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Alibis Collection #6
Small Things
When a jewelry maker’s only escape from an abusive marriage is threatened, she must go to creative lengths to protect it in a haunting short story by the award-winning author of What You Leave Behind.
Hannah and her husband appear to live a good life. No one knows the emotional nightmare Hannah endures behind closed doors. A blessed freedom is in the jewelry she crafts in the shed behind her house. But what will Hannah do when her husband threatens to take away even the smallest things that bring her joy? Hannah has a plan. Now it’s just a matter of pulling it off without leaving a single trace behind.
Wanda M. Morris’s Small Things is part of Alibis, a collection of stories about lies, truth, and deception. It’s just a matter of what you can get away with. They can be read or listened to in one sitting.
Hannah and her husband appear to live a good life. No one knows the emotional nightmare Hannah endures behind closed doors. A blessed freedom is in the jewelry she crafts in the shed behind her house. But what will Hannah do when her husband threatens to take away even the smallest things that bring her joy? Hannah has a plan. Now it’s just a matter of pulling it off without leaving a single trace behind.
Wanda M. Morris’s Small Things is part of Alibis, a collection of stories about lies, truth, and deception. It’s just a matter of what you can get away with. They can be read or listened to in one sitting.
36 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2025
916 people are currently reading
2424 people want to read
About the author
Wanda M. Morris
5 books1,246 followersWanda M. Morris is a corporate attorney, having worked in the legal departments of some of America's top Fortune 100 companies. As an accomplished presenter and leader, she previously served as President of the Georgia Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, in which she established a signature female empowerment program known as the Women's Initiative.
Wanda M. Morris is an alumni of the Yale Writers Workshop and a Claymore Award finalist for mystery writing. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America. She is married, the mother of three, and she lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
Wanda M. Morris is an alumni of the Yale Writers Workshop and a Claymore Award finalist for mystery writing. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America. She is married, the mother of three, and she lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 602 reviews
July 27, 2025
In a Nutshell: The sixth and final story in the Alibis collection. More of a domestic drama; not much of a mystery or thriller. The characters are interesting but the plot has neither depth nor surprises. Not great, not bad.
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Plot Preview:
This is the sixth standalone story in the 'Alibis’ series, described on Amazon as “stories about lies, truth, and deception. It’s just a matter of what you can get away with.”
Woohoos:
🥳 Hannah – I love how she stays meek in front of her abusive husband, but she still does what makes her happy when he isn't around. Her spirit elevates the story.
🥳 Hannah’s husband – The type of character you love to hate! His vileness seeps through the pages until you feel like thwacking him. A well-carved negative character and a great example of how gaslighting functions in real life.
🥳 At just 36 pages, this is the shortest story in the series, and goes by fairly quickly.
🥳 The adherence to the ‘Alibis’ theme – perfect.
IDKs:
😐 This is the kind of story where you keep reading, you even like the overall flow and the end, but when asked to describe it to someone else, you might not know what to say. It is decently good while it lasts, but it doesn’t really break the mould.
😐 Hannah’s sister – such a teeny role but such a major presence. I wish there had been a lot more of her.
Mehs:
😒 Doesn’t really work as a mystery-thriller as there’s barely any mystery and hardly any thrill and scarcely any surprise.
😒 The ending. I do like what happened but would have loved more details of how it happened. What’s the point of a thriller story if we don’t even see the action on the page?
Overall, this isn’t at all a bad story, but by offering so much background in the first half and barely any details at the end, the story ends up stressing more on the drama than on the thrills. It works as a decent one-time read, but it would have benefitted by a more padded-out ending. If read as a domestic drama, it would work better.
2.5 stars, rounding up for Hannah.
This standalone story is a part of the ‘Alibis’ collection, and is currently available free to Amazon Prime subscribers.
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Connect with me through:
|| My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
To the outside world, Hannah and her husband have the perfect marriage. But only Hannah knows the emotional trauma and gaslighting she endures behind closed doors. She has her small acts of rebellion when he isn't home, but if he’s present, he keeps attacking her dignity. When he threatens to take away even the small things that bring her joy, she is forced to amp up her mutiny.
The story comes to us in Hannah’s third-person perspective.
This is the sixth standalone story in the 'Alibis’ series, described on Amazon as “stories about lies, truth, and deception. It’s just a matter of what you can get away with.”
Woohoos:
🥳 Hannah – I love how she stays meek in front of her abusive husband, but she still does what makes her happy when he isn't around. Her spirit elevates the story.
