When her fiancé becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation, private investigator Samantha Price has one job—prove he’s innocent before the evidence says otherwise.

Samantha barely has time to admire the engagement ring Nate Bennet slips on her finger when a homicide detective is at the door. A problematic client from Honor’s Edge is dead, and Nate is the prime suspect. It’s history repeating itself for Sam, and she can’t help but feel like she and the Bennetts are cursed the second they try to grab a moment of good.

Sam knows Nate’s innocent…or does she? She’s been wrong before about the people she’s loved. But with Nate’s family and friends rallying around not just him, but her as well, Sam spearheads her own investigation into the murder—even as the cops and the lead detective she once thought was a friend attempt to cut her out.

Unfortunately, the deeper Sam, the Bennets, and the Harringtons look, the more obscure the trail becomes. But no one is giving up without a fight.

As a child, Sam failed to exonerate her father. As an adult, she has to succeed, or lose everything she’s worked so hard to build.

Titles in the Western Edge Mystery series include: Double-Edged Reckoning ~ Dark Mountain Ambush ~ Long Lost Winter ~ Long Lost Winter ~ Murder Never Forgets ~ Dead Man’s Alibi ~

This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.

Title:  Dead Man’s Alibi
Series:  Western Edge Mystery #5
Author:  Nicole Helm
Published:  August 3, 2026
Publisher:  Tule Publishing
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Dead Man’s Alibi is the fifth title in the Western Edge Mystery series, which gives us a glimpse into the darker side of Marietta, Montana.  Just when it seemed that Nate and Sam were about to get their own personal happily-ever-after, their world tilted sideways with the arrival of a detective that Sam had often worked with on their doorstep accusing Nate of murder.  Since the previous title, Murder Never Forgets, ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, we’ll pick right back up again as this newly engaged couple have to fight for Nate’s freedom with ever-increasing evidence against him showing up almost conveniently.  I, frankly, believe this is a series that is best read in order since each story builds on information from the previous release.  Yes, you “can” pick up any of the titles at any point, but I believe there will be questions.

I enjoyed Dead Man’s Alibi so much.  It’s well-written (I expect that from Ms. Helm, and she never disappoints), emotional, and so full of twists, surprises, and danger that will keep you engaged and on edge throughout Nate and Sam’s story.  I don’t want to say much because there is a huge chance of spoilers slipping through, but this one kept me trying to figure out “why” from start to finish.  We also get to see the couples and characters from the previous titles, which always enhances a story for me.  If that sounds like your kind of mystery, then you’d love Nate and Sam’s newest, most personal adventure.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Do you love anything (any story) that’s even slightly connected to Marietta, Montana?  Yeah, me too.  Be sure to visit our Marietta, Montana pages (this link to where this series is located – there are several pages :)) to catch up on the series that you might have missed over time.  It’s quite an amazing and diverse community, with happily-ever-after endings guaranteed.

This title is available at Amazon