“The Tapes” is a mystery/thriller by Kerry Wilkinson. The premise of this book sounded interesting - while clearing her father’s house, Eve discovers a box of cassette tapes narrated by her mother. One of the tapes says “If they say I’m missing, I’m not … I’ve been murdered.” In the area when Eve’s mother disappeared there was a serial killer, nicknamed “The Earring Killer” who hadn’t been captured. Eve’s mother had a tendency to lie, so Eve isn’t sure what can and cannot be believed on the tapes she receives. For me, this book began rather interestingly - how many people would love to have recordings of their parents (or grand parents!) and be able to hear their voices [even with today’s technology, so few times are voice recordings saved of our loved ones]. So, I was hooked into the story - but then began a cast of other characters - including excerpts from a book about The Earring Killer that at time I struggled to keep track of who was important and who wasn’t. Sometimes people are introduced like the reader is supposed to know who they are … that didn’t help. I also felt the pacing was inconsistent - beginning was a great hook, then it slowed, then it picked up again.

First off, thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book in trade for an honest review, based on my own opinions.

This book was 3⭐️ for me. It had potential but it felt very repetitive at times, as if going in circles each chapter. Once the book ended, I felt like there were a lot of unanswered questions still; ya girl needs every avenue explained and with an ending.

Eve, a divorced mother, stumbles upon a box of tapes when cleaning out her father’s house, following his death. What she assumes is just sweet recordings of her mother turns out to be clues to find the town’s serial killer. Eve’s mother has been missing for thirteen years and she is determined to find answers.

Without giving too much away, I needed more. This felt very surface level mystery. Too many people were potential suspects and the bits of Vivian’s book in between just didn’t really click for me. I wanted more to be found from the tapes.

3 ⭐️ because it did keep me intrigued but I can’t get past the repetitive content.

Great book, very good twists and turns.

One note would be to check the spelling of some words as well as grammar, there appeared to be a few errors.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoture for providing me with access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Eve is clearing out her father’s house when she finds a box of old cassette tapes—one of them labeled with her name, in her missing mother’s handwriting. When she plays it, her mother’s voice comes through, saying that if Eve is listening, she’s been murdered. From there, the story follows Eve as she listens to more tapes and tries to uncover the truth about what really happened to her mother. There’s a strong mystery at the center, and I really liked the cassette tape angle—it gave the whole thing a cool, nostalgic vibe.

While I found the plot interesting and definitely wanted to see how it ended, the pacing didn’t fully work for me. The beginning was pretty slow, and then the ending felt rushed. I think some of the twists were a bit unrealistic and hard to believe. The side characters weren’t very well developed either—they mostly felt functional rather than real.

Emotionally, there was a lot of potential—Eve grieving her mom while unraveling a dangerous mystery—but I didn’t really connect with it as much as I hoped. Also, Eve replaying the same tape parts over and over, plus her inner thoughts, started to feel a little repetitive.

Overall, it’s a solid thriller with a great premise, but it didn’t quite deliver the emotional or character depth I was hoping for.

As soon as I read the creepy blurb for this one, I knew I had to read, so thank you for accepting me for an advanced copy.
This started out really positive and wasted no time at all getting straight into the drama. I did feel though that I didn't have enough backstory on our main character Eve for it to have the impact it could have. I also found there to be too many characters that again, didn't have distinguishable traits, so I felt lost at times. What I thought would be a straight up thriller, turned into a crime thriller which I didn't quite expect, but didn't dislike.
I felt the ending was extremely rushed compared to the other 95% of the book.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Thank you NG & Kerry Wilkinson
-The Tapes-

This story started off with a flame. By the end of the first chapter your heart is already pounding.

Every single chapter had me flipping through the pages. I didn’t want to put this book down. Thrilling, fast paced and will keep you on your toes.

The twist?? I did NOT see that coming.




Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7740640274

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book before the release date in exchange for an honest review. This is my first book by this author. This book follows about a week of Eve’s life. As she is cleaning out her father’s house after his death she comes across tapes with dates on them. One tape does not have a date though, it has Eve’s name on it. So she listens to it and it’s her mom saying she is about to be killed and wants eve to know how much she loves her and that she regrets some previous life choices. It is mostly about Eve during that week but there are also excerpts from the true crime novel about the serial killer in her town. The plot was great and it really felt full. I was surprised all the way to the end. I will definitely read another from this author.

The Tapes is a tense, twisty psychological thriller told in a really unique way — through transcripts, recordings, and scattered documents.
This unconventional structure pulled me straight into the mystery and gave it a raw, almost true-crime feel that kept me completely hooked.

The story wastes no time getting started — we dive right into the tapes from the beginning, which made the suspense immediate and addictive. The pacing is sharp and full of surprises, with twists that genuinely shocked me. Every time I thought I had things figured out, something new would throw me off.

It slows down a bit around the halfway point, but the final act is gripping, emotional, and packed with tension. I tore through the last few chapters in one go, and the ending really stuck with me.

If you’re into slow-burn thrillers with unique formats, nostalgic vibes, and jaw-dropping reveals, this one’s absolutely worth the hype.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, Kerry Wilkinson for providing this ARC in exchange

A solid fast paced thriller that is easy to consume and would satisfy a reader looking for a quick easy read. There were a lot of twists and side plots in this book <spoiler>what did her brother take from the house? Never answered </spoiler> and most eventually wound their way back to a conclusion. My biggest gripe is that this seemed like such a small town affair that it seems odd that know one would have suspected the killer <spoiler>given their position in the community </spoiler>. There were several moments where logic had to be suspended, primarily around what eve did and did not remember and her ties to the serial killer case particularly the strings between her and Vivian and her and Liam. She was so tangential to the earring killer that I would have suspected her. But if one goes along for the ride and accepts this suspension then it is a fun read. I also could not understand how Eve could just stop a tape without listening to the whole thing. Like I said and quick easy read if one wants to turn their brain off and have a good thriller ride.

4/5⭐️

This was a solid 4 star thriller/mystery. “'If you're listening to this, l've been murdered! Eve is clearing her father's house when she finds an old cassette player and a box of tapes. Though grieving, she smiles at the spark of nostalgia. One tape is labelled
'Eve' …”

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This thriller was a gripping and suspenseful read. The plot moved quickly and kept me guessing with unexpected twists and turns. The tension built steadily, and the mystery at the heart of the story was engaging. The characters were interesting, and the stakes felt real. It’s a solid choice for anyone who enjoys a fast-paced and exciting thriller.

To say I was gripped from the start would be an understatement, it nearly had me in tears by 5% read!
The tension and suspense continued through the book perfectly and although I figured out ‘who did it’ I didn’t see the twist coming which was so much fun.
I really liked the excerpts from the ‘book’, I don’t think I’ve read another book do a flash back like that before.
I think the mark of a good book is when you can’t put it down and this was certainly the case, I haven’t enjoyed a thriller so much in ages, definitely recommend!

wow, what a ride!! the twists and turns were insane and so unexpected! my jaw was on the floor near the end- quite literally. I love Kerry's matter-of-fact writing style. the way she grips you from the beginning. I was so invested in this book from the first few pages, and it's rare for me to read a book that will grab my attention like that.
Eve finds a box of cassette tapes her mother recorded before she disappeared while cleaning out her dad's house after his passing. She did not expect the contents of those tapes to tell Eve that her mother was murdered. This book takes you on a wild, mind-bending ride while having you second guess your assumptions of who the killer is with each chapter.
i think Kerry did a fantastic job of keeping you guessing until the very end, wondering who the killer truly was. I thought every character in the book was the Earring Killer at one point LOL. the suspense was so good.
also just let me mention that at the end credits pages, I LOVED how she included info on children's reading and how to support that.
over all this was one of the best psychological thrillers I have read in a long time, definitely up there with Freida for me.

This is a bit different to the usual books Kerry writes but I enjoyed it still. It’s almost like a true crime podcast with Eve trying to get justice for her mum. It started off quite fast paced but then slowed down but picked up the pace again later on so I was glad I stuck with it. All in all a decent book.

I enjoyed this book and think it was well written and thought out properly, the way we go on this hunt with the main character to find this killer and it just kept being a dead and she still tried to get her mum justice. The only thing I will say that could have been improved on was maybe adding more connection to the main character before getting right into the mystery just getting to know her more, but other than that I really enjoyed it

I was intrigued with the premise of this novel: a woman named Eve finds a cache of cassette tapes while cleaning out her deceased father's home that her mother, who has been missing for years, recorded years ago. The tapes are basically a diary detailing her daily activities in raising her young daughter and other every day topics, but then she adds an ominous message to one tape claiming she has been murdered. Eve decides to try to unravel the mystery of her mother's disappearance once and for all.

The story centers mostly on Eve reflecting back on her relationship with her mother and the mystery surrounding her disappearance. Eve is also raising her own daughter whom she hopes to keep her relationship strong with.

I found Eve's personality difficult to relate to. She had a lot of baggage and personal issues she was working through that did not seem to add much to the storyline. She did a lot of things on impulse without thinking them through which just left me feeling confused on some of her choices. She was definitely stuck in her head most of the time, over analyzing the heck out of everything. But instead of helping me get to understand Eve's motivation so I could cheer her on, I felt annoyed at the repetitive rambling.

Overall, it was a good book to read over a weekend. Liked it, didn't love it.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘴. 𝘈 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘴. ‘𝘔𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘢’. 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘌𝘷𝘦’𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘳 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 – 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥.

I really enjoyed reading this! It was short but full of lots of anxious moments. It’s like true crime podcast but make it cassette tapes. Some of the twists did catch me by surprise — don’t know if it’s cause I was tired, nonetheless it caught me off guard multiple times! I would definitely check out more of this authors books in the near future :)


Thank you NetGalley for this ARC as always 🫶🏽

Kerry Wilkinson delivers a suspenseful and atmospheric thriller with The Tapes. When Eve discovers a box of old cassette tapes in her late father’s home, she’s shocked to hear a recording of her long-missing mother declaring she’s been murdered. From there, the story unfolds in a gripping slow burn, full of unsettling revelations and expertly timed twists.

The premise is both nostalgic and haunting, with the cassette tapes lending a uniquely eerie tone to Eve’s investigation. Wilkinson builds tension with precision, drawing readers into a labyrinth of family secrets, long-buried truths, and the emotional toll of unresolved loss. Eve’s voice is compelling—driven, vulnerable, and achingly human.

While a few plot points stretch plausibility, the emotional depth and final payoff more than deliver. Fans of psychological thrillers with a “found footage” feel and emotionally charged mysteries will find The Tapes hard to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was a pretty good read, though it did get a little repetitive in places. It centers on Eve, who discovers cassette tapes her mom recorded when she is cleaning out her late father's house. Her mom has been missing for over a decade and Eve is desperate to know what happened to her. What she hears on the tape causes her to launch her own little investigation into a serial killer known as "the earring killer".

The mystery in this book was sound, though I felt like there were almost too many characters of whom Eve was suspicious, without giving us more background into why they might be a good candidate; thus, when the villain was unmasked, I almost felt like I had been misled. Eve herself was a likable enough character, though I don't know why it took her so long to listen to all the cassettes- I know there were a lot of them but if I was her I would have dropped everything to hear every last one. I was a little disappointed in how it ended, but I did think the loose ends were tied up well.

Overall, this isn't my favorite book by this author, but I did think it was a good read and I enjoyed the mystery and nostalgia around the found cassette tapes. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Tapes by Kerry Wilkinson is the kind of psychological thriller that grabs you from page one and dares you to stop reading. I found myself pulled in by the eerie premise of an old cassette labeled with the main character’s name, a chilling voice message, and a haunting mystery surrounding a long-lost mother.

Eve, the protagonist, is relatable in her grief and curiosity as she digs into the truth behind her mother’s disappearance. The pacing is solid, with cliffhangers that had me saying “just one more chapter” until it was 2 a.m. The idea of tapes slowly unraveling a deadly family secret is such a great hook, and the execution had just enough twists and misdirection to keep me engaged.

That said, while the story was definitely a page-turner, there were moments where the plot felt a little repetitive or stretched out, especially as Eve’s investigation deepened. Some characters could have used more depth, and the big reveals didn’t hit quite as hard as I expected. But the suspense is there, and so is the addictive need to know what really happened.

A solid thriller that fans of twisty mysteries will enjoy. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.