"Intricately woven tale of murder and deception."

By: Tami Hoag

Genres: Thriller Psychological | Romance Suspense

Posted: March 15, 2007

Elena Estes, former undercover cop and private investigator, is dismayed when she finds a woman's body in a south Florida swamp. When she realizes that the dead woman is Irina Markova, her friend and previous coworker at a horse stable, Elena is determined to find out who did this to Irina and bring that person to justice. Despite a distrust of men in general, Elena calls on her former lover, Detective James Landry, to help figure out who murdered her friend.

One of the main suspects is Bennett Walker -- a man Elena was engaged to 20 years ago but left after he was tried and acquitted for the rape and murder of another woman, despite Elena's testimony against him. Through the investigation, it's revealed that Bennett is part of a group of men who've dubbed themselves "The Alibi Club" -- super wealthy men who stick together and cover for each other when one of their members gets in hot water. Elena must immerse herself in a world she gave up long ago in order to find Irina's killer. As if she needed more incentive to do that, she's visited by Alexi Kulak, a remorseless Russian mobster who threatens to kill her unless she helps him find who murdered Irina.

Tami Hoag weaves an intricate tale of murder and deception. She doesn't introduce extraneous characters, so the story is easy to follow. I did have a problem with how often she reveals that Elena is a tough woman who can trust no one, especially men. She hits you over the head with this theme throughout the book. That, however, is the only thing I would've liked done differently. This follow-up to DARK HORSE (9/02) is a very well-written and thought-out murder/mystery. Hoag is able to keep you guessing and you'll be left breathless until all the threads are unwoven and the killer is revealed.

Book Summary

She was a vision. She was a siren. She was a nightmare. She was dead. Now he needed her to disappear. And he knew just how to make it happen. The Palm Beach elite go to great lengths to protect their own-and their own no longer includes Elena Estes. Once upon a time a child of wealth and privilege, Elena turned her back on that life. Betrayed and disillusioned by those closest to her, she chose the life of an undercover cop, the hunt for justice her own personal passion. Then a tragic, haunting mistake ended her career. Now Elena exists on the fringes of her old life, training horses for a living. But a shocking event is about to draw her back into the painful vortex she's fought so hard to leave behind. First she finds the body-a young woman used, murdered, and dumped in a canal. Not just a victim, but a friend. As Elena delves into her dead friend's secret life, she discovers ties not only to the Russian mob but also to a group of powerful and wealthy Palm Beach bad boys known for giving each other alibis to cover a multitude of sins. A group that includes a man Elena once knew very well-her former fiancé, Bennett Walker, a man she knows has already escaped justice at least once in his life.

Finding her friend's killer will put Elena at odds with her old life, with her new lover, and with herself. But she is determined to reveal the truth-a truth that will shock Palm Beach society to its core, and could very well get her killed.

The Alibi Man by Tami Hoag

The Alibi Man

by: Tami Hoag

Bantam
April 1, 2007
On Sale: March 27, 2007
Featuring: Elena Estes; James Landry
384 pages
ISBN: 0553802011
EAN: 9780553802016
Hardcover

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