The Last Alibi By David Ellis

by Sandra Murphy

Jason Kolarich is an attorney, a good one too. He pulls stunts in court that you just wouldn’t believe and wins his cases. James Drinker, on the other hand, is a loser kind of guy. He’s not much to look at, doesn’t have anything going for him. He does have a suspicion that he’s being set up for a series of murders.

James comes to Jason for legal advice. What should he do? He has no alibi for the nights in question, did have a passing acquaintance with the two girls who were murdered and all in all, would make a good suspect of the “He was a quiet neighbor, who would have thought?” kind.

Jason pretty much thinks James is fantasizing the whole thing in order to feel important. He gives him general advice and forgets their meeting–until a third and fourth murder occur. Now he’s worried. Is his client guilty or imagining it? It’s against attorney/client privilege to alert the police, but what if James is guilty and the killings keep happening?

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Jason finally decides to err on the side of caution, even if it could lead to problems with the Bar Association if he’s ever found out. He sends an anonymous message to the police and feels he’s done his part. Until…

James can figure out, if Jason is the only one who knew of the connection he had with any of the girls, Jason is the only one who could have pointed the police in his direction. Jason is forced to examine James’ life in detail to find out just how dangerous his client might be. Nothing is as it seems. What’s even worse, the frame isn’t around James’ neck–the man who is being set up for the murders is Jason.

The list of people who would want to do this is long since Jason has won so many of his cases, using whatever means possible. This couldn’t have come at a worse time either as his partner, Shauna, has a huge case of her own to win, really needs and has relied on getting, Jason’s help.

Jason is beyond helping her. He’s taking too many pills, focused on the frame up, waiting for the police to come for him. Without breaking attorney client privilege in court, which would get him disbarred, he’s pretty much unable to protect himself.

Image source: Berkley

Sure enough, the police come to interview and then arrest Jason for the gruesome murders. Shauna will represent Jason but his prospects are grim. It seems whoever’s behind the frame is very detail oriented and has thought of everything. In Jason’s impaired state, will he be able to win his freedom?

This is one of those books where you think you know what’s going on but really, you have no idea until the very end. It’s one you’ll want to read in one sitting because of the need to know what happens next and if Jason gets out of the murder charge. On the other hand, the book is so good you don’t want it to end. At 597 pages, each one filled with suspense, intrigue and complicated relationships, it’s a satisfying if frustrating read with all the twists and turns that Jason has to navigate. Be sure to take note of the chapter headings to see whose point of view is used, Shauna’s or Jason’s. Prepare for the ending. It will be a surprise for sure.

Previous Kolarich books include The Wrong Man, Breach of Trust, The Hidden Man, Eye of the Beholder, In the Company of Liars, Jury of One, Life Sentence and Line of Vision. Books written with James Patterson are Mistress and Guilty Wives.

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The Last Alibi

Sandra Murphy lives in the shadow of the arch, in the land of blues, booze and shoes—St Louis, Missouri. While writing magazine articles to support her mystery book habit, she secretly polishes two mystery books of her own, hoping, someday, they will see the light of Barnes and Noble. You can also find several of Sandra's short stories on UnTreed Reads including Bananas Foster.