This was a really exciting popcorn thriller - fast, multiple POVs, high-stakes, and I flew through it despite it being nearly 500 pages.
*
The premise is great -- essentially Brendan and Abby are at a rough spot in their marriage, when their therapist suggests an app to spice things up. Basically truth or dare that earns you points. The stakes get higher and higher with each step, and they find themselves in a life-or-death situation.
*
The execution wasn't perfect -- this requires a LOT of suspension of disbelief, and the "What Would Emily Do" theme got really annoying. But it was still a fun read, and makes you think about how far you'd be willing to go to save a relationship.

This book really had the potential to be a 5 star read for me. As it turns out, I apparently do not love spicy mixed in with my thrillers. This was something I didn’t know until now. This book has a really good premise, it gave me Black Mirror vibes and truly made me afraid of my phone every time I put the book down. However, I couldn’t find myself wanting to read more after a certain “fantasy”/ incident took place. I’ve learned that was a hard pass for me as I tried to continue further but couldn’t shake the ick. I recommend doing your research and checking trigger warnings with this one.

I confess that I've been dreading having to pick up Behind A Closed Door ever since I read the blurb. It has become a bad habit to add any new book by one of my favorite authors without reading what it's about first, and this newest story by J.D. Barker sure has taught me a valuable lesson. Those who follow my blog know that I'm not a fan of sexy scenes in my stories AT ALL, so having that Fifty Shades Of Grey reference right there front and center scared the crap out of me. This is probably the main reason it took me this long to actually pick up my copy of Behind A Closed Door, because I'm usually unable to resist his writing for long... Fortunately for me, even though this is without doubt my least favorite of his books so far, things weren't quite as bad as I thought they would be.

Don't get me wrong, the sexy scenes were A LOT. I've never read Fifty Shades Of Grey (and never will), but from what I've heard that's probably an accurate reference for especially the beginning of this book and anything related to the app. The many explicit references in especially the first quarter had me doubting my decision to keep reading, because it was really way too much for me. BUT. It was the murdery bits and bookish angle that got me through to the part where it really got interesting. The sexy part was still there, but it started being overshadowed by so many crazy and over the top events and danger that they were soon pushed towards a more tolerable background.

I don't want to give away too much and spoil the plot, but I mean it when I say that Behind A Closed Door takes over the top to the next level. Then again, J.D. Barker usually creates stories where you have to suspend your disbelief and just go with the flow, so it really shouldn't come as a surprise when this newest story takes the same direction. I personally didn't mind, both because it distracted from the element I didn't like and because the whole conspiracy/danger angle sent the entertainment level through the roof.

I can't say that I liked any of the main characters, and some are quite stereotype and lack more development. I did like the fact that Abby is an author, and how the book she is writing plays part of the plot... And there will be a lot of characters you will love to hate. The main focus of Behind A Closed Door is on the plot though, and you will be too busy racing through the pages to properly stand still by the characters themselves for long. The writing itself is also part of the reason I kept reading, which is just as engaging as I've become used to. Especially the second half was impossible to put down! The way everything was wrapped up was intense and highly entertaining, although don't expect it to be credible in any way.

If you are looking for an action-packed, high octane and racy thriller and don't mind a lack of credibility and an over the top plot, Behind A Closed Door will be a great choice for you. It's without doubt a true rollercoaster ride!

This one will blow you away! It is so much more than I expected. The tension is through the roof. The characters are complex and intriguing. There are a few things going on and the way the author twists them together is shocking and so well written. Before you know it you are left sitting with your mouth hanging open. And I for one think this one will stick with me for awhile.

“Would you kill a total stranger to save your partner’s life?”

Have you ever noticed that your phone will “listen” to your conversations and then provide you with a subtle ad for something from said conversation? This story brings those fears to life and multiplies it by 1000. It makes those old-timer recluses not look so crazy. The intensity and suspense in this book is perfection. I have no idea how an author can come up with so many twists and turns but Mr. Barker managed it beautifully. So glad Abby and Brendan get the ending they deserved. Also, did anyone else picture Conor McGregor’s character from Roadhouse when they read about Romeo?

Make sure to add this book to your shelf on May 13, 2024.

A Financial Crime Investigation Gets Derailed

Abby and Brendan Hollander visit a therapist for the first time. They have a money problem that is now affecting their entire marriage. After getting them to promise to avoid actions that trigger their partner’s anger, the therapist moves on to their marital bliss or lack thereof. She gives them the name of an app that may help that aspect of their marriage. They download it on their phones and quickly become addicted. It dramatically affects their personal, professional, and their closest friends' lives. From this unusual start, Brendan and a fellow FCIC financial investigator, his closest friend, attempt to solve a complex case.

