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
Be careful what you choose to read because you never know what world you are about to go into….
Audiobook Review: No More Boring Bible Study by Faith Womack
No More Boring Bible Study
Author: Faith Womack
Narrator: Faith Womack
Published: November 18, 2015
Audiobook: 5 hours 30 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: June 25-June 30, 2026
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description:
The Bible can feel overwhelming, but studying it is easier and more exciting than you think.
Christians are supposed to love the Bible, right? They’re supposed to tell Bible stories, explain their beliefs, and recite favorite verses from memory.
But Scripture is sometimes hard to read! It can be complex, boring (yes, you can say that), and difficult to apply. Many of us carry secret shame about how little we read the Bible. We want to grow as Christians, but we don’t know how.
Faith Womack understands those feelings. Growing up in a home where Bible verses were used to control her, she yearned to grow close to God but found the Bible confusing and boring. After a spiritual wakeup in college, she discovered the life-changing power of real Bible study. Free of the spiritual abuses of her past, she has devoted her life to helping readers like you get excited about Bible reading.
In No More Boring Bible Study, you will:
- Learn quick, easy study methods
- Get energized by the story of Scripture
- Grasp new concepts that bring the Bible to life
- Have fun (yes!) doing close study
- Grow closer to God
Learning to read and study the Bible is life-changing. It’s time to free yourself from the guilt of not getting it. Make your Bible study exciting again!
Jessica’s Review:
No