnesia trope, it's been done to death.
When Lucy decides to go home for her grandmother's birthday she gets roped into agreeing to do a podcast about the murder and ends up sleeping with the guy, not to mention making out with two others. Why do authors insist on putting sex in thrillers, or making women into sluts? It wasn't necessary here, Lucy and Ben could have just done the podcast and been done with it. I was willing to look past the snark trying to be funny but the gratuitous sex in a murder mystery ruined it for me.
This was absolutely a fast-paced thriller and I liked the way the podcast sections were done but the ending fell flat and the book had me shaking my head too many times. I just don't get it.
2.5 Stars
Another disappointing thriller with 4+ star rating and I am an outlier once again. I don't agree with the rave reviews for this one either, but I can understand the hype...The chapters were short and punchy making them easy to read and the pages did turn quickly. It just didn't work for me personally for a couple of reasons.
That stupid voice inside the main character, Lucy's head became annoying and repetitive. I know some found it funny but to me it was just dumb. Police didn't check the blood on Lucy, was it splattered there? Is it dripped? Was it because she was holding her friend? Forensics nowadays can figure this out easily. I think Lucy and the police quit too soon, which was unrealistic. It was like Lucy didn't care about the murder of her best friend and that isn't true because throughout the book she makes it clear it is important to her.
Lucy comes off as snarky and downright rude. I didn't find it humorous at all as some have. It grated on my nerves. She is accused by many of being a murderer and she doesn't remember anything so it is quite possible she is a murderer. She uses sarcasm to deal with it instead of trying to find out the truth and I am so over the amnesia trope, it's been done to death.
When Lucy decides to go home for her grandmother's birthday she gets roped into agreeing to do a podcast about the murder and ends up sleeping with the guy, not to mention making out with two others. Why do authors insist on putting sex in thrillers, or making women into sluts? It wasn't necessary here, Lucy and Ben could have just done the podcast and been done with it. I was willing to look past the snark trying to be funny but the gratuitous sex in a murder mystery ruined it for me.
This was absolutely a fast-paced thriller and I liked the way the podcast sections were done but the ending fell flat and the book had me shaking my head too many times. I just don't get it.
June 19, 2024
My hands and eyes were glued to the pages as this brilliant, twisty dark comedy-meets-murder mystery captured my entire nerdy gray cells from the very beginning. Lucy Chase, a blunt, smart, and straightforward anti-heroine, is a complex character that you can't help but root for, even though there's a chance she may be a cold-blooded friend murderer.
The plot revolves around Lucy Chase, a widow and presumed killer who got away with the murder of her best friend, Savannah, the town's sweetest girl. Starting over in LA to build a new life, Lucy finds herself stuck in a meaningless job and a boring relationship with Nathan, who lacks the courage to end things with her. Her only solace is publishing romances under a pen name, but it's not enough to escape the traumatic effects of a brutal incident that occurred five years ago. The same incident took Savannah's life and left Lucy with brain trauma, resulting in temporary amnesia and blackouts.
Enter Ben Owens, a smug and good-looking podcaster who starts delving into the murder mystery of Savannah, stirring up a storm that threatens to unravel the new life Lucy has painstakingly built. Her lovely grandmother, the only person who believes in her innocence, invites Lucy to her birthday party, further tempting her to return to her hometown of Plumpton, Texas, where the townies have already labeled her a killer, including her self-righteous, difficult parents. Ben Owens' arrival in town at the same time to interview anyone who thinks she's guilty adds fuel to the fire. But Lucy already has enough on her plate, with voices in her head screaming "Kill!" and the ghost she keeps seeing everywhere. Her increasing ability to visualize creative ways to kill those who anger her becomes another side effect that hinders her pursuit of a happy life.
Despite the risks, Lucy decides to face the truth and confront the smug podcaster by returning to her hometown, even if it means potentially ending up behind bars. Is Savannah truly the sweetest girl in town, as everyone claims, or does she also harbor dangerous secrets? What if the entire town is hiding skeletons in their closets, secrets that may be worse than Lucy's actions? And the most crucial question of all: Did Lucy really kill her friend, or is she another victim unjustly crucified by everyone?
The smart, sarcastic tone, perfect characterization of the heroine, and portrayal of flawed, biased townies, combined with the riveting pacing and a twisty, dark, yet fair conclusion, made me adore this book. It deserves a well-deserved five stars, and I would even add an additional star for Grandma Beverly, the wittiest, most colorful, and adorable character in the book. I wished to be adopted by her!
This is undeniably one of the best novels I have wholeheartedly enjoyed, and I highly recommend it to anyone addicted to great dark comedy and riveting thrillers. I eagerly look forward to reading more works by Amy Tintera!
I extend my sincere thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The plot revolves around Lucy Chase, a widow and presumed killer who got away with the murder of her best friend, Savannah, the town's sweetest girl. Starting over in LA to build a new life, Lucy finds herself stuck in a meaningless job and a boring relationship with Nathan, who lacks the courage to end things with her. Her only solace is publishing romances under a pen name, but it's not enough to escape the traumatic effects of a brutal incident that occurred five years ago. The same incident took Savannah's life and left Lucy with brain trauma, resulting in temporary amnesia and blackouts.
Enter Ben Owens, a smug and good-looking podcaster who starts delving into the murder mystery of Savannah, stirring up a storm that threatens to unravel the new life Lucy has painstakingly built. Her lovely grandmother, the only person who believes in her innocence, invites Lucy to her birthday party, further tempting her to return to her hometown of Plumpton, Texas, where the townies have already labeled her a killer, including her self-righteous, difficult parents. Ben Owens' arrival in town at the same time to interview anyone who thinks she's guilty adds fuel to the fire. But Lucy already has enough on her plate, with voices in her head screaming "Kill!" and the ghost she keeps seeing everywhere. Her increasing ability to visualize creative ways to kill those who anger her becomes another side effect that hinders her pursuit of a happy life.
Despite the risks, Lucy decides to face the truth and confront the smug podcaster by returning to her hometown, even if it means potentially ending up behind bars. Is Savannah truly the sweetest girl in town, as everyone claims, or does she also harbor dangerous secrets? What if the entire town is hiding skeletons in their closets, secrets that may be worse than Lucy's actions? And the most crucial question of all: Did Lucy really kill her friend, or is she another victim unjustly crucified by everyone?
The smart, sarcastic tone, perfect characterization of the heroine, and portrayal of flawed, biased townies, combined with the riveting pacing and a twisty, dark, yet fair conclusion, made me adore this book. It deserves a well-deserved five stars, and I would even add an additional star for Grandma Beverly, the wittiest, most colorful, and adorable character in the book. I wished to be adopted by her!
This is undeniably one of the best novels I have wholeheartedly enjoyed, and I highly recommend it to anyone addicted to great dark comedy and riveting thrillers. I eagerly look forward to reading more works by Amy Tintera!
I extend my sincere thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
June 20, 2024
Tintera's novel is a thrilling mystery introducing the world of con artists and hidden identities.
I loved this book because Tintera excels at creating a narrative that keeps you guessing. The storyline is so carefully woven, twisting and turning that you never truly know to expect.
The audiobook ("Listen For The Lie" Audiobook) hooked me from start to finish. The narrative, filled with apprehension and intrigue, begged me to join Lucy in the struggle for answers. Tintera's storytelling is engaging and her characters are developed enough to make this an unmissable audiobook for any fan of YA thrillers.
If you appreciate suspense and a good mystery with a strong heroine and a story with surprises around every corner, this audiobook choice is the best for you.
I loved this book because Tintera excels at creating a narrative that keeps you guessing. The storyline is so carefully woven, twisting and turning that you never truly know to expect.
The audiobook ("Listen For The Lie" Audiobook) hooked me from start to finish. The narrative, filled with apprehension and intrigue, begged me to join Lucy in the struggle for answers. Tintera's storytelling is engaging and her characters are developed enough to make this an unmissable audiobook for any fan of YA thrillers.
If you appreciate suspense and a good mystery with a strong heroine and a story with surprises around every corner, this audiobook choice is the best for you.
March 5, 2024
Eek! Did I just cheer out loud?!
Five years ago, Lucy Chase was found staggering along a highway with a welt on her forehead, make-up running down her face, and her best friend’s blood all over her dress.
So, how did she go from “fellow victim” to the only suspect in Savannah’s murder?
Lucy claims that she cannot remember what happened that night, but everyone in the small town of Plumpton, TX thinks that she is lying ( including her own parents) despite the fact that there isn’t enough evidence to convict her.
And, that has convinced her that maybe it’s true, and she did kill her.
Once sufficiently recovered from her physical injuries, she moved to Los Angeles and she now writes romance books under a pseudonym, because “nobody would want to read them if they knew she was a suspected killer.” L.A. seems like the perfect place to be anonymous for a girl who continually makes poor decisions, and keeps hearing her friend Savvy’s voice in her head saying “LET’S KILL”!
But, you can’t hide forever.
Ben Owens has just decided to make Lucy Chase the subject of the second season of his popular podcast, “LISTEN FOR THE LIE” .
So when Lucy’s (scene stealing) grandmother Beverly calls insisting that she come home for her 80th birthday celebration, she can’t say no-especially her beloved Grandma is the only one who ever believed in her innocence. It doesn’t hurt that the announcement of the Podcast just cost her, her “day job” and her “boyfriend” who suggested that she not return after her visit to Texas. She may as well return home to see what the podcaster digs up.
But, “What If The Truth Doesn’t Matter?”
The story unfolds mainly from the the first person POV of Lucy and she is a hot mess! But, IF you appreciate SARCASM, SNARK, and DARK HUMOR like I do, you will LOVE her! I laughed out loud several times, and that rarely happens when I read a book.
Her chapters occasionally alternate with the “Podcast interviews” so the residents of Plumpton can “shed light” on the crime “as they know it”. And, in this book, the podcast chapters work well and are an integral part of the narrative.
The pace is FAST, with never a dull moment, as tempers flare and hormones rage-yes, the men and women of this town love secrets, sparring and sex in equal measure!
SO MUCH FUN!
And, what had me cheering out loud at 95%? (No peeking!)🫣 Just one of my favorite scenes EVER in a mystery/suspense book! Can you guess which scene it was?
AVAILABLE now!!
Thank You to the Publisher and NetGalley for the gifted copy. It was my pleasure to share a candid review!
Five years ago, Lucy Chase was found staggering along a highway with a welt on her forehead, make-up running down her face, and her best friend’s blood all over her dress.
So, how did she go from “fellow victim” to the only suspect in Savannah’s murder?
Lucy claims that she cannot remember what happened that night, but everyone in the small town of Plumpton, TX thinks that she is lying ( including her own parents) despite the fact that there isn’t enough evidence to convict her.
And, that has convinced her that maybe it’s true, and she did kill her.
Once sufficiently recovered from her physical injuries, she moved to Los Angeles and she now writes romance books under a pseudonym, because “nobody would want to read them if they knew she was a suspected killer.” L.A. seems like the perfect place to be anonymous for a girl who continually makes poor decisions, and keeps hearing her friend Savvy’s voice in her head saying “LET’S KILL”!
But, you can’t hide forever.
Ben Owens has just decided to make Lucy Chase the subject of the second season of his popular podcast, “LISTEN FOR THE LIE” .
