I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I greatly enjoyed The Fourth Monkey. A serial killer leading the cops on a race against time chase to save a girl. A single-minded cop with the tragic past trying to bring him down. The cop’s funny sidekick. Elaborately staged crime scenes and action sequences. The Fourth Monkey is a satisfying blend of Silence of the Lambs, Lethal Weapon, Se7en and a host of other books and movies.

So, needless to say, I was looking forward to reading this sequel. Or should I say, this second book in a trilogy. Because, unfortunately, it really feels like a bridge between two other stories. This book opens with a new serial killer, but that part of the story seems to fade as the book progresses. We are still on the trail of the killer from the first book, but we see much less of him this time. There are a couple of plot devices from the first story—the diary, and misdirection—that are recycled from the first book, but too less effect in this one. And there’s less humor and action than in the first book.

It’s not a bad book by any means. I certainly wanted to see how it would end, and I’m definitely coming back to read the last book in the trilogy. But this book was not as compelling as I expected, coming off the high bar set by the first book. Recommended for fans of the genre (and who have read the first book—you won’t understand what’s happening if you haven’t).

Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for giving me this ARC. I love Barker's mysteries. This book is a sequel in the 4 MK thriller. Equally thrilling and fast paced compared to its prequels.

I do love a serial killer thriller and the more twisted the more likely I am to enjoy the book. J. D.Barker certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention with some scenes that can only be described as macrabe, The Fifth To Die is dark and very, very twisted. A word of advice though I would definitely recommend you read The Fourth Monkey first as the two go hand in hand, I’m sure you will miss out on important details and references to certain characters if you choose to read The Fifth To Die first

Full review to follow

BOOM that is what a good detective thriller is all about, perfectly executed, absolutely loved it. The Fifth to Die is the second in the Det Porter/4MK series but my first book, I will definitely without a shadow of a doubt be going back to read The Fourth Monkey immediately. I devoured this book, literally could not put it down, my mind was racing, so many twists, really enjoyed the detective/serial killer relationship which reminded me of Hannibal Lector, would love to see it made into a movie! Can't believe when I got to the end "to be continued"... I was oh no I need to know now...if I could give it more than 5*, I would!!! I will wait impatiently for No. 3, hope its nearly done J.D. Barker!!!!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

4 Stars

The body of a young girl named Ella Reynold’s is found in a Lagoon, frozen under the ice, yet forensics show she drowned in salt water. The mystery, besides the fact that she has been murdered? She is wearing different clothes than the ones she went missing in. Turns out they belong to a different girl named Lili Davies, whose body turns up shortly thereafter, having drowned the same way. Porter, Nash and Clair & Kloz investigate and unfortunately for them, the body count continues to rise. It has to be a serial killer and while the signature is different than 4MK’s, they can’t help but wonder.

The FBI, including Agent Poole, took over 4MK’s case and though the FBI is headquartered at the department, they cut the police out of the investigation completely. Porter however, can’t let it go, thus he takes off on his own to try and find Bishop, who continues to haunt him, whether he likes it or not.

These two separate suspense stories intertwined in a fascinating way that left my head spinning and my heart racing. This one is a doozy. While not quite as captivating as the first book, “The Fourth Monkey,” (which I suggest you read before this one) “The Fifth To Die” - is a worthy follow up that kept my attention and scared me just a little.

This was a sister read with Brenda and Kaceey.

Thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and J. D. Barker for a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley, Edelweiss, Goodreads, Amazon, Twitter and Instagram on 6.19.18.

The Fifth to Die feels very much like a middle book in a trilogy to me, which is definitely not a bad thing by any means. It picks up right where The Fourth Monkey left off and doesn't give a whole lot of backstory to the events of that book, but gives enough for the average reader to be able to pick this up blindly. I will say though that The Fourth Monkey should be read regardless because it's fantastic! This story shows a ton of buildup to the final showdown between 4MK and Porter/CMPD while also adding a few new character wrinkles to the story. While the reveals and revelations aren't completely shown, there's enough here to be satisfied with while also leaving some left to be desired in the next book in the series.

Overall, I love J.D. Barker's style of writing, I love his creative mind when it comes to the characters, and I love the story he's telling of 4MK. I cannot wait until Book 3 releases(hopefully before 1 year from now, but i know that's not likely) to get the thrilling conclusion of the 4MK series.

