495 pages

3 and 1 / 2 stars

I simply adore Mr. Barker’s writing. I’ve read all of his previous novels and devoured them. They were so exciting, and very fast reads. I couldn’t stop turning the pages, even to sleep.

However, I did not enjoy this entry very much. It is a departure from his crime-related books. The antagonists were simply abhorrent to me.

That being said, Mr. Barker’s writing is consistently fine. His characters are fully formed and very vibrant. They are truly believable. I was there witnessing the horror, which made the experience worse for me. He has received five star ratings from me for his past novels. I will continue to read this author’s work. I am a dedicated fan.

I want to thank NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

I just finished Behind a Closed Door and this book made me want to get myself a burner phone. This book takes you on a wild ride and I love it! I’ve read some of JD Barker’s books and this is another 5 stars for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for providing me the ARC.

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 in this sexually charged dark thriller.

First off I loved the cover! I am not normally a horror reader but because this was another favourite author I decided to give it a go. This is definitely something different from him as I have read all the books he has written and I did really enjoy it. It is an absolutely bazaar concept and not overly horrific, but incredibly fast paced that once you start you will race through as it s it is very hard to put down and is incredibly thrilling and gripping.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for an advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

Behind a Closed Door by @jdbarker_author is very dark, graphic and not for the faint hearted.

Brendan and Abbey are having marriage difficulties do enable tbf help of a marriage counsellor who recommends they download the app 'Sugar and Spice' to help spice up their marriage.

At first the app is harmless but then it gets dark, very dark. Brendan and Abbey must complete a series of challenges, test their friendships and stay together to stay alive.

This book has many twists and turns but also makes you seriously question our reliance on electronics and the influence and intrusion they have on our daily lives.

Switch off your phone, sit back and be prepared for edge of your seat suspense from beginning to end. I cannot wait for the TV series/film.

#suspensethriller #hamptoncreekpress #bookrecommendations #bookreviewer #halloweenreads #octoberreads #booklover #bookstagram

***Thank you to Net Galley, Hampton Creek Press & JD Barker for the chance to enjoy this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review***

One of life's biggest fears (at least for me anyway) is being watched. Technology has become so advanced in the matter of years that the idea of an app or some sort of social media platform can *watch* or monitor what we do is not only very plausible but also downright creepy.

In true JD Barker fashion, the story had me in a chokehold merely pages in. It was sleek, sexy, action-packed, and downright creepy. Our main characters are in a bad spot in their relationship. In comes the app Sugar & Spice. Think of like truth or dare but kind of sexy and a whole lot of wild.

Things go wrong and then they go very wrong.

It brings us to the question.... Would you kill a total stranger to protect/save your partner?

I think we would all react in various ways. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my read and I think you will too!

Love JD Barker - his stories have you on the edge of your seat.

Will definitely watch this if it's being made into a movie but remove the tag line Fifty Shades meets The Game..........Fifty Shades is nothing compared to this!

Thank you to the author, Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy

5/5

I went in to this world blind and was pleasantly surprised when I realized I was getting similar vibes to the movie Nerve (the one with Emma Roberts and Dave Franco).

The story takes place with Abby and Brendan at a marriage counseling session. An app is recommended to them to help spice up their relationship; think truth or dare but for adults. Or in this case, sugar and spice.

If you’ve seen the movie Nerve, then you can imagine how WILD and… deadly, things can get when truths, dares, and technology begin to take over.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hampton Creek Press for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

WOW. Behind A Closed Door absolutely blew my mind! It was a tense, adrenaline filled, wild ride of a story. I can't recommend it highly enough.
It drew me in immediately and didn't let go the whole way through. I stayed up until 2am to finish it, I just couldn't put it down.

The concept is scarily possible in an age like ours, with such advanced technology.
It has everything I love in a good psychological thriller: Darkness, great twists, relatable characters, a bit of spice and a genius storyline.

I loved Abby and Brendan. I genuinely cared what happened to them, which made the book more tense and exciting to read.
Romeo and Juliet were great characters too, I both loved and hated them.

I love how diverse JD is with his writing, you never know where he's going to go next, but I always look forward to finding out.

5 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC on the book in exchange for an honest review, unfortunately I just don't think this Author is for me.
I also didn't like 4MK so I'm not sure why I thought I'd like this book. It's possible I'm in the minority for this as well!

The story was intriguing at the start and a good reminder of the harm our reliance on technology could do but the story was entirely too far fetched for me!

JD Barker is definitely in my category of favorite authors. I am not a collaboration book fan so I can’t comment on those books from him. ‘Literary popcorn’ was the term mentioned after his last solo release, A Caller’s Game, and this book fills the reader’s bucket with even more hot, buttery, and salty thriller kernels in this intense page turner.

I read this book on Kindle with no progress indicator which was fun because of the unexpected twists and turns along the way. I appreciated the Author’s Note as well as the Bookclub info about the book’s title. I feel the cover is effective for a JD Barker book and getting reader attention.

