Book Author: J.D. Barker
Your message has been sent
Don’t stop reading I need you to understand what I have done.
Table of Contents
Fast-paced and simply arresting, J.D. Barker’s The Fourth Monkey will drop you in the middle of a mystery so intriguing you would not want to put it down – not before all your questions are answered but even then you would be thirsty for more.
Who will love it?
This is a book every mystery thriller fans should read in their lifetime. It has the right amount of darkness expected of this genre and J.D. Barker has done a great job in his storytelling that the reader can ease right into the story without realizing it.
If still not convinced, read the full reading notes below.
Where to grab a copy?
This pundit highly recommends finding a copy you can borrow (i.e., from a friend or library), instead of immediately buying a new book. Trees are generally used to make the paper in the books we read so let’s be mindful.
If not possible, that’s only when one should consider buying a new book, and make sure to support your local bookshops. And online shopping (i.e., Amazon or whatever online bookstore serves closest to you) must only be your last resort.
Happy reading!
Full Reading Notes
My copy of the book is an ARC from the publisher I received for an honest review.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Click here for the blurb.
For over five years, the Four Monkey Killer has terrorized the residents of Chicago. When his body is found, the police quickly realize he was on his way to deliver one final message, one which proves he has taken another victim who may still be alive. As the lead investigator on the 4MK task force, Detective Sam Porter knows even in death, the killer is far from finished. When he discovers a personal diary in the jacket pocket of the body, Porter finds himself caught up in the mind of a psychopath, unraveling a twisted history in hopes of finding one last girl, all while struggling with personal demons of his own. With only a handful of clues, the elusive killer’s identity remains a mystery. Time is running out and the Four Monkey Killer taunts from beyond the grave.
I read this book in an attempt to lull myself to sleep but it did the opposite. It worked so much better than caffeine and chocolate combined that I found myself literally out of breath after reading it at 4 am.
JD Barker has created a character in 4MK, nefarious as he was, that would want you to understand all the crazy that is going on in his head. And that line from his diary convinced me that he could coax me to see why.
The name 4MK was inspired by how the killer deals with his victims that is following the 3 wise monkeys proverb: Mizaru (“see no evil”), Kikazaru (“hear no evil”), and Iwazaru (“speak no evil”). But actually, there is a fourth monkey that isn’t usually quoted — Shizaru, which means “do no evil”. I’m sure the irony of calling the killer the 4th Monkey Killer (4MK) isn’t lost on you.
Reading the book felt like watching a movie in my head, complete with award-winning actors and actresses playing roles for each character. I don’t know but I see Detective Sam Porter in the guise of Costas Mandylor (Mark Hoffman of the Saw series).
The “mind-movie” is so vivid and detailed, I can’t help but hold my breath at the most intense scenes, gasp at shocking revelations, and shake my head “no” as I read the acknowledgment for I don’t want it to end yet.
There have been scenes, like fillers on a movie, that I’d wish weren’t there because I’m too wound up and excited to finish reading 4MK’s diary (Yes. It will be detailed in the book and that’s the only thing you’d get from me — for now.) but I still hanged on to every word not wanting to miss anything because I badly want to understand 4MK, I almost forgot he’s the antagonist.
Barker effectively wrote a fast-paced story but did not feel hurried at all. Details aren’t crammed together for the sake of finishing the book on a reasonable page number yet it took my breath away like I just ran a 10-km marathon in under an hour when I read it.
It felt though that he took a lot of time giving life to 4MK’s character that he left Porter’s unattended. He’s a well-written character, mind you, but it’s like a flower that was picked too soon, it hasn’t even bloomed yet. It feels like only a second book can resolve this (Pretty please?). (2024 June 16 Update: Yes, there is a second book. And you can check it out here.)
Believe me when I say that J.D. Barker has created evil so great and brilliant in a book that five stars ain’t enough to describe how good it is.
-The ArKivist
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