Most Popular Books by Alafair Burke

The second in the thrilling New York Times bestselling series from Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke, follows television producer Laurie Moran as she investigates the cold case of a bride who went missing days before her wedding. Five years ago, Amanda Pierce was excitedly preparing to marry her college sweetheart. She and Jeffrey had already battled through sickness and health, although their livelihoods looked set as Amanda was due to inherit her father’s successful garment company. Then Amanda disappeared the night of her bachelorette party. In present-day New York, Laurie Moran realizes a missing bride is the perfect cold case for her Under Suspicion television series to investigate. By recreating the night of the disappearance at the wedding’s Florida resort with Amanda’s friends and family, Laurie hopes to solve the case. Laurie and her Under Suspicion host Alex Buckley soon find themselves overwhelmed with theories and rumors about the “beloved” bride from those who were involved with the wedding, including Amanda’s former fiancé, a jealous sister, and plenty of playboy groomsmen. One thing is certain, whoever was behind Amanda’s vanishing plans to keep the truth hidden “until death do they part.”

"Television producer Laurie Moran and her fiancé, Alex Buckley, the former host of her investigative television show Under Suspicion, are just days away from their midsummer wedding when Alex''s seven-year-old nephew, Johnny, vanishes from the beach. Witnesses recall Johnny playing in the water and collecting shells near an ice cream shack, but when his new sitter turned her head, he had vanished. As the sun sets, Johnny''s skim board washes up on shore, and everyone realizes that he could be anywhere, even in the ocean. Could the abduction be related to the wedding? Was Laurie''s ten-year-old son, Timmy, the intended target? Or was Johnny abducted by a stranger? Laurie and Alex, along with Johnny''s parents and Leo Farley, Laurie''s father and a retired NYPD detective, are determined to track down every lead." -- Page [4] cover.

A USA TODAY BESTSELLER • AS RECOMMENDED ON THE TODAY SHOW AND CBS SUNDAY MORNING • A suspenseful story about a vacation in the Hamptons that goes terribly wrong for three friends with a complicated history • From the New York Times bestselling author of The Wife and The Better Sister (now a Prime Video TV series starring Elizabeth Banks and Jessica Biel) "Your perfect summer thriller is here already." —Maureen Corrigan, Washington Post “I absolutely loved The Note. Trust no one in this irresistible page-turner.” —Ashley Elston, #1 New York Times best-selling author of First Lie Wins It was meant to be a harmless prank. Growing up, May Hanover was a good girl, always. Well-behaved, top of her class, a compulsive rule-follower. Raised by a first-generation Chinese single mother with high expectations, May didn’t have room to slip up, let alone fail. Her friends didn’t call her the Little Sheriff for nothing. But even good girls have secrets. And regrets. When it comes to her friendship with Lauren and Kelsey, she''s had her fair share of both. Their bond—forged when May was just twelve years old—has withstood a tragic accident, individual scandals, heartbreak and loss. Now the three friends have reunited for the first time in years for a few days of sun and fun in the Hamptons. But a chance encounter with a pair of strangers leads to a drunken prank that goes horribly awry. When she finds herself at the center of an urgent police investigation, May begins to wonder whether Lauren and Kelsey are keeping secrets from her, testing the limits of her loyalty to lifelong friends. What had they gone and done? The Note is a page-turner of the highest order from one of our greatest contemporary suspense writers.

In this collaboration between “Queen of Suspense” Mary Higgins Clark and bestselling author Alafair Burke, “the snappy pace, layered characters, and many plot surprises will keep readers guessing in this fascinating mystery” (Booklist). Television producer Laurie Moran is delighted when the pilot for her reality drama, Under Suspicion, is a success. Even more, the program—a cold case series that revisits unsolved crimes by recreating them with those affected—is off to a fantastic start when it helps solve an infamous murder in the very first episode. Now Laurie has the ideal case to feature in the next episode of Under Suspicion: the Cinderella Murder. When Susan Dempsey, a beautiful and multi-talented UCLA student, was found dead, her murder raised numerous questions. Why was her car parked miles from her body? Had she ever shown up for the acting audition she was due to attend at the home of an up-and-coming director? Why does Susan’s boyfriend want to avoid questions about their relationship? Was her disappearance connected to a controversial church? Was she close to her computer science professor because of her technological brilliance, or something more? And why was Susan missing one of her shoes when her body was discovered? With the help of Under Suspicion host Alex Buckley, Laurie knows the case will attract great ratings, especially when the former suspects include Hollywood’s elite and tech billionaires. The suspense and drama are perfect for the silver screen—but is Cinderella’s murderer ready for a close-up? Together Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke deliver “plenty of intrigue and excitement” (Publishers Weekly) in this exciting start to a new series that will keep you guessing until the final page.

In Judgment Calls, a seemingly simple assault case spirals into a complex web of violence and deception in this bold debut thriller from Alafair Burke. Deputy District Attorney Samantha Kincaid walks into her office in Portland''s Drug and Vice Division one Monday morning to find three police officers waiting for her. A thirteen-year-old girl has been brutally attacked and left for dead on the city''s outskirts. Given the lack of evidence, most lawyers would settle for an assault charge; Samantha, unnerved by the viciousness of the crime, decides to go for attempted murder. But as she prepares for the trial, she uncovers a dangerous trail leading to a high-profile death penalty case, a prostitution ring of underage girls, and a possible serial killer. And she finds her judgment—not only in matters of the law but in her personal life—called into question. In Samantha Kincaid, Alafair Burke has created a complex, appealing character—a woman consumed by a sense of justice, who is also tough enough to take on a man''s world. Seamlessly juxtaposing courtroom scenes with those of criminal investigation, Judgment Calls reveals not only an insider''s knowledge of the criminal justice system but a fresh new voice in the world of crime writing.

In the second entry in Alafair Burke''s "sharp, new crime series," the search for a missing judge leads Samantha Kincaid into Portland politics and a labyrinth of crime, corruption, and cover-ups -(Publishers Weekly) Deputy District Attorney Samantha Kincaid is back at work after an attempt on her life and a promotion into the Major Crimes Unit. When the husband of Portland, Oregon, city judge Clarissa Easterbrook reports her missing and Samantha is called out on the case, she assumes her only job is to make the district attorney look good until the judge turns up. When the police discover evidence of foul play, however, Samantha finds herself unearthing secrets that Clarissa had wanted to stay hidden, the lingering personal tolls of a crime that occurred decades ago. And when those secrets lead to the discovery of corruption at the highest levels of the city''s power structure, Samantha realizes that her quest for justice could cost her not only her job but her life. In the skillfully plotted, highly suspenseful follow-up to her acclaimed debut, Judgment Calls, Alafair Burke once again demonstrates that "she''s got what it takes" (Michael Connelly). With its irreverent heroine and seamless blend of squad rooms, street scenes, and courtroom drama, Missing Justice confirms Burke''s place among the genre''s most talented and exciting newcomers.

The “Queen of Suspense” Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke are here with their fifth enthralling mystery in the New York Times bestselling Under Suspicion series as television producer Laurie Moran must solve the murder of a celebrity doctor—before a mysterious stalker plots his next move. Television producer Laurie Moran recently became engaged to her investigative television show’s former host, Alex Buckley, and since then, the two have been happily planning a summer wedding, preparing for Alex’s confirmation to a federal judicial appointment, and searching for the perfect New York City home for their new life together. But then Laurie is approached by Robert and Cynthia Bell, parents of Dr. Martin Bell, a physician who was shot dead as he pulled into the driveway of his Greenwich Village carriage house five years ago. The Bells are sure that Martin’s disgraced and erratic wife, Kendra, carried out the murder. Determined to prove Kendra’s guilt and win custody over their grandchildren, they plead with Laurie to feature their son’s case on Under Suspicion, ensuring her that Kendra is willing to cooperate. As Laurie dives into the case, she learns that Martin wasn’t the picture-perfect husband, father, and doctor he appeared to be and was carrying secrets of his own. And what does the web of lies ensnaring the Bell family have to do with a dangerous stranger, who gazes at Laurie from afar and thinks, She is actually quite a lovely girl, I’m sure she’s going to be missed…? You Don’t Own Me is the perfect, exhilarating follow up to the bestselling Every Breath You Take. The “Queen of Suspense” Mary Higgins Clark and her dazzling partner-in-crime Alafair Burke have devised another riveting page-turner.

The legacy of the “Queen of Suspense” continues with the highly anticipated follow-up to Mary Higgins Clark’s iconic novel Where Are the Children?, featuring the children of Nancy Harmon, facing peril once again as adults. Of the fifty-six bestsellers the “Queen of Suspense” Mary Higgins Clark published in her lifetime, Where Are the Children? was her biggest, selling millions of copies and forever transforming the genre of suspense fiction. In that story, a young California mother named Nancy Harmon was convicted of murdering her two children. Though released on a technicality, she was abandoned by her husband and became such a pariah in the media that she was forced to move across the country to Cape Cod, change her identity and appearance, and start a new life. Years later her two children from a second marriage, Mike and Melissa, would go missing, and Nancy yet again became the prime suspect—but this time, Nancy was able to confront the secrets buried in her past and rescue her kids from a dangerous predator. Now, more than four decades since readers first met Nancy and her children, comes the thrilling sequel to the groundbreaking book that set the stage for future generations of psychological suspense novels. A lawyer turned successful podcaster, Melissa has recently married a man whose first wife died tragically, leaving him and their young daughter, Riley, behind. While Melissa and her brother, Mike, help their mom, Nancy, relocate from Cape Cod to the equally idyllic Hamptons, Melissa’s new stepdaughter goes missing. Drawing on the experience of their own abduction, Melissa and Mike race to find Riley to save her from the trauma they still struggle with—or worse. Just like the original, Where Are the Children Now? keeps you guessing and holding your breath until the very last page.

Big galley giveaway at PLA (end March) & ALA

A nail biting thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

''Highly addictive.'' KARIN SLAUGHTER ''A major talent.'' HARLAN COBEN ''Packed with plot, The Ex rocks.'' New York Journal of Books ''Keeps you guessing right to the very end. I loved it.'' BECKY MASTERMAN, author of Fear the Darkness DID HE, OR DIDN''T HE? Olivia Randall is one of New York City''s best criminal defence lawyers. When she gets a phone call informing her that her former fiancée has been arrested for a triple homicide there is no doubt in her mind as to his innocence. The only question is who would go to such great lengths to frame him - and why? For Olivia, representing Jack is a way to make up for past regrets, and the hurt she caused him, but as the evidence against him mounts, she is forced to confront her doubts.

In Alafair Burke''s electrifying thriller, Dead Connection, a rookie detective goes undercover on the Internet dating scene to draw out a serial killer targeting single women in Manhattan. When two young women are murdered on the streets of New York, exactly one year apart, Detective Ellie Hatcher is called up for a special assignment on the homicide task force. The killer has left behind a clue connecting the two cases to First Date, a popular online dating service, and Flann McIlroy, an eccentric, publicity-seeking homicide detective, is convinced that only Ellie can help him pursue his terrifying theory: someone is using the lure of the Internet and the promise of love to launch a killing spree against the women of New York City. To catch the killer, Ellie must enter a high-tech world of stolen identities where no one is who they appear to be. And for her, the investigation quickly becomes personal: she fits the profile of the victims, and she knows firsthand what pursuing a sociopath can do to a cop—back home in Wichita, Kansas, her father lost his life trying to catch a notorious serial murderer. When the First Date killer begins to mimic the monster who destroyed her father, Ellie knows the game has become personal for him, too. Both hunter and prey, she must find the killer before he claims his next victim—who could very well be her. Expertly plotted and perfectly paced, Dead Connection advances Alafair Burke to the front ranks of American thriller writers.

