Interview with Carrie Talick, Author of The Alibi Club

Talick writes novels where friendship is vital, love is complex, and entertaining misadventures are common. Her works include The Alibi Club and Beware the Mermaids, blending humor with heart and honesty. An award-winning copywriter, she created the script for the 2019 Hyundai Super Bowl commercial featuring Jason Bateman. Residing in Los Angeles but originally from Michigan, Talick enjoys writing, listening to vinyl records with her husband, and caring for her rescue pets.

The Alibi Club tells the story of a group blind date that turns chaotic after a bomb disrupts the power in a small beach town, leading to suspense and potential intrigue among the participants, appealing to fans of authors like Letizia Lorini and Ally Carter.

In an interview, Talick shared her favorite novels, sources of inspiration for her writing, and her approach to combining romance with mystery.

Talick's eclectic reading habits stem from her mother, who introduced her to diverse literature at a young age. She recalls reading books such as A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton, Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen, and The Godfather by Mario Puzo. Talick continues to explore various genres, listing favorites including A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore and the Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman.

The desire to be a writer was influenced by her mother’s talent for capturing human experiences in essays. After her mother passed away, Talick began to recognize her own writing abilities and dedicated herself to developing her voice through numerous classes and continuous practice. Her debut novel, Beware the Mermaids, was a tribute to her mother, embodying both her spirit and Talick's own narrative style.

The idea for The Alibi Club originated during her work on a dating website, coinciding with the Boston Marathon bombing. This led her to conceive a scenario where participants on a group blind date were trapped amid a city-wide lockdown, with potential danger lurking among them.

Talick enjoys crafting stories that intertwine romance and mystery, noting that both build suspense and satisfy readers' curiosity. She describes writing flawed characters in tense situations as particularly enjoyable.

Her favorite sections to write in The Alibi Club included the reunion of the characters as they piece together the events of the night and the climactic reveal, both of which provided creative satisfaction.

Currently, Talick is reading three books: Crux by Gabriel Tallent, The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman, and The Marsh King’s Daughter by Karen Dionne. On her to-be-read list are Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett and The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett.