I’m new to thrillers and this book was a good read! I love the suspense and thriller vibes! The characters were written so good!

As someone who appreciates a well-crafted suspense novel, I found myself initially testing my patience with Burke's latest thriller, "The Note." The story's deliberate pacing in the first quarter of the book nearly had me setting it aside, but I'm grateful I persevered, as what follows is a masterfully woven tale of friendship, secrets, and consequences.

The story centers on May Hanover, a former DA turned law professor, whose reunion with longtime friends Lauren and Kelsey in the Hamptons takes an unexpected dark turn after a seemingly harmless prank. Burke expertly peels back the layers of their shared history, revealing how their childhood bond has weathered various storms of tragedy and scandal. As a delightful aside, I particularly enjoyed the detail of May working on the NY Times Spelling Bee daily with her friends, something I share with my wife – it's these small touches that make the characters feel real.

While the novel's strength lies in its intricate plot twists and gradually revealed secrets, I found myself occasionally frustrated with May's character. Despite her legal background, she often jumps to conclusions without considering alternative possibilities, which seems at odds with her professional training. However, this could be interpreted as a clever illustration of how personal involvement can cloud even the sharpest legal mind.

What starts as a slow burn transforms into an engaging page-turner that keeps readers guessing until the end. Burke demonstrates her mastery of the suspense genre by skillfully doling out revelations about each character's past, ensuring that every disclosure adds another layer to this complex narrative.

A big thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was an okay mystery - I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. I think part of my issue was it was hard to like May, Lauren and Kelsey. I also figured out the twist way before it was revealed. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

The Note by Alafair Burke follows three friends post COVID on vacation in the Hamptons. May and Kelsey have been friends since that were preteens after meeting at summer camp. Lauren. was the music teacher and camp counselor. They have always been there for each other and now is no different. While out on the town May and Lauren both write innocent notes on a cocktail napkin as a joke for the jerk that took their parking spot. The next day the guy driving the car has gone missing. Kelsey tells May and Lauren that she had went back to the hotel where they were having drinks to put the note that Lauren wrote on the car. It was just an innocent prank wasn't it? Now May who was a former DA prosecutor is now in lawyer/ sleuth mode into why and how Kelsey is involved in all of this. Will Kelsey just use her father's wealth to get off on the charges like before or is Kelsey really telling the truth? The Note was a true page turner that had you guessing until the very end. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Knopf for an advanced copy of this novel.

Release: Jan 6
Publisher: knopf, pantheon, vintage, and anchor
 
Rating:  4/5 ★ 
 
 
 
The Note is a gripping psychological thriller that dives deep into the complexities of family dynamics and the secrets that can fracture relationships. The story centers around the sudden death of a beloved family member, which sends shockwaves through the lives of those left behind. As the protagonist navigates her grief, she uncovers a mysterious note that hints at long-buried truths and potential betrayals. 
Alafair Burke’s writing is engaging and fluid, drawing readers in with rich character development and an intricately woven plot. The exploration of the protagonist’s emotional turmoil and her quest for answers adds depth to the narrative, making it not just a mystery but also a poignant reflection on love and loss. 
The pacing is excellent, with suspenseful twists that keep you on your toes. Just when you think you’ve figured things out, Burke introduces new layers that complicate the story in intriguing ways. The tension builds steadily, leading to a satisfying and unexpected conclusion that ties together the various threads of the narrative. 
Overall, The Note is a well-crafted thriller that expertly balances mystery and emotional resonance. It’s a compelling read for fans of psychological suspense, as it challenges perceptions of truth and loyalty within the context of family. Burke has delivered a thought-provoking story that will linger in your mind long after you’ve turned the final page. 

Favorite Quote: 
"Truth can be a fragile thing, easily distorted by the lens through which we view it."

Pretty underwhelming. The plot had promise but fell flat. All of the characters were insufferable.
Pretty disappointed.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Three women come together after finding themselves in unfavorable light. Two mysterious deaths from the past are brought up when a man goes missing.

This took me a long time to read. I found it to be a bit boring and didn’t keep me intrigued. The twist left me thinking there was something more to come.

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy.

I almost DNF'd this one, and I RARELY DNF, but as someone who has read many a thriller, I have found that the slow burn thriller really doesn't often work for me. The concept itself is an oxymoron, I pick up thrillers for the quick hooks and the fast pacing, not for drawn out cliches and failed attempts at suspense.

Well, failed for me at least. There are SOME cases where slow drawn out tension and suspense can work, but that was just not the case here. Another thing I hate in books is distinct modernization that takes me out of the story. Personally I don'y like when authors choose to mention various names of things from the real world, facebook, twitter, tiktok, etc, I'm sure the author hopes for relatability but for me it just comes off as cheesy and jolting.

