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The Alibi
Some secrets never stay buried...
When Jack, a disillusioned Cambridge graduate stuck in a dead-end job, meets the enigmatic Giselle on a train from Paris and she agrees to accompany him to a wedding, he believes he's found the answer to his problems.
But things take a chilling turn when a blizzard traps the guests in a desolate Northumbrian guesthouse. Snowed in with a cast of odd, watchful strangers, suspicion builds as lies begins to unravel.
As the blizzard rages outside, so too does the tension inside. Whispers in the night. Locked doors. A mounting sense of being followed.
When the snow finally thaws, one truth becomes terrifyingly not everyone trapped in the house will leave it.
Gripping, elegant and unsettling, The Alibi is a haunting mystery about lies we tell, love we can't forget, and consequences we can't outrun.
When Jack, a disillusioned Cambridge graduate stuck in a dead-end job, meets the enigmatic Giselle on a train from Paris and she agrees to accompany him to a wedding, he believes he's found the answer to his problems.
But things take a chilling turn when a blizzard traps the guests in a desolate Northumbrian guesthouse. Snowed in with a cast of odd, watchful strangers, suspicion builds as lies begins to unravel.
As the blizzard rages outside, so too does the tension inside. Whispers in the night. Locked doors. A mounting sense of being followed.
When the snow finally thaws, one truth becomes terrifyingly not everyone trapped in the house will leave it.
Gripping, elegant and unsettling, The Alibi is a haunting mystery about lies we tell, love we can't forget, and consequences we can't outrun.
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 22, 2025
41 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Katharine Johnson
16 books75 followersKatharine Johnson grew up in Bristol and now divides her time between Berkshire and Lucca, Italy. After doing a History degree she trained to be a journalist and has worked for a variety of magazines, writing about everything including the kitchen sink. She's loved writing since childhood and wrote her first book aged nine. When not writing she can usually be found walking her spaniel, doing the school run, playing netball or being a room guide in a stately home.
Katharine loves to hear from readers so if you fancy a chat do get in touch
https://www.facebook.com/Katharinejoh...
Katharine loves to hear from readers so if you fancy a chat do get in touch
https://www.facebook.com/Katharinejoh...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
September 16, 2025
I loved this. I was surprised as I wasn’t sure that I would.
But the pacing and the twists were brilliant. There wasn’t a surprise that I had fully guessed before
But the pacing and the twists were brilliant. There wasn’t a surprise that I had fully guessed before
September 19, 2025
"The Alibi" by Katharine Johnson is an unpredictable historical novel with a chaotic plot that offers a realistic portrayal of family secrets and grief. It’s a book about everything and nothing at the same time, yet I didn’t lose interest; I was curious to see where it would lead.
When I finished the book, I gasped out loud, exclaiming, “What a mess!” It just slipped out!
The story contains all sorts of elements: an unexpected love affair with the wrong person, the possibility of murder, the haunting of a woman whose existence is in doubt, the struggles of settling into marriage, war, the aftermath of war, and an endless search for someone you barely knew.
It truly is one big, but interesting, mess.
The main character, Jack, meets the mysterious Giselle and spends two weeks with her. He falls in love, only for her to suddenly disappear. Nobody has seen her, and no one believes she exists, but Jack is determined not to give up. He is committed to finding her... He is not ready for the twisted truth behind all this...
When I finished the book, I gasped out loud, exclaiming, “What a mess!” It just slipped out!
The story contains all sorts of elements: an unexpected love affair with the wrong person, the possibility of murder, the haunting of a woman whose existence is in doubt, the struggles of settling into marriage, war, the aftermath of war, and an endless search for someone you barely knew.
It truly is one big, but interesting, mess.
The main character, Jack, meets the mysterious Giselle and spends two weeks with her. He falls in love, only for her to suddenly disappear. Nobody has seen her, and no one believes she exists, but Jack is determined not to give up. He is committed to finding her... He is not ready for the twisted truth behind all this...
November 13, 2025
A lot of twists in the end.
Kept me curious all throughout, but by the end, I was still unsure what exactly happened — confusing yet oddly entertaining.
Kept me curious all throughout, but by the end, I was still unsure what exactly happened — confusing yet oddly entertaining.
October 7, 2025
What would you do for "the one who got away"? Would you search everywhere? Hire a detective? Forego other relationships? Jack does all of this and more after a chance meeting with Giselle, a mysterious and flirtatious stranger who is riding on the same train from Paris. As luck would have it, she agrees to go to a wedding with him, one he is loath to attend by himself.
