As a fan of JD Barker's work, especially She Has A Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be, I can't help but have certain expectations and unfortunately those were not at all met in Heavy Are The Stones. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that I very much doubt he wrote much, if any, of it. And so that that doesn't only leave me feeling disappointed but also cheated.

The pace is all over the place. There are parts that are incredibly repetitive and tedious. Despite the angle of having two serial killers, which should be massively exciting, Heavy Are The Stones completely failed to grab me. This turned out to be quite the struggle for me and I must admit there was quite a bit of skimming going on from my end.

I won't be reading anymore Barker collaborations. But I do hope that at some point he will come up with something as brilliant as the 4K series again.

A strong thriller which presents the plot in an interesting way, with different points of view and “sources.” At times, it seemed a little less smooth and almost disjointed, which may be part and parcel of multiple authorship. But the story is a genuine thriller and I really enjoyed it.

EXCERPT: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Monday, April 10
Actor Michael O'Neill, 46, Found Dead
by Matt Burkhart
A body found on Saturday in a field behind the Carrie Blast Furnaces was identified today by the city medical examiner as that of Michael O'Neill, Emmy Award winning actor and star of the hit show Werewolves of Paris. The cause of death was reported as blunt force trauma to the skull. Michael kept a home in Mt Lebanon. He was 46.
Mr O'Neill was initially found by a source who wished to remain anonymous. The source shared that, upon discovery, Mr O'Neill was buried in the field up to the middle of his chest, with his arms below ground. Multiple rocks about the size of a large fist were found at the scene and appeared to have been thrown at the body . . .

ABOUT 'HEAVY ARE THE STONES': Facing the truth can be deadlier than facing the killer.

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

Five years ago, when Detective Jena Campbell put the Leviticus Killer behind bars, she locked her darkest secret away with him. Something never meant to surface. Something better left to rot with the madman who had destroyed so many lives.

When a strange man calling himself Azrael appears on social media with threats to unleash ten plagues, ten deaths, in ten days, unless Leviticus is released, Jena is forced to reopen that door and face her past.

Unable to share what she knows, she turns to the only man who can help her find Azrael before he kills again, the man she condemned. Jena quickly learns the only thing more terrifying than facing him, is facing herself.

MY THOUGHTS: I gobbled up the first half of this book greedily, but then . . . the wheels fell off the wagon and I found myself struggling to read on. The narrative changes from one of thrilling, chilling and tense action overflowing with possibilities to court reports, juror lists and biblical quotes. I mean, come on, just how many times can we read the same juror list? I succumbed to skimming these as they added little or nothing to the narrative and, imho, killed the momentum.

The book does pick up again towards the end, but it just didn't grip me to the same extent.

I thought the plagues were an interesting and innovative touch, but the exploration of the killings could have done with a lot more depth.

I love Barker's writing but much of this book just doesn't have the subtlety and nuances I have come to associate with his writing. I don't know quite how books are cowritten, or how much of this book each author wrote, but I would be interested to find out more about the process. I would also like to know why. . . why the need for a coauthor?

I would think carefully before reading another book coauthored by this particular combination of authors.

⭐⭐⭐

#HeavyAreTheStones #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHORS: A note from J.D.
As a child I was always told the dark could not hurt me, that the shadows creeping in the corners of my room were nothing more than just that, shadows. The sounds nothing more than the settling of our old home, creaking as it found comfort in the earth only to move again when it became restless, if ever so slightly. I would never sleep without closing the closet door, oh no; the door had to be shut tight. The darkness lurking inside needed to be held at bay, the whispers silenced. Rest would only come after I checked under the bed at least twice and quickly wrapped myself in the safety of the sheets (which no monster could penetrate), pulling them tight over my head.

I would never go down to the basement.

Never.

I had seen enough movies to know better, I had read enough stories to know what happens to little boys who wandered off into dark, dismal places alone. And there were stories, so many stories.

Reading was my sanctuary, a place where I could disappear for hours at a time, lost in the pages of a good book. It didn’t take long before I felt the urge to create my own.

