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.

Three friends on a vacation, what could go wrong???? Friends since they were young, May, Lauren and Kelsey have had a close bond which has seen heartbreak, loss, individual issues, and a tragedy. Over the years, their relationships changed from close to toxic. They planned their time in the Hamptons for some fun in the sun. They never thought that a prank and a night out drinking would end the way it did!

This book is full of tension between the individual characters and between them and others. May, Lauren, and Kelsey all have their secrets and when a police investigation ensues, they will see their loyalty tested.

I had high hopes for this book and thought I would love The Note. I loved the synopsis of three friends with secrets, going away together and something happening. But I found that none of the characters were sympathetic or likeable. I didn’t feel for any of them. While the mystery was intriguing, I felt all the issues brought up muddled down the plot. I don't mind a few issues being thrown in as it makes the story feel more relevant and timelier but for some reason, in this book it felt too much.

What I did enjoy was the tension between the characters and their secrets. The toxicity of their friendship was well done as well.

The Note was a practical joke and it really wasn't all of that serious of a joke. But, there were a lot of coincidences that made it so. A lot of people die around these women and they all have terrible luck keeping themselves off of the interwebs. It was chaotic and unbelievable. But it was quick and fun to read. I didn't like any of the characters. You don't need to.

If you can suspend your disbelief and just watch it all happen, you can enjoy it, though.

A good thriller with some suspenseful moments. But it felt somewhat rushed, and the ending seemed like something was missing.. But overall, a great read!!!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy!

I am a huge fan of Alafair Burke and was so excited to receive an ARC of her latest book, “The Note.” When it started with old friends getting together in the Hamptons, I thought it was going to be the typical vacation thriller. Instead I was pleasantly surprised as the plot moves quickly and every time I thought I had it figured out, there would be a new twist. Overall it was a quick and entertaining read. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the digital ARC of ”The Note” in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the book drew me in but once I started reading it, I just couldn’t get into it at all.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

This is my first by Burke, and I was not disappointed.
What started as a prank, turned into more than expected for three long time friends on vacation.

If you love a good suspense with a twist, this is one to add to your list. Friendships shattered, relationships gone awry, murder, mystery. What’s not to love?
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book would be perfect for fans of Frieda McFadden and John Marrs. It's a very easy to read popcorn thriller. There was not a whole lot of depth to the story, but it was still fun.

This book is about 3 friends who go on a vacation together who all have "secrets." The secrets are pretty bland at best. But anyway, the girls are going out for dinner and waiting for a parking spot, and then the spot gets stolen by a rich guy and his girlfriend. And that really gets their goat. So they're stewing over dinner about it, and one of the girls writes a note that says, "He's cheating on you, he always does." And it gets left on his windshield. The next day, this guy ends up missing with posters of him all over town.

The characters in this story aren't particularly likable, if I'm being honest. There wasn't much character development. In one instance, one of the girls May was adamant about one of her friends being involved in a crime, but 5 seconds later, she rapidly changed her mind. There's was no inside look at why she changed her mind other than, "You're right, she did look too upset to have done this herself." I just don't think real people change their mind that quickly.

The positives of this book, though, are that it was a fast, easy read. The chapters are short and easy to comprehend, and the plot of the book was good. It started off with a cliffhanger that really made me want to see what happens in this book. The ending was a bit predicable, but it was satisfying. All the loose ends were tied up neatly, and I wasn't left with any nagging questions.

Thank you, Netgalley, and the publishers for lending me this book.

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of The Note by Alifair Burke. Three women became friends at music camp, and are reuniting after all three have experienced traumatic situations. They meet up in the Hamptons, and have a situation where a couple snags a coveted parking spot from them, they jokingly write nasty notes to the couple at dinner, and one of the friends leaves a note on their car-without letting the other friends know. Then things get bad when the man from the couple is missing and then found dead. How are the women involved? One is a lawyer turned law professor, she comes out of retirement when one of her friends is accused of the murder. There are details from their days at camp that come out, and lots of secrets are revealed. I enjoyed this story, I liked the friendships and the mystery was good as well. #thenote #alifairburke #netgalley #advancedreadercopy #lovetoread #mystery #femalefriendships #bookstagram

I’m irritated I wasted my time reading this 🙃

My first book by this author & I hope this isn’t indicative of her writing. I can’t think of anything positive to say about this book. First of all the storyline is ridiculous. The pandemic references were too much. I’ve read plenty of post Covid/pandemic books, it’s almost 2025 it was bad enough living it much less reading about in every book...just stop. The writing to me seemed awfully adolescent/amateur. I couldn’t relate to any of the characters so that made it impossible for me to really root for anyone or get invested in what happened to any of them. Each of their individual stories from the past were so over the top, every time May’s subway incident was mentioned I found myself rolling my eyes. The only thing it had going for it was my curiosity of ‘who dunnit’. I didn’t expect the ending & who the villain turned out to be but even that was kind of ruined for me because after such a slow burn of a book the ending was basically jammed into the last chapter.

I appreciate the arc! Thank you to both NetGalley & the publisher
Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor.

A lost parking space and a note written in anger plunge three friends into an investigation they want no part of. May, Kelsey and Lauren have been best friends on and off since they were young. Now they are trying to reignite their friendship on a long weekend in the Hamptons - a weekend that will involve alcohol, deception and possibly murder.

The Note, a mystery/thriller, has it all. There’s a dark history between the women, dating back to their days at camp. There have been lies and deception, rekindled friendships, boyfriends who come and go. Alafair Burke makes these characters so sympathetic that you don’t want them to be guilty of anything. The plot moves steadily, with twists and turns, toward a surprising conclusion. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor and Alafair Burke for this ARC.

This book swallowed me whole from page one. I loved every page, every detail. I will most definitely be recommending this book to others.