Audiobook Review: The Sixth Wicked Child by J.D. Barker
The Sixth Wicked Child
Series: 4MK #3
Author: J.D. Barker
Narrators:
Edoardo Ballerini
Graham Winton
Published: August 27, 2019
Audiobook: 14 hours 29 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: August 17-29, 2026
Jessica’s Rating: 4.5 stars
Book Description:
In the riveting conclusion of the 4MK trilogy, NY Times Bestseller Barker takes the thriller to an entirely new level. Don’t miss a single word of the series James Patterson called “ingenious.”
Hear No Evil
For Detective Sam Porter, the words “Father, forgive me” conjure memories long forgotten; a past intentionally buried. For Anson Bishop, these three words connect a childhood to the present as he unleashes a truth concealed for decades.
See No Evil
Found written on cardboard near each body, these words link multiple victims to a single killer—discovered within minutes of each other in both Chicago and South Carolina—clearly connected yet separated by impossible miles.
Speak No Evil
Chicago Metro and the FBI find themselves caught in chaos—a hospital on lockdown, a rogue officer, and corruption at the highest levels. When Anson Bishop, the prime suspect in the notorious 4MK serial murders turns himself in, he reveals a story completely unexpected, one that not only upends the current investigation, but one that will change the lives of all involved.
Do No Evil
With unrelenting tension and pulse-pounding suspense, the past unravels at breakneck speed as the truth behind the Four Monkey Killer’s motive is finally revealed in this masterfully crafted finale.
Jessica’s Review:
The conclusion to the #4MK trilogy! I was excited to finally read this! And I had planned to once I found out that Barker has a prequel trilogy coming out, the first in that series is out on September 22nd! I listened to all three in the trilogy back-to-back and it was one long and crazy adventure! The Anson Bishop/ Sam Porter combination is up there with Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling! I have only ever seen those movies, and must put the Silence of the Lambs books on my TBR to read.
At times The Sixth Wicked Child was very long winded and did drag on. There was a lot going on as the whole series has been that way, the direction just really wasn’t working for me. It just seemed like some could have been cut. BUT the final twists redeemed the book for me and I went for 4 stars to 4.5! Although I had some issues the ending was very satisfying for me and this series is definitely worth a read if you enjoy novels about serial killers. Just remember this series does get graphic!
I also enjoyed how all three books in the trilogy were brought together for the conclusion. Another thing to keep in mind with this novel: Do not believe ANYONE! I really was not sure where Barker was heading in this conclusion.
I am so glad we had both Edoardo Ballerini and Graham Winton narrate for the trilogy. Having a different narrator would not have worked for me. Their voices truly are these characters. And with the series coming to film/television soon in the future I cannot wait to see these characters brought to life! I just wonder who will be cast as Bishop and Porter!
Many thanks to JD. Barker and his publisher Hampton Creek Press for sending me paperback copies of this trilogy! I am starting The First Scarlet Door now!
Audiobook Review: The Fifth to Die by J.D. Barker
The Fifth to Die
Series: 4MK #2
Author: J.D. Barker
Narrators:
Edoardo Ballerini
Graham Winton
Published: July 10, 2018
Audiobook: 15 hours 7 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: August 5-16, 2026
Jessica’s Rating: 4.5 stars
Book Description:
Detective Porter and the team have been pulled from the hunt for Anson Bishop, the Four Monkey Killer, by the feds. When the body of a young girl is found beneath the frozen waters of Jackson Park Lagoon, she is quickly identified as Ella Reynolds, missing three weeks. But how did she get there? The lagoon froze months earlier. More baffling? She’s found wearing the clothes of another girl, missing less than two days.
While the detectives of Chicago Metro try to make sense of the quickly developing case, Porter secretly continues his pursuit of 4MK, knowing the best way to find Bishop is to track down his mother. When the captain finds out about Porter’s activities, he’s suspended, leaving his partners, Clair and Nash, to continue the search for the new killer alone.
Obsessed with catching Bishop, Porter follows a single grainy photograph from Chicago to the streets of New Orleans and stumbles into a world darker than he could have possibly imagined, where he quickly realizes that the only place more frightening than the mind of a serial killer is the mind of the mother from which he came.
Jessica’s Review:
J.D. Barker is back with the second 4MK novel The Fifth to Die. Fifth picks up four months after the ending of Fourth and this time we have more gruesome deaths, multiple storylines, multiple povs (which you know by now that I love!), and even better: multiple bad guys! And an addition which could be just as frightening as 4MK himself: None other than Bishop’s mother! We really can see how the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree with her added to the mix. We learn more about Porter in Fifth and he is determined to find Bishop’s mother. He actually goes rogue with this determination. We have two police storylines, one for each killer.
There is a lot going on in this novel and it is just as fast paced as Fourth and you just wonder HOW did some of these things with the missing girls happen when it doesn’t seem plausible? But yet these things DID in fact happen. Yes, we do get answers.
This new killer is just as frightening and messed up as Bishop. They are fabulous villains, but I always enjoy the villains! It makes you wonder just what does that say about me? I thank my dad for not restricting my reading as a teen (unlike my tv and movie viewings) and as a 14, 15, and 16-year-old I was reading Stephen King. Of course my love of thrillers started with the Fear Street books by RL Stine when I was younger. I am on the tail end of Gen X, and this is just how we grew up and we would not change it for anything!
This was my second reading of Fifth and this time I listened to the audiobook. Both Edoardo Ballerini and Graham Winton return as narrators and once more they are superb! I am happy to share that they narrate the final book in this trilogy! And speaking of the final book, Fifth ends in a cliffhanger, but readers are fortunate now to not have to wait for the final in this trilogy.
Many thanks to JD. Barker and his publisher for sending me paperback copies of this trilogy!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Audiobook Review of The Fourth Monkey by J.D. Barker
The Fourth Monkey
Series: 4MK #1
Author: J.D. Barker
Narrators:
Edoardo Ballerino
Graham Winton
Published: June 27, 2017
Audiobook: 12 hours 32 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: July 26- August 4, 2026
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description:
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.
Jessica’s Review:
I first read The Fourth Monkey nine years ago as a part of the blog tour. It is a trilogy and next month the first in a prequel series will be released! I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy of that one AND the original trilogy from J.D. Barker and his publisher Hampton Creek Press! This time around I did opt to listen to the audiobook and it is just as brilliant and unsettling as it was the first time I read it! I that big twist as to who 4MK is… I forgot that and was shocked when I got there this time!
Most of what I said nine years ago still applies, so here is a link to my review written back then.
I really enjoyed these short chapters, you really don’t want to put the book down and as you progress in the story there is a strong sense of urgency that compounds! The story online takes place over a few days so it is fast moving the entire time!
As I listened to the audiobook this time I have this to say about the narrators:
Edoardo Ballerini- I have heard him narrate before and he narrates as Porter with perfection.
Graham Winton- I believe this is my first audiobook with him as a narrator and he is chilling as 4MK in person and as he narrates 4MK’s shocking and disturbing diary! This was one creepy narration! (As it is supposed to be!).
Many thanks again to JD. Barker and Hampton Creek Press for bringing me back into 4MK’s world and also expanding it with the upcoming prequel trilogy! “We’re going to have such fun, you and I”….
Please note, it looks like we are getting closer to a 4MK series! Let’s see how they are going to do this, as the novel is graphic and could be nightmare inducing. There are lots of triggers with this one to come!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
