I like a good serial killer mystery and so I knew that I had to read this one immediately I saw the blurb. I liked the idea of the story starting with the death of the killer. The mention of a personal diary had me even more intrigued. I knew it would be a very twisted tale and I was right.

The Fourth Monkey by J.D Barker begins with the death of the serial killer dubbed, The Fourth Monkey due to his MO. At the scene, investigators find clues about the killer’s latest victim and so begin the chase. In this case, they are looking for the final victim. One of the clues found at the scene is the killer’s diary. This introduces an additional narration by the unsub. It starts with a childhood event that helps readers understand the current events. This diary was dark, unsettling, twisted yet utterly captivating. I was engrossed by the narrative despite its horrors and kept looking forward to these sections. I am always curious about what makes a killer and I think this diary accurately explained this in this case.

The story is narrated in alternating POVs by the lead detective (Sam Porter), victim and also killer. I liked the fact that the characters were multi-dimensional. I enjoy reading stories about detectives who have a life outside the case because they seem more realistic. In this case, the lead detective is going through issues which add a second layer to the story although as a minor plot-line.

This book is dark yes, but also quite twisted. I really thought that I had figured out everything until the final big twist which left me in shock. I was tempted to go back to the start and see if there were clues that I had missed. At the same time, I couldn’t stop reading to find out what would happen next. The entire book is interesting but the final chapters are more addictive than the first ones. If you like a good crime thriller or serial killer mystery then this one is for you. It does get quite graphic at some point though so if you are squeamish then this might bother you. Rumors have it that there will be other books. Needless to say, I will definitely be waiting for them especially after reading the final chapter of this one.

This book reminded me of one of my favorite movies "The Bone Collector".  It was very intense and definitely not easy to figure out.  It was a bit graphic, so if you are not into that, tread lightly here.  

I really enjoyed the characters of Sam and his team on the task force.  They had a great camaraderie and  it made the story flow.  This was a fast read and one that I would happily read a sequel to.

It took me awhile to read and review this book due to life getting in the way but once I could set some time to read,I enjoyed it and couldn't put it down. I found it to be very good, especially half way through it when the plot did a turn around, at least to me it did. This was a thrilling book to read and I would recommend it to anyone that likes thrillers, and crime books. Many thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to review it. :)

Fans of fast paced thrillers, buckle up. The intriguing comparison to 'Se7en meets The Silence of the Lambs' had me re-arrange my TBR pile and pick up 'The Fourth Monkey' ahead of many others I had lined up for the summer. This one is twisted! I'd throw in some vibes from 'The Bone Collector', too. Really enjoyed the plot, found a few parts to be borderline disturbing but the grit and darkness make for perfect accents to this creepy, stay up all night to finish book. A huge thank you to NetGalley for a free digital download!

It been a while since I read a mystery book where I kept pausing my read to see if I could figure out, ahead of being told, what the clues left by killer meant. I was fully engaged in this novel and I loved how it was a mystery full of puzzle pieces that fit together to create a complex and clever mystery, rather than one you could never predict because the author went for the ‘shock value’. But predict the events in this, I did not, despite all the clues!

The Fourth Monkey contains one of the best mysteries I’ve come across in a long while. I particularly liked the diary entries from the killer, in the mind of a serial killer is one of my favourite places to be! While the events being describe in the diary may read as unbelievable to some, there was no doubt these were the words of killer – so cold, so distant.

The killer abides by his rule of “Hear no evil. See no evil. Speak no evil. Do no evil.” so when a victim’s tongue is found, the race against the clock begins and this added a great level of suspense to the novel. Despite the blurb describing the novel as fast-paced, I didn’t think it was, in fact, I thought the slower pace allowed Barker to take his time unravelling the mystery, keeping the suspense alive for as long as possible. I thought this novel was more mystery than thriller and that is not a criticism in any way.

I really liked the characters in this one, including the character of the killer. I enjoyed the relationship between Porter and his colleagues, Nash and Clair, their friendly banter and humour gave this novel the right amount of entertainment. I especially liked their jokes about their colleague, Watson, brought in on the taskforce to help them solve the case – as a huge Sherlock fan, I thought of the same ‘one-liners.’

A very brief mention about the ending – I loved it! I wouldn’t describe it as an open ending but it left great scope for the second book.

