Unfortunately, I just didn’t enjoy this one.

I had to dnf after 51% because I just felt myself being so uninterested, annoyed, and dreading picking up the book. I personally wasn’t enjoying the characters, the setup, or the pandemic talk.

I can see other people enjoying this one, and I am still super grateful for having received a copy!

While I have read other Alifair Burke mysteries and enjoyed them, I did not like this one. It seemed like most of the book was filler. The first half of the book (really, 50% on my kindle) was just backstory of the three unsympathetic main characters. We could have done with much less.

The set up: The girls met at music camp . May is a Chinese scholarship student with a high bar set for her. Kelsey, a bit older, is a musical prodigy. Lauren is the daughter of a controlling father. She is rich but has a troubled family background. Their friendship is cinched by a tragedy at the camp. Much has happened in the ensuing years and they have lost real contact, They meet for a weekend in the Hamptons to reconnect, A lot has happened to them. May, an assistant district attorney, has a meltdown in the subway captured on camera that drove her from her job. Kelsey’s long term relationship with her married mentor goes public and almost costs her the job she loves. Lauren went into business with her father. Her husband was murdered. Nobody was ever convicted and Lauren was vilified as his killer on social media.

The girls go out drinking, have an encounter with a couple, and one of them pulls a prank that embroils them all in first a missing persons case and then murder.

It’s hard to say much about a plot that’s stretched thin. I really didn’t care who did it or what happened to the friendship.

Many thanks to Random House and Netgalley for allowing me to read and honestly review this advanced reading copy.

Book: The Note
Author: Alafair Burke
Publisher: Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor
Pub Date: January 14, 2025

I love Alafair Burke and have read several of her books. This one is probably going to be my least favorite. The beginning got off to a slow start and finally took off about the mid way point. By the time I finished reading it I felt like I had read two different books. The second half is much better than the first half. One thing I can tell you up front that I don’t want to read about in books is the C word. I don’t even want it mentioned. So that was an immediate turn off. Another thing with this story is there was a lot going on. Way too much happening when all it needed to be about was the prank. May was very annoying and I didn’t think her character was clearly defined. I realize it sounds like a negative but the second part redeemed the book as a whole.

Thank you Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor and NetGalley for this sneak peak! Publication date is January 14, 2025.

I love this story, it kept me thoroughly entertained, and I highly recommend it for people who love mysteries. I have autoimmune conditions and am in a flare, including vision problems, the only reason I said that is to reinforce how much I enjoyed this book, reading it when I was having blurred vision during the day, as soon as it would clear I was right back with the girls, Lauren, May and Kelsey. They have been friends since they were young and going to Camp, where Lauren was a Counselor, being ten years older, the big sister of the group, with May and Kelsey brought together by their adoration of Lauren. Their diverse backgrounds making no difference to their feelings of sisterhood, even as all three went through separate issues that gained them notoriety on Social Media, they had been through it all still friends. May is engaged and preparing for her wedding when Kelsey texts with the idea of getting together at the beach in Sag Harbor, the cost was too much for May, her wedding plans taking her resources, Kelsey having a wealthy father generously offers to pay for the rental home on the water with a pool, bring on the fun. However, into this alcohol fueled get-together a parking incident gets blown out of control, then The Note, then The Murder! Could three murders from their time at Camp to the alcohol fueled get-together be connected, could it be one of the besties? As I said, this will make my Top Ten, my number one hate is the use of profanity, especially the f bomb, I really hate it, there is no justification for intelligent people to resort to gutter language, if you can't think of a better adjective then that's on you. I do deduct at least one Star for the f bomb. This is not me being sanctimonious, it's me saying what turns me off in a story, I look at least one protagonist as a friend, hopefully there is at least one, then when that spills out, there goes my compatibility with that protagonist. The story is interesting, entertaining, I highly recommend it.
Thank you #Netgalley #PenquinRandom #AlafairBurke
carolintallahassee

I absolutely loved the characters in this book. Set predominantly in the Hamptons, the story revolves around three women who find themselves entangled in legal troubles and some strange murders. The plot twists are unexpected, but everything falls into place perfectly.

The reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is due to the pacing at the beginning. The initial chapters drag a bit, making it somewhat challenging to get into the story. However, once the narrative gains momentum, it transforms into an utterly addictive and compelling read. The slower start is quickly forgotten as the plot thickens and the tension builds, leading to a climax that is well worth the wait. The intricate plotting and character dynamics create a reading experience that is both engaging and rewarding.

Overall, this book is a fantastic blend of mystery, drama, and suspense, with characters that stay with you long after you've turned the last page. Despite the slow start, it’s a highly enjoyable read that I would definitely recommend to fans of the genre.

I’m a longtime fan of Alafair Burke as well as a native east end Long Islander. This book seemed like it would be a can’t miss for me. Alas, though I finished it, it was not the gripping read that some of her previous titles were. I didn’t particularly like any of the main characters, especially May. The deep, long standing friendship between her, Lauren & Kelsey wasn’t believable and didn’t read organically to me. There were a grab bag of sub-plot lines thrown in (pandemic!, crime rate in NYC!, Me Too!, Karen-ing!) that made for a cluttered read. The big reveal was also perplexing, as in really?? You had no idea??? Overall, I felt vaguely irritated throughout my reading.

I love all of the books she has authored and co-authored as well. I really enjoyed the friendship that the 3 women had. I could actually visualize where they were and their personas were like people we’ve actually met. I didn’t see the twist coming so it was extremely suspenseful and the ending was spot on. I couldn’t put the book down because it kept me intrigued throughout.
I highly recommend everyone to read not just this book but all her others as well.

The Note is about 3 old friends getting together in the Hampton’s to catch up. But what was meant as a relaxing vacation ended with a prank note turning it into a nightmare when the recipient of the note turns up dead. Secrets are spilled and relationships tested is one of them a murderer?
I enjoyed Alafair Burkes writing style snd how he added in the criminal procedures. I found the killer to be obvious, but I enjoyed the twist and how he wrapped it up. I plan on checking out more of his books.

Alafair Burke is a treasure. Her crime novels/mystery thrillers are smart, well-crafted, and unputdownable, and The Note is no exception. Kelsey, May, and Lauren, three friends with complicated personal and collective histories, reunite in the Hamptons for what is supposed to be a carefree and fun girls' weekend. Unfortunately, things quickly go terribly awry, and the women find themselves wrapped up in a police investigation. Relationships are put to the test, loyalties are called into question, and is one of the friends to blame? Burke is a master of storytelling and suspense, and The Note kept me guessing until the very end.

Incredible thriller split into 5 different parts. Three female friends get together in the Hamptons for a vacation and a prank involving a note quickly gets out of hand. So many lies and secrets going back to the beginning of their friendship. Amazing twist! I enjoyed that the criminal procedure elements actually made sense and weren't far fetched. I did not realize the author is a former prosecutor and current professor of criminal law which made the book flow even better.

Thank you so much to Alfred A. Knopf and NetGalley for my ARC!

Initially it didn't really grab me; it was quite slow, a bit convoluted in terms of their friendship, and the characters weren't terribly engaging.

I stuck with it, reading intermittingly between other more compelling (for me) reads.

Then it got interesting, and the murder mystery made me want to finish it. While it was somewhat easy to figure out the murderer, I did enjoy how it was solved.

The characters did eventually grow on me as well.

This was a great read! I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Three girls friends from childhood meet in the Hampton for a holiday together. When they meet a couple and pull a drunken prank- things go horribly wrong. And then May finds herself being investigated by the police. What have they done?
Grab this book for an exciting read!

First half of the book 👎🏼 second half of book … better. Never had the page turning element to me. As a reader , I found myself skimming more than soaking in the characters and story line. Still a huge fan of Burke , just want a good fit personally.

Kelsey, May and Lauren, long time friends, take a trip to the Hamptons. Each has suffered a personal public scandal. It is a story about friendship, secrets, and a prank…the note. Soon the three are part of a murder investigation which tests the bonds of trust and friendship. This was a page turn with twists and turns. It is a must read.

First off, thank you NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alafair Burke rarely disappoints and her latest book, The Note, is no different. What starts off as a drunken prank quickly becomes a missing persons case, and those who seem least involved have the largest secrets to hide.