So when Lucy’s (scene stealing) grandmother Beverly calls insisting that she come home for her 80th birthday celebration, she can’t say no-especially her beloved Grandma is the only one who ever believed in her innocence. It doesn’t hurt that the announcement of the Podcast just cost her, her “day job” and her “boyfriend” who suggested that she not return after her visit to Texas. She may as well return home to see what the podcaster digs up.
But, “What If The Truth Doesn’t Matter?”
The story unfolds mainly from the the first person POV of Lucy and she is a hot mess! But, IF you appreciate SARCASM, SNARK, and DARK HUMOR like I do, you will LOVE her! I laughed out loud several times, and that rarely happens when I read a book.
Her chapters occasionally alternate with the “Podcast interviews” so the residents of Plumpton can “shed light” on the crime “as they know it”. And, in this book, the podcast chapters work well and are an integral part of the narrative.
The pace is FAST, with never a dull moment, as tempers flare and hormones rage-yes, the men and women of this town love secrets, sparring and sex in equal measure!
SO MUCH FUN!
And, what had me cheering out loud at 95%? (No peeking!)🫣 Just one of my favorite scenes EVER in a mystery/suspense book! Can you guess which scene it was?
AVAILABLE now!!
Thank You to the Publisher and NetGalley for the gifted copy. It was my pleasure to share a candid review!
March 24, 2024
4 or 4.5 I’m still deciding. I really enjoyed my time with this one! Loved the podcast thing, the short chapters and the sarcastic as hell MC. A few minor details annoyed me a bit but overall this was a goood time!
May 2, 2024
I get why Listen for the Lie is so popular. It's very readable, goes down quickly and smoothly, and the narrator is charismatic, snarky and funny. The problem is that it's a beige, predictable mystery.
Lucy's narrative voice is the only thing carrying the book forward during some of the bland stretches. I liked her a lot. I also liked her hilarious grandma. I came into this book expecting thrills, which I didn't get, and not expecting any laughs, which I did. Lucy's snarky commentary is genuinely very funny if you vibe with her kind of humour, which I absolutely do.
The mystery is just... not that much of a mystery. For one thing, this is a cold case. Lucy's best friend Savvy was killed years ago and Lucy, found covered in Savvy's blood, was believed to have done it. However, Lucy remembers almost nothing from that night and there was never enough evidence to convict. Now, years later, Ben Owens of the "Listen for the Lie" podcast is determined to solve the case.
Throughout, I felt like the stakes were low. There was no real urgency, no one missing, no serial killer on the loose... I feared for no one. And, though she claimed otherwise, I never got a sense that Lucy cared that much what happened either. It was hard to become concerned whodunnit. Also,
Another thing that just added to the whole feeling that no one was taking this murder mystery seriously was the romance. I didn't love it, didn't feel it was necessary or particularly exciting.
Looking back over this review, it actually seems too negative for a three star rating, but I would like to stress that it was a very quick read with lots of fun moments. I enjoyed the podcast interview format and really liked Lucy as a narrator. There were just a number of things that kept me from rating it higher.
Lucy's narrative voice is the only thing carrying the book forward during some of the bland stretches. I liked her a lot. I also liked her hilarious grandma. I came into this book expecting thrills, which I didn't get, and not expecting any laughs, which I did. Lucy's snarky commentary is genuinely very funny if you vibe with her kind of humour, which I absolutely do.
The mystery is just... not that much of a mystery. For one thing, this is a cold case. Lucy's best friend Savvy was killed years ago and Lucy, found covered in Savvy's blood, was believed to have done it. However, Lucy remembers almost nothing from that night and there was never enough evidence to convict. Now, years later, Ben Owens of the "Listen for the Lie" podcast is determined to solve the case.
Throughout, I felt like the stakes were low. There was no real urgency, no one missing, no serial killer on the loose... I feared for no one. And, though she claimed otherwise, I never got a sense that Lucy cared that much what happened either. It was hard to become concerned whodunnit. Also,
Another thing that just added to the whole feeling that no one was taking this murder mystery seriously was the romance. I didn't love it, didn't feel it was necessary or particularly exciting.
Looking back over this review, it actually seems too negative for a three star rating, but I would like to stress that it was a very quick read with lots of fun moments. I enjoyed the podcast interview format and really liked Lucy as a narrator. There were just a number of things that kept me from rating it higher.
January 21, 2024
Outlier Island … here I come.
Lucy has returned to her hometown of Plumpton, TX with the shadow of the past lingering over her. Everyone, including her own parents, thinks she killed her best friend Savvy years ago, but there’s never been enough evidence to charge her, and she has no memories of what happened. Now true crime podcaster Ben Owens is in town to try to set the record straight.
As Ben interviews people in town and more details emerge, a fuller, more messy picture begins to take shape. Who’s telling the truth?
Well, if you take Lucy’s word for it: The truth doesn’t matter.
I wanted to love this, and I was absolutely sure I would before I headed into it. A snarky MC? Yes, please! A murder mystery? Always! Secrets and lies? Sign me up!
So why didn’t this click for me?
Characterization: To my utter surprise … I guess I don’t know myself as well as I thought … Lucy was TOO sarcastic and snarky for my taste, to the point of being mildly obnoxious, though it did tame somewhat over the course of the book. Unfortunately, other characters also shared that trait, so there wasn’t much of a break from it.
Repetition: The word “smug” is used 32 times. Please use a different word. Same thing for the variations on sweat trickling down Lucy’s back. I get it. She’s sweaty. Move on.
Plot Device: I’m pretty sure at this point that I dislike the amnesia trope. The three mysteries I’ve read that come to mind that use it got 2 or 3 stars from me. I think it’s overused and a bit tired as a trope.
Pacing: There’s just not a lot going on in this book besides Ben’s interviews with people and Lucy wandering around trying to regain her memories. I take that back … there’s TONS of gaslighting and infidelity if you enjoy that in your stories! There were interesting parts that kept me engaged, but not enough to get me excited about flipping pages.
All that said, there were some bright spots. I liked the story well enough - I just didn't LOVE it like I wanted to! Amy Tintera is a talented writer and with a different story, I’d probably enjoy it more. Her characters are at least interesting, even if THESE particular characters weren’t my favorite. For a debut, I think it shows promise for the future, and I’d definitely try her again!
Another bright spot was the audio. I listened to this while reading along on my Kindle, and January Lavoy and Will Damron did an excellent job with the narration on a large range of characters and personalities. I’d recommend the audio for this one!
Definitely check out other reviews before deciding on this. So many others are raving about it! If you enjoy the amnesia trope, podcasting and a slow burn mystery, this may work better for you. I think this time around my own hype let me down.
★★★
Thanks to Celadon Books, NetGalley and author Amy Tintera for the digital ARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC to honestly review. This will be published on March 5, 2024.
Lucy has returned to her hometown of Plumpton, TX with the shadow of the past lingering over her. Everyone, including her own parents, thinks she killed her best friend Savvy years ago, but there’s never been enough evidence to charge her, and she has no memories of what happened. Now true crime podcaster Ben Owens is in town to try to set the record straight.
As Ben interviews people in town and more details emerge, a fuller, more messy picture begins to take shape. Who’s telling the truth?
Well, if you take Lucy’s word for it: The truth doesn’t matter.
I wanted to love this, and I was absolutely sure I would before I headed into it. A snarky MC? Yes, please! A murder mystery? Always! Secrets and lies? Sign me up!
So why didn’t this click for me?
Characterization: To my utter surprise … I guess I don’t know myself as well as I thought … Lucy was TOO sarcastic and snarky for my taste, to the point of being mildly obnoxious, though it did tame somewhat over the course of the book. Unfortunately, other characters also shared that trait, so there wasn’t much of a break from it.
Repetition: The word “smug” is used 32 times. Please use a different word. Same thing for the variations on sweat trickling down Lucy’s back. I get it. She’s sweaty. Move on.
Plot Device: I’m pretty sure at this point that I dislike the amnesia trope. The three mysteries I’ve read that come to mind that use it got 2 or 3 stars from me. I think it’s overused and a bit tired as a trope.
Pacing: There’s just not a lot going on in this book besides Ben’s interviews with people and Lucy wandering around trying to regain her memories. I take that back … there’s TONS of gaslighting and infidelity if you enjoy that in your stories! There were interesting parts that kept me engaged, but not enough to get me excited about flipping pages.
All that said, there were some bright spots. I liked the story well enough - I just didn't LOVE it like I wanted to! Amy Tintera is a talented writer and with a different story, I’d probably enjoy it more. Her characters are at least interesting, even if THESE particular characters weren’t my favorite. For a debut, I think it shows promise for the future, and I’d definitely try her again!
Another bright spot was the audio. I listened to this while reading along on my Kindle, and January Lavoy and Will Damron did an excellent job with the narration on a large range of characters and personalities. I’d recommend the audio for this one!
Definitely check out other reviews before deciding on this. So many others are raving about it! If you enjoy the amnesia trope, podcasting and a slow burn mystery, this may work better for you. I think this time around my own hype let me down.
★★★
Thanks to Celadon Books, NetGalley and author Amy Tintera for the digital ARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC to honestly review. This will be published on March 5, 2024.
April 3, 2024
Fast paced, easy to read, loved the mixed medias format. Left me with questions but in a thought provoking way - cannot wait to talk about this one in book club.
April 11, 2024
I devoured this. The plot is compelling, the writing is crisp, and the heroine is messed up in the very best ways. (I think my fondness for messed-up heroines is pretty clear.) I loved the true-crime podcast aspect and the dry humor. Highly recommended!
March 22, 2024
When I saw this book on Goodreads I felt something fluttering inside. That delicious anticipation combined with hope. Finding good psychological thrillers is like looking for a gold stone amongst lots of grey ones. I’m happy to say I found that stone, and I will put it on a shelf to remind myself of this one when I felt disappointed from future thrillers. Nothing will top this for a while.
At first I felt unsure about the podcast angle, but it only added to the plot, and didn’t get in the way from what was going on in the now. It took some time to get used to the snarky main character, but I liked her exponentially more as the story progressed. Being like that despite her trauma was impressive. The pace really picked up the last chapters, without the need for any twist really. You just wanted to know how it would pan out. What really made this stand out for me though, was that I felt something while reading. It started with some sympathy here and there, but as more was revealed I really struggled not to cry.
Such a satisfying read that will stay with me for a long time.
At first I felt unsure about the podcast angle, but it only added to the plot, and didn’t get in the way from what was going on in the now. It took some time to get used to the snarky main character, but I liked her exponentially more as the story progressed. Being like that despite her trauma was impressive. The pace really picked up the last chapters, without the need for any twist really. You just wanted to know how it would pan out. What really made this stand out for me though, was that I felt something while reading. It started with some sympathy here and there, but as more was revealed I really struggled not to cry.
Such a satisfying read that will stay with me for a long time.
February 17, 2024
I enjoyed this one! I liked the writing style and the idea of the podcasts incorporated into the story. This one kept me flipping the pages because I couldn't figure out just what really happened.
