“Two women. One dead husband. And only one alibi…

Camille Bayliss suspects her husband Ben hides a dark secret. But as he tracks her every move, she cannot prove it.

Aubrey Price believes lawyer Ben Bayliss knows the truth about the night that wrecked her life a decade ago. But she needs a way in.

When Camille and Aubrey meet, they hatch a plan.

For twelve hours, Aubrey will take Camille’s place. Ben will track the wrong woman, Camille can spy on Ben, and both women will get their answers.

Except the next morning, Ben is found murdered.

Two women need an airtight alibi, but only one of them has it. And one false step is all it takes for everything to come undone…”

Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to share my review of Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston. Anatomy of an Alibi was published by Headline Books yesterday (that’s Tuesday 13th January 2026) and is available in hardcover, audio and digital formats. I chose to read a free eARC of Anatomy of an Alibi but that has in no way influenced my review.

Oh what a twisted, compulsive story Anatomy of an Alibi is! It’s clever, it’s dark and it has the reader on the edge of their seat. One story, so many different sides. So many sharp angles to see things from. I adored Elston’s first adult novel, First Lie Wins, so I was giddy with anticipation when I was granted an early read of Anatomy of an Alibi. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it blew me away!

Camille Bayliss believes her husband, Ben, is up to something. He’s a meticulous man. Careful, watchful. Particularly of his own wife, whom he monitors non-stop, twenty-four hours a day. Much to Camille’s annoyance and disapproval. When Camille meets Aubrey, the two women form a strange connection. A shared desire for answers, and Ben is at the centre of it all. So a devious plan is hatched. For twelve hours, Aubrey will pretend to be Camille, using her car, her credit cards and her phone. Creating an entirely fictitious day for Camille, who will be miles away from the devices that track her every move. And whilst Aubrey is following a carefully laid plan, Camille will secretly watch her husband, allowing her to finally discover the truth. Great plan. The only flaw is that Ben has been savagely murdered. Both women need a solid alibi, but only one of them has it…

Anatomy of an Alibi is an intelligently written, engrossing thriller where you can never be 100% sure of anyone. The story is told from multiple points of view and by using different timelines. Not only do we see things from Camille and Aubrey’s POVs, but we also see the situation unravel from Hank’s side of things. Hank is Ben’s legal partner, who has his own axe to grind. Hank was told pre-murder that Ben planned on dissolving their legal agreement, and Hank would no longer be a partner in the business. The reader also gets glimpses into the past with Ben’s own POV. Very few of the characters in the book are likeable, but I did warm ever so slightly to both Aubrey and Hank. I didn’t trust them, but I found myself rooting for them more than anyone else.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I thoroughly enjoyed Anatomy of an Alibi. It’s a superbly plotted, intricate thriller that really hooks the reader into the story. The characters are well-written, wholly believable and bring the different threads of the novel together beautifully. The plot is fast-paced from the start, with very little let-up as you progress through the novel. I loved the contrasting backgrounds of the two main female characters. Camille’s old-money Louisiana family with the power and influence, versus the slightly less salubrious lifestyle of Aubrey, living with a number of housemates in a much less glamorous part of town. I very much enjoyed the dual mystery aspect of the book, with the hunt for Ben’s killer running alongside Aubrey’s ongoing search for her truth. How the different threads intersect, the two plotlines were expertly handled and manipulated by the author. All in all, Anatomy of an Alibi is a twisty, fast-paced, engrossing read which I thoroughly enjoyed every second of. Elston has quickly become a must-read author for me and I look forward to seeing what gems she has for us readers in the future. Recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of Anatomy of an Alibi. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston was published in the UK by Headline on 13th January 2026 and is available in hardcover, audio and digital formats (please note, the following links are affiliate links which means I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | Waterstones | bookshop.org | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop | damppebbles amazon.co.uk shop | damppebbles amazon.com shop |

Ashley Elston is the author of #1 New York Times bestseller and Reese’s Book Club pick, First Lie Wins. First Lie Wins has been optioned for television by ABC Signature with Octavia Spencer and Krista Vernoff attached to the project. She is also the author of six YA books. Ashley lives in Louisiana with her husband and three sons.