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

This is the first time I’ve read this author and really enjoyed the book. It was a quick read and a surprise ending for me. I will definitely read more from this author

I enjoyed reading The Note. It is a fast paced read that is well written and thought provoking.
What starts out as a simple weekend away for three friends, turns into a series of events that unravel in the wake of a murder. The main character, May is probably one of the most annoying characters I have read about but the author makes it work for the story. It was interesting to see how the story flowed with the high level of distrust between the characters.
Perfect book for anyone who wants to read a "who did it" mystery story.
Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for the gifted ARC provided by NetGalley. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. Alafair Burke learned at the feet of a great writer and tells an excellent story of her own. I love this book.

I have read enjoyed Alafair Burke's previous books and am glad to add The Note to that list. In all of her books, Burke combines her intimate knowledge of the law with her fine ability to bring her characters to life. In The Note, three long-time friends test their friendship when one places a note on the windshield of a couple who stole a parking spot from them. When he turns up dead, things become more complicated and Burke weaves in twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until nearly the end of the novel. Strong plotting, good character development, and a story that while it starts off slowly builds to a frenzied crescendo, combine to make this a more than satisfying mystery. Keeping me from rating it at the 5-star level is the rather old-fashioned relationships each woman has with a man, or men. Recommended.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This book tells the story of 3 friends, who met at a music camp in their younger days. The 3 decide to meet up for a weekend in the Hamptons and a what first appears to be a harmless prank snowballs into a mess for all of them. I didn't expect the twist in the story in the end! All in all, a good quick read.

This is a story about three women, who met at a music camp when they were kids. They decided to reconnect by spending a week in the Hamptons, where a prank turns out to be dangerous. I enjoyed this book it was a quick read and held my attention and never saw that ending coming. Thank you Netgalley for my arc.

The Note is the story of May and her two friends Lauren and Kelsey. The three friends met at music camp when they were younger. While they have been friends they have had many secrets too. Life happens the friendships ebb and flow. The girls get together for a girls trip out on the Hamptons. They stay at a beautiful beach house and then head to town. When they meet a young couple and play a prank that turns for the worst. This was a great book and I loved the story of the friendships as well as the chance encounter.

This was a quick, easy read. I enjoyed the story and the twist at the end. I did find myself getting a little frustrated with the mentioning of May’s video - I understand it was being used to make May seem unhinged and unreliable, but it seemed like it was mentioned every few pages. I will be recommending it to others. Thank you for the advanced copy.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows three friends who have a complicated history as they go on a vacation to the Hamptons and things quickly go wrong.

This book was not for me. The characters were all so insufferable I just couldn't get into the story. I also felt like everything was just over the top and I just had no interest in the outcome of this story.

I hope others love this one but it wasn't for me.

This was an interesting twisty read. I was definitely shocked by the ending, which I always like, but something fell off throughout the whole book for me. I’m not totally sure what it was, but I think I didn’t really trust the narrator. Overall, though,I mostly really enjoyed it.

Another fantastic novel from the very talented Alafair Burke. This book is very well written, like all of the authors works. While the characters are not all likable, the story is very intriguing and keeps your attention. There are many twists and turns. It takes you on a ride that you just don’t want to get off. The ending is fantastic and you don’t see it coming. Can’t wait for her next book!

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Random House Publishing for an early copy of The Note by Alafair Burke


May-Lauren-Kelsey-three very different women on a short getaway to The Hamptons find themselves involved in a present-day murder and a link to a murder in the past, and the impending investigation illuminates issues in all three women.

When the three women are questioned by local police, it is clear that not everything shared is true. Adding to the uncertainty is Kelsey's brother Nate with ties to each of them. Traps are set as attempts are made to get to the truth and determine if deaths are related. Readers will be uncertain until the conclusion of the book.

The female characters are only somewhat flushed out in this novel, and it is hard to tell how these women could actually remain friends. Each of them does sacrifice something personal for the good of the threesome, however.

This book was fine. I thought this one started off very slow and found myself struggling to continue for the first half of the book but it definitely picks up after that. This was my first read by this author and while I found the story interesting overall, it wasn't amazing for me. I'll definitely give this author another try with a different book in the future.

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

Alafair Burke delivers another addictive thriller that keeps readers hooked with its fast pacing, rising tension, and the complex dynamics between three women, each with secrets that could destroy their lives. The plot follows May, Kelsey, and Lauren, three "canceled" women who reunite on a Hamptons trip. A prank gone wrong turns into a murder mystery, unraveling their friendships and revealing new truths. While the unlikable characters and their flaws may frustrate some readers, the compelling mystery and well-executed twists make this a page-turner. Recommended for fans of women’s fiction, legal thrillers, and mysteries.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Name of Book: The Note
Author: Alafair Burke
Publisher: Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor/Knopf
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: January 7, 2025
My Rating: 3.8 rounded up
Pages: 304

May Hanover was always a well-behaved, top of her class student. She was raised by a first-generation Chinese single mother with high expectations; needless to say mom was pleased that May graduated magna sun laude from Harvard and did the same at Columbia Law

When May was twelve she and her best friends Lauren and Kelsey developed a bond to always keep their secrets- even if May’s friends called her ‘the Little Sheriff’

It has been years that these three have been together and decide for a few days of fun in the Hamptons. The fun, of course, included some drinking. Actually a lot of drinking

Early one evening they are all feeling very good, when a guy cuts them out of a parking spot they have been waiting. He is handsome and looks like a guy who is used to getting his way and certainly didn’t think twice they were waiting. They consider keying his car but instead decided to write a note and leave it on his windshield. They laugh at their harmless prank however things don’t go as planned.
This is actually one part of this story the others included these three friends in a woven twisted web and at time somewhat humorous situations.

I am always curious about the author’s motivation. Delight that authors often reveal this in the ‘Author Notes’ or in this case ‘Acknowledgments. Ms. Burke tells us that note happened when friends were on vacation and a parking spot was stolen from them. They often wondered how it ended up. Then there was the time she and friends went thought a bizarre traumatic time and found their friendship deepened from supporting each other. The last idea was from a homicide investigation when someone was making someone so unhappy that the person felt a need to protect and to end the unhappiness.

After putting all this together, it definitely turned into a very interesting story.

I have read several of Ms. Burkes novels and enjoyed them however, I especially loved all five of the novels she coauthored with0 author, Mary Higgins Cark in the “Under Suspicion” series.

Want to thank NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor/Knopf for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 7, 2025.