I first began to write as a child, spinning tales of ghosts and gremlins, mystical places and people. For most of us, that’s where it begins—as children we have such wonderful imaginations, some of us have simply found it hard to grow up. I’ve spent countless hours trying to explain to friends and family why I enjoy it, why I would rather lock myself in a quiet little room and put pen to paper for hours at a time than throw around a baseball or simply watch television. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I want to do just that, sometimes I wish for it, but even then the need to write is always there in the back of my mind, the characters are impatiently tapping their feet, waiting their turn, wanting to be heard. I wake in the middle of the night and reach for the pad beside my bed, sometimes scrawling page after page of their words, their lives. Then they’re quiet, if only for a little while. To stop would mean madness, or even worse—the calm, numbing sanity I see in others as they slip through the day without purpose. They don’t know what it’s like, they don’t understand. Something as simple as a pencil can open the door to a new world, can create life or experience death. Writing can take you to places you’ve never been, introduce you to people you’ve never met, take you back to when you first saw those shadows in your room, when you first heard the sounds mumbling ever so softly from your closet, and it can show you what uttered them. It can scare the hell out of you, and that’s when you know it’s good.

Barker resides in coastal New Hampshire with his wife, Dayna, and their daughter, Ember.

Christine Daigle is a multi-genre author. Besides writing, she co-hosts the Writers, Ink podcast. By day, Christine is a clinical neuropsychologist whose work includes brain-computer interfaces, translating brain signals into commands to control technology. She lives in Ontario with her husband, son, and a mercurial cat.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hampton Creek Press via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Heavy Are the Stones by J.D. Barker and Christine Daigle for review. All opinions expressed in this revie are entirely my own personal opinions.

Instead of jumping right into my review, let’s talk about expectations for a second or two. First, I love all of J.D. Barker’s books—even the ones where he is a coauthor with James Patterson. However, I think associating with Mr. Patterson gave Mr. Barker ideas. He thought that he too could just write a book plot and get an “unknown” author to write the rest of the book. It’s a win for both authors. The plotter gets to publish a book without the time consuming writing. The other author gets a ready made audience of fans of the more famous author. It seems like a win-win situation, right? However, what about the public, who is kind of sucked in by the bait-and-switch? Can Heavy Are The Stones live up to the expectations of the famous author’s fans?

Short answer? Unfortunately, no. While reading, I kept thinking about how much better the book would have been if it had written completely by Mr. Barker. It is hard to imagine how such a compelling plot could be such a slog, but somehow this book manages it. Part of it is set in a virtual reality game that is life or death to its participant. Yet the sequences are surprisingly not compelling and, dare I say it, boring. The conclusion gets back on track but it is like walking through quicksand to get there.

Overall, the plot here is great and the ending is good. If it was just written solely by the coauthor, it would rate 3.5 stars. However, my expectations, and my heartfelt desire for no more Barker collaborations, forces me to give Heavy Are The Stones a disappointed 3 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for providing me with an advanced review copy.

Five years ago, Silas Halvard, a brutal serial killer nicknamed the Leviticus Killer who uses religion to validate his actions, was caught and sentenced to life following evidence found by Detective Jena Campbell. Now a new killer calling himself Azrael, has emerged, who has kidnapped the Governor’s son Jack and is threatening to take lives until Silas is given a pardon. Jena is determined not to give in to his demands and find Jack before he too is killed.

This is a fast paced thriller with social media, gaming and VR technology play an important role as Azrael shows no mercy killing off his targets one by one. The plot is based on a very original premise, but I found it just a tad unbelievable that one person could be setting up and doing everything described by himself as well as finding out where his victims were moved to. He seemed too all-seeing, all-knowing to be true! His character was never really fleshed out to the point where I understood why he was doing what he was doing. However, if you can overlook that, it’s still a gripping read with a very suspenseful ending.

"It's simple. Nine days. Nine games."

These are the chilling words Jack Taylor hears from the person who kidnapped him:
When he wins, his dad will get a message. If his dad plays ball and does what is asked of him, Jack will go free. If he doesn’t...the game ends...

Jenna Campbell gets a call early on a Sunday morning. Governor Ted Taylor's son has gone missing, and she and her partner, Mary Sarkis, must look into his disappearance discreetly.

