Unfortunately I ended up DNFing this audiobook at around 20%. The female main character was written like a caricature of a sassy woman which, combined with the narration, was very off-putting and unbelievable. It felt like someone imagining what a successful woman might be like, and it turns out she mostly flirts and says things no woman ever would.

The plot also didn't really grip me. A woman abandons her car in traffic to go do her radio show, she does the aforementioned weird flirty quippy thing, a police office kind of tries to find her and then explosions! It felt very much like an action movie and I would much rather watch than read one of those (and to be honest, I don't enjoy watching them). So sadly not for me!

This book is not for the faint of heart. This is intense from page one and doesn’t slow down. I promise this is will take you on a ride that and leave you gasping for air!!


This book is described as Die Hard crossed with a Talk Show. Well it’s all that for sure and a bag of chips!! I would love all the thriller/horror lovers to listen or read this book. It’s intense and keeps you completely engaged from page one. Read the trigger warnings in this book - there are quite a few potential triggers.

This is where the terror begins, “I’m going to offer you a choice.”

That’s a live phone in on Jordan Briggs’ radio talk show. She has built herself a spot on the top of the recording world. Well as we know with all good books - she has a past! And someone knows.

As the world outside her recording studio is literally exploding, here enters the cop, Officer Cole Hundley.

The thing we don’t know is how deadly this game is going to get and who the hell is calling in to the talk show. . .

Its the Caller’s Game and boy oh boy it’s a game that should have never been played over the radio!

I really enjoyed listening to "A Caller's Game". The book felt a tad long but the pacing of the story was fast and had several twists to keep it interesting. The end surprised me!
I will definitely be reading more of J.D. Barker's books. The narrator of the audiobook did a great job!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

A radio station presenter is posed a question by one of the callers if she is ready to play a game and thus begins the heart racing thriller – there’s never a dull moment in this book, mind blowing!!

I am really sorry that I didn't get to download the book before it was archived. So I waited for the audiobook to be available to me to give it a review.

Am I ever glad I did? A caller's game is one of those books that need to be a blockbuter movie. RB Media's production was superb. The narrators Brian Hutchison and Mia Barron really brought the stopry to life, I felt like I was watching a movie with no pictures - it was that good!

A Caller's Game is a thrilling, high octane book that keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first page and leaves your heart pumping way after you finish reading it.

Thank you Netgalley for the audio copy in exchange for a honest review.Jordan Briggs is a radio talk show host. When Bernie rings in and asks her to play a game Jordan doesn't realise just how dangerous his game is. She will do anything to keep her daughter safe.

Ready…Set…GO!

Jordan Briggs is a very controversial radio host. A rising star with a huge following.. Jordan won’t hold back! She tells it like she sees it!

But what happens when someone calls into her show and wants to play a game? Could be fun? Higher ratings? Or… it could end up being a deadly mistake!

Right from the start, this book is nonstop action! And it doesn’t let up until the final chapter! Hold on tight because you are in for a ride!

This book would make a fabulous movie! All I needed was my 🍿 comfy chair…and 🎬

Ok, I’ll admit, some of it was a bit over the top. But it was all in good fun. JD Barker has quite the imagination and we as readers are lucky enough that he shares it with us.

Oh and make sure to read the author’s note at the end. It gave me chills!

A buddy read with Susanne.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to listen to in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

A CALLERS GAME is a fast, high octane thriller that pulled me in from the beginning.
Jordan Briggs is a radio host who's known for spicing up her show and taking risks. One day she takes a live call on her radio show from a man called Bernie. Jordan gets asked if she wants to play a game, but little does she know this game is full of revenge and Jordan is high up on the list of targets.
Detective Cole is on traffic duty when his day gets much more interesting as he follows Jordan to the radio station. When he realises that Jordan and her radio crew are in grave danger he steps in to help.
This book is a twisty, fast, suspenseful read that keeps your heart pounding and gripping the edge of your seat!
I loved the authors plot and characters and the narration was fantastic as it alternated between Jordan and Detective Cole.
Don't miss the authors note at the end of this - its fantastic!

Review to be posted on: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend.com/

A Fast-Paced Thrill Ride!

Jordan Briggs is a no holds barred satellite radio talk show host. She’s known for taking no prisoners. Little does she know she’s about to get played and the game is a deadly one.

The minute she takes a call from a man named Bernie, everything changes and I mean everything. Bernie you see has an agenda, and it’s all about revenge and Jordan is at the top of his list.

Detective Cole is at the right place at the right time, or is it the wrong time? Once he realizes that Jordan Briggs and her entire crew are in trouble, he takes it upon himself to help.

A suspenseful, fast-paced, full roller coaster of a ride, “A Caller’s Game” kept me glued to the edge of my seat, desperate to get to the end.

The author’s note at the end is not to be missed.

A huge thank you goes to NetGalley, Hampton Creek Press, RB Media/Recorded Books and J.D. Barker for the arc.

A buddy read with Kaceey.

