When Bernie calls the radio show and suggests playing a game, unsuspected radio host Jordan Briggs accepts it. But she is not aware of what she started by doing that.

A Caller's Game is an audiobook full of action, fast-paced right from the beginning to the end. It would make a good action movie. Blurb compared it to Die Hard, and I can imagine (younger) Bruce Willis playing a lead role here as detective Cole. The story is told from two points of view: Jordan's and detective Cole's. Narrated by Brian Hutchison (Cole) and Mia Barron (Jordan), and they both did an excellent job.

I don't usually read books of this genre, but I enjoyed this audiobook anyway. Although, the last quarter of this audiobook contained too much action for me, and I didn't enjoy it as I did the first part. I would recommend it to all who like thrillers and very fast-paced books, audiobooks, or movies. If you like fast-paced action thrillers, you will love this!

Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this! All opinions are my own.

The bad guy calls into a radio talk show saying, "I'm going to offer you a choice." The host, Jordan, has no idea what this could be and treats it as a crank call. I did love her sassiness and her unwillingness to bend to what everyone wanted. However, when lives depend on your choice, you better listen. I was intrigued at the beginning of this book. The female narrator's for Jordan was wonderful. It suited the character perfectly. I could totally listen to her on a radio station any day of the week. Then there was the bad guy, the male narrator always had odd pauses while reading. It really bugged me as there seemed to be no rational pattern or cause for them that I could identify. After a while, the attacks became a little outlandish and on such a great scale that it made some things very implausible to pull off. I think the thing that made me not like the book was that Jordan should've been able to identify the bad guy immediately or at least hazard a guess. As the story progressed, this made me even madder. It just never seemed to go anywhere for me.

Thanks to Netgalley, J.D. Barker for my Hampton Creek Press for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

I did not like this story. It went on and on and on. And there was NO relief. The villan is sooo bad and NEVER gets a pay back...NEVER.
And the ending is really lame plus on and on and on.
And the authors message was REALLY not necessary.
If you liked Die Hard that never gets resolved and every electronic device, such as camera, microphone and listening device installed EVERYWHERE.
Just on and on...relentless . It was just too long and never-ending. And then the end was NOT satisfying.
I would have shot this guy in every limb and balls to make sure he suffered.
Dont pull me through the ringer for 80+ chapters and give me NO satisfaction.
I could not wait for the end.
I was given this ARC for an honest review

From my blog: Always With a Book:

J.D. Barker has been on my list to read for quite some time now and I got a taste for his writing when I picked up a book he co-wrote with James Patterson earlier this year, The Coast-to-Coast Murders. So when I saw this audiobook available on Netgalley, I immediately requested it...and I'm so glad I did. It was quite the thrilling read and now I'll definitely be adding the rest of J.D. Barker's books to my shelf!

This book grabbed me from the get-go and never let up. Talk about a book that keeps you guessing...this one was non-stop on that front. I never knew what to expect next and I absolutely loved that! It is one adrenaline-filled read that keeps you on the edge of your seat as you desperately try to work out what is going on and what might possibly come next.

What I found most incredible is that even though there is someone killing all these people, for some crazy reason, you end up feeling bad for them. It's so hard to even put into words how that even happens, but you end up feeling for the guy...or maybe that's just my empathy coming into play.

I'm so glad I grabbed this one. It really kept me going and I am now a fan of this author. I did find out there is going to be another collab between J.D. and James Patterson, out in August, but in the meantime, I'll be trying to squeeze in J.D.'s 4MK Thriller series. If you are a fan of fast-moving, action-packed thrillers, I highly recommend this one.

Audio thoughts: This was a great book to listen to...both narrators did an excellent job with their parts and really brought this audio to life. The pacing and intonation was spot on and they both infused just the right amount of tension and emotion into their voices as needed. I loved listening to this one and found I just could not put it down until I finished it!

