5 stars

With an unreliable narrator, Listen For the Lie kept me guessing every step of the way. I didn't manage to work out the twist and I love it when that is the case.

The book is set in a small town with local drama and gossip, where the reader along with the main character (Lucy) must work out what's real, what's relevant and who killed Savvy. The book is fast paced with short chapters, and contains a snarky, hilarious and slightly unhinged main character, unreliable side characters, and the eccentric grandma (my favourite character!). I particularly enjoyed the transitions between podcasts and Lucy's point of view, and how through this we build a picture of what really happened.

If you enjoy a thriller with dark humour, feminist themes, and unhinged women I would highly recommend.

I loved every minute of this book and I'm excited to see what the author does next - I definitely welcome any recommendations of similar books!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

-3.5 stars
It’s been a long time, and I have been all too silent about this issue, but I’m here now, taking accountability and speaking my truth:

I’m not a true crime podcast girlie. I’m just not. I’m a podcast girlie but never in my life have I listened to a single true-crime podcast episode in its entirety. I started watching Mindhunter, a fictional account of actual true crimes and stomached all but two episodes. I can’t even tell you what compelled me to pick this one up except for the EXQUISITE cover. But here I am: I enjoyed this, probably just because “Listen for the Lie” is a novel about true-crime, podcasters and a woman society condemned to be a murderer, for people who don’t like true crime stories.

One of the reasons I have always been put off by this specific genre and way of storytelling is the questionable ethics that through Netflix’s Jeffrey Dahmer series have now become part of a wider discourse that rightly questions the way true-crime stories are unearthed, told, and circulated. The rather brilliant thing about Amy Tintera’s adult debut novel is that it manages to circumvent those issues and put a twist on what already feels like a formulaic genre, creating a fresh entry in the very saturated female slasher/woman at the centre of a murder/true-crime canon by centring the woman everyone suspects has murdered her best friends and only pretends to have forgotten everything about that night as the main character.

Yes, the amnesia trope is an old one, but the novel manages to not turn it into a stale piece of bread by constructing the narrative around the POV of Lucy, a deeply sarcastic, scarred, untrusting woman, who, five years after the murder of her best friend Savvy, has tried to move on, literally and figuratively, by leaving her Texan small-town life behind, moving to LA to start a new life. With the advent of the second season of a new successful true-crime podcast and its host, Ben, digging into her past in the hopes of solving the murder of Savvy, Lucy is forced to return to the place and people where everything began.

The narrative unfolds in short, snappy chapters that alternate between Lucy’s POV and transcripts from Ben’s podcast interviews with family members, friends, acquaintances of Lucy and other villagers. What spices things up is the little voice in Lucy’s head that, even after years of therapy, can’t be silenced and that continuously suggests numerous ways in which to kill the various people in her life, from her soon-to-be ex-boyfriend to her father to the man grocery shopping for avocados in aisle seven. Lucy’s missing memories from the night the murder took place are only gradually returning throughout the book and together with her VOICE, are responsible for keeping the readers guessing if maybe she did murder her best friend after all.

Aside from Lucy and Ben, who, due to their constant presence throughout the novel very much deserve to be called its main characters, there’s a stack of witnesses and potential suspects that continue cropping up here and there, making appearances on the podcast as well as in Lucy’s POVs once she’s back in the town she once called her home. Amy Tintera manages to juggle all of them, and every character feels relevant and crucial to the story. Most interesting to read aside from Lucy’s thoughts were the characters’ testimonies, as I was really engaged in trying to catch them red-handed in the act of lying.

While the overall mystery, the suspense arc, and the characters are handled well, the writing was at times just a wee bit too millennial for my tastes. The novel opens with Lucy getting fired, leading her to “making apology chicken”.

“Monday morning, I run extra miles on the treadmill in the gym at Nathan’s complex, and then head to the grocery store because I need to tell my feelings to chocolate. Lots of chocolate.”

“Tiny houses are very hip. Millennials love them.”
“You’re not a Millennial.”
She shrugs once, a shrug that would make Arya Stark proud.

“You read romance novels?”
“Well, no, these were my first, but maybe I should read more because they were very exciting. I liked the one with the couple that pretended to be married best.”
“Why?”
“Apparently I enjoy a good fake-marriage trope.”

I mean, it’s not bad, but I can smell the millennial vibes coming off these passages from MILES.

Besides being an entertaining true crime murder mystery mashup, the novel tackles themes such as domestic abuse, sexual assault, rape, gender-based violence, and the portrayal of all these topics through and in the media, which it manages to do successfully, with one exception:

Lucy and her grandma (who is a scene stealer, by the way!) are weighing Lucy’s options, discussing the pros and cons of working with Ben to solve the murder of Savvy. Lucy is reluctant to do so, but her grandma is of a different opinion:

“People believe men. Especially men who look like that. If he says you didn’t do it – if he even casts enough doubt – people will actually believe him. Look at that Ronan Farrow fellow. No one believed that movie man assaulted all those girls until he said it was true.”

By “that Ronan Farrow fellow” she is, of course, referring to the American journalist Ronan Farrow, who won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for his investigative reporting on allegations of sexual abuse against Harvey Weinstein (“that movie man”). Tintera packs a whole lot of stuff into this passage, including pretty privilege, the innocent-until-proven-guilty privilege every white, cis, straight man is afforded solely based on who he is, references to a real-life abuse case, and how powerful men have it much easier to swing the opinion of the public given their gender and status. It’s just a bit… flat. While “people believe men” is certainly a true statement in many cases, it felt a bit like the author was trying to go for an inspirational feminist truism power sentence, but maybe I’m just in a cranky mood.

Overall, I would say that Tintera handles all the topics mentioned above without being too on the nose and without patronising her characters who have suffered from abuse. No idea what this author is going to turn out next, but I’d be up for another adult standalone novel situated in the same or similar genre if it’s as creative and subverting as this one.

After reading this, you should watch that: Promising Young Woman (2023)

As always, thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for granting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Listen for the Lie" by Amy Tintera is a gripping and darkly hilarious mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The story follows Lucy Chase, a woman who is accused of murdering her best friend but has no memory of the crime. As Lucy grapples with the possibility that she may be a murderer, a true-crime podcaster named Ben Owens decides to investigate the case, bringing new revelations and uncovering long-buried secrets.
The character of Lucy is a standout in the novel, with her acerbic wit and bold attitude making her a compelling protagonist. Her complex feelings of guilt, doubt, and confusion are portrayed with depth and nuance, drawing the reader into her world and making them question her innocence. The dynamic between Lucy and her grandmother, Beverley, provides moments of humour and heartwarming sincerity, adding layers to the story.
Using transcripts from the podcast to reveal details about the crime and the interviews with the residents of Plumpton added a layer of intrigue and mystery to the narrative. The novel's pacing is spot-on, with short chapters and snappy dialogue keeping the story moving briskly and building tension as Lucy and Ben delve deeper into the investigation.
Tintera expertly weaves together humour and seriousness, touching on important themes such as domestic violence, PTSD, and obsession while maintaining an engaging and entertaining tone. The resolution of the mystery is both thrilling and satisfying, with unexpected twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end.
Overall, "Listen for the Lie" is a brilliant and captivating read that enthralled me from start to finish. Amy Tintera's storytelling is vivid and engaging, with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps the reader hooked. This is a book that deserves to be on everyone's TBR list, and I eagerly look forward to more from this talented author. If you enjoy a compelling mystery with a touch of humour and heart, this book is a must-read.

This was a gripping read, I thought the characters were intriguing and I'm going to keep an eye out for more from this author.

Oh I loved this … having read / listened to a few podcast related books recently you’re a was up there with them !

