This was an absolutely brilliant book, I loved every page!!
It was fast paced, the characters were brilliant and I was emotionally invested in Jack’s ordeal.
If you only read one book this year, make sure it’s this one!

Another great thriller from JD Barker! Other reviewers have compared this story to an action, blockbuster movie and I definitely agree! It kept me guessing and on the edge until the very end.

Even though the culprit was predictable, the unusual character connections were fun. Warning! Not for the squeamish…. Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced readers copy! 🌟

💎💎💎💎
Jena Campbell and her team of detectives have moved on after putting notorious serial killer Silus Halvard, A.K.A. “The Leviticus Killer” behind bars five years ago. Now, Jena’s captain asks her to report to the Governor’s home to assist in finding his son Jack, missing since last evening. What a seemingly big step backwards. From putting away notorious serial killers…to missing teenagers!🏻‍♀️

But everything quickly escalates when Jena realizes Jack’s disappearance may somehow be tied to a possible copycat killer. Or is perhaps even Silus reaching out from behind bars?

Can Jena find Jack before he becomes the next victim? And at what cost to Jenna and the city of Pittsburgh!

This was a rapid-paced thriller that I finished in only a few sittings. The action is non -stop. And as with most books involving serial killers the brutality is gruesome!

This is a compilation between JD Barker and Christine Daigle. I’ve read a few from JDB but this was my first experience with CD. If the two join forces again I will definitely be watching for it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press

This was a fast paced thriller. I did figure out early on who the killer was. There was some intense moments in the book that kept me reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Oh I love a JD Barker book! This one didn’t disappoint. As always, the characters are on point, the story floats along gathering speed until you’re in the thick of so many twists and turns. Loved it. Thank you to the author, NetGalley and publishers for the arc!

3.5

I got a chance to read this early thanks to NetGalley. It was good! It was really fast paced and I enjoyed the craziness that comes with their books. It was not as amazing as the first book I read by this author but was still a good time.

I cannot say this enough, every single book that JD Barker is on the cover of is absolute gold. I love a JD Barker crime novel, he will never leave you disappointed.

Heavy are the Stones is a crime thriller with a religious antagonist and Old Testament biblical themes. We meet lead detective Jena, who helped to put away Silas, a theologian convicted of stoning sinners. At the start of the story, the governor's son Jack is kidnapped by a follower of Silas, Azrael, who is trying to get a pardon for Silas, whom many followers believe was wrongly convicted. To prove his sincerity, he threatens to kill off the jurors who convicted Silas according to the plagues, with Jack as the grand finale as the first-born son.

This is a fast-paced race against time as the police try to determine Azrael's identity while trying to protect the jurors. It seems that Azrael is always one step ahead, and as the case is unraveled, we learn of Azrael's his technical skills and how he inserted himself into the investigation. We also learn that Jena has some secrets of her own where she tampered with evidence that led to the conviction.

I enjoyed the bad guys and the biblical themes. I also liked the link to technology and some of the VR scenes that really remind you to be careful as these technologies emerge. Also had Barker's typical cat and mouse between Jena and Silas and Jena and Azrael, and the mounting tension that keeps you engaged. I liked the ending where bad guys may be perceived as good guys based on their teaching and audience, another thing that happens as we engage with social media and fully trust influencers and their messages and endorsements.

While I thought this was a great book, it does not measure up to some of Barker's other work with Jena's character development. We know she has some personal demons in how she interacts with her boyfriend, but they are never really explained and not sure what those conflicts added to the story. I also thought her relationship to her police partner, Mary, was a little odd. Mary helped to explain biblical references, but how Jena described the interactions seemed off with Mary's demeanor, like they were both close and not close at the same time.

I do recommend this read and would love to have a prequel for the Silas story and the original killings to maybe tie up the development gaps. I wish there were half stars, it would have been 3.5 for me.

This was a good read, i was invested in the characters and the story.. thank you for the opportunity to review i couldnt put it down

Crackling tension, unrelenting pace, fantastic characters, and a terrifying premise. If you're a crime thriller fan, make this page-turner your next read today!

Interesting premise adding widely held and instigated religious fanaticism to the serial killer dynamic. Some tense moments and a complex plot, with a large amount of backfill. Main investigator has issues, as most do in these books, not sure what the idea was there - more defective than strong and assured - and we are left with an ending for now and lead in to possibly more.

Detective Jena Campbell arrested and jailed the Leviticus Killer five years ago.
Now, there is a killer who is called Azrael that is killing in the most brutal of ways, demanding that Leviticus is released.
She turns to Leviticus for help to identify Azrael.
And on top of that, there is a kidnapping to solve as well.

