Book Review: Anatomy of an Alibi

Title: Anatomy of an Alibi

Author: Ashley Elston

Publisher: Viking Penguin

Publication Date: January 20, 2026

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This is Ashley Elston at her absolute best—a tense, layered, and utterly consuming thriller that plays with perception, trust, and the lies we tell to protect ourselves and those we love. The story unfolds in clever, time-jumping fragments that built toward an explosive conclusion.

Elston weaves the alternating perspectives of Aubrey and Camille with precision, drawing readers deep into a dangerous game where truth and deception blur. The shifting timeline adds to the tension, revealing just enough at a time to keep you guessing who’s really in control—and who’s in danger. Each twist hits harder than the last: first the nature of their connection, then the truth behind a long-ago killing, and fina
lly, the reveal of who’s behind the present-day murder. It’s fast, tense, and deeply satisfying.

What I loved most was the psychology running under the surface—the way Elston digs into why we lie and who we protect. Lines like “It’s not just the anatomy of an alibi... it’s the psychology of it” stay with you because they hint that sometimes the biggest cover-ups aren’t about crimes at all—they’re about love and survival.

The pacing is pitch-perfect, the dual timeline is seamless, and the interplay between past and present builds a rich emotional and narrative tension. By the time I reached the final twist, I realized this wasn’t just a story about murder—it was about guilt, loyalty, and the fragile boundaries of morality.

A big thank you to Viking Pengiun and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.