Jenna had been responsible for apprehending Silas Halvard, who was believed to be the Leviticus Killer, nearly five years prior. Eleven male victims were found over a span of eleven months, all buried to their chests and stoned to death. They were all buried with a gemstone in their hands and believed to be involved in sex crimes or adultery. Silas, a professor of Biblical Studies, was convicted of only one murder, and many people believe he is either a copycat or innocent..

There appears to be a concerning situation unfolding, where someone is targeting the jurors who found Silas guilty. This person is making demands for Silas's release and for Jenna to confess to events that transpired five years ago. How are these two cases connected? And how is it possible that this person is always one step ahead of the police?

When the name J.D. Barker graces a book, one can anticipate a remarkable storytelling experience. This particular book stands out as another exceptionally thrilling psychological thriller that held me captivated throughout. I am curious to know if there will be a sequel, as the narrative leaves room for further exploration.

JD Barker always writes an engaging and page-turning book and this lived up to my internal hype. The story is centered around a police detective who became famous in her city for putting away a notorious serial killer. But did she put away the correct man? A new and vicious serial killer has started a time limited process of murders that are quickly brought to light because they are associated with the abduction of the Governor's oldest son.
Can the detective find a way to stop the killer before its too late? Why are the murders happening? And why are they so similar to the previous convicted killer's MO?
This is a gripping story that will have you reading late into the night. Highly recommend!
#HeavyAreTheStones #NetGalley #HamptonCreekPress

In this thriller, murder is accomplished via a combination of virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality. Jack and Azrael may understand these terms but I did not and I had to look them up. Augmented reality basically involves using technology to superimpose digital information over actual displays of the real world. Mixed reality (MR) combines virtual objects with the real world. So, Jack thought he was playing video games using virtual reality but in fact Azrael had set up these games to include things going on in the real world. I'm still not sure how he did it.

Now, with those explanations out of the way, Heavy Are the Stones is told via multiple POVs. Normally I'm okay with that but with all my lack of understanding of the technology used, I found that the frequent changes of POV broke up the pacing of the story. I've read and enjoyed several other thrillers by J.D. Barker. This one did not live up to my expectations.

HEAVY ARE THE STONES had a great premise and did a nice job setting up the background with some of the various scenes interspersed. The plot moved quickly but also became convoluted and hard to follow the closer it got to the end. It felt like the authors were trying too hard to be clever and it got away from them.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for the opportunity to read and review HEAVY ARE THE STONES.

I never pass up a new book by J.D. Barker. Some say he is the next Stephen King. So far, I can tell he is a prolific author, very creative, pens a lot of thriller and horror stories, lots of action, and sometimes pairs up with James Patterson. I did a happy dance when I spotted this one. For this book Barker teams up with co-author Christine Daigle who is a new author for me.

Description:
Facing the truth can be deadlier than facing the killer.

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

Five years ago, when Detective Jena Campbell put the Leviticus Killer behind bars, she locked her darkest secret away with him. Something never meant to surface. Something better left to rot with the madman who had destroyed so many lives.

When a strange man calling himself Azrael appears on social media with threats to unleash ten plagues, ten deaths, in ten days, unless Leviticus is released, Jena is forced to reopen that door and face her past.

Unable to share what she knows, she turns to the only man who can help her find Azrael before he kills again, the man she condemned. Jena quickly learns the only thing more terrifying than facing him, is facing herself.

My Thoughts:
A fast pace is set from the start of the book and never lets up. The murders in the story have a religious tie-in and the victims are stoned to death. Just the thought of someone being stoned to death makes me queasy - what a horrible way to die. Determining the killer was fairly easy, but following the connective threads was fascinating. Jena was a good character and I enjoyed following her investigation. Recommended for those who like thrillers and are not faint-hearted.

Thanks to Hampton Creek Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.

