Alafair Burke’s The Note is a gripping psychological thriller that explores dark secrets, complex friendships, and the lies we tell ourselves. When a holiday getaway in the Hamptons turns into a chilling missing persons investigation, May—a former prosecutor turned law professor (like the author herself) —and her two best friends, Kelsey and Lauren, find themselves entangled in a web of deception and betrayal. Told through May’s eyes, the story delves into themes of trust, privilege, and the consequences of past actions. Burke weaves her legal expertise into a plot full of twists and suspense, while crafting a deeply relatable protagonist struggling with self-doubt and imposter syndrome. With its slow-burn pacing and explosive revelations, The Note is a masterclass in suspense, identity, and the tangled dynamics of female friendships - this was a fun fast read, set in the Hamptons !

This was my first experience reading a novel by Alafair Burke, and I found it to be an engaging and fast-paced thriller. However, I was able to predict the outcome approximately 65% into the book, which slightly diminished the suspense for me.

The story revolves around three childhood friends—May, Lauren, and Kelsey—who have naturally drifted in different directions as they’ve grown older. May serves as the central protagonist, while Lauren and Kelsey play supporting yet integral roles in the unfolding drama. All three characters come from privileged backgrounds, and while they exhibit a keen ability to critique each other’s flaws, they often lack self-awareness when it comes to their own.

The novel is narrated from May’s perspective, and while I initially found her to be a relatable and well-developed character, my perception of her evolved as the story progressed. What began as understanding gradually shifted to neutrality and eventually to outright dislike. May and her friends frequently come across as self-absorbed, and their relationships with one another often seem to lack emotional maturity. As adults, they struggle to balance their long-standing friendship with the new relationships and responsibilities that have entered their lives, often placing their bond with one another above all else.

May is repeatedly described as an exceptionally intelligent and accomplished lawyer, yet her character exhibits a notable degree of tunnel vision. Despite the accolades attributed to her, she makes questionable decisions that challenge the reader’s ability to fully align with her perspective.

While the novel maintained a compelling pace and kept me engaged throughout, I felt that the ending was somewhat incomplete. It seemed as though one additional chapter was needed to further explore certain relationships and provide a more satisfying resolution. That being said, the setting in New York City added to my enjoyment, as I always find books set in this dynamic environment particularly appealing.

Overall, I would recommend this book to fans of the thriller genre. Admittedly, as someone who reads a high volume of thrillers, I may be more prone to identifying plot holes or anticipating twists before they fully unfold. However, it is also possible that the author intentionally crafted the characters to be flawed, encouraging the reader to assess them with a sense of detachment—much like a detective analyzing the case.

Alafair Burke first caught my attention with her novel The Wife which was a five-star read for me, and I really need to make it a point to get through more of her backlist. Even though The Note is only my fourth time reading her, it still felt quite different from the other three I have read. It was a very slow burn, and in the beginning I did find myself getting a bit lost in some of the mundane, but that could also have been due to the audiobook (more on that later). I did enjoy the themes of female friendships throughout and loved the way Bruke captured the ups and downs, but with a lot more drama and some crime thrown in. I’m not sure I needed the detective’s viewpoint in the book, and I do wish the chapters would have been labeled with each character, so we knew exactly whose POV we were in at any given time. Would have been helpful due to the writing style.

I really struggled with the audiobook for The Note, and while I normally love Catherine Ho, her narration for this book was not it. I did not like the way she tried to differentiate her voice for the other characters especially the men, and the audio desperately needed a full cast. (Also good to note, I was only able to go up to a 2x speed and it was BRUTAL. She spoke way too slowly). For these reasons, I would fully recommend reading with the eyes and not doing the audio. This was a little bit like reading a reality TV show but with murder in it, and I think that is part of the reason I liked it as much as I did. Plus, the ending was wild and made it a solid read for me. Oh, and the nod to the Foo Fighters at the front of the book was awesome!

Read this if you like slow burning, character focused, reality show-like books with friend drama and unlikeable characters.

It took me a while to get through this book. It was much more detailed regarding the main characters’ friendships/internal dialogue than so much a thriller novel.

Absolutely devoured this book! The twists and turns will make you audibly gasp. The book had me guessing who the person was. Definitely recommend.

My first Alastair Burke read! Well-paced with relatable characters and plenty of suspense. Setting it in the Hamptons was a great bonus!

I can't recommend it enough! I really enjoyed this book, I couldn't put it down, I finished it in a couple of days!

The Note by Alafair Burke is another twisty thriller that I've grown to love by her. The Note is about 3 women that have been friends since they were young and met at a summer camp. They got close at camp when an unspeakable tragedy occurred. The friends are getting together for a vacation in the Hamptons. They haven't all been together in years and one of them is a bit nervous about it. When they're out to dinner and drinking way too much, one of the women pulls a prank on a couple of strangers. The prank ends in disaster with the women in the middle of a police investigation. What will happen when the police start digging into their past? They've all got things they'd rather keep hidden. Will the women by loyal to one another no matter what or will cracks in their friendship begin to come to light? The Note is suspenseful and keeps you guessing until the very end. Will the police figure out what really happened? Are any of the women guilty? Will their friendship survive the latest tragedy? I rate The Note 4 stars with a high recommendation. If you like a good thriller this book is for you! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Knopf Publishing for an advanced copy of The Note in exchange for a fair review. #TheNote

I absolutely devoured this book.

Alafair Burke delivers another gripping psychological thriller with The Note, a taut and compelling story about friendship, secrets, and the unintended consequences of a seemingly harmless prank. May Hanover, the ever-responsible rule-follower, finds herself entangled in a web of deception and suspicion when a reunion with her childhood friends takes a dark turn. As past regrets collide with present danger, Burke masterfully unravels layers of mystery, keeping the tension high and the twists unexpected. With sharp writing and an engrossing plot, The Note is an addictive, fast-paced read that will keep you guessing until the final page.


Thank you Alafair Burke and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

I had a hard time getting into this story, the 3 main characters were each very different and it felt like it took so long to get to know them. I think I was close to the 60% mark in the book before I really felt like I actually wanted to keep reading it. Once I reached that point though, then I tore through the rest of the book. I did figure out pretty quickly who done it. But I read a lot of mystery and suspense books, so I have gotten pretty good a figuring out the killer.

Overall this was an ok story.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for the opportunity to read and review this story.

2.5 stars, rounded up.

Can something ever truly be just a harmless prank? Or is it something more? Three friends, each with their own secrets and scandals, come together for a weekend getaway in the Hamptons.

At the center of it all is May, the daughter of a Chinese single mother raised to meet high expectations. As the "sheriff" of the group, May is on the verge of losing her promising law career after a subway video of her goes viral, leaving her hanging by a thread. Next, we meet Lauren, involved in a secret affair with a powerful man, and Kelsey, whose husband was found shot dead in his car, constantly insisting on her innocence.

After a night of drinks, they leave a note on the windshield of a jerk’s car, thinking it’s all in good fun. But things take a darker turn when the car’s owner ends up missing.

I might be in the minority here, but it took me a while to get into the book. May's character stood out, but Kelsey and Lauren felt interchangeable, and I kept mixing them up. May could be a bit insufferable at times, though maybe that was intentional. The ending also felt rushed and predictable.

“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” Walter Winchell.
This quote sets the tone for the excellent story to come.
The Note, by Alafair Burke, is indeed all about long-time friends—May, Lauren and Kelsey—and the turn their lives take after a little prank—leaving a note on a car windshield while they are partying in the Hamptons.
The plot puts much emphasis on each woman’s history—their upbringing, family scandals, and heartbreaks. Their reunion in the Hamptons is a stage absolutely ready to heighten the drama of rekindling their long-time friendships and also the secrets that threaten to ruin those relationships.
While the story has enough intrigue, I like the character-driven plotting—as female friendships wax and wane, May opines, “Losing a friend can break you far worse than losing a man.”
I believe women readers will very much enjoy the author’s insight into girls’ behavior, women, and the evolution of friendship, with a good bit of suspense woven through this very engaging story.

Thank you to Alfred A. Knopf Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

This is a good summer-beach read, based in the Hamptons with a girls trip as the main event. I found it a bit slow to start, but even then felt like I wished it had just a bit more excitement. It was a good mystery, but I wouldn't classify as psychological/thriller. I will say however that the ending surprised me and that's always a good sign. All in all, 3.5 stars, good but not amazing.

The Note by Alafair Burke is a gripping and suspenseful novel that delves into the complexities of friendship, secrets, and the consequences of a seemingly harmless prank gone wrong. May Hanover, a well-behaved and rule-abiding woman, has always followed the path set for her by her high expectations and her close-knit bond with her childhood friends, Lauren and Kelsey. The three have weathered their fair share of challenges over the years, but a reunion in the Hamptons turns into something much darker when a drunken prank leads to an unexpected and dangerous situation.

When the fallout of the prank spirals into a police investigation, May finds herself questioning her friends' motives and the true nature of their past. As the layers of secrecy unfold, May grapples with loyalty, trust, and whether the friendships she thought she knew are built on lies.

Burke expertly builds tension throughout the novel, keeping readers on the edge of their seat as May navigates the murky waters of deception and betrayal. The Note is a compelling psychological thriller that explores the fragility of friendships and the weight of choices, proving that even the best intentions can lead to devastating consequences.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I love Burke's novels. They're page turners that make you keep guessing. The Note, is about 3 friends who go on vacation. What could go wrong? So much!

This started out as a heartwarming story of three friends getting together after each one had some rough life experiences. It was going to be a fun and healing weekend. However, a simple prank (that one friend took a step further) started a series of unfortunate events. The complexity of the relationships and history between these women leads to some crazy twists. Once you understand the basis of their friendship, you understand how much they are willing to protect each other. You can't put it down until you've put all the pieces together, but then the big twist happens! Such an exciting read!

I loved this book! I loved getting to Maya and figuring out what happened! The story kept me interested and engaged. Burke is a great story teller and this book is in my top 3 from her.

Thank you @NetGalley for the ARC.
Friendship, lies & betrayal are the themes
of this murder mystery. Fast-paced, some good twists.

Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. A mystery, thriller type book. Three long-time friends get together in person, in the Hamptons for the first time in person after the pandemic. They are the cancelled crew, each found themselves in the midst of a scandal that went viral in the past few years. On this Hampton trip they find themselves involved in a mystery of a missing man.

The main character is May Hanover, we get her point of view for over a third of the book, when it suddenly shifts and shows other character points of view. That was jarring.

And yet, there's more to this book than on first glance.

I’ve read books by this writer before, but didn’t know what to expect this time—-but I really enjoyed it! It tells many stories with other stories, and I wasn’t sure just where the conclusion would be.

May, Kelsey,and Lauren have been friends for a long time. They’re all different, with varying backgrounds, ages, professions, and so on, but they some shared history, especially when they were at Wildwood, a fancy arts camp. Now they’ve reunited for a long weekend in The Hampton and they haven’t been together for some time. What could go wrong? Except for a drunken prank, followed by a murder! All three of them are keeping secrets, and slowly, layer by layer, the start to reveal them.

I remain a real fan of the author, and I’m eagerly waiting for the next one.

This one is four stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️