The Alibi Man, by Tami Hoag is another of her exciting suspense thrillers that one can expect to see on the New York Times bestseller list. In this book, her protagonist is Elena Estes, a former cop turned horse trainer, who, while still believing in justice, has no ideals left about the justice system that the rich so easily manipulate. Elena is physically healed from the wounds she sustained while working on a meth-lab bust, in Hoag’s novel Dark Horse, but has yet to recover emotionally from causing another officer’s death and has been living and working at her best friend’s horse farm. As she strives to put her life back together she find herself drawn back into her life as both a policewoman and needing to face her socially privileged class that now look down on her for taking a job that they deem beneath her status in life.

The Alibi Man begins with Elena Estes discovering a woman’s body in a canal only to come to find out that the victim is her beautiful, vibrant co-worker Irina who had been missing for two days. Swearing to wreak vengeance on the perpetrator of this horrible crime Elena finds her search leads to the crème de la crème of Palm Beach society and the powerbrokers who hang out at the pony polo fields. Reverting to her police training Elena joins forces with her former lover, Detective James Landry, and begins an investigation into Irina’s friends and acquaintances. One of the people she investigates is Russian Mafioso, Alexi Kulack who demands to know who killed the love of his life. However, it isn’t until Irina’s friend, Lisbeth, is assaulted that Elena realizes that both Irina’s murder and Lisbeth’s assault are connected to the Alibi Club who’s powerful and corrupt members believe they are entitled to anything they want and no one has a right to question them. They are all wealthy socialites from the highest ranks of the polo-playing crowd and provide alibis for each other whenever the situation warrants it. To make matters worse, Elena’s father to whom she hasn’t spoken in twenty years is the club’s lawyer and her ex-finance Bennett Walker, a club member, becomes one of her suspects since he had at one time needed an alibi to prevent him from being prosecuted for the rape of another woman.

The subplot involves the romantic relationship between Landrey, who is still in love with Elena, and Elena as they seek to find Irina’s killer, placing Elena at odds with her old life, with her new lover, and with herself. However, this gripping tale could very well get Elena killed since
Palm Beach society will do every thing they can to cover up the truth.

The Alibi Man is a great mystery with interesting characters that include the ultra-rich, the polo and horse communities, residents in upscale
Palm Beach, and the Russian Mafia. It a book that layers the story and character development is complex manner keeping the reader guessing until the end who is behind the crime. Additionally, I love Hoag’s descriptive style and the way she makes you feel as if you are a part of the scene. A must read for all Tami Hoag’s fans.

[tags]The Alibi Man, Tami Hoag, Mystery, Russian mob, Palm Springs, murder, suspense, Dark Horse, society manipulation[/tags]