From New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd comes an all-new thriller featuring a bold and brash female protagonist, a brutal and twisty murder that will have readers turning the pages and a villain that will have them keeping the lights on at night. WRONG ALIBI is perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Karin Slaughter, and Sandra Brown.WRONG JOBEighteen-year-old Evelyn Jones lands a job in … JOB
Eighteen-year-old Evelyn Jones lands a job in small-town Alaska, working for a man in his isolated mountain home. But her bright hopes for the future are shattered when Donald White disappears, leaving her to face charges of theft, embezzlement—and a brutal double murder. Her protestations of innocence count for nothing. Convicted, she faces life in prison…until fate sends her on the run.
WRONG NAME
Evie’s escape leaves her scarred and in hiding, isolated from her family, working under an alias at a wilderness camp. Bent on justice, intent on recovering her life, she searches for the killer who slaughters without remorse.
WRONG ALIBI
At last, the day comes. Donald White has returned. Evie emerges from hiding; the fugitive becomes the hunter. But in her mind, she hears the whisper of other forces at work. Now Evelyn must untangle the threads of evidence before she’s once again found with blood on her hands: the blood of her own family…
“This is Dodd at her brilliant best.”
—Booklist (starred review) on Strangers She Knows
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You’ve got to love a heroine who tells the reader on page one that she was probably too stupid to live. But Petie learns fast. She survives and now she’s out to get justice. Great page turner with a terrific heroine.
WOW, what a ride. Just as you think you who the villain is, you’re wrong.
I am not a big fan of books that leap back and forth between time periods, so I had a hard time keeping up in the first few chapters. The heroine, Evelyn Jones a.k.a Petie, has lots of spunk and learns that she is a surviver. When her father left their family to marry a newer model, Petie was hurt and started acting out, hanging out with the wrong crowd and ending up in Juvie, though she must have a really bad lawyer to have received the sentence she did- in California of all places. But she used her time to learn and when she was released was offered a job as a bookkeeper in Alaska. Her parol officer, encourage her to take the job, and since her mother and little sister had already moved to Alaska she did. Something was really strange about her boss, but she did not listen to her instincts and gets set up for the murder of a woman and her little boy. Again the “authorities” let her down, but she through a miracle, she escapes and makes her way to a remote wilderness camp, where she slowly grows in her strength, skills and talent. Waiting for the day that she can prove her innocent and get revenge on the man that set her up.
Masterfully written, with fascinating characters and an intriguing plot, make this a powerful read.
Wrong Alibi by Christina Dodd is the beginning of The Alaskan Mystery series. I was eagerly anticipating reading this new suspense novel and I was not disappointed. The characters are multifaceted, and the plot is complex. Evelyn “Petie” Jones gets a chance to start over after serving time in a juvenile facility. She is eighteen with limited options. Evelyn is offered a job in Alaska and she takes it upon the advice of her counselor. Unfortunately, Evelyn trusts the wrong person and ends up accused of a double homicide along with embezzlement. Evelyn is convicted and sentenced to life in prison. A freak of nature allows Evelyn to escape and hide as Petie. She will never be free, though, until she finds the man who set her up and prove he committed the evil deeds she has been convicted of committing. Wrong Alibi is a captivating story. It is a page turner that is full of twists, turns, and surprises. I loved the intricate mystery as well as the action and tension. This was a fun whodunit. There are a variety of unique characters and I enjoyed the hint of paranormal. I am eager to read the next book in this exciting new series. Wrong Alibi is an stimulating story with a cunning con man, a unscrupulous sheriff, a deadly adversary, a cold climate, and a wrong woman.
