The Fred West Tapes: Secrets of the Fred & Rose West Murder Investigation

by Howard Sounes

Genres: Audiobook, True Crime

320 pages, Hardcover

Published July 31, 2025

About the author

Biographer of Bob Dylan, Charles Bukowski and Paul McCartney. Also histories and true crime - Fred & Rose, Heist - with The Fred West Tapes new in 2025.

Reviews

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond dark!

[Natasha Alsop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disturbing at times but never unnecessarily graphic. Lots of details in here that I, as someone who consumes a lot of true crime content, was unaware of. This book really compliments the author's podcast on the subject.

[Deborah Cumming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished the audiobook in a day, this is for my true crime fans. A very real tale about a serial killer couple that killed across two decades. It’s shocking and disturbing so proceed with caution, still don’t understand how they managed to get away with their crimes for so long. My heart goes out to all the victims families, there is a Netflix documentary on this true crime go check that out too.

[Ryan Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished this audiobook in three days. A very dark true crime tale that I remember vividly during my early teenage years. Revisiting this, it was still just as shocking and unbelievable, as back in the day. How did they get away with that? I guess we'll never know. I've not seen the Netflix series, but based on this book; it must be a good watch!!

[Rik · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title pretty much sums it up: a deep dive into the case from the perspective of the police interviews. Not a great deal of new information but a thorough re-examination of the events from the author of the definitive book on the case. Solidly written with little to no speculation or sensation content, which most authors struggle to resist indulging in with Fred and Rose West

[Dylan Hepworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly disturbing yet gripping account of the Cromwell Street murders. Fred West and dozy Rosie’s depravity is explored in detail. New information from first hand interviews with Barry Weet.

[skaska123 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really see what the point of this book is, it's literally the same as his other west's book. He is a good author tho

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

[Bambi Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting, a wider story if you wanted more than just the Netflix documentary. Pretty harrowing in places, be warned- very graphic detail you probably havent heard before.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although quite sickening, a good read with lots of information that hasn't been published before. If you are a fan of True Crime this is a book for you.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook

[Bobby24 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best compliment i think one could make is to say an author has written a definitive book on a topic and i would say that about him, namely his first book on this topic.

When you work on a topic like this it must be hard if not impossible to let go. So he has written essentially an update in this book which is a fine book in itself and completely engrossing.

I have read numerous books on Serial killers but the truly unique thing about Fred IMO is the fact that he had the time and the leisure with his victims over literally decades in a way that few killers have ever had.

Another thing that keeps this horrific story endlessly interesting is the Mystery factor of him/them, How many victims were there? what did he do with the spare two hours before his arrest? where are the bones, why did he take them? How did his victims actually die? (not one cause of death could be forensically defined) how long did that take, who were the other men involved? how did he get away with it so long?....ect.

Ultimately this is a tale and a lesson rolled into one never ever trust a Stranger.