The Fourth Monkey

I would like to thank Netgalley and Harlequin Uk for an advance copy of The Fourth Monkey which tells of the Chicago police's hunt for a serial killer dubbed The Four Monkeys Killer or 4MK for short.

A man is run over by a bus, an accident apparently until they realise he was carrying a neatly wrapped box with an ear in it. The 4MK is dead but who is he and where is his latest victim?

What a great, absorbing and different read. There are two things that make this novel stand out from the crowd, the first that the starting point is a dead killer with no identification and the second that the police investigation is intercut with excerpts from a diary found in the killer's clothing which tells its own tale of incidents from the killer's childhood. You will think you've read it all before, but trust me, not like this you haven't. 4MK takes deviousness to a whole new level in his plotting with twist upon twist with a final one in the last few paragraphs - I was hanging on every word. The hunt for Emory, the missing girl is good but the excerpts from the diary are brilliant. The unnamed 12 year old narrator, "Champ" to his father, starts off describing a very happy household but there is an edge to it which soon becomes apparent. Champ is very obviously a psychopath, his narration is chilling in its matter of factness and his actions reinforce this detachment. Some of it is quite funny in a macabre way. There is no way, however, I could have guessed at how events would unfold and it had me mesmerised at its twists and turns. It's a tour de force in its portrayal of Champ.

I have no hesitation in recommending The Fourth Monkey as an excellent read to anyone looking for something a bit offbeat.

Absolutely freaking brilliant! I didn't want this book to end but what a fantastic finish! This is going to be THE crime thriller of 2017. This is already in my list of Top 17 Books of 2017, skipping the long list and the short list.

I'm a huge fan of J.D. Barker, he's an exceptionally talented writer and this book has been given some great kudos from top authors and reviewers for a good reason - it's really bloody good! Unputdownable good.

I've read his novel Forsaken, his short stories and eagerly await the prequel to Dracula he's been asked to pen alongside Dacre Stoker, yes relative of THE Bram Stoker. When I got my hands on this ARC my squeal could be heard in towns all around.

We have a serial killer at work. A very clever, very evil serial killer who has evaded the police for a very long time...they need to catch this psychopath and quickly. The book pulls no punches as from opening pages you are going to be hooked by the dynamic plot that will have you trying to figure out the ending from page one.The book might beat you - I warn you now. Twists and reveals to die for! Don't get too complacent you've got it all worked out.

I couldn't put this book down. I read it over a few hours and loved every single word. The characters are brilliant and the victims...oh, the victims. I was right there with them. This crime thriller is not afraid to push the boundaries. This is dark, scary and twisty.

It doesn't matter what genres you love. This book has mass reader appeal and I am predicting it to be a best seller on publication date in June. One of those much talked about books that will make your reading year so much better.

I'm not revealing any plot. The plot itself is brilliant. It threw me around and left me with bruises.I had moments where I yelled for characters, held my breath and re-read paragraphs to let the enormity of it all sink-in. This is book entertainment people. Fantastic!

I'm gushing right? Well, I just really think it's a book that deserves my high praise. I love a good serial killer book and J.D. Barker delivered me the goodies in every way. I fudged so much about this book that my husband read it and loved it too. That's significant as in 10 years of marriage he's read 4 books! Books are not his thing but this one got his full attention. I'm working on his conversion to book lover.

Available to pre-order now from Amazon. You should add this gem to your list of must read books of 2017.
This is one serial killer you really DO need to meet this year. 5 huge stars. Superb!

This is a fabulous book ,gruesome ,thrilling gripping exciting I just didn't want to put it down .Just when you think you have it all figured everything is spun around .I loved the characters ,the diary chapters were brilliant in a creepy and disturbing way can they really be true ?I never wanted the book to end but a brilliant ending it was .Wish I could give it 10 stars !!!!

Shocking, thrilling, stylish... many other superlatives can be used

For over five years, the Four Monkey Killer has terrorized the residents of Chicago. When his body is found, the police quickly realise he was on his way to deliver one final message; one which proves he has taken another victim who may still be alive. As the lead investigator on the 4MK task force, Detective Sam Porter knows, even in death, the killer is far from finished. When he discovers a personal diary in the jacket pocket of the body, Porter finds himself caught up in the mind of a psychopath, unraveling a twisted history in the hope of finding one last girl, all the while struggling with his own personal demons.

This is a very sick and twisted read and therefore right up my street! The killer's clues date back to his childhood and therein lies the fascination with this story as his was no ordinary childhood and his thoughts and actions, given his age, are utterly chilling. The oxymoron underlying the whole story is that the fourth monkey represents “Do No Evil” and the killer dispenses his own brand of vigilante justice to punish a family member whose relative has perpetrated an unpunished crime. Such depravity is always shocking to read about but strangely entertaining!

It is dark, scary and squeamish but interjected with some humour, especially that among Porter's team, a dollop of gallows humour. I loved the chapters devoted to the killer's diary which took me right into the mind of a sadistic killer. I identified with Detective Sam Porter's character - he's smart, vulnerable and funny and the sarcasm playing between him and his colleague, Nash, helped counterbalance some of the disturbing violence. The plot and writing style are perfect and the whole thing was topped off brilliantly by a massive twist right at the end. This is top notch thriller/horror writing and I implore, not ask, you to read it forthwith!

Digger 95

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

I received my copy of The Fourth Monkey from NetGalley for an honest review.

The title intrigued me as I requested this book for review. What transpired was just literary genius I believe. It has been some time since a book gripped me to the point I wanted to keep reading to see where things went.

A serial killer has been out there killing for 5 years. His signature is leaving boxes with small parts of his victims. Time passes between each and after the 3rd a body is found.

Have the police and the lead detective had a break when an "accident" kills a man carrying the first of what would be 3 boxes? Time is then ticking to ensure that they find the potential victim.... could 2 or 3 days be enough for them to rescue the latest victim?

What then ensues is a cat and mouse story where the police believe they are homing in on the identity of the Fourth Monkey Killer only to be played and played well...

A book that was thoroughly enjoyable with a massive twist.... well worth the read !

Superb,magnificent and any other word that describes a novel such as this. Brutal, graphic with a cast of good hearted heroes led by a broken detective and his cohorts. Moments of wry humour interspersed with the main perpetrators story make for a fascinating story. Once again Superb recommended!