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A Sam Arbichaut Mystery #1
A Perfect Alibi
The job looked like the same old story. Husband thinks wife is cheating, husband hires private investigator... Until someone ends up dead.
As a former police detective turned PI, Sam Arbichaut has seen it all. Having moved from Florida to Portland, Oregon for a new start in life, he spends his days fighting middle-age spread and investigating whatever civilians pay him for.
When his latest job takes a homicidal turn, Sam soon figures out this case is anything but the usual... and finding out what the real story is might just cost him everything.
Get excited for this brand new mystery following the determined Detective from Hunting Delilah as Sam gets his own series!
As a former police detective turned PI, Sam Arbichaut has seen it all. Having moved from Florida to Portland, Oregon for a new start in life, he spends his days fighting middle-age spread and investigating whatever civilians pay him for.
When his latest job takes a homicidal turn, Sam soon figures out this case is anything but the usual... and finding out what the real story is might just cost him everything.
Get excited for this brand new mystery following the determined Detective from Hunting Delilah as Sam gets his own series!
197 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 3, 2018
423 people are currently reading
396 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
June 17, 2022
I loved it. What a wonderful start to a series with such a wonderful PI.Sam Arbichaut. He's one of the most humane relatable PI I've read. Great plot, great characters. Looking forward to reading book 2.
Recommended : 👍
Recommended : 👍
November 5, 2023
Not a book that you will remember too long after finishing it. A new suspect is introduced at the end without any explanation of how this individual came into contact with the person who hired him. Because this character is never really incorporated into the narrative, the plot descends into mediocrity as the author takes a quick way out to bring the story to conclusion.
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March 17, 2022🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/17/2022)! 🎁
March 14, 2022
nothing special
Don’t you just hate books where a new potential suspect turns up in the last chapter? An average book. Don’t waste money on it.
Don’t you just hate books where a new potential suspect turns up in the last chapter? An average book. Don’t waste money on it.
June 17, 2023
The plot in this story is your basic murder mystery – private detective sort of thing, where our main protagonist is hired by a powerful public figure to investigate his wife, who of course, is almost immediately found murdered.
I have taken off one star because the plot is very much same old, same old, and the main character is difficult to identify with. Rather than creating a unique character, the writer has used the standard and much hackneyed ‘Sam Spade’ type individual, ex-cop, divorced, small office filled with dirty coffee cups and desperately in need of work. What made the character hard to relate to was, however, the constant self examination by someone who clearly has personal issues. Also, the plot was fairly basic, the outcome fairly obvious.
Despite that, I enjoyed the story. It is a quick and easy read, and well written. The text is mostly error free (just a few small typos) and the story flows well. A good read for a chilly day. I would be happy to read more of this authors work.
I have taken off one star because the plot is very much same old, same old, and the main character is difficult to identify with. Rather than creating a unique character, the writer has used the standard and much hackneyed ‘Sam Spade’ type individual, ex-cop, divorced, small office filled with dirty coffee cups and desperately in need of work. What made the character hard to relate to was, however, the constant self examination by someone who clearly has personal issues. Also, the plot was fairly basic, the outcome fairly obvious.
Despite that, I enjoyed the story. It is a quick and easy read, and well written. The text is mostly error free (just a few small typos) and the story flows well. A good read for a chilly day. I would be happy to read more of this authors work.
August 19, 2023
A Perfect Alibi was the first novel I've read by Anne Baines but it definitely won't be my last. While the book needed better editing than it received, the pace of the novel was great with lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing.
Sam was a very likeable protagonist. The fact that he was an ex-police detective turned PI made him interesting and he had a competent, caring persona which I liked. He also had a weakness for damsels in distress regardless of their age and was determined to rescue them.
I also liked Leo McCullough, the lead homicide detective in Nancy's murder. I think he and Sam could become close friends and I hope he appears in the other Sam Arbichaunt novels. They worked well together and he had a strong sense of honour and responsibility.
Having enjoyed this novel as much as I did, I am now off to find the second book in this series.
Sam was a very likeable protagonist. The fact that he was an ex-police detective turned PI made him interesting and he had a competent, caring persona which I liked. He also had a weakness for damsels in distress regardless of their age and was determined to rescue them.
I also liked Leo McCullough, the lead homicide detective in Nancy's murder. I think he and Sam could become close friends and I hope he appears in the other Sam Arbichaunt novels. They worked well together and he had a strong sense of honour and responsibility.
Having enjoyed this novel as much as I did, I am now off to find the second book in this series.
August 4, 2023
When a detective tasked with investigating a possible affair of a married woman, he is shocked to discover her lifeless body in less than 24 hours. Sam , an ex cop with who fled Florida after a messy divorce, can’t get her ( Nancy) out his mind to which he is slowly drawn to find and interview individuals close to the deceased.
The novel is an easy read which explores the usual for Mail of interviewing suspects back and forth throughout novel. However, the third act was a lackluster attempt to tie loose ends with a motive. It was rushed with no clear explanation to how the culprit was pinpointed. Shockingly, guesswork played a significant role.
The novel is an easy read which explores the usual for Mail of interviewing suspects back and forth throughout novel. However, the third act was a lackluster attempt to tie loose ends with a motive. It was rushed with no clear explanation to how the culprit was pinpointed. Shockingly, guesswork played a significant role.
