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An Alex Rutledge Mystery #4
Octopus Alibi: An Alex Rutledge Mystery
In three previous novels, Tom Corcoran established himself as a shrewd observer of Key West’s eccentricities and landscape. In Octopus Alibi, he delivers Alex Rutledge to labyrinths of the past, agendas of power, and greed that jumps generations.
The suspected murder of a long-missing woman, the death of an elderly mentor, and the suicide of Key West’s popular mayor are revealed a single April day. Rutledge, a freelance photographer with part-time forensic ties to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department and the KWPD, must accompany fishing guide and friend Sam Wheeler to identify a body in Broward County. Hours later, back on the island, a Key West detective coerces Alex into documenting Mayor Gomez’s demise. Rutledge also learns he must administrate the estate of Naomi Douglas, the woman who encouraged his creative photography.
Rutledge soon suspects that nothing is as it appears. The police choose not to see crimes. Only Rutledge senses foul play on the island, a linking of deaths, and the threat of more peril.
Home-front troubles compound the dilemma. Teresa Barga, Alex’s new housemate, is absorbed by the arrival in town of Whitney Randolph, a college friend with cash, wild stories, bent morals, and more alibis than an octopus has suckers. Randolph, it appears, has already slithered into the unfolding suspense, linking himself to scam victims and murder victims.
Rutledge must ignore a relationship gone sour, then focus on wisps of clues to connect the past and present. Friends act out of character, officials become duplicitous, and threats of violence take Alex to the most dangerous confrontation of his life.
Filled with edgy characters and insights to island existence, the tight plot of Octopus Alibi promises Tom Corcoran’s most unforgettable tale of the hot, crazy tropics.
The suspected murder of a long-missing woman, the death of an elderly mentor, and the suicide of Key West’s popular mayor are revealed a single April day. Rutledge, a freelance photographer with part-time forensic ties to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department and the KWPD, must accompany fishing guide and friend Sam Wheeler to identify a body in Broward County. Hours later, back on the island, a Key West detective coerces Alex into documenting Mayor Gomez’s demise. Rutledge also learns he must administrate the estate of Naomi Douglas, the woman who encouraged his creative photography.
Rutledge soon suspects that nothing is as it appears. The police choose not to see crimes. Only Rutledge senses foul play on the island, a linking of deaths, and the threat of more peril.
Home-front troubles compound the dilemma. Teresa Barga, Alex’s new housemate, is absorbed by the arrival in town of Whitney Randolph, a college friend with cash, wild stories, bent morals, and more alibis than an octopus has suckers. Randolph, it appears, has already slithered into the unfolding suspense, linking himself to scam victims and murder victims.
Rutledge must ignore a relationship gone sour, then focus on wisps of clues to connect the past and present. Friends act out of character, officials become duplicitous, and threats of violence take Alex to the most dangerous confrontation of his life.
Filled with edgy characters and insights to island existence, the tight plot of Octopus Alibi promises Tom Corcoran’s most unforgettable tale of the hot, crazy tropics.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
25 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Tom Corcoran
70 books100 followersThere is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.
Tom Corcoran first moved to Florida in 1970. He has been a disc jockey, bartender, AAA travel counselor, U. S. Navy officer, screenwriter, freelance photographer, automotive magazine editor, computer graphic artist, and journalist.
Tom Corcoran first moved to Florida in 1970. He has been a disc jockey, bartender, AAA travel counselor, U. S. Navy officer, screenwriter, freelance photographer, automotive magazine editor, computer graphic artist, and journalist.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 10, 2018
Yet another book in the Alex Rutledge saga. Alex, a professional photographer, part time crime scene photographer and as curious at any cat you'll ever find!! Alex and his curiosity often get him in deep trouble. He seems to have an ability to see situation more clearly than other folks, possibly due to being a photographer, having a different way of seeing the world?
The mayor of Key West and one of Alex's longtime friends die on the same day. One is called a suicide an one one natural causes. Alex quickly begins to believe that BOTH may be murders. From than point on, the reader is taken through a twisty-turny mystery. The characters, as always are well written and integrated into the plotline with ease. Tom Corcoran is an accomplished writer with an easy style to understand and his plotline are never too far fetched to be totally believable.
This book is a great read for mystery readers and you just might learn a bit about Key West, Florida as you read. I only have 3 more Alex Rutledge books to read, so I savor them and wait as long as possible between each.
All my mystery reading friends go out an grab one of Tom Corcoran' books in the series and let know what you think.
HAPPY READING EVERYONE!!
The mayor of Key West and one of Alex's longtime friends die on the same day. One is called a suicide an one one natural causes. Alex quickly begins to believe that BOTH may be murders. From than point on, the reader is taken through a twisty-turny mystery. The characters, as always are well written and integrated into the plotline with ease. Tom Corcoran is an accomplished writer with an easy style to understand and his plotline are never too far fetched to be totally believable.
This book is a great read for mystery readers and you just might learn a bit about Key West, Florida as you read. I only have 3 more Alex Rutledge books to read, so I savor them and wait as long as possible between each.
All my mystery reading friends go out an grab one of Tom Corcoran' books in the series and let know what you think.
HAPPY READING EVERYONE!!
July 2, 2019
Look Mr Corcoran's books. Having lived in Florida all of my life and having been to Key West several times makes his books so much fun to read.
You can feel the sun and salt on your body as well as sell the food.
The main character, Alex Rutledge, always seems to find himself in the middle of a murder mystery and this book finds himself investigating two murders. For a photographer riding his bicycle around Key West and just trying to make a simple living his life is anything but simple.
Grab one of Mr Corcoran's books and enjoy your time escaping to Key West.
You can feel the sun and salt on your body as well as sell the food.
The main character, Alex Rutledge, always seems to find himself in the middle of a murder mystery and this book finds himself investigating two murders. For a photographer riding his bicycle around Key West and just trying to make a simple living his life is anything but simple.
Grab one of Mr Corcoran's books and enjoy your time escaping to Key West.
February 13, 2017
Registered on Bookcrossing: http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1...
Another great read in the Alex Rutledge mystery series. My favorite thing about this series is the descriptions of Key West: of the land, scenery, the people, etc. My next favorite thing is how the one who 'did it' is always the last person who I suspected.
Another great read in the Alex Rutledge mystery series. My favorite thing about this series is the descriptions of Key West: of the land, scenery, the people, etc. My next favorite thing is how the one who 'did it' is always the last person who I suspected.
May 12, 2025
I was concerned after reading Bone Island Mambo, the third book in this series, that Tom Corcoran had gone downhill. But this book restored my faith in his storytelling. Lots of interesting characters with interwoven storylines, all brought together for a satisfying conclusion. If Goodreads was set up for 1/2 stars, this would’ve been 4 1/2 stars for sure. Great read and I always love the pictures he paints of life in Key West.
September 18, 2025
Liked the major plot. I like the stories and characters in this series, but there was too much unnecessary filler. Didn't need to know what everyone was wearing every minute or what they were eating/drinking. A detailed tour of the Overseas Highway would be nice in a travel guide book, but just took up space in this book.
December 20, 2024
Riveting tropical tales..
I enjoy all the tangled webs Alex Rutledge gets into. And the Keys settings are at once heavenly and seething. I haven't found any books to be unputdownable in a while, until these.
I enjoy all the tangled webs Alex Rutledge gets into. And the Keys settings are at once heavenly and seething. I haven't found any books to be unputdownable in a while, until these.
May 20, 2019
Pretty good story and dialogue. Characters that need fleshing out. Good plot twists.
November 7, 2021
Features Key West location, and colorful local characters.
April 19, 2021
Photographer Alex Rutledge just wants to get out of town to his assignment on the Cayman Islands. When close friend and Vietnam vet Sam Wheeler gets a call to identify a body in Fort Lauderdale as possibly his sister, Alex tags along. The detective on the case tells Sam that he is going to run a squib in the paper announcing the woman's death to see what information comes forth.