A #1 New York Times Bestselling AuthorAn Under Suspicion NovelCasey Carter was convicted of murdering her wealthy fiancé fifteen years ago, but has always claimed that she''s innocent. Although she was charged and served out her sentence in prison, she is still living "under suspicion." Her story attracts the attention of Laurie Moran and the Under Suspicion news team. With Alex Buckley taking a break from the show, Under Suspicion introduces a new on-air host named Ryan Nichols. He''s got a big reputation and the attitude to match it. Ryan has no problems with steering -- and stealing -- the show, and even tries to stop Laurie from taking on Casey''s case because he''s so certain she''s guilty.

A #1 New York Times Bestselling AuthorAn Under Suspicion NovelTelevision producer Laurie Moran''s latest cold case investigation is the Met Gala murder, in which a wealthy widow was pushed to her death from the Metropolitan Museum''s rooftop. As the Under Suspicion crew pries into the lives of a super wealthy real estate family with secrets to hide, danger mounts for several witnesses -- and for Laurie.

“Absorbing...Burke confidently lays out the procedural details.” —Publishers Weekly on Close Case Deputy District Attorney Samantha Kincaid likes to be where the action is: at the scene of a crime, at the arrest of a suspect, with the cops on the Major Crimes Team. But when street smart, plugged-in reporter Percy Crenshaw is brutally murdered in the midst of pursuing a major story, she knows the stakes are high... Within days, cops have a suspect; then a confession. Yet Samantha suspects that something is very wrong, and her concerns keep coming back to the police. The cop who got the confession used tough tactics. The murdered reporter was romantically linked to a cop''s wife. And all of the cops she''s concerned about are close to her live-in boyfriend, Detective Chuck Forbes. Forced to prosecute a case in which the defendant may be an innocent man, Samantha must tread carefully to uncover the truth about Percy''s murder -- without tearing her career, her home life, and the city apart. But just when she thinks her job can''t get any more difficult, another more shocking crime comes to light...

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Ex comes a new e-short featuring an excerpt from her forthcoming novel, The Wife. After losing a criminal case, a prosecutor asks herself how far she’s willing to go to protect the young girl whose future hangs in the balance . . .

How well do you know your boss? After a layoff and months of struggling, Alice Humphrey finally lands her dream job managing a new art gallery in Manhattan’s trendy Meatpacking District. According to Drew Campbell, the well-suited corporate representative who hires her, the gallery is a passion project for its anonymous, wealthy, and eccentric owner. Everything is perfect until the morning Alice arrives at work to find the gallery gone—the space stripped bare as if it had never been there—and Drew Campbell’s dead body on the floor. Overnight, Alice’s dream job has vanished, and she finds herself at the center of a police investigation, with the evidence mounting against her. To prove her innocence and uncover the truth, Alice must undertake a dangerous search for answers that entangles her in a dark, high-tech criminal conspiracy and forces her to unearth long-hidden secrets involving her own family . . . secrets that could cost Alice her life.

“The plot of an Alafair Burke thriller doesn’t just rip from the headlines. She’s one step ahead of them. 212 scares you and keeps you turning the pages into the wee hours.” —Harlan Coben “Burke has created a strong female protagonist in the tradition of Sara Paretsky’s V.I. Warshawski and Marcia Muller’s Sharon McCone.… Utterly authentic.” —Boston Globe 212 is acclaimed author—and former deputy district attorney—Alafair Burke’s gripping thriller featuring hip, Manhattan-based detective Ellie Hatcher. Fans of Lisa Gardner, Sandra Brown, Karin Slaughter, Harlan Coben, Sue Grafton, and PJ Tracy will find it hard to put 212 down until the very last page.