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    The Fourth Monkey
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    The Fourth Monkey
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    The Fourth Monkey
    Audiobook12 hours

    The Fourth Monkey

    Written by J. D. Barker

    Narrated by Edoardo Ballerini and Graham Winton

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    About this audiobook

    ‘The Fourth Monkey has one of the most ingenious openings that I’ve read in years. This thriller never disappoints.’
    James Patterson

    ‘Superbly constructed and immaculately paced’
    The Daily Mail

    Two days to save her…

    They’ve found the killer. The killer that Detective Sam Porter has been hunting for five years. But it’s too late to put him behind bars. He’s already dead.

    One day to save her…

    But even death can’t stop this murderer. His last victim is still alive, struggling to escape and the police have no idea who or where she is.

    Zero.

    Now Sam Porter must race against time, as her chances of survival slip away, to stop this serial killer from claiming his final victim…

    This stunning thriller is perfect for fans of Val McDermid, Jo Nesbo and Helen Fields.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins Publishers
    Release dateJun 27, 2017
    ISBN9780008217037
    Author

    J. D. Barker

    J.D. BARKER is the internationally best-selling author of Forsaken, a finalist for the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel, and winner of the New Apple Medalist Award. His work has been compared to Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Thomas Harris. His 4MK Thrillers, The Fourth Monkey and The Fifth to Die, were released in June 2017 and June 2018 respectively. He has been asked by the Stoker family to coauthor the forthcoming prequel to Dracula due out in fall 2018. His novels have been translated into numerous languages and optioned for both film and television. Barker currently resides in Pennsylvania with his wife, Dayna, and their two dogs, both of whom sit outside his office door daily, eagerly awaiting his next novel.

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    Reviews for The Fourth Monkey

    4/5

    205 ratings27 reviews

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    • 5/5
      That was good. Gruesome but believable. Thrilling. And enough unexpected to remain interesting. Well worth listening to/reading
    • 5/5
      Well that was a roller coaster! I loved the book and the narration made it even better. Line up the next two books in the series for me!
    • 4/5
      You remember the 3 monkeys - see no evil, hear no evil - speak no evil.There was a fourth monkey - do no evil, this serial killer has embraced this warning by kidnapping the loved ones of people who do wrong.When I started this book I was unhappy to see the format, alternating chapters from the various characters. But as I read, I realized this is the only method that made sense for such an expansive plot with so much detail to present in a cohesive manner. Plenty of tension and a time clock ticking down the minutes left for victim.. Serial killer, madness, revenge, vigilantism, the police all with their individual motives drive this story to its end.
    • 5/5
      Crime Thriller Suspense!

      A backstory:

      Detective Sam Porter has been chasing the Four Monkey Killer for years but with a stroke of luck that he never saw coming a bus hits a man believed to be the serial killer. Sam concludes that it is the killer as the serial killer for the last five years has been sending out white boxes with body parts inside and this body is in possession of one of those boxes. Sam also finds something in the pocket of the dead body which he learns is a diary and Sam along with his team need to decipher the diary to learn where the next victim could be before it is too late!

      That is about all I can say without giving away spoilers so I will just give you some thoughts on the book.

      Thoughts:

      This is my first time reading this author and I was just drawn right away into the storyline as almost right away something happens and I was encased straight into the mystery of the book. As I delved further into the storyline the suspense and mystery of the story became chilling as I would stay up nights reading the book.

      The book goes back and forth with the character Sam reading from the diary that is found on the killer and then Sam and his team trying to figure out where the last victim could be. There are chapters with the victim too which you are able to get inside their mind as they struggle with staying alive and wondering if they will be rescued.

      Tons of psychological tension flows within these pages and the writing style just flows along. The pacing of the book is fast with the chapters rotating from one thing to another which kept me in state of suspense! The detective dialogue was fun to read as there was some banter here and there throughout the story.

      Just when I thought the whole book was wrapped up with a bow there is a major twist thrown into the story that kind of pulled the rug out from under me as just because the killer is "presumed" to be dead does not mean that he is dead. Definitely will be pursing the rest of the books in this series as I want to find out what happens next! Giving this book five See and Speak No Evil stars!