When Alex and Sam return to Key West, Alex is called out to photograph a crime scene. Alex freelances upon occasion with the KWPD, but death really is not his favorite subject. This time it is the mayor of Key West, and it looks like suicide to the cops, but it looks like murder to Alex. Clues don’t add up, yet the city cops are not treating this like homicide. Alex has seen Detective Sgt. Dexter Hayes botch investigations before, and Alex is convinced his attitude is far too indifferent to ferret out the truth.
Before Alex can pack for the Cayman Islands, he finds out that long-time Key West resident Naomi Douglas passed away in her sleep. Particularly fond of Naomi since she encouraged his photography, Alex is surprised to learn he is named executor of her estate. Maybe he has been around too much death, but upon visiting Naomi’s home to secure valuables before his trip, things just do not feel right. Alex calls in a favor from sheriff “Chicken Neck” Liska who sends a deputy to check out the house.
Alex’s new roommate Teresa asks him to join her and an old friend for dinner. Whitney Randolph immediately rubs Alex the wrong way, so Alex excuses himself to check on Sam. Focused on his encounter in Fort Lauderdale, Sam decides that if his sister is alive and might be in danger, he could never forgive himself for ignoring the warning signs. Sam heads back to the Gold Coast to uncover whatever clues he can find.
Still not satisfied that his feelings are wrong about Naomi Douglas’s death, Alex is sure there are just too many tangled clues to be coincidence. Has a love affair gone sour? What about the museum proposal on which Naomi had done so much work? Who might want to sway the mayor’s vote? Will Sam find his sister? The apparently different plot lines start to weave in and out of each other until they are completely intermingled. Seeing how all the factors influenced each other and the people involved kept my interest piqued in both the action occurring and the personal relationships explored.
This is the fourth entry in the Alex Rutledge series. The characters were familiar yet OCTOPUS ALIBI takes a much closer look into who the individual characters are and what motivates them. The friendship between Sam and Alex that has been so central to all the books is examined on a much deeper level. Key West is as much a character as the people who live there. Perhaps it is the observation skills of a photographer – both the character and the author -- that brings forth the small details. Corcoran has taken a step forward with more relaxed writing in OCTOPUS ALIBI.
Will Alex find himself in trouble in Paradise again? You can bet on it. I’m looking forward to it.
When Alex and Sam return to Key West, Alex is called out to photograph a crime scene. Alex freelances upon occasion with the KWPD, but death really is not his favorite subject. This time it is the mayor of Key West, and it looks like suicide to the cops, but it looks like murder to Alex. Clues don’t add up, yet the city cops are not treating this like homicide. Alex has seen Detective Sgt. Dexter Hayes botch investigations before, and Alex is convinced his attitude is far too indifferent to ferret out the truth.
Before Alex can pack for the Cayman Islands, he finds out that long-time Key West resident Naomi Douglas passed away in her sleep. Particularly fond of Naomi since she encouraged his photography, Alex is surprised to learn he is named executor of her estate. Maybe he has been around too much death, but upon visiting Naomi’s home to secure valuables before his trip, things just do not feel right. Alex calls in a favor from sheriff “Chicken Neck” Liska who sends a deputy to check out the house.
Alex’s new roommate Teresa asks him to join her and an old friend for dinner. Whitney Randolph immediately rubs Alex the wrong way, so Alex excuses himself to check on Sam. Focused on his encounter in Fort Lauderdale, Sam decides that if his sister is alive and might be in danger, he could never forgive himself for ignoring the warning signs. Sam heads back to the Gold Coast to uncover whatever clues he can find.
Still not satisfied that his feelings are wrong about Naomi Douglas’s death, Alex is sure there are just too many tangled clues to be coincidence. Has a love affair gone sour? What about the museum proposal on which Naomi had done so much work? Who might want to sway the mayor’s vote? Will Sam find his sister? The apparently different plot lines start to weave in and out of each other until they are completely intermingled. Seeing how all the factors influenced each other and the people involved kept my interest piqued in both the action occurring and the personal relationships explored.
This is the fourth entry in the Alex Rutledge series. The characters were familiar yet OCTOPUS ALIBI takes a much closer look into who the individual characters are and what motivates them. The friendship between Sam and Alex that has been so central to all the books is examined on a much deeper level. Key West is as much a character as the people who live there. Perhaps it is the observation skills of a photographer – both the character and the author -- that brings forth the small details. Corcoran has taken a step forward with more relaxed writing in OCTOPUS ALIBI.
Will Alex find himself in trouble in Paradise again? You can bet on it. I’m looking forward to it.
August 24, 2023
What can you expect from an author who co-wrote two Jimmy Buffett hits, and whose photographs are on seven of his album covers? For one thing, you can guess that if he writes a murder mystery, set in Key West and other Floridian locales, it's going to include rich imagery and a wild cast of characters. Corcoran's constantly twisting and turning story keeps the reader guessing who the bad guy is to the very end. Highly entertaining. Recommended for anyone who loves Key West, Carl Hiaasen type imagery, and everyone else who loves a good "who done it".
January 7, 2013
This is the first of Tom Corcoran's novels about Key West photographer Alex Rutledge that I've ever read, and I came away both impressed and a little frustrated.
I was impressed, most of all, with his sense of place. Corcoran finds so many ways, both big and small, to make the reader really feel what it's like to live in the Florida Keys, connected to the mainland by nothing but the thin thread of a highway on a series of bridges. I was impressed as well by his skill at drawing believable characters and giving them pithy and believable dialogue. And I was impressed too by his ability to spin a complex tale that keeps a reader guessing.
However, I was ultimately a little frustrated with the way Corcoran ended the story. The main culprit turns out to be the one person I'd figured out early on was probably the killer, based on a clue that nobody ever investigated and which the killer was incredibly stupid to leave behind. The killer gets his comeuppance off-screen, so to speak, and in a way that requires a huge coincidence in order to wrap up the major subplot of the story.
Bottom line is that I enjoyed reading the book most of the way through, and even found myself thinking about some of the characters after I was done. I'll definitely go back to read the others in the series now.
I was impressed, most of all, with his sense of place. Corcoran finds so many ways, both big and small, to make the reader really feel what it's like to live in the Florida Keys, connected to the mainland by nothing but the thin thread of a highway on a series of bridges. I was impressed as well by his skill at drawing believable characters and giving them pithy and believable dialogue. And I was impressed too by his ability to spin a complex tale that keeps a reader guessing.
However, I was ultimately a little frustrated with the way Corcoran ended the story. The main culprit turns out to be the one person I'd figured out early on was probably the killer, based on a clue that nobody ever investigated and which the killer was incredibly stupid to leave behind. The killer gets his comeuppance off-screen, so to speak, and in a way that requires a huge coincidence in order to wrap up the major subplot of the story.
Bottom line is that I enjoyed reading the book most of the way through, and even found myself thinking about some of the characters after I was done. I'll definitely go back to read the others in the series now.
December 31, 2008
Reading this book set in Key West while here in Key West was really neat - it made the story come alive in a way that I don't normally get. After a few days walking around the island and biking on the streets, the details that Corcoran weaves through the book were like little secrets he was letting me in on.
On the mystery itself, although it got a little confusing in the middle with three different crimes to work through, the ending was well-done and I couldn't put it down near the end, always a good sign for me.
On the mystery itself, although it got a little confusing in the middle with three different crimes to work through, the ending was well-done and I couldn't put it down near the end, always a good sign for me.
June 9, 2015
Great feel for the Key West setting (at least as far as I can tell, never having been there myself, but listening to lots of Jimmy Buffett music) and very good story makes this very worthy of time, and near classic (if I hadn't just finished Great Expectations, which see).
His first three (The Mango Opera, Gumbo Limbo, and Bone Island Mambo) were also very good and very worth reading.
Lots of fun.
His first three (The Mango Opera, Gumbo Limbo, and Bone Island Mambo) were also very good and very worth reading.
Lots of fun.
January 8, 2014
When in key west...
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews