The Tapes is one of those thrillers you can fly through in a day. It’s a speedy read, with short, punchy chapters and a mystery that hooks you right away. Eve, the main character, stumbles across a box of cassette tapes that unravel dark secrets and pull her into a story of lies, suspicion, and danger.

I loved how the tension built as Eve listened to each tape, and there are a few twists that genuinely surprised me. It’s the kind of book that would be perfect for a vacation or a lazy weekend—fast‑paced, entertaining, and easy to follow.

That said, it’s not exactly groundbreaking. The characters skim the surface, and while it’s fun and twisty, it doesn’t linger with you afterward. Still, for a light thriller to throw in your beach bag or devour on a plane, it does the job nicely.

Thank you #netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When the blurb says “If you’re listening to this, I’ve been murdered”, you know you’re in for a suspenseful ride!

Eve was sorting out her parent’s house after the passing of her father, she discovers recoded cassette tapes with her names on it by her mother who has gone missing thirteen years ago. On tapes, Eve’s mother speculates she’s been murdered. Eve takes up her mother’s mission, determined to uncover the truth. With every cassette she listens to, the more twisty it gets!

What really stood out to me was the clever plotting as the book with a clear outline of which day it was in terms of the story and the article inserts regarding the murder victims. I thought this made it feel more modern in comparison to the cassette tape with a retro podcast feel.

Eve is very relatable because who doesn’t want closure of their mother’s sudden disappearance? Even though I could not relate to her family dynamics, Wilkinson made me feel like Eve was an old friend. *SPOILER ALERT* The victims are also relatable, for having them all missing one earring. I mean, The Earring Killer does seem is on the hunt any woman wearing a pair of earrings and who doesn’t wear earrings daily? I know I do.

This is very much recommended book to anyone who enjoys true crime podcast!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this opportunity!

The Tapes is out on August 11th, 2025.

★3.75

This one’s for mystery lovers, true-crime podcast addicts, or honestly anyone who just wants to read about a woman trying to reconnect with the mother she lost.

After her dad passes away, Eve finds a box of old cassette tapes in his garage, recordings left by her long-missing mom. From there, things spiral into a tangled, weird journey involving a serial killer, a stolen jewelry box, and secrets buried deep in Eve’s family.

The story moves across the small-town spaces, her dad’s house, work, AA meetings, and her own home with her daughter, all while bouncing between present-day unraveling and excerpts from a true-crime book written by her mom’s best friend, Vivian, about the serial killer.

It’s emotional, atmospheric, and very easy to fly through. I loved Eve’s relationship with her daughter, how fiercely she protects her, and with Vivian!! Though it sadly doesn’t get a ton of page time, that last chapter low-key made me tear up.

But it's not without flaws, some plot threads feel like they’re just there to mess with you, fake twists with no real payoff or explanation later on? Still, the heart of it hit me ... a woman chasing answers, not for revenge, but to feel even a scrap of love from her mom. You’ll understand what I mean once you read it.

Thanks to Net Galley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Amazing. So so amazing. I was captivated from the very first page. For someone that's been in a horrible book slump it was a breath of fresh air to be so invested.

The Tapes follow Eve, who while clearing out her father’s house, finds a box of cassette tapes - including one labeled with her name, in her missing mother’s handwriting. When she presses play, her mother’s voice delivers a chilling message: “If you’re listening to this, I’ve been murdered.” As Eve desperately searches the tapes for answers, dark secrets emerge - and she realises she can’t go to the police. Her mother had her own secrets, and her killer may still be out there. And what if Eve is next?

The premise of The Tapes hooked me instantly, and it delivered exactly what I hoped for: a binge‑worthy psychological thriller. The eeriness and nostalgia had me completely immersed, and I ended up finishing it in just a few hours.

Told entirely from Eve’s perspective, the narrative kicks off the moment she discovers the tapes in the opening chapter. Eve is a compelling character to read. She’s grieving and vulnerable, yet resolute and fiercely determined to uncover the truth for herself and her family.

The pacing of The Tapes is deliberate, layering emotional depth and intensity that keeps the tension building. I also enjoyed the book excerpts woven throughout, revealing the fates of other victims - a subtle but chilling touch that tied the story together. And the ending delivered exactly what it needed to: a twist that was both shocking and heartbreaking, bringing everything to a powerful close.

Thank you so much to Bookouture for sending me this advanced copy of The Tapes to read and review. My opinions are my own.

4 out of 5
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Eve is cleaning out the garage of her father who just passed away and she comes across some recorded tapes of her mother’s who disappeared 13 years ago.

The tapes say that she hasn’t disappeared, she’s been murdered. Eve’s mom is known to stretch the truth so Eve does not turn the tapes into the police. Eve’s mom is suspected to have been murdered by the Earring Killer as she states she stole a jewelry box and found a house compartment with the earrings stolen by the killer; he knows she took it and will be coming for her.

As Eve searches for answers on her mom’s disappearance, the book flashes back from present to past excerpts of the book The Earring Killer.

I was sure I had the ending figured out, but I was very wrong! I was quite surprised at finding out who the killer was, but then even more shocked at who was helping!! Wow.
The middle was a bit slow for me and I found myself skimming some parts of it, but I was so engaged at the end and appreciated the twist.

Eve’s brother was so suspect, and then, of course, Mark was. Their characters keep me on my feet. I knew the killer had to be someone close to the family but I really didn’t expect it to be who it was, especially since there’s kids involved.

This was a really fun thriller. I loved the tapes aspect of the story. Very good!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I felt an instant connection to Eve, the main character, as I’ve recently lost my father too. Her grief and resilience hit me on a whole different level, especially with her mother having been missing for years. After losing her dad, Eve discovers tapes her mother recorded before she disappeared, chilling messages where she warns that if Eve is listening, she’s been murdered.

The emotions in those moments were palpable. When Eve heard her mother’s voice, it struck a chord with me, I recently found some old voicemails from my late father, and that flood of memories and feelings is overwhelming in the same way.

Eve is such a raw and relatable character, and after everything she’s endured, I was rooting so hard for her to find peace and a happy ending with her daughter. I also loved Faith, her fierce protectiveness over her mum reminded me of the little role reversal moments I’ve had with my own mum, which felt so real and touching.

The pacing is fantastic, keeping me glued to the pages as I tried to figure out the identity of the elusive “earring killer.” Alongside Eve, I suspected everyone at some point, eager to untangle the mystery. My heart was pounding as the tension built toward the ending, and the reveal completely blindsided me! Just as the blurb promises, I was up late racing through those final chapters.

If you’re a thriller lover who craves suspense, heart‑pounding twists, and a character you can truly root for, I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s a ride packed with tension, but also surprisingly full of raw, emotional moments that stay with you long after the last page.

Huge thanks to Bookouture, Kerry Wilkinson, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early!

Note - I’ll be leaving a review on Amazon when possible, and if it releases on Kobo I’ll leave one there too. I’ll be posting the review to my Instagram account in the next few days!

I enjoyed this and it was a fast paced read, I felt some areas were a little under developed and the twist came out of no where. Still enjoyed it but felt it was very surface level!

4.5 stars out of 5

A grieving woman is clearing out her late father’s home when she finds a cassette from her long-missing mother. The tape begins with her mother’s voice: “If they say I’m missing, I’m not. I’ve been killed.”

This book grabbed hold of me immediately and never let go. The main character, Eve, is a single mom, a recovering alcoholic, and someone who’s trying to solve her mother’s (supposed) murder, all while juggling a demanding job, dealing with a difficult boss, and planning her father’s funeral. Eve’s history is well written, and the emotional weight she carries throughout her journey is palpable. The characters are relatable, and the relationship between Eve and her daughter was my favorite part of the book.

As a kid who loved recording silly skits and music, I was especially drawn to the premise: Eve discovers 13 tapes of her mother’s voice. Some are about mundane things like her day or her book club, while others include recordings of Eve as a child. Having lost my father, the idea of suddenly finding hours of his voice really hit home.

There were plenty of twists and turns along the way. The red herrings were well thought out, and the ending was satisfying—though it did play out a bit like an old Bond villain revealing every sinister detail. Still, that meant there were no loose ends when the book wrapped up.
I found the pacing excellent and flew through it. I’d never heard of Kerry Wilkinson before and was shocked to learn he’s written over 50 novels. I’ll definitely be picking up another one soon.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Tapes by Kerry Wilkinson was a slow read for me. I just wasn’t a fan of it. Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review.

