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4MK Thriller #3
The Sixth Wicked Child
In the riveting conclusion of the 4MK trilogy, Barker takes the thriller to an entirely new level.
Hear No Evil
For Detective Sam Porter, the words “Father, forgive me” conjure memories long forgotten; a past intentionally buried. For Anson Bishop, these three words connect a childhood to the present as he unleashes a truth concealed for decades.
See No Evil
Found written on cardboard near each body, these words link multiple victims to a single killer—discovered within minutes of each other in both Chicago and South Carolina—clearly connected yet separated by impossible miles.
Speak No Evil
Chicago Metro and the FBI find themselves caught in chaos—a hospital on lockdown, a rogue officer, and corruption at the highest levels. When Anson Bishop, the prime suspect in the notorious 4MK serial murders turns himself in, he reveals a story completely unexpected, one that not only upends the current investigation, but one that will change the lives of all involved.
Do No Evil
With unrelenting tension and pulse-pounding suspense, the past unravels at breakneck speed as the truth behind the Four Monkey Killer’s motive is finally revealed in this masterfully crafted finale.
Hear No Evil
For Detective Sam Porter, the words “Father, forgive me” conjure memories long forgotten; a past intentionally buried. For Anson Bishop, these three words connect a childhood to the present as he unleashes a truth concealed for decades.
See No Evil
Found written on cardboard near each body, these words link multiple victims to a single killer—discovered within minutes of each other in both Chicago and South Carolina—clearly connected yet separated by impossible miles.
Speak No Evil
Chicago Metro and the FBI find themselves caught in chaos—a hospital on lockdown, a rogue officer, and corruption at the highest levels. When Anson Bishop, the prime suspect in the notorious 4MK serial murders turns himself in, he reveals a story completely unexpected, one that not only upends the current investigation, but one that will change the lives of all involved.
Do No Evil
With unrelenting tension and pulse-pounding suspense, the past unravels at breakneck speed as the truth behind the Four Monkey Killer’s motive is finally revealed in this masterfully crafted finale.
626 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 27, 2019
2175 people are currently reading
22004 people want to read
About the author
J.D. Barker
54 books6,828 followersJ.D. Barker is the New York Times and international best-selling author of numerous novels, including DRACUL and the wildly popular 4MK series. He is currently collaborating with James Patterson. His books have been translated into two dozen languages, sold in more than 150 countries, and optioned for both film and television. Barker resides in coastal New Hampshire with his wife, Dayna, and their daughter, Ember.
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.
jd
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.
jd
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,414 reviews
September 11, 2019
Question Everything
The Sixth Wicked Child is the final book of the 4MK trilogy.
My reading Experience: The first word that comes to mind when thinking about this book is long-winded. It is way too long and could have been cut down significantly. For the first half of the book, I felt like I was being strung along just to drag things out. I was getting quite frustrated and had to force myself to continue reading. I loved the first two books in this series, so there was no way I was going to give up, but I was tempted. Finally, at the 60% mark, I got sucked in!
The Characters: As always, I loved reading Bishop’s diaries. Also shared are Clair, Nash, Poole, and Porter’s POVs. The reader doesn’t get to experience much of Porter until the end, and this contributed to why I was struggling. I could have lived with just reading Porter and Bishop’s narratives and done without all of the others.
The plot: Long. Sometimes boring. Sometimes frustrating. Complex with many threads, many POV’s, and many characters. The plot is supposed to make the reader question everything about what they thought they knew about a certain character, but I always knew the truth--I never wavered. All of the threads and loose ends come together too easily and neatly. However, there is a payoff that makes this book worth reading!
Overall, The Sixth Wicked Child offers a satisfying conclusion to the 4MK series. I will miss these characters and look forward to reading more by Barker in the future!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Sixth Wicked Child is the final book of the 4MK trilogy.
My reading Experience: The first word that comes to mind when thinking about this book is long-winded. It is way too long and could have been cut down significantly. For the first half of the book, I felt like I was being strung along just to drag things out. I was getting quite frustrated and had to force myself to continue reading. I loved the first two books in this series, so there was no way I was going to give up, but I was tempted. Finally, at the 60% mark, I got sucked in!
The Characters: As always, I loved reading Bishop’s diaries. Also shared are Clair, Nash, Poole, and Porter’s POVs. The reader doesn’t get to experience much of Porter until the end, and this contributed to why I was struggling. I could have lived with just reading Porter and Bishop’s narratives and done without all of the others.
The plot: Long. Sometimes boring. Sometimes frustrating. Complex with many threads, many POV’s, and many characters. The plot is supposed to make the reader question everything about what they thought they knew about a certain character, but I always knew the truth--I never wavered. All of the threads and loose ends come together too easily and neatly. However, there is a payoff that makes this book worth reading!
Overall, The Sixth Wicked Child offers a satisfying conclusion to the 4MK series. I will miss these characters and look forward to reading more by Barker in the future!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2019
4.5 stars
"...everything is normal when you don't know any better." Isn't that the truth!
First and foremost, if you have not read the previous books in this series, do not attempt this one. I mean this in the best possible way. You seriously do not want to miss a thing. The other two books set this book up perfectly plus you will be missing a mountain of back story (plus two really great books). Whew, is all I can say after finishing this one. When it comes to this book, forget what you know, what you think you know or where you think this book is going. This is Barker's ride and he is clearly in the driver's seat. He takes us down a path which continues to be dark, twisted and highly addictive. As with the previous books, this book is extremely well thought out, perfectly paced with twist and turns keeping up the suspense and tension. Diary entries, back stories, a detective with a past he can't remember, and a serial killer who is highly intelligent, always a step ahead of the police. He clearly has a plan, but what is it? Plus, Bishop has a detective hot on his trail, but is the detective to be trusted? Are there other killers out there? Who can you believe when everything and everyone you thought you could trust suddenly doesn't look or seem too trustworthy?
As this book continues, we learn more about the pivotal players, their past and their connection to each other. This one isn't for the faint of heart. It deals with heavy and sensitive subjects, thankfully without a lot of detail. "Father, forgive me" but I thought this book was riveting.
Captivating and a real page turner, this one did not disappoint. There are a lot of people in this book and a lot going on, no wonder Barker had sticky notes all over his house to keep this story straight. He continues to deliver and finished this series strongly. I can't wait to see/read what else he has up his sleeve!
Another plus of this series is its originality. Sure, there are lots of books out there about serial killers and cat and mouse chases but this one stands out and on its own. Barker is an intelligent writer who has great character development. All his characters are distinct and interesting - even the unlikable ones are extremely captivating. Plus, I have never read one of his books and felt as if i have read this one before, kwim? Ever read a book, and think "been there, read that - just with different names and different locations?" Not here, again, this book gets high marks for originality.
Can I just say, I am slightly jealous of the people who have not read this series, as they will get the chance the read the books back to back. While reading this one, I was wishing I went back and re-read the previous ones, but I couldn't help myself, I had to dive in. I wonder what it must be like to spend so much time writing a book to have people dig in and read it so fast. I purposely read this one slow so I could wrap my head around everything. I was surprised a couple of times and didn't see things coming which is always plus.
A brilliant end to a brilliant series.
Highly recommend.
Thank you to J.D. Barker, Hampton Creek Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
"...everything is normal when you don't know any better." Isn't that the truth!
First and foremost, if you have not read the previous books in this series, do not attempt this one. I mean this in the best possible way. You seriously do not want to miss a thing. The other two books set this book up perfectly plus you will be missing a mountain of back story (plus two really great books). Whew, is all I can say after finishing this one. When it comes to this book, forget what you know, what you think you know or where you think this book is going. This is Barker's ride and he is clearly in the driver's seat. He takes us down a path which continues to be dark, twisted and highly addictive. As with the previous books, this book is extremely well thought out, perfectly paced with twist and turns keeping up the suspense and tension. Diary entries, back stories, a detective with a past he can't remember, and a serial killer who is highly intelligent, always a step ahead of the police. He clearly has a plan, but what is it? Plus, Bishop has a detective hot on his trail, but is the detective to be trusted? Are there other killers out there? Who can you believe when everything and everyone you thought you could trust suddenly doesn't look or seem too trustworthy?
As this book continues, we learn more about the pivotal players, their past and their connection to each other. This one isn't for the faint of heart. It deals with heavy and sensitive subjects, thankfully without a lot of detail. "Father, forgive me" but I thought this book was riveting.
Captivating and a real page turner, this one did not disappoint. There are a lot of people in this book and a lot going on, no wonder Barker had sticky notes all over his house to keep this story straight. He continues to deliver and finished this series strongly. I can't wait to see/read what else he has up his sleeve!
Another plus of this series is its originality. Sure, there are lots of books out there about serial killers and cat and mouse chases but this one stands out and on its own. Barker is an intelligent writer who has great character development. All his characters are distinct and interesting - even the unlikable ones are extremely captivating. Plus, I have never read one of his books and felt as if i have read this one before, kwim? Ever read a book, and think "been there, read that - just with different names and different locations?" Not here, again, this book gets high marks for originality.
Can I just say, I am slightly jealous of the people who have not read this series, as they will get the chance the read the books back to back. While reading this one, I was wishing I went back and re-read the previous ones, but I couldn't help myself, I had to dive in. I wonder what it must be like to spend so much time writing a book to have people dig in and read it so fast. I purposely read this one slow so I could wrap my head around everything. I was surprised a couple of times and didn't see things coming which is always plus.
A brilliant end to a brilliant series.
Highly recommend.
Thank you to J.D. Barker, Hampton Creek Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 14, 2019
I never realised that JD Barker was writing a 4MK trilogy based around a prolific master serial killer, Ansen Bishop, and that this is the final rip roaring finale to this series. On balance, I think that is a good decision, after reading the second book I felt that the premise driving this series was beginning to reach its limits. This is a thrilling firecracker of a conclusion, pulse pounding, a nervously biting fingernails affair, twisted in every which way and then some, with red herrings galore, and with adrenaline fuelled fast paced frenetic action. There is a continuing monstrous body count, a hospital in lockdown with fears of a deadly virus, and those confined are far from happy, and there appears to be more than one killer on the loose. Chicago Metro police detectives and the FBI under Special Agent Frank Poole with Detective Nash, struggle to comprehend what exactly is happening. Detective Sam Porter is a broken man at the conclusion of events in the previous book and it is barely surprising he is now viewed as a murder suspect, but is he more than that?
Sam Porter's past is not what he thinks it is, particularly over an incident of being shot accidentally as a younger police officer. A young homeless girl seeking sanctuary in a cemetery is horrified to discover the body of a dead woman, covered in salt, kneeling with a sign in front of her stating Father Forgive Me, three small boxes in front of her, and forehead in which has been carved 'I am evil'. It is the first in a number of bodies with the same MO. To turn matters upside down, the much sought after 4MK killer has handed himself in, claiming he is an innocent man being framed. No-one in law enforcement is certain precisely who is telling the truth. As Sam pores over the diaries, questions are raised about what is written in them, and indeed if the diaries are authentic. Sam is convinced he can tell the difference between the truth and the lies as he continues to follow up on Bishop's past history as a child placed at The Finicky House for Wayward Children. In the meantime, matters escalate in a number of areas, including a killer amongst the quarantined in the hospital with Detectives Clair Norton and Edwin Klozowski.
As Barker wraps up his trilogy in style, I dread to think what it must have been like for him to work out and plan all the intricate details and plotting for the varied storylines and characters, I imagine it must have been a nightmare to get everything straight in this epic trilogy. He succeeds admirably in tying up loose ends, in this intense, dark but engaging story of child abuse, police corruption, betrayal, exploitation of the young and vulnerable, vengeance, and the complicated nature of justice and judgement. I found this a wildly entertaining and explosive thriller, one where you never know what will happen next, positively dripping with suspense and tension, and never less than compulsive reading. Highly recommended for all crime thriller fans. Many thanks to Hampton Creek Press for an ARC.
Sam Porter's past is not what he thinks it is, particularly over an incident of being shot accidentally as a younger police officer. A young homeless girl seeking sanctuary in a cemetery is horrified to discover the body of a dead woman, covered in salt, kneeling with a sign in front of her stating Father Forgive Me, three small boxes in front of her, and forehead in which has been carved 'I am evil'. It is the first in a number of bodies with the same MO. To turn matters upside down, the much sought after 4MK killer has handed himself in, claiming he is an innocent man being framed. No-one in law enforcement is certain precisely who is telling the truth. As Sam pores over the diaries, questions are raised about what is written in them, and indeed if the diaries are authentic. Sam is convinced he can tell the difference between the truth and the lies as he continues to follow up on Bishop's past history as a child placed at The Finicky House for Wayward Children. In the meantime, matters escalate in a number of areas, including a killer amongst the quarantined in the hospital with Detectives Clair Norton and Edwin Klozowski.
As Barker wraps up his trilogy in style, I dread to think what it must have been like for him to work out and plan all the intricate details and plotting for the varied storylines and characters, I imagine it must have been a nightmare to get everything straight in this epic trilogy. He succeeds admirably in tying up loose ends, in this intense, dark but engaging story of child abuse, police corruption, betrayal, exploitation of the young and vulnerable, vengeance, and the complicated nature of justice and judgement. I found this a wildly entertaining and explosive thriller, one where you never know what will happen next, positively dripping with suspense and tension, and never less than compulsive reading. Highly recommended for all crime thriller fans. Many thanks to Hampton Creek Press for an ARC.
February 4, 2021
The Sixth Wicked Child (4MK Thriller #3) by J.D. Barker (Author), Edoardo Ballerini (Narrator), Graham Winton (Narrator)
The three books in this series are one wild, bloodily gruesome ride! I'm so thankful I had all three books with me so that I could listen to one right after the other. I'm going to miss Edoardo Ballerini's narration as much as I'll miss my favorite characters in this book. Sam Porter, the detective at the center of this story, is a favorite of mine but I also became attached to some of the others working on this case. Even though I'm going to miss them, it's nice to be able to catch my breath because these three stories had my head spinning. There is a lot to ponder concerning everything that happened.
Book three continues right from where book two ends. I really don't want to say much because it could be a spoiler for book two and it's hard to unwrap my mind from everything that took place. Sam is on the run, Anson Bishop turns himself in, a hospital is locked down because SARs might be on a rampage within. Things are happening that indicate there is no way there is just one or even two people continuing the 4MK murders. Several someones may be masterminding a huge misdirection and more bodies are piling up. The story races to a startling conclusion and really, after saying I need a rest, I could use some more of this story, more of the characters I want to see again.
The three books in this series are one wild, bloodily gruesome ride! I'm so thankful I had all three books with me so that I could listen to one right after the other. I'm going to miss Edoardo Ballerini's narration as much as I'll miss my favorite characters in this book. Sam Porter, the detective at the center of this story, is a favorite of mine but I also became attached to some of the others working on this case. Even though I'm going to miss them, it's nice to be able to catch my breath because these three stories had my head spinning. There is a lot to ponder concerning everything that happened.
Book three continues right from where book two ends. I really don't want to say much because it could be a spoiler for book two and it's hard to unwrap my mind from everything that took place. Sam is on the run, Anson Bishop turns himself in, a hospital is locked down because SARs might be on a rampage within. Things are happening that indicate there is no way there is just one or even two people continuing the 4MK murders. Several someones may be masterminding a huge misdirection and more bodies are piling up. The story races to a startling conclusion and really, after saying I need a rest, I could use some more of this story, more of the characters I want to see again.
August 30, 2020
Thriller muy recomendado.
J.D. Barker ha elaborado un cierre de trilogía estupendo, con un libro igual de espectacular que El Cuarto Mono. Después de finalizar esta lectura, puedo comprender las dificultades que debió presentar el autor al escribir La Quinta Víctima, segundo volumen, ya que el riesgo a desvelar toda la trama en esa parte es muy alto. Un dato de más hubiera echado a perderlo todo. Y ya que inicio esta reseña comentando sobre el autor, quiero destacar la capacidad que tiene Barker para engañarnos con sus pistas falsas, ocasionando que repetidamente nos cuestionemos si los personajes están diciendo la verdad o si el villano es realmente la víctima y/o viceversa. Esa habilidad hace que sus libros sean muy adictivos y rápidos de leer, debido a las múltiples teorías que rondaran en nuestra cabeza mientras avanzamos entre páginas. También debo destacar el epilogo que fue simplemente hermoso: Sus palabras me hicieron sonreír y sentir cariño por lo que acababa de leer, a pesar de ser una historia con violencia, sangre, crímenes y abusos de toda índole. Es un autor que tiene talento para escribir no solo en el género policiaco, sino en muchos más. No será lo último que lea de Barker, eso lo tengo claro.
En esta trilogía es expuesta la ineficiencia y dependencia hacia la tecnología que hoy en día tiene la policía en cualquier parte del mundo para resolver un caso. Sam y Poole son los únicos buenos detectives, pero los demás carecen de aptitudes para trabajar en esta profesión. La policía con sus operativos y sus constantes fracasos, en mi opinión son el hazmerreír de la historia. Asimismo, con la corrupción que es presentada en esta obra, este thriller se convierte en una fuerte crítica a esta institución. Desconozco si esa fue la intención de Barker, pero así es como yo lo interpreto. Justamente por esa mediocridad de la policía, es que mi personaje favorito es el antagonista.
En cuanto al desarrollo de los personajes pienso que ha sido un trabajo aceptable, sin sobresalir pero sin acercarse al fracaso. Ese término medio es la constante en la mayoría de personajes y eso se debe a que solo se presentan los datos primordiales de cada uno de ellos; incluso, en algunos casos, bastará con el nombre y una descripción física muy básica para realizar su interpretación, por lo que los personajes secundarios y terciarios de esta obra tienen roles muy similares. Los únicos que tienen un gran desarrollo son el protagonista y antagonista, pero es lógico porque la historia gira en torno a ellos dos. Un rol secundario pero importante que encontraremos, será el de Nash, policía que representa con claridad al lector, porque tanto sus sentimientos, pensamientos e incertidumbres se parecerán a los nuestros ante el desconocimiento de lo que vendrá. Además, como sus comentarios ante la adversidad son muy divertidos, se ganará nuestra simpatía a pesar de no tener el protagonismo de otros personajes.
Es un libro muy adictivo, con una prosa excelente, giros inesperados, no aburré nunca y posee un ritmo vertiginoso después de aproximadamente la página doscientos que se mantendrá hasta el cierre. En esta historia reina el suspenso, el misterio, la acción, y la tentación por seguir leyendo más y más, debido a lo corto que son los capítulos. Gracias a esa particularidad, todo el tiempo leeremos historias paralelas muy interesantes que serán importantes en la investigación de los acontecimientos. La trilogía en general es tan buena, que no sería extraño que produjeran alguna serie o una película en unos años basada en esta historia. Si les gustan los thrillers y/o el género policiaco este libro es para ustedes: Lo acabarán en menos de lo pensado, lo disfrutarán mucho. Sin embargo, quiero recomendarles que de ser posible, lean los volúmenes consecutivamente para que no se les escape ningún detalle. Personalmente, eso es lo que haré en el futuro cuando relea la trilogía, porque definitivamente la volveré a leer.
He finalizado muy satisfecho y las cinco estrellas son más que merecidas.
J.D. Barker ha elaborado un cierre de trilogía estupendo, con un libro igual de espectacular que El Cuarto Mono. Después de finalizar esta lectura, puedo comprender las dificultades que debió presentar el autor al escribir La Quinta Víctima, segundo volumen, ya que el riesgo a desvelar toda la trama en esa parte es muy alto. Un dato de más hubiera echado a perderlo todo. Y ya que inicio esta reseña comentando sobre el autor, quiero destacar la capacidad que tiene Barker para engañarnos con sus pistas falsas, ocasionando que repetidamente nos cuestionemos si los personajes están diciendo la verdad o si el villano es realmente la víctima y/o viceversa. Esa habilidad hace que sus libros sean muy adictivos y rápidos de leer, debido a las múltiples teorías que rondaran en nuestra cabeza mientras avanzamos entre páginas. También debo destacar el epilogo que fue simplemente hermoso: Sus palabras me hicieron sonreír y sentir cariño por lo que acababa de leer, a pesar de ser una historia con violencia, sangre, crímenes y abusos de toda índole. Es un autor que tiene talento para escribir no solo en el género policiaco, sino en muchos más. No será lo último que lea de Barker, eso lo tengo claro.
En esta trilogía es expuesta la ineficiencia y dependencia hacia la tecnología que hoy en día tiene la policía en cualquier parte del mundo para resolver un caso. Sam y Poole son los únicos buenos detectives, pero los demás carecen de aptitudes para trabajar en esta profesión. La policía con sus operativos y sus constantes fracasos, en mi opinión son el hazmerreír de la historia. Asimismo, con la corrupción que es presentada en esta obra, este thriller se convierte en una fuerte crítica a esta institución. Desconozco si esa fue la intención de Barker, pero así es como yo lo interpreto. Justamente por esa mediocridad de la policía, es que mi personaje favorito es el antagonista.
En cuanto al desarrollo de los personajes pienso que ha sido un trabajo aceptable, sin sobresalir pero sin acercarse al fracaso. Ese término medio es la constante en la mayoría de personajes y eso se debe a que solo se presentan los datos primordiales de cada uno de ellos; incluso, en algunos casos, bastará con el nombre y una descripción física muy básica para realizar su interpretación, por lo que los personajes secundarios y terciarios de esta obra tienen roles muy similares. Los únicos que tienen un gran desarrollo son el protagonista y antagonista, pero es lógico porque la historia gira en torno a ellos dos. Un rol secundario pero importante que encontraremos, será el de Nash, policía que representa con claridad al lector, porque tanto sus sentimientos, pensamientos e incertidumbres se parecerán a los nuestros ante el desconocimiento de lo que vendrá. Además, como sus comentarios ante la adversidad son muy divertidos, se ganará nuestra simpatía a pesar de no tener el protagonismo de otros personajes.
Es un libro muy adictivo, con una prosa excelente, giros inesperados, no aburré nunca y posee un ritmo vertiginoso después de aproximadamente la página doscientos que se mantendrá hasta el cierre. En esta historia reina el suspenso, el misterio, la acción, y la tentación por seguir leyendo más y más, debido a lo corto que son los capítulos. Gracias a esa particularidad, todo el tiempo leeremos historias paralelas muy interesantes que serán importantes en la investigación de los acontecimientos. La trilogía en general es tan buena, que no sería extraño que produjeran alguna serie o una película en unos años basada en esta historia. Si les gustan los thrillers y/o el género policiaco este libro es para ustedes: Lo acabarán en menos de lo pensado, lo disfrutarán mucho. Sin embargo, quiero recomendarles que de ser posible, lean los volúmenes consecutivamente para que no se les escape ningún detalle. Personalmente, eso es lo que haré en el futuro cuando relea la trilogía, porque definitivamente la volveré a leer.
He finalizado muy satisfecho y las cinco estrellas son más que merecidas.
May 10, 2022
Me quedo con el primer libro, sin duda, es una gran trilogía, es adictiva, sin embargo, está última parte creo que fue demasiado enredo, mucho intento de todo, algunas cosas ya me las esperaba, pero repito, son fáciles de leer y mantienen al lector enganchado.
October 13, 2019
An Explosive and Fitting End to the 4MK Trilogy!
First, let me start off by saying that this book was lengthy and at times I certainly felt it BUT I am so glad I stuck with it - in the end it was worth the time I dedicated to not only this book but the whole trilogy.
Suspense builds and tension is at an all time high as we are forced to question what we know and what we think we know about ALL the key players in this series. Barker masterfully connects dots here that were put into play beginning with Book 1. This is not a standalone book - you MUST read the first 2 books to fully appreciate all the elements at play in this finale. I wholeheartedly appreciated that everything was wrapped up and all questions were answered, especially after all the mind play going on in this book!
Anson Bishop and Sam Porter were well developed, formidable adversaries! I enjoyed how Barker took us on a journey that upended everything we thought we knew and made us ultimately not only feel for the bad guy but question who was really the good guy in it all. So although this one isn't as fast moving as Books 1 & 2 - it proved to be a satisfying end to a series that I really enjoyed.
Thank you to JD Barker, Hampton Creek Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an arc of this book.
First, let me start off by saying that this book was lengthy and at times I certainly felt it BUT I am so glad I stuck with it - in the end it was worth the time I dedicated to not only this book but the whole trilogy.
Suspense builds and tension is at an all time high as we are forced to question what we know and what we think we know about ALL the key players in this series. Barker masterfully connects dots here that were put into play beginning with Book 1. This is not a standalone book - you MUST read the first 2 books to fully appreciate all the elements at play in this finale. I wholeheartedly appreciated that everything was wrapped up and all questions were answered, especially after all the mind play going on in this book!
Anson Bishop and Sam Porter were well developed, formidable adversaries! I enjoyed how Barker took us on a journey that upended everything we thought we knew and made us ultimately not only feel for the bad guy but question who was really the good guy in it all. So although this one isn't as fast moving as Books 1 & 2 - it proved to be a satisfying end to a series that I really enjoyed.
Thank you to JD Barker, Hampton Creek Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an arc of this book.
March 20, 2020
"Cut me open
and you'll find
a brain, heart, liver, lungs
and a knife in the spine."
FRAGILE MINDS by Silent Theory
Absolute, complete and utter brilliance!
This is the conclusion of the 4MK trilogy and there are some things I need to say:
These books need to be read in order, because this is basically one big-ass story. I don't agree with the page counts on GR, because on my Kindle the first book was over 400 pages, the second over 500 pages and the third over 600 pages, which makes this story a 1500 page monster - and every single one of them was necessary for this story.
I also read that this series was being developed as a TV series, but I'll say a little more about that later.
Wow, when I read the first book, it was because of all the great reviews, and I enjoyed it very much. Barker is a great, great writer. And this story, with all its intricacies and characters, was brilliantly plotted and paced.
When I was halfway through this third book - i.e. about 1200 pages into this story - I had to take a break and consider whether every single thing I believed up to then was completely wrong. Yes, this book was a mind-fuck galore, in the best possible way!
While I did figure out some things, others were extremely well hidden until the very end.
As far as a thriller series goes, this one was utter genius!
So - and this is a bit of irony I can't explain - about the same time I started reading THE SIXTH WICKED CHILD, I discovered the song FRAGILE MINDS by Silent Theory. Luckily, the first time I saw it on YouTube, it was the lyric video, because I don't think I would have given this song a fair chance.
Why, you ask?
The music - piano, guitar and drums - was brilliant. But the lead singer's voice sounded so, well, weak? I mean, it took my while to figure out why it bothered me so much, and it came to me about a week later: His voice made me think of The Lightning Seeds.
However, the lyrics were so dark and, for reasons we won't discuss, spoke to me. I listened to that song every single day since, and it has grown on me sooooo much.
Well, with lyrics like:
"Does it hurt? I don't know, and where do we go?
We don't tease fragile minds with such things."
"Somebody save me or end me
I haven't yet made up my mind."
"Will I be an end to someone's destiny?
Who's to know?"
Well, while it is being developed as a TV series, I want to throw in my two cents here and say that this will make a GREAT theme song...
Just sayin'...
Ladies and gentlemen, if you are a thriller fan, get these three books and read them in order, they will blow your mind!
and you'll find
a brain, heart, liver, lungs
and a knife in the spine."
FRAGILE MINDS by Silent Theory
Absolute, complete and utter brilliance!
This is the conclusion of the 4MK trilogy and there are some things I need to say:
These books need to be read in order, because this is basically one big-ass story. I don't agree with the page counts on GR, because on my Kindle the first book was over 400 pages, the second over 500 pages and the third over 600 pages, which makes this story a 1500 page monster - and every single one of them was necessary for this story.
I also read that this series was being developed as a TV series, but I'll say a little more about that later.
Wow, when I read the first book, it was because of all the great reviews, and I enjoyed it very much. Barker is a great, great writer. And this story, with all its intricacies and characters, was brilliantly plotted and paced.
When I was halfway through this third book - i.e. about 1200 pages into this story - I had to take a break and consider whether every single thing I believed up to then was completely wrong. Yes, this book was a mind-fuck galore, in the best possible way!
While I did figure out some things, others were extremely well hidden until the very end.
As far as a thriller series goes, this one was utter genius!
So - and this is a bit of irony I can't explain - about the same time I started reading THE SIXTH WICKED CHILD, I discovered the song FRAGILE MINDS by Silent Theory. Luckily, the first time I saw it on YouTube, it was the lyric video, because I don't think I would have given this song a fair chance.
Why, you ask?
The music - piano, guitar and drums - was brilliant. But the lead singer's voice sounded so, well, weak? I mean, it took my while to figure out why it bothered me so much, and it came to me about a week later: His voice made me think of The Lightning Seeds.
However, the lyrics were so dark and, for reasons we won't discuss, spoke to me. I listened to that song every single day since, and it has grown on me sooooo much.
Well, with lyrics like:
"Does it hurt? I don't know, and where do we go?
We don't tease fragile minds with such things."
"Somebody save me or end me
I haven't yet made up my mind."
"Will I be an end to someone's destiny?
Who's to know?"
Well, while it is being developed as a TV series, I want to throw in my two cents here and say that this will make a GREAT theme song...
Just sayin'...
Ladies and gentlemen, if you are a thriller fan, get these three books and read them in order, they will blow your mind!
April 11, 2024
My thanks to Hampton Creek Press, Mr. Barker and Netgalley. I have loved this trilogy from the get go! The people, both good and bad are all in their own way very likable, to just downright lovable! The story. This story is not something I've come across in all my years of reading. Barker is the real deal! Funny thing is that everything I want to say about this last book, could be a spoiler. This is one of the few times that I wish I was in a book club! I did appreciate the ending. One thing that bothered me in the end was how all these plans came together. It was a bit unrealistic for me. Normally, this wouldn't be a deal breaker, but...the first 2 books were so real. Still, without discussing the why's and wherefores, this book rocked! Mr. Barker has my undivided attention! Where he leads, I will follow. Don't read this book unless you've read the first 2. This really is one of the best things I've ever read!
September 3, 2020
Me he pasado el 90% de La sexta trampa con el miedo en el cuerpo de que J.D. Barker no fuera capaz de hacer encajar todo lo que estaba se estaba enredando. Hubo un momento en el que lo vi imposible…, pero el autor tiró de oficio y consiguió un final digno a la saga.
En este libro se me cae una estrella porque soy muy fan de Porter y no he entendido alguna cosa…, pero le doy cinco estrellas a la saga y seis estrellas a las partes del diario. ¡Brutales!
En este libro se me cae una estrella porque soy muy fan de Porter y no he entendido alguna cosa…, pero le doy cinco estrellas a la saga y seis estrellas a las partes del diario. ¡Brutales!
August 16, 2019
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, J.D. Barker, and Hampton Creek Press for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
As the riveting 4MK trilogy comes to an end, J.D. Barker offers the most explosive novel to date. Chilling in its delivery and full of unexpected twists, fans of the series should brace themselves as all the pieces finally come together. As the 4MK cases continues to gain momentum, the obvious suspect remains Anson Bishop, who turns himself in to the authorities. However, there are more victims that keep emerging, a single message binding them all together in his sick and twisted web. While this would seem to be a slam-dunk case, the fact that the bodies appear almost simultaneously on opposite sides of the country is an issue, denoting that this could not be the work of a single man. While minds stir about this, a hospital becomes the scene of a lockdown, as a virus makes its way through the air and chooses even more victims to add to the horror. While trying to shed some light on the entire situation, Chicago PD and FBI investigators listen to Bishop tell a complex story from his past, one that could reveal more about the real killer than first suspected. All comes to light in a set of diary entries, which could prove to be the best piece of evidence on offer. If he is to be believed, Bishop can finger a rogue cop as the real killer and the one with the greatest motive to shut the investigation down. Trouble is, everything is marred in a fog and what is on paper seems too outrageous to accept. Truths will be revealed and a killer’s identity shall be unmasked, but it may be too much for some to accept as they attempt to wrap their minds around what’s gone undetected and how many other lives have been cut short. A troubling novel, though one that fits right into the series and allows Barker to show just how sadistic things can get with a serial killer, given the opportunity. Recommended to series fans and those who want out of their comfort zone.
The concept for this series caught my attention when it was released and I knew I would have to find the time to add this to my ever-growing list of books to read. From the outset, the story pulled me in and kept me wanting to know more, especially since the serial killer stood out as being highly unique in their actions and the thrill of the chase. Returning as a quasi-protagonist again, Sam Porter offers the reader some insight into his personality and desire to get this killer off the streets. While there is no time for backstory, the reader does learn some interesting aspects about his life as well as how he is seen by his colleagues. Porter has little time for banter, wanting to get to the root of the matter, but fearful of tripping up and costing the investigation its best lead. He will have to remain level-headed and stay the course, or risk it all. Anson Bishop remains the other character to share the spotlight, though Barker seems to want to share the glory all around. Depicted as the mastermind killer, Bishop has a lot to say and won’t let himself face all the blame without opening up one more can of worms. What he reveals is both troubling and shocking, proof that may turn the case on its head, should anyone want to listen. In a story packed with interesting characters, Barker leaves no stone unturned in an attempt to flesh-out the truth, chilling the reader as the plunge deeper. The story remained strong throughout, climbing in its intensity through short chapters that tease just enough to keep the reader wanting to know more. I love this technique, as I find myself devouring things without being able to stop, promising myself and those around me that “one more chapter” will do. Matched with that, use of a diary to tell a captivating backstory leaves nothing to the imagination. In. trilogy set over six days, any reader wishing to binge the series can do so and feel the full impact of the story, allowing Barker to take over control and leave the reader at his mercy. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and the series, which brings together some great writing, strong narrative guidance, and a plot that has more twists than it does answers. Not to be missed, for those who have the stomach for the adventure.
Kudos, Mr. Barker, on another great book. I have loved everything of yours to date and cannot wait to discover more.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
As the riveting 4MK trilogy comes to an end, J.D. Barker offers the most explosive novel to date. Chilling in its delivery and full of unexpected twists, fans of the series should brace themselves as all the pieces finally come together. As the 4MK cases continues to gain momentum, the obvious suspect remains Anson Bishop, who turns himself in to the authorities. However, there are more victims that keep emerging, a single message binding them all together in his sick and twisted web. While this would seem to be a slam-dunk case, the fact that the bodies appear almost simultaneously on opposite sides of the country is an issue, denoting that this could not be the work of a single man. While minds stir about this, a hospital becomes the scene of a lockdown, as a virus makes its way through the air and chooses even more victims to add to the horror. While trying to shed some light on the entire situation, Chicago PD and FBI investigators listen to Bishop tell a complex story from his past, one that could reveal more about the real killer than first suspected. All comes to light in a set of diary entries, which could prove to be the best piece of evidence on offer. If he is to be believed, Bishop can finger a rogue cop as the real killer and the one with the greatest motive to shut the investigation down. Trouble is, everything is marred in a fog and what is on paper seems too outrageous to accept. Truths will be revealed and a killer’s identity shall be unmasked, but it may be too much for some to accept as they attempt to wrap their minds around what’s gone undetected and how many other lives have been cut short. A troubling novel, though one that fits right into the series and allows Barker to show just how sadistic things can get with a serial killer, given the opportunity. Recommended to series fans and those who want out of their comfort zone.
The concept for this series caught my attention when it was released and I knew I would have to find the time to add this to my ever-growing list of books to read. From the outset, the story pulled me in and kept me wanting to know more, especially since the serial killer stood out as being highly unique in their actions and the thrill of the chase. Returning as a quasi-protagonist again, Sam Porter offers the reader some insight into his personality and desire to get this killer off the streets. While there is no time for backstory, the reader does learn some interesting aspects about his life as well as how he is seen by his colleagues. Porter has little time for banter, wanting to get to the root of the matter, but fearful of tripping up and costing the investigation its best lead. He will have to remain level-headed and stay the course, or risk it all. Anson Bishop remains the other character to share the spotlight, though Barker seems to want to share the glory all around. Depicted as the mastermind killer, Bishop has a lot to say and won’t let himself face all the blame without opening up one more can of worms. What he reveals is both troubling and shocking, proof that may turn the case on its head, should anyone want to listen. In a story packed with interesting characters, Barker leaves no stone unturned in an attempt to flesh-out the truth, chilling the reader as the plunge deeper. The story remained strong throughout, climbing in its intensity through short chapters that tease just enough to keep the reader wanting to know more. I love this technique, as I find myself devouring things without being able to stop, promising myself and those around me that “one more chapter” will do. Matched with that, use of a diary to tell a captivating backstory leaves nothing to the imagination. In. trilogy set over six days, any reader wishing to binge the series can do so and feel the full impact of the story, allowing Barker to take over control and leave the reader at his mercy. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and the series, which brings together some great writing, strong narrative guidance, and a plot that has more twists than it does answers. Not to be missed, for those who have the stomach for the adventure.
Kudos, Mr. Barker, on another great book. I have loved everything of yours to date and cannot wait to discover more.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
May 8, 2020
"Teveel twists maakten dat het verhaal om duur een knoop vormde die ik maar moeilijk kon ontwarren. De trilogie van J.D. Barker is zeker een mustread voor thrillerliefhebbers, maar lees dan zeker alle drie de boeken kort na elkaar."
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2020...
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2020...
December 1, 2024
Guilt has a way of screaming.
INFINITE STARS OMG!!!!!!!
That is without a doubt one of the BEST mystery/thrillers I have ever read. This trilogy will take up permanent residence in my brain I swear. I want someone to bonk me on the head so I could have amnesia and read it again and again because how is any other thriller going to compare now?? 🤧🤧🤧
My brain is actually exhausted after this. The sheer amount of focus needed to keep up with everything happening and all the twists and turns actually left me breathless at times... I DIDN'T EAT TODAY BECAUSE I WAS JUST SO WRAPPED UP IN THIS AND WAS FRANTICALLY PACING AROUND THE HOUSE.
literally me:
I kept trying to piece things together while listening, trying to connect dots and decipher clues
Let's all laugh at me trying to do that🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡 The secrets, the plot, the reveals, THE ENDING???!!!!!💀 I am no match for Mr. Barker's brain and I don't want to be because I imagine it would be exhausting to have all those ideas bouncing around in your mind????
Anyways, I rambled enough. I love this. I am a husk now. How do I move on????? 😭😭
---------------------------------------------
Pre-read 🎧
Is anyone surprised I'm here?
INFINITE STARS OMG!!!!!!!
That is without a doubt one of the BEST mystery/thrillers I have ever read. This trilogy will take up permanent residence in my brain I swear. I want someone to bonk me on the head so I could have amnesia and read it again and again because how is any other thriller going to compare now?? 🤧🤧🤧
My brain is actually exhausted after this. The sheer amount of focus needed to keep up with everything happening and all the twists and turns actually left me breathless at times... I DIDN'T EAT TODAY BECAUSE I WAS JUST SO WRAPPED UP IN THIS AND WAS FRANTICALLY PACING AROUND THE HOUSE.
literally me:
I kept trying to piece things together while listening, trying to connect dots and decipher clues
Let's all laugh at me trying to do that🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡 The secrets, the plot, the reveals, THE ENDING???!!!!!💀 I am no match for Mr. Barker's brain and I don't want to be because I imagine it would be exhausting to have all those ideas bouncing around in your mind????
Anyways, I rambled enough. I love this. I am a husk now. How do I move on????? 😭😭
---------------------------------------------
Pre-read 🎧
Is anyone surprised I'm here?
Read
August 28, 2019DNF 57%
You guys I can't finish it.
It's so friggin long and, in this case, bigger isn't better. Easily 200 pages could have been shaved off this book.
What sucks is that I LOVE THE STORY and am so curious as to how it's all going to play out but not enough to continue.
I've struggled with this series from book one and it's the same issue with every book. There a way too many storylines going on and it really detracts from my ability to become invested in the characters.
There's no sense of tension in the writing, no nail-biting-frantic-page-flipping urgency to get to the truth.
Barker gave me what I asked for in my review of installment one and that was more Anson Bishop (the serial killer...or is he???). He has remained the most fascinating aspect of this story. The chapters featuring his diary entries are so compelling I could read an entire book of nothing but those.
I'm going to skip giving this one a star rating. This is absolutely a case of it's not you, it's me. This series is loved by all and I don't discourage anybody from picking it up.
Despite my inability to connect with this series, I look forward to Barker's next book. I like the way his mind works and I think the best is yet to come.
**I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
You guys I can't finish it.
It's so friggin long and, in this case, bigger isn't better. Easily 200 pages could have been shaved off this book.
What sucks is that I LOVE THE STORY and am so curious as to how it's all going to play out but not enough to continue.
I've struggled with this series from book one and it's the same issue with every book. There a way too many storylines going on and it really detracts from my ability to become invested in the characters.
There's no sense of tension in the writing, no nail-biting-frantic-page-flipping urgency to get to the truth.
Barker gave me what I asked for in my review of installment one and that was more Anson Bishop (the serial killer...or is he???). He has remained the most fascinating aspect of this story. The chapters featuring his diary entries are so compelling I could read an entire book of nothing but those.
I'm going to skip giving this one a star rating. This is absolutely a case of it's not you, it's me. This series is loved by all and I don't discourage anybody from picking it up.
Despite my inability to connect with this series, I look forward to Barker's next book. I like the way his mind works and I think the best is yet to come.
**I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
December 11, 2019
I kinda hate myself on this one. I should have never read past book one. The Fourth Monkey I loved that sucker. I loved it so much that I lost my mind and kept reading the series.
I'm not really going to go over the whole synopsis of this story line. BUT I will tell you. If you have old lady brains like I do and it's been a few since you read the other books this one is like going to a party where you know no one and trying to fit in.
The good?
It's readable. At times I worked up some care to what happened.
The bad?
The story was too damn long. This book meanders just to hear itself talk.
Loose ends from the other books just weren't wrapped up or handled well.
This line of characters taking this turn of events? WHYYYYYYYYY??? This could have been just a separate story NOT added to an perfectly fine story.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review
I'm not really going to go over the whole synopsis of this story line. BUT I will tell you. If you have old lady brains like I do and it's been a few since you read the other books this one is like going to a party where you know no one and trying to fit in.
The good?
It's readable. At times I worked up some care to what happened.
The bad?
The story was too damn long. This book meanders just to hear itself talk.
Loose ends from the other books just weren't wrapped up or handled well.
This line of characters taking this turn of events? WHYYYYYYYYY??? This could have been just a separate story NOT added to an perfectly fine story.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review
August 20, 2019
This series has ended with a BANG!
The ending was priceless and memorable.
I can tell you, I think this author is a master of deceit. I was sure who the bad guy was and then poof, I was wrong and then the guy I thought was a good one, was not. Or wait, maybe the bad guy was the bad guy after all or ....so u see my point. A complete mind play.
J. D. Baker does such a fantastic job in this series. The suspense and the writing were phenomenal. At some point, he had me rooting for Anson. A total psychopath but whom I wanted some type of happiness after everything he had to endure. It helps that we get glimpses of Anson as a teenager and the crush he had on Libby helped humanize him for me.
Sam Porter, what can I say? He was a very interesting character. I liked him from the very beginning of the 4MK series. Smart, likable, a nice boss with great powers of deduction. He was still mourning the loss of the only woman he had ever loved. In the Sixth Wicked Child, he gets himself into a corner. He's in deep trouble and I wasn’t sure I could or should trust him.
The secondary characters like Clair, Nash, Agent Poole and Kloz were all very well-developed. They complemented Anson and Sam's in every way possible.
I don't think I want to say anything else because a lot of it could be spoilers.
Thank you so much Hampton Creek Press for my free digital copy of The Sixth Wicked Child.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
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September 7, 2020
No tengo palabras, ha sido increíble.
Es una pasada como el autor logra jugar con el lector, haciéndote dudar en todo momento y dejándote una historia que ni me imaginaba.
He terminado el libro con un torbellino de sentimientos que al llegar al último párrafo he llorado y todo!! Nunca me había pasado algo así, ha sido fascinante.
Ya os digo que es la mejor trilogía que he leído nunca, no tengo palabras para expresar lo bien que lo he pasado leyendo este libro y los dos anteriores porque me han hecho sentir tantas emociones que parecía imposible que pudiera emocionarme más.
Puede que penséis que estoy exagerando pero NO, Sam Porter y Anson Bishop son personajes increíbles, bien construidos, un asesino brillante, inteligente, con un pasado que no esperas para nada. Es un libro que tiene tensión, suspense, misterio y que te atrapa de principio a fin.
Ha sido brillante.
Es una pasada como el autor logra jugar con el lector, haciéndote dudar en todo momento y dejándote una historia que ni me imaginaba.
He terminado el libro con un torbellino de sentimientos que al llegar al último párrafo he llorado y todo!! Nunca me había pasado algo así, ha sido fascinante.
Ya os digo que es la mejor trilogía que he leído nunca, no tengo palabras para expresar lo bien que lo he pasado leyendo este libro y los dos anteriores porque me han hecho sentir tantas emociones que parecía imposible que pudiera emocionarme más.
Puede que penséis que estoy exagerando pero NO, Sam Porter y Anson Bishop son personajes increíbles, bien construidos, un asesino brillante, inteligente, con un pasado que no esperas para nada. Es un libro que tiene tensión, suspense, misterio y que te atrapa de principio a fin.
Ha sido brillante.
June 5, 2020
Un final brutal para una trilogía bestial.
December 12, 2019
The Wicked Sixth Child picks up where The Fifth to Die ends off and brings this exciting series to a conclusion.
I started off grooving to pace of the story and intrigued by the turn the story started to take. The pace slowed and started to dally along for me and felt a little bit like I was being strung along instead of feeling the suspense to the story. At 628 pages I could have done with a few fewer words at the beginning of the story. I became a bit frustrated with the jigging and jagging going on. Well J.D. Barker tightened those strings and the pace picked and things started zigging and zagging along and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see what's next.
The unrelenting tension and suspense rise as those shocking reveals are revealed and secrets start to come out. The body counts rise and at times, it felt like I was on a merry go around and spinning around so fast my head started to get dizzy but I just couldn't jump off till the motives behind the Four Monkey Killer are revealed. Once I jump off I was running around cheering for how everything comes together so well. I highly recommend this series
I received a copy from the publisher on Netgalley.
I started off grooving to pace of the story and intrigued by the turn the story started to take. The pace slowed and started to dally along for me and felt a little bit like I was being strung along instead of feeling the suspense to the story. At 628 pages I could have done with a few fewer words at the beginning of the story. I became a bit frustrated with the jigging and jagging going on. Well J.D. Barker tightened those strings and the pace picked and things started zigging and zagging along and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see what's next.
The unrelenting tension and suspense rise as those shocking reveals are revealed and secrets start to come out. The body counts rise and at times, it felt like I was on a merry go around and spinning around so fast my head started to get dizzy but I just couldn't jump off till the motives behind the Four Monkey Killer are revealed. Once I jump off I was running around cheering for how everything comes together so well. I highly recommend this series
I received a copy from the publisher on Netgalley.
August 30, 2019
EXCERPT: Tray didn't see her at first, the girl kneeling at the water's edge, facing away. Long, blonde hair trailing down her back. She looked like one of the statues, unmoving, facing the pond like that. Her skin was so pale, nearly white, almost as colourless as her white dress. She wore no shoes on her bare feet, no coat, only the white dress made of a material so thin it was nearly translucent. Her hands were clasped together near her breasts as if lost in prayer, her head tilted to one side.
Tray didn't speak, but drew closer. Close enough to realise the thin layer of snow that covered everything else covered this girl too. And when she circled around to her side, she realised it wasn't a girl at all but a woman. The stark whiteness of her, every inch of her, was broken by the thin line of red stretching from under her hair down the side of her face. There was another line from the side of her left eye, a stream of red tears, and yet a third from the corner of her mouth - this one painting her lips the brightest rose.
Something was written on her forehead.
Wait, not written.
At her knees, sitting in the snow, was a silver serving tray. The kind you might find at a fancy dinner party, a high priced restaurant, the sort of place Tray already knew, even at fourteen, she'd never see outside of television or the movies.
On that tray were three small white boxes. Each sealed tight with black string.
Behind the boxes, propped up against the woman's chest, was a cardboard sign not unlike the ones Tray had held to raise money for food. Only she had never used these three particular words before. The sign simply read:
FATHER, FORGIVE ME.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: In the riveting conclusion of the 4MK trilogy, Barker takes the thriller to an entirely new level. Don't miss a single word of the series James Patterson called "ingenious."
Hear No Evil
For Detective Sam Porter, the words “Father, forgive me” conjure memories long forgotten; a past intentionally buried. For Anson Bishop, these three words connect a childhood to the present as he unleashes a truth concealed for decades.
See No Evil
Found written on cardboard near each body, these words link multiple victims to a single killer—discovered within minutes of each other in both Chicago and South Carolina—clearly connected yet separated by impossible miles.
Speak No Evil
Chicago Metro and the FBI find themselves caught in chaos—a hospital on lockdown, a rogue officer, and corruption at the highest levels. When Anson Bishop, the prime suspect in the notorious 4MK serial murders turns himself in, he reveals a story completely unexpected, one that not only upends the current investigation, but one that will change the lives of all involved.
Do No Evil
MY THOUGHTS: My head is still spinning more than twenty four hours after finishing this book! Barker led me down the garden path, chewed me up and spat me out! And not just once....
Warning: if you haven't read the first two books in this series, The Fourth Monkey and Fifth to Die, don't start with this, the final part of the trilogy. You need to read all of them, in order. And if it is some time since you read the first two, I recommend a refresher...which is what I should have done, and didn't.
I struggled at times to remember who was who and whom had done what from the earlier books. And although I loved this book, it would have been a far easier read had I done that recap.
This is not a simple story. It is riveting, compelling and convoluted. I was sure of no one. There is much conflicting evidence and stories. The twists and turns are masterful. I vaguely recall a story from my childhood about a snake that ate itself by swallowing its own tail. There are parallels.
This is a series that deserves a binge read. I plan on taking it on my next holiday and doing it justice. And I am quite sure that once I have finished, I will be rerating The Sixth Wicked Child to the full five (or more) stars it richly deserves. The fault is all mine.
🤡👹😱🤯.5
#TheSixthWickedChild #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: J.D. Barker is the international best-selling author of numerous novels, including FORSAKEN and THE FOURTH MONKEY. His latest novel, DRACUL, co-authored with Dacre Stoker, released October 2018. His next novel, THE SIXTH WICKED CHILD, releases in August. He is currently collaborating with James Patterson. His novels have been translated into two dozen languages and optioned for both film and television. Barker resides in coastal New Hampshire with his wife, Dayna, and their daughter, Ember.
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.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hampton Creek Press (IBPA) via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Sixth Wicked Child by J.D. Barker for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to profile page on Goodreads.com or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Tray didn't speak, but drew closer. Close enough to realise the thin layer of snow that covered everything else covered this girl too. And when she circled around to her side, she realised it wasn't a girl at all but a woman. The stark whiteness of her, every inch of her, was broken by the thin line of red stretching from under her hair down the side of her face. There was another line from the side of her left eye, a stream of red tears, and yet a third from the corner of her mouth - this one painting her lips the brightest rose.
Something was written on her forehead.
Wait, not written.
At her knees, sitting in the snow, was a silver serving tray. The kind you might find at a fancy dinner party, a high priced restaurant, the sort of place Tray already knew, even at fourteen, she'd never see outside of television or the movies.
On that tray were three small white boxes. Each sealed tight with black string.
Behind the boxes, propped up against the woman's chest, was a cardboard sign not unlike the ones Tray had held to raise money for food. Only she had never used these three particular words before. The sign simply read:
FATHER, FORGIVE ME.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: In the riveting conclusion of the 4MK trilogy, Barker takes the thriller to an entirely new level. Don't miss a single word of the series James Patterson called "ingenious."
Hear No Evil
For Detective Sam Porter, the words “Father, forgive me” conjure memories long forgotten; a past intentionally buried. For Anson Bishop, these three words connect a childhood to the present as he unleashes a truth concealed for decades.
See No Evil
Found written on cardboard near each body, these words link multiple victims to a single killer—discovered within minutes of each other in both Chicago and South Carolina—clearly connected yet separated by impossible miles.
Speak No Evil
Chicago Metro and the FBI find themselves caught in chaos—a hospital on lockdown, a rogue officer, and corruption at the highest levels. When Anson Bishop, the prime suspect in the notorious 4MK serial murders turns himself in, he reveals a story completely unexpected, one that not only upends the current investigation, but one that will change the lives of all involved.
Do No Evil
MY THOUGHTS: My head is still spinning more than twenty four hours after finishing this book! Barker led me down the garden path, chewed me up and spat me out! And not just once....
Warning: if you haven't read the first two books in this series, The Fourth Monkey and Fifth to Die, don't start with this, the final part of the trilogy. You need to read all of them, in order. And if it is some time since you read the first two, I recommend a refresher...which is what I should have done, and didn't.
I struggled at times to remember who was who and whom had done what from the earlier books. And although I loved this book, it would have been a far easier read had I done that recap.
This is not a simple story. It is riveting, compelling and convoluted. I was sure of no one. There is much conflicting evidence and stories. The twists and turns are masterful. I vaguely recall a story from my childhood about a snake that ate itself by swallowing its own tail. There are parallels.
This is a series that deserves a binge read. I plan on taking it on my next holiday and doing it justice. And I am quite sure that once I have finished, I will be rerating The Sixth Wicked Child to the full five (or more) stars it richly deserves. The fault is all mine.
🤡👹😱🤯.5
#TheSixthWickedChild #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: J.D. Barker is the international best-selling author of numerous novels, including FORSAKEN and THE FOURTH MONKEY. His latest novel, DRACUL, co-authored with Dacre Stoker, released October 2018. His next novel, THE SIXTH WICKED CHILD, releases in August. He is currently collaborating with James Patterson. His novels have been translated into two dozen languages and optioned for both film and television. Barker resides in coastal New Hampshire with his wife, Dayna, and their daughter, Ember.
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.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hampton Creek Press (IBPA) via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Sixth Wicked Child by J.D. Barker for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to profile page on Goodreads.com or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
January 16, 2021
Wow! I LOVED this book. I loved the suspense, smoke screens all the surprises. This is how books should be. Based on the previous 2 books in the series I knew this one would also be a winner. I finished the book the night before but I wanted to ponder on the book before I wrote my review. And I’m still thinking of all that happened in this book. The entire book was good for me, but around the 80% mark I noticed I had irregular breathing patterns.
