Alafair Burke is one of my go-to authors. I've enjoyed her standalones, (both) series, and the books she co-authored with Mary Higgins Clark. Her latest novel, The Note, is yet another excellent read and I feel that Burke's increasingly moving away from legal procedurals and crime fiction to thriller / suspense territory with her more recent work. Again she writes what she knows and our very likeable-though-quite-highly-strung lead character here (May) is a former assistant district attorney-turned law professor.

The incident that kicks off a 'series of unfortunate events' here is something I think everyone can relate to... someone stealing your carpark when you've been sitting waiting for it. The three friends - reunited after years - have already had a few drinks when they head out for more, only to have a smug couple snavel the carpark they were about to pull into. I could certainly relate to that moment of irrational and uncontrollable anger that overtakes you and sometimes is hard to release. Here it's in the form of a note left on a windscreen - and only of consequence because a man (one half of the aforementioned smug couple) goes missing.

May, Lauren and Kelsey are only just re-bonding when news of the man's disappearance is made public and they're immediately worried that the note might have played a part. And it drives a wedge between the three women because two of them didn't know the third was leaving it. And when they discover they have a connection to the missing man through a past tragedy, everything seems too coincidental.

Burke dips in and out of the past here and we learn of the women meeting at summer camp (as teens) and friendships forged. May had isolated herself from the pair who continued to be close, but welcomed their support recently after footage of her went viral for all of the wrong reasons. As both Lauren and Kelsey have previously weathered 'bad press' or as Burke puts it, been 'judged and vilified by strangers', the trio bond again... hence the weekend away.

I initially felt I was missing some backstory as the incidents that plagued the women are only vaguely referenced. Later, however Burke offers detail and I realised that May's history in particular goes some way to explaining 'who' she is and some of her actions here. Burke, through May, also talks about her post-pandemic struggle to return to normality and heightened sensitivity and I wondered if Burke experienced something similar to May.

There are LOTS of twists on offer here. The women's friendship is again tested thanks to old secrets and recent lies. And of course it impacts on relationships with those around them. I very much enjoyed this and Burke tests readers by giving her lead and support characters some major flaws, behaving in ways they later find regrettable. There are also some deeper themes around friendships, relationships and of course society today - our propensity to judge (both positively and negatively) as well as a reflection on 'cancel culture' and its impact.

Alafair Burke presents us with a tale of three female friends who have known each other for many years but as will all relationships, especially from a young age, there are many ups and downs, often hiding behind their true selves as they mature and grow. The girls have known each other since the age of twelve and now many years later years as adults they decide to meet up again in the Hamptons for a reunion long after a heart-breaking event occurred in their school days that has left a mark on all three.

But this time together will also have consequences when they head out for a fun time enjoying drinks together but maybe too many drinks as something happens which turns the trip into an ugly affair.

As always, the author has a way of bringing her characters to life and you really do feel that you get to know them but the three are completely different personalities and it really makes you wonder how they became so connected and how they will each react to the situation they have found themselves in.

The book held my attention, and I have to say that that the author threw in some big curve balls that I did not see coming. An easy read that fans of the author I am sure will enjoy. 3.5 stars rounded down to 3. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.

May Hanover was always a good girl, raised by a first-generation Chinese single mother with high expectations. Her friends referred to her as the Little Sheriff growing up. And she has been through so much with her lifelong friends, Lauren and Kelsey. But when she finds herself at the centre of a police investigation, the limits of their friendship are tested and it is clear they are each hiding secrets. ⁣
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This one drew me in from the start and was filled with lies and secrets at every corner. The complex relationships of the trio of women was intriguing, with the girls trip to the Hamptons, the investigations and a host of suspicious characters. I flew through this in a day and I could never have predicted the way in which it was heading - always something I love in a novel. ⁣
Another fabulous novel by the author.

Emm, so the story was good. Quite a slow one to get into. Once the action kicked in, it was predictable and too quick.

Alafair Burke, The Note, Faber and Faber, April 2025.

Thank you, Net Galley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

Alafair Burke always creates an absorbing story with logical twists and turns that, rather than arising unexpectedly and having little to do with the plot, always make sense. This does not mean that they do not surprise, but that Burke always develops her plot well, with minute clues along the way, good character development, and a narrative that is engaging. The early slow burn in The Note is an excellent way to develop the characters, relationships, and possibilities when three women get together on a holiday break that has taken years to accomplish.

Lauren, Kelsey, and May met at a music camp, where Lauren was a counsellor and the other two twelve-year-old students. Over time their friendship has developed, and their diverse backgrounds, age and eventual professions are subsumed under the shared companionable jokes and puzzle solving.

The relationship between the three women is realistic, various flaws are apparent in each of them, past resentments colour their current behaviour and attitudes, and when a joke becomes a police matter, suspicions abound. At the same time, Alafair Burke’s depiction of the women’s friendship also demonstrates that despite some failures, strong links bind them together. These are at risk of fracture as past deaths and an investigation into a missing man gain momentum.

The title of the novel is clever in its reflection on notes associated with the current and past relationships between the women. Both have been left in an underhanded manner. One is a note left on a car whose owner ‘stole’ the women’s parking spot; the other was the note left under a door at the camp many years before. Both notes have consequences which impinge on the women’s view of each other.

In the background are the male figures that feature heavily in the women’s personal lives, Kelsey’s father, brother, and her murdered husband; May’s fiancé; and Lauren’s older, married long term companion associated with her past at the camp.

There are plenty of characters to raise suspicions and concerns, and Burke adroitly works them into the narrative. The resolution is satisfying, and I look forward to the next of Alafair Burke’s absorbing novels.

I didn't really get into this one, I found the style of writing a bit hard to follow. It didn't flow for me and felt a bit slow.
Also not a fan of the characters or the themes.

Three female friends have a reunion in the Hamptons. A poor practical joke leads to enexpected consequences. This combined with obsessive family members and a few murders result in an interesting read..

This pacy thriller is just brilliant.. Holidaying in the Hamptons, a man goes missing after parking in the wrong spot. A note left on his car is a 'clue'..but was he killed or just missing.

I loved this book. It is a well plotted read and I loved how it progressed. I was not expecting the ending.

It is a modern and rather glam location and I really enjoyed the characters.

I was completely hooked from the synopsis of this novel and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Three friends with a complicated history are on vacation in the Hamptons and things start to go terribly wrong. It was meant to be a simple prank but it has far reaching consequences and the three friends find themselves in the middle of a police investigation that slowly tears their fragile friendship apart. Set against the exclusive Hamptons backdrop, this novel will keep you hooked to the end. Thank you to NetGalley, Faber and Faber Ltd and the author for the chance to review.

I loved this book!! Kelsey, May, and Lauren reunite for a fun weekend in the Hamptons. After someone steals their parking spot, they leave a note on his car. Next thing they know, the guy is missing. After May goes home, the police contact her and she ends up going back to the Hampton. Secrets come out. Did one of them kill this guy? What is their connection? And is there a connection to the murder of Kelsey’s husband? Super good. I couldn’t stop reading. Surprise ending!

The bonds between old friends can be as tight - and as knotty! - as those that exist between romantic partners, and 'The Note' explores these bonds with authenticity and flair. The scenes set in the Hamptons ring completely true and the novel also contains a classic 'what if' moment - many consider leaving a note like that one but I suspect few do. An entertaining read.