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The Tapes
‘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?
An absolutely unputdownable psychological thriller that will have you racing through the pages late into the night! Anyone who loves Shari Lapena, John Marrs or Lisa Jewell will be totally addicted.
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?
An absolutely unputdownable psychological thriller that will have you racing through the pages late into the night! Anyone who loves Shari Lapena, John Marrs or Lisa Jewell will be totally addicted.
317 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 11, 2025
1616 people are currently reading
2870 people want to read
About the author
Kerry Wilkinson
70 books1,070 followersRecent and upcoming UK releases:
24 October 2023: The Night Of The Sleepover
15 December 2023: After The Sleepover
2024: The Girl On The Side Of The Road
2024: The Missing Body
Kerry Wilkinson has sold more than two million books - and had No.1 crime bestsellers in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. His book, Ten Birthdays, won the RNA award for Young Adult Novel of the Year in 2018 and Close To You won the International Thriller Award for best ebook in 2020.
As well as his Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written a trilogy featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, the Whitecliff series, the Silver Blackthorn trilogy - a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults - plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.
Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel'.
When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.
Find out more at: http://kerrywilkinson.com or http://facebook.com/KerryWilkinsonBooks
Find out more at: his website or Facebook
24 October 2023: The Night Of The Sleepover
15 December 2023: After The Sleepover
2024: The Girl On The Side Of The Road
2024: The Missing Body
Kerry Wilkinson has sold more than two million books - and had No.1 crime bestsellers in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. His book, Ten Birthdays, won the RNA award for Young Adult Novel of the Year in 2018 and Close To You won the International Thriller Award for best ebook in 2020.
As well as his Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written a trilogy featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, the Whitecliff series, the Silver Blackthorn trilogy - a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults - plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.
Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel'.
When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.
Find out more at: http://kerrywilkinson.com or http://facebook.com/KerryWilkinsonBooks
Find out more at: his website or Facebook
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 676 reviews
August 9, 2025
The Tapes is Kerry Wilkinson's new twist filled, secret filled, fast paced, psychological thriller! It begins with a shocking discovery which has one woman on the search for the truth! She will encounter secrets galore, hostility, and roadblocks along the way!
Eve makes a shocking discovery while clearing out her father's home after his death. When she finds a box of cassette tapes, it is like getting a blast from the past! They were her mother's tapes and when Eve finds one labeled with her name, she decides to listen to it. Eve has her socks knocked off when she hears her mother's voice. A voice she had not heard in a long time. A voice which is telling her . ‘If you’re listening to this, I’ve been murdered.’ Now that is how to get someone's attention! Wanting, no needing, to know more, Eve goes on a mission to learn the truth about what her mother, Angela, who disappeared years ago knew about a serial killer! Plus, she wants to know if her mother became that killer's victim!
As I mentioned this book is full of secrets. It is also full of tension, mounting danger, revelations, and mystery. Why did her mother disappear all those years ago. What happened to her? If she was murdered as the tapes allude, who is the killer and why??? As the questions swirled through my mind, I did my best to figure out whodunit. I never succeeded and enjoyed the ride this book took me on. I enjoyed the pacing of this book and the murder mystery.
Another twist filled, shocking, and intriguing mystery from Kerry Wilkinson. This is the 17th book that I have read by Kerry Wilkinson. If he writes it, I am going to read it!
3.5 stars
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Eve makes a shocking discovery while clearing out her father's home after his death. When she finds a box of cassette tapes, it is like getting a blast from the past! They were her mother's tapes and when Eve finds one labeled with her name, she decides to listen to it. Eve has her socks knocked off when she hears her mother's voice. A voice she had not heard in a long time. A voice which is telling her . ‘If you’re listening to this, I’ve been murdered.’ Now that is how to get someone's attention! Wanting, no needing, to know more, Eve goes on a mission to learn the truth about what her mother, Angela, who disappeared years ago knew about a serial killer! Plus, she wants to know if her mother became that killer's victim!
As I mentioned this book is full of secrets. It is also full of tension, mounting danger, revelations, and mystery. Why did her mother disappear all those years ago. What happened to her? If she was murdered as the tapes allude, who is the killer and why??? As the questions swirled through my mind, I did my best to figure out whodunit. I never succeeded and enjoyed the ride this book took me on. I enjoyed the pacing of this book and the murder mystery.
Another twist filled, shocking, and intriguing mystery from Kerry Wilkinson. This is the 17th book that I have read by Kerry Wilkinson. If he writes it, I am going to read it!
3.5 stars
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
August 11, 2025
We all have things that haunt us - experiences, regrets, etc. - but what about hearing your mom’s voice on an old tape you discovered hidden in a shed?
“If they say I’m missing, I’m not. I’ve been killed – and I need you to know that I love you.”
A refreshingly unique plot told by a gifted storyteller, The Tapes builds slow, escalating anxiety as the main character attempts to find out if her mom was murdered and by whom.
I was caught up in a compelling read where I waded through decades of lies and secrets and tried to make sense of family and neighbourhood dynamics right alongside the protagonist. Did Eve’s mom really disappear 13 years ago?
If you love puzzling plots, twists and a pacey murder mystery, this one’s for you!
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
“If they say I’m missing, I’m not. I’ve been killed – and I need you to know that I love you.”
A refreshingly unique plot told by a gifted storyteller, The Tapes builds slow, escalating anxiety as the main character attempts to find out if her mom was murdered and by whom.
I was caught up in a compelling read where I waded through decades of lies and secrets and tried to make sense of family and neighbourhood dynamics right alongside the protagonist. Did Eve’s mom really disappear 13 years ago?
If you love puzzling plots, twists and a pacey murder mystery, this one’s for you!