I absolutely hated Josh and his sniveling attitude ( and May wasn’t much better, but she at least had some redeeming qualities)… but overall, I enjoyed the character development and the relationship that the main characters shared.

This was a very fast and enjoyable read!

I always love a good Alafair Burke book...but I wasn't sure how I felt about his one. The main character is fighting to regain her identity after being involved in a "viral" internet video, one of her friends is a suspected murderer, and the other has been in a long term interracial relationship that has "me too" overtones.

In short, there is a LOT going on. When three friends who met at camp years ago reconnect to spend time together, a series of circumstances and a "note" starts a whole chain of events that keep you guessing.

I was a little lost at times because there were so many themes to follow, most surrounding the new interests. True crime, the Karen culture and the Me Too movement. What I got out of it is that people can be judgmental and quick to condemn when a lot of people are really just out here trying to figure out who they are and making bad choices....but also have to own the consequences.

It was fun figuring out who was real and who was not and watch Mai try to pick up a part of her life and the way her brain works, that she thought she'd left behind.

The ending leaves a possibility of seeing some characters again, and overall, I find I wouldn't mind that.

So many unnecessary info dumps that significantly slowed the story's pace to a crawl. The characters did not act and react according to who they were portrayed to be. A frustrating book.

The Note by Alafair Burke centers on a girl's vacation and a prank that goes horribly wrong.

I received an uncorrected proof through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

While the premise was intriguing, the novel's execution left much to be desired. There was an excessive amount of backstory and unrealistic actions. Though I understand this is fiction, my suspension of disbelief has its limits. It was difficult to accept that a mid-30s Ivy League-educated lawyer would engage in such foolish behavior. I won't spoil the specifics, but her actions were quite startling.

The friends, aptly nicknamed "The Cancel Crew," all seemed toxic. The diversity among the women was a refreshing change from the typical all-white casts in this genre, but the character development fell short. They all came across as aloof, selfish, entitled, and petty. The author mentioned in her acknowledgments that she hopes we all have a May, Lauren, and Kelsey in our lives, but I am grateful I don't.

The twists were minimal, and the red herrings were obvious. I might have enjoyed the story more if the background stories were handled differently or kept to a minimum. Some side stories seemed unnecessary and only served to lengthen the narrative.

There was also an unnecessary focus on the pandemic and a character struggling with post-pandemic life. Since the story is set in 2023, it felt out of place, as life had mostly returned to normal by then.

I don't think I'll seek out another Alafair Burke novel anytime soon.

Thank you again to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel.

2/5 stars

For a full breakdown of my rating scale, please see my bio in my GoodReads account

I love Alafair Burke, and this just may be her best book yet! This mystery surrounds a group of three friends known as the Cancelled Crew - Kelsey, May, and Lauren. All three have been friends since childhood, and each one of them has been at the center of a scandal that got them "cancelled" in popular culture. (Only one of them involved a murder!) So one day all three of them decide to take a trip to the Hamptons. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, a lot - specifically, another murder, which requires May to come out of retirement (she's a former prosecutor) to figure out how to help a friend accused of murder for the second time. This is the part where I mention that I was a teensy bit annoyed at how the story took a completely unrealistic turn, by having a fellow witness to the crime representing the accused - side note, I am a former prosecutor (as is the author!) and these things sometimes irk me. But Burke did such a great job with the setup of the final twist that I was able to forgive this brief foray into fantasy.

This book was a page-turner in every sense of the word, as I couldn't wait to find out whodunit, and I wasn't disappointed. I love the way Burke writes and the three women at the center of this book were well-drawn and fascinating. I'd love to see a sequel, or even a series.

Five shiners from me, and I'll be on the edge of my seat waiting for whatever Alafair Burke writes next!

Thank you NetGalley and Alfred A Knopf Publishing for this ARC.. let me stop by saying my favorite setting includes a bunch of girls going away for the weekend when secrets get revealed and someone gets murdered! This book delivers all the suspense and excitement! I love how secrets become revealed and leads up to a great conclusion that I didn’t see happening!! The plot is based on when a silly prank becomes sinister and it was believable and so much fun to read! I highly recommend this book and will continue to read more from this author!!!