It was cringey, and cliche, and not the absolute worst thing I've ever read which is why I'm giving it 2 stars and not 1, the writing is acceptable, but overall I had to trudge thru till the end and it took me way too long to read. this had none of the typical page-turning compulsion driving me to pick it up.

” by Alafair Burke is a compelling legal thriller that challenges the
moralities of the justice system.
The story is about 3 so called friends who went to camp together when they were young and then lost touch
. They each decide to have a reunion after many years of no contact. The reunion starts out good then due to there desire for a joke these 3 girls play on a stranger ends tragic and the girls start to question each other. Revelations are revealed ethical decimal are are added to this story of suspense and drama. There are alot of twists and turns.

I love Alafair Burke and her writing but this was not my favorite as it started out slow and all the characters were so unlikeable.

In The Note, Alafair Burke delivers a captivating psychological thriller that explores the intricacies of secrets and the pursuit of truth. Burke’s sharp prose and well-drawn characters create an engaging narrative that keeps readers guessing until the very end. With its blend of suspense and emotional depth, The Note is a compelling read that will resonate with anyone who enjoys a thought-provoking mystery. Highly recommended for fans of the genre!

Thank you to the publisher for and NetGalley for the ARC!

Burke is such a great writer and I always enjoy his book. Getting approval for this one was exciting and I hope everyone picks this one up on Jan 7th.
What are the secrets May and Kelsey are hiding? As the story unfolds, it just keeps you reading and reading to find out what's happening.
This book had me guessing the entire time!

This was quite a page turner! I was absorbed start to finish and while I guessed a few twists, it was a gripping read. Recommended!

Engaging and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

When May, Lauren, and Kelsey meet at a gorgeous beach house for a girls getaway, a prank goes wrong and a body turns up. Secrets will be revealed and truths will be discovered that go back decades, but will their friendship survive?
Alafair Burke does an excellent job of building her characters slowly by inserting little tidbits chapter by chapter. Once the twist hits you'll wonder how you missed it.

Loved reading The Note by A. Burke! Estranged friends from summer camp days reunite for a girl's weekend in the Hamptons. The three women meet, excited to reconnect, yet with reservations about how the weekend will go. Everything starts out great, with delicious food, a perfect house rental on the beach, and stories to share. Suddenly, a shocking event occurs that shakes up their happy weekend reunion, and the women start to question their loyalties to each other, How well do they really know each other? What secrets have they been keeping from each other? What really happened at the summer camp the year the camp counselor drowned? A fast-moving, exciting read that kept me intrigued and wondering how the pieces fit together. A perfect beach read, but go read this as soon as you can find a copy! 4.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advance copy of this book.

A girl's weekend in the Hampton's goes wildly wrong when a prank involving a cryptic note and a stolen parking space. May, Lauren and Kelsey have decided to spend a weekend together after some very stressful years of personal crisis. All three have had personal experience with cancel culture, so their plan to rent a house and enjoy the ultra wealthy beach scene might seem doomed from the start. Before their first dinner out, they have already set in motion another very public scandal when they leave a snarky note on the car of a stranger who stole their parking spot.
The trio quickly find themselves in the middle of a police investigation that brings up each woman's recent scandals and a tragedy from the distant past that cemented their friendship.
As May, now a law professor, tries to handle the legal implications, she begins to suspect that her friends are keeping secrets from her.
Burke's twisty suspense covers toxic relationships, bad decisions and the weight of secrets.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for the opportunity to read an advance review copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for the ARC of The Note by Alafair Book
I really wanted to love this book but there was some repetitive descriptions of the characters that were redundant. The pandemic seemed to be a defining event for one of the characters.
The overall theme of this book was centered around a prank pulled by three longtime friends that were vacationing together in the Hamptons. As the book progresses the betrayals and lies add up , providing an ending that seemed rushed.
I have read books by this writer before. She is a good writer, this book just wasn’t one of her better ones.

I thought this book had an interesting layout and start to it that I had to take a moment to realize the actual timeline. It was a good read with an interesting twist but I didn’t enjoy the ending especially the last sentence and if you’ve read this you know exactly what I’m referring to. It felt like it was just thrown in there to finish a subplot that honestly didn’t need an ending in my opinion.

*I review a free ARC from NetGalley*

Overall, a well thought out story and interesting premise. This was a slow burn and at first, it was easy for me to put down because the characters were so unlikeable. As the story progressed, the pace picked up for me and I could see how the three unlikeable characters and all their deceit, secrets, and drama are what make this a good story. The Note is a solid murder mystery with an unexpected ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, & Anchor, and the author for this ARC.

I enjoyed this read although I found the start to be somewhat slow. Once it picked up, I felt like things progressed fairly quickly for an interesting yet slightly predictable development.

I liked the integration of modern themes like cancel culture as well as the acknowledgment of the effect the pandemic had on human mental health and behaviors without being too serious.

Overall I would recommend this read