The Alibi Girl

By: C. J. Skuse

Narrated by: Emmy Rose, Helen Keeley

Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

Joanne Haynes has a secret: that is not her real name.

And there’s more. Her flat’s not hers. Her cats aren't hers. Even her hair isn’t really hers.

Nor is she any of the other women she pretends to be. Not the best-selling romance novelist who gets her morning snack from the doughnut van on the seafront. Nor the pregnant woman in the dental surgery. Nor the chemo patient in the supermarket for whom the cashier feels ever so sorry. They're all just alibis.

In fact, the only thing that’s real about Joanne is that nobody can know who she really is.

But someone has got too close. It looks like her alibis have begun to run out....

©2019 C. J. Skuse (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic Reviews

"Brilliantly-written characters, original and engaging. It’s so good!" (BA Paris)

Wow! So Boring!

NO SPOILERS!
This is not a thriller and barely a mystery. The main character is not very likable. I kept waiting for some suspense to kick in but nothing.

Overall it was very amateurish. Only listen if you like dramas, boring dramas.

Brilluant

what a wonderful book. I loved Sweet Pea and In Bloom and was worried that this book would be a disappointment - I shouldn't have done. The narration is spot on, really unusual and entertaining story and brilliant characters. C J Skuse is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. An amazing writer. highly recommend this book.

AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING

Wow this book has all the emotions, I adored the 2 sweetpea books so thought I'd give this a try. The author has such a unique talent that really immerses you into the story and you feel like one of the characters.
Amazing story so pleased I found this author yet another hit. The performance was perfect and enhanced the story tenfold

Definitely not to be missed!!!

I thought both Sweetpea and In Bloom were fantastic books!!!! Alibi Girl does not disappoint, I got through it in a day!!!!! This writer has such and interesting style and her characters are intriguing and relatable. Not to be missed!!!!

Very disappointing and I gave up in the end

I really enjoyed C.J.Skuse's first two novels particularly the witty writing and the quirky female protagonist it was fun to listen to and a very unusual story a female serial killer. With this in mind I was looking forward to The Alibi Girl and that is why I persevered for six hours. I found this book to be very different it lacked the wit and humour of the earlier books and dragged on. The plot did not have much substance a young woman in witness protection who not content with her new identity made up numerous ones of her own. The first narrator really grated on me with that breathy edge of terror delivery sometimes adopted in thrillers. I felt that the main character Joanne was never really developed and when I found that I could not care less what happened to her I gave up and downloaded a new book.

Amazing

First review- this was an amazing read. I finished it in a few days as I found myself thinking about it when I wasn’t listening. Very sad but compelling story. I read Skuse’s Sweatpea and In Bloom and honestly they were tough to beat in my estimations but this has succeeded. Can’t recommend enough.

Great characters, gritty and real.

If you’re a fan of C J Skuse, this won’t disappoint. A great story teller, with a great voice. I’m always so sad to reach the end...

Excellent

As expected, excellent, great story easy to follow, I definitely recommend this book, C. J. Skuse is one of the best authors around without question my favourite, already looking forward to the next one...

So disappointed

I am a big fan of CJ Skuse’s work but I found this just a bit lacking the punch of her previous novels. I also found the main character extremely whiny.

Really disappointed.

Not my cup of tea though did love Sweetpea

I really did like the unsettling but often hilarious "Sweetpea" ... gave up on "In Bloom" as felt it did not measure up to its prequel but I was excited about getting " The Alibi Girl " and loved the intriguing synopsis - I struggled for long enough to discover the answers to many of the questions posed by the synopsis and then I just had enough and threw the towel in.
I found the narrator the be whiny and whingy - as was the character. in fairness but I got sick of her endless anxiety and self analysis. I just began to find it all wearing and rather tiring and the spectre of mental illness and grim topics made me stop enjoying it.

The overall plot was excellent and had it been a strong character who was more dynamic and less disturbed I would have actually enjoyed it as it was very clever and endearing in parts, very well written also, but I just found it frustrating and depressing - and just preferred not to read any further.

Would I try another CJ Skuse audiobook?
I don't know as, her writing seems to be getting further and further away from the first book which I really enjoyed and more into territory which I just do not really feel good or comfortable reading - so great book I am sure, but just not for me.

C J Skuse's best work yet

I loved it from start to finish, it kept me guessing and I normally figure everything out first.
Likeable characters, good plot development and little shocks all the way through.