Eve’s mother disappeared over a decade ago and when her father passes away, she finds a cassette player and a box of tapes with her missing mother’s name among his belongings.

This book had me hooked from the first page, it dove straight into the story with no messing about. It has short chapters that are straight to the point and the authors writing is very easy to follow. I really enjoyed it and didn’t know once where the story was going to end up! I really liked the book within a book too as it gave a bit of context to things that were being talked about and mentioned.

I felt sorry for Eve as the book went on as she uncovered more about her mother and the past and I really did like her as a narrator. Even though it seemed like everything was against her at one point, she pushed until she could finally get the answers she needed.

Even though I would have liked certain aspects of the book explored a bit more, this twisty thriller had me hooked especially near the end! I couldn’t have predicted the reveal and I’d recommend this for a quick thriller fix.

This book brings a piece of nostalgia with it for people of a certain age thinking back to making mixtapes and such and how prized they were. I like the cassette tapes usage as a device. Admittedly, things did get a bit repetitive with her constantly replaying certain sections of the tapes but it was at least understandable if why she did it.

From the mystery standpoint I felt it was a bit predictable. Heck even the FMC knew what was what but just drew out the process for the sake of chapters to write. Well at least that what the 50-75% mark felt like. So it did drag a bit there. However, most of the book was engaging and a fun read!

It comes out August 11th 2025

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from Bookouture Audio through NetGalley to read which gave the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My general rating system is below. Since I primarily read ARC books I rate according to how I think like minded readers will receive the book. I will round up or down depending on many factors and try not to let my personal wants affect a books ratings.

⭐️ Hated It but pushed through as I don’t DNF ARCs I have received.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, content issues, poorly edited.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but it had something that stopped me from rounding up. Usually the book may have much more potential than what was given. I recommend it but with reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I Really enjoyed it or think others will. These are solid reads that I definitely would recommend for a variety of reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! These are books that remain rent free in my head for well after unfinished the book. It can be for a variety of reasons from being very well written or just the vibes that captured my mind. These books are also ones I would probably read again

Okay, I’ll admit it; I was drawn in by the cover and the title! As someone who grew up with cassettes it took me right back to my childhood. Reminiscences aside, I liked Eve, I thought she was a strong lead, and it was easy to feel for her. On the flipside of that, her boss was an odious character but also believable in his actions and attitudes, I think we’ve all probably been unlucky enough encounter someone like him. I really enjoyed how the author created a multi-layered read, seamlessly moving from Eve’s point of view to the tapes, and then the book excerpts about the ‘Earring Killer’. Writing in this way kept me engaged and trying to guess who the culprit would be throughout. We do get the majority of Angela’s most important message at the beginning of the tale, and due to this, the pacing felt slightly stilted and the dialogue faintly repetitive in places. The revelation was more than satisfying but the ending felt a tad rushed. All in all, this is a very well-written and engrossing tale – recommended.

This was my first book by Kerry Wilkinson and I’ll definitely be diving into more of their work after this.

The tape scenes were easily my favorite part. They gave off strong podcast vibes and added such a creepy, addictive layer to the story. I loved the way the chapters alternated between the main character’s point of view and excerpts from the book written about the serial killer. It kept the tension high and made the mystery even more compelling.

If you like true crime elements mixed with a chilling plot, this one is worth picking up.

This book was weirdly not suspenseful for a thriller. And the big reveal didnt do anything for me because I didn’t see it coming, and not in a ‘hindsight is 20/20’ way either. It just feels completely random.

I read to about 36% and honestly there was just a bit too much going on for me, and I didn’t overly care what the twist was going to be.
I do think this book will do very well, especially if read in the fall. But maybe a couple of less…things go on in the main characters life would have worked better for me.

The premise of The Tapes really caught my attention, I loved the idea of an old cassette revealing long-buried secrets, and the opening definitely drew me in. There’s something nostalgic and eerie about the setup that worked really well at first.

Unfortunately, I found myself losing interest as the story went on. I didn’t feel especially connected to the characters, and I guessed who the killer was quite early. The twist didn’t quite land for me, and by the end, I was left feeling a bit underwhelmed.

That said, it’s a solid concept and an easy read, and I think fans of slower-paced mysteries with a focus on family secrets might enjoy it more than I did. It just didn’t quite live up to its initial promise for me.

I’m not sure whether it’s because Im lucky enough to have an extremely strong bond and relationship with my mum, because I’m a mum myself or maybe because I’ve also lost my amazing Dad recently,  but this book hit hard!

Eve’s mum Angela disappeared, never to be seen or heard from again, 10 years ago. Now, after the death of her Dad, she is tasked with emptying his house so it can be sold. It is not an easy task for someone to do alone, with no help from her half-brother, especially when her father never threw anything away – just in case.

Whilst going through the huge amount of ‘stuff’ and not getting anywhere,  Eve stumbles upon a boxful of old cassette tapes, all neatly labelled. She has vague memories of her mum recording herself when she was a small child, like keeping an audio diary. Finding an old cassette player (of course, her Dad still had one), she starts flicking through the tapes and settles on one that has Eve written on it.

Hearing her mums voice for the first time in over a decade is a shock to her system. It’s not the best recording, but there is one segment that makes Eve hold her breath and rewind over and over...

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

Eve decides to follow the trail but soon realises the trail is one full of lies, deceit, buried secrets, and a possible link to a serial killer. How far will Eve go to find the answers she’s desperate for and how much of a risk she is willing to take?

I loved the use of old cassette tapes. It took me back to my childhood. Remembering just how scratchy the sound quality could be, it added a level of eeriness to the plot.

The character execution in this book was superb! Eve was a strong, likeable, and relatable lead, and I really enjoyed the characterisation of her boss, we’ve all crossed paths with someone similar!

Twisty, gripping, creepy, and with a constant thread of second guessing, this is one hell of a read.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture the ARC.

3.25 ⭐️

I really enjoyed the overall premise of the book, but I feel there was a lot of potential that wasn’t explored to the fullest. I was expecting a bit more suspense and plot twists, but those and the pacing fell a bit flat. I wish the “tape” aspect had been utilized more. We get the majority of the message up front and it’s just repeated throughout the story. I expected the recordings to slowly reveal clues, until everything came together and the mystery was solved, but that’s not how it played out. So while the idea was cool and interesting, I do think it could’ve been executed better. This was a quick and easy read with an interesting storyline. Worth giving it a chance if you’re looking for a simple yet fun summer read.

Thank you for the pre-release copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, I did not finish this book. I put it down at a little over 30%. I'm an avid reader of psychological thrillers--usually my top pick--but the pace of this one was not as quick or thrilling as others I've read and enjoyed. Psych thrillers are usually books I think about for days and have me hooked from the beginning, but this one just wasn't my cup of tea. The first 20% or so felt like it was sort of going in circles. In my opinion, there wasn't much character development during that time. Kept mentioning statements from the tapes, but seemed like nothing was coming of it. I also couldn't really get attached to Eve's character which is something I normally don't have an issue with. I did have my guess for who was responsible, and after checking the ending I was correct, which is out of the ordinary for me. It has potential to be great for someone else- so I recommend picking it up if the description piques your interest!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Book Review – The Tapes by Kerry Wilkinson

This was such a gripping, fast-paced read—I flew through it in just a couple of sittings! The Tapes keeps you hooked from the first few pages with a clever mystery, well-placed twists, and a storyline that constantly has you second-guessing what’s really going on.

I really liked the character of Eve—she’s sharp, layered, and easy to root for. Her determination to uncover the truth pulled me in straight away, and the way the story unfolded through her perspective added to the suspense.

The ending genuinely caught me off guard—I didn’t see it coming at all, which made it all the more satisfying. If you enjoy twisty thrillers that keep the pace up and give you that “just one more chapter” feeling, The Tapes is well worth picking up!

The idea of hearing someone's voice after not hearing it for over 10 years gave me goosebumps. Eve recently lost her father, her mother disappeared over 10 years ago, and Eve is trying to keep her head above water juggling everything. I sympathized with Eve and everything she had to take on with little to no recognition, especially at her job. Throw on that the fact that she's going through her fathers belongings so they can sell the house, and they haven't even had the funeral yet! Eve's struggles in the past helped to explain some of the decisions she makes in this story, especially her wariness towards the police. The descriptions of the different locations in the book really helped me visualize not only the town but the characters. You can tell a lot about characters from their environments. I was 50% correct on how the story concluded and was pleasantly surprised by the other 50%. I devoured this book, so good!

While clearing out her late father’s house, Eve discovers a box of old cassette tapes recorded by her mother, who vanished years ago. One of the tapes includes a haunting message. Determined to uncover the truth, Eve follows the trail her mother left behind—one tangled in lies, secrets, and a possible connection to a local serial killer. As she digs deeper, Eve realizes someone will do anything to keep the past buried. Eve must decide how far she's willing to go for answers—before she becomes the next victim.

If your mom left behind cassette tapes saying she’d been murdered, could you handle what came next?

This book initially piqued my interest on the title alone. The Tapes instantly gave me Home is Where the Bodies Are vibes by Jeneva Rose, so I was excited to receive an ARC.

Before I get into it: I received an advanced copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Kerry Wilkinson has become a new favorite author. The Tapes was straight to the point and gave me those whodunnit vibes without the extra fluff that usually makes thrillers drag. There was always something unsettling just under the surface, and I enjoyed how Eve’s actions pulled me deeper into her mother’s twisted past. I loved the pacing, the mystery, and how the story didn’t waste time trying to be overly clever; it just worked.

Eve was a strong lead and a very likeable person. She was believable in her reactions and easy to root for. The way the plot unfolded kept me guessing, and the use of videotapes added this nostalgic creep factor that made it feel even more personal and disturbing. If you enjoy twisty thrillers that center around long-buried secrets and family drama, this one is worth your time. Also- if you read “Home is Where the Bodies Are” you might like this one too!

This book is a solid, bingeable thriller that makes you wonder how much you really know about the people who
raised you.

Synopsis:
'If you’re listening to this, I’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’ – in her mother, Angela’s, scrawled handwriting. She disappeared for good more than ten years ago.

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

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

Desperate for answers, Eve has no one left to ask – only a box of tapes that could lead to the truth. But the more she listens, the more she realises she can never go to the police…

Because Eve’s mother had her own secrets. But what if her killer is still out there? And what if Eve is next?

My thoughts

It took me just under two evenings to finish this book. Very much enjoyed it and you could really feel for Eve. A recovering alcoholic has not just recently lost her dad but also dealing with the disappearance of her mum around 10 years ago. Finding this tape leads her on path that will change her and help her to understand why her mum just disappeared. Was she murdered? Is she leading a secret life? Eve can't help but speculate even at times thinking her own dad could be behind it. But when somebody close to her dies which is put down to suicide, Eve wonders if she is to blame for getting them involved in the tape. As more and more unusual things happen, Eve doesn't know who she can trust. Excellent ending with a great twist. Many thanks

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of The tapes by Kerry Wilkinson pub date 11th of August. Eve stumbles upon cassettes tapes whilst clearing out her dads house after he dies, and one of the tapes is labelled Eve she is intrigued to her mums voice who has long since died saying if your listening to this I’ve been murdered. Great thriller it kept my interest and was truly edge of the seat reading . Great concept for a book very original indeed

The Tapes was a wild ride from start to finish! I was hooked from the first chapter. I loved the short chapters, it made it super easy to fly through. The relationships throughout the book were layered really well and I did find the characters enjoyable overall. The book was full of twists and turns that kept me guessing throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I enjoyed The Tapes. The start was so strong. I know it is technically a thriller but I would consider this more of a mystery. It didn't feel like it had the tension and suspense necessary for a thriller. The overall story pacing was a little slow for me especially in a thriller. This was a fun read that would be perfect for the beach. You can read through it pretty quickly.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Actual rating: 2,5 stars

The Tapes had an intriguing premise, and I appreciated the multimedia aspect. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to the potential.

There were simply too many characters to keep track of, and while that did add to the mystery and made guessing the killer more challenging, it also meant that most of them lacked the depth needed to make me care about their roles in the story.

The plot itself felt repetitive, with stretches of dialogue that didn’t always feel natural and a pacing that swung between sluggish and rushed. For a thriller, I expected to feel more tension or urgency, but I struggled to stay fully engaged.

The ending was especially underwhelming. Once the reveal happened, there was little in the way of explanation or insight into the killer’s motivations, which left the conclusion feeling abrupt and unsatisfying.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was an enjoyable read that left you guessing for a long time. There were quite a few unbelievable coincidences and it felt more like a US story than and a UK one at times. I liked the fact it was different, I've not read anything with the same sort of premise.

“The tapes” has a really interesting premise, Eve is clearing out her family home and comes across an old box full of cassette tapes. When she sees her mother’s name on the tapes she is invested in listening to them as her mother disappeared ten years ago. What starts out as a nostalgic blast from the past hearing her mothers voice, the content soon descends into something much darker as she realizes this must be a link to her mothers disappearance.

After listening to more tapes she quickly realizes the police are not an option, her mother is somehow caught up with a serial killer and the situation may not actually be over yet.

I enjoyed Eves POV, I read the physical book but I feel like the publishers could make a really good version on audiobook if they format the content of the tapes just right, it would definitely create a very eery listening experience if so.

The content of the tapes was probably the most intriguing part of the plot for me, I was invested in unravelling this mystery and finding out what happened to the mum.

Thank you to Bookouture and Kerry Wilkinson for the #netgalley #gifted copy!

Publishes: August 11th