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.

The Note
by Alafair Burke
Pub Date: Jan 07 2025

"The Note" started out catching my attention full force! Three girlfriends get together for a vacation. There was a time when they were all good friends but something happened that they became estranged. The story had a lot of secrets and lies, it was an entertaining read but at times I did find it a bit much.

Synopsis: A vacation in the Hamptons goes terribly wrong for three friends with a complicated history. It was meant to be a harmless prank.

Many thanks to #TheNote #NetGalley for providing me with an E-ARC of this 4 star mystery thriller.

I have to say that while I enjoyed the story in Alafair Burke’s novel The Note, I didn’t like the characters. But then I don’t think Alafair intended for us to like all of them. I will definitely say there were many layers to these characters, the only problem is the more I found out about them, the more I didn’t particularly like them, lol. I do think the idea of unintended consequences from a stupid prank is quite cool. While the book starts kind of slow, it picks up on the back half. This is one of those books where I’m undecided on just how I feel about it. I don’t regret reading it at all, but it also wasn’t a book I had trouble putting down. But it may have been due to the time of year I’m reading it. I’m knee-deep in holiday cheer right now and this one just doesn’t suit my current mood, lol. I give it 3.5 stars. (rounded up.) Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Note.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-note-alafair-burke/1145412542?ean=9780593537084&bvnotificationId=33579df2-cd37-11ef-b709-0e22800f2ad7&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/331543833

This is the second book I read by this author and I do love the writing style. The premise drew me in. Three friends who have gone through some questionable things decide on a vacation to the Hamptons. Secrets, secrets and more secrets are brewing. I really enjoyed this book. Thank you to netaglley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

This was a book about friends that reunite after each has gone through their own public shaming around incidents that may or may not have been their fault. In May's case, it takes a while for the author to reveal the video that went viral. Lauren's scandal is revealed as the story progresses. But it's the very public murder case of her former husband. And now all three women are connected to a murder that happens while they are on vacation in the Hamptons and it's all because of a childish prank.

A thread running throughout the story, but not fully overtly is the racism that two of the female main characters endure as persons of color. It's not totally irrelevant to the plot since it did have some bearing on some of the things that happened to them, but it felt like an interruption to the story.

I have only read the Alafair Burke books co-written with Mary Higgins Clarke, which I enjoyed and I found this one to be very readable. Even though it was somewhat predictable, I enjoyed watching the relationships grow and change. There were plenty of twists to keep me engaged!

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for an advance reader's copy.

The Note is twisted, standalone suspense novel and my first read by this author. I’ve seen the rave reviews for other books by this author but I found this book just okay. The main characters aren’t really likable and definitely not very good friends. They get together after years to spend time but it goes sideways when a murder links back to a note that one of them left on the victim’s car. All three of them have scandals attached to their names and fear being back in the limelight for any bad publicity. Not a one of them is trustworthy or someone you would want as a friend. May is possibly the worst amateur sleuth ever as she jumps from one scenario to another to uncover a murderer. The ending was twisted and not expected but not really a saving grace in the overall story, more of a lip curling shock than anything. I’m sure the author long time fans will love this book but it’s just okay for me. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

Three girlfriends who have gone through their own separate scandals over the years decide on a vacation in the Hamptons. But a harmless prank leads them to becoming suspects in a murder investigation. When one thread begins to unravel, so does their history. Can the friends band together or will it be every gal for themselves?

Great plot, would make a good TV series! It did take me a little to dive into the story but once I made it halfway through, the pace really picks up. I feel the ending was rushed but overall, a fun read. You definitely have to pay attention. Otherwise, you'll miss the subtle clues to this mystery.

Thank you #NetGalley and Knopf for this ARC of #TheNote by Alafair Burke. Just released today!!

This is my second book by Alafair and I had really high hopes. When three long time friends get together after years in the Hamptons, what could go wrong?! I thought this book was good. However, it felt pretty slow paced and I had a hard time keeping track of the going ons of the story. Overall, this was a solid read and would recommend for thriller lovers.

What a fantastic little thriller. I've read one or two books by Burke before, but this was just incredibly compelling. Three lifelong friends (all of whom have been exposed to some sort of public shame or cancellation) get together for a reunion at a rented house on Long Island. They go out for drinks, and when a young steals their parking spot, one of them jokingly writes a note saying, "He's cheating. He always does." She plans to discard it, but then another of the friends puts the note on the car anyway.

Cut to two days later. The couple is missing, the friends are starting to learn secrets about each other, and the police are getting involved. Things get more and more tense as info about their shared history gets doled out.

This isn't a "whodunit," in that anyone with a reasonable sense of genre and tropes will figure that part out, but it's a fun character-driven thriller, and Burke's got a very solid eye for social issues around race and disability that almost certainly annoy a certain kind of reader (who deserves to be annoyed), but which never gets in the way of her storytelling (in fact, it enhances it). The friendships here feel lived-in (complete with flaws), and the supporting characters help enhance the book nicely.

A quick read -- probably one day depending on late you start it -- but worth blasting through.