January 18, 2023
This is my first work by Anne Baines, and I really liked it. I'm going to try to find more books by her now. I'm wondering whether there are any other stories with the same characters. There was a surprise ending, and it was suspenseful - though a little confusing to follow at times. Some loose ends weren't tied up, but this doesn't hurt the story. The victim's character is well developed, despite the story starting right out of the gate with their death. The PI (former copy from Florida) investigates her life in the process of helping the police find the killer.
June 13, 2023
Sam Arbichaut was a homicide detective in Florida. He moves to Portland, Oregon after his divorce and becomes a private investigator. His newest case is a typical 'cheating spouse' that is until the wife is murdered in a hotel room. Now nothing is typical, not his client--the husband, not the police department, not even witnesses. This a well written story, with some twists and turns that will throw the reader off the 'scent'.
March 19, 2022
Sam Arbichaut a PI hired to investigate a murder, had previously been with the Miami police prior to moving west to get some distance after his divorce. The husband of the victim hires him to get answers into the murder. I enjoyed the story although found it tedious at times. I got the book through BookBub, as thanks for the freebie, I like to provide a review.
June 5, 2023
Good Mystery
I liked the main character. He was believable and very human. The ending is unusual for most mysteries. Interestingly, one key element is never explained. Not sure why that end wasn't tied up. I don't think it relates to a sequel, but maybe it does. Overall an enjoyable read.
I liked the main character. He was believable and very human. The ending is unusual for most mysteries. Interestingly, one key element is never explained. Not sure why that end wasn't tied up. I don't think it relates to a sequel, but maybe it does. Overall an enjoyable read.
March 23, 2022
Murder, greed and unrequited love.
A woman is killed with five suspects, four with a rock solid alibi. The fifth was a person unknown. A lot of digging came up with two killers and the truth.
A woman is killed with five suspects, four with a rock solid alibi. The fifth was a person unknown. A lot of digging came up with two killers and the truth.
June 15, 2022
Great book
Good writing, good story. I didn't figure out who done it before he told us. I will say, there were several editing errors that should be fixed, but it didn't take away from the story.
Good writing, good story. I didn't figure out who done it before he told us. I will say, there were several editing errors that should be fixed, but it didn't take away from the story.
June 1, 2023
Enjoyed the first book in this series - I’ve listened to a later one already. Pretty high death toll and yet again very tragic - if only people communicated with one another the whole saga would not have happened.
October 1, 2025
Sam Arbichaut is a great character
Anne Baines knows how to develop and spin a story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A new author for me. I will continue to buy and read her offerings.
Anne Baines knows how to develop and spin a story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A new author for me. I will continue to buy and read her offerings.
November 1, 2025
A really good mystery
This is a good old fashioned mystery. It's got twists, turns, and a red herring or two. Sam is a great character. He's flawed, but not stupid. I liked that we didn't go off on a tangent trying to get to know the assassin.
This is a good old fashioned mystery. It's got twists, turns, and a red herring or two. Sam is a great character. He's flawed, but not stupid. I liked that we didn't go off on a tangent trying to get to know the assassin.
November 29, 2018
Great 👍
I love Sam,s character and really like this author! Love the Delilah books too.
Plots are well developed and she likes twists.
I love Sam,s character and really like this author! Love the Delilah books too.
Plots are well developed and she likes twists.
December 5, 2021
I randomly decided to read this on scribd. I was very surprised at how good this was. Highly recommend
February 5, 2022
A good murder mystery with a nice ending.
Sam is a private detective working on a strange case about an affair when someone is murdered and the whole thing goes sideways.
Sam is a private detective working on a strange case about an affair when someone is murdered and the whole thing goes sideways.
March 21, 2022
First read by this author. Fast paced action... all edge of your seat page turning fun!!! I was a little disappointed in the ending. Over all a good read!!
March 26, 2022
It was a free, enjoyable read.
Came together at the end.
Came together at the end.
April 29, 2022
A good read
I was entertained throughout the book and although, I decidedly did finally figure out the twist; I will certainly read this author again.
I was entertained throughout the book and although, I decidedly did finally figure out the twist; I will certainly read this author again.
May 6, 2022
Well written
Very enjoyable way to pass the time .
Liked Sam and the other main characters and the plot kept me guessing all the way through. Recommended.
Very enjoyable way to pass the time .
Liked Sam and the other main characters and the plot kept me guessing all the way through. Recommended.
May 7, 2022
Excellent!
An almost perfect whodunit, well written and characterized, with enough red herrings for a month's worth of Friday night fish frys
An almost perfect whodunit, well written and characterized, with enough red herrings for a month's worth of Friday night fish frys
May 26, 2022
Wasn't bad but wasn't so exciting either. Enjoyed in general and will try something else from this author.
June 11, 2022
Past Comes Back to Haunt
Satisfyingly complicated police procedural whodunit, despite the participation of a newly arrived private investigator. Keeps you guessing to the end.
Satisfyingly complicated police procedural whodunit, despite the participation of a newly arrived private investigator. Keeps you guessing to the end.
August 10, 2022
Brain teaser
I struggled to work this one out but I enjoyed it and at the end the guy got his girl. Great book. I wore my brain out trying to solve this case.
I struggled to work this one out but I enjoyed it and at the end the guy got his girl. Great book. I wore my brain out trying to solve this case.
December 3, 2022
fast read. if you like detective stories, it's fair to say this would be one that you might like.
April 22, 2023
Awesome first book in a series! Fast paced, great characters, plenty of nail biting action!
September 18, 2023
Good story, good development
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews