Wrong Alibi by Christina Dodd
Murder in Alaska #1

Evie had a rough time as a child, made a bad decision, ended up in juvie, and was left to struggle on her own by her mother. When her four years in JD were up, she found a great sounding job in Alaska near where her mother had moved with Evie’s sister. All was going well, she thought, till it wasn’t, and she found herself in chains on her way to jail for life. What happened in her life for those ten years was alluded to but not detailed. Her life story was intense, disturbing, and filled with trouble but she did make the most of it. There was a lot going on in this story and as I just found out this is a series in the making I wonder if Evie will show up in future books or if it will be someone else that anchors the series.

What I liked:
* Evie/Petie: Strong, resilient, smart, and capable – I liked her and was rooting for her hoping it would all come out right in the end.
* Marya: Evie’s sister was there for her when she could be. I would like to know more about her.
* Zone Jameson: Strong, a fighter, seeks justice, disturbed, lost much – glad it seems to have come right for him.
* Tuddy: An intelligent teddy bear with a voice – wonder what else it has to offer and if it will show up in book 2 of the series.
* Hawley Foggo: big, smart, bluff but not buff, wealthy, willing to give down and outers a chance – wonder what will happen to him and if he will show up later.
* The way Evie grew as a person
* Some of the supporting characters
* That the baddies were dealt with

What I didn’t like:
* The innocents that lost their lives
* The treatment of Zone in captivity
* Iona: Evie’s mother was not there for Evie and though I found out why…still did not condone her behavior
* Wretchen Gretchen
* That it seemed more fantasy than reality…I had trouble believing that this story could have happened as it was written.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes, I think so
Would I read more in this series? I might, depending on what the book description says

Thank you to NetGalley and HQN for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

Favorite Quotes:

There was another, shorter line, a lot shorter than this one, and Petie couldn’t figure out why, so she watched. Behind the glass stood a middle-aged female officer, short, skinny, tanned, wrinkled, smoking a cigarette. She didn’t speak, she blared. “Back again, are you? What’s it been, what? Two months since you beat your wife? Or two months since she turned you in? I suppose she’s coming to pick you up. A weak woman and a guy with heavy fists. You’re made for each other. Pay the fine at that window.” … “That’s Chief of Police Gretchen George. Wretchen Gretchen we call her.”

No sane cop would come out in this weather, not even to capture a convicted and escaped murderer. She grinned. That was the real definition of cold comfort.

He’s charming. He’s mesmerizing. That voice would lull a baby to sleep… right before he smothered it with its own pillow.

He knew he’d been a jerk. Signa stared at him like a Valkyrie about to smite a mortal.


My Review:

I greatly enjoyed this unpredictable and quirky tale; it was highly eventful with several conundrums to solve and multiple storylines that blended the genres of family drama, thriller, and women’s fiction. My curiosity was alert and on-point throughout perusal. The active storylines and engaging and smooth writing style were entertaining, well-paced, and easy to follow with shrewdly placed hits of humor and oddly intriguingly and peculiar characters. I began to eagerly look forward to each new player as their introductions and descriptions were lively and fun. This was my first time reading this prolific scribbler with Goodreads reporting ninety-four listings and multiple genres. How have I not noticed her agile word skills and deft pen before? I have rectified this grievous error by adding her to my list of favorites.

Thank you to NetGalley, Christina Dodd and Harlequin for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this one! I so enjoy mysteries that happen in small isolated towns with back and forth between past and present. I really enjoyed the main character and the random characters that helped her out throughout the entire story. I didn't expect there to be a love story line and it really made the entire novel so well rounded. I cruised through this one, I just found that the tension and fear of what is going to happen, kept building and made me want to know what exactly was going to happen.

Evelyn Jones is just released from juvie at 18 when she secures a job in Alaska helping a man with his business. She is so naïve that she does not see the discrepancies in the man and his behavior until it's too late. The story is written a bit out of order, but that does not detract from the entertaining read. The characters are strongly drawn and very life-like. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for providing an ARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I’m always up for a good revenge plot and this one didn’t disappoint. Evie was so naive in the beginning but she was also only 18. The drama of her getting convicted and then waiting to get revenge made it hard to put the book down. I look forward to reading more from Christina Dodd.

Wrong Alibi is a romantic mystery suspense that would keep you guessing what really is going on. The nonlinear approach to the story would have the reader jump from the past to the present, from one character to the next. It keeps the suspense on high and also helps keep the readers attention on what the story is all about. Its moderately paced, excellent characters and world building.

Thank you to the publisher, HQN Books, for providing me with an ARC of Wrong Alibi in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Gist
It was news to me that between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day there are only 6 days. That meant I almost missed my deadline of writing the review of Wrong Alibi.

In all seriousness, I have always struggled with the days between Christmas and New Years, thinking there are weeks, not days, between those two holidays.

Needless to say, my organization got a little chaotic and I ended up reading most of Wrong Alibi in one day.

No complaint on my part, since I really enjoyed the story.

The Details
Although I read most of the story in one day, I started it days earlier and my first impression told that this was going to be a good one.

What I noticed right away was the author’s primary focus on the characters and less so on the setting. Yet, the location of the story speaks volumes for itself.

There wasn’t much time spent on describing the vast wilderness, or poetic descriptions of the Alaska landscape. There was just enough to get the point across on where the characters are supposed to be.

The characters, main or secondary, are as vivid as one can only hope them to be. They became live-like as I got more and more invested in the story. When I took a short break from reading, I felt I had to go back to see how they were doing. That’s how attached I had gotten.

The protagonist is far from perfect. And a few times I found myself cringing as I witnessed her decisions become actions. But this made her all the more real. She became relatable and I sympathized with her.

She makes mistakes, but her intentions are honest.

The plot is straight forward with a few good twists that kept me hooked until the very end. And still leaves me wondering what happened to the characters I got to know so well over the last day.

The writing made this story what it is. It is a quick, entertaining, engaging and even heartfelt story that is difficult to put down.

I appreciated the author’s skill of keeping the story on track. And not getting lost in meaningless red herrings, descriptions of the sky or unnecessary and ridiculous female empowerment anecdotes.

The Verdict
Overall, I would not have been able to read the majority of this book in one day, if it had been anything less than as engaging as it was.

I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a mystery/thriller/suspense story.

I did not expect this book to fly by as fast as it did and was surprised by how fast it seemed to go. This is my first experience with Dodd's writing but I was pulled in by the writing and the way it flew by. I did feel like it could have been honed a bit as sometimes it did seem that some things weren't necessary, or were affecting the other aspects of the story in ways they didn't need to, but overall it was a really enjoyable read with vibrant characters. I look forward to picking up some of Dodd's other books in the future when looking for a good mystery.

I thought that this was a really good book. The author crafts a compelling and engaging storyline that had me pushing past my bedtime in search of more answers. Suspenseful enough to keep you dancing on the edge and cerebral enough to give you moments to pause and ponder, this thriller just doesn't disappoint and will leave you eager to read book two in this new series.

I know I've said this before but it bears repeating. Do not begin reading a Christina Dodd suspense novel in the evening unless you plan to forfeit a night's sleep. Wrong Alibi is another excellent example of why this advice holds true. Intense, compelling, more than a little scary, and completely addictive, it's a wild ride that kept me flipping pages from start to finish. A full-immersion experience. I could not put it down. Even when I finally turned the last page, these characters refused to leave my head.

In this newest novel from Dodd, she takes readers into the untamed wilderness of Alaska with an edge-of-your-seat thriller that had my heart in my throat for much of the journey. The characters are so well developed it's often difficult to remember that what you're reading is fiction; their situations so realistic I frequently found my heart racing with fear, anxiety, or shock. The journey Evie travels - from a gullible teen ripe for framing to a strong, savvy woman determined to bring a killer to justice and restore her reputation - is fraught with danger, unimaginable challenges, and more twists and turns than a mountain road. Each time I thought I knew where the story was heading, Dodd tossed in an impeccably-timed twist that left me gasping, right up until the final reveal...which I did not see coming!

If you enjoy suspense thrillers with a tightly-woven plot, fully-formed characters, unexpected twists, evil villains who will have you checking your windows and locking your doors, unexpected flashes of dry wit, and a hopelessly naive protagonist who, through maturity, determination, and dedication, molds herself into a heroine who not only wreaks vengeance on a killer but saves herself in the process, Wrong Alibi is a book you'll want to read. It has my highest recommendation.

*ARC received for fair and unbiased review

Evelyn just got released from juvenile detention. She has a job in a small town in Alaska. She is so excited about this new start. She will be close to her mom and her sister. But, the job does not turn out the way she expects and she ends up accused of murder. Through a harrowing accident she escapes and becomes someone new in the wilds of Alaska. However, Evelyn must return after several years as a fugitive because she must save her mom from an old threat!

When this book began and the setting was Alaska…I was so excited. I love reading about Alaska. Little did I know this book would take me on a wild ride! Talk about wicked! This book is wickedly good! I was actually gasping for air at the end…well several times through this book but especially the end. This book NEVER STOPS! I loved everything about it. The setting, the intensity, the characters and the story itself is over the top!

I know this author has been on the scene for quite a while. Believe it or not…I have never read her books…I MUST remedy that soon.

Grab your copy today! You will not be sorry!

I’m not sure what it is but I love books set in Alaska. I have been to Alaska only once and it was in the summer months, but it was stunning. I’ve always had this fantasy of moving up there and living in a snowed in cabin and just writing, reading, and ponding the biggest questions in life. Maybe one day.

When I had originally requested this book, I did so because murder mysteries are my bread and butter. I’ve also read a few other books by Christina Dodd and I knew I would enjoy this story.

Evie or Petie depending on when you knew her, has spent the last eight years living at a remote wilderness camp. But now the chance to clear her name is here and Evie sets out to unmask the man who so long again framed her for a double murder. Eight years ago Evie left her juvenile detention center with the promise of a book keeping job for Donald White. The only think is that White is keeping something from her, and she soon finds out that she’s been framed.

Thanks to some shady police work and White’s frame job, Evie is sentence to prison. She never makes it though as the bus carrying her is swept away in a mudslide. But White is back in the same town the murders occurring, and Evie will stop at nothing to protect her family and clear her name.

The switching between Evie and Petie’s names while make sense in the context of the story, really tangled me up for a second. However, if that’s the worst thing that I got from this book, than I would say that is a win.

Dodd has place quite a few red herrings within the pages of this story, and has painted such vivid descriptions of the characters, that I really cannot wait for the second book in the series to come out. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys a solid thriller!


I hope you enjoyed my thoughts on Wrong Alibi. Huge thank you to HQN for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof_books.

I’ve been reading Christina Dodd for years. Her books are sassy, well-paced, with elements of humour, danger, and intrigue. When Harlequin sent me the list of titles available for the Mystery Thriller Fall Reads Blog Tour, I was excited to see Wrong Alibi on the list and eagerly selected it as a title to read and review.

This novel contains all the twists, turns, drama, and danger you’d expect in a gripping piece of contemporary suspense, but I do find it was missing the sass and humour I have come to expect, which, yes, I can admit would probably have been out of place in a book with a dark side. I found myself frustrated throughout, screaming “No!” or “That’s not fair!” or “Why would you do that?” silently to myself. Needless to say, I was engaged with the drama and mystery – wanting to know the backstory and see where we were headed. Beautifully descriptive settings land you in the middle of Alaska, hiding in the wilds with those who find the vast remote landscape the perfect place to become someone new or hide their true identities.

As with most of Harlequin’s novels, I would recommend it for adult readers due to content.

Originally reviewed as part of the Harlequin Fall Reads Mystery Thriller Blog Tour - adding ion this Netgalley review that it wasn't as gripping as I would usually expect, but I enjoyed it. It lands somewhere between 3 & 4 stars for me - I enjoyed it, but didn't love it - a few of the aspects fell a little flat and weren't as polished as I usually expect but it still definitely held my interest.

Wrong Alibi took me a while to get into. The start of the novel just felt really choppy. First, Evie is alone during the winter time. Then it’s the summertime and she is assisting at a Alaskan hunting camp where there are some questionable visitors. Then we jump back in time, to see how she ended up at the hunting camp. I was really confused at the start, I had no idea what the novel was about and had a hard time seeing how realistic it was.

So once Evie has one mistake (or ten), the novel really does start to get interesting. Putting aside all of her questionable actions, Evie does grow on you and you just want to the best for her and her family. I was super surprised by the mystery and who was behind everything.

3 calculators out of a potential 5. Once you get past the beginning, it’s a great mystery!

Thank you to Netgallery and HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing (U.S. & Canada) for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

At 18 years old, Evelyn Jones gets a job in a small town in Alaska. She’s hoping to turn her life around and eventually be reunited with her family. The job and her boss, Donald White, are perfect - although he does have some odd ways about him. Evelyn quickly learns that something that seems too good to be true, usually is. Donald disappears leaving Evelyn looking like a thief, embezzler and worst of all - a murderer with two victims. She is convicted and sent to jail for a crime she did not do.

Ten years later, her fate changes. Evelyn is able to escape and change her name. She gets a new job isolated from anyone who knows her. When Donald once again turns up, Evelyn is out for revenge and to clear her name. However, he’s not that easy to trap.

This book kept me hooked from the start. There were many different twists and turns along the way to keep me guessing and captivated.

My heart went out to Evelyn since she is on her own through most of the book. It is hard to know who Evelyn could trust. I suspected everyone of ulterior motives.Then, some romance comes into her life but she couldn’t trust that either.

This is one of those books I couldn’t put down. I wanted to know how it was all going to turn out. It's more thriller than romantic suspense. Wrong Alibi is the first in a new series, Murder in Alaska. There isn’t a cliffhanger at the end, it’s all wrapped up in this book. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in store for us in the next book.


FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

18 year old Evelyn is looking for a job when she gets contacted from Donald White, In Alaska. She has just been in trouble and wants to turn her life around and make her mom proud. Once she meets Donald then I was noticing red flags right away. But since she was only 18 , didn't know any better. He has her running all the errands and has the bank account in only her name. He never goes to town with her.
He also tells her not to go into the basement because it is unsafe and has no banister. Take your laundry to town.
One morning she wakes up and he is gone. So after really questioning herself about the weird things that are around the house, she decides to venture. She also decides to go down to the basement. Where she discovers 2 bodies. The police arrive and she is trying to tell them about Donald White. They don't believe her and arrest her for murder. That is when everything really starts to happen. I don't want to spoil anything but you really need to read this book to find out what happens.
I really liked Evelyn and I didn't feel like she was a whiner at all and she always kept her head on her shoulders.

Evie Jones has been in hiding at a remote Alaska fishing lodge. As a teenager she was convicted of a crime she didn’t commit. In the last10 years Evie has been searching for the real culprit. I liked this book til towards the end. There were events in the book that stretched credibility and characters that resolved major difference in a way I hard a hard time believing. Not my favorite by this author. I would give this book 3 1/2 stars and generously round it up to 4. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Totally drawn in by this story. This poor girl and her mom lived through such pain and heartache - through non of their own fault!

Mystery, murder, plot twists - what more do you need?!?!

Wrong Alibi is a brilliantly written story of revenge for 2 characters within the story! Our main character, Petie, had a backstory that made me cry more than I wanted to admit. There are times she was just done with life, but she pulls herself together and pushes on. Honestly, I had a bit of hero worship towards her and her ability to persevere.

The mystery in the story isn't who is the bad guy, but rather, how will Petie find, confront, and kill him. Also, will she even be able to go back to her life if she does find him? There are plenty of interesting side characters who are intriguing, both in who they are and why they behave the way they do. This made all the characters feel much more dynamic than just a plot tool. One thing I have always appreciated about Dodd's writing is her ability to make every character, even ones that seem minor, effective.

So, I was really thinking this was going to be a grand slam of a book, but the end felt rushed. So much happened in the last 15%! I would have liked a bit more time spent on this huge conclusion to Petie's story! Even with this minor issue, I loved Wrong Alibi. It gave me all the Virtue Falls vibes and reminded me why I think Dodd is exceptional. I will say that while there is a "romance", I am hesitant to call this romantic suspense. Wrong Alibi is a mystery/suspense that happens to have a heroine who finds love. She doesn't even meet him until the last 20% of the story! So, not a straight romance and I still loved it!

What a grip this one will get on you once you start turning the pages. Evelyn had you right along with her from the time she is wronged. She thinks running a solution but it is something that gives us a ride by her side. As this one grows we are given how she builds on something else until paths have her cross the one once again on whom it hinged on. This author knows how to capture us and wrap us in her intrigue. We are twisted as it goes then unraveled then twisted again. This is for the ones who love a good thriller and can not put them down.