*thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital advanced reader's copy of this book. i received this e-book in exchange of an honest review. all opinions are my own*

eve is cleaning out her fathers house after a fatal heart attack when she finds a tape with her name on it. when she plays it, she hears her mothers voice claiming she’s been murdered and knows the identity of an infamous serial killer that tormented the area for over 16 years.

i’ll be honest, i was expecting a lot more in this book. it was a great concept but unfortunately didn’t hook me whatsoever. the writing was basic and didn’t capture my attention. the twists didn’t really twist but were actually quite predictable. i really wanted to like it, but it just didn’t do it for me.

Imagine finding old cassette tapes in your childhood home… and discovering a chilling voice confessing to a murder. That’s exactly how this twisted, slow-burn mystery begins—and from there, The Tapes pulls you down a rabbit hole of secrets, lies, and small-town darkness.
Beth, our main character, is relatable and flawed in all the right ways. She’s just trying to clean out her late father’s house when she stumbles on a set of tapes that unravel everything she thought she knew about her past—and her family. The mystery deepens with each tape, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, Kerry Wilkinson tosses another curveball your way.
This isn’t a high-octane thriller; it’s more of a creeping, psychological unraveling—and honestly, it works. The pacing allows you to sit in the discomfort, question everyone, and second-guess every bit of information you’re given. There’s a sense of unease woven throughout that never lets go.
A gripping psychological mystery with a nostalgic, eerie edge. If you love buried secrets, flawed families, and stories that keep peeling back the truth layer by layer, The Tapes is worth pressing play on.

The central conceit of this thriller—a series of vintage cassette tapes revealing knowledge of a serial killer’s identity—presents an evocative interplay between past and present, memory and mystery. It is through this device that the protagonist, Eve, is drawn into an investigation that straddles personal trauma and public danger. Upon discovering decades-old recordings belonging to her missing mother, Eve initially hopes to uncover clues about her mother’s long-unsolved disappearance. What unfolds, however, is a far more intricate and perilous entanglement: a contemporary murder investigation into which she is rapidly and inescapably drawn.

What distinguishes this novel is its refusal to adhere to predictable genre conventions. The narrative is deliberately disorienting, inviting readers into a labyrinthine plot filled with red herrings, unreliable characters, and misdirection. The experience is less about the resolution of a conventional whodunit and more about navigating a psychological and emotional maze. The reader is rarely afforded the comfort of knowing what to expect, which in turn mirrors Eve’s own destabilizing journey.

The author constructs tension with a deft hand, embedding shocking revelations at regular intervals while maintaining a tightly coiled narrative structure. Eve’s relentless pursuit of the truth, both about her mother and the broader criminal web, drives the plot forward at a brisk yet deliberate pace. Each chapter concludes on a note of suspense, skillfully engineered to compel continued reading, not through sensationalism but through carefully calibrated storytelling.

While structurally this may be described as a slow-burn thriller, its immersive quality is undeniable. Rather than relying on rapid-fire action, the novel cultivates intrigue through atmosphere, psychological complexity, and the gradual unearthing of secrets long buried. It is a work that both honors and subverts the conventions of the thriller genre, offering readers a reading experience that is as intellectually engaging as it is emotionally charged.

I appreciated that the book went right into the tapes and mystery of it all. It did feel a little jumbled and jumps through the story which made me have to go back to reread paragraphs to make sure I don't miss anything. The main character fell flat for me as well.

The ending and twist at the end I did not see it coming. The way the book wraps up quickly after you get the answers to the mystery was nice.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and netgalley for the copy of the book.

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! I definitely recommend it if you like mysteries that keep you guessing page after page.

This is such a FUNNN book! Right away the description pulled me in, I finished within 48 hours. It was so hard to put down

From the very first chapter of The Tapes, I was completely hooked. Kerry Wilkinson wastes no time pulling readers into a tangled web of mystery, emotion, and suspense. One of the things that stood out most was how the author chose to use names instead of just numbers—it added a deeply human element to the narrative. It forced me to confront the sad reality of how we often reduce real people to statistics. That small detail made a big emotional impact.

The plot unfolds through multiple angles, timelines, and characters, yet it all weaves together seamlessly. Every storyline added a new layer to the overall mystery, and the pacing was masterfully done. I had strong feelings about Kieron from the beginning, but still, nothing prepared me for the ending. I was completely thrown for a loop in the best way possible. The reveal had a huge wow factor that left me speechless.

Halfway through the book, I was mentally racing, trying to piece everything together. Who made the tapes? When were they recorded? What happened to Angela? I had so many theories, and I was wrong on all counts—right up until the final pages.

I found myself torn between staying up all night to devour it or pacing myself to enjoy the unfolding story. Spoiler: I stayed up. I couldn’t put it down. This is one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

3.25 Stars

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

It's been 13 years since Eve's mother disappeared, leaving her family wondering what happened. When cleaning out her father's house to put it on the market after his death, she finds a box of cassette tapes belonging to her mother, including one with her name on it. They start normally with Angela talking about the mundane things that fill the family's days, but soon become sinister as her mother makes a statement that stops her in her tracks: she's been murdered because she knows the identity of a serial killer. Eve begins her own investigation into her mother's disappearance and the infamous serial killer that has yet to be caught, wondering if she could potentially be his next victim.
____________________________________________________________

I found the main character, Eve, to be a little bit too flat for me. There was nothing stand-out about her, which lessened my enjoyment of what could have been an excellent novel. Then there was her mother, Angela, who tells these wild tales of the things she has done in her life, which are unbelievable to her daughter. I mean, robbing a bank?? I wanted to know what was true and what wasn't, but unfortunately, we were left in the dark. In all honesty, there was not a single character that felt even remotely dynamic.

I will say that I thought I had it all figured out. In my mind, I knew who the killer was and had all of the evidence written down on a post-it note to prove it (no, seriously). However, I was wrong. And I love being wrong when it comes to thrillers. Despite this amazing feeling, the book itself was a bit of a let-down. I'm still happy that I have read it, don't get me wrong. It was a quick and easy read, which I needed after finishing several grad school classes this summer.

If you're a fan of Freida McFadden, you might enjoy this one. Pick it up on August 11, 2025!

The premise of this book really drew me in. I love stories that feature nostalgia vibes. While I found the mystery compelling, the story kind of fell flat for me overall. The pacing was off and some parts of the story were a bit repetitive.

A little slow to start with but once it got going it developed into a pretty decent story with twists I didn't see coming. Whilst not Ms Wilkinson's best to date, it was nonetheless a pleasant and entertaining read.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC

The story follows Eve, whose Mother went missing years ago and her Father recently passed away. Whilst clearing out her Father’s house she finds tapes recorded by her Mother, with eerie messages about knowing the identity of a serial killer who was never caught.

I was intrigued by this book but overall felt a little disappointed. The characters didn’t feel developed enough, the story was slow throughout and even though I didn’t see the twist coming, I wasn’t shocked by it but thought it rather far fetched.

The articles scattered throughout the book didn’t add substance to the story.

Even though the story wasn’t to my personal taste, I’m sure it will appeal to many Thriller readers.

I couldn’t put this one down! While packing up her dad’s house, Eve finds a box of old tapes and a message from her missing mom that turns her whole world upside down...if her mom’s gone, it wasn’t an accident. The deeper Eve digs, the darker the secrets get, and soon she’s questioning everything and everyone. This was such a tense, addictive read. I stayed up way too late flipping pages and guessing what would happen next. Perfect if you love twisty thrillers like Shari Lapena or Lisa Jewell!

Gripping from the very first line—“If you’re listening to this, I’ve been murdered”—The Tapes delivers a tightly-wound psychological thriller that’s hard to pause and impossible to forget.

Eve’s discovery of her late mother’s cassette tapes sparks something far deeper than nostalgia: a chilling unraveling of long-buried secrets. As Eve listens, she’s not just mourning—she’s investigating, second-guessing, fearing. Wilkinson paints a vivid picture of the emotional weight of loss, layered with suspense and unexpected turns. The pacing is spot on: tense where it should be, introspective where it matters.

It’s the kind of thriller that quietly sneaks up on you, then hits hard. Eve’s journey is both disturbing and brave, and the story invites you to question how much we ever truly know about the people we love—and what we'd do if we found out they were hiding something dark.

The Tapes blends mystery, grief, and fear with elegance and edge. I couldn’t stop reading, and the final twist genuinely took my breath away.

With thanks to Kerry Wilkinson, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book for my honest review.

This book had promise but didn’t quite deliver what I expected. I found it to be more of a mystery/suspense than a thriller. I did finish it quickly but there were also no twists for me, an ok read but not memorable.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

‘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.’
This was such an awesome, fast paced, page turner read, haven't read anything from this author before but I think I'm going read more from him.

Eves father passed away and she’s cleaning out his seemingly endless piles of junk. Among the junk she finds a box of tapes recorded by her mother before she disappeared without a trace years ago. Eve remembers he recording her day to day, but one tape is different… “If you’re listening to this I’ve been murdered.” From there Eve falls downs the rabbit hole of her long lost mother (is she alive??), maybe the identity of the towns serial killer (quite a lot of possible suspects for one persons circle) all while trying to just keep it together (aren’t we all?)

This is a quick one. I definitely got a bit cocky and thought I figured it out… spoiler I definitely did not 😂 It’s a good popcorn mystery with twists and turns. Some details meant to aid in the twists do their job but don’t seem to quite tie up neatly by the end which may bugs me a little bit. All and all not a bad read. Unrelated, but all I can think of when she talks about her brother is Derek from Step Brothers who is the worst.

Thank you Bookouture via NetGalley for this eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I had trouble getting through this book I had to DNF it…too dense and boring for me. I also was confused at times so once I totally didn’t get what was going on I thought I should stop reading. Maybe I’ll pick it up again at a later date.

This was a really quick read, and pretty unpredictable. I loved the premise but felt like it could have been executed a little better. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable ARC if you like fast paced thrillers!

This book is a quick read that’s fast paced and full of twists. While it’s a good story, it left me wanting a little more. There are parts that feel as though they were put there to throw the reader off, but they don’t feel ingrained enough to actually make sense. Overall, I liked Eve as a MC, and the story was unpredictable and original. I just wanted more detail, more backstory, just more 🤷🏼‍♀️

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.