It seems that Christina Dodd is a lot of people’s ‘go to’ authors, however I must admit I had not read any of her work prior to reading Wrong Alibi. I will certainly keep an eye out for more of her work though as this book had me hooked from the outset and I finished it within a day.

Evie as a character was interesting, she had a very detailed backstory that is told in flashbacks at the start of the book. We get a few time jumps in the first half of the book but they all seemed easy enough to follow and I was invested in both of the timelines which is unusual for me as I usually try to skip one in favour of the other. Although the younger Evie could be heavily criticised as being stupidly naïve and I am usually the first to (internally) yell at characters for making idiotic decisions, it seemed to work well within the context of the character and gave Evie some depth.

The setting of the wilderness camp was nicely atmospheric and I enjoyed this part of the book. I didn’t really understand the motivations or actions of her boss at the camp though, particularly his behaviour after Evie had left. This just seemed a convenient plot device rather than revealing more about him as a character.

There were some really nice twists and turns in the book, and the end reveal I did not see coming at all which was refreshing. There were a few… questionable decisions by the author which I did not enjoy though. Zone seemed like a poorly drawn character and I felt the intimate moments with him and Evie felt very unrealistic and out of character for them both.

This book works very well as a standalone story and I don’t really understand how it is the first book in a series – nothing is set up to lead us to another installment. Perhaps a secondary character is the primary focus of the next one? Or perhaps it is the setting of Alaska itself and the next one will be completely different in terms of plot and characters? Although I’m unsure of the link I will certainly be keeping an eye out for the next one.

Overall, Wrong Alibi is an engaging thriller that kept me hooked throughout. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was totally pulled in by this story! I don't know, it just had such a good flow to it, that I wanted to keep going. I definitely stayed up too late reading this. There was a fair amount of action and suspense, along with mystery. And the main character, Petie (a girl, that confused me for a second at first) was well developed and interesting. At one point the book does go in a romantic direction that surprised me, but it really wasn't the main focus on anything.

This is the second book I've read by Christina Dodd and I'll look for more of her works in the future. I loved this until the very last page.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

3.5 Hearts This is a new series from Christina Dodd. I haven’t picked her books up in a bit so decided this was the time to try her writing again.

This was a bit different than what I used to read by Dodd which is a nice change.

I found the characters interesting to read. I enjoyed the dynamic of a number of characters that you wouldn’t think would be allies. There were some surprises as the story progressed which is always an interesting thing.

There were a big number of too far-fetched ideas in the book as well. Some things were just not logical and should have been reined in.

All in all I thought the story was good.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Evelyn was eighteen years old when she landed a job as a caretaker in Alaska but soon was left with charges of theft, embezzlement, and murder. Despite being innocent, she was convicted. She went on the run, searching for the actual murder so she can get revenge. While she plans on being the hunter, there is evidence from the original crime that has to be untangled before her family is put at risk.

We start off with Petie working on a wildlife camp, ten years after she went on the run with a new identity, we quickly see her working with a team. She's well respected and worked hard, but she doesn't cater to rich people's egos. It makes her an enemy, who she discounts because she's trying to find the real killer. I was drawn into her present-day story, as well as the extended flashback in part 2 of the book. Evie was drawn into the wrong crowd, wanted to turn her life around, then was caught in a web as the scapegoat. Her life wasn't the only one ruined, and she hoped to eventually get justice for the terrible crimes.

The suspense really hooked me in, and I loved being on this journey with Petie. There were asides with Zone that made me understand his motivation as well, but it still threw me for a loop when his path crossed Petie's in the manner that it did. The final quarter of the book flew quickly, and I kept turning pages until the very end, nearly being late for work!

Throw your concept of time away when you are reading Wrong Alibi written by Christina Dodd. Our heroine Evie has a lot happen to her in her young life and it happens hard and fast. (Don’t be like me and flip through pages to make sure your timeline is correct...just go with the flow. (laugh)) Evie is a fighter even when she does not want to be.

I think the relationships in the book confuse me the most. Ioana is like two different characters in the book. I am most confused by her and her relationship with Evie. She is very cold in the beginning of Evie's story. Ioana abandons her completely. Then when Evie shows up four years later it is with a completely different tune. It is like whiplash and Dodd’s explanation just doesn’t make sense to me. The same can almost be said for Evie’s relationship with her sister.

Now the mystery is beyond good. It is diabolical and you get where the story is going in the book on the first drive. You just don’t realize the full extent of the killer’s agenda until it is too late...just like Evie. Gives me the creeps just remembering it.

I wish the later connections between Donald White and his future victim is explained better. Why them? Did he know? Did it satisfy the evil within? Was it deeper? So many questions.

There is a minor romantic storyline, but romance isn’t the correct word. It is just sex, but somehow it ends up romantic a couple of chapters later. No buildup just an instant “I know this is going to be my person” connection. I think the later connection did not need to be added, it actually would have made more sense for Evie to end up with Hawley who stuck by her and helped her for eight years or even Jeen who made such a big impact on Evie’s life.

Wrong Alibi is a mix of action, hold your breath moments, and drama. Evie’s story is thrilling, horrifying, and enthralling. Dodd creates a memorable background for Evie. Evie is Wrong Alibi and she is a survivor. A heroine to root for and to read. Check out the vastness of Alaska and the killer’s impact in Wrong Alibi.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

The first book in a new series, that opens in winter time in Alaska, where Petie has been working for the past eight years. Nothing grabs your attention more than a lone 20 year-old female staying in a fishing lodge and the power goes out. In darkness, memories surface.

We learn that Petie, who at eighteen, was caught up in some bad luck, and turning over a new leaf finds the perfect job. Petie is also seeking to make things right with her family and this job will help her do so. She gets to drive a beautiful car, and stay in a beautiful home, and her boss, Donald White, is the most generous man. One morning, her boss has disappeared and Petie is overcome with a terrible revelation that leaves her in the hot seat for several things, including the murder of a mother and son.

There's a couple of twisted wild cards where out of something bad, comes good. While working at the fishing lodge, Petie, meets a formidable woman, Jeen Lee, who everyone stays clear of, and being gutsy proves to be a good choice for Petie. Little does Petie realize that she's made a few new enemies, and now Donald White, who left her to take the fall, is in her sights and too close to her family. It's time for Petie to come out of hiding.

I was questioning Petie's mother's actions; as well as, her boss, Hawley Foggo, from the fishing lodge, where one minute they'd act one way and another do or say something unexpected. It kept me wondering where they stood where Petie was concerned, which only added to the intrigue of the story. Jeen Lee is a very interesting puzzle, she wields power that seeps of danger, and made me glad she was on friendly terms with Petie. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out how it would end. This was a fantastic fast-paced, thriller, to which I'm looking forward to the next one!

I received a complimentary copy and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.

Christina Dodd proves once again that she’s just a great storyteller, plain and simple. She’s kicking off her new Right Motive, Wrong Alibi series with a bang. WRONG ALIBI is like the nightmare to end all nightmares for Evelyn Jones, who seems to be on the right path to a better life, on the straight and narrow after taking a bookkeeping job in a small-town Alaska. But instead of a respite, she finds herself framed for a double murder and sent to prison for eight years. The only way to set things right—including getting herself free and making the true murderer face his crimes—is to escape. This is a story of revenge and vindication, with an amazing setting, great character development, and an exciting pace.

*Originally published at Frolic: https://frolic.media/decembers-must-read-romantic-suspense/

"Wrong Alibi" is one of the rare Christina Dodd books that I didn't really enjoy. She is a go-to author for me and I feel bad to say it, but this book just didn't really do it for me. The writing seemed a bit choppy and 'off'- very unusual for Dodd. The first half was slow and I wasn't really engaged with the story until the second half of the book. When the action moved at the end it seemed almost too easy and everything tied together too neatly. There was a twist at the end that I didn't see coming, which I liked, but I kind of wish it had started a little before it did to keep me questioning things beyond the 'obvious' solutions.

All that said, there were fresh and clever parts to "Wrong Alibi". Petie starts off as a young, naive, too-stupid-to-live kid who, instead of dying the way she would in a horror movie, manages to make a new identity for herself and become a smart woman capable of defending herself and others. I didn't like the too-stupid-to-live kid she was, but she became someone anyone would be impressed by.

I'm hoping others will enjoy "Wrong Alibi" since I like Christina Dodd, but for me this was one of those rare books that just didn't do it for me- though not in any way I could describe well.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Wrong Alibi is my first Christina Dodd novel and found myself on the edge of my seat. Once I picked up the book I couldn't put it down.

The book starts out with our main character in a juvenile detention center. She is eager to get a fresh start in life and make amends for the mistakes in her past. She takes a job in the wilds of Alaska with a charming man who seems to say all the right things. Even though Evie gets the sense that something is amiss, she ignores her better senses and finds herself framed for a double murder.

Wrong Alibi is about Evie/Petie's hunt for retribution. She bides her time, hones her craft and allies herself with one of the world's most feared women. I have to say that the women in this novel - the good, the bad and the ugly - were all strong characters. To me, Wrong Alibi reads like a superhero origin story. Our protagonist is wronged horribly. Forever scarred, her life is turned upside down, irreparable. Somehow, she finds the strength within and persists. Even though there were moments where I had to suspend my disbelief, I really enjoyed this novel. The descriptive scene setting. The Alaskan backdrop. Quirky characters like Hawley and Jeen Lee. Intriguing backstories. The pacing of the novel. I definitely will be keeping up with this series.

I received a free copy courtesy of NetGalley for review. I will start by saying that I am a fan of Christina Dodd, and her writing. I have read a good chunk of her back catalog, and this title falls solidly in the middle of the pack. I enjoyed reading it, and I enjoyed Petie as a character. She had a long way to go from (in her own words) Too Stupid to Live, and nearly didn't. I appreciated that as a character, she was given the chance to grow up into a more mature, less reckless, more balanced character. The action was good, and there were a few moments that I was genuinely scared./surprised. I enjoyed her relationship with her mother and sister, and I appreciated that their relationship was able to mature as well.
The down side is that the primary romantic relationship was not believable to me. Without spoilers, I had difficulty buying that Petie and her love interest could have a good relationship. They went from antagonistic on one side to lustful very quickly, and it just didn't feel realistic to me. They did address the speed and how to have a more healthy relationship at the end of the book, but by that point, I was no longer invested in their relationship.
Other than a few minor plot holes and the primary romantic relationship, I was able to enjoy this book. It was not my favorite work she's ever written, but it's also not my least favorite. If you are willing to read this as a mystery/thriller, not as a romantic suspense, you will also be able to enjoy it.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

"Wrong Alibi" is a departure from Christina Dodd's usually romantic-suspense. But, I can see that this series is a natural progression for her from romantic-suspense to darker mystery/suspense books. This new offering reminds me of books by Loreth Anne White who has made the wilds of Canada as much a character as the people who inhabit that area and the heavy, dark mystery she writes. But this new darker suspense offering is not without problems. Plot holes big enough to drive a Mack truck through and timeline shifts that leave the reader wondering what is going on. If you can get past these problems, you will find a great suspense plot.

At eighteen Evelyn Jones has spent four years in the California Juvenile Detention system. She is freed on parole and has gotten a wonderful job and a second chance in Rocklin, Alaska. Her boss, Donald White is a little on the strange side, but Evie enjoys her work and the opportunity to prove to her mother that she has truly changed. Then Donald disappears leaving Evie holding the bag for murder, theft and embezzlement. Because Evie has made an enemy of the chef of police, she is railroaded for the crimes.

Fate has other plans for Evie when she escapes on the way to prison. Injured, she is aided by a kind doctor and ends up in the remote Midnight Sun Fishing Camp where she has worked, under an alias, for the past ten years. During the dark winter she has gotten an education, learned languages and made successful investments. She has also made some powerful friends, and enemies. In addition, has been searching for Donald White the whole time.

The day she finally finds him, she is shocked to find her mother on his arm. All Evie can think about is returning to Rocklin, Alaska and saving her mother, finally bringing a murderer to justice and clearing her name. Someone else is also looking for justice, but to Zone Jameson, the husband and father of the dead family, that means seeing Evelyn Jones in prison for the rest of her life.

Wrong Alibi by Christina Dodd is a highly recommended novel of suspense.

Evelyn (Evie) Jones, eighteen, has accepted a job as a bookkeeper with Donald White in Rockin, Alaska. She is coming right out of a juvenile detention facility and is determine to make this job work for her sake and with hopes of maybe being reconnected with her mother and sister who now live in Rockin. She follows Donald White's instructions and his seemingly odd behavior right up until he disappears and leaves her to face charges of a double murder, theft, and embezzlement. Convicted, she faces life in prison when an accident miraculously results in her escape and fate allows her to start again. For ten years Evie has lived as Petie at Midnight Sun Fishing Camp, a remote wilderness camp. She eventually becomes the manager, but she has never given up on finding the man who called himself Donald White and making him pay for her conviction for his crimes and for her years of hiding. When she discovers he has returned to Alaska, she is ready to take him on.

There is no question that Wrong Alibi is a page-turner and will hold your complete attention right to the end. It's also true that many readers will be questioning some of the plot elements which require a suspension of disbelief along with enduring some rough transitions. There were a couple turning points in the narrative that really went a bit too far off track from the plot and actually detracted from it. But the action rolls along swiftly, either smooth or bumpy, and the twists along the way were interesting. I liked the novel quite a bit but I can't say it was one of the best written novels of suspense. The ending brought an element of surprise to the plot, although it was not entirely believable.

The characters while interesting were not fully fleshed out as individuals and several of them felt more like a "type" of character, or a caricature, rather than an actual human. Several characters never felt real for a moment. You know who is bad, who is good, who is dangerous, who is charming and the players never really stray from their assigned roles. Then again at time Petie/Evie was, truthfully, making quite stupid mistakes. But, even as I point out all these flaws in the writing and the plot, I did keep reading it and felt satisfied when I finished the novel. I guess sometimes you just need to read a novel for sheer escapism and Wrong Alibi will certainly satisfy that need.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Harlequin
After publication the review will be posted on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Another brilliant read from this fabulous Author!! This book is so exciting!! A definite must read!!

Evelyn Jones ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time and it sent her life spiraling and she vows that she will avenge all the things, so she can hopefully get back to the life she wants to live.

Evelyn/Petie was an interesting character to follow. During many parts of the book, I loved her point of view and was rooting for her. The one part where I had to suspend my belief was her first interactions and then the brief time she was with Donald White - I felt as though her age at that time in the book, she was little more gullible and naive then I think she would/should have been, but in fiction, I can give a bit of a pass.

I loved everything about this book and the plot minus ONE plot point. I don't want to give too much away, but there was a bit of a love plot line that was thrown in a weird spot and affected the ending of the story and I just wished it wasn't in there and hadn't gone that way.

With quite a backlist, this was my first Christina Dodd book and I am intrigued to dive into more of her backlist and follow more interesting main characters on adventures.

Wrong Alibi is a new thriller by Christina Dodd and unfortunately it was the Wrong book for me. I've enjoyed Christina Dodd's writing in the past but if I hadn't received an arc I would have DNF'd it.

While this is definitely a thriller it was lacking in the mystery department. I was never trying to figure anything out because it all seemed pretty cut and dry to me. Our leading Heroine is out for revenge against the main who framed her and justice for the people he killed. Soon good right? It was just executed poorly in my opinion. There are too many characters with their own point of views and the time jumps in the beginning are a bit clunky. When you think the story is wrapped up and justice has prevailed all of a sudden it isn't over and there's more drama that wasn't needed. Also, I know I'm a huge romance fan, and I'm always looking for any hint of it in everything I read but the one in this felt completely forced, and I was not here for it at all. It just didn't make sense to me.

In the end, I sadly did not enjoy Wrong Alibi.> It's the first in a series, which honestly not sure how it could possibly turn into more books, but I won't be reading them.

An exciting and intriguing thriller mystery. A young woman faces many trials, even an actual one. A page turner with several surprises. Unusual characters. I am glad to see this is the first of a series. I look forward to reading Evie/Petie's further adventures.

Wrong Alibi is a suspense-filled mystery that is as deceptive to its readers as its characters. And I do not know about you, but I love a story with a heavy dose of lies and deception. It is tales like this that are deviously fun to read and are oh so hard to put down at the end of the day.

I loved that the story stays relatively straightforward until the end and then hit me with many glorious layers of deception that my only thought before I closed the book for the last time was, “Woah! How did I miss all of that as I read?” And, yet it all makes sense when you look back.

I also loved the main character Evie/Petie, who picked herself up after a bunch of bad choices and consequences. All she wants to do is make her mother proud since she was not allowed home again until she could do so. This bit of tough love made her into the fiercely independent, strong woman who drives the story and had me rooting for her from the beginning. And a special shout out to Hawley, who is almost a superhero with his mysterious ways and super strength. He allows people to work at his ranch when they are at a low but can make a difference in this world.

Technically speaking, the novel is spot-on. The suspense is masterful in the way that it places you in its grip, unaware, and holds you there until the end. A fast pace accompanies the suspense and is encouraged by short chapters and a steady stream of action scenes. The dialogue flows naturally, and each voice is distinct and genuine. And the character development is nothing short of sublime with the genuine aspects and the deceptive ones.

If you are looking for a story that will hold you in its thrall from beginning to end? Look no further. Wrong Alibi will do that and more.

While I appreciate this book to read and review, it was not for me. I was expecting more of a romance/mystery mix. I have read some of the authors past historical romances and have really enjoyed them. I also love reading about Alaska and characters in it. In this story, I just could not connect with the characters and I had a hard time getting through the story. I am sure there will be people out there who love it though.

I really teetered with my rating for this one and am so sad to rate it a one. But by the end everything just unraveled and became so ridiculous I no longer cared about the ending. That coupled with all the other issues I had leaves me no choice but to give this a one star.

I do want to start by saying I think the author did a great job of setting up the premise, the setting and Evelyn as a character. I really enjoyed that and that part was well written.

I had a really big issue with the dialouge, however. It was so stilted and really made the plot tough to follow. Maybe its because its an arc and some of it will get cleaned up before the book releases. Some of the characters felt just so weak and one dimensional too and I just honestly did not get the point of them being there.

Finally, the weird inclusion of the super weird romantic subplot just threw me all the way off. Just, why? And the writing there was very dry. Almost like the author didn't even want to include it but was forced to by an editor or something. Just seemed unnecessary and very unbelievable.

I wish we had focused in more on Evelyn's background, how it related to her mom, and the mystery only and left it at that.

*I was provided a free ARC by the publisher

I have really savored books written by Christina Dodd. I thoroughly enjoyed The Cape Charade books, which I came into completely blind. I knew nothing about the plot and had read nothing else by the author. It was an extremely pleasant surprise then, when I found myself on the edge of my seat, and also chuckling aloud throughout the book. Infusing good humor into a suspense/thriller takes real talent, and I thought it was so well done. Hence, my request for this book. Ugh, okay, I'm going to quit stalling. I didn't like this book. It was disjointed and almost juvenile. I wasn't invested in any of the characters. (I actually wanted to give a good shake to a certain naive someone.) So, I am pretty bummed. This is the start of a new series! Set in Alaska! I LOVE Alaska as a backdrop in a book! So many reasons to be disappointed that this one just didn't work for me. It's almost like Christina Dodd regressed in talent with the writing here, too. The dialogue was stilted, strangely formal, and unnatural. The whole thing just left me shaking my head. I never mind suspending my disbelief, to a certain extent. I had to go waaaayyyy out on a really thin and shaky limb here, though. It just never really came together for me. But then I saw a short story related to this new series, called Right Motive, and I was curious. I basically gobbled it up, and it was out there, a little weird, but I LOVED IT! What is happening? I don't understand. So, maybe I am in fact the outlier who didn't enjoy Wrong Alibi. I certainly don't like to discourage other readers, and I don't give up on an author because of a less than stellar showing. What can I say? I'm a woman of many layers, just like an onion. Okay, I'll see myself out, then.
2 stars

*I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley.*