Not all alibis protect the innocent

Six short stories of psychological suspense explore the conflict between lies and truth and the role of alibis in identifying and prosecuting the guilty. The first tale is of a woman on death row, convicted of killing her husband despite her having a solid alibi at the time of his death...are her claims of innocence true, or is there more to the story than the reader realizes? The next (and my personal favorite) features the death of a celebrated chef, found dead in the freezer of his acclaimed restaurant. With three ex-wives (who get along with one another better than they do with him), two children who have reason to resent him, and employees who aren't necessarily his biggest fans (including his latest girlfriend), there are plenty of motives to do away with him...but each suspect has a solid alibi. Then there's the self-absorbed and abusive but charismatic opera singer who steals his son's girlfriend, a skydiver who ends up mauled to death by farm equipment when his jump goes awry, a woman who's keeping watch on her friend and neighbor's husband to see if he's really cheating on her only to witness his murder, and a woman trapped in an abusive marriage who is finally pushed to protect the only outlet she has...plenty of twisty tales with nasty people doing bad things and (usually) paying the price. Some alibis shield the person who committed the crime, and sometimes the doer is caught anyway (but not always). Turns out you never know everyone who has a motive to kill, and sometimes you don't really blame the person for committing the crime. Several of the authors of these six tales are well known to most readers, so if you are a fan of Frieda McFadden, Sally Hepworth, David Lagercrantz, Chris Bohjalian, Chad Zunker or Wanda M. Morris, if you enjoy the Best Mystery Short Stories collection put out each year by the Mysterious Press, or just like the reading short stories in the genre, you'll find at least some of these tales to your liking. Did I enjoy some more than the others? Yes, but overall I would rate the collection 4 ⭐️ out of 5. My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for allowing me access to this quick but enjoyable read in exchange for my honest review.

What’s not to love about short stories by fantastic authors!?freida McFadden never disappoints neither does. Sally Hepworth. Collections are alway a great way to get introduced to new authors. Loves this collection and how all the different tales that are short and not so sweet

Death Row – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love Freida McFadden. This was a great short story, but the ending was pretty confusing.

The Ex-Wives Club – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Really enjoyed this one! A fun, quick read.

False Note – ⭐️
Easily the weakest story in the collection.

The Skydivers – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The ending felt too rushed and left me wanting more.

Good Neighbors – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’ve never read anything by this author before, but I really enjoyed this story! I’ll definitely check out more of their work.

Small Things – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The best book in the collection—such a strong finish!

I loved this little book bundle. What a great way to give new authors a try! I definitely found a couple that I would like to read more of.

4 stars overall.

These short stories were great palate cleansers. They were all fast paced reads and kept me engaged. I liked how they all have the same central concept, but are actually so different from each other. I specifically liked Frieda and Sally's contributions to the collection, but I also feel biased in that conclusion. I loved being able to pick one of these up and finish it quickly. Thanks for such a fun little collection to get to dive into!

I would say the first 2 stories were the best. A couple really didn't hit the mark however, and my ratings averaged out to a 3.

“Alibis” is an absolute treat for thriller lovers, a fast, fun, and wildly entertaining collection of short stories from six powerhouse authors. With Freida McFadden, Sally Hepworth, David Lagercrantz, Chris Bohjalian, Chad Zunker, and Wanda M. Morris all in one place, how could it not be a win?

Each story brings its own voice and twist, and I loved how no two felt alike. From mind games to moral dilemmas, this collection had just enough bite to keep me reading straight through in one sitting. It was such a blast to see these incredibly talented authors collaborate like this.

I’d love to see more collections like this in the future; it felt like the literary version of a dream team!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This one was a total 5-star gem for me!

(I have posted individual links to each review for the different short stories; Goodreads did not have the Alibis Collection as one title.)

Alibis #1:
If I am going to be honest, I love freida and her work. But why does when she does a novella or short story it feels off or there are alot of loose ends that doesn't make sense.

I was looking forward on reading this one but I was really disappointed. It started good but when she saw a man that looks exactly as her husband, that she was accused of killing, that's where the story went crazy and a lot of questions unanswered.

And the ending? Well that was unexpected. I didn't understood the way the novel ended.

I hope she can make a good novella without any loose ends and unanswered questions.

Alibis #2: I honestly enjoyed this short story more than I thought I would. It was quite fun and the characters were pretty interesting.

Alibis #3: This is a story that fits the bills about lies, truth and deception. The problem in the end was whose lies were believed, but there was a certain natural justice in the result.

Alibis #4: This one is good at the beginning, but started to fall flat towards the end. I really thought it could have given more story and plot.

Alibis #5: Action packed, intense and scary at the same time.
This is only a short story yet the author managed to keep the suspense and dread until the end and although the twist is obvious.

Alibis #6: I think this was the best of all the short stories in this series. Reading it made me want to read more of her books. The ending felt complete and cliff hanging at the same that makes you want to have another story of of it.

Overall, this was a good short story or novella collection. Hoping to more well written and action packed novella's in the future.

Thank you Netgalley, Amazon Orginal Stories, and all the Authors for these six short stories. They each have their own spin on the theme of Alibis. Freida McFadden was the only author I was familiar with and this was a great way to explore new to me authors. One of my favorite things is that all can be read or listened to in one sitting. I actually downloaded a few books by some of the "new to me" authors!


🔒 Death Row By Freida McFadden is a solid 4/5 ⭐️
I really enjoyed the twist in this one and it resonated with me because of a personal experience. I left off 1 star because while I didn't need anyone to explain the ending to me, several people have been confused.

💍 Ex- Wives Club 3/5 ⭐️
This is my first Sally Hepworth read and I enjoyed the story. 55 year old Ian has 3 ex-wives that meet every Friday in their booth at his restaurant. Ian is unalived and there is no shortage of suspects. There are the 3 ex-wives, a 25 year old girlfriend, a son, employees.. This is also the longest story out of the collection.

🔪False Note by David Lagercrantz 3/5⭐️
William's father is famous and beloved by the masses however the man William knows is very different from the public persona that everyone thinks is so amazing. This explores a toxic Father/Son relationship.

🛫 Sky Divers by Chris Bohjalian 3/5 ⭐️
Two brothers, an inheritance and a disagreement on what to do with it. The epilogue was the redeeming factor of this story.


🏡Good Neighbors by Chad Zunker 5/5⭐️
Kara will do anything for her best friend and neighbor, Mindy. Their kids play together and Mindy is the first friend she has made since moving to the area. When she learns that Mindy’s husband Bill might be having an affair, Kara agrees to keep her eye on things across the street. Her husband ,Jackson, warns her she should probably stay out of it. Then one night when Kara observes someone sneaking around in Mindy’s house, she decides to take a closer look. But what’s happening across the street isn’t what Kara expects. And what she sees could be deadly.


💎 Small Things by Wanda M. Morris 5/5⭐️
I support women's rights and women's wrongs! This was a the perfect ending to The Alibis Collection.
Hannah's life and marriage looks perfect from the outside. In reality her life and marriage is a nightmare. Her husband is abusive and cruel. The trad wife life hasn't at all turned out the way she expected but she has found some joy and solace in the shed where she makes jewelry and even has a secret etsy business. When Rusty and his behavior threatens the only joy in her life, she makes an escape plan but can she get away ..or away with it?

This book had me in a chokehold from the first story to the last. Six psychological thrillers in one, and every single one delivered something fresh, sharp, and completely unhinged in the best way.

Freida McFadden’s Death Row was my favorite. I went in thinking I had it all figured out, and she still knocked me flat. The ending? I’m still thinking about it. Sally Hepworth’s The Ex Wives Club gave me chaos, sass, and a murder mystery that felt like a Real Housewives episode gone completely feral.

David Lagercrantz and Chris Bohjalian both leaned into the family drama with stories that felt cold, calculated, and deeply messed up. Chad Zunker made me paranoid, and Wanda M Morris broke my heart with something haunting and powerful.

If you love short thrillers that waste no time pulling you in, this is the one. Every story was strong, and together they made an unforgettable ride.

I love this concept, several short stories all with one connecting theme, each one easily read in an evening. Such a great mix of authors and ideas. Personal favourites were Death Row by Freida McFadden and The Ex-Wives Club by Sally Hepworth.

I love mysteries and thrillers as well as short story collections and was so excited to read this, but unfortunately I found that I didn’t really enjoy any of the shorts.

Hopefully other readers will like these more, but they weren’t for me.



Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the DRC

A Crime Anthology with a Twist in Every Tale

This is a collection of six short stories by six different authors, each centered around a crime and the alibis characters use to get away with it. What makes this anthology particularly engaging is how varied the stories are in tone, style, and execution—you're likely to find at least one that really resonates.

My standout favorite was Death Row by Frieda McFadden, which I gave a full 5 stars. It’s a story that has left many readers puzzled, and Frieda herself even shared an explanation on her group for those who didn’t quite catch the twist. I’m happy to say I understood it right away, and that "aha!" moment made it all the more satisfying.

I also really enjoyed Small Things and Good Neighbors, both of which earned 5 stars from me. They were well-written, intriguing, and kept me engaged from start to finish.

The Ex-Wives Club I gave it 4 stars—entertaining but didn’t quite pack the same punch as the others.

As for False Note and Skydivers, I gave them 3 stars. They didn’t resonate with me as much, either due to pacing, predictability, or lack of connection to the characters.

Overall, this is a clever anthology built around a strong central theme. While not every story was a hit for me, the variety ensures that most readers will find at least one they really enjoy.

Alibis Collection - 4🌟 Enjoyed the whole collection overall. I was also able listen to the narration and it made all of the stories enjoyable. Review for individual stories are below.

Death Row - 4🌟 Frida McFadden just doesn’t miss. Great short story with an unexpected twist.
The Ex Wives Club - 4🌟 All I’m going to say is YASSSSS, love a girl’s girl group.
False Note - 2🌟 Already forgotten, the worst in the collection.
The Skydivers - 3🌟 Ehh, the ending felt disconnected but it was a good twist that I didn’t see coming.
Good Neighbors - 4🌟 All I was thinking, EVERYBODY IS NOT YOUR FRIEND!
Small Things - 5🌟 They saved the best for last. Two Words: Well Deserved.

Each book could be read individually and didn't need the others to complete the story. Some of the books were better than others.

This collection includes stories by writers who will be familiar to readers of mysteries and thrillers. Here are stories by very popular authors including Freida McFadden, Sally Hepworth, David Lagercrantz, Chris Bohjalian, Chadd Zunker, and Wanda M Morris.

Along with the stories, readers can also find out a bit more about each of the authors.

Read a story by a writer that you already enjoy or easily take a chance on someone new. Either way, there are some good tales here.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for this title. All opinions are my own.

Note: I think that this title is free in both print and audio for those who subscribe to Amazon Prime or Kindle Unlimited.

Come sempre nelle raccolte un gruppo misto, forse un pochino più blando del solito; nessun racconto ha spiccato particolarmente, se non The Good Neighbours, ma in male.
Perdibili.

This is a collection of 6 different short stories by 6 different authors. I have to say my favourite of all the stories was Death Row by Frieda McFadden that I gave 5 stars too. This story seems to confuse a lot of people and Freida herself has put out an explanation on Facebook for those that didn't understand it (I'm happy to say I got it right away). I gave Small Things and Good Neighbors 4 stars, the Ex-Wives Club 3 stars and False Note and Skydivers 2 stars. The stories here each revolve around a crime and the alibis that the characters have to get away with it. The stories are all very different and you likely will find at least one story that you really enjoy.

Publishers- please take note. MORE COLLECTIONS LIKE THIS. I absolutely loved this collection of stories. What an amazing way to introduce new authors in easily readable short stories.

Death Row- Holy cow, Freida. First story out the bunch and I am absolutely gobsmacked. I would write a synopsis but I truly do prefer to go into books blind, I actually cannot recommend it enough to other readers and this is a short but thrilling ride of a that I would absolutely recommend not reading anything about and just sitting down, and letting it take you where it takes you!

The Ex-Wives Club- Another super strong offering right off the gate, and the embodiment of the title of the collection. I absolutely love the premise-philandering celebrity chef found dead in his own walk in cooler, and everyone's eyes are on his three main ex-lovers. The trio are not only all still friendly with their ex-restaurateur, but they are also quite close with each other, even having their own designated booth in his restaurant. This book was witty and clever and fast paced to the last line!

False Note- While this was probably the story I connected to the least, I absolutely loved the atmosphere and location. This is a story of a toxic father son relationship set in the gorgeous and moody Stockholm.

The Skydivers- This is a short story about a skydiving trip gone gruesomely, horribly wrong. I found the first half incredibly intriguing, but the ending happened way too fas, and seemed forced and rushed. Basically there was a lot of buildup for not a whole lot of payout. I expected more from the female character, more from the motive, just more overall. This story did not feel completed.

Good Neighbors- This was the story that I think could have possibly been expanded upon to create a full sized novel, but the twists and turns and suspense packed into such a short amount of pages helped it feel so propulsive. Honestly at first I did not think I was going to like this author, there were a lot of expedition dumps in the first pages, but with this being a short story perhaps the author felt they had to get that out of the way so they could spend the bulk of the writing on the good parts!

Small Things- I think this story was really well done and well crafted, but I am personally just so completely over stories about timid and meek women in abusive relationships. I love that this ultimately became a story of revenge, I just personally don't enjoy the journey to get there. I can definitely see this being one of the most well liked and top stories of the collection though!

This was a pretty cool collection. Not gonna lie, I saw the name Sally Hepworth and that was all I needed to know. Well, this is a collection of short stories from several authors, hers being one of them. Sally's writing is amazing and even in short form, The Ex-Wives Club was a great story! I loved it!
Next up was Frieda McFadden, and she is hit or miss with me. Death Row was pretty good. Typical Frieda with her twisty style!
Chris Bohjalian had The Skydivers. Not sure how this story fit with the Alibi theme, but it was a good read.
I ended up really enjoying The Good Neighbors by Chad Zunker. I have never read anything from him, and I wish this one could've been longer!
Small Wonder by Wanda Morris was good and I also would've liked that one to be a bit longer!
And last but not least, The False Note by David Lagercrantz, another new to me author. I would read more from him, definitely!

All in all, another pretty great collection! Thank you to #NetGalley and Amazon original stories for this short-story collection.