The Note

Alafair Burke is an Edgar-nominated, New York Times bestselling author who is known for using her legal expertise to craft suspense-thrillers that explore scenarios in which issues of legality intersect with moral dilemmas. She was the first woman of color to be elected as the President of Mystery Writers of America. In 2023, she received the Pinckley Prize for Distinguished Body of Work.

Burke grew up in Wichita, Kansas, where the serial killer BTK was active during her teenage years. Witnessing the hunt and the investigation fueled her desire to practice law and write crime fiction. She later graduated from Stanford Law School and then worked in Portland as the Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney. This experience inspired her to create the Samantha Kincaid series. During this time, Burke also worked on several domestic violence cases and served as a liaison to the police department. She now teaches criminal law at Hofstra, where her scholarly work focuses on prosecutorial decision-making, community policing, and the legal system’s approach to domestic violence.

Burke’s notable works include The Ex, The Wife, and The Better Sister. She has written 20 crime novels that are celebrated for their authenticity, given that Burk often draws from real-life cases and from her own professional experiences to craft her tightly plotted stories.