The Fourth Monkey

By: J. D. Barker

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Graham Winton

Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

Se7en meets The Silence of the Lambs in this dark and twisting novel from the author Jeffery Deaver called "a talented writer with a delightfully devious mind".

For over five years, the Four Monkey Killer has terrorized the residents of Chicago. When his body is found, the police quickly realize he was on his way to deliver one final message, one that proves he has taken another victim, who may still be alive. As the lead investigator on the 4MK task force, Detective Sam Porter knows even in death, the killer is far from finished. When he discovers a personal diary in the jacket pocket of the body, Porter finds himself caught up in the mind of a psychopath, unraveling a twisted history in hopes of finding one last girl, all while struggling with personal demons of his own. With only a handful of clues, the elusive killer's identity remains a mystery. Time is running out, and the Four Monkey Killer taunts from beyond the grave in this masterfully written, fast-paced thriller.

©2017 J. D. Barker (P)2017 Recorded Books

Twisted Knives And Killer Humor

This is the most original serial killer/Police Procedural I have experienced on Audible. Ingenious method writing and a great story with great narration.

Early in the book the police find a diary left for them by the killer. It's written by the killer about significant events that occurred when he was eleven years old. Barker reveals the twisted tale of a family of killers, written in first person, intermittently between chapters of police working desperately to save another victim. It is a grotesquely bizarre tale told in an entirely unique fashion.

The story told around the strange diary is nothing short of brilliant. I do have some holes to fill, but I suspect I was so caught up in the story I missed a few answers. I listened to this in a 24 hour period, which means I most certainly drifted at times.

Do yourself a favor and listen to this masterpiece!

104 of 107 people found this review helpful

This is a MUST HAVE mystery...

This book is a must have book for anyone who loves a good mystery. I don't know why but I always hesitate when I see a new unproven author but for a change I didn't and boy am I glad I didn't. This book is one of my better finds this year and the way it's written it looks like it could easily become a series with some very interesting characters.
You have the protagonist aka the police and the antagonist who appears to be a very demented killer. The women he kills are all somehow related to the person he really wants to get at. In his mind killing a loved one will cause the person to suffer more knowing they are to blame.
The killer's story of his life from childhood up is told in the form of a very descriptive diary. You learn early on that he learned his lessons from his parents and grows up to become the 4MK or fourth monkey killer. When he abducts a woman first he sends home an ear, then the eyes and finally their tongue and left to die.
In this book the police are looking for a live victim, thinking that the killer is dead after being hit by a bus. And the race is on in a fast paced heart thumping thriller. The ending is great and leads me to believe there will be more to come.
This book has my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION.
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170 of 178 people found this review helpful

What a Fabulous Find

A simply outstanding novel that'll grab you and not let go... The back and forth between the detective and killer as a child pov is done w/ panache, subtlety, and extreme skill... wonderful mood and atmosphere that encourages a binge read... Along w/ some great suspense, gotchas, and chills is some crafty humor of both the dark and light varieties... The Diary format of the killer's life is surreal and engrossing... Talk about a family that slays together stays together, or do they??? Those segments feel like Dexter meets Father Knows Best;). Great characters will have you invested immediately, and chuckling here and there... The mystery flows beautifully between past and present thanks to excellent narration... My only complaint is that now I have another series to be hooked on, and make no mistake, this setups for a dandy of a second book, and I'll be greedily awaiting... If you need a comparison point - I believe fans of Robotham and Deaver will fall ass over tea kettle for this gem... Definitely worth the price and a hungry read...

43 of 47 people found this review helpful

Clever Plotting

Here's a high-craft-writer at work. Employing a clever device, J.D. Barker allows the plot to move as easily through time as an elevator in a high-rise. And it simultaneously provides an inner voice to a character who may be dead, or not.

This heavy lifting would strain a lot of authors but not here. Instead, with editing that'd make a filmography proud, Barker creates both tension and pace and kept me anxious to return to the story as soon as I could find an "Audible" moment. Nice work, well presented by Ballerini and Winton.

31 of 34 people found this review helpful

Lesser Known Simian Quadruplet...

