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Free Sample - The Fourth Monkey
‘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.
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.
480 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2017
16 people are currently reading
528 people want to read
About the author
J.D. Barker
44Ìýbooks6,380ÌýfollowersJ.D. Barker is the New York Times and international best-selling author of numerous novels, including DRACUL and the wildly popular 4MK series. He is currently collaborating with James Patterson. His books have been translated into two dozen languages, sold in more than 150 countries, and optioned for both film and television. Barker resides in coastal New Hampshire with his wife, Dayna, and their daughter, Ember.
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.
jd
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.
jd
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 15, 2025
I loved this one! It has everything I want from an investigative crime novel. It was twisty it was suspenseful it was un-put-downable. I devoured this book and immediately launched into the second.
I felt so bad for Sam. I even felt bad for 4MK and his upbringing- but that’s probably the mom in me.
Can’t wait to see where this series goes!!!
I felt so bad for Sam. I even felt bad for 4MK and his upbringing- but that’s probably the mom in me.
Can’t wait to see where this series goes!!!
June 29, 2023
I just finished this book. I don’t recommend books very often, because there are just so many that I love and I would be recommending for the next month. HOWEVER, this book is worth the time to mention. It is FANTASTIC. If you like CSI or Criminal Minds or movies like Seven and Silence of the Lambs, then this serial killer dark thriller is a must read for you. So many twists and turns and plot twists, fast paced, short chapters, and so suspenseful you can’t wait to turn to the next page. I could not put it down. (And that’s saying A LOT with my adhd, trust me). It is the first in a trilogy series. I am about to start the second one, The Fifth to Die, now. #JDBarker #thefifthmonkey
October 31, 2020
Simplemente lo ame. El autor te lleva a través de los acontecimientos agilmente sin ser tedioso ni aburrido.
No cae en ser un thriller predecible, es simplemente una historia que te atrapa y no puedes parar hasta llegar al final. Ya quiero leer el segundo!!
No cae en ser un thriller predecible, es simplemente una historia que te atrapa y no puedes parar hasta llegar al final. Ya quiero leer el segundo!!
May 31, 2024
Over all a great read, it felt slow to start but ended up being entertaining. No big plot twists or anything that really shocked you but definitely kept you reading! Looking forward to the second one!
March 5, 2021
Trying a new author. Not at all impressed with this story.
August 2, 2022
Clever and empathetic, twisting Detective tale with great characters
June 20, 2023
Really enjoyed this book.
Can’t wait to read his next in the series.
The Fifth Monkey.
Can’t wait to read his next in the series.
The Fifth Monkey.
August 23, 2023
THIS BOOK IS SO AMAZINGLY WRITTEN. JUST READ FOR YOURSELF. I CANT WAIT TO READ THE REST! I just don’t do well with sequels so I read other books in between (ADHD)
January 19, 2024
Its suspenseful and full of twists, but I figured out who the killer was right off.
June 15, 2024
Dark and twisty in all the right ways. Could not put this book down.
September 9, 2024
Espectacular y tremendamente adictivo,como todos sus libros! por favor, necesitamos más libros tuyos traducidos al Español!
January 1, 2025
I really liked the way this was written.
February 20, 2025
Solid and simple characters. It kept me wanting more. After I read it, I realized it was book 1 of series. Couldn't get ahold of the next one fast enough.
February 27, 2025
Absolutely loved this book and the two that followed it which brought all the characters together..
March 26, 2025
This is the sick twisted book I’ve been looking for! Great book!
April 28, 2025
One of the creepiest books I’ve read in a long time!
Read
May 6, 2025April-May 2025
I did not like it. Too scary for me, especially before bed. I also could not get into it.
I did not like it. Too scary for me, especially before bed. I also could not get into it.
August 11, 2024
Loved it.... Definate work of art. Must read for serial killer fans.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
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