It was worth the wait of 2 years for Barker's new book....WOW!!!! This book makes "50 Shades of Grey" look like a fairy tale! I could not put this book down and honestly it gave me heart palpitations.. You will definitely be very cautious of apps you download - this book brings technology and sex apps to the next level - so scary!!! J.D. - please don't make us wait too long for your next book.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the awesome opportunity to read Behind a Closed Door by JD Barker . Sugar & Spice is the latest app craze taking the world by storm, but for Abby and Brendan Hollander, downloading it leads to a dangerous game of life and death. When the app assigns them a series of increasingly taboo tasks, they soon find themselves caught up in a twisted web of seduction and violence. This book was an on edge of seat keep wanting what’s next book. I loved it to the end!

I don’t have enough words to describe this book. I’m so thankful to be able to read this book early through netgalley. I got it around Christmas and was so excited my husband laughed at me! I love J.D. Barker books and craved more of his books so when this one showed up I was so very happy. This book will take you on a roller coaster ride of action, love and suspense.The characters you get to know each and everyone you build that likable and anger towards them and the ending was perfect and not seen coming and I love to read his author notes all I can say is thank you Mr. Barker for hitting send finally to share this book with us.

I am a massive J.D. Barker fan and this book did not disappoint! Abby and Brendan, are having some marriage problems, after a few therapy sessions, they find themselves downloading an app calles "Sugar & Spice". At first the app is fun with its questions and fun little dares but eventually things begin to take a turn.

All it takes is one Spice that Abby doesn't complete, and the game turns from fun to destructive. This is going to make a great film, as it was a super unique and fun read. However, as much fun I had with this one, I also found myself loosing focus at some points.

nah nah nahhhh
she said they trust her scalpel so i know you’re in on it!!!
i just don’t know… how… >_>
<_<
for how long this felt (and happily so!)
i feel i need another book
i need to delve further
come on jd
chop chop
tell me you’re writing a sequel
go ahead and comment on this post bc i know you’re gonna see this! 👀😤
who da heck is elsa!
what is going on at the end! i need more answers
i sped read and couldn’t put this down, had to know what was going on

Sugar and Spice, but it’s not always nice!

Abby and Brendan Hollander’s marriage has become a little stale, and they decide that some counselling sessions will help. Their therapist Dr Donetti suggests they download an app called Sugar and Spice that is apparently taking the world by storm. They take her advice in order to help spice things up. Big mistake!

Initially it puts a little welcome steam back into their love life, but as the app sends ever more weird and dangerous missions for them to complete, they realise (too late) that it’s completely taken over their lives.

Well, ten out of ten for originality Mr Barker. This is a cautionary tale about clicking on some random app without checking (All) the terms of service - and how many of us actually do that - that small print that goes on forever? The app turns out to be a very dark and dangerous online game, but it provided lots of tension and it was certainly a page turner! I always thought my smartphone was the best that technology could offer - the bees knees, but ‘ Behind A Closed Door’ got me thinking that there was a lot to be said for my old flip phone after all!

3.75rounded up. Thank you to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for the ARC .
This book was a wild ride. There’s several plot twists that kept me guessing, and I was thoroughly entertained throughout the book. Good read!

This author is one of my favorite authors of late, he has a real masterful way of telling a story that really grabs your attention and keeps it. Abby and Brendan have been married for a while, hoping for a child, both working and both feel like they want more from their relationship, so decide to see a therapist. She recommends they download an app, Sugar and Spice (this book will make you think twice about downloading an app) is an app that promises to add some excitement to a relationship, at first both Abby and Brendan pick Sugar types of challenges, most are a little risky, sex in an elevator, buying and wearing expensive/sexy clothing, touching sexually in public. But then the Spice challenges start, and they aren't so sexy and that's where things get scary. Another story line follows Romeo and Juliet (a not so romantic couple, they appear to be murdering indiscriminately) , at first what they do doesn't tie together with what is happening with Abby and Brendan, until their paths cross and things go from scary to downright terrifying and Abby and Brendan are in a fight for their life as well as trying to figure out what or who is behind the chaos that has become their life. I will say I found the beginning made me a bit squeamish with some of the sex acts, but once past that I really did enjoy this and would recommend it. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Hampton Creek Press for the ARC.

During a marriage counseling session, Abby and Brendan are given a suggestion to download a relationship app called Sugar and Spice to add some inspiration into their marriage. Brendan is a financial analyst who discovers that a company he is assigned to investigate is siphoning money into a secret account. Abby is a writing her second novel and decides to use inspiration for her new book from the Sugar and Spice tasks they are given from the app. Little did they know, the app takes over every “smart” device in their lives. They discover millions have downloaded the app and earn points for every task they complete, and with each task completed the next task becomes more daring. Soon the app becomes deadly putting Brendan and Abby at the top of the hit list.

by J.D. Barker ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

WHAT A PAGE TURNER!!!

J. D. Barker is a fantastic author who just isn't talked about enough and I don't understand why! If this is your first time trying this author I STRONGLY suggest you start 'A Callers Game' or 'The Fourth Monkey' series next.

