Three friends—May, Kelsey, and Lauren—who have drifted apart over the years, decide to reconnect with a weekend getaway in the Hamptons. What starts as a lighthearted prank—a mysterious note left on a stranger’s car—unexpectedly pulls them into the center of a criminal investigation. Complicating matters, each woman has a history of being embroiled in viral scandals, making them desperate to avoid further scrutiny. Despite their efforts to stay out of the spotlight, they’re inevitably drawn deeper into the mystery. With unexpected twists and turns, the story keeps you guessing, all while exploring whether these friends can truly leave their troubled pasts behind.

Thank you so much for the advanced copy read! I enjoy thrillers and was excited to read this one as it looked exciting from the cover. However it sadly was a Do not Finish for me. I just could not get into the characters and story in general. As always I appreciate the early copy!

I really enjoyed reading The Note by Alafair Burke. May and two of her reunited friends have a weekend getaway that is supposed to help them relax and reconnect. Everything is going well until an encounter with a stranger turns deadly. May begins to question if her friends know more than she does. When old secrets are revealed, will these friends be able to trust each other again?

The Note is a really good read that I enjoyed very much. The friendship between the three women feels toxic at times and is hard to unpack. This story pulled me in though, and I really wanted to know how a harmless prank turned deadly. I thought this was a good read.

I really struggled with this writing style and at many times it was hard to follow what exactly was happening. This book is written in third person POV so if you struggle with that POV, I’d recommend skipping this book.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of Alafair Burke’s latest, The Note. It follows May, Kelsey and Lauren, friends who have gone viral for one reason or another, trying to lay low and enjoy a vacation in the Hamptons. They play a prank on someone, but when he winds up missing, a lot comes to light that the women don’t know about one another.

This book was a pretty quick read, and I shifted my opinion on the “whodunnit” aspect a couple of times. Ultimately the resolution fell flat for me, and I felt like it took a LONG time to get there too. I was almost 90% into the book by the time we knew who the culprit was, which didn’t leave a lot of time for the resolution. Ultimately it was an entertaining read though, and I’d recommend it when it releases on 1/14!

I would highly recommend this book. I have enjoyed other books by the same author.. With a twist to who the murderer is. Good psychological mystery,

This is my first book by author Alafair Burke. I enjoyed this popcorn thriller with a sprinkle of legal drama and a whodunnit murder mystery. The ending felt a little rushed but overall a good suspenseful novel.

I enjoyed The Note by Alafair Burke. This book is about 3 lifelong friends who reconnect on a girls weekend in the Hamptons. A harmless prank ends leads to a police investigation and unearths secrets which causes the friends question their relationship with each other.

Good pacing for the book and the story kept my interest.

Thank you to NetGalley & Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sort of a run of the mill thriller, but definitely with some catty drama which I do love in novels. Not sure this one is overly memorable, though. I did like his other book a touch better!

I've really enjoyed all of Burke's novels thus far, so I knew I needed to pick this book up. But I ended up being disappointed. It has all the makings of a book I'd enjoy--with an Asian protagonist, which I'm seeing more of and loving, and an interesting hook. But the pacing and the plot had a lot left to be desired. That said, I think she's a great thriller writer so I'll still pick up her books.

What starts as a harmless prank spirals into a deadly game of secrets, lies, and betrayal in Alafair Burke’s gripping thriller, The Note.

May, the quintessential good girl, is thrust into chaos when a drunken joke with her two best friends during a holiday in the Hamptons puts them at the center of a missing persons investigation. But as the case unfolds, dark secrets resurface, friendships fray, and trust becomes a dangerous gamble.

Burke’s knack for creating morally complex characters shines as she peels back the layers of guilt, loyalty, and hidden truths. The twists come fast and sharp, leaving you questioning not just the three friends, but everyone involved.

If you love thrillers that delve into the messy complexities of female friendship and keep you on edge until the final page, The Note is a must-read.

When a prank goes awry, a trio of close friends learn more about each other than they probably wanted to know.

May: the rule follower, perfectionist, lawyer/professor, engaged
Lauren: the elder friend, group mom, exceedingly independent, prodigal musical talent, never married
Kelsey: the poor little rich girl, pending divorcee turned widow when her husband was murdered, under daddy's thumb

May always felt pressure to be perfect as a first generation Chinese American of a single mom. Always focused on pleasing others, she seems to have lost sight of what makes her happy. Her mom did however ensure that she provided as best she could by sacrificing to send her to a summer camp usually reserved for rich kids.

This is where she meets Kelsey and Lauren. Lauren is the camp counselor and becomes close with May and Kelsey. Kelsey is the undeniable cool kid, and has taken a liking to May. All three developed a special bond after tragedy at the camp. As life went on, they each endured scandals of their own, and that only strengthened their bonds of sisterhood.

