When is cold-blooded murder justified?

I am a big fan of Barker. No matter who he is collaborating with, I always recognize his voice.

We are in New Orleans meeting Detective Nikki Mayeaux during a big storm, as she is climbing levees and hiding in a garage. The garage of a serial rapist and killer. The same man, a technicality let go.

Nikki is tired of young girls dying and no one doing a thing to stop it. She’s ready to stop it her way when a shadowed figure pops up in the back seat and kills the man. While she is sure she knows who, it’s going to take a lot to prove anything and this is New Orleans. A city like no other.

With Mardi Gras ramping up, the city is full of people making it tough to catch anyone, but Nikki has to find Emma. The man’s final rape victim.

Twisty, and totally immersed in the NOLA culture, I loved it. I hope we see Nikkii again!


NetGAlley/Hampton Creek Press February 04, 2025

I really enjoyed this. Very very creepy. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

2⭐️⭐️ Underwhelming and a bit boring!!!

When is cold blooded murder justified??

New Orleans Detective Nikki Mayeaux has decided its when a technicality sets a serial rapist free. Jaded and frustrated, this latest injustice brings her to the boiling point. She arrives at the monster’s home intending to end his reign of terror, only to find someone else got there first.

His throat slit, his lifeless body left in the front seat of his car, still warm. Only one person wanted him dead more than her - his final victim. A girl of only 16 years old who has vanished into the seedy underbelly of the French Quarter where residents will go to great lengths to protect their own, even when their own is a killer.

Well I saw this one up on NetGalley and immediately went for it, J.D Barker books are usually not ones that let me down and I really liked his last co-authored book so thought lets do it. This one unfortunately was the first that I was very very meh about.

The writing itself was fine, that wasn’t really my issue. The story but just a circular repetitive trip of looking for Emma. Now I get it we needed to find her but so much stuff was happening so why was this boring. There were so many ways this could have gone and it was actually an interesting concept but I think just poorly executed the way the story was told just became boring and I was over it.

I did think it would get better … but it never really did. In the end there was too much going on and not enough focus on the one or two things that would bring it together. I think that Nikki was a good character as was Emma but everyone else was on the periphery and I just felt so meh about it.

I am not going to give up on the author by any means but this was not his best work. And maybe the second author E.J Findorff wrote more and tried to ride off the name but either way… I dont think it worked. I was left let down and like I had wasted my time. Thankfully this one was just over 400 pages unlike the usual 600 J.D normally gives us. I could not have done that many pages of this story there was simply not enough substance.

Overall, if you are a fan of J.D Barker then you might be let down, this had potential but wasn’t what I had hoped.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hampton Creek Press and the author for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first time reading anything by these authors, but it definitely won’t be my last. I was pulled right in, despite the darker themes in the novel.

The story follows Nikki, an NOPD detective, who’s set on bringing justice by putting an end to a man convicted of assaulting young women—including her former client, Emma. But just as she’s ready to act, she discovers someone else has beaten her to it: Emma herself. Nikki, who has a sisterly bond with Emma after the tragic loss of her own sister and whilst working on her previous case, now faces the complicated task of tracking Emma down who seems to have become a serial killer. As she dives deeper, she uncovers a web of crime tied to New Orleans’ wealthy and powerful.

The pacing was just right—neither too fast nor too slow. The characters are memorable, and the ending ties things up in a satisfying way. Plus, the hint of romance added the perfect finishing touch.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this crime thriller! There were some flaws that held me back from giving it a 5-star rating, but it was still a good story. It was a little heavy on description and the writing was a little choppy. Some of the dialogue didn't flow well and was incomprehensible to me. Maybe it's a New Orleans dialect? It also would have been helpful to have the chapters labelled with the character's name since the POVs kept switching. On the positive side, the storyline was interesting and held my attention. The ending was definitely a shocker with some twists that I didn't see coming. Even though this book was over 400 pages long, the pacing was very fast, and I finished it within a few hours. It was definitely worth the read despite the flaws. I would definitely recommend!

Thank you to Hampton Creek Press for granting me digital access via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

A perfect book to end off Halloween! Both authors worked so well together to write an edge of your seat story!

358 pages
3 stars

This book shows a different view of New Orleans than I expected. It is dark and violent. I met some awful and dangerous people in the book that I found myself not relating to at all.

I must say that I have loved and enjoyed Mr. Barker’s other novels. This novel was a little slow for me. I was expecting more action and less dialogue. I don’t feel that is compares to Mr. Barker’s earlier books.

It does, however, discuss some very relevant and difficult topics. The writing and plotting was very good and the book moved along well, albeit slowly.

I want to thank NetGalley and Hampton Creek Publishers - IBPA Members’ Titles for forwarding to me a copy of this good book for me to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

"We Don't Talk About Emma" is the latest J.D. Barker partnership project. J.D. is a busy writer with solo novels and partnered books.

I start by confessing that I love J.D. Barker authored novels. He has a unique style of telling tales. There are twists and turns throughout.

If you like J.D.'s books, put this one on your list.

So I love the New Orleans setting especially as someone who lives in New Orleans.
There were some moments where this book dragged for me and I wish those parts just had a little more too it.

There’s a lot that we uncover in this book and the underbelly of New Orleans and Emma and so many other girls went through so much, and of course the police are always 1 step behind everyone.

Detective Nikki Mayeaux is tired of cover ups. She visits a serial rapist's house and finds that he has been murdered. He has the number five drawn on his face in black lipstick - what does that mean? She knows exactly who has done this, but the person is difficult to find.
Then there is a murder victim with the number four... the race is on to find the murderer.

I really enjoyed this book, however, it wasn't (in my opinion) as good as the 4MK series. Perhaps having a co-writer is not producing the magic of the 4MK series?

However, saying that, the book was well plotted, and there was plenty of suspense. As well as a massive twist.
It was a little slow paced, but maybe I should not compare books?
I have not read anything by E.J.Findoff, but I suspect that his writing is very different to J.D. Barker.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hampton Creek Press for the opportunity to read this book.

Taught and complex mystery with twists everywhere and questions that will keep you turning the page late into the night. You will not put this one down! Strong plot and even stronger characters make this a must read.

JD Parker and EJ Findorff slam it out of the park with this one!

They deal extremely well with a tough sensitive subject and they write great, realistic dialogue. In felt like I knew and loved the characters and even as I zoomed through it I hated for it to end.

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy. It is my pleasure to write an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had that tension atmosphere that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall story being told. The characters worked well in this world and I was hooked from the first page and it didn’t let go until the end. J.D. Barker and E.J. Findorff wrote this well and had that tense atmosphere that I was looking for.

We Don't Talk about Emma starts with the thrills right out of the gate! Everyone thinks they have the answer to the murder of the Monster's killer, but do they really? There are a number of potential suspects with connections that aren't all apparent until shown. Will Nikki's emotions get the better of her? Where is Emma? You will have to decide if the murder is justified!

This book was medium for me, the style felt a little flat and there was a lot of dialogue, more so than what i would have liked It was interesting enough but also didn't feel engaging. Even though i care about the topic and i like ethical issues explored in thrillers, something was just off for me, maybe it was the two person writing style, meaning a single author might have made it better for me. 3.5

I have just read We Don't Talk About Emma by J.D. Barker and E.J. Findorff

I am a big fan of J.D. Barker, and have read most of everything that he has written.

I have not read anything by the second author of this book - E.J. Findorff.

I will reach out and read something of his however in the future.

This New Orleans story is dark with lots of secrets involving young underage girls, and crime. It covers secret societies and wealthy powerful characters.

To me it was interesting, however did not start off in the big bold fast pace way a solo J.D Barker story does.

Even though the storyline covered darkness and a mature gripping tale, it somehow felt as it was written for a younger audience with its way of delivering the dialogue and lingo.

It was not all together a book that kept me 100% engaged at all times, and not one that I just could not put down.


Thank you to NetGalley, The Authors and the publisher for my advanced copy to read and review.

The premise for this one is so freaking cool. It was promising to me but then I found the plot just started to get lost in all the dialogue. I just felt it was a lot of back and forth between the two detectives. I would've liked more showing and less telling. I was expecting it to be a little more for me and it left me feeling a little underwhelmed. I felt the ending was also rushed.

what the heck 😭😭
my heart
guys the characters in this were so well written, i cared about them
not gonna lie i felt suspicious at times of some i loved bc it felt too good to be true
man!
this book was real as fk, and brave, tbh
toed a line that opened a lot of real insight into the dark n dirty of real life high up powerful people
nasty SOBs and ladies as well
i would recommend this

J.D. Barker and E.J. Findorff's We Don't Talk About Emma takes us on a wild ride through New Orleans' underbelly, grappling with tough questions about justice, morality, and human emotions.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of New Orleans, We Don’t Talk About Emma delves into the dark and sordid realities of the city’s high society, revealing an underbelly that rivals the most notorious scandals in contemporary culture.

The narrative centers on Emma, a young woman who has endured abuse and exploitation, much like the victims of infamous figures in Hollywood and beyond. Rather than remaining a passive victim, Emma decides to reclaim her agency and fight back against those who have wronged her.

The story unfolds as bodies begin to appear across the city, each marked with cryptic numbers that hint at a chilling countdown. Detective Nikki Mayeaux finds herself embroiled in this grim mystery, navigating a landscape where compromised police officers trail just behind the elusive killers. Despite her affluent background, Emma mingles with the marginalized; gutter-punks and homeless individuals who inhabit the fringes of society. This juxtaposition highlights the stark divisions within New Orleans, where wealth and privilege often mask deeper moral decay.

The authors skillfully craft an atmosphere thick with tension and moral ambiguity. The vivid descriptions of New Orleans’ streets, filled with both charm and danger, create an immersive experience that captures the city’s unique essence. The writing style is engaging and direct, effectively conveying the emotional weight of the characters' struggles while maintaining a brisk narrative pace.

While the novel tackles heavy themes such as vigilante justice and societal corruption, it occasionally dips into melodrama. However, this intensity serves to amplify the moral dilemmas faced by its characters. Mayeaux's journey raises profound questions about justice: when does one cross the line from law enforcement to personal retribution?

Barker and Findorff bring their distinct backgrounds to this collaboration; Barker’s expertise in thrillers complements Findorff’s deep connection to New Orleans culture. Together, they create a compelling narrative that not only entertains but also provokes thoughtful reflection on justice and morality within a flawed system.

We Don’t Talk About Emma is a powerful exploration of resilience in the face of unimaginable darkness.

JD Barker writes absolutely nothing besides GOLD. 5 stars, Barker never lets me down. So amazingly written and couldn’t put it down!