A disturbing crime thriller with a high level of soft pornography plus excessive amount of violence. This book was not to my taste.

OMG!! This was such a good book! I love JD Barker! And with Apps being all the rage right now is was nice to read about things like this. I can't wait for anyone and everyone to read this book. Some might think it is a little dark but others are going to love it!

I've read a couple of J.D. Barker's books. I enjoyed the suspense, the colourful characters and fast-paced action, so when I saw this title on NetGalley, I immediately requested it, hoping it would get me out of a reading slump.

In Behind a Closed Door, Abby and Brendan Hollander's marriage is on the rocks. They enlist the aid of a therapist, who suggests that they try the highly popular Sugar and Spice AP to try and rekindle the passion in their marriage.

What follows is a raunchy ride: "antics" in elevators, bathrooms in high class restaurants, masked clandestine rendezvous - and this is just the tip of the iceberg!

I won't go into any more details because it would spoil the adventure, but that explosive ending and the epilogue were well worth the constantly twisting ride. I will say this: Abby, the aspiring novelist in this story, is such a versatile badass!

For those who like a bit of "spice" in their suspense/action genre reading: this one's for YOU! My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. The writing was okay. The story over the top and disturbing.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Behind a Closed Door was my introductory book to J.D Barker and it certainly won’t be my last. This thriller hooked me right from the beginning and kept me intrigued all the way through.

Read if you enjoy
- Dark and suspenseful thrillers
- App taking the world by storm
- Taboo tasks
- Truth or Dare Vibes
- Multiple POVs
- No Cliffhangers

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

This book follows the story of multiple characters. The main ones being Brendan and Abby, who hit a rocky patch in their marriage and decide to attend couples counseling. By the end of the session, they leave with a suggestion and some homework from their therapist. Download the new and popular app Sugar & Spice and complete a few challenges. What could be the worse that could happen?

They begin rekindling their relationship and become eager to continue their exploration, until the app begins pushing them to do riskier and more taboo tasks. How safe are we in this world of technology when we grant an app access to our lives?

It’s been a while since I’ve read a thriller that kept me entertained!

Release Date: May 13, 2024

*Thank you to Netgalley and Hampton Creek Press for an ARC.

*Check trigger warnings before reading. It has strong language and content*

This was a bit of 50 Shades meets the movie Nerve.

Quick Synopsis: Abby and Brendan are having marital problems and enlist the help of a marriage counselor. She suggests a new App called Sugar and Spice. Kinda like a Truth and Dare. What starts out harmless turns into something much more nefarious.

What I liked: The idea of it. Very original but I for sure wouldn't take part in it!!! It was a super fast read and almost felt like two books in one but it worked out very well.

What I didn't like: Not much. Once it got rolling it rolled, but it did get a bit OTT, but that is ok as it worked well together. However, I had a hard time, once I realized the outcome, pulling it together. The end was one of those that felt out of left field and a nice neat bow.

Would recommend. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

“Would you kill a stranger to save your partner’s life?”

When married couple Abby and Brendan visit a marriage counselor to work through some problems they’ve been having, including sexual, she recommends they download an app called Sugar & Spice to well, Spice things up.

What follows is a rollercoaster ride of action, suspense and excitement very on par with Barker’s other works.

While there are definitely parts of the book that are over the top, there are parts that frankly, scare the crap out of me. The AI aspect, the way people are motivated by sex, money and power. Barker takes those ideas and runs with them.

While, not for everyone, I’ve enjoyed JD Barker’s writing since reading his 4MK series years ago and this one did not disappoint. I love the way he works through multiple storylines within the story and leaves you surprised with the way each one resolves itself. I did figure out one part before it was revealed this time, so yay me.

I found this to be a very quick read, jam packed with drama with a satisfying ending. Had it not been for some of the completely unbelievable parts (can’t get into them without spoiling things), I would have awarded 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so good!!! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Brendan and Abby have been having some marital problems and turn to therapy for help. Their therapist suggests an app called “Sugar and Spice” to help put some adventure back into their marriage. However, this app turns out to be way more than they bargained for.

