This month, we look at the literary world of mystery, thrillers and suspense with Charlotte Griffiths
Words Charlotte Griffiths
The Note by Alafair Burke
Friends May, Kelsey and Lauren have known each other for years, first meeting at a summer camp for musical prodigies – but they’ve found a new level of closeness as adults because all three have had their names dragged through the press in separate incidents of public shaming. 
The ‘Cancelled Crew’ haven’t spent time together in real life since their childhoods – so a post-pandemic trip to the Hamptons and a stay in a luxury Airbnb is a real chance to reconnect in person.
Despite May’s initial anxiousness about the trip, upon arrival it just seems like a regular girls’ weekend away. The trio drink, laugh and talk about old times, sharing stories and relaxing into each other’s company – until a boozy lunch leads to the titular note making an appearance, and their entire world begins to shift on its axis. May, Kelsey and Lauren might say they share everything, but it transpires that they have each been keeping their own secrets, and the myriad threads holding the trio together begin to unravel fast: how well do they really know their supposed BFFs?
The Note is a thought-provoking, slow-burn suspense novel that gradually pieces its puzzle together, almost in plain sight, yet is still an extremely satisfying read. Burke’s rich characterisation and the trio’s detail-laden backstories mean reading this feels as though you’re hearing a story about friends one step removed, with all the complexities and messy nuances involved in real people and relationships: a good reminder that everyone contains multitudes. Alafair Burke is a New York Times best-selling author, known for her novels The Ex, The Wife and The Better Sister.
The Vipers by Katy Hays
Thirty years ago, the Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright Sarah Lingate died in mysterious circumstances while holidaying on Capri with her husband Richard and his brother Marcus, the heirs to a vast oil fortune.
Though it’s true that behind every great fortune lies a great crime – in this case, a Lingate ancestor swindled a widow out of her oil fields – the brothers have always denied any involvement in Sarah’s death, returning proudly to the island every summer with their heads held high.
As the family return to Capri for their annual trip, Sarah and Richard’s daughter Helen is plotting her escape, concocting a plan to free herself from the Lingates’ influence and escape with the help of Lorna Silva, her uncle’s personal assistant. The family arrive at their holiday home and have gathered for drinks when a mysterious delivery arrives: someone has sent Helen the distinctive necklace Sarah was wearing when she died.
Seismic ripples tear through both of the brothers as they realise the gift’s significance. The tension builds as the brothers lock themselves away to discuss the necklace, but readers will already be aware that the clock is ticking, as each chapter begins with a countdown: ‘36 hours to Lorna’s disappearance…’
This shimmering, superbly descriptive, expertly plotted novel is a rewarding and suspense-packed read for anyone who enjoys a great thriller. It also serves as a welcome dose of balmy Mediterranean sunshine for those readers who have struggled to navigate the peaks and troughs of a British winter.
The Cliffs by J Courtney Sullivan
Jane Flanagan has been fascinated by the house on the hill since her childhood: the then-purple, then-abandoned mansion has always perched on the cliffs overlooking Awadapquit, the small Maine town where she grew up. Its dilapidated walls became a haven for her as a teenager, providing sanctuary from a turbulent home life.
Now in her early 40s and working her dream job in the Schlesinger Library at Harvard, an archive dedicated to the history of American women, Jane returns to Awadapquit to support her sister after their mother’s recent death. What her sister and the rest of the town don’t know is that Jane’s career is in tatters and her husband of ten years has just asked for a break.
Up above the town, the once-crumbling mansion on the cliffs is now being whipped into shape by blow-in Genevieve and her rich-yet-absent husband. Both Jane and the house are concealing damaging, haunting truths that will get the better of them, and everyone, if not brought to light. In equal parts ghost story, historical mystery and feminist awakening, The Cliffs is a compelling tale about the danger of disturbing the past and the importance of knowing where you come from.
Tips for digital book lovers
If you like to read on the go and keep everything in one place, these electronic options are for you
Spotify audiobooks
Public service announcement: did you know your Spotify subscription also entitles you to 15 hours of ebooks every month? You can download the app from spotify.com. Pay £11.99 per month for the premium subscription.
Bookshop.org ebooks
Everyone’s favourite online bookshop has now started selling ebooks – and every purchase financially supports local independent bookshops. See uk.bookshop.org for more info and to get e-reading!
Kobo Clara Colour
This Libby-compatible e-reader is a fantastic alternative to Amazon’s Kindle and allows you to borrow ebooks from the library – it’ll pay for itself in a few titles’ time. Available for £149.99 from uk.kobobooks.com
