Be warned: do not delve into J.D. Barker’s The Sixth Wicked Child, the final installment of his 4MK trilogy, without having read the first two books. (And stop reading this review; unless you like spoilers.) The Sixth Wicked Child bangs into existence with a fresh new murder, and then immediately resumes where its predecessor, The Fifth to Die, left off: alleged mass murderer Anson Bishop is threatening to unleash a SARS virus ’bomb’ on the citizens of Chicago. His primary pursuer, Detective Sam Bishop, is holed up in his apartment, surrounded by photos and memorabilia that link Sam himself inextricably to the murders he is convinced were carried out by Mr. Bishop.

As the evidence against Sam mounts and the body-count rises, the FBI, the Chicago Police Department and Sam himself sprint to uncover the true identity of 4MK and capture the killer before the entire population of Chicago becomes the victim of biological warfare. The possibility that Sam, and not Anson Bishop, is the mastermind of this multi-year crime spree grows increasingly probable with each turn of the page.

Readers who steam-rolled through the first two novels in the series will not be surprised to learn that the final saga continues to be plot heavy, relying on a multitude of story-telling twists and turns, some implausible, others spot-on. Anson Bishop, the possible criminal mastermind behind it all, continues to be a fascinating, possibly murderous, psychologically warped person. Dialogue between characters maintains the snappy, movie-worthy edge exhibited throughout the series. And, although some of the secondary characters remain relatively interchangeable, the story itself takes over, with that page-turning quality so evident in the first two books.

As always, Mr. Barker has done his homework. Added to the crime and investigative jargon of the prior books, this time around readers are introduced to medical terminology, from body-language kinesics discourses through tutorials on the uses of poisonous succinylcholine, a favorite for medical doctors seeking to murder their spouses. The nefarious ways of politicians and their jaded, favor-seeking hangers-on are knowingly spotlighted. Chicago neighborhoods and buildings are effectively described. One run-down neighborhood was so crime-ridden that Detective Nash closed the car doors but intentionally didn’t bother to lock them. “In a neighborhood like this, it was best to provide easy access to the interior. Otherwise, you’d find yourself shopping for a replacement window.”

The death toll in this final installment mounts to alarming levels, far beyond the neat trios of boxed body parts supplied in the first novel. Bishop, Porter, and FBI sleuth Frank Poole chase each other like carousel horses galloping on a merry-go-round that has no ‘stop’ switch. The pace never slackens; there is no middle-of-the-book slump. To the contrary, so many events occur in the two (?!) days of chasing the bad guys, in so many far-flung locations, that a reader may justifiably feel that they were a passenger on that seemingly never-ending merry-go-round, whirling ever-faster, with people, places and events becoming fuzzy and unfocused.

As the bewilderment grows, Mr. Barker thoughtfully provides some advice. “If Father were here,” muses Anson Bishop in one diary entry, “he’d tell me to puzzle it out. He always said every problem has at least three possible solutions, and even if you think you know the perfect solution, you should spend the time to determine the other two so you could weigh them all against each other. Sometimes the easy or obvious wasn’t the best, and sometimes the best wasn’t obvious or easy.”

Readers who forge through the confusion to the book’s conclusion will be rewarded. Many mysteries will be solved; many plots will be resolved. And, as an added bonus, it is possible that endings are not always what they seem to be. Past the final page of the final chapter, in the final two sentences of the author’s Acknowledgements and Notes, is what sounds almost like a promise: “[My post-it notes, scattered around my house] can come down now, go in a little white box secured with black string. Maybe one day I’ll give them another look. Until next time -J.D.” Here’s hoping.

Question Everything

The Sixth Wicked Child is the final book of the 4MK trilogy.

My reading Experience: The first word that comes to mind when thinking about this book is long-winded. It is way too long and could have been cut down significantly. For the first half of the book, I felt like I was being strung along just to drag things out. I was getting quite frustrated and had to force myself to continue reading. I loved the first two books in this series, so there was no way I was going to give up, but I was tempted. Finally, at the 60% mark, I got sucked in!

The Characters: As always, I loved reading Bishop’s diaries. Also shared are Clair, Nash, Poole, and Porter’s POVs. The reader doesn’t get to experience much of Porter until the end, and this contributed to why I was struggling. I could have lived with just reading Porter and Bishop’s narratives and done without all of the others.

The plot: Long. Sometimes boring. Sometimes frustrating. Complex with many threads, many POV’s, and many characters. The plot is supposed to make the reader question everything about what they thought they knew about a certain character, but I always knew the truth--I never wavered. All of the threads and loose ends come together too easily and neatly. However, there is a payoff that makes this book worth reading!

Overall, The Sixth Wicked Child offers a satisfying conclusion to the 4MK series. I will miss these characters and look forward to reading more by Barker in the future!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Sixth Wicked Child is the action packed conclusion to JD Barker's 4MK trilogy. If you have not read The Fourth Monkey and The Fifth to Die, do not read this one until you have done so. There is absolutely no way to fully understand the plot or the characters without reading the entire series. Unfortunately, I wish I had stopped at The Fourth Monkey. I thought it was one of the best books I ever had read. Not just thriller or horror or fiction, but one of the best in general. The characters were witting, biting, mysterious and thrilling. I loved the dialogue, the intelligence that went into the writing. Simply stated, I loved The Fourth Monkey! I was sorely disappointed with The Fifth to Die and, had The Sixth Wicked Child not been the conclusion, I would have passed on it entirely. The wit, the marvelous dialogue, the humor and the intellect were missing from the second and third installments.

In The Sixth Wicked Child, we pick up exactly at the cliffhanger of the second book. As it progresses we - and they - are presented with "facts" that show both Detective Porter and Anson Bishop as the possible serial killer. In addition, the girls who were rescued at the end of The Fifth to Die were injected with what is believed to be deadly contagion. Half of Porter's team is in lock-down at the hospital and the other half, including the FBI, are on a manhunt for Porter. If this sounds confusing and conflicting that is because it is! There was so much information stuffed into this novel and so many questions to be answered that adding the contagion seemed like too many pieces of pie after a huge holiday meal. By the end of the book, I just wanted it to end, to give me the answers I needed to feel satisfied with the series, but no, it just kept going. The ending finally came with a "surprising twist!" Two surprises actually. Both of which were so incredibly unbelievable that I just shook my head in sadness. All that I had come to know and love about J.D.Barker's writing was undone by the last chapters of the book. I detest twists that you know are just there for shock purposes. I also detest vigilante justice. That's all I will say. If you like this series then I know you'll read the conclusion. If you haven't read the series - stop after the first. You will be glad you did.

This series of novels is really amazing. I’ve read many thrillers, a few whodunnits, and several detective novels, and I’ve never seen anything like this before. Patterson, the well-known author, said it was ingenious. That’s underestimating this series.

In this last novel of the trilogy, Barker leads us to doubt everything and everyone, even his main character! As the elements add up, we wonder who was in a position to be able to do this and that when the events happened. The entries in the 4MK’s diaries would be sufficient to make a novel and a breathless one. <spoiler> Poor children! Who doesn’t want to have pedophiles and children’s torturers imprisoned if not even killed? </spoiler> This makes the serial murderer almost sympathetic.

But as the author (through the 4MK’s declarations and actions) puts doubt in every character’s and reader’s mind about Porter, as Porter, with his memory full of holes, begins to doubt himself, we first take pity on our hero. Then we also slowly start to wonder whether we're still right to trust him. <spoiler>So Barker made Porter, his MC, the scapegoat for the horrors that happen in this story.</spoiler> And I loved it!

Who haven’t I suspected of helping the 4MK? Poole, maybe. And even then, because he was one of the very few that I didn’t think was rotten, I thought maybe it was him, the real 4MK. Well, yes. This is where Barker managed to drive me. And who have I suspected of harming children in the past? Most of the people around them back then and even more.

So if you love thrillers full of twists and turns that make you wonder about everything throughout the story and think about the rotten side of human nature, this book is for you. Read it, but start with the first book, otherwise you would miss two excellent novels and a lot of helping elements to fully appreciate this last one. But believe me, you won’t regret it. Even the most severe literary critics would love it. And I don’t understand the only reader who gave up halfway through this novel. Seriously! I was biting my nails in the middle of this novel. How can someone not find interest in such a story? It’s incredible, unbelievable! But it takes all sorts (of people) to make a world, they say. There's no accounting for taste.

Thanks to the author, the editor and Netgalley for giving me an eCopy of this riveting novel.

J.D Barker surpassed all expectations in the concluding part of the 4MK trilogy. It is recommended to read the series in order for the full story. The world of Detective Sam Porter and 4MK killer Anson Bishop continues to twist and turn and the truth of events is finally revealed as the body count escalates.
Who can you trust and should you believe everything you are told? Take Porters hand on this whirlwind of a journey. A must read of all crime fans.

As with the previous books, this book is extremely well thought out, perfectly paced with twist and turns keeping up the suspense and tension. Barker is an intelligent writer who has great character development. All his characters are distinct and interesting - even the unlikable ones are extremely captivating.

Having read the previous two installments of the trilogy, I have been anxiously awaiting the conclusion. All I can say is as soon as I started The Sixth Wicked Child, I couldn't put it down. This is one of my favorite book of the series. I found this a wildly entertaining and explosive thriller, one where you never know what will happen next, positively dripping with suspense and tension, and never less than compulsive reading. From the outset, the story pulled me in and kept me wanting to know more. The story remained strong throughout the trilogy, tightly plotted and the tension never lets up, climbing in its intensity through short chapters that tease just enough to keep the reader wanting to know more.

Barker wraps up his epic trilogy in style. An outstanding end to a brilliant series!

Thank you to J.D. Barker, Hampton Creek Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Sixth Wicked Child J.D. Barker is the 3rd and final installment of the Detective Sam Porter (4MK) trilogy.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Hampton Creek Press, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Background:    (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Homicide Detective Sam Porter has been on the hunt for a serial killer for over 5 years. They call him the 4MK killer for short, in deference to the “No Evil” monkeys of myth. He leaves behind the ear, the eyes, the tongue…before leaving the body. The targets are usually the loved one of someone the killer determines has done evil. They now know his name. Anson Bishop.  He infiltrated the police department.  Porter’s team consists of Detectives Brian Nash and Clair Norton as well as IT Specialist Edwin Klozowski.  Anson Bishop has wreaked havoc on both Porter’s team, and on his career.



My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

Detective Sam Porter is in more trouble. While suspended from the M4K case, he had continued to investigate, continued to play Anson Bishop's game.  With threats from Bishop hanging over his head, he helped a woman escape from prison, and is found with compromising evidence to another murder.  Porter knows things he shouldn't...unless he is more involved with these killings than he is admitting.  While people start wondering about his relationship to the M4K killer, and even when interrogated by FBI Special Agent Poole, Porter is not worried about himself.  He insists that he is still the only one that can decipher Bishop's diaries and bring him to justice.  While still in the interrogation room, four more bodies are found,  all with a sign "Father, Forgive Me" nearby, and two with "I am Evil" engraved in their forehead.  All had the three tell-tale white boxes tied in black string containing their eye, their ear, and their tongue.  Because of their locations, they couldn't have been murdered by the same person.

Meanwhile, Clair and Kloz are stuck in the hospital as they've been exposed to a SARS-like virus that either Bishop or Upchurch injected into the two missing girls.  The whole hospital is on lock-down.  Upchurch is dying from a brain tumor, but Clair is trying to downplay Upchurch's diagnosis to the media, because Bishop insists that he be kept alive or he will spread SARS further afield.  Then there is the matter of a killer roaming the hospital halls...

Nash finds himself working with Poole, who has left Sam in police custody with the diaries, and hopes that his dodgy memory will produce results.  Nash is going to be on his own wild ride.

The evidence is stacking up....but not against Anson Bishop...



My Opinions:  

Talk about another page turner!

This was one unexpected twist after the next.   I kept waiting for this to be resolved to MY satisfaction, but not all of it was.  It was an amazing series even though I was troubled by the ending....and a few other parts as well.  But I loved it!

I really enjoyed the characters, whose depth allowed me to picture them clearly.  The chapters were divided by the characters, and since they were seldom together, it was imperative that the reader knew what each was doing.  The diaries were another character themselves, and played an integral part to the plot.  Barker excels at writing, both his dialog and descriptive prose is phenomenal.

The pace was fast and the plot...did I mention the twists?  It definitely wasn't a light read (none of the books were), and it wasn't always pleasant.   The gore didn't bother me, but the topic was quite dark.   The suspense continued to build throughout the book, and just when one episode plateaued, another built.  Definitely a roller-coaster.  The story is complex, and you have to pay attention, and knowing who to trust is not an easy decision, or always black and white.

Again, it was another long book, and again, not one part bored me. The twists...OMG the twists.

This series is simply breathtaking! I rarely loved thrillers (or detective & investigative novels) as much as these. Barker is a gifted writer, really very gifted. He managed to hook the readers from the beginning of his series and make us want to read the sequel fast. And to think that the third book is supposed to be the last one... (I hope the author will find a way to write a fourth and a fifth and why not a sixth book. ;)

Besides, the way it ends, Porter could very well have shot over his head to lure the police, waiting nearby. Why don’t you do that?

There would also be a way to create a whole new series of detective novels with Porter, starting a private detective agency with his friends Nash and Clair. No?

Say "yes", Mr Barker, say "yes"! Please!!

I’ve become a complete fan of this author. I'm looking forward to his next novel. I’m sure it'll be excellent.

In any case, I give a big 5 stars to this novel and can we give 10 stars to the whole series. No? F*ck you! I give it 10 stars anyway. lolll

Of course, I recommend this series to all lovers of thrillers and detective novels, and even to all those who like a good plot that won’t let you down from the first page of the first novel to the last page of the last one. Good reading, you lucky bastards who still haven’t read it!

Thank you very much to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a ecopy of the three books of this extraordinary series.

My thanks to Hampton Creek Press, Mr. Barker and Netgalley.
I have loved this trilogy from the get go! The people, both good and bad are all in their own way very likable, to just downright lovable! The story. This story is not something I've come across in all my years of reading. Barker is the real deal!
Funny thing is that everything I want to say about this last book, could be a spoiler. This is one of the few times that I wish I was in a book club!
I did appreciate the ending.
One thing that bothered me in the end was how all these plans came together. It was a bit unrealistic for me. Normally, this wouldn't be a deal breaker, but...the first 2 books were so real. Still, without discussing the why's and wherefores, this book rocked! Mr. Barker has my undivided attention! Where he leads, I will follow.
Don't read this book unless you've read the first 2. This really is one of the best things I've ever read!

Really enjoyed Barker’s third book in the series. Will definitely recommend to my customers who love smart, thrilling mysteries featuring serial killers. Lots of good plot twists make this series one of my favorites.

This is the 3rd in a trilogy. I hadn't read the previous books but I absolutely loved this novel and I have already purchased the first 2 books to read, to find out more about the story. There is just enough background information provided to allow you to catch up. Great character development and plenty of twists and turns made this a fabulous read. Plenty of tension from the very start had me gripped. Highly recommended.

I am a little late with my feedback because when I learned this was the third in the trilogy I decided to start at the beginning. While you’re u could tread this as a stand alone I highly recommend reading both Fouth Monkey and Fifth to Die as well, it it well worth the time. I really enjoyed this series. My only complaint is minor- I wish two of the main characters names would have been more distinctive. I found myself having to reread a few times to figure out if I was following Poole or Porter.
This should be on every reader who likes psychological thriller, mysteries, and just good story telling.
Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for a free ebook in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review Copy

Astounding! Incredible plotting and the best 'where did he get that from?" I have come across in ages THE SIXTH WICKED CHILD is going up on my top ten list for 2019. What an ending to a brilliant trilogy.

This is so much more than a simple serial killer thriller. The twists and turns in the first two books are a mere starting point; like a bullet fired from a gun J.D. Barker races to an ending but not before ricocheting off walls that you had no idea were in place.

Don't miss this!

What a ride! This series has been completely addicting. Great twists that just kept you guessing the whole way through. Had me questioning who’s really the good guy... who’s really the bad guy. This is a series that needs to be read chronologically... too many moving parts to just dive into out of order. Only criticism was that there were lots of strings hanging and I’m wondering about some of them that weren’t fully explained. Still a twisting good time. 4.5 stars.

I'm relieved and gratified that after the intrigue of THE FOURTH MONKEY followed by the slow pace Noir of THE FIFTH TO DIE, I discovered THE SIXTH WILD CHILD to be thrilling and riveting.


This stunning, suspenseful, and incredibly convoluted conclusion to the FOURTH MONKEY TRILOGY gloriously fulfills the promise and potential of the introductory THE FOURTH MONKEY. I was engrossed, couldn't sleep till I finished it, and even then spent a night pondering "But what then? And what happened to---?" And "Did the End mean this? Or did it mean something else entirely? Or what really happened?" So I can't say I'm quite satisfied with the ending; but I certainly became immensely involved throughout. Kind of sorry to see it end.

5 stars are not enough!

I am speechless! I am dazed! I am overwhelmed! I need to lie down! I need to reset my brain and massage my eyes!

What a fantastic, tantalizing and devastating journey I had. From the beginning to the end reading this trilogy has been like riding a treacherous roller coaster, blindfolded!
You know it is dangerous, you are aware of the risks; you don’t know when all the ups and downs are and where all the twists would be. Yet you crave it. You need it! You want to be on it!

Hear No Evil. See No Evil. Speak no evil. Do no evil.
Who is the real 4MK? Well, read it and find out.

Thanks to the talented J.D. Barker, Hampton Creek Press and the NetGalley for providing me with a copy.

The third part of this excellent trilogy by J D Barker must simply not be read until you’ve read the first two books in the series. Clever, involved and lengthy but well worth the time spent.
Continuing in his quest to bring serial killer Anson Bishop, known as 4MK to justice, Detective Sam Porter risks everything, his career, his sanity and his life to attempt to do just that. In this brilliantly conceived book of many horrific murders, seemingly impossible scenarios and absolute fear, a story unfolds of a shocking past. As bodies are discovered in different locations at the same time, it become obvious Bishop is not working alone but who can be trusted? Events mean it becomes almost impossible for Sam to do his job but who can he rely on to help him? His trusted colleagues are also being targeted but do they even trust Sam himself? As the whole terrifying saga reaches its conclusion revealing answers to the multitude of questions, the reader may ask one of their own. Is this really the end?

Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night.

This novel opens with a fourteen year old homeless girl discovering the body in a cemetery with three white boxes each tied with a black string, a signature of the 4MK killer. Then, the novel quickly picks up about seven hours after where the second novel, The Fifth To Die, stopped. The previous novels in the series were in a general familiar setting. There were the good guys, Detective Porter, his team and FBI Special Agent Poole. Then, there was the serial killer, Anson Bishop. That last novel ended with some hints that things were not that simple. Very quickly as the main storyline in this novel unfolds, these hints become an avalanche. The body count quickly rises Early on, I was thinking of a title for my review. The first thing that popped into my mind was the Betty Davis line from the movie, All About Eve. As I continued to read, this quote seemed to be a more and more appropriate description of this novel. This novel is a rollercoaster of the most serious twists, turns and misdirections that I have ever read. This novel quickly locked up my attention all the way to the very end of the novel. I read into the night several times.

The B-storyline also is very rich. Porter’s B-storyline is tied very closely with the main storyline because who he was. There is much interaction between and among his team, Clair, Nash, Koz and SA Poole in very stressful situations. Loyalties and trust are tested severely. There are returning characters from the last novel and many more as the childhood of Anson Bishop. The author really digs into Anson Bishop’s thoughts and motivations. This was another hook into my attention.

What I liked about this novel was the rapid speed and complexity of the action and characters. Do not be afraid of being lost in a mountain of details as the author speeds the reader through but never once was I lost. As I wrote above, this novel seized and held my attention faster and harder than any other novel I have read. This is my major criteria for a high star rating.

Some readers may have problems reading this novel. A major theme in this novel is child trafficking. Some of the characters use vulgar language. For me, the language was not excessive and context appropriate. Overall, this novel has strong adult content. Also, there is some graphic violence described as it happens. If you find these issues objectionable, be forewarned. Lastly, some readers may not like the ending, but I will spoil it and leave it to you, the reader, to discover.

Much of the action, especially in the last novel is significant to this novel. The question is can you read this novel without reading the previous novel. I believe you can as the author provides much background in this novel, but I recommend reading all of them in order to maximize your reading enjoyment.

Overall, I rate this novel with five stars. If you have read the previous two novels, this one is a must read. Do not skip it.

I have received a free kindle version of this novel through NetGalley from Hampton Creek Press with an expectation for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Hampton Creek Press for the opportunity to read this novel.

I honestly dont even know where to start... I just finished the last page of this series and i dont know whether to fell relief, to cry i cant even express how i feel. Wow seems an understatement in this case. While i really enjoyed the first 2 books this one was literally amazing, i would give this one more than 5 stars if i could. The characters the author built for us morph into their true selves in this story, all the story lines come together every loose end, every plot twist and turn. This final book takes us, once again, on a hunt for Anson Bishop. But is he the bad guy we think he is? What about Porter? Is he the hero we think he in? The lines of guilty and innocence are blurred in this one, no one is who they seem and nothing is as it seems. I have not slept much while literally consuming this book. I even read the authors note and looked into the pages he suggested. I wasnt ready to stop reading i was still processing. This book ties the story together with a very real very serious crime today, one that has affected so many people. The last effects of this crime and the ripples it creates dont just vanish, so many lives are affected. This book will remain hands down one of my favorites ever, if you struggle to read about crimes against children be prepared to have a tough time getting through this, but please try, it is such an amazing literary work. In the Authors Note he asks a couple questions that i will use to end this review with my own answers. Firstly Was Anson doing the right thing? I think this was how he needed to heal, was it morally right? No of course not, was it justified however? That answer is far more grey in my mind. Lastly, Can a serial killer be made? Yes i think when you experience such a deep trauma that you are left with anger and hurt being your only emotions then yes, revenge and retribution could be a leading goal in your life. Hurt is a powerful emotion.

4.5

This review contains information (potential spoilers) from the previous books. Proceed at your own risk.

Sam Porter and Anson Bishop return in the final installment of this clever series with all their strength. The story picks up right after the cliffhanger of The Fifth to Die (I recommend you brush up your storylines before jumping into this book). Paul Upchurch is clinging to his life at the hospital while Clair, Nash, and Kloz continue to protect those in Bishop's target list.

At the same time, new bodies are found in Chicago and South Carolina with their respective white boxes. Only this time, they have the phrase Father Forgive Me along with them. One man can't be doing this alone. Bishop is on the loose, and Porter is at Chicago Metro under scrutiny after his last charade. Things take a different angle when Bishop turns in himself with allegations of being innocent and framed on the 4M K murders. Suspend disbelief, your dinner plans, and any ideas of sleeping until the end of the book.

Not since the Millenium trilogy (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), I had felt such a rush and connection with the characters of the story. Barker's character development is comparable to that of Stephen King or Caroline Kepnes, where even the bad guys are at times likable. One may find feeling empathy and compassion for Bishop, Upchurch, and other characters introduced in this book.

As the story develops, we read more diary entries from Bishop, and a whole other world of revelations of his childhood come out. We get immersed in the elaborate motives behind the murders. Porter seems to be involved in the whole deal. He may not be the law-abiding detective we seem to know. A muddled and confusing past in Charleston--which he can't remember--sparks doubts about him in more than one way. Even his team begin to doubt his innocence.

J. D. Barker delivers an intelligent, gripping, and exceptionally fast-paced conclusion to the series. Chaos, confusion, surprises, and many other emotions and reactions await for you.

A million thanks to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. You are the best!