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Charlotte Gibson Mysteries #1
Aloha Alibi
Most people flee to Hawaii for gorgeous weather, white-sand beaches, and cocktails at sunset. Charlotte Gibson, however, is fleeing for her life after a vengeful mobster leaves a severed finger on her doorstep as a warning. Message very much received.
That’s how Charlotte—Charlie to everyone except her mom— finds herself on Maui with six dollars to her name, living with a mother who can’t stop giving her advice on how to land herself a husband. But when a businessman is murdered and his company offers a reward to whoever finds the killer, Charlie sees an opportunity: with that kind of cash, she could afford her own place and start a new life here away from the people who want her dead. After all, how hard can hunting down a murderer be?
Teaming up with a couple of old ladies with more spunk than Betty White, Charlie is sure she’s on the right track to snag the reward money. However, the infuriating-but-smoldering-hot cop trying to keep her away from his case has other ideas. Throw in a day job at an ice cream shop, corrupt local politicians, and a best friend trying to act as the voice of reason, and Charlie has her work cut out for her.
Will she be able to find the killer, or is Charlie’s time in paradise going to go straight to hell in a handbasket?
That’s how Charlotte—Charlie to everyone except her mom— finds herself on Maui with six dollars to her name, living with a mother who can’t stop giving her advice on how to land herself a husband. But when a businessman is murdered and his company offers a reward to whoever finds the killer, Charlie sees an opportunity: with that kind of cash, she could afford her own place and start a new life here away from the people who want her dead. After all, how hard can hunting down a murderer be?
Teaming up with a couple of old ladies with more spunk than Betty White, Charlie is sure she’s on the right track to snag the reward money. However, the infuriating-but-smoldering-hot cop trying to keep her away from his case has other ideas. Throw in a day job at an ice cream shop, corrupt local politicians, and a best friend trying to act as the voice of reason, and Charlie has her work cut out for her.
Will she be able to find the killer, or is Charlie’s time in paradise going to go straight to hell in a handbasket?
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 8, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 314 reviews
October 18, 2023
A light, easy read and a good start to the series. I would have liked a touch more Hawaii in the details, but that's just a personal preference to help me imagine myself there!
I look forward to seeing how the characters develop in future books as they seem like they not only work well together, but will also likely get into some fun adventures together.
I would compare the setting and mystery elements to the Aloha Lagoon series, with a hint of the character development and personalities seen in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. A nice combo for a relaxing and fun read!
I look forward to seeing how the characters develop in future books as they seem like they not only work well together, but will also likely get into some fun adventures together.
I would compare the setting and mystery elements to the Aloha Lagoon series, with a hint of the character development and personalities seen in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. A nice combo for a relaxing and fun read!
August 8, 2023
Charlie and Rosie and Dot make a great team and I love this series which helps fill the spaces between new Stephanie Plum or Fortune Redding Miss Fortune Mystery books. Actually, I'm adding this series to my must-read list. I loved it. The narration by Khristine Hvam was great.
Charlotte Gibson is in her late 20's and still hasn't got a clue as to what to do with her life. Currently she is working as a clerk in a high-end jewelry store, but that job didn't end well. Now she's back home in Maui, living with her mother, who wants grandchildren, and working at an ice cream shop. At least until she collects the $100,000 reward for solving the murder of a high-powered developer, whose last stop before his death was Charlie's ice cream shop.
Rosie and Dot are two senior citizens who are also looking for the murderer and when they end up chasing the same clues, they decide to team up. Jake, hot cop, is not happy when they seem to be one step ahead of him and his partner. But Charlie, Rosie and Dot are hot on the trail and nothing, except maybe the killer, is going to stop them from solving the case.
Charlotte Gibson is in her late 20's and still hasn't got a clue as to what to do with her life. Currently she is working as a clerk in a high-end jewelry store, but that job didn't end well. Now she's back home in Maui, living with her mother, who wants grandchildren, and working at an ice cream shop. At least until she collects the $100,000 reward for solving the murder of a high-powered developer, whose last stop before his death was Charlie's ice cream shop.
Rosie and Dot are two senior citizens who are also looking for the murderer and when they end up chasing the same clues, they decide to team up. Jake, hot cop, is not happy when they seem to be one step ahead of him and his partner. But Charlie, Rosie and Dot are hot on the trail and nothing, except maybe the killer, is going to stop them from solving the case.
June 17, 2021
I enjoyed this murder mystery set in beautiful Hawaii. I’m looking forward to book two!
June 18, 2022
I received an advance reader copy of this book to listen to in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
***AUDIO BOOK VERSION***
Aloha Alibi is the first book by Jasmine Webb that I've had the pleasure of reading/listening to and I will definitely be looking for the rest of her books. I'm so glad I picked the audio book version of this book as it was such a fun listen! The narrator added humor and warmth to this story and really was a perfect choice for the narration. The shenanigans in this book, especially by two older ladies who were included in the story was both genius and fun. The flow of the story was steady and I loved the plot, the well developed, strong, intelligent female characters and how easy it was to follow them and the story from beginning to end. This book is set in Maui which holds painful memories for the main character who's moved back there after shooting a gangster who tried to rob her. This would make a great beach read or listen due to the location and lightheartedness and fun aspects within the story despite it being about a murder.
***AUDIO BOOK VERSION***
Aloha Alibi is the first book by Jasmine Webb that I've had the pleasure of reading/listening to and I will definitely be looking for the rest of her books. I'm so glad I picked the audio book version of this book as it was such a fun listen! The narrator added humor and warmth to this story and really was a perfect choice for the narration. The shenanigans in this book, especially by two older ladies who were included in the story was both genius and fun. The flow of the story was steady and I loved the plot, the well developed, strong, intelligent female characters and how easy it was to follow them and the story from beginning to end. This book is set in Maui which holds painful memories for the main character who's moved back there after shooting a gangster who tried to rob her. This would make a great beach read or listen due to the location and lightheartedness and fun aspects within the story despite it being about a murder.
October 27, 2021
There were some elements that I really loved about this book, and others that I did not. I'll start with the positive.
There were quite a few well-developed characters, especially Charlie and her group of friends. I loved the addition of the two older ladies as main characters, and all the shenanigans they got themselves into. I mean breaking into a hotel room and hiding in the closet - hilarious. I also liked the fact that the main characters were all women and they were all intelligent, brave, and generally bad asses. The author's writing style added humor to an otherwise non-humorous situation (murder). It was well-written and flowed easily. I didn't get bogged down or stuck anywhere.
As for the negatives, there were quite a few. The whole premise of the book was unbelievable, and the methods for solving the crime were over the top and unrealistic. It had less to do with skill than luck. It seemed like everything just happened to fall into place, and the characters just happened to be at the right place at the right time. They didn't really make any clever decisions to move the story forward. I also could have done without the love story. It wasn't well developed, it felt forced, and it just wasn't necessary. Finally, while there were characters I truly enjoyed, there were also those that annoyed the hell out of me. Charlie's mother was two-dimensional AF and she kept talking about sex. I will admit I'm a bit of a prude when it comes to sex scenes in books (they always make me a tad uncomfortable), but the mother's attempt to get her daughter to hook up with someone, anyone, just so she could have grandchildren...nah. It wasn't realistic, and it seemed very forced. It might have been forgivable if she was kooky and eccentric in other ways, but that was literally her only character trait, so I just couldn't get over it. Then there were the police officers. It was a traditional good cop/bad cop scenario. Which honestly doesn't bother me, except that the bad cop had no redeeming qualities or explanation for his laziness or his general badness. The author could have given him a back story that would have made him more believable - like he was in the middle of a contentious divorce that was weighing on his thoughts or he had a colicky baby at home that made him tired and distracted - but he had no back story. Neither officer did. And I truly wish that I had that (really for all the characters), because it would have made them more complex and interesting, and it would have helped me forgive more of the book's shortcomings.
But as it sits, this is a solid 2.5 star or 3 at the best. I gave it a 3 because I did enjoy the author's light, humorous way of writing, and Charlie was a well-developed, interesting character.
There were quite a few well-developed characters, especially Charlie and her group of friends. I loved the addition of the two older ladies as main characters, and all the shenanigans they got themselves into. I mean breaking into a hotel room and hiding in the closet - hilarious. I also liked the fact that the main characters were all women and they were all intelligent, brave, and generally bad asses. The author's writing style added humor to an otherwise non-humorous situation (murder). It was well-written and flowed easily. I didn't get bogged down or stuck anywhere.
As for the negatives, there were quite a few. The whole premise of the book was unbelievable, and the methods for solving the crime were over the top and unrealistic. It had less to do with skill than luck. It seemed like everything just happened to fall into place, and the characters just happened to be at the right place at the right time. They didn't really make any clever decisions to move the story forward. I also could have done without the love story. It wasn't well developed, it felt forced, and it just wasn't necessary. Finally, while there were characters I truly enjoyed, there were also those that annoyed the hell out of me. Charlie's mother was two-dimensional AF and she kept talking about sex. I will admit I'm a bit of a prude when it comes to sex scenes in books (they always make me a tad uncomfortable), but the mother's attempt to get her daughter to hook up with someone, anyone, just so she could have grandchildren...nah. It wasn't realistic, and it seemed very forced. It might have been forgivable if she was kooky and eccentric in other ways, but that was literally her only character trait, so I just couldn't get over it. Then there were the police officers. It was a traditional good cop/bad cop scenario. Which honestly doesn't bother me, except that the bad cop had no redeeming qualities or explanation for his laziness or his general badness. The author could have given him a back story that would have made him more believable - like he was in the middle of a contentious divorce that was weighing on his thoughts or he had a colicky baby at home that made him tired and distracted - but he had no back story. Neither officer did. And I truly wish that I had that (really for all the characters), because it would have made them more complex and interesting, and it would have helped me forgive more of the book's shortcomings.
But as it sits, this is a solid 2.5 star or 3 at the best. I gave it a 3 because I did enjoy the author's light, humorous way of writing, and Charlie was a well-developed, interesting character.
October 25, 2021
The Reward
Charlotte, (Charlie to everyone except her mom), escaped Hawaii to find work in Seattle. When she runs afoul of the Mob during a robbery at her place of employment and a severed finger arrives at her doorstep she returns home to Hawaii, broke and living with her mother.
When a man is murdered outside her job at an ice cream store and a reward is offered she is determined to find the killer and collect the reward. Teaming up with two older ladies the trio works at tracking down the killer and collecting the reward.
This is an interesting cozy mystery with a wonderful setting in Hawaii. The beautiful scenery described is a bonus to this mystery. The characters are colorful, humorous and gave me some laughs with their amateur sleuthing.
There is a small aura of romance with the young policeman that takes an interest in Charlie when she is caught at the scene of the crime sniffing for clues.
I enjoyed the story and the characters, it was a delightful read and gave me some laughs. It was a nice distraction from some heavier reading. The narrator told the story well and had a great voice for doing so. The audio books and the cozy mysteries are great for relaxing and clearing the mind for a bit in the afternoon. I would recommend this story.
Thanks to Jasmine Webb, Blueberry Books and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a complimentary copy of the Audio book for my honest review.
Charlotte, (Charlie to everyone except her mom), escaped Hawaii to find work in Seattle. When she runs afoul of the Mob during a robbery at her place of employment and a severed finger arrives at her doorstep she returns home to Hawaii, broke and living with her mother.
When a man is murdered outside her job at an ice cream store and a reward is offered she is determined to find the killer and collect the reward. Teaming up with two older ladies the trio works at tracking down the killer and collecting the reward.
This is an interesting cozy mystery with a wonderful setting in Hawaii. The beautiful scenery described is a bonus to this mystery. The characters are colorful, humorous and gave me some laughs with their amateur sleuthing.
There is a small aura of romance with the young policeman that takes an interest in Charlie when she is caught at the scene of the crime sniffing for clues.
I enjoyed the story and the characters, it was a delightful read and gave me some laughs. It was a nice distraction from some heavier reading. The narrator told the story well and had a great voice for doing so. The audio books and the cozy mysteries are great for relaxing and clearing the mind for a bit in the afternoon. I would recommend this story.
Thanks to Jasmine Webb, Blueberry Books and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a complimentary copy of the Audio book for my honest review.
October 9, 2021
It turns out gangsters are not happy if you kill their brother even if it is in self defense. So now Charlotte needs to make a quick exit from Seattle and decides to stay with her mom in Hawaii. That means listening to her mom's unsolicited advice on how to attract men. When a 100 grand reward is offered to find a killer she decides to find the killer so she has the money to get her own place.
I enjoyed the humor in this story especially involving her new septuagenarian friends/associates who help search for the killer. Also, the conspiracy theory was pretty funny and relevant to today's world. Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy. The opinions expressed are my own.
I enjoyed the humor in this story especially involving her new septuagenarian friends/associates who help search for the killer. Also, the conspiracy theory was pretty funny and relevant to today's world. Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy. The opinions expressed are my own.
June 10, 2021
Aloha Alibi is the first book in the Charlotte Gibson Mystery series by Jasmine Webb.
I really enjoyed this book. I am not usually one to compare authors, but if you like Janet Evanovich, you will LOVE this series.
Charlotte Gibson aka Charlie is heading back to Maui with no money to her name, no where to stay, but anything is better than a mobster after her. Well maybe not anything. Enter her mom who thinks she "needs " a husband.
There is a murder on the island and a reward being offered and Charlie is after that money.
She's not the only one after the money though. If you can beat them, join them right? Even if they are Octogerians. Those ladies cracked me up. OH and the sexy cop fighting them every step of the way, yes PLEASE.
I really loved this debut novel . The antics were hilarious. They mystery was perfectly paced and well written.
And I loved the setting of Maui . This is such a great book , I cannot wait for more from this author.
I really enjoyed this book. I am not usually one to compare authors, but if you like Janet Evanovich, you will LOVE this series.
Charlotte Gibson aka Charlie is heading back to Maui with no money to her name, no where to stay, but anything is better than a mobster after her. Well maybe not anything. Enter her mom who thinks she "needs " a husband.
There is a murder on the island and a reward being offered and Charlie is after that money.
She's not the only one after the money though. If you can beat them, join them right? Even if they are Octogerians. Those ladies cracked me up. OH and the sexy cop fighting them every step of the way, yes PLEASE.
I really loved this debut novel . The antics were hilarious. They mystery was perfectly paced and well written.
And I loved the setting of Maui . This is such a great book , I cannot wait for more from this author.
July 17, 2022
I don’t think I could DNF a book because I try to honor the work an author puts into their book. This book “looked” like fun, and it might be for many other people. My responsibility was that I did not know what a cosy (cozy) mystery was. I had to do a little learning about this genre branch.
My disappointment focuses on the misunderstanding of local life in Hawaii and the Spirit of Aloha that makes Hawaiian culture diverse and unique. I grew up in Hawaii and my expectations were that I would catch glimpses of authentic local life. The author, bless her heart, may have visited Hawaii, or even lived there for a short time, but absolutely missed the mark on the beautiful culture of Hawaii. The danger of setting a book in a particular cultural and geographic locale is that you must invest in research and experience of that culture. The people must be conveyed in authentic ways. Hawaii is very diverse and there wasn’t any diversity in the main characters. All in all- a fair attempt that others may enjoy, but just not my cup of guava juice.
My disappointment focuses on the misunderstanding of local life in Hawaii and the Spirit of Aloha that makes Hawaiian culture diverse and unique. I grew up in Hawaii and my expectations were that I would catch glimpses of authentic local life. The author, bless her heart, may have visited Hawaii, or even lived there for a short time, but absolutely missed the mark on the beautiful culture of Hawaii. The danger of setting a book in a particular cultural and geographic locale is that you must invest in research and experience of that culture. The people must be conveyed in authentic ways. Hawaii is very diverse and there wasn’t any diversity in the main characters. All in all- a fair attempt that others may enjoy, but just not my cup of guava juice.
October 29, 2021
3.5 stars
This was a fun quick audiobook, that came at exactly the right time.
I loved the side characters Rosie and Dot and the setting on Hawaii was great too.
It was well narrated and I enjoyed it very much.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This was a fun quick audiobook, that came at exactly the right time.
I loved the side characters Rosie and Dot and the setting on Hawaii was great too.
It was well narrated and I enjoyed it very much.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
October 17, 2021
This is the first in a series of cosy mysteries set on Hawaii and would be a definite hit with fans of Jana DeLeon.
There is a fantastic sense of place, some fun characters and a lot of manic antics to keep everyone happy.
Charlie Gibson flees the mainland after killing an armed gangster whose brothers are looking for vengeance. She heads back to Hawaii, reconnecting with her mother and her childhood best friend. Before she knows it, Charlie is in trouble again and on the hunt for a murderer, with help from 2 pensioners, Dot and Rosie and handsome detective, Jake.
There are no real surprises but it has snarky humour, fun characters and a hint of romance to come. It was ably narrated by Khristine Hvam.
With thanks to NetGalley and IBPA for an audiobook arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
There is a fantastic sense of place, some fun characters and a lot of manic antics to keep everyone happy.
Charlie Gibson flees the mainland after killing an armed gangster whose brothers are looking for vengeance. She heads back to Hawaii, reconnecting with her mother and her childhood best friend. Before she knows it, Charlie is in trouble again and on the hunt for a murderer, with help from 2 pensioners, Dot and Rosie and handsome detective, Jake.
There are no real surprises but it has snarky humour, fun characters and a hint of romance to come. It was ably narrated by Khristine Hvam.
With thanks to NetGalley and IBPA for an audiobook arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2023
Very enjoyable cozy mystery! Terrific characters and a great narrator too.
February 26, 2022
Charlotte "Charlie" Gibson has several issues - she's on the run from the mob, living with her Mom and trying not to eat all the ice cream at her new job. When a customer is murdered after Charlie serves him an ice cream cone, Charlie decides to find the killer and collect the reward mone the dead man's company is offering. Add in two senior sleuths, a best friend and Mom who worry, a handsome law enforcement officer and the beautiful and exotic paradise of Maui and you have a keep you reading and laughing mystery you'll love!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
July 22, 2025
this was disappointing. the author is obviously not familiar with Maui because anywhere the protagonist needs to be is an hour or less from her town near Kihei. including Hana. and no politician would sell out for a million dollars; five minimum. especially a career politician wanting to relocate to Oahu. offering less than that is an insult. nor does she seem to understand the cost of housing there.
the protagonist is fairly childish, blaming the island for her dad dying of skin cancer about a decade before; blaming surfing I can see, but the location? it shouldn't surprise me given her ability to hold a grudge. when her friend has a stalker, charlie gets super upset that the police don't just arrest the guy, ignoring the fact that he originally hadn't committed a crime and when he did, it was still hearsay. while this could be an interesting look into the flaws of a justice system that holds "innocent until proven guilty", and they give a nod to the reality that cops can't usually act until after the fact, she goes right back to using this as an argument to how ineffective the local law enforcement is. charlie also keeps mentioning how little money she has (about $18 at the start) but is able to keep spending, much less not even trying to budget.
mom's obsession with having grandkids starts out cute and harmless but quickly progresses to creepy, unhealthy, and pathetic. not to mention irresponsible when said daughter is living in your house rent free and driving your car. the friend is the only sane and normal one. charlie's two senior cohorts are a riot but are also painted as being in their 70s at most, yet their timelines (moving to the island, memories, etc.) say they should've been pushing 100. honestly, drop charlie and just make the series about them. and i don't know which of the two cop characters are worse: the middle-age, power tripping stereotype complete with oversized gut, bad attitude, and rumpled wardrobe or the young handsome hunk who is drawn to this gal who insults him and his profession every chance she gets?
I gave this a generous three stars when it really should've been 2.5. although maybe i should drop it down to two since the author refuses to accept that you don't "Taser" someone, you tase them. Repeatedly.
the protagonist is fairly childish, blaming the island for her dad dying of skin cancer about a decade before; blaming surfing I can see, but the location? it shouldn't surprise me given her ability to hold a grudge. when her friend has a stalker, charlie gets super upset that the police don't just arrest the guy, ignoring the fact that he originally hadn't committed a crime and when he did, it was still hearsay. while this could be an interesting look into the flaws of a justice system that holds "innocent until proven guilty", and they give a nod to the reality that cops can't usually act until after the fact, she goes right back to using this as an argument to how ineffective the local law enforcement is. charlie also keeps mentioning how little money she has (about $18 at the start) but is able to keep spending, much less not even trying to budget.
mom's obsession with having grandkids starts out cute and harmless but quickly progresses to creepy, unhealthy, and pathetic. not to mention irresponsible when said daughter is living in your house rent free and driving your car. the friend is the only sane and normal one. charlie's two senior cohorts are a riot but are also painted as being in their 70s at most, yet their timelines (moving to the island, memories, etc.) say they should've been pushing 100. honestly, drop charlie and just make the series about them. and i don't know which of the two cop characters are worse: the middle-age, power tripping stereotype complete with oversized gut, bad attitude, and rumpled wardrobe or the young handsome hunk who is drawn to this gal who insults him and his profession every chance she gets?
I gave this a generous three stars when it really should've been 2.5. although maybe i should drop it down to two since the author refuses to accept that you don't "Taser" someone, you tase them. Repeatedly.
July 11, 2024
This was a lot of fun. A beautiful local, good characters (I particularly loved the vibrant octogenarians), funny scenes, and a solid mystery.
I did find the mother of the main character, Charlotte, a bit annoying. She was too much hung up on having grandkids at all costs. Some parts also strained suspension of disbelief a bit too much and were just silly.
Overall, though, I liked it. I really liked it. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
I did find the mother of the main character, Charlotte, a bit annoying. She was too much hung up on having grandkids at all costs. Some parts also strained suspension of disbelief a bit too much and were just silly.
Overall, though, I liked it. I really liked it. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
January 29, 2025
A fun read
This story was well written and fun to read. I loved the whole Maui backdrop. The idea that two senior ladies would be solving murderers was delightful. I recommend Aloha Alibi to any looking for a light read that is totally entertaining.
This story was well written and fun to read. I loved the whole Maui backdrop. The idea that two senior ladies would be solving murderers was delightful. I recommend Aloha Alibi to any looking for a light read that is totally entertaining.
October 17, 2021
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Aloha Alibi is the first book in a new cozy mystery series by Jasmine Webb. Released 8th June 2021, it's 272 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a undemanding and fun small-town cozy mystery with a young female protagonist set in Hawaii. The largely female cast is filled with quirky humorous characters including two septuagenarian sleuths who are also determined to solve the mystery and claim the reward for the murder of a New York property developer who was on the island to put the finishing touches on a wildly unpopular glitzy resort when he got himself stabbed. In addition to Charlotte "Charlie" Gibson, and the aforementioned amateur private investigators who are in their 70s, readers also meet Zoe, Charlie's best friend, who is her sensible and logical buddy, and who works as a physician in the local hospital.
There are a lot of trope aspects included: a slow burn romantic interest (who is, of course, the handsome local lawman), a collection of eccentric small-town oddballs for local color, political corruption, and Charlie's mom, who is by turns warmly sympathetic and cringe-inducingly inappropriate. The dialogue aims for very light bantering humor and mostly succeeds. Some of the dialogue is so unrealistic that it yanked me out of the story, but mostly, it's standard for the subgenre. The author does a good job with including enough backstory to move the narrative along without drowning readers in too much info.
There are several intertwined plot threads including why Charlie's moved back to Hawaii (she's on the run from Seattle gangsters), the murder of a businessman (there's a substantial reward offered for solving the crime), best friend Zoe's issues with a stalker, and corruption and bribery in local island government.
The unabridged audiobook version has a run time of 6 hours and 13 minutes and is capably narrated by Khristine Hvam. There are both male and female characters of a range of ages, and she keeps them distinct and perfectly understandable. The sound and recording quality and production values are high throughout the recording.
It's a very lighthearted, often silly, humorous cozy mystery with fun characters and a satisfying denouement and resolution. The solution was foreshadowed fairly heavily, but there were a couple of twists in the climax which, although completely over the top, added some excitement.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Aloha Alibi is the first book in a new cozy mystery series by Jasmine Webb. Released 8th June 2021, it's 272 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a undemanding and fun small-town cozy mystery with a young female protagonist set in Hawaii. The largely female cast is filled with quirky humorous characters including two septuagenarian sleuths who are also determined to solve the mystery and claim the reward for the murder of a New York property developer who was on the island to put the finishing touches on a wildly unpopular glitzy resort when he got himself stabbed. In addition to Charlotte "Charlie" Gibson, and the aforementioned amateur private investigators who are in their 70s, readers also meet Zoe, Charlie's best friend, who is her sensible and logical buddy, and who works as a physician in the local hospital.
There are a lot of trope aspects included: a slow burn romantic interest (who is, of course, the handsome local lawman), a collection of eccentric small-town oddballs for local color, political corruption, and Charlie's mom, who is by turns warmly sympathetic and cringe-inducingly inappropriate. The dialogue aims for very light bantering humor and mostly succeeds. Some of the dialogue is so unrealistic that it yanked me out of the story, but mostly, it's standard for the subgenre. The author does a good job with including enough backstory to move the narrative along without drowning readers in too much info.
There are several intertwined plot threads including why Charlie's moved back to Hawaii (she's on the run from Seattle gangsters), the murder of a businessman (there's a substantial reward offered for solving the crime), best friend Zoe's issues with a stalker, and corruption and bribery in local island government.
The unabridged audiobook version has a run time of 6 hours and 13 minutes and is capably narrated by Khristine Hvam. There are both male and female characters of a range of ages, and she keeps them distinct and perfectly understandable. The sound and recording quality and production values are high throughout the recording.
It's a very lighthearted, often silly, humorous cozy mystery with fun characters and a satisfying denouement and resolution. The solution was foreshadowed fairly heavily, but there were a couple of twists in the climax which, although completely over the top, added some excitement.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
September 8, 2022
This was a quick, fun book. Some parts you have to suspend reality to believe, but 🤷🏾♀️, however. Charley and Company are just fun. The story starts with a bang, literally, with Charley accidentally killing a robber who turns out to be the brother of a mobster. Returning home to Maui, she’s looking to start over, while living with her mom, who is perhaps the most over the top character.
When the murder of a businessman she served ice cream to occurs and his family offers a reward for solving his murder, Charley is on the case. Along the way she partners with two older women, Rosie and Dot, who are also after the reward money. Thus begins a series of over the top, hilarious, often unbelievable, but fun capers. There’s no clever decision making, no deductive skills at play, they just bumble along and tada the mystery gets solved. However, they are solving a family of sorts.
There’s of course the bad cop, that’s over the top, and the hot cop who wants them to stay out of the case. Overall, it’s a fun read.
When the murder of a businessman she served ice cream to occurs and his family offers a reward for solving his murder, Charley is on the case. Along the way she partners with two older women, Rosie and Dot, who are also after the reward money. Thus begins a series of over the top, hilarious, often unbelievable, but fun capers. There’s no clever decision making, no deductive skills at play, they just bumble along and tada the mystery gets solved. However, they are solving a family of sorts.
There’s of course the bad cop, that’s over the top, and the hot cop who wants them to stay out of the case. Overall, it’s a fun read.
December 14, 2021
I had the ebook with me when I got the chance to listen to the audiobook, and I took it. It was an interesting experience as the narrator kept me hooked until the end.
We begin with our leading lady in a tight spot, she is being held at gunpoint, and things do not get better from that point on. This first part is when Charlie is on mainland USA, and she is leading a small life with a variety of jobs, enough to sustain her for extended periods.
The events in the first chapter slowly precipitate her leaving for her sort-of hometown of Hawaii. Her mother and best friend are on the island, and she now wants to build a temporary life until she can run back 'home'.
This thought process does not last long since opportunities come her way to better her life and maybe even help her family and friends. It is a pretty solid start to a series, and I liked the reason that facilitated her investigation. This latter part is usually not as believable in many of the cozy mysteries that I pick up, but here there is an obvious need for the tale to turn the way it did. The build-up was good, and the characters were very entertaining. The mystery's conclusion was mildly surprising but not completely out of the blue.
I might not have liked it as much if I had read it (I wouldn't know now since I have the individual voices in my head). I would read the rest of the series (given a chance) and recommend it to others who like this genre.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
We begin with our leading lady in a tight spot, she is being held at gunpoint, and things do not get better from that point on. This first part is when Charlie is on mainland USA, and she is leading a small life with a variety of jobs, enough to sustain her for extended periods.
The events in the first chapter slowly precipitate her leaving for her sort-of hometown of Hawaii. Her mother and best friend are on the island, and she now wants to build a temporary life until she can run back 'home'.
This thought process does not last long since opportunities come her way to better her life and maybe even help her family and friends. It is a pretty solid start to a series, and I liked the reason that facilitated her investigation. This latter part is usually not as believable in many of the cozy mysteries that I pick up, but here there is an obvious need for the tale to turn the way it did. The build-up was good, and the characters were very entertaining. The mystery's conclusion was mildly surprising but not completely out of the blue.
I might not have liked it as much if I had read it (I wouldn't know now since I have the individual voices in my head). I would read the rest of the series (given a chance) and recommend it to others who like this genre.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
December 10, 2021
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Copy provided by Blueberry Books and IBPA.
Aloha Alibi is the first book in the Charlotte Gibson mystery series. Charlie finds herself on Maui with six dollars to her name, living with a mother who cannot stop giving her advice on how to land herself a husband. When a businessman is murdered and his company offers a reward to whoever finds the killer, Charlie sees an opportunity. With that kind of cash, she could afford her own place and start a new life here away from the people who want her dead. After all, how hard can hunting down a murderer be? Charlie teams up with a couple of old ladies, Charlie is sure she’s on the right track to snag the reward money. However, the cop trying to keep her away from his case has other ideas. Will she be able to find the killer, or is Charlie’s time in paradise going to go straight to hell in a handbasket?
This was a fun, enjoyable quick audiobook. I loved how this book was set in Hawaii which was such a different but fun setting for a cozy mystery. It was so fun following the characters to hunt down the murderer, and I cannot wait to start on the next book of the series.
Rating: 3.5/5
Aloha Alibi is the first book in the Charlotte Gibson mystery series. Charlie finds herself on Maui with six dollars to her name, living with a mother who cannot stop giving her advice on how to land herself a husband. When a businessman is murdered and his company offers a reward to whoever finds the killer, Charlie sees an opportunity. With that kind of cash, she could afford her own place and start a new life here away from the people who want her dead. After all, how hard can hunting down a murderer be? Charlie teams up with a couple of old ladies, Charlie is sure she’s on the right track to snag the reward money. However, the cop trying to keep her away from his case has other ideas. Will she be able to find the killer, or is Charlie’s time in paradise going to go straight to hell in a handbasket?
This was a fun, enjoyable quick audiobook. I loved how this book was set in Hawaii which was such a different but fun setting for a cozy mystery. It was so fun following the characters to hunt down the murderer, and I cannot wait to start on the next book of the series.
Rating: 3.5/5
October 18, 2021
I received a free copy from NetGalley and Blueberry Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
This was a fun and enjoyable quick audiobook and I really liked the story. The characters are interesting, the plot is well paced and the narrator, Khristine Hvam, did a great job bringing Jasmine Webb's novel alive.
In Aloha Alibi, the first book in the Charlotte Gibson Mysteries series, Charlotte - Charlie - Gibbson is dealt a scary card, when she kills a mobster in self-defense and his family seeks revenge. That's how she ends up in Hawaii, living again with her mother, who doesn't see any other problem than her daughter not having found a husband yet. Then, a businessman who Charlie just served ice cream to gets murdered, and a reward is set out for whoever finds the murderer. Without skipping a beat, Charlie makes it her mission to solve the mystery of how the businessman got murdered. Witty and funny - this murder mystery is the perfect audiobook for a nice sunday evening!
This was a fun and enjoyable quick audiobook and I really liked the story. The characters are interesting, the plot is well paced and the narrator, Khristine Hvam, did a great job bringing Jasmine Webb's novel alive.
In Aloha Alibi, the first book in the Charlotte Gibson Mysteries series, Charlotte - Charlie - Gibbson is dealt a scary card, when she kills a mobster in self-defense and his family seeks revenge. That's how she ends up in Hawaii, living again with her mother, who doesn't see any other problem than her daughter not having found a husband yet. Then, a businessman who Charlie just served ice cream to gets murdered, and a reward is set out for whoever finds the murderer. Without skipping a beat, Charlie makes it her mission to solve the mystery of how the businessman got murdered. Witty and funny - this murder mystery is the perfect audiobook for a nice sunday evening!
January 18, 2023
Solid start to a Hawaiian mystery series
This was quiet the fun start to a series. Charlie has gone back to Hawaii after getting mixed up with some gangsters. Her new chapter in life is off to an interesting start when she comes across a dead body, that of a customer she had just served at the ice cream shop she’s just started working at. Short on cash she decides to try and solve the crime to get some reward money. Soon she partners up with two feisty and awesome 70 yr old women, Dot and Rosie, that are an absolute riot. Cop Jake, Best Friend Zoe, and Charlie’s mom round out this fun cast of characters. I look forward to more Hawaiian adventures.
This was quiet the fun start to a series. Charlie has gone back to Hawaii after getting mixed up with some gangsters. Her new chapter in life is off to an interesting start when she comes across a dead body, that of a customer she had just served at the ice cream shop she’s just started working at. Short on cash she decides to try and solve the crime to get some reward money. Soon she partners up with two feisty and awesome 70 yr old women, Dot and Rosie, that are an absolute riot. Cop Jake, Best Friend Zoe, and Charlie’s mom round out this fun cast of characters. I look forward to more Hawaiian adventures.
June 2, 2023
4.25 stars
This was a quick and funny. Who is the mystery set in Hawaii. The interesting was very beginning of how Charlie came back to Hawaii what is due to set some gangster is it after her in Seattle. I don’t think I have a riddle beginning like that one. But he had the funny moments with her mom, and then Rosie, and Dot that or just Siri hilarious. Some of the things they said were just over the top but you know an amazing way the whole mystery was good as they took about to solve it. There’s also a potential with detective Jake as they had their little encounters along the way. What is an entertaining and very easy read.
This was a quick and funny. Who is the mystery set in Hawaii. The interesting was very beginning of how Charlie came back to Hawaii what is due to set some gangster is it after her in Seattle. I don’t think I have a riddle beginning like that one. But he had the funny moments with her mom, and then Rosie, and Dot that or just Siri hilarious. Some of the things they said were just over the top but you know an amazing way the whole mystery was good as they took about to solve it. There’s also a potential with detective Jake as they had their little encounters along the way. What is an entertaining and very easy read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2024
This first book in a cozy mystery series unfortunately had side characters who were way more interesting than the main character (or her handsome and bland love interest). The best friend is a BIPOC doctor. The two “old” ladies have complex backstories that the reader can’t believe 50% of. And the mom is beyond obsessed with setting up her daughter to get grandkids. Meanwhile Charlie takes longer to appreciate these wonderful peoples than I did as the reader. I may try out other books in the series for the other characters, and the lovely setting.
November 19, 2021
I loved so much about this book. The writing was witty, the characters were funny, and the story moved at a good pace. It kept my interest the whole way through without any slow spots and the whole conspiracy theory about Australia was hysterical. This was a lot like Stephanie Plum except that Charlotte Gibson is more competent so it's a refreshing change. I am looking forward to the next one.
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2021
This was a fun, quirky cozy mystery. I really liked the characters right off the bat. I look forward to more books in this series. Read my full review at Girl Who Reads.
February 14, 2025
3.5. Fun characters and adventures, good for fans of the Stephanie Plum or Fortune Redding series. Humor doesn’t land quite as well as in those books, but hopefully it will improve as the series goes on.
June 30, 2025
cozy murder mystery
This a written in a cute way. I enjoyed it. Definitely going to read the rest of the series as Charlie and Zoe are endearing characters. I’m hoping Dot and Rosie are in the series as well.
This a written in a cute way. I enjoyed it. Definitely going to read the rest of the series as Charlie and Zoe are endearing characters. I’m hoping Dot and Rosie are in the series as well.
November 29, 2025
I tried this book as an audible book! I was not sure if I'd like it ,but, I did. it kinda reads like a mix of *Stephanie Plum* and *Fortune* Characters! Excited to read the series audible books! So Fun!! Who can say no to Hawaii?
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