'If you’re listening to this, I’ve been murdered…'
Well, that’s one way make sure you read chapter 2 and Ill confess I was hooked from that line. I settled in with a cuppa and a healthy touch of scepticism (because let’s be honest, a lot of thrillers these days couldn’t twist their way out of a paper bag). But this one? This one had claws.

Eve is no damsel. After her Dad dies, she starts to clear his house and discovers tapes recorded by her missing mother. This leads to a journey where she is digging through her mother’s past with the kind of grit I respect, no whining, no dithering, just tape after tape of secrets that made me mutter 'bloody hell' more than once. The pacing? Tight. The twists? Sharp enough to make me go back for more. And the emotional gut punches? Unexpected, but well placed.

It’s got that true crime edge without the exploitative nonsense. No filler, no fluff just a solid mystery that steals your time and respects your brain. If you like your thrillers with bite, backbone, and a protagonist who doesn’t need rescuing, The Tapes delivers.

Final verdict? Five tapes out of five.

The cover of this book caught my eye and I was intrigued by the nostalgia of tapes. When I realised it was a thriller I had to read it as I love thriller books that have me gripped. This book is publishing on 11th August. Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advance copy.

I hadn’t heard of this author before and hadn’t realised how many books he has written. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the story other than the promises of a gripping thriller.

‘If they say I’m missing, I’m not. I’ve been killed.’

Eve is clearing out her borderline hoarder dad’s house after his death. She finds a box of tapes that belonged to her mum who has been missing for 13 years. She finds a tape with her name on it and discovers that her mum claims to know the identity of ‘The Earring Killer’ and says that they have killed her too. Eve isn’t sure if she can believe the tapes as her mum often lied, but she’s determined to find out what really happened.

I had a few theories about who the killer was but I’m glad I was proved wrong. I found it difficult to connect with Eve and I found her almost robotic. As the book starts her father has just died yet she doesn’t seem overly upset, instead seems to use it as an excuse. I found that most of the other characters seemed a bit surface level and I would have liked more from them.

The book has an intriguing and gripping start, but definitely tailed off a bit in the middle, then picks up again towards the end. I thought the ending was a bit too rushed and abrupt, I actually flicked back a few pages in case I had missed something.

Overall, I liked the idea of the tapes but the characters weren’t developed enough for me and the pacing was off. I would consider reading more from this author.

After Eve's father dies, she is tasked with cleaning out his house. Among the clutter she finds a box of recordings from her mother, who disappeared many years ago. One recording has chilling words. "If I disappear, I've been killed". Eve must trace the clues to discover if he mom is alive out there or if, in fact, she was killed.

I enjoyed this thriller. I liked the excerpts from the book within a book. I also enjoyed that there were several mysteries within this novel. I did figure out "who dunnit" towards the beginning, but there were a lot of details and factors that were revealed throughout.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overall a nice thriller. There was a good plot and it wasn’t very predictable, which I like. However I found the tempo of the story inconsistent. It started rushed, then it slowed down to the point of boredom and then it picked up again. This isn’t bad perse but it stood out to me. I think the story was original but somehow it didn’t really grab me. I also think some parts could have been left out or explained more. The author makes you think the wrong person did it, but in the end never explains the actions of this character. I didn’t really like that.

Overall a nice book to read once, but wouldn’t necessarily recommend or read again.

Thank you NetGalley for ARC of this book.
Being that the book is called the Tapes I thought more time would spent looking into the tapes. Instead we’re just on a cat and mouse game of who is the Earring killer.
I did enjoy the book in the end when everything comes together.

Some stories hook you with action. Others with atmosphere. The Tapes grips because of its voice—quite literally.

Eve is packing away the remnants of her late father’s life when she finds an old cassette player and a box of tapes. Most are the kind of thing you’d expect—little slices of the past that stir a moment’s nostalgia. But one is different. Her name is written across the label in her mother’s handwriting. Her mother, Angela, who disappeared more than a decade ago.

Eve presses play. The hiss of static gives way to a familiar voice she never thought she’d hear again. And then—an impossible sentence: If they say I’m missing, I’m not. If you’re listening to this, I’ve been murdered.

From that moment on, the book tightens its grip. The search for the truth moves forward one page (and tape) at a time, each pulling back another layer of Angela’s hidden life. It’s a clever structure that builds momentum while also deepening the personal stakes. It's about solving a mystery, yes, but also a daughter trying to reconcile the mother she remembers with the woman she’s only now beginning to know.

Wilkinson paces the story with precision. There’s urgency, but also room for tension to breathe. You’re not simply rushing to the final twist; you’re listening alongside Eve, piecing together a puzzle that’s as much emotional as it is dangerous.

It’s a tight psychological thriller where grief, secrecy, and trust all coil together. Even as the revelations mount, you’re left questioning whether the truth will bring closure—or more questions Eve isn’t ready to face.

If you appreciate thrillers with sharp edges and a human heart, The Tapes is both tense and resonant. It’s a story that doesn’t just want to be solved—it wants to be heard.

First of all, thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Eve’s father passes away, she returns to his house to sort through his belongings. She discovers a box of old cassette tapes, recordings made by her mother before she mysteriously disappeared years ago.

On one of the tapes, Eve hears a chilling message:
“…if this is Eve listening, I just want you to know I’m sorry. If they say I’m missing, I’m not. I’ve been killed - and I need you to know that I love you.”

From that moment, we follow Eve on a journey to uncover the truth about her mother’s disappearance. Gradually, we learn why her mother left this message. It’s because she knew the identity of the Earring Killer.

The suspense throughout the book is excellent. The mystery hooked me right away, and I found it genuinely hard to put down. Questions kept me turning the pages: What really happened to her mother? Could she still be alive? And who exactly is the Earring Killer?

However, I did find the emotional depth lacking. Eve’s father has just died, yet her reaction feels muted. This flatness carries through other moments as well, such as when the mother of one of the Earring Killer’s victims finally learns the killer’s identity after so many years, yet we never hear her emotional response. These missed opportunities made some scenes feel less impactful than they could have been.

I also felt that the way we finally learned the identity of the Earring Killer could have been handled better. It felt sudden and a little rushed. We’re told the truth was revealed on a tape, yet throughout the story we actually hear several tapes, just not the one that mattered most. Experiencing that revelation directly would have been far more powerful.

Overall, The Tapes is a gripping and addictive mystery, but I wished for more emotional weight to match the intensity of the plot.

I will definitely be reading more of Kerry Wilkinson’s books and I’m curious to explore his other works.

Eve uncovers chilling secrets while clearing out her late father’s house. Eve finds an old cassette player and a box of tapes. One tape is labeled “Eve” in her missing mother Angela’s handwriting. When Eve plays the tape, she hears Angela’s voice saying, “If you’re listening to this, I’ve been murdered.” With no one left to turn to, Eve begins listening to the tapes, uncovering secrets that suggest her mother’s disappearance wasn’t voluntary.

I liked the plot premises of this story but unfortunately it was a bit too slow paced for me.

4.5 stars, rounded up!

The only regret I have about this book, is that I didn't have as much time to read it as I had hoped, because it was incredibly hard to put down and resume with my life in between reading 'The Tapes'.

The story starts captivating you right from the very first chapter, where Eve is clearing out her father's garage after his passing. In the garage, she finds a box of tapes left by her mother -who disappeared thirteen years ago- saying that she isn't missing, but that she was killed instead.

Despite that being the premise of the book (so I already knew that this was going to happen), it captivated me and made me just as curious as Eve was. The short chapters made it extremely easy to go through the book at a fast pace, and the urge to say 'just one more chapter' was very big.

I liked Eve as a main character, she was very layered, and most of the actions seemed very realistic and relatable. I especially appreciated her relationship with her daughter, Faith, and even that with her ex-husband. Even though generally in a thriller I prioritize the mystery over the characters, I always feel a bit more enamored when I like those as well.

The mystery unfolds in a pleasing way, not too many useless red herrings, and like I said, the fast pace keeps you really engaged. The conclusion was satisfying, although I felt like I missed just a little something still. Maybe a little more engagement, conversation; maybe I needed it to be bit longer? I can't say much more without spoiling it, but rest assured that the conclusion is satisfying and fitting nonetheless.

Another aspect I really liked, was the book-within-a-book, where there's excerpts of a book discussing the victims of the serial killer, the earring killer, who terrorized the town for years. The way the victims got highlighted reminded me of one of my favorite true crime books, Michelle McNamara's "I'll be Gone in the Dark". The little excerpts broke the story up in a way that added to the tension, instead of taking away from it.

Overall, I really liked this thriller and the excerpts of other books at the end of the book. I think I will definitely be adding some of Wilkinson's titles to my TBR!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookouture and Kerry Wilkinson for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This started off as a very gripping, compelling psychological thriller that had me reading it virtually in one go due to its fast pace. As a reader, it was really exciting to be led into different avenues of curiosity when trying to find the killer alongside the main character.

I also really enjoyed the intermittent extracts of the book written about the killer, named ‘The Earring Killer’. The concept of the book was very clever. The fact that these cassette tapes were left behind and found ant a later date added further intrigue as to where her Mother had gone and if she was indeed a victim of the earring killer.

However, personally the downside to this book was that I felt like it ended very suddenly. There was a huge ramp up to the end and I was really gripped when faced with the plot line of the storage unit. However, after this, it really petered out for me and the (other half) of the big reveal was a disappointment. From this point, I blinked and the book was over. I feel it would have been better if it had just been the first reveal that was continued. For me, there wasn’t really enough of a conclusion or a satisfying enough ‘wrap up’ to the story. If there had been a bit more depth to the investigation and resolution at the end, I may have felt differently and rated it higher. I reached the end and said ‘oh’? And wanted more to discover - for example, there were some loose ends that didn’t get tied that I would have loved to have pulled on.

I would still recommend the story though, as it is a brilliant concept - the idea of the earring killer was very intriguing.