Three friends get together for vacation in the Hamptons to reconnect and rekindle the friendship that has dissipated over the years. This friend group is unique - each girl has experienced the cruelties of cancel-culture and doxxing over a variety of mishaps. And before that, the girls experienced a tragic loss at the summer camp where they met.

They play a drunken prank on an unsuspecting stranger, all in good fun. But when that stranger ends up dead and the police get involved, all of the carefully crafted reputations and secrets that have been woven over the years start to come apart.

I liked this one! It was my first Alafair Burke book, but I plan to check out her backlist. I love a toxic friendship and a lavish setting so I knew off the bat this was one I wanted to check out. It would be perfect for poolside reading and sipping a cocktail.

None of the girls are particularly likable, but there were times that I could empathize with them. The cancelling angle was a nice touch, I’m surprised there aren’t more books out there that include this as an element.

I also liked the layers of the friends. One of the three being older and on equal ground now, but originally more of an authority figure was an interesting dynamic. All of them experiencing something together as well as separate traumatic issues gave each of them a unique voice.

"And if his growing fears...were correct, she would at some point go back and replay every detail of her time in this police station..."

#thenote was my first Alafair Burke read, and I loved it! It's not perfect and sometimes the writing was a little cliched, but I couldn't put it down! I thoroughly enjoyed it as a piece of escapist fiction with good characters, intricate plot and multiple POVs. Definitely going to check out Ms. Burke's back catalog.

P.S. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC.

The Note by Alafair Burke is a mystery in which a lawyer-turned-college-professor takes the lead in accusing, first, her friend and then her friend’s father, of two murders. In doing so, she puts her engagement at risk as well as her friendships, but her sense of right and wrong is strong and she is stubborn. What a great character, although maybe a touch difficult to be around. The three women, May, the lawyer; Lauren, the ex-camp counselor; and Kelsey, the spoiled rich girl. They had bonded years earlier at Wildwood Arts Camp and had mostly hung together for the intervening 20 or more years. The went into town and drank too much. As a joke, Kelsey wrote a note on a napkin accusing a man they noticed of cheating. Three drunks thought it was payback for him stealing their parking space. That simple joke turned into a nightmare for a whole lot of people.

Alafair Burke has a way of cutting to the chase. She did in this story, joining these three women in a very unlikely friendship, each having their own lives and their own issues, and yet, coming together in the end. It was an emotional story of friendship, murder, mental illness, and misplaced love. It was good to read, but disturbing, as well. May charged ahead, it was her strength and her greatest weakness. The solution was convoluted and disturbing. They all were able to move on, albeit as totally different people.

I was invited to read The Note by Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KnopfPantheonVintageAndAnchor #AlafairBurke #TheNote

I enjoyed this thriller overall. There weee definitely no likable characters and some I’m found extremely frustrating. I was able to figure it out fairly early, but it didn’t ruin it for me. Overall an quick easy read

I enjoyed this book. It follows three friends on a girls trip to the Hamptons. I liked finding out more about each character. They were very close in the past, but drifted apart due to some unfortunate events in each of their lives. The characters were unlikable, so I wasn’t rooting for anyone, but the book kept my interest and I enjoyed all the twists and turns. This was a good mystery with a lot of drama.

Thank you so much @knopf, and @netgalley for the copy of this eARC!

Three longtime friends head to the Hamptons for a vacation, and what starts as a harmless prank involving a note quickly spirals out of control. As lies and secrets from their past resurface, the tension between the three women escalates. The dynamic between them was engaging and kept me hooked.

The drama in this book was intense! It was nearly impossible to put it down. The backstory, the characters, and the twists were all expertly crafted and completely absorbed me. Making this a twisty, thrilling mystery! This was my first Alafair Burke novel, and it certainly won’t be my last.

The Note had everything a great thriller should—secrets, lies, and unexpected revelations. I loved how the story unfolded, with the hidden truths of the three friends and Kelsey’s brother, Nate, coming to light. The way it all came together at the end was fantastic.

I was surprised to learn that the author is a former prosecutor and current criminal law professor, which makes the story flow even more seamlessly. Highly recommend this one!

While the setup may make it sound like a light whodunit about the complicated friendships of a group of women on a posh vacation in the Hamptons, there’s nothing light or easy-going about The Note. It’s a constantly twisting tale of friendship, secrets, and lies—the kind that’s guaranteed to keep you up reading past your bedtime.

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery.

I've read or listened to a few books by Alafair Burke and they've always been enjoyable, The Note was no exception. May's character was a struggle for me to like; she was a busy body, creating drama unnecessarily but with good intention (maybe?!) she felt like a young teen adapting who she was based on the people she was around. The first part of this book was a little slow, and the ending was a little bit of a stretch for me, but the second half of the book was faster paced and had me much more interested. Fans of Burke's might enjoy this a little more than I did, those new to Burke should keep an open mind and will likely enjoy this quick read as I did.
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Thank you NetGalley and Knopf for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest read.

This book has been called the thriller of the summer even with its winter publication date. With three fun heroines, a twisty plot that relies a little too much on coincidence, and a sultry Hamptons setting, it's great for the beach or at home in front of the fireplace on a snow day.