Title: ANATOMY OF AN ALIBI
Author: ASHLEY ELSTON
ISBN: 9780593834459
Publisher: Headline
Pages: 340
Source: Random Things Tours
Two women. One dead husband. And only one alibi.
Everyone at Chantilly’s Bar noticed out-of-towner Camille Bayliss. Red lips, designer heels, sipping a Negroni. But that woman wasn’t Camille Bayliss. It was Aubrey Price.
Camille Bayliss appears to have the picture-perfect life; she’s married to hotshot lawyer Ben and is the daughter of a wealthy Louisiana family. Only nothing is as it seems: Camille believes Ben has been hiding dirty secrets for years, but she can’t find proof because he tracks her every move.
Aubrey Price has been haunted by the terrible night that changed her life a decade ago, and she’s convinced Benjamin Bayliss knows something about it. Living in a house full of criminals, Aubrey understands there’s more than one way to get to the truth—and she may have found the best way in.
Aubrey and Camille hatch a plan. It sounds simple: For twelve hours, Aubrey will take Camille’s place. Camille will spy on Ben, and the two women will get the answers they desperately seek.
Except the next morning, Ben is found murdered. Both 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.
Official Summary
28 January 2026
Thank you to Random Things Tours and Headline for this review copy.
This was a clever, twisty thriller that pulled me in quickly and kept me guessing right up until the end.
The premise alone is gripping: two women, one dead husband, and a body swap that goes horribly wrong. Ashley Elston does a great job of setting the stage early, creating an atmosphere full of tension and unease. From the moment Aubrey steps into Camille’s life, it’s clear that nothing about this arrangement is going to stay simple for long.
I really enjoyed the dual perspectives. Camille and Aubrey are very different women, each carrying their own secrets, trauma, and motivations. Their alliance feels risky and fragile from the start, which adds an extra layer of suspense. I especially liked how the story explores trust — not just between the women, but within marriages, families, and even oneself.
The pacing is strong for most of the book, with short chapters and steady reveals that kept me turning pages. There were moments where I thought I had things figured out, only for the plot to pivot in a new direction. While a few twists felt slightly convenient, they didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.
The ending was satisfying and tense, though I would have loved a bit more depth in the final fallout. Still, the journey getting there was entertaining and smartly plotted.
Anatomy of an Alibi is a solid, engaging thriller with an original hook, morally complex characters, and plenty of suspense. A great pick if you enjoy stories about deception, hidden lives, and how quickly everything can unravel when one lie goes too far.
Remember to visit the other Tour Stops
Also by Ashley Elston
FIRST LIE WINS
Evie Porter has everything a nice, Southern girl could want: a perfect, doting boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence and a garden, a fancy group of friends. The only catch: Evie Porter doesn’t exist.
The identity comes to Evie Porter. Once she’s given a name and location by her mysterious boss, Mr Smith, she learns everything there is to know about the town and the people in it. Then the target: Ryan Sumner. The last piece of the puzzle is the job.
Evie isn’t privy to Mr Smith’s real identity, but she knows this job will be different. Ryan has gotten under her skin, and she’s starting to envision a different sort of life for herself. But Evie can’t make any mistakes–especially after what happened last time.
Because the one thing she’s worked her entire life to keep clean, the one identity she could always go back to—her real identity—just walked right into this town. Evie Porter must stay one step ahead of her past while making sure there’s still a future in front of her. The stakes couldn’t be higher–but then, Evie has always liked a challenge…
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Ashley Elston lives in North Louisiana with her husband and three sons. She worked as a wedding and portrait photographer for ten years until she decided to pursue writing full-time. Ashley is also a certified landscape horticulturist and loves digging in the dirt. Her debut novel, THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING, was published by Disney Hyperion in 2013 and was a finalist in the Best Young Adult category of the International Thriller Writers Awards.
Thank you to Anne Cater, from Random Things Tours, for inviting me to participate in this blog tour. If you enjoyed First Lie Wins, you do not want to miss this one. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more Ashley Elston books in the future. As always, thank you for visiting the blog. Until Next time…. Happy Reading!
