Spies, Lies & Alibis by Natalie Walters

Spies, Lies, & Alibis by Natalie Walters
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 19, 2026)

REVIEW BY KELLY J. GOSHORN

Spies, Lies, & Alibis is a fast-paced Christian romantic suspense novel that combines espionage, second-chance romance, humor, and faith. The novel follows Cybil Langford and Ben Bradley, childhood friends and first loves, who unexpectedly meet again as adults—only to discover that they are both secretly working to bring down the same dangerous criminal organization.

The plot centers on Cybil, who works as an executive assistant for a powerful real-estate mogul while secretly collecting information about his criminal activities. Meanwhile, Ben is an FBI agent working undercover as a financial advisor who helps wealthy criminals launder money. Their target is Lorenzo Ramirez, a ruthless crime boss involved in a dangerous international operation. When Cybil and Ben encounter each other at a high-stakes gala, neither knows whether the other is friend or enemy. Their conflicting missions force them into an uneasy partnership while they attempt to stop a potentially catastrophic arms deal.

One of the strongest aspects of the novel is its character development. Cybil begins as someone who is guarded, independent, and determined to maintain control. Her past with Ben has left emotional wounds that influence how she sees herself and others. Throughout the story, she learns that vulnerability is not synonymous with weakness and that she does not have to carry everything alone. Ben, meanwhile, initially appears confident and charming, but his relationship with Cybil reveals a more vulnerable side. Their second-chance romance develops alongside their missions, allowing both characters to confront misunderstandings and learn to trust again.

The supporting characters add considerable personality to the story. By far my favorite was Ben’s grandmother, Gran. Gran is an amateur sleuth, and she and a friend form an undercover organization they name Pistols and Pearls. I absolutely adored Gran and her sweet, unconventional relationship with Ben.

Comedy is another major strength. Walters balances dangerous situations with witty dialogue, awkward encounters, banter, and humorous internal thoughts. Her comedic take on the spy genre helps keep the suspenseful elements from becoming overwhelming.

“Cybil has always been one part chaos, two parts pride. And I’ve always been just dumb enough to poke the hornet’s nest.”

Natlaie Walters, Spies, Lies, & Alibis

Christian themes are subtle but are reflected through character choices, convictions, grace, and willingness to trust again after experiencing hurt. The novel explores themes of courage, forgiveness, truth, and learning that past betrayal does not have to determine the future.

Spies, Lies, & Alibis offers an entertaining combination of suspense, romance, and comedy. Readers who enjoy clean romantic suspense, undercover adventures, and witty characters will find plenty to enjoy. For all these reasons, I give Spies, Lies, & Alibis five well-deserved fish.

I listened to Spies, Lies, & Alibis on Audible. The dual narration by Andrew Elden and Dominique Salvacion was outstanding making this one of my favorite “listens” of the year.