what i liked about this compulsively readable book is the detective, being brought back in after years working on the serial killer case - the killer, who we meet eventually, is creepy and slimy (and we sense a worthy recipient of all the abuse he's suffered as a child too) - but the detective, Parker is seasoned and has recently suffered a loss - and he will suffer another closer to home - in this new one. He is physically courageous and smart and it's required for the damaged killer is as bad as some of the corrupt victims he chooses - we learn the entire unravelling history from the killer's mouth in the end, and Parker and his new partner, self-sufficient and equally brave Claire. the monkey of the title refers to a kind of mantra the killer uses about himself. really entertaining - kept me up all night!

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!

How did I miss this author previously? I will read more from them, this book was great

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.

To set the scene, the books starts with what seems to be the all too familiar occurrence of a police officer being awoken in the night to a phone call from his partner, telling him there is something he 'needs to see'.
Fast forward a couple of pages and you find Detective Porter and his partner, Detective Nash, over the body of what appears to be the infamous serial killer, The Fourth Monkey.
I have read hundreds of murder mystery/thriller books and although in many ways this is the stereotypical 'troubled old-timer cop and his supportive family-like team' it is also much more layered than any I have read before.
The book follows the story of Detective Porter various members of his team, the victim and my favorite story line, the childhood diary of The Fourth Monkey Killer. I found the diary entries genuinely fascinating, they kept me hooked throughout the entire book, leaving me desperate to learn more about his thought process and how he came to be.
All of the characters were likable in their own right and I would have loved to have learnt more about the members of Detective Porters team. I particularly liked the addition of 'Dr Watson', he and Detective Nash provided the comedic element that was needed to lighten up the whole book.
But, WOW, the ending was unbelievably brilliant and completely made up for the fact that I figured out who The Fourth Monkey was very early on in the book. The conclusion was clever and gripping, with several great plot twists. I would describe The Fourth Monkey as very graphic in parts and not for the faint-hearted.
Overall the book did play out as the usual 'cop vs killer' story in some parts, however, the multiple leveled story line, fascinating journey into the killers psyche and incredible ending more than made up for this and I cant wait to read the next installment.