I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera Published by Random House UK on March 5, 2024
Genres: Thriller
Pages: 336
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Netgalley
Goodreads
What if you thought you murdered your best friend? And if everyone else thought so too? And what if the truth doesn't matter?
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. But after Lucy is found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood, everyone thinks she is a murderer.
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.
Let me start off by saying I am a big fan of this writing style. It was engaging and had me hooked from page 1. I can honestly say I wasn’t bored at all. The chapters are short and snappy, making it easy to get through the book.
I really liked Lucy and her grandmother. They are both so funny and snarky; they made everything very entertaining.
The novel also had a lot of themes that it focused on. Specifically, it tackles how domestic abuse, gender-based violence, and sexual assault are framed bythe media.
But … I had some issues with this story.
Solving this cold case was not a priority in this story. The stakes were so low, and there was nothing to drive it to center stage. The police procedures also made no sense; you have to actively suspend your logical sense. What made it even more weird was the romance. Seriously, why was it there?
I have mixed feelings about this novel. It had a lot of not-great parts to it. However, it was an addictive read and I finished it in one sitting. For that reason, I’m giving it 3 stars. This is not to say that it is a good mystery. It is not. However, addictive and engrossing novels still deserve recognition.
