The six short stories in this alibi crime collection about lies, deception, accountability, and without proof of means, motive and opportunity, the guilty party can walk free. These are really interesting, well written, thrilling mysteries that are great to finish-off on a ride somewhere or on vacation. I read them over a few days while vacationing in Trinidad.
Death Row by Freida McFadden
The first in the series is a pretty good short thriller. A woman is on death row, but all is not what it seems. She’s been convicted of murdering her husband but spots him alive in the visitor’s area. She races against time to convince someone of her innocence. You don’t realize until the end what’s really happening. It’s a story about guilt, trust and actions you take when betrayed and going too far may lead to tragic, irreversible consequences. Creative, compelling story. I’ve read a couple novels from this author – Want To Know A Secret; The Wife Upstairs.
The Ex-Wife’s Club by Sally Hepworth
Book two in this alibi series. Great short about the annoying, womanizing restaurant owner, who’s murdered but everyone, the apparent suspects, has an alibi! When a celebrity chef is found murdered in his walk-in freezer, his three ex-wives, who meet at the restaurant every Friday are immediate suspects. But who did it if everyone has an alibi? Sally Hepworth is author of Mother-in-Law and The Good Sister.
False Note by David Lagercrantz
A man is accused of killing his father and the only one who can verify his alibi, he has abused. His life is literally in this person’s hands. He’s the main suspect because of the toxic relationship he had with his charismatic, but cruel, womanizing, opera-singer father. He vows never to be like his father, but an explosive episode leads him directly to a dark side like his father’s, jeopardizing his alibi. Great short story! David Lagercrantz is the author of The Girl in the Spider’s Web.
The Skydivers by Chris Bohjalian
Thrilling short story of two brothers who go skydiving and one ends up dead. Only the surviving brother knows what happened and the one witness on the ground tries to figure things out. Two brothers who are very different, one is a musician and the other an aerospace engineer, are battling over whether to keep their inheritance, their father’s dairy farm. All they can agree on is to spread their father’s ashes over the farm – a skydive, where everything goes wrong.
Good Neighbors by Chad Zunker
Nice fast-paced short story about a neighbor who witnesses her friend’s husband murdered, only to run for her life and figure things out along the way. Kara only wants to help her neighbor, who suspects her husband is having an affair. So, one evening when she sees someone walking into her neighbor’s house with the husband, Kara slips out to take a closer look to possibly catch him in the act. But what she sees puts her in danger and running for her life.
Small Things by Wanda M Morris
The sixth and last story in the collection. A woman in an abusive marriage, where the husband belittles and controls her, decides to take her life back. A jewelry maker with a seemingly perfect marriage, is living an emotional nightmare behind closed doors. When her husband threatens to take away the only small thing that brings her peace and joy, she comes up with a plan that will leave no trace behind. Unexpected, satisfying ending.
The Alibi collection is a great set of six stories, that are filled with thrills, suspense and mystery, that can be read in one sitting or whenever you have a little time, you know, when you don’t want to take on a novel – just read one story and have closure, while taking a short break. It’s aIso a good, convenient way to explore new authors without giving up the time commitment. I discovered a couple new ones while reading them. Hope you give this entertaining collection a read.