Overall a 4*
Death row was an absolute masterpiece. Chefs kiss

The other stories were good. Enjoyable and quick for short stories. Easy reads, well laid out with enough information on the short time.

I received a free copy from NetGalley and I'm willingly leaving a review. Average 4.0 stars.
In general, all of them have twists, but none of them are scary will-have-nightmares kind of story. I was looking for very short thrillers and these are just suspense mini stories. I'm reviewing on this one since GR didn't add the collection unless it's the audio (this one).
1. Death Row 5stars. What a roller-coaster of twists. I'm still trying to digest what happened. Repugnant and disgusting details in the restaurant.
2. The Ex-Wives Club 4stars. Mixed feelings about this one. Not all cops swear you know. It was much about looks than fairness. It takes a village...
3. False Note 3stars. Too much violence that had nothing to do with the murder. So predictable!
4. The Skydivers 4stars. Pretty good. I thought everyone wanted to kill everyone.
5. Good Neighbors 4.5stars. An actual story that makes sense although a bit predictable. Kept me on my seat, though.
6. Small Things 3.5stars. Full of triggers, I had a hard time finishing the story. Easy to figure out.

Loved these. Great stories, and quick and easy to get through. Super cool to see a collection from several great authors!

Alibis is a tightly woven collection of six short thrillers from some of today’s most popular suspense authors, brought together by Amazon Original Stories. Each tale stands alone, meaning you can dive into any story without worrying about reading order—which makes this perfect for bite-sized suspense binges.

Here’s a peek into the stories that make up this darkly addictive collection:

🔹 Death Row by Freida McFadden ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A woman on Death Row for murder insists she has an alibi—but the truth takes a shocking and sinister turn. McFadden delivers a chilling mind-bender that lingers.

🔹 The Ex-Wives Club by Sally Hepworth ⭐️⭐️⭐️
When a womanizing restaurant owner is murdered in his own kitchen, all eyes turn to his three ex-wives. A smart whodunnit laced with Hepworth’s trademark psychological tension.

🔹 False Note by David Lagercrantz ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A toxic father-son relationship spirals into dark territory, unleashing betrayal and long-buried secrets. Emotionally complex and quietly unsettling.

🔹 The Skydivers by Chris Bohjalian ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Two brothers clash over their inheritance—and what starts as a memorial skydive becomes something far more sinister. An eerie story about trust, legacy, and regret.

🔹 Good Neighbors by Chad Zunker ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A woman spying on her neighbors thinks she sees something she shouldn’t... and becomes the target. Classic suburban paranoia with a sharp twist.

🔹 Small Things by Wanda M. Morris ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My personal favorite. A woman escaping her abusive husband must use all her cunning to protect her freedom. Fierce, emotional, and satisfying with a punch of poetic justice.

Though each story has its own voice and setting, the common thread of questionable alibis and buried truths ties them together and makes this collection cohesive. The collection is full of deceit, betrayal, and those delicious "aha!" moments that thriller lovers crave.

Each story ranges from 36 to 83 pages, making this an ideal pick for quick yet immersive reads—I devoured most of them in a single sitting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the opportunity to read this gripping collection in exchange for an honest review. If you're in the mood for short thrillers that pack a serious punch, Alibis is well worth the dive.

The Alibis Collection is a thrilling anthology of six short stories by bestselling authors including Freida McFadden, Sally Hepworth, David Lagercrantz, Chris Bohjalian, Chad Zunker, and Wanda M. Morris. Each tale explores the murky territory between truth and deception, where alibis are both shields and weapons.

While not every story hits the mark, the collection as a whole offers a satisfying exploration of what people will do to protect their secrets—and how far they’ll go to get away with it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for this ARC!