An interesting mystery coupled with a great cast of character makes The Fourth Monkey a great choice for fans of mystery books and I highly recommend it!

Superb, nail bitting thriller - the tag line of Se7en meets the Silence of the Lambs is justified.
Good twists, well written blockbuster.
Highly recommended

My Review: 5/5
This book is so terrifying, suspenseful, and demented….and I absolutely LOVED it!!
The blurb gives you all you need to know about the book, so I’m not going to go into the plot.  Just trust me on this one. If you like Silence of the Lambs, or the movie Se7en, then you will also enjoy this book. 
It is one of the best books about a serial killer that I have read in a long time. The writing is top notch! The lead detective, Parker has been investigating the 4MK killer from the beginning. I felt like I was right there with him, revealing the clues, while feeling the anguish of his personal struggles as well.  The other characters are also well developed. They are minor at best, but with enough insight to make me like them.  
The story is told in different perspectives. One of the perspectives takes you back in time to the childhood of the 4MK killer. To relive what he lived is so terrifying and squeamish at times, the hair on my arms was standing tall, my heart was beating at a rapid pace, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!
This book is not for the faint of hearts. There are some scenes that are difficult to read. But if you have any interest at all to read a great detective novel, involving a terrific tale of a killer, I highly recommend this book. I cannot give it enough praise.  This one will definitely be one of my favorite reads of 2017.

The story is good but the format is very frustrating. Jumping from today, to killers diary, to another detective was very annoying. I had difficulty remembering where I was in each change. Change the format and you have a better story.

In these last couple of months, I have found myself reading a lot of murder/mystery/thriller books. Which is a glad change from the erotica/romance that I have read. A glad change. I like a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat and guessing what is going to happen next or what plot twist the author is going to throw in that will make me go “Well, I never saw that coming“. The Fourth Monkey is that book. It is a delicious blend of horror and mystery that will keep you up reading late in the night.

The plot lines of the book were fantastic. You have two major ones: the diary (or as I called it: the making of the Four Monkey Killer) and the race to find out where is last victim, a 15-year-old girl, is being held. I was fascinated by diary and how the 4 MK was shaped into the twisted person he was. Normally, if an author switches from 1st person to 3rd person every other chapter or so, it bothers me. But in this case, it didn’t because when that chapter of the diary ended, the book picked up right where the Four Monkey Killer was leading them. Which I haven’t seen done well until this book.

I felt awful for Porter and didn’t realize that he had a personal tragedy until almost halfway through the book. I did think certain scenes were odd when he was mentioning his wife but I figured, “Hey, he’s a homicide detective working lead on a case and is working odd hours“. It wasn’t until after he got the phone call and everything was explained that I went “No way” and I felt horrible for him.

I will say that I did like the lore behind the 4 monkeys and found it fascinating that there was a 4th monkey. The three monkeys that we know are: Hear no evil (monkey covering ears), See no evil (monkey covering eyes) and Speak no evil (monkey covering mouth). The fourth monkey is Do no evil (monkey covering stomach or genitals) and is very rarely mentioned in Japanese or Buddha lore (click here). The way that the author wove that lore into this story and how the fourth monkey was woven in was pretty awesome.

The end of the book was insane. Not only was the identity of the Four Monkey Killer found out, it was the last person that I thought it was going to be. I literally put my book down and shook my head when his identity was revealed. The final twist at the end of the book made me shake my head in disbelief and make me wonder if there will be a book 2.

How many stars will I give The Fourth Monkey: 5

Why: A beautifully written mystery/horror book that is true to its genre. An excellent read and I am looking forward to reading more books by J.D. Barker

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Adult

Why: Violence and language

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

One of the best books of 2017, and now one of my favs. The story of the 4MK killer is absolutely SUPERB. A thriller at it's best.

There are great thrillers, and then, ones that stick to your ribs. This one is both. The Fourth Monkey won't be easily forgotten.

Wow!!!! This particularly gruesome serial killer tale was my first J.D. Barker novel and received a very easy 5 *'s. Homicide detective Sam Porter has been chasing the Fourth Monkey Killer (4MK) for 5 years. He is called in when a man apparently commits suicide. A white box with a severed ear is found with the man which is a trademark of 4MK. Also found is a diary from the man's childhood. Porter begins a desperate search for the next victim led by clues carefully placed by 4MK. This was a great read and will certainly not be my last J.D. Barker novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-copy of this book to review.

Great read! Absolutely loved this book! This is the first book that I've read by this author but I will be hot on his trail from here on out. Exciting, action packed read that does not let up, even to the last page. Solid and well written. I highly recommend this book!!

2017 appears to be the year of the suspense thriller. There has already been a number of quality ones out there and a few more of them usually show up during the summer. The term "Summer Read" seems to be tailor made for the mystery and suspense audience. For the most part, they are diverting and fun reads for the beach but occasionally a few goes past the quick read and amazes us with their combination of mystery, psychological suspense and even a dose of horror. The first one to wow me this year was Final Girls by Riley Sager. And now dead on its heels is The Fourth Monkey by J. D. Barker

The Fourth Monkey is one of those books that dares you to read it in one sitting. The suspense rarely lets up and there are a pair of very interesting and troubled protagonists that keep our interest. It is a serial killer novel that comes at a time when the sub-genre seems to be getting thin and predictable. Barker's novel manages to take a number of well worn ideas, such as the detective and killer duel of minds and the race against time to save the victim. Yet the authors is able to keep it interesting and fresh.

Homicide detective Sam Porter is recovering from the death of his wife but is pulled back to work when a six year old serial killer case that he has been on from the beginning seems to be coming to a head. The Four Monkey Killer (4MK as the officers not-so-affectionately call him) has been hit and killed by a bus. How do they know it is him when no one knows his identity? He had in his procession when he died a box with his victim's ear in it, signifying the first monkey "Hear no evil", and a diary proclaiming him to be that killer. 4MK has killed a number of young girls in the past years. Since he mailed boxes with bodies parts in them before he finally kills them, Porter surmises there is one more victim who is still alive. Sam Porter and his partner Nash now needs to find her with only a few clues and the killer's diary to guide them.

And this is where it gets interesting. We follow the tracks of the detective as they uncover each clue. There are plenty of red herrings and twists to entertain even the most jaded mystery fan. However, in alternating chapters we read the diary in which 4MK essentially tells us about his childhood and his origins giving us another thriller and mystery as it goes along. We know these two stories will come together at some point and the way it happens is the intricate web that the author weaves. The killer and detective appear to be continuing their battle of wits even beyond the grave as the diary haunts Porter and brings up a few ghosts of his own.

This is a hardcore cop and killer tale and one of the best I have read in a long time. I caught a few of the surprises and missed a few more which is good because it kept me guessing. Yet Sam Porter is the character that keeps the novel from just being a who-dunnit puzzle. He is tough and determined but vulnerable to the point you wonder if he will keep it together. 4MK is also a vital protagonist and the gimmick of using his diary to egg on and tease Porter works so well I stopped thinking of it as a gimmick especially since 4MK's back story is as riveting as the central plot. We also never lose the tension of the race against time which is often so important in books like this. J.D. Barker wrote a monster of a serial killer story and it may be hard to top it. But my money is on Barker to do so in his very promising career. He has the skills and the imagination to continue with a string of great thrillers. For right now, The Fourth Monkey will more than suffice.

I LOVED this book! If you liked the movie Seven you will like this book. Starts out with detective Sam Porter being called to the scene of an accident where bus hit pedestrian. They discover in his possession a white box which is what the 4th monkey killer used to mail to his victims fathers. For 5 yrs they've been chasing him and now he takes them on a crazy journey as they try to find his last victim before she dies. He leaves a diary in his pocket of his sordid past. I could not put this book down. A must read!!