Full Disclosure: I received an ARC Kindle copy of The Fifth To Die through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In a way I'm glad I've only recently found the time to pick up the first 4MK thriller. Why? Well, let's just say that book one and two both start and end with a bang and leave you wanting for more. Oh yes, if you think the cliffhanger of The Fourth Monkey was a bad one, you will be in for a painful ride with The Fifth To Die. What a way to mess with your mind! I was in the mood for a twisted, disturbing and complicated serial killer and there is no doubt this story delivered all that and more. Hooked from the first page? Check. More twistedness and new disturbing and horrifying killings? Check. A healthy dose of plot twist bombs that will leave you absolutely flabbergasted? Check. New insights in the backgrounds of the main characters? Check. Fleshing out of the previous plot while adding a LOT of new suspense and a very strong and promising base for an excellent third book? Check. Oh yes, as you might have already guessed, I had a great time with detective Porter and the so-called 4MK killer. Warning: this is one of those series you HAVE to read in order, because you won't be understanding the many references to the case and characters otherwise. (Since it's basically the same open investigation we are talking about, with a new angle and subplot added of course.) The Fifth To Die is just as strong as the first book and this series is quickly becoming a new favorite of mine. Then again, I love a well written, dark, disturbing and gritty serial killer thriller. Is it too early to ask when the next book is coming out? Because I NEED to know what happens next after that humongous cliffhanger ending.

I'm a sucker for a good serial killer thriller and this series is quickly turning into one of my new favorites. If you like your thrillers dark, gritty, disturbing and don't mind graphic scenes, you will be in for a treat with this series. Trust me, reading these two thrillers in order will be worth your time! You will find yourself staring at the last pages wanting for more though, because the cliffhanger ending is pretty brutal. What a way to reveal something like that and leave us staring open mouthed knowing we won't find out more until the next book comes out! It's been a while since an ending hit me that hard.

J.D. Barker - you've got to stop keeping us in suspense like this!!!! GREAT, GREAT psychological thriller picks up where the 4th Monkey ends - a real page turner! Please have the sequel out soon!!!

Four months after 4MKs reign of terror the feds have taken over the case and it looks like Chicago is about to face a harsh winter.

When a girl is found frozen beneath a lagoon Detective Porter and the team find themselves on the hunt for another killer. But the lagoon froze months ago and this girl has only been missing for three weeks. How did she get there, and how is it possible that she’s wearing the clothes of another girl who’s only been missing for two days?

Whilst the detectives at Chicago Metro are trying to make sense of this new case, Sam Porter continues to search for Anson Bishop in secret. That is until his Captain becomes aware and suspends him, leaving Clair and Nash to find the new killer alone.

Obsessed with finding and bringing Bishop to justice, Porter follows clues that take him from Chicago to New Orleans and soon finds himself in a place darker than he could have ever imagined.

Can the detectives manage to find the killers before it’s too late, and what price will they pay if they do?

Well, first things first…that ending…WTF?! Secondly, do not read this book if you haven’t read the 1st instalment. I’ve seen a couple of reviews mention that it’s possible to read this book as a stand alone, but I just don’t see how this is possible. There’s so much information you need from the first one to truly understand what is going on.

Right, time for my review. I am honestly at a loss as to where to start. This book is just SO GOOD!

As with it’s predecessor this story is told from multiple narrative strands and often each one is only a few pages long. Unlike some books where I find it difficult to build a connection to the story because of this, in this series it really is a benefit. Creating urgency, suspense and the need to read “just one more chapter”, and before you know it you’ve read the whole thing.

Although there’s not a huge amount of back story for the characters, I do find it easy to feel acquainted with them. We get to learn a little more about Sam Porter in this book and it seems as though the author is leading us to an interesting plot twist with this. But who am I kidding?! J.D. Barker could be taking us any where, because this story is totally unguessable!

I could continue writing in great depth and length about this book, but I so desperately don’t want to give anything away and spoil it for those who have yet to read it. So, I will just say if you like your crime thrillers dark, twisted and suspenseful - this is the one for you.

I feel like this book sucked me in page by page, chapter by chapter and then right at the last moment chewed me up and spat me out. Hats off to you Barker because I am more than eagerly awaiting book three.

Smarter than Lecter and more methodical than Jigsaw, J.D. Barker is a thriller lovers wet dream!

If you haven't read The Fourth Monkey, first....what is wrong with you? Go out, get the book (I HIGHLY recommend the audio!), read the book, love the book. It will make things so much clearer and a million times more enjoyable. Second...it's an amazing freaking read so you have no excuses. None. Go get it!

This sequel will screw with you. In the best way. I was captivated from the first page right to the "Holy Crap" ending (seriously Barker...why? Just why????). It's not just good. It's throw the book against the wall, sit in the shower to let the shock settle in, then apologize to the book and immediately begin rereading it because you obviously hate yourself good.

Instructions for reading:
1. Call in sick, I'll write you a note. No employer should deny you this
2. Buy a big bottle of whiskey, wine won't cut it
3. Order pizza for the kids, you're not cooking tonight
If you haven't read The Fourth Monkey, I suggest taking 2 days off. Maybe a really long weekend. You'll need it.

I can NOT wait to see what Barker and 4MK have in store for us next!

If you want a book that will grip you and leave you wanting more, this is the book for you.
The Fifth to die is just as good as J.D Barkers first book and I feel that this author will only get better with time, I look forward to the next one!

4.5 stars (rounded to 4 stars)

Holy cow, what a thrill ride! Despite that, this one was hard for me to rate. There are some really 5+++ star features, but also some things that I really didn’t like.

First of all, do not even try reading this without reading the first book, The Fourth Monkey. It is just not an option. I had to suspend reading early on and go back and re-read 10-15% of The Fourth Monkey (which I read a year ago) just to refresh enough to get my bearings. Talk about a flow-breaker. I was a little miffed that there was not enough backstory in the current book to get me up to speed without having to backtrack to the first book.

Once I got oriented, the book took off! There are dual plotlines, both highly gripping. We are back in the chase for 4MK and possibly for other killers as well. There are several investigations going on at once in three different cities. There are 134 relatively short chapters allowing for all the investigations to be covered at the same time. PLUS, we have more of 4MK’s diary! This was a highlight in the first book and definitely a high point of this book as well. If this sounds confusing, it’s not. It is very well written, but again you need to have the background of The Fourth Monkey to follow this one.

Detective Sam Porter is in trouble with his superiors in this book, but that doesn’t keep him chained to his easy chair. It does allow us to see the rest of his team in action without him. Clair Bear, Kloz, and Nash are prominently featured doing their thing. There isn’t a lot of character development of the good guys, but for once that didn’t bother me because the investigations themselves are so deliciously engrossing. Oh, and of course, we get 4MK’s diary to study—talk about a character study!

I got tired of the scenes of the teenage girls in captivity with the sicko. I think the more I read thrillers, the less tolerant I am of these scenes. They don’t do much for me other than make me wish them to be shorter. It doesn’t take much for me to appreciate how evil and twisted someone is.

The last 40% of the book was fabulously suspenseful. I didn’t know what the hell was going on (in a good way) and enjoyed racking my brains trying to figure it all out. I defy anyone to predict what happens. The ending was a stunner. Well done, Mr. Barker, very well done indeed. But did you have to leave those great big loose ends? I guess you did, as I hear you are planning to conclude the saga with a third book! I do think knowing that almost cancels out my irritation over the lack of a nice red bow at the finish.

This is a true 4.5 read for me. It is way better than the usual 4, but the demerits noted above won’t let me rate it a 5. I do know one thing—I’ll be there when book 3 is available. I highly highly recommend this little series. Just don’t jump into the middle of it!!

Many thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Net Galley, and J.D. Barker for an ARC of this novel. Opinions are totally mine and are not biased in any way.

Let’s get one thing out of the way. Don’t even think of reading this book if you haven’t read the first in the series. It just will not work. There are lots of moving parts here, some of which require the in depth knowledge from 4MK.

The story is told from multiple POVs as the timeline moves along. It’s well paced and the story progresses in a linear fashion. This book kept my interest the entire time. It’s another gripping, scary book. It’s not as gruesome as 4MK, but that’s not to say there aren’t some gruesome scenes. It’s all relative.

It’s fascinating to watch all the various investigations, police, FBI and Porter’s personal one, all move forward. Yes, there’s lots going on here, but it’s not difficult to keep track. This is all about the story. This isn't a book with great in depth character development. And know that going in, you need to commit to book three.

My thanks to netgalley and Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt for an advance copy of this book.

