Secrets, lies, and murder: Ashley Elston unravels “Anatomy of an Alibi”

Ashley Elston’s highly anticipated new thriller, Anatomy of an Alibi, follows two women whose lives collide after a murder, forcing them to race for the truth and the perfect alibi. In this interview, Elston discusses the story's origins, her transition from YA to adult thrillers, and the moral complexities at the heart of this suspenseful tale.

Dawn Gentle: Anatomy of an Alibi centers on two women whose lives intersect under extreme circumstances. Camille’s life appears glamorous and controlled, while Aubrey’s is defined by survival and secrecy. How did you balance their distinct voices and ensure listeners could inhabit both worlds?

Ashley Elston: Anatomy of an Alibi started with just a single POV—Aubrey’s. I was fairly deep into the story when I realized we really needed to hear from Camille as well. At that point, I wrote most of Camille’s chapters, fitting them in where needed. For me, they were two very different characters that I wrote somewhat independently, which helped solidify their distinct voices.

Your previous novel First Lie Wins and Anatomy of an Alibi both feature women who assume false identities. Did writing Evie Porter in First Lie Wins have any influence on your approach to crafting Camille and Aubrey's deception?

Yes! I had as much fun writing Camille and Aubrey as I did writing Evie. Identity is one of my favorite themes to explore. I absolutely love playing around with not only who others believe a character to be but also how a character perceives themselves.

You’ve written multiple books set in Louisiana. How do your Louisiana roots and intimate knowledge of the state's unique social dynamics, particularly among wealthy families, influence the way you approach your stories?

It helps a lot! Some of it is the old adage “write what you know,” but it’s really more than that. It’s fun to treat my home state of Louisiana like a character—the good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s important to me that my story could only happen in this exact place because of the culture of the people who live there.

Both women are chasing the truth, yet truth becomes murky once murder enters the picture. What does the novel suggest about how far people will go to reclaim control of their own narratives?

The search for truth can be a funny thing. It can start out as a noble cause, but then all that can change once you see how that search will actually impact you personally and those close to you. You may find you’re willing to bend more than you once thought. It was fun digging into those emotions.

You’ve built a strong following through your YA novels, yet your recent works have established you in the adult thriller space. What inspired your shift from writing for young adults to crafting adult suspense?

Honestly, it wasn’t a deliberate decision to move from YA to adult. With First Lie Wins, I had an idea that I couldn’t stop thinking about, and it was clearly not YA. I decided to run with it, not knowing if anyone would even want something from me in that space.

Listening to Anatomy of an Alibi in audio adds another layer to the emotions, power dynamics, and tension, especially through the performances from Saskia Maarleveld, MacLeod Andrews, Amanda Stribling, and Dan Bittner. What was it like hearing these performers bring the characters to life, and did anything in their narration reveal something new to you?

I absolutely love the full-cast narration! All four of them knocked it out of the park! When I first heard their individual auditions, I knew they were the right voice for that character from the first moment they started speaking. It just clicked. I thought, "That’s what he or she sounds like. That’s their voice." They really brought those characters to life!

Without revealing spoilers, is there a particular moment or line in the book you’re most excited for listeners to experience?

The very last chapter. It’s my absolute favorite.