In the riveting conclusion of the 4MK trilogy, Barker takes the thriller to an entirely new level. Don’t miss a single word of the series James Patterson called “ingenious.”Hear No EvilFor Detective Sam Porter, the words “Father, forgive me” conjure memories long forgotten; a past intentionally buried. For Anson Bishop, these three words connect a childhood to the present as he unleashes a truth … unleashes a truth concealed for decades.
See No Evil
Found written on cardboard near each body, these words link multiple victims to a single killer—discovered within minutes of each other in both Chicago and South Carolina—clearly connected yet separated by impossible miles.
Speak No Evil
Chicago Metro and the FBI find themselves caught in chaos—a hospital on lockdown, a rogue officer, and corruption at the highest levels. When Anson Bishop, the prime suspect in the notorious 4MK serial murders turns himself in, he reveals a story completely unexpected, one that not only upends the current investigation, but one that will change the lives of all involved.
Do No Evil
With unrelenting tension and pulse-pounding suspense, the past unravels at breakneck speed as the truth behind the Four Monkey Killer’s motive is finally revealed in this masterfully crafted finale.
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5 stars
This is the final entry into J.D. Barker’s 4MK trilogy. It starts out with a bang. The book has a large number of characters of which to keep track. I strongly suggest that the series be read in order of the publication to get the full impact of the story. So much is going on. There are stories within stories, tendrils going in several directions at once in this book. The reader almost needs to make a chart.
Several murders are committed not only in Chicago, but also in South Carolina. They are very similar, but must be the work of more than one person. Does Anson Bishop, the main suspect, have a partner? How could he have physically done all the murders?
Meanwhile, CSI Edwin “Kloz” Klozowski and Detective Claire Norton are in lock-down with several other people – employees and their families, at a Chicago hospital suspected of having SARS which Anson Bishop is supposed to have set loose. Detective Sam Porter is being held at the police station for breaking out a woman from prison in the last book and worse – he is suspected of her murder.
Anson Bishop turns himself in to Chicago Detective Brian Nash and tells a fantastic story to lead FBI Agent Frank Poole. At the same time more bodies are turning up – four more at the hospital alone, both inside and outside the locked down facility. How could this happen? The locations where the murders have occurred have had their video cameras scrambled and important locks are unlocked. Prisoners are escaping.
This book confounds the reader in some ways. Just when you think you’ve finally figured out who the 4MK killer is, the book instills doubt into your choice. Put on your thinking caps and fasten your seat belts for you’ll go on a ride with this novel. Mr. Barker doesn’t just tell a story, he paints pictures with his words. The reader is there in the action right along side of the characters – either rooting for them or giving them the raspberry. Then one must think about what makes a serial killer? Is it environment? Are people just born that way? Or perhaps a combination of both? Always thinking as I read along, I was entranced. I truly enjoyed this book and it makes a very fitting end for the series. More please, Mr. Barker.
I want to extend a hearty thank you to both NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press/IBPA Members’ Titles for forwarding to me a copy of this absolutely killer (!) book for me to read, enjoy and review.
The thrilling conclusion to the 4MK trilogy does NOT disappoint. Once again, the author takes readers on a mind-bending chase between a truly twisted evil mastermind and the people trying to stop him. Absolutely heartpounding action and an enjoyable plot. With a explosive ending you will never see heading your way!
The final book in the 4M series. I have mixed feelings on this one. The first part of it was long winded (I guess that’s a good term for it), but I didn’t want to stop reading it as it is the last one. Finally, I figure, 70% done, I didn’t want to put it down. The last 30% of the book is why I am giving it 4 .
That last 30% was a whirlwind of activity. I was on the edge of my seat wondering how it was going to turn out. I was shocked at the ending and kind of sad that it was all over.
Was it really wrong what they did? I don’t know. I like to think so, but then I have to wonder what would I have done. Sex trafficking is a big thing now. Thousands of children, as well as adults, go missing every day. Families not knowing what has happened to their loved ones. It’s even sadder to think of the ones in the foster care system that have no one.
These books are for a mature audience, as they deal with some heavy issues. I do recommend the series. The other two are great. This one is too, if you can get thru the first 70% or so.
Thanks to Netgalley for the Kindle version of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
All time favorite author
If I could give this 500 stars I would!
You know that feeling when you’ve just gotten off an exhilarating rollercoaster ride, and you look over at the person you shared it with, and you immediately start gushing about the twists and turns, the unexpected, and your favorite parts? Well that was me… I was so excited when I finished this book. Immediately I was searching for someone to discuss it with, over here like… “Ohhh… Oh my Gosh! I just can’t… Did that just happen?” My poor husband, if you could have seen the look on his face. You have to understand, the man is not a reader, bless his heart though, he listened to every word. Of course, I didn’t stop there, the next day at work, I was still thinking about what J.D. Barker had done to me with this finale, and I set out to find others to discuss it with. Needless to say, this was one rollercoaster ride that I wanted everyone to know about!
This is a trilogy, and as such, you MUST start with The Fourth Monkey, so if you’re reading this review and you haven’t started this series, then I suggest you stop what you’re doing, including stop reading this review, and go purchase, or head to your nearest library and pick up a copy of The Fourth Monkey and get started… NOW!
Okay, where was I? Forget everything you thought you knew about Anson Bishop and Detective Sam Porter, prepare to have your mind BLOWN. I can’t tell you how many times I had to pause to just appreciate how great J.D. Barker truly is at what he does. He really has a way of setting the reader up with so much anticipation and once you think he’s leading you in the correct direction, guess again! I’ve never seen such twists delivered so deliciously! I won’t give you details as to what happens with the conclusion of our beloved 4MK series… that’s right… you heard me… NOTHING! But, know this, YOU! WILL! NOT! BE! DISAPPOINTED!
This will FORVER be my favorite series. Well, that is unless J.D. Barker decides to give us something that is even better. Even still, I don’t think I’ll ever forget the emotional rollercoaster I took when reading this series. This has been an incredible journey with J.D. Barker, and I cannot thank him enough for creating this brilliant series.
I’d also like to thank NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for allowing me the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my review! I wish I could have done a better job, but truthfully, I’m still at a loss for words… well, the right words.
Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.
This novel opens with a fourteen year old homeless girl discovering the body in a cemetery with three white boxes each tied with a black string, a signature of the 4MK killer. Then, the novel quickly picks up about seven hours after where the second novel, The Fifth To Die, stopped. The previous novels in the series were in a general familiar setting. There were the good guys, Detective Porter, his team and FBI Special Agent Poole. Then, there was the serial killer, Anson Bishop. That last novel ended with some hints that things were not that simple. Very quickly as the main storyline in this novel unfolds, these hints become an avalanche. The body count quickly rises Early on, I was thinking of a title for my review. The first thing that popped into my mind was the Betty Davis line from the movie, All About Eve. As I continued to read, this quote seemed to be a more and more appropriate description of this novel. This novel is a rollercoaster of the most serious twists, turns and misdirections that I have ever read. This novel quickly locked up my attention all the way to the very end of the novel. I read into the night several times.
The B-storyline also is very rich. Porter’s B-storyline is tied very closely with the main storyline because who he was. There is much interaction between and among his team, Clair, Nash, Koz and SA Poole in very stressful situations. Loyalties and trust are tested severely. There are returning characters from the last novel and many more as the childhood of Anson Bishop. The author really digs into Anson Bishop’s thoughts and motivations. This was another hook into my attention.
What I liked about this novel was the rapid speed and complexity of the action and characters. Do not be afraid of being lost in a mountain of details as the author speeds the reader through but never once was I lost. As I wrote above, this novel seized and held my attention faster and harder than any other novel I have read. This is my major criteria for a high star rating.
Some readers may have problems reading this novel. A major theme in this novel is child trafficking. Some of the characters use vulgar language. For me, the language was not excessive and context appropriate. Overall, this novel has strong adult content. Also, there is some graphic violence described as it happens. If you find these issues objectionable, be forewarned. Lastly, some readers may not like the ending, but I will spoil it and leave it to you, the reader, to discover.
Much of the action, especially in the last novel is significant to this novel. The question is can you read this novel without reading the previous novel. I believe you can as the author provides much background in this novel, but I recommend reading all of them in order to maximize your reading enjoyment.
Overall, I rate this novel with five stars. If you have read the previous two novels, this one is a must read. Do not skip it.
I have received a free kindle version of this novel through NetGalley from Hampton Creek Press with an expectation for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Hampton Creek Press for the opportunity to read this novel.
If you like being shaken by a book, as I do, then you MUST read the entire 4M trilogy, which concludes with this spectacular thriller. Terrifying, lyrical in parts, poignant in others, beautifully written and thoroughly surprising, it had me from the gut-wrenching opening scene. I love the irony, the sharply drawn characters, the layers of secrets and the pitch-perfect dialogue. I especially like it when an author takes me in a direction I was expecting at all, which JD Barker is an expert at. Highly recommended! Incredible finale!
Oh what a wickedly wonderful book. I read along and I go “I know who did it, then nope now I don’t. then you read on and you are positive you know who dod it and again you were wrong! this is a pretty good size book so you have lots of time to play arm chair detective and I hope you have better luck than I did. It is a great book, Thanks J.D. Barker
Where do I even begin after completing this book!? My mind is a twisted mess…In the most incredible way!!!
The Sixth Wicked Child was my most anticipated book of 2019 and it was worth the wait!! This is a hands down MUST READ series! Do not think twice, GET THESE BOOKS!!!
The previous books left your mind reeling with tons of questions and this book will add a million more. You will question everything you read and I mean EVERYTHING! Every chapter will have your mind going back and forth as to who you can trust and what is actually going on. You will eventually get all your answers but you have to work for every single one. My anxiety was through the roof while reading. I could not wait to find out the truth. This book is so hard to put down, so clear your schedules.
J.D. Barker, you are unbelievably talented and my most favorite thriller writer. I am going to miss these characters but I can not wait to see what you come up with next!!
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review,
This is a new author for me and I haven’t read the previous books in this series. I found the book to be very well written, the characters deep and will certainly keep you guessing what will happen next. My only complaint would be there are so many different characters that I had a hard time keeping track of them all. But I am sure if I had read the previous books in the series I would have been better able to follow along and know the characters. The book was so action packed I was never sure what was going to happen next. For those that enjoy thrillers I would definitely recommend this book to others.
I need to take a few deep breaths after reading this one. My mind is still reeling from everything that happened in this book. I waited over a year to get the conclusion to this mind-bending mystery/thriller. I definitely was not disappointed!
My mind is blown! I thought I had at least a couple of the puzzle pieces worked out. How wrong I was. I might have as well thrown out everything I thought I knew going into this book. The twists and turns kept on coming, and they didn’t stop until the very end. I couldn’t read the words on the pages fast enough.
This conclusion to this series was absolute perfection! My heart was racing. My mind was working in overtime. My pulse was out of control. I didn’t know what was up and what was down. I was excited and scared at the same time. At one point, I was afraid to finish the book because the ending was heading down a road I wasn’t sure I could handle.
I can’t seem to sing this book, or series, enough praises. This is one of the BEST series I have ever read. My mind will be stuck on it for a while. Someone needs to turn this series into a TV show. It would make the BEST show that could last for seasons upon seasons! Someone get on that, stat!
The 4MK series is probably the best serial killer/psychopath series I have read in the last years. I devoured the books, there is no other way to describe it. I started and couldn’t stop. The Sixth Wicked Child is the last book in this series and I was anxious where the finale would lead us. If it could be as good as all the big and little things leading up to this, a big finale. When I got the book I didn’t start immediately, didn’t want a good thing to end and a little bit afraid I might not like the ending. And then I had to see how everything I believed knowing got twisted and turned around. Evidence was now pointing in new directions, witnesses couldn’t remember and Sam Porter was sitting in an interrogation rum at Metro. What was happening? Sam Porter is a good guy, right? I confess, I had to put the book down a couple of times. It became tense, too tense to keep going. I needing to take a breath, got some air and prepare me to go on with this amazingly written story. Bur nothing could have prepare me for the actual ending. Brilliant, heart breaking, disturbing. In the end this trilogy proved to be so much more then a book about a psychopath serial killer. It’s a story about a child growing up with unfit parents, falling into the hands of the wrong kind of people and doing all to get away from that. There is corruption, human trafficking and you have to look very hard to find someone with good intentions. If you haven’t started with this series you absolutely must, you would missing out on something great.
Probably the best series I have ever read