3.5 stars ⭐️

The Tapes has a chilling premise that hooked me right away. A woman finds a box of cassette tapes in her late father’s garage and hears the voice of her long-missing mother revealing a possible murder. I really enjoyed the serial killer angle, especially as Eve starts to uncover just how deeply her mother may have been involved in something dangerous. The tape excerpts were the strongest part of the story. They were eerie, intriguing, and added a great layer of suspense. I also liked how the story was told through varied viewpoints and formats, including excerpts from a true-crime book, which made the mystery feel more layered and immersive.

While the mystery kept me invested, the pacing felt a little slow at times, especially in the middle, and the dialogue didn’t always feel natural. Still, I found myself curious to see how everything would unravel. This was my first book by Kerry Wilkinson, and I would definitely read more. I think fans of psychological thrillers and true-crime elements will appreciate this book.

I liked this book a LOT. It was a really well paced thriller. It builds a lot of suspense and the plot was super unique and not something I’ve read before.

2.5 ⭐

Thank you NetGalley for the arc

Good premise, underwhelming execution. Too slow for a mystery and the suspense could have built up better at many points. Slightly predictable but the end was good.

3.25*

'The Tapes' by Kerry Wilkinson focuses on Eve, a grieving daughter whose mother disappeared over 10 years previously and whose father has recently died. Going through his belongings she uncovers a box of old cassette tapes left by her mother with one tape revealing that if she disappeared then she likely will have been murdered.

What results is a fast paced mystery thriller following Eve as she tries to uncover the truth behind her mother's disappearance and the link she had to a notorious serial killer.

I really appreciated the nostalgic, analogue atmosphere of the story and the interspersed chapters about the Earring Killer built up the lore and introduced us to the victims as Eve continued to investigate to uncover the truth.

I also found Eve to a relatable lead. She is grieving but is also curious and determined and I found myself rooting for her and like her suspecting everyone around her at one point or another.

That said, some of the momentum was lost about halfway and there were repetitive stretches where the pacing dipped which made the middle third drag and felt a little padded. The supporting characters around Eve also lacked depth and generally I didn't see much character development.

The ending was satisfying though with plenty of tension and the twist worked well so overally I felt that 'The Tapes' was a solid and atmospheric thriller with a compelling hook but it didn't quite hit the heights I hoped. Fans of domestic suspense will likely really enjoy it but I didn't love it quite as much as I hoped I would.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital review copy of "The Tapes" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

This book was an easy read, I loved the idea of the tapes and how that gave clues. The twists towards the end were good.

Loved the idea—a mystery tied to old cassette tapes? Total ’90s nostalgia, and it hooked me right away. The story starts strong and jumps straight into the mystery (no slow build-up here 🙌).
But halfway through, it started to lose its spark. The plot got a bit choppy, and I struggled to connect with the characters. I also wished the tapes had been used in a more creative way—it had so much potential!

The mystery wraps up quickly, but the ending wasn’t very surprising.

🎧 Cool premise, solid start, but I wanted more depth.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

The Tapes by Kerry Wilkinson is a suspenseful thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. I received a copy from Bookouture via Netgalley, and it comes out on the 11th of August.

The story kicks off when Eve, while clearing her late father’s house, discovers a cassette player and a box of tapes. Among them is one labelled “Eve,” recorded by her mother, Angela, who disappeared over a decade ago. Hearing her mother’s voice again is bittersweet, but when the tape reveals a shocking confession (If you’re listening to this, I’ve been murdered) Eve is thrust into a web of mystery and danger.

The pace of the story is perfectly balanced, with the tape uncovering more secrets while deepening the tension. The character of Eve is also relatable, struggling with grief while desperately seeking answers, yet never quite knowing who to trust. The twist of discovering her mother’s hidden past and the lurking danger Eve faces was truy exciting. Though, a few moments in the plot could have been expanded a little more.

4,5/5⭐️

THE TAPES BY KERRY WILKINSON.
Release day set for the 11th of August 2025.
I really like the cover for this book.
I've read a fair few Kerry Wilkinson books and I love his writing style and his plots and storylines
The tapes is suspenseful and a very quick and easy read

When I first saw this book I was intrigued… a psychological thriller based on the use of tapes. This book was fast paced, an interesting plot with lots of twists. I would definitely recommend this brilliant book.