After the Sleepover by Kerry Wilkinson
Narrated by Olivia Darnely

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

“Gone. They’re gone.” Dylan’s wide-eyed mother bites her nails in desperation. “All three kids. They wanted to sleep outside. But I went to check this morning and… the tents are empty. They’re gone.”

Twenty-five years ago: teenage Leah had a sleepover with her three best friends. By morning, the other girls were missing. This small town has been searching for answers ever since. Now it’s happened again…

Three boys decide to camp in a field next to one of their homes. When dawn comes, dew glistens on their empty tents.

Overgrown farmland is searched. Three distraught families are desperate for news. A mother herself now, Leah’s heart breaks as terrible memories flood back…

Leah thought she knew what happened at the sleepover years ago but now another three children are missing. What if she was wrong? And how far will Leah have to go, to finally discover the truth, before it’s too late?

My Opinion

I haven't read the first book in this series so I may have missed some of the background but I was able to enjoy this book without the information. It was difficult to know where this book was going and the twists made it difficult to guess what had really happened. With a bit of a slow pace, I enjoyed Kerry's writing style.

Rating 4/5

"After the Sleepover" by Kerry Wilkinson is a psychological thriller that held my interest. It's about 3 boys that went missing after a sleepover, similar to what happened with 3 girls going missing after a sleepover 25 years ago. As the only remaining survivor of that first time, Leah was surprised to be invited to the home of the woman where the 3 boys disappeared, named Jennifer. Leah is called on to support Jennifer. Her son, Dylan, had a sleepover in tents in the backyard of the old farmhouse, and the next morning, they were all gone. This book will keep you guessing!

Some reviewers listened to an incomplete audiobook and were very confused. Having listened to the whole thing, I can say there's nothing missing in the text now. It makes a lot more sense.

The narrator, Olivia Darnely, did a great job with the voices. Once I got used to her British accent, I enjoyed listening to her.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

I was not sure how the author could top the first book in this series, which was super twisty and suspenseful, but she did! Keep me glued to my ear buds.

This is my first read of the Sleepover series. Now, let's discuss "After The Sleepover". Leah, the main character, is about to relive her worst nightmare. This time, however, she's on the outside of the investigation. One of the mothers of the missing boys, Jennifer, was a former classmate of Leah's and is now seeking her support. However, the fact that Jennifer is relying heavily on Leah for both physical and moral support is a red flag. It's suspicious that the two women were never close before, yet Jennifer seems almost excited to have shared this strange experience with Leah. Furthermore, Jennifer's willingness to expose her own father as a possible serial killer and insist on a property search is alarming. It's worth pondering why she would take such an action when there seemed to be no suspicion of her involvement with the missing boys. This clearly indicates that she is guilty and is trying to divert attention elsewhere. Although the ending of the novel did not catch me by surprise, I found it to be satisfying and fitting. The author masterfully weaved the story to its conclusion, leaving no loose ends.

I found the book to be fast-paced but not as engrossing as I had hoped. As I mentioned earlier, I was able to identify the villain from the beginning of the story. However, the fate of the original missing teenagers still remains a mystery, and it keeps bothering me. I think I will have to refer to the first novel to find out. Despite that, the characters were great. Even with a large number of people involved in the mystery, I still enjoyed their contributions to the story.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with a complimentary copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

Reading Between the Wines book review #142/115(met goal in Sept!) for 2023:
Rating: 4 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: After the Sleepover
Author: Kerry Wilkinson
Available Now!!

Sipping thoughts: It was such a nice surprise that a book that I really loved, The Night of the Sleepover, had a sequel or part 2. The first book had me gasping and definitely had me shocked at the reveals. Reading After the Sleepover, I knew what was happening and could figure it out. That is, until the very last chapter! I loved the writing and the way Wilkinson made you think you knew what was happening until the curve ball. I wonder if this series will continue and if so what the next storyline will be.