I loved the concept of this book, it had a real John Marrs feel to it. (in particular 'The Passengers') it also made me want to ditch my smart phone.

Can not recommend this book enough as a must read for 2024

I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. I'm a big fan of J.D. Barker's, so I was happy to read this, and I wasn't disappointed! This is the best book he's written since the Fourth Monkey.

Brendan, an agent for the FDIC, and Abby, a writer, were in marriage counseling, and their new therapist suggested that they download an app called Sugar & Spice to help with their sex life. And it worked! Until it got more and more dangerous with no way out.

What a wild ride! Just when I thought I knew where the story was headed, there was a twist. Not just once, but over and over! J.D. Barker knows how to keep you guessing and keep turning pages late into the night.

I definitely recommend Behind a Closed Door for anyone who enjoys spine-tingling suspense. I can't wait for more of his books to be published!

4.25 stars-I love that JD Barker goes all in on his books, violence, sex, nothing is held back or minimized. Know going in, this book is heavy on both (I have read all of his previous books so I was prepared.) The story begins with a couple who have grown apart. They find a card for a therapist on their car windshield and decide to visit. (Weird way to advertise, but ok…) The therapist recommends a relationship app, kind of a relationship version of truth or dare, nice or naughty theme.) Meanwhile, Brendan, the husband, is a forensic accountant who is looking into a company that is syphoning money out of their business. The two things connect and the story unfolds. What I really enjoyed/kind of freaked out about, is how real the technology in this book could be. Millions of people downloaded the app, and like most people (including me), did not pay attention to what they were allowing in terms of privacy settings. The app has access to your photos, all of your Bluetooth devices, your camera, your microphone, etc and it pays rewards when you reach new levels. In this case it was a let’s see how far we can make people go. What if something like that did come out, and people wee given choices and challenges like one from the book “would you kill someone if it meant saving your partners life?” A lot of moral considerations to ponder for sure. Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc. All opinions are my own, and heck yeah, I am going to be seeing this when it becomes a movie!

An action-packed thriller by bestselling author of the Fourth Monkey series. The Fourth Monkey series is highly regarded and before reading I'd seen it recommended everywhere, so I was eager to see what else this author could offer up. The story was a little slow to start with but once it got going it didn't let up. The story was fast-paced and thrilling and I could easily see this one being made into a movie. The premise of an app is interesting and very current and relevant today. There were twists and reveals I didn't see coming. Overall, a great book by a talented author.

Wow what did I just read. This was such a unique concept. I loved the plot. The characters were very well done and relatable. This book moved at a great pace. Oozes with suspense and terror. There are moments in this one that will leave your jaw literally hanging. Heart pounding chills throughout. This one is a real page turner a great creepy spine tingling read!

Thank you to netgalley and Hampton Creek Press, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for allowing me to read this book. I really enjoyed the grittiness of this book.

The premise of this book is intriguing but good lord it was painful. You want some nitty gritty smut? Check. You want some murder and complexity? Check. You want something long drawn out and by the end you wish you were one of the murder victims? Check.

Abby and Brendan are trying to save their marriage, visit a therapist, who suggest they may download an app to spice up their relationship. Both of them are being dared, letting them choose between "sugar" and "spice", which adds some sensuality to the story, still quickly you feel there will be more to come. A sence of violence and danger makes the story switch from soft erotic experimenting to a nerve-wrecking violent and scary story. And it makes you realize that, in our today's world, this could happen to a lot of us.
I feel like either being on a rollercoaster or in the middle of an action movie, still very curious to find out how it all comes together. The way this book was written reminds me of another Barker stand alone "a caller's game", which made me feel similar when reading it.
I really enjoyed reading 'Behind a closed door', quite some unexpected twists kept the story pretty entertaining.
I read a comparison "50 shades meet 'The Game'", but I would rather go for "50 shades meet Tarantino".
Thanks to JD Barker for yet another great book and for giving the opportunity to read it well beforehand through this channel !

Don't download that APP!!! 😱

Wow, such a cautionary tale + a heavy dose of sugar & spice.

Brendan and Abby are working on their marriage and find an app called Sugar & Spice that promises to "fix your sex life". Okay, well what could wrong? Brendan tells her its just "a game" and if it tells them to do something they don't want, then they just won't. Well, it doesn't quite work that way!

Reading this book felt dangerous! Things spin out of control fast. There are plenty of triggers, hardcore happenings that seemed to be driven by some kind of puppet master. Even though reading was uncomfortable at times, I couldn't put it down for long. I had to find out what was in store for the "players". ☠️

I appreciated the Author's Note where he reminds us of how our devices can sometimes rule our worlds and how we should always read the "Terms of Service" when we sign up for any contract. Just who is watching/listening to us? 👀

JD barker knocked it out of the park again! A new favorite! If you love thriller suspense and edge of your seat madness this book is for you!

A thought provoking, dark humour filled, satirical thriller in the digital age of our blind acceptance and possible manipulation. Don’t be surprised if immediately after finishing this adult read, you delete all your apps, destroy your phones and computers and go and live totally off the grid; but really it’s already too late anyway! Thank you to Hampton Creek Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.