Lucy has gone home to Plumpton, Texas... it's her grandmother’s birthday and she wants to be there despite knowing that nearly everyone in town believes she murdered her best friend, Savannah, five years ago. Ben Owens, a true-crime podcaster, is also in town to interview Lucy’s family and friends about the murder of Savannah Harper, who was described as “just the sweetest girl you ever met.”. She died from repeated blows to the head. Lucy was found later covered in Savannah's blood, with no memory of what happened. She was...and is...someone that carries many secrets, and this has not made her popular with the people of this Texas town. When they speak about her, which seems to be often, they always point out that she was always violent, secretive, and difficult. Ben thinks there is more to the story than what he's heard, and he wants to tell Lucy’s story, not more small-town gossip. He has discovered new evidence and has coaxed some new interviews that causes the town's residents to begin to question if Lucy is actually guilty. In the meantime, Lucy and Ben draw closer and she knows that to have any future with handsome Ben she has to finally face the truth of her past and find who had murdered her friend. Most of the story is told from Lucy’s point of view, which lets us learn about her different "layers" and more of her story. Now we can begin to understand just how wrong everyone has been. The story dwells on and shows how harmful and hurtful the prejudices of any size town can be and how those who don’t fit society's mold or idea of what is right or acceptable, are often misunderstood and tagged with the wrong 'label". In today's world, information is available almost instantly in a variety of ways and means. This story reminds us that we must be very careful to sift through the layers and be sure we have found the truth before making judgements. ( )

Despite an intriguing premise, I rapidly lost interest in this book. Lucy, although never indicted, is strongly suspected of killing her friend, Savannah. Lucy returns to the scene of the crime, a small Texas town, where her past is revisited on a podcast. While she maintains amnesia at the time of the killing, many suspect her and are happy to tell all they know to Ben, the handsome podcaster. So much is predictable and the homicidal thoughts that race through her head become tiresome. ( )

If you're going to read only one book featuring a true- crime podcast, make it Listen for the Lie. The novel is Amy Tintera's debut in the adult fiction realm. Lucy's hometown, even her parents, have decided she is guilty of murdering her best friend. Lucy relocates and pretends everything is fine until she's the subject of a popular podcast. Follow the interviews to a stunning conclusion.
"Most of us don't change our minds once we're settled on a version of events." ( )

In a Nutshell: A slow-burn mystery-thriller that contains plenty of snark and suspense but misses out on character development and logic. Twisty and silly at the same time. Still, it could work well as long as you know how contemporary thrillers work. Take off the thinking cap to enjoy it better.

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Plot Preview:

Five years ago, Lucy had been suspected of murdering Savannah, but after there was no evidence to confirm the same, Lucy wasn’t arrested. However, as she doesn’t have any memories of that night, even she isn’t sure if she actually killed her best friend.
Now, the hit crime podcast “Listen for the Lie” has chosen to investigate Savannah’s murder for its new season, and all the old accusations are back. Lucy is divorced, jobless, and has to return to her hometown for her grandmother’s 80th birthday. Will podcast host Ben Owens be able to clear Lucy’s name, or will he confirm her worst suspicion about that night?
Lucy's first person updates us about what's happening in the small town after her return to celebrate her grandmother's eightieth birthday. The podcast interludes update us, through the third person interviews and through the podcaster's speculation, of what might have happened on the night of the murder. We also have another timeline of Lucy’s past with Savannah.

When you read such a storyline, you know that there are only two ways the book can go:
Either Lucy is innocent and gets her redemption at the end with the possible discovery of the true murderer, or she did commit the murder and is a pro at lying the heck out of the situation to save her skin.
Will you have the patience to “listen for the lie” and take a call on Lucy’s potential guilt?


Bookish Yays:
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From the very first sentence, this story was a page-turner. Filled with humor, wittiness, mystery, and contentious characters. The story had enough mystery and twist to be captivating and to keep me guessing till the very end. This is a classic whodunit story with a twist of humor. ( )