Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of The Tapes.
I enjoyed the book overall and would give it a solid 3.5 stars!

I was wishing it was moving a bit faster with more urgency and more twists.

Still, the payoff was worth it, and the core story kept me curious enough to stick with it. I’d definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy thoughtful, character-driven fiction and don’t mind a slower pace.

3.5/5
I enjoyed this quiet psychological thriller! The beginning of the book grabs your attention with a plot twist early on and I liked how the main character was feistier than expected. The slow collection of clues was really fun to follow along.
My favourite part was the exploration of mother/daughter relationships as it felt very realistic.

The Tapes by Kerry Wilkinson opens with Eve who while grieving the loss of her father, finds a mysterious collection of cassette tapes from her mother, who happened to mysteriously disappear years before. Eve’s father never mentioned these tapes, and upon listening, she learns that her mother knows the identity of the infamous local serial killer: The Earring Killer.

The premise of the book made me want to read it immediately. I have a thing for mysteries involving audio recordings, what can I say? Unfortunately this book fell flat for me. I really liked that Wilkinson would end chapters with a new nugget of information, but I wish that the next chapter would have continued to discuss that new piece of information versus starting a different train of thought. This style was a little disjointed for me and I felt like it took away from me getting fully invested in the story.

What worked was how well Wilkinson wrote the extract chapters from Vivian’s book on the earring killer. They felt very Ann Rule-esque in the best way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-ARC of this book.

For me The Tapes was a gripping, fast-paced psychological thriller that hooks you from the very first page. Afterall, with a strapline of: “If you’re listening to this, I’ve been murdered.” what else would you expect?!

This is a suspenseful journey of discovery, secrets, and long-buried truths. The novel follows Eve, a woman sorting through her late father’s belongings when she stumbles upon a box of cassette tapes—one of which is labeled with her name in her mother’s handwriting. Her mother, Angela, vanished over a decade ago, and the voice on the tape claims she was murdered. What unfolds is a tense, emotionally layered investigation as Eve tries to piece together her mother’s past and uncover the truth behind her disappearance.

Eve is a compelling narrator—relatable, determined, and emotionally complex. Her voice carries the story with clarity and heart, making her journey not just a mystery to solve, but a personal reckoning. Taking place over just five days, Wilkinson weaves in excerpts from a fictional true-crime book about the town’s serial killer, giving a voice and a name to the victims and adding depth to the narrative. These interludes are haunting and effective, offering a broader perspective on the crimes and their impact.

The plot is easy to follow but never simplistic. It’s filled with twists—some expected, others genuinely surprising. One twist in particular caught me completely off guard, which is always a welcome bonus in this genre. While a few parts felt slightly repetitive and some secondary characters very two dimensional, the emotional payoff—especially Eve's evolving understanding of her mother—makes it worthwhile.

What truly kept me turning the pages though was the pacing. The story moves briskly, with just enough tension and emotional stakes to keep you invested. The tagline intrigued me, but it was the execution that delivered: a blend of nostalgia, suspense, and emotional depth.

In short, The Tapes is a satisfying read for fans of psychological thrillers with a personal edge. If you enjoy stories that blend mystery with emotional discovery, and a narrator you can root for, this one’s worth picking up.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in August. Pretty solid for a thriller. It wasn't very intense or complicated but sometimes a lighter one is just what you need. And the plot definitely had a twist for me.

Actual Rating: 3.5⭐

I picked up The Tapes on a whim, mostly because that tagline—“If you’re listening to this, I’ve been murdered”—gave me chills in the best way. Who could resist a setup like that?

The Tapes was my first Kerry Wilkinson read, and the premise was immediately intriguing. While the story veered off in a direction I wasn’t expecting, it still delivered an entertaining thriller.

I especially liked the excerpts from the fictional true-crime book woven into the plot—they give each of The Earring Killer’s victims a voice and a life beyond just being another number. Too often, it’s the killer’s name people remember, not the victims’, and I thought this detail added real weight to the story.

I enjoyed following Eve as she pieced together clues about her mother’s disappearance—and whether it might connect to the identity of the long-unsolved killer.
The final reveal? Totally caught me off guard!

There were a few hiccups pacing-wise, and parts felt a bit repetitive, but it didn’t take away from the fun.
If you’re into domestic thrillers with layered mystery and a touch of true-crime vibes, this one’s worth checking out. I’ll definitely be looking into more of Kerry Wilkinson’s books.

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: grief, murder

As Eve is cleaning out her dad's home after her father's death, she finds a box of tapes that her mother recorded. Her mother who disappeared thirteen years before. One of the tapes is labeled "Eve." On it, her mother states that if she disappears, she was actually killed. And she knows who the Earring Killer is, the serial killer who has plagued their town for years.

This was a unique twist on a serial killer story. The tapes were a fun (and touching) addition. A bit of a slow burn that went slightly off the rails at the end with a few ends loose, this was still an entertaining domestic thriller with some nostalgic vibes!

3.5 stars

i really really enjoyed this book. it was so fast faced i couldn’t stop reading it.

i truly did not see this ending coming, although im not sure who i suspected to be the killer.

i definitely recommend this book !!

Exciting and fast paced. Nostalgic for child hood reasons. 90s girl here. Found certain parts repetitive. A few sayings that kept coming back several times. But not too disturbing. Good book with a plot twist I kind of couldn’t see coming!

I really liked the premise of this book and all the mystery around the tapes but I think the rhythm wasn’t for me, so I DNF’d it. Another thing that happened is that the writing was so detailed and descriptive, so that made it heavy for me to follow and keep my interest.
I think this book will be idyllic for slow-burn thriller lovers and detailed reading but not for me.

The ending was UNEXPECTED!! I couldn't believe my eyes when I finished. I had my guesses on the killer, but I was wrong. It was such a fantastic and gripping story that I couldn't put it down until I had read it all. Will definitely be recommending to my family!!

This book was a bundle of surprises for me! I love it.
Eve is going through her father’s stuff after he passed and finds cassette diary recordings from her mother. This sets off an exploration of what happened to her mother. Was it a serial killer? Is her mother still alive? Where did her mother go over a decade ago.
I love this book. Full of surprises and twists.
Thank you!

Gripping from beginning to end! I have to say I do like crime/thriller related books and this is the first one I have read by Kerry Wilkinson but I have to say, whilst some books can start off slowly, this one dives straight in there and has you hooked from the beginning.

Eve is the central character, a chaotic life with many scars from her childhood but the mystery surrounding her mother and her disappearance is the central theme running through the book.

Eve’s suspicions are sent wild with different clues relating to her mother’s disappearance with a number of credible suspects that certainly keep you guessing.

It’s hard not to feel for Eve throughout the book as she battles her own internal trauma, her recent bereavement and the ups and downs of family life - that many are sure to be able to relate to.

It does feel as if you get a true sense of Eve’s life and can empathise with what’s she’s going through and the feeling that she might just be blowing things out of proportion at times.

Unexpected twists and turns as well as subtle clues keep you on the edge of your seat whilst you’re reading.

Henry, Eve’s ex, is a likeable character, unusual in this kind of story but it’s clear that Eve has people around her, including her friend Nicola, even if she hasn’t done the best job of being able to keep them close to her - as in the case of Henry.

But Eve’s trusting nature could be considered a weakness in certain circumstances - and one that, whilst reading, you hope won’t become her undoing!

A series of good characters are introduced, but the inevitable strong bond felt with Eve encourages you to keep on reading and reading, taking in every exciting twist and turn.

The book dives into the central plot straight away but keeps developing at pace throughout the book which was fantastic and really keeps you hanging on every page.

An absolutely fantastic book and certainly keen on reading more of Kerry Wilkinson’s books now. Highly recommended!

Eve discovers aged tapes left behind by her late mother while cleaning out her father's house. The tapes reveal hidden truths and answer questions about her family's past, suggesting the presence of a possible active killer. The quest for answers becomes the story's central quest while navigating through doubt and uncertainty.

From there, Eve's character develops from grief and confusion to an almost ferocious quest for the truth. Even the secondary characters complicate everything because their intentions are rather ambiguous, thus accentuating themes of trust and deception. Unreliable narrators show how memory and perspective can skew reality and provide psychological depth to Eve's investigation.

Family secrets, the pursuit of the truth, and, ultimately, their retentive effects on the present are themes of the novel. These are, of course, tied to contemporaneous situations dealing with people's mental health, their understanding of their loved ones, and the search for justice under heaps of secrets and lies.

Wilkinson writes clearly and well; the tension is well balanced by empathy. The dual perspective narrative builds suspense without confusing the audience and reaches an interesting climax. Language is simple enough for readers to be kept in while barring the strands of mystery at the heart of the story.

The novel passes strong messages about distrust and truth, hitting readers straight in the heart. There is tension, which mirrors the dark and troublesome revelations happening in Eve. Some male characters lack depth, but the robust portrayal of Eve and her relationships with other women compensates for this.