Cheers and thank you to @BookoutureAudio and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @AfterTheSleepover.

#AfterTheSleepover #KerryWilkinson #BookoutureAudio #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

Intrigue and Twists in a Small Town Mystery
"After the Sleep Over" pulls you into a complex web of secrets and suspense, set against the backdrop of a small town haunted by two kidnappings 25 years apart. While the blurb claims it's a standalone, I highly recommend reading the previous book first. It provides crucial context for the characters and the chilling mysteries that unfold.
Leah, the protagonist, is drawn back into the shadows of her past when three young boys go missing. As she investigates alongside one of the boys' mothers, she uncovers layers of deceit and hidden agendas within the seemingly idyllic community. The town's past trauma and unspoken secrets fuel the narrative, creating a palpable atmosphere of unease.
The author masterfully weaves together multiple timelines and perspectives, building suspense with each revelation. Red herrings abound, keeping you guessing until the very end. The final twist is truly shocking and satisfying, leaving you pondering long after the credits roll.
Leah is a compelling protagonist, her resilience and determination shining through even as she confronts painful memories. The supporting cast is equally well-developed, each harboring their own secrets and motivations.
Now, onto the narration: the fantastic British accent adds an extra layer of authenticity to the story set in the UK. The narrator's voice perfectly captures the characters' emotions and the book's overall atmosphere.
Overall, "After the Sleep Over" is a gripping audiobook that will keep you glued to your headphones. It's a must-listen for fans of suspenseful mysteries with complex characters and shocking twists.

I was so excited to see this book. I’ve been looking forward to it after reading the first one. I love the authors style and the way the characters are written.

I wonder if there is going to be a 3rd book in this series b/c if there is I am totally here for it! Will she or won't Leah be found out, that is the question! This was a wild ride and some of these peeps were cray! Killing people to become internet famous? What the actual hell?!

#AftertheSleepover
#NetGalley

Just when we think we can no longer be surprised, there is a thriller that enchants and captivates me. This is the continuation of "the night of the sleepover". Here, Kerry Wilkinson takes me by surprise again with a much stronger and more resilient Leah. I like the emphasis she gave to the mother/son relationship. The writing is fluid, as the author has accustomed us to. As for the plot, it is far-fetched and macabre, exactly how I like it.
25 years have passed, and the mystery happens again, this time 3 boys disappear. What's going on in this community? You have to read to find out.

25 years ago, four teenage girls have a sleepover, but in the morning three are missing & just Leah remains. Nobody knows what actually happened that night, but now it’s happened again. Three teenage boys went to sleep in tents behind one of their homes. In the morning, the tents are empty and the boys cannot be found.
What happened to the boys? Does it have anything to do with what happened 25 years ago? How can three teenagers disappear in a small town not once but twice? The parent’s WhatsApp group is full of theories and questons, , all of them pointing fingers at someone or something. Questions are raised and allegations made. But does anyone really know what's happened?

Leah is stunned when the police appear on her doorstep saying that the mother of one of the boys was asking for her. Leah realises that she was at school with Jennifer but they were not friends & haven’t been in touch for many years. However Jennifer insists that Leah is the only person to “understand what it feels like”. As such, Leah gets pulled into a drama that she doesn’t want to be part of. Leah is now a parent herself, and her son attends school with the three teenage boys who have gone missing, though is not close friends with them.
When Jennifer’s son Dylan reappears, and talks of a white van and a mystery man kidnapping them, Leah wonders if the same man who took her friends and killed them all those years ago has returned. But she knows the truth … doesn’t she?

The “twist” was good and gave a new perspective, but there were some moments that were unrealistic. I didn’t feel that the issue of the affair with the teacher was necessary as it was not actually resolved properly & did not add to the story. Similarly Leah’s boyfriend Ben was an interesting character but what was the point of him – I was waiting for him to turn out to be key within the plot.
Ultimately it was a good sequel to “The Night of the Sleepover”, but was just a bit slow and missed the mark. I definitely think that you need to have read “The Night of the Sleepover” for this to make sense, but can’t help feel that this would have been more successful if Leah had not been involved initially, or the missing boys had more links to her (eg son of her boyfriend).

