3 for neutral. Unfortunately, this was not a book for me. It just didn’t grab me, was so far fetched. Moody reader though and will update if able to finish later.

Wow what a read. This book starts with a giant wheel spin and goes full throttle throughout until pulling a hand braker at the end. It was exhilarating reading it.

I`m not going to go over the spiel of the story. You are better off going in blind like I did. It will add to the fun. Safe to say from the book title its about a serial killer, but that only scratches the surface.

I flew through this book. I was drawn in completely from the first chapter. The pacing was relentless. Short sharp chapters throughout helped to add to the feeling of angst and exhilaration. I did love the format. It just kept the relentless pace going throughout.

There are twists and turns, red herrings, unreliable narrators, murder, mayhem, mystery. I could go on. One of my favourite reads of the year so far.

So with all this high praise, how come its a 4 star and not 5 star review? The ending. I didnt like it at all. It felt tacked on, felt like the book could have finished and then it as decided to throw a little more in. I didnt care for it at all. Thats the only reason I`m marking this book down in any way and seriously, I wouldnt let it be a factor at all in deciding whether to read it or not. I`m sure many if not most will love the ending.

If you are a fan of thrillers of any description you will be doing yourself a disservice not reading this one. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Little, Brown and Company and James Patterson/J.D. Barker for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Dark Psychological Thriller

Michael Kepler receives a phone call from his downstairs neighbor about water leaking into her apartment from his apartment. He arrives home and finds a dead woman in his tub that he does not recognize. What would anyone in this situation do; call the police. Detective Dobbs and others soon arrive. The victim’s purse and ID are found. Soon Detective Dobbs takes Michael to the victim’s apartment. While Michael denies knowing the victim, he is shown pictures of the two together, his clothes, shaving gear, and other personal items of his are in her apartment and bedroom. Then he is taken into headquarters for further questioning. The questioning is stopped when his lawyer arrives and wants to confer with his client. This lawyer attacks an officer who enters the interview room, and walks a confused Michael out of the police station. The chase begins. Soon Detective Dobbs is notified by the FBI that his prisoner is a suspected serial killer and to hold him for U.S. Marshall to take into custody. At this point, I was hooked. Some evenings, I read entirely too late into the AM.

The main storyline unfolds short chapters told in the voice of six of the main characters. There really are just two threads, the Police/FBI chasing and Michael and his sister in the other so it is not disjoined but flows quite well and was an easy read. The twists and turn in the plot kept my interest throughout the novel. As this appears to be a stand-alone novel, there is not much B-storyline of Detective Dobbs and the FBI Agent. As part of the main storyline, much background is provided on Michael, his sister and parents.

This novel is definitely rated as adult content involving a four year old Michael observing his mother’s death and dismemberment by her boyfriend who halfway through decides to eat his gun. Michael then is adopted by a Barton Fitzgerald, a renowned psychiatrist and author, and his wife Rose, a practicing psychologist. He was not adopted to provide him loving environment to grow up but to provide the Fitzgeralds what could be called a case study at best. Some vulgar language is used, but in my opinion the use was not excessive and was context appropriate. There were not love scenes. This biggest issue is the violence and psychological torture that occurs in the novel. Much of it was described as it happens or is recalled and described as if it was happening. Some of the events may be disturbing to some readers. While not over-the-top, readers be forewarned.

As the novel approached the end, plot twists become more often and more dramatic. I had many unanswered questions when bombshells go off near the end. What I will say is that all the loose ends are tied up but then end went south. Usually, this lowers my rating of the novel because it leaves things unanswered or you need to read the next novel to find the answers. That was not the case with this novel as I wrote above that there were not any loose ends. I just didn’t like the ending. It left me with bad note at the end vice a good note. Since this is more personal reaction to the ending vice the more numerous plusses I experienced while reading this novel, I rate it with five stars (4.5 rounded up). If the description of this novel intrigues you, do give it a try.

I have received a free e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Little, Brown and Company with an expectation for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Little, Brown and Company for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

I have in the past enjoyed books by both authors so was interested to see what they could devise together. I was not disappointed it was an easy read and when I thought it was all figured out I was wrong.
When Michael Fitzgerald is accused of being a serial killer the first person he calls is his adopted sister Megan. Both were adopted by a high powered couple who, as a psychologist & psychiatrist, didn’t want the perfect children.
Special agent Jessica Kimble and Detective Dobbs are on Michaels trail but as the body count increases can they catch the killer and prevent more deaths.
Would love to read Dobbs and Kimble in another case as I loved the characters. It was a great read.
Thanks to Little, Brown & Company for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#TheCoasttoCoastMurders #NetGalley

Abso-bloody-lutely BRILLIANT!!

I really tried to read slower but couldn't help myself and in the end, I found myself rushing through the pages!

This is a story with so many layers and twists that when you read the last line it feels like you just came off a roller coaster.
DID (Dissociative identity disorder) is a subject I've always been fascinated by since I read the book Sybil at the age of 15. The way this is weaved through the book is a work of art.

Michael and Megan were adopted as young children by Dr Bart and Dr Rose but instead of growing up in a loving family, their childhood years read like a horror story. How will this affect and form a child? What is the significance of the sparrow feathers and who is responsible for homicides in at least 10 states.

"What is the mind but thin glass?"

The ending will blow your mind with a twist you won't see coming! A must-read book that is definitely 1 of my favourites of the year!

Thank you to JD Barker and NetGalley for the invite to read and review this masterpiece

As disappointing as this is to write, I have to say I really did not enjoy this book at all. I love James Patterson (Alex Cross series) and I’ve really enjoyed the books I’ve read by JD Barker (4MK series), but this collaboration just didn’t work for me. I’ve actually found that I don’t enjoy most collaborations with authors as I find the writing to be disjointed and not all smooth. This felt the same way.

Thank you #netgalley and #Littlebrownandcompany for the eARC.

"The Coast-to-coast murder" by J D Barker and James Patterson. It was my second read from J D barker and the first from James Patterson. The first book I read by J D Barker was "4MK Killer". It was a completely new kind of experience for me. I may have read few psychological thrillers in past but 4MK had completely blown away my mind. So when I saw this book I gave a chance to Coast-to-Coast. Another reason was that James Patterson has written so many books and I haven't read a single book by him. So I wanted to explore his style of writing as well. I would like to thank NetGalley and publishers to provide me an early review copy of "the coast-to-coast murder."

As genre suggest it is a psychological thriller but one that you may not have seen or read yet. Our major characters are Michael Kepler, Megan Kepler, Michelle Kepler, and FBI agents. Michael Kepler got a call from his neighbor that there was water leakage from his flat and it has overflown from his flat to others' property as well. He came back running and found a body in his bathtub. He called LAPD and reported the death of a stranger. He also informed his sister Megan regarding this. Michael was a hundred percent sure that he saw that lady first time. Things that the LAPD team found were completely in contrast. The pieces of evidence they found were indicating that the murdered lady was the girlfriend of Michael. On top of it when Michael was taken to LAPD for questioning someone help him escape the jail. And from there detective Dobbs from LAPD joined hands with FBI agents to solve the case. FBI agent brought in new information that Michael might be the person behind not just one murder but more than 16 murders. Michael had asked his sister Megan to help him out and his sister was on the way to help Michael. They were both adoptive children of a psychologist couple and both had trouble passed before and after adoption. Read the book to know how killings happened and how it was related to human psychology.

I'll give you four reason why thriller genre lovers must read this book
1) Awesome plot building
2) Simple narration style and easy to read language usage
3) Minimal characters and maximum exposure to each character's to get a proper stage
4) Unexpected twist and turns to keep you engaged till the last page

Coming to the writing style, the book is written with multiple POVs making it more interesting as narrative jumps from one person to another. My only complain was cover design, I think a better cover may attract more readership.

Overall I will give 4.5 out of 5 to this wonderful thriller.

Thank you to J.D. Barker via NetGalley for providing me with the digital review copy.

I have a suggestion, before you start this, have a huge breakfast, turn your phone off and lock the doors. Once you start this, you will not want to stop. It is definitely “just one more chapter” type of book. I had some very short nights, because of this book. Wish I had saved it for a holiday read.

The pace of this book is fantastic, helped by 148 chapters in approx. 480 pages. Each and everyone of them ends on a cliff hanger. The story is told from alternating POV's told in various formats, including the alleged killers’ sisters very detailed witness statement.

What appears at first reading, is a seemingly innocent man is arrested for multiple murders, but as you read on there’s a lot more to him than you think. Just when you think you have it sussed… have you really? Probably not, because the evidence does not fully add up, until the very last few pages.

This book is non-stop action, plot twists, and so much drama. At times the plot is a little confusing, partly due to the number of characters and plot twists, but as always with J.D. Barker it all (Well most of it) comes together right at the end.

Overall, this was a captivating, brilliantly plotted, thrilling read from the first to the very last page. It will keep you intrigued right to the last page. To me this felt more like a JD Barker book than James Patterson, which in my opinion was no bad thing. Despite the fact the book made my brain hurt at times, it was an entertaining and enjoyable read.

This will give you a good kick of mystery and psychological suspense/thriller and is written by the amazing JD Barker alongside James Patterson so if you are fan of either of those very different authors, then this title will definitely be a good read for you.

First of all, Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of The Coast-to-Coast Murders!

I've just finished this book and there are only these few things on my mind:

1. Short chapters and clear writing guarantee a pleasant fast-paced reading = I love it.

2, Pay attention to intricate details from the title of each chapters to the words use to describe multiple action scenes and the logical progression of our main characters. In this book, your heart will beating constantly with the perpetual cars chasing, bullets shooting, unrelenting rain, impending explosions, gruesome massacres and more. Yeah! MORE!

3. Long story shorts, I'm not gonna screw you spoiling the whole story. You should relish it on your own. However, i'm just gonna say this. J.D Baker alone creates some sophisticate fireworks, you know, a little BANG BANG. And then, when James Patterson and him got together, you damn sure it will escalate to a freaking BIG BANG... BANG BANG BANG. So I will spare you the time of second guessing yourself and tell you to get a copy already.

P/s: the only reasons why I put 4/5 stars are because they don't have a decimal system and as a detective novel veteran, the twist is kind of obvious to me. But in the end, I truly enjoy this reading session so much.

HOLY CANNOLI what a book this is!! As I get off this wild ride that I was just on I’ll try to put some thoughts together. As soon as I saw J.D. Barker’s name on this James Patterson novel I had to read it. It’s one of those books that you just can’t put down. Without giving away any details because that would ruin your reading experience, let me just say this is pure genius! Told through alternate points of view of the characters. One minute you think you’ve figured out what’s going on, but nope you were wrong. Keep reading. This happened several times throughout the story. And then the ending!!! Wow!! I really hope this is just the beginning of a new series. Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown & Company for the ARC!!!

WOW what a book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way to the end......
What an ending if you are looking for a thrill ride and an ending you will never see coming this is the book for you......
Both Authors are great Authors James Patterson and J D Barker teamed up together they wrote an explosive book ...

Good, solid book. Easy to follow. Would recommend to anyone who likes a thriller or mystery book. Liked the characters and it was difficult to put down!

This book was absorbing and intricately plotted. I was captivated from the start and enjoyed the wild ride to the end. Outstanding.
Many thanks to Little, Brown and Company and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

What a ride!

I couldn't put this one down. I really hope this is the start of a series because I want more of what Barker and Patterson are offering.

Full glowing review to come!

When 2 of the greatest crime writers put their name to a book, expectations are high. Boy, they didn’t fail to impress with this story.
Michael and Megan Fitzgerald have had an unusual upbringing both by their birth parents and adoptive parents. There is a trail over murders across USA and all evidence points the FBI into investigating the upbringing of the Fitzgerald siblings. Nothing is quite as it seems.
A real page turner, loved it!

J. D. Barker’s masterful touch is clearly evident in this story. He is a consummate magician when it comes to weaving intricate story plots that leave you guessing the outcome until the very end. Rich well developed characters and a fast-moving story line leaves you breathless and at the edge of your seat. I couldn’t put it down. Don’t start reading this book unless you are fully committed to read it in one sitting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for an advance copy of The Coast to Coast Murders, a stand-alone thriller that starts in Los Angeles, but as the title suggests, doesn’t stay there.

