Omg I just love his books

I was so pleased when I got this off netgalley it's like Christmas came early for me.

What a twisted story of the web and very clever it's true what money sex and power can do to people this book was perfectly written.

I literally have no words I was hooked he's done it again a page turner.

Can't wait to read more

Five stars

I've read and thoroughly enjoyed a number of J.D. Barker's books. His plots are always engrossing and his writing crisp and clear. When I had the opportunity to read his latest book I jumped at the chance.

Behind a Closed Door is a super-fast paced thriller that I didn't want to put down once I started reading it. Mr. Barker has an extraordinary imagination and with his newest tale he's presented us with an edgy, cautionary worst-case scenario of our current overreliance on technology. I really enjoyed the time I spent in the world he created, although it was a bit frightening too. Highly recommend!

Thank you to J.D. Barker and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love J. D. Barker and "Behind a Closed Door" is another win for me. He draws you in on page one!!

've been captivated by J.D. Barker's writing ever since I delved into his riveting 4MK series. So, naturally, I was eager to dive into BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR. The concept had me intrigued from the start. However, I must admit that by the midpoint, the narrative became a tad too intricate for my taste. While I'm accustomed to stretching my imagination for thrillers, this one required a leap that was a bit too grand.

Nonetheless, Barker's compelling writing style remains undeniable. I'm genuinely looking forward to his future works, even though this particular piece didn't resonate with me.

My gratitude to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for providing me the chance to explore BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR.

Abby and Brendan are in a marriage slump and visit a relationship therapist who advises them to download an app called Sugar and Spice.
Loosely based on the Truth and Dare game, there are certain tasks they have to complete.


I wouldn't class this actually as "Horror", but it is horrific how invested people get in the games and apps that are available.
I consider myself a technophile, but when everything in your house is connected, I think it can be dangerous. This is what the book points out.
Loved the book, while I didn't understand all the intricacies, found it fascinating and unputdownable.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Behind a Closed Door" by J.D. Barker is a masterpiece of psychological thriller fiction that leaves readers on the edge of their seats. Barker's writing is nothing short of extraordinary, as he weaves a complex web of suspense, mystery, and tension that captivates from the very first page. His ability to craft deeply flawed and compelling characters is unparalleled, making you question the motives and secrets of every individual in the story.
Although my first choice would not be a "50 shades" storyline, I was gripped by the plot which is a rollercoaster ride of heart-pounding twists and turns, with an intricately layered narrative that keeps you guessing until the very end.
In my opinion a current day possibility of our dependence on Apps and technology, leaving us vulnerable to their control over our lives.
"Behind a Closed Door" is a must-read for anyone who craves a chilling and intellectually stimulating mystery.

Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

My thought process when I saw this available on NetGalley: JD Barker… as in the author of the 4MK trilogy? SIGN ME UP!

What a treat! I enjoyed this so much. I love this author’s writing style. I couldn’t put this down and stayed up way past my bedtime to read it in one sitting.

An Interesting plot and a sexually charged book. There were twists and turns that kept me riveted and I couldn't stop reading. I want to read more by this author and I want to thank Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. As soon as I read the synopsis I knew this was the book that I was longing for.

This book was really suspenseful, full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat, I couldn't stop reading as I had to know what happened at every twist and turn. This author has a great writing style.

What did I just read????
You know you see people saying this all of the time, right?! Well, I’m a little dumbfounded. I slept on my review and this morning I woke up thinking differently than when I when to sleep. Sorry.

EVERYONE KNOWS The Fourth Monkey trilogy. I mean…. that 3rd one, The Sixth Wicked Child is in my top 10 books ever read. A masterpiece to an ending. Unfortunately, this isn’t his best work. However, if you love lots of action, you will love this.
***The Story***

Abby and Brendan have been married some years. With that being said, they seek outside help from a therapist. Their therapist suggests they download an app called Sugar and Spice. We will call it a ‘truth or dare’ type game. The app is the number one download across the country. So it must be good right?

