I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
While I guessed the ultimate twist of who the killer was I second guessed myself the whole time. Which for me feels like good writing - I was convinced but I wasn’t convinced I had it right. I didn’t want to put the book down because I needed to know.

Eve was a well written character - she was just normal and tired and wanted answers and she’s was just overall relatable.

Initially I struggled with the excerpts of vivs book but after the third or fourth one I really enjoyed them and loved the message it sent about victims being more than a number.

Overall I enjoyed this book - for lovers of Freida McFadden I would absolutely suggest this!

The Tapes: A Completely Addictive Psychological Thriller. When I requested this book, the blurb sounded great. When I was approved and saw that tag line, I cringed. I was so sure if you had to add that line, it was going to be crap. Well, it wasn't. It actually was an addictive psychological thriller😂. The reviews for Kerry Wilkinson's other books are pretty strong, for this one the reviews are meh, but reviewers say they liked his other books more. If this was a weak one for Kerry Wilkinson, then I can't wait to get my hands on one of his other books. 4 stars, maybe 4.5.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

3.5 🌟 — This book starts off strong, the opening chapter pulled me in with the discovery of the tape and I love when a book gets me hooked like that. The writing style is good. The chapters inserted from the book by Vivian added depth and context to the story in a nice way.

However, after the start, the pacing slowed down more than I expected. There were moments where my attention drifted, and I found myself wishing things would pick up again. Still, I liked how all the different storylines came together and how everything was connected.

The ending was fine and wrapped things up well. Overall, a solid read with a strong concept and good writing. Just a little slower paced than I prefer.

This had such a great concept but unfortunately fell flat for me. I was honestly just bored most of the time.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and bookouture for this ARC copy.
3.75
This book follows Eve after her fathers death she is cleaning his house out and she comes across tapes that her mother has recorded that leads her down a whole other side of who her mother was and her mom’s disappearance 13 years ago.
This book was full of twists and turns. I really did enjoy this book but I would have rated it it higher it just seemed to be lacking depth in some areas wasn’t always fully invested in the characters stories. But it was a fast read and still a fun read.
-Will add review to Instagram in a couple days

I loved the concept of The Tapes a mysterious cassette that begins with “If you’re listening to this, I’ve been murdered” is the perfect hook! This was my first time reading Kerry Wilkinson, and I can confidently say it won’t be my last. While the pacing was on the slower side, it really worked for the story’s eerie atmosphere and psychological depth.

I felt Eve’s loneliness so vividly throughout the book it added such an emotional weight to her character and made her determination to uncover the truth feel even more compelling. The quiet tension builds steadily, keeping you questioning every character and motive. By the time I reached the end, I was fully invested in the unsettling, twisty journey this book takes you on.

This comes out August 11, and it’s absolutely worth picking up if you enjoy slow-burn psychological thrillers that pull you in with atmosphere and emotion rather than nonstop action. It’s haunting, intimate, and completely addictive in its own quiet way.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I really enjoyed the premise of this book and my favourite parts were the ones involving the tapes. It fell a little flat though - I found there was a lot of repeating information, it almost felt like filler.

The ending was good and unexpected.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

This book tells the story of Eve and her search for the truth.
It was a fast read and the story was okay. I liked the writing style and where the story went.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review "The Tapes"
3.5.-4 stars
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Descriptors: Suspense, murder, mystery, WHO DID IT? cassette tapes for the nostalgic win.
Spice: No
Standalone: Yes
Would I recommend? Yeah, I think I would. Every time new evidence was introduced I was convinced they did it, I was wrong, every time, like usual.

This was such a fun, bingeable thriller with a really compelling hook. I was immediately drawn in by the idea of a woman finding an old tape from her long-missing mother that begins with, “If you’re listening to this, I’ve been murdered.” How could I not keep reading?

The mystery unfolds piece by piece through the tapes, and I loved how it kept me guessing. Eve was a relatable lead—grieving, a bit lost, but determined to get to the truth. And the deeper she digs, the more complicated and twisty things get. I really liked how the story balanced the emotional weight of loss with the suspense of uncovering dark family secrets.

The pacing was great, and while some parts were a bit out there, I was totally along for the ride. Kerry Wilkinson knows how to keep the tension going. If you enjoy twisty domestic thrillers with a strong emotional core, The Tapes is definitely worth a read.

The Tapes by Kerry Wilkinson is a suspenseful, well-crafted psychological thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. The premise is intriguing, and Wilkinson’s ability to weave tension throughout the narrative was masterful. From the very first tape, I was pulled into a web of mystery, deception, and secrets, eager to uncover what lay beneath the surface.

The characters are complex and well-developed, each with their own motivations and hidden agendas. As the story unfolds through a series of tapes, I loved how Wilkinson slowly revealed new layers, making every revelation feel both surprising and satisfying. The pacing is steady, building tension without ever feeling rushed, and the twists kept me guessing until the very end.

