Intense, addictive and thrilling - 3.5*

This book's release date hits perfectly because this is my type of book for a 'beach read'. It is addictive. Time flies when you read this book; you are desperate to find out the true meaning behind the tapes. This book is like an escape - but perhaps not the escape you are used to. I truly flew through this book because I wanted - no, I needed - to find out the truth behind these tapes. What was real and who on earth was the earring killer?

I fell hook, line and sinker for every single red herring. Perhaps, I was too trusting. Don't make the same mistakes I did and find the answers.

Thirteen years ago, Eves mum Angela disappeared without a trace, now after losing her Dad she is tasked with emptying his house and garage where she discovers a box of cassette tapes (90s nostalgia enters, as a teen in the 90s I remember recording the stop/start of recording the top 40 every Sunday) The tapes are all recorded by Angela, with a variety of events and dates on them, until Eve discovers one with just her name on. On this tape is her mother “if they say I’m missing, I’m not. If you’re listening to this, I’ve been murdered”

The story kicks straight off from the first chapter and throws the reader in as Eve, with skeletons in her own closet, begins to investigate what happened thirteen years ago and is there any link to the prolific serial killer “the earring killer.”

I’m a fan of this authors books already. This is a whodunnit book is with a good plot and believable characters, I would have liked more media chapters, I always enjoy those in books and think it would have worked really well in this with the tapes.

Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for my eARC.

I really wanted to like this book. Reading the synopsis I thought it would be interesting because I personally have not read a book like this before. The writing wasn’t great in my opinion. I feel like the plot twists or information were just shoved one after the other and it wasn’t earned. The ending was somewhat interesting but very predictable. It was sadly a struggle to get through this book.

3.75 rounded up to a 4. I really enjoyed this book! The storyline is really gripping and has a great slow-build tension. As an American reader, I was occasionally lost with some of the cultural references and phrasing/slang, but it didn’t take away from the overall vibe. It’s solid thriller with a satisfying payoff. Honestly, it could’ve been done without the excerpts from the other book; it just focused on too much of the other victims lives that really had no meaning to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️½ — A solid thriller with a twisty ending!

The Tapes by Kerry Wilkinson kept me curious throughout, and I was genuinely surprised by the ending—which is ALWAYS a plus in a mystery. I love when I guess it right, but I love when I’m surprised even more. As long as the surprise is believable, and this was! While the story was well-written and the pacing solid, it didn’t have that “can’t put it down” grip I look for in my favorite thrillers. Still, it’s a good read if you’re in the mood for something twisty without being too intense. A decent mystery with a memorable final turn.

“If you’re listening to this, I’ve been murdered…”
Now that is a first line that grabs you.

This story had an incredibly strong premise—a woman finding a box of tapes recorded by her missing mother, only to hear a chilling message that suggests she was murdered. That opening instantly hooked me. The mystery unravels tape by tape, and it definitely kept me curious.

What worked: the atmosphere, the nostalgia of the cassette tapes, and that feeling of digging into a past that doesn’t want to be uncovered. It had Lisa Jewell meets true crime podcast vibes.

What didn’t quite land: some pacing issues and a few twists that felt a bit predictable or overly convenient. I wanted more depth from the side characters and a little more emotional payoff from the ending.

Still, it’s a quick, twisty read with an eerie tone and a bingeable setup. A solid choice if you like domestic thrillers with dark family secrets.

Say hello to Eve 👋 — she’s cleaning out her late father’s house when she stumbles upon an old-school cassette player 🎧 and a mysterious box of tapes 📦. Curiosity kicks in, and she hits play… and whoa 😱 — her missing mother’s voice says:
“If they say I’m missing, I’m not. If you’re listening to this… I have been murdered.” 🎤💀

Talk about instant chills! ❄️ This book grabs you from the first few pages and does not let go 🔥📖

Eve is a total badass heroine 💪💁‍♀️— smart, strong-willed, and absolutely relentless in her quest for the truth. The writing is sharp ✍️ and the flashbacks sprinkled throughout? Chef’s kiss 👌— they kept me totally hooked!

🌀 Twists? YES.
📚 Unputdownable? You bet.
💯 Recommend? Absolutely.

