This was the first book I have ready by Alafair Burke. This thriller was a page turner and filled with tension and kept you on the edge of your seat and often yelling at the characters asking them why.. Three friends go on a trip to the Hamptons to catch up on old times and get reacquainted, what is wrong with that? This was filled with love, lies, secrets and deception. This was very enjoyable and won't be the last book I will read by Alafair. Thank you NetGalley, Alafair Burke, and Knopf publishing for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I feel like it has been forever since I’ve read a thriller, and January is the perfect month to dive right back in. The Note follows three longtime friends who reconvene post-COVID for a first time to spend the weekend in the Hamptons. But old secrets, withheld information, and one dumb prank escalate in a wild and twisted ride that ends up being more than anyone bargained for. I really enjoyed this book, but mainly for the intricacies of the old friendship between May, Lauren, and Kelsey and less for the thriller aspects of it. The first twist and all of the plot surrounding it was so clever and really well done! What followed ended up surprising me less and less, so if you like your thrillers to end with a bang, this is not one of those. I do think Alafair seamlessly wove together topics that are front of mind and challenges that we as a society, particularly women, struggle with like the challenges to reentry to life post-pandemic, defining how you see yourself in the work, how old friendships do or do not serve us when we evolve, and the messiness of being a woman. All of this, set into a thriller in a way that made it palatable, relatable, and fun. And you know what? I would still go on a vacation with my old friends in the Hamptons after reading this!

This is the first book I have ever read by Alafair Burke, and I will be going back to read all of her previous books. This was a tremendous thriller that keeps you guessing to the very end. The characters were well developed, and the pacing was perfect. I really enjoyed this book and if you like suspenseful thrillers, I think you will too! Go get this one!

Three friends who have drifted apart over the years plan to renew their friendship with a vacation in the Hamptons. They have each been touched by public scandal and it is a chance to reconnect. When a young couple steals their parking spot they jokingly write a note suggesting that he is a cheater. They had no intention of leaving the note but after a few drinks one of the women slips it under the windshield. When the young man goes missing and is late found murdered the women become prime suspects. May is a former DA and currently a law professor who was caught on video leveling false accusations against a man. Lauren has been having an affair with a married man for a number of years. She is a talented musician and symphony conductor whose career has been threatened by his wife. Kelsey’s husband was murdered. He had been planning a divorce and she became a suspect in the murder even though she had a solid alibi. There is nothing to connect them to the missing man at first. May, however, has always looked for the truth and her questions bring the women to the attention of the police. Their investigation also finds a connection between the victim and the women. He had been dating a camper who drowned at the summer camp where the women were employed so they all knew him.

May was looking forward to the reunion. When she discovers what had been done with the note it is the first crack in their relationship. As lies are discovered and the resentment grows she is forced to leave. As a former DA her legal expertise and pursuit of the truth may be the only thing that saves her friend. Alafair Burke throws constant twists at the reader, keeping you guessing what really happened. When he ties the current murder to the murder of Kelsey’s husband it takes the investigation in a whole new direction. While the ending of the book kept me turning the pages, the beginning sometimes seemed slow, as May continuously refers to her melt down. It is not until later in the story that you actually,y find out what happened. When the women are together May’s character stands out, but also feels like an outsider in the group. Burke’s conclusion finally brings the friendship together in his final surprising revelation, making The Note a story that I would recommend. I would like to thank NetGalley and Knopf Publishing for providing this book.

I gave The Note four ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you Alafair Burke, Alfred A Knopf publishers and Net Galley for the ARC. These are my honest opinions.

I really enjoyed this book! It kept my attention and I was invested in the characters. There were a few spots where I thought it was getting somewhat redundant - like when looking back in time - but, overall, the story moved forward at a good pace.

There was a twist at the end that I had figured out, so I didn’t get to indulge in a shocking turn of events. Until then, though, the storyline was pretty convincing.

Worth the read!

Twists, Turns, and the Cancelled Crew
Spoiler Alert: This review contains plot details that some readers might prefer to discover on their own .

So, I started the year super slow, but now I’m finding my groove—and what better way to kick things off than with a gripping thriller? Thrillers always manage to pull me in, and The Note was no exception.

This mystery surrounds a group of three childhood friends—Kelsey, May, and Lauren—known as the “Cancelled Crew.” Each of them has faced public scandal in their lives, ranging from career-ending controversies to, well, a murder accusation. When they decide to take a trip to the Hamptons to escape it all, the question arises: what could possibly go wrong?

As it turns out, plenty. Their getaway takes a dark turn with yet another murder, pulling May, a former prosecutor, back into the world she thought she’d left behind. This time, she’s trying to help a friend who has found themselves accused of murder—again.
I did not see the ending coming. Burke’s ability to set up the final twist was absolutely brilliant. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the story took a sharp and satisfying turn that left me floored.

While I did find myself raising an eyebrow at one plot point (having a witness to the crime represent the accused, which isn’t exactly realistic), the suspense and character depth more than made up for it. This book kept me hooked from start to finish.

This was a page-turner in every sense of the word. Burke’s writing is sharp and engaging, and the three women at the heart of this story were so well-drawn and fascinating that I’d love to see them return in a sequel—or even a series.

For me, this was a solid 4-star read. I’m here for more of Alafair Burke’s work and will be eagerly picking up her next book. If you’re in the mood for an easy, addictive thriller with strong characters and plenty of twists, this one is a must-read!

This "mystery" meandered so much that I genuinely forgot by the end of the book that a note that kicked off the entire series of events. The three friends are train wrecks for sure; they don't sound or act mature enough to be much else. That they got as far as they did in the events of the plot is baffling to me, and the major twist in the book was incredibly predictable. I started to get an inkling about it long before it actually happened, which left me feeling more "ick" than anything else.