Five years ago there was a murder in the small town of Plumpton, Texas. Lucy Chase has never been charged for her best friend, Savannah's (Savvy's) murder. But she was there and later found covered in her blood. The only thing is she can't remember a single thing! Five years later she's moved to L.A. to get away from all the accusations but has come home for the week to attend her Grandmother's 80th Birthday Party. Also podcaster, Ben Owens comes to town and features Lucy and the murder for his new podcast. Together can they figure out just what happened on that fateful night 5 years ago?
This one kept me invested. There are a lot of shady people in town and I did not particularly like Lucy's parents. Lucy's Grandmother was refreshingly different and added some fun into this otherwise dark story.
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Celadon Books for granting me access to this Advanced Reader Copy.
Available March 5, 2024
Five years ago there was a murder in the small town of Plumpton, Texas. Lucy Chase has never been charged for her best friend, Savannah's (Savvy's) murder. But she was there and later found covered in her blood. The only thing is she can't remember a single thing! Five years later she's moved to L.A. to get away from all the accusations but has come home for the week to attend her Grandmother's 80th Birthday Party. Also podcaster, Ben Owens comes to town and features Lucy and the murder for his new podcast. Together can they figure out just what happened on that fateful night 5 years ago?
This one kept me invested. There are a lot of shady people in town and I did not particularly like Lucy's parents. Lucy's Grandmother was refreshingly different and added some fun into this otherwise dark story.
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Celadon Books for granting me access to this Advanced Reader Copy.
Available March 5, 2024
January 12, 2024
Thank you Celadon Books for my gifted copy. IYKYK my reviews are always honest.
writing: short n snappy with it | plot: fun | ending: OKKURRTT???
my opinion
I've been off the thriller train for awhile but this made me contemplate getting back on. I love an amnesia trope and while this was more selective amnesia, it was still an enjoyable ride. When done correctly, it's "fun" to see the MC put all the pieces together and realize the hoe(s) in their life are fraudulent. I felt this was well executed and NOT predictable (again, I've been out of the game so take that with a grain of salt). Despite making 6 predictions about the twist, I was completely wrong. In fact, none of my guesses even mentioned the name of the baddie. YES I'M AN IMBECILE IT IS WHAT IT IS!!!
This book is very bingeable. No heavy-handed writing and long ass chapters. It's one of those "just ONE more chapter" books. Perfect weekend read.
Big kudos to Amy Tintera for writing a comedic mystery that was comedic throughout. Oftentimes these type of books will be a straight up comedy show in the first half and the jokes will peter out through the second half. Not the case here. Lucy's dry wit and sarcasm stays even-keeled throughout. Her voice and personality are also consistent. Yes, this seems like the bare minimum, but trust me, it's not. I've read thrillers with alcoholic characters who suddenly recover and drink wine without a blink of an eye and their alcoholism is never mentioned again.
Some readers may be annoyed by Lucy but I think she's a relatable character if you've ever felt misunderstood. This book does a great job exploring appearances vs. reality, what makes a "good" victim, and how flexible the "truth" is. It also provides great insights into the ethics and influence of true crime podcasts, begging the question why tf do we accept the ramblings of a man with a mic as fact? I'm not a fan of the true crime podcast trope, but I liked that this book showed the other side of things instead of forcing us to follow around Mr. Mic Man who thinks he's a CIA undercover agent.
I hope Tintera will continue to publish adult books. I'll definitely read her next one.
pros & cons
pros: very bingeable, liked the short and sweet writing style and chapters, Lucy's (FMC) character and humour stays consistent throughout, well-executed amnesia-ish trope, solid exploration of themes
cons: iffy moments with her first husband, final showdown was a bit ??? lol
____
Check out my YouTube and my TikTok
writing: short n snappy with it | plot: fun | ending: OKKURRTT???
my opinion
I've been off the thriller train for awhile but this made me contemplate getting back on. I love an amnesia trope and while this was more selective amnesia, it was still an enjoyable ride. When done correctly, it's "fun" to see the MC put all the pieces together and realize the hoe(s) in their life are fraudulent. I felt this was well executed and NOT predictable (again, I've been out of the game so take that with a grain of salt). Despite making 6 predictions about the twist, I was completely wrong. In fact, none of my guesses even mentioned the name of the baddie. YES I'M AN IMBECILE IT IS WHAT IT IS!!!
This book is very bingeable. No heavy-handed writing and long ass chapters. It's one of those "just ONE more chapter" books. Perfect weekend read.
Big kudos to Amy Tintera for writing a comedic mystery that was comedic throughout. Oftentimes these type of books will be a straight up comedy show in the first half and the jokes will peter out through the second half. Not the case here. Lucy's dry wit and sarcasm stays even-keeled throughout. Her voice and personality are also consistent. Yes, this seems like the bare minimum, but trust me, it's not. I've read thrillers with alcoholic characters who suddenly recover and drink wine without a blink of an eye and their alcoholism is never mentioned again.
Some readers may be annoyed by Lucy but I think she's a relatable character if you've ever felt misunderstood. This book does a great job exploring appearances vs. reality, what makes a "good" victim, and how flexible the "truth" is. It also provides great insights into the ethics and influence of true crime podcasts, begging the question why tf do we accept the ramblings of a man with a mic as fact? I'm not a fan of the true crime podcast trope, but I liked that this book showed the other side of things instead of forcing us to follow around Mr. Mic Man who thinks he's a CIA undercover agent.
I hope Tintera will continue to publish adult books. I'll definitely read her next one.
pros & cons
pros: very bingeable, liked the short and sweet writing style and chapters, Lucy's (FMC) character and humour stays consistent throughout, well-executed amnesia-ish trope, solid exploration of themes
cons: iffy moments with her first husband, final showdown was a bit ??? lol
____
Check out my YouTube and my TikTok
March 11, 2024
Taking a hiatus from psychological thrillers was a necessity for two main reasons, for me. Firstly, the genre had become predictable, like a tired old song playing on repeat. Secondly, I grew weary of protagonists making implausibly ridiculous and foolish decisions solely to advance the plot.
However, Listen for the Lie defied both of these grievances. Sceptical but intrigued, I dove into the arc and emerged pleasantly surprised. Lucy Chase, our charmingly sarcastic protagonist and suspected murderess, had me chuckling from start to finish with her dark humour. And let's not forget her total legendary scene-stealer of a Grandma, a true gem in this twisted tale. Trust me, you'll want to meet her.
To avoid spoiling the experience, I'd recommend diving into this tale without too much prior knowledge. Suffice to say, it's a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers, dark humour, amnesia tropes, past/present timelines and seriously messed-up small towns with more skeletons in their closets than a graveyard. You might also encounter some timely and relevant themes.
My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Bantam for the advanced copy.
___
Broken the curse! RTC.
___
Breaking my self-imposed psychological thriller exile, thanks to all your intriguing reviews. Thanks to NetGalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Bantam for the advanced copy.
However, Listen for the Lie defied both of these grievances. Sceptical but intrigued, I dove into the arc and emerged pleasantly surprised. Lucy Chase, our charmingly sarcastic protagonist and suspected murderess, had me chuckling from start to finish with her dark humour. And let's not forget her total legendary scene-stealer of a Grandma, a true gem in this twisted tale. Trust me, you'll want to meet her.
To avoid spoiling the experience, I'd recommend diving into this tale without too much prior knowledge. Suffice to say, it's a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers, dark humour, amnesia tropes, past/present timelines and seriously messed-up small towns with more skeletons in their closets than a graveyard. You might also encounter some timely and relevant themes.
My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Bantam for the advanced copy.
___
Broken the curse! RTC.
___
Breaking my self-imposed psychological thriller exile, thanks to all your intriguing reviews. Thanks to NetGalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Bantam for the advanced copy.
March 5, 2024
Listen for the Lie centers on Lucy who can’t remember if she killed her best friend five years ago.
This is a highly digestible mystery where the author utilized short paragraphs and chapters, resulting in a quick read.
At the core of this novel, we need Lucy to remember what happened on the night of the incident, and one of my favorite mystery novels does rely on the main character remembering exactly what was said in the past (The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager). However, for most of Listen for the Lie, I didn’t feel that we were making progress, mainly interviews from people who knew next to nothing.
Also, I wanted to learn more about memory, think Anna O. and sleepwalking. Personally, if my best friend died, I wouldn’t try to remember for two days and give up. Lucy just kind of does nothing, a leaf in the wind, waiting for someone to determine her fate.
There is this voice in Lucy’s head, encouraging her to unalive people; however, it isn’t very entertaining and finally becomes rather annoying and tedious.
And, although it seems that everyone wants to get Lucy into her birthday suit, the steam wasn’t as good as author May Cobb.
Then, there is the ending. It was extremely confusing—I am not even sure what the author intended. But I think I figured out a solution……..
*SPOILER*
MEGA-SPOILER
*Thanks, Celadon, for a copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion.
How much I spent:
Softcover text – Free/Nada/Zilch provided by publisher
Connect With Me!
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This is a highly digestible mystery where the author utilized short paragraphs and chapters, resulting in a quick read.
At the core of this novel, we need Lucy to remember what happened on the night of the incident, and one of my favorite mystery novels does rely on the main character remembering exactly what was said in the past (The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager). However, for most of Listen for the Lie, I didn’t feel that we were making progress, mainly interviews from people who knew next to nothing.
Also, I wanted to learn more about memory, think Anna O. and sleepwalking. Personally, if my best friend died, I wouldn’t try to remember for two days and give up. Lucy just kind of does nothing, a leaf in the wind, waiting for someone to determine her fate.
There is this voice in Lucy’s head, encouraging her to unalive people; however, it isn’t very entertaining and finally becomes rather annoying and tedious.
And, although it seems that everyone wants to get Lucy into her birthday suit, the steam wasn’t as good as author May Cobb.
Then, there is the ending. It was extremely confusing—I am not even sure what the author intended. But I think I figured out a solution……..
*SPOILER*
MEGA-SPOILER
*Thanks, Celadon, for a copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion.
How much I spent:
Softcover text – Free/Nada/Zilch provided by publisher
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta
March 18, 2024
Five years ago, Lucy Chase left her small town of Plumpton, Texas under a cloud of suspicion. Following the murder of her best friend, Savvy Harper, what started as sympathy for Lucy quickly turned to suspicion and then certainty of guilt. After all, she’d initially been presumed to be a survivor of the brutal attack that had cost Savvy her life, despite being seen walking the streets the morning after covered in her best friend’s blood. But as new details came to light and no other suspects were found, it became obvious to everyone in Plumpton—Lucy killed Savvy.
Now drawn back to town by her grandmother on the eve of her eightieth birthday, Lucy must face not only her former friends and family, but an eager true crime podcaster as well. Ben Owens made a name for himself with his first series of Listen for the Lie and for his second highly anticipated case, he’s turning the microphone on Lucy. Not only is he and the rest of the country now primed for answers, but Lucy is as well. Given that she can’t recall anything that happened that fateful night, she’s always suspected the worst. Even if it meant she’d murdered Savvy herself.
As Ben starts to reveal dark secrets and deeply buried lies, Lucy is faced with a choice—either continue to hide from the truth or help unearth it herself. Is the small southern town actually covering up a multitude of sins? Or did her neighbors have it right five years ago when they pointed the blame squarely at her? One things for sure, by the time Ben is through, the truth will be out. Either Lucy will be relieved—or she’ll be locked up behind bars.