To more than a few raised eyebrows, he introduces Giselle to the guest house host as his "sister". When a blizzard ensues, Jack can't believe his luck - not only does he avoid the awful wedding of his former girlfriend, but he also gets to know Giselle a little better. But does he really?
When Giselle disappears, Jack realizes how little he really knew about her. Jack's desperation and frustration take over for the remainder of the book, and we get a glimpse into the mind of a man obsessed with an ideal, but what is later revealed shocks him to his core.
While historical fiction is not my normal genre, I thought I would take a chance, and The Alibi did not disappoint: a little romance, some insight into historical times, a narrative style that reminded me of reading Sherlock Holmes, and a bit of mystery.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for an advance reader's copy of this new-to-me author.
To more than a few raised eyebrows, he introduces Giselle to the guest house host as his "sister". When a blizzard ensues, Jack can't believe his luck - not only does he avoid the awful wedding of his former girlfriend, but he also gets to know Giselle a little better. But does he really?
When Giselle disappears, Jack realizes how little he really knew about her. Jack's desperation and frustration take over for the remainder of the book, and we get a glimpse into the mind of a man obsessed with an ideal, but what is later revealed shocks him to his core.
While historical fiction is not my normal genre, I thought I would take a chance, and The Alibi did not disappoint: a little romance, some insight into historical times, a narrative style that reminded me of reading Sherlock Holmes, and a bit of mystery.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for an advance reader's copy of this new-to-me author.
October 21, 2025
The Alibi is a mystery novel set between 1931 and 1950. I had not come across this writer before so had no idea what to expect. After a slow start, I found the story gripping and read it quickly as I was keen to know how it turned out.
Jack read law at Cambridge, but lost his job in London due to the recession blighting the country at the time, forcing him to return north and work in his father’s furniture shop. To say his father did not understand him would be an understatement. He could not see the point of a university education and thought his son had ‘ideas above his station’.
Having visited furniture manufacturers in France, Jack is on his way home when he encounters Giselle on the boat train. He is smitten and invites her to accompany him to a wedding in Northumberland. Daphne was his fianceé until fairly recently when she dumped him for someone with better prospects. I cannot imagine why he accepted the invitation.
He is saved from the humiliation by a snowstorm which keeps them trapped in the remote B&B for several days. During this enforced togetherness, they get to know each other fairly well, but she disappears without a trace from the train on their way back to civilisation.
The rest of the story is his obsession with finding her and learning why she disappeared. The narrative is bookended by a visit to Jack’s office in 1950 by an anonymous young man. Assuming he is about to be arrested, he asks if he can tell his story first. This is a tale with lots of twists and turns, false trails and one final surprise right at the end that I did not see coming.
The characters are well drawn and believable, though none are particularly likeable. The period setting is vividly brought to life, but Jack’s obsession takes its toll on everyone involved. The story is gripping, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat until the final page. I will certainly look out for other books by this author. Thanks to Bloodhound Books for a digital copy to review.
Jack read law at Cambridge, but lost his job in London due to the recession blighting the country at the time, forcing him to return north and work in his father’s furniture shop. To say his father did not understand him would be an understatement. He could not see the point of a university education and thought his son had ‘ideas above his station’.
Having visited furniture manufacturers in France, Jack is on his way home when he encounters Giselle on the boat train. He is smitten and invites her to accompany him to a wedding in Northumberland. Daphne was his fianceé until fairly recently when she dumped him for someone with better prospects. I cannot imagine why he accepted the invitation.
He is saved from the humiliation by a snowstorm which keeps them trapped in the remote B&B for several days. During this enforced togetherness, they get to know each other fairly well, but she disappears without a trace from the train on their way back to civilisation.
The rest of the story is his obsession with finding her and learning why she disappeared. The narrative is bookended by a visit to Jack’s office in 1950 by an anonymous young man. Assuming he is about to be arrested, he asks if he can tell his story first. This is a tale with lots of twists and turns, false trails and one final surprise right at the end that I did not see coming.
The characters are well drawn and believable, though none are particularly likeable. The period setting is vividly brought to life, but Jack’s obsession takes its toll on everyone involved. The story is gripping, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat until the final page. I will certainly look out for other books by this author. Thanks to Bloodhound Books for a digital copy to review.
October 13, 2025
This is one of the best novels I have read this year.
The plot is incredibly complex and intriguing.
A disillusioned Cambridge graduate, Jack, meets Giselle ,a captivating woman, on a train to Paris. He invites her to attend a wedding in England with him, posing as his wife. Enroute they are stuck in an isolated lodging as a result of a major snow storm. As they are leaving on a train, Giselle disappears, Later Jack is arrested for the murder of the lodging owner. He is falsely accused and released after the police identify the real killer.
