I received an ARC copy of this novel. All opinions are my own and my review of it is unbiased.

The next great serial killer is born in J.D. Barker’s The Fourth Monkey, a brand new thriller that focuses on the hunt for a killer in the city of Chicago. Here is the official synopsis:

For over five years, the Four Monkey Killer has terrorized the residents of Chicago. When his body is found, the police quickly realize he was on his way to deliver one final message, one which proves he has taken another victim who may still be alive.

As the lead investigator on the 4MK task force, Detective Sam Porter knows even in death, the killer is far from finished. When he discovers a personal diary in the jacket pocket of the body, Porter finds himself caught up in the mind of a psychopath, unraveling a twisted history in hopes of finding one last girl, all while struggling with personal demons of his own.

With only a handful of clues, the elusive killer’s identity remains a mystery. Time is running out and the Four Monkey Killer taunts from beyond the grave in this masterfully written fast-paced thriller.

I have to say it: this is by far the best book I’ve read thus far in 2017. There have been nothing but great reads this year, but the way this book is written and brought to life is truly awe inspiring. The story of the Four Monkey Killer, or 4MK, is one of the most brilliant character developments in a story this year. Not only are readers taken on a journey to find the killer’s last victim, but they are given a rare, disturbing yet addicting to read look into the personal mind of the killer, learning about what made this individual become a killer in the first place. Seamlessly navigating back and forth between the investigators on the case and their lives, and the personal diary of a serial killer, this novel immediately captures the readers minds in just a few pages and is relentless in its dive into the macabre world of 4MK.

Written with a voice that commands the readers attention and artfully showcases the twisted, tormented journey of all parties involved, from the investigators chasing a killer, to the victims of the killer, to the dark life of a serial killer, this is a story that brings a fresh new take to the serial killer/thriller genre. As the reader delves into this story, they will learn the twisted mission the killer had, and why the killer chose the victims that they chose. Soon the reader will ask themselves if anyone is truly “innocent” in this story, and a shocking twist will leave both the characters and the readers hanging on the edge of their seats, breathless as they eagerly wait for the answers to be revealed.

Overall, this is a must read thriller that you guys will not want to miss. With this story, author J.D. Barker cements himself as the newest voice of the thriller genre, and is definitely an author you will want to watch in the years to come. I give this book a 10/10 rating, and highly recommend you purchase your copies now. The book, The Fourth Monkey, is available for pre-order now and will be released on June 27th, 2017.
Be sure to get your copies and follow the author at his official websites listed down below! Remember to use the official hashtag, #4MK on your social media posts as well. Let’s help get this book the buzz it so heavily deserves.

As a special note, I wanted to let you guys know that I will be kicking off J.D. Barker’s blog tour for The Fourth Monkey on Friday, June 16th, 2017. I will be posting the links to both this review and my video review, as well as links to interviews with the author, some exciting news about the book, a special competition to win the book and of course the link to pre-order the book once more. Be sure to look out for this exciting blog tour in a few weeks. #4MK

J.D Barker’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/therealjdbarker/

J.D. Barker’s Twitter page: https://twitter.com/jdbarker

J.D. Barker’s Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/jdbarker

About J.D.