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Sleepover #2
After the Sleepover
“Gone. They’re gone.” Dylan’s wide-eyed mother bites her nails in desperation. “All three kids. They wanted to sleep outside. But I went to check this morning and… the tents are empty. They’re gone.”
Twenty-five years ago: teenage Leah had a sleepover with her three best friends. By morning, the other girls were missing. This small town has been searching for answers ever since. Now it’s happened again…
Three boys decide to camp in a field next to one of their homes. When dawn comes, dew glistens on their empty tents.
Overgrown farmland is searched. Three distraught families are desperate for news. A mother herself now, Leah’s heart breaks as terrible memories flood back…
Leah thought she knew what happened at the sleepover years ago but now another three children are missing. What if she was wrong? And how far will Leah have to go, to finally discover the truth, before it’s too late?
A completely addictive psychological thriller packed with twists, that will have you up all night racing through the pages. After the Sleepover can be enjoyed as a standalone read, and anyone who loves Shari Lapena, Lisa Jewell, or The Perfect Marriage won’t be able to put it down.
Twenty-five years ago: teenage Leah had a sleepover with her three best friends. By morning, the other girls were missing. This small town has been searching for answers ever since. Now it’s happened again…
Three boys decide to camp in a field next to one of their homes. When dawn comes, dew glistens on their empty tents.
Overgrown farmland is searched. Three distraught families are desperate for news. A mother herself now, Leah’s heart breaks as terrible memories flood back…
Leah thought she knew what happened at the sleepover years ago but now another three children are missing. What if she was wrong? And how far will Leah have to go, to finally discover the truth, before it’s too late?
A completely addictive psychological thriller packed with twists, that will have you up all night racing through the pages. After the Sleepover can be enjoyed as a standalone read, and anyone who loves Shari Lapena, Lisa Jewell, or The Perfect Marriage won’t be able to put it down.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 15, 2023
About the author
Kerry Wilkinson
61 books951 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 170 reviews
November 17, 2023
*4.5 stars*
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’ll say no more, apart from it was an absolute page turner, with smoke and mirrors being used to maximum effect - needless to say, it kept me gripped throughout!
*Thanks to Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
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’ll say no more, apart from it was an absolute page turner, with smoke and mirrors being used to maximum effect - needless to say, it kept me gripped throughout!
*Thanks to Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
December 17, 2023
Three teenage boys disappeared from backyard camping. One of the mothers contacted Leah who was an old classmate for help.
Leah has first-hand experience with missing children and is a local survivor celebrity if you will. Twenty-five years ago Leah and her friends had a sleepover but all the girls vanished by morning.
After the Sleepover is fine to read as a standalone. I do see several reviewers recommended reading the first novel The Night of the Sleepover beforehand. I'm not lost by any means and think Wilkinson has done a great job tying the story to the first. However, I see so many glowing reviews from those who read both.
I enjoyed the author's writing and this is my first novel by him. A bit of a slow burn, but After the Sleepover plot reels me in. I love the tension and it keeps me guessing. Unfortunately, I encountered a few errors with my advance listening audio edition. The big one? Mine doesn't have an ending! I feel it was cut short and went onto another book sample which sounds really good also, What My Husband Did, which I'll probably try.
Olivia Darnely's narration was okay. I don't mind listening to more books read by her even though this was a little dull without any excitement or urgency.
Thank you Bookouture Audio and Netgalley for this ALC.
Available December 16, 2023!
Leah has first-hand experience with missing children and is a local survivor celebrity if you will. Twenty-five years ago Leah and her friends had a sleepover but all the girls vanished by morning.
After the Sleepover is fine to read as a standalone. I do see several reviewers recommended reading the first novel The Night of the Sleepover beforehand. I'm not lost by any means and think Wilkinson has done a great job tying the story to the first. However, I see so many glowing reviews from those who read both.
I enjoyed the author's writing and this is my first novel by him. A bit of a slow burn, but After the Sleepover plot reels me in. I love the tension and it keeps me guessing. Unfortunately, I encountered a few errors with my advance listening audio edition. The big one? Mine doesn't have an ending! I feel it was cut short and went onto another book sample which sounds really good also, What My Husband Did, which I'll probably try.
Olivia Darnely's narration was okay. I don't mind listening to more books read by her even though this was a little dull without any excitement or urgency.
Thank you Bookouture Audio and Netgalley for this ALC.
Available December 16, 2023!
May 22, 2024
**4.5-stars**
After the Sleepover is the sequel in Kerry Wilkinson's Sleepover series. I finished the first book, I think it was yesterday, it's all been a bit of a blur, and immediately started this one, flying through and finishing it tonight.
I'm slightly obsessed with this series right now and have spent the entire afternoon wondering if we are going to be getting more. I am keeping my fingers crossed.
This story follows Leah Pearce, who is a bit infamous in her small hometown. Twenty-five years ago, she attended a sleepover with three of her best friends. They did the stuff teen girls typically do at a sleepover, went to sleep, all was well, but in the morning only Leah remained.
The other three girls had disappeared. As the survivor, the town had mixed reactions to Leah. Some believed she had to have information that she wasn't sharing. How could she have slept through three girls disappearing?!
Others felt she was an unfortunate girl, who just got lucky that night. Certainly she was deserving of sympathy.
All these years later a documentary has been made about the incident, bringing Leah back into the limelight. She never wanted any of that and will be happy when people move on to someone else's tragedy.
Then three boys go missing during a sleepover where they were tenting out in a field by one of their homes. The mother of one of the missing boys, Jennifer, asks the police to get Leah for her, to stay with her during the subsequent search. She tells them that she and Leah are friends.
Leah is surprised. She knows Jennifer, it's a small town, and they're the same age, but she wouldn't say they were friends. Nor have they ever been. Nevertheless, she feels compelled to go and be with Jennifer in her time of need.
She figures Jennifer reached out to her because who else knows more about missing teenagers than her?
The subsequent investigation makes Leah question a lot of things, even her own past. As she is tied together now with Jennifer, Leah finds herself smack in the middle of it all over again. Will the truth be revealed and is there a connection to Leah's own troubled past?
I found these two books so incredibly addictive. Wilkinson's writing is fluid and engaging. I felt like I've really gotten to know Leah over the course of this series. As mentioned before, I am seriously hoping this isn't the end of her story.
I ended up enjoying this even more than the first book. It had a different level of intensity to it. I think mainly because in The Night of the Sleepover the missing girls are in the past perspective. What has happened to them is already done, there's no changing it.
Yet in this story, the boys that have gone missing, it's a race against the clock to try to figure out what happened. They can still be saved. I felt like all of the different elements of the story were blended perfectly together.
You still get aspects of Leah's life outside of the latest case of missing teens. She has stuff going on in her personal life, a hidden relationship, her Dad getting released from prison and getting married, that are equally compelling and I liked going through that with her.
I also found her relationship with Jennifer gripping. Jennifer was an great character. I was hesitant with her from the start. She seemed so, I don't know, almost in awe of Leah. Like she wanted to be close to her for the wrong reasons, or like she was trying to manipulate something.
It built up a very interesting dynamic and I love how Wilkinson wrote that budding friendship. It was enthralling and had me flying through the pages.