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Olivia Darnely, did a good job bringing the characters to life & I would happily listen to more books by her!

This was a great continuation to the Sleepover series. I definitely was not expecting the killer to be the person(s) revealed. I love Leah's character, she has so many of her own secrets that she is always trying to figure out if her secrets are coming out or the mystery is just naturally moving in her direction.

Will there be another story in this series? Or will it remain a duology?

Olivia Darnely did a great job narrating this story. I was able to easily follow along and I could speed the story up to 2x speed and still understand everything being said.

Thank you, Kerry Wilkinson, Bookouture, and NetGalley, for an audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I went into After the Sleepover without knowing that it was a sequel. It was a great book with even better twists and turns. A parents worst nightmare and sadly lightning sometimes does strike twice. The narrator was incredible, and I couldn't stop listening! Please excuse me while I search for the first book of the series. I MUST read it immediately.

Firstly, I did not realize this was a sequal to The Night Of the Sleepover, so I had nod read the first book prior to this one, and I still enjoyed it. It can definitely be read as a stand alone, you just miss out on Leah's backstory but you gather enough it's not impossible.

Leah was the sole survivor of a sleepover in her childhood, when she woke up all of her three best friends had vanished. 25 years later, Leah is a mother herself and tragedy has struck again in their small town, and now three teenage boys have vanished after having a sleepover in tents next to one of their mother's homes. This triggers Leah's PTSD from what happened to her friends all those years ago, and all the memories come flooding back as new information is released through the news and small town gossip.

Unfortunately, there were some issues with my copy of the audiobook and I am missing a few of the ending chapters, it jumped into a sample of another book, but still enjoyable, just a cliffhanger.

I received an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honestly review.

Firstly, the narrator was excellent and the main reason that I listened all the way through.

The story was just a bit "same same" for me. Nothing stood out. Character choices were made to advance the plot and not because they made sense. Would the police let a random person sit in on an interview with a minor? Surely not?

I actually think this would have been better from a different pov or if the FMC had a bigger connection to the newer case?

Something about it just didn't draw me in. It was alright, I listened all the way to the end, but it didn't wow me and I won't remember it.

3.5-3.75 stars

This follow-up novel wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t as good as the first one, either. With the original story, the twist felt totally unexpected; with this book, however, the reveal was interesting but less surprising. I still enjoyed the story and felt the suspense throughout much of it, though. It was a pretty solid addition to the genre, and I’ll be interested in seeing what the writer puts out into the world next.

Title: After the Sleepover
Author: Kerry Wilkinson
Narrator: Olivia Darnely

"After the Sleepover" by Kerry Wilkinson, narrated by Olivia Darnely, is an exceptional mystery novel that masterfully keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The narrative is ingeniously constructed, ensuring that the suspense remains high and the outcome unpredictable until the very end.

Wilkinson's writing is of outstanding quality, defying any initial assumptions one might make based on the title alone. The plot is meticulously crafted, devoid of any inconsistencies or implausible scenarios, which is a testament to the author's attention to detail and narrative skill.

The characters in the book are particularly noteworthy. Each character is carefully developed, making them not only interesting but also relatable and sympathetic. This level of character development enriches the story, drawing the reader deeper into the world Wilkinson has created.

Olivia Darnely's narration is nothing short of perfect. Her ability to bring these characters to life and to convey the nuances of the story adds an invaluable dimension to the experience of this book.

In conclusion, "After the Sleepover" is a highly recommended read for anyone who enjoys intelligently written mysteries. It’s a book that not only entertains but also engages the reader's mind in a truly captivating way. Kerry Wilkinson has crafted a novel that stands out in the genre, and Olivia Darnely's narration only enhances this exceptional piece of literature.