Brutal, gruesome, imaginative murders that will give the reader nightmares.
Full of suspense, however, I cottoned on to who Azrael was very early on in the book.

Can't say this was my favourite J D Barker book though.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hampton Creek Press for the opportunity to read this book.

Heavy Are The Stones
I highly enjoyed this book! I have never read anything from either of these Authors but will be reading more of their work in the future! This book has a lot of thrilling/creepy aspects to it. I really enjoyed how it followed the Leviticus Killer and Azrael and how both cases were intertwined. I also really like Detective Jena Campbell and watching how her mind worked trying to catch a killer. I have never read a book that had a religious aspect to it, and it felt like an episode of a crime show. I did figure one of the main twists toward the beginning of the book, but I really enjoyed reading this book and looked forward to picking it up. I hope there will be a 2nd one!

Thank you, Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

J. D. Barker is the master of psychological thrillers and in this one he leaves “no stone unturned.” This book will keep you riveted from page one until the very end!! Keep the thrills coming J. D. and thanks for the advanced read.

It was like Christmas morning when I got approved for the ARC of J.D Barker (one of my absolute favourite authors). I was fully aware that this was co-author work and looked forward to discovering Christine's writing style. I was not disappointed! The story moves fast and it has multiple elements to it such as newspaper stories, psychologists' reports, police procedures, religious fanatics, and, of course, a manhunt. I loved it from the beginning to the end! Trying to solve the puzzle alongside Detective Campbell was very emotional and rewarding. Character development was detailed enough to understand the background of each person involved and not overwhelming that it would be a distraction from the main story. Don't expect jaw-dropping twists - this is a well-crafted puzzle-solving storyline full of meaning attributed to each action and decision-making.

If you loved J.D Barker's 4MK series, you will definitely notice his 'hand' in this story and you will appreciate it as much as I did. I hope the two of them will co-author more books in the future.

Huge thanks to the authors, Hampton Creek Press and Netgalley for an advanced copy for an honest review

Heavy are the Stones by JD Barker and Christine Daigle is a gripping thriller that plays out like a heart-pounding movie. The story follows Detective Jena Campbell, who thought she had left her toughest case behind with the capture of the diabolical "Leviticus Killer." But now, a new threat emerges in the form of Azrael, a cunning adversary who uses social media to spread terror, taking ten lives in ten days. The stakes are sky-high, and Jena finds herself constantly trying to keep up with a villain who always seems to be several steps ahead.

Jena Campbell is a standout character—her determination and the way the authors delve into her thought process make her both relatable and compelling. The psychological toll of her past decisions adds depth to her character, making her journey all the more believable. The villains in this story are truly sinister, masterfully crafted to make you dread their every move.

The book is brilliantly written, with tension that slowly builds until it has you fully in its grip. The plot is well thought out and riveting, keeping you on edge as you race through the pages. The ending is satisfying, leaving just enough room for anticipation of what might come next. This is a must-read for anyone who loves a good thriller!

Detective Jena Campbell is hunting for a manic who has been brutally murdering Jury members from a trial that convicted a madman.
He wants this man freed from prison and will stop at nothing to get want he wants.
A cat and mouse game with some twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hampton Creek Press and JD Barker for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review

This was my first JD Barker read. I had heard good reviews about his thriller books and i was excited when the publisher gave me an ARC through NetGalley for review.

The premise of the book is strong and very intriguing. The writing is also fairly simple and keeps you hooked. So i would say it is a page turner for sure. However, there were certain areas where the book falls kinda flat.

The characters of the books are poorly sketched. I didnt have an attachment with any of the character. If someone asks me my favourite character from the book, i would have a hard time answering that question. Not sure if it was good or bad, but at around 60% through the book, and it became predictable to me who Azrael was.

I can see the book to be picked up by Hollywood director to remake it into a movie. If anyone is looking for a fast paced, decent thriller book, one can definitely pick up Heavy are the Stones.

I usually stay away from collaborative books but I was intrigued by this book’s title and cover. I was curious about one of the quotes at the start and almost messaged the author. Glad I didn’t because my name popped up on the first page shortly thereafter which was an absolute shocker.

It will be interesting to see how this book developed between the two authors. I don’t know if I loved the structure of the killings but the characters were solid for me. The evil group in this book annoyed me a lot which isn’t a bad thing but can’t say I recall the last time that happened.

I thought the book progressively went from good to better and ended with me wanting more. Well written with short chapters that made me want to keep turning the pages. For me, a strong 4 star for a collab book is impressive!

Thank you to both Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited for this one, it sounded amazing, but I had not seen the biblical religious aspect of it and unfortunately that is not my jam. I just couldn't get into it and I had to DNF.