I fell hard for J.D. Barker's writing after reading The Fourth Monkey. Bishop is my favorite serial killer character right behind Hannibal Lector(and who knows how much of that is due to Anthony Hopkins portrayal). The book was so well written and unique and I had no idea that I would be captivated from page one. In hindsight, I may have waited for Friday night to begin(sorry job, I wasn't my usual perky self, but I stayed up all night reading an excellent book). I believe I read that the author plans this tale to be a trilogy, which made me a very happy book lover.
Of course, there was that annoying little thought in my head. Could book lightning strike twice? Could the second book, The Fifth to Die be another 5 star read? For me, I am happy to say I loved it as much as The Fourth Monkey. There are familiar characters, but they follow different paths which meant the book didn't just repeat what worked in the first book and yet the ultimate story moved forward brilliantly. While Detective Sam Porter pursues his own leads and agenda, his old team is faced with more gruesome murders. Is this Bishop's work or has another serial killer decided to 'come out and play'? No spoilers here, you will have to read the book to find out, but if you are like me, you'll have 'so much fun' along the way that it will be well worth it.
I personally would recommend reading The Fourth Monkey first. I've given it some thought and while there is enough detail for this to work as a standalone, to me it wouldn't be the same reading experience. There is still time since The Fifth to Die won't be published until July 2018. You might also want to visit J.D. Barker's website as there is a hidden Fourth Monkey bonus chapter( and who knows what he might add for his latest book). Many sequels are good but just not quite as good as the first book. In this case, this was another 5 star read for me.
Thank you J.D.Barker, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for the complimentary DRC.

This book took way too long to get interesting, and was confusing to boot. I kept reading because I remembered really liking the first one. This one did eventually get interesting...96% of the way through. And then to make things worse, cliffhanger. It gets 3 stars, raised up from 2 on the merit of the ending. Let's hope the next one starts off with a bang, hmm?

You definitely have to have read 4 MK but this book is so good! I can not wait for the next book to see what happens with 4MK. Is it wrong to like a serial killer?

An excellent follow up to The Fourth Monkey. The end will have fans clamoring for more from J.D. Barker.

Where do I begin?
I am confused and my head aches, but in a good way. I NEED to read the first book again!
I loved The Fourth Monkey. We had a great relationship and understood each other. Ours was a considerably smooth journey.
The Fifth To Die? I am wrecked! I feel like I have been thrown in a washing machine and then left to dry in a desert all by my lonesome! Our devastating liaison is scandalous and outrageous.
I am using big words because there is no other way to describe this hurricane.
Talk about suspense! I need some time to heal. I need to sleep!

If you decide to read The Fifth To Die, STOP! First take a deep breath. Make sure you DO Not begin late at night and that you have done all your important chores and there is nothing or no one to interrupt you. Go grab The Fourth Monkey and start from there.
Happy reading!
Thanks to J.D Barker, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for providing me with a copy.

Excellent series, and a cliffhanger too! Now I have to wait to find out what Bishop has in store. I'll be first in line for the next in the series.

Is the 4MK Killer Back?
The heroine, Detective Sam Porter, is still obsessed with the 4MK killer, Anson Bishop, who escaped at the end of the first novel. Because he was suspected of letting the 4MK killer escape and still be in contact with the killer, the FBI has taken over that investigation and their sharing of information back to the Chicago police became non-existent.

Now, the body of a teenage girl is found in very complex circumstances. While the modus operandi (MO) is different but the question is, “Has the 4MK killer returned?” Another teenage girl goes missing. Porter’s team takes up the investigation, but Porter is burning the candle at both ends. While he and his team investigate the murder and missing girl during the day, at night he has turned his bedroom into a war room on tracking down the 4MK killer. This fact is discovered by the FBI, and Porter is placed on suspension. The main storyline splits into two. Porter’s second in command, Clair Norton, takes over the lead on the new murder, and Porter goes off the grid to capture the 4MK killer so as to redeem himself. The main storylines take off from here in a real rollercoaster of storylines. I was addicted immediately.

The B-storyline and the Porter side of the main storyline essentially merge. Detective has a deep obsession that portrayed in much detail as well as the history of the 4MK killer. How the author unfolds this story is quite interesting with many twists and turns. I especially enjoyed reading this part. There are many new characters introduced in this part of main storyline, but everything fits together quite well and in a very intriguing way, and spills into the other main storyline. Once it was all revealed, I had to smile and chuckle.

There is some vulgar language, but in my opinion, not excessive and all consistent with the characters and circumstances. There is not any graphic sex.

I enjoyed this novel immensely, and rate it with five stars. While you can read this novel without reading the first, but you might enjoy this one more if you do read The Fourth Monkey first. I know that this title is non-descript, but the novel isn’t. I strongly recommend reading both novels.

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 early.