After hearing rave reviews about this book I couldnt wait to star this one.. thank you Harlequin Australia and Net Galley for a copy. A fantastic book... gory details and all. I love a good serial killer story and I hope to hear more from this writer.. especially with an ending like that

Wow! This is one book that lives up to it's billing of "the most anticipated thriller of the year". It's dark and gritty and very compelling reading.

The Fourth Monkey ("do no evil") so called for his calling cards is a serial killer with a twist. He only kills relatives of those who have committed serious crimes. Chicago DI Sam Porter and his team have been trying to catch him for five years without any success but now it looks as if he might have ended his reign of terror by throwing himself under a bus. Amongst the items found on the body is a diary and a small box containing a severed ear (a Fourth Monkey signature), alerting the police to the fact that he has a new victim somewhere. While the cops scramble to identify the man and his victim, Sam Porter starts to read his diary and what a creepy piece of writing it is if it is for real, telling the the story of his grim and evil upbringing by very twisted parents.

This book will have you glued to the pages as it casts its spell over you, barely allowing you time to sleep or eat. He's a very twisty character, the Fourth Monkey, so be prepared for lots of twists and surprises in the plot (oh and a bit of torture and a few rats - not for the very squeamish). Sam Porter and his team of Nash and Clair are the sort of smart, dogged Chicago cops who don't let go easily and they are closing in on the Fourth Monkey. But can they catch him? Read it and find out!

The Fourth Monkey by J.D. Barker (2017)
Page count:
480
ISBN:
9780008217006

Chicago Detective Sam Porter has spent half a decade chasing down the Four Monkey Killer, AKA the 4MK, a brilliant and sadistic killer who uses murder to punish those closest to his victims. Can Porter save the 4MK’s latest victim in time or will evil once again be done?

The Fourth Monkey is a well written, compelling crime thriller with engaging characters and twists for days.
With high praise given by Jeffrey Deaver for The Fourth Monkey, it is no surprise I was reminded of the Lincoln Rhyme series while reading. Also present are hints of television’s (in my humble opinion) best crime dramas such as Criminal Minds and NCIS. The team of characters joining Sam Porter in his investigation are fun characters who share a great rapport with each other. But at the end of the day they are dedicated to finding the person responsible for these heinous acts. While we don’t learn a lot about the heroes other than the protagonist, Barker uses dialogue and action to give them personality and character.

Its similarities to the best of crime novels, cinema and television give The Fourth Monkey a depth that elevates it to the top of the genre. But it is The Fourth Monkey’s plot and new twists on an oversaturated genre that set it apart from the rest. The twists in the story are delightful and the killer’s journal providing flashbacks to their past left me wanting to know more every time it switched back to the present.

J.D. Barker has written The Fourth Monkey in a way that brings it to life. I don’t often cringe when reading novels with violence, but there were several moments in The Fourth Monkey that made me exclaim aloud. The smallest characters are written in such a way as to leave an imprint on your mind, handy for later reveals. Overall, it is a wonder to watch the world Barker creates in The Fourth Monkey unfurl.

While reminiscent of many high quality crime dramas/thrillers, The Fourth Monkey breathes new life into the genre with great writing and a plot that keeps the reader turning the page long after that last “one more chapter”. I cannot recommended The Fourth Monkey enough to fans of the crime genre.

Rating: 5/5