** I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **

What a strange and chaotic book. And I don't mean that as a compliment. The concept of an artist going mad over his muse and leaving a trail of bodies in his wake sounded so interesting. I thought it would be such a cool, interesting read. I was, unfortunately, wrong.

The first twenty chapters of this book seriously had me wanting to mark it as DNF. Probably should've. The writing was so choppy, we didn't get enough of a lead into the action, and I genuinely could not keep the attempted setting in mind. 1950s New York sounded neat, but I never felt that, it always felt pre-WWI to me. And it being around Christmas? Each mention violently reminded me, because it was so spread out. The writing of the dialogue was also annoying. There was nothing setting up the emotions being portrayed and felt so choppy. It was almost painful to read.

Even as we finally started getting somewhere interesting plot-wise, these problems persisted. And I never understood the characters and their motivations. They kept going back and forth, up to the end, and I never fully got them or connected with them.

The last thirty-ish pages where it all got chaotic was confusing more than anything. The chaos of everyone killing and Edgar going mad wasn't written well and just lost me. Especially the last two pages.

Overall, not great. Cover is really cool, though.


Rating: 1.5/5

Recommend? No

I really struggled with this book. The characters felt off, the plot didn’t improve, and I ended up skimming the second half. Maybe someone in the art world would connect with it more, but it just didn’t work for me.

3.5 stars

The Finer Things by J.D. Barker & Kyle Dunn is  a thriller about a sculptor and the woman he loves.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher  Simon & Schuster/Hampton Creek Press and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.   All opinions are my own.




My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Edgar and Fiona grew up in an orphanage.  Fiona, a beauty, was adopted when she was twelve years old by Sylvia Haberstein who opened an art gallery in New York.

Edgar's facial scars seemed to put off potential families, so he stayed at St. Mary's even after he could have left, helping with janitorial duties.  But he never forgot Fiona.

In the 1950's, Edgar searches New York for Fiona, and finally finds her modelling in the nude for a professor, but she disappears again.  He has been sculpting her from memory since he was a child.   Finally, he finds her again, and this time, his obsession with her sends him to the brink of madness.  His sculptures start taking the art world by storm, but beneath the clay lives a secret.

Meanwhile,  Detective  George Snyder is hot on the trail of a killer leaving a gruesome trail of bodies across the city, and all roads seem to lead to Edgar.




My Opinions:
First, I really enjoy Barker's work, and grab each one as soon as it is available.  I find I enjoy the books where he writes on his own more than his collaborations, but this does not really deter me.  This book didn't bring me the satisfaction that others have.  However, that could just be the topic.  I'm not an "art world" reader.

However, that's not to say this wasn't good.   It just didn't grab me as much as his other work. The dynamic between Edgar and Fiona, although predictable, was intense. I was at least able to find some sympathy for Edgar (most of the time), but Fiona never grew on me due to her actions as a child  and then her actions as an adult.   There weren't really any true likable characters.

The book really looks at egos and jealousy, passion, obsession, and murder.  It also looked at mental health.  The overall plot held no twists or surprises...everything was inevitable.

It was a dark and graphic tale, filled with enough gore to make it somewhat horror, but as with most of Barker's work when he collaborates, something was missing.

 Anyway, until next time....

It’s important to go into this book remembering this is co-authored and not your typical JD Barker solo novel. I think many people have given a low rating because they had too specific of expectations going into it. I found it to be unique, dark, but entertaining, platte cleanser compared to my recent reads. This quirky noir is set in the 50’s and follows an artist’s obsession and spiral into madness. At times while I read I pictured it as a play in my mind. Many of the gruesome scenes play out calmly vs thrilling slasher scenes, which tied everything back to the “art” of it all.

Thank you NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date Jul 08 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press/Simon & Schuster for the ARC. I’m so disappointed in this book. I normally thoroughly devour any book written by Barker but this one was a struggle from start to finish. I really wanted to quit on this book and I probably should have but I was hoping at some point it would take a turn and be up to par of his previous books. Sadly it didn’t.

I will read anything that has J.D. Barker’s name on it. Unfortunately I did not find Barker’s voice in this novel and so it was a miss for me. This whole story reads like a fever dream in black and white. Set in New York during the 1950’s, Edgar Maguire is a rising star in the art community as a sculptor. But behind each of Edgar’s works of art is an alarming secret. And when his beloved muse, Fiona, comes back into his life their passion and obsession for each other could lead to devastation. While the murder cases increase in the city, Detective George Snyder has his work cut out for him trying to tie the killings to Edgar.

