My first time reading Alafair Burke and, sadly, probably my last. There are definitely the trappings of a compelling psychological drama here, but the characterisation and tone consistently let it down.

I’m sure that there will be readers who really respond to THE NOTE, but it’s not for me.

I did enjoy this book, the plot was good and it gripped me enough to keep reading, I just found it a bit of a slow burn which isnt what I expected when I first requested this book from reading the description.

The description to The Note grabbed me straightaway and I was looking forward to diving into the story. When I did, I found that although I did enjoy it, it wasn't as good as I had been expecting. It was a little slow for my taste with characters that I could not really take to. I have read and really enjoyed books by this author in the past so look forward to future books but for some reason this one just wasn't as good as I was expecting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

Reading The Note felt like stepping into a pressure cooker of secrets, guilt, and unraveling friendships. I was immediately drawn to May Hanover—her quiet, rule-following nature made her relatable, but it was her internal conflict that really hooked me. Burke does a brilliant job of showing how even the most well-intentioned people can get swept up in something dangerous.

The premise—a prank note that spirals into a full-blown investigation—seemed simple at first, but the way it snowballs was both chilling and believable. I found myself constantly questioning who was telling the truth and who was hiding something. The tension between the three women was palpable, and their complicated history added layers that made the story feel emotionally rich.

What I appreciated most was how Burke tackled themes like public shaming and the fragility of reputation in the digital age. It’s a thriller, yes, but also a sharp commentary on how quickly things can fall apart. I couldn’t put it down!

Three friends are up in the Hamptons when a harmless prank goes wrong. Who wrote the note and why? I found this book a bit long at the start, it does get better, it’s not so thrilling as other books I’ve read. I found the woman immature and needy and it was a tad irritating for me. It’s wasn’t badly written, but too slow for me. A 3 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

I love the cover and that's what drew me in this book but in the end it unfortunately bored me to tears. So disappointed.

The Note is a smart, twisty thriller anchored by well-drawn friendships and a story that takes root in contemporary anxieties around cancel culture and public reputation. If you enjoy carefully plotted mysteries with juicy reveals and a tightly wound setting, this one delivers. Just be prepared for a slowish opening, a cast that may rub you the wrong way, and a few predictable beats—not dealbreakers, but worth noting.

I really wanted to love this one, as the premise sounded great, but I struggled to get through it.
It started off well, though I was honestly bored through the whole middle of the book, and then it picked up nearer the end to have a satisfying finish.

The twist was pretty decent, I didn't figure it out. I thought I had, but I was wrong.

Overall, it was good, but not as good as I'd hoped.

3 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley, Faber and Faber Ltd, and Alafair Burke for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book so much! Definitely didn’t see it coming! Couldn’t put this book down so I highly recommend to anyone that loves the twists and turns of a mystery novel!

The idea behind this story had so much more potential than this. A group of friends meeting up in the Hamptons wait for a parking spot only for another opportunistic driver to steal it. Angered by the smug privilege of the car’s occupants, they decide to mess with them by leaving a note on the windscreen. This has ramifications when the driver of this car then goes missing. What happened next was annoyingly predictable and quite frankly, boring. This was not helped by the cast of female characters just not being very likeable. Not for me.

I read this as an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Note
Gotta love a story about Rich People Drama!

The girls who have been friends since they met as teenagers at summer camp head to the Hampton’s for a girlie weekend. When a rude driver steals their parking spot they decide to leave a note, little do they know that this will entangle them within a criminal enquiry, with all the girls having something to hide.

I loved this story, I thought the plot was interesting, I loved the red herrings, and I thought it was very twisty. Really enjoyable!

May, Kelsey and Lauren, three friends who reconnect after years apart with a trip to the Hamptons. A lot has happened in all their lives since they were last together and the topic they all seem to be avoiding is the one about what happened when they were all at camp all them years ago. With May’s’ wedding imminent and Kelsey in the limelight for her exs murder there’s a lot going on.

The writing didn’t pull me in on this one, which I was disappointed with. I got bored very early on, I didn’t feel the characters were relatable and there was far too much useless information littered in the story. It did have the potential to be a good read with the storyline but it just wasn’t executed well for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley publisher w author for my gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review.

An interesting read about three old friends reconnecting after varying traumas in their lives. Some of the storyline was a little unbelievable and the main characters were, at times, difficult to like. Lots of twists and turns.

I wasn’t keen on any of the characters and I was constantly wondering if I had missed something as events in their pasts were often referenced without explanation. It did all come together by the end but this book wasn’t for me.

I enjoyed this story. I like a holiday setting in a crime novel as it always gives a story an added sense of escapism and this was no exception. The novel does cover a lot of issues including the pandemic, social media, being cancelled, the list goes on. However the focus of the story is still the three friends and the implications of their actions and secrets.

I enjoyed the mix of characters, all with their own agenda and foibles, a mix of likeable and unlikeable. I found some of the characters' actions a little annoying at times but I appreciate that it was to move the story forward. It felt like an honest portrayal of friendship with all its ups and downs. I did think the perpetrator was relatively obvious but that didn’t make it any less interesting.

Sorry this book wasnt for me so I gave up at about 15% I will not review publicly as it was unfinished

This was a gripping read. Following the friendships and the relationships was fascinating. The twists and turns wrong footed me every time The pace was good. Definitely a good book to take on holiday

Alafair Burke’s The Note had potential, but it takes a while to find its footing. The premise—three old friends caught up in a prank gone wrong—starts off more annoying than intriguing. Their constant secrets and poor decisions pile up fast, making it hard to root for anyone early on.

Things do improve as the story shifts into thriller mode. The misdirection kicks in, the pace picks up, and the paranoia starts to work. You’re never quite sure who to trust, which keeps you turning the pages, even if the characters remain frustrating.

In the end, the mystery is solved more by process of elimination than real suspense, and while the reveal mostly lands, it doesn’t fully make up for the bumpy ride getting there. The Note is readable, but not one that lingers after the final page.

Really enjoyable crime thriller - I love messy holidays and this had White Lotus vibes all over it. Suspenseful and well written characters who I kind of hate (a good sign)

This is my first book by this author & I must say I really enjoyed it! I'm off to find more books by this author!!