Published on Goodreads, Twitter and Instagram.

Jordan Briggs is at the top of her game. She has a call in talk radio show on SiriusFM and is a female shock jock, quick with a quip. Her listeners never know what she will do or say and that's the hook that keeps them listening and Jordan a star. But her fame and fortune comes with a price. She's rich but has no time to enjoy her fortune. Her marriage is over and her relationship with her daughter, Charlotte, lacks time and depth. She is considered cold and demanding by her staff and friends are another luxury she has put aside.

When the softspoken caller comes on the air, Jordan is about to cut him off quickly. He doesn't sound like someone who can provide an exciting show. But the caller asks her a question; taxis or Ubers? Jordan isn't sure what he is asking but it quickly becomes clear. The man is planning to kill the driver of either a taxi or an Uber. Detective Cole, on the street on traffic duty after irritating his superior, is the unlucky policeman who witnesses the first murder.

It is soon clear that the first murder is just an opening salvo. The caller seems to have plotted a plan that gives him access to Jordan's building as well as landmarks around New York City. The murders start to add up, most by bombs that have been planted. Jordan starts to realize that the man is focused on her. Charlotte is on site as she has been dropped off by Jordan's ex. Jordan must keep the man talking while hoping the police can find and disarm him. But it is soon clear that Jordan will have to use all her wits and savvy to keep the man engaged and that the entire plot is a payback for a sordid episode in her past. Can the police and Jordan find the caller before he manages to kill more people?

This novel is a rollercoaster ride. The tension starts early and continues to racket up chapter after chapter. J.D. Barker is a rising star in the thriller genre and this book will enhance that reputation even more. There is character development of the main characters and a full slate of secondary characters each of whom plays a part. The narrators were effective in portraying the rising tension and the split second decisions that have to be made. This novel is recommended for thriller readers.

This is a fast paced action thriller that ramps up the action and explosions as the book progresses. I listened to the audio book and the narrators were fantastic. I felt like I was listening to a movie. My biggest critique is that I needed to suspend my belief that any of this could happen.

(Rating of 3.5 out of 5)

The most accurate description I have heard of J. D. Barkers books is the term "popcorn for the brain". They have never claimed to write serious literary books with deep messages about humanity - instead they offer a chance to escape into wild stories often featuring some form of psychological depravity.

A Caller's Game was my second foray into their work and while I wasn't as impressed as I was with the 4MK series, it was still enjoyable.

To say this novel is fast paced is an understatement. It dives into the action almost immediately and it's unrelenting, heart-stopping and engrossing from the beginning. But it didn't glue me to the story. Perhaps I wasn't in the right mood, but I kept experiencing moments of tedium throughout the high-pressure plot. Action fatigue? Is that a thing? Whatever it was, I constantly felt like I was 'pulled out' and ended up observing the story unfolding as opposed to being immersed in it, something that usually happens when I'm reading a good book.

So what did I like? The characters were flawed and multi-dimensional - big tick there. The plot, while larger than life, was intriguing and (mostly) made sense - tick. The writing was smooth and unobtrusive - tick. The setting of a New York highrise added to the thrilling sense of confined danger - tick. The shock-jock radio announcer/helicopter parent and recent divorcee protagonist was an original concept executed very well - another big tick. All of the elements were there for a total page-turner and I really surprised myself by not becoming fully invested.

The more I think about it, the more I think I needed a little more dirt and grime from this one. This read as more shiny, air-brushed Hollywood (I could actually picture this as a blockbuster film) when I need more darkness and complicated moral ambiguity.

Overall this was a really solid book. Maybe I'm becoming too picky in my old age having read so many thrillers, but something about it just didn't quite stick for me. I will still be seeking out J D Barker's work, and I would recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced thriller with more action than you ever thought possible.

A Caller's Game is a total escapist story. It has action, adventure, twists and did I mention action. Jordan Briggs is a radio talk show host on SiriusXM. When a caller calls in asking her to play a game, Jordan follows it to see if it will lead to something interesting for her listeners. What happens with this game will change many people's lives as well as disrupt the city. Detective Cole Hundley was on traffic duty when the first taxi was detonated outside the building where Jordan works. He plunges into the middle of this story and between him and Jordan, we also find out what the caller has in store.

This book is a ride. It is told alternately from the POVS of Jordan and Cole. They are both in the building but on different floors and with different goals. Jordan's main goal is to keep her daughter safe, Cole wants to figure out what the motive is and how to stop this madman. My feelings for Jordan went back and forth throughout the novel. There were times I did not like this arrogant and rude woman and times I felt sorry for her. As the story unfolds, we find out why this crazy has targeted Jordan, and it is a doozy of a story. Cole is a dedicated cop, and yes as the blurb suggests, a bit John McClane from Die Hard. He puts his life on the line to stop what is happening. That is all I am going to say. If you are looking for a few hours of fun, action and a book you really don't have to think about grab A Caller's Game, it is pure entertainment and I can definitely see this being made into a movie.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Brian Hutchison and Mia Barron. I enjoyed their performances and they did an amazing job with this story. The expression, emotion and tone added that feeling of adventure and edge of your seat that I felt in the story. I really enjoyed both of these narrators and will not hesitate to listen to their work again.

Imagine Jigsaw playing a game with Howard Stern and you will have a great idea on what this book is about.

I enjoyed listening to this book. Even though this book felt long, it was still very fast paced with several twists. There were a few at the end that were very surprising to me.

I had a hard time with the MC Jordan since her character is very unlikeable, but that is the point of the story. I found the evolution of her character very interesting. I also struggled with Jordan's daughter. They made her sound very grown up and the jokes she made felt like I was watching a Disney T.V. show. I will say, if that is my biggest complaint, that isn't too bad.

I will definitely be reading more of J.D. Barker's books.

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I did not enjoy this book. It was too long and the plot was just dragging on with no end in sight. I kinda liked the female voice. I listened to her before and wasn't a big fan, but I got used to it, it seems. The male reading was just bad.
I was constantly irritated by the plot and I just didn't see the final "hell, yes" moment at the end. Not my thing.

My thanks to Net Galley, the publisher, and audio staff for this Excellent on the edge of your seat thriller.

Jordan Briggs is a popular Satellite Radio host. She receives a call from a Bernie, who asks Jordan if she wants to play a game? The game turns our to have explosive and deadly ramifications having to do with a tragic event in Bernies past that Jordan had a hand in.

I loved this. Got a feel of the 1971 movie Play Misty For Me, with Clint Eastwood with the psychopath caller angle, and Die Hard with the rest of the story. HIGHLY recommend!!

I took up A Caller's Game due to its compelling title & blurb. Being a fan of live radio shows, reading the book's summary, I couldn't restrain myself from requesting this audiobook from NetGalley. I have never read Die Hard (which people are stating is similar to this plot), nor any of J.D. Barker's books, but I am happy I could listen to this action-packed thriller which ain't less than a film in any sense.

As the writer mentions, this whole novel is more character-driven than plot-driven. But, I sensed that it got dragged uselessly & I got worn out midway. I had to inwardly make myself set for the long tale-telling. The narrators' voices befitted the male & female personalities which brought the account to a totally another level. Nonetheless, you don't realize you are holding your breath till you actually free it at the end of each episode.

This exciting novel is all regarding good v/s evil, kindness v/s selfishness. The narrative from the POV of two actors provides a more handy picture of the account & the situations both currently face. Every part gets more interesting than the earlier one. However, some of them could have been let go. The tale is puzzling, unusual & at one time agonizing. I would recommend this one to all thriller fans.

4.5 action-packed, what-the-hell-is-happening stars!! Wow this book was non-stop!! It was totally different than anything I've read, & I was constantly on the edge of my seat! The characters were so realistic & flawed, I could understand & empathize, even with the ones I didn't like so much. I'm not always into action (the genre,) but for such an outrageous story the author did a great job at making it feel completely possible. I'd recommend this to all of my thriller-reading friends, & I'm genuinely looking forward to my next 1 by J.D. Barker.

As far as the audiobook version specifically.. I really enjoyed it & the narrators did an excellent job portraying the high stress situations without going overboard. The male narrators speech was a little halted at times, but not enough to take away from the story. I'm really glad I listened to this 1!

Thanks to NetGalley, J.D. Barker, & Hampton Creek Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed the narrators of this audio book, they really allowed me to get a mental picture of what the main characters looked like. A famous radio host gets a call from a man who wants to playa game. She gets to choose if he blows up taxis or Ubers. If she doesn't choose quickly, he makes the choice. This game continues on and on for Jordan Briggs, with the help of one of New York's finest. Jordan's past is coming back to haunt her and she is forced to decide what is truly important in life. Fast paced, full of twists and turns! I recommend this to anyone who likes thrillers, suspense, and so g entertained.

What do you get when you combine the iconic movies, Die Hard and Speed, you get an awesome story like A Caller's Game by J.D. Barker. I was glued to this story from the very beginning. This book is full of surprises and the deeper you get into the book the bigger the twist and turns are.

This is only my second J.D. Barker book, the first being The Fourth Monkey (which I highly recommend) and I ask myself, why haven't I read more from this brilliant author. This goes beyond creating great characters. Creating characters that are likable and have depth while weaving a complex story that only gets bigger and more thrilling as you go is indeed having your cake and eating it too.

The audiobook is narrated by Mia Barron and Brian Hutchison, both do such a fantastic job bringing this story to life. There are many audiobook narrators that have great voices but the best ones really get into character and take on the role of an actor and Mia and Brian play this out like a blockbuster movie.

I highly recommend this book, you will not be disappointed. I am planning on picking up another J.D. Barker book very soon! Both books that I have read have been great and I expect I will enjoy more from this author.

I want to thank J.D. Barker, Mia Barron, Brian Htchinson, Recorded Books Inc. and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.