Thank you Netgalley, Hampton Creek Press/Simon & Schuster, and the authors for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on July 8, 2025

1950- Edgar, a talented but unknown sculptor, crosses paths with his longtime obsession Fiona. Their relationship ignites Edgar’s creativity resulting in an exhibit of disturbing creations that exhibit an unexplained beauty for some. Meanwhile, Detective George Snyder, is searching for a killer as a rash of murders continue to lead him back to the same man…Edgar.

The Finer Things reads like a descent into madness and obsession. A young man with a troubled past appears almost savant like in his artistic abilities but you immediately recognize that something about him is very wrong. Although I figured the plot twist out almost immediately I kept reading hoping for something original but unfortunately this concept has been used several times. I didn’t really love this one but if you’re looking for something dark and tragic then this might be the perfect read for you

Y’all, this book is like stepping into a smoky 1950s art gallery—gorgeous, haunting, and just unsettling enough to make you sweat. Edgar Maguire’s sculptures are the talk of New York, but behind every masterpiece????? His art will take your breath away… maybe permanently.

When Fiona, his lifelong obsession, reappears, Edgar spirals from genius to unhinged artist real quick. Passion turns deadly, and Detective George Snyder is hot on the trail, trying to piece together the blood-streaked puzzle.

Creepy, atmospheric, and chillingly beautiful, it’s a twisted tale of love, madness, and marble. One star off for a slow stretch mid-book, but otherwise? A dark, delicious ride. Just don’t read it alone in a quiet room.

Full review at Chapter And Charm
👉 https://vanessakeck.wordpress.com/2025/07/05/📚-the-finer-things-by-j-d-barker-kyle-dunne/

Thanks to Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster for providing this advance copy via NetGalley for my voluntary review. #NetGalley #TheFinerThings

3.5 upped to 4
I'm on the edge as I loved and hated this book at the same time. The mystery was intriguing but the characters were a bit flat at times
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Welp! It pains me to write this review. I am a HUGE fan of J.D. Barker and have now read 10 of his books. Many of which were five star reads for me, but The Finer Things was not fine at all. I had to check a few times to see if he did in fact write this book because this was not on par to his usually wonderfully written and executed books. I'm still scratching my head and wondering how much he wrote as opposed to how much the person he co-authored the book with wrote. I am always instantly gripped and instantly addicted to his books and writings. This one did not work for me at all.

1950s New York

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and Edgar Maguire seems to have the skills that delight the eyes of many. He is a sculptor, and his art is to die for. When Fiona, re-enters his life, his passion is ignited, and his creations are well - unique!

Sigh We can't love every book a writer writes, and we certainly can't love every book that we pick up. This book blurs the line between madness, genius, skill, obsession, and art. Normally, I would find this to be intriguing, but I found the dialogue to be off, the scenes were odd and clunky. I don't know how else to describe them. The characters of Fiona and Edgar have a connection, but I never felt it. They were supposed to have a deep connection, but it felt very surface and dull.

UGH! I am at a loss. Again, I love J.D. Barker's writing but, in this book, it did not feel as if he wrote it at all. He is such a beautiful writer and writes intriguing, interesting and unique characters but all of that was lacking in this book. If you have not read J.D. Baker's work before, I strongly suggest you read Dracul,She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be, or any book in his 4MK thriller series starting with The Fourth Monkey. They are amazing, addictive, thrilling and hard to put down books.

What did work for me in this book was the atmosphere and the setting. This book did play out like an old black and white movie in my mind.

There are reviewers who enjoyed this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well. As I mentioned, I love J.D. Barkers other books and will happily read what he writes next.

This book reads like a satire in a straitjacket. What begins as a stylish noir quickly morphs into something more surreal, a dark, twisted reflection on the all-consuming nature of art and the industry built around it.

JD Barker and Kyle Dunn have delivered a book that feels like it's sculpted from the bones of the victims in the pages.

This isn’t just a story of madness. It’s a discussion on the cannibalistic nature of the creative arts industry, of how talent is discovered, hyped, exploited, and discarded. The book satirises the art world’s obsession with novelty, its hunger for genius no matter the cost. Art is held as sacred, but it’s also parasitic, demanding not just the artist’s time and mind, but their body, memories, and soul. It's also a discussion on the immortality of beauty, and what beauty means to the audience or, in this case, the witness.

The characters are functional more than layered, shaped by the story’s frantic pace and warped tone. The prose is jagged and unrelenting, like watching a plot unfold through warped glass. It’s not emotionally rich, but it is conceptually rich.

But even though the characters may be thin, there's not denying the dark spiral you'll journey down with this story. This is not a comfortable read. It’s eerie, unsettling, and deliberately alienating. But as satire, it lands hard and if you let it sink in, it becomes something memorable, like a sculpture built from madness, obsession, and the brittle bones of ambition.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book for an honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book. I usually love J.D Barker. I don't know if the addition of another author accounts for the difference or not. This book was just weird. I was able to guess one twist very early on.

Review of The Finer Things by J.D. Barker and Kyle Dunn:

Woah—this was not what I expected! The Finer Things pulls you in with what feels like a familiar setup, then completely flips the script. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the story hit me with a twist that changed everything. Suspenseful, smart, and full of surprises, this is a thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last page. A must-read for fans of the genre!

"His art will take your breath away.

In the shadows of 1950s New York, a brilliant mind teeters on the edge of madness. Edgar Maguire's sculptures are taking the art world by storm, but behind each masterpiece lies a horrifying secret.

When Fiona, the object of Edgar's lifelong obsession, reenters his life, it ignites a passion that blurs the lines between creation and destruction. As his art evolves into something terrifyingly beautiful, a trail of bodies begins to surface across the city.

Detective George Snyder is closing in, but can he unravel the connection between the murders and Edgar's rising star before it's too late?"

That intersection of art and murder is very Hannibal. I approve.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I quite liked this book. I enjoy books that have a focus on a passion or a particular element and I enjoyed the art and sculpture element of this one. I thought that the pacing was good and the build up made sense.

The tight rope of passion and madness is an element that I enjoy reading about.

My lack of full stars comes from the fact that besides the main two characters the other characters feel very flat. It also comes from the aspect that confused me the most, despite the characters being so I love and entangles with one another they kept leaving each other behind in dangerous situations.

Set against the smoky backdrop of 1950s New York is a chilling tale of obsession, madness, and murder disguised as art.

Edgar Maguire is a rising star in the sculpting world, his work stunning, raw, and increasingly disturbing. When Fiona, the woman he’s long fixated on, comes back into his life, it’s the spark that sends him hurtling toward a bloody, twisted legacy.

On the other side of the city, Detective George Snyder is following a trail of bodies, and the closer he gets to the truth, the more tangled the web becomes. Between genius and insanity, between love and possession.

The concept has bite, and the atmosphere is dark and could be compelling but something about the execution didn’t fully land for me. While the setup is promising and the premise sinister in all the right ways, I found it hard to connect with the characters or feel truly immersed in the story. It read a bit flat, lacking the emotional weight or narrative grip I hoped for from such a vivid premise.

Still, if you’re in the mood for a noir-style thriller with art and murder interwoven in an unsettling dance, this might hit the mark for you.

While body horror is not my favorite to read, the summary and concept novel intrigued me a lot and was very disappointed I was unable to finish the novel and surprisingly it wasn't due to that aspect.

I found much difficulty caring about either Edgar and Fiona and as a reader, we're not given enough insight to appreciate why their affection for each other is so strong.

I did enjoy the setting of 1950s New York again, the concept of the novel, but this writing style wasn't for me. I have seen other reviews speak highly of Barker's other works, I will check those out and may attempt this novel again in the future.

Thank you, NetGalley and Independent Book Publishers Association, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I am a fan of JD Barker, so I was excited to start this book.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. It centers around an artist, and I just couldn’t get into the character. Both the dialogue and characters seemed a bit weird/off to me. I did finish it, so there’s that, but I wouldn’t recommend this book unless you are a huge art fan or an artist.

I swear I love being the one who thinks the opposite of what everyone thinks. I absolutely devoured this book and I wanted more. I loved this one so much. Huge thank you to the author and Hampton Creek Press for the ARC for my honest review!

This writing is not overly complex, though it paints a direct picture of a relationship mangled from the beginning. Two “siblings” in an orphanage, only having relied on each other, get separated when Fiona, the FMC, gets adopted by the Heiress Haberstein. Edgar, who is plagued with scars over his face, from a brutal accident as a child, is left with no home and grows up in the orphanage.

We go back and forth between the Last Testament of Fiona and current events, which begin to blend together to explain the firestorm of evens that are taking place around them.

From the beginning, Edgar and Fiona are two lost souls. Edgar, dealing with his own darkness, gives way to his needs through art. Fiona, his forever muse, taunts him with her power, single-handedly able to keep him focused or in ruins.

This story hooked me from page one. This story does get a little dark, and I think that’s part of what draws me to it even more. I love the way Barker rights and he just knows how to capture your soul. This was my first read with Dunn, but the two together made for an incredible story. I will definitely be back for more!

Goodness me, this was such a good book. Highly entertaining. Would definitely recommend to others, that's for sure!