The Fourth Monkey by JD Barker
5 stars!!!
“Sorry it took me so long to visit, I’ve been a very busy boy.”
This book had me at “Se7en meets Silence of the Lambs,” two of my favourite films EVER!! I love my crime thrillers, sometimes when I need a break from the world of romance my other love comes into play. I love CSI, I love Criminal Minds and this book was the perfect mix of the two, along with a gripping, thrilling investigation. JD Barker is a new to me author and if this book is any indication of his talents then I have quite a few books to look forward to. This was a book that I would love to see on the big screen, the scene setting, this authors play on words, an all-consuming plot all led to an unputdownable read, one that held my attention from the very first word until the very last.
JD Barker turns the world of criminal thrillers on its head with The Fourth Monkey in so far as it starts with the death of The Fourth Monkey killer, a serial killer that has evaded capture in Chicago for over five years. A serial killer that never leaves any evidence, a serial killer so smart the police have nothing to go on, a serial killer that taunts them, teases them and makes them look like amateurs, time and time again. The clues are all there on the body, now it just needs someone with just as sick a mind to interpret them, to understand them and to find The Fourth Monkey Killers last victim. It is a race against time.
“Pawns must be sacrificed for the king to fall.”
We all know the story of the three wise monkeys, hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil. According to lore there was a fourth monkey…do no evil. So why would a serial killer be labelled The Fourth Monkey? Quite a contradiction considering the field this man excels in. The Fourth Monkey got his name from the three white boxes that he sends to his victim’s family, first the ears, then the eyes and then the tongue. While I felt the killing was a necessity for this serial killer, the thrill of the chase was what got this man off. The Fourth Monkey Killer was a master manipulator, he trails bread crumbs, he leads the investigating officers on a merry dance, a dance that had my rapt attention throughout.
Detective Sam Porter is the lead on this case and the gift of The Fourth Monkey Killers diary is where it all begins and ends. The diary entries are what gives us an understanding of the man The Fourth Monkey Killer was, a diary that goes some ways into describing the events that moulded the man. From childhood to present all pertinent facts and events are described in all their gut churning glory. A vigilante of sorts who kills the innocent to punish the guilty. The morality of his reasoning will make you think and while you know it is wrong that streak of empathy will keep rearing its ugly head.
JD Barker sugar coats nothing. This is a book that will turn your stomach, not only with actions but also with thoughts. I had goose bumps and the fear was real. This author really gets into your head and plays with your mind and that is the sign of an amazing psychological thriller. The twists and turns you will never see coming, the prose utterly engaging and positively chilling, but this is a story that you will never forget and will sickly want more of.
“Luckily, it was downhill. Mr. Carter had been a large man.”
This book is incredibly graphic at times and is definitely not for the faint of heart, many a time my hands were over my eyes as if I could somehow shield myself from what I was reading. This is where JD Barker exceeded with the visceral scene setting…letting your imagination run riot and mine is extremely vivid. Engaging, absorbing, compelling, intriguing, suspenseful, sick and twisted but as I said above, one unforgettable read. If you love psychological thrillers then this is the cream of the crop. Totally loved every single sick second of it.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Products related to this item
Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Superb read.
I spent a good amount of time trying to come up with something, anything, that I did not enjoy about The Fourth Monkey, and I came up with zilch. This book changed my outlook on detective centered novels ENTIRELY.The story line was riveting and every detail held meaning.The book follows the life of Porter, an off duty officer with Chicago PD and his 5 year manhunt for a serial killer dubbed “4MK” or The Fourth Monkey Killer who was just found, dead, after stepping in front of a bus. The killer got his name from his signature which is portrayed by the delivery of white boxes with black ribbons containing certain body parts. Porter was called in from being on temp leave once they found a white box with a black ribbon lying near the killers body which signified that there was yet another victim. After arriving at the scene, Porter finds a diary in the dead killers pocket, which begins to unravel the life story of 4MK from the time he was a boy to now. Unfortunately, skipping ahead and reading the last page wasn’t a possibility either, so Porter was forced to read the full story and piece together the puzzle himself before time ran out to save the killers latest victim, the illegitimate daughter of a married wealthy socialite.The book is told from numerous perspectives. One being that of Porter, another being Emory, who is the kidnapped 15 year old, and that of the diary entries of 4MK himself, with a few chapters here and there belonging to Porters teammates on the 4MK case.After some time, it becomes clear that even the smallest details in the story hold the biggest meanings pertaining to the story and that 4MK wasn’t all that far away this whole time.I enjoyed this book so much so that I even convinced my mother to purchase it and read it in Russian. So I’m excited to see what she thinks about it upon completion.I am beyond pleased with absolutely every aspect of this book and the twists and turns it took me on and I am so glad I already have The Fifth To Die loaded on my kindle waiting to be read because I just can’t get enough.J.D. Barker, please don’t ever stop writing. I need more 4MK volatility in my life!
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2017
- Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2024
- Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2024
- Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2024
- Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2024
- Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2024
- Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2019
Top reviews from other countries
-
Rene Morales TiradoReviewed in Mexico on November 25, 2022
Excelente serie de libros
-