Jack then ends up in search of Giselle. He tracks her family to a sister who tells Jack that Giselle has gone to America with another suitor. The sister is caring for Giselle's young son.
Years later Jack glimpses a woman he thinks is Giselle in London. He catches up with her with her and chats. At first she doesn't seem to know him but as they talk she recalls their story. In reality she is Giselle's twin sister.
It turns out Giselle is an inveterate liar. The novel ends with an interesting twist as a young man turns up in France searching for Jack.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for providing me with an Advanced Review Copy.
The plot is incredibly complex and intriguing.
A disillusioned Cambridge graduate, Jack, meets Giselle ,a captivating woman, on a train to Paris. He invites her to attend a wedding in England with him, posing as his wife. Enroute they are stuck in an isolated lodging as a result of a major snow storm. As they are leaving on a train, Giselle disappears, Later Jack is arrested for the murder of the lodging owner. He is falsely accused and released after the police identify the real killer.
Jack then ends up in search of Giselle. He tracks her family to a sister who tells Jack that Giselle has gone to America with another suitor. The sister is caring for Giselle's young son.
Years later Jack glimpses a woman he thinks is Giselle in London. He catches up with her with her and chats. At first she doesn't seem to know him but as they talk she recalls their story. In reality she is Giselle's twin sister.
It turns out Giselle is an inveterate liar. The novel ends with an interesting twist as a young man turns up in France searching for Jack.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for providing me with an Advanced Review Copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2025
This is without a doubt the best book I have read this year. When I first started reading it I found myself submerged in a mystery that might well have come from the pen of the late, great Patricia Highsmith, but there were also echoes of early Daphne du Maurier. Throw in a healthy portion of Agatha Christie at her best and the unique style of Katharine Johnson emerges triumphant.
Set mostly in the years between the two World Wars the author captures perfectly the devastating impact of the Great Depression and the uncertainty of finding employment in defiance of one's parents. This culture of fear provides Jack with a subtle tenderness, at odds with his determination, that is stretched to breaking point as the complex plot twists and turns his emotions through love, lust, loss and longing, and finally erupts into sudden violence.
A stunning literary achievement. A must read for all crime fiction fans.
Set mostly in the years between the two World Wars the author captures perfectly the devastating impact of the Great Depression and the uncertainty of finding employment in defiance of one's parents. This culture of fear provides Jack with a subtle tenderness, at odds with his determination, that is stretched to breaking point as the complex plot twists and turns his emotions through love, lust, loss and longing, and finally erupts into sudden violence.
A stunning literary achievement. A must read for all crime fiction fans.
October 11, 2025
As I hardly ever read the blurbs of books before reading, I went into this purely because I'd been intrigued by the cover, title and tag lines.
This wasn't at all as I'd expected but I was absolutely hooked after just the first few chapters.
Set in the 1930/40's, I normally wouldn't gravitate towards this - but I think that this made it such a good read and I enjoyed this era for a change.
The writing style transported me into this time and I loved the mystery of the storyline.
After meeting Giselle, Jack becomes obsessed with her. When she goes missing, he finds himself searching for her and his infatuation is heightened.
As Jack spirals more and more, we find ourselves on a journey of deceit along with him.
I love anything that allows us to delve into a character's psyche like this and explore the changes that Jack goes through along the way.
This was dark and twisty and right up my street!
This wasn't at all as I'd expected but I was absolutely hooked after just the first few chapters.
Set in the 1930/40's, I normally wouldn't gravitate towards this - but I think that this made it such a good read and I enjoyed this era for a change.
The writing style transported me into this time and I loved the mystery of the storyline.
After meeting Giselle, Jack becomes obsessed with her. When she goes missing, he finds himself searching for her and his infatuation is heightened.
As Jack spirals more and more, we find ourselves on a journey of deceit along with him.
I love anything that allows us to delve into a character's psyche like this and explore the changes that Jack goes through along the way.
This was dark and twisty and right up my street!
September 9, 2025
I have to be honest, when I first started reading this book, the main character, Jack irritated the life out of me, and I nearly DNF it. He was such a pathetic creature and mooned about looking for Giselle like a love struck kid.
However, I’m glad I persevered as it was quite a good story and of course it covers the Second World War so that was interesting, but Jack was searching for years for this woman who’d just up sticks and left him. I wanted to say, grow up and get in with your life!!!
As I’m not a fan of romantic stories and prefer proper crime, this was actually well written and I did quite enjoy it, even though it wasn’t my genre.