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
July 19, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️1/2
I used to put scotch tape over the two holes on top of a cassette tape when I was young so I could record songs off the radio. I would call in to make a song request, and then I would listen for hours waiting on the right moment to hit play. Simpler times. IYKYK
Anyway, this book made me think of that because the tapes play such an integral role (which isn’t shocking given the title). In fact, they were probably the best part, and I wish that they paid off more than they did. I kept thinking the whole time “why doesn’t she just say who the killer is!!??”. But I guess that wouldn’t make for much of a mystery now, would it? It does require a little belief to be suspended though, and if you can do that there is an enjoyable book here. It kept my fingers turning the page and me guessing on the twist. Sometimes that’s all you need from a thriller.
I used to put scotch tape over the two holes on top of a cassette tape when I was young so I could record songs off the radio. I would call in to make a song request, and then I would listen for hours waiting on the right moment to hit play. Simpler times. IYKYK
Anyway, this book made me think of that because the tapes play such an integral role (which isn’t shocking given the title). In fact, they were probably the best part, and I wish that they paid off more than they did. I kept thinking the whole time “why doesn’t she just say who the killer is!!??”. But I guess that wouldn’t make for much of a mystery now, would it? It does require a little belief to be suspended though, and if you can do that there is an enjoyable book here. It kept my fingers turning the page and me guessing on the twist. Sometimes that’s all you need from a thriller.
August 9, 2025
3.5 ⭐️rounded up.
This is an enjoyable thriller about Eve whose Mum vanished 12 years previously. While clearing out her Dad’s house who has recently passed away, she finds a box of tapes that her Mum has recorded. The tapes are generally just of her Mum chatting away, and using the tapes as a diary. However, one of the tapes has a distorted message saying that if she has disappeared, she’s been murdered because she knows who the serial killer that has been terrorising their town is. There’s a slight complication in that Eve’s Mum was a kleptomaniac and was also a known liar, so is what her Mum says the truth?
Eve therefore goes on a quest to find out the truth, not knowing who to trust and whether what her Mum says is real or fantasy. Eve herself has a complicated past, but I found her a likeable character, and was rooting for her.
I found the thriller to be easy to read, it was fairly twisty and had a good pace so I didn’t get bored. The plot was different to the usual thriller, which I found interesting. A decent read by an author I’d not heard of before.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing a copy of this ARC for an honest review.
This is an enjoyable thriller about Eve whose Mum vanished 12 years previously. While clearing out her Dad’s house who has recently passed away, she finds a box of tapes that her Mum has recorded. The tapes are generally just of her Mum chatting away, and using the tapes as a diary. However, one of the tapes has a distorted message saying that if she has disappeared, she’s been murdered because she knows who the serial killer that has been terrorising their town is. There’s a slight complication in that Eve’s Mum was a kleptomaniac and was also a known liar, so is what her Mum says the truth?
Eve therefore goes on a quest to find out the truth, not knowing who to trust and whether what her Mum says is real or fantasy. Eve herself has a complicated past, but I found her a likeable character, and was rooting for her.
I found the thriller to be easy to read, it was fairly twisty and had a good pace so I didn’t get bored. The plot was different to the usual thriller, which I found interesting. A decent read by an author I’d not heard of before.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing a copy of this ARC for an honest review.
August 20, 2025
Well done! I have been a fan of Kerry Wilkinson's thrillers for many years now.
I love his often flawed female characters who somehow manage to survive the odds of an encounter with a ruthless killer. No spoilers here, but Eve was playing with fire when she let it be known that she had found an incriminating tape referring to the Earring Killer.
The Earring Killer's body count starts rising again as Eve unwittingly stirs the sleeping menace.
I agree with another Goodreads reviewer that there is an element of surprise in the ending, although I did suspect the culprit - but I will say no more for rear of spoilers.
Okay, just a teaser, then: That was a diabolically twisted ending!!!
My thanks to the author, his publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I'm rating this one 5 well-deserved stars!
I love his often flawed female characters who somehow manage to survive the odds of an encounter with a ruthless killer. No spoilers here, but Eve was playing with fire when she let it be known that she had found an incriminating tape referring to the Earring Killer.
The Earring Killer's body count starts rising again as Eve unwittingly stirs the sleeping menace.
I agree with another Goodreads reviewer that there is an element of surprise in the ending, although I did suspect the culprit - but I will say no more for rear of spoilers.
Okay, just a teaser, then: That was a diabolically twisted ending!!!
My thanks to the author, his publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I'm rating this one 5 well-deserved stars!
July 19, 2025
Eve’s mother, Angela, disappeared thirteen years ago, and as the book begins, she is packing up her father’s house after he died of a heart attack. Her brother is much older than her, and they rarely see each other. Eve is pretty much alone, except for her teenage daughter, Faith, and her friend Nicola.
While going through her father’s house, she finds tons of cassette tapes, all labeled with dates in her mother’s handwriting. One was different, though - instead of being labeled with a date, it’s labeled with Eve’s name. When Eve listens to it, she hears her mother saying that she is pretty sure she’s about to be killed, and if she’s right, she wants Eve to know that she loves her.
As Eve listens to that tape over and over, she also hears her mom saying that she did some bad things in her life, like stealing her best friend’s car and robbing a bank. She was a kleptomaniac, yet some of the things she admits to can’t be true. Eve would know if a million pounds was stolen from a bank near them, and her mother is an admitted liar. She just wants to know one thing: was her mom lying when she told Eve how much she loved her?
This book has Eve looking for the answers, and it’s also about her small town’s pesky little serial killer problem. The Earring Killer is not only a person who kills women and takes one of their earrings, it’s also the name of a book written about the unsolved murders. The story is mostly about a week in Eve’s life, but some chapters are excerpts from this true-crime novel, and it fills in missing pieces.
I really like this author, and this is the fifth of their books that I’ve read. This probably would go on the bottom of the list for me, but it’s still a decent book. The plot was solid, and many surprises kept making me raise my eyebrows. I really thought I had pegged the ending, but I was waaay off. Crime/mystery fans will enjoy this one! 3.5 stars.
(Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me on this book’s tour! “The Tapes” is slated to be released on August 11, 2025.)
