Stone-Cold Alibi

by W.B. Biggs

Step into a world where the lines between reality and the supernatural blur in an electrifying new “Stone-Cold Alibi.”

In the heart of New Orleans, a chilling murder rocks a local diner, thrusting Detective Joseph Seraph into a realm where angels, demons, and spirits intertwine with mortal lives. As the body count climbs and cryptic symbols point to an otherworldly presence, Detective Seraph embarks on a relentless quest to unmask a killer unlike any he's encountered before.

But in a battle where conventional methods fall short, Detective Seraph unveils an unexpected arsenal—summoned spirits that lend an edge to his investigation. As he navigates a shadowy underworld and uncovers long-buried secrets, he races against time to halt the malevolent schemes of a mastermind.

With each turn of the page, “Stone-Cold Alibi” takes you on a roller-coaster ride of supernatural intrigue and pulse-pounding suspense. Can Detective Seraph decipher the cryptic clues, bridge the gap between worlds, and confront the darkness lurking beneath? Or will he become entangled in a web of mystical forces beyond his control?

Prepare for a mind-bending journey that will leave you questioning the boundaries of reality and the depths of human darkness. Are you ready to face the unknown?

185 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2024

About the author

Born on a lonely outpost nestled among the far reaches of the stars, W. B. Biggs grew up searching for cosmic space wizards. Looking for magic, he found it nestled safely between words.


His wife and children remind him of the majestic magic that binds all reality together in a complex weave of beauty. He currently resides on an obscure branch of the great tree Yggdrasil which roots burrow deep into the Mississippi soil.

Reviews

[Brianna - Four Paws and a Book]

Read this as part of my SPFBO batch for SPFBO X.

This is a really interesting combo of American Gods and Supernatural. I think the skeleton of the book is really interesting, but unfortunately, it wasn't fleshed out enough, and the scenes felt very jumbled and "only the high points". I wanted to see more of of the journey from point A to point B, rather than just the different "important" scenes.

Full vlog here: https://youtu.be/7ujRND6uZZA

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 1 on the Summoning Circle series by W.B.Biggs. This book reminded me a bit of the Jim Butcher series. It has elements of fantasy and elements of noir wrapped in one. I chose this book on a hunch and was definitely not disappointed.
Detective Seraph was a great character to follow and very well written. It was easy to fall into the story and get lost in the world. I actually found myself having to forcefully put down the book before I got completely swept away.

I look forward to reading the next books in this series and learning more about the different fae and characters that live in this world.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tishana Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first noir writing for urban fantasy books. I really didn't know what to expect with "Stone-Cold Alibi" and went into it blind and it was a book that I really enjoyed.

W.B Biggs writing style was good. He does a great job with setting up the storyline for readers to really visualize everything going on. I enjoyed seeing all of the fantasy related characters he threw in it, especially faes. It was the first time I've seen fantasy get paired to crime/mystery thriller and in a weird way, it just worked and entwined together seamlessly. It added a thrilling suspense aspect to the book that I wasn't expecting. I'm glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and read this!

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind blowing is how I describe this book.

I was taken in immediately and thought - a cop drama - no!

Reminds me so much of streaming Fantastic Beasts.

The writing is matched by scene description. I was wowed.

Gripping and fun, reads like a binge streaming session.

Angel is my fave - this character should be viral. OMG I loved this book and can't wait to read more!

A fantastic book for every urban fantasy fan. A great book for anyone!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linsey Toney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stone-Cold Alibi was a pretty good book. This is the first time reading a urban fantasy, noir type book. I did enjoy the book and would recommend it if it's something you are interested in. I think the author did a great job writing the story. It was easy to read, and just as easy to pick up and continue when I had to stop reading, which isn't something that always comes easy for me. Stone-Cold Alibi had everything from humans, angels, demons, Fae to golem, oh and trolls. I think the book has a good mix of crime, mystery with lots of fantasy.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected a cosy mystery, but this was more of a dark fantasy novel. At the beginning, I wanted to know more about the characters and the scenario presented to me. As I carried on reading, I noticed that the author had a clever way of writing, which made me feel inclined to pay attention to little details. This was an entertaining read, and easy to finish in one sitting.

Thank you to Booksprout and the author for a free copy to review.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely my kind of book. I LOVE being able to dig into gods, goddesses, spiritual beings and more. This was such a great read! The worlds you get thrown into are so descriptive, you feel like you are right there in the thick of it. I had a big laugh too at Lucy's name because it reminded me of a comedian. This was honestly everything I loved about a paranormal story. I hope another is coming soon!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story begins immediately: Detective Seraph has his first murder case in New Orleans to investigate when he is attacked and almost killed. He discovers soon after that the attacker is the murder suspect and Seraph's urgency to solve the case picks up. The book reads more like a gritty investigation than an urban fantasy story.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jamie Lerner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a first for me in the noir style of writing. I overall enjoyed the book even though it is not part of my normal daily reads. It had all sorts of fantasy creatures to help draw me in to the book. Overall very well done.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I figured this would have a bit of a noir feel, and I was definitely right. I’ll come back to that in a minute. I was immediately engaged in the book, but I didn’t feel that I got to know Detective Seraph as well as I would have liked until the end of the book. That really wasn’t a big deal, as the action and suspense were good. Back to the noir feel, the writing in the first part of the book was almost too flowery and full of similes for me, kinda like the old 40s movies with dark corners and shadows with a narrator telling you about events and people. They weren’t bad, just too many. However, about halfway through, that tapered off a bit, and I really, really became engaged in the book. The end was very, very intriguing, and I hope to read the next book soon. This was a well-written book (even with the similes), full of interesting characters, and many twists and turns. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.