My thanks to the author and Bloodhound books for the ARC.
However, I’m glad I persevered as it was quite a good story and of course it covers the Second World War so that was interesting, but Jack was searching for years for this woman who’d just up sticks and left him. I wanted to say, grow up and get in with your life!!!
As I’m not a fan of romantic stories and prefer proper crime, this was actually well written and I did quite enjoy it, even though it wasn’t my genre.
My thanks to the author and Bloodhound books for the ARC.
September 24, 2025
This was a captivating read!
When Jack meets the mysterious, enchanting Giselle on a boat before the start of WWII, he becomes infatuated.
After her abrupt disappearance, his search for her spirals into a dangerous obsession, isolating him from his family and friends. The author skillfully illustrates Jack's descent into a world of deceit and self-doubt.
As shocking revelations emerge, Jack is forced to question everything he believes.
This book captures the essence of a man's desperate and relentless pursuit of the truth no matter what the cost.
It's a truly unforgettable journey into the depths of a troubled mind. A great read for fans of historical fiction, with an ending tied up as neatly as a pink diamond ring in a box wrapped up with a bow.
When Jack meets the mysterious, enchanting Giselle on a boat before the start of WWII, he becomes infatuated.
After her abrupt disappearance, his search for her spirals into a dangerous obsession, isolating him from his family and friends. The author skillfully illustrates Jack's descent into a world of deceit and self-doubt.
As shocking revelations emerge, Jack is forced to question everything he believes.
This book captures the essence of a man's desperate and relentless pursuit of the truth no matter what the cost.
It's a truly unforgettable journey into the depths of a troubled mind. A great read for fans of historical fiction, with an ending tied up as neatly as a pink diamond ring in a box wrapped up with a bow.
October 26, 2025
In 1931, Jack, a steady but bored young man, meets a woman on the boat train from Paris. Over the journey he becomes mesmerised by her and on a whim invites her to accompany him to a wedding in Northumberland. But soon after they arrive at the farmhouse guesthouse, the weather deteriorates and they find themselves snowed in with an assortment of other guests.
Fast forward to 1950 and there’s still a price to pay for Jack’s impetuous decision to spend those days with that woman. When the past catches up with him, he recounts a story of obsession, lies and murder spanning two decades.
This is part literary historical fiction – with an expert lightness of touch for period detail – part mystery and part gothic-style suspense.
I really enjoyed this novel.
Fast forward to 1950 and there’s still a price to pay for Jack’s impetuous decision to spend those days with that woman. When the past catches up with him, he recounts a story of obsession, lies and murder spanning two decades.
This is part literary historical fiction – with an expert lightness of touch for period detail – part mystery and part gothic-style suspense.
I really enjoyed this novel.
September 27, 2025
There's a lot going on in this book. It's a story of obsession, murder, betrayal and deception spanning many years. Jack meets Giselle, falls madly in love and then spends years obsessing over her and trying to find her. In between, he is also accused of murder.
The story is told from different POVs as we gradually learn about events in the past as well as the present day. It is quite a twisty tale overall and I really wasn't sure what was actually true or not. I wasn't sure at the start if I would stick with it but I am glad I did as I enjoyed it overall and as the story progressed, I wanted to read more to see what would come next.
The story is told from different POVs as we gradually learn about events in the past as well as the present day. It is quite a twisty tale overall and I really wasn't sure what was actually true or not. I wasn't sure at the start if I would stick with it but I am glad I did as I enjoyed it overall and as the story progressed, I wanted to read more to see what would come next.
October 22, 2025
This is a historical mystery that had me from the first chapter. Set between 1931 and 1950 with vivid descriptions that gave the book an authentic feel.
The pace begins slowly, which is perfect. I felt like I was given time to get to know the historical setting and the characters. As the story unfolded, the pacing picks up, along with the suspense.
I was as obsessed as Jack, one of the main characters, in wanting to find Giselle. I just really wanted to know everything!
As the pace quickens, so do the twists, and I was so immersed in The Alibi that I forgot everything else but this book. It is such a great read!
The pace begins slowly, which is perfect. I felt like I was given time to get to know the historical setting and the characters. As the story unfolded, the pacing picks up, along with the suspense.
I was as obsessed as Jack, one of the main characters, in wanting to find Giselle. I just really wanted to know everything!
As the pace quickens, so do the twists, and I was so immersed in The Alibi that I forgot everything else but this book. It is such a great read!
October 7, 2025
The Alibi by Katharine Johnson
This is definitely a mystery worth talking about! It is a wonderful selection for a book club, because there’s lots to discuss.
The story goes along a complicated path. You’ll find yourself on a journey through a man’s life and his quest to locate a lost love. Childhood, abandonment, rejection, war, love, and lost, desperately searching to find her.
Ms. Johnson has created a multitude of characters, giving each one enough personality and dynamic to carve themselves into the story. This is a fast-paced story that will grip you to the very last page!
This is definitely a mystery worth talking about! It is a wonderful selection for a book club, because there’s lots to discuss.
The story goes along a complicated path. You’ll find yourself on a journey through a man’s life and his quest to locate a lost love. Childhood, abandonment, rejection, war, love, and lost, desperately searching to find her.
Ms. Johnson has created a multitude of characters, giving each one enough personality and dynamic to carve themselves into the story. This is a fast-paced story that will grip you to the very last page!
September 14, 2025
You know those books you pick up thinking you’ll just read a chapter before bed, and suddenly it’s 3am and you’re questioning all your life choices? The Alibi is one of those. A chance meeting turns into love, heartbreak, and — of course — murder. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, Katharine Johnson throws in another twist to keep you on your toes. It’s dark, clever, and totally addictive. Brilliant stuff.
December 9, 2025
Gripping, atmospheric and brilliantly plotted, this is a winning combination of mystery, history and obsession. The vivid setting and well-drawn characters are just as compelling as the story’s central mystery and although I was desperate to get to the end and find out the truth, I was also sorry to finish this book! After plenty of surprises, the ending was completely unexpected and very satisfying. Definitely recommend!
September 24, 2025
Katharine Johnson's style has a wonderful Julian Fellows tone to it in this gripping novel. The author writes with elegance, poise, wit and mystique - and then there are the grittier layers of the era and all the horrors it brings... in many a guise.
Red herrings keep you guessing and turning the page until the very last chapter... which I totally didn't see coming!
Red herrings keep you guessing and turning the page until the very last chapter... which I totally didn't see coming!
October 7, 2025
A historical fiction book that didn’t quite do it for me, the writing was good but the plot itself was a bit bland. The characters were quite well written but nothing much really happened and when it did it wasn’t really clear why it has happened.
A bit slow but interesting in places, just not fast enough for me.
A bit slow but interesting in places, just not fast enough for me.
October 17, 2025
This was such a revelation so different to any book that I have read recently. I just got engaged with Jack and thinking wow how did he get himself into this position. The book just flew by as I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen to him next.
It is such a different book but worth it.
It is such a different book but worth it.
October 21, 2025
I’m really not sure how this has such high ratings unless it’s all because of the last twist at the end… that’s a good one, but overall just mediocre.
He spend the entire book looking for his lost love, but she’s just a ghost. She’s supposedly died in a freak accident before he ever met her, but he has picture proof it was real.
He spend the entire book looking for his lost love, but she’s just a ghost. She’s supposedly died in a freak accident before he ever met her, but he has picture proof it was real.
October 2, 2025
What a gripping read! This unpredictable tale, with its twists & turns, kept me guessing right up to the end. Full of interesting characters & plot twists; fans of this genre will not be disappointed.
October 7, 2025
A good book that I think would be good for a book club so that you can discuss it and boy there is a lot to discuss.
A good mystery / thriller with plenty of twists to it. This book kept me up at night I read it in a weekend . Worth a read.
A good mystery / thriller with plenty of twists to it. This book kept me up at night I read it in a weekend . Worth a read.
September 6, 2025
A meeting on a train leads to a romance, followed by a disappearance, everything after that is twist after twist. A great novel.
October 4, 2025
Great book full of intrigue and obsession!
Will Jack ever find the truth? The only way to find out is to immerse yourself in this twisted web of the psychological kind
Will Jack ever find the truth? The only way to find out is to immerse yourself in this twisted web of the psychological kind
October 12, 2025
What a twisted read I really enjoyed this one it reminded me how much I do enjoy historical fiction
October 12, 2025
Many of the characters are unlikeable but the mystery was enough to make me keep going and discover what happened. I voluntarily reviewed an advance readers copy of this book.
October 24, 2025
Writing this review a week later and I can remember nothing of interest about this book. I guess that says it all.
October 25, 2025
I wasn't expecting the ending. This book was slow at times and somewhat chaotic but I enjoyed how it came together at the end. I enjoy a book that keeps you thinking even after you've finished.
October 25, 2025
Totally unpredictable! Highly recommend audio 👌🏻
November 17, 2025
While the story is sound, the timeline of being the 1930s doesn't feel genuine. Lots of twists that keep coming until the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews