Margolin’s style simply goads his fans to read one more chapter. It’s almost impossible to stop once you’ve started one of his books. The Perfect Alibi is no exception. Besides, Robin Lockwood is one strong, modern, no-BS kind of woman. Nothing holds her back. She’s going to become a favorite. Don’t miss out on her cases.
... while the setup is both juicy and compelling, Margolin strays far away from the central case presented early on involving the DNA legal conundrum, as the story suddenly becomes a murder mystery involving other characters and scenarios not related to Lockwood or her client, or the case at hand. It’s a miscalculation by Margolin, who would have been better off utilizing Lockwood’s star power and keeping his story more in line with a traditional legal thriller than a wandering whodunit ... While there are plenty of good scenes and intrigue early on in The Perfect Alibi, the story eventually loses its way and never fully recovers. Still, Margolin’s fans will likely appreciate the opportunity to spend more time with Lockwood, though many will wish she had a bigger role.
The connections among different felonies in this woolly tale are as loose as all those lawyers’ connections to the truth. So many murders, so many plotters, so much churn that you may wonder if you accidentally picked up a collection of short stories.
Lockwood disappears for long stretches as other characters take center stage, which lessens the story’s overall intensity and emotional impact. In addition, her personal story arc—particularly her relationship with her firm’s investigator, Jeff Hodges—develops only incrementally. Still, Margolin convincingly portrays the workings of the legal system and has created a worthy heroine.