    • 2/5
      Nope nope nope nope nope.

      Seriously? Se7en meets Silence of the Lambs? How about, this author wishes he had half of Thomas Harris' talent to write a solid cat-and-mouse thriller?

      This book read very much as a paint-by-numbers thriller, or something where someone pulled Thriller Plot #3 (copyright and patent pending) and just filled in the names. There's the deadly serious cop that's been chasing the serial killer for years. There's his wisecracking partner. There's the sassy female cop that has some slight sexual tension for the wisecracker, and nothing but sympathy for the lead. There's the bullish sergeant. There's the standard false leads (that broadcast their falseness far too loudly) and the inevitable puzzle pieces that the killer leaves to lead the cops on a merry chase. There's also the diary that details the ridiculous and patently stupid early childhood of the 4MK killer, who's father sounds like Beaver Cleaver's father from the late 50s/early 60s, even though it must have taken place in the late 90s, early 2000s.

      It just felt as though the whole damn thing was crafted for maximum public appeal, and a nice bidding war for television or movies...apparently all of which it achieved.

      So much bullshit.

      Yeah, don't expect a review from me for the next book. I'm stating here and now that I'm totally bailing on this ridiculous series. What crap.

      I'll go back and read Red Dragon or Silence of the Lambs before I'll wade into this particular cesspool again.
    • 4/5
      The first book in the Four Monkey Killer (or 4MK) trilogy, the Fourth Monkey is a decently paced serial killer slash crime novel. The story begins with a man being hit my a bus, a man who it turns out was on the way to post a box, a box which contained an ear, the MO of the Four Monkey Killer. Is the dead man the serial killer? Has his reign of terror come to an end? All this and more is slowly revealed as the story unfolds. I found the mix of diary entries and chronological story telling was a first a little strange, but once you're on top of the format it works quite well I thought. I definitely think you would be worse off to skip the diary entries as some have suggested as they themselves give a good background image of the man in question.Overall, entertaining and will likely check out the rest of the trilogy.
    • 4/5
      Interesting storyline. Nice back and forth between "in the killers mind" to current events. The violence was a bit over the top, ant the twist was a bit of surprise - in a good way. I will read more in this series.
    • 5/5
      The book opens with a man being run over by a city bus. When detectives arrive on the scene, they discover he is carrying a box with a severed ear, and was apparently on route to mail it to the family of his latest victim. This is the MO of the Four Monkey Killer, a serial killer who has terrorized the town for the last five years. Although on personal leave, Detective Sam Porter is called in on the case, since he has been working the case since its beginning. With the killer dead, it becomes a race to find his latest victim, before they die of hunger/thirst.

      On the killer's body, is a diary written by him. It is the story of his childhood. As we get to read the diary, it tells the story of a really twisted, messed up childhood. There is a creepy, overly polite tone to the writing. The chapters of the diary are interspersed between the chapters of Porter's hunt for the victim. Both storylines are amazing. There were twists and turns in both stories that I didn't see coming. I didn't want to stop reading.

      This book does have some graphic violence and very disturbing imagery. There was a scene with a rat and a bowl that was particularly hard to read. Be advised that if you are squeamish, there might be some difficult scenes for you.

      This book was everything a book should be. It was intense, surprising, and very interesting. I loved it and highly recommend it.

