| Plot Summary of The Alibi |
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"The deep south is bustling with adventure and murder. Lute Pettijohn, one of South Carolina's richest man is found murdered. Though Dr. Alex Ladd has become a well respected psychologist, her past catches up with her causing her to be a suspect. After her sexual encounter with Hammond Cross, Soliciter for South Carolina, Hammond knows she cannot be guilty. "
Tracey Ray, Resident Scholar
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"The Assistant Prosecutor (Hammond Cross) for Charleston is dragged into a murder investigation of a prominent figure (Lute Pettijohn) in Charleston who had many enemies. Hammond is the prosecutor who is given the case to prosecute, but when he realizes that the main suspect is a woman (Dr. Alex Ladd) who he met at a County Fair and made love to the night of the murder, he can not find it in himself to tell the police investigator and the other Assistant Prosecutor that he knows the suspect. He thinks he is protecting her at first then as evidence reveals itself, he wants to also protect his career. He has become the perfect alibi, he realizes, because he wasn't upfront about knowing her. He did not know her well, they shared one night together, but it was very different for him. He wants to prove her innocence, but by doing so, he puts himself at risk."
Laura Allen, Resident Scholar
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"When attorney Hammond Cross and psychologist Alex Ladd meet at a country fair, neither is aware that the man they have both recently met with has been murdered. After a night of passion, the two return to their separate lives in Charleston, SC only to learn that Lute Pettijohn, a hated real estate developer, has been shot to death. When Hammond is assigned to prosecute the case, he is chagrined to find out that his mystery woman is the lead suspect. Romance-turned-suspense author Brown, uses a wide knowledge of Charleston geography and society to frame the intrigues of an intimately connected cast of characters.
Spanning seven days, THE ALIBI opens on the just discovered murder scene. From the outset, multiple suspects are presented: the widow, the investigating detective (also the victim's former in-law) and an ambitious prosecutor. However, witnesses and forensic evidence stack up against Dr. Alex Ladd. The situation is compromised by her affair with the prosecuting attorney, Hammond, which she chooses not to reveal though it is a perfect alibi. Not understanding Alex's motives, Hammond begins to distrust her when he realizes that their meeting was intentional. While concealing his connection to both the victim and the suspect, he works to learn more about why Alex refuses to divulge her reasons for visiting the deceased.
The author finds time to sneak in a little clandestine romance for the apparently ill-fated lovers. Brown is as gifted a romance author as ever came down the pike. It is no surprise then that love is at the crux of the couple's dilemma and ultimately overrides their mistrust of one another.
The story unravels quickly without losing any of its tension. The characters are well-developed, most are easy to identify with. Brown does a clever job of cutting scenes abruptly then interspersing flashbacks with the dealings of the murder investigation to complete the pictures. The details of Hammond and Alex's night together are revealed in memories, as they circle each other warily. Brown's storytelling doesn't give anything up. There are a lot of options but only the most shrewd whodunit fan will be able to figure it out without grasping at straws. The dialogue is also sharply executed. The harshness of Alex's interrogation is completely believable in its inflammatory effects.
Brown includes a slimy character from Alex's past to further muddy the waters of the investigation and the story. Bobby Trimble's connection is an additional monkey wrench in the works. But in a fast-paced climax, the author draws a bold line through the labyrinth from start to finish. In the end, the killer will be an obvious choice with obvious motives. "
eyal, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of The Alibi |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 30%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%
Tone of story
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
How difficult to spot villain?
- Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
- present (2000-2010)
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 80%
Special suspect?
- lover
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- Proving innocence of very obvious suspect
- Big focus on forensic evidence
Kind of investigator
- police procedural, American
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- feelings towards lover
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- a lawyer creature
How much violence does he/she use?
- a little
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Female
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- a lawyer creature
Motive of antagonist
- power
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Deep South
Europe
Yes
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
How many deaths?
- 1
Sex
Yes
What kind of sex:
- descript of kissing
- touching of anatomy
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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