Sam’s obsession with 4MK continues to overtake him and he gets quite creative in going under the radar to continue his investigation. There were times I felt like I was in an altered reality. Lies are told, uncovered, the truth is twisted and you aren’t going to know what or whom, to believe. Killings continue. The story morphed into something bigger than just the 4MK killer.
Like the other books, this one was told in alternating chapters. More diaries are uncovered, which peel back the layers of the onion, but once uncovered, I was left scratching my head trying to figure out what is real. I tried to pay close attention to everything and I did figure out a few small things, but it didn’t help me in the least at the end. And speaking of the end. 😱 Wow!
Obviously if you read the first 2 books you won’t want to miss out on the last one. And I would not wait too long to read this last one, because there are things that were introduced in the previous books and you won’t want to forget the clues and characters going into book 3. I’m happy I read each one after the other, as it created a wonderful book-reading experience. This is my 4th J.D. Barker book. All of them, in my opinion, have been 5-star. You know you have a good book when you realize how sad you are when a book has ended; you miss the characters and their stories and want to know more. I feel like I need time to restore my breathing before I pick up another book.
I thank my Goodreads friends for dragging me out of my cave and introducing me to this amazing author. And thank you J.D. for the wonderful hours I’ve spent reading your books. There will be more. 😊
Sam’s obsession with 4MK continues to overtake him and he gets quite creative in going under the radar to continue his investigation. There were times I felt like I was in an altered reality. Lies are told, uncovered, the truth is twisted and you aren’t going to know what or whom, to believe. Killings continue. The story morphed into something bigger than just the 4MK killer.
Like the other books, this one was told in alternating chapters. More diaries are uncovered, which peel back the layers of the onion, but once uncovered, I was left scratching my head trying to figure out what is real. I tried to pay close attention to everything and I did figure out a few small things, but it didn’t help me in the least at the end. And speaking of the end. 😱 Wow!
Obviously if you read the first 2 books you won’t want to miss out on the last one. And I would not wait too long to read this last one, because there are things that were introduced in the previous books and you won’t want to forget the clues and characters going into book 3. I’m happy I read each one after the other, as it created a wonderful book-reading experience. This is my 4th J.D. Barker book. All of them, in my opinion, have been 5-star. You know you have a good book when you realize how sad you are when a book has ended; you miss the characters and their stories and want to know more. I feel like I need time to restore my breathing before I pick up another book.
I thank my Goodreads friends for dragging me out of my cave and introducing me to this amazing author. And thank you J.D. for the wonderful hours I’ve spent reading your books. There will be more. 😊
August 28, 2019
This truly is a riveting, explosive ending to the 4MK trilogy! Just as with the first two books, it's tightly plotted and the tension never lets up. You definitely need to read the trilogy from the beginning as this book plunges straight into the action. If it's been a while since you read the last episode you may even want to go back and refresh your memory by rereading the last couple of chapters of book two, as I had to.
J.D. Barker has written an addictive and masterful thriller, weaving many threads together and pulling off twist after twist with a LOT of bodies along the way. He must have had a clear vision of how this would all play out right from the start to be able to so ably juggle all the characters and storylines into the right place at the right time. By the end of the book the whole history of suspected serial killer Anson Bishop and detective Sam Porter will be laid out and everything will make perfect sense. Just brilliant!
With many thanks to Netgalley and Hampton Creek Press for a digital ARC to read
J.D. Barker has written an addictive and masterful thriller, weaving many threads together and pulling off twist after twist with a LOT of bodies along the way. He must have had a clear vision of how this would all play out right from the start to be able to so ably juggle all the characters and storylines into the right place at the right time. By the end of the book the whole history of suspected serial killer Anson Bishop and detective Sam Porter will be laid out and everything will make perfect sense. Just brilliant!
With many thanks to Netgalley and Hampton Creek Press for a digital ARC to read
August 24, 2019
This is the final book in a trilogy that I enjoyed. My understanding is that it’s going to be made into a movie for the big screen and a mini-series for the little one. Barker is adept at having just about every chapter of the series be a mini cliffhanger. He changes the points of view from chapter to chapter, so either a cop or the serial killer will be in a perilous situation and you might have to wait a few chapters to pick up on that thread, which keeps up the suspense.
In this book, I didn’t know who to trust anymore. While I still enjoyed it as I did the first two books, the amount of people killed was ridiculous. Barker gave a good reason for the killer or killers to have a vendetta against the people who were murdered, but the amount of bodies who were tortured and killed was a little out of control.
This is a fun series. The first two books had cliffhangers of endings as Detective Sam Porter couldn’t capture the Four Monkey Killer, but now that the series is complete, you can read them back to back to get to the conclusion.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book, which RELEASES AUGUST 27, 2019.
In this book, I didn’t know who to trust anymore. While I still enjoyed it as I did the first two books, the amount of people killed was ridiculous. Barker gave a good reason for the killer or killers to have a vendetta against the people who were murdered, but the amount of bodies who were tortured and killed was a little out of control.
This is a fun series. The first two books had cliffhangers of endings as Detective Sam Porter couldn’t capture the Four Monkey Killer, but now that the series is complete, you can read them back to back to get to the conclusion.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book, which RELEASES AUGUST 27, 2019.
November 30, 2021
Pamm 💥
El autor se corona con este tercer volumen trepidante...
Según vas pasando páginas vas dudando de unos y de otros hasta el punto de poder perderte si no mantienes una lectura bastante continua. En mi opinión el segundo libro es el más flojito, pero en este último lo arregla con un final apasionante.
Recomiendo esta trilogía sin dudarlo.
Echaré de menos a Sam Porter, Anson Bishop y a toda la cuadrilla.
"No escuches el mal. No veas el mal. No pronuncies el mal. No hagas el mal."
El autor se corona con este tercer volumen trepidante...
Según vas pasando páginas vas dudando de unos y de otros hasta el punto de poder perderte si no mantienes una lectura bastante continua. En mi opinión el segundo libro es el más flojito, pero en este último lo arregla con un final apasionante.
Recomiendo esta trilogía sin dudarlo.
Echaré de menos a Sam Porter, Anson Bishop y a toda la cuadrilla.
"No escuches el mal. No veas el mal. No pronuncies el mal. No hagas el mal."
September 23, 2020
¡Brutal!
¡Qué forma de jugar con el lector! De introducirlo en un laberinto y sugerir sutilmente posibles salidas, todas tan correctas como incorrectas. ¡Qué forma más alucinante de escribir! De tener todos los hilos enredados en las manos, tirar de los extremos y descubrir que todo cuadra perfectamente, hasta el más mínimo detalle. Y por cierto, ¡Que forma de cuidar los detalles!
El ritmo es fantástico. Capítulo cortos, entrelazando diferentes tramas y personajes, además del diario y siempre dosificando información de forma que nunca sepas cómo va a acabar todo. Es totalmente impredecible.
El final de la trilogía es espectacular. Para mí, perfecto. Literalmente, me ha dejado con los pelos de punta. No puedo decir más sin revelar nada. Solo que hacía mucho tiempo que no estaba tan convencido de que un libro (En realidad la trilogía completa) merece las 5 estrellas.
Llegados a este punto solo puedo darle las gracias al Señor Barker por haber decidido dedicarse a escribir libros. Es uno de los mejores thrillers que he leído.
¡Qué forma de jugar con el lector! De introducirlo en un laberinto y sugerir sutilmente posibles salidas, todas tan correctas como incorrectas. ¡Qué forma más alucinante de escribir! De tener todos los hilos enredados en las manos, tirar de los extremos y descubrir que todo cuadra perfectamente, hasta el más mínimo detalle. Y por cierto, ¡Que forma de cuidar los detalles!
El ritmo es fantástico. Capítulo cortos, entrelazando diferentes tramas y personajes, además del diario y siempre dosificando información de forma que nunca sepas cómo va a acabar todo. Es totalmente impredecible.
El final de la trilogía es espectacular. Para mí, perfecto. Literalmente, me ha dejado con los pelos de punta. No puedo decir más sin revelar nada. Solo que hacía mucho tiempo que no estaba tan convencido de que un libro (En realidad la trilogía completa) merece las 5 estrellas.
Llegados a este punto solo puedo darle las gracias al Señor Barker por haber decidido dedicarse a escribir libros. Es uno de los mejores thrillers que he leído.
March 20, 2021
Do you ever want a book just to end before you go around killing people just to do anything other than finish it? Prison time doesn't seem so bad as long as I can read something else between things like making toilet wine and a shank out of my toothbrush.
hehe. Prisoner me is funny.
The thing is, the first book was awesome. Read that one and then stop. It was a brilliant "Silence of the Lambs" type of story that kept me on the edge of my seat.
It devolved though. By the end I was on a three-legged stool with one short leg that was killing my ass and I couldn't get away fast enough.
It went as expected.
What went wrong:
This started as a wonderful cat-and-mouse story with a deranged serial killer and the cop chasing him. But, somewhere along the line it tried to become more of a psychological thriller with a gazillion twists. And, hey, I like twists as much as the next person. I eat pretzels. But, there is a point when they lose their impact. By the end of it I wouldn't have been surprised if it turned out I was the murderer. And, I didn't care.
Or maybe I am too salty. Whatever.
The other problem was the constant movement of locations. Everything became so frantic that you could hardly keep up with who was where and why. It was annoying. And, again, by the end I didn't care anymore anyway.
My last complaint: it was too fucking long. There were pages and pages of thoughts or someone describing a dark room or other equally unimportant things that should have been edited out so the story was more focused. It was just a hot mess. And, although I am a hot mess by this time in the pandemic, I am not a very patient hot mess. The last thing I want to do is read the rambling ravings of other hot messes.
Except this. Whatever it is - i'm in!
If the books had stayed on track and kept the story of serial killer versus cop I would have loved it.
hehe. Prisoner me is funny.
The thing is, the first book was awesome. Read that one and then stop. It was a brilliant "Silence of the Lambs" type of story that kept me on the edge of my seat.
It devolved though. By the end I was on a three-legged stool with one short leg that was killing my ass and I couldn't get away fast enough.
It went as expected.
What went wrong:
This started as a wonderful cat-and-mouse story with a deranged serial killer and the cop chasing him. But, somewhere along the line it tried to become more of a psychological thriller with a gazillion twists. And, hey, I like twists as much as the next person. I eat pretzels. But, there is a point when they lose their impact. By the end of it I wouldn't have been surprised if it turned out I was the murderer. And, I didn't care.
Or maybe I am too salty. Whatever.
The other problem was the constant movement of locations. Everything became so frantic that you could hardly keep up with who was where and why. It was annoying. And, again, by the end I didn't care anymore anyway.
My last complaint: it was too fucking long. There were pages and pages of thoughts or someone describing a dark room or other equally unimportant things that should have been edited out so the story was more focused. It was just a hot mess. And, although I am a hot mess by this time in the pandemic, I am not a very patient hot mess. The last thing I want to do is read the rambling ravings of other hot messes.
Except this. Whatever it is - i'm in!
If the books had stayed on track and kept the story of serial killer versus cop I would have loved it.
August 20, 2019
Thank you to J.D. Barker, Hampton Creek Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
First, I must advise you that you really need to read the first 2 books before you attempt to read this. As there is one hell of a back story (and they are both extremely good books), and they set this one up brilliantly. However, although you really need to read first 2 before this one, this is Mr Barkers journey and he is the one doing the driving. You may not be heading for the destination you thought you were.
As before this the planning is exemplary and the story moves along at an addictive pace, not particularly fast but certainly not slow, with twists and turns keeping up the suspense and tension.
The diary entries continue the back stories, and a serial killer who is highly intelligent, always at least one step ahead of the police, a detective with a past he can't quite remember. The killer clearly has a plan, but what is it? In addition to this who can you trust when everything and everyone you thought you could trust is turned upside down? We continue to learn more and more about each characters past and the various connections. It is all very addictive.
A brilliant end to a brilliant series. The author manages to wrap up the loose ends and explain why everything happened. This series has been a real rollercoaster of a ride, with likeable/relatable characters (even the killer) and an ingenious plotline, with so many twists and turns. But unlike some stories that have twist after twist, you are still able to follow it.
Cannot recommend this enough.
First, I must advise you that you really need to read the first 2 books before you attempt to read this. As there is one hell of a back story (and they are both extremely good books), and they set this one up brilliantly. However, although you really need to read first 2 before this one, this is Mr Barkers journey and he is the one doing the driving. You may not be heading for the destination you thought you were.
As before this the planning is exemplary and the story moves along at an addictive pace, not particularly fast but certainly not slow, with twists and turns keeping up the suspense and tension.
The diary entries continue the back stories, and a serial killer who is highly intelligent, always at least one step ahead of the police, a detective with a past he can't quite remember. The killer clearly has a plan, but what is it? In addition to this who can you trust when everything and everyone you thought you could trust is turned upside down? We continue to learn more and more about each characters past and the various connections. It is all very addictive.
A brilliant end to a brilliant series. The author manages to wrap up the loose ends and explain why everything happened. This series has been a real rollercoaster of a ride, with likeable/relatable characters (even the killer) and an ingenious plotline, with so many twists and turns. But unlike some stories that have twist after twist, you are still able to follow it.
Cannot recommend this enough.
September 22, 2024
Cierre de infarto para una trilogía de infarto.
He disfrutado muchísimo con la lectura, me ha parecido, pese a no tratar nada novedoso, que está muy bien pensada y escrita.
En ningún momento decae la acción, siempre están pasando cosas y se cuentan desde varias perspectivas.
Pensé que quedaría algún cabo suelto pero no me lo ha parecido.
El segundo libro dejaba una puerta abierta a esta tercera parte, porque literalmente terminaba donde empezaba éste. Dejando a medias una situación que de no haber tenido el libro para leerlo de inmediato no sé que habría sido de mi vida 🤣🤣 (y sí, me gusta el drama jajaja)
En esta parte ya se ha descubierto el pastel, las motivaciones y me he llevado unas cuantas sorpresas. Algunas si las he visto venir y he sospechado porque alguna pista que iba dejando el autor si la capté, pero no le ha restado absolutamente nada.
La mente de nuestro asesino en serie, alias el Cuarto Mono, hace gala de una inteligencia que para mí quisiera, aunque también reconozco que estar en su piel hubiera tenido que ser agotador porque pensar en todo adelantándote siempre a la jugada y durante tanto tiempo sin que haya fisuras no ha de ser sencillo.
El autor jugará contigo y con la información de manera despiadada y más de una vez te quedarás con la boca abierta pensando que en qué momento se estaba gestando todo lo has descubierto.
Si no la has leído, te animo a hacerlo porque es de los mejor thrillers policíacos que he tenido el placer de leer.
He disfrutado muchísimo con la lectura, me ha parecido, pese a no tratar nada novedoso, que está muy bien pensada y escrita.
En ningún momento decae la acción, siempre están pasando cosas y se cuentan desde varias perspectivas.
Pensé que quedaría algún cabo suelto pero no me lo ha parecido.
El segundo libro dejaba una puerta abierta a esta tercera parte, porque literalmente terminaba donde empezaba éste. Dejando a medias una situación que de no haber tenido el libro para leerlo de inmediato no sé que habría sido de mi vida 🤣🤣 (y sí, me gusta el drama jajaja)
En esta parte ya se ha descubierto el pastel, las motivaciones y me he llevado unas cuantas sorpresas. Algunas si las he visto venir y he sospechado porque alguna pista que iba dejando el autor si la capté, pero no le ha restado absolutamente nada.
La mente de nuestro asesino en serie, alias el Cuarto Mono, hace gala de una inteligencia que para mí quisiera, aunque también reconozco que estar en su piel hubiera tenido que ser agotador porque pensar en todo adelantándote siempre a la jugada y durante tanto tiempo sin que haya fisuras no ha de ser sencillo.
El autor jugará contigo y con la información de manera despiadada y más de una vez te quedarás con la boca abierta pensando que en qué momento se estaba gestando todo lo has descubierto.
Si no la has leído, te animo a hacerlo porque es de los mejor thrillers policíacos que he tenido el placer de leer.
December 24, 2024
This book has a 4.5* rating so I am an outlier here. The first book was very good, the second was really a continuation of the first and was just too many pages to make it all one book. I listened to the audio version for all 3 and it was fantastic. The ending was great...it was just too convoluted and bloated getting there. Too much and too many everything...characters, murders, cops, locations. As I was listening, I would think what great writing that just keeps going and going for 14 hours.
July 10, 2020
8,5/10
He dudado entre ponerle 4 o 5 estrellas, pero al final le pongo la quinta como premio a toda esta trilogía que tanta diversión me ha aportado.
En esta última entrega por fin se descubre todo el pastel, y de que forma. Giros de guión inesperados, personajes jugando un doble juego muy bien llevado por parte del autor, y todas las preguntas que uno puede hacerse respondidas por parte del autor.
Por ponerle algún pero, uno es muy tiquismiquis, un par de los momentos que deberían de ser el clímax total, se ven venir desde lejos, ojo, no todos, que sorpresa hay muchas y variadas. Pero ya digo que es por ser puntilloso más que otra cosa.
En cualquier caso, esta trilogía pasa a mi lista de imprescindibles dentro del género y su autor a la lista de gente a seguir y leer. Tiene de todo y muy bien explicado y sobre todo genialmente hilvanado, al final todo encaja muy bien, a veces incluso demasiado, por lo que es complicado sacarle algún pero a la trama y a sus personajes.
RECOMENDABLE 100%
He dudado entre ponerle 4 o 5 estrellas, pero al final le pongo la quinta como premio a toda esta trilogía que tanta diversión me ha aportado.
En esta última entrega por fin se descubre todo el pastel, y de que forma. Giros de guión inesperados, personajes jugando un doble juego muy bien llevado por parte del autor, y todas las preguntas que uno puede hacerse respondidas por parte del autor.
Por ponerle algún pero, uno es muy tiquismiquis, un par de los momentos que deberían de ser el clímax total, se ven venir desde lejos, ojo, no todos, que sorpresa hay muchas y variadas. Pero ya digo que es por ser puntilloso más que otra cosa.
En cualquier caso, esta trilogía pasa a mi lista de imprescindibles dentro del género y su autor a la lista de gente a seguir y leer. Tiene de todo y muy bien explicado y sobre todo genialmente hilvanado, al final todo encaja muy bien, a veces incluso demasiado, por lo que es complicado sacarle algún pero a la trama y a sus personajes.
RECOMENDABLE 100%
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