Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

I’m a pretty big fan of Alafair Burke, with I think my favorite book being The Ex. When I saw The Note on Netgalley, I could not wait to get an approval (and hoped it would happen!)

We quickly find out, for various reasons, these 3 friends have been “cancelled” to put it today’s terminology and while that did not create the bond between them, it helped them revive a friendship from some time ago.

Books about friends from the past reconnecting is def something that interests me in a book so that was one hook for me. And I liked their friendship, but at times, they made me tired too.

It took me some time to get into this book, partly because I was only able to read a couple of pages at a time for a few days. I find that books engage me better if I can spend a longer chunk of time with them.



What I liked:

I LOVE the cover.

The secrets amongst the women. Who among us hasn’t kept a secret or 2 from the BFF? Women’s friendships are some of the most complex relationships and I think Alafair did a tremendous job showcasing that.

he plot of the book. It was a good plot and the deeper I got into the book, the less sure I was about how it was going to end.



Bottom line: While I may not love this as much as I do The Ex, it’s a good book and it will keep you guessing.



*This book was sen to Traveling With T for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*

Alafair Burke has written another tense thriller about three childhood friends, each with secrets of their own. As they convene for a long weekend in the Hamptons, a silly prank gets out of control and one of them is killed. Are one of the other two guilty of murder?

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for this ARC!

This one took me awhile to get through. I thought the first half was slow but then quickly picked up pace.

This book was great and I didn’t see the twist coming!! The characters were likable and the plot was believable. I would recommend this book to a friend!

This was a quick read which kept me interested in what was going to happen and who the guilty party would end up being. I will look for more of her books as I did enjoy this one.

Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley let me have an ARC of the book.

DNF at 50%

At first I was intrigued by this drama between 3 old friends, but then it became more about social issues and the lockdown. I read to escape reality. This one missed the mark for me.

Enjoyed reading this book. This is author who is queen of mystery writing. I look forward to reading more of her books

This is such a good book! It had me hooked and constantly theorizing as I read it. The ending kind of seemed abrupt but the story was still very much enjoyable!

A practical joke goes very wrong for 3 friends on a Girls' Weekend in the Hamptons. Long-time friends Lauren, May and Kelsey all have secrets that they are desperate to keep hidden, and each begins to wonder just how well she really knows the others.

The premise was intriguing, but the plot got very convoluted. None of the main characters was very likable, and I struggled to make it through to the end.

The tension!!!

This is my first book by this author and I absolutely loved the build up and tension created in the book.

Three friends, all with scandalous pasts, take a girls weekend but it quickly takes a turn from the carefree, relaxing getaway they had planned! All are keeping secrets and slowly they all begin to unravel. This book kept me reading until 2am and finished it in one day!

May, Lauren and Kelsey met and became friends when attending an arts camp as they were about to enter their teens. Their friendship grew through their school years though it gradually faded for May when they entered adulthood. She received a surprise invitation from Kelsey for the best trip ever of a weekend reunion in the Hamptons for the 3 of them. May was excited, yet cautious as she hadn’t communicated with Kelsey for 10 years.
The girls were having a great time in the Hampton’s until they saw, David, a man from their past. A silly prank of placing a note on the windshield of his car changed everything. He was found murdered and their weekend turned into a weekend of lies and exposed secrets.
This novel tells a story about friends that have secrets and issues. It is a test of friendship.

Thank you Netgalley

This was a quick read for me, the more books I read from the author I find myself quickly adding her latest to my tbr!
The mystery begins when three childhood friends Kelsey, May, and Lauren or as they like to be called Cancelled Crew
decide to take a trip to the Hamptons. Each one of them has been part of a scandal that got them "cancelled" in popular culture. (Only one of them involved a murder!) This getaway is supposed to be a light and fun time filled with drinks and catching up. The first day while waiting for a parking space a driver for steals their parking spot, angry leads to a drunken prank that goes horribly awry, how can a simple note on a windshield , lead to a missing man, police at their door and their past being looked into? I enjoyed this book, I couldn’t put it down and when the pieces all came together I was surprised!

The premise of this one sounded intriguing, but it fell flat for me. Characters were not that likable and a bit stereotypical. There were a lot of social issues and mentioning of the covid lockdown, which really didn't seem to add to the story. The mystery was ok, but I definitely wouldn't say it was a thriller or even suspenseful. I even guessed the twists before they occurred. 2.5 stars rounded down.

Kelsey, May, and Lauren are on a girl's trip to the Hamptons, but when someone steals their parking space, a silly act of revenge, leaving a note on the windshield of that car, tests their friendship and makes them the center of a police investigation. Through this process, we learn more about the women and how they have all endured "cancellation" for various reasons.

I love Alafair Burke, but this was not my favorite by her. It was a little slow in developing, and the characters were generally unlikeable, making it hard to even care about their troubles. That being said, I did love the idea of the story and will continue to read Burke's novels.

I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars for The Note. While the story had intriguing dynamics and secrets between the three friends, the pacing dragged for me at the beginning. I struggled to connect with the characters and found the focus on the protagonist's inner thoughts a bit excessive. That said, the plot itself kept my interest, even though I guessed the killer early on. A decent read with some engaging moments, though not one of my favorites in the genre.

Another NetGalley read knocked off my shelf! This one was a wild ride! I love all of Alafair Burke’s books that I’ve read and this one was no different. It kept me on the edge of my seat and turning the pages because I had to find out what was happening.

If you enjoy thrillers that make your brain work and edge of your seat thrillers then this book is for you!

My overall rating for this book is 4 ⭐️!

Ahhhhh, this book! Did I put aside responsibilities to finish? Yep. Unapologetically. There is something about the way he tells stories that just captivates me. I want to say spellbinding mystery but also don't want to sound like I"m overselling. It had me by the throat! I was frustrated when I should have been and angry at people for the same reason, but I. Kept. Reading!

4.7, rounded.

Alafair Burke’s newest title is the perfect summer thriller to read during a cold winter. Three friends May, Kelsey and Lauren are reunited for a weekend getaway in the Hamptons. Even though they have wethered tragic events, heartbreak and loss together, they still have secrets they are keeping from each other. When a prank on a girls night out goes wrong, they wind up in the middle of a police investigation.

The author’s knowledge of the law adds to the authenticity of the plot. Lots of twists keep the pages turning. Great pacing with a fantastic setting. This author is a must read for me!

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopfy, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for the advanced reader’s copy.

A great thriller with twists and turns throughout the entire book! It kept me guessing and was a page turner.

May, Lauren, and Kelsey have been friends since May was 12. Each of them have had a public shaming for something in their past (affair, murder suspect, subway event). Now, they are going to the Hamptons for a weekend getaway. When another couple "steals" their parking spot, they decide to leave a snarky note on the windshield. Later, this note causes the trio to face various secrets and expose a killer.
Lots of twists, and I was kept on my toes with all the red herrings!