The Read Now section of Netgalley sometimes hides really great books and this is one of them. I must admit I was not familiar with this author - and I don't know why but I will put him on my always growing list of 'authors I want to read more of'.
You can never know what's going on behind the closed doors of your family and friends, but Barker shows us that sometimes you just don't want to know...
Brendan and Abby download an app that will change their lives forever, and not only their lives... but the lives of billions of people. I've read other books about apps that are not all what they seem, but this is the most creepy one.
What I liked most about the book is that the plot is very complicated but there are no loose ends and I never saw the ending coming.
And yes, there's a lot of violence of the most horrific kind in this book, but the way this is intertwined with the other plot that has to do with money is very skilfully done.
I loved the way Abby and Brendan interacted and how their characters grew and I never ever would have guessed who the real culprit was.
I will for sure try and read more books of this author soon.

So, thank you Hampton Creek Press and Netgalley for making this title available for review.

What starts off as a very sexy book quickly turns into an intense fast paced thriller.

I don't mind sexy books, but I was definitely uncomfortable in the beginning during a scene with sex and murder combined. It was a short scene thankfully and nothing similar repeated.

From there it progresses to some sexy scenes as Abby and Brendan use a new app to find ways to reconnect in their marriage. I loved the idea of this app and how it could reignite a spark in the marriage. I wish the thriller focused more on the app as it relates to relationships; however, it took a turn and moved away from relationships.

Once the story changed course, it was a thrill ride, action packed with nail biting edge of your seat intensity. It just wasn't what I hoped it would be.

Where do I start... probably by going through my phone, checking what apps I have loaded, deleting ones I no longer have use for and checking what access the rest of them have... especially the camera and microphone... Actually... I am a bit smarter than that. Although I, like the majority, do not read all the Ts&Cs when I blindly click, I do pay attention to what the app has access to before I download it...
Why am I bleating on about this stuff. Well... that's because this issue is at the heart of what happens in this book.
We start with Abby and Brad who are visiting a relationship counsellor. She advises that they download this new app, one that is top if the downloads, it's called Sugar & Spice. But, what start off to be suggesting simple things to, hopefully, bring them closer and repair all aspects of their relationship, soon starts to up the stakes and get a bit risqué...
Meanwhile, Brad in his work is embroiled in a bit of a perplexing case of money fraud and Abby, with one success under her belt, is struggling to deliver the tricky second book.
And then the app goes a bit... well... let's just describe it as rogue... and the stakes get way higher for all concerned...and that's all I'm saying...
Ok so... for full disclosure... some of what happens in this book was a little on the eye-rolly side... but, as it was also very entertaining, and the niggles I might have had along the way were very easily forgiven...
And in amongst all the shenanigans there's a rather nifty plot... about the money stuff, and then we also have Romeo & Juliet and what they appear to be up to, directed by an unidentified voice on the phone...
It's all a bit deliciously interconnected and convoluted but it all comes together very nicely at the end in a very satisfying way...
Characters are rich and wonderful and almost, but not quite, over the top! Deliciously so... It's quite dark and peppered throughout with quite graphic stuff - both violent and, um, of the amorous variety!
All the way through I was trying to work out how in the heck the author was going to manage to wrap it all up to my satisfaction. But he did... and it was good...
Now I know that I also love his collaborations with James Patterson, but I do hope that it won't be too long until he delivers another racking solo effort. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

A new app leads the characters from trying to spice up their life to a dangerous situation. This book plays into something we all skip over the terms and conditions of the app. Great riveting read, it is engaging from the beginning.

Thanks to NetGalley for this arc. First of all, wow! That was a wild ride from start to finish and ohhh boy! I loved it! I can’t recommend this book enough. This married couple go to couples therapy and boom! They spice up their life in more ways than one let’s just say and the people around them all get sucked into an app that controls you. This was fantastic and probably one of the fastest times I’ve read in my life.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the book drew me in but once I started reading it, I just couldn’t get into it at all.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

A more spicy thriller from J.D. Barker ! I loved “The Fourth Monkey,” so was excited to try this one. A couple having marital issues begins to see a therapist that recommends they download the “Sugar & Spice” app. There are several app malfunctions along the way that lead them to completing tasks they never would have imagined otherwise . A bit long in spots and I felt it could have been a much shorter book and had the same affect . I will continue to read anything new from this author !

What a wild, wild ride! I really enjoyed the first books I read by JD and I very much enjoyed this one. Thank you NetGalley, Hampton Creek Press, and JD Barker. I definitely recommend this one!!

I am a big fan of JD Barker's books. I have loved everything that I have read so far and this latest work is no exception. With a slight deviation from his normal content, Behind a Closed Door touches on something that we have all experienced...the listening of our smart devices. If it hadn't creeped you out before, after reading this, it will certainly make you think about what you say around those devices. Combine our current obsession with all things "smart" and add in a mix of a relationship-enhancing app that is top of the charts with a little bit of mystery and this is the perfect book. Coming in at almost 500 pages, I read this in 2 sittings.

This was a really exciting popcorn thriller - fast, multiple POVs, high-stakes, and I flew through it despite it being nearly 500 pages.
*
The premise is great -- essentially Brendan and Abby are at a rough spot in their marriage, when their therapist suggests an app to spice things up. Basically truth or dare that earns you points. The stakes get higher and higher with each step, and they find themselves in a life-or-death situation.
*
The execution wasn't perfect -- this requires a LOT of suspension of disbelief, and the "What Would Emily Do" theme got really annoying. But it was still a fun read, and makes you think about how far you'd be willing to go to save a relationship.

This book really had the potential to be a 5 star read for me. As it turns out, I apparently do not love spicy mixed in with my thrillers. This was something I didn’t know until now. This book has a really good premise, it gave me Black Mirror vibes and truly made me afraid of my phone every time I put the book down. However, I couldn’t find myself wanting to read more after a certain “fantasy”/ incident took place. I’ve learned that was a hard pass for me as I tried to continue further but couldn’t shake the ick. I recommend doing your research and checking trigger warnings with this one.

I confess that I've been dreading having to pick up Behind A Closed Door ever since I read the blurb. It has become a bad habit to add any new book by one of my favorite authors without reading what it's about first, and this newest story by J.D. Barker sure has taught me a valuable lesson. Those who follow my blog know that I'm not a fan of sexy scenes in my stories AT ALL, so having that Fifty Shades Of Grey reference right there front and center scared the crap out of me. This is probably the main reason it took me this long to actually pick up my copy of Behind A Closed Door, because I'm usually unable to resist his writing for long... Fortunately for me, even though this is without doubt my least favorite of his books so far, things weren't quite as bad as I thought they would be.

Don't get me wrong, the sexy scenes were A LOT. I've never read Fifty Shades Of Grey (and never will), but from what I've heard that's probably an accurate reference for especially the beginning of this book and anything related to the app. The many explicit references in especially the first quarter had me doubting my decision to keep reading, because it was really way too much for me. BUT. It was the murdery bits and bookish angle that got me through to the part where it really got interesting. The sexy part was still there, but it started being overshadowed by so many crazy and over the top events and danger that they were soon pushed towards a more tolerable background.

I don't want to give away too much and spoil the plot, but I mean it when I say that Behind A Closed Door takes over the top to the next level. Then again, J.D. Barker usually creates stories where you have to suspend your disbelief and just go with the flow, so it really shouldn't come as a surprise when this newest story takes the same direction. I personally didn't mind, both because it distracted from the element I didn't like and because the whole conspiracy/danger angle sent the entertainment level through the roof.

I can't say that I liked any of the main characters, and some are quite stereotype and lack more development. I did like the fact that Abby is an author, and how the book she is writing plays part of the plot... And there will be a lot of characters you will love to hate. The main focus of Behind A Closed Door is on the plot though, and you will be too busy racing through the pages to properly stand still by the characters themselves for long. The writing itself is also part of the reason I kept reading, which is just as engaging as I've become used to. Especially the second half was impossible to put down! The way everything was wrapped up was intense and highly entertaining, although don't expect it to be credible in any way.

If you are looking for an action-packed, high octane and racy thriller and don't mind a lack of credibility and an over the top plot, Behind A Closed Door will be a great choice for you. It's without doubt a true rollercoaster ride!

This one will blow you away! It is so much more than I expected. The tension is through the roof. The characters are complex and intriguing. There are a few things going on and the way the author twists them together is shocking and so well written. Before you know it you are left sitting with your mouth hanging open. And I for one think this one will stick with me for awhile.

“Would you kill a total stranger to save your partner’s life?”

Have you ever noticed that your phone will “listen” to your conversations and then provide you with a subtle ad for something from said conversation? This story brings those fears to life and multiplies it by 1000. It makes those old-timer recluses not look so crazy. The intensity and suspense in this book is perfection. I have no idea how an author can come up with so many twists and turns but Mr. Barker managed it beautifully. So glad Abby and Brendan get the ending they deserved. Also, did anyone else picture Conor McGregor’s character from Roadhouse when they read about Romeo?

Make sure to add this book to your shelf on May 13, 2024.

A Financial Crime Investigation Gets Derailed

Abby and Brendan Hollander visit a therapist for the first time. They have a money problem that is now affecting their entire marriage. After getting them to promise to avoid actions that trigger their partner’s anger, the therapist moves on to their marital bliss or lack thereof. She gives them the name of an app that may help that aspect of their marriage. They download it on their phones and quickly become addicted. It dramatically affects their personal, professional, and their closest friends' lives. From this unusual start, Brendan and a fellow FCIC financial investigator, his closest friend, attempt to solve a complex case.

There are three main storyline threads. The first is the financial investigation conducted by Brendan and his colleagues, Stucky and Kim. The investigation goes south quickly when everyone disappears from the company under investigation. The second shows the havoc caused by using the invasive app. In my opinion, this thread is too large and obscures the financial investigation thread. The last thread portrays the actions of a pair of brutal killers who are sabotaging their investigation. All these threads are very interrelated. Many chapters support one or more of these threads. Many twists, turns, and misdirections in all the threads, along with some literary grenades, kept my interest. Unfortunately, the app thread kept the financial investigation in the background. It was not until I was almost 50% into the novel that I realized how the financial investigation was the main thread. It was complex, and it is just the type of storyline that I enjoy.

The complex interactions between main storyline threads are also true in the background and threads portraying the character of each main character. Because of the app's nature, the characters' personal side is provided in more detail than in most novels I have read. There is a B-storyline between some unprofessional interactions between Brendan and Kim. This is a positive aspect of this novel.

This novel's trifecta of intimacy, vulgar language, and violence are strong red flags. If you are sensitive to at least one of these three, I say let the read be forewarned. These are extensive for the first third of the novel but continue to the end. This aspect detracted from my reading enjoyment.

I thoroughly enjoyed the investigation thread in this novel. It kept me reading for the last half of the novel. This novel has the largest number of potential loose ends. In the end, they were all explained. Unfortunately, the over-the-top trifecta of potential triggers to destroy a reader’s enjoyment was the worst issue for this novel.

Assigning a rating for this novel was difficult for me. I have read seven previous novels by this author. All but one I thoroughly enjoy. He is on my Must-Read author list. With the strong negative aspect, I usually rate it with three stars. For me, these are novels that have good aspects and bad aspects. Since my objections are more to alert potential readers of this aspect, this novel does not meet that criteria for me. A rating of four stars is a novel that I do not enjoy as much as those that I rate with five stars. The issue is more than a difference of one star for me. Therefore, I rate this novel with three and a half stars, but I must round to an even number of stars. I settled on a rating of four stars, that is closer to that rating than three stars.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Hampton Creek Press. My review is based solely on my own reading experience of this book. Thank you, Hampton Creek Press, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

Well…this was a different thriller from anything I’ve ever read. It was very spicy and twisty. I’m not sure it was quite my thing, but if you like a lot of action, killings, spicy intimate scenes, and manhunts, this book is for you!

I went into this book with the assumption that it was a thriller. No where did it say it was a spicy thriller. I have a preference to not read spicy books and had I known I would not have requested this book. Otherwise the storyline is okay and a quick read if that is your thing. I don’t know if I will read another book by this author after the controversy with sending negative emails to influencers.

I requested the ARC of this book based off the synopsis and the cover looks intriguing but didn't realize the author was problematic and not someone I would have supported had I realized. That being said, I did read the book and I will give my honest review.

I think the premise is great and I did enjoy the first half of the book. The book definitely draws you in and I was interested to see what would happen next. At about the 50-60% point in the book I just found it all to be so unbelievable that I was constantly rolling my eyes and begging for the book to end.

I may be an outlier here and I can tell that others will love this book but it's a no for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hampton Creek Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

J.D. Barker's Behind Closed Doors started out strong. This therapist-recommended app, Sugar & Spice, sounded like a fun way to spice up a marriage… until it wasn't. Things got dark and twisty pretty fast, which I liked, but some parts felt a little over-the-top for me.

Overall, it was a decent thriller that kept me turning pages, but it wasn't quite a mind-blower. If you're a die-hard Barker fan, you'll probably dig it. If you're new to his work, there might be better starting points out there.

This is my first book by the author and I quite enjoyed the writing style. It starts with quite a bang, our protagonists Brendan and Abby are at a therapist's office as they are having troubles in their marriage. The whole encounter it kept nagging me how weird it was but then again the story starts building the foundation from the very start.

The whole book feels like a long episode of Black Mirror. It is fast paced and it keeps readers engaged giving a feeling like a high speed chase with pumped up adrenaline. The whole time, the agitation is high and one wonders what is going to happen next. It had set my expectations so high but most of the interesting things, almost everything in my opinion happens in the first 60% of the book and although there is much action in rest of the 40% of the book, I didnt feel that it lived up to the expectations it set from the very start of the book.

I definitely loved reading first 60-70 % of the book but later it just lost the charm and I was left with lot many questions like why the app actually chose our couple. From the very start I knew who is going to betray Abby and Brendan so the reveal did not really shock me.

The last reveal felt far fetched, I mean if a person is quite smart and innovative then how can they end up in a financial ditch , I don't know.

There are so many things that keep on happening in the book that it is impossible to concisely describe the plot but one thing it is definitely good. And even though it has maintained the shocks and twists and whole lot of action till the very end , I just couldn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed initial half of the book.

I will definitely pick up other books by the author , as writing is quite genius in this one.

Thank you Netgalley and Hampton Creek press for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Star rating : 3.5 stars