*Heavy Are The Stones Is The Second Consecutive Co-Authored Barker Book In Which I’ve Been Disappointed!

Having read and loved all of J.D. Barker’s books which he wrote alone, he’s become one of my favorite authors. However, having now finished Heavy Are The Stones, the latest he co-wrote with someone unknown to me, I will no longer be a “sure thing” reader of his co-authored books.

Without going into detail about what Heavy Are The Stones is about, I’ll just say that it has an intriguing plot concept whose execution falls well short of its potential; making it a book I cannot recommend.

My primary reasons for being disappointed in Heavy Are The Stones are as follows: (1) unusual for a book by J.D. Barker, the characters were thinly developed, not very credible and too far “out there”, causing me to not be able to like or relate to them very much; (2) again atypical of Barker’s standalone books whose plots move at a fast, hard-to-put down pace, the pace of this book moves quickly and intensely through about its first quarter but than moves in a series of seemingly neverending “fits and starts” through the next half, finally closing in an ending that, for me, was “too over the top”; and (3), Particularly annoying is that several of its strange, eerie “goings on” were confusing , difficult to keep track of; and beyond my ability to suspend credulity, causing me at times to not care much about the outcome of these activities.

Despite my disappointment in Barker’s latest co-authored book (as well as what seems like his plan to follow in James Patterson’s footsteps to become “a publishing industry unto himself” by continuing to co-author with lesser known writers), I definitely plan to read whatever the next book is that J. D. Barker writes on his own.

#Heavy Are The Stones #NetGalley

J.D. is a genius when it comes to storytelling. He has quickly become one of my top authors. I don’t even need to read the summary to decide if I want to read his books. Like his other works, this book was fantastic. It grabbed my attention right away and kept me engaged. It's a fast-paced psychological thriller. Can't wait to read more from him.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hampton Creek Press and J.D. Barker for an ARC of 'Heavy Are the Stones'.

A pulse pounding thrill ride that will keep you up all night! This book has everything that an adrenaline addict could want, police procedural, the chase of a serial killer, solving riddles, virtual reality games, survival, and physical combat just to name a few. I enjoyed Barker's collabs with James Patterson but this book really sold me on Barker's impressive talent. I can't wait to devour all his other masterpieces. I will be on the watch for any works by Ms. Daigle as well and appreciate her contribution to this book, bravo to the team! My thanks to Hampton Creek Press for providing a digital review copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Haunting and Thrilling Read That Keeps You Hooked!!

Thank you NetGallary for an early review copy of Heavy Are the Stones!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Heavy Are the Stones is a gripping, atmospheric thriller that blends mystery, horror, and historical intrigue into an unputdownable read. J.D. Barker and Christine Daigle craft a story that is as eerie as it is compelling, drawing readers into a world where the past and present collide in unsettling ways.

The pacing is excellent, with short, punchy chapters that keep you turning the pages. The characters are well-developed, and the story unfolds with just the right balance of suspense and revelation. Barker’s signature dark, immersive storytelling pairs well with Daigle’s rich characterization, making this a standout novel in the genre.

The only reason I’m giving it four instead of five stars is that some plot points felt a bit familiar, and there were moments where I wished for a deeper dive into certain elements of the story. However, these are minor issues in an otherwise fantastic read.

If you enjoy books that keep you on edge with a sense of creeping dread and mystery, Heavy Are the Stones is absolutely worth picking up!

Well done!

It's been awhile since I've truly enjoyed one of Barker's books and I'm thrilled to say Heavy Are the Stones checked all the boxes for me. It was tense, just enough blood and gore for a thriller, action packed but, most importantly, it was intelligent just like I know Barker to be!

In this book, J.D. Barker has teamed up with Christine Daigle, whose work I'm not quite as familiar with but their two writing styles complimented one another and, obviously blended well together.

There are two savage murderers, one known as "The Leviticus Killer" who followed a set of verses in the biblical book of Leviticus for his ritualistic murders. Detective Jena Campbell put him away where she hoped she wouldn't hear from him again. Unfortunately, a copy cat or protege' has surfaced on social media vowing to murder 10 people in 10 days. His murders are eerily based on the same verses as the the Leviticus. It's now up to Campbell to figure out his "code" and to stop him.