Thank you NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press, Independent Book Publishers Association for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

OUTLIER ALERT!!! 🎶It's me!! Firstly, I persevered through the entire book, despite nearly giving up on it, before I became aware of the scandal. I only stumbled upon the scandal, after doing some research about this book because of my own troubles with it. That said, my rating is solely based on my genuine thoughts and enjoyment of the story. Nevertheless, I believe it's important to acknowledge the unethical incident that occurred.

<i>Author J.D. Barker is issuing an apology for a January 23 email pitch that invited numerous high-profile Book Tok influencers, predominantly young women, to create "racy" sponsored content promoting his upcoming novel. Following backlash from several influencers on TikTok, Barker has been dropped by his agent, Alec Shane of Writers House.</I>

Wow, what did I just read!?! I'm a bit speechless, but I'll attempt to articulate my thoughts. On one hand, there are positives: an intricate and compelling plot, a gripping cat-and-mouse game of action, a promising beginning, suspenseful moments, and an okay writing style-all of which kept me flipping the pages, even though it was a struggle.

So, what didn't click for me? Frankly, it felt incredibly unbelievable and over the top, ridiculously far fetched, with a predictable twist, numerous elements seemed out of place, and a scene that was deeply disturbing, particularly as a woman. The more I read, the more absurd it all seemed.

In summary, I believe this book simply wasn't to my taste. It seems to be a love-it-or-hate-it kind of book, with little room for middle ground. Regrettably, I cannot personally recommend it. I know many people will love this book so please do not base your decision to read it solely on my review. ⭐️⭐️

✨2.5 stars rounded down to 2✨

Brilliant Writing!!!!

An absolutely Brilliant read!

Thank you NetGallary for an early review copy of Behind A Closed Door!

This book was so freaking good! J. D. Barker has me in a chokehold! Seriously!

I absolutely loved A Caller’s Game and The Fourth Monkey however this book took me off the cliff!

Storytelling at its Best! This book has it all! Steam, heart pounding suspense, twists and turns you never see coming!

Character development was phenomenal!

This thriller was absolutely perfect!

I gave this book 5 stars! If I could give more I would!

This book brought the HEAT and SUSPENSE!

No spoilers with my review!

Well done J. D. Barker!

This story had an interesting (and truth be told with all the tech we use daily - terrifying!) premise, but the execution was an action-packed mess. For how smart these characters are, they acted rather recklessly even downloading the app to begin with. 🤔

Overall… Excessive amount of smut. Gruesome & gory murder. Wayyyy too drawn out.

⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I enjoyed this thriller immensely and was set to give it a four star rating, but I was really disappointed to see the PR scandal surrounding the promotion of this book. So although I will post an honest review here, I will be considering whether or not to share it with my followers online.

I absolutely loved the concept of this book - and how much AI knows about us and is always watching, especially in a country where our capital city has the highest number of cctv cameras per citizen.

I felt the writing and twists in the novel really kept me going to see what happened and if the main characters would escape the game. I loved the ending also.

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC

I don't think I can put into words how good this book is. I'm not at all surprised it's being made into a film, it has plenty of contents to be a trilogy.
Like the blurb says its has notes of 50 shades but so much better, with such a thriller twist. I can hand on heart say it's the best thriller I can ever remember reading.
I hadn't realised until the end that the author J. D. Barker had previously wrote with James Patterson but it explained alot as it was James Pattersons books that started my love affair with thrillers many years ago.
Thank you #NetGalley for the copy of #BehindAClosedDoor this author is going straight to the top of my favourite list

First of all, I read the book and prepared my review notes before the scandal broke. It hasn’t impacted my rating but I’m undecided whether I’ll share my review on my blog.

I haven’t read J.D. Barker before, I know everyone rave about the 4MK series so I read this book to get a feel for his writing.

Behind A Closed Door is a concept thriller based around a latest app craze. Sugar & Spice is an app for couples to spice up their love lives with a series of daring prompts to encourage them to experiment.

Concept thrillers are always hit or miss for me, I love a few but most don’t really work for me. I found the concept interesting and it got off to a promising start. I didn’t really gel with the writing style which I found on the overly dramatic style. I could see where things were going. I also found some of the characters rather stereotypical.

