The Alibi Man

This was my first time reading Tami Hoag with the Elena Estes character. I was disappointed because I just did not like her. I understand that not all the main characters in a book are nice and likeable but I just could not feel anything for her or frankly, for any of the characters in the book. They all seem terrible, angry and immoral. The book is set in Palm Beach, Florida, which has it's issues, but its a beautiful place, none of that was evident in this book it was all swamps and alligators. There was a character in the book that is mentioned on and off and you think they are important to the story, then nothing is heard about them again. The storyline started out interesting but just went downhill from there. I found myself doing something that I very rarely do with a good book, skipping ahead and just wanting to know how it ends which unfortuantely, was anticlimatic. The book is well written, Ms. Hoag is a good writer, but the Elena Estes character and the setting of horse training is something that I just did not enjoy.

One of the best books I've read in a long time. I received this book Friday and was finished by Sunday night. I could not put this book down, except for my Saturday night fun... Excellent Tami Hoag thriller.

This was my first Tami Hoag novel, but won't be my last. After starting many other books, only to be bored and quit, I quite enjoyed this one from the beginning. I also enjoyed Ms. Hoag's style of writing, with both first and third person. Kept the story moving along and interesting.

Tami Hoag has revisited one of my favorite characters, Elena Estes, from DARK HORSE. I liked her gutsy in your face style, and her total committment to justice. Her integrety and solid true blue personality are and were captivating to me. This is one of the best books I have read in quite a while. Elena Estes lives in the guest house of one of her friends who owns a stable and horses in Palm Springs. She lives on disability from the Sheriff's Dept because she was dragged under a pick-up truck while on a bust. She had jumped the gun and one of her friends and co-workers was killed. The bust had gone terribly wrong. If you read DARK HORSE you already know this. Elena has lost much, her job, her friends and her peace of mind. She has slowly healed her body but her guilt never leaves her mind. Elena is exercising one of the horses belonging to her friend when she discovers the body of the other groom from her stable. Irina has been missing for two days and her body is found floating in a canal; as Elena and Detective Landrey watch an alligator attacks the corpse. Landrey has allowed himself to fall in love with Elena and with her cynical outlook she has pushed him away. As he works on the case he finds she is a very valuable silent partner. The story is graphic, with grab you by the throat action and dialogue. A group of wealthy men are the last to see Irina alive. They believe they are entitled to anything they want and no one has a right to question them. They are all wealthy socalite men from the highest ranks of the polo playing crowd. If one needs an alibi they need only call. The tension is tight and when the steel of justice meets the injustice of patronage and favoritisim Palm Springs will take notice. This was a stunner and I had no clue who did it until the end of the book. Which clearly showed the importance of wealth and station compared to an everyday average person. Do not miss it. It could have been torn from the headlines today.

Wow! Who is this Tami Hoag, and are all of her books this good? The Alibi Man is an exciting mystery story. Elena Estes is working at a Palm Beach upscale stable, and Irina, a coworker of hers, is murdered. She takes it personally, given that she liked the woman and... Elena used to be a homicide investigator, a good one, until she was grievously injured in the line of duty. Given her background, she stays one step ahead of the police in the investigation, tough as nails and fragile as a straw at the same time, with the fragility hidden whenever necessary. This mystery is rich with interesting characters: the ultra-rich, the polo and horse communities, residents in upscale Palm Beach, and the Russian Mafia. Now here's what I really liked. Hoag writes in a very descriptive style. Read just the first two very short chapters, and you'll know what I mean. In fact, if those first few pages don't grab you, put the book down and look for your recreational reading elsewhere. Ninety-five percent of you will keep on reading. Oh, and the butler didn't do it.