A daring, intense, wild ride!!! Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and JD Barker for the opportunity to read this story in exchange for an honest review. Looking forward to listening to the audiobook in the future!

Omg I just love his books

I was so pleased when I got this off netgalley it's like Christmas came early for me.

What a twisted story of the web and very clever it's true what money sex and power can do to people this book was perfectly written.

I literally have no words I was hooked he's done it again a page turner.

Can't wait to read more

Five stars

I've read and thoroughly enjoyed a number of J.D. Barker's books. His plots are always engrossing and his writing crisp and clear. When I had the opportunity to read his latest book I jumped at the chance.

Behind a Closed Door is a super-fast paced thriller that I didn't want to put down once I started reading it. Mr. Barker has an extraordinary imagination and with his newest tale he's presented us with an edgy, cautionary worst-case scenario of our current overreliance on technology. I really enjoyed the time I spent in the world he created, although it was a bit frightening too. Highly recommend!

Thank you to J.D. Barker and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love J. D. Barker and "Behind a Closed Door" is another win for me. He draws you in on page one!!

've been captivated by J.D. Barker's writing ever since I delved into his riveting 4MK series. So, naturally, I was eager to dive into BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR. The concept had me intrigued from the start. However, I must admit that by the midpoint, the narrative became a tad too intricate for my taste. While I'm accustomed to stretching my imagination for thrillers, this one required a leap that was a bit too grand.

Nonetheless, Barker's compelling writing style remains undeniable. I'm genuinely looking forward to his future works, even though this particular piece didn't resonate with me.

My gratitude to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for providing me the chance to explore BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR.

Abby and Brendan are in a marriage slump and visit a relationship therapist who advises them to download an app called Sugar and Spice.
Loosely based on the Truth and Dare game, there are certain tasks they have to complete.


I wouldn't class this actually as "Horror", but it is horrific how invested people get in the games and apps that are available.
I consider myself a technophile, but when everything in your house is connected, I think it can be dangerous. This is what the book points out.
Loved the book, while I didn't understand all the intricacies, found it fascinating and unputdownable.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Behind a Closed Door" by J.D. Barker is a masterpiece of psychological thriller fiction that leaves readers on the edge of their seats. Barker's writing is nothing short of extraordinary, as he weaves a complex web of suspense, mystery, and tension that captivates from the very first page. His ability to craft deeply flawed and compelling characters is unparalleled, making you question the motives and secrets of every individual in the story.
Although my first choice would not be a "50 shades" storyline, I was gripped by the plot which is a rollercoaster ride of heart-pounding twists and turns, with an intricately layered narrative that keeps you guessing until the very end.
In my opinion a current day possibility of our dependence on Apps and technology, leaving us vulnerable to their control over our lives.
"Behind a Closed Door" is a must-read for anyone who craves a chilling and intellectually stimulating mystery.

Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

My thought process when I saw this available on NetGalley: JD Barker… as in the author of the 4MK trilogy? SIGN ME UP!

What a treat! I enjoyed this so much. I love this author’s writing style. I couldn’t put this down and stayed up way past my bedtime to read it in one sitting.

An Interesting plot and a sexually charged book. There were twists and turns that kept me riveted and I couldn't stop reading. I want to read more by this author and I want to thank Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. As soon as I read the synopsis I knew this was the book that I was longing for.

This book was really suspenseful, full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat, I couldn't stop reading as I had to know what happened at every twist and turn. This author has a great writing style.

What did I just read????
You know you see people saying this all of the time, right?! Well, I’m a little dumbfounded. I slept on my review and this morning I woke up thinking differently than when I when to sleep. Sorry.

EVERYONE KNOWS The Fourth Monkey trilogy. I mean…. that 3rd one, The Sixth Wicked Child is in my top 10 books ever read. A masterpiece to an ending. Unfortunately, this isn’t his best work. However, if you love lots of action, you will love this.
***The Story***

Abby and Brendan have been married some years. With that being said, they seek outside help from a therapist. Their therapist suggests they download an app called Sugar and Spice. We will call it a ‘truth or dare’ type game. The app is the number one download across the country. So it must be good right?

At first I thought this was just going to be a S&M type thing. YEP, YOU READ THAT RIGHT. Which felt pretty weird for Barker. Then it became so much more. Not only are they playing, a billion other people are too. What do they win? Loads of money or meet their demise. DEATH 😳

To really enjoy this, you’ve got to think conspiracy theories and anything goes. Highly unbelievable. A crazy wild ride for sure. There wasn’t anything special about the writing, which I know he can do extremely well. The story was an action cat and mouse game through most of it. This just wasn’t my cup of tea. But on a side note….. this is being made into a motion picture….. so what do I know eh?

I’d like to thank NetGalley, Hampton Creek Press, and J.D Barker for a copy. All opinions are my own. Publication date
May 6th, 2024
3.5 ⭐️