I requested this modern novel by Alafair Burke as an ARC because of its iconic setting of the Hamptons. It is here, in this enclave of the wealthy and the rich, that three friends meet to revive their former friendship, should this be possible, and to lie low for a while. May Hanover is a Chinese-American district attorney whose subway altercation with a stranger has gone public, Lauren Berry is an acclaimed classical musician who has been ostracised after she engaged in adultery, and Kelsey Ellis is the surviving wife of a rising chef whose murder remains unsolved. None of the women appeared particularly likeable to me, but the mystery that developed after the women play a drunken trick on an unsuspecting tourist couple that involves the 'note' referred to in the novel's title, had me reading on till the end. Definitely a novel for fans of contemporary, dark domestic noir – and my thanks go to NetGalley and to the publishers for letting me read it, resulting in this unbiased and honest book review.

Lauren, Kelly and Kelsey meet up at a summer camp for the musically gifted who soon become fast friends. Despite vowing to remain fast friends, life intervenes and over the years they grow apart.
Each has their own struggles to contend with. Lauren has an affair with a prominent married man leading to issues with her career. Kelsey's husband is murdered and May is captured on camera having a meltdown in a subway over mask wearing regulations with the footage subsequently going viral

After each trying to face up to their life -changing experiences, they decide to meet up for a grand reunion in The Hamptons.

Early on in their trip, a chance encounter with a stranger leads to a row breaking out over their parking space being taken. A note left on the strangers car windscreen soon turns into something darker, turning their lives upside down yet again.

Just what is in the note, who left it and what are the toxic repercussions? Juicy story with lots of twists to keep you guessing

Kelsey, May and Lauren are three friends who first met when they were young at a camp for the musically gifted. Each of them has been involved in a scandal that led to them being cancelled on social media so they call themselves the Cancelled Crew. They are on a trip together to the Hamptons, when a thoughtless note written as a drunk prank leads them into big trouble.

While these three women might think of each other as friends, they are all hiding secrets from each other and it’s the untangling of these secrets and relationships which is really the focus of the book. And it’s a very toxic and tangled web indeed. There’s plenty of suspense and surprise twists as it all unfurls. Although I am a fan of Alafair Burke, and this is an entertaining, fast paced read, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me, perhaps because it was hard to empathise with any of the women and the situation they had got themselves into.

Lauren, May and Kelsey - friends who catch up in the Hamptons waiting for a parking space when someone steals it.

After quite a few drinks leave a note behind the windscreen

This book just didn't do it for me the characters got lost with each other and just took to long to get going

The premise of this book is a pretty universal occurrence when someone steals your parking slot after you’ve patiently waited for the previous occupant to drive off, so a note is left on the offender’s windscreen. But what unfolds from that seemingly innocuous moment is the crux of this story. I’m not going to give spoilers, but suffice to say the characters are three dimensional, some more likeable than others, the story unfolds at a satisfactory pace and the denouement is good (however I had surmised what had happened earlier than the big reveal).

This book is very cleverly done, with so many opportunities to suspect one or more of the main characters. None of them are terribly likeable and they have all experienced their share of public criticism, which only makes it more interesting to ponder their various roles in the events. Alafair Burke always writes well and her descriptions and dialogue are spot on, with plenty of relevant modern scenarios to really settle the reader in the heart of the story,

This was a very enjoyable twisty thriller. This book focuses on three friends Kelsey , May and Lauren who meet up to holiday in the Hampton. . What starts as a drunken prank , ends up in a nightmare for them . Lots of tension and friction between the women resulting in lies and buried secrets. I enjoyed the twists and turns and the fast paced drama. Everyone has doubts about each other , and we see cracks in their relationships. A satisfactory read

Fans of Alafair Burke will enjoy this one.

Taking you to the playground of the rich ad famous, the main part of this story takes place in The Hamptons.

Lauren, May and Kelsey - friends since childhood - are taking a short break in the Hamptons when someone steals the parking space they have been patiently waiting for. Leaving a note on the windscreen, they don't expect it to land them in the middle of a missing persons investigations.

All the girls have fallen from grace in some way, and this opens back up these secrets.

Who can they trust and is there a killer in their midst?

Thank you, Publisher, for a copy of ‘The Note’ by Alafair Burke.
I really wanted to like this story about three girlfriends going away for the weekend in the Hamptons. I did enjoy the first half of the story but then there was so much going on that I failed to engage to the rest of the story. 2.5 stars from me

I thought this was an okay read. I would have preferred it more if I had liked the characters, but maybe we were not meant to like them. It was an enjoyable book, but I can't rave about it.

A weekend reunion of three female friends, The Note (2025) by Alafair Burke is a mystery thriller. Former Assistant DA, May Hanover attends a girls-get-together in East Hampton. Whilst waiting for a car parking space so they can attend dinner at the restaurant, they are annoyed when it is pinched from them. They decide to leave a note for the male driver, only to discover later, he has disappeared. They get caught up in the police investigation. As events unfold, the various secrets and hidden past of the three women come to light, reigniting historic tensions and pointing to one of them as a major suspect. An enjoyable enough read, if little real tension and run of the mill characters that is a three star rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given. With thanks to Faber and Faber Ltd and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.

I will always appreciate a book that his characters that feel like real people, even more so characters who are inherently flawed, maybe even difficult to like.
The Note has them in spades. I sped my way through the novel with its lush locations and cocktails that I really wish I’d been drinking.
My only slight negative was that the ending seemed to come together in a bit of a rush, which felt like a shame. I wanted more of an opportunity to play with the characters and wouldn’t be upset if there was a sequel in their future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing Group for my copy of The Note by Alafair Burke.
3 women are having weekend in the Hamptons, having been friends for years, recent contact has been restricted to group chats but now they are together again. What can go wrong, EVERYTHING !!!!
A great read with lots of twists and turns.
I've yet to read a bad book by this author.

I usually enjoy books by this author, but this one, sadly, left me disappointed as it never really lived up to my expectations. Three childhood friends get together for a weekend away and a prank goes wrong after a night out drinking. I failed to like any of the characters, although I did enjoy the tension between the three women. There was just too much going on and it felt that everything was thrown together in the plotting. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Burke is good - no doubt about it - but for me, although I could see the strong virtues of characterisation and plot pace - i just wasn't engaged with these friends and their prank - it is almost a locked door type mystery - we are 'stuck' with the intertwining lives of these old acquaintances - but they connect online too often without close encounter. it just felt tedious eventually since I did not click with their ambient and style of friendship - but it is more than good at what it does - and I am an admirer of Burke's work - recommendable but just not for me .

Amazing!! That's all I can say. A really original plot, completely fresh take on a domestic noir. It was like watching a yv series on *insert streaming service of choise*. I was absolutely hooked and had no clue what was about to happen next. It wad just everything I'd want from a thriller. A must read

I really enjoyed this book I couldn't put it down I read it in one sitting. Fast paced and kept me guessing. This is my first book by this author but it wont be last

Burke is great at writing twisty, fast paced thrillers and she does not disappoint with The Note.

The story centres around three friends who have their names linked to the death of one of their peers at camp when they are teenagers and as adults, controversy seems to follow them. When they get caught up in the investigation surrounding the death of someone that cut them up whilst driving on a rare night out together the plot twists begin and several suspects seem viable.

Overall a really enjoyable read that kept me guessing for a good proportion of the book. I highly recommend adding this book to your TBR pile!

The Note by Alafair Burke is a captivating, suspense-filled thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. With a compelling mix of intricate relationships, dark secrets, and unexpected twists, Burke once again demonstrates why she is one of the masters of contemporary suspense.

The story centres on May Hanover, a well-behaved and rule-following woman raised with high expectations by her first-generation Chinese mother. May has always been the dependable one—the “Little Sheriff”—with a strong sense of duty to her lifelong friends, Lauren and Kelsey. However, even the most well-behaved individuals have their secrets, and May is no exception. The trio's bond, forged when they were just twelve, has survived the tragedy, scandals, and personal heartache, but nothing could prepare them for the events that unfold during a reunion in the Hamptons.

What begins as a light-hearted vacation full of sun and relaxation takes a dark turn when May and her friends meet a pair of strangers, and a drunken prank goes wrong. As May becomes embroiled in a police investigation, she is forced to question everything she thought she knew about her friends and the limits of loyalty. Are Lauren and Kelsey hiding something from her, and if so, what lengths will they go to keep their secrets?

Burke’s writing is fast-paced and sharp, with each twist and turn making it nearly impossible to put the book down. The dynamics between the three friends are expertly developed, with a strong focus on trust, guilt, and the complexity of friendship. The tension builds steadily, and just when you think you have it all figured out, Burke throws in a curveball that will leave you gasping for breath.

The Note is a page-turner that keeps the reader guessing at every step. With its tight plot, complex characters, and compelling exploration of loyalty and betrayal, it’s a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. If you enjoy books that make you think while keeping you on the edge of your seat, this is one to add to your reading list.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Kelsey, May and Lauren all prefer to stay away from the public eye because of their past, so when a prank goes wrong and they find themselves in the spotlight when a man, who they knew in their past, goes missing, they know they need to do something. Do they stay quiet or do they share what they know? Each one of them had a motive and the opportunity to hurt him...
This was a good read, exploring the ripple effect of what appear, in the first place, to be harmless actions. Although I saw the end coming, it didn't matter as I was invested enough in the story.