I fell in love with JD Barker after reading the 4MK Thriller series and this standalone did not disappoint. Engaging and thrilling until the very end. I highly doubt you’ll be disappointed.

Literary popcorn from J. D. Barker anyone? Heck yeah, bring it on! As you can tell, I'm a big fan. This book is a rollercoaster ride all the way through. It kept my glued to the pages. Full of action from start to finish. It all starts innocently enough with an app called Sugar & Spice suggested by couple Brendan and Abby's therapist. It's like Truth or Dare for adults. Only there is something more happening here and that is where all the trouble begins. It will make you think twice about whether you read those Terms of Service before you install an app on your phone or computer - if it doesn't, it should. I know I will be paying more attention because I'm guilty of bypassing those fine-print, boring, lengthy paragraphs.

This is a chilling, gripping thriller for sure and you won't want to miss it! It will definitely cause you some anxiety and tension while reading and after - at least I can't get it out of my mind. And get this: the author got the idea for the book after recommending Bathfitters to his wife and then they started seeing Bathfitter ads on their computers. I would recommend this to anyone who likes thrillers.

My very sincere thanks to J. D. Barker and Hampton Creek Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. I certainly enjoyed it.

Thanks to Hampton Creek Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this novel, which I freely chose to review.
I’ve read a couple of novels by J.D. Barker before, and I’ve enjoyed them enormously. They have complex plots, are quite twisted, and keep you glued to the pages.
I was a bit weary when I read the description of this novel, as I don’t enjoy erotica or sexual content in novels and stories, but I thought I would start reading it and see where it went. And I can say that, although, especially at the beginning, there is plenty of sexual content, there is much more at stake in this novel.
The protagonist couple, Abby and Brendan, are going through a tough time. She wrote a novel in her spare time, managed to publish it, and it did so well that she got an advance for her next novel, and her agent is eager to get more of her work. Due to that, she leaves her job as an event organiser to dedicate herself to writing full time, but then, she suffers writer’s block, the advance is going fast, the financial situation of the couple gets tight, and that has a negative effect on their relationship. Things get so bad that they decide to go to a couples’ therapist, and among other advice, she recommends that they download an app, Sugar & Spice. The app changes things for the better in the relationship and inspires Abby to write a new novel, but they don’t realise how much control it has over their lives until things get beyond complicated.
The writing is very dynamic, and it moves at a quick pace that increases as the story goes and gets pretty frantic towards the end. We get thrown into the action from the beginning, and we not only follow the two protagonists (although the story is narrated in the third person, each chapter is told from the point of view of a single character) but also another couple who go by the names of “Romeo and Juliet” and for whom the word “creepy” could have been invented. There are other characters, some mysterious ones we don’t meet in person until very late, others, like Hannah and Stuckey, Brendan and Abby’s next-door neighbours (and Stuckey is also Brendan’s work colleague) and friends, play an important part, and there are therapists, bosses, work colleagues, FBI agents, and many, many players. I think it is easy to empathise with the protagonists because the situation they get themselves into feels quite plausible, at least in the beginning, and it is impossible to read the story and not wonder what would one do in such a situation.
Despite all that, I am not sure the characters are entirely consistent. Abby changes drastically throughout the story, although this is one of those stories where there are late twists that make readers reconsider what they had read and what they thought they knew. Saying all that, I do like Abby. She is intelligent and strong, and I do have a soft spot for writers. As for the baddies... Here things aren’t as they seem to be —at least not completely— either, but you’ll have to read the story to know what I mean.
I don’t want to reveal too much of the plot, for evident reasons, but I can say that the story deals with our reliance on electronic devices that are interconnected in a way we might not realise until things start going wrong. It also looks at the nature of personal and intimate relationships, friendship, loyalty, the gamification of society, the limits of privacy and personal information, the world of finances, banking and investments, creativity and the writing business, therapy, and more. The book includes a list of suggestions (both Sugar and Spice) for book clubs, and I am sure everybody would find things to talk about because very few of us are immune to the influence of social media and apps these days.
I have mentioned the erotic/sexual content of the book, and there is a fair bit of it at the beginning of the story, although it isn’t extreme or excessively detailed (be warned that the nature of some of it could trigger some readers), and there is plenty of violence (again not the most extreme I’ve read, but I’d say the degree of violence is greater than the sexual content of the novel, with some combination of the two). Readers need to be aware of those two aspects, although those familiar with the author would be forewarned as to the type of stories he writes.
The subject might be familiar, but it is taken to extremes, and readers who prefer their stories totally realistic should avoid this one because the degree of suspension of disbelief required to enjoy it is high. Once the story takes hold, though, it is very easy to keep turning the pages, as there is plenty of action, risky and dangerous situations, intrigue, clues, red herrings, and the stakes keep getting higher and higher.
The ending is satisfying and it leaves a bit to the reader’s imagination and interpretation, but it isn’t an open ending, so those who prefer to have all the loose ends well tied don’t need to worry.
I wanted to mention something I discovered after finishing the book. It seems there is a scandal involving the author and an attempt at organising a publicity campaign that —based on the information I’ve read— seems in very poor taste to say the least. The author’s agent has dropped him, so one has to wonder, but as I don’t have any first-hand information, I’ll leave you to investigate if you are curious about it. The writer has apologised and explained what happened, although his explanation is quite curious, especially in light of the topics covered in this novel. There is an author’s note at the end of the book, where he doesn’t mention the scandal, but he makes an interesting reflection about the nature of writing for oneself, and how that can be refreshing compared to writing for the market. (He has written a successful series with James Patterson, and his previous novels have proved very popular, so he knows what he’s talking about).
If you enjoy plenty of action, a fast and dynamic pace, a story that will make you re-evaluate the world we live in, and are not afraid of dark subjects, you should give it a go. It won’t leave you indifferent.

