The Sixth Wicked Child (4MK Thriller, #3) in 4MK Discussion Group

May 12, 2020 Rebekah Reads rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: thrill-susp-myst, 2020, favourites

The Sixth Wicked Child by J.D. Barker is the third and final book in the 4MK trilogy (4MK = Four Monkey Killer).

Wow. I honestly can’t believe that this trilogy has come to an end. It was incredible to hunt down 4MK alongside Detective Sam Porter and I am SO satisfied with how the series ended. However, part of me is scared to write anything about this book, or series, because I fear that my words will not be able to do it justice. So, even if my words fall short, I invite you to look up the firs The Sixth Wicked Child by J.D. Barker is the third and final book in the 4MK trilogy (4MK = Four Monkey Killer).

Wow. I honestly can’t believe that this trilogy has come to an end. It was incredible to hunt down 4MK alongside Detective Sam Porter and I am SO satisfied with how the series ended. However, part of me is scared to write anything about this book, or series, because I fear that my words will not be able to do it justice. So, even if my words fall short, I invite you to look up the first book The Fourth Monkey, read a bit about it, and hopefully give it a chance. I will say, if you are a fan of Criminal Minds, this is definitely a series to consider, as it is really dark, twisted, and horrifying (but in a fun way, I promise!) like the show.

Now that I have finished the series, I find it difficult to review aspects of this book without also discussing the previous ones, as the events that unfold in the last book are linked so intricately to what happens in the first two. For that reason, I will not discuss the plot.

BUT, I will say this: this entire trilogy follows Detective Sam Porter, and his team at Chicago Metro (Brian Nash, Clair Norton, and Edwin Klozowksi), as they hunt down the identity of the Four Monkey Killer (4MK), who has been terrorizing the residents of Chicago for over five years. Each book transitions beautifully into the next one, with insane twists and cliff-hangers that will absolutely boggle your mind. I did not expect any of them of the twists that happened (you can check out my immediate reaction and thoughts about the second book, The Fifth to Die, here)!

Though the books are long and look a bit daunting, they read so quickly because there is something about Barker’s writing that completely captivates you; it pulls you in from the very first page and keeps your attention until the very last. These books are made up of short chapters that mostly end on suspenseful cliff-hangers, which helps with the readability of each of the books. The chapters are also told from different perspectives, shifting between the detectives, the missing victims, and even the voice of the serial killer himself in a diary that is left behind on the body of one of his victims. I’m not going to lie, although they are extremely unreliable, these diary chapters are my absolute favourite because they detail events of the killer’s childhood that help to explain why he is the way that he is. I just loved reading about this killer’s twisted past. I’d also like to add that Barker’s characters are brilliant because they feel so real. I am going to miss them terribly.

To end, J.D. Barker is simply a brilliant writer. His ability to lace together minute and intricate details across all three books is just astounding. I can’t even begin to imagine how he even started to write these books or keep track of everything. They are just brilliant.

Please be warned though, each of these books are graphically violent. Because of this, these books might not suit all readers! But again, I urge you to check them out and decide for yourself. BUT, if you love thrillers and want to be drawn into the mind (and past!) of an absolutely disturbing serial killer, you will love them.

My blog!) ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Aug 03, 2020 justonemorepage_ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I finished the 4MK Thriller Trilogy and I am so incredibly sad. This was a series that I wish I could reread again for the first time. The Sixth Wicked Child was the perfect book to end the Trilogy, it wrapped everything up perfectly!
.
My favorite thing about this Trilogy is how the author manages to basically give every character a POV. We get to see every single side of the story. Which at times, seriously confused me though, but perhaps not the way you're thinking. I was confused, because the ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Sep 09, 2020 Caitlin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The Sixth Wicked Child is the final instalment in the 4MK trilogy, and what a trilogy this is! Following Sam Porter on his hunt for the 4MK killer is a wild ride from start to finish. Each book builds off the last, so I don’t want to talk much about the synopsis or story at all, beyond saying this is one of the best thrillers I have ever read!

It’s rare for a trilogy to have each book get better and better than the first, yet somehow Barker has managed it. The Sixth Wicked Child is beyond anythin ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 19, 2020 Maureen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Holy cow, what an ending! Without giving anything away, I was really wondering right up until the very end if our hero was really a hero at all! Its been a long time since I wasn't able to predict an ending of a crime thriller. So kudos to Barker for writing an amazing trilogy that never let you down! I'm highly recommending this series to anyone who loves fast paced, character driven crime thrillers! ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 25, 2020 Dena rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This entire trilogy is epic. The way the author creates a story and weaves together the plot and the characters is masterful. The first book set the stage and sprinkled in a lot of clues, the second book was equally as good and yet the story got a little more intricate and hinted at a lot more to come. And the third book just knocked it out of the park. It pulls from all the little details sprinkled throughout the first two books and ties it all together. I do not have words to express the magni ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 27, 2019 Dena rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Best crime fiction book I've ever read!

This conclusion to the 4mk trilogy is a wild ride. If you haven't read the first two books in this series I Highly recommend doing so before tackling this book. I can confidently say that this is the best crime fiction / serial killer series I've ever read. I should note that it is pretty gritty and a bit gruesome at times, but it is so wrth it! The level of detail and way the story is woven together is masterful. The characters are so real I quite often fo ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 29, 2019 Angel Hench rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I've spent a lot of time with the 4MK killer now. Was it worth it?

HERE'S SOME THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW: This book is the last in the 3MK Thriller trilogy. I feel like a review of all three will serve you better than an individual review of the last, so here we go...

HERE'S THE SUMMARY: This trilogy follows a serial killer, Anson Bishop, who is targeting victims in Chicago. As the story unfolds through the three books, we are also introduced to various other serial killers and psychopaths who assi ...more

Like · see review