This was a really well done book! I thought it was suspenseful with lots of thrill and edge of the seat reading. There were some parts that felt a little long but overall was a fun thriller to read!

The Note by Alafair Burke follows three long time friends as they get together for a girls weekend on the Hamptons. While there one of them leaves a note on the car window of a stranger as a prank. Only to find out later that stranger was now missing.

I liked the premise for this book, but it wasn’t a big hit for me. I was able to guess one of the twists pretty early on. I also struggled to like some of the main characters which made it harder for me to enjoy the book as a whole.

Thank you Knopf for the review copy of The Note. I sat with this review for a few days, unsure of how to approach a review. On the one hand, I really enjoyed getting into the story, of exploring the complex relationships in this story and thinking about the idea that one action releases a domino effect that reveals deeper older secrets... that's a great premise for many strong mysteries. One the other hand, the story for me was filled with fairly unlikable characters who never really redeemed themselves and a somewhat uneven plot progression that lead to a predictable, for me, resolution (one that was identifiable early on). The story held a lot of promise and Alafair Burke has a knack for offering stories about complex people and messy relationships that are engrossing, but overall The Note did not captivate me as I hoped it would.

Where do I begin?

Do you know what they call Sonic Kid's Meals.......Wacky Packs, that is exactly what this book was.
Wacky!

Unlike a Wacky Pack though this lasted FOREVER, at one point I looked up and thought, "Will this book ever end?"
Okay let me set you up: 3 girls who were friends at summer camp, all became "canceled" for one reason or another (all of which were just Alafairs opportunity to let you know she is a left wing a ding mask wearing liberal) and decide to reunite one weekend.
Well Miss Goody Goody Two Shoes gets drunk and the two freinds (Kelsey and Lauren-both as likeable as nails on a chalkboard) decide to play a prank by leaving a note on a guy's car who was giving some serious road rage vibes.
--Can you already see this?

How about if I Pause to insert a random quote that automatically had me signing up Burke for a Trump Won PTSD support group, "It had been May's first time riding the subway since the shutdown. All she did was ask a few people to put their masks on...."

Um Im sorry Alafair, but stop inserting the pandemic into books unless it is relavent to the plot. There were SO many references to the pandemic, shutdown and all the terrible time that was. THEN to throw the who mask virtue signaling into the mix......check please!

One last example...and OF COURSE " The vile command had come out of the maskless mouth of a white man....." *eye roll*

Okay move on. Even if you were a mask wearer....this book was truly boring.

The note ends up on a guys car who winds up dead a few days later. Well...Kelsey (the nail on chalkboard friend)is connected to another death (her ex husband)...oh yeah and one of the girls they went to camp with too....Hmmmmm......the coincidences arn't coincidinting. Well....skip a couple of hundred pages of May letting us know how righteous she is and you realize how teen age acting these 30 something women behave. The story is so simplistic, but the last 50 pages become so complicated in the unfolding. And when you get to the "twist"....you will wish you hadn't. It is just so bizarre....

I am sad to say this book was a swing and a miss. I have generally liked AB, but her last two have seriously missed the mark.
BTW the more I think about it this really is like a Wacky Pack....every body knows sonic food is terrible....you just go there for the slushies, ice and milkshakes....this book is that...Terrible.

Thank you Net galley for allowing me to review this advanced copy read of The Note. I was not influenced or paid in exchange for my honest original review.

personal thoughts: an okay “thriller.” nothing memorable, lots of characters I didn’t connect with. a few twists but I definitely read much better thrillers this year. even though it wasn’t for me, a big thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the ARC.

our library system will add this book to our collection, as we have many readers who are fans of Alafair Burke.

Oh goodness was this book a miss for me. Unfortunately I did not connect with any of the characters and did not feel invested in the storyline to the point of wanting to see what happened next. The plot from the beginning to end felt so far fetched and at times it felt like the author was throwing things at a wall and hoping something would stick. Normally I enjoy Alafair Burke books but sadly this was not one I enjoyed.

The Note definitely starts off as a slow burn and does take some time to get to the main plot of the book but I didn’t have any trouble staying engaged with the story. I enjoyed reading this book even if I didn’t particularly like any of the characters. Three old friends, each with their own controversial pasts have reunited for a girls weekend when a drunken prank turns into trouble. Old secrets are revealed. Some more shocking than others that will test their friendships. After the book’s slow start and the truths are revealed the book’s pace really ramps up. The ending did feel a little rushed but overall I really enjoyed the book. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

The book had a slow start, and I struggled with the character development, particularly when it came to keeping track of two of the three main characters. The entire story was very intertwined with the present and past which at times felt a bit confusing. Just when the story began to gain momentum, I figured out the twists, which dampened my overall enjoyment. Ultimately, this book was just okay for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader's copy.

The Note initially had me really intrigued, I inhaled the first part of the book and was so curious about what had happened in the girls’ past. However, about halfway through the book I felt like it lost steam and I got bored. It almost lost me fully during court proceedings - it was so dense and hard to understand as a non-lawyer that I almost DNF’ed. I pushed through because I know Alafair Burke has a great reputation as a thriller author but ultimately this book left me really underwhelmed.

Thank you Knopf and NetGalley for the gifted ARC of this book.

This is about a silly prank of three-life long friends. They spend a weekend together in the Hamptons. Each with a past of secrets and scandals. May, Lauren and Kelsey, all have had heartbreak, loss, issues and tragedy. Over the years, their relationship changed from close to toxic.