If you’re into dark secrets, gripping mysteries, and powerful female leads — this one’s for you! 📼🖤💥

**2.75 Stars** ( Rounded to 3)
✨Book Review✨
📖 The Tapes
✍️ Kerry Wilkinson
📅 Publication: August 11, 2025

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
While clearing her father’s house, Eve finds an old cassette player and a box of tapes. One tape, labeled “Eve” in her missing mother Angela’s handwriting, reveals a chilling message:
“If they say I’m missing, I’m not. If you’re hearing this, I’ve been murdered.”
With no one else to turn to, Eve listens desperately for answers. But as secrets unfold, she knows she can’t go to the police because her mother had hidden truths, and her killer might still be out there. Now, Eve could be next.

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
I want to begin by saying how much I appreciate the time, creativity, and dedication that authors put into writing a book. I know it’s no easy task, and I have deep respect for the effort that goes into crafting a story.
That said, this particular book didn’t quite work for me. The premise drew me in, I love stories with nostalgic undertones and emotional depth, and I was excited to see how the mystery would unfold. While the mystery itself was intriguing, the overall execution fell a bit flat.
I found the pacing to be inconsistent, with certain sections dragging while others felt rushed. Some plot points and themes were also a bit repetitive, which made it hard for me to stay fully engaged. Ultimately, while I appreciate the author’s intention and ideas, the story just didn’t hold my interest the way I’d hoped.
I still encourage readers to give this book a try, it might resonate differently with others. Just because it didn’t work for me doesn’t mean it won’t for you.
Thank You @Netgalley and @booktoure for allowing me to review this book.

My thanks to BookOuture and NetGalley for a copy of “The Tapes “ for an honest review.

I’m usually a big fan of Kerry Wilkinson’s books but unfortunately on this occasion , I was quite disappointed.
For some reason I couldn’t connect with the characters , and I soon lost interest in the storyline.
It definitely won’t put me off reading more by him , but sadly this title just wasn’t for me

Kerry Wilkinson does a great job building tension without going over the top. The characters felt real, the pacing was tight, and there were just enough red herrings to keep me second-guessing myself the entire time.

If you’re into psychological thrillers with a strong hook, The Tapes is definitely worth adding to your list.

Thirteen years after her mother disappeared, Eve returns to her childhood home for her father’s funeral—and uncovers a box of old cassette tapes that will change everything. Among them is one labeled simply Eve, written in her mother’s familiar handwriting. When she presses play, Eve is stunned to hear her mother’s voice not only professing her love but also claiming she’s been murdered.

What begins as a nostalgic find quickly spirals into a chilling investigation. As Eve listens to each tape, secrets from the past begin to surface—dark truths that make it impossible to involve the police. Her search for answers leads her straight into the path of a local serial killer investigation, and she realizes that whatever happened to her mother may not be over… and she might be next.

The Tapes is a cleverly plotted psychological thriller that grips you from the first page. Told through Eve’s point of view and interspersed with excerpts from a true-crime book, the narrative is fast-paced, atmospheric, and filled with jaw-dropping twists. The analog eeriness of the cassette tapes adds a haunting layer of suspense rarely found in modern thrillers.

Eve is a flawed yet compelling protagonist—grieving, skeptical, and determined to uncover the truth no matter the cost. The small-town setting hums with quiet dread, and the mystery unravels in a way that keeps you constantly guessing. Each chapter ends with a punch, and the final twist is as shocking as it is satisfying.

Wilkinson’s writing balances emotional depth with taut suspense, using the tapes as a unique narrative device to explore memory, guilt, and the corrosive power of secrets. It’s a slow-burn in the best way—introspective, atmospheric, and utterly addictive.

If you love smart thrillers with emotional weight, true crime vibes, and genuinely unpredictable twists, The Tapes belongs at the top of your TBR.

Favorite quote:
“If they say I’m missing, I’m not. If you’re listening to this… I’ve been killed.”

This book gives a new life to the word "gripping". The entire idea in itself is one that sinks its hooks into true-crime & mystery-loving readers, myself included. From the very beginning I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what twist would come next which kept me flipping through the pages. I think that the main character, Eve, is one who appears unassuming at first but has layers that deepen through every chapter making her someone that a reader can't help but feel protective over as she continues her journey. The interconnectedness of the characters as well keeps things interesting and I found myself making my own connections and getting even deeper into the mystery at hand. The writing style was descriptive enough to keep my interest while moving quickly enough to avoid boredom of any kind. I felt the author did a fantastic job with the plot development, setting descriptions, and overall writing style. I would highly recommend this book and cannot wait to see what else comes from this author.

