Publishing, like most businesses, beats to a rhythm all its own. There is a cyclical nature which is comforting in many ways. During the early months of the year, readers can count on the appearance of some books their publishers have genuine faith in—titles that will hopefully be on the lips of dedicated fans throughout the coming months, all year long. Take for example, Alafair Burke’s The Note, out today. While Knopf is a new publisher for this Edgar-nominated writer, the book continues Burke’s legacy of excellent female-led psychological suspense standalones (The Ex, The Wife, The Better Sister, etc).
The Note begins as three long-time friends—albeit friends who have had countless disagreements over the years—decide to have a girl’s weekend in the Hamptons. These three women are facing personal challenges in their day-to-day lives, each of which reflects pitfalls in our modern society. As they descend on the vacation hotspot, everyone seems anxious to let their hair down, relax, and rekindle their bonds from long-ago, careless-free summer camp days. After a day of drinking, a harmless prank—leaving an anonymous note on the windshield of a parked car—begins to spiral out of control, exposing long-held secrets that just might have deadly consequences? Or honestly, maybe this is just another in a chain of consequences none of them even realized was in play.
Alafair Burke excels in crafting complex female characters and The Note features not one, but three of them. May Hanover is the main point-of-view character. She is Chinese American and considered a bit of a goody-two-shoes until one mistake casts a persistent shadow. Lauren is the oldest among these women. She is Black and as a musical prodigy has managed to rise from camp counselor into a force-of-nature within the symphony circuit. However, the whispers from others about her rocket-paced ascent still hurt. And lastly, there is Kelsey. She wears her rich, White privilege while embracing the diverse friends, whom she allowed to bust through her self-imposed barriers. But with the unsolved murder of her husband hanging over her head, the pressure is mounting.
The bond between these three feels authentic. They met during adolescence, so it’s natural that as they mature, small fractures occur. It’s the nature of psychological suspense novels to allow tiny fissures in friendships to fester into larger fractures with explosive results and Alafair Burke handles this like the professional she is. Readers will be glued to the pages as they try to piece together a puzzle that spans decades. But The Note shows us that friends are like family and that means we show up when needed—even when it’s a risk to ourselves.
The Note is a fast-paced read. Shorter chapters keep the pages turning and Alafair Burke’s writing expertly places each new revelation to maximize both impact and engagement. It’s the perfect reading experience for the shorter Winter months—when everyone longs for a sunny vacation—but it’s tangled plotlines and complex issues are ones readers will contemplate well into the coming year.
BUY LINKS: The Note by Alafair Burke
Disclaimer: A print galley of this title was picked up by BOLO Books at this year’s Bouchercon convention. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