I am a fan of this author and have read just about everything she has written and when this one came out I was standing in line (you know what I mean) to get this one and cannot wait to see where it leads next! Evelyn Jones has not had an easy time of it and spent several years in juvie and when released at 18 she leaves with a job that takes her to Rockin, Alaska, (which happens to be where her mother and sister had moved). A TSTL girl who is way out of her element goes to live in a remote area with an older man as his bookkeeper. She figures something is wrong but cannot figure it out and when after a couple weeks he disappears and she is hearing voices from the teddy bear and checks out the basement and finds two dead bodies and just then the police show up, yeah something really is wrong. After she is assumed dead (a miracle in itself) she will spend the next few years gaining knowledge and looking for the man who set her up. What comes about is not only spectacular but the perfect revenge and frightening when you think you don’t know who you can trust. I really cannot wait to see where this series goes next!
I listened to this book on Audible. The narrator was fine but I did get distracted a few times by it. She seemed a bit robotic. I have a little trouble staying focused when the narrator reads this way. Once I was into the story, though, I did fine. Maybe I just needed to adjust to it? I would recommend listening to the sample, more than once, if narration is important to you.
The story is a twisty one and has a number of characters introduced. I like to write down characters when there are a lot. This way if someone gets lost in the story I can easily recall who they are. It also helps with series reading. I thought the author did a great job with the location, (so much so I checked out where she lives to see if she lives in state). Living in Alaska I’m always interested to see how my state is portrayed. The story was captivating though it starts off slowly. Hang in there. It soon picks up speed and doesn’t slow down. I’ve been reading a lot of suspense/thriller books lately and would definitely put this on my list of best thrillers for the year. I like Petie and Jeen Lee a lot. You need to have a certain amount of strength to live here, especially if you’re in an isolated area or small town. There is always weird things happening and being able to adapt and keep going is helpful. I was iffy on Petie’s mom. I’ll let you see why for yourself. There is a little bit of going back in time in this. I didn’t feel lost or anything with it. I thought the flow, in regards to it, worked. There is a romance in this story. The author has written romance books so that didn’t surprise me.
My recommendation is to get the book. Listen to the sample to figure out if you want an audio version. If you don’t like the narration, get either electronic or print but definitely read the book. The author is popular so you may find it at your library or on Hoopla/Overdrive. If you like a book that keeps you reading past your bedtime, grab a flashlight and get under the covers with this. It’s going to be your kind of night.
How does the title fit the book? That was something I never figured out.
Enjoyable read, good characters.
The Review
What an incredible thriller! The author has found the perfect balance of heart-pounding pacing in the narrative with in-depth, emotional character development. Evie’s story reveals itself smoothly, creating a tragic backstory that showcases the struggles the character has undergone to become the heroine she is by the book’s main events.
The mystery behind the murders she is framed for is handled perfectly by the author, slowly unraveling the crime and the identity of the actual killer makes for a chilling revelation, especially as it ties into the final moments of the book’s narrative. The action is great and the suspense evokes feelings of chills and anticipation as the narrative goes on.
The Verdict
A thrilling, entertaining, and attention-grabbing thriller, author Christina Dodd’s “Wrong Alibi” is the perfect first story in a new murder mystery/thriller series. A strong protagonist helps to draw out a creative and chilling story, and readers will have a difficult time putting this story down as the author draws them further and further in. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
This is a psychological thriller featuring a young girl, Evie/Petie who is wrongly accused of murder and is trying to rebuild her life. Evie had been in juvenile detention, and is ready to be released. She lands a job in Alaska working for a recluse. What Evie doesn’t realize is the danger she is facing working for him. Then, Evie is convicted of a double murder, and after 10 years and a new identity as Petie, her past is starting to catch up with her.
Petie trusts the wrong people, and gets in more trouble, but there are some people that believe in her, and try to help.
I was surprised by the reveal at the end, but pleased with the end result. Petie is an unusual heroine, but I was really rooting for her.
Twisted and daring story of how a previously convicted girl is framed for another crime she had no part in. The pace is fast and furious, though you must suspend reality here and there, the bad guys are the worst, but the threads all come together in one neat package. I really enjoyed this one.