What kept me from giving this a full 5 stars was a slight sense of predictability toward the middle, but the final twists made up for it and left me thinking long after I turned the last page.

Overall, The Tapes is an engaging, thought-provoking thriller that I highly recommend for fans of suspense and psychological drama.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

2.5

Hmm. This was okay. On the lower end of okay. I was more excited with the premise because having the FMC listen to the tapes and find out her mom was possibly murdered sounded really juicy.

Unfortunately it started out super strong and everything kinda of fizzled out after that. Not much mystery or thriller aspect going on. This was a bit on the boring side.

I would recommend if you like soft mystery or cozy mystery type books. Otherwise I would skip this one. Especially if you are avid thriller reader.

I didn't finish this. It was incredibly slow and boring and I simply did not care about the killer - the killer with the stupid name.

Thank you to @netgalley for giving me early access to this book ! I could not put it down every chapter I just wanted to know more !
The book follows Eve who is cleaning out her dads house after his passing and comes across a old tape which belonged to her mum who went missing 13 years ago, with eves name on it and it says if your listening to this I’ve been murdered, so it follow eve as she tries to find evidence to see what her mum is saying is true on the tapes !
As a thriller girly this was right up my street, the title of the book and the first page gripped me straight away and I couldn’t put it down, there were so many twists and turns that were so unexpected I would definitely recommend this book to all my thriller readers when it’s published.

I devoured this book! So many twists and turns to keep you gripped and slowly getting bits from the past to build the tension. I suspected everyone! The twist with Owen was really good! Loved it

🎧🔪 ARC Review: The Tapes by Kerry Wilkinson 🎧🕵️‍♀️

"If you're listening to this... I've been murdered." 😱📼

Talk about a goosebump-inducing opener! When Eve stumbles on a cassette tape labeled with her name while sorting through her late father’s things, nostalgia quickly turns into nightmare fuel. 💔📀

🎙️ Hearing her missing mother’s voice years after she vanished is haunting enough… but then comes the twist:
👉 “If they say I’m missing, I’m not. If you’re listening to this, I’ve been murdered.” 😳🩸

With no one left to trust and a box of cryptic tapes as her only clue, Eve digs deeper into a web of secrets, lies, and danger that might just claim her life too. 🕳️😰

💡 This psychological thriller is twisty, emotional, and impossible to put down.
Fans of Lisa Jewell & Shari Lapena — this one’s for YOU! 🔥

🎬 Ready for your next sleepless night? Press play… if you dare. 😈📼

Wow! What a book! This is full of twists and turns, I was kept guessing right up until the end and I was very surprised with how it turned out. Very well written with good characters and a brilliant story: I raced through it sitting by the pool.

I can’t believe this is the first book I’ve read by Kerry Wilkinson! I’ve since downloaded a few of his others and I can’t wait to get through them. Wonderful storyteller. Highly recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A box of tapes made by her mother Angela, who has been gone for years, turns Eve's life upside-down in this well paced thriller in which each chapter ends with a bit of a cliff hanger begging you to keep reading. Eve's chasing a serial killer. She also makes some unwise choices but you will find yourself rooting for her. Family secrets, family lies,, and murder combine to make this a good read.

3.25 🌟

I was so lucky to get an advanced reader copy of this from NetGalley and bookouture and I enjoyed it.

It was a fun, short, fast paced thriller. I loved all the moments with The Tapes, however I would have liked even more of those moments.

There was potential for the book to be really great but there were so many loose ends that I would have liked tied up.

That being said, the little twist at the end, I was not expecting!!! I thought I had it all figured out, felt validated and then boom a big twist!! I loved that!!

This will be great for anyone who needs to read something quick and fun.

This was my first book by this author and I will say I did really enjoy it! Eve- a recovering alcoholic- is coping with the death of her father pretty much alone, especially since years ago her mother vanished. Her brother Peter is pretty much letting her deal with it all. While trying to keep a job and take care of her father’s estate, her daughter finds a gun. When the gun is turned into police hands some very interesting prints are found on it. Eve also finds some tapes her missing mother recorded that claim she knows the identity of an unsolved serial killer case- the Earring killer. Her mother tells her “ if I’m missing it’s not true I was murdered”

This sends Eve on a chase to find the killer and takes many surprising twists and turns. I really was shocked by the ending! Rating it a 3 because I felt like there were 2 unanswered questions I would have like to known POSSIBLE SPOILERS





First- Why was her brother so suspicious and WHAT DID HE TAKE FROM THE BEDROOM??

Second- the lady that looked like her mom, I know she said she deals with homes of those who died but I felt like that was somewhat just dropped? Strange that her daughter thought she resembled her too and she turned out to be just a random Good Samaritan offering help?


All in all I would recommend this to those who like addictive mysteries and I did overall enjoy it!

Thanks to the author, Net Galley, and Bookoture for the ARC.