A hívás

by J.D. Barker

Jordan Briggs a New York-i rádiózás királynője, beszélgetős műsorát több mint ötmillióan hallgatják minden nap. Kemény munkával küzdötte be magát a legjobbak közé: nem fogja vissza magát, nincs tekintettel mások érzéseire, és kertelés nélkül kimondja, amit gondol. A sikerért azonban komoly árat fizetett. A házassága romokban hever, évek óta nem beszélt az anyjával, és ellökte magától azokat, akik közel álltak hozzá. Egyedül lányával, Charlotte-tal maradt bensőséges a viszonya.

Amikor egy magát Bernie-nek nevező férfi betelefonál a műsorába, és arra kéri, hogy játsszon vele egy játékot - taxi vagy uber? -, Jordan úgy gondolja, hogy ez kiváló lehetőség felpörgetni az adást, és életet lehelni munkába igyekvő hallgatóiba. Csakhogy a válaszát követően hét taxi felrobban a munkahelye előtt. És ez még csak a kezdet.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Horror

448 pages

First published December 18, 2020

About the author

J.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

Reviews

[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Caller's Game by J.D. Barker 

I came into A Caller's Game knowing that there would be explosions (an understatement, if there ever was one). The book has been compared to Die Hard and I'll never read or watch a Die Hard book or movie but I loved Barker's She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be and the characters that he creates. He does know how to create both characters that I really like and characters have me ranting at the book. 

In the category of characters that I despised we have Jordan Briggs, a wealthy, controversial talk radio host, willing to skewer and slay any and everybody, regardless of consequences. In fact, in her past are dead and living victims of one of her talk radio pranks that went very, very wrong and now one such person is on the line, giving Jordan deadly choices, choices that always result in death. Think "eye for an eye" with massive collateral damage. 

In the category of characters that I like, we have Detective Cole, recently knocked down to traffic police for an offence that we will discover later. Cole, along with a few other characters, is the reason I enjoyed the book. I can only take so much death and devastation but it helps when I have someone that we get to "know", that I'm rooting for, along with all the nameless potential victims of the destruction to come. 

In Barker's collaboration with James Patterson, The Coast-to-Coast Murders, I lamented the extremely short chapters. With this book, we have long, meaty chapters and that's something I appreciate. Characters are my favorite thing about books and I'm glad we had some "good" characters, amongst all the explosions. 

Publication February 22th 2021

Thank you to J.D. Barker, Hampton Creek Press, and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 STARS*

There’s an often used phrase, favoured by many authors these days, “ She let out a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding “ Well yes, that really did happen to me, whilst reading ‘A Caller’s Game’.

Radio talk show host, Jordan Briggs, is a strong willed, opinionated woman, and generally not a nice person at all. She never stops to think before she makes the most outrageous remarks to callers, and quite honestly, if she upsets them along the way - so what! Well, she’s really upset one of her callers now - the person in question calls her show to ask if she wants to play a game. She agrees, but this is a very dangerous game, a game that no one would want to participate in willingly - many lives are at stake, not least Jordan’s.

This book held me spellbound. It is clever, superbly paced, has believable, credible, (though not always likeable characters),and you may have to suspend disbelief at times, but it’s a real page turner. J D Barker at his best.

* Thank you to Netgalley and Hampton Creek Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looky here, I'm in the commercial! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyAjo...

Attention all adrenaline thriller junkies! Here's your next fix.

"Literary popcorn" author J.D. Barker is new to me, but the premise of his latest novel was so compelling I shoved my To Read pile aside and binged this as quickly as possible. A mysterious caller dials in to a controversial SiriusXM shock jock's morning radio show and says he wants to play a game. He offers her a this-or-that choice, and her seemingly benign answer sets in motion a spiral of terror within her studio's skyscraper and the surrounding NYC area.

"A Caller's Game" is a BIG thriller. Not in pages (425), but in action. If this were a movie, its audio track would be filled with the sounds of whirring helicopters, explosions, and gun shots. Readers more accustomed to domestic suspense books will be rattled to the edge of their seats as the game unfolds, and if they're like me, also left wondering why they've been stuck in quagmire of Gone Girl on a Train in the Window knockoffs for so long.

The synopsis describes this as DIE HARD meets TALK RADIO, and it ain't lyin. Is the book 100% perfect? No. I questioned some of the characters' motivations, worried if plot holes would be filled, and found Barker's depiction of the radio host's 11yo daughter irksome and age-inappropriate. But after awhile, I chucked those concerns aside and just embraced the rush.

4.5 stars rounded up, because I want more!

(The Author's Note at the end is almost worth the price of admission alone. Written 3/25/20, it's a time capsule of the early days of COVID in the U.S. "The What If gene keeps whispering about all the ways it could go. Well, time will tell. In your world, time already has.")

Huge thanks to the author and Hampton Creek Press for the advanced review copy via NetGalley. A Caller's Game is now available and included in the Kindle Unlimited program.

Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/

[Mort · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to J.D. Barker, Netgalley and Hampton Creek Press for the opportunity to get this ARC for an unbiased review.

How well do you know the DIE HARD movies? Yes, all of them.
There was DIE HARD, DIE HARD 2: DIE HARDER, DIE HARD: WITH A VENGEANCE, LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD, A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD AND DIE HARD: YEAR ONE. They are also planning two more movies for the franchise in the future;
DIE HARD: WITH A BONER (THE VIAGRA CHRONICLES) and DIE HARD: FROM A HEMORRHOID (A REAL PAIN IN THE ASS).

Well, this book was like a homage to the DIE HARD movies.

It starts with a bomb going off, somewhere in New York. The police gets a call from the person claiming responsibility. He has one huge demand in order to prevent another bomb going off.
Enters Officer Cole Hundley, who is doing traffic duty because he ran over his boss’s Siamese cat, perhaps even accidentally. The boss calls him in, tells him what the terrorist wants. Cole sighs, knowing he was about to die, but his sense of duty won’t allow him to let more innocent civilians die. Not on his watch.
He pops the two blue pills, which usually treats erectile dysfunction, into his mouth and gets into the van. Stripped down to nothing but his socks, he tries to look braver than he feels. They hand him the sign and one of the men in the van helps him put it on, to cover him front and back.
“If you give us a mayday, we’ll be less than two minutes away,” the captain tells him.
“I’ll be dead in a minute,” Cole replies sarcastically. He takes a deep breath, gets out and stands out on the street, next to a sign that says: FEMINIST RIGHTS MEETING. He watches the van drive off, knowing this was his last day on this earth.
The sign he was wearing, on the front, said: #METOO IS FAKE NEWS. On the back: YOU CAN SUCK IT, SLUT.
Yippee-ka-yay for me, was his final thought before…

Okay, I made all of that up. Just wanted to see if you are paying attention.