I’ll be honest, it was a bit of a struggle for me to get through, bored and mildly irritated would be my lasting impression.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hampton Creak Press

Barker kept me on my toes with this unique and tech filled dark drama.

When a married couple seek counselling, their therapist suggests they download a new app: Sugar & Spice. Promising to encourage open communication and rekindle lost romance, they go ahead and sign themselves up. What starts out as a series of innocuous conversation prompts quickly turns into something more sinister. As the app infiltrates their lives and sends them down increasingly dangerous roads the couple find themselves as the key players in an online man hunt.

This story really hits home just how much we have let technology take over. How we install apps and allow permissions to our personal information, rarely stopping to read the terms and conditions we’re actually signing up to. It was an interesting concept which made me think of that bigger picture when I wasn’t able to read, but I also enjoyed the story itself when I was reading.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on May 13, 2024.

Behind A Closed Door is about Abby and Brendan, who like any other couples, go through some rough patch here and there. They met a therapist hoping to fix their marital problems. The first session turned out well. She asked them to download an app called Sugar & Spice, in simple terms, Truth or Dare. It is believed to bring back the ‘spice’ in the relationship. The first few challenges were simple and cute, until the next prompts started getting weird and strange. It was made to manipulate you, will make you do stuff to get you to a higher level even if it means turning on each other.

I enjoyed this book a lot. The concept was unique, it’s like The One by John Marrs but different. It’s packed with lots of twists, action, mystery and suspense which makes it hard to put down. It gave me a realization how we can all become slaves of technology and money. It’s scary. Who amongst us still read the T&C when downloading an app? I don’t want to make you paranoid, but read the fine print. Lol. This is my first 5 star read this month, or maybe the only one.

Thank you Netgalley and Hampton Creek Press for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.
The book comes out on May 13, 2024.

I really enjoyed JD Barker’s 4MK series, so I was excited to read his new standalone Behind A Closed Door. However, I may be in the minority on this one; this book just didn’t work for me. The beginning was very drawn out and I felt the concept was very far fetched. Lots of action, so I can see why some people will like it, but it just wasn’t for me.

Thanks to Hampton Creek Press & NetGalley for the ARC!

4.5 what a wild damn ride.

Thank you NetGalley for having this for me to read! It was so fun. It comes out in May and is definitely worth your time. This story was go, go, go from the beginning and never lulled. It was such an interesting premise and was completely unhinged. I got 50% and there were some twists already that I wasn’t expecting. Would’ve been a complete 5 stars but I had to knock off half a star because there was something that did not work out how I thought it should. I don’t want to spoil what it was because it’s a huge plot line but it shouldn’t have happened.

In his latest book, J.D. Barker takes an ordinary suburban couple, Brendan and Abby Hollander, who are busy dealing with the usual work-life balance and suspicions of cheating, and thrusts them headfirst into a high stakes game.

Their troubles begin with the downloading of a sexy-game application to their cellphones called Sugar and Spice, sort of the adult version of Truth or Dare, and one thing leads to another and their lives spin out of control as they realize they have granted permissions for the app to fully access everything from bank accounts to photos and that there are others playing the game, trying to earn their way up the ladder to gold or platinum status. Points are awarded for completing tasks and the tasks are far more risque than one might imagine, leaving one open for blackmail and embarrassment and social media shame. But that’s only the beginning of the challenge which takes the young couple far out of their comfort zone and into a game where they are blackmailed and manipulated. Soon, they're falling deeper and deeper into a pitfall they'll find almost impossible to escape.

This book has more layers than I expected. As all the pieces fall into place, revelations abound and I can't help but salute Barker's astuteness and strategy. The story becomes a complex and compelling puzzle, with suspense, intensity and an abundance of twists and turns. Each chapter keeps us firmly hooked on the wreck of Brendan and Abby's lives. The plot is meticulously constructed, tighter than in Barker's previous works. The tension builds inexorably, making the work action-packed and undeniably entertaining.

This is one of those novels that you can't put down and the pages turns by themselves. And I read that there will a movie based on this book.