While going through her father’s house, she finds tons of cassette tapes, all labeled with dates in her mother’s handwriting. One was different, though - instead of being labeled with a date, it’s labeled with Eve’s name. When Eve listens to it, she hears her mother saying that she is pretty sure she’s about to be killed, and if she’s right, she wants Eve to know that she loves her.
As Eve listens to that tape over and over, she also hears her mom saying that she did some bad things in her life, like stealing her best friend’s car and robbing a bank. She was a kleptomaniac, yet some of the things she admits to can’t be true. Eve would know if a million pounds was stolen from a bank near them, and her mother is an admitted liar. She just wants to know one thing: was her mom lying when she told Eve how much she loved her?
This book has Eve looking for the answers, and it’s also about her small town’s pesky little serial killer problem. The Earring Killer is not only a person who kills women and takes one of their earrings, it’s also the name of a book written about the unsolved murders. The story is mostly about a week in Eve’s life, but some chapters are excerpts from this true-crime novel, and it fills in missing pieces.
I really like this author, and this is the fifth of their books that I’ve read. This probably would go on the bottom of the list for me, but it’s still a decent book. The plot was solid, and many surprises kept making me raise my eyebrows. I really thought I had pegged the ending, but I was waaay off. Crime/mystery fans will enjoy this one! 3.5 stars.
(Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me on this book’s tour! “The Tapes” is slated to be released on August 11, 2025.)
August 23, 2025
This is my fifth Kerry Wilkinson book - please keep them coming! Wilkinson is a crime and thriller writer and spins a great story.
Description:
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:
This is a great mystery and I couldn't put it down. How do you believe anything on the tapes when you know that Angela is both a liar and a thief; and yet, something kept Eve searching for a true answer. This was riveting to follow and the search for the serial killer was fascinating. I enjoyed this book and I'm sure any mystery lover will like it too!
Thanks to Bookouture through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
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:
This is a great mystery and I couldn't put it down. How do you believe anything on the tapes when you know that Angela is both a liar and a thief; and yet, something kept Eve searching for a true answer. This was riveting to follow and the search for the serial killer was fascinating. I enjoyed this book and I'm sure any mystery lover will like it too!
Thanks to Bookouture through Netgalley for an advance copy.
July 31, 2025
DNF @ 20%.
Excellent cure for insomnia.
Excellent cure for insomnia.
July 24, 2025
“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
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
August 4, 2025
This book is a fun, twisty thriller. I really enjoyed reading the mc journey to find the truth. I binged this book in a few short hours.
October 18, 2025
Not a bad book. The only minus is that it is a bit slow going.
August 3, 2025
THE TAPES BY KERRY WILKINSON.
Release day set for the 11th of August 2025.
I really like the cover for this book.
I've read a fair few Kerry Wilkinson books and I love his writing style and his plots and storylines
The tapes is suspenseful and a very quick and easy read
Release day set for the 11th of August 2025.
I really like the cover for this book.
I've read a fair few Kerry Wilkinson books and I love his writing style and his plots and storylines
The tapes is suspenseful and a very quick and easy read
![Profile Image for your favorite psychopath [he~him].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1765986008i%2F191983263._UX200_CR0%2C33%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
Want to read
July 15, 2025⋆˚✿˖° 𝖕𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉 .☘︎ ݁˖
i’m really excited for this book. the premise sounds interesting. “if you’re listening to this, i’ve been murdered”? like excuse me, if a book has that line in the synopsis, i sure as hell am reading it
i’m really excited for this book. the premise sounds interesting. “if you’re listening to this, i’ve been murdered”? like excuse me, if a book has that line in the synopsis, i sure as hell am reading it
August 1, 2025
The Tapes: A Completely Addictive Psychological Thriller. When I requested this book, the blurb sounded great. When I was approved and saw that tag line, I cringed. I was so sure if you had to add that line, it was going to be crap. Well, it wasn't. It actually was an addictive psychological thriller😂. The reviews for Kerry Wilkinson's other books are pretty strong, for this one the reviews are meh, but reviewers say they liked his other books more. If this was a weak one for Kerry Wilkinson, then I can't wait to get my hands on one of his other books. 4 stars, maybe 4.5.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
August 3, 2025
This book was so hard to put down — seriously, I flew through it. From the first few pages, I was completely hooked. It’s fast-paced, exciting, and just a really fun, easy read. You don’t have to overthink anything, but the twists and turns keep things interesting the whole way through.
One of my favorite parts was the old-school element of the cassette tapes — the main character finds tapes with her missing mother’s voice on them, and it was such a unique and creepy twist. Loved it!
I also really enjoyed the way the story was told, with chapters jumping between the main character’s POV and excerpts from a book written about the serial killer, including interviews with victims' loved ones. It added a true crime vibe that made the mystery even more compelling without dragging the story down.
Highly recommend if you’re looking for a suspenseful, fast read that keeps you guessing without being too heavy.
Book release on August 11th 2025 🎉
Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
One of my favorite parts was the old-school element of the cassette tapes — the main character finds tapes with her missing mother’s voice on them, and it was such a unique and creepy twist. Loved it!
I also really enjoyed the way the story was told, with chapters jumping between the main character’s POV and excerpts from a book written about the serial killer, including interviews with victims' loved ones. It added a true crime vibe that made the mystery even more compelling without dragging the story down.
Highly recommend if you’re looking for a suspenseful, fast read that keeps you guessing without being too heavy.
Book release on August 11th 2025 🎉
Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2025
"If you're listening to this...I've been murdered..."
One word - WOW! I'll be honest, I had about written off Kerry's books of late as I hadn't enjoyed them for a while but this one - THIS is the Kerry I know and love that has kept me coming back again and again. I absolutely LOVED this book! It had everything Kerry in it, including his trademark dry wit and humour and his hilarious similies which always have me chuckling.
