It’s 1986 in North Philadelphia and getting drugs from an unlocked crack house couldn’t be easier for Lance, Nard and Jeremy—or so they think... Nard ends up the last man standing and needs to cover his tracks, so he turns to his pal Sticks. Sticks offers ex-girlfriend / stripper / bartender (actually prostitute) Daisy money to be Nard’s alibi. Daisy, age 22, ends up being the main character in this crime story. She is portrayed as a victim of circumstances. It’s up to the listener whether or not they believe it. Daisy lives in a corrupt urban area, has no father figure, and is currently dependent on three men (Sticks, her boss and her landlord). They each use her as their personal prostitute. Listeners relive Daisy’s mother’s past and watch as Daisy stumbles through a sordid life of personal loss, a promising boyfriend’s disappearance, and a shot at redemption—if she takes it. In charge of the drug-related murder case is Detective Delgado, another interesting, impatient character. The story takes a turn from drugs and murder to Daisy’s life then back to the murder case and impending trial.

Alibi is mostly about the criminals and their urban lifestyles. The detective and the murder case are there, but not as the main storyline. Daisy, naively thinking an alibi is a one cop visit and the outcome of it all is the main storyline. The content and language are immensely stronger than your typical thriller or suspense novel, so remember those headphones.

Paula Jai Parker-Martin reads the audio version. The urban inflection of her narration and the author’s words put listeners into the minds of each character. A fascinating, yet disturbing listen. One I won’t soon forget.