For over five years Chicago's Finest have been plagued by the taunts of a deranged self-styled vigilante/serial murderer, notified of his latest cause by the delivery of a white box containing the severed ear of his latest victim -- whenever the *cause* strikes him. He focuses on the crimes of the powerful that escape justice, those with enough money and connections to buy the blind eye of legitimate judgment, the white-collar elite too slippery for Lady Justice to hold in her grasp. Those who pay the price of justice, the victims who lose...first, and ear...are condemned by the egregious actions of the person closest to them, innocent scapegoats, chosen to die in order to produce the most painful blow to the real culprit. Because of his demented philanthropic efforts, the public has nicknamed the murderer the 4MK Killer, *the Fourth Monkey Killer, after the *Do No Evil Monkey* (the lesser known sibling of the *wise monkeys* Hear No, See No, and Speak No). Everywhere, you will read comparisons to another book about a psychopathic serial killer/avenger obsessed with the so-called *Seven Deadly Sins.* (Actually, the movie came first, followed by the book written by Anthony Bruno.) It's not hard to picture this book coming to life on the silver screen with similar impact.

Not to belabor the point, but of course a book about a murderer whose hobby it is to torture people is going to be a bit gory, but fortunately, Barker keeps the gore specific but brief...dare I say *clean-cut?* And creative, especially when delivered by the 4MK Killer's own trainers, his oddly elegant parents. The strange mother-father duo spares no etiquette when teaching their young intelligent boy the finer points of murder and torture. These chapters, experienced by the reader by way of a diary the killer leaves for the detectives, give this otherwise gruesome book a tongue-in-cheek comical touch. The abdomen mouse habitat had me struggling with the physical urge to either gag or laugh. It's an ewwww-ha-ha-ewwww moment. The parents, before they go completely off the rails, are at times laugh out loud funny in a Gomez and Morticia Addams kind of way.

There are more than a few cunning twists to the plot, and several revelations that are *BOOM* right in your face. The astute book shopper might notice that in some markets there is a subtitle: *(A 4MK Thriller, #1),* which will have you listening to the opening scenes where the terminally ill 4MK Killer steps in front of a bus, with some confusion. Barker doesn't exactly leave you dangling with the ending, instead, he gives you some pliable options in the case that he really decides to write #2. Either way, the book left me with a satisfied quasi-conclusion. The characters are distinctive, diverse, and in some cases, imbued with an acerbic morbid wit. Mistaken identity, Psychopathy, Sex, Mobsters, Embezzlement, and Medications...The Fourth Monkey is a well-plotted, thrilling, psycho-logical drama that didn't disappoint this reader...disgusted at times? maybe...but in the best way.

47 of 52 people found this review helpful

A real twisty turny plot..loved it!

The Fourth Monkey was a great listen, and narrator Ballerini always gives a good reading.

I usually can figure out who done it early in the book, but I didn't with The Fourth Mnkey, and just when I thought I had gotten it right, I was wrong...and it was someone else. I do love to be fooled.

Entertaining, a twist with every turn, great characters and development..all in all very satisfying.

Highly recommended.

13 of 14 people found this review helpful

Guessing 'till the end.

Good mystery. Was sometimes hard to follow with all the characters but mostly because I was distracted. Highly recommend if you like murder mystery with a story behind the story. Surprises right up to the end. Love that!

22 of 25 people found this review helpful

Well written, but not my thing..

For hard core crime story buffs. I like more character development with the investigation enhancing the personalities. It's a preference thing.

Well written, performed, but attention to details I didn't think added to the story. Again, probably a matter of taste.

27 of 31 people found this review helpful

I Loved the Bad Guy

Any additional comments?

All good mysteries have plenty of turns and twists or surprises waiting to be revealed, and this book didn't disappoint in that area.

What makes this story unique though is the technique of using the serial killer’s diary to tell his story and give clues as to who this person is. I found myself actually looking forward to those diary chapters more than the other chapters, and thought the story the diary told may have been an interesting novel on its own. On top of that, the narration of the dairy was so great, I really found this killer almost likable and understandable.

The entire story, while a bit wild, was believable and never boring. I'm so glad I stumbled into this book, it’s up there on the list of most fun I’ve had listening to an audio book. You should definitely get this book.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Great story, great narration, kept me guessing

Great story, lots of twists and turns to keep the listener guessing. Narration was perfect for this audiobook. Wanted to skip to the end! Figured out a big part of the plot early on, but still couldn't figure out the whole thing. Lots of pieces to this puzzle that any mystery/thriller fan will enjoy!

18 of 21 people found this review helpful