I am a big fan of the author JD Barker - especially the 4MK series, and Dracul, which he co-authored with Dacre Stoker, so I was more than excited to get my hands on this, his latest collaboration with, as yet unknown to me, Christine Daigle.
We start with a bit of a backstory with something Det Jenna Campbell did to make sure that the man she believed to be the Leviticus Killer, was convicted. Five years later, in the present, and he is still languishing in jail and Jenna is ticking along nicely in her job. Until that is, a new threat appears online. A person hiding behind the username Azrael is threatening to unleash 10 plagues on 10 victims, causing 10 deaths in a 10 days. Unless that is, the Leviticus Killer is released... Worse still, for Jenna, that thing she did, to make sure he went away, yeah, he knows all about that, which is a big threat to her!
Oh dear... especially when the deaths start... and continue, and even when the targets are identified and brought into protective custody, they're still not safe... Oh and I forgot to mention that the governor's son is also missing...
Oooo I loved this book. I loved all the plagues, and interpretations thereof. And graphic descriptions... yes, this book pulls no punches, beware. But in amongst the shock and gore, it is also insanely clever with how the "plagues" are brought into play. I won't spoil things, don't worry, you'll get to discover them all for yourself for maximum shock!
The characters are also well crafted and all play their parts very well. I especially took to Jenna right from the off and was a bit sad to say goodbye to her at the end. But never say never eh?
There is a wee bit of setting up which means that the beginning does start off a wee bit slower but, once it all gets going, aided by short punchy chapters, and high octane action, it all kicks off nicely all the way to the wholly satisfying end.
All in all, a cracking book that I thoroughly enjoyed and whole heartedly recommend. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

A man calling himself Azrael, starts a ten-day killing spree, and also kidnaps the governor's son. His aim is to get the convicted Leviticus killer out of jail. Detective Jena Campbell is pursuing Azrael. She's also haunted by a secret from the days she pursued the Leviticus killer.

The pace of this book is quite breathtaking. One brutal killing after another. This is one of those books that could have been longer. I felt like I had not enough time to take all the information in, when the story was already heading for some other savage event. There was no time for the characters to fully reach their potential. I liked how online gaming and biblical themes were woven together to create this chilling doomsday scenario.

J.D. Barker and Christine Daigle’s Heavy Are the Stones delivers a fast-paced, gripping narrative packed with action, suspense, and clever twists that keep the pages turning. From the very first chapter, the story hooks readers with its high stakes and intricate plotting, showcasing a masterful blend of crime, technology, and psychological depth.

One of the standout elements is the innovative use of tech-infused storytelling, which adds a unique layer to the traditional crime thriller format. Each murder is meticulously planned and executed, with the integration of advanced technology creating both awe and dread. The authors cleverly weave these elements into the plot, enhancing the suspense while grounding the story in a chillingly realistic world.

Beyond the adrenaline-pumping action, the book offers an engrossing story that’s impossible to put down. The characters, though often morally complex, are compelling and vividly drawn, making their struggles and decisions feel real and impactful. Barker and Daigle’s skillful pacing ensures there’s never a dull moment, as the tension builds to a satisfying and thought-provoking climax.

Heavy Are the Stones isn’t just a thriller; it’s a masterclass in crafting a novel that combines edge-of-your-seat action with smart, intricate storytelling. It’s a must-read for fans of crime fiction and anyone who appreciates a story that challenges, surprises, and utterly captivates.

Once again, J.D. Barker does not disappoint with his latest thriller cowritten with Christine Daigle. For new readers of J.D. Barker, be aware that the crimes depicted are quite gruesome.

The plot: Five years ago, the city of Pittsburgh was terrorized by a serial killer who stoned his victims to death for their sins. A man named Silas was caught and imprisoned but now someone has kidnapped the governor's son, Jack, to negotiate for Silas's release. He promises to kill each of the jurists who found Silas guilty until that happens. And if not, Jack will be his final victim.

I thought this plot was very inventive and creative with some great twists that I certainly didn't see coming. A new protagonist is introduced here, Detective Jena Cameron. She is smart, courageous and quite flawed but utterly likable, along with an interesting cast of supporting characters, so I'm hoping this is the start of a new series.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new thriller via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Exciting and thrilling. About 80% in my heart started to race.. The way they wove virtual reality with reality with biblical beliefs was mesmerizing to me. The character development, the world building and the pace were instantly intriguing.
Five years ago Detective Jena Campbell put Silas Halvard behind bars. Halvard, dubbed the Leviticus Killer was given a life sentence for what he claimed to be righteous killings based on his biblical beliefs. One of the many believers who feel he was wrongfully imprisoned calls himself Azreal and vows to release ten plagues of the Bible in ten days unless Silas is freed. His plan is to unleash nine of them on the jurors. The tenth and final plague is the death of the firstborn child. Enter Jack, the eldest son of the Governor. The only man who could grant a pardon to free the Leviticus Killer. Jack is kidnapped and forced into a world of virtual reality.

