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

“Gone. They’re gone.” Dylan’s wide-eyed mother bites her nails in desperation. “All three kids. They wanted to sleep outside. But I went to check this morning and… the tents are empty. They’re gone.”

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

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

I rated this book 3.5/5 stars!

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

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

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

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

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

*4 Stars*

Copy kindly received via NetGalley for an honest review.

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

Intrigue and Twists in a Small Town Mystery
"After the Sleep Over" pulls you into a complex web of secrets and suspense, set against the backdrop of a small town haunted by two kidnappings 25 years apart. While the blurb claims it's a standalone, I highly recommend reading the previous book first. It provides crucial context for the characters and the chilling mysteries that unfold.
Leah, the protagonist, is drawn back into the shadows of her past when three young boys go missing. As she investigates alongside one of the boys' mothers, she uncovers layers of deceit and hidden agendas within the seemingly idyllic community. The town's past trauma and unspoken secrets fuel the narrative, creating a palpable atmosphere of unease.
The author masterfully weaves together multiple timelines and perspectives, building suspense with each revelation. Red herrings abound, keeping you guessing until the very end. The final twist is truly shocking and satisfying, leaving you pondering long after the credits roll.
Leah is a compelling protagonist, her resilience and determination shining through even as she confronts painful memories. The supporting cast is equally well-developed, each harboring their own secrets and motivations.
Now, onto the narration: the fantastic British accent adds an extra layer of authenticity to the story set in the UK. The narrator's voice perfectly captures the characters' emotions and the book's overall atmosphere.
Overall, "After the Sleep Over" is a gripping audiobook that will keep you glued to your headphones. It's a must-listen for fans of suspenseful mysteries with complex characters and shocking twists.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This was a great continuation to the Sleepover series. I definitely was not expecting the killer to be the person(s) revealed. I love Leah's character, she has so many of her own secrets that she is always trying to figure out if her secrets are coming out or the mystery is just naturally moving in her direction.

Will there be another story in this series? Or will it remain a duology?

Three teenage boys go missing and Leah is reminded of the disappearance of her own friends 25 years ago...
After The Sleepover is a psychological thriller set in the UK. It is a sequel to The Sleepover but works perfectly well as a standalone novel. There are NO SPOILERS despite multiple references to Leah knowing the truth about her friends' disappearance.
Leah is called over by someone she barely knows. Jennifer's son and two friends have vanished during a sleepover and she calls on Leah to support her due to Leah's own experience from the past. The police have no clues but Leah uncovers a range of suspects from the odd neighbour to Jennifer's allegedly abusive ex.
I loved the drama of the plot. A child going missing is every parent's nightmare but three kids at once when you are letting them have some freedom is almost worse. There was a brilliant tension as Leah compares and contrasts the past with the present. Her confusion and fear felt authentic and increased the tense atmosphere.
In the personal life subplot, Leah confronts her past by making contact with her father who has been in and out of prison. Her mixed emotions were portrayed sympathetically and added to the depth of her character.
After The Sleepover is a tense and emotional psychological thriller.

A brilliant read, very addictive. I enjoyed her other ones and this one was just as good, if not better. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this, not that long since I read the first book so was still quite fresh in my mind, although could be read as a stand alone, I loved the story and couldn't figure out what was going to happen, I also enjoyed the relationship leah has with her dad it was interesting to see it develop from the first book. Excellent read and will certainly read more from this author

25 yrs ago, Leah participated in a sleepover with three friends where the friends disappeared without a trace. Today, three boys, the same age as Leah was then and her son is now, have disappeared after a camping trip. Kerry Wilkinson is well known for hiding the killer in plain site and letting her readers guess again every other chapter. Leah's friends were never found but she's not going to let that happen this time. She will find out exactly what happened and who is behind it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kerry Wilkinson, and Bookouture for an ARC copy of "After the Sleepover".

I didn't realize that this was a follow-up book to "The Night of the Sleepover". It can be read as a stand-alone but I think it would be better to read it after the first book.

"After the Sleepover" unfolds with a gripping intensity as it explores the chilling disappearance of three children, echoing a haunting incident from twenty-five years ago.

The story was full of suspense, intrigue and twists. This book was easy to read and entertaining. I recommend adding it to your list of must-reads.

I don’t read much fiction, but the title and synopsis intrigued me. Suspense is maintained throughout the book. Several times it had me guessing and thinking, “who’s lying”. The ending was more than satisfying. A job well done!

A great follow up book to The Night of the Sleepover.
Three boys go missing after a night camping out in a field at the back of one of their homes.
The next day, there is no trace of them. Could history be repeating itself?
I have enjoyed every single book by Kerry Wilkinson, and look forward to his next book.
They are well written, and are an easy read.

I had no idea what to expect when I started reading this and wasn't sure how Wilkinson was going to further the story. Yes it was along the same vein as its predecessor, but this time round the focus is on three missing boys.

Characters from the previous book are integral to the plot, so I would advise you read The Sleepover before reading this one, otherwise you'll lose out on context.

It was like an early Christmas, they're were so many layers to unwrap, red herrings and it wouldn't be the same without there being one final twist...its book three imminent I wonder?

Well written, enjoyable and entertaining

Thank you Netgalley and Kerry Wilkinson for the ARC of After the Sleepover.

After reading The night of the Sleepover ( highly recommended ) I was curious to read After the sleepover.. You could read this as I stand alone but id definitely recommend reading The night of the sleepover first.

The main character in both books are from Leah's POV, a late 30s mom of Zac who's 15 yrs old. At her sons age, she experienced a sleepover with her friends, 3 of them vanished that night without a trace. And its happened again.
Leah gets asked to go and see one of the mums of one of the teens, Dylan. who go missing, Jennifer reached out to Leah due to being old school friends so Leah knows what Jennifer is going through. Going forward they strike some sort of bond and try and fathom out why teenagers keep going missing.

This books was a little slow to start but gave into some momentum , There's a fair few twisty turns and some clever foreshadowing which I really enjoyed. The new characters introduced into this book were great, well rounded and 3D, I do however feel they could have been built a little more to make them more fleshy .

A solid 4 stars and will be picking more of Kerry Wilkinsons books up in the future.