LISTEN FOR THE LIE – AMY TINTERA
Book Publish Date: 05 March 2024
This book was a gift from my husband for our anniversary, and like a true book hoarder, I didn’t pick it up for four months. What changed? A TikTok girl practically shouted at me through my screen, “If there’s one book you finish before the year ends, it’s this one.” So, I did what anyone with a towering TBR and zero self-control would do, I read it. In one night. And I’d say I didn’t just fly through it, I zoomed through it.
She wasn’t wrong. Though, based on her description, I expected something like How to Kill Men and Get Away With It. I thought I’d be following a knife-wielding antiheroine. Instead, what I got was way better.
What hooked me immediately was how the author made me believe, truly believe, that Lucy didn’t know what happened. Even when we got flashbacks, there was no breadcrumb trail. I trusted her. If she knew she did it, I felt like she’d own up to it. The narrative held me, not through overdone text messages or internet threads, but something fresh, a podcast. And I loved that.
Speaking of loving things: the grandmother. The real MVP. Never once batted an eye in trusting Lucy. Even when her parents were out there making their daughter look even more suspicious, the grandma stood her ground. Actually, she reminded me of Sissy from A Good Place to Hide a Body — sharp, funny, and an emotional anchor in a thriller. (If you liked Sissy, definitely read my review here — she deserved her own spotlight.)
Listen for the Lie isn’t your traditional, overdone thriller. It doesn’t rely on tired plot twists or trendy formats. It’s refreshing, especially for someone who’s been elbow-deep in twisty thrillers. It is twisty, don’t get me wrong, and the ending made me gasp. I’d put money on it, you won’t guess the murderer. And if you’re a true crime podcast addict? The audiobook is practically calling your name.
Now for the critique. As much as I loved this book, the ending did feel a bit rushed. Like, this isn’t a movie, you’re not working with a 90-minute budget. It’s a book. You’ve got room. I wanted more. The last few chapters zoomed past just when I wanted them to breathe. And Ben, our friendly neighborhood podcaster, he definitely picked a side. Even though the final phone call should have made things clear, it felt like something was missing in that last chapter. The podcast was supposed to be unbiased, but let’s be real, he made a call. A big one.
Still, the way the podcast peeled back the layers of the village and its people? 10/10. Wish someone would do that to the people in my village. I’d tune in.
Mood: Clever & Witty
Plot Twist: The Blog 
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