🥳 Hannah’s husband – The type of character you love to hate! His vileness seeps through the pages until you feel like thwacking him. A well-carved negative character and a great example of how gaslighting functions in real life.
🥳 At just 36 pages, this is the shortest story in the series, and goes by fairly quickly.
🥳 The adherence to the ‘Alibis’ theme – perfect.
IDKs:
😐 This is the kind of story where you keep reading, you even like the overall flow and the end, but when asked to describe it to someone else, you might not know what to say. It is decently good while it lasts, but it doesn’t really break the mould.
😐 Hannah’s sister – such a teeny role but such a major presence. I wish there had been a lot more of her.
Mehs:
😒 Doesn’t really work as a mystery-thriller as there’s barely any mystery and hardly any thrill and scarcely any surprise.
😒 The ending. I do like what happened but would have loved more details of how it happened. What’s the point of a thriller story if we don’t even see the action on the page?
Overall, this isn’t at all a bad story, but by offering so much background in the first half and barely any details at the end, the story ends up stressing more on the drama than on the thrills. It works as a decent one-time read, but it would have benefitted by a more padded-out ending. If read as a domestic drama, it would work better.
2.5 stars, rounding up for Hannah.
This standalone story is a part of the ‘Alibis’ collection, and is currently available free to Amazon Prime subscribers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
|| My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
June 26, 2025
RTC 🩷!!!!
July 2, 2025
3.5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This last shortie of the series wins as the best of the bunch! I found this one to be quite entertaining - especially for a short story.
I’ve never read this author before this, so I’m wondering if her regular length novels are good.
This series is worth a read or listen!
This last shortie of the series wins as the best of the bunch! I found this one to be quite entertaining - especially for a short story.
I’ve never read this author before this, so I’m wondering if her regular length novels are good.
This series is worth a read or listen!
August 30, 2025
Book six in the Alibis Collection series.
Hannah has a marriage that has gone sour and an emotionally abusive husband. She lives her life vicariously through her jewellery making in the small shed she has made into her workshop and private place. When her husband invades this space Hannah fights back but will her plan succeed.
There is always enjoyment in watching bad people get their just desserts and this example is very well done. A very nice little twist at the end rounds off this short story perfectly. Four stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Hannah has a marriage that has gone sour and an emotionally abusive husband. She lives her life vicariously through her jewellery making in the small shed she has made into her workshop and private place. When her husband invades this space Hannah fights back but will her plan succeed.
There is always enjoyment in watching bad people get their just desserts and this example is very well done. A very nice little twist at the end rounds off this short story perfectly. Four stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 8, 2025
Silver Lemonade!
Hannah has a shed. In her shed she has silver. And she shapes her silver into jewelry. And then the silver jewelry is then sold. So now she has some money to hide from Rusty. Her husband. Who hates her shed. And the silver in her shed. And the shapes her silver is made into. And he hates that her silver jewelry is then sold. And now she has money to hide from him.
One day, Hannah wakes up and her life has changed for the worse. Will things ever change for the better?
Four stars. 💫💫💫💫
Hannah has a shed. In her shed she has silver. And she shapes her silver into jewelry. And then the silver jewelry is then sold. So now she has some money to hide from Rusty. Her husband. Who hates her shed. And the silver in her shed. And the shapes her silver is made into. And he hates that her silver jewelry is then sold. And now she has money to hide from him.
One day, Hannah wakes up and her life has changed for the worse. Will things ever change for the better?
Four stars. 💫💫💫💫
June 2, 2025
It’s hard to review short stories without giving too much away. I will say I hated her husband. I wanted her to get her revenge. And I guess you will have to read the book to see if she did. 😉
This was a good short story. Really enjoyed the ending.
This was a good short story. Really enjoyed the ending.
July 15, 2025
Oh lord was that ending came like karma😂😌💅🏻 with that being said I would've liked it to be a tad longer, I understand it's a collection of short stories but a few more pages never hurt anyone lol! Nonetheless I enjoyed this one!
June 14, 2025
Good revenge story.
July 31, 2025
Wanting to fill my summer with a mix of novels and short stories, I came upon this collection of short pieces called the Alibi Collection. This short story by Wanda M. Morris, in which a homemaker bides her time making jewelry, much to the chagrin of her husband. Hannah puts up with a lot, but one day Rusty crosses a line. Hannah will have to come up with a plan to ensure he does not mess with her again, but it won’t be easy. Morris delves into the darker side of things, but entertains effectively.
