This was a great break from my usual psychological thrillers. I hadn't read a legal thriller in a long time because I'd had so much trouble finding one I like. This book didn't disappoint at all. There were quite a few components to keep up with but I enjoyed how this author tied it all together.

Thank you to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

The Perfect Alibi is a perfectly delightful read. This is the second book of the Robin Lockwood series. Robin is a great character who is a retired Mixed Martial Arts fighter and a current lawyer. She can kick butt in the cage or in the courtroom. Sorry, I had to get that off my mind.

Phillip Margolin writes complex stories that are interesting and entertaining. This story had me stumped. The clues regarding who did what were cleverly disguised as the body count increased. I liked everything about this book. The characters are well developed and the different story arcs that seem unrelated are brought to a satisfying conclusion.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from Minatour Books through NetGalley for the purpose of review. The opinions expressed are completely my own.
#ThePerfectAlibi #NetGalley

Phillip Margolin does not disappoint! One of my favorite reads of the year! Robin Lockwood is a strong female lawyer, but still vulnerable... she puts her heart into every case with the help of her team. This book has so many twists and turns, the reader is never quite sure how it's going to tie together, but Mr. Margolin does so masterfully. And, there's a "cameo" at the end that's super rewarding and fun for the reader! Thoroughly loved this novel!

Phillip Margolin does not disappoint! He engrosses the reader from the first pages and never lets go! Many twists and turns in this page turner ! 4 stars I recommend

There was a lot of hype about this author from previous books written, however this was my first book I’ve read by him and it left me underwhelmed. The synopsis was so intriguing that I had really high hopes and unfortunately was let down. His writing style is quite good, but not enough to make up for the letdown I felt from the actual characters and plot development of this book. I’m on the fence about why this book has such raving reviews other than the fact that his other books probably have gathered a large following of fans that are likely biased in their opinions of this book. Thanks NetGalley for my Arc.

Being a former MMA fighter Robin Lockwood is more than prepared for battle, in the ring and out, but this newest case of hers is certain to give her a challenge nothing could have prepared her for... argue with undisputed DNA evidence. Her client is claiming that she was raped and now being stalked by her rapist... but there seems to be an issue with that cause he is supposed to be behind bars.

The Perfect Alibi is a multi-layered tale with twists and turns, and mind bending words that will keep enthralled throughout. This first time read had me intrigued from the very first page, and continued to keep me glued to the words with each page that followed, it was downright engrossing. This book has a lot going on between it's pages, so make sure you schedule lots of uninterrupted reading time, it will need your complete focus. Highly recommend this one, it thrilled, made me think, and had me second guessing at every turn!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

I thought the book was suspenseful and an interesting legal procedural.

I took away a star because there are several cases presented at the same time. Initially, the details and characters relevant to each situation were sometimes confusing. As I got more involved in the stories, the confusion resolved.

Margolin brings up some fascinating possibilities in the application of DNA to rape cases. I would recommend this book to fans of legal fiction.

I hadn’t read any books by Phillip Margolin for a long time though I was once a regular reader. I’ve got a couple of his books on my bookshelf (right next to Steve Martini) which is quite apt because both write legal procedurals and although it’s a (sub) genre I enjoy, it’s one I read far too little of nowadays.

Apparently this is the second time readers have met Robin Lockwood, a (MMA) fighter turned lawyer and her personal story arc gets a bit of a nudge this time around, progressing something I gather started in the first book of the series.

I liked Robin and though we meet her investigator colleague (potential love interest Jeff) we don’t really get to know him or law partner Mark much and I wonder if they got more airtime in the first outing or will in future novels.

Robin tackles a number of cases in this book and though a couple of interrelated another one or two are tangentially intertwined only. Kinda. And then there’s another in the background regarding a pharmaceutical company which didn’t seem relevant for most of the novel (and was perhaps introduced a little clumsily as I kept wondering if I'd missed something) but comes into play eventually.

At the heart of this novel is the alleged rape of a young woman. The guy in question is seriously a douchebag so there’s little sympathy for him and he does little to help his cause. Thankfully the whole ‘he said / she said’ thing does’t get down to cliched name-calling and the like, but we move on quickly to another case which could disrupt the findings of the first case. (And Margolin delves into questions about DNA and probalistic genotyping: the advent of new technology and our reliance on it vs good ol’ gut-instinct and clue-finding.)

The somewhat unrelated case sees Robin defend a man who’s charged with killing a police officer and it’s through that case we get some insight into the District Attorney who (and I know it’s a cliche) will ‘stop at nothing’ to win his cases.

It felt a bit slow getting the next bit but things really get interesting about two-thirds of the way through because the original rapist’s lawyer’s colleague gets murdered (and yes, I know that’s confusing) but - this is where things become both murky and startlingly clear. All at the same time. Another murder or two later and Margolin has introduced a goodly number of red herrings and there’s a late twist or two to keep us guessing.

I really liked the greyness of his characters here. Even Robin - who we know is above reproach - struggles with justice and right vs wrong. And there are other characters, we’ve come to know and love who may (or may not) be who we want them to be.

I mentioned the confusing big 'pharma' case which lumbers onto the page (introducing a whole stack of new characters en-masse) but there's also a little head-hoping in some parts and I wasn't sure if sex scenes are usually in Margolin's bailiwick as a few phrases / scenes felt a little uncomfortable. 

However ultimately this shaped up into something really complex and intriguing. As I said I don’t read as many legal thrillers / procedurals as I did a couple of decades ago so I appreciate them all the more when they appear magically in my reading pile.

3.5 stars

I've always liked Margolin's books but I think since I've read so many thrillers lately, this one-- although satisfying--was not as suspenseful as others. It involves an interesting rape case and a competent attorney, Robin Lockwood. Lots of characters and I got a little lost as to how they all connected until the end, but ultimately I enjoyed the story as well as the writing!

The Perfect Alibi by Philip Margolin

I’ve been reading Philip Margolin for almost twenty years, and although there were one or two that were sort of “meh” for me, I usually REALLY like his books, so I was happy to get a copy of The Perfect Alibi from St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

First off, I read it a couple of weeks ago, and the fact that I don’t remember EVERYTHING suggests it isn’t among his top tier for me. But did I enjoy it? Yes! Do I recommend it? Yes! (TBH my life got turned upside down last month, so it perhaps isn’t fair to judge right now, but it isn’t like I am NOT recommending it or anything, so…)

I HATE spoilers, so I’ll must give the basic outline. Robin Lockwood, the young attorney we met in Margolin’s The Third Victim is back, with an interesting case, as she is hired by a young woman who is accusing a prominent (as in wealthy family, famous star on a big deal team) local college athlete of rape. There is DNA evidence, the athlete is convicted, and he swears he didn’t do it, and threatens both his lawyer and his accuser as he’s sent off to prison. Then, there’s another rape and (hold on here!) the DNA in this case matches the DNA that convicted the athlete. Since he was in prison at the time of the second rape, he gets a new lawyer, a new trial, and bail. Right after that, his first lawyer (who he blamed for his conviction in the first trial) disappears and the first lawyer’s law partner is murdered.

There’s another story going on, and Robin is busy both professionally and personally (which I often don’t like, when protagonist get involved with their co-workers, but this time it works).

Margolin’s many years of legal experience shine once again, as he makes the investigation, courtroom, and legal wrangling both interesting and entertaining. I’m going with 4 stars on this one, but he is still one of my very favorites in the legal thriller genre.

This book is engaging enough to keep reading. The story starts with one case and then quickly diversifies in to multiple different cases only to end up getting entwined again. The storytelling is very good. The plot is interesting and relevant as well. The blurb however needs re work. It is not ok to call this a book about one man’s case when it is so much more than that.

Book Review: The Perfect Alibi by Phillip Margolin

In the second book featuring the protagonist, ex-MMA fighter lawyer, Robin Lockwood (who first appeared in "The Third Victim" by the same author), the central plot is hinged on the logic that a person cannot be in two places at the same time.

Justice has to prove that a rapist, convicted based on his DNA found on the victim, committed another rape, again based on DNA, while being locked-up in jail.

With several other "impossible" cases batted around, intertwined with Lockwood's personal life, this is quite a busy novel, which at times makes the reader lose the thread.

The author, however, masterfully carves each piece of the puzzle to fit in nicely.

Review based on an advance reading copy provided by NetGalley, Macmillan Publishers and St. Martin's Press.

This is marketed poorly. It is a story about a lawyer and what seems to be the entire caseload on her agenda. Yes, the athlete is in the mix but he is just one of so very many players.

Robin is a good character and the writing is solid. There is a decent plot though maybe it could have been reigned in a bit. I got a bit lost with all the angles and characters at times. Less is more. Always.

That being said, this story ties up all the loose ends in a clever fashion and has a satisfying conclusion. Overall a decent read that needs a better marketing campaign.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and St. Martin’s Press for a copy in exchange for a review.

Easy and quick read, not very in depth development on characters though. I do enjoy however his courtroom scenes and how the author weaves all the story lines together at the end

This book was all over the place. The characters were dry and flat, the writing about rape was just...careless. The legal information made no sense and was distracting. It felt like a book written from 1985.

Thanks NetGalley for the advance copy.

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for letting me have the chance to read this book. I have never read anything by this author before it had me glued from the first chapter very good suspense mystery book

I've read several books by Phillip Margolin and have enjoyed them all. This one was no exception. Fast paced and easy to read. Highly recommend this book.

This book, I read the synopsis and thought I was totally going to love it. I didn’t hate it but it wasn’t love. I feel like it just ended. I really hope there is a follow up to this book.

Author Phillip Margolin shows off his clever storytelling skills by packing action, multiple story lines and modern day felonies into a complicated plotline that leads to murder.

THE PERFECT ALIBI features Portland Oregon attorney Robin Lockwood facing a plethora of cases to try, everything from rape to murder. One of her courtroom adversaries is prosecutor Rex Kellerman, a man who is not above doctoring the evidence in order to guarantee victory.

With enough slimy characters to fill three books, this stirring and fiendishly deceptive story of twisted interests and buried secrets waiting to be discovered t illustrates just how far desperate people will go to protect themselves from discovery.

Thank you #Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book!! I am a huge Philip Margolin .fan ever since Gone But Not Forgotten (still the best), and was thrilled to receive the new one!! This did not disappoint. I like Robin Lockwood and look forward to more from her, but missed more from Regina Barrister.
Having said that, this was still great. It begins with a date-rape case and spins into several other cases before ending with something I never saw coming. I was so sure I knew what was going on with all of the characters. Hopefully this will be a continuing series!