This book kept me on my toes never knowing what the next twist was going to be. Wonderful engaging characters.
In many ways, this felt a bit different than the usual CD books, but it was still amazing and intense and there were unexpected moments that made me shut the book to try to process what just happened. Petie was so strong and resilient while still being traumatized over everything that had happened to her. The descriptions of Alaska and the cold and the wilderness were brilliant. I was a little upset with Petie’s mother, although her depth and motivations become clearer later one. Donald White is such a great bad guy, I couldn’t stand him. Lastly, I can’t wait to see some of the peripheral characters get their own books!!
Wow, what a great start to the new series! Evie Jones, former gang member and fresh out of the Juvenile Detention Center (JDC). Evie was sent to JDC after being convicted of killing someone, only she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. She grew up fast in JDC and completed an accounting degree. She is out and just wants a fresh start. Evie grabs the first job she can and finds herself in Rockin, Alaska, working for Donald White. As a young, naive girl, Evie just does what she is told. Unfortunately, that gets her into more trouble and finds herself convicted of a double murder with Donald White no where to be found. On her way to prison, an act of nature helps, along with a nice doctor, and Evie finds herself working in a fishing camp. For eight years she has waited to come out of hiding. Eight years searching for Donald White. She has found him and now on her way back to Rockin. Evie learns the hard way who her friends are and who she thought they were. So many twists and turns that had me turning pages. Fast-paced action! Loved getting to know the characters and cannot wait to see what the next book has in store for us!
I throughly enjoyed this book. It was a bit slow to start for me but I’m so glad I kept on reading. It picked up and took off like I couldn’t believe. It had so much going on and so many twists and turns to keep everyone happy.
“Sometimes God gives a second chance. It’s up to you to be worthy.” Quote from a doctor in this book! Good one!
Evelyn Jones/Petie was alone. Facing a very uncertain future. She got a break she certainly wasn’t expecting when Donald White offered her a job as his bookkeeper. She was just released from juvenile detention for her involvement in a drive by shooting. Not the shooter or the driver. Just a girl without any luck. Seems her mother was deserting her also. She told Evie to not come back once she was released. I liked Evelyn/Petie very much. With all she goes through she is a strong female. Even when she thinks she can’t be she is.
Donald White was a jerk. I saw him coming a mile away. To me it was obvious what he was going. Maybe not everything but a big part of it. He was a mystery. No one ever saw him or even truly knew of him except Evie/Petie. He was a bit of a loner for sure. I fully detested this man. I thought he was a coward. But he was also a sociopath so there was that.
Ioana is Evelyn/Petie’s mother. I didn’t like her for a while but then she kind of grew on me. She didn’t want Evie/Petie around to ruin her younger sister’s life. To me she was turning her back on Evie for Marya. Marya is Evelyn/Petie’s sister. No mother should make such a big difference between her children. If Evie had been nothing but trouble maybe I would have understood it better but this it seems was the first trouble Evie had been in. She had spent four years in juvie. Released when she turned eighteen.
Zone was the man looking for Petie. He found out she had murdered his wife and very young son. Left them to rot in the basement. He wanted justice. He wanted vengeance. He was so filled with anger and hate for this woman who took his world away. But I liked Zone. I felt bad for him.
Then there is Tuddy. I absolutely liked Tuddy. He got on my nerves at times but he was still my second favorite character in this book.
This book is about a murder. A young woman who just wants a fresh start in life. A family who suffers the ultimate. Actually make that two families. A man who will use anyone to get what he wants. A very crooked cop. Wretchen Gretchen… I hated her! From the freezing dead of winter in Alaska this story unfolds. It’s like watching a movie in your heard. Trying to figure out why things happen. Who helped. Will they survive. You know from fairly early on who the bad guy is but still you wonder when Evie/Petie will be found. When will they catch her and make her pay.
Thank you #NetGalley, #ChristinaDodd, #HQNpublishers for this ARC. This is my own thoughts about this book.