Of course, it also had a nod to my own childhood. I'm of the generation (from the 70s and 80s) that used to put sticky tape over the holes on top of the cassette tapes so I could record the latest top 40 hit off the radio whilst simultaneously trying to cut out the annoying DJ's voice before the intro lead into the song itself. Of course, I no longer have any cassette tapes. I no longer have a cassette player or walkman. When those tapes unwound randomly getting caught in the player and we'd have to use a pencil in the centre holes to wind them back in again - the struggle was real, believe me!
The Tapes. Where do I start? This book was so hard to put down that I literally flew threw it. From those first few pages right through to the last, I was completely hooked and I didn't stop until I turned that last page. It's fast paced and thrilling and completely entertaining. And it wasn't completely predictable like some are, though that never ruins my enjoyment of a good book. I did figure out who the Earring Killer was fairly early on through a clue I picked up on that was otherwise overlooked. My only complaint was, well, I can't really say as it would be a spoiler. But suffice to say, it was the second reveal that I felt was a tad too random and spoilt the total perfection of this fun and fast paced thriller. But not too much.
So what was it about? Well...Eve is clearing out her father's garage when she comes across a box marked "Ange" (her mother's name) filled with dozens of seemingly random cassette tapes, a microphone and cassette player. She smiles at the touch of nostalgia. Her mother disappeared without a trace thirteen years ago and sifting through the box of tapes stirs a memory she can't quite grasp. She slots one of the tapes into the player and there's a rustle before she hears her mother's voice clear as day as if she were sitting next to her. The memory proves too much for her and she replaces it in the box before sifting through what else may be there. At the very bottom is one tape marked different to the others. It's simply labelled "Eve" in her mother's scrawled handwriting. At first, all she hears is her mother and a toddler version of herself learning to count and her alphabet but then it stops and there's a crackle before an older version of her mother's voice speaks.
"My name is Angela...if they say I'm missing, I'm not. If you're listening to this, I've been murdered."
Eve doesn't know what to think. Why did her mother think she would be murdered? What secrets had she uncovered? Desperate for answers, Eve searches for the truth herself. Though she has no one to ask. Anyone she could have asked was no longer here. Her mother gone thirteen years, possibly murdered; her dad recently passed, hence the clearing out of his house - who else was there she could ask who would know anything?
What thus ensues is a week of surprises for Eve in her quest for answers and search for the truth. What was Angela alluding to? Who was she referring to when she said she knew who the Earring Killer was? How did she know who they were? And what really happened to her thirteen years ago?
As Eve listens to the tape, her mother confesses to stealing the box in which she discovered the missing earrings of the Earring Killer's victims, a serial killer who has plagued the town for two decades and remains elusive. Thus leading with the knowledge that her mother knew the identity of the Earring Killer, though she doesn't disclose the name. Of course, Eve's mother had her own emotional issues. A self-confessed kleptomaniac with a lack of impulse control as well as a habitual liar. But something in her mother's voice on these tapes rings true. Eve believes her - though no one else would, based on these tapes. What she needs is that box. The one her mum found. Where is it? She hasn't found it amongst her father's things or in the box marked "Ange" where he would have likely have stored her mother's things. So where is it? Does its absence mean this is just another of Angela's fanciful fabrications? Eve doesn't think so. Not this time. But with her mother's history, how can she be sure?
But as Eve digs deeper into the mystery, she doesn't realise that she has unwittingly awakened a serial killer that has been dormant for thirteen years. In doing so, has she inadvertently marked herself out as the next victim?
I loved the format of this book, the way the story unfolded with excerpts from a book about the Earring Killer published a decade before peppered throughout with each detailing the victims one at a time. It added a unique twist to the tale along with the tapes and her missing mother's voice from the past.
I cannot say enough about this book but it was Kerry at his best! And I haven't read something so awesomely brilliant by him in a while so I was glad to find myself lost in time to THE TAPES!!
An unputdownable fast paced thrill ride with that hint of nostalgia for us Gen X's who grew up with cassette tapes as the norm. The tension was palpable throughout and was a rollercoaster ride from which I didn't want to leave. It's gripping, it's heart pounding and a thoroughly addictive read. An easy five stars!
I would like to thank #KerryWilkinson, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheTapes in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
One word - WOW! I'll be honest, I had about written off Kerry's books of late as I hadn't enjoyed them for a while but this one - THIS is the Kerry I know and love that has kept me coming back again and again. I absolutely LOVED this book! It had everything Kerry in it, including his trademark dry wit and humour and his hilarious similies which always have me chuckling.
Of course, it also had a nod to my own childhood. I'm of the generation (from the 70s and 80s) that used to put sticky tape over the holes on top of the cassette tapes so I could record the latest top 40 hit off the radio whilst simultaneously trying to cut out the annoying DJ's voice before the intro lead into the song itself. Of course, I no longer have any cassette tapes. I no longer have a cassette player or walkman. When those tapes unwound randomly getting caught in the player and we'd have to use a pencil in the centre holes to wind them back in again - the struggle was real, believe me!
The Tapes. Where do I start? This book was so hard to put down that I literally flew threw it. From those first few pages right through to the last, I was completely hooked and I didn't stop until I turned that last page. It's fast paced and thrilling and completely entertaining. And it wasn't completely predictable like some are, though that never ruins my enjoyment of a good book. I did figure out who the Earring Killer was fairly early on through a clue I picked up on that was otherwise overlooked. My only complaint was, well, I can't really say as it would be a spoiler. But suffice to say, it was the second reveal that I felt was a tad too random and spoilt the total perfection of this fun and fast paced thriller. But not too much.
So what was it about? Well...Eve is clearing out her father's garage when she comes across a box marked "Ange" (her mother's name) filled with dozens of seemingly random cassette tapes, a microphone and cassette player. She smiles at the touch of nostalgia. Her mother disappeared without a trace thirteen years ago and sifting through the box of tapes stirs a memory she can't quite grasp. She slots one of the tapes into the player and there's a rustle before she hears her mother's voice clear as day as if she were sitting next to her. The memory proves too much for her and she replaces it in the box before sifting through what else may be there. At the very bottom is one tape marked different to the others. It's simply labelled "Eve" in her mother's scrawled handwriting. At first, all she hears is her mother and a toddler version of herself learning to count and her alphabet but then it stops and there's a crackle before an older version of her mother's voice speaks.