Overall I really did enjoy the plot of this book but the writing unfortunately fell short for me in a few aspects. A lot of it felt repetitive but then there were plot lines that were just left as loose ends or sort of just explained away which was frustrating.

There were a few moments where I thought I’d figured out the plot twist so I was genuinely surprised when it wasn’t what I guessed but overall this book had me wanting more atmospheric writing as it felt a bit rushed.

The concept of this book is really what drew me to it, the cover is compelling! I was excited to jump into this book. Although it was overall enjoyable, I found some parts to be a bit slow and hard to get through. Mostly, I wish the cassette tapes were incorporated more into the plot as far as it being transcribed. I still would recommend this book to any thriller reader, I had absolutely no idea what direction it was heading and enjoyed the uniqueness of this plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was very predictable. I didn't really care for the characters either. It was a struggle to finish.

I was obsessed with the idea of this book from the beginning. A woman going through her recently passed dad’s things stumbles upon tapes from her mum. Wouldn’t be too crazy, if it wasn’t for what the tape with her name in which her mother says: “If they say that I’m missing, I’m not. I’ve been killed”. This changes everything in Eve’s life, as it’s been 13 years since her mother went missing, and 13 years since the last murder by the elusive Earring Killer.

As Eve tries to make sense of everything, she doesn’t know who to trust, and everybody can be a killer. But it isn’t till she realises that there might’ve been more to her mother’s story, that the truth of everything really sinks in.

I really enjoyed the writing, being immediately thrown into action and the fast-paced short chapters mixed in with “non-fiction” passages about the Earring Killer victims made it a fast read - oh if I only didn’t have responsibilities I would’ve binged the story in one day.

I was sure that I’ll give this 5 stars, but then as we got to the few three chapters, it sadly got extremely predictable, and made me want to finish the book rather than savour it. I was a bit disappointed, as I feel like I’ve seen that ending repeated in quite a few books, and with such an amazing story I wanted something more powerful and creative.

But I can definitely recommend this book to everyone who loves a good murder mystery told from a perspective of someone not from law enforcement.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was my first book by this author and I will be definitely checking out more of their books! This book kept me guessing. Loved the premise. Solid 4 stars!!

I had such a great time reading this book! It pulled me in right from the start and kept me turning the pages. The writing flowed so well, and I found myself completely invested in the story and characters. It’s one of those reads you just don’t want to put down.
huge thanks to the publisher for sending me an early copy!! I’m so glad I got to read it ahead of the release day and can't wait for the world to get to enjoy it too!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this arc

Wow! I flew through this book, it grabs you from the first page and I couldn’t stop reading! A lot of plot twists!

Eve is grieving the loss of her father and whilst clearing out his house she finds some cassette tapes with her name on- they are tapes of her mother’s voice- her mother who disappeared over a decade ago and she states she will be murdered! Murdered or missing? That’s what Eve needs to find out

A fast paced twisty psychological thriller!

Eve's dad has passed away, and while cleaning out his garage, she finds a box of cassette tapes. Since Eve's mom was known for her pre-podcast daily recordings, Eve decides to check them out. While sorting through the box, she comes across one with her name on it, written in her mother's handwriting. The tape starts, “If they say I’m missing, I’m not. I’ve been killed.” But so much of the tape is missing or skipping. But one thing is for sure. Her mom knew something she shouldn't have. The identity of The Earring Killer.

In her quest to figure out who the killer is, Eve might have inadvertently tipped her hand to the real killer. Who can she trust? Her brother, who she's all but estranged from? Her ex-neighbor's husband, who assaulted her? Her boss, who's a bully? Kerry did a great job of presenting multiple suspects so that our suspicion falls on any number of characters. And as usual, Kerry is so adept at doing dialogue.

There were interludes between chapters of a book written about the Earring Killer, giving us insight into his victims, and potentially clues to who it might be. There was some repetition, with Eve noting how notorious a liar her mom was. So was she right about knowing who the Earring Killer was? You'll just have to read the book to find out!

Kerry Wilkinson is an auto-buy for me!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for taking me on the book tour with an advance reader's copy.

A brilliantly constructed mystery that pulls you deep into its layers of secrets, lies, and long-buried truths. From the very first chapter, there’s an eerie undercurrent that makes you question every character’s motive and memory.

The narrative cleverly weaves between the past and present, with the discovery of old cassette tapes acting as a chilling key to unraveling decades-old events.

The pacing is sharp, the writing atmospheric, and the emotional tension builds in such a subtle yet powerful way. What I loved most was how the story doesn’t rely on dramatic twists for effect it earns every reveal with quiet intensity. The ending delivered everything I wanted clarity, emotion, and that perfect final jolt of surprise.

This is one of those reads that lingers long after the last page.

This book has such an intriguing premise! Eve’s mother disappeared 15 years ago never to be seen or heard from again. Eve finds a box of old cassette tapes where her mother says “If I went missing, it’s because I’ve been murdered.”

This was a good mystery of Eve investigating what happened to her mother while we also learn about “The earring killer” a serial killer that has maybe taken her mother as well? Definitely a quick read and I think you’ll be surprised by the ending!