With the great writing intelligence and wit of these authors, this is a book you won't want to miss.

J.D. Barker is a must read for me and it is because of stories like this one! This book is superbly sinister with serial killers and a determined detective who is willing to do absolutely anything to get them off the streets-permanently! I thank Netgalley and Hampton Creek Press for the opportunity to read and review this excellent book.

This book was just okay for me. I love his 4MK series, This book just didn't have the same style that his others have. This wont stop me from reading his future books, I hope they are more like the 4MK series. I gave this one 3 stars and will recommend to friends.

I wasn’t drawn in and flying through the pages like I normally am with a JD novel. Something felt like it was missing but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I did enjoy the plot and I felt the characters were intriguing. The story had a nice climax towards the end and a satisfying ending.

I couldn’t get into this and I really tried. I’m a huge fan of JD Barker so I thought it was a no brainer that I’d enjoy it. I just didn’t connect with the story. I’m going to continue reading books by him though.

Detective Jena Campbell of Pittsburgh is credited with putting Silas Halvard, known as "the Leviticus killer", behind bars five years previously. Now someone calling himself Azrael has appeared on social media claiming responsibility for the murders of a number of the jurors who found Silas guilty. The methods of death include stoning and also allude to the 10 plagues as prophesized in the bible. The governor's son has also been kidnapped and Azrael is threatening to kill him unless Silas is released.

This book is well written and very descriptive, especially when it comes to depicting the violence involved. However, for some reason, I had trouble concentrating on the story. Maybe it had to do with the number of characters but nearly every time we came back to Jack (the governor's son), I'd be thinking 'Who's Jack?' and it took me a minute or two to place him. I had a wild guess early on as to who the perpetrator, Azreal, really was and darned if I wasn't right but he wasn't as easy to capture as I expected. I don't know a whole lot about the bible so I did some research and I'm still confused. It seems like a number of biblical references were put together to come up with the method and reasons for the killings. There's also a lot to do with virtual gaming which threw me for a bit until I realized what was going on. My rating is a bit on the low side compared to the majority of reviews so be sure to read some of those.

This novel is a collaboration between J.D. Barker and Christine Daigle with whom I'm unfamiliar but I think I prefer Mr. Barker's standalone books.

Thank you to Hampton Creek Press via Netgalley for providing access to an ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: November 26, 2024

Ten days to keep a lie.
Ten plagues if you deny.
Ten ways to watch them die.

Few authors do serial killers quite like J. D. Barker and I am HERE FOR IT! This was a fantastic and suspenseful cat and mouse tale which kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time. Be warned, this one is not for the squeamish or faint of heart. It is in fact rather intense, dark and brutal. But you have to admire the creativity of these author.s

Heavy Are the Stones had me hooked immediately and didn't let go the whole way through. It was full of suspense, drama, action, and surprising twists.

J.D. Barker has been a favourite author of mine since I read the 4MK trilogy a couple of years ago. I also loved Behind A Closed Door. This book was no exception. I loved it.
I haven't read any books by Christine before this, but she's definitely on my radar now.

Jena was a great main character. She was strong, determined, and complex.
The authors wrote well together. I'm hopeful they'll bring out a sequel. 🤞

I highly recommend.

4 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley, Hampton Creek Press, J.D. Barker and Christine Daigle, for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Although this held my interest, it's not one of my favorites. That may have more to do with the co-writing though. I had the perp figured out immediately when the character was introduced but that was okay with this story. It's written well enough and while I did like the ending I felt there was something missing. It was good, just not up to the standards expected in a J.D. Barker story.

I finally found my kindle (panic bought a new one the same day I finally found mine) so that I could get back on top of my ARCs.
I found this to be a really good read. It’s twisty and thought provoking. Not quite a police procedural but very much like one but with very good thriller/mystery vibes that I sometimes find lacking in straight police procedural books.
Honestly, very much a horrifying read in that we see so much of what has been happening in society today……religious zeal turned into something twisted and scary.
This is a very quick read. So if you’re looking for a short thrilling police style read this should be a great one for you.
I received an ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.