At first I thought this was just going to be a S&M type thing. YEP, YOU READ THAT RIGHT. Which felt pretty weird for Barker. Then it became so much more. Not only are they playing, a billion other people are too. What do they win? Loads of money or meet their demise. DEATH 😳

To really enjoy this, you’ve got to think conspiracy theories and anything goes. Highly unbelievable. A crazy wild ride for sure. There wasn’t anything special about the writing, which I know he can do extremely well. The story was an action cat and mouse game through most of it. This just wasn’t my cup of tea. But on a side note….. this is being made into a motion picture….. so what do I know eh?

I’d like to thank NetGalley, Hampton Creek Press, and J.D Barker for a copy. All opinions are my own. Publication date
May 6th, 2024
3.5 ⭐️

Since The Fourth Monkey Trilogy has been in my TBR for a while, this is my very first read from J.D. Barker and it just put that series to the top of my list. I am highly impressed to say the least. An app called Sugar and Spice meant to help relationships immediately raises red flags with couple Abby and Brendan, but they decide to give it a try after being recommended to it by their therapist. At first it seems to be a success in helping their marriage, asking truth or dare type questions revolving around their sex life. Until it starts asking them to perform more dangerous tasks with subtle threats if they choose not to.

I was a little hesitant at first because I'm not a fan of romance or books loaded with detailed sex but the description sounded so intriguing. With the world we live in today this was made much more alarming and less far fetched than it normally would. I simply could not put this down. It was addicting, original, nerve-wracking and non-stop. The writing was brilliant as was each well crafted character. To read that this will be a motion picture was the least surprising thing about it and well deserved. For those that aren't fans of sex, it wasn't too much or too detailed but definitely there. So don't let that keep you away because the story alone overweighs that by far and will make it well worth the read. To say you need to read this is putting it lightly. There is a great story here, and while it seems simple at first, it's complexity will blow you away. Five Solid Stars.

Thank you Netgalley and Hampton Creek Press for this ARC.

In the second chapter I had to DNF.
Overall the plot had me intrigued. I liked the writing style and it had me drawn in. However in chapter 2 a character used a derogatory word in a very flippant way. I struggled on what I should do; keep reading or DNF. Ultimately I decided that there could have been another way for the author to emphasize his meaning of the situation without using this word. I hope that before publication this is addressed with the author and I wish him all the best.

A wild ride this book will take you on.
I loved the storyline and how it evolved into some craziness going on. The end still left me wondering..lol in a good way.
Definitely an author who's books are worth dropping everything to read.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.

JD Barker is without a doubt my favorite author, I was SO excited to see a new book available on NetGalley! Of course I wasn’t let down, a spine tingling page turner that had me up at all hours of the night to finish, you will NOT regret this one!

Behind a Closed Door is the latest thriller by J.D. Barker and is a bit of a different twist than his usual cop chases serial killer fare. Here, he takes an ordinary suburban couple, Brendan and Abby Hollander, who are busy dealing with the usual work-life balance and suspicions of cheating and thrusts them headfirst into a high stakes game. Indeed, their troubles begin with the downloading of a sexy-game application to their cellphones called Sugar and Spice, sort of the adult version of Truth or Dare, and one thing leads to another and their lives spin out of control as they realize they have granted permissions for the app to fully access everything from bank accounts to photos and that there are others playing the game, trying to earn their way up the ladder to gold or platinum status. Points are awarded for completing tasks and the tasks are far more risque than one might imagine, leaving one open for blackmail and embarrassment and social media shame. But that’s only the beginning of the challenge which takes the young couple far out of their comfort zone and into a game where they are manipulated and blamed for numerous deaths, shootings, and the like. With other players after them as well as half the state’s law enforcement, they have to figure their way out of their dilemma. This is one of those novels where you want to put it down, but can’t.

I really enjoyed this book and looking forward to more from this author

~This book was given by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I’ve been a long-time fan of J.D. Barker since reading his amazing 4MK series and was thrilled to get the chance to read BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR. The premise was fascinating and had so much promise - unfortunately, the plot lost me around the halfway mark and became overly convoluted and difficult to follow. I understand some suspension of belief is required for these stories but in this case, I had to suspend a bit too much to get through this one.

I’m still excited to read whatever this author comes out with next, he’s a fabulous writer with an engaging style - this one just wasn’t for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for the opportunity to read and review BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR.