A very good, gripping serial killer thriller.

I've been losing patience with serial killer fiction, recently - chapters told from the perspective of the killer(s) are becoming more and more similar, like carbon-copies of each other. In The Fourth Monkey, Barker is able to keep things pretty fresh. It's unnerving, well-written, and engaging.

If you're a fan of crime/serial killer fiction, then you should probably check this out.

Wow, what an incredible read The Fourth Monkey has been. This is the first book I’ve read by J.D. Barker, and that is often the make or break when trying a new author. I can wholeheartedly say that this is one of the best crime thriller novels I have ever read. The killer is highly enigmatic and mysterious. A dark and shadowy figure foiling the police at every turn. The discovery of another body, the body of the killer throws a curveball at the team investigating his crimes. Clues on the body start to point to one last victim with little time left and clues to his background.

J.D. Barker has found a fantastic approach to making the threat ever present as we follow the team in their hunt for the victim, while they also seek an answer to who the Four Monkey Killer was and why he did what he did. A diary of sorts provides some answers, chronicling the life of the killer as a child and events that developed him into the man he became.

I found The Fourth Monkey to be a rare book. While there are many I have loved, this is one of the few that kept me wanting for the next chance to sit down and find out what happened next. I needed to know where this killer came from. I needed to know what becomes of his final victim. I needed to know who the Four Monkey Killer was. And even once the identity became clear, somehow the twists and thrills did not let up there.

The only disappointment came when I read the final sentence. I had answers, but that wasn’t enough. J.D. Barker has produced a novel that left me wanting more. Thankfully for me, books two and three are on my shelf ready for me to dive right in to. This is possibly one of the best crime thrillers I have read.

Thank you for the advance review copy, took me long enough but enjoyed reading it and would recommend!

This was a really gripping novel, that I felt had that great combination of gruesome murder and humour. I like a serial killer story, and read a lot. Therefore to find one that to me felt a bit different is a real bonus. There were some great one liners in this book that made me chuckle, especially in the interaction of the detectives. The story also includes a diary of the young 4MK and details his relationship with his parents and how his childhood was. Personally I wasn't as keen on the diary element as I was on the rest of the story, mainly because it makes some very uncomfortable reading. Overall this was a great read.

I’d heard a lot of praise for the Fourth Monkey and with a citation of it being a cross between Se7en and The Silence of the Lambs both of which I loved, I had to bump this book up the pile.

This story starts a good way in to an investigation, a gruesome long running investigation of the Fourth Monkey Killer #4MK. But don’t worry, you haven’t missed anything. This book tells you enough to bring you up to speed as it goes along.

The narrative jumps between the current investigation and a diary. The diary of a young boy. A diary that tells the story of a young boy’s upbringing in a less than conventional household. As the entries go on and the more you read, the darker it gets and the full extent of this boy’s upbringing is revealed.

The writer’s style is thoroughly addictive. I was glued to my kindle tapping through the pages as fast as my eyes would let me devour the text. I had to find out what happened at the climax of the diary and whether Porter would capture the Fourth Monkey killer. And oh my, this was a chase and a half!!

A wonderfully creepy thriller! Totally gripped from start to end. Result deserves a big screen audience !!

The story was fascinating at the beginning, but in the middle it was full of disturbing stuff,
Be ready for dark sociopath life and story mentioned as dairy entry.
I liked Detective Sam Porter he sound like normal person dealing with a lot of SAD news , his team was also funny. the actual story of chasing the serial killer was fascinating but the dairy entries disturb me , Not good for faint hearted.
It remind me Helen Grace series by Arlidge, M.J .

A brilliant read. My first ever book by J. D. Barker, a gripping tale of decay of human psyche. A flowing narration, more specifically in the intriguing diary of the killer known as the Four Monkey Killer. I simply couldn’t put this book down, but it also took me a while to finish it because I wanted to savor every last bit of this thriller.

As someone who’s always been interested in getting inside the head of the serial killers, having a clue or two about their motives, pasts and/or whatever that drives them, reading the blurb was enough to get me excited about this. I don’t even know what kind of storytelling I was expecting, but this truly satisfied me to say the least.

Walking through the life of the Four Monkey Killer step by step, witnessing the team of police officers racing against time to save the killer’s latest victim was, though it’ll be a bit twisted to say so, a wonderful and exciting reading experience.

Whatever it is you’re a fan of when it comes to crime fiction, I bet this book will be up your corner. I never would’ve expected to find myself saying this about a book that revolves around a killer and the police, but this one gave me the shivers. Now that I never expected. I felt some kind of horror all the way down to my bones, one that’s not about the monsters under your bed but the ones that lurk in your mind.

I’m adding five big spoonfuls of this story into my hodgepodge and stepping out for a while to make myself a soothing cup of coffee accompanied with perhaps a sugary treat, heavy on the chocolate.

For over five years, the Four Monkey Killer has terrorized the residents of Chicago. When his body is found, the police quickly realize 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 hopes of finding one last girl, all while struggling with personal demons of his own.

With only a handful of clues, the elusive killer’s identity remains a mystery. Time is running out and the Four Monkey Killer taunts from beyond the grave in this masterfully written fast-paced thriller.

A shift of genre and a change of gears this week, from historical fantasy to some crime fiction. J D Barker’s latest, The Fourth Monkey, promises an edge of the seat thriller with the darkest of hearts. A notoriously elusive killer has finally died after managing to evade capture for years. The only problem? His most recent victim remains missing and, by the killer’s own twisted set of rules, there is a chance that the young woman in question could still be alive. Can the Chicago police department discover her whereabouts before it is too late?

Sam Porter is exactly the sort of protagonist that works well in a dark thriller like this. Recovering from a personal tragedy, he is all but broken. The only thing keeping him functioning, and continuing to push forward, is the burning desire for answers. For years, he has been consumed by the mystery of the Four Monkey Killer. Porter is the poster child of grim determination, it just isn’t him to walk away from an unsolved crime. He is backed up by a similarly resolute group of detectives, more a surrogate family than colleagues. The easy camaraderie they share highlights just how important they are to one another.

Acting as a counterpoint to Porter’s determination is the cunning of his quarry. One of the many highlights of the novel is the way Barker explores the corrupt morality of the Four Monkey Killer (4MK). The narrative alternates between Porter’s search for the killer and chapters that reveal 4MK’s formative years. The killer’s childhood is revealed in the form of a diary that Porter uncovers. The reader gets to discover 4MK’s genesis at the same time as Porter does. These key moments in the killer’s past that have shaped this predator provide genuine insight into what makes 4MK tick. It is a pleasure to discover a villain that is so well executed, excuse the pun.

Scattered throughout the story, there are also brief chapters that detail the fate of our killer’s latest victim. Barker really ramps up the tension in each of these little vignettes. I’ll avoid spoilers, but suffice to say, I found these scenes particularly harrowing. I should stress I mean this as the highest compliment. It is always impressive when an author manages to elicit that kind of reaction.

The ongoing game of cat and mouse between Porter and 4MK is fascinating to follow. Like all the best literary villains 4MK needs an opponent or all the scheming and meticulous planning is for naught. This is all just an elaborate battle of wits and 4MK has decided that Porter is the only person he is prepared to face off against. 4MK is devious but his cunning is matched by Porter’s resolve. I think I always worry a bit where it comes to novels featuring serial killers. There is a danger that any plot will descend into something the feels outlandish and over the top. The good news is that J.D. Barker deftly side steps this potential pitfall and creates a story that feels realistic and all the more creepy because of it. Porter’s actions and reactions to 4MK’s cruel mind games are perfectly gauged.

Good news, a quick internet search reveals that the television and film rights to The Fourth Monkey have already been sold. I’m glad to hear it, this is the sort of fiction that will transfer to the big (or small) screen well. I’m already working on my casting wish list right now. The toughest choice? Who should play 4MK? I have some ideas but I’m not sharing them right now. I wouldn’t wish to bias your own thoughts on the matter.

Sitting somewhere between Se7en, The Silence of the Lambs and Saw The Fourth Monkey is a wonderfully macabre affair. The insight into 4MK and his childhood is riveting, almost voyeuristic in nature. It is only when you get the story’s end that you realise J D Barker has been hiding some of the biggest clues in plain sight. He is a deliciously sneaky sort. There is also a sinister tone that acts as a perfect counterpoint to all these puzzles. There are some darker than dark moments. Barker has real skill when it comes to describing the visceral, graphic nature of 4MK’s gory crimes. Put it this way, I am a horror fan but if this is the sort of thing that is in J D Barker’s head, I have absolutely no desire to ever meet him. Seriously dude, some of that stuff is messed up. I loved it.

Back in 2007 David Fincher directed a film called Zodiac and it had a score by David Shire. It is a subtle, self-contained collection of music that I think fits rather well with the tone of The Fourth Monkey. I can only imagine serial killers need to be both subtle and self-contained to ensure they can avoid getting caught. I’d suggest it is worthwhile checking the album out if, like me, listening to music while reading is your thing. Shire’s music is the ideal companion piece.

The Fourth Monkey is published by HQ and is available now. Highly recommended.

The Fourth Monkey ticks all the boxes of a great thriller – fast paced, dark, gritty, damaged cop in charge of the case, a twisted game of cat and mouse and lots of blood and guts.

I loved the set-up of the novel, the twists, turns and misdirection. The novel reminded me of the movie Se7en and the novels by Thomas Harris. Just when you think one piece of the puzzle is solved you discover five more pieces that don’t quite fit together.

I liked the way the novel is structured, moving between different narrative viewpoints, gradually revealing the story and how everything is linked together.

I really liked the extracts from the killer’s diary included in the book. Some the entries were really disturbing but created a good impression of terrible events that shaped him and the link between his latest victim and his past.

The Fourth Monkey is excellent.

I was trying to think of a way to describe this book and one word springs to mind; grim! A well written, fast paced thriller but it had at its heart a very grim diary. This diary featured the most chilling sadistic acts played out by a family. Whether or not the diary was true (as towards the end the lead detective had cause to question it) it had the effect on me, the reader, of making me feel quite sick. I've read some things in the past which were as bad but perhaps it had something with the way this was written which made it all the more compelling in its grimness.
In addition to the killings and the hunt, there was a clever little thread which tried to give reason to the sadistic mayhem. Finally the killer, on escaping capture, offers a little gift to the detective. This made me consider that maybe there will be a sequel novel.

I love a good serial killer and the 4MK is certainly that. A well constructed book with some great twists and some great characters that make it a fantastic read which you will fly through. The book is written across 2 time frames, the present with Sam Porter continuing his 5 year chase of the 4MK Killer and a undetermined time frame of the killers diary. This book will be a huge hit and doubtlessly sell millions and deservedly so. My only gripe was the diary segments, not nearly as good as the hunt for the killer and rather "hammy", I had Mr Burns from the Simpsons as my narrator reading those chapters.

Enjoyable book. Recommended.

Totally different kind of book. With flash backs to what makes some one a killer. Gripping edge of your seat crime thriller. Some great characters with great plot twists. this is one author to watch out for. When it starts with a parcel discovery you are not sure where it is going but as the story progresses you gain an understanding. A kind of Silence of The Lambs understanding of the killers reasoning's. BRILLIANT!

This was a very grisly murder, mystery. Very well constructed story with lots of twists and turns. Some memorable characters and a very twisted storyline. Excellent conclusion which left an opening for a further book.

In many ways this is an old-fashioned serial killer story, with a huge battle of good and evil. Grizzly packages are sent to the detectives and the 4KM (the fourth Monkey Killer) taunts them at every turn. A great read, which keeps you turning the pages. Mr Barker has impressive writing credentials and this book shows you that they are more than well deserved.

Thoroughly enjoyable crime/thriller/mystery book. Plenty of twists of turns, one of which I was completely wrong about so that pleased me as I hate it when it's obvious.
Plenty of action and although violent, it's not overly so.
I'm not going to write a massive review as that would give away far too many spoilers.
A great quick read and one I would recommend.

THE FOUTH MONKEY (4MK) by talented author J.D. Barker is a dark and twisting novel; a combination of Se7en meets The Silence of the Lambs.

Dark, chilling, twisted, terrifying - just some of the words I'd use to describe The Fourth Monkey. Seven meets Silence of the Lambs is more than accurate. Such an outstanding novel that will keep you hooked from the first page. Fantastic cast of characters brought to life. J.D. Barker's writing is excellent. Really quite the brilliant novel. Equipped with a massive twist that will have you reeling. Highly recommend readers of thrillers and horror check this one out today!

The Fourth Monkey is a fab mashup of what might happen if Mike Hammer starred in the movie Se7en. Lots of witty 1940s quality repartee, super evil brainiac villain, street smart Chicago detective (and partners) hunting him down with plenty of tension and a bit of gorge added just for kicks. This was a read worthy of film noir cinematography with all its dark subplots and action. Great stuff!

Porter is a our lead detective battling his own demons whilst hot on the trail of the 4 Monkey Killer (4MK). I honestly don't want to say anymore beyond that but I will add that the diary belonging to 4MK, which I found a bit tedious, initially, actually was a stroke of genius and led to places I couldn't have imagined. Sorry, I've got to say it again - great stuff!

There are plenty of disturbing events held within the pages of this book. Quite a lot happens on the twisty path to the end but it is a joy ride for those liking deep, engrossing, sometimes gross, police led mysteries.

don't really know how to begin reviewing this novel, and I mean that in a good way! Every time I begin a review for this book I end up writing a spoiler! There were so many twists and surprises in this novel it's hard to talk about it without giving something away. This novel is a detective crime thriller but it seems to take every trope of that genre and turn it on its head. Every time I thought I had caught a predictable moment, the author twisted it so I had no idea what was going to happen next.
A warning however if you are squeamish in any way, this novel is quite graphic in its descriptions of bloody violence and injuries, and I did cringe at times with the graphic nature of what was being described. If this is an issue for you I would recommend caution before jumping straight into the novel.
This plot is a very clever cat and mouse game between the lead detective and the serial killer. There are plenty of clues and twists to keep the reader enthralled the whole way through. This novel would definitely be a good holiday read as its very difficult to put down, and would definitely be best digested in one or two sittings!!
The narrative is cleverly created, we have differing P.O.Vs; from the lead detective, from other Officers on the case, from the latest girl kidnapped by the killer, and we get chapters from the serial killer's childhood diary. These differing chapters enhance the mystery by making the reader wait for the conclusion to different storylines, and make the novel a well rounded and well crafted book. The chapters that feature the killer's diary allowed us as readers to discover more about the killer in the past, and the reasons for his actions in the present. This definitely makes the character seem more realistic, and gave him more depth.
I had so many 'ah-ha!' moments while reading this novel, there were so many little clues that started to make sense later on, and it was really fun to read a novel and not have figured out the twists before the characters themselves had!
My only slight criticism of the novel was that we don't learn a great deal about the other characters that are helping the lead detective solve the case, I would've liked to read more about their personalities and back stories to help develop their character, but I understand that perhaps that would have made the novel extremely lengthy!!
Overall I really enjoyed this novel, I gave it 4.5/5 stars. It's one of the best thriller-crime novels I have read in a long time, and I will definitely be reading some of his other work as soon as possible.