This novel needed a better title and more fine-tuning of its characters.

The Perfect Escape!!!!

✔️ Alafiar Burke
✔️ Secrets
✔️ Lies
✔️ Fast Paced Thriller

Thank you NetGallary for an early review copy of The Note!

This is The Perfect Escape book by Alafair Burke! I absolutely loved this page Turner!

I was hooked from page one and devoured this book. Phenomenal writing with excellent character development!

I thought I had figured out exactly what happened however I was dead wrong! Once you start this book you won’t stop reading until you find out what really happened!

This book had plenty of secrets and lies with the perfect amount of twists and turns!

I savored every word because I could not stop reading!

This is a must read! A masterpiece that kept me engaged the entire time!

No spoilers with my review!

I gave this book 4 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️!

Three friends, all hiding a secret, go on a getaway to the Hamptons. While there, one friend decides to play a prank and leave a note on a guy's car, however, it quickly takes a turn when the guy she pranked goes missing. The girls become suspects after it is revealed that they have possibly had ties to this man.
The premise is good, however, the first half of the book is very slow. There is a lot of talk of social issues and a lot of talk of the past, which, in my opinion, didn't add much to the story. The latter half, however, is pretty good. Things start to pick up and eventually start adding up. A solid 3 star read.
Thank you NetGalley, Knopf, and Alafair Burke for this read!

This was my first Altair Burke novel and I liked it.
Three close friend take a trip to the Hamptons and a silly prank goes awry. Lots of long buried secrets. What’s not to love.
My one annoyance was disliking the main character and maybe that was the point, but I found her insufferable most of the time. I will definitely pick up another book by this author in the future.
Thanks too NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for a honest opinion.
3.5⭐️

What a thriller. Some very unexpected twists as everything unravels at the end you get a ton of answers. This is for sure a fast paced and keep you hooked book. Finished in one day. Loved it. I felt a little confused at times with characters but then as it kept going it made more sense. Lots of dynamics and different character journeys.
A good quick thriller. For sure an off forbidden love is all I’ll say.

I love this author and the plot sounded great, but couldn’t enjoy due to all the references to the pandemic which felt out of time now. There were also references to pop culture from 2020 and that felt out of time also. Marie Kondo, for example.

This is one of those times that I wish there was a 3.5 star rating. I really enjoyed so much of this book. At first, I loved the three girlfriends and the drama they attracted without seemingly trying. I liked the setting in the Hamptons with all the glitz, fancy restaurants, fun shops and beautiful beaches. It was fun to see the friends be silly with each other and reminisce about past times when the trip started. Each of the girlfriends had unique personalities and backgrounds that made them great characters. However, as the storyline gets more tense and their loyalty to each other is tested, I was surprised and annoyed by some of their actions and reactions which didn’t seem to match the situation. Overall, it is still worth the read. Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for the digital ARC.

Good story. A little slow pacing for my liking but overall did a fairly good job keeping me engaged.
I saw the twist at the end coming though before it was revealed which is kind of a bummer but overall I enjoyed this read! Thank you!

Suspenseful page turner from start to end.

Three long time friends visit the Hamptons for a "girls weekend" - how could anything go wrong?

Twists and turns and imperfect people add to the who dun it of this really good first read of the year!

This is a page turner from cover to cover. A girl's weekend in the Hamptons? Count me in!

Kelsey, Lauren, and May have been friends since they were at camp together in their youth. When they get together for this weekend, a gesture of annoyance for a stolen parking spot has repercussions that none of them could imagine. Secret after hidden secret is slowly revealed. Each girl has a past and I liked how the author dives further into each one to make the narrative complex. The thought that one of them could be a killer is preposterous, or is it? As each new character is introduced suspicions arise among this tight group of friends.

The Note is a thrilling, fun, and compulsive read. Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for an early copy.

I’m dizzy. Sooo many twists and turns.

A girls getaway. A weekend to recharge their friendship. The more we learn about May, Kelsey and Lauren, the more complicated everything becomes. Then a petty note is left on a windshield of a man who ends up on missing posters.

This novel was full of complex
relationships, a lengthy history between the characters and a mystery of who and how one, wait… two… no. three people end up dead.

I always love an Alafair Burke mystery and this was no different. She brings her experience in law to her craft giving the reader a fuller look at the investigation and prosecution.

Thank you to Alafair Burke, NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for providing a digital e-book ARC in return for an honest review.

The Note by Alafair Burke was my most anticipated read of 2025!
A brilliantly intriguing and suspenseful thriller.
This is a fast pace, grabs you quick, and reels you in story.
Burke is great at writing suspense filled books.
As always, I enjoyed Burke's story - and especially the twist at the end.

Thank You NetGalley and Knopf for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Three friends, many secrets and lots of twists and turns.
Kelsey, May and Lauren are reconnecting during a vacation. Previous hurts and wrongdoings come to light as do truths from the past. When a similar crime happens the three friends join together to solve the mystery of why and how they keep finding themselves surrounded by loss.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this EArc. All opinions are my own. I was pretty disappointed with this book. Typically, the author's mysteries pull me in but this was a slog. I understand why authors felt they needed to incorporate Covid at the time they were writing their books but unfortunately, by the time the books come out, it feels like it is forcing us back to a place we don't want to be. I found all of the characters pretty unlikeable. The pacing was way too slow and I felt like the twist was too obvious but also still didn't make a lot of sense. Hoping for improvement in the next venture.