Azreal knows a secret that Detective Campbell has kept since the trial. A powerful secret that could free Silas but cost her everything. She and her team battle against the clock to save the jurors and Jack. But, is it enough? Will she be forced to reveal her long-held secret? Will the Governor issue the pardon? These are the questions that kept me flipping pages, glued to this book. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

Thank you to Hampton Creek Press via NetGalley for this advance copy for my honest, voluntary review.

#NetGalley #heavyarethestones

Thank you NetGalley, Hampton Creek Press,
J.D. Barker and Christine Daigle for the copy of Heavy are the Stones.

I have come to love reading J.D.’s books and this one sucked me in just like the others. It was a wild game of cat and mouse and I couldn’t wait to see where it would lead! Definitely recommend!

Heavy Are The Stones by J.D. Barker and Christine Daigle is a thriller about two serial killers who are connected through religious zealotry.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Hampton Creek Press and of course the author (who sent me a widget), for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 
My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
The governor's teenaged son Jack has just been kidnapped by a madman calling himself Azrael.  Detective Jena Campbell is called immediately.  She is used to dealing with madmen.

Five years ago, Jena put the Silas Halvard (also known as the Leviticus Killer) behind bars.  Now, Azrael wants him released.  If not, he plans on killing ten people by re-enacting the ten plagues. The victims will be those that served on the jury that convicted Silas.  The tenth victim will be the governor's son, Jack.

Trying to protect the jurors has proven impossible.

Jena will have to admit what she did.  She will have to sacrifice her career, and possibly her life, if she wants to save Jack.


My Opinions:
I was thrilled to read another Barker book!  

This one really centered around religious fanaticism...old testament stoning was front and center....and then there were modern-day plagues.  All a little gruesome, but that didn't bother me. More than anything, it was a little creepy....well, the stoning was quite scary.  The way the religious aspect was entwined with modern-day Virtual Reality gaming was an interesting  twist.

Most of the main characters were deep enough.  I was certain of Azrael's identity early-on, but there were still some surprises. I really liked Jena, and would like to see her again in future books.

Overall, this was a fast and entertaining read...but maybe not for the squeamish.  As well, certain parts of it didn't feel like Barker, and I'm not sure I like collaborations (not a Patterson fan anymore for this reason).  Although I really enjoyed the book, it felt like it was missing some of his suspense/horror aspects.  However, this doesn't mean I'll stop reading him.
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3.5 stars
This is a good crime thriller but not quite as gripping as some of JD Barker’s other books.
Detective Jena Campbell is called when a body is found and it looks like they have been stoned to death.
She is shocked as she ensured another killer with this MO was put in prison, so is concerned there could be a copycat.
She is then called to investigate the disappearance of the Governor’s teenage son, and it’s soon clear that the person that has him is determined to succeed in his mission.
Azrael contacts Jena directly and tells her he will kill ten people unless she releases Silas from prison and admits to what she did.
The second half of the book is more fast paced and I really enjoyed that part.
Thanks to Hampton Creek Press for the opportunity to read this book.

This was a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat serial killer thriller with the writing style of two very talented authors. I loved the layout of this with the articles, medical notes, online discussion boards, and many other interesting snippets that were woven into this masterfully crafted story. There was a religious aspect to this (if you couldn't tell from the title) that was done very well. I am not one for anything religious, and this did not bother me whatsoever for those of you who might be wary of that aspect. It added to the story more than anything, making it more sinister and intriguing. This was a memorable read, and I give it four stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hampton Creek Press for this ARC.

JD never disappoints with his books. I was in the mood for something different and this was it. I enjoyed his last book as well. Thanks Netgalley.