I am a huge fan of J D Barker's 4MK Thriller series and I was prepared for all the gore and brutal killings. He has co-authored the book with Christine Daigle and I was looking forward to discovering her writing style.

Detective Jena Campbell is praised for locking up the Leviticus killer 5 years ago but is now taunted by someone who is willing to kill people until the Leviticus killer is released from prison. Detective Campbell wasn't totally honest about his conviction and is struggling with her own moral dilemma.

The premise of this one is quite interesting. The murders have a religious tie-in and the victims are stoned to death. The identity of the killer is known early on but I was curious to know the connection of the infamous killer and the acts committed against the current victims.

The main character Jena was well fleshed out and I loved how the authors not only made the reader privy to her thought process but also to how she carried out the investigation and how her past decisions weighed on her.

There is a right amount of tension, dread and danger. It took me a while to get into but once it had me in it's grasp I just could not stop reading.

I recommend this to anyone who loves a slow paced thriller and are not faint-hearted. Thank you @netgalley and Hampton Creek Press for the ARC to read and review.

What a great cat and mouse game. Full of suspense that had me on the edge of my seat. Interesting reveal towards the end helps wrap it all up. I liked the use of the biblical references.

J.D. Barker how I can I say this? Is a brilliant writer that will keep you on the edge of your seat and waiting more!! His books are page turners. This book
Just like his others are written well. Unpredictable and just ask around amazing read. Can’t wait for more from him.

HEAVY ARE THE STONES is a mystery thriller novel by New York Times and international best-selling author of numerous novels, J.D. Barker, including DRACUL and the wildly popular 4MK series, and FORSAKEN. Heavy Are the Stones is by J.D. Barker with co-writer Christine Daigle.

His Standalone Novels Include:
Forsaken (2014)
Dracul (2018) (with Dacre Stoker)
She Has A Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be (2020)
The Coast-to-Coast Murders (2020) (with James Patterson)
A Caller's Game (2020)
The Noise (2021) (with James Patterson)
Death of the Black Widow (2021) (with James Patterson)
Behind A Closed Door (2024)
Confessions of the Dead (2024) (with James Patterson)
Heavy Are The Stones (2024) (with Christine Daigle)
We Don't Talk About Emma (2025) (with E J Findorff)
The Writer (2025) (with James Patterson)
aka The Imperfect Murder
Something I Keep Upstairs (2025)
The Lies We Tell (2025) (with Richard Bailey)

This is my review of Heavy Are the Stones.

Ten days to keep a lie.
Ten plagues if you deny.
Ten ways to watch them die.

Five years ago, Pittsburgh Detective, Jena Campbell arrested the Leviticus killer and was responsible for putting him behind bars. But there is now a new killer, a strange man on social media called Azrael, who wants Leviticus released from prison or people will die and Jena must confess to the lie she has kept secret.

This forces Jena to come to terms with her past. She must now turn to Leviticus for help to identity Azrael, before this madman murders the Governor’s 17-year- old son, Jack or any more of the Jury members from Leviticus’s trial that convicted him.

Thus begins a cat and mouse game with suspense building.

As this book deals with violence and brutal scenes, it is not for the squeamish. I found this book slow to get into but then the tempo changed.

Many thanks to the authors, Hampton Creek Press and NetGalley, for my digital copy.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s fast-paced, which I love in thrillers, and has a couple of interesting open endings which I hope lead to more stories featuring these characters. What I found really interesting was the VR affecting RL; and how video games were used to perpetrate a spree of hair raising crimes. Very interesting!

Really good, fast-paced, keeping-you-on-your-toes story -- murder, dark and twisty characters, and a splash of science fiction. I was sucked in from the beginning partly, I think, because I was raised in an evangelical community and I'm always fascinated with the portrayal of how those teachings play out in people's lives, and Barker & Daigle do interesting things here with that. There were great twists as well that I wasn't able to predict at all. If I have one gripe, it's that I feel like there was a lack of real accountability for the MC's actions in the investigation of the suspect of the "flashback" crimes, but it did work insofar as it helped develop her character. All in all, a solid read.