The novel fits solidly within the psychological thriller genre and stands alongside Wilkinson’s other works, known for their clever plotting and well-drawn characters. It offers a fresh angle on family-based mysteries and the lasting impact of the past, rather than relying heavily on fast-paced action, making it thoughtful as well as suspenseful.

The book's unique combination of meticulous plotting and emotional insight makes it special. It prompts readers to question assumptions and confront uncomfortable truths about people's hidden lives. Minor issues such as pacing lulls and less nuanced secondary characters do not significantly impact the overall reading experience.

This makes The Tapes an engrossing, atmospheric read that begs reflection: trust, memory, and secrets that define us, all contained within a suspenseful thriller that precludes former notions yet allows one to think deeply about issues raised.

It was a quick read and I enjoyed the story.
However, I preferred the first part and felt like some elements were left unexplained in the second one. I also think that the ending was spoiled by what, I suppose, was supposed to be the unexpected element. It just made the whole thing less plausible/more far-fetched to me.

"If they say I’m missing, I’m not. If you’re listening to this, I’ve been murdered."

"The Tapes" by Kerry Wilkinson revolves around Eve, who stumbles upon a pile of tapes alongside an old cassette player, leading her to solve the mystery of the Earring Killer and uncover the truth about her mother's disappearance over a decade ago.

I enjoyed how this book was fast-paced and jumped straight into the story. I was hooked from the start on Eve reconnecting with her mother in a way through the tapes, and it carried on to lead to a series of events that make you want to continue reading the next chapter to find closure.

However, in saying that, I did find some of the subplots a bit dull and lost within the overall story, along with it being rushed towards the end and not delving into the psyche of the killer. I would have personally loved if there had been more of a showdown or a motive behind the killings, as well as more emotional dialogue between Eve and her daughter and perhaps, a new relationship kindling between Eve and her brother. Even her ex-husband - a lot of it could have been more emotional or thought-provoking, as I didn't feel an attachment towards any of the characters by the end of the book.

Overall, I'd give this a 3/5 star rating :) I definitely would recommend it if you enjoy a fast-paced, yet soft, and easy-to-digest thriller.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for giving me a free copy of the book. All thoughts and reviews are my own.

This one had me hooked from the first tape. The Tapes is one of those thrillers where you think you know what’s going on, but it keeps pulling the rug out from under you in the best way. I loved the mix of past and present, and the way the mystery slowly unraveled felt super satisfying. The characters felt real, flawed, and easy to connect with. If you’re into stories with secrets, small-town vibes, and a few good twists, this one’s definitely worth the read.

Finished this thriller over the weekend and honestly it was slightly underwhelming. It was interesting but rushed and I found the ‘book extract’ chapters to be slightly boring 🫣
I finished the whole thing so it kept me turning pages. I did guess part of the twist way too early but at this point I’ve read so many thrillers that I expect to.

This was a good read that kept my attention. I didn't see the identity of the serial killer coming.

It was a little slow in parts but I didn't have any trouble sticking to it. I enjoyed getting to know Eve and how she fought to find answers about her Mom.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC for my honest review.

#NetGalley #TheTapes #KerryWilkinson

The Tapes by Kerry Wilkerson, this book is about Eve who while cleaning out her dad‘s home after his death finds a box that says Angela who is her mom that went missing 12 years before when she looks inside she finds cassette tapes and on one of these tapes is her mom teaching little baby Eve how to count but then the tape stops and it’s her mom‘s voice again but this time she says if you’re listening to this I’ve been murdered and proceeds to tell the story of how in her doing wrong led to her figuring out who a popular serial killer was. This leaves it up to eve but because of her own spotty past with the police she doesn’t know who to turn to. The serial killer was so popular there was even a book written about him and eventually Eve will even talk to the author looking for answers. Despite this not being a very strong beginning I thought the multiple suspects were done really well but I do want to say the ending turned out to have just too many people involved but you’d have to read it to find out what I mean. I love books by this author and although I never wanted to DNF the book, I did think it could’ve been better but having said that I still recommend it I love Miss Wilkerson‘s books and one bad one or one not so great one isn’t going to change that. it seems like 2025 is an off year for most of my favorite authors but as I said about many of them a bad book by them is still better than a good book by a lot of others. despite the book only being Soso I still found it very readable and still a great way to pass the afternoon. #NetGalley, #Bookouture, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #KerryWilkerson, #TheTapes,