Twenty-five years ago, teenage Leah had a sleepover with three friends. When she woke up, the other three girls were missing. Now it has happened again. This time three boys went to sleep in tents outside one of their homes. The next morning, the three boys are missing. What happened to the boys? Does it have anything to do with what happened 25 years ago?

I again found this second installment to be a little bit of a slow burn. I did like that Leah continued to be involved in this second installment. However, Wilkinson’s books tend to have more twists and turns throughout. The twists and turns in this one again didn’t happen until the book's second half. I did still enjoy the book and found the twists and turns to be interesting, I just wish there had been more twists earlier in the book.

The audiobook was again narrated by Olivia Darnely, which I enjoyed. She did an excellent job voicing the characters.

Three teenage boys disappeared from backyard camping. One of the mothers contacted Leah who was an old classmate for help.

Leah has first-hand experience with missing children and is a local survivor celebrity if you will. Twenty-five years ago Leah and her friends had a sleepover but all the girls vanished by morning.

After the Sleepover is fine to read as a standalone. I do see several reviewers recommended reading the first novel The Night of the Sleepover beforehand. I'm not lost by any means and think Wilkinson has done a great job tying the story to the first. However, I see so many glowing reviews from those who read both.

I enjoyed the author's writing and this is my first novel by him. A bit of a slow burn, but After the Sleepover plot reels me in. I love the tension and it keeps me guessing. Unfortunately, I encountered a few errors with my advance listening audio edition. The big one? Mine doesn't have an ending! I feel it was cut short and went onto another book sample which sounds really good also, What My Husband Did, which I'll probably try.

Olivia Darnely's narration was okay. I don't mind listening to more books read by her even though this was a little dull without any excitement or urgency.

Thank you Bookouture Audio and Netgalley for this ALC.

I received an audio arc of this book and this is my honest review.

The narration was perfection! I was so immersed in her story telling ability.

I loved the mystery and plot up until the very end.

It felt very rush compared to the first book.

I feel like the boyfriend character was interesting but then forgotten. I kept waiting for his role in things.

The ending was predictable. I still really enjoyed the story and build up.

Superb!!!!

After the Sleepover by Kerry Wilkinson and Narrated by Olivia Darnely is the second book in the Sleepover series and I have really enjoyed this series. It was another gripping psychological suspense book and very hard to put down once I started to listen/read it. Kerry has a way of writing that I love, all his books have been a 5 star read and this book was no different.

Dylan’s wide eyed mother bites her nails in desperation. “All three kids. just wanted to sleep outside, their little adventure to camp in a field next to their family homes, what harm could that do?
The next morning, she went to check on them, she walks up to the tents and she smiles to herself, as she see's on the outside of the tents, dew glistening in the sun and looks like diamonds. But when she opens the zip to their tents they are empty.

"They’re gone!!!!”

Where are they, did they all go and visit other friends and didn't tell Dylan's mum? or did they go back into the house because they were cold!

A mothers worst nightmare.....

WoW, but twenty-five years ago...........Teenage Leah had a sleepover with her three best friends. However by morning, the other girls were missing.

Where are they? Have they played a trick on Leah?

This small town has been searching for answers ever since and they were never found! Now it’s happened all over again…......

The overgrown farmland is searched. With three distraught families wait and are desperate for news of their sons.
Leah, who is now a mother herself, feels her heart is going to break as terrible memories flood back…......of when she was a teenager......and it happened to her friends!

Leah thought she knew what happened at the sleepover years ago but now another three children are missing.

What if she was wrong?

And how far will Leah have to go, to finally discover the truth, before it’s too late?

But, the clock is ticking..........and breathe

This book was excellent and can be read as a standalone as well.

I highly recommend After the Sleep over. Another 5 star read/audiobook.

Big Thank you to Netgalley to Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review.