The Note by Alafair Burke (Audiobook)

 

May, Lauren and Kelsey were hoping a girls weekend together would help them reconnect after a difficult few years. Little did they realise that a moment of madness would result in them becoming suspects in a missing persons case.

Things have been difficult for the three main characters of The Note by Alafair Burke. In some form or another, all three have been cancelled via social media as a result of things that have happened in their lives. As we get to know the women on their weekend away, it is easy to sympathise with them and understand why they have avoided any form of public scrutiny for the past couple of years. Getting together in person gives them a chance to connect with people who know exactly what they have gone through. I enjoyed the gossipy tone at the start of the book, excellently narrated by Catherine Ho, but there is an overall air of mystery surrounding each character.

The incident that triggers the story is one that most people have probably contemplated: leaving an anonymous note on a car windscreen. When the driver of the car goes missing, the three women realise how foolish they have been, but decide no one will be able to connect them to the note. Unfortunately, May is a rule follower, an over-thinker, and tries to make sure they are in the clear, which only draws them to the attention of the police investigating the case.

As the police dig deeper, we learn more about a shocking incident which connects all three women, and  more about why they were ostracised. Even though they remain sympathetic characters, you begin to realise that there are secrets which remain hidden. May, ridden by guilt and worried about her job, is the one who forces everyone to face the past. I was stunned at the turn the story took, as deep, dark secrets were uncovered, and you begin to realise that not everyone is trustworthy. The conclusion is one I didn't see coming, leaving me speechless.

The Note by Alafair Burke will be published in audio format on 1st October 2025. The book is available now in paperback and ebook format. My thanks to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for a review copy.

Author Details

Alafair Burke is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of twenty novels.

Her most recent novel, FIND ME, has been called a "skillfully constructed, delightfully twisty thriller" (Booklist) and "a twisting, surprising, and satisfying new thrill ride" (Ms. Magazine). THE BETTER SISTER has been praised as “twisty” (BookBub), “mesmerizing” (Publishers Weekly), “fast-moving” (Library Journal), and “a non-stop thriller fest” (Suspense Magazine). THE WIFE was selected as a best-of-the-month pick by Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Entertainment Weekly, O (Oprah Magazine), and others. It is being adapted as a feature film, with Alafair writing the screenplay.

Alafair's novels grow out of her experience as a prosecutor in America's police precincts and criminal courtrooms, and have been featured by The Today Show, People Magazine, The New York Times, O Magazine, MSNBC, The Washington Post, USA Today, and The Chicago Sun-Times. Harlan Coben has said she is "a major talent," and Dennis Lehane called her "one of the finest young crime writers working today" back when she was young.

A graduate of Stanford Law School and a former prosecutor, Alafair is now a professor at Hofstra Law School, where she teaches criminal law and procedure. She lives in New York City and East Hampton with her husband and two beloved dogs.