This was a wonderful collection of thriller/mystery novellas from authors I have not seen before.
Death Row — This was a quick read, as all of Freida McFadden books usually are. The twist came out of nowhere and was definitely not something I would have ever thought about but seems so realistic.
The Ex-Wives Club — Ian is found dead in a walk-in freezer at his restaurant. The possibility of suspects includes his 3 wives (current and exes), his son, daughter, and some waitstaff. The multiple POV is done perfectly to see different perspectives. I would definitely read this if it was a full book.
The Skydivers — This one started out really good. I was hoping for it being a full book instead of a novella but the last 10-20% it took a turn and I wasn’t a fan of the ending.
Good Neighbors — this was a 4 star read for me. I was hooked with every step and never feeling lost. I will be checking out other work from this author.
Small Things — This was a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me. It felt very realistic and something that anyone could be experiencing in a daily basis. I was not expecting the twist at the end. I will be checking out more work from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read these ARCs. It was a fantastic way to be introduced into new authors that I haven’t come across yet!

I absolutely loved that each of these had a common theme, but were all very different. The Mystery, suspense, and mind blowing twist they all brought to the table had me feigning for more!! Each of these could have easily been made into a full length novel, but had the perfect amount to get it all in there lol I hope Amazon does it again soon!!

I love a good short story, and this had a bunch of them. Some were definitely better than others. I enjoyed the Freida McFadden the most with Sally Hepworth trailing right behind. Each story had some good development for it being so short. I'm thankful to Netgalley, to the authors and publishers for gifting these ARCs in exchange for an honest review.

The Alibis is a fun collection of short psychological thrillers perfect for summer reading. Each book is short, making it easy to read in short sittings. Authors like Freida McFadden, Sally Hepworth, and Chad Bunker (among others - 6 in total) offer a variety of choices. It also gives me a good idea of an author’s writing style and if I’d like to read more by them.

"The Alibis Collection" is like that big box of assorted chocolates you get for the holidays. You’re excited, full of anticipation, and then you realize some pieces are filled with nougat, while others are inexplicably stuffed with toothpaste. This collection is a delightful mishmash of the good, the bad, and the "did-I-really-just-read-that?"
Let's talk about the gems in this collection. For me, that is Death Note, The Ex-Wives Club and Small Things. The stories are gripping, the characters leap off the page, and the plot twists are chef’s kiss.
On the flip side, some stories are plagued with clichés, and the dialogue feels like it was written by someone whose idea of human interaction is based solely on soap operas.
In the end, "The Alibis Collection" is a mixed bag - thrilling ups, unexpected downs, and a few moments that leave you questioning your life choices. If nothing else, it's a conversation starter, the kind of book you can discuss with friends over a cocktail, as you debate which stories were the nougat and which were the toothpaste.

The Alibis Collection 📚

- Book 1: Death Row, by Freida McFadden ⭐️⭐️⭐️

- Book 2: The Ex-Wives Club, by Sally Hepworth ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

- Book 3: False Note, by David Lagercrantz ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

- Book 4: The Skydivers, by Chris Bohjalian ⭐️⭐️⭐️

- Book 5: Good Neighbors, by Chad Zunker ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

- Book 6: Small Things, by Wanda M. Morris ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this collection from Amazon Original Stories! These were all super quick short stories and were great to read and listen to (I toggled back and forth between both formats). I enjoyed some of them more than others, but they were consistently three or four stars which is always a plus ✅

I have read plenty of Freida McFadden and Sally Hepworth books before, but the rest of the authors were new to me and I was not disappointed!

Definitely check these out if you haven’t already. They do not need to be read in order, so you can certainly pick and choose!

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for these ARC’s! 🫶🏻

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories, Freida McFadden, Sally Hepworth, David Lagercrantz, Chris Bohjalian, Chad Zunker, and Wanda M. Morris for the copy of the Alibis collection.

I’ve read Freida and Sally before and thought I would give this set a shot. These were all fun reads and I really enjoyed them all!

Overall enjoyable reads! It’s hard to have a ripper ending when the story is only 50 pages but had fun either way. I think Death Row was frustrating specifically because the ending was so up in the air - but the rest of the endings were decent. :)

I feel like I just read a script to an episode of the Twilight Zone.

The Ex-Wives Club had an interesting premise for a whodunit mystery, but the story was bogged down with too many characters crammed into a short story. The “twist” wasn’t exciting and overall the entire story felt very lackluster.

False Note was bland and one dimensional. The characters were very unlikable, and rightfully so, but also boring and the ending was no surprise. I feel this short story could have benefited from multiple POVs, particularly Ebba’s, to add some depth and interest.

This was one of the stronger entries in the Alibis collection. It was well-paced, engaging, and the dual POV gave insight to the incident from all angles. It held my attention the whole way through, and although I was happy with the ending, the story wrapped up abruptly and crammed too much into the epilogue. I wish it had maybe one more chapter to really let the ending unfold. Still, it had a great balance of suspense and intrigue for such a short story.

One of the top two stories in the Alibi collection so far. It was fast-paced, suspenseful, and unlike many short stories, it didn’t feel rushed or overloaded, making it a super easy read. It gave Desperate Housewives vibes and I quite enjoyed this one.

Small Things is the final short story of the Alibis Collection, and it was another one of the better ones. It is very much trad wife slowly rolling into hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. It was a fun read that delivers satisfying justice against verbally and emotionally abusive husbands – we all know I love giving a big middle finger to the patriarchy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for a complimentary copy of the Alibis Collection.

Great collection of short stories. What's your alibi?

Death Row- 5⭐️
Wow! Jam packed with intensity for a short story. Really makes you think at the end. On to read the rest of the Alibis collection.

The Ex-Wives Club- 5⭐️
Trifecta! Drama, humor, suspense. Fantastic detail crammed into a short story.

False Note- 4⭐️
Emotional roller-coaster for such a quick short story.

The Skydivers- 5⭐️
Intense right from the start! Flips between the day it happened and the night before with a few key characters. It is a very clever short story.

Good Neighbors- 3⭐️
Quickest drama-action with not much of a surprise in the end.

Small Things- 5⭐️
Great short story with emotion and trauma. Will there be revenge? No spoilers here. Love the title, very fitting.

I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This is a collection of short reads by six authors of which I have only read 1 of them before. Each story will keep your interest and by the end you will have discovered the villain. Each story has a different plot and style and, on that basis, I am looking forward to reading more from each of the other 5 that haven't done previously.

Each story will have you wanting to read the next story right away. This is definitely a book worth getting!

Death Row by Freida McFadden
Short stories are difficult to write because, well, they are short. Every word matters, and there are only so many in which to make a plot happen and develop characters. Even though this is longer than a typical short story (it encroaches into novella land), Freida somehow executes all the twists she is known for. Reading some of the reviews though, a lot of readers don't get the ending. Those of us in healthcare will immediately get it. The question is: was the ending deserved?

The Ex-Wives Club by Sally Hepworth
This story had a noire feel to it. He had it coming... from everyone.

False Note by David Lagercrantz
This alibis installment was just OK for me. It is a letdown on humanity from all angles.

The Skydivers by Chis Bohjalian
This is the classic "don't judge a book by its Goodreads reviews"... barely 3 stars and a really convoluted and clever story. I had suspicions that there was a hidden truth but not quite the one that came to light. In retrospect though, the breadcrumbs were there all along.

Good Neighbors by Chad Zunker
Good neighbors. Good friends. Good grief! If there ever is a lesson on MYOB, it is this story.

Small Things by Wanda M. Morris
I do love a story about sharp revenge by a scorned woman.

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review these ARCs.

3.5 ⭐
The Alibis Collection 

Death Row Frieda McFadden 
⭐⭐⭐

This story kicked off with such a strong hook: did she kill her husband, or was she truly innocent? I was all in at the start. But somewhere along the way, it spiraled into a bit of a fever dream. It started to feel chaotic, like no one (characters or author) really knew what was happening, and the ending felt rushed, leaving too many unanswered questions.

Still, I’m giving it three stars because the fast pace kept me turning pages. Honestly, if this had been a full-length novel, I might’ve dropped it to two stars or even DNF’ed. Quick and punchy and admittedly an interesting concept for a twist, but ultimately a bit unsatisfying.

The Ex Wives Club Sally Hepworth 
⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story was such a standout in the collection. I genuinely wish it had been a full-length novel because I didn’t want to leave these characters behind. Sally Hepworth did such a fantastic job, as always, weaving together multiple points of view, each layered with just enough motive and mystery to keep me constantly second-guessing myself.

What I loved most was how each ex-wife brought their own backstory, secrets, and suspicions to the table. They all had strong reasons to potentially want the same man dead, but they also had solid alibis, which made the puzzle so much fun to try and piece together. It really kept me hooked right to the end.

It was fast-paced, but still had enough character depth to make me feel invested in everyone’s story. Entertaining, sharp, and satisfyingly twisty, definitely what I think will be a highlight of The Alibis Collection and a story I would happily read again if Sally ever expanded it.

False Note by David Lagercrantz
⭐️⭐️

This story was packed with dark, unlikeable characters. Honestly, I found no one to root for. The premise itself was intriguing, but for such a short story, it was surprisingly heavy with toxicity, betrayal, and crimes of passion.

I stayed interested, holding out for a twist or some moment that would elevate the story, but in the end, it just fell flat. There was no real tension or surprise, just 42 pages that ultimately felt like a journey to nowhere.

That said, I did appreciate the short, punchy chapters. I just wish the story had delivered more.

The Skydivers by Chris Bohjalian
⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story really pulled me in with its weight of grief, family tension, and the complicated love between two brothers. After their father’s death, they can’t agree on what to do with the family farm, but they do agree to fulfill his final wish: to skydive and scatter his ashes over the land he loved. What should have been a moment of closure quickly spirals into tragedy. Or maybe something more deliberate.

There’s an unsettling, almost suffocating sense of doom from the very first page, and the story doesn’t hold back from the raw, sometimes gory details. It’s layered with bitterness, loss, and the kind of sibling rivalry that can quietly grow into something much darker. The final twist, revealed in the epilogue, genuinely made me pause, it reframes everything you’ve just read.

My only wish is that it had been longer. I wanted more time to really know these brothers, to sit with their grief, their history, their choices. Even so, it’s a story I’d happily revisit, especially if a fuller version ever existed.

It’s haunting, it’s thought-provoking, and it lingers long after the last page.

Good Neighbors by Chad Zunker
⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really enjoyed this one! For such a short story, it packed in a great balance of twists, tension, and thriller-style action. The suspense kicks off right from the first page and the pacing keeps you fully hooked. It doesn’t waste any time getting into the heart of the story.

I loved that I actually connected with the characters, which can be rare in novellas. They were enjoyable to follow, and that made the twists hit even harder. I didn’t see them coming, which made it all the more exciting! The atmosphere stayed tense throughout, and the mystery was solid,it wrapped up well without leaving anything unresolved or overly ambiguous.

This definitely felt like a full-sized thriller, even though it was a quick read. Honestly, my biggest takeaway? Mind your business 😂 Sometimes getting involved in other people’s problems isn’t worth the fallout.

If you’re after a suspenseful, fast-paced thriller that still feels satisfying and complete, this is one I’d recommend!

Small Things by Wanda M Morris
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Small Things is a short but powerful story about Hannah, a jewelry maker trapped in an abusive marriage, who carefully plans her escape, determined to leave without a trace.

The tension starts immediately and builds steadily, not with dramatic twists, but through Hannah’s quiet, calculated control. I was completely hooked by the slow, deliberate unraveling of her plan. It’s not about shock value, it’s about the weight of her situation and her calm determination.

This story made a big impact in just a few pages. The ending was excellent and left me thinking about the many women who face this heartbreaking reality.

A solid, thought-provoking read. I’ll definitely be checking out more from this author!

The stories in this book were disappointing. I really enjoy Freida McFadden and Sally Hepworth books and out of the 6 stories, these were the best, but they weren’t nearly as good as any of their other writing. Overall I would not recommend reading these stories.

This was fantastic! I really love short stories collections because it keeps everything refreshing and I want to keep going. Freida's was a bit weird, and I was confused by the ending. I had to talk it through with a friend to make sure I was understanding correctly. That being said, I would have never guessed the twists!