Listen for the Lie

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2024

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Download PDF

Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 1-Interlude 9

Chapters 14-23

Chapters 24-39

Chapters 40-54

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Book Club Questions

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

The Podcast

The podcast is an important recurring motif throughout the book. It is the vehicle the author uses to introduce the book’s central storyline. Savvy’s murder takes place five years before the book’s timeline, but Lucy is forced to reckon with it in the present when the cold case becomes the subject of the podcast.

The podcast format additionally contributes to the narrative structure of the book. The story is largely told through Lucy’s perspective, both in the present day and in flashbacks; these portions of the story are also narrated in first-person voice. In contrast, the podcast chapters interspersed throughout the book are presented as straight transcripts of the episodes. This change of lens, along with the range of perspectives presented in these chapters, offers glimpses into the minds of the other characters in the book. Furthermore, the podcast episodes offer the reader background as well as set the stage for important revelations, as they act as a medium to rehash the case and present new information.

Finally, the name of the podcast, Listen for the Lie, is particularly significant, and the book derives its title from here. It refers to the true crime genre of the podcast and how Ben looks to unravel lies and uncover the truth in the case. It also alerts the reader to be aware of the different lies and misperceptions presented on the podcast. A number of these directly and indirectly influence how and when Lucy is believed guilty or innocent.

Savvy as a Hallucination

Savvy as a hallucination is a recurring motif throughout the book. She first appears anonymously, giving voice to the intrusive thoughts of murder in Lucy’s mind. Eventually, it is revealed that the voice is Savvy’s, before Lucy acknowledges how Savvy herself often appears before Lucy.

Although the book revolves around her murder, Savvy as a character is only present on-page in flashbacks, and as Lucy’s experience of her as a hallucination. The Savvy that appears to Lucy is modeled on the version she knew intimately and was best friends with. Savvy being the voice of Lucy’s murderous thoughts is based on her having actually killed a man and strongly suggesting they do the same to Matt. This Savvy has a completely different persona than what Plumpton believed of her, and so Savvy as a hallucination highlights the theme of The Gap Between Perception and Reality.

Savvy’s appearance also points to how deeply affected Lucy is by the murder. She cannot shake the memory of her best friend from her mind, and the intrusive thoughts signal the conflict and self-doubt she feels about her potential involvement in Savvy’s death. This references the theme of The Effects of Physical and Psychological Trauma. By the end of the book, however, Savvy’s presence becomes a benign and welcome one, as opposed to a distressing memory. This signifies how Lucy has finally received justice and redemption for herself and Savvy and is on her way to healing.

“The Truth Doesn’t Matter”

The phrase “The truth doesn’t matter” is a recurring motif throughout the book, feeding into the theme of The Gap Between Perception and Reality. It appears for the first time in the very first chapter. Later in the book, it is revealed that Savvy is the one who originally said this to Lucy, in the context of discussing Matt’s abuse. Lucy reflects on this phrase multiple times, as it applies to a host of situations that crop up in the book.

At the beginning of the book, the phrase refers to how people have made up their minds about Lucy’s guilt irrespective of what happened the night of Savvy’s death; the truth doesn’t seem to matter to them. When Savvy and Lucy discuss Matt’s abuse, Lucy uses the phrase to stress how she cannot speak up about her experience, as she is not believable as a survivor of domestic violence; the truth will not matter to the outside world.

At the end of the book, Savvy whispers this gently in Lucy’s ear after Ben tells Lucy’s version of events to the police by distorting the truth about what happened with Emmett. For the first time, the truth not mattering has worked in Savvy and Lucy’s favor, as less important than the exact truth of what Emmett said is Ben’s credibility, and how it makes Lucy believable.