Oh. My. God. It is literally only February and I think I’ve just discovered my favorite book of 2024. No joke, Listen for the Lie had it all: superb characters, perfectly timed dialogue, and one heck of a dynamite plot. Needless to say, I was utterly blown away as I ripped through the pages. After all, it was the kind of book that I both couldn’t stop reading, but also didn’t want to finish.
Right from the start, I was head over heels for the characterization of Lucy. Brilliantly sarcastic and just a little off her rocker, her personality was an utter hole in one from the very first word. On top of her, however, I was over the moon with the dysfunctional family dynamic and deliciously dark humor. Quite frankly, they were some of the best personas that I’ve ever read as they all felt decidedly genuine but also delightfully twisted.
The plot was one I’ll certainly remember for quite awhile. A mix of Lucy’s perspective and Ben’s podcast transcripts, there were even a few memories from five years ago thrown into the mix. All together, it formed a propulsive storyline that didn’t let up, even as it had me breaking down into laughter more times than I could count. And as if that wasn’t enough, the fast pace, growing tension, and dark conclusion made me fall for this one hook, line, and sinker. In all honesty, I don’t know how anyone wouldn’t love this book.
By the time I flipped the last page of this psychological thriller, the short chapters, snarky quips, and precise plotting meant I was utterly done for. After all, with its IV drip of revelations and one heck of an explosive climax, there was no end to the surprises. One thing I’m positive about now is that this is sure to be one of the most binge-worthy, buzzed about thrillers of the year. Now an avid fan, I cannot wait to see what Tintera comes up with next. If this book is anything to go by, she’s the next maestro of the whole thriller genre. Rating of 5+++ stars.
Thank you to Amy Tintera, Celadon Books, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 5, 2024
Scroll down for my potential plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: infidelity, hallucinations, spousal abuse, gaslighting
Now drawn back to town by her grandmother on the eve of her eightieth birthday, Lucy must face not only her former friends and family, but an eager true crime podcaster as well. Ben Owens made a name for himself with his first series of Listen for the Lie and for his second highly anticipated case, he’s turning the microphone on Lucy. Not only is he and the rest of the country now primed for answers, but Lucy is as well. Given that she can’t recall anything that happened that fateful night, she’s always suspected the worst. Even if it meant she’d murdered Savvy herself.
As Ben starts to reveal dark secrets and deeply buried lies, Lucy is faced with a choice—either continue to hide from the truth or help unearth it herself. Is the small southern town actually covering up a multitude of sins? Or did her neighbors have it right five years ago when they pointed the blame squarely at her? One things for sure, by the time Ben is through, the truth will be out. Either Lucy will be relieved—or she’ll be locked up behind bars.
Oh. My. God. It is literally only February and I think I’ve just discovered my favorite book of 2024. No joke, Listen for the Lie had it all: superb characters, perfectly timed dialogue, and one heck of a dynamite plot. Needless to say, I was utterly blown away as I ripped through the pages. After all, it was the kind of book that I both couldn’t stop reading, but also didn’t want to finish.
Right from the start, I was head over heels for the characterization of Lucy. Brilliantly sarcastic and just a little off her rocker, her personality was an utter hole in one from the very first word. On top of her, however, I was over the moon with the dysfunctional family dynamic and deliciously dark humor. Quite frankly, they were some of the best personas that I’ve ever read as they all felt decidedly genuine but also delightfully twisted.
The plot was one I’ll certainly remember for quite awhile. A mix of Lucy’s perspective and Ben’s podcast transcripts, there were even a few memories from five years ago thrown into the mix. All together, it formed a propulsive storyline that didn’t let up, even as it had me breaking down into laughter more times than I could count. And as if that wasn’t enough, the fast pace, growing tension, and dark conclusion made me fall for this one hook, line, and sinker. In all honesty, I don’t know how anyone wouldn’t love this book.
By the time I flipped the last page of this psychological thriller, the short chapters, snarky quips, and precise plotting meant I was utterly done for. After all, with its IV drip of revelations and one heck of an explosive climax, there was no end to the surprises. One thing I’m positive about now is that this is sure to be one of the most binge-worthy, buzzed about thrillers of the year. Now an avid fan, I cannot wait to see what Tintera comes up with next. If this book is anything to go by, she’s the next maestro of the whole thriller genre. Rating of 5+++ stars.
Thank you to Amy Tintera, Celadon Books, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 5, 2024
Scroll down for my potential plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: infidelity, hallucinations, spousal abuse, gaslighting
March 26, 2024
Perhaps a more apt title for this would be, "Listen for the Sarcasm."
This was a delightfully clever story. Everyone thinks Lucy killed her best friend, Savvy. Yet, there was never enough evidence to convict and Lucy has no recollection of that night. She fled that small town in Texas to end the speculation. Five years later, she returns for her Grandma’s bday and just as coincidental -a podcaster is there recreating that alleged night for his show: Wanting to discover the truth about that night; Wanting to solve the crime: Who did what where and when?
I wasn’t sure of the format- previously podcasts within a story didn’t work for me. This one surprisingly did.
As for the character, Lucy, she’s sarcastic, witty and interesting. Very likeable. Especially when she talks back to her inner voice. Which is quite vivid about murdering people. Maybe she did do it; Maybe she didn’t. Guess you’ll have to read it to find out.
A fun 4.5⭐️
This was a delightfully clever story. Everyone thinks Lucy killed her best friend, Savvy. Yet, there was never enough evidence to convict and Lucy has no recollection of that night. She fled that small town in Texas to end the speculation. Five years later, she returns for her Grandma’s bday and just as coincidental -a podcaster is there recreating that alleged night for his show: Wanting to discover the truth about that night; Wanting to solve the crime: Who did what where and when?
I wasn’t sure of the format- previously podcasts within a story didn’t work for me. This one surprisingly did.
As for the character, Lucy, she’s sarcastic, witty and interesting. Very likeable. Especially when she talks back to her inner voice. Which is quite vivid about murdering people. Maybe she did do it; Maybe she didn’t. Guess you’ll have to read it to find out.
A fun 4.5⭐️
March 20, 2024
BRAVO!!!! ENCORE, ENCORE, ENCORE!!!!!!!
GUYS!!!! Listen to me when I tell you, this novel needs to be read by all!
Listen for the lie is about Lucy returning back to her hometown in Texas after many years, when on one fateful night, she is seen walking the streets late at night covered in the blood of her best friend Savvy who has just been found deceased. Everyone thinks Lucy did it, and Lucy genuinely cant remember if she did or not.
Returning home for her grandma’s birthday, she also meets up with a guy called Ben Owens. He has a hit true crime podcast and for his second season he is filming ‘Listen for the Lie’ and he wants to interview Lucy and a bunch of the residents in the town to try and get to the bottom of what happened to Savvy.
I highly recommend that if you get this book you MUST listen to the audiobook format. I am talking full cast, special sound effects and just a jolly good ol time!
OKKKKK! You already know I love me an unhinged woman and Lucy hit the nail on the head! Her sassy, sarcastic, quick witted IDGAF attitude was EVERYTHING!! Look when I got to the 25% mark in the book I told myself whether she did it or not, I was rooting regardless for this woman! I loved her character sooo much!
But speaking of characters, if we were giving out Oscars, the best supporting actress would have to go to Lucy’s Grandma! My word that woman is a HOOT! Her pertinacity, her spunk, just her whole aura made this book even more enjoyable!
The rest of the characters came and did what they had to do and they did it well!
The format of the audio really made me feel like I was listen to a true crime podcast. It was like the podcast phenomenon ‘Serial’ but wayyyy more lighthearted!
The dark humour was *chefs kiss*, I was cackling like a witch throughout. Being a thriller connoisseur at this point, when I read thrillers I do find myself just trying to guess the plot twist or who the villain/ perpetrator is, but with this book, I didn’t focus on that. I was truly just enjoying the characters and the story so much. Side note: I didn’t guess the villain right until the last minute.
I have no complaints about this one whatsoever. It had all the perfect ingredients for a great thriller!
Fast paced/ Short chapters ✔️
Unreliable narrator✔️
Unhinged women✔️
Suspenseful ✔️
DRAMA (with a capital D)✔️
Ohhhh and a little bit of rooomance! 😏
Ms Tintera, I cant speak on your YA novels, because I haven’t read them (yet) but what I can say is for your debut on an adult novel you truly knocked this one out of the park! So excited to see what she writes next!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩PRE REVIEW⋆｡°✩
WOOOP WOOOP!! 🎉
Ok need to call pause on my current read, because i have been wanting to get my hands on this book for the longest time!
Apparently the audiobook is phenomenal! Fingers tightly crossed! 🤞🏾❤️
GUYS!!!! Listen to me when I tell you, this novel needs to be read by all!
Listen for the lie is about Lucy returning back to her hometown in Texas after many years, when on one fateful night, she is seen walking the streets late at night covered in the blood of her best friend Savvy who has just been found deceased. Everyone thinks Lucy did it, and Lucy genuinely cant remember if she did or not.
Returning home for her grandma’s birthday, she also meets up with a guy called Ben Owens. He has a hit true crime podcast and for his second season he is filming ‘Listen for the Lie’ and he wants to interview Lucy and a bunch of the residents in the town to try and get to the bottom of what happened to Savvy.
I highly recommend that if you get this book you MUST listen to the audiobook format. I am talking full cast, special sound effects and just a jolly good ol time!
OKKKKK! You already know I love me an unhinged woman and Lucy hit the nail on the head! Her sassy, sarcastic, quick witted IDGAF attitude was EVERYTHING!! Look when I got to the 25% mark in the book I told myself whether she did it or not, I was rooting regardless for this woman! I loved her character sooo much!
But speaking of characters, if we were giving out Oscars, the best supporting actress would have to go to Lucy’s Grandma! My word that woman is a HOOT! Her pertinacity, her spunk, just her whole aura made this book even more enjoyable!
The rest of the characters came and did what they had to do and they did it well!
The format of the audio really made me feel like I was listen to a true crime podcast. It was like the podcast phenomenon ‘Serial’ but wayyyy more lighthearted!
The dark humour was *chefs kiss*, I was cackling like a witch throughout. Being a thriller connoisseur at this point, when I read thrillers I do find myself just trying to guess the plot twist or who the villain/ perpetrator is, but with this book, I didn’t focus on that. I was truly just enjoying the characters and the story so much. Side note: I didn’t guess the villain right until the last minute.
I have no complaints about this one whatsoever. It had all the perfect ingredients for a great thriller!
Fast paced/ Short chapters ✔️
Unreliable narrator✔️
Unhinged women✔️
Suspenseful ✔️
DRAMA (with a capital D)✔️
Ohhhh and a little bit of rooomance! 😏
Ms Tintera, I cant speak on your YA novels, because I haven’t read them (yet) but what I can say is for your debut on an adult novel you truly knocked this one out of the park! So excited to see what she writes next!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩PRE REVIEW⋆｡°✩
WOOOP WOOOP!! 🎉
Ok need to call pause on my current read, because i have been wanting to get my hands on this book for the longest time!
Apparently the audiobook is phenomenal! Fingers tightly crossed! 🤞🏾❤️
February 5, 2024
This book is generating some pretty good buzz and I can totally understand why even though I don't agree with the high praise assessment.
Lucy and Savvy are best friends living in Plumpton, TX. They're attending a wedding of friends where the alcohol is flowing freely.
The next day, Lucy is found walking down the side of the road covered in blood. Savvy's blood. Savvy was brutally murdered and left for dead and now all suspicion falls on Lucy. Lucy can't remember anything of that night because she also suffered a head wound and trauma. Most people believe her amnesia is the convenient excuse of a murderer. Lucy doesn't know what to believe. Lack of evidence allows her to live free but she's never free of the guilt she feels.
Ben Owen's is the host of the "Listen to the Lie" podcast. He's determined to find out who is guilty of murdering Savvy five years ago. Will the truth set Lucy free or become another nail in her coffin?
Compulsively readable, short zippy chapters, the podcast element was well done, and a grandmother I adored.
That's what I enjoyed.
What I didn't love so much was Lucy, to start. I got a kick out of her in the beginning but the humorous snark began to seem more like assholery by the 50% mark. I can't believe that anyone in her situation would ever behave the way she does and say the things she does just for kicks. This woman lives to shock people and it just got to be annoying. If everyone in my town really thought I murdered my best friend I probably wouldn't call so much attention to myself but, you do you, Lucy.
My other negative reaction was due to how everyone in this town, young and old alike, has slept with one another and / or have all cheated on their spouses at some point in time. Granted this makes for a lot of red herrings but it just got a bit icky. If I ever visit Plumpton it will be in a HazMat suit.
We should all be thankful that Plumpton is a fictional town because amongst the murderers and cheaters are physically abusive men. Can't one guy be decent? Nope!
I wouldn't wish Lucy's parents on anyone. To explain more would be a spoiler so just trust me on this.
I had suspected nearly everyone at one point of being the guilty party so when I reached the final denouement it didn't really pack the punch I think the author was intending.
While the negatives outweigh the positives for me I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a page-turner. I absolutely had to know whodunnit so I never once contemplated setting this aside. Tintera is a talented writer and I do look forward to seeing if her next story will be a better suit for me. If she would have eased up on the snark and balanced the unlikeable characters with a few more likeable ones then this could have been a homerun. 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for my complimentary copy.
Lucy and Savvy are best friends living in Plumpton, TX. They're attending a wedding of friends where the alcohol is flowing freely.
The next day, Lucy is found walking down the side of the road covered in blood. Savvy's blood. Savvy was brutally murdered and left for dead and now all suspicion falls on Lucy. Lucy can't remember anything of that night because she also suffered a head wound and trauma. Most people believe her amnesia is the convenient excuse of a murderer. Lucy doesn't know what to believe. Lack of evidence allows her to live free but she's never free of the guilt she feels.
Ben Owen's is the host of the "Listen to the Lie" podcast. He's determined to find out who is guilty of murdering Savvy five years ago. Will the truth set Lucy free or become another nail in her coffin?
Compulsively readable, short zippy chapters, the podcast element was well done, and a grandmother I adored.
That's what I enjoyed.
What I didn't love so much was Lucy, to start. I got a kick out of her in the beginning but the humorous snark began to seem more like assholery by the 50% mark. I can't believe that anyone in her situation would ever behave the way she does and say the things she does just for kicks. This woman lives to shock people and it just got to be annoying. If everyone in my town really thought I murdered my best friend I probably wouldn't call so much attention to myself but, you do you, Lucy.
My other negative reaction was due to how everyone in this town, young and old alike, has slept with one another and / or have all cheated on their spouses at some point in time. Granted this makes for a lot of red herrings but it just got a bit icky. If I ever visit Plumpton it will be in a HazMat suit.
We should all be thankful that Plumpton is a fictional town because amongst the murderers and cheaters are physically abusive men. Can't one guy be decent? Nope!
I wouldn't wish Lucy's parents on anyone. To explain more would be a spoiler so just trust me on this.
I had suspected nearly everyone at one point of being the guilty party so when I reached the final denouement it didn't really pack the punch I think the author was intending.
While the negatives outweigh the positives for me I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a page-turner. I absolutely had to know whodunnit so I never once contemplated setting this aside. Tintera is a talented writer and I do look forward to seeing if her next story will be a better suit for me. If she would have eased up on the snark and balanced the unlikeable characters with a few more likeable ones then this could have been a homerun. 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for my complimentary copy.
March 5, 2024
Five years ago, twenty-four-year-old Lucy Chase was found injured and barely coherent, wandering on a highway covered in her best friend's blood. Her friend Savannah “Savvy” Harper was found dead and despite her traumatized state, Lucy was deemed the prime suspect though no solid evidence was discovered to prove her guilt. Almost everyone who knew her including her parents, believed that Lucy was responsible for Savvy’s death. Subsequently, her marriage ended and she left her hometown Plumpton, Texas for Los Angeles. Lucy still doesn’t remember what transpired on that fateful night and the voices in her head do not let her forget that she might be guilty. Lucy is drawn back to Plumpton when popular podcaster Ben Owens decides to investigate the case for his true-crime podcast, Listen for the Lie. As Ben embarks on a deep dive into Lucy’s life and the events from five years ago, Lucy decides to cooperate with him hoping that the facts uncovered in the process will help her recover her memories from that night and find the killer.
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera is a well-crafted, engaging mystery. Consistently paced, the narrative is presented from the perspective of Lucy with segments from the podcast interviews interspersed throughout the narrative. The author has deftly woven issues such as domestic abuse, psychological trauma, and infidelity, among others, into the narrative. I liked Lucy and was rooting for her. I liked how the author portrays small-town dynamics and the cast of an interesting cast of characters (mostly unlikable with a few exceptions) with more than a few secrets to hide made for an interesting read. Few characters were above suspicion and I had fun trying to guess the identity of the killer. I enjoyed the suspenseful build-up, the surprises along the way and the dry humor injected into the narrative (with several laugh-out-loud moments).
I should mention that the plot relies on several overused tropes and the final reveal isn’t completely unpredictable, but the overall skillful execution renders this novel an entertaining read.
This was my first time reading this author and I would be interested to read more from her in the future.
Many thanks to Celadon Books for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
3.75/5
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera is a well-crafted, engaging mystery. Consistently paced, the narrative is presented from the perspective of Lucy with segments from the podcast interviews interspersed throughout the narrative. The author has deftly woven issues such as domestic abuse, psychological trauma, and infidelity, among others, into the narrative. I liked Lucy and was rooting for her. I liked how the author portrays small-town dynamics and the cast of an interesting cast of characters (mostly unlikable with a few exceptions) with more than a few secrets to hide made for an interesting read. Few characters were above suspicion and I had fun trying to guess the identity of the killer. I enjoyed the suspenseful build-up, the surprises along the way and the dry humor injected into the narrative (with several laugh-out-loud moments).
I should mention that the plot relies on several overused tropes and the final reveal isn’t completely unpredictable, but the overall skillful execution renders this novel an entertaining read.
This was my first time reading this author and I would be interested to read more from her in the future.
Many thanks to Celadon Books for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
3.75/5
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
March 19, 2024
I love thrillers with podcast elements and WOW this one is top-notch in both the format and story!
Plumpton, Texas. Five years ago, Savannah "Savvy" Harper was found murdered. Her best friend Lucy Chase had Savvy's blood all over and with a head injury, she also sustained memory loss. Lucy wasn't charged with the murder but people in the small town believe she's the suspect.
Ben Owens is investigating the murder of Savvy Harper for his podcast show. Lucy wants to help find the killer even though it might be herself!
The plot is very similar to something I've read before. But my, I love Lucy's character and personality. Her dark humor and snarky thoughts hooked me to this fantastic audiobook from the first chapter.
The story is told alternating between Lucy's chapters and the podcast. It's well done and won't confuse the listener with two narrators and a short jingle before the podcast begins.
January LaVoy and Will Damron are both fantastic. I love them both and they were a joy to listen to for this story.
9/10~4.5⭐
Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ALC.
9H 18M
Available March 5, 2024
Plumpton, Texas. Five years ago, Savannah "Savvy" Harper was found murdered. Her best friend Lucy Chase had Savvy's blood all over and with a head injury, she also sustained memory loss. Lucy wasn't charged with the murder but people in the small town believe she's the suspect.
Ben Owens is investigating the murder of Savvy Harper for his podcast show. Lucy wants to help find the killer even though it might be herself!
The plot is very similar to something I've read before. But my, I love Lucy's character and personality. Her dark humor and snarky thoughts hooked me to this fantastic audiobook from the first chapter.
The story is told alternating between Lucy's chapters and the podcast. It's well done and won't confuse the listener with two narrators and a short jingle before the podcast begins.
January LaVoy and Will Damron are both fantastic. I love them both and they were a joy to listen to for this story.
9/10~4.5⭐
Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ALC.
9H 18M
Available March 5, 2024
February 29, 2024
Savvy died years ago… her friend Lucy was found covered in her blood and no memory of what happened. In the public eye Lucy was responsible for Savvy’s death - though never formally charged by the police.
Now five years later a podcaster is investigating and asking questions…or should I say stirring the pot. Will we finally find out what happened to Savvy? Will Lucy be able to clear her name? Or will she be doomed to remain as guilty as everyone assumes?
Lucy’s inner murderous voice was hilarious! Though I have to admit... it did lose steam about midway.
Favorite character: Grandma!😂 I can’t even imagine!🤦🏻♀️
The audio version is definitely the way to experience this read. It’s truly a production, not just the telling of a story. The podcast episodes were fabulous!
The two narrators January LaVoy and Will Damron were outstanding.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio
Now five years later a podcaster is investigating and asking questions…or should I say stirring the pot. Will we finally find out what happened to Savvy? Will Lucy be able to clear her name? Or will she be doomed to remain as guilty as everyone assumes?
Lucy’s inner murderous voice was hilarious! Though I have to admit... it did lose steam about midway.
Favorite character: Grandma!😂 I can’t even imagine!🤦🏻♀️
The audio version is definitely the way to experience this read. It’s truly a production, not just the telling of a story. The podcast episodes were fabulous!
The two narrators January LaVoy and Will Damron were outstanding.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio
February 1, 2024
2-2.5 stars
Ehh... I'm going to be an outlier with this one here- seeing lots of rave reviews and it was just alright for me.
Let's start with what I did like -
The quick pace, short chapters and the grandmother.
What I didn't like -
The whole podcast murder mystery premise is really trending right now and I guess I'm not really a fan.
I didn't find anything about the book to be very original, kinda a cookie cutter standard mid 'thriller'. Pretty predictable.
Her dead bff voice in her head all the time 'kill him' 'kill him' was a little weird and overdone.
I'm sure many people will enjoy this but it unfortunately didn't impress me much. Meh. 🤷♀️
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Amy Tintera for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ehh... I'm going to be an outlier with this one here- seeing lots of rave reviews and it was just alright for me.
Let's start with what I did like -
The quick pace, short chapters and the grandmother.
What I didn't like -
The whole podcast murder mystery premise is really trending right now and I guess I'm not really a fan.
I didn't find anything about the book to be very original, kinda a cookie cutter standard mid 'thriller'. Pretty predictable.
Her dead bff voice in her head all the time 'kill him' 'kill him' was a little weird and overdone.
I'm sure many people will enjoy this but it unfortunately didn't impress me much. Meh. 🤷♀️
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Amy Tintera for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2024
**Many thanks to NetGalley, @CeladonBooks, and Amy Tintera for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 3.5!!**
I can now OFFICIALLY say I've used my passport for the first time this year.
But I DO wish it would have been to somewhere (or honestly anywhere!) besides the dreaded Outlier Island! 😣
Lucy doesn't remember much about that night...except roaming the streets, covered in her best friend Savvy's blood. Savvy's untimely death, however, is a mystery to just about everyone...because despite the ugly circumstances, the evidence wasn't enough to put Lucy away and the crime remains unsolved. Though Lucy had it all back in her small hometown in Texas, with a handsome husband, a fancy life, and her bestie at her side, once Savvy is gone, nothing is the same and Lucy just CAN'T escape the scrutiny.
...Until she does, and begins a new life in L.A. She has a new boyfriend, who knows nothing of her checkered past...but he's about to get a rude awakening. Mega-hottie podcaster Ben Walsh has a true crime podcast better known as Listen for the Lie and (surprise, surprise), he's cast his eye on the unsolved Savannah Harper murder case...and obviously focuses his attention on Suspect Numero Uno, Lucy. After some urging from her grandmother, Lucy returns back to her hometown of Plumpton to Face the Music dead on. But with her memories scattered, and a voice in her head telling her...well, DANGEROUS things...is Lucy back to set the record straight once and for all? Or will the return to the scene of the crime lead Lucy to discover disturbing secrets her own mind forced her to block out...secrets that could seal her fate...or the fate of a certain nosy podcaster...for good?
Up until this point, I have to admit that after a few misses, I'd pretty much sworn off reading any more books referencing or revolving around true crime podcasts. To be frank, they just aren't my cup of tea. I've never been compelled to watch episode after episode of Dateline, much listen to a podcast in the same vein. I prefer my thrills to be fictional, and the forensic/police procedural angles of these stories is usually enough to put me into a sort of coma. I know so many LOVE this format, and more power to ALL of the true crime fans in the world (including some of my favorite thriller authors, I'm sure!) because some of these truth-is-stranger-than fiction stories have inspired some CRAZY good thrillers. So every genre and format has its place, and its audience, and I respect that wholeheartedly.
But in the case of this book...I think the title couldn't have been more apt: LISTENING for the Lie, or rather LISTENING than reading this one, MIGHT have been part of the reason why I found so little enjoyment in it.
So much of the book revolves around the podcast (which is to be expected), but unlike the stellar None of This Is True, the podcast segments in this one weren't moody, weren't atmospheric, or frankly, even that interesting. I had a hard time trudging through the many, many pages of interviews with so many of the town's residents, and their voices too often felt interchangeable. I wanted to get that excited buzz as little tidbits of information were slowly revealed, driving the narrative and leading the reader (and Lucy of course!) closer to the truth...but I honestly felt bored more often than not. There are few big revelations along the way ANYWAY and most of them revolve around people sleeping with other people...so if that's not your idea of 'exciting twists', consider yourself warned.
And then there's our main character, Lucy. The 'snarky, humorous' narrator I was so hoping to love, to be rooting for and simultaneously questioning the whole way through. However, I could tell by about chapter 3 that not only was I not going to be intrigued by Lucy, but I was destined to find her sort of grating and repetitive, sort of like your least favorite professor who rambles on in a way that's designed to be interesting, but makes you sort of internally roll your eyes for the entire class. Lucy's 'humor' mostly revolves around thinking about how she's going to kill people around her...which not only didn't play as comedic to me, but just felt off in terms of her overall personality. The little voice in her head kept saying "Kill...kill" at times, which not only felt bizarre in and of itself, but kept reminding me of a part in the song Alice's Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie (it's a long, rambly song, but IYKYK) where the narrator of the song says "Kill? Kill?" in sort of a ridiculously high pitched voice...and once I heard it in my head...I just could NOT unhear it. 🤦♀️
Another way to explain it that came to mind? There's a part in Grease (at least in the movie version) where Rizzo says Sandy is 'too pure to be pink'...and in my mind, THAT was Lucy. I didn't buy her as devious, clever, biting, snarky...charming...or even likable. She was simply sort of a bland character who had memory issues and poor judgment, not to mention she was just generally lacking in the maturity department. Maybe I've been spoiled by characters like Joe Goldberg who are witty AND murderous, but Lucy did not seem at any point in time to be either of those things. I wanted to buy in to her plight, but she seemed more determined to blame everyone around her even when SHE was the one calling the shots and it was hard to believe at times that Lucy WASN'T a teenager in terms of her choices and her ability to deal with the situation at hand. When I say Lucy's grandmother was the most likable character (and frankly the only one I found interesting), I mean it. I didn't care if Lucy ended up in jail...ALL I cared about by the end of this one was getting to AN ANSWER.
And by the way, hope you have your patience cap on because you're going to need it...the biggest of big reveals takes place at 91 PERCENT of the way through the book. There's plenty of meandering that goes on before that, with the aforementioned romantic revelations, and the "why oh why can't I remember?" from Lucy. In an even more disappointing turn, at times this book almost seemed more like a romance veiled in thriller, as of COURSE there are sparks between the devilishly handsome Chris Evans of the podcasting world and our MC...yawn. I could have lived without the subplot and the extra layer of forced dramatic tension as to 'will they/won't they hook up' alongside 'will he/won't he solve the case?'...and to add insult to injury, this book features a semi ambiguous ending...so even in that, you STILL don't know exactly if anything Lucy has said is even true! 🥱
Tintera is one of a few authors who has pivoted from YA to the thriller space, and has surely found a home and an audience with this true-crime podcast inspired, romance tinged effort, and perhaps with a different trope and a more intriguing cast, I would have felt as hypnotized and charmed by Lucy as I'd hoped. But as for this time? I think a quick exchange between Ben and Lucy sums up how I felt about this one:
B: "What happened?"
L: "Nothing happened."
B: "What did you remember?"
...
L: "I remembered that I hate true crime podcasts."
Me too, Lucy. Me too.
3 stars
I can now OFFICIALLY say I've used my passport for the first time this year.
But I DO wish it would have been to somewhere (or honestly anywhere!) besides the dreaded Outlier Island! 😣
Lucy doesn't remember much about that night...except roaming the streets, covered in her best friend Savvy's blood. Savvy's untimely death, however, is a mystery to just about everyone...because despite the ugly circumstances, the evidence wasn't enough to put Lucy away and the crime remains unsolved. Though Lucy had it all back in her small hometown in Texas, with a handsome husband, a fancy life, and her bestie at her side, once Savvy is gone, nothing is the same and Lucy just CAN'T escape the scrutiny.
...Until she does, and begins a new life in L.A. She has a new boyfriend, who knows nothing of her checkered past...but he's about to get a rude awakening. Mega-hottie podcaster Ben Walsh has a true crime podcast better known as Listen for the Lie and (surprise, surprise), he's cast his eye on the unsolved Savannah Harper murder case...and obviously focuses his attention on Suspect Numero Uno, Lucy. After some urging from her grandmother, Lucy returns back to her hometown of Plumpton to Face the Music dead on. But with her memories scattered, and a voice in her head telling her...well, DANGEROUS things...is Lucy back to set the record straight once and for all? Or will the return to the scene of the crime lead Lucy to discover disturbing secrets her own mind forced her to block out...secrets that could seal her fate...or the fate of a certain nosy podcaster...for good?
Up until this point, I have to admit that after a few misses, I'd pretty much sworn off reading any more books referencing or revolving around true crime podcasts. To be frank, they just aren't my cup of tea. I've never been compelled to watch episode after episode of Dateline, much listen to a podcast in the same vein. I prefer my thrills to be fictional, and the forensic/police procedural angles of these stories is usually enough to put me into a sort of coma. I know so many LOVE this format, and more power to ALL of the true crime fans in the world (including some of my favorite thriller authors, I'm sure!) because some of these truth-is-stranger-than fiction stories have inspired some CRAZY good thrillers. So every genre and format has its place, and its audience, and I respect that wholeheartedly.
But in the case of this book...I think the title couldn't have been more apt: LISTENING for the Lie, or rather LISTENING than reading this one, MIGHT have been part of the reason why I found so little enjoyment in it.
So much of the book revolves around the podcast (which is to be expected), but unlike the stellar None of This Is True, the podcast segments in this one weren't moody, weren't atmospheric, or frankly, even that interesting. I had a hard time trudging through the many, many pages of interviews with so many of the town's residents, and their voices too often felt interchangeable. I wanted to get that excited buzz as little tidbits of information were slowly revealed, driving the narrative and leading the reader (and Lucy of course!) closer to the truth...but I honestly felt bored more often than not. There are few big revelations along the way ANYWAY and most of them revolve around people sleeping with other people...so if that's not your idea of 'exciting twists', consider yourself warned.
And then there's our main character, Lucy. The 'snarky, humorous' narrator I was so hoping to love, to be rooting for and simultaneously questioning the whole way through. However, I could tell by about chapter 3 that not only was I not going to be intrigued by Lucy, but I was destined to find her sort of grating and repetitive, sort of like your least favorite professor who rambles on in a way that's designed to be interesting, but makes you sort of internally roll your eyes for the entire class. Lucy's 'humor' mostly revolves around thinking about how she's going to kill people around her...which not only didn't play as comedic to me, but just felt off in terms of her overall personality. The little voice in her head kept saying "Kill...kill" at times, which not only felt bizarre in and of itself, but kept reminding me of a part in the song Alice's Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie (it's a long, rambly song, but IYKYK) where the narrator of the song says "Kill? Kill?" in sort of a ridiculously high pitched voice...and once I heard it in my head...I just could NOT unhear it. 🤦♀️
Another way to explain it that came to mind? There's a part in Grease (at least in the movie version) where Rizzo says Sandy is 'too pure to be pink'...and in my mind, THAT was Lucy. I didn't buy her as devious, clever, biting, snarky...charming...or even likable. She was simply sort of a bland character who had memory issues and poor judgment, not to mention she was just generally lacking in the maturity department. Maybe I've been spoiled by characters like Joe Goldberg who are witty AND murderous, but Lucy did not seem at any point in time to be either of those things. I wanted to buy in to her plight, but she seemed more determined to blame everyone around her even when SHE was the one calling the shots and it was hard to believe at times that Lucy WASN'T a teenager in terms of her choices and her ability to deal with the situation at hand. When I say Lucy's grandmother was the most likable character (and frankly the only one I found interesting), I mean it. I didn't care if Lucy ended up in jail...ALL I cared about by the end of this one was getting to AN ANSWER.
And by the way, hope you have your patience cap on because you're going to need it...the biggest of big reveals takes place at 91 PERCENT of the way through the book. There's plenty of meandering that goes on before that, with the aforementioned romantic revelations, and the "why oh why can't I remember?" from Lucy. In an even more disappointing turn, at times this book almost seemed more like a romance veiled in thriller, as of COURSE there are sparks between the devilishly handsome Chris Evans of the podcasting world and our MC...yawn. I could have lived without the subplot and the extra layer of forced dramatic tension as to 'will they/won't they hook up' alongside 'will he/won't he solve the case?'...and to add insult to injury, this book features a semi ambiguous ending...so even in that, you STILL don't know exactly if anything Lucy has said is even true! 🥱
Tintera is one of a few authors who has pivoted from YA to the thriller space, and has surely found a home and an audience with this true-crime podcast inspired, romance tinged effort, and perhaps with a different trope and a more intriguing cast, I would have felt as hypnotized and charmed by Lucy as I'd hoped. But as for this time? I think a quick exchange between Ben and Lucy sums up how I felt about this one:
B: "What happened?"