A Caller’s Game
J D Barker
Jordan Briggs is a radio talk show host willing to do anything to gain listeners and increase ratings. She says what she thinks will intrigue and challenge her millions of listeners; it matters not who is hurt because her listening audience likes her style. Listeners call in to her talk show to complain, question, or praise her.
Her morning starts off with Jordan running behind and stuck in traffic. She leaves her car in the middle of the street and runs to the studio/radio station. Detective Cole has been placed on traffic duty by a disgruntled boss. When Cole Hundley witnesses Jordan abandoning her car in the middle of heavy traffic, he follows her to the radio station. That’s where things begin to go wrong. A caller takes responsibility for a bomb going off. Jordan is smart and can outthink any caller…or can she. The caller, Bernie, wants to play a game. “I’m going to offer you a choice.” At first Jordan thinks her choices are insignificant; it doesn’t take long for her to realize lives are at stake.
So begins what will be a terrible day for a lot of people but especially for Jordan Briggs and Detective Cole.
When you think of Jordan think of a female Howard Stern…a shock jock. Jordan is not a likable or sympathetic character and yet the reader begins to sense redemption and witnesses the change. Detective Cole is a hero. This is a high action read. A Caller’s Game has been compared to Die Hard on steroids. The book is over 400 pages of non-stop action.

For the first half hour or so of the audiobook, I just couldn't get into the story. I almost gave up on it, but decided not to since I got this book from NetGalley so that I could provide an honest review. I'm really glad that I stuck it out, though! Once I got into the book and the story really took off, I was hooked. Towards the end, the character of Bernie, and his actions, started to seem a little repetitive. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book, and I think I'll check out other works by J.D. Barker.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Not really my cup of tea but was pretty good even if the bad guy was annoying lol

Female narrator 5 stars
I absolutely loved loved loved this narrator. I loved her voice, the way she talked, she sucked me so hard into this world it was playing out like a movie in my head!! I could listen to her read me the ingredients of paint

Male narrators 2 stars
I didn't not like this narrator. While his voice was nice the way he structured his sentences made blood come out of my ears. He was painful.

Story 5 stars
All my reading buddies I've sent them the screenshot of this book saying you have to read this. It's like the movies Phone booth, Speed and Die Hard mashed together!!
HBO is going to make a mini series out of this!!! (that's my hope anyway)

I was allowed to listen to a copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

I was hooked from the first chapter, and continued to be hooked through the whole listen. The narrators were both fantastic and really gave the main characters their own voice which allowed me to visualize the story as it progressed.

Fun and fast paced listen, one that I believe will not let anyone down. Highly recommend.

Firstly, a big thank you to J.D. Barker, Netgalley and Hampton Creek Press for the opportunity to get this ARC for an unbiased review.
Controversial satellite radio talk show host, Jordan Briggs, has clawed her way to the top of the broadcast world. She doesn’t hold back, doesn’t spare feelings, and has no trouble sharing what's on her mind. Due to this trait of hers she has made quite a few enemies to say the least, but none more deadly than one from the past.
From the very beginning I didn’t like Jordans “the world evolves around me attitude.”
She’s rude and obnoxious and I just did not like her one bit, and her 11 year old daughter was just the same.
As far as my dislike extends, well that’s it. From the get go there was action, explosions and so very fast paced.
There honestly was never a dull moment and I could not put this book down. To compare this book to a die hard movie was spot on.
So if you’re a fan of fast paced action with a great storyline, then this is the novel for you. Definitely one I would be recommending. Thanks again for this ARC NetGalley, JD Barker and Hampton Creek Press.

J.D Barker has solidified his name in the thriller genre with this title. While I have loved his previous works, personally this stands out from them.

A Caller's game has every ingredient to make it a blockbuster hit on the big screen. Set over one day, it is true to the "ticking clock" that thrillers lay their hold over in order to solicit genuine fear. This has it in spades.

A full synopsis can be found in the blurbs you find on all platforms, but one thing that they leave out - is the heart-wrenching emotional rollercoaster it takes you on. Every chapter pushed the plot forward, all the while developing characters and slowly strips off the layers to find out who they truly are. It's marvelous.

In regards to the audio itself, a solid job well done to both narrators. The only drawback I have with the two narrators is that they both narrate a certain character. This can be jarring when listening to it in the beginning, but over time it becomes relatively seamless. As well as the fact the narration of said character falls predominantly on one narrator themselves, leaving that "jarring" sensation in the rearview mirror. Other than that, excellent work by the team!

I just started to listen to this book so excitedly. But then ended up being disappointed because of the Narrator. I couldn't really move forward. I was struggling to get through the first chapter. Ugh! When I don't like the narrator, It's hard to really grasp the plot or understand what's actually happening in the book, I'm sorry. And for the first time me leaving a book has nothing to do with the author or the book itself. Note that, I'm only stop listening to it because of the way the narrator was reading the book. I tried a lot to get into it. The main character seemed interesting!😫😭

I'm not a fan of audiobooks but I decided to take baby steps. I only listen to two these year. One I loved, one I felt neutral. This one I'm abandoning so it doesn't count. And I was stupid enough to request this book without listening to the Audio Excerpt.

A Caller's Game drew me in right from the start. I've been a fan of Baker for a while and this book did not let me down. I love all the layers to the story and the way they unfolded. I couldn't stop listening and kept second-guessing the truth until the very end.

Jordan Briggs is a successful satellite radio talk show host who has become too big for her boots. She is brazen with everyone and doesn't let anything come in the way of the ratings. Even her family members don't figure in her list of priorities, with the sole exception of her eleven year old daughter. Until one fine day, when Bernie calls up the show and begins his deadly game, she realises that the tables have turned on her cockiness. And that all her decisions, whether past or present, have dangerous consequences. With an audience of millions as the interactions unfurl on live radio, the cat and mouse game between Jordan and Bernie has devastating consequences for many.

The story is told to us from two povs: that of Jordan and of Cole, a detective who unknowingly ends up right in the middle of the chaos. Both the povs are pretty well-written. While Cole is the typical good, brave detective who jumps in to save others without fearing for his own life, Jordan is an aggressive career woman who shows no mercy to anyone in her path. It is Bernie’s game that causes her to take a relook at her way of approaching things. Jordan's character arc is very interesting as it offers more scope for emotions. But the writing for her character could have been edited a little better; there are too many rambling conversations in her version of events and they take away from the pace of the narrative.

This book was kind of like Speed meets Die Hard meets an obnoxious female twin of Alan Partridge. It might work wonderfully as a big studio production, what with the endless scope for kickass action and huge fireball explosions and gory killings. I had high expectations from JD Barker as I've heard so much of his other series. And reading this book showed me why he has such staunch fans. He does keep the thrill factor on full flow from start to end. I enjoyed all the scenes where he bashed the untrue Hollywood depictions in action movies. As an action thriller, it does its job pretty well. But the second half of the book felt a little repetitive to me. While the prelude to the ending did have its share of surprises, the ending itself felt like that of a much predictable movie. This latter 50% caused my rating to go to under 4 stars.

I heard the audiobook, and narrators Brian Hutchison and Mia Barron do a great job of keeping the book enthralling throughout. I enjoyed both their performances. Brian Hutchison was very good, Mia Barron was outstanding. She brought Jordan to life perfectly.

I want to make a special mention of the author's note at the end. Written in March 2020, he speaks from the heart about the then newly-initiated covid lockdown. More than a year later, his fears still hold true and his note comes across as heartfelt. That afterword touched me deeply and I loved knowing the human side of the popular author. I just want to tell the author: “literary popcorn” is what is keeping us all sane during this pandemic. So please continue writing without paying much heed to snobbish critics.

This book gets a 3.75 from me.

Thank you, NetGalley and RB Media, for the Advanced Audio Review Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

If you only read or listen to one thriller this year, A Caller's Game is the book you want. Don't think twice about it. This book blew me away in a million different ways. HOLY SHIT!!

I read this book first and it was so good, I had to go back and listen to the audio book. The narrators made the book come to life. I could close my eyes and visualize the story. I felt the tension in every scene through their voices. I loved it!!

Jordan is the host of her show, Overdrive with Jordan Briggs on SirusXM. It's just another normal day until she gets a call from Bernie. Bernie is about to rock her world....literally.

Decisions from Jordans past are catching up to her and she has no choice but to play Bernie games. Bernie wants revenge and has no problem with killing anything in his path to get it. He is twisted with nothing to lose.