This book had me hooked because I loved the concept of the tapes. The story was written very well with great suspense and a wide cast of possible suspects. I did feel it was a little predictable, especially toward the end.

Eve's mother mysteriously disappeared years ago and now she has found her voice recorded tapes predicting her death. Now she must investigate what happened to her and the new murders that are taking place.

This was such an interesting story and I really enjoyed reading this and learning all the characters and their relationships with each other. I did not guess the ending and that is what I like in a thriller/mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC for this book!

This was a truly refreshing new kind of thriller. I found the tape part very innovative and it had me hooked until the end.

The only thing I could potentially criticise is that it was a little slow at times, but other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

If you're looking for a gripping thriller, I highly recommend you get this one.

As a passionate ARC reviewer, I look for the perfect mix of genre, title, description, and, of course, the book cover when looking for my next read. This book captivated me the moment I set my eyes on it, because, right there on the cover, was the ubiquitous cassette tape I spent the best years of my life with as a 90s kid. I wanted in, and was overjoyed to see that the publisher approved my request. I have to say that I am already biased before I begin telling you about my book reading experience, so typing out the first draft of my review right on page one — more details to follow.

Alright then, book gobbled up in no time, and I come back completely exhausted from the adrenaline ride. Well, it wasn't like that throughout the book, but most chapter endings were actual page-turners. A perfectly ordinary person's ordinary life is made extraordinary by the discovery of their mother's old cassette tape recordings, and then begins an adventure that Eve would've never thought she would live to see in her life as a single mother with a teenage daughter.

The story is a twist to the usual cold case whodunits, and accomplished mystery writer Kerry Wilkinson knows how to make a story engaging and enjoyable. The characters are unique, yet believable. This ARC was my very first introduction to the author, and what a brilliant one at that! I thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this fantastic book, and I look forward to the author's next thrilling novel.

Whilst clearing our her father's garage, Eve finds a box of tapes where there are recordings from her mother who disappeared 13 years ago. Eve is given information which leads her to to chase for answers on what actually happened to her mother.

There were moments where the pacing dragged a bit. I found it hard to really connect with the characters, I just wasn't fully invested in them. One (admittedly petty) thing that really got under my skin was the killer’s nickname: the “Earring Killer.” It just sounded a bit ridiculous, and instead of striking fear, it made me cringe every time it was mentioned.

That said, the story itself was strong. It kept me guessing throughout with plenty of suspects. There was a satisfying twist at the end so for a thriller it did its job.

This book had its fair share on suspects - everyone was acting shady - but it was still "easy" to filter down the culprits.

I liked Eve as a character - though she handled a couple of things completely different than I would have.

I enjoyed this story and I'm sure I would read more from this author.

From chapter 1, I was hooked! Actually that's not true, it was from the book description. Chapter 1 was really powerful and the rest of the book did not disappoint me. We get only a few days with the main character but these are busy few days navigating loss, grief, a teenage daughter, being a recovering alcoholic, the joy of hearing her mom's voice in over a decade, and the looming presence of a serial killer. We get lots of information within a short amount of time, everyone is a suspect and I enjoyed trying to piece it together. It would not be a good thriller without a twist and this one had me gasp!

Set in the fictional Sedingham, this British mystery is a fast-paced read for those who want many questions and satisfying answers. We follow along the search for answers with Eve Falconer, a woman going through the process of cleaning out her recently deceased father’s home when she finds the tapes that sets our mystery in motion.

The main character is a grieving, recovering alcoholic mother whose POV is consistent with all of the traits you would associate with that description. Her search for answers compounded by her grief makes for some excellent story telling without veering into melancholy.

I kept suspecting I knew the answers (as I often do with mysteries) and yet, I was wrong at every turn! This made me eager to keep reading and I finished the book in two days which is my favorite type of thriller to read! So if you’re looking for a quick read that will hit the high points you want out of a mystery, The Tapes by Kerry Wilkinson is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Bookouture for the early access to this book in exchange for an honest review!