The three friends go out to dinner, a couple steals their parking spot. A note is left which is supposed to be a harmless prank. So it begins, there is a lot of attention on social issues and non trusting issues with the friends.

The book starts off slow as the plot builds. Kelsey is the party girl, Lauren is a musical prodigy and May is older and leads a spirit-free life. What should be a fun girl's getaway turns into a drunken prank, resulting in a missing person case. As things happen, new truths are revealed.

Riveting Mystery, Unlikable Characters and an Addictive Thriller! 3.5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy! This book will be released 1/7/25.

Thanks Netgalley for an ARC of this novel. This is the story of three friends who vacation in the Hamptons and play what they think is a harmless prank on someone who stole their parking spot. This of course snowballs into a murder mystery that involves three deaths & becomes a whodunnit.

I enjoyed the book for the most part but the first third was very slow paced. The end picked up quite a bit!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc of The Note by Alafair Burke.

Three friends who have inevitably in life ebbed and flowed together and apart in life have found themselves on vacation together to recharge. Each stricken by public scandal which had lead them to dub themselves the canceled crew.

After having their parking spot stolen by a couple who also appear to be vacationing a note is left on the windshield of their car alluding to an affair. The next day the man ends up missing and the canceled crew finds themselves again on the end of scandal.

I was not a major fan of this it felt rushed at the end and didn’t real come together for me the way I wanted it too. It honestly felt like a YA novel with a rushed conclusion.

Pub Date: January 7, 2025
🌟.5

The "retreat gone wrong" novel is a genre of its own by now, and so many books with that setup are being published that it takes an extraordinary writer to lift one above the crowd. My past enjoyment of Alafair Burke's novels made me expect her to do something original with the trope, but unfortunately I didn't find what I was looking for. The three lead characters are not likable and not particularly interesting, and the note that gets them involved in a criminal investigation is a silly and childish thing for grown women to do. I appreciate the chance to read an advance copy, and I do look forward to more from a writer who usually delivers a satisfying story.

Page turner, fast paced book about a girls weekend trip! Twisted story line. and kept me guessing for the whole read. One that I could see made into a movie.

Thanks to @prhaudio for my copy of 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄.

I really enjoyed this slow burn girls trip gone wrong. There were so many secrets and issues with these women. It was a whole mess! These are girls I’d prob never be friends with but that doesn’t mean I won’t read and enjoy their drama-fest.

I was a bit surprised especially with one of the relationships in the story.

It also addressed infertility issues and the process for embryos are death/divorce. Tricky tricky.

The only issue I had with this one is I kept confusing the characters BUT not enough that I couldn’t enjoy it. I was looking forward to listening to this book and hated when I had to take breaks…the women were just so…MESSY.

The Goodreads rating is 3.60 which to me is usually a book that I wouldn’t pickup but I didn’t notice it when I decided to read it. I’m glad I didn’t see that because I would’ve missed out on a good book.

The Note started off by allowing me to get to know each of the main characters, then it really took off and things got very interesting! The storyline was engaging and the author did a good job of leading the reader to specific conclusions that turned out to be completely inaccurate which kept things twisty and unexpected.

I really wanted to love this book. The plot outline captured my attention the first time I read the blurb. I love a good mystery and the one surrounding this group of three women looked to be just what I was looking for in my next read. But it didn't fill the bill for me.

The story surrounds a group of three women who call themselves “The Canceled Crew” as a result of the bad events that had befallen each of them. Lauren, Kelsey, and May had been friends since their younger days—especially those spent at Summer Camp. But something happened at that camp the last time they all attended that forms the core of the mystery of this book.

The book was well crafted. The author is an excellent wordsmith, creating sentences and paragraphs that capture each scene. The scope and flow of the plot was well thought out. My problem with the book was that I didn't really become invested in any of the three main characters; I just didn't really like them. By the time I approached the end, that began to change, but that was a long time coming. The ending of the book was very satisfying and wrapped the book up nicely.

I appreciated the opportunity to read this book and offer my free and honest review.

Thank you @aaknopf @prhaudio & @netgalley for my complimentary copies. All opinions expressed are my own.

May Hanover, always the rule-follower, actually harbors a few secrets. When she reunites with her friends for a much-anticipated girls’ trip to the luxurious Hamptons, the stage is set for those secrets to surface.

What begins as a carefree getaway takes a dark turn after a reckless drunken prank spirals out of control, possibly resulting in the alarming disappearance of a man and the haunting possibility of murder. As the police swiftly turn their attention to one of the three friends, the women find themselves entangled in a web of suspicion, forcing them to scrutinize not only their own actions but also each other's trustworthiness in a desperate search for the truth.

This gripping narrative kept me on the edge of my seat, compelling me to turn the pages as the tension steadily mounted throughout the story. Although I struggled to form a connection with any of the three main characters—each one flawed and complex—the intricately woven plot was superb and kept me fully engaged. Even though I was able to predict some of the twists and turns, I still found immense enjoyment in the unfolding drama and the exploration of friendships tested by secrets and betrayal.

I have enjoyed several of Burke’s novels which gave me high expectations for this one! It wasn’t my favorite though. It took me much longer than normal to read through a book of this length due to the pacing. However, I enjoy Burke’s writing and will definitely read other books of hers.

I really enjoyed "The Note". It's a quick paced thriller and it keeps you on the edge of your seat right until the very end. The story pulls you in and keeps you wanting more. Would definitely recommend this for any thriller fans.