I want my own Grandma Beverly 🫶

Engaging and so funny - great way to tackle the subject of “ whodunnit “ brilliant thank you netgalley x

This was so good as it kept me guessing right the way through about whether Lucy was guilty or not. I really enjoyed the use of the podcast elements to help move the story along and introduce new information

I found this to be an enjoyable read but it does require suspension of disbelief. I loved the way a podcast is exploring what happened five years ago when Savvy was murdered, I also loved the way Lucy (who is strongly suspected of committing the murder) is going back to her hometown and is going to have to confront the past that she can't remember. I struggled with the way it never really made sense why Lucy was suspected from the start - her own family thought she was guilty and yet she had suffered a head injury and there seemed to be little sympathy even from them. I also thought there were too many reveals that were unnecessary throughout the book. Having said that I did enjoy the ending and I adored Lucy's Grandma - the scenes with her were my favourites. I would recommend this one and I'll look out for more books by this author in the future.

Could not feed back as it was archived about a week after me getting it.

Apologies.

Perhaps there should be a warning to readers when they are approved for a book that there is a time deadline to read it by.

The plot is as deep and dark as it gets, multi-layered with 'who knew what when?' as the strands come together and the finer details get filled in. This is an absolutely compelling, gripping book full of mystery and suspense. Only a few authors can write deeply involving psychological drama of the very highest quality.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this story, which felt like a fresher entry into the VERY saturated ‘female killer’ genre. I found the main character somewhat difficult to get a read on for a lot of the book but luckily that didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment

Lucy is a sarcastic, complex, broken, scarred woman, and Tintera writes her character so well. The 5 years since Savvy died have not treated her kindly, nor have the people in her life.

The story is told from Lucy’s POV, interviews for the podcast, and flashbacks to 5 years ago when Lucy’s life changed forever. A blood-stained dress and a lack of memories force Lucy doubt herself and abandon her life in Plumpton, until she has to return for her Grandma’s birthday, and the truth start to reveal itself.

The angelic, innocent Savvy described by the guests on the podcasts is not the true, rough-around-the-edges Savvy. The way the author described the gentle and kind version of Savvy before revealing the real Savvy that Lucy loved shows that there are two sides to every story and that people are complex.

The lies and half-truths throughout this book will give the read trust issues, and will result in them questioning everything they hear, like Lucy has to. Lucy has to learn to trust herself seeing as she’s quickly learning that she can’t trust anyone around her.

This was great and funny too! I loved the podcast elements, it was well done and I could tell the author herself listens to true crime. I thought that the plot was decent too, I didn't see where it was going to near to the end which often isn't the case.
Such a fun read!

Ooo, this was SO good! What a compulsive read.

Lucy lives in LA, having moved from her small town Texas home after her best friend was murdered. No-one was ever convicted and the local gossips are convinced Lucy did it, as are many of her nearest and dearest.

Years later, Lucy find herself the subject of the new series of a successful podcast. Agreeing to take part to finally find out what happened that night, the truth starts to be uncovered.

I honestly couldn’t out this down, it was such a page turner. I’ve read a few fiction books over the last few years that have played with using the boom in true crime podcasts in the narrative and I really enjoy it.

I do think the podcaster himself, Ben, could have been slightly better developed, I didn’t feel like I fully knew who he was. Lucy grandma was an absolute highlight, what a character!

I’d really recommend this to anyone looking for a page turner or who is a true crime fan.

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera is an excellent thriller.

It is character driven, told from main character and the podcast view. I love multiply POV's and it is always a plus in my book.
The chapters were short, compact, fast paced and very deep at the same time.
The main character was an unreliable witness but it was kept to the reasonable level.
I also liked that there was a bit of romance which was nicely woven into the story.
The level of dark humor was superbly done, always spot on. I loved it.

I am giving this book 5 stars so I think that says it all.

Lucy Chase murdered her best friend, at least that’s what everyone thinks, including the voice in Lucy’s head, even though she remembers nothing, and the police can’t prove it.

Listen For the Lie by Amy Tintera is a darkly hilarious mystery in which Lucy reluctantly returns to her hometown for her grandmothers birthday at the same time as a popular true crime podcaster, Ben Owens, decides to open an investigation in an effort to solve the five year old case.