The unlikely trio got together for a summer getaway in the Hamptons, and next thing you know, with an alcohol fueled prank, they land themselves in the middle of a mess. A big mess. One that involves the police, secrets and lies.

Thanks to NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, and Alafair Burke for the eARC.

Pub Date Jan 07 2025 #TheNote #NetGalley

This one started slow for me. The first section is weak. I almost put it down, but I kept reading and it definitely picked up after that section. Not including Part One, this is a solid but unspectacular mystery.

I somehow both really liked this and also didn’t? I couldn’t stand the writing. There was way too much telling instead of showing. The dialogue is crazy unnatural. And the story was kind of simplistic overall. There were twists, sure, but nothing mind blowing or that I couldn’t see coming.

However, I genuinely enjoyed reading this. I think part of what hooked me is all the details that I related to - one of the MCs is a lawyer, they all like word games, they get very angry at a bad driver (LOL). And those fun details that reminded me of me kept growing. And once I was invested, I appreciated the topics explored by the story, including privilege and cancel culture. I thought the structure worked really well also, and I liked how the plot unfolded. And some parts made me palpably anxious, which you want in a good thriller.

So overall, it wasn’t a particularly shocking, twisty book, but it was a nice one and sometimes that is exactly what you need.

3.5/5

Three friends who bonded at a very young age. Now grown and having gone their separate ways, they meet up for a weekend of fun in the sun and catch up. After the weekend is over, May finds herself caught up in the middle of a police investigation and begins to question if she really knows Kelsey and Lauren at all. Are they really her friends at all, are they keeping secrets from her...What does May really know about them...and does what she doesn't know hurt her...

In this story, three lifelong friends who have been out of touch for a while, get together for a long weekend in the Hamptons. Each of the three characters has baggage galore (involving secrets, scandals, you name it!). They are hoping to reconnect and move forward- leaving the past behind them. But something goes wrong on the first night and...
This sounded so intriguing to me. I have never read this author before, but have heard good things about her books. However, I struggled with this story. It was difficult to keep the characters straight. It was more difficult to like even one of them. And everything felt very...juvenile. A lot of time was spent on social issues, which would be good if they somehow related to and added dimension in the story. But they didn't. This detracted so much from the plot of the story that I struggled to continue.
And the prank that starts this whole thing- you really have to suspend belief to go forward with the story.

There are so many positive reviews for this- so I encourage you to check those out. I know that many people love this author, and as this is my first, I may attempt another.
Thank you NetGalley and Knopf Books for the ARC. This is my voluntary and honest review.

Alafair Burke’s The Note is a gripping psychological thriller that combines mystery and intrigue with a tangled web of friendships and secrets. The story kicks off with a seemingly ordinary gathering of friends, only to spiral into chaos when a man connected to the group goes missing. From the very start, Burke hooks readers with a compelling premise and a palpable sense of tension that lingers throughout the novel.

The strength of The Note lies in its layered storytelling and the complex dynamics between the characters. The connection between the friends and the missing man keeps the reader invested, and Burke’s skillful pacing ensures that the mystery unfolds in a way that maintains suspense.

However, there are moments where the narrative slows down, with certain details feeling drawn out or slightly muddled. While these sections might test some readers’ patience, the overall plot is engaging enough to pull you through. The ending ties up the story in a satisfying way, delivering the kind of resolution fans of the genre look for.

Burke’s ability to weave psychological depth into her mysteries is evident here, making The Note a solid addition to her body of work. While it may not be without its pacing hiccups, it remains a captivating read with a strong premise, intriguing twists, and a conclusion that sticks the landing. Fans of suspense and character-driven thrillers will find this a worthwhile read.

Loved this friend maybe frienemies mystery that kept me wondering who is the killer and asking how many secrets these three ladies can have. May is our main character who seems somewhat estranged from her friends Kelsey and Lauren. They’ve each been through some trouble which led to public speculation about their lives and choices. They are getting together for a vacation and maybe this will bring May closer to the others or will a silly prank tear them completely apart forever. Loved the story even though it was hard to like some of the characters.

The was just okay for me. Didn’t love it but didn’t hate it. The first 50% of the book was a bit boring and the characters behavior annoyed me. My suspicion regarding who did it was correct. I did enjoy the last 30% of the book. I wish it would have been faster paced.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

This was a well written, fast paced thriller, that I very much enjoyed. I never could have guessed the twist which made it that much more fun. I always appreciate this author’s knowledge of the legal system that they bring to their books. That knowledge and expertise makes the plot so much more believable and interesting. This is definitely a book I will be recommending to patrons at our library.