      I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      A gruesome detective novel worthy of a Silence of the Lambs. Better actually.
    • 5/5
      A great, clever original thriller. A book Thomas Harris would be proud of writing. A new Author to be watched. And a thrilling series to devour.
    • 5/5
      52-year-old Sam Porter has been hunting 4MK for years, without much luck. The killer's victims appear to have nothing in common and no evidence that could be used to identify him has ever been left behind. But his pattern is clear - it starts with a small white box containing an ear and ends with a woman who is tortured and killed. So, when another box turns up, Sam is back on the job in this grisly mystery thriller. Barker cleverly lures the reader in with minor mysteries that are obvious and easy to guess but then starts building up the tension and complexity with a troubling backstory told through the 4MK's diary entries and adding plot twists that are satisfyingly surprising. Some developments aren't explained as well as they could be but this series launch is an overall gripping read.
    • 5/5
      The fourth monkey killer has spent over five years terrorizing the City of Chicago with his seemingly random murders. Detective Sam Porter has been working this case since the beginning and has not made much progress in identifying a suspect. No matter what leads are presented, the killer always seems to be one step ahead. Finally there seems to a break in the case when a man is killed by a bus. When detectives arrive at the scene a diary is found detailing the life of the fourth monkey. As the diary is examined, many leads are generated and the suspense starts to build. Porter must dissect the clues and mysteries within the book to move forward with this case. Meanwhile, a new victim is abducted and it is only a matter of time before she will be killed. In this cop versus killer novel, it becomes a race against the clock to save her. This was an excellent suspense story by J. D. Barker that I could not put down. The character development, mystery, and suspense were all top notch and I cannot wait for the next book.
    • 4/5
      The four monkey killer- he mails three boxes, then the body. "Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. Do no evil." Seven dead girls, twenty-one boxes. Small white boxes tied with black strings. Pretty rough stuff in here, like the rat in the salad bowl scene! And it's a good read, hard to put down, and sad to finish. I liked the double story - the diary entries telling us some background information, and the "real" time chapters describing the action I'm excited that there is a sequel, but bummed that it's a year out! And I can't find the dang bonus chapter mentioned at the end! Guess I gotta wait... :-(
    • 5/5
      WOW, what a fantastic mystery thriller! I could not put it down!For years Detective Sam Porter has been investigating the Four Monkey Killer, a serial killer who gruesomely delivers body parts to the victim's family as he slowly kills the victim little by little. When the killer is hit by a bus, seemingly on his way to delivering his next gruesome package, Porter becomes desperate to find the victim who may still be alive.The killer's personal diary is found on his body, and by reading it Porter looks for insight into the killer's mind, in hopes of figuring out where his last victim might be hidden.The book alternates chapters between the plot and excerpts from the killer's diary. Although all plot chapters are told in the third person, each chapter focuses on a different member of the police force. This really ratchet's up the tension, as each member of the force knows slightly different information -- but is also missing slightly different information -- and the reader knows all of it. I was biting my fingernails, wishing I could tell each police officer what I knew!Each chapter that reveals parts of the killer's diary is told in the first person, from the killer's point of view. This technique is very effective. Through the killer's diary I was drawn into his highly dysfunctional life. The diary is written by the killer as an adult but in a memoir format, as he reflects on things that happened during his childhood. The calm and unattached way in which he writes about very twisted things that happened in his childhood is absolutely chilling.The book doesn't end with a cliffhanger, but it does end with a clear need for a sequel. Yay! I cannot WAIT!! I hope this becomes a series.
    • 5/5
      I LOVED this book. I couldn't put it down and read it in a weekend. So many twists and turns and I didn't see coming what hit me in the face. It was suspenseful and twisted. I passed my advanced reader copy to my friend, who also loved it as well. I enjoyed the short fast chapters that made this for real page turned... "just one more chapter"! I would recommend it for anyone looking for a dark thriller. I definitely am looking forward to reading more from this author.
    • 4/5
      Great thriller! Detective Sam Porter has been chasing the Four Monkey Killer, a sadistic serial killer who apparently only murders the loved ones of criminal wrongdoers. This sociopath conveniently ends up killed by a bus on his way to mailing his next body part. The twists and turns are thrilling, as this is only the beginning of the story. Things are not as they seem, of course. I was disturbed yet enthralled by this killer’s early life, which he states was a “loving home” in his diary. Great read for those who enjoy psychological thrillers.
    • 3/5
      The good news is that Detective Porter thinks a horrible serial killer has just been stopped - by a bus. The bad news is that his latest victim may be trapped somewhere and they don't have the killer to tell them where she is. Using the killer's diary, Detective Porter tries to get inside the head of this vicious killer and find where she is before it is too late. Grisly thriller that keeps the action coming but brings to mind an episode of "Fargo" in its violence. This is one psychopath you want to stay far away from.My thanks to the publisher for an advance copy.
    • 2/5
      The diary of a serial killer is not what I signed up for when I agreed to review this book. It just got a bit kinky for me to read about the torturing of Mrs. Carter. Was this diary really necessary?, I ask, as I go back and forth through the book. I know the diary is central to enjoying the book, but enjoy I did not. Over all it could be called a thriller without the diary. This is just one man's opinion. I opt out--sorry.
    • 5/5
      The Fourth Monkey by J D Barker was an excellent read. About a fourth way through the book I thought of Michael Connelly, my favorite mystery author. Mr. Barker’s writing style compares to his in my opinion. The Diary chapters of the book could have been a separate book. The book was just one of those “magnet” books. You put it down, but it just draws you back. I read it in two days and I’m not the fastest of readers.
    • 5/5
      Detective Sam Porter has been working for the last 5 years trying to find the Four Monkey Killer. When he is called to a pedestrian vs bus accident he can't understand why until he is shown what was on the pedestrian. A small box with a black ribbon and when opened contained an ear. Could this be the 4MK? When Sam searches the body he finds a personal diary that begins with "Hello my friend, I am a thief, a murderer, a kidnapper." Since the ear is the first thing that 4MK cuts off the police believe that he has taken another victim and that they may still be alive. From the first page to the last I was not able to put this book down. I really did like how chapters were broken down into the police, day and time, then the diary, then the victim. I thought the diary was a nice touch and rather creepy. The characters are so well written that you feel like you know them which is something for a first book. With so many twist, turns, and I never saw that coming it truly is one fantastic thriller. And because it is listed as a 4MK Thriller I can only hope and keep my fingers crossed that we have not seen the last of Detectives Sam Porter, Nash, Clair and whatever evil they have to fight next. I am hooked....I am a fan. I won this book from LibraryThing Early Reviewer for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      The story grabbed my attention by the first page. It has been a long time since that has happened for a novel that isn't part of a series. The characters are interesting and the way the story starts is really intriguing. Now the book might not be ground breaking but it is a fun easy read. Highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      Very captivating, this story of a serial killer-4MK- and the detective who's been chasing him for 5-6 years. Sam Porter is called out to witness a bus accident. A man has jumped in front of a bus and found with the corpse is a small white box tied with string- 4MK's signature. Now the chase is on to find the 15 year old girl he has kidnapped. This story holds your attention throughout, 4 stars because I thought the "diary" sections became a little protracted..
    • 5/5
      More than five years have passed since the Four Monkey Killer began terrorizing the citizens of Chicago by kidnapping, torturing, and killing his hapless victims. So no one is shedding any tears when the killer becomes the victim in a traffic accident. But Detective Sam Porter soon realizes that nothing is quite as it seems. A personal diary, found in the pocket of the dead man, leads the detective into the twisted mind of the psychopathic killer. Immersed in the killer’s words and fighting his own personal demons, can he find the latest victim before it’s too late?Believable, complex, mesmerizing characters populate this riveting cat-and-mouse tale that spins out details of present day events and offers revealing glimpses into the mind of the psychopathic killer. Relentlessly paced, the twisting plot turns this dark thriller into a cringe-worthy tale that is completely unputdownable. Highly recommended.I received a free copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Readers program
    • 5/5
      The Fourth Monkey by J.D. Baker was a non-stop thrill ride. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! Intriguing characters, surprising twists and turns, witty dialogue: this book has it all. I loved it and hope for a sequel.
    • 4/5