There are three main storyline threads. The first is the financial investigation conducted by Brendan and his colleagues, Stucky and Kim. The investigation goes south quickly when everyone disappears from the company under investigation. The second shows the havoc caused by using the invasive app. In my opinion, this thread is too large and obscures the financial investigation thread. The last thread portrays the actions of a pair of brutal killers who are sabotaging their investigation. All these threads are very interrelated. Many chapters support one or more of these threads. Many twists, turns, and misdirections in all the threads, along with some literary grenades, kept my interest. Unfortunately, the app thread kept the financial investigation in the background. It was not until I was almost 50% into the novel that I realized how the financial investigation was the main thread. It was complex, and it is just the type of storyline that I enjoy.

The complex interactions between main storyline threads are also true in the background and threads portraying the character of each main character. Because of the app's nature, the characters' personal side is provided in more detail than in most novels I have read. There is a B-storyline between some unprofessional interactions between Brendan and Kim. This is a positive aspect of this novel.

This novel's trifecta of intimacy, vulgar language, and violence are strong red flags. If you are sensitive to at least one of these three, I say let the read be forewarned. These are extensive for the first third of the novel but continue to the end. This aspect detracted from my reading enjoyment.

I thoroughly enjoyed the investigation thread in this novel. It kept me reading for the last half of the novel. This novel has the largest number of potential loose ends. In the end, they were all explained. Unfortunately, the over-the-top trifecta of potential triggers to destroy a reader’s enjoyment was the worst issue for this novel.

Assigning a rating for this novel was difficult for me. I have read seven previous novels by this author. All but one I thoroughly enjoy. He is on my Must-Read author list. With the strong negative aspect, I usually rate it with three stars. For me, these are novels that have good aspects and bad aspects. Since my objections are more to alert potential readers of this aspect, this novel does not meet that criteria for me. A rating of four stars is a novel that I do not enjoy as much as those that I rate with five stars. The issue is more than a difference of one star for me. Therefore, I rate this novel with three and a half stars, but I must round to an even number of stars. I settled on a rating of four stars, that is closer to that rating than three stars.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Hampton Creek Press. My review is based solely on my own reading experience of this book. Thank you, Hampton Creek Press, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

Well…this was a different thriller from anything I’ve ever read. It was very spicy and twisty. I’m not sure it was quite my thing, but if you like a lot of action, killings, spicy intimate scenes, and manhunts, this book is for you!

I went into this book with the assumption that it was a thriller. No where did it say it was a spicy thriller. I have a preference to not read spicy books and had I known I would not have requested this book. Otherwise the storyline is okay and a quick read if that is your thing. I don’t know if I will read another book by this author after the controversy with sending negative emails to influencers.

I requested the ARC of this book based off the synopsis and the cover looks intriguing but didn't realize the author was problematic and not someone I would have supported had I realized. That being said, I did read the book and I will give my honest review.

I think the premise is great and I did enjoy the first half of the book. The book definitely draws you in and I was interested to see what would happen next. At about the 50-60% point in the book I just found it all to be so unbelievable that I was constantly rolling my eyes and begging for the book to end.

I may be an outlier here and I can tell that others will love this book but it's a no for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hampton Creek Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

J.D. Barker's Behind Closed Doors started out strong. This therapist-recommended app, Sugar & Spice, sounded like a fun way to spice up a marriage… until it wasn't. Things got dark and twisty pretty fast, which I liked, but some parts felt a little over-the-top for me.

Overall, it was a decent thriller that kept me turning pages, but it wasn't quite a mind-blower. If you're a die-hard Barker fan, you'll probably dig it. If you're new to his work, there might be better starting points out there.

This is my first book by the author and I quite enjoyed the writing style. It starts with quite a bang, our protagonists Brendan and Abby are at a therapist's office as they are having troubles in their marriage. The whole encounter it kept nagging me how weird it was but then again the story starts building the foundation from the very start.

The whole book feels like a long episode of Black Mirror. It is fast paced and it keeps readers engaged giving a feeling like a high speed chase with pumped up adrenaline. The whole time, the agitation is high and one wonders what is going to happen next. It had set my expectations so high but most of the interesting things, almost everything in my opinion happens in the first 60% of the book and although there is much action in rest of the 40% of the book, I didnt feel that it lived up to the expectations it set from the very start of the book.

I definitely loved reading first 60-70 % of the book but later it just lost the charm and I was left with lot many questions like why the app actually chose our couple. From the very start I knew who is going to betray Abby and Brendan so the reveal did not really shock me.

The last reveal felt far fetched, I mean if a person is quite smart and innovative then how can they end up in a financial ditch , I don't know.

There are so many things that keep on happening in the book that it is impossible to concisely describe the plot but one thing it is definitely good. And even though it has maintained the shocks and twists and whole lot of action till the very end , I just couldn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed initial half of the book.

I will definitely pick up other books by the author , as writing is quite genius in this one.

Thank you Netgalley and Hampton Creek press for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Star rating : 3.5 stars

While reading, I typically give my husband the cliff notes on whatever I'm currently reading. I'd initially told him about this book upon starting it, but by the time it was time to regroup, I'd been slapped with too many twists to even begin to describe the book to him. Each chapter seemed to bring a new revelation or unexpected turn, making it impossible for me to condense it all into a few sentences. No amount of cliff notes could capture its true essence. I couldn't do it justice with a simple summary. 

This book has so many twists! But not in the sense that it's overdone. All of the twists throughout the book are beautifully meshed together. Each revelation adds a new layer to the story, making it even more compelling and impossible to put down. The way the author seamlessly weaves each twist into the narrative kept me immersed and eager to unravel the next surprise. It's a true testament to the writer's skill and talent in crafting a captivating and intricate plot.

The way the author explored the consequences of technological advancements and the impact they have on society felt eerily similar to the tone and atmosphere of the show, Black Mirror. Overall, reading this book was like diving into a new, twisted episode of the show, leaving me with chills and a lot to think about. So, if you're a fan of the show, this book will be a good fit for you. 

This was my first book by JD Barker, and I will be back for more! He is a great writer who knows how to keep the reader engaged and on the edge of their seat. The plot twists and turns were unexpected and kept me hooked until the very last page. I can't wait to see what other thrilling stories Barker has in store!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book i have read from this author, and it did take me a little while to get into the swing of it. The story line is complex, and intricate, which i personally really like. That being said, it was a slow start. The concept of the book was really really interesting and not like anything i have read before. Looking to reading more from this author.

I loved every character even the nasty ones. I loved the spicy theme and the subtle sprinkle of sugar. You come to expect the unexpected from J.D Barker and it didn't disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley, J.D. Barker and Hampton Creek Press for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a surprisingly chunky, but quick and easy read. I was addicted right from the beginning and I needed to know how this was all going to come together. It all ties together with a ton of action and a beautiful bow.

I wasn't sure about this book to start with and it took me a while to get into. Once it got going though I could not put it down. What a wild ride!! The way everything came together was well done and I loved all the characters (even the evil ones). When you start this book it seems to be going in one direction then takes a sharp turn and goes somewhere else completely.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the chance to read and review this ARC.

I liked the vibes of this one at first, it felt like something I could watch as a movie. But as the book went on, it kinda dragged on a bit for me and left me wanting to DNF.

J.D Barker's writing is great, the plot of the book was also really good and the plot twists, although predictable, added to the trippy feel of the book, but the MCs made me want to pull my hair out with the dumb decisions they made (typical for Thirllers I guess, but still) and like mentioned before, it dragged on towards the midlde/end for me.

Holy hell! This book was insane! I know this story was purely fictional, but the possibility that it could become somewhat of a reality is truly terrifying. I don't think I want to use my phone ever again! Despite its length, this was a very fast read. I was gripped from the first page and the story just continued to grow in intensity with each chapter; even more so once I reached the midpoint. It was non-stop craziness with a few added twists that I never saw coming. I loved every minute of it! This is actually my first read of Barker's. I've had the 4MK trilogy on my Kindle for quite a while but haven't gotten to it yet due to my lengthy TBR pile. Not anymore! I plan to start reading them as soon as possible now. I loved this book and highly recommend it!

Thank you to the author, Hampton Creek Press, and NetGalley for granting me digital access in exchange for my honest review!

WOW! This was my first book of J.D. Barker’s and it did not disappoint. I really enjoyed his writing style and will certainly be back for more.

This book opened up hot and heavy with a bit of Spice that made me see why it’s been deemed a sexually charged dark thriller. The spiciness does taper off as the story unfolds but there was plenty of action keeping the characters busy. The Spice was just so good I would have enjoyed more of it throughout the book.

This was a brilliant cat and mouse game with more cats than you’d expect. The whole story was suspenseful and had me on the edge of my seat flipping pages like a mad woman. The intricate web of clues the author laid out keeps you guessing right until the end. While some of the concepts do seem a bit out there, they weren’t so far out of the realm possibility. This is definitely one you don’t want to miss!


Thank you NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for the ARC.

Wow! Behind a Closed Door by JD Barker was outstanding! This book was spicier than most that I read, but that did not deter me from this highly original plot. I loved the main characters and also the villains were great! I definitely recommend that you read this. I’ve not read any books like this, and I cannot wait for his next novel to come out! This is the kind of story that you could almost see actually happening, Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.