4/5 stars and a high recommendation. Read it. Love it. Enjoy!
This is book 1 in the Murder in Alaska series. Evelyn is 18 years old when she gets a job in Alaska working for a man in his home. She is in charge of basically everything, and when he disappears-it changes her life in an instant. She is charged with theft, embezzlement, and murder. It doesn’t matter how much she protests her innocence, she is convicted. Until she escapes and goes into hiding. Now she is bent on vengeance and is searching for the man who set her up. And when she finds him, she will become the hunter and find out why.
This book sucked me in right from the start! There are so many different twists and turns, and it is definitely a true thriller! I wouldn’t necessarily call this a romantic suspense as I felt like the romance was more of a side thing-this is why I knocked it down to 4 stars. And as someone who primarily reads romance books (of all genre’s), it really surprised me of how much I still loved this story! All of the different twists along this story are what kept me reading because I definitely needed to know what was going to happen! I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to ruin this story for anyone else, but I will say-this isn’t necessarily a story about who did it but more as what will the main character do to right the wrong done to her.
Terrific characters and unpredictable. Loved It!
Wrong Alibi, the newest thriller by Christina Dodd, tells the tale of a naive young woman framed for theft, embezzlement and murder by her employer.
We meet Petie (fka Evelyn Jones) while she is working alone at a remote wilderness camp in Alaska. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn the horrific events that caused Petie to change her name and hide out at the lodge.
Petie has matured a lot while working at the camp and has learned some impressive internet sleuthing skills during the solitary winters. She has used her talents to earn money and make friends. Those friendships and skills prove very useful to Petie as she tracks down and matches wits with the man whose actions forced her into hiding.
I felt a whole range of emotions, including sorrow, fear, anger, etc., while reading this novel and once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. I cannot wait to read the next novel in this series!
Wrong Alibi is one of those books that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go until you’ve hit “the end”. This thriller had it all in my opinion. Twists, turns, red herrings, tough but naive heroine at the beginning who grows throughout the story and more than one sinister character to watch out for as I read. I look forward to seeing Evie/Petie continue to grow and become more independent as this series continues. If you like mysteries/thrillers, you can’t go wrong with this one.
The author provided me with a copy of this book to review. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
Kept me guessing. Loved the characters!
It took me a while to read this book- partly due to some issues with my eyes, partly because I didn’t like our protagonist, Evelyn (Evie) Jones. At the start of the book she’s 18 years old, fresh out of juvenile detention and trying to turn her life around. She accepts a job in Rockin, Alaska as the accountant to an antiquities dealer to be near her mother and sister, who have settled there (why they moved there was not clearly explained). There are a lot of red flags about her employer once she settles into the job and I had to keep putting the book down as Evie’s actions (or inaction in light of all the red flags) made her TSTL. Eventually, she is the fall guy to her employer’s schemes and is wrongly convicted of the murder of a woman and child (the father, Zone (a name I hated), is being held by an Isis-esque group when this occurs and he eventually escapes). As, Evie is being transported to prison, the transport bus is hit by a mudslide and only Evie survives albeit with life threatening and facial feature changing injuries. Believed to be dead, Evie ends up at a remote guest camp and remains there as caretaker and general factotum for 10 years until she finally locates her former employer, who is back in Rockin perpetrating another scheme.
The adult Evie (now called Petie) was a much more interesting character and I enjoyed this part of the book and the conclusion of the book was much more satisfying. The only issue I have with the 2nd half of the book is the abrupt way that Zone, who gets a mysterious text that Evie is still alive and vows revenge, does an about face when Evie explains what really happened and he and Evie abruptly have sex and now have a “connection.” I would have liked to see a more gradual reckoning to their relationship- team up to prove who the real killer is and then come to realize that in their common goal they have developed a bond. Despite my issues, there was a lot I liked about the overall plot of Wrong Alibi and I look forward to see what happens next in Rockin, Alaska.