Let me tell you, the suspense in this book was absolutely bone chilling! It was so deep in my bones, I was afraid to read the next paragraph, let alone the next chapter. Expect to take hit after hit without ever seeing the punches coming your way. My breath was nonexistent throughout most of this book.

The action is nonstop from the second you start reading. Clear your schedules because I promise you, you will not put this book down.

It's no secret that I am a huge fan of this author ever since reading The Fourth Monkey. I have and will continue to read anything and everything J.D. Barker writes....no blurb required. If you are new to this author, buckle up and welcome to the club. If you're a fan already, I know you are going to love this book. It's absolutely phenomenal!!

I received a free copy of this audiobook from NetGalley, which said it'd be archived in 2 days. So pressure was on! Luckily, this was so incredibly exciting that I didn't want to put it down and just ignored friends and family instead. 🤷🏻‍♀️😂
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Synopsis: A controversial radio host, Jordan Briggs, receives a call asking to play a game. What seems harmless at first quickly turns deadly, and drags up events from Jordan's past to show her that her actions have consequences.
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The author's note describes this as "literary popcorn" - fun, entertaining, but not going to get into any life-changing themes or messages. It is definitely entertaining, but it also gets into messages of loss and grief, and what a parent would do to protect their child. Maybe not life-changing but still important!
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I would definitely recommend this if you like thrillers - it will keep you on the edge of your seat literally the entire time. There are twists throughout and it leaves you wondering who can actually be trusted. So exciting!

Thanks to #netgalley and #rbmedia for a free copy of this in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks NetGalley and RB Media for the audiobook ARC of A Caller's Game in exchange for honest review.
Plot: Jordan Brigss, host of a radio talk show gets involved in a game by one of the callers while live broadcasting. Little does she know the price of her choice.
Trigger warnings: Violence and death
Review:
Pros: The story was fast going, captivating and action packed. The characters were awesome. The narrators did a great job making the audiobook exhilarating.
Cons: Violent and lengthy story. The non stop action was hard to process at times.
Recommendation: for action book lovers.

While I truly appreciate J.D. Barker's style of writing - maybe it's just not for me. I thoroughly enjoyed about 50% of the book but the other 50% my brain just felt inundated with details and too much action for me to take a breath. I know many readers love an action packed suspense but this was just a bit too busy and moved a bit too fast for me. It was packed with action and drama but I felt like I needed breaks in between all of the action. Despite that, all of the characters felt very genuine and I found myself comparing them to people I know in real-life. The ending left me feeling just a bit empty and unsatisfied. I know what the author was going for with Jordan's character arch but I just wasn't left with any warm & fuzzies like I prefer to. Bernie was a very interesting character and I would have liked to get a bit more of his backstory. Overall, this was definitely a page turner but wouldn't be my go-to style of book.

I could easily see this as a blockbuster Hollywood film. The action picks up pretty early in the book and doesn’t let up until the end. This is my first JD Barker book and I’m wondering why I haven’t read one sooner.

Jordan Briggs is a Howard Sternish radio talk show host that will do just about anything for her ratings, Bernie calls in wanting her to play a game with her and choose this or that with deadly consequences no matter what she chooses. The book alternates chapters between Jordan and a detective banished to patrol duty named Cole. While I couldn’t decide how I felt about Cole because it is long into the book before you find out what banished him at work, there was nothing about Jordan that I liked, yet I enjoyed the book.

Now I’ll admit I’m not sure the plot is entirely plausible but again, it didn’t stop my enjoyment. I think I’ve read so many slow burn books that it is refreshing that this one moved along at such a fast pace. Admittedly I had to take a break from the audiobook because I would become overwhelmed. But after the break I always came back to find out what would happen next. And of all the characters I was most intrigued by why Bernie wanted to cause so much destruction and grief.

Brian Hutchison and Mia Barron narrate Cole and Jordan and do a terrific job. Having the right amount of excitement and never overpowering the story.

The book gives you no time to work out the whys, so if that is important to you, then I would choose a different book. If you are looking for an entertaining read that doesn’t let up from start to finish, then you will like this book.

I received this book from the publishers via Netgalley for a review. Loved it a very explosive (literally) thriller great characters. Would love to see this as a movie.