Se7en meets The Silence of the Lambs in this dark and twisting novel from the author Jeffery Deaver called “a talented writer with a delightfully devious mind.” Two days to save her . . . 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 … one final message, one which proves he has taken another victim who may still be alive.
One day . . .
As the lead investigator on the 4MK task force, Detective Sam Porter knows that 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.
Zero.
With only a handful of clues, the elusive killer’s identity remains a mystery. Time is running out as the Four Monkey Killer taunts from beyond the grave in this masterfully written fast-paced thriller.
“Creepy, scary . . . and impossible to put down! The Fourth Monkey is everything a thriller should be–a must-read!”–Heather Graham, New York Times best-selling author of Law and Disorder
“A twisted, movie-worthy serial killer thriller.”–Crime by the Book
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I read this book and found it enjoyable – this one is a sure bet for those who love thrillers! Interestingly, I read some other reviews of this book online and some other people seemed quite offended by the authors imagination and some of the more ‘gritty’ torture scenes in there. This was interesting to note, because it IS a book about a serial killer!
Also, having met the author and had a good chat with him at an authors award dinner in early 2019 I can say that he is really nice and not creepy!
Wow, just WOW! This was a fast paced thriller, not for the faint of heart! Eve with some of the gorier scenes, this story was very realistic and believable. I only put it down when absolutely necessary (kids). Can’t wait to see how the rest of the story plays out in the other books. Definitely deserving of more than 5
I love a witty and well-written thriller that keeps me turning the pages. Highly recommend!
Could not stop reading!
An Interesting Start For An Intriguing Novel
On the first page, Detective Sam Porter is awaken by a text from his partner Detective Nash to call him. Nash wants Porter to meet him at the scene of an accident. A man was killed by a bus right across from a mailbox. The man did not have any ID or identification and his face destroyed beyond any recognition. In his pocket a small white box tied with a black string is discovered. In it was a human ear. This is a signature of the Four Monkey Killer, or 4MK. Porter’s team is the 4MK task force. Now, with 4MK dead and a victim out there somewhere, the storyline takes off trying to identify 4MK, the identity and location of his victim.
The flow is fast paced. As every lead is followed and as the facts are identified, I was captured by the twists and turns that the author incorporated into this novel that did not stop until the end of the novel. I could not put it down. There is some salty talk. On average, they occurred once every four pages. This was not excessive for me.
The author included a second storyline of 4MK’s childhood in the form of a diary found on the 4MK. Porter reads from it throughout the novel. This diary provides a good look into the development of 4MK’s childhood. This storyline also captured my imagination and enriched the novel overall for me. These diary chapters were separate by one or two main storyline chapters. At the end of each chapter, I always wanted the current storyline to continue, but wanted to see the progress in the other storyline. I really enjoyed these alternating storylines.
Most of the B-story centers on Porter’s recent tragedy. Obviously, it is affecting him, but the only real effect was some missed time from working on the 4MK case. It would seem to me that the enormity of this tragedy would have affected his job to some extent. As the novel is fast-paced, I did not realize this until after reading this novel completely.
The only error that struck me immediately was the moving a body at a crime scene before the scene could be processed and documented and before the examination by the coroner. This was done probably to maintain the flow of the storyline, so again this was minor for me.
My primary criterion for a high rating is that the novel captures my imagination that I am disappointed that I have to but it down even to get some sleep. The Fourth Monkey exceeded that criterion. Even with the above noted negatives, I still rate this novel with five stars. I really enjoyed it and strongly recommend reading it.
I have received a free kindle version of this novel through NetGalley from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt with a request for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the opportunity to read this novel.
J.D. Barker’s The Fourth Monkey is everything you could hope for in a dark mystery/thriller that teeters on the very edge of horror. From start to finish I hung on every word, there are no dull moments, just loads of excitement and mystery. Parts of this book are so chilling it had me gasping out-loud…in the car…driving to/from work…in the daylight! WTH?! Narration by: Edoardo Ballerini was phenomenal, I’m thrilled to see he’s narrating book 2 of the Detective Sam Porter series “The Fifth to Die”. I 100% Recommend for all who are not faint of heart. Definitely 5 Stars
You won’t see the twist coming. Uniquely told, though perhaps the psycho journey is nothing new. Worth the ride.
I really enjoyed it. Inspirational.
Was very engrossing
I like police procedurals. What I especially liked was the way the author moved from one character to another as he told the story.
Definitely a dark novel.
Must read, change from romance to action
Excellent. Kept me on my toes. A lot of blood and gore though. Could find a sequel in the future perhaps.
You might not want to read this while you are eating. It is rather graphic. Worth a read if you enjoy mystery.
Multi faceted.
Wonderful character development .
Twists and turns throughout.
Action on every page that keeps you guessing to the end.
You will not go wrong reading this book! As usual the author get and holds your attention with every chapter! Great Read!!
Loved it..can’t wait to read the next book by this author!
Could not put this one down, and I do not say that about many books any more. Can’t wait to read more this author has written!
How good are you at your job? Could you handle the pressure and the responsibility of finding someone in two days time before they meet their untimely death?
Sam Porter is a homicide detective of twenty plus years and still receives phone calls that make his stomach drop. His homicide partner, Nash, calls Porter warning him that an “old friend” has left a calling card. What Porter is unable to piece together is why a homicide detective is being called to a suicide case, of man versus machine.
With the victim’s face destroyed, the only identifying marker is a little white box with a neatly tied black bow. That little box brings memories spanning five years, 21 similar boxes, and 7 victims. No leads, no clues, until today.
This time was different; everything meticulously placed. An immediate hidden identity makes the investigators hone in on the other clues deliberately left behind- most revealing, a diary detailing an event in the killer’s childhood that made him turn into a killer. The only disconcerting clue was the contents of the white box; a human ear- which marks the first of three identical packages followed by the inevitable body drop.
The three white boxes and body crudely mimics the ancient teachings of Confucius depicting man’s life cycle. One including monkeys; hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil, with the lesser known do no evil. The killer adopted this mantra for life, taking his victims ear, eyes, tongue, and finally the final kill to parallel the original text. With the killer presumed dead, a fresh ear in the box, and two days to find the victim, the pressure is on to find what could be the last victim of The Fourth Monkey Killer.
I can’t tell you the last time I read a psychological thriller. Especially one I read as fast as this. Not since “The Roanoke Girls” have a read such a train wreck that I was unable to look away for fear of missing something.
Arguably, one of the key components to keep readers interested and the story moving along is the diary. Whether to serve as a distraction or assistance is purely up to the reader. The diary reflects on a traumatic incident that happened during the killer’s childhood.
When was the last time you tried remembering something from your childhood? Most of the time you get a few details mixed up (usually something your parents correct you on) but the meat of the story is there. So it begs to question whether or not reflecting on a traumatic even as an adult is it 100% truth? Or has the child mind blocked out certain things and the adult mind filled in the holes?
Another thing I noticed, and quite liked, is that the chapters are short. I was anxious to get through certain chapters JUST to read the Diary chapters, because I just HAD to know what went on in this child’s life that brought him to severing people’s ears and leaving them in little boxes!
From page one, Barker’s slight of literary hand is absolute genius. He builds tension and then rips the rug right out from under you, just to do it all over again. He will have you guessing at this well written who-done-it, all the way to the end, and you will be so unsatisfied that the book is over that you’ll read it all over again.
5 stars
Detectives Sam Porter and his partner Brian Nash attend a scene where a man has been hit by a bus in Chicago. The unidentified man was carrying a package apparently to a nearby postal box when he was hit by a bus. The police officers’ blood runs cold. Seven victims over nearly five years; twenty-one boxes mailed in total. No clues at all, just the boxes.
In the man’s breast pocket is a small spiral bound diary. In it he confesses to be the Four Monkey Killer of 4MK for short. Holy cow! Could it be so simple to solve the case this way? Inside the package was a human ear. They go to the address cited on the package belonging to Arthur Talbot and his wife. Since Arthur and his wife and daughter are all okay, Porter and Nash ask what other woman is in Arthur’s life. He immediately thinks of his other daughter; the daughter that his wife and other daughter do not know about.
The police now suspect that Emory Connors, just a young teenager, has been taken and they desperately need to find her.
Interspersed with the story are excerpts from the suspected killer’s diary. It is very interesting reading – and horrifying.
While Emory bangs about in the dark handcuffed to a gurney, Nash and Porter and their team interview her family, the people at the park and others including her tutor and minder Ms. Nancy Burrow. They learn at the park that she disappeared into the trees and was carried out of the park by a man. They still don’t know who the name of man that was hit by the bus.
When they find a book at Emory’s apartment, Porter knows that it is a clue. His speculation sends his team and a SWAT team to an abandoned warehouse. There they find someone handcuffed to a gurney. Is It Emory? It turns out to be someone quite different. The police feel as though they are not making progress after their search through underground Chicago seemingly leads them nowhere.
Following a reconstruction of the suspect’s ruined face; they search for someone who would recognize him. The police finally get identification.
Then the author drops a bombshell.
This book is extremely well written and plotted. It had me from the beginning and I stayed up all night to finish it! The suspense starts out immediately and ratchets up throughout the book. I really appreciated the way that Porter and Nash got along with one another, as well as the rest of the team. I liked and was saddened by Porter’s relationship with his wife Heather. More, more please Mr. Barker.