What do you think?
Rate this book
השקרים שמספרים לנו
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2024), Nominee for Readers' Favorite Audiobook (2024)מה אם היה נדמה לך שאולי רצחת את החברה הכי טובה שלך? ומה אם כולם סביבך היו בטוחים שעשית את זה?
לוסי וסַאוִוי היו הבחורות האלה שכולן רצו להיות כמותן בעיירה הקטנה שלהן בטקסס: יפות, חכמות, מעוררות קינאה. לוסי התחתנה עם נסיך חלומות וקיבלה טבעת יהלום גדולה ובית גדול אפילו יותר. סאווי דילגה מחבר לחבר מבלי להתחייב לאף אחד. כולם אהבו אותה – בייחוד הגברים בעיירה, על פי השמועות. אבל אחרי שלוסי נמצאת משוטטת ברחובות, מכוסה בדמה של החברה הכי טובה שלה, סאווי, כולם בטוחים שהיא רוצחת.
שנים חלפו מאז הלילה הנורא ההוא, לילה שלוסי לא זוכרת שום פרט ממנו. היא עברה מאז ללוס אנג'לס ופתחה דף חדש. אלא שאז בן אוֹוֶנס, המגיש השווה הרבה יותר מדי של הפודקאסט הסופר פופולרי, השקרים שמספרים לנו, מתחיל לחקור את הרצח של סאווי לקראת העונה השנייה שלו. לוסי נאלצת לשוב אל המקום שנדרה לא לחזור אליו לעולם כדי לפתור את תעלומת הרצח של חברתה הטובה ביותר, גם אם יתברר שהיא הרוצחת.
האמת נמצאת שם, בין כל השקרים שמספרים לנו. צריך רק להקשיב.
לוסי וסַאוִוי היו הבחורות האלה שכולן רצו להיות כמותן בעיירה הקטנה שלהן בטקסס: יפות, חכמות, מעוררות קינאה. לוסי התחתנה עם נסיך חלומות וקיבלה טבעת יהלום גדולה ובית גדול אפילו יותר. סאווי דילגה מחבר לחבר מבלי להתחייב לאף אחד. כולם אהבו אותה – בייחוד הגברים בעיירה, על פי השמועות. אבל אחרי שלוסי נמצאת משוטטת ברחובות, מכוסה בדמה של החברה הכי טובה שלה, סאווי, כולם בטוחים שהיא רוצחת.
שנים חלפו מאז הלילה הנורא ההוא, לילה שלוסי לא זוכרת שום פרט ממנו. היא עברה מאז ללוס אנג'לס ופתחה דף חדש. אלא שאז בן אוֹוֶנס, המגיש השווה הרבה יותר מדי של הפודקאסט הסופר פופולרי, השקרים שמספרים לנו, מתחיל לחקור את הרצח של סאווי לקראת העונה השנייה שלו. לוסי נאלצת לשוב אל המקום שנדרה לא לחזור אליו לעולם כדי לפתור את תעלומת הרצח של חברתה הטובה ביותר, גם אם יתברר שהיא הרוצחת.
האמת נמצאת שם, בין כל השקרים שמספרים לנו. צריך רק להקשיב.
382 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2024
28987 people are currently reading
393442 people want to read
About the author
Amy Tintera
17 books6,964 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61,234 reviews
October 6, 2025
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.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter
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
December 3, 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!
February 2, 2026
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
Check out all my reviews on:
The Book Review Crew Blog
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.
April 23, 2024
this book is about a small town who all fuck each other.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
January 7, 2025
⋆˙ . ✦ 2-2.5 stars ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
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.
'm sure many people will enjoy this but it unfortunately didn't impress me much. Meh.🤷♀️
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
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.
'm sure many people will enjoy this but it unfortunately didn't impress me much. Meh.🤷♀️
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Amy Tintera for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 💐
February 20, 2026
Womp. Womp.
Started out as a 4⭐️ and just hard nose-dived from there. Everyone is out here sexing everyone in this podunk town that I just forgot I was reading a mystery/thriller book. Seriously, not a single character did not screw another character. Even grandma was out getting her bits banged out by randos in this town….but she lives in a tiny home, so she’s a “cool” grandma.
It’s so cringe. All of it. The terrible storyline, the weird “ghost” of Savvy showing up to egg on the protagonist to “kill, kill, kill,” the lackluster podcast, the awful and nonstop sarcasm, stereotypes upon stereotypes…. This was not good. This is book about sex and by the way, someone gets murdered.…but let’s get back to the sex. Lol! I’ve been punked.
The author writes that this is her “leap of faith” into adult fiction after writing YA. Lol! Guuuurrrlll, more sex does not equate to adult fiction.
In this case, this leap was a misstep. Jump back.
1.5⭐️ for the beginning.
Started out as a 4⭐️ and just hard nose-dived from there. Everyone is out here sexing everyone in this podunk town that I just forgot I was reading a mystery/thriller book. Seriously, not a single character did not screw another character. Even grandma was out getting her bits banged out by randos in this town….but she lives in a tiny home, so she’s a “cool” grandma.
It’s so cringe. All of it. The terrible storyline, the weird “ghost” of Savvy showing up to egg on the protagonist to “kill, kill, kill,” the lackluster podcast, the awful and nonstop sarcasm, stereotypes upon stereotypes…. This was not good. This is book about sex and by the way, someone gets murdered.…but let’s get back to the sex. Lol! I’ve been punked.
The author writes that this is her “leap of faith” into adult fiction after writing YA. Lol! Guuuurrrlll, more sex does not equate to adult fiction.
In this case, this leap was a misstep. Jump back.
1.5⭐️ for the beginning.
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.
January 12, 2025
this should’ve been a reddit post.
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
July 12, 2024
This was a solid thriller. I couldn’t put it down and it kept me guessing until the end, which is really all I need from a book like this. I will say, this book was 100% a classic who-done-it mystery instead of the psychological thriller I was expecting, which was a little disappointing. I enjoyed it nonetheless
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!
Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta
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
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
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.
August 4, 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
February 18, 2026
rtc
___
Last thriller was so good that all I wanna do is read thrillers. I've heard the best stuff about this book, so hopefully it's good 🧍
___
Last thriller was so good that all I wanna do is read thrillers. I've heard the best stuff about this book, so hopefully it's good 🧍
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⭐️
April 7, 2025
Ehhhh kompletnie nie w moim guście
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! 🤞🏾❤️
August 27, 2024
The audio was so so good
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
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
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
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61,234 reviews