This had a great conclusion. It could go either way. I could be satisfied with this being the end, or I can also see many avenues where Wilkinson could continue to take this story. If there are more books coming in the Sleepover series, you better believe I will be first in line to get a copy.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Bookouture and Bookouture Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I'm so happy that I've found a new Thriller author to add to my auto-buy list!!
After the Sleepover is the sequel in Kerry Wilkinson's Sleepover series. I finished the first book, I think it was yesterday, it's all been a bit of a blur, and immediately started this one, flying through and finishing it tonight.
I'm slightly obsessed with this series right now and have spent the entire afternoon wondering if we are going to be getting more. I am keeping my fingers crossed.
This story follows Leah Pearce, who is a bit infamous in her small hometown. Twenty-five years ago, she attended a sleepover with three of her best friends. They did the stuff teen girls typically do at a sleepover, went to sleep, all was well, but in the morning only Leah remained.
The other three girls had disappeared. As the survivor, the town had mixed reactions to Leah. Some believed she had to have information that she wasn't sharing. How could she have slept through three girls disappearing?!
Others felt she was an unfortunate girl, who just got lucky that night. Certainly she was deserving of sympathy.
All these years later a documentary has been made about the incident, bringing Leah back into the limelight. She never wanted any of that and will be happy when people move on to someone else's tragedy.
Then three boys go missing during a sleepover where they were tenting out in a field by one of their homes. The mother of one of the missing boys, Jennifer, asks the police to get Leah for her, to stay with her during the subsequent search. She tells them that she and Leah are friends.
Leah is surprised. She knows Jennifer, it's a small town, and they're the same age, but she wouldn't say they were friends. Nor have they ever been. Nevertheless, she feels compelled to go and be with Jennifer in her time of need.
She figures Jennifer reached out to her because who else knows more about missing teenagers than her?
The subsequent investigation makes Leah question a lot of things, even her own past. As she is tied together now with Jennifer, Leah finds herself smack in the middle of it all over again. Will the truth be revealed and is there a connection to Leah's own troubled past?
I found these two books so incredibly addictive. Wilkinson's writing is fluid and engaging. I felt like I've really gotten to know Leah over the course of this series. As mentioned before, I am seriously hoping this isn't the end of her story.
I ended up enjoying this even more than the first book. It had a different level of intensity to it. I think mainly because in The Night of the Sleepover the missing girls are in the past perspective. What has happened to them is already done, there's no changing it.
Yet in this story, the boys that have gone missing, it's a race against the clock to try to figure out what happened. They can still be saved. I felt like all of the different elements of the story were blended perfectly together.
You still get aspects of Leah's life outside of the latest case of missing teens. She has stuff going on in her personal life, a hidden relationship, her Dad getting released from prison and getting married, that are equally compelling and I liked going through that with her.
I also found her relationship with Jennifer gripping. Jennifer was an great character. I was hesitant with her from the start. She seemed so, I don't know, almost in awe of Leah. Like she wanted to be close to her for the wrong reasons, or like she was trying to manipulate something.
It built up a very interesting dynamic and I love how Wilkinson wrote that budding friendship. It was enthralling and had me flying through the pages.
This had a great conclusion. It could go either way. I could be satisfied with this being the end, or I can also see many avenues where Wilkinson could continue to take this story. If there are more books coming in the Sleepover series, you better believe I will be first in line to get a copy.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Bookouture and Bookouture Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I'm so happy that I've found a new Thriller author to add to my auto-buy list!!
December 15, 2023
“Gone. They’re gone.”
No parent wants to hear those words after dropping their child off for a sleepover. After the Sleepover is an addictive, jaw dropping page turner! It's the follow up on Wilkinson's gripping and shocking book The Night of the Sleepover. I highly recommend reading The Night of the Sleepover prior to reading this book. It provides Leah's backstory and is a fantastic book!
Is it happening all over again? Twenty-five years ago, Leah was the only survivor of a sleepover where her three best friends went missing. She is now a parent, and her son attends school with the three teenage boys who go missing on a camping sleepover.
Kerry Wilkinson knows how to create tension and twist filled books. I could feel the fear, shock, and pain of the parents as they learned that their sons were missing. As the investigation begins, Leah doesn't want to be involved but the Investigators want to know if there is a connection between what happened the night of Leah's sleepover to the boy’s disappearance. One of her former classmates is the mother who hosted the camping sleepover on her farm, and she leans on Leah for support while waiting for answers.
This book had me feeling all kinds of emotions and I enjoyed coming up with my own suspect list while reading. Wilkinson kept me on my toes, while I was turning the pages and on the edge of my seat wanting more. I loved the tension, finger pointing, and twists in this book. The reveal was shocking and so well done. Once I picked my jaw up, I marveled at how well thought out this book was. After the Sleepover moves at a very nice pace and I appreciated that there was no down time in this book.
Well written, well thought out, tense and full of twists!
#AftertheSleepover #NetGalley #Bookouture #KerryWilkinson
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
No parent wants to hear those words after dropping their child off for a sleepover. After the Sleepover is an addictive, jaw dropping page turner! It's the follow up on Wilkinson's gripping and shocking book The Night of the Sleepover. I highly recommend reading The Night of the Sleepover prior to reading this book. It provides Leah's backstory and is a fantastic book!
Is it happening all over again? Twenty-five years ago, Leah was the only survivor of a sleepover where her three best friends went missing. She is now a parent, and her son attends school with the three teenage boys who go missing on a camping sleepover.
Kerry Wilkinson knows how to create tension and twist filled books. I could feel the fear, shock, and pain of the parents as they learned that their sons were missing. As the investigation begins, Leah doesn't want to be involved but the Investigators want to know if there is a connection between what happened the night of Leah's sleepover to the boy’s disappearance. One of her former classmates is the mother who hosted the camping sleepover on her farm, and she leans on Leah for support while waiting for answers.
This book had me feeling all kinds of emotions and I enjoyed coming up with my own suspect list while reading. Wilkinson kept me on my toes, while I was turning the pages and on the edge of my seat wanting more. I loved the tension, finger pointing, and twists in this book. The reveal was shocking and so well done. Once I picked my jaw up, I marveled at how well thought out this book was. After the Sleepover moves at a very nice pace and I appreciated that there was no down time in this book.
Well written, well thought out, tense and full of twists!
#AftertheSleepover #NetGalley #Bookouture #KerryWilkinson
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
November 18, 2023
4.5 stars rounded up.
"Gone. They're gone." Dylan's wide-eyed mother bites her nails in desperation. "All three kids wanted to sleep outside. But when I went to check on them this morning and... the rents were empty. They're gone."
Twenty-five years ago: teenage Leah had a sleepover with her three best friends. By morning, the other girls were missing. The small town has been searching for answers. This small town has been searching for answers ever since. Now it's happened again.
Leah had a sleepover twenty-five years ago with her three best friends, but in the morning, her friends had disappeared. Now it's happened again. Three boys have disappeared while they were camping on one of their parent's farm. Leah finds herself in the middle of the investigation. With plenty of twists and red herrings, I was quickly drawn into this story. There are lies and deceit in this well-written mystery. The tension builds throughout. I never knew what direction the author was taking me to next. Loved this book.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #KerryWilkinson for my ARC of #AfterTheSleepover in exchange for an honest review.
"Gone. They're gone." Dylan's wide-eyed mother bites her nails in desperation. "All three kids wanted to sleep outside. But when I went to check on them this morning and... the rents were empty. They're gone."
Twenty-five years ago: teenage Leah had a sleepover with her three best friends. By morning, the other girls were missing. The small town has been searching for answers. This small town has been searching for answers ever since. Now it's happened again.
Leah had a sleepover twenty-five years ago with her three best friends, but in the morning, her friends had disappeared. Now it's happened again. Three boys have disappeared while they were camping on one of their parent's farm. Leah finds herself in the middle of the investigation. With plenty of twists and red herrings, I was quickly drawn into this story. There are lies and deceit in this well-written mystery. The tension builds throughout. I never knew what direction the author was taking me to next. Loved this book.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #KerryWilkinson for my ARC of #AfterTheSleepover in exchange for an honest review.
January 22, 2024
Very similar to the first book, an easy read with some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming but at the same time it really didn’t wow me……
If you want an easy read then the two books are great and I would probably read another book by this author but with a TBR list as long as mine I wouldn’t seek it out!
If you want an easy read then the two books are great and I would probably read another book by this author but with a TBR list as long as mine I wouldn’t seek it out!
December 23, 2023
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.
***Big thank you to Bookouture Audio for my gifted copy of this book, all opinions are my own.***
"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.
***Big thank you to Bookouture Audio for my gifted copy of this book, all opinions are my own.***
December 7, 2023
I've read a couple of books by Kerry Wilkinson previously and enjoyed them, so I picked this one up because I recognized the author. This is the seond book in the Sleepover series and I had not read the first one, but it was easily read as a stand alone.
How three children can disappear at the same time seems strange, but for it to happen twice in the same town - almost unbelievable. This was told from the point of view of Leah who was with her three friends at a sleepover twenty-five years ago when it was her three friends who disappeared. Now she is pulled into the midst of the investigation when another three children disappar and one child with them did not. This time it's boys who were camping at the farm of one of their mothers. Red herrings abound in this mystery full of lies. A well written mystery for anyone who likes lots of twists and turns in a story.
Thanks to Bookouture through Netgalley for an advance copy.
How three children can disappear at the same time seems strange, but for it to happen twice in the same town - almost unbelievable. This was told from the point of view of Leah who was with her three friends at a sleepover twenty-five years ago when it was her three friends who disappeared. Now she is pulled into the midst of the investigation when another three children disappar and one child with them did not. This time it's boys who were camping at the farm of one of their mothers. Red herrings abound in this mystery full of lies. A well written mystery for anyone who likes lots of twists and turns in a story.
Thanks to Bookouture through Netgalley for an advance copy.
December 10, 2023
As a sequel there was great expectation and anticipation boy was I not disappointed.. Although this is a sequel you dont need to have read the first one to enjoy this. The same thing has happened again and the syory focuses on that with interwoven links to tge past. Its full of twists and turns. The final act leads me to beluve there may be another instatelment. I loved the way the chatacter continued to evolve and the addition onf a new chatacter linked to the past but part of a new mystery. The mystery itself being solved at points felt like the police were just an escape goat to move tge story along. However once as acrrader you had more interactions with charlie you understood that it was just the character way .
This was a throughly enjoyable 5 start highly recommended read from start toi finish. Thank you netgallery and publisher and author for thus arc.
This was a throughly enjoyable 5 start highly recommended read from start toi finish. Thank you netgallery and publisher and author for thus arc.
April 19, 2024
Fantastic follow up to the night of the Sleepover. So lot of twists in this some I didn't see coming so i did. Definitely worth reading
December 21, 2023
Unpopular opinion
This is a second book in the Sleepover series. I have not read the first book and whatever I am saying maybe impacted with this 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 and 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 rubs in your face 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. This totally destroyed my experience, because I need to have an information to be able 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."
There has to be clear conscious choice between writing a sequel and a 'standalone' sequel using same characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.
This is a second book in the Sleepover series. I have not read the first book and whatever I am saying maybe impacted with this 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 and 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 rubs in your face 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. This totally destroyed my experience, because I need to have an information to be able 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."
There has to be clear conscious choice between writing a sequel and a 'standalone' sequel using same characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.
November 21, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Kerry Wilkinson for the opportunity to review with an ARC!
While I thoroughly enjoy a good mystery/thriller, this book just wasn't quite what I thought the story was about. Almost thirty years ago Leah's friends had gone missing at a sleepover and now a teenager's friends had done the same in present day. Searching for the boys, Leah and one of the boy's mom's become closer in order to help search. However, in the midst of searching we are reminded that Leah knows what happened to her friends so many years ago (previous book). Throughout the book I was waiting for more and it never really came. No shoe dropped, no smoking gun, it was just quietly revealed what happened to the boys and that was that. I felt as though you could guess what was going to happen.
I really wish there was more backstory to Leah's sleepover in this book so it could have been a standalone. I would definitely recommend reading the first book; however, I didn't realize there was a "prequel" prior to reading. I enjoyed the concept of the book and it was well-written! If you enjoy a slower paced mystery then this is for you.
While I thoroughly enjoy a good mystery/thriller, this book just wasn't quite what I thought the story was about. Almost thirty years ago Leah's friends had gone missing at a sleepover and now a teenager's friends had done the same in present day. Searching for the boys, Leah and one of the boy's mom's become closer in order to help search. However, in the midst of searching we are reminded that Leah knows what happened to her friends so many years ago (previous book). Throughout the book I was waiting for more and it never really came. No shoe dropped, no smoking gun, it was just quietly revealed what happened to the boys and that was that. I felt as though you could guess what was going to happen.
I really wish there was more backstory to Leah's sleepover in this book so it could have been a standalone. I would definitely recommend reading the first book; however, I didn't realize there was a "prequel" prior to reading. I enjoyed the concept of the book and it was well-written! If you enjoy a slower paced mystery then this is for you.
December 21, 2023
Great follow up
This was intense. Who was the cat and who was the prey. A constant game of who done it when three boys go missing after a sleepover. One comes back. But where are the others. jennifer asks for Leah when the children disappear but why? They atent friends at all they went to school together but thats it. Leah goes though and tries to comfort the grieving mother. But theres something off here and leah is trying to find out whats going on. Too many odd conversations, and ramblings. As Leah and Jennifer dance around one another while the search for the boys goes on, will they find them alive? Who took them and why? Great ending too. A few questions linger but overall a very intriguing read. I like this author a lot.
This was intense. Who was the cat and who was the prey. A constant game of who done it when three boys go missing after a sleepover. One comes back. But where are the others. jennifer asks for Leah when the children disappear but why? They atent friends at all they went to school together but thats it. Leah goes though and tries to comfort the grieving mother. But theres something off here and leah is trying to find out whats going on. Too many odd conversations, and ramblings. As Leah and Jennifer dance around one another while the search for the boys goes on, will they find them alive? Who took them and why? Great ending too. A few questions linger but overall a very intriguing read. I like this author a lot.
December 28, 2023
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.
I received a free copy from netgalley and bookouture but the review is entirely my own.
December 9, 2023
★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)
Three teenagers disappeared...now it's happened again...
The follow-up to "The Night of the Sleepover" , I actually liked this one more. I'm not sure why. Maybe because there was more of a sense of closure at the end? Throughout this book I was thinking "4 stars"...and then, the ending. Ramped it up 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Definitely worthy of it with that bombshell ending. While this is the second in the series, it can easily suffice as a standalone although you do get more backstory to the original mystery by reading the first book.
The story opens with a premiere screening of the documentary that was being made in the first book about the disappearance of the three teenage girls at a sleepover at which Leah attended when she was fifteen. She woke up the following morning and her friends' sleeping bags were empty; they had gone. And their disappearance has remained a mystery for twenty five years. The documentary didn't really rake up any new information, just rehashed old theories, introduced new ones and ended as ambiguously as it only could without the mystery ever being solved.
The following morning after the screening, Leah awakes to a couple of police officers on her doorstep. Three teenage boys have disappeared overnight and the mother of one of the boys was asking for her. Did Leah know her? She wasn't sure but apparently they were at school together. But school had such a vague recollection of memories mostly due to the fact three of her friends had vanished overnight and she was expected to carry on as normal despite no one knowing what had happened to them. Now it seems Jennifer Bailey wanted her at her side as the only other person to know what it feels like to be "left behind".
The mystery deepens as police continue to search Jennifer's farm. How can three teenagers disappear overnight? For it to happen in a small town not once but twice in its lifetime? It seems the town's WhatsApp group is full of theories and answers, all of them pointing fingers at someone or something. Questions are raised and allegations made. But does anyone really know what's happened?
As much as she doesn't want to be, Leah become embroiled in this latest mystery as Jennifer rants and figuratively cries on her shoulder. Suspicion falls on their weird neighbour who has threatened violence if her son Dylan, one of the missing boys, continues to trespass on his land. And when asked about Dylan's father, she reveals a not so nice picture of the absentee parent. But through it all, Leah listens and takes note. Before the end of the book she will have the mystery figured out...but at what cost?
AFTER THE SLEEPOVER is a slow burning mystery like the first one, it's startling difference being that jawdropping ending which I felt was a perfect touch. There are plenty of red herrings throughout to keep you guessing as to where this story will go. Will you figure it out as Leah does? Or will Kerry have you hoodwinked?
While this book does refer to Leah knowing what happened to her missing friends, that mystery is reserved for the first book and is not actually revealed in this one. And while you can read this one as a standalone, I don't think you will pick up on a lot of the nuances peppered throughout unless you have read the first one also.
None of the characters are really likeable, even Leah is pretty hard to connect with. I found her relationship with Ben a bit of a non-starter as it didn't really go anywhere in the story so I kind of felt what was the point?
As always, Kerry's trademark wit can be found throughout which had me chuckling at times. But the piece-de-resistance of this entire tale was the final pages. I cannot say enough how perfect that ending was.
I would like to thank #KerryWilkinson, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #AfterTheSleepover in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Three teenagers disappeared...now it's happened again...
The follow-up to "The Night of the Sleepover" , I actually liked this one more. I'm not sure why. Maybe because there was more of a sense of closure at the end? Throughout this book I was thinking "4 stars"...and then, the ending. Ramped it up 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Definitely worthy of it with that bombshell ending. While this is the second in the series, it can easily suffice as a standalone although you do get more backstory to the original mystery by reading the first book.
The story opens with a premiere screening of the documentary that was being made in the first book about the disappearance of the three teenage girls at a sleepover at which Leah attended when she was fifteen. She woke up the following morning and her friends' sleeping bags were empty; they had gone. And their disappearance has remained a mystery for twenty five years. The documentary didn't really rake up any new information, just rehashed old theories, introduced new ones and ended as ambiguously as it only could without the mystery ever being solved.
The following morning after the screening, Leah awakes to a couple of police officers on her doorstep. Three teenage boys have disappeared overnight and the mother of one of the boys was asking for her. Did Leah know her? She wasn't sure but apparently they were at school together. But school had such a vague recollection of memories mostly due to the fact three of her friends had vanished overnight and she was expected to carry on as normal despite no one knowing what had happened to them. Now it seems Jennifer Bailey wanted her at her side as the only other person to know what it feels like to be "left behind".
The mystery deepens as police continue to search Jennifer's farm. How can three teenagers disappear overnight? For it to happen in a small town not once but twice in its lifetime? It seems the town's WhatsApp group is full of theories and answers, all of them pointing fingers at someone or something. Questions are raised and allegations made. But does anyone really know what's happened?
As much as she doesn't want to be, Leah become embroiled in this latest mystery as Jennifer rants and figuratively cries on her shoulder. Suspicion falls on their weird neighbour who has threatened violence if her son Dylan, one of the missing boys, continues to trespass on his land. And when asked about Dylan's father, she reveals a not so nice picture of the absentee parent. But through it all, Leah listens and takes note. Before the end of the book she will have the mystery figured out...but at what cost?
AFTER THE SLEEPOVER is a slow burning mystery like the first one, it's startling difference being that jawdropping ending which I felt was a perfect touch. There are plenty of red herrings throughout to keep you guessing as to where this story will go. Will you figure it out as Leah does? Or will Kerry have you hoodwinked?
While this book does refer to Leah knowing what happened to her missing friends, that mystery is reserved for the first book and is not actually revealed in this one. And while you can read this one as a standalone, I don't think you will pick up on a lot of the nuances peppered throughout unless you have read the first one also.
None of the characters are really likeable, even Leah is pretty hard to connect with. I found her relationship with Ben a bit of a non-starter as it didn't really go anywhere in the story so I kind of felt what was the point?
As always, Kerry's trademark wit can be found throughout which had me chuckling at times. But the piece-de-resistance of this entire tale was the final pages. I cannot say enough how perfect that ending was.
I would like to thank #KerryWilkinson, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #AfterTheSleepover in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
December 10, 2023
ARC for review. To be published December 15, 2023.
Twenty-five years ago Leah Pearce had a sleepover with her three best friends. That night the three other girls were taken and never seen again. In the last “Sleepover” book Leah learned the fate of her friends as the brother of one was putting together a documentary about the case. Now, on the night of the film’s premiere in their small town, three boys were camping out in the yard of one, and the next morning all had disappeared. Jennifer, the mother of one and a schoolmate of Leah, asked for Leah, thinking she would understand.
The first “Sleepover” book must have been popular to have occasioned a sequel, but other than the appearance of some characters, including Leah of course, there isn’t much crossover and one could read this as a standalone. I liked this and really enjoyed reading about Jennifer, a well-drawn character. Recommended.
Twenty-five years ago Leah Pearce had a sleepover with her three best friends. That night the three other girls were taken and never seen again. In the last “Sleepover” book Leah learned the fate of her friends as the brother of one was putting together a documentary about the case. Now, on the night of the film’s premiere in their small town, three boys were camping out in the yard of one, and the next morning all had disappeared. Jennifer, the mother of one and a schoolmate of Leah, asked for Leah, thinking she would understand.
The first “Sleepover” book must have been popular to have occasioned a sequel, but other than the appearance of some characters, including Leah of course, there isn’t much crossover and one could read this as a standalone. I liked this and really enjoyed reading about Jennifer, a well-drawn character. Recommended.
December 14, 2023
Before I dive in, I'd like to give a massive shoutout and heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and the brilliant Kerry Wilkinson for this thrilling journey in exchange for my honest review!
Summary:
Twenty-five years ago, a sleepover turned into a haunting mystery as Leah's three best friends vanished without a trace. In 'After the Sleepover,' the town is gripped by déjà vu when three teenage boys disappear in a chilly echo of past events. The question remains: what secrets lie buried in the shadows of both sleepovers?
Review:
As a psychological thriller enthusiast, "After the Sleepover" landed squarely in my wheelhouse. Full disclosure, I hadn't tackled "The Night of the Sleepover" before diving into this one. Afraid I would be lost without the background knowledge provided by the first book, I chose to pause & read "The Night of the Sleepover." Within 24 hours, I've read (devoured) both books!
While the first book was a solid start, the second installment skyrocketed to the top of my favorites list. Kerry Wilkinson possesses a storytelling prowess that grabs you from page one. I devoured the narrative with an eagerness I couldn't contain, and what truly set this book apart was the inability to predict the culprit from the get-go. It's a rarity for a thriller to keep me guessing, but Wilkinson masterfully achieved just that.
The unique narrative voice, coupled with the unpredictable plot twists, made "After the Sleepover" a standout. Wilkinson's ability to keep readers on their toes, questioning every motive and alibi, is a testament to the craft.
And oh boy, that ending! It left me wondering if a third installment is in the cards, and if so, sign me up! I'm already eagerly anticipating the next mind-bending journey Wilkinson has in store.
Rating: 4/5 stars - A gripping sequel that surpassed expectations, and I'm crossing my fingers for more!
Summary:
Twenty-five years ago, a sleepover turned into a haunting mystery as Leah's three best friends vanished without a trace. In 'After the Sleepover,' the town is gripped by déjà vu when three teenage boys disappear in a chilly echo of past events. The question remains: what secrets lie buried in the shadows of both sleepovers?
Review:
As a psychological thriller enthusiast, "After the Sleepover" landed squarely in my wheelhouse. Full disclosure, I hadn't tackled "The Night of the Sleepover" before diving into this one. Afraid I would be lost without the background knowledge provided by the first book, I chose to pause & read "The Night of the Sleepover." Within 24 hours, I've read (devoured) both books!
While the first book was a solid start, the second installment skyrocketed to the top of my favorites list. Kerry Wilkinson possesses a storytelling prowess that grabs you from page one. I devoured the narrative with an eagerness I couldn't contain, and what truly set this book apart was the inability to predict the culprit from the get-go. It's a rarity for a thriller to keep me guessing, but Wilkinson masterfully achieved just that.
The unique narrative voice, coupled with the unpredictable plot twists, made "After the Sleepover" a standout. Wilkinson's ability to keep readers on their toes, questioning every motive and alibi, is a testament to the craft.
And oh boy, that ending! It left me wondering if a third installment is in the cards, and if so, sign me up! I'm already eagerly anticipating the next mind-bending journey Wilkinson has in store.
Rating: 4/5 stars - A gripping sequel that surpassed expectations, and I'm crossing my fingers for more!
December 15, 2023
Quite a good story a little frustrating at times as it was a little slow but not a bad read. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
November 21, 2023
I had the strongest sense of deja vous when I 1st saw this but then realised it was the sequal and I had read the original on the series and wasn't just imagining it! I loved the 1st book and whilst I didn't find myself flying through this one quite so fast or with such blind focus, I did still really it. You really do have to have read the 1st book for it to make sense and the author can't give the backstory without giving away spoilers so yeah, read the 1st book then come back to this and it'll all make so much more sense! The twists and turns are amazing and I had no clue who to trust. Really enjoyed it
November 15, 2023
Suspenseful and believable. I liked Wilkinson's title a lot. I woke up in the middle of the night to read! The way she paced the story was excellent. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Five stars.
March 27, 2024
Book Review:
After The Sleepover by Kerry Wilkinson
Published by Bookouture, 15th Dec 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Synopsis:
Twenty-five years ago: teenage Leah had a sleepover with her three best friends. By morning, the other girls were missing. This small town has been searching for answers ever since. Now it’s happened again…
Three boys decide to camp in a field next to one of their homes. When dawn comes, dew glistens on their empty tents.
Overgrown farmland is searched. Three distraught families are desperate for news. A mother herself now, Leah’s heart breaks as terrible memories flood back…
Leah thought she knew what happened at the sleepover years ago, but now another three children are missing. What if she was wrong? And how far will Leah have to go, to finally discover the truth, before it’s too late?
Review:
It's been quite a while since I've dived headlong into one of Kerry's books, and I've really missed his totally immersive writing. This story hooked me from the very first page and stuck its claws in deep throughout, as I stayed up reading through the night to reach the conclusion.
Just when I thought I had it all figured out, there was a massive twist that seemed to come out of nowhere.
If you like fast-paced crime thrillers that are impossible to put down, and want the added bonus of reading the first chapters of some of the author's other work, you will love After The Sleepover.
*I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my unbiased review.
#AfterTheSleepover #KerryWilkinson #NetGalley #BookReview #Bookstagram #Bookouture
After The Sleepover by Kerry Wilkinson
Published by Bookouture, 15th Dec 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Synopsis:
Twenty-five years ago: teenage Leah had a sleepover with her three best friends. By morning, the other girls were missing. This small town has been searching for answers ever since. Now it’s happened again…
Three boys decide to camp in a field next to one of their homes. When dawn comes, dew glistens on their empty tents.
Overgrown farmland is searched. Three distraught families are desperate for news. A mother herself now, Leah’s heart breaks as terrible memories flood back…
Leah thought she knew what happened at the sleepover years ago, but now another three children are missing. What if she was wrong? And how far will Leah have to go, to finally discover the truth, before it’s too late?
Review:
It's been quite a while since I've dived headlong into one of Kerry's books, and I've really missed his totally immersive writing. This story hooked me from the very first page and stuck its claws in deep throughout, as I stayed up reading through the night to reach the conclusion.
Just when I thought I had it all figured out, there was a massive twist that seemed to come out of nowhere.
If you like fast-paced crime thrillers that are impossible to put down, and want the added bonus of reading the first chapters of some of the author's other work, you will love After The Sleepover.
*I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my unbiased review.
#AfterTheSleepover #KerryWilkinson #NetGalley #BookReview #Bookstagram #Bookouture
December 16, 2023
Superb!!!!
After the Sleepover by Kerry Wilkinson and Narrated by Olivia Darnely is the second book in the Sleepover series and I have really enjoyed this series. It was another gripping psychological suspense book and very hard to put down once I started to listen/read it. Kerry has a way of writing that I love, all his books have been a 5 star read and this book was no different.
Dylan’s wide eyed mother bites her nails in desperation. “All three kids. just wanted to sleep outside, their little adventure to camp in a field next to their family homes, what harm could that do?
The next morning, she went to check on them, she walks up to the tents and she smiles to herself, as she see's on the outside of the tents, dew glistening in the sun and looks like diamonds. But when she opens the zip to their tents they are empty.
"They’re gone!!!!”
Where are they, did they all go and visit other friends and didn't tell Dylan's mum? or did they go back into the house because they were cold!
A mothers worst nightmare.....
WoW, but twenty-five years ago...........Teenage Leah had a sleepover with her three best friends. However by morning, the other girls were missing.
Where are they? Have they played a trick on Leah?
This small town has been searching for answers ever since and they were never found! Now it’s happened all over again…......
The overgrown farmland is searched. With three distraught families wait and are desperate for news of their sons.
Leah, who is now a mother herself, feels her heart is going to break as terrible memories flood back…......of when she was a teenager......and it happened to her friends!
Leah thought she knew what happened at the sleepover years ago but now another three children are missing.
What if she was wrong?
And how far will Leah have to go, to finally discover the truth, before it’s too late?
But, the clock is ticking..........and breathe
This book was excellent and can be read as a standalone as well.
I highly recommend After the Sleep over. Another 5 star read/audiobook.
Big Thank you to Netgalley to Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
After the Sleepover by Kerry Wilkinson and Narrated by Olivia Darnely is the second book in the Sleepover series and I have really enjoyed this series. It was another gripping psychological suspense book and very hard to put down once I started to listen/read it. Kerry has a way of writing that I love, all his books have been a 5 star read and this book was no different.
Dylan’s wide eyed mother bites her nails in desperation. “All three kids. just wanted to sleep outside, their little adventure to camp in a field next to their family homes, what harm could that do?
The next morning, she went to check on them, she walks up to the tents and she smiles to herself, as she see's on the outside of the tents, dew glistening in the sun and looks like diamonds. But when she opens the zip to their tents they are empty.
"They’re gone!!!!”
Where are they, did they all go and visit other friends and didn't tell Dylan's mum? or did they go back into the house because they were cold!
A mothers worst nightmare.....
WoW, but twenty-five years ago...........Teenage Leah had a sleepover with her three best friends. However by morning, the other girls were missing.
Where are they? Have they played a trick on Leah?
This small town has been searching for answers ever since and they were never found! Now it’s happened all over again…......
The overgrown farmland is searched. With three distraught families wait and are desperate for news of their sons.
Leah, who is now a mother herself, feels her heart is going to break as terrible memories flood back…......of when she was a teenager......and it happened to her friends!
Leah thought she knew what happened at the sleepover years ago but now another three children are missing.
What if she was wrong?
And how far will Leah have to go, to finally discover the truth, before it’s too late?
But, the clock is ticking..........and breathe
This book was excellent and can be read as a standalone as well.
I highly recommend After the Sleep over. Another 5 star read/audiobook.
Big Thank you to Netgalley to Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
November 22, 2023
Another great thriller from Bookouture.
Leah’s friends went missing 25 years ago during a sleepover and now it seems like it’s happening again when three boys go missing.
This is a good fast paced thriller, that will have you rethinking sleep overs.
I didn’t know this book 2 to a series and now I need to read the first book. Leah keeps mentioning she knows what happens to her friends but it’s never mentioned in this book.
This is still a fast paced thriller with a slew of suspects. When you think it’s all tied up, the epilogue throws a wrench in that and made for a perfect ending to the book.
I enjoyed every second of this nail biting thriller.
Genre: Thriller
APK: Ebook
Pages: 357
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Series or Standalone: Book 2 in The Sleepover
Leah’s friends went missing 25 years ago during a sleepover and now it seems like it’s happening again when three boys go missing.
This is a good fast paced thriller, that will have you rethinking sleep overs.
I didn’t know this book 2 to a series and now I need to read the first book. Leah keeps mentioning she knows what happens to her friends but it’s never mentioned in this book.
This is still a fast paced thriller with a slew of suspects. When you think it’s all tied up, the epilogue throws a wrench in that and made for a perfect ending to the book.
I enjoyed every second of this nail biting thriller.
Genre: Thriller
APK: Ebook
Pages: 357
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Series or Standalone: Book 2 in The Sleepover
November 27, 2023
Twenty-five years ago, Leah’s three friends mysteriously went missing during a sleepover and were never seen again. Now, right after a documentary about the old mystery is screened, it’s happening again. Three teenage boys camped out in the backyard, but come morning, their tents are empty and the boys are nowhere to be found. The mother of one of the missing boys was Leah’s classmate in school, and before she knows it, Leah is embroiled in the latest investigation.
This one picks up right where The Night of the Sleepover left off. Do you have to read the first book before you read this one? I guess not technically, but it doesn’t make a good standalone, as you won’t get the full effect or understand some of the references (“takes one to know one”) if you don’t. The author never spoils the twists of the first book, but that may make the reader feel a bit puzzled if they haven’t already read it. Like Book #1, After the Sleepover is definitely a slow burn but the pacing is more even with more action/twists sprinkled throughout the plot. It held my attention and the ending was pretty clever. If you enjoyed the first book or are a Kerry Wilkinson fan, you’ll want to read this sequel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me an advance copy of this book.
This one picks up right where The Night of the Sleepover left off. Do you have to read the first book before you read this one? I guess not technically, but it doesn’t make a good standalone, as you won’t get the full effect or understand some of the references (“takes one to know one”) if you don’t. The author never spoils the twists of the first book, but that may make the reader feel a bit puzzled if they haven’t already read it. Like Book #1, After the Sleepover is definitely a slow burn but the pacing is more even with more action/twists sprinkled throughout the plot. It held my attention and the ending was pretty clever. If you enjoyed the first book or are a Kerry Wilkinson fan, you’ll want to read this sequel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me an advance copy of this book.
November 26, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
What an amazing follow up to the first book.
Leah is a very interesting character who has a lot to hide. Her getting involved in this new missing persons case was not what she wanted at all but was forced into it. And boy did she have the wool pulled over her eyes.
I knew something was a bit off with Jennifer and Dylan but I wasn’t sure what.
Great surprising ending and potential for another follow up book too I think.
Loving this series from this author so far.
What an amazing follow up to the first book.
Leah is a very interesting character who has a lot to hide. Her getting involved in this new missing persons case was not what she wanted at all but was forced into it. And boy did she have the wool pulled over her eyes.
I knew something was a bit off with Jennifer and Dylan but I wasn’t sure what.
Great surprising ending and potential for another follow up book too I think.
Loving this series from this author so far.
December 12, 2023
After the Sleepover is the follow up book to The Night of the Sleepover and I would recommend you read them in order so as to fully understand them. This one is full of twists and turns that kept me reading long past my bedtime. Fantastic read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.
November 26, 2023
After the Sleepover by Kerry Wilkinson is the follow-up to The Sleepover and, having just finished the first book, I was delighted to dive into a continuation of Leah's story.
Twenty five years ago, Leah was the only survivor of a sleepover with three of her closest friends. In the morning, the other girls have gone missing, leaving Leah searching desperately for answers. Now, in an eerie deja vu, three boys have gone missing after a night of camping, and Leah is pulled back into a mystery that has haunted a town for so many years. Leah thought that she knew what had happened to her friends, but this latest incident will leave her questioning things all over again, and bring the horrors of the past once more to the fore.
This was an intriguing sequel to The Sleepover, though I feel that it could be easily enjoyed as a standalone as well.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.
Twenty five years ago, Leah was the only survivor of a sleepover with three of her closest friends. In the morning, the other girls have gone missing, leaving Leah searching desperately for answers. Now, in an eerie deja vu, three boys have gone missing after a night of camping, and Leah is pulled back into a mystery that has haunted a town for so many years. Leah thought that she knew what had happened to her friends, but this latest incident will leave her questioning things all over again, and bring the horrors of the past once more to the fore.
This was an intriguing sequel to The Sleepover, though I feel that it could be easily enjoyed as a standalone as well.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.
November 25, 2023
I didn’t realise this was a sequel, and maybe not having read the first book influences some of what I am saying?
This story follows Leah who is asked to support the mother of one of 3 missing boys. Leah, herself, is the lone survivor of 3 missing teenagers!
The plot revolves around the police and Leah trying to uncover what has happened to the boys. The ending was a bit of a disappointment to me. The start was gripping but the ending fell flat. Now maybe this is because Leah’s story is told in book 1? But I don’t know that for sure. Others have said the culprit left them blindsided but I can’t say it did me, the final twist made sense and so wasn’t much of a twist for me.
It was an enjoyable read. I liked the development of Jennifer. Good but not great.
This story follows Leah who is asked to support the mother of one of 3 missing boys. Leah, herself, is the lone survivor of 3 missing teenagers!
The plot revolves around the police and Leah trying to uncover what has happened to the boys. The ending was a bit of a disappointment to me. The start was gripping but the ending fell flat. Now maybe this is because Leah’s story is told in book 1? But I don’t know that for sure. Others have said the culprit left them blindsided but I can’t say it did me, the final twist made sense and so wasn’t much of a twist for me.
It was an enjoyable read. I liked the development of Jennifer. Good but not great.
February 12, 2024
“Three teenagers disappeared. And it’s happened again…”
I can’t remember a time when I have read two instalments from a series almost consecutively, but that’s just how things panned out on this occasion. I had heard that the two books could be read as stand alone stories, however, it was good to find out just how closely, if at all, they were linked, especially after the last minute revelations in The Night Of the Sleepover. Whilst indeed this book could well be read in isolation of its predecessor, I would probably urge you to read them both in back-to-back succession, as, IMHO, they work much better as one long continuous story.
In that first story, I met the main protagonist Leah, some twenty-five years after the sleepover which found her, the only teenager to wake in the lounge of her friend’s house, with three empty sleeping bags for company. The brother of one of the missing girls had recently been in town to make a documentary about that night and events leading up to it, in the hope of resurrecting what had become for the police, a ‘cold case’. Leah, who still lived in the town, had become almost (albeit at an arm’s length) friendly with Esther, the older sister of one of the missing girls. The two women had their own secrets from those teenage years, which they had never revealed to anyone else, although little did Esther know, but whilst she had, in all good faith, revealed her own secret completely to Leah, Leah in turn had never been quite so forthcoming in divulging her own full version of the truth, which she aimed to take to the grave with her.
Now, just after the premier of the documentary, Leah’s teenage son Zac, is shocked to discover that three boys from his year at school, albeit none of them his personal friends, have gone missing after camping out in a field on the farm where one of them lives. Despite not knowing one another, Dylan’s mother Jennifer calls Leah, who is now now a community support worker and asks for her help in coping with the situation she finds herself in. Against her better judgement Leah heads out to the farm, unprepared for the dilapidated state it appears to be in and equally aghast at the conditions in which fellow single parent Jennifer lives, whilst trying to raise her son and eke out a living for them both. At first, the two women are a little uneasy around each other, as each can see the other, reflected in their own circumstances and lives. Both had very dysfunctional and damaged mothers, abusive fathers and friends who seemed to lead perfect lives with loving families surrounding them. Jennifer confides in Leah, perhaps a little more than she should about her childhood and the long-held concerns she holds about her father’s behaviour following her mother’s disappearance. Some of her allegations seem so important that Leah feels compelled to pass on this vital information to the police investigation team, although Jennifer seems surprisingly at ease with facing further questioning, whilst trying to deal with the disappearance of her son and his friends. Leah becomes increasingly uneasy with the direction her relationship with Jennifer is taking. However, because she is unsure just how much Jennifer knows, or thinks she knows, about the events of twenty five years ago, she finds herself not only unable to walk away from the situation, but potentially and very involuntarily, revealing more about her past to Jennifer than she needs to know.
Meanwhile, more serious allegations emerge against a third party, which are unconnected directly to the disappearance of Dylan and his friends, but which do involve Dylan and have every bit as much power to rock the whole community anew. Events take an even stranger turn when, some days later, Dylan is found wandering the roads, seemingly unharmed. However, there is no sign of the other two boys and Dylan doesn’t know where he has been held, or why he has been released. Then the bodies start to stack up and alarm bells begin ringing loud and clear for Leah, who is convinced that she is being played by Jennifer, until such a time that the latter chooses to reveal both their secrets, which will potentially take them all down, including an unsuspecting Esther, whilst destroying the hub of loving and protective people Leah has built around herself.
Two missing trios, one girls, one boys, twenty five years apart…
…
Ooh! In many ways I actually enjoyed this second storyline much more than the first. I don’t really think there was any more of a sense of complete closure by the end, but the air of unspoken threat and menace throughout really held me gripped and unable to escape the intense atmosphere, which was so claustrophobic and suffocating it was like falling into a vat of treacle and never being able to fight my way to the surface.
There were so many strands to this well-constructed, multi-layered storyline, which author Kerry Wilkinson had carefully woven together and sprinkled with a liberal portion of red herrings, so that I had no idea of an eventual outcome, until he skilfully unravelled the secrets one by one and began dovetailing them together into a bombshell ending which rivalled, and probably for me, surpassed that of the first book.
Thankfully, Kerry had considered the emotionally draining and nerve jangling effect the book was going to have on its readers and had kindly broken down the chapters into a manageable size, which allowed me some short periods of respite and recovery, before taking another deep breath and getting sucked back into the manipulative clutches of the dour and lugubrious characters he had created.
I began to doubt myself in what I thought I knew about Leah’s background and the suspicions I had about Jennifer, when there were just so many suspects unknowingly lining themselves up, or being set up, for crimes I assumed they weren’t and could never have been, guilty of. Overall though, the entire cast of characters really didn’t inspire any positive thoughts from me, with the possible exceptions of Deborah and Zac, who were probably the only truly innocents. Everyone else either had so many secrets to hide, or personal axes to grind, that they were totally uncredible, even down to the rather ‘beige’ Ben, with whom Leah had been having a clandestine affair, which neither of their respective sons had any idea was going on and which really didn’t seem to be going anywhere, with neither of them having the energy or will to take things to the next level.
Once again Kerry has unashamedly infused the storyline with many of the more disturbing social mores which are unfortunately part of the fabric of our modern times, allowing them to play out without outwardly contriving an outcome, making them realistic and immersing me in Leah and Jennifer’s disturbed and distorted worlds. Both victims of the of hate and vitriol that existed between their respective parents, both left motherless, then, unable to commit to a lasting relationship, both finding themselves single parents to teenage sons. Leah had however contrived to find the love she yearned for in her later teens and had, with help, built a strong relationship with her son, Zac, who had thus far steered a path on the straight and narrow. Whilst Jennifer had carried the hate and hurt with her into adulthood, passing it on to her son, Dylan, who was now totally adept at manipulating a situation for his own benefit, whilst his mother was always on hand, appearing to encourage his deceitfulness and need to stand out from the crowd, as if it was his entitlement.
The question of an adult having sexual relations with an underage minor, is also thrown into the spotlight when social media accounts are examined for one purpose, only to reveal another crime which might have remained undetected in perpetuity. That it involves multiple adolescents and a person of high moral standing and influence in the community, only adds to the overall problems of trust and truth this town suffers.
The one small niggle I had with this storyline, was much the same is it was with the first book, in that there was no real sense of time or place, where I could pin my colours to the mast and identify a location. I only know for certain that we were somewhere in England and few more hints in this story gave away the fact that we might be somewhere quite close to the coast. Not entirely satisfactory for a confirmed ‘armchair traveller’ like myself, although there were some good detailed and descriptive passages relating to the farm and its locale, which meant that not all was lost.
I can’t remember a time when I have read two instalments from a series almost consecutively, but that’s just how things panned out on this occasion. I had heard that the two books could be read as stand alone stories, however, it was good to find out just how closely, if at all, they were linked, especially after the last minute revelations in The Night Of the Sleepover. Whilst indeed this book could well be read in isolation of its predecessor, I would probably urge you to read them both in back-to-back succession, as, IMHO, they work much better as one long continuous story.
In that first story, I met the main protagonist Leah, some twenty-five years after the sleepover which found her, the only teenager to wake in the lounge of her friend’s house, with three empty sleeping bags for company. The brother of one of the missing girls had recently been in town to make a documentary about that night and events leading up to it, in the hope of resurrecting what had become for the police, a ‘cold case’. Leah, who still lived in the town, had become almost (albeit at an arm’s length) friendly with Esther, the older sister of one of the missing girls. The two women had their own secrets from those teenage years, which they had never revealed to anyone else, although little did Esther know, but whilst she had, in all good faith, revealed her own secret completely to Leah, Leah in turn had never been quite so forthcoming in divulging her own full version of the truth, which she aimed to take to the grave with her.
Now, just after the premier of the documentary, Leah’s teenage son Zac, is shocked to discover that three boys from his year at school, albeit none of them his personal friends, have gone missing after camping out in a field on the farm where one of them lives. Despite not knowing one another, Dylan’s mother Jennifer calls Leah, who is now now a community support worker and asks for her help in coping with the situation she finds herself in. Against her better judgement Leah heads out to the farm, unprepared for the dilapidated state it appears to be in and equally aghast at the conditions in which fellow single parent Jennifer lives, whilst trying to raise her son and eke out a living for them both. At first, the two women are a little uneasy around each other, as each can see the other, reflected in their own circumstances and lives. Both had very dysfunctional and damaged mothers, abusive fathers and friends who seemed to lead perfect lives with loving families surrounding them. Jennifer confides in Leah, perhaps a little more than she should about her childhood and the long-held concerns she holds about her father’s behaviour following her mother’s disappearance. Some of her allegations seem so important that Leah feels compelled to pass on this vital information to the police investigation team, although Jennifer seems surprisingly at ease with facing further questioning, whilst trying to deal with the disappearance of her son and his friends. Leah becomes increasingly uneasy with the direction her relationship with Jennifer is taking. However, because she is unsure just how much Jennifer knows, or thinks she knows, about the events of twenty five years ago, she finds herself not only unable to walk away from the situation, but potentially and very involuntarily, revealing more about her past to Jennifer than she needs to know.
Meanwhile, more serious allegations emerge against a third party, which are unconnected directly to the disappearance of Dylan and his friends, but which do involve Dylan and have every bit as much power to rock the whole community anew. Events take an even stranger turn when, some days later, Dylan is found wandering the roads, seemingly unharmed. However, there is no sign of the other two boys and Dylan doesn’t know where he has been held, or why he has been released. Then the bodies start to stack up and alarm bells begin ringing loud and clear for Leah, who is convinced that she is being played by Jennifer, until such a time that the latter chooses to reveal both their secrets, which will potentially take them all down, including an unsuspecting Esther, whilst destroying the hub of loving and protective people Leah has built around herself.
Two missing trios, one girls, one boys, twenty five years apart…
…
Ooh! In many ways I actually enjoyed this second storyline much more than the first. I don’t really think there was any more of a sense of complete closure by the end, but the air of unspoken threat and menace throughout really held me gripped and unable to escape the intense atmosphere, which was so claustrophobic and suffocating it was like falling into a vat of treacle and never being able to fight my way to the surface.
There were so many strands to this well-constructed, multi-layered storyline, which author Kerry Wilkinson had carefully woven together and sprinkled with a liberal portion of red herrings, so that I had no idea of an eventual outcome, until he skilfully unravelled the secrets one by one and began dovetailing them together into a bombshell ending which rivalled, and probably for me, surpassed that of the first book.
Thankfully, Kerry had considered the emotionally draining and nerve jangling effect the book was going to have on its readers and had kindly broken down the chapters into a manageable size, which allowed me some short periods of respite and recovery, before taking another deep breath and getting sucked back into the manipulative clutches of the dour and lugubrious characters he had created.
I began to doubt myself in what I thought I knew about Leah’s background and the suspicions I had about Jennifer, when there were just so many suspects unknowingly lining themselves up, or being set up, for crimes I assumed they weren’t and could never have been, guilty of. Overall though, the entire cast of characters really didn’t inspire any positive thoughts from me, with the possible exceptions of Deborah and Zac, who were probably the only truly innocents. Everyone else either had so many secrets to hide, or personal axes to grind, that they were totally uncredible, even down to the rather ‘beige’ Ben, with whom Leah had been having a clandestine affair, which neither of their respective sons had any idea was going on and which really didn’t seem to be going anywhere, with neither of them having the energy or will to take things to the next level.
Once again Kerry has unashamedly infused the storyline with many of the more disturbing social mores which are unfortunately part of the fabric of our modern times, allowing them to play out without outwardly contriving an outcome, making them realistic and immersing me in Leah and Jennifer’s disturbed and distorted worlds. Both victims of the of hate and vitriol that existed between their respective parents, both left motherless, then, unable to commit to a lasting relationship, both finding themselves single parents to teenage sons. Leah had however contrived to find the love she yearned for in her later teens and had, with help, built a strong relationship with her son, Zac, who had thus far steered a path on the straight and narrow. Whilst Jennifer had carried the hate and hurt with her into adulthood, passing it on to her son, Dylan, who was now totally adept at manipulating a situation for his own benefit, whilst his mother was always on hand, appearing to encourage his deceitfulness and need to stand out from the crowd, as if it was his entitlement.
The question of an adult having sexual relations with an underage minor, is also thrown into the spotlight when social media accounts are examined for one purpose, only to reveal another crime which might have remained undetected in perpetuity. That it involves multiple adolescents and a person of high moral standing and influence in the community, only adds to the overall problems of trust and truth this town suffers.
The one small niggle I had with this storyline, was much the same is it was with the first book, in that there was no real sense of time or place, where I could pin my colours to the mast and identify a location. I only know for certain that we were somewhere in England and few more hints in this story gave away the fact that we might be somewhere quite close to the coast. Not entirely satisfactory for a confirmed ‘armchair traveller’ like myself, although there were some good detailed and descriptive passages relating to the farm and its locale, which meant that not all was lost.
December 2, 2023
25 years ago Leah woke up to find her two best friends missing. Fast forward 25 years and it’s happened again, this time all three children have gone missing, and boys this time.
When this seems to be happening again, can Leah keep up with what happened all those years ago, what she thought was the case, could she be wrong?
This is quite a fast paced book that had my attention throughout. I’d highly recommend reading this book, great for keeping your interest sparked.
When this seems to be happening again, can Leah keep up with what happened all those years ago, what she thought was the case, could she be wrong?
This is quite a fast paced book that had my attention throughout. I’d highly recommend reading this book, great for keeping your interest sparked.
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