EXCERPT: . . . the app played its little triple chime and flashed a new message on her screen:
Wow, you're on a roll! As a Bronze member you can unlock special features currently in beta and not available to members of lesser stature. Would you like to unlock those features now?
Abby read the message and realised this was the first time it asked her a question and actually gave her he ability to answer Yes or No. Usually, there was only a single ok button. Maybe that was one of the glitches they'd fixed with yesterday's patch. She tapped Yes.
The app closed, and a small hourglass appeared on her screen as it downloaded some type of update. When the hourglass vanished, the app's logo appeared with v1.1 in the bottom corner.
Would you like to try a Sugar or a Spice?
The font was slightly different, but otherwise everything looked the same. Abby had been sitting with her feet curled up under her on the chair, and her legs had fallen asleep. She stretched out beneath her desk, let out a yawn, and clicked on Sugar.
Would you kill a total stranger to save your partner's life?

ABOUT 'BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR': Would you kill a total stranger to save someone you love?

Sugar & Spice is the latest app craze taking the world by storm, but for Abby and Brendan Hollander, downloading it leads to a dangerous game of life and death. When the app assigns them a series of increasingly taboo tasks, they soon find themselves caught up in a twisted web of seduction and violence.

MY THOUGHTS: Question: Do you ever read fully the terms and conditions of the apps you download? I don't. Or rather, I didn't. But after reading Behind a Closed Door, I many never download another app. In fact, I may even downgrade to a non-smart phone. J.D Barker has scared the living bejesus out of me!

I have often commented to friends that if you search for something online, you are later bombarded with information and products that you have researched. This happens to all of us. But what about when you are simply talking about something? - no online searches, no mentions or likes - just a purely verbal conversation between you and whoever. Increasingly often, this subject/item pops up on your feed. Is your technology listening to you? My honest opinion? HELL YES!

J.D. Barker has taken this premise one step further in this chilling thriller. A seemingly innocuous app that controls the lives of the characters. An app that promises to enhance your life, put the zing back in your struggling/flagging love life. An app that promises to reward you . . . just follow the prompts. How bad can it be? You can always uninstall the app - can't you?

I have loved everything I have read by this author, but all his previous novels pale in comparison to Beyond A Closed Door. This is one wild, but totally believable ride. And because it is completely plausible, possible, it is all that more scary.

For those of you who may be put off by the mention of erotica - don't be. It's really quite tame - definitely no Fifty Shades of Grey, and one heck of a lot better written!

Several hours after having finished reading, my heart is still pounding wildly. I am looking sideways at the smart TV. Feeling grateful I have never selected the option to connect the fridge to the internet, and I never purchased an Alexa. No robot vacuum cleaner. My car with all the bells and whistles? Nah, sorry, but I can't give up my heated seats. NOT FOR ANYTHING!

The best read of my 2024 reading year. Devious, diabolical and very, very frightening.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#BEHINDACLOSEDDOOR #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: A note from J.D.
As a child I was always told the dark could not hurt me, that the shadows creeping in the corners of my room were nothing more than just that, shadows. The sounds nothing more than the settling of our old home, creaking as it found comfort in the earth only to move again when it became restless, if ever so slightly. I would never sleep without closing the closet door, oh no; the door had to be shut tight. The darkness lurking inside needed to be held at bay, the whispers silenced. Rest would only come after I checked under the bed at least twice and quickly wrapped myself in the safety of the sheets (which no monster could penetrate), pulling them tight over my head.

I would never go down to the basement.

Never.

I had seen enough movies to know better, I had read enough stories to know what happens to little boys who wandered off into dark, dismal places alone. And there were stories, so many stories.

Reading was my sanctuary, a place where I could disappear for hours at a time, lost in the pages of a good book. It didn’t take long before I felt the urge to create my own.

I first began to write as a child, spinning tales of ghosts and gremlins, mystical places and people. For most of us, that’s where it begins—as children we have such wonderful imaginations, some of us have simply found it hard to grow up. I’ve spent countless hours trying to explain to friends and family why I enjoy it, why I would rather lock myself in a quiet little room and put pen to paper for hours at a time than throw around a baseball or simply watch television. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I want to do just that, sometimes I wish for it, but even then the need to write is always there in the back of my mind, the characters are impatiently tapping their feet, waiting their turn, wanting to be heard. I wake in the middle of the night and reach for the pad beside my bed, sometimes scrawling page after page of their words, their lives. Then they’re quiet, if only for a little while. To stop would mean madness, or even worse—the calm, numbing sanity I see in others as they slip through the day without purpose. They don’t know what it’s like, they don’t understand. Something as simple as a pencil can open the door to a new world, can create life or experience death. Writing can take you to places you’ve never been, introduce you to people you’ve never met, take you back to when you first saw those shadows in your room, when you first heard the sounds mumbling ever so softly from your closet, and it can show you what uttered them. It can scare the hell out of you, and that’s when you know it’s good.

Barker resides in coastal New Hampshire with his wife, Dayna, and their daughter, Ember.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hampton Creek Press, IBPA, via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Behind A Closed Door by J.D. Barker for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

This book is blend of an FBI thriller, a direct-to-streaming tech horror movie, and an episode of "Black Mirror." What if you downloaded an app to put some spice into your sex life but you didn't read the terms and conditions? Don't be misled by the naughty-themed truth or dare app at the heart of the story; this is not a sexy read. Instead, it's an unhinged, dark thriller that jumps the shark repeatedly.

The writing itself is solid, but the constant escalation of absurdity was a bit too much for me. It felt like the story was endlessly trying to outdo itself. Even the ending, that nice, clean, oh the app DID help their marriage, and hey, even a good chunk of the world was helped..we couldn't stop there. Turns out the wife was super great at python this whole time and now they are escaping to an island somewhere..

That said, there's a certain audience that will like this chaos. Fans of unpredictable thrillers who don't mind a story that leaps over realism and the current limits of technology.

In conclusion. That was wild.

Behind A Closed Door by J D Barker

Abby and her husband Brenden Hollander have been financially struggling as well as having marital problems. Believing that Brenden cheated with a coworker, they agree to see a marriage counselor. When the counselor suggests an App to help them work on their relationship, called Sugar and Spice, they download it. Almost immediately, their relationship heats up in a way that it hasn’t been in years, as the app is a version of Truth or Dare.

But as their Dares become more risqué, so does the game, which has access to their photos, history, and more. What would you do if you were asked a naughty date? Would you do it?

This book was extremely hot, with a mix of thrilling twists and some naughtiness that makes you wonder what is next. I found myself not wanting to put this book down. It was my first read by JD Barker but if this is the way his books are, it definitely will not be my last.

Enveloped in fear this read was. Abby and her husband Brandan find their marriage has lost some spark and want to spice things up to say the least as they did just that. Seeking advice, they download an app that leads them down a dangerous rabbit hole.

Yes, this was a sit on the edge of my seat read for me.

Loved this and would recommend this read to anyone that downloads apps without reading the FINE print.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow - what a crazy suspenseful ride! This was a literal edge-of-my-seat (or more truthfully, sitting up tensely and rocking when I’d previously been peacefully laying down) read!

Abby and Brenden - trying to reconnect through couples counseling - download their therapist recommended app Sugar & Spice. Their first “challenge” from the app was to purchase clothes for one another before having a romantic dinner at an impossible-to-get-on-a-waitlist restaurant. It was sweet and endearing seeing the two rekindle their marriage and relationship. And their “sugary” date soon became “spicy!”

But then the app, which gives points for completion of the challenges, takes a dangerous twist. Before Abby and Brenden know it they are on the run from the law and a couple, Romeo and Juliet, who are trying to gun them down.

This had sex, lies, murder, and videotapes! It was suspenseful and tense - perfect for fellow psychological thriller fans!

This book was outstanding!! I couldn't get enough of the action, drama, suspense, and intensity. Interesting characters with a lot of fun twists. I can't wait to see the movie that is going to be made from this book!

WOW! This really reminded me of 50 shades but also with a mix of psychological thriller as well. This book was interesting from start to finish. I really loved this book although I am not sure it would be one that I would read again anytime soon.

This is a new book from one of my favorite thriller authors. An innocent looking app in your phone to spice up your love life. For Abby and Brendan Hollander everything went really well in the beginning. Then they started receiveng tasks that made things menacing and complicated.

This book really opened my eyes to the dangers of social media and all the smart appliances you can link to your personal account. Your apps are watching and listening. I've witnessed it more than once, when after a coffee table conversation I start getting weirdly specific ads on my feed. No one reads all of the terms and conditions of apps and technology that they use.

This was a thrilling roller coaster ride with lots twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end.

First solo book from JD Barker since A Caller's Game - Behind a Closed Door.

"Abby and Brendan are struggling with their marriage. A couples therapist recommends they download Sugar & Spice, an app that's the latest craze. When the app assigns them increasingly taboo tasks they soon find themselves caught up a web of violence and secuction."

What a wild story. I was almost out of breath at the end. Barker makes you think you're getting one story, but the more that's revealed the more you realize he's headed off in a different direction.
There's a lot of observations about social media and it's impact on behavior - what people will do for money and attention. There's was an app a few years ago that had users collecting creatures. There were places in town that had people swarming because there were rumors of clusters of these creatures. Barker looks at what people would do if money was involved.

The action and tension never lets up. You will not want to put this down, especially when you see the plot pivot.

Take this to the beach and tell people to leave you alone. Another great thriller from Barker.

3.5 stars
This is a bit different to JD Barker’s previous books and when I started it I wondered if I’d stick with it as it seemed to be about a couple struggling with their relationship.
They’re advised to download an app called ‘Sugar and Spice’ and both are set different challenges to complete.
After a while things turn more sinister and then the thriller aspect kicks in and I started to enjoy the book more.
Abby and Brendan find themselves being targeted and have to run for their lives.
Overall a good read.
Thanks to Hampton Creek Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

When Abby and her husband Brenda's marriage hits a rough patch, they head to couples counselling. Their therapist tells them to download an app called Sugar and Spice. The app gives you tasks to complete with your partner in order to become closer to each other and gain points for every task you complete. They start off fairly simple, but soon, the tasks become dangerous, and it seems the app has a mind of its own.
I really enjoyed this one, although at times I found it a little slow. Some of the story was a little overexplained, and I'm not going to lie, I felt my brain switch off a few times during those parts. Overall, it was an enjoyable read; my second from this author and I look forward to reading more.

I was intrigued by the plot at the beginning but it just slowly got more and more ridiculous. Ultimately I believe this was a case of not for me. It also felt like it didn't need to be so long.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I could not put this down. It started with a couple killing another couple and a couple in couple therapies. Seemed like just a mystery. As it progressed it became so much more. So many themes are examined in this book. Some great twists and reveals. It has been awhile to get a book from the author without Patterson as a co author and it was so welcome. I know movie rights have been sold but I almost think a series would be better. Really a great read second to the Fourth Monkey.

I was 50/50 going into this based on the blurb but because Barkers’ 4MK trilogy is one of my favourite reads of all time I decided to give this a shot. It has a thrilling premise and thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for my advanced copy.

Erm… sooooo…… SUGAR & SPICE
- the app that seems to know absolutely everything about you and your partner from the minute you download it, Abby and Brendan were advised by their couples therapist to give it a go and their relationship initially goes from strength to strength as they partake in the challenges the app sends them. Most of them are sexually charged and the couple find their sex life is like nothing they’ve shared before. BUT, because there’s always a but… things begin to turn sinister.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me just before half way, I tried my best to gel with the story but it just wasn’t for me. That’s not to say it won’t work for others but for me it was a flop.

This book is such a page turner indeed! I dive in with no expectation in particular - and didn’t expect that it would turned out another (bigger and deeper) than the first few chapters. I like where it went and turned out actually, as it’s more than just a marriage issues, it’s actually bring us readers down to the complex rabbit hole, filled with action, violence, riddles, games, and more.

The writing is good, manage to keep my interest till the very end. I love how Romeo & Juliet characters been added into the story which in my opinion manages to spice the whole story up. Love the gore & violence as well as the deep love & fun yet a lil bit psycho persona between these two, and it is aching me upon what happened to them towards the ending, as it never stop showing how much they love each other.

Abby grew to such strong character as well in time, and love that for her. The ending is satisfying enough, and I definitely love how precise the gore detailing included in each violence scene especially with Romeo. It also got humorous part, and overall, the plot growth are good and I enjoyed reading the whole story. If you love gore violence thriller with sprinkles of mystery along with tech based, I think you’ll enjoy reading this book too. Be mindful if you didn’t enjoyed gore / violence and check for other trigger warning as well. Also, I don’t think this book categorized as dark romance, yet it’s more of a dark thriller in my opinion (since saw handful of review thought this would be some kind of dark romance, or some kind of spicy book) - all fine by me, yet just a heads up to those whom think so, alright. Such a good read for me, thanks for the ARC!

BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR
by J.D. BARKER
Pub Date: May 13 2024

Although author J.D. Barker usually writes original and unique books, this book Behind A Closed Door was a different style completely! The book makes you think about reading the small print before you click accept on apps! There is lots of tension, it was certainly a page turner!

Synopsis: Sugar & Spice is the latest app craze taking the world by storm, but for Abby and Brendan Hollander, downloading it leads to a dangerous game of life and death. When the app assigns them a series of increasingly taboo tasks, they soon find themselves caught up in a twisted web of seduction and violence in this sexually charged dark thriller.

Many thanks to #BEHINDACLOSEDDOOR #NetGalley and #HamptonCreekPress for providing me with an E-ARC of this book.

I want to extend my gratitude to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for the ARC of this book. I found the concept of the Sugar & Spice App and the characters Brendan and Abby intriguing overall. However, as the plot unfolded with its twists, I felt that the pacing slowed down significantly, and it took several chapters to navigate through. I was hoping for deeper character development and more nuanced storytelling. Nonetheless, the premise kept me hooked; it sheds light on our casual acceptance of apps without delving into the terms and conditions, except here it becomes a matter of life and death. I rate this book 3.75 stars.