The Note

Psychological thrillers emphasize character-driven plots and examine the effect of betrayal on relationships, and while the genre often features action-packed scenes, the majority of these narratives’ momentum is derived from the richly imaginative psychological landscapes of its characters. In fact, much of the “action” of such novels takes place silently, within the minds of protagonists, antagonists, and supporting characters alike. This pattern holds true for The Note as well, given that many chapters are comprised of Lauren, Kelsey, and May’s reflections on their past trauma, and it is also clear that each woman understands the psychological turmoil that arises from untrustworthy claims and outright deceptions. Thus, like Gillian Flynn’s novel, Gone Girl, which revolutionized the contemporary psychological thriller, Burke’s stories also explore the dark underbelly of interpersonal dynamics and the unreliability of perception.

Additionally, many psychological thrillers borrow and adapt conventions from the more traditional crime genre, making use of plot devices such as red herrings and ominous foreshadowing to heighten narrative tension and convey a sense of impending doom, even amidst ostensibly “safe” or carefree settings. For example, Burke’s strategic choice to set her novel in the rarified atmosphere of the Hamptons imbues the novel’s characters with an air of privilege and wealth even as their past secrets threaten to destroy their entire world. By juxtaposing this setting that is universally synonymous with wealth and exclusivity, Burke introduces an implicit examination of privilege and its isolating effects. These themes have also been depicted in Peter Benchley’s Jaws (1974), Colson Whitehead’s Sag Harbor (2009), and Caroline Kepnes’s You (2014), all of which use the Hamptons as one of the key settings. As Burke spins out the sordid secrets underlying the main action in The Note, she combines these conventional aspects of the contemporary psychological thriller with her own extensive legal experience as a prosecutor, imbuing her narrative with a distinct air of authenticity. This aspect lends her writing verisimilitude.