The Note

Rating: 4* of five

The Publisher Says: A vacation in the Hamptons goes terribly wrong for three friends with a complicated history.

It was meant to be a harmless prank.

Growing up, May Hanover was a good girl, always. Well-behaved, top of her class, a compulsive rule-follower. Raised by a first-generation Chinese single mother with high expectations, May didn’t have room to slip up, let alone fail. Her friends didn’t call her the Little Sheriff for nothing.

But even good girls have secrets. And regrets. When it comes to her friendship with Lauren and Kelsey, she's had her fair share of both. Their bond—forged when May was just twelve years old—has withstood a tragic accident, individual scandals, heartbreak and loss. Now the three show more friends have reunited for the first time in years for a few days of sun and fun in the Hamptons. But a chance encounter with a pair of strangers leads to a drunken prank that goes horribly awry.

When she finds herself at the center of an urgent police investigation, May begins to wonder whether Lauren and Kelsey are keeping secrets from her, testing the limits of her loyalty to lifelong friends.

What had they gone and done?

The Note is a page-turner of the highest order from one of our greatest contemporary suspense writers.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.

My Review: Every single person in this book is supremely, unpleasantly toxic. This is by design, not incompetence on the author's part; she's imbibed storycraft with her every breath, being James Lee Burke's child. As a choice, then, I can only call it questionable because most of us...even thriller readers...prefer to see someone in the cast we can at least believe will end up in a better place than they have started. It doesn't help that May, our more central character, gets a lot of carping criticism at every turn from Lauren and Kelsey (her lifelong "friends"). Which, to be scrupulously honest, she returns with interest. Not one of them seems to realize every finger they're pointing at the others has four times as many pointing right back at them.

So the cast didn't elicit my readerly sympathy. I was more interested in their barbs, their curious blindness to their own flaws, as they went away for a girls' escape weekend to the Hamptons after they've each suffered a more or less public shaming. Reconnecting amid the hustle of adulthood can work wonders and revive a relationship or crash and burn. I was sure it would be the latter as May seemed to me to be a bit too tunnel-visiony, Kelsey too unconcerned about her shaming, and Lauren too smug for Author Burke to be setting anything else up.

What kept me going wasn't suspense, exactly, since who did the awful thing that's done was not hard to guess, but the way Author Burke unfolded it. It's an episode of Real Housewives of {Awful-Place Name Here} meets Knives Out. There's slap-and-tickle levels of sex; the women are plainly out for the thrill but we're not taken along for the consummation. The violence of death isn't in your face, either, which can be the case in thrillers versus series mysteries. It isn't ever going to be my steady diet but as a menu of tapas it was fun enough and fine in the craft sense. I was surprised at enjoying the ending as much as I did.

May's Chinese heritage plays a role in the proceedings that I was mildly over-aware of but I decided early on it was me not the story. I get twitchy when "race" (loathsome inaccurate term) rears its deformed deforming skull. Her trajectory is pretty predictable. Kelsey's slightly older place and Lauren's ultra-privileged position don't make for shocking reveals. They're who they appear to be from giddy-up to whoa. It's a good afternoon's reading, it will definitely keep the holiday bustle at bay, the investment of time and treasure is modest...a winning proposition. show less

Alafair Burke’s *The Note* is a twisty, suspenseful thriller that explores the complexities of female friendships and the secrets we keep, set against the backdrop of a missing person case. The story revolves around three friends, May, Lauren, and Kelsey, who reunite for a weekend getaway in the Hamptons. Each woman is at a different crossroads in their lives, and the trip, intended as a chance to reconnect, soon takes an unexpected turn. The narrative is cleverly constructed, layering secrets upon secrets, and the author uses misdirection to keep the reader guessing until the very end.

The novel opens with a prologue that hints at something bad to come. Then the story moves to "six days earlier" when May is preparing for the trip. show more May, a law professor, is engaged and focused on her upcoming wedding and career, trying to balance her professional ambitions and personal life. Lauren is a talented musician, who is dealing with the pressures of her career and past experiences. Kelsey is navigating the aftermath of a personal tragedy, the murder of her husband, while also carrying the weight of her family's wealth and expectations.

The weekend starts with the women trying to recapture the ease of their past friendship, bonding over shared memories from their time at a summer camp called Wildwood. However, old tensions and new secrets begin to surface. When a missing person flyer catches their attention, the women become entangled in a mystery that forces them to confront not only the events surrounding the disappearance of David Smith, but also the hidden truths in their own relationships.

The narrative unfolds in alternating perspectives, allowing the reader to understand each character’s motivations and vulnerabilities. This structure allows the author to develop the characters and their relationships with depth. We see the complexities of their bond, which has survived over the years, with history that is both loving and complicated. The dialogue is sharp and witty, and the interactions between the three women feel genuine. Burke captures the nuances of female friendships—the support, the rivalries, the unspoken judgments and the deep, unbreakable ties.

The author also explores the impact of social media and public perception on private lives. May's past experience with a viral video makes her wary of the internet's power to distort reality and ruin reputations. Her character has become hyper aware of how she appears to others, and is determined to avoid the scrutiny of the public eye. The author uses May's experiences to explore how easily a person’s story can be twisted and how quickly public opinion can turn. May's personal experiences with public scrutiny also add another layer of tension to the narrative, as she is now a law professor, and wants to maintain her professional image.

*The Note* is more than just a mystery novel. It delves into themes of friendship, loyalty, and the lengths people will go to protect those they love. The story also tackles issues of class, race, and privilege with sensitivity and nuance. Burke provides commentary on the justice system, the media and the way women are perceived, particularly in high-stakes situations. It also raises questions about the nature of truth and how easily it can be manipulated.

The suspense builds steadily throughout the book, and just when you think you've figured out the mystery, Burke throws in another twist. The novel is full of red herrings, and the reader is led down several false paths, making for an engaging read. The pacing is excellent, moving seamlessly between the present investigation and flashbacks to the past, revealing key details about the women's shared history and the events that have shaped their lives. The author also interweaves a second mystery with the story of Luke’s murder that serves to heighten the suspense and deepen the character of Kelsey.

One of the most compelling aspects of the book is the way Burke develops her characters. Each of the three women is flawed and relatable, making it easy to become invested in their individual stories. May, the driven academic, is constantly questioning herself, while Lauren, the talented artist, is fiercely independent. Kelsey, the wealthy socialite, is surprisingly vulnerable beneath her polished exterior. The complexity of their characters and relationships elevates this novel beyond a simple thriller.

As the investigation into David Smith’s disappearance intensifies, old secrets are revealed and new betrayals are discovered. The friends must confront the uncomfortable truths about themselves and about each other. The novel explores the sacrifices made for friendships, and it also shows that even the closest of bonds can be tested by time, secrets and misunderstandings. The narrative explores the idea that sometimes we can do harm to those we love even when we think we are protecting them.

The book offers a close look at the justice system and the role of police in the investigation. The character of Detective Carter Decker is well developed, and he is portrayed as a meticulous investigator trying to find the truth. The author provides realistic details of how police might investigate a missing person case and how they interview potential witnesses. The inclusion of May’s experience as a prosecutor adds a layer of realism to the story, and her legal expertise provides a unique lens through which to understand the investigation.

The ending of *The Note* is both satisfying and thought-provoking. The author ties together the various plot threads and provides a resolution to the mystery, but she also leaves the reader with questions about the nature of truth and the complexities of human relationships. The last sections of the book reveal some of the underlying factors that lead to the events of the story, and make it clear that seemingly unrelated events in the characters’ past have all played a role in the final outcome.

Overall, *The Note* is a well-written and engaging thriller with complex characters, a compelling mystery, and a thought-provoking exploration of friendship and betrayal. This is an immersive and addictive novel that is perfect for readers who enjoy suspenseful stories with well-developed characters. The novel has something for everyone who enjoys thrillers or a story that delves into the complexities of female friendships. show less

Kirkus starred review: A holiday in the Hamptons for three friends turns into an engrossing tale of murder.

