By: Amy Tintera
Narrators: January LaVoy; Will Damron
ISBN: 9781250332103
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Celadon Books
Publication Date: 03/05/2024
Format: Audiobook
My Rating: 5 Stars (ALC)
"A world-class whodunit."
—Stephen King
“An extremely successful high-wire act, balancing between dark comedy and darker thrills.”
—Alex Michaelides, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Laugh-out-loud funny, thrilling and twisty...”
—Liane Moriarty, #1 New York Times bestselling author
What if you thought you murdered your best friend? And if everyone else thought so too? And what if the truth doesn't matter?
After Lucy is found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood, everyone thinks she is a murderer. Lucy and Savvy were the golden girls of their small Texas town: pretty, smart, and enviable. Lucy married a dream guy with a big ring and an even bigger new home. Savvy was the social butterfly loved by all, and if you believe the rumors, especially popular with the men in town. It’s been years since that horrible night, a night Lucy can’t remember anything about, and she has since moved to LA and started a new life.
But now the phenomenally huge hit true-crime podcast "Listen for the Lie," and its too-good looking host Ben Owens, have decided to investigate Savvy’s murder for the show’s second season. Lucy is forced to return to the place she vowed never to set foot in again to solve her friend’s murder, even if she is the one who did it.
The truth is out there if we just listen.
My Review
New York Times bestselling author Amy Tintera of young adult novels has hit the ground running with her smashing new adult thriller, LISTEN FOR THE LIE.
Darkly comic, fun, fascinating, fast-paced, and full of suspense and twists when a young woman is left with the thought she murdered her best friend years ago, but what if she didn't? A true crime podcaster enters to set the record straight in this electrifying whodunit thriller!
Characters: Oh, and did I mention a KILLER cast that will have you laughing out loud, with snarky dialogue, especially with Grandma (think Janet Evanovich's Grandma Mazur in the Stephanie Plum Series)—I loved her!
Audiobook: I listened to the audiobook narrated by my two absolute favorites, January LaVoy and Will Damron! What a dynamic duo—They nailed it and made the characters come alive! I listened in one day; it was unputdownable—I highly recommend the audiobook!
Years ago, Lucy was best friends with Savvy in their small Texas town. They were smart, pretty, and had their dreams. They had each other's backs.
Then, years later, Lucy married a guy everyone thought was the BEST, with a big house, cars, and lifestyle. But soon, that relationship turned toxic and dangerous. Savvy did not like him and wanted Lucy to break free of him.
However, everyone is shocked the night of a local wedding when Savvy is found brutally murdered, and Lucy has blood on her and does not remember what happened.
Since that horrible night, Lucy moved to LA, started a new life, and is an author. She keeps that under the radar with a different name.
Now, it is her grandmother's birthday, and she is returning to her hometown, where she swore she would never return.
With the return, she faces much friction, and people still blame her. Her family is highly dysfunctional but hilarious! Her parent's affairs, keeping up appearances, and the grandmother keeps things spicy. Especially, as I mentioned, the grandmother who moved from her big house to a tiny house —and she loves her cocktails. What a town!
Enter Ben Owens, a hugely successful true-time podcaster with a show, "Listen for the Lie." With his good looks, charm, and investigative skills, he wants to re-open the investigation into Savvy's murder.
Maybe this is not such a bad idea as Lucy originally thought. Could Ben be the one to help her find the real killer, and what happened that horrible night so long ago when she lost her best friend? Plus, maybe a love interest?
Who killed Savvy and why? You must read to find out. Whydunit and Whodunit.
Let me say, I LOVED LISTEN FOR THE LIE! This may be one of my favorites thus far in 2024. It is crackling fun, and the narrators keep me laughing with their funny banter and wit. Well written, fresh, and clever. Loving this author's style, and it is perfect for true crime buffs and those who enjoy crime podcasts.
Wickedly delicious!
However, the cherry on top is the CHARACTERS. What a cast! Do yourself a favor and get this book on your TBR list. You can thank me later. Out March 5, 2024
PS: Loving all these new YA adult authors turning adult thrillers with most recently ones I have listened/read Amy Tintera, Kate Marshall Alice, and Ashley Elston.
Many thanks to Macmillian Audio and NetGalley for a gifted ALC and intro to this exciting new author for me in exchange for an honest review.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: March 5, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Praise
“Listen for the Lie is laugh-out-loud funny, thrilling and twisty, edgy and scary, but also surprisingly sweet. I loved it!”
- Liane Moriarty, #1 NYT bestselling author of Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, Apples Never Fall
“Listen for the Lie is a page-turner from the first sentence to the very last. In addition to being a world-class whodunit, full of carefully doled-out twists, Lucy is a terrific character, feisty and funny and, it turns out, brave as hell. It’s great fun. Readers will rip through this one.”
― Stephen King
“Original and deliciously dark with a wicked sense of humour. An addictive page-turner that will keep you guessing until the end.”
- Alice Feeney, NYT bestselling author of Rock Paper Scissors
“Every so often, a book comes along that takes you for a ride--now buckle up, because Amy Tintera has written it. Listen for the Lie explores the cruelest kind of world through the eyes of a woman whose grit is only outmatched by her razor-sharp wit. This bitingly funny and subversive thriller is one of the freshest and fiercest you'll read this year.”
- Courtney Summers, New York Times bestselling author of Sadie
“A singular voice that explodes off the page, Amy Tintera's writing flashes with sharp comebacks and pointed commentary as she expertly knits her web of secrets and small town lies. Hands down the most fun I've had reading about murder.”
- Chandler Baker, New York Times bestselling author of The Husbands
“Amy Tintera’s highly compelling voice grips you from the opening line and won’t let you go. Listen For The Lie is an extremely successful high-wire act, balancing between dark comedy and darker thrills. A delight from start to finish.”
- Alex Michaelides, bestselling author of The Silent Patient and The Fury
About the Author
Photo Credit: Stephanie Girard
Amy 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 NYT bestselling 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 in early 2024 by Celadon/Macmillan.