Lucy is a fantastic character, and carries the book effortlessly with her first person narrative. I delighted in her acerbic wit and bold attitude. Not surprisingly, Lucy always has her guard up, except around her grandmother, who is equally outspoken. Their bond is a delight, and Beverley nearly steals every scene they share. It’s Beverley who convinces Lucy to cooperate with Ben.

Transcripts from the podcast are used to provide details about the crime, and the interviews reveal new pieces of the puzzle. The residents of Plumpton have plenty of secrets and I enjoyed how the mystery played out. It’s not a complex plot but there is plenty of drama and intrigue, and separating gossip from truth to determine what really happened the night Savannah was murdered is a challenge.

Despite all the humour Tintera does touch on serious issues including domestic violence, PTSD, and obsession. The tension develops well as Lucy and Ben grow closer to learning the truth, and there is an exciting and satisfying climax. Short chapters and snappy dialogue support the fast pace of the novel.

A fun, quirky and compulsive mystery, I found Listen For the Lie to be a delightful read.

When I first realised this book as mainly about a podcast I wasn’t happy as imagined a re-work of lots of others books on the market at the moment. Well I couldn’t have been more wrong. It’s refreshing and funny with a very clever plot and some of the most likeable characters I’ve come across.

I really loved this podcast thriller, when I saw the tagline that said ‘What if you thought you murdered your best friend? And if everyone else thought so too? And what if the truth doesn’t matter?’ it had my attention straight away. In this book we follow Lucy who returns to her hometown for her grandmothers’ birthday. Lucy had previously left town and moved to L.A after she was found wandering the streets covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood, with no recollection of what happened that night. Now a true crime podcaster named Ben is in town and he is trying to solve the murder of Savvy. This book was so fun, and I really enjoyed how it all unfolded- the reader going along with Lucy trying to piece together the events of that night. Such a great thriller and if you love true crime podcasts, I think you will really enjoy this.

Thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for sending me this book to read and review.

I enjoyed reading Listen for the lie. 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 five 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?

Overall, Listen for the Lie is an intriguing, entertaining, and quick read that makes you wonder throughout if Lucy really is the killer and leaves you as blind as she is for most of the way through the book.

I recommend it to anyone addicted to great dark comedy and riveting thrillers. I look forward to reading more works by Amy Tintera.

I thank NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I just want everyone to read it.

I’m not going to talk about the plot, because it’s almost irrelevant at points. The author could write my council tax bill and I would love it.

I read this in one sitting and have left my house in disarray but it was completely worth it.

Please let there be more!

My hugest thanks to Melissa at @bantambooksuk for sending me this Gem! It’s been highly anticipated and definitely hasn’t disappointed me.

Lucy has spent so long unsure of what happened to her best friend. Everyone from her hometown think she is guilty of murder. However, Lucy has never retraced her steps or put effort into trying to remember.

I was pulled into this one straight away. I knew as soon as @amytintera had hooked me that this is a book, I wouldn’t be putting this down.

I did devour this in one afternoon sitting. I loved it! At different points of reading, I have been suspicious of everyone in the pages. Did I predict how it would end? Absolutely not!

I loved that the author was able to make me feel as though I was watching this play out in front of me. This is vividly portrayed in a way that keeps you turning page after page. This is definitely a brilliant book.

I loved how this is written, we get other perspectives through the podcast. Lucy’s nan is just hilarious! Definitely needed her in this one. She is quality gold for moments which make you laugh as a reader.

The pacing of this was perfect. Tintera was able to place snippets which keep the reader guessing throughout this. We are taken right back, we get to experience Lucy trying to remember things about that awful night.

I absolutely loved this book. This is one of those books which deserves to be on the TBR and should be on bestseller lists. Everything about this is brilliant and I am a converted Amy Tintera fan! I will absolutely be awaiting more books to read! Hopefully Ben and Lucy will appear in future books. I’m not ready to accept it’s over.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