"My name is Angela...if they say I'm missing, I'm not. If you're listening to this, I've been murdered."
Eve doesn't know what to think. Why did her mother think she would be murdered? What secrets had she uncovered? Desperate for answers, Eve searches for the truth herself. Though she has no one to ask. Anyone she could have asked was no longer here. Her mother gone thirteen years, possibly murdered; her dad recently passed, hence the clearing out of his house - who else was there she could ask who would know anything?
What thus ensues is a week of surprises for Eve in her quest for answers and search for the truth. What was Angela alluding to? Who was she referring to when she said she knew who the Earring Killer was? How did she know who they were? And what really happened to her thirteen years ago?
As Eve listens to the tape, her mother confesses to stealing the box in which she discovered the missing earrings of the Earring Killer's victims, a serial killer who has plagued the town for two decades and remains elusive. Thus leading with the knowledge that her mother knew the identity of the Earring Killer, though she doesn't disclose the name. Of course, Eve's mother had her own emotional issues. A self-confessed kleptomaniac with a lack of impulse control as well as a habitual liar. But something in her mother's voice on these tapes rings true. Eve believes her - though no one else would, based on these tapes. What she needs is that box. The one her mum found. Where is it? She hasn't found it amongst her father's things or in the box marked "Ange" where he would have likely have stored her mother's things. So where is it? Does its absence mean this is just another of Angela's fanciful fabrications? Eve doesn't think so. Not this time. But with her mother's history, how can she be sure?
But as Eve digs deeper into the mystery, she doesn't realise that she has unwittingly awakened a serial killer that has been dormant for thirteen years. In doing so, has she inadvertently marked herself out as the next victim?
I loved the format of this book, the way the story unfolded with excerpts from a book about the Earring Killer published a decade before peppered throughout with each detailing the victims one at a time. It added a unique twist to the tale along with the tapes and her missing mother's voice from the past.
I cannot say enough about this book but it was Kerry at his best! And I haven't read something so awesomely brilliant by him in a while so I was glad to find myself lost in time to THE TAPES!!
An unputdownable fast paced thrill ride with that hint of nostalgia for us Gen X's who grew up with cassette tapes as the norm. The tension was palpable throughout and was a rollercoaster ride from which I didn't want to leave. It's gripping, it's heart pounding and a thoroughly addictive read. An easy five stars!
I would like to thank #KerryWilkinson, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheTapes in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
July 11, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Cassette Tapes-Remember those?! What a throw back!! This nostalgic relapse is what grabbed my attention and had me wanting to read “The Tapes”. In addition to the 80’s nostalgia, the overall premise of this book was intriguing.
While Eve was clearing out her late father’s house she discovered an old cassette player along with a box labeled “The Tapes”-part nostalgic artifact, part Pandora’s box. Among them was a tape addressed specifically to her, in her mother Angela’s handwriting — a woman who vanished more than a decade ago. Eve embarked on a harrowing investigation. Each recording peeled back layers of Angela’s hidden life. As Eve dived deeper, she unearthed unsettling truths that put her own safety at risk.
“The Tapes” was the first book I’ve read by Kerry Wilkinson. Prior to reading it, I didn’t have any expectations other than hoping to have found a “new-to -me” author. And, that was exactly what this book accomplished. I enjoyed Wilkinson’s clean, observational, quietly unsettling writing style. I equally liked its layered and introspective dialogue. Even more, I liked how his prose explored how the past haunted the present. All these aspects enriched the character depth and the suspense across the timelines while it examined the unreliability of memory, guilt and buried truths.
In regard to his newest publication “The Tapes”, the structure was unique because it followed an unconventional format. The story unfolded partially through transcripts, recordings, and fragmented documents. I liked this approach because it added to the true crime aspect which had me more immersed in the mystery.
On the flip side, the pacing was partially inconsistent. The story started out strong. It was captivating and had me engaged. However, about a third of the way in, I became bored with the mundane dialogue. And then out of no where, I became re-engaged and didn’t want to put the book down.
Altogether this was an entertaining and intriguing story. “The Tapes” is a good read for those that love domestic mystery thrillers with unconventional formats and a splash of 80’s nostalgia.
Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Cassette Tapes-Remember those?! What a throw back!! This nostalgic relapse is what grabbed my attention and had me wanting to read “The Tapes”. In addition to the 80’s nostalgia, the overall premise of this book was intriguing.
While Eve was clearing out her late father’s house she discovered an old cassette player along with a box labeled “The Tapes”-part nostalgic artifact, part Pandora’s box. Among them was a tape addressed specifically to her, in her mother Angela’s handwriting — a woman who vanished more than a decade ago. Eve embarked on a harrowing investigation. Each recording peeled back layers of Angela’s hidden life. As Eve dived deeper, she unearthed unsettling truths that put her own safety at risk.
“The Tapes” was the first book I’ve read by Kerry Wilkinson. Prior to reading it, I didn’t have any expectations other than hoping to have found a “new-to -me” author. And, that was exactly what this book accomplished. I enjoyed Wilkinson’s clean, observational, quietly unsettling writing style. I equally liked its layered and introspective dialogue. Even more, I liked how his prose explored how the past haunted the present. All these aspects enriched the character depth and the suspense across the timelines while it examined the unreliability of memory, guilt and buried truths.
In regard to his newest publication “The Tapes”, the structure was unique because it followed an unconventional format. The story unfolded partially through transcripts, recordings, and fragmented documents. I liked this approach because it added to the true crime aspect which had me more immersed in the mystery.