Hannah and Rusty appear to have a great marriage to those who see them together. However, things are much different behind closed doors. Rusty insults her and does not want her working, especially after a number of miscarriages. While Rusty is away at work, Hannah takes up jewelry making, but even that must be hidden from Rusty. When Hannah is faced with Rusty’s ire and he threatens to remove her one escape, Hannah chooses to concoct a plan of revenge for all she has endured. However, it will take time and dedication for the perfect end result. Wanda M. Morris pens a great thriller with a twist at the end.
I enjoy short stories with darker side. Wanda M. Morris tells a darker story that is highly entertaining. She crafts a narrative that is both quick in pace and captivates the reader from the opening page. As the story builds, Morris keeps the reader hooked and uses a non-chaptered piece to push things along. Characters are easily enjoyed and their backstories rise to mix well with the evolving narrative. Plot points are sharp and keep the story moving along, providing the odd surprise here and there. I will have to keep an eye out for Wanda M. Morris and her writing!
Kudos, Madam Morris, for an exciting read.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Hannah and Rusty appear to have a great marriage to those who see them together. However, things are much different behind closed doors. Rusty insults her and does not want her working, especially after a number of miscarriages. While Rusty is away at work, Hannah takes up jewelry making, but even that must be hidden from Rusty. When Hannah is faced with Rusty’s ire and he threatens to remove her one escape, Hannah chooses to concoct a plan of revenge for all she has endured. However, it will take time and dedication for the perfect end result. Wanda M. Morris pens a great thriller with a twist at the end.
I enjoy short stories with darker side. Wanda M. Morris tells a darker story that is highly entertaining. She crafts a narrative that is both quick in pace and captivates the reader from the opening page. As the story builds, Morris keeps the reader hooked and uses a non-chaptered piece to push things along. Characters are easily enjoyed and their backstories rise to mix well with the evolving narrative. Plot points are sharp and keep the story moving along, providing the odd surprise here and there. I will have to keep an eye out for Wanda M. Morris and her writing!
Kudos, Madam Morris, for an exciting read.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
June 13, 2025
3 ⭐
The ending was SO satisfying 😮💨
I thought it was going to end differently. Even though I liked the ending, I felt it could have been stretched out a little longer and given a few more explanations.
The ending was SO satisfying 😮💨
I thought it was going to end differently. Even though I liked the ending, I felt it could have been stretched out a little longer and given a few more explanations.
June 4, 2025
This and Death Row were 5 stars!!!
August 10, 2025
Audible audio ,Amazon original story
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Just okay 👍🏼 wish we had the actual event described instead of a short after the fact though... still was creepy though.
Narrator did an excellent 👏 job 👏.
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Just okay 👍🏼 wish we had the actual event described instead of a short after the fact though... still was creepy though.
Narrator did an excellent 👏 job 👏.
August 6, 2025
the setup…
From the outside, Hannah and Rusty Ferguson seem to have the ideal marriage. But Rusty is an emotional abuser and Hannah’s his constant target. Her only outlet is her backyard shed where she secretly designs and creates jewelry. When Rusty takes steps to destroy this smallest thing, it’s a step too far for Hannah.
the heart of the story…
Hannah constantly dreams of ways Rusty could experience lots of bad luck, all of it harmless until he threatens that shed. He’s cruel, selfish and spiteful so you know something’s coming. I could hear the Jaws music in the background.
the narration…
I’m a fan of Susannah Jones and she delivers an inspired and wonderful performance. She had me listening intently to every word and inflection.
the bottom line…
This story ends the collection with a flourish. There wasn’t a question of if but how and so that little twist was a bit unexpected. Well done as I finished this in one session, surprised that it was over so quickly as I lost track of time. Gotta check out more from this author.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy of the entire collection. All opinions are my own.)
From the outside, Hannah and Rusty Ferguson seem to have the ideal marriage. But Rusty is an emotional abuser and Hannah’s his constant target. Her only outlet is her backyard shed where she secretly designs and creates jewelry. When Rusty takes steps to destroy this smallest thing, it’s a step too far for Hannah.
the heart of the story…
Hannah constantly dreams of ways Rusty could experience lots of bad luck, all of it harmless until he threatens that shed. He’s cruel, selfish and spiteful so you know something’s coming. I could hear the Jaws music in the background.
the narration…
I’m a fan of Susannah Jones and she delivers an inspired and wonderful performance. She had me listening intently to every word and inflection.
the bottom line…
This story ends the collection with a flourish. There wasn’t a question of if but how and so that little twist was a bit unexpected. Well done as I finished this in one session, surprised that it was over so quickly as I lost track of time. Gotta check out more from this author.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy of the entire collection. All opinions are my own.)
June 14, 2025
This was a very quick read. A story about a loveless marriage and the wife gets her revenge.
