Editorial note: I received a copy of Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera. All opinions are my own.
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera is one of the most entertaining thrillers I’ve read. Highly recommend!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, of all the genres I read, thrillers are the most hit or miss. But I never really love them—I either think they’re good enough or I downright do not like them. However, Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera might make me a lover of thrillers. This one is super good.
There’s an unreliable protagonist at play, but she 100% knows this. Did she murder her best friend? She doesn’t know because of memory loss.
Yes, this all sounds so familiar. But how this aspect is written is so unique and interesting. And bonus, for once, the thriller woman protagonist is not an alcoholic, in fact, she’s a lightweight. So all the overused thrillers tropes are given a fresh spin and it’s works so well.
What’s the Story About
Lucy is found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood. She has no memory of the night, and while residents of her small Texas town believe she murdered her friend, she’s never formally charged. Lucy escapes to LA and tries to remain anonymous, but is always haunted by that night.
Years later, a true crime podcast takes a closer look at the case, and in doing so, Lucy is thrust back into the spotlight. She is forced to return to the place she never wanted to, in an effort to finally find out what happened that night. And if she is in fact the murderer.
Entertaining Prose
So reading the synopsis, you would think this is written in an extremely serious and dire way. But actually, Lucy is pretty funny with her observations. She’s quite sarcastic and witty, and as a result, really makes this story engaging and highly entertaining.
I loved this approach. Lucy actually felt like a normal person, which I don’t ever feel like that with thrillers. Her interactions with her family, especially her hilarious grandma, were top notch. And I thought I would cringe about the dynamic between Lucy and Ben, the podcast host, but it’s done well too.
An entertaining and funny thriller that also covers serious topics—yes, please!
The Mystery
Unreliable protagonist and memory loss goes hand in hand with mysteries and thrillers. Lucy really doesn’t know if she did it or not. However, it’s hard for her to grapple with as Savvy was her best friend. Why would she kill her?
I found myself going all around with theories as it really does leave you guessing. The chapters alternate between the present, the podcast episodes and the past. And it’s interwoven in such a way, where little hints lead to bigger reveals down the road.
The setting in the small town Texas was great as well, as small towns like that come with their own internal politics too.
Verdict
This novel is fantastic. It takes you on such a wild ride, and will make you laugh. But it also does cover serious issues too. I thought it was a great balance all around.
You all should definitely pick this one up—thrillers lovers will enjoy the mystery and non thriller lovers will like the refreshing prose.
For book clubs, check out my book club questions here.