L: "Nothing happened."
B: "What did you remember?"
...
L: "I remembered that I hate true crime podcasts."
Me too, Lucy. Me too.
3 stars
December 23, 2023
WOWZA!
This is how you do it! This was a great true crime podcast whodunit! I was instantly drawn into the plot, loving how captivating and fun this book was. I had the audiobook and loved the narration. The premise was so intriguing: a woman who everyone believes killed her best friend. She isn't sure if she murdered her friend as she can't remember the night in question. She loved her friend and is certain she would never harm her but can't explain why she was found covered in her friend's blood. Buckle yourself in for this amazing and thrilling ride!
Lucy was found covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood. Everyone in town has their fingers pointed at her but the police don't have enough to charge her with murder. Lucy left town and did her best to carve out a life for herself in LA. When her grandmother invites her to come home for her party, Lucy can't help but say yes as she and her grandmother are close.
Ben Owens is a handsome and charming true crime podcaster ("Listen for the Lie") who is in Lucy's hometown to investigate Savvy's murder. Lucy finds herself back amongst the finger pointers and finds herself in the middle of Ben's investigation.
This was soooo good. I love books with snarky and witty characters. Lucy's sarcasm at times was dripping off the pages. Plus, her grandmother is a hoot! She was fun, sassy, and quick witted. She provided humor and put a smile on my face.
I enjoyed being a fly on the wall during this book. Lucy hears Savvy's voice in her head throughout the book. It's a little creepy but also interesting. What is up with that? I thought I was done reading books with podcasts but Listen for the Lie was fantastic. I found it to be a well thought out, well written and riveting book. Plus, the narrators nailed it. I didn't want to stop listening. I too wanted to know whodunit. Was it Lucy? If not her, then who?
Gripping, dark, humorous, and well thought out.
I highly recommend the audiobook.
4.5 stars
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
This is how you do it! This was a great true crime podcast whodunit! I was instantly drawn into the plot, loving how captivating and fun this book was. I had the audiobook and loved the narration. The premise was so intriguing: a woman who everyone believes killed her best friend. She isn't sure if she murdered her friend as she can't remember the night in question. She loved her friend and is certain she would never harm her but can't explain why she was found covered in her friend's blood. Buckle yourself in for this amazing and thrilling ride!
Lucy was found covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood. Everyone in town has their fingers pointed at her but the police don't have enough to charge her with murder. Lucy left town and did her best to carve out a life for herself in LA. When her grandmother invites her to come home for her party, Lucy can't help but say yes as she and her grandmother are close.
Ben Owens is a handsome and charming true crime podcaster ("Listen for the Lie") who is in Lucy's hometown to investigate Savvy's murder. Lucy finds herself back amongst the finger pointers and finds herself in the middle of Ben's investigation.
This was soooo good. I love books with snarky and witty characters. Lucy's sarcasm at times was dripping off the pages. Plus, her grandmother is a hoot! She was fun, sassy, and quick witted. She provided humor and put a smile on my face.
I enjoyed being a fly on the wall during this book. Lucy hears Savvy's voice in her head throughout the book. It's a little creepy but also interesting. What is up with that? I thought I was done reading books with podcasts but Listen for the Lie was fantastic. I found it to be a well thought out, well written and riveting book. Plus, the narrators nailed it. I didn't want to stop listening. I too wanted to know whodunit. Was it Lucy? If not her, then who?
Gripping, dark, humorous, and well thought out.
I highly recommend the audiobook.
4.5 stars
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
February 10, 2024
Thank you @celadonbooks for sending me this absolutely fantastic thriller!! I am calling it right now… this will be on my 🔝 TOP 10 of the year!!!🖤❤️🖤❤️
What if your BFF 👯♀️ was murdered … and you were the witness?? Well actually you are in fact.. the suspect.. WHAT?? 😳Right?? You barely made it out alive and people think you did it? 🥺 That is what happened to our girl Lucy… the problem is… not even Lucy remembers what happened! 😮 I mean why was Lucy COVERED in her BFF’s blood? 🩸🤷♀️
No worries… the police 👮♀️ can’t figure it out… but a super famous… and…. Well quite frankly… HOT🔥 true crime podcaster Ben Owens is about to try to crack this case!! Don’t laugh…He has done it before and he’s not giving up until he finds out the truth!! 😉 OMGGG what did I LOVE?? 🖤❤️
✅ A true crime podcast.. YES please!!
✅ Snarky, dark characters!! My absolute favorite!! I loved our girl Lucy!! 🖤
✅ Small town drama… Hey 👋 Plumpton..
✅ MURDER 🩸🩸🩸
✅ FUN… SOO much FUN 😍
This book puts the thrill in thriller! I am not kidding!! I couldn’t put this down!! It has so many twists and turns that I had no clue… how this would end!! 🤯 This was SO much fun… in a murdery way!! Oh and just wait until you meet Grandma 👵… I think we know where Lucy gets her sass…😉
What if your BFF 👯♀️ was murdered … and you were the witness?? Well actually you are in fact.. the suspect.. WHAT?? 😳Right?? You barely made it out alive and people think you did it? 🥺 That is what happened to our girl Lucy… the problem is… not even Lucy remembers what happened! 😮 I mean why was Lucy COVERED in her BFF’s blood? 🩸🤷♀️
No worries… the police 👮♀️ can’t figure it out… but a super famous… and…. Well quite frankly… HOT🔥 true crime podcaster Ben Owens is about to try to crack this case!! Don’t laugh…He has done it before and he’s not giving up until he finds out the truth!! 😉 OMGGG what did I LOVE?? 🖤❤️
✅ A true crime podcast.. YES please!!
✅ Snarky, dark characters!! My absolute favorite!! I loved our girl Lucy!! 🖤
✅ Small town drama… Hey 👋 Plumpton..
✅ MURDER 🩸🩸🩸
✅ FUN… SOO much FUN 😍
This book puts the thrill in thriller! I am not kidding!! I couldn’t put this down!! It has so many twists and turns that I had no clue… how this would end!! 🤯 This was SO much fun… in a murdery way!! Oh and just wait until you meet Grandma 👵… I think we know where Lucy gets her sass…😉
March 11, 2024
Loved it!! This book was fresh, fun, and kept me turning the pages!! I needed this book! This is also Amy Tintera’s adult debut novel after writing YA, and she nailed it!! I loved the short chapters, and the main character of Lucy Chase was the best I’ve read in a while- that is definitely how young adults act today (or maybe it’s just me 🤔).
This story is about Lucy Chase going back to her hometown of Plumpton, Texas after being away for five years. Lucy is a pariah in her hometown, as she is accused of murdering her best friend Savannah (Savvy) Harper five years ago. No physical evidence was found to convict Lucy of Savvy’s murder, but the town just “knows” that is was Lucy who killed her. Even Lucy’s parents and ex-husband have shunned her (yep, gotta love those parents who stick by their children no matter what- Lol!).
Lucy comes back to Plumpton, Texas only because it is her grandmother’s 80th birthday and she is having a birthday party. Lucy’s grandmother is the only person who has ever stood by her and had her back, so she cannot say no to her grandmother and miss her birthday party. Little does Lucy know that when she arrives, Ben Owens will also be in town. Ben Owens is in charge of the “Listen for the Lie” podcast, in which this new season he is focusing on the unsolved murder of Savannah (Savvy) Harper. Ben is interviewing people in town who knew both Savvy and Lucy. Ben also gets Lucy to finally agree to sit for an interview for his podcast.
Nobody in town believes Lucy as she lost her memory the night of the murder. Lucy suffered a traumatic brain injury the night of Savvy’s murder, as they were both together. Lucy can’t recall how anything happened the night of the murder, but will being interviewed by Ben Owen and going back to the scene of the crime jog her memory?
This book went from present day chapters, to podcast interviews, to flashbacks from five years ago. Everything went over flawlessly, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!! This book was fun and entertaining, and I highly recommended it!
This story is about Lucy Chase going back to her hometown of Plumpton, Texas after being away for five years. Lucy is a pariah in her hometown, as she is accused of murdering her best friend Savannah (Savvy) Harper five years ago. No physical evidence was found to convict Lucy of Savvy’s murder, but the town just “knows” that is was Lucy who killed her. Even Lucy’s parents and ex-husband have shunned her (yep, gotta love those parents who stick by their children no matter what- Lol!).
Lucy comes back to Plumpton, Texas only because it is her grandmother’s 80th birthday and she is having a birthday party. Lucy’s grandmother is the only person who has ever stood by her and had her back, so she cannot say no to her grandmother and miss her birthday party. Little does Lucy know that when she arrives, Ben Owens will also be in town. Ben Owens is in charge of the “Listen for the Lie” podcast, in which this new season he is focusing on the unsolved murder of Savannah (Savvy) Harper. Ben is interviewing people in town who knew both Savvy and Lucy. Ben also gets Lucy to finally agree to sit for an interview for his podcast.
Nobody in town believes Lucy as she lost her memory the night of the murder. Lucy suffered a traumatic brain injury the night of Savvy’s murder, as they were both together. Lucy can’t recall how anything happened the night of the murder, but will being interviewed by Ben Owen and going back to the scene of the crime jog her memory?
This book went from present day chapters, to podcast interviews, to flashbacks from five years ago. Everything went over flawlessly, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!! This book was fun and entertaining, and I highly recommended it!
January 13, 2024
3.5 STARS
A great premise, but my expectations were set a bit too high!
A hit podcast featuring a handsome host, Ben Owens is all the rave. He is investigating a murder and is determined to interview the victim’s best friend, Lucy, who is also believed to be the perpetrator! Can they team up and solve the murder themselves? I wanted to follow the podcast and pick up all the clues!
Lucy has some issues. She can’t stop the “murdering people” thoughts that keep popping in her head. And I mean constantly, at some point I just started skimming her intrusive, murderous thoughts.
There is a lot going on in this book. The podcast interviews, Lucy and her toxic family, Lucy’s amnesia, flashbacks and lots of cheating (talk about getting around)! I wanted more investigating and less Lucy.
It was entertaining enough and I enjoyed the Texas setting and Lucy’s humor and witty comebacks!
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my arc! OUT March 5, 2024
A great premise, but my expectations were set a bit too high!
A hit podcast featuring a handsome host, Ben Owens is all the rave. He is investigating a murder and is determined to interview the victim’s best friend, Lucy, who is also believed to be the perpetrator! Can they team up and solve the murder themselves? I wanted to follow the podcast and pick up all the clues!
Lucy has some issues. She can’t stop the “murdering people” thoughts that keep popping in her head. And I mean constantly, at some point I just started skimming her intrusive, murderous thoughts.
There is a lot going on in this book. The podcast interviews, Lucy and her toxic family, Lucy’s amnesia, flashbacks and lots of cheating (talk about getting around)! I wanted more investigating and less Lucy.
It was entertaining enough and I enjoyed the Texas setting and Lucy’s humor and witty comebacks!
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my arc! OUT March 5, 2024
March 9, 2024
Oh, where do I even begin with Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera? Let me just say, this book is absolutely INCREDIBLE!!!
This is one of the most gripping thrillers I've ever read! I mean, seriously, I was hooked from the get-go, and let me tell you, once I started, I couldn't stop till the very end.
After Lucy is discovered covered in her best friend Savvy's blood, suspicions of murder haunt her small Texas town. Lucy and Savvy, once the envy of all for their charm and popularity, now cast a shadow of doubt over Lucy's innocence. Despite relocating to Los Angeles to start anew, Lucy's past catches up with her when the hit true crime podcast "Listen for the Lie" and its charismatic host, Ben Owens, decide to investigate Savvy's murder. Forced to confront her memories—or lack thereof—Lucy returns to her hometown, determined to uncover the truth behind Savvy's death, even if it implicates her in the process.
What really blew me away was Tintera's ability to blend suspense with humor. I mean, Lucy's dark wit had me laughing out loud one minute and then clutching my heart in the next. It's such a unique and unexpected aspect of the story that adds so much depth to Lucy's character.
And let's not forget about Ben's podcast. As if the mystery surrounding Savvy's murder wasn't enough, now we have this whole other layer of investigation unfolding before our eyes (or ears, I guess). It's like being sucked into your favorite true crime series, only you're living it through the pages of a book!
And can we just talk about that ending? Just when you think you've got it all figured out, Tintera hits you with another bombshell that leaves your jaw on the floor. It's the kind of ending that stays with you long after you've finished the book, and let me tell you, I am still reeling from it.
Listen for the Lie is hands down one of the best thrillers I've read in a long time, and I have no doubt it will be topping bestseller lists left and right. Amy Tintera has outdone herself with this one, and I am already counting down the days until I can read it again. Trust me, you do not want to miss out on this must-read for 2024!
This is one of the most gripping thrillers I've ever read! I mean, seriously, I was hooked from the get-go, and let me tell you, once I started, I couldn't stop till the very end.
After Lucy is discovered covered in her best friend Savvy's blood, suspicions of murder haunt her small Texas town. Lucy and Savvy, once the envy of all for their charm and popularity, now cast a shadow of doubt over Lucy's innocence. Despite relocating to Los Angeles to start anew, Lucy's past catches up with her when the hit true crime podcast "Listen for the Lie" and its charismatic host, Ben Owens, decide to investigate Savvy's murder. Forced to confront her memories—or lack thereof—Lucy returns to her hometown, determined to uncover the truth behind Savvy's death, even if it implicates her in the process.
What really blew me away was Tintera's ability to blend suspense with humor. I mean, Lucy's dark wit had me laughing out loud one minute and then clutching my heart in the next. It's such a unique and unexpected aspect of the story that adds so much depth to Lucy's character.
And let's not forget about Ben's podcast. As if the mystery surrounding Savvy's murder wasn't enough, now we have this whole other layer of investigation unfolding before our eyes (or ears, I guess). It's like being sucked into your favorite true crime series, only you're living it through the pages of a book!
And can we just talk about that ending? Just when you think you've got it all figured out, Tintera hits you with another bombshell that leaves your jaw on the floor. It's the kind of ending that stays with you long after you've finished the book, and let me tell you, I am still reeling from it.
Listen for the Lie is hands down one of the best thrillers I've read in a long time, and I have no doubt it will be topping bestseller lists left and right. Amy Tintera has outdone herself with this one, and I am already counting down the days until I can read it again. Trust me, you do not want to miss out on this must-read for 2024!
June 5, 2024
In a Nutshell: A slow-burn mystery-thriller that contains plenty of snark and suspense but misses out on character development and logic. Twisty and silly at the same time. Still, it could work well as long as you know how contemporary thrillers work. Take off the thinking cap to enjoy it better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
When you read such a storyline, you know that there are only two ways the book can go:
Either Lucy is innocent and gets her redemption at the end with the possible discovery of the true murderer, or she did commit the murder and is a pro at lying the heck out of the situation to save her skin.
Will you have the patience to “listen for the lie” and take a call on Lucy’s potential guilt?
Bookish Yays:
😍 Lucy’s grandmother Beverly is the only character in the book I could root for from start to end without any dip. Excellent character!
😍 There are many sarcastic and witty remarks that add a layer of fun to the serious story.
😍 The podcast format works quite well, especially in the audiobook. I’m not a fan of podcasts in real life; I have never even felt like hearing one. So this felt like I was eavesdropping on some gossipy neighbours. Over the top, but entertaining.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
😐 Lucy seems cocky, so she isn’t exactly a likeable character. But I feel that there are just three broad human reactions possible when accused of murder: defensiveness, offensiveness, or escapism. Lucy uses her brash persona to hide a lot of things. In that sense, she is a fabulous character. Her decision-making skills, though, are highly questionable.
😐 The amnesia trope has been done to death in contemporary thrillers, but I like how it was handled in this book. That said, Lucy is an unreliable narrator because of her memory issues, and the other characters are also unreliable because of the podcast interviews revealing only bits and pieces of the truth. In other words, a whole lot of unreliability here, though some of it is handled well.
😐 There were enough and regular twists to keep me hooked, but some of the turnarounds were outlandish.
😐 Lucy hears a creepy voice in her head, and this was very appealing for most of the way but after a point, it seemed forced into the plot.
😐 The ending left me with slightly mixed feelings. Liked certain parts, rolled my eyes at the rest.
Bookish Nays:
🙄 Same old thriller tropes: gaslighting, sexual harassment & abuse, alcoholic characters, amnesia, deliberate red herrings, unreliable narrator, unlikeable characters who are portrayed as one thing and turning out to be another. No novelty. Very formulaic. Even the culprit is guessable after a point as it’s the standard modus operandi of mysteries.
🙄 What’s wrong with the town? (Said to be Plumpton, Texas, but I hope it isn’t like this in real life.) It feels like the whole town has amnesia about certain characters. Moreover, everybody seems to be sleeping with everybody else without qualms.
🙄 The ad hoc changes in character behaviour didn’t appeal to me. The transition felt awkward. The police also seem to be nincompoops, not that we get to see much of them in the book.
🙄 There are many repeated words and phrases. This becomes even more apparent while hearing the book.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 9 hrs 18 min, is narrated by January LaVoy and Will Damron, who are married to each other in real life. Both of them are excellent. I don’t think I would have liked the book as much had it not been for their skilful portrayal of these grey characters. Moreover, the podcast structure is produced excellently in the audio, making us feel like we are actually listening to one. If you want to try this novel and enjoy audiobooks, then you should definitely go for the audio version, as long as you are comfortable listening to multiple timelines.
All in all, this is a fairly entertaining popcorn thriller. It has its shares of highs and lows, but for the most part, I did have fun. As is common with thrillers nowadays, don't overthink the proceedings and just go with the flow. It is a slowburn story, so don’t expect pacey thrills.
Recommended to thriller readers who would enjoy an entertaining podcast + amnesia trope.
3.5 stars, rounding up for the audiobook.
My thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “Listen for the Lie”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Five years ago, Lucy had been suspected of murdering Savannah, but after there was no evidence to confirm the same, Lucy wasn’t arrested. However, as she doesn’t have any memories of that night, even she isn’t sure if she actually killed her best friend.
Now, the hit crime podcast “Listen for the Lie” has chosen to investigate Savannah’s murder for its new season, and all the old accusations are back. Lucy is divorced, jobless, and has to return to her hometown for her grandmother’s 80th birthday. Will podcast host Ben Owens be able to clear Lucy’s name, or will he confirm her worst suspicion about that night?
Lucy's first person updates us about what's happening in the small town after her return to celebrate her grandmother's eightieth birthday. The podcast interludes update us, through the third person interviews and through the podcaster's speculation, of what might have happened on the night of the murder. We also have another timeline of Lucy’s past with Savannah.
When you read such a storyline, you know that there are only two ways the book can go:
Either Lucy is innocent and gets her redemption at the end with the possible discovery of the true murderer, or she did commit the murder and is a pro at lying the heck out of the situation to save her skin.
Will you have the patience to “listen for the lie” and take a call on Lucy’s potential guilt?
Bookish Yays:
😍 Lucy’s grandmother Beverly is the only character in the book I could root for from start to end without any dip. Excellent character!
😍 There are many sarcastic and witty remarks that add a layer of fun to the serious story.
😍 The podcast format works quite well, especially in the audiobook. I’m not a fan of podcasts in real life; I have never even felt like hearing one. So this felt like I was eavesdropping on some gossipy neighbours. Over the top, but entertaining.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
😐 Lucy seems cocky, so she isn’t exactly a likeable character. But I feel that there are just three broad human reactions possible when accused of murder: defensiveness, offensiveness, or escapism. Lucy uses her brash persona to hide a lot of things. In that sense, she is a fabulous character. Her decision-making skills, though, are highly questionable.
😐 The amnesia trope has been done to death in contemporary thrillers, but I like how it was handled in this book. That said, Lucy is an unreliable narrator because of her memory issues, and the other characters are also unreliable because of the podcast interviews revealing only bits and pieces of the truth. In other words, a whole lot of unreliability here, though some of it is handled well.
😐 There were enough and regular twists to keep me hooked, but some of the turnarounds were outlandish.
😐 Lucy hears a creepy voice in her head, and this was very appealing for most of the way but after a point, it seemed forced into the plot.
😐 The ending left me with slightly mixed feelings. Liked certain parts, rolled my eyes at the rest.
Bookish Nays:
🙄 Same old thriller tropes: gaslighting, sexual harassment & abuse, alcoholic characters, amnesia, deliberate red herrings, unreliable narrator, unlikeable characters who are portrayed as one thing and turning out to be another. No novelty. Very formulaic. Even the culprit is guessable after a point as it’s the standard modus operandi of mysteries.
🙄 What’s wrong with the town? (Said to be Plumpton, Texas, but I hope it isn’t like this in real life.) It feels like the whole town has amnesia about certain characters. Moreover, everybody seems to be sleeping with everybody else without qualms.
🙄 The ad hoc changes in character behaviour didn’t appeal to me. The transition felt awkward. The police also seem to be nincompoops, not that we get to see much of them in the book.
🙄 There are many repeated words and phrases. This becomes even more apparent while hearing the book.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 9 hrs 18 min, is narrated by January LaVoy and Will Damron, who are married to each other in real life. Both of them are excellent. I don’t think I would have liked the book as much had it not been for their skilful portrayal of these grey characters. Moreover, the podcast structure is produced excellently in the audio, making us feel like we are actually listening to one. If you want to try this novel and enjoy audiobooks, then you should definitely go for the audio version, as long as you are comfortable listening to multiple timelines.
All in all, this is a fairly entertaining popcorn thriller. It has its shares of highs and lows, but for the most part, I did have fun. As is common with thrillers nowadays, don't overthink the proceedings and just go with the flow. It is a slowburn story, so don’t expect pacey thrills.
Recommended to thriller readers who would enjoy an entertaining podcast + amnesia trope.
3.5 stars, rounding up for the audiobook.
My thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “Listen for the Lie”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
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