Title: After the Sleepover
Author: Kerry Wilkinson
Pub date: Dec. 15th, 2023

25 years ago, Leah was the lone survivor of a sleepover. Her three friends were never seen again. Fast forward, a documentary is being made with a premiere in the town it all happened in. Now, three boys disappear during a sleepover. What is going on? How can this be happening?

Leah gets pulled into the current story by the mother of one of the missing boys. There are secrets everywhere you turn and a scandal to boot!

It’s frightening to think this could happen. When I got near the end, I didn’t want to stop reading until I had answers. The reveal gave me chills!

I enjoyed sleuthing my way through this story along with Leah. Now, I need to go back and read the first book that took place twenty five years ago because my interest was definitely piqued.


Thank you #Bookouture for a copy to review.


#AftertheSleepover #NetGalley

Y’all, I have a terrific thriller series and book to tell you about today! The Sleepover series by @kerry.wilkinson is a fast paced, page turner of a series that I highly recommend reading. I’m just finished reading the second book, After The Sleepover which picks up where book 1 left off. This second book has three more kids go missing during a sleepover in this small town. This time it is 25 years later and a group of high school boys. The story is full of twists and secrets.

I do recommend reading this series in chronological order to avoid some spoilers. Bottom line, go ahead and read both books!

Thank you @bookouture for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

(This same review was shared on the Barnes & Nobles website).

"After the Sleepover" is a gripping and intense thriller that follows the story of Leah, the sole survivor of a sleepover where her friends disappeared twenty-five years ago. Now a parent herself, Leah's worst fears come true when three teenage boys go missing on a camping sleepover, attended by her own son. The author, Kerry Wilkinson, expertly creates tension and suspense as the parents anxiously wait for answers and the investigation unfolds. Leah is reluctantly pulled into the case, as investigators explore whether there is a connection to what happened during her own sleepover. The book is full of twists and turns, and readers will constantly be on the edge of their seats.
Wilkinson's storytelling keeps readers engaged and invested throughout the book. The pacing is seamless, with no dull moments, and the tension builds steadily until the shocking reveal. Readers will find themselves experiencing a range of emotions as they become immersed in the story. The author's ability to evoke fear, shock, and pain is commendable, and the intricate plot will have readers creating their own suspect list as they try to unravel the mystery. Overall, "After the Sleepover" is a captivating and well-crafted thriller that will keep readers hooked from beginning to end. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley, Kerry Wilkinson and Bookouture for allowing me the chance to read the second book in the series by Kerry.

Follow up to the terrific 'The Night of the Sleepover', 'After the Sleepover' contains so many red herrings, it was difficult to know where this was going - but the journey was totally absorbing!
Twenty five years ago Leah had a sleepover with her three best friends, but the next morning her friends had vanished. Now the same thing has happened again, but this time three teenage boys have gone missing after sleeping in their tents on the farm belonging to one of their mother's.

I read the first book and I gotta say this one ties into it very nicely. Such a good page turner I couldn’t put it down as soon as I started reading it.

This was a really suspenseful read, I enjoyed getting to figure out what happened to the teenagers. The story worked perfectly with what I was hoping for and loved the mystery element to it. I felt like the characters were a realistic portrait and it left me wanting to read more from Kerry Wilkinson.

Twenty five years ago on a sleepover with friends Leah woke up to find that the other three had vanished. The mystery has followed Leah throughout her life. When a distraught mother calls the police to say her teenage son Dylan & his two friends have disappeared from their tent. She had checked on them late the night before & now they are gone. Naturally this is a story that causes concern to Leah, although she is grateful that her son of about the same age is safe.

This was not quite as good as the first one , in my opinion. However it was a good read. I did guess partly what was going on. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

An interesting read with a didn’t see that coming twist.
3 boys go missing, on the debut of a film talking about the 3 girls that went missing 25 years ago. The mom of one of the boys calls on the sole survivor of that incident.
I found the plot very interesting, however it was kind of slow in places. They kept hinting of what happened 25 years ago but sadly never tell, I’m hoping there will be another books explaining this as I was really wanting to know.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read and review this one.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of After the Sleepover by Kerry Wilkinson in return for my honest review. Although this is the sequel to The Night of the Sleepover it certainly can be read as a standalone as it doesn’t give away too much of the previous book. This is a fast paced thriller with lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing in true Kerry Wilkinson form, a really enjoyable read which I will be recommending.

I have enjoyed Kerry Wilkinson's writing for a number of years and have read a lot of his work.

Somehow, I missed that there's a book before this one so whenever the main character, Leah, referred to the events of the sleepover from her youth but didn't expand on them, I was slightly confused and was expecting a big reveal at the end of the book. It wasn't until after I'd finished this that I realised there was a previous book - I have since bought it as I enjoyed this one.

This book, despite my confusion, stands alone well. Nothing is spoilt for any readers who hadn't read the previous book.

As is typical for this writer, the book is well plotted and well written. I recommend it.

I started this book and got right into it, the storyline was captivating and the writing style was easy to follow. I struggled a bit in the middle of the book but it was short lived. I loved the ending and would recommend this book to my friends.

Leah is getting on with her life, it has been 25 years since the sleepover where 3 of her friends disappeared. She hasn’t told anyone she now knows the truth on that fateful night. However, 25 years later it is all brought back when a school associate calls her asking her for company as her son and his friends who were camping in the farm, have all disappeared.
The sequel in the series doesn’t disappoint, and as the story unravels, Leah finds out the shocking truth and a twist you won’t see coming. A masterfully written piece and just as enjoyable a the first story. Any fan of Kerry Wilkinson will not be disappointed with this latest read. Top marks!

“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.”

The opening line in the blurb instantly had me hooked and wanting to know what happened! Throughout the novel, we were given clues as to what occurred on that faithful night, but nothing was set in stone for us as readers, which definitely kept me on edge and intrigued! The plot reeled me in, and the writing style was easy to understand. It was a nice pace and I loved being able to put my own detective skills to use in figuring out who the suspect was.

I read it as a stand-alone, and wasn't confused by any events that happened in the novel. I have heard other readers reviewing this novel it after reading the first (The Night of the Sleepover). I think there would be benefits to reading both in order, but I also don't think it affected my views on the novel at all!

I rated this book 3.5/5 stars!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my opinion.

I am really enjoying this set of books, I didnt know where it would go but it still has the main character Leah, but with a different set of disappeared. It really dragged me in and it worked. Although I think it would be good to have read the first book it works as the second can be read as a standalone.

I received a free copy from netgalley and bookouture but the review is entirely my own.

Well this dragged me and spat me out in the end, a very twisty and turny thriller, a great storyline that left me wanting more answers in the end, all in all a great read

This book definitely has lots of secrets and keeps you guessing. I do feel that it was a big slow in the middle however it picked back up and had me quickly turning the pages to find out what was going to happen. It has an I didn't see that coming moment but the ending left me with my mouth hanging open and some major questions I feel need more answers!!!

*4 Stars*

Copy kindly received via NetGalley for an honest review.

An interesting read with great characters. Was not the ending I was expecting.

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.

Kerry Wilkinson, After the Sleepover, Bookouture, Dec 2023.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

Kerry Wilkinson’s After the Sleepover is a stunning continuation of Leah’s story, begun in The Night of the Sleepover. I read the novels out of sequence so in many ways was advantaged by being innocent of the ending of The night of the Sleepover, where Leah’s secret knowledge about that night was exposed. So, I began with the speculation about the person for whom Leah’s secret provided cover. This was referred to frequently in her relationships and thoughts in After the Sleepover. The novel is extremely clever in that, even if read in sequence Leah’s speculations and behaviour provide the complexity that makes a novel satisfying.

Excellent characterisation is also an important feature in both novels. Leah is complex, but so too are her companions in both novels. From the young girls with whom she was friends at school and who disappeared from the sleepover, to their parents and her own, and then to the characters in the sequel. Here Leah is called upon by the mother of one of the new generation of children missing from a sleepover. Her experience, Jennifer persuades her, will help in dealing with the possibility that the mystery will not be resolved.

At the time of the new disappearances Leah has ended an unhappy marriage, has a teenage son, is in a new relationship with the father of one of his friends, and is the substitute daughter for the mother of one of her missing friends. She is contributing to a documentary being made by the brother of another of the missing girls and has an uneasy relationship with the older sister of another. Her father, at whose house the original sleepover took place, is in a care home, a broken figure. Leah’s father, at one time a suspect, and about to finish yet another gaol term is in a new relationship and a friendship is gradually being forged between this enthusiastic and lively woman and Leah, despite Leah’s antipathy toward her father. The motivations of each of the characters, including Leah, are never clear, raising questions throughout the novel. I wonder if there is to be a third in the series. There is certainly the material for one.

Once again, Kerry Wilkinson has crafted a novel that is gripping, with multi-faceted characters and a story line that is not only satisfying but one that almost demands that it is continued.

I was interested in this, as I enjoyed its prequel, The Night of the Sleepover.

I found I didn't recall the events of the previous book as easily as I would have liked, so it may have been preferable to read this while its prequel was still fresh in my mind. Having said that, I still enjoyed it. I enjoyed reading about Leah a second time around, and like its prequel, this was a page turner. While I was reading, it also occurred to me that the characters were easy to relate to - I felt as though they could easily have been people I knew.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

This is a second book in the Sleepover series. I have not read the first book and whatever I am saying maybe impacted with that fact.
This sequel can easily be read as a standalone but beware all through the book it will keep reminding you that Book 1 exists, which may contain some red herrings. I could not appreciate this creative choice, it felt like an attempt to push reader to buy and read the complete series.

Leah is the central character in both books. When she was a teenager, her friends disappeared during a sleepover but she was left behind. The same tragedy has struck again and teenage boys have disappeared during a sleepover.
a) Book 2 blurb emphasises its been 25 years since tragedy struck, but note that both books are having only 5 year time gap.
b) I am not sure if Book 1 had clear ending regarding what happened to Leah and her friends. But book 2 continuously hints that Leah knows what happened, without ever providing the details.
c) Book 2 ending is 'open for interpretation' based on what 'we know' (which is nothing) happened to Leah in book 1 is truth or not. This totally destroyed my experience, because I need to have an information to interpret it.

Sequels are expected to continue the story of characters from book 1 and assume reader knows it, even though it may be a spoiler as reader chose to skip ahead. Dont titilate by emphasising there is a backstory, "but you will not get it here, go ahead ! buy the book 1."