However, I was not lying about the DIE HARD movies. If you take all of them, lock them in a room together and allowed them to have an orgy, A CALLER’S GAME would be the love child of that union.

The story:
Jordan Briggs is a very successful radio shock jock – think Howard Stern with a vagina. She always speaks her mind and couldn’t care less what people thought of her show, since it was a ratings cow with millions of listeners. She is also very smart, and can decimate any and all callers or guests on her show.

NYPD Officer Cole Hundley is on traffic duty because he is being punished. Whatever he did to Gracie got him in the dog box. He just wants to keep his head low and get through it as fast as possible.

Then the bombs starts to go off.
The man calls himself Bernie and he phones in to Jordan’s show, claiming responsibility. He wants to play a game with her – one unlike any other – and it will change her world completely. Then he says:
“I’m going to offer you a choice.”

And, as you can probably guess from here, the shit is about to hit the radio…


Barker is an incredible writer – he really has the skills. And I am a fan of his work.
However:

This is supposed to be an unbiased review, remember. And I am having difficulty because I felt a little disappointed.
The writing – spectacular.
The story – superb.
The action – Non-stop.

So, what the hell is my problem?

Okay, my unbiased opinion is that this book will appeal to a very large audience – adrenaline junkies and people who like their action on every single page will love it.

My biased opinion: It felt too long. The reason I’m having difficulty, perhaps, is the fact that you ride this intensity wave all through the book, but there are no dips, no place for you to take a breath and perhaps digest a little before the next peak.
Think of it this way:
If you get an orgasm, it is fantastic! You tell yourself you never want this feeling to end. But you can’t keep yourself there – everything will start cramping and become uncomfortable, and you just need a second to get your breath back and perhaps take a little nap, just to give yourself a chance to recover for the next round. Too much of a good thing, you know?
It’s like that, but without the sweat and other bodily fluids.

Yes, this will most probably a very successful book, and good for Mr. Barker. On my side I would have given it three stars, since I was praying for the end of the book from about three quarters through. If I take out my personal objection, it probably deserves five stars.
Ergo: Four stars...

[Margaret M - (having a challenging time and on GR as much as I can) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relentless, explosive, and utterly thrilling.

One of my favourite thrillers this year and what a cracking game of ‘cat and mouse’ this was. A deliciously evil mind game with revenge and punishment at the core and then played against the clock with a killer who has no problem in carrying out his threats as the bodies accumulate. It was payback time with interest as one man’s bitter memories pens a story of revenge that was a decade in the making.

Revenge on steroids, relentless in action and with a pace that will keep you at the edge of your seat.

The Plot

Jordan Briggs is a successful radio presenter. A sometimes controversial one who thrives on venturing on topics other presenters might avoid. Someone who, according to many, would do almost anything for ratings, like ask a young girl in debt to drive naked in a car for a fee based on the number of online donations she receives, which amounts to $30k. However, this was a dare that went horribly wrong and when masses of people assembled to watch the spectacle, the worst was about to happen amidst the frenzy.

Roll on 10 years and the husband and father of a wife and child that died that day call into the ‘talk radio’ programme with a game of his own in mind. All of which is played out on air and then broadcast visually to the world when the media get wind of it. Jordan has no place to hide, and Bernie, the new puppet master has no intention of coming in alive. He just wants revenge, and with nothing he could possibly want, Jordan and others have absolutely no negotiating power. Game on.

In the authors note, Barker talks of ‘what if’s’ and so ‘ what if’ I never read this book. What would I have missed?

- An incredibly tense and breath-taking read that really will keep you on the edge of your seat. We use this expression a lot but this is the new benchmark. An exhilarating ride you won’t want to get off.

- I love that Barker is not afraid to shock the reader. With most authors you know the threat to kill someone is what keeps the reader interested, and Barker does that too. However, he will also kill off key characters where you are left thinking – will he do it? did he just do that ??? So, I loved that the outcome was so unpredictable, and you could take no-one’s safety for granted.

- To say this was immersive would be an understatement, I devoured in two sittings. The writing style for these books it perfect. The writing is not overly complex or wordy, but with the right turn of phrase, and tension that is accretive and evil that is penetrating you are just absorbed. Add to that the character development through the book and you treated with one heck of a thriller.

At one point I thought this was a little far-fetched and extreme for one man’s revenge story, until you are introduced to other ‘wronged’ people, and then you can appreciate the scale, the planning, the intention.

‘Unpredictable’ works for me every time. Puzzle me, catch me out and I love, love, love it. It is this and the authors ‘wicked’ imagination that has me wanting more. Therefore I have to space out Barkers other two books I haven’t read yet and savour for when I need that spine tingling thriller.

Corruptible, explosive, and immersive. An absolute winner and absolutely brilliant!!!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Earlier this year I came across and read J.D. Barkers She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be and fell in love with that story. Then I read the Coast to Coast Murders in which he partnered with James Patterson and the truth is I didn't love it. It was a little too high-octane for my particular liking. A Caller's Game is definitely more along the lines of the Coast to Coast Murders and was not at all what I was expecting. I thought I was going to get a creepy and sinister story but this isn't that at all. It's bombs exploding, car chases, shoot outs, one-liners and totally not my thing. For the first 50% I was entertained but once the action really started to ramp up I'd start losing focus and I skimmed most of the way to the end. However, Barkers writing is top notch and so many people are going to love this. This is a case of it's me not the book. 3 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for the digital ARC.


**************************************************************


Calling all NetGalley members: J.D. Barkers new book is a "READ NOW" at the moment. Grab a copy while you can! 😎📚

[Farrah · Rating 3 out of 5]

If Howard Stern, cyber-terrorists, John McClane and Jigsaw all got together and had a book baby this would be it.

A Caller's Game is hectic, non-stop ACTION.
Every time I thought it couldn't possibly get any crazier it took the intensity up to a new level.
I tried Googling what book has the most explosions in it but couldn't get an answer so this one might just take the trophy since AT LEAST 60 bombs go off in this story!

My struggle with this book was with trying to believe the logistics of the plot.
The bad guys would have needed to spend MONTHS meticulously planning and preparing for the events that happen and knowingly cause a lot of innocent deaths yet, besides Bernie, I can't see what their motivation was. Too much unexplained behaviour. I expected to have to suspend belief but this was kinda too much for me.

However, I don't usually read ACTION books like this one but if I think of movies that are similar, like Mission Impossible, Borne Identity, Fast and Furious, I don't like any of them. Yet a lot of people do so I think maybe my personal preferences are affecting my rating of this book and think others will enjoy it more than I did.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺.

[Sumit RK · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I'm going to offer you a choice."

The synopsis describes as "A Caller's Game DIE HARD meets TALK RADIO and it is delivers exactly that. If you have watched Die Hard, Talk Radio, and Speed, this is like reading the book version of the same action-packed, fast-paced thrillers.

Controversial satellite radio talk show host, Jordan Briggs, is one ruthless character. She doesn’t hold back, doesn’t spare feelings, and has no trouble speaking what's on her mind. When a strange man calls into the show and asks to play a game, she sees it as nothing more than a way to kick-start the morning show. Against her producer's advice, she agrees, and what starts out as a game quickly turns deadly adventure—and Jordan Briggs realizes that—All decisions have consequences.

The story is told from two different POVs, Jordan and Cole, with slightly different story tracks but both combine nicely. I won’t reveal much of the story as it’s best to go in blind. The plot is full of action, suspense, and plenty of twists and turns to keep you hooked. This book can be easily divided into two halves. The first half is more about intrigue. The second half is ALL action with shooting and explosions. J.D. Barker writes this story very well, especially the many action scenes.

Both the central characters; radio host Jordan Briggs and NYPD Officer Cole Hundley; are well developed and carry their part of the story. Jordan is rude, snarky, and not very likable while Cole is a competent hero but not in the same league as John McLane. The same can be said about the antagonist. Though competent, not quite at the same level as Hans Gruber in Die Hard or Dennis Hopper in Speed.

While I enjoyed the story overall, I felt the book is about two halves, the plot mostly unfolds in the first half and the second half is mostly action sequences till the end. While I do enjoy watching action, reading about the many action sequences proved to be too repetitive. The second half felt a bit drawn out and repetitive. The unlikable characters didn’t make you root for them. However, Barker's writing is top-notch and if you can suspend belief and ignore the loopholes, you will enjoy the story.

Overall, A Caller's Game is an enjoyable thriller with lots of action and suspense. If you like a thriller with lots of action, you will enjoy this one. Three and a Half Stars rounded to 4.

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

JD Barker offers another of his twisted trademark overly fast paced, non-stop, pounding addictive thrillers, set amongst the skyscrapers of New York City and with echoes of the Die Hard series of movies. A female version of Howard Stern, controversial shock jock, Jordan Briggs, is not having a good morning, but she ain't seen nothing yet as she begins her SiriusXM morning show. She ignores advice when she makes the decision to take a call from Bernie, and with a live audience of millions on air, and with no inkling about the deadly nightmare that is about to unfold, agrees to participate in Bernie's game. NYPD Detective Cole Hundley is in the ignominious position of having to serve as a traffic cop as punishment as he gets drawn into a terrifying scenario as he tries to save lives.

Jordan is a blindly ambitious, toxic, offensive and brash woman, chasing the ratings war, self centred, with a popular show, but perhaps unsurprisingly, given her unsympathetic personality, a disaster of a personal life, that includes a failed marriage, all she has left is her precocious 11 year old daughter, Charlotte, who is herself a hard to like character. She finds herself making decisions, choices over which she has little understanding, but ones which have devastating consequences, a game in which her past comes back to savagely haunt her. In a heavily tense and suspenseful narrative, a killer seeks revenge, there are bombs and twists galore, a cat and mouse chase, as you wonder just how many will die.

The is a entertaining read, although you will have to suspend your sense of disbelief, and the relentless pace did wear me down on occasion, but a thriller that I think will appeal to many of Barker's diehard fans, not to mention other crime and thriller readers. Many thanks to Hampton Creek Press for an ARC.

[LIsa Noell "Rocking the chutzpah!" · Rating 3 out of 5]

My thanks to Hampton Creek Press, J.D. Barker and Netgalley. I've been on the Barker train since the near beginning. I would actually rate Mr. Barker up there with my love for Stephen King. But, as I eventually disliked/hated, some of Sai King's work..so must I too feel the same for Barker! I've read the comparisons of this book. "It's talk radio and Die Hard." So it is! Kinda, sorta! Talk radio? As we said back in the day "fuck me running." I've never liked talk radio. Ever. Die Hard? No. It's a cop in a high rise. These comparisons alone should have warned me off. But, Barkers stories are almost always fantastic! This, however the comparisons, reminded me more of Phonebooth. That movie with Colin Farrell. Everyone I knew said it was a lousy movie! Me? I'm like, "how bad can it be? It's Colin Farrell!" That's some eye candy for me! They were right. I felt smothered by most of this story. The locked off studio, surrounded by glass on the forty somethingth floor? In a high rise, in Manhattan? No way, Jose! No. Nope! Fuck that shit! I love the Die Hard movies. It's Bruce Willis! 🎶I get sprung!🎵 Except for the cop and the co-conspirator "no names." I really didn't give a shit for who lived or died! Still, looking forward to Mr. Barkers next tale! He's good! He's also going to be around for a long time. I expect many great reads from him, but there will always be a turd. This is the turd in the swimming pool!

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you want to play a game?????

Jordan Briggs is a controversial satellite radio talk show host, a female Howard Stern if you will. She is a take charge, plow ahead and confrontational host. She is all about her ratings and is not shy about speaking her mind. Although her career is strong, her marriage is practically over, and she has not spoken to her mother in years. The only light in her life is her daughter, Charlotte. While taking guest calls on a hectic day, she is asked by a caller named Bernie if she would like to play a game. Who doesn't!?! Except this game is not as easy a picking "this" or "that". This game has consequences - big booming explosive consequences!

Live on the air, everyone listens as Jordan makes her choice, and the past comes back to haunt her!

Actions have consequences, so do decisions.

This book will remind you of the Die Hard franchise but it also reminded me of the movie Phone Booth with its mind games and a relentless caller on the phone. I could not help but think Bernie sounded like Kiefer Sutherland when I read this. Imagine answering a phone and having everything change in an instant. What is the caller's end game? Why is he doing what he is doing? Why is he targeting Jordan?

This was a clever cat and mouse, but I did find I needed to suspend some disbelief at times. Detective Cole stole the book for me. Demoted from homicide to traffic, he is at the heart of the investigation. I adored his character and his determination to save everyone while the bombs go off one after the other.

This was a fun book that had an explosive start, waned a little around the middle for me, but picked up soon thereafter and became tense and suspenseful in the last part of the book. There is little down time for the characters. With so much to lose and high stakes, everyone is scrambling to stay alive.

This book had a LOT of action, tension, suspense, twists, turns and reveals. Again, I did have to suspend some disbelief at times, but it was entertaining. If you love action and nonstop action, this book will be for you. J.D. Barker is a talented writer, and I will read anything he writes. He has a gift for writing characters I care about and as I becomes invested in what happens to them, he raises the stakes and puts them in harm’s way. Was this my favorite book by him? No, but it was enjoyable and had me turning the pages to see how it was going to end.

Do not forget to read the Author’s note at the end. You’re welcome.

Fans of Barker and action books be on the lookout when this book explodes on the scene on February 22, 2021.

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.

See more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com

** A buddy read with Brenda.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Talks to self:* Be nice, Kat.

OK. Sorry. I had to give myself a little pep talk before diving into this review.

Short summary: Jordan Briggs, the shock talk radio host of Overdrive with Jordan Briggs, is a woman who’s built her show at the expense of others’ dignity and doesn’t have a problem with that. When a tragic stunt she pulled in the past on her show comes back to haunt her in the form of a mysterious male caller, “Bernie”, who wants to play an increasingly dangerous game on the air with her, she finds out just how much her actions could cost her. What follows is complete chaos, as she, her show producer Billy, NY detective Cole Hundley and a whole slew of other characters race against time to stop the deadly game.

J.D. Barker in his author’s note says that he’s often accused of writing literary popcorn and that he’s OK with that. His intention is to entertain, not to be profound or represent some moral or political cause. I appreciate that honesty. He knows the audience he wants and he writes for it.

That being said: I’m not his audience. At least not for this kind of book.

Don’t get me wrong - I actually do enjoy the occasional action thriller movie, and Die Hard ranks up there with some of my favorite movies, so I appreciate some of the similarities to this book. It’s hard-core, all-in, over-the-top, make-your-senses-bleed action. The problem is it’s exhausting. At about 70 percent in, I was looking for someone to stop the ride and let me off, knowing that things were only going to get even more intense to the finish line. I could have dealt with that, but in order to stay invested, you have to actually LIKE the characters. With the exception of Cole, there wasn’t any character I felt particularly sympathetic towards.

WARNING: Mini rant ahead.

Jordan is next level unlikeable. She’s selfish, narcissistic, greedily ambitious, aloof, sarcastic and just generally unpleasant. Her mini-me daughter, Charlotte, who’s 11, is the most obnoxious, precocious, snarky, thinks-she’s-smarter-than-every-adult child I’ve ever encountered in a book, and I HATE feeling that way or talking that way about a child, especially if I’m required by the story to feel sympathy towards her predicament. Bernie is apparently omniscient, because despite the author’s explanation for how he sees, hears and knows everything everyone everywhere is doing, it’s so beyond human possibility that I’d have to bury my brain in the basement under 10 layers of concrete to believe it.

Rant over.

I know authors often use unlikeable characters to illustrate a redemptive “bad to good” arc. That didn’t work for me in this book. I didn’t end the book feeling warm and fuzzy toward Jordan, and maybe Barker wasn’t even going for that. Because there was no one to root for, except for maybe Cole, the ending felt empty and unsatisfying. I didn’t hate the book … it kept me invested in the way a fluff action movie would - it just didn’t win my heart. I would absolutely read other books by J. D. Barker - just not the action ones.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

★★★ ½ (rounded down to 3)

SPOILER: At Michael's suggestion, I'll include my condensed synopsis of this book in emojis. If you can make sense of any of it ... well done!:

🙎🎙..📞 ..❓.. 🚖💣💥 ..🚔👮 ..👨‍🦲🔪..📞 ..🤷🎙..📞..❓..💣💥..🤦..👮..👧..🚁💣💥..👮👧 .. 🤷..📞..❓..🏢💣💥💣💥💣💥💣💥💣💥💣💥💣💥💣💥💣💥💣💥💣💥 ..👨‍🦲🚑💣💥..👩‍👧

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Excerpt:

“Jordan glances over at the second monitor, the one listing the callers on hold:

Line 1 Stan-wants to apologize
Line 2-Crystal (on air)
Line 3-Stan (this one says he dated you in high school)
Line 4-Bernie (wants to play a game)
Line 5 Stan (female-says the best “Stans” are women) “

Jordan Briggs is a controversial radio talk show host, with about 5 million listeners.
That’s a decent amount but she isn’t yet #1 in the NY market, though she will do just about anything to change that. She doesn’t mince words or spare feelings, and her RAPID FIRE questions usually get people to admit their deepest, darkest secrets.

“I’M GOING TO OFFER YOU A CHOICE”

This book also opens with a RAPID FIRE pace, as Jordan chooses to speak with Bernie on line 4, and his game becomes deadly.

ALL SHE HAS TO DO IS FOLLOW THE RULES

Described as Talk Radio meets Die Hard, the book synopsis is accurate for once!

Though I also thought the first half ALSO had vibes of John Marrs “The Passengers”.
In that book, a jury had to decide the fate of the drivers, with limited facts.

In this book, Jordan is asked to make choices between two evils, without all of the information.

I loved the first half, as I was enjoying the TALK RADIO, and the suspense.

BUT, the second half of this tale is all DIE HARD, and I would never buy a ticket to watch that.
Explosions, gun shots and chases, for over 200 pages, was just too long for me!

“She Has A Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be” was EPIC!! (5 shiny ⭐️)
It made my favorites list for 2020 and I have read and reviewed 180 books this year, with 2 weeks to go! I was hoping for another story with THAT kind of vibe. (Chiller)

“The Coast to Coast Murders”-a collaboration with James Patterson only earned 2 ⭐️ from me!
Sorry, JD! (Thriller)

This one fell in between the two-first half chiller and second half thriller.

If you enjoyed Coast to Coast....this will work for you!
But, if you were hoping for another She Has a Broken Thing...maybe, next time....🤞🏻
I know I will continue to watch for this talented author’s work!

Than You to the author and Publisher for a gifted copy through NetGalley!

As soon as I saw this, it went straight to the top of my 📚!

It was my pleasure to provide a candid review!
Available Feb. 22, 2021!

[Sheyla ✎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that showed me! I should have read the synopsis.

The description is perfectly accurate. Talk Radio show meets Die Hard.

As a Die Hard fan (watched it again this past Christmas) seeing Bruce Willis, sorry meant detective Cole Hundley having a very bad day was entertaining.

It all starts with a radio show persona, Jordan Briggs. Over the years, Jordan has accumulated quite a few steady amount of followers. She has about 5 million listeners but she’s always happy to increase her show's ratings by asking the tough questions.

The morning the book begins, Jordan is running late for work. She's late because of traffic and because she decided to drive her car in NYC (who does that?). Anyway, as soon as she gets to her building her show has started. She's in the zone, when a caller by the name of Bernie asks her to play a game with him. What happens next is a bomb. Literally not figuratively.

Officer, Cole Hundley is not having a great morning either. He has been punished by his superior and has been placed on traffic duty. When he sees Jordan committing an illegal stop, he decides to pursue her. He has no clue what this action is going to cost him.

I guess I could divide this book into two halves. The first half is more about intrigue. The second half is ALL action with explosion after explosion.

A Caller's Game could be a very successful movie. I'd watch it. It would be even funnier if Bruce Willis played one of the characters. Just saying.

I’m a big fan of J. D. Barker's 4MK thriller series. I thought the plot was excellent. In this one, I thought some parts were too unbelievable but I guess Die Hard was too 🤣.

I decided to forget how hard it will be for Vernie to plan and implement everything he did. I just went with it and I had fun.

I think most action lovers will love it.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Hampton Creek Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCERPT: 'I asked if you've ever woken up in the middle of the night and wondered if this is it. If today is the day you'll die. And if it was, if you could be absolutely certain of that, how would you live out the rest of the day?'

'Are you threatening me, Bernie? I thought we were friends.'

'No, of course not. Like I said, I'm just making conversation'

Jordan sighed. 'Well, I'm getting bored, and I don't do bored.' Her finger hovered over the disconnect button. She studied the list of callers on her second monitor.

'All this talk, and we nearly forgot the game,' Bernie said softly. 'Don't you want to play with me?'

ABOUT 'A CALLER'S GAME': "I'm going to offer you a choice."

Controversial satellite radio talk show host, Jordan Briggs, has clawed her way to the top of the broadcast world. She doesn’t hold back, doesn’t spare feelings, and has no trouble sharing what's on her mind. Her rigorous pursuit of success has come at a price, though. Her marriage is in ruins, she hasn’t spoken to her mother in years, and she's distanced herself from all those close to her. If not for her young daughter, Charlotte, her personal life would be in complete shambles.

When a subdued man calls into the show and asks to play a game, she sees it as nothing more than a way to kick-start the morning, breathe life into the beginnings of drive-time for her listeners. Against her producer's advice, she agrees, and unwittingly opens a door to the past.

Live on the air with an audience of millions, what starts out as a game quickly turns deadly—events long thought buried resurface and Jordan Briggs is forced to reconcile with one simple fact—All decisions have consequences.

MY THOUGHTS: J.D. Barker would have to be the best crime thriller writer out there.

Having said that I detest 'shoot them/blow them up' books and movies, usually because any vestige of a plot they may have is simply a vehicle for mindless violence. Barker has turned that belief on its head.

I was hooked from the beginning. A Caller's Game is a breathless, heart-pounding, runaway train wreck of a read and I loved it. The plot is devious and clever, the pace warp speed 9.9. The characters are magnificently depicted. Some you will love, some you will hate, and some will shock you. I still have nail marks in the palms of my hands over Charlotte!

And the twists! Diabolical and totally unexpected.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Yes, the full five stars!

#ACallersGame #NetGalley @jdbarker_author @jdbarker
#hamptoncreekpress

#fivestarread #crime #detectivefiction #suspense #thriller

THE AUTHOR: 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 A Caller's Game 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 my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ready…Set…GO!

Jordan Briggs is a very controversial radio host. A rising star with a huge following.. Jordan won’t hold back! She tells it like she sees it!

But what happens when someone calls into her show and wants to play a game? Could be fun? Higher ratings? Or… it could end up being a deadly mistake!

Right from the start, this book is nonstop action! And it doesn’t let up until the final chapter! Hold on tight because you are in for a ride!

This book would make a fabulous movie! All I needed was my 🍿 comfy chair…and 🎬

Ok, I’ll admit, some of it was a bit over the top. But it was all in good fun. JD Barker has quite the imagination and we as readers are lucky enough that he shares it with us.

Oh and make sure to read the author’s note at the end. It gave me chills!

A buddy read with Susanne.

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press.

[Ceecee · Rating 3 out of 5]

2-3 stars
Jordan Briggs abandons her car caught in New York gridlock in order to make it to her radio show, Officer Cole Hundley witnesses her actions and gives chase. To a cacophony of sound because after all holding your hand on a horn is bound to release the backed up traffic, she makes it to her show with a nanosecond to spare. She takes a call from Bernie who asks her a question and several explosive hours follow.

Ok. Brace yourself. Apart from Cole I had absolutely no investment in the survival of various characters. Jordan is an obnoxious motormouth, a pain in the read end who thinks she sooo clever. She’s vile. Her eleven year old daughter Charlotte (Char) is unlike any eleven year old that I have ever met and I’ve met plenty in my time as a secondary school teacher. She is a precocious doppelgänger of her mother. Realistic? Nope. In the first half of the radio chat show there are sections that bored me to tears as Jordan outsmarts the smart. Yawn. Some of the dialogue is wince inducing too. The sections with Officer Cole are much better and up to about half way these sections are fast paced and gritty and I really enjoy those. Then I’m sorry to say that boredom sets in as the pace becomes frenetic and frantic. In fact it’s mad. More bombs go off in Jordan’s building than fireworks on Bonfire Night and yet the building stays upright???? The whole thing just becomes ridiculous and I wanted it to be over and done with.

I like action thriller, I like action movies but this is is not for me as its so over the top. I fully appreciate that others really like this book but it just did not appeal to me.

With thanks to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press.

[Michael David (on hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you ever watched a movie that hooked you right away, one that surprised you with the fast-paced and exciting action, but then just seemed to go on...and on? That scenario works for this book as well.

Jordan Briggs is a controversial SiriusXM radio talk show host. She’s very popular, brings in ratings, and people love her...or, love to hate her. When a man named Bernie calls into the show and asks Jordan if she wants to play a game, it sets off a horrific turn of violent and deadly events.

The less said, the better.

It’s early days, but I may be the outlier here. I didn’t love this book, but there is a lot I enjoyed. It goes in directions I didn’t expect, and it’s a high octane action-thriller that never loses speed. The characters, especially Jordan, are very well written....even though I didn’t really care for / like any of them. I couldn’t get enough as I delved further into the explosive story.

That is, until I felt myself slowly losing interest. I would’ve liked if the second half was a bit tighter, but my engrossment starting wavering on and off as the situations started to feel repetitive and improbable.

J.D. Barker is a phenomenal author. His epic book, SHE HAS A BROKEN THING WHERE HER HEART SHOULD BE, is one of my favorites of 2020. Although I didn’t love this one the way I had hoped, I mostly enjoyed it...and I eagerly look forward to reading more from him.

If you enjoy mainstream thrillers with tons of action, but not necessarily a whole lot of logic, than I think you will devour this. Hopefully, you’ll even love it and find that extra bit of pleasure I missed.

3.5 stars.

Thank you to Hampton Creek Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Caller's Game" ought to have a warning label slapped on it. Don't open the damn thing thinking you'll just check out the first few pages and get a flavor for the novel, you know, figure out if it's worth spending some time with or tossing back on the pile. Forget it. It's like that box of chocolates you keep opening up or those chips you'll just have a handful of. You pick this thing up and it'll be glued to your swollen rotting hand. Cause you ain't putting it down no matter what. Forget dinner breaks. Hell, forget bathroom breaks. You can hold out.

It's a thriller-reader's thriller which means it will have your entire bloody undivided attention till they have to peel your butt off that couch with a bucket of WD-40. Barker specializes in cat and mouse games between serial killers and Law enforcement officers. You got that here. But, you got the focus on an odd set of lead characters, a mismatched pair if there ever was. You get Jordan, who is the queen of the shock jocks, talk radio's loudmouth bitch who says what she thinks and damn the consequences. You match her with Cole, a homicide detective busted down to traffic cop. And now you got two great lead characters nothing like each other and at seemingly opposite purposes.

But what really makes this one groove is the furious prose which, even from the start, with a crazy lady raving through midtown Manhattan traffic, you get that fast-paced action just spitting out. It all feels like lightning speed just the way Jordan talks with her callers. Except that one of her callers wants to play a little game, sort of a dangerous game.

[Susan's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

NON-STOP, EDGE OF YOUR SEAT ACTION! IF SOME BUILDING ISN'T GOING KABOOM... IT'S SOMEONE!
THE PSYCHOPATHS WHO ARE TERRORIZING A RADIO SHOW HOST WILL SPARE NO ONE....!

Along with most of the characters in this lightning-paced novel, my attention was zip-tied to every word in this horrifyingly good thriller!!!
Everything about this story was outstanding, from the writing, the characterization, the dialogue - right down to the ritzy New York City setting. After the latest (in a long line of) political scandals, this tale of a band of renegade militia, intent on getting revenge for past crimes that went relatively unpunished, is downright timely - topical even!



If you want details about this story, read the blurb! It is enough to say that, from the get go, your heart won't stop thumping madly with dread, and your mind won't stop dwelling on the seemingly inevitable outcome of the nightmare situation that Barker's characters find themselves in. They are at the mercy of ruthless killers whose agenda only becomes clear toward the very end of this fast-paced race to the top of a burning building. (NB: There are many interesting references to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and what NOT to do when you are in a burning skyscraper. Helicopters are useless in that situation, apparently, as we find out in this very well-crafted story.)



This was my first, but certainly not my last, experience of this author's riveting writing style. I rate this one a 7 out of 5 stars! A total page turner: I was truly entertained!!! (Loved the author's Afterword. Such a decent, intelligent man. Stay well, JD. Barker, the world needs more writers like you!)
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Judithrosebooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me ha encantado, este autor siempre consigue engancharme y sorprenderme.

Nos encontramos con un asesino muy bien creado, macabro, con todo bien hilado, nada se deja al azar. Con diferentes escenarios de crímenes y con una historia detrás muy triste.

J. D. Barker es un autor de thriller increíble, no hay libro suyo que no me guste. Eso sí, los asesinos son bastante macabros.

Varios asesinatos, detonaciones de bomba en pleno NY. Una presentadora de un programa de radio muy escuchado, recibe la llamada de un locutor que le hace entrar en un juego, debe elegir entre dos opciones, cuando elige, varias bombas son detonadas y ahí comienza la trama. Un asesino en antena, una periodista que no puede pausar el programa y que se ve envuelta en una trama espectacular.

Ha habido varios giros, uno ya me lo esperaba desde el principio, aún así no deja de sorprenderte, mantener al lector en tensión todo el tiempo, pendiente de lo que va a ocurrir.

En definitiva, capítulos cortos que te mantienen pegado a sus páginas, lo he disfrutado mucho y me encanta como el autor va atando cabos en un caso que parece más complejo de lo que se veía en un principio. Nada es al azar, todo pasa por algo. Un asesino metódico que parece tenerlo todo bajo control.

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to be posted on: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

A Fast-Paced Thrill Ride!

Jordan Briggs is a no holds barred satellite radio talk show host. She’s known for taking no prisoners. Little does she know she’s about to get played and the game is a deadly one.

The minute she takes a call from a man named Bernie, everything changes and I mean everything. Bernie you see has an agenda, and it’s all about revenge and Jordan is at the top of his list.

Detective Cole is at the right place at the right time, or is it the wrong time? Once he realizes that Jordan Briggs and her entire crew are in trouble, he takes it upon himself to help.

A suspenseful, fast-paced, full roller coaster of a ride, “A Caller’s Game” kept me glued to the edge of my seat, desperate to get to the end.

The author’s note at the end is not to be missed.

3.75 Stars

A huge thank you goes to NetGalley, Hampton Creek Press, RB Media/Recorded Books and J.D. Barker for the arc.

A buddy read with Kaceey.

Published on Goodreads, Twitter and Instagram.

[LolaF · Rating 4 out of 5]

¿Thriller palomitero o película de acción?


Después de leer El cuarto mono y siguientes, tenía unas expectativas muy altas. La verdad es que el libro empieza bien, con unas buenas escenas, mientras van apareciendo los protagonistas:

Jordan es una reportera/presentadora que dirige un programa de radio con una buena tasa de audiencia, que se encuentra en un atasco de órdago en Manhattan. Es una mujer con un par de ..., nadie tiene que decirle como dirigir su programa, ni a quien tiene que tener de invitado. Está separada y tiene una hija de once años. Pero por encima de todo nos la presentan como una profesional que no puede llegar tarde al trabajo.

Billy, forma parte del equipo de Jordan, es su mano derecha, su ayudante en el back office, llevan juntos desde que empezaron.

Cole, es un policía de homicidios degradado a policía de tráfico y ejerciendo sus funciones no puede dejar pasar la infracción cometida por Jordan.

Y Bernie, es uno de los oyentes del programa de radio que llama para proponerle a Jordan jugar a un juego.

Hasta aquí, un arranque fresco para abrir boca. Pero el juego de Bernie resulta ser un juego macabro, los atentados y explosiones se suceden. Caos, tensión y desesperación se suceden a un ritmo frenético que engancha al lector.

Sin embargo llega un punto en que entre tanto humo más que un thriller parece que estemos asistiendo a una película de acción, donde Cole interpretaría el papel de Bruce Willis en La jungla de cristal, la intriga se reduce a saber si "Bruce" conseguirá liberar a las personas atrapadas en el rascacielos donde trabaja Jordan y hacia el final del libro más de una escena resulta poco creíble, más parece que estemos ante una peli palomitera de acción que ante un thriller.

No ha terminado de convencerme los personajes, no sé muy bien el porqué. El perfil de Jordan al principio me gustó, como mujer empoderada, ambiciosa, profesional, pero luego el devenir de la historia fue sacando otros matices completamente distintos. Su hija, la "marisabidilla", no me pareció una niña de once años. Cole, tal vez, es el que más me ha gustado, aunque ya digo que interpreta casi más el papel de héroe reservado a un poli de acción llevado por las circunstancias que de investigador.

El final, la última escena de Bernie, hasta cierto punto era era lógica o predecible, pero me esperaba que hubiera caído algún "peón" más. Me habría resultado una trama más creíble.

En resumidas cuentas, ha sido un cambio de registro del autor que no es que esté mal, simplemente para algunos lectores que hemos leído la trilogía de El cuarto mono nos ha pillado un poco a traspiés y no ha terminado de convencerme. Cuando vi el libro estaba deseando leerlo y ya pensaba en las 5* que le daría y no va a ser así.

Valoración: 7,5/10
Lectura: mayo 2022

[Bridgett · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I'm going to offer you a choice."

A Caller's Game was a highly entertaining, non-stop action story. I felt like I was reading Die Hard: The Novel. I've been a long-time J.D. Barker fan, and this book defines why...he has written some of the most absorbing stories I've ever read. I always have to be careful when I pick up his books because before I know it, hours have passed, and my family is starving for a dinner that's very, very late. (Wanna order pizza, anyone?)

Barker writes characters I enjoy and isn't particularly political in his books, which I appreciate. (Too many authors today are preaching their politics instead of telling stories...and frankly, it's getting on my nerves.)

This could have been a five-star read for me, but I did feel the "why" behind all the chaos was, perhaps, a bit implausible. Not to mention the amount of work all that chaos required (much of it would have had to be completed months in advance, and the chance of somebody finding a bomb (or a camera), seems likely. Nevertheless, if you can suspend belief and just enjoy the ride, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. I know I was. I even told my husband, who is not a reader, that I thought he would enjoy this novel. I think he may actually give it a go.

4 super fun stars!
Available February 22, 2021!

My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley, J.D. Barker, and Hampton Creek Press for my much coveted review copy.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and then a book comes along that completely holds the reader’s attention with so much breakneck action that it feels like watching a movie, a movie in your head. A Caller’s Game by J.D. Barker is that book. What a ride! Jordan Briggs has a popular satellite radio show and her career has soared at the expense of most of her personal relationships. Her talk show garners millions of listeners until a caller offers to play a game over the air and she agrees, anything to increase her numbers. She does not know that this man’s past has a direct link to her past. The game soon turns deadly when she realizes that she inadvertently ruined this man’s life many years ago. The ball is in her court when the caller makes her responsible for many lives by presenting her with choices, terrible choices. The suspense escalates with the turning of each page and you may find yourself holding your breath. This thriller will satisfy most readers who are looking for an action-packed, high-octane mystery. I can’t wait to read another J. D. Barker novel. Highly recommended. Thank you to Hampton Creek Press, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[El Librero de Valentina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Después de leer El cuarto mono el listón quedó muy, pero muy, alto y en esta ocasión lamento decir que el libro no me gustó, lo escuché y si bien a ratos es entretenido, la historia me parece inverosímil, una protagonista odiosa y situaciones dignas de una película palomera de acción.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

J. D. Barker knows how to do high octane thrillers and he doesn’t disappoint here. When Jordan Briggs takes a call on her radio show, she’s just looking to stir things up. So, when the caller asks if she wants to play a game, she has no idea what is about to come. Detective Cole has been knocked down to traffic duty for some unknown offense. Little does he know how his day is going to play out when he tracks Jordan down for a traffic offense. The story alternates between the two. The secondary characters are also well defined. The only one that didn’t work for me was Charlotte. At times, she seemed older than her 11 years and at others, much younger.
This is one of those books that the less you know going in, the better.
There is very little down time. It’s been compared to Die Hard. And like DH, it’s thrills a minute but not at all believable. There are gaps in the logic. But that doesn’t detract from the entertainment factor. There are plenty of twists, which put different characters in unflattering lights as the story goes on. This is not a book for the faint of heart. It gets gruesome at times. I thought the ending was a disappointment, as it just didn’t ring true to the character.
The narrators, Brian Hutchison and Mia Barron, did a fabulous job conveying the tension.

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not sure if action-packed stories that feel like watching a movie in my head are for me. I would rather watch them than read them. I know what a shocking thing to say.

I liked the premise of the story with the caller's game played with talk show host Jordan. However, after a few explosions and bodies, I didn't want to play anymore, and I lost interest in the storyline. I tried, I really did not overthink "crazy woman" Jordan's character. After calling her that for pages, that's all, I could think about and see her as being portrayed. I am letting it go now.....

This was a buddy read with Debra. I was able to let that over thinker rest a bit and I enjoyed this one more because of our discussion.

I received a copy from J.D. Barker through NetGalley

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Make it 4.5 stars, if you please (since Goodreads does not permit it)!

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.

J.D. Barker is back with another explosive psychological thriller that mixes the sass some present as an emotional wall with the wily planning of someone scorned. In his latest novel, Barker turns a sarcastic radio shock jock into a piece on a sadistic chess board in A Caller’s Game. What seems to be a caller seeking their moment of fame soon turns deadly as New York City is the playground for someone’s vendetta for a past wrong. Readers will find themselves unable to put the book down, surely the literary version of ‘don’t touch that dial!’.

Jordan Briggs is a popular morning radio host with her own program on SiriusXM. Use the satellite airwaves, she is able to reach a larger audience across the country and uses her soapbox quite effectively. Jordan’s quick to cut people off and make it her point. When a caller asks that she help him out with a small game, she agrees, if only to pass the time. Her choice of taxi cab over Uber soon shows that this is anything but an innocent request, as the famed yellow cabs behind blowing up around the intersections of the studio. ‘Bernie’, as he calls himself, has a plan and nothing is going to stop him, though he places the blame solely at Jordan’s feet.

NYPD Homicide Detective Cole Hundley happens to be in the area and was following Jordan for another reason. Hundley is pulled into the middle of this game and finds himself trying to locate the elusive Bernie while limiting any future carnage. It would seem that Bernie has a plan and nothing is going to impede him from it, even as Hundley seeks to stop the body count.

While Jordan tries to keep Bernie at bay, new evidence emerges to tie her to this reckless caller. It all comes back to a prank that Jordan ran at the start of her career; one in which a woman did something on a dare and ended up paying a price, leaving many dead in her wake. While Bernie works on destroying Jordan for that, Detective Hundley must find the man and stop him before he can continue the rampage.

As fires burn and listeners tune in, what was once a simple call-in show seeking to elicit shock value has become the platform for murder, with no one safe from harm. Jordan Briggs will come face to face with how her treatment of others can have dire consequences and leave her with nothing, much like she’s done for those who are forgotten as soon as their entertainment value wanes!

It appears to me as though J.D. Barker has quite the handle on his writing, able to lure readers in with whatever he has on the go. His solo work, as well as collaborative efforts, always turn out to be highly captivating and leaves evetoyne wanting a little more. Barker admits to writing ‘literary popcorn’ and I am pleased to devour this snack any time I am able.

Sharing the protagonist spotlight, Jordan Briggs and Cole Hundley do well in their role. Both have some intriguing backstory that comes out as the piece progresses, as well as a slice of character development that evolves as the narrative picks up its pace. The struggles they have are intertwined, though their usually work in tandem, both seek to limit the blowback that Bernie has over the situation. Readers will feel their presence in competing first-person narratives, which enrich the overall story experience.

Barker carefully crafts a strong collection of supporting characters as well, eager to give the reader new perspectives on this most macabre situation. Offering up angles to both the smaller and major plots, Barker effectively finds ways to keep the reader interested in even the most minute development through the eyes of those who are living them.

The story was a winner from the beginning, pulling me in and never letting me catch my breath. The premise is strong and the embedded twists keep the reader from guessing too much at once. There’s a lot to explore in this piece and Barker provides a slow and intense rollout of where things are headed, all without allowing anyone to peek under the curtain. With a strong narrative told from two perspectives, Barker keeps the reader informed of the larger picture throughout. Short chapters tease effectively and keep the reader forging ahead to discover the twists that await them. I always enjoy J.D. Barker’s work and this standalone has me begging for more. Crisp writing complements a strong plot and will surely have those new to Barker’s realm rushing for more.

Kudos, Mr. Barker, for another winner. I cannot say enough about this piece and hope others feel the same when they have the opportunity to read it for themselves.

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[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one for those who like plenty of action in their thrillers and I mean PLENTY of action. Once it gets going the action is relentless and never gives up.

Jordan Briggs is a high rating radio talk show host or SiriusXM in New York. She's brash, obnoxious and opinionated with no holds barred when it comes to improving her ratings. Recently divorced, she is mother to a precocious (slightly obnoxious) eleven year old daughter, the only person she cares about apart from herself. She was already having a bad start to her day when she receives a call to the studio from a guy called Bernie who asks her if she wants to play a game. Curious to see where this will lead, she agrees and from there events spiral rapidly out of control in escalating intensity, taking lives and gridlocking the city.

This is a very addictive read, forcing you to keep reading to see where it's going to go next and why all this is happening. For me the intensity was almost too relentless and I would have enjoyed an occasional respite to get my breath back, but I'm sure others who enjoy this sort of full-on action will revel it. I also got distracted wondering how Bernie managed to have thought of so much and managed to have it all set up – not just inside the building but elsewhere in New York. It would have taking weeks of planning and organisation to get everything in place and everyone on board, so like me you may have to suspend belief more than a little here and just go along for the well-orchestrated ride.

Despite these minor reservations, I really enjoyed the unpredictability of the plot and what Bernie had in store for us as well as finding out his motivation (which did seem more than a little over the top with so many innocent bystanders being killed). All the characters are also well drawn, from brassy, egocentric Jordan to kind, thoughtful Billy, grief-crazed revenge-driven Bernie and good-hearted homicide detective Cole, who had the bad luck to be on traffic duty that day as a punishment. While this won’t rank as my favourite of Barker’s books (it will take an exceptional book to knock She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be off that perch), I nevertheless enjoyed the rush, the weirdness of all this happening on air, much of it in a small recording booth, as well as Barker’s brilliant writing and imagination.

With thanks to Netgalley and Hampton Creek Press for a digital copy to read.