On the flip side, the pacing was partially inconsistent. The story started out strong. It was captivating and had me engaged. However, about a third of the way in, I became bored with the mundane dialogue. And then out of no where, I became re-engaged and didn’t want to put the book down.
Altogether this was an entertaining and intriguing story. “The Tapes” is a good read for those that love domestic mystery thrillers with unconventional formats and a splash of 80’s nostalgia.
Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 11, 2025
Happy Release Day!
Kerry Wilkinson’s “The Tapes” was another captivating thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. As a fan of his work, I was delighted to find this book to be just as impressive. The plot was cleverly crafted, with shady friends and family members who kept me guessing until the very end. The question lingered: who was the killer, and where was her mother? The writing was well-crafted, and I was left shocked by the unexpected ending.
I would like to express my gratitude to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book.
Kerry Wilkinson’s “The Tapes” was another captivating thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. As a fan of his work, I was delighted to find this book to be just as impressive. The plot was cleverly crafted, with shady friends and family members who kept me guessing until the very end. The question lingered: who was the killer, and where was her mother? The writing was well-crafted, and I was left shocked by the unexpected ending.
I would like to express my gratitude to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book.
August 7, 2025
3.5 rounded up to 4.
"If you're listening to this I've been murdered"
I loved the concept but didn't love the execution. If I am being completely transparent the main character aggravates me. If I found tapes that hinted at my mother being murdered I would have blown through every last tape as fast as I could manage. But that wasn't the case here, our FMC took her sweet time.
For a book titled "The Tapes", I wish there was more about the actual tapes...or that the messages on them were a little more in depth. I suppose it could have been written this way to draw the story out and create more uncertainty. If it was then it worked because it kept me reading. I couldn't read it fast enough....I had to find out!
I loved the underlying murder mystery involving the earring killer. The excerpts from the book about the case was probably my favorite part of the book. I am not too proud to admit there were multiple characters I thought MIGHT be the killer and I was ultimately stumped!
I would definitely read more from Wilkinson in the future.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
"If you're listening to this I've been murdered"
I loved the concept but didn't love the execution. If I am being completely transparent the main character aggravates me. If I found tapes that hinted at my mother being murdered I would have blown through every last tape as fast as I could manage. But that wasn't the case here, our FMC took her sweet time.
For a book titled "The Tapes", I wish there was more about the actual tapes...or that the messages on them were a little more in depth. I suppose it could have been written this way to draw the story out and create more uncertainty. If it was then it worked because it kept me reading. I couldn't read it fast enough....I had to find out!
I loved the underlying murder mystery involving the earring killer. The excerpts from the book about the case was probably my favorite part of the book. I am not too proud to admit there were multiple characters I thought MIGHT be the killer and I was ultimately stumped!
I would definitely read more from Wilkinson in the future.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 12, 2025
When I read the premise for The Tapes, I knew I needed to read this book. Mysterious old cassettes slowly revealing secrets? Yes, please. I’m a sucker for that kind of storytelling. But while I tore through it in a single sitting (because mystery-thrillers are my catnip), it didn’t leave much of a mark.
The writing was fine, the plot was flat. The plot twist wasn’t exactly predictable but it also wasn’t the kind of reveal that makes you gasp and clutch your pearls. I think a big part of that is because outside of Eve, no other character really had enough depth to make the twist work.
I did like how the author ended most chapters with a juicy breadcrumb, it kept me turning the pages. But every time a chapter ended on a big nugget of info, the next would open with a completely different thread.
In the end, everything wrapped up way too fast. One minute Eve’s putting all the pieces together, the next she’s confronting the killer and then boom - done. For someone who had evaded capture for decades, the killer was caught way too easily. A little more complexity and tension in that final stretch would’ve gone a long way.
This is not a bad book and I do enjoy Wilkinson’s writing. But it left much to be desired and thus my rating.
A thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
The writing was fine, the plot was flat. The plot twist wasn’t exactly predictable but it also wasn’t the kind of reveal that makes you gasp and clutch your pearls. I think a big part of that is because outside of Eve, no other character really had enough depth to make the twist work.
I did like how the author ended most chapters with a juicy breadcrumb, it kept me turning the pages. But every time a chapter ended on a big nugget of info, the next would open with a completely different thread.
In the end, everything wrapped up way too fast. One minute Eve’s putting all the pieces together, the next she’s confronting the killer and then boom - done. For someone who had evaded capture for decades, the killer was caught way too easily. A little more complexity and tension in that final stretch would’ve gone a long way.
This is not a bad book and I do enjoy Wilkinson’s writing. But it left much to be desired and thus my rating.
A thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
July 26, 2025
The premise of this book really hooked me. The tapes, the mom stating that she was murdered, and the mystery behind who killed her.
Unfortunately, I think this one fell kind of flat for me. I was expecting more from the tapes and I found some plot points to be pointless… I also just found the relationships between the characters kind of off. It was almost like there was so much happening but also nothing happening in the middle of the book. Between work issues, her dad’s funeral, the tapes, her daughter, her own personal issues, the after math of dealing with her Dad’s belongings and other things. It just felt all over the place. I wish the tapes played a larger role in pushing the plot. A character wrote a book about the victims of the Earring Killer and you get chapters explaining what happened to them and I kind of just found those boring.
The ending was good enough but I wouldn’t say this book was very thrilling. It’s more of a soft thriller or suspense.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc.
Unfortunately, I think this one fell kind of flat for me. I was expecting more from the tapes and I found some plot points to be pointless… I also just found the relationships between the characters kind of off. It was almost like there was so much happening but also nothing happening in the middle of the book. Between work issues, her dad’s funeral, the tapes, her daughter, her own personal issues, the after math of dealing with her Dad’s belongings and other things. It just felt all over the place. I wish the tapes played a larger role in pushing the plot. A character wrote a book about the victims of the Earring Killer and you get chapters explaining what happened to them and I kind of just found those boring.
The ending was good enough but I wouldn’t say this book was very thrilling. It’s more of a soft thriller or suspense.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc.
July 22, 2025
I enjoyed the premise of this book and found the mystery compelling. But overall it kind of fell flat for me. The pacing was off and some parts of the story were a bit repetitive.
August 9, 2025
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!
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!
November 12, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Eve’s mother, Angela, disappeared ten years ago. Due to Angela’s flighty nature, no one thought anything untoward had happened and the young mother had simply left Eve and her father behind. Now, Eve is clearing out her father’s house after his unexpected death, when she uncovers a box of cassette tapes with her name on the side, written in her mother’s tidy handwriting. Although most of the tapes play like a daily journal of activities and musings, one tape stops Eve cold- Angela is very insistent that if she ever disappears, Eve needs to know that it wasn’t on purpose, and that Angela was murdered. Anyone who could give Eve the answers she wants is dead but Eve is determined to uncover what happened to her mother once and for all.
English author Kerry Wilkinson has more books under his belt than I can name although, until “The Tapes”, I hadn’t heard of him. His writing is entertaining and he definitely knows how to hook a reader, as I was pulled into the deliciously twisted story right from the first page.
Eve is the protagonist, although segments of a book about a local serial killer- which do not immediately seem connected- intersect Eve’s chapters. Both the book chapters and Eve’s story are equally fascinating in their own right. The book itself serves a purpose and, although its connection isn’t revealed until the final pages, I loved reading about the serial killer who haunted Eve’s childhood town, killing young women and taking a single earring as a trophy.
Was Eve’s mother murdered? Was someone Eve knew responsible for the deaths of the women? When she uncovers Angela’s secret, will Eve be the next target? The plot was non-stop suspense, ending each chapter with a teasing cliffhanger, making it difficult to stop turning the pages.
Wilkinson’s “The Tapes” is a unique examination of a mother-daughter relationship, in more ways than one as Eve herself has a young adult daughter named Faith, but above all it is a dark and scary mystery with a serial killer, a missing woman who had demons of her own, and the hunt for the truth.
I wish Wilkinson was more prominent outside of the U.K (especially here in Canada), as I would’ve loved to hear more from him before today. Serial killer fiction fans definitely need to read Wilkinson’s “The Tapes”.
Eve’s mother, Angela, disappeared ten years ago. Due to Angela’s flighty nature, no one thought anything untoward had happened and the young mother had simply left Eve and her father behind. Now, Eve is clearing out her father’s house after his unexpected death, when she uncovers a box of cassette tapes with her name on the side, written in her mother’s tidy handwriting. Although most of the tapes play like a daily journal of activities and musings, one tape stops Eve cold- Angela is very insistent that if she ever disappears, Eve needs to know that it wasn’t on purpose, and that Angela was murdered. Anyone who could give Eve the answers she wants is dead but Eve is determined to uncover what happened to her mother once and for all.
English author Kerry Wilkinson has more books under his belt than I can name although, until “The Tapes”, I hadn’t heard of him. His writing is entertaining and he definitely knows how to hook a reader, as I was pulled into the deliciously twisted story right from the first page.
Eve is the protagonist, although segments of a book about a local serial killer- which do not immediately seem connected- intersect Eve’s chapters. Both the book chapters and Eve’s story are equally fascinating in their own right. The book itself serves a purpose and, although its connection isn’t revealed until the final pages, I loved reading about the serial killer who haunted Eve’s childhood town, killing young women and taking a single earring as a trophy.
Was Eve’s mother murdered? Was someone Eve knew responsible for the deaths of the women? When she uncovers Angela’s secret, will Eve be the next target? The plot was non-stop suspense, ending each chapter with a teasing cliffhanger, making it difficult to stop turning the pages.
Wilkinson’s “The Tapes” is a unique examination of a mother-daughter relationship, in more ways than one as Eve herself has a young adult daughter named Faith, but above all it is a dark and scary mystery with a serial killer, a missing woman who had demons of her own, and the hunt for the truth.
I wish Wilkinson was more prominent outside of the U.K (especially here in Canada), as I would’ve loved to hear more from him before today. Serial killer fiction fans definitely need to read Wilkinson’s “The Tapes”.
August 5, 2025
Imagine you're mourning the loss of your father, cleaning his house out and in the garage, you find old, dusty cassette tapes one of which has your name written in your mother's handwriting. Except your mother disappeared years ago. You begin to listen and after the shock of hearing your mother's long forgotten voice you hear...If they say I'm missing, I'm not. If you are listening to this, I have been murdered.
Thus begins a quest for answers in this absolutely chilling all-consuming mystery which involves a missing woman who had emotional issues, her daughter hanging on by a thread to her sobriety and keeping her daughter in check and also, a serial killer. Get ready for the ride of your life!
Eve's life has been hard. She dealt with her mother leaving years ago, got into trouble herself but now she is clean and sober, and she and her daughter Faith are now trying to deal with the death of her father who they will be burying at the end of the week.
But now after finding a tape made by her mother, Angela, and not being able to ask her father about any of this, she begins to investigate. Her mother had many emotional issues including she was a habitual liar and a kleptomaniac. As Eve begins to read the tapes, she discovers that her mother says she had stolen a jewelry box which she insisted was from the Earring Killer, a serial killer who tortured their town years ago. She also states she knows the name of the killer. But is any of this true? With her mother's history, what should she believe?
Where is this jewelry box? Eve has never seen one in their house. Does she go to the police? She feels like with her history they would discard anything she has to say. So, she begins to try and not only piece whether her mother was killed, but also if her disappearance could really have been from this mysterious killer who after torturing their victim took one of their earrings as a souvenir.
Solving this mystery will not be easy for Eve. But what she does not realize as she begins her search is that she has accidentally awakened a serial killer who has been dormant for years and now she could possibly be the next victim.
The Tapes is a terrific murder mystery with a great deal of heart and soul and love. You won't be able to put the book down and you won't be able to breath until you discover the shocking, twisty ending you never saw coming.
Thank you #NetGalley #Bookouture #KerryWilkinson #TheTapes for the advanced copy.
Thus begins a quest for answers in this absolutely chilling all-consuming mystery which involves a missing woman who had emotional issues, her daughter hanging on by a thread to her sobriety and keeping her daughter in check and also, a serial killer. Get ready for the ride of your life!
Eve's life has been hard. She dealt with her mother leaving years ago, got into trouble herself but now she is clean and sober, and she and her daughter Faith are now trying to deal with the death of her father who they will be burying at the end of the week.
But now after finding a tape made by her mother, Angela, and not being able to ask her father about any of this, she begins to investigate. Her mother had many emotional issues including she was a habitual liar and a kleptomaniac. As Eve begins to read the tapes, she discovers that her mother says she had stolen a jewelry box which she insisted was from the Earring Killer, a serial killer who tortured their town years ago. She also states she knows the name of the killer. But is any of this true? With her mother's history, what should she believe?
Where is this jewelry box? Eve has never seen one in their house. Does she go to the police? She feels like with her history they would discard anything she has to say. So, she begins to try and not only piece whether her mother was killed, but also if her disappearance could really have been from this mysterious killer who after torturing their victim took one of their earrings as a souvenir.
Solving this mystery will not be easy for Eve. But what she does not realize as she begins her search is that she has accidentally awakened a serial killer who has been dormant for years and now she could possibly be the next victim.
The Tapes is a terrific murder mystery with a great deal of heart and soul and love. You won't be able to put the book down and you won't be able to breath until you discover the shocking, twisty ending you never saw coming.
Thank you #NetGalley #Bookouture #KerryWilkinson #TheTapes for the advanced copy.
July 22, 2025
What a good book! I really enjoyed this one. I’ve never read anything by this author but she has a TON of books she has written!
We meet Eve right after the death of her father. Her mother disappeared years ago and they never found her, her brother is from her dad’s first marriage and much older so Dad is all she had left of her family she feels like. While cleaning out her Dads house she finds a box of cassette tapes that her mom made. There are dozens of them and as she pops one in and listens to them she can hear herself as a baby talking in the background and her mom talking about daily life. Her mom was a podcaster before it was popular! She digs in the box and finds one with her name on it. When she puts in it she can tell her mom’s voice is older and she says if you’re listening to this I didn’t disappear, I was murdered.
This book kept me on my toes and I kept wondering who knew what and what was going to happen. I enjoyed the plot and the psychological thriller aspect of it! Read this if you enjoy mysteries that keep you guessing page after page.
We meet Eve right after the death of her father. Her mother disappeared years ago and they never found her, her brother is from her dad’s first marriage and much older so Dad is all she had left of her family she feels like. While cleaning out her Dads house she finds a box of cassette tapes that her mom made. There are dozens of them and as she pops one in and listens to them she can hear herself as a baby talking in the background and her mom talking about daily life. Her mom was a podcaster before it was popular! She digs in the box and finds one with her name on it. When she puts in it she can tell her mom’s voice is older and she says if you’re listening to this I didn’t disappear, I was murdered.
This book kept me on my toes and I kept wondering who knew what and what was going to happen. I enjoyed the plot and the psychological thriller aspect of it! Read this if you enjoy mysteries that keep you guessing page after page.
July 26, 2025
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,
July 23, 2025
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! 📼🖤💥
Thanks to Publishers for the ARC read of this novel
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! 📼🖤💥
Thanks to Publishers for the ARC read of this novel
September 11, 2025
I’m honestly surprised this book has such mixed reviews — I was hooked from the very first page and couldn’t put it down! The premise is chilling and immediately intriguing: a daughter discovers a cassette tape left behind by her long-missing mother, only to hear the haunting words, “If you’re listening to this, I’ve been murdered.”
From that moment on, I was completely engrossed. The story unravels with just the right amount of suspense, twists, and emotional depth. I loved how the mystery slowly peeled back in layers, and the use of old tapes as a storytelling device was so clever and nostalgic.
Eve was a compelling character, and I felt every bit of her desperation and determination as she chased the truth. The book masterfully explores how grief, memory, and hidden family secrets can collide in dangerous ways. And just when I thought I had it figured out — bam! Another twist.
If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers by authors like Shari Lapena, John Marrs, or Lisa Jewell, this one will definitely hit the mark. I couldn��t stop turning the pages and can’t wait to read more from this author.
Highly recommend!
From that moment on, I was completely engrossed. The story unravels with just the right amount of suspense, twists, and emotional depth. I loved how the mystery slowly peeled back in layers, and the use of old tapes as a storytelling device was so clever and nostalgic.
Eve was a compelling character, and I felt every bit of her desperation and determination as she chased the truth. The book masterfully explores how grief, memory, and hidden family secrets can collide in dangerous ways. And just when I thought I had it figured out — bam! Another twist.
If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers by authors like Shari Lapena, John Marrs, or Lisa Jewell, this one will definitely hit the mark. I couldn��t stop turning the pages and can’t wait to read more from this author.
Highly recommend!
July 21, 2025
Following her father's death, Eve is clearing out his house and happens to find a box of cassette tapes. Those contain diary entries, recorded by her mother before she disappeared without a trace. Those tapes are filled with revelations. Among them, Eve's mother discloses that she knows who the Earring Killer is, who wreaked havoc in the area 13 years ago and was never caught. With her mother missing since after the last murder, Eve now conducts her own investigation.
Overall, it's an ok read. At times, it feels unnecessarily stretched out, and the protagonist can come across as a bit annoying. On the other hand, it has its moments here and there where the writing is witty and rather entertaining. In those moments, I was absolutely rooting for the author and was hoping for more of that.
Overall, it's an ok read. At times, it feels unnecessarily stretched out, and the protagonist can come across as a bit annoying. On the other hand, it has its moments here and there where the writing is witty and rather entertaining. In those moments, I was absolutely rooting for the author and was hoping for more of that.
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