      I love when an author takes us inside a psychopath's mind, showing us how and why the person became a cold-blooded killer. The author does just that with The Fourth Monkey, giving us a complex serial killer with an interesting mix of nature/nurture disaster.We learn a lot about the killer through his diary, with sections interspersed throughout the present-day story. I thought parts of the diary were over-the-top, stretching plausibility, and feeling almost satirical. Still, as a whole it works. Besides, it is a diary, written by a psychopath, so we might expect him to embellish and/or alter certain events. The plot moves at a good pace, keeping us engaged as we uncover all the pieces of the puzzle. With Detective Sam Porter, we have the damaged hero trying to redeem himself. While that's become a standard with crime fiction, Sam is well developed and his story is unique. His vulnerability feels honest, adding dimension and realism to the 'typical cop' character. This story is violent, dark, and sometimes graphic. We are reading about a serial killer, after all. I thought the author struck an excellent balance, not holding back but also not using graphic scenes for shock value. I thoroughly enjoyed Barker's writing style. We are in the moment, with the characters, experiencing the events as they do. My only complaint is that the characters did a whole lot of eye rolling. (26 times, if we're counting.) I admit it's one of my quirks, getting sidetracked and hung up on this sort of thing, but I started rolling my own eyes at the characters. I read an ARC, so I'm hoping some of these eye rolls were edited out in the final version.My other minor complaint is that this book has followed the new trend of cliffhanger endings. This cliffhanger isn't horrible, as many I've read over the past couple of months have been. (I'm not a fan of the trend.) Much of the story resolves itself. But not all of it. The storyline will continue into future books, which is now evident by the addition of 'A 4MK Thriller' after the title on Amazon's listing. *I received an advance copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*
    • 5/5
      Hear no evil - See no evil - Speak no evil - Do no evil!Sergeant Sam Porter has been chasing The Fourth Monkey Killer (4MK) for years, so he can hardly believe it when a traffic accident provides the most valuable clues yet as to the elusive serial killer's identity. But can Porter and his team find 4MK's latest victim before time runs out?Believe the hype! I'm sure this will be one of my top thrillers for 2017. I kept seeing this turn up in my newsfeed and finally succumbed. I started it dreading that it would turn into another book that everybody but me loves. But from page one, I was totally and utterly mesmerized by this dark and twisted tale.Containing graphic scenes of violence and torture, this is not for the faint of heart. There were several OMG moments. The writing - switching between present and past - was superb. The diary of the serial killer was deeply disturbing and the creepiest part of the entire book. I absolutely loved it!I also really enjoyed the good-natured banter between the investigative team and the relationship between Porter and Nash and the rest of the team.As you read this, it's easy to see the movie play out in your head. Can't wait to see this on the screen. It's cleverly plotted and the ending is just great. Without a doubt, a definite 5-star read.My thanks to Maxine for providing me with an ARC.
    • 4/5
      Chicago homicide detective Sam Porter has spent much of the last 5 years hunting for the “Fourth Monkey Killer” (4MK). Seven victims, twenty-one little white boxes…..each containing first an ear, then the eyes & last, the tongue. Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. But it’s the fourth monkey that is the clue to the killer’s motive. Do no evil. Each victim is related to someone guilty of crimes that went unpunished & 4MK stepped up to act as judge & executioner. Now Sam & his partner Nash have reason to believe he’s been stopped. Literally. They’re called to the scene of an accident, a case of man vs. bus. The bus won. And on the pavement beside the dead man’s body is a small white box. The good news is their search for 4MK is over. The bad news: somewhere out there is a new victim with one ear. They realize they’ve only got 2 or 3 days to find her & the old 4MK task force is quickly reassembled. The dead man had no ID but was carrying a journal that turns out to be his memoir. It begins with descriptions of his childhood & ends by taunting police to decipher the cryptic clues he’s left behind. This is a fast paced thriller with a sea of red herrings to keep you guessing. There are many side stories that run parallel. Secrets, old crimes, hidden agendas & historical connections are just a few of the threads the task force has to unravel before they can figure out 4MK’s master plan. Chapters alternate between their investigation, the victim’s ordeal & entries from the killer’s journal.Despite the publicity blurb, this doesn’t have the pervasive menace of Se7en or Silence of the Lambs. Descriptions of crime scenes are graphic (should answer all your burning questions about maggots) but it’s offset by the characters we spend most time with. Sam, Nash & their crew work well together & their dialogue is full of lame jokes & gentle ribbing. These are cops who actually wouldn’t be out of place in a cozy & they provide a marked contrast to the actions of the killer. There’s a refreshing lack of the plethora of personal issues & office politics that seem to afflict so many fictional detectives. The crimes are brutal but I actually found the chapters detailing 4MK’s childhood to be the creepiest part of the whole thing. From idyllic to surreal, his story contains all the clues needed to understand his motivation.It’s a pacey read with a whack of twists to keep you turning the pages. Sam & his posse are a likeable bunch & judging by the final pages, we’ll be hearing from them again.