Reviews with content warning for Violence - Listen for the Lie

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

124 reviews

juliaureads's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Talk about a page turner! Tintera’s conversational style and frankly hilarious main character kept me entertained throughout the story. I loved the Texas setting and the little nods toward Texas culture, and really didn’t guess the ending until it was right in front of me.

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saramariebt's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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bookdragonkatie's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I enjoyed this a lot. I didn’t expect to finish it in a day, but it definitely peaked my interest. I got a little confused trying to keep track of the some of the characters, especially if they were really only used for the podcast portions of the story, but overall I thought this was well done. I think I’ll probably pick it up again to see if I can find the clues; I definitely suspected just about every character at some point in the book! I recommend this one if you’re looking for an interesting who-done-it, particularly as an audiobook to really get the podcast vibe!

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spellbindingtomes's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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rochelleisreading's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

2.0

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ymrana's review against another edition

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funny mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

I listened to the audiobook version and it was hands down one of the most enjoyable audiobooks I've ever listened to.

I loved the story. I love mysteries, true crime podcasts, and for all its flaws my state of Texas. This book was funny and dark and mysterious with a flawed protagonist. A quick moving story that kept me hooked in from the very first page. Highly recommend.

Looking forward to more of Amy Tintera.

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minimicropup's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny hopeful mysterious sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I went into this expecting formulaic and predictable. It was so good - wit, darkness, and heartbreaking moments, all with a fun cast of characters.

Energy: Diverting. Defiant. Expressive.

Scene: 🇺🇸 Fictional town of Plumpton, Texas.

Perspective: Our main character is in their late twenties, with a string of failed relationships and job losses. A new podcast exploring their role in the death of their best friend five years ago isn’t helping things. They return to the town where it all happened and where the podcast is taking place at their beloved grandmother’s urging.

🐩 Tail Wags: The characters and their dynamics. How the podcast element is handled. The slightly unhinged romances. Fine-tuning the plot so it’s like a popcorn thriller, but then it hits in the feels.

🤔 Random Thoughts:

The podcast felt like a real one – like a CBC investigation or Wondery style production

I love diverse settings in books, like a tiny house! I love when we just get normal middle class homes in books too.

An amnesia trope that works! I don’t really like amnesia tropes, but I think because it doesn’t take itself so seriously (like, other characters are skeptical) while acknowledging what trauma-related amnesia really is and what it looks like.

Short chapters and perfect pacing.

You know how mysterious cold cases irl have those details that could mean absolutely nothing, or could be a major clue? This story captured that dynamic. Both from the investigative/podcast side and from our MC trying to recall what happened.

----

🤓 Reader Role: Insider to Lucy’s thoughts, almost like she’s talking to us directly. Also the podcast audience. As we get snippets of the podcast investigation, we get ahead of or behind the other characters’ knowledge, depending on when they’ve listened to the episode.

🗺️ World-Building: Immersive and set not just with detail but with dialogue that is witty and sarcastic but also real-sounding (including the podcast snippets and interviews).

🔥 Fuel: Did Lucy kill her friend, Savvy? If so, why? If not, who did? Can Lucy trust those who seem to support her? Is she unhinged, mentally ill, or overstressed?

📖 Cred: Plausible realism.

Mood Reading Match-Up:

Beer. whiskey. AC cold. Crickets. TV and laughter downstairs. Podcast intro music. Summer heat. Humidity. Dirt roads.
Amnesia + whodunnit cold case
Romantic suspense and who to trust

Content Heads-Up: Murder. Potential false accusation. Intrusive thoughts. Infidelity. Domestic abuse (mental, physical). Violence (brawl, rage). Sexual content (consenting, role-playing, intoxicated). Misogyny. Gaslighting. Traumatic memory loss, blackouts. Sexual assault. Alcohol use. Alcoholism.

Rep: Latina, White, and Black American. Dark, pale, and ambiguous skin tones. Cisgender. Heterosexual. Lesbian.

📚 Format: Library Digital

My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶

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yvo_about_books's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.25

Finished reading: June 5th 2024

"Some people will never believe you no matter how hard you explain yourself. Trust me, there's no pleasing people. If they're determined to think the worst of you, they will."

I admit that in a way I was a bit afraid to pick up this title... Hyped books and me don't usually get along, and there has been a LOT of hype around Listen For The Lie. I've enjoyed her writing in the past though and I was absolutely intrigued by the blurb and podcast angle, so I ended up giving in anyway. I'm so glad I did now, because I ended up having an excellent time reading this story! I definitely understand why it is so popular. Snappy writing, engaging plot and a lot of messed up characters... This was without doubt a highly engaging and ultimately twisted ride, and I simply couldn't stop reading. Sure, the majority of the characters have significant flaws and not all of them are likeable. Sure, there is so much cheating going on that it just isn't credible anymore (seriously, why do so many characters seem to be sleeping around all the time?!). Sure, Lucy's toxic family and home situation makes you want to start hitting things. But somehow the story also makes you want to grab a bowl of popcorn and keep turning those pages to see just how much of a trainwreck it is going to be? There are also lots of twists and secrets involved, and I never did guess the full truth about it all. The unreliable narrator with Lucy is also done very well, as you are never sure if she did it or not until you are close to the end. Things can be said about the credibility of certain aspects of the plot and I wasn't a fan of all the cheating, but there is no doubt that Listen For The Lie has nailed the entertainment factor. I also loved the incorporation of the podcast episodes into the plot! All in all I can't deny that this story ended up living up to the hype for me.

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thewordlesspoet's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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enchantedfiction's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Listen for the Lie follows Lucy, a woman who has run from her past. 5 years prior, she was found walking on a road, covered in her best friend's blood. Obviously, this made her look guilty for Savvy's murder. But with not enough evidence to prove she did it, Lucy left her hometown in Texas for what she thought was for good. But it's been 5 years, her grandmother is asking her to come back, and more light has been shed on the cold case thanks to a true crime podcast. Lucy might not be completely ready to face her past, but she feels like she should get answers on what happened to Savvy, even if it means she'll find out she's a murderer. All you have to do is listen for the lie.

Listen for the Lie was my first Amy Tintera book, and it did not disappoint! This was such a great audio experience, and I literally listened to this during my son's nap time within 2 days. I needed to know what happened to Savvy! The narrators were absolutely wonderful, and I love that during the podcast sections, they used multiple voices like a true interview.

Now, into the actual parts of the story that drew me in:

I love having an unreliable first-person POV in books like this. Be it that they don't know what happened because of repressed memories or amnesia, or they are just trying to get the reader on their side. It makes everything feel tense. Lucy's internal dialogue throughout the story gives the reader reason to doubt her and question her motives, and I would argue she's not a super likable character, though I don't think she would be surprised with me saying so.

I love small town murder stories because in cold case stories, you know someone, or multiple someones, are hiding something. People talk and maybe don't realize they saw something that could be pivotal, and the pressure of the podcast makes things come to light.

I thought the pacing was done very well, and the story flowed nicely. The side characters were great in the ways they either made you love or hate them, and the reveal at the end was believable.

I will definitely be checking out more of Amy Tintera's books after this one, and would highly recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a good mystery/thriller and would encourage the audiobook because it's such a great experience!

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