June 7, 2025
Out of all the stories in the Alibis collection, Small Things was by far my favorite. It was fast-paced, sharply written, and immediately pulled me in. Wanda M. Morris has a gift for building suspense in just a few pages.
What I loved most was how complete the story felt while still leaving me wanting more—in the best way. The characters felt real, and the stakes were high from the start. I truly wish this was the beginning of a full-length novel, because I’d pick it up in a heartbeat.
What I loved most was how complete the story felt while still leaving me wanting more—in the best way. The characters felt real, and the stakes were high from the start. I truly wish this was the beginning of a full-length novel, because I’d pick it up in a heartbeat.
July 4, 2025
4,0 ✨✨✨
(Audiobook)
(Audiobook)
June 26, 2025
This was a fun one! I love a quick read that keeps me on my toes. I really enjoyed the audio. Though I guessed what was going to happen it was still a satisfying read.
June 10, 2025
This one was good!!
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
June 12, 2025
Ugh. This will make you so mad—and homicidal. Haha. No spoilers, but the husband is a complete asshole, and the ending is so satisfying I’m seriously thinking of getting steak for dinner.
I just feel so sad for all the women who stay in abusive relationships—the years of emotional damage, constant belittling, and relentless insults. Thank goodness this ended the way it should have.
I just feel so sad for all the women who stay in abusive relationships—the years of emotional damage, constant belittling, and relentless insults. Thank goodness this ended the way it should have.
June 8, 2025
I support woman's rights and wrongs
June 8, 2025
Great revenge story.
July 5, 2025
Something felt like it was missing
June 19, 2025
Quick One-Sit Read.
The is story was fun to listen to but I feel like it abruptly came to the conclusion with no real buildup. The storyline fell flat for me…just a husband being a jerk to his wife, then BAM. Story over.
I would have liked more depth. I understand this was a quick read but it wasn’t very interesting to me like some of the other novellas in this collection.
The is story was fun to listen to but I feel like it abruptly came to the conclusion with no real buildup. The storyline fell flat for me…just a husband being a jerk to his wife, then BAM. Story over.
I would have liked more depth. I understand this was a quick read but it wasn’t very interesting to me like some of the other novellas in this collection.
June 3, 2025
This one was the best one! I really enjoyed this. I definitely will check out this author. I feel like this was the perfect length for the story that was told. I felt really sad for our girl Hannah, but the ending was excellent. This is a great example of being able to make an impact in only a few pages. Definitely worth the read!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Originals for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Originals for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 11, 2025
I really liked this short story. I think it would make a great full length book as well. I haven’t read anything else from this author, so I’ll definitely be checking out more of her books.
August 3, 2025
It was a good short story.. Really good attempt but the follow through fell a little short.. The MMC was a such an asshole did seem real felt like he was such an ass that just wasn’t believable..
July 27, 2025
Small Things by Wanda M. Morris is short story number six of six of Alibis, "a collection of stories about lies, truth, and deception. It’s just a matter of what you can get away with."
I know it might be outdated, but all I can say is "you go girl" to main character Hannah! This cleverly woven short story was full of suspense, and concluded with such a satisfying ending!
Susannah Jones sounded threatened, frightened, and accomplished during her audiobook narration - which was spot on!
This series features 60-ish page/1.5 hour-ish long books, and they're just the sort of story to slip into when you've got just a bit of spare time!
Thank you NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing and Amazon Original Stories for the complimentary audio copy to read and review.
I know it might be outdated, but all I can say is "you go girl" to main character Hannah! This cleverly woven short story was full of suspense, and concluded with such a satisfying ending!
Susannah Jones sounded threatened, frightened, and accomplished during her audiobook narration - which was spot on!
This series features 60-ish page/1.5 hour-ish long books, and they're just the sort of story to slip into when you've got just a bit of spare time!
Thank you NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing and Amazon Original Stories for the complimentary audio copy to read and review.
June 13, 2025
3.5 stars. Small Things was a straightforward, well-told short story with a plot that played out almost exactly how I expected—but I still found it enjoyable. What really stood out was the wife. She had this calm, almost cold control over everything, and even though nothing she did was loud or dramatic, you could feel her influence in every scene. The way she handled her husband and the situation felt calculated but eerily believable. While the story didn’t surprise me, the atmosphere and emotional tension kept me hooked. It’s not a story you listen to for the big reveal—it’s one you follow for the slow, steady unraveling.
June 28, 2025
Wow. This short story was executed and wrapped up so well. I wasn’t expecting that ending!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 602 reviews