A selection of short stories from popular authors. I found it a mixed bag, some I liked , others were just OK. My favourite was The Ex wives club by Sally Hepworth

This is a really great collection of mini thrillers. The only book I really did not care for at all was the Freida McFadden book. It just did not resonate with me at but the others, I really enjoyed and have encouraged my thriller, loving friends to read this collection.

Alibis is a mixed bag. Some stories were genuinely captivating and pulled me in right away, while others felt either confusing or dragged a bit. Overall, the collection was solid, but I found myself wishing a few of the more intriguing pieces were expanded into full-length stories—they had so much potential. As with many short story collections, it really depends on which pieces resonate with you. Worth a read, but be prepared for some uneven pacing.

Book #1 Death Row by Freida McFadden - 2⭐
Book #2 The Ex-Wives Club by Sally Hepworth - 2⭐
Book #3 False Note by David Lagercrantz - 1.5⭐
Book #4 The Skydivers by Chris Bohjalian - 1⭐
Book #5 Good Neighbors by Chad Zunker - 3.5⭐
Book #6 Small Things by Wanda M. Morris - 3⭐


I mean it's really fast reads, the storys are for most of them fine but nothing extraodinary.

This was a fun collection of six stories. There are lots of ways to kill a persons and lots of people that need killing…I guess. I was impressed.

I will post a review for each book as I read it.

Book #1 Death Row
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars (Outstanding)
Setting: Primarily in the death row of a prison
Genre: Psychological Thriller/Crime Fiction

Death Row might be a tiny book, but don’t let that fool you—it packs the kind of punch that lingers long after you turn the last page. This short story is Freida McFadden at her best: fast-paced, chilling, and brilliantly twisted.

From the very first line, I was hooked. Talia Kemper is sitting on death row for a murder she swears she didn’t commit—her own husband’s. No motive. A solid alibi. But no one’s ever believed her. Until he shows up. The man she was convicted of killing. Alive. Or is he?

What follows is a haunting, high-stakes race against time that kept my heart pounding and my mind spinning. I was torn between hope and dread with every page. Just when I thought I had it figured out, Freida dropped a twist so sharp I audibly gasped.

The tension, the emotion, the psychological mind games—it’s all masterfully done. And somehow, in so few pages, McFadden gives us a fully fleshed-out character whose desperation feels real and whose story I couldn’t look away from.

If you’re a fan of quick reads that leave a lasting impact, Death Row is an absolute must. It’s dark, suspenseful, and utterly unforgettable. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.

#netgalley #deathrow #booked_this_weekend #freidamcfadden


Book #2 The Ex-Wives Club
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars (Outstanding)
Setting: A chic, upscale restaurant (owned by the victim) where the three ex-wives meet weekly in their favorite corner booth.
Genre: Domestic Suspense; Psychological Thriller; Mystery; Short Fiction / Novella

The Ex-Wives Club is classic Hepworth: sharp, witty, layered with just the right balance of dark humor and juicy suspense. When a celebrity chef is found dead in his own freezer (yes, really!), who else would top the suspect list but his three ex-wives—who just so happen to meet at his restaurant every Friday night for drinks and venting? You can’t make this stuff up… except Sally Hepworth can, and brilliantly.

Anita, Mary-Jane, and Rosie are all flawed, fascinating, and suspicious in their own ways, and the story kept me guessing until the end. Short, snappy, and SO satisfying—I didn’t want it to end! If you love a smart whodunit with heart and sass, this one’s for you.

Hepworth fans, this is your next must-read. And if you’re new to her writing? Buckle up. You’re in for a delicious ride. 🍷🔪

#netgalley #theexwivesclub #sallyhepworth #booked_this_weekend #alibiscollection

you either hate if or you love it and I ate this up
I love twists like this and I know some people don’t but I said what and wtf (and gasped) so many timess within those few pages

Thank you to the publishers and also to NetGalley for this collection of advance readers copy books in exchange for my honest feedback. Each book was an easy five stab - errr five star!!!!!!💫 I only wish would be that they were longer to enjoy! All too notch authors rounded this collection a collective five easy stars!!!! What a ride that was!!!

2 bleh! stars - grabbed this for Freida M's story only - really disappointing, she's pretty hit or miss & always over the top! Might try one or two others later - just not feeling the rest. Anyway, thanks to Amazon & NetGalley for the free ARC

Thank you net galley and publisher for this ARC. These stories were so good and fun to read. I loved the twists too!

I loved this collection! Thank you Amazon!

Death Row by Freida McFadden
4 stars
I loved this one. It found the twist quite clever!
Alternates between before and after, the mental state of Talia throughout was a driving factor for me.

The Ex-Wives Club by Sally Hepworth
5 stars!
Sally! We have had an up and down relationship over the years but this one was a big winner for me! The investigation leaves enough doubt on each character that we aren't sure what could have happened. Good twists at the end too!

False Note by David Lagercrantz
About 3.5 stars
This one wasn't a runaway winner for me. I could find a good sense of resolution by the end but the journey wasn't it for me.

The Skydivers by Chris Bohjalian
4 stars
I thought the author did a wonderful job of giving enough backstory on the characters that the reader can understand their thoughts and actions. I loved Ceci's character and her backstory. And the ending was quite clever. Poor Pete.

Good Neighbors by Chad Zunker
4 stars
I liked this one a lot too! I loved the way this resolved. This one had more of a cozy vibe for me with how Kara is trying to 'spy' on her neighbor's husband and then has to figure out who did the terrible thing she witnessed, which I thought was so good.

Small Things by Wanda M. Morris
5 stars!
LOVED THIS ONE. I think this is one of my favorites in the series. I'm not sure if it says anything that my two faves are the ones with terrible men getting what they deserve but idc. This one made me want to yell "GRL PWR" as soon as I finished. YES.

I’m not expecting much from these little Amazon reads—after all, they’re short stories and free. So far, I’ve found that most of them are either too heavy on characterization with no real plot, or they’re plot-heavy with little to no character development. Death Row, however, struck a nice balance between the two, especially given its short length. I was invested in the story, and it kept me entertained while I did chores around the house today.

The ending seemed pretty clear to me. Some people complain about the simplicity of the writing, but if you couldn’t figure out the ending, I think that says more about you than it does about the author. She wasn’t actually on death row—she was in a coma, being taken off life support. What happens after her death is left open to interpretation, depending on what you believe happens after we die.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

These short stories all focus around different crimes and alibis. Unfortunately, I was not a huge fan of any of them. They all felt way too short and rushed. There was no resolution for a lot of them either.

I hope others love these but I was not a big fan.

Death Row- Freida did it again! A wife on death row for murdering her husband. Told in three different timelines. It keeps you guessing right up until the end. Absolutely loved this one 5/5.

The Ex-Wives Club - Three ex-wives, unhappy children, and one current girlfriend, the one they all hate, turns up dead. The only question is who did it? 4/5

False Note- Toxic relationship between a father and son. Karma gets them both. 2/5

The Skydivers- Two brothers go skydiving to spread their father's ashes. One terrible accident occurs, or was it an accident at all? 2/5

Good Neighbors- One neighbor thinks she is going to spy on her neighbor to catch him cheating. What she sees instead leaves her running for her life. The one responsible is the one she least expects. 4/5

Small Things- An abusive husband finds his wife is making jewelry in the shed, he locks the doors and takes away the only enjoyment she has in life. Is it time for her to make a run for it, or will things work themselves out? 4/5

#1 Death Row: I love anything and everything by Freida McFadden, no matter how short it is. 5/5
#2 The Ex-Wives Club. One Murder. Again I usually love everything Sally Hepworth writes but this was just ok this time. 3/6
#3 False Note. This was my least favorite of all the short stories. 2/2
#4 The Skydivers. Found this one hard to connect with and gave it 2/2.
#5 Good Neighbors. This kept me reading but gave it 3/5.
#6 Small Things. I actually really enjoyed this one! Could not put this one down. Loved it 5/5.

This was so fun to try some short stories by some new authors. I got it because I wanted to read Death Row by Freida and of course I loved that quick, twisty story as it throws you for a loop as you think it is going one way when really it isn't. Freida just has a knack for fooling you every time.

Wanda Morris has a way of getting you to feel so strongly for her characters that you find yourself rooting for them even if they are up to no good. These were my two favorites out of the collection.

I liked that I could read David Lagercrantz, Chris Bohjalian and Chad Zunker who were all new authors to me and give me an idea of their writing style and now I can look for books they have written.

I always read the Amazon short story sets, but murder ones are my favorite. It was nice to have them all together.

I thought the best one was The Ex-Wives Club by Sally Hepworth. I was hooked immediately and it had enough plot for a full book, all in an action-packed 83 pages.

I also really liked the Freida McFadden story. She has an explanation of the ending on her website, because apparently people found it confusing. I thought it made perfect sense and came to the same conclusion as Freida.

All the stories are worth your time, because they're so short! The only one I'd maybe skip is False Note by David Lagercrantz. It's almost a fable (be careful not to turn into what you hate) instead of a story.

#1 Death Row: Quick read. Enticing. Gripping. Thrilling. Mildly confusing. 4/5
#2 The Ex-Wives Club. One Murder. Multiple suspects. Everyone has a motive. Who did it? 4/5
#3 False Note. Toxic father in Law-son relationship. Not as well written or gripping the other 5 books. 2/5
#4 The Skydivers. Found this one hard to get into as well. Liked it closer to the end. enjoyed the different perspectives. 3/5
#5 Good Neighbors. Quick Read. Easy Read. Enjoyed the twists and action! 4/5
#6 Small Things. I actually really enjoyed this one! I think it was my favorite out for the 6. again super fast and easy to read and to follow. Rude ass husband and the polite housewife. 5/5

Thank you NetGalley, the publishers and the authors for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of the "Alibis Collection"!

The Alibis Collection, published by Brilliance Publishing and Amazon Original Stories, is a captivating anthology of short stories that delve into themes of lies, truth, and deception. Each story is a testament to the authors' ability to weave intricate narratives that keep readers on the edge of their seats.

The collection features six compelling stories, each written by a different author. From Freida McFadden's Death Row, which explores the shocking twists in the fate of a condemned murderess, to Sally Hepworth's The Ex-Wives Club, which uncovers the dark secrets of a restaurateur and serial philanderer, every tale is unique and gripping. Other notable stories include David Lagercrantz's False Note, Chris Bohjalian's The Skydivers, Chad Zunker's Good Neighbors, and Wanda M. Morris's Small Things.

As someone new to reading compilations of short stories, I found the Alibis Collection to be a delightful experience. The ability to read one full story in a sitting was particularly enjoyable, and the fact that each story could be read as a stand-alone made it easy to fit reading into my schedule. Whether I had a few minutes or a couple of hours, there was always a story ready to captivate me.

The strength of the Alibis Collection lies in its diversity of voices and genres. Each author brings their own style and perspective, creating a rich tapestry of narratives that explore the complexities of human nature. The stories are well-paced and filled with unexpected twists, making them perfect for readers who enjoy suspense and psychological drama.

Overall, the Alibis Collection is a must-read for fans of short stories and thrillers. The anthology offers a thrilling journey through the darker sides of human behavior, leaving readers questioning what they can truly believe. Whether you're looking for a quick read or a deep dive into the intricacies of deception, this collection has something for everyone.

Meh. I wanted to love these. A couple were ok like the Freida one was the best. But overall I was really bored with these and had to force myself to finish