Typically, the worst aftereffects of a girls’ weekend are nasty hangovers and swollen credit cards. But in this gripping thriller, much darker things happen. When May Hanover—a Chinese American assistant district attorney turned law professor in New York—agrees to spend a long weekend with two old friends in East Hampton, it’s a welcome reunion, and for May, a break from prepping for the next semester while planning her wedding to fiance Josh. The trio first met about 15 years ago at an arts camp, and May has stayed in touch with Lauren Berry, an accomplished Black classical musician. But until recently, she hadn’t heard show more from Kelsey Ellis, the golden-blond daughter of a rich man, since Kelsey married a rising star chef who was subsequently murdered—a death that many online true-crime aficionados attribute to her. That’s not the only scandal in the trio’s baggage: Lauren’s longtime relationship with a married oilman got her fired from a plum job when it was exposed. And the usually rational May was the subject of a humiliating viral video of her threatening to call the police after a confrontation with a Black man on the subway. But this weekend is about leaving those troubles, and their long tail on the internet, behind. When the women drive to Sag Harbor to barhop, another car steals the parking space they were waiting for, and, among themselves, they make fun of the attractive couple in it. But Kelsey goes a little further, tucking a note on a cocktail napkin under the windshield wiper: “He’s cheating. He always does.” It seems like a prank, but then a tourist is reported missing who looks like the handsome driver. Questions are raised and tempers flare among the friends; in the midst of it, Kelsey’s stepbrother Nate arrives. He’s cool and charming—and May’s ex-boyfriend. As the police start asking questions, May’s compulsion to investigate kicks in, although she’s digging into her own past, along with those of the friends she thought she knew. Burke builds an intricate structure of secrets layered within secrets, revealed for maximum suspense.

The complex friendship among three flawed but engaging characters anchors this satisfying psychological thriller. show less

Review of Uncorrected eBook Proof

Despite some uncertainties, May Hanover is preparing to meet her friends, Lauren Berry and Kelsey Ellis for a girls’ weekend in the Hamptons. Perhaps it was the fact that she hadn’t seen them in several years. But they’d been friends since their summer music camp days [where Lauren was a counselor] when May was just twelve years old.

Each woman has had a negative social media experience that has colored their day-to-day lives despite some efforts to move forward. But their friendship has endured, as this weekend has proven.

But when a prank unexpectedly puts the women in the middle of a police investigation and May begins to wonder about secrets her friends may be keeping.

Can their friendship show more survive whatever lies ahead?

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After a bit of a slow start, the narrative gains momentum, becoming a fast-paced thriller. Some unexpected plot twists keep readers guessing leading to some unexpected surprises.

While the characters are well-developed, none are particularly likeable. Yes, they come from very different backgrounds; they each carry burdens from their pasts and the decisions they continue to make. But they make choices that are questionable at best and don’t necessarily seem to act like responsible adults.

But the mystery is compelling and readers may not see the twist coming, the one that changes everything. Readers who enjoy girlfriend stories with a strong dose of mystery and intrigue woven into the telling of the tale will find much to appreciate here.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Knopf Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor / Knopf and NetGalley
#TheNote #NetGalley show less

The Note: A Novel, Alafair Burke, author: Kathryn Ho, narrator
When three old friends escape to the Hamptons, the northeast summer playground for the rich and famous, for a long-overdue reunion, they get far more than they bargained for. Planning to dine in a lovely South Fork restaurant, in Sag Harbor, they are flummoxed when while they are patiently and politely waiting for a parking spot, a rude couple sneaks in and steals it. What should have been laughed off and ignored, because some “elitist” people simply take advantage of others, and it is best to turn the other cheek, is instead ruminated over at dinner, They drink heavily and plot their “pretend” revenge. Unfortunately, one member of the group takes their imagined prank show more too far. Why was this couple so important to them? What did this prank have to do with the past of these three best friends?
The three were very loyal friends, though they engaged mostly online. They did not live near each other, so email and texts were a convenient method of communication. They texted each other all day long. Kelsey Ellis, Lauren Berry, and May Hanover had become fast friends when they were much younger and in camp, as campers and counselors. Kelsey and May were schoolmates. Lauren was about a decade older than both of them, but their friendship grew the year they were all working at the camp together. Then tragedy struck and they were separated.
Each of these women, had unfortunately, experienced shameful publicity on social media that had mortified them and almost ruined their career paths. Their back stories, interspersed with several unfortunate and unexplained deaths, unfolds in mystery and suspense. Lauren had been involved with Thomas Welliver, a married man, for years. His wife Jessica created a scandal about the relationship and tried to get Lauren fired from her job. Lauren, was a brilliant musician who was the first Black Director of the Houston Symphony. When the affair between Lauren and Tom became public, social media exploded with gossip about her, especially since she was a person of color. Tom and his wife were very wealthy and very involved in the social scene. Jessica did not want to lose her social status, so eventually, she remained married to Tom, accepting his infidelity, and Lauren’s life proceeded, as before.
In the subway, during the time of the pandemic, May spiraled out of control and falsely accused someone of attacking her there, jumping to conclusions because of his race. He was black, and she believed he was threatening her. Social media loved the race-baiting of this “Karen”, though she was half Asian. Overthinking seems to be May’s go-to response. She is engaged to Josh, a guy who calms her, and she seems to be recovering from her overreactions with the help of therapy. She was a former prosecutor and is now a professor. At one time she dated Nate, Kelsey's brother.
Kelsey was accused of murdering her own husband, Lucas Freedman. She is the daughter of William Ellis, a rich real estate mogul in the wealthy enclave of the Hamptons and is the quintessential “white Karen”. She seems flighty and entitled. Her brother Nate was pretty much disowned by her father when he divorced Nate’s mother. In the middle of the divorce proceedings, for Luke and Kelsey, Luke was brutally murdered. The case remains unsolved, and she is still the subject of harassment on social media. Kelsey is, therefore, camera shy and tries to keep a low-profile.
While at their last summer camp together, there was another musical talent there. Lauren had been helping to mentor Marnie Mann. When she was found drowned, with a head injury, Lauren was fired, although she had nothing to do with Marnie's "accidental" death. The parents of the campers needed a sacrificial lamb, however, and her race made her the convenient choice. The young girl who had drowned was suspected of having witnessed Tom and Lauren together and of creating the scandal that resulted when it had been revealed. What, if anything, did Marnie really reveal? Was there another secret? This innocuous seeming event served as the seed that caused many of the later problems that the three women faced.
The novel encompasses many themes: social media abuse and abusers, incest, infidelity, secrets, lies, murder, helicopter parenting, elitism, racism, independence, emotional turmoil, friendship, love and loyalty, law enforcement, the justice system, and a social scene that is out of control. As it moves slowly into the future, twisting and turning in so many directions, I often felt that my head was on a swivel. In the beginning of the book there is a Walter Winchell quote: “A real friend is one who walks in, when the rest of the world walks out. That, in a nutshell, is the essence of this book. How many readers will feel that they have, or are, “a real friend”? show less

Three old friends who have not been together for years decide to spend a weekend together in the Hamptons, but from the opening of this novel we know that for some reason the police are going to be involved in what happens that weekend. The focal character is May, a former prosecutor and current law professor, who is known for her tenacity while her vulnerabilities are clear to her friends and boyfriend. Each of the friends has a traumatic and public past, so when a man goes missing and ties with past deaths are revealed, suspicions and accusations abound. There are many red herrings as May wrestles with the difficulties of her realtionships and sorting out the mystery of at least 3 deaths. After a slow start, this became a page turner, show more but ultimately the inconsistencies of the characterizations left me not quite believing the resolution. show less

Kelsey, May, and Lauren meet in the Hamptons for a girls weekend. Once close friends, they have been somewhat estranged as each one has something scandalous in their backgrounds. When a prank goes awry and someone is murdered, their friendship is tested as suspicion falls on them. Secrets are revealed, relationships questioned as the hunt is on for the killer.

Like peeling away the layers of an onion, the histories of the three women slowly unfold with twists, turns, and surprises. I didn’t particularly like the main characters, but I loved the story….I couldn’t put it down. Another book read deep into the night.

Even though I wasn’t trying, I did guess the perpetrator fairly early. That did not take away from my enjoyment of the show more story. A great escapist read; perfect for the beach, a rainy day, or a cold and stormy one.

Thanks to #NetGalley and @aaKnopf for the DRC. show less