Caught my attention from the first pages! Detective John Porter and Sam Nash are partners in the Chicago Metro Police Department. Porter has been investigating a serial killer for 6 years, who has a unique method if killing his victims. He first cuts off their ear and sends it to Porter in a little white box with a black string tied on it. Also enclosed with the ear is a handwritten address. He would wait a few days, then cuts out their eyes and send them in the little white box, and waits a few more days and finally cut out the tongue, and sends that in the little white box. Then he kills them. So far he has killed 7 victims. There seems to be no rhyme or reasoning to killing his victims. Possibly Porter caught a break, because he has been called to an accident where an individual jumped in front of a transit bus on purpose and was killed. The individual had no ID on him just a diary, a few coins, aa dry cleaning receipt, pocket watch, and a small white box with a black string wrapped around it. The address is of an investment banker, Talbot. This serial killer has named himself The Fourth Monkey Killer or 4MK. This stands for "Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil, and Do No Evil." 4MK instructs Porter to read his diary for clues to save a young girl, whom he has abducted. The book reverts back and forth from the investigation back to the diary, and gives the reader a sense of the type of person this serial killer evolved from. As the clues continue to build, Porters team think they will eventually capture him. There are lots of twists and turns in this book. The intrigue will keep you page turning until the end. What is the reason for 4MK picking specific victims? What is Talbot's secret? Will Porter be able to save the young girl, who was abducted? The characters and the plot are very realistic. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading many more from this author.

After being in a bit of a reading slump lately, I began this book and it really helped me out. It was a very fast paced novel and from page one I was hooked. It really helped me jump back into reading.

The Fourth Monkey killer has been on the loose for years, always managing to miss the cops. Now, when a man is killed, the man is suspected to be this infamous man, since when he was found he had in his position an object that follows the pattern of the previous killings. Detective Sam Porter, one of the men who has been on the Fourth Monkey case from the beginning, is now on the hunt to find a new victim with a limited amount of time to do it while fighting his own inner battles. This book is filled with twists and turns and things the reader will never see coming.

I really enjoyed this book. It was filled with mystery, crime, and action. It was very detailed and written well. It was fast paced and had an interesting set of characters. The story switched from present time to a diary that followed the Fourth Monkey Killer as a youth, this was a great add to the storyline and helped see into the mind of this killer. It was a crime book, but with the story of the death of Sams wife, it brought a bit of sadness as well. It was really a great story. The ending was mind blowing and added a great and shocking twist. I was kept on the edge of my seat from page one.

Overall this was a great book. It was just the book I needed to jump back on the book train :)

I enjoyed this story. The Four Monkey Killer "4MK" is one nasty piece of work. I love the books that get into the serial killers head, and this one was messed up! I think my favorite bits were the relationship between the detectives, and even the swat team. They had me busting out laughing! These are 3 characters that I'd love to read more about. Hint, hint. The only thing that kept this from being a five star book was the wording. Mostly it was fine, but occasionally some awkward dialogue would show up. It made the characters seem stiff. Still, I plan on sticking around with this author. He's good, and I think he can only get better. Yep, I'd recommend this book and author. Thanks much to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Netgalley.

A great consistent well written read. I couldn't put it down once I got into it.

The evil little protagonist of this book, nicknamed 4MK (Fourth Monkey) was a little boy who grew up to become a cold-blooded torturer and murderer. As you read his diary, you begin to feel some compassion for the young child. This quickly ends when the story jumps forward to present day as a group of detectives works tirelessly to unmask who he is in the hopes of saving his latest, and the most innocent victim, 15-year old Emory.
The detectives’ viewpoints, led by Porter, who is reeling from the loss of his wife due to a gallon of milk he was too lazy to get, are told in the third person. The pace is quick; the detectives work together well with wit, knowledge and strong devotion to one another. As they move closer and closer to figuring out exactly who is who, they learn one of their own team isn’t who he portrayed himself as. Even worse, he may easily be the person they’ve been searching for all along.
The pace of events is quick. Just as you may grow bored with the search efforts, the book switches over to 4MK’s diary. This alone will keep your attention. It’s like a book within a book, and they’re both full of twists and blindsiding moves.
I don’t normally read detective-based books, but this one grabbed me and refused to turn loose. It’s a fun, quick, sometimes gruesome, sometimes humorous, sometimes compassionate mix of emotions. The ending is pure serendipity. You’ll find yourself once again, after all the senseless torture, smiling for the young child 4MK was. The perfect read!
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for making it available.)

Want your own letter from a serial killer? It's an actual prop from the upcoming television series and film to be directed by Marc Webb (The Amazing Spiderman, Gifted, 500 Days of Summer). Better yet, how would you like a draft copy of the novel? We're giveaway this and more - follow the link below for details:

http://jdbarker.com/fourth-monkey-contest-win-draft-copy-upcoming-novel-4mk/

"We are going to have such fun, you and I."
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