Michael comes home to find a dead woman in his bath and is promptly arrested by Detective Garrett Dobbs in what he sees as an open and shut case, until FBI Agent Jessica Gimble turns up with news that this latest murder is part of a series. Michael goes on the run with the help of his only confidante, his sister Megan, to find out who is framing him.

I have been looking forward to reading this collaboration between James Patterson and J. D. Barker of 4MK, a series I loved, fame and it doesn’t disappoint. It has a plot full of twists and a constant feel of tension and dread of what’s to come. Honestly, I read it in dribs and drabs rather than one sitting because I couldn’t stand the tension. I take that as a sign of good plotting and writing that I identified so closely with Michael that I couldn’t take what was happening to him.

The novel is told from various points of view, Michael, Dobbs, Gimble and after the fact statements from Megan. It is a little confusing at first but the reader soon gets used to the changing perspectives, more puzzling is the situation. It soon becomes clear that there is much more to the rather anodyne Michael Kepler than he presents. For a start, he and Megan are the adopted children of renowned parents, psychiatrist Dr Bart Fitzgerald and psychologist Dr Rose Fitzgerald but he prefers the pre-adoption name of Kepler. His past is slowly revealed as the novel progresses and it’s a doozie. So, first there’s this mystery, then short chapters and changes of voice to keep up a frenetic pace and finally the twists. It makes for a rattling good read. There is even a sense of urgency from law enforcement as they strive to catch Michael.

The Coast to Coast Murders is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I have to say that I would read anything that J.D. Barker writes. I swear this man could make a shopping list be thrilling and intriguing. Granted, I have not read a Patterson book in eons, but putting these two authors together was definitely a stroke of genius.

Murder and mayhem are once again afoot as we are introduced to our two main protagonists, Michael and Megan Fitzgerald who were adopted by two doctors whose specialty was psychology. It's been a very rough upbringing for these two siblings and now with a plethora of murders occurring, these two are thrown into the fray. Meanwhile an FBI agent, Jessica Gumble, and an LA homicide detective, Garrett Hobbs, join forces to hunt down the killer, as killings have occurred across the USA.

When Michael's supposed girlfriend is found murdered, Michael becomes the chief suspect. as all the clues point to him. The similarity to other murders coupled with Michael's job being a long haul trucker, offers him the perfect opportunity to be the serial killer that Gumble and Hobbs are searching for.

Michael begs his sister's help, as she is the only one he feels is on his side. The two play a cat and mouse game and as the law seems to be tightening the circle around them, more and more is revealed about how these two were raised. It's a harrowing story and one that the two authors weave so well, that the reader is both awed and riveted to the page. ......and then we meet Mitchell.

Not to give too much away, I will once again say that this was a book I couldn't put down. It kept me on my toes and as soon as I thought "ah ha" I've got it, another curve was thrown in....and that ending well....it was just perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this awesome book that for many hours took me right into the midst of the mind of some seriously devious and deranged people. Definitely heartily, most assuredly recommend this book due to be published on September 21, 2020.

I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from J.D. Barker through NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

J.D. Barker is one of my favorite authors. I’ve read most of his books, and when I have the chance to read another one, I get so excited! I haven’t read any James Patterson books in a few years, but I was happy to see them team up. I’m hoping J.D. Barker gets more exposure, which he richly deserves.

The Coast-to-Coast Murders is like being on a roller coaster, and at the end, I was dumbfounded. There are so many twists and so much going on, it is one of those books I kept telling myself, “One more chapter… One more chapter.” There are times I can just ignore everything in my life and read a book from beginning to end; unfortunately, I have too many deadlines at the moment. I couldn’t wait to get back to my book!

The characters all appear to be normal people until you look behind the façade. There’s all kinds of crazy there. Detective Garrett Hobbs and FBI Agent Jessica Gimble have their hands full figuring out who is committing these murders and if they’re random killings or if they’re connected somehow. How many more murders will there be before they figure it out?

If you liked The Fourth Monkey or just like page turners with suspense and twists, I definitely recommend The Coast-to-Coast Murders.