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.

Really liked this book, my only complaint is the ending seemed rushed. Overwise I would have given it a 5.

3.5 stars, rounded down
Alafair Burke’s latest, The Note, is a slow burn thriller. Three female friends head off for a Long Island getaway weekend. It’s the first time they’ve been together in ages. After a lot of drinks, they indulge in a childish prank. And that’s when things start to go wrong.
Each of the three comes with baggage - a public scandal that has left them “canceled”. Initially, their identities came across as cliches - the rich girl, then type A lawyer, the musician involved with a married man. But Burke does a good job of fleshing them out so I gradually became engaged with each of them. But I did struggle that these three, who are about as different as could be, have remained friends despite major lapses in being there for each other.
The pace of the story picks up as the police get involved. There are some major coincidences, but maybe not so unbelievable in the small world of rich people. As is typical with this kind of thriller, everyone is keeping secrets and has their own agenda. There are some good twists that I didn’t see coming.
All in all, decent entertainment that doesn’t require any deep thought. It doesn’t cover any new ground and I’ll probably be hard pressed to remember the plot a month from now.
My thanks to Netgalley and Knopf for an advance copy of this book.

Found the book to start off really slow. I am glad I stuck with it and kept reading because it did get very interesting and twisty about halfway through. May was likeable but could be annoying with her "must stick her nose where it doesn't belong" personality. Lauren and Kelsey were typical rich kids grown into rich women. The twists to find out who the murderer was did have me guessing until the very end which I loved.

The Note by Alafair Burke moves slowly at first but when it picks up pace, the action is continuous. A legal mystery, the book has romance, deception, deceit, crime, bad judgement…some of everything for a tantalizing read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you to Net Galley and Knopf for the ARC. I didn't really like any of the characters and the plot just moved at way too slow of a pace.

This was the first book by Alafair Burke that I have read, and I truly enjoyed it. The story based on what seemed to be a playful prank turned out to be so much more. I appreciated that the twists and their connections to different characters kept me in suspense and unable to put the story down.
I certainly recommend The Note and will check out others by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

May, Kelsey, and Lauren met as teens at a camp for the arts. May and Kelsey returned yearly, while Lauren, a camp director, stayed on. They became close friends over the years.

After a tragic accident the year that May and Kelsey became counselors, Lauren was fired and their friendships dwindled.

After each being exposed and shamed online for individual reasons, their friendships become rekindled online during the Covid lockdowns.

Finally deciding to get together, a trip is planned for the Hamptons. Things begin to go badly for their reunion on the first night, when the girls play a childish prank on a stranger. None of these women seem trustworthy, but they'll have to stick together and trust each other if they want to avoid having their little prank ruin their lives.

Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Pretty great thriller. I read it all in one night!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

Loved it, recommend it. Go buy it or borrow it from your library and read it. You will be glad you did.

Highly recommend.

You just never know what will happen when you make the smallest of decisions. What if I don’t return that phone call? What if I turn right instead of left? What if I meet up with some friends for a drink?. The law of unintended consequences, You just never know. If you enjoy this type of quandary then this is the book for you. For me the book started out slow but it certainly picked up. I enjoyed the premise of the book and how it plays out.

Disclosure: A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.
If

This was a fun, twisty ride. There was a lot going on between the murders, past histories and how they each are viral in terrible ways. Ok, Lauren's wasn't that bad. May was a tad over the top jumping to conclusions but I get it. Because I had side eyes but still didn't guess the killer until we were meant to. Although that other secret I'd figured awhile before. Josh was a bit of a dud so huzzah when Decker was introduced. And Kelsey...she was a lot to unpack honestly. I felt bad she had such a controlling father but at any time I just wanted to shake her.

This is another twisty, fast-paced thriller by Burke that doesn't disappoint. May is raised by a single Chinese mother with high expectations for her daughter. And, May doesn't disappoint. With her two friends, Lauran and Kelsey, they share secrets scandals and loss. Now the friends reunite after years apart for a few days in the the Hamptons. When May finds herself in the middle of a police investigation, she wonders about her friendships and loyalties.

“The Note” by Alafair Burke is a compelling legal thriller that delves into the complexities of justice and morality. The story centers around a mysterious note found at a crime scene, leading to unexpected twists and revelations that challenge the characters’ beliefs and relationships. Burke’s sharp writing and intricate plotting keep readers on the edge of their seats, while her exploration of ethical dilemmas adds depth to the narrative. The characters are well-drawn, each facing their own struggles, which enhances the emotional stakes of the story. With its blend of suspense and thought-provoking themes, “The Note” is a gripping read that will satisfy fans of the genre.

I have read several of Alafair Burke's books and have enjoyed them. The Note was no different! I was hooked immediately. My only issue is that I was a bit confused at the beginning to tell the difference between Lauren & Kelsey. I enjoyed the storyline - and was surprised when the killer was finally revealed. Thank you so much for the advanced copy of the book. I would recommend the book.

✯✯✯2.5/5 stars✯✯✯

i rounded this rating up to 3/5 stars. this book is about 3 toxic girl friends (may, lauren, and kelsey) who go on a trip together, and one seemingly harmless prank goes terribly wrong. this one took me a bit to get through, it was really slow throughout the beginning and middle for me, mostly because it had so much background info and a lot of talk about the pandemic and cancel culture. the 3 friends pretty much seem to just be friends because they all got cancelled for different reasons, and i just wasn’t a fan of that part of the plot. the book really only had me slightly on the edge of my seat at the end when the truth started to come out about things involving kelsey and it left me absolutely BAFFLED. i noticed some people said that they predicted it, but i didn’t expect it at all.
overall, this book did have some interesting parts, and the ending did leave me surprised, so i do recommend it to anyone who likes a little bit of a murder mystery/thriller type book.

thank you NetGalley for this ARC <3

I laughed when I read the premise of The Note, because my husband and I pulled a similar prank on a friend of ours one April Fools Day. Fortunately, it was just that, a prank, and we all had a good laugh afterwards. Nobody was killed.

I enjoyed this book, although I thought it had a slooooowwwww start. Once it got going, the story was entertaining, the investigation details were believable, the characters were real, and the ending was satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Note.

I received an ARC of this book from Knopf via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. This was a solid thriller. It kept my interest throughout, and I thought the author did a good job presenting various villains. They were all believable enough that the final reveal came as a surprise. I enjoyed the friends' relationship, as I am in a same age range and could completely envision their history and circumstances as they affected the friendship through the years. Regarding other characters, May's fiance was annoying; Detective Decker was funny and smart.

The Note is a thriller focusing on the friendship of three women, reuniting in person for the first time in many years. Each, for different reasons, has had negative viral exposure in social media. And now, a simple practical joke may expose them all again. Or was it simple?

This novel is a fast, engaging read and while the ending is not entirely surprising, the journey to get there was quite entertaining. Each woman is flawed but also has redeeming characteristics as well, reminding readers that we all live in shades of gray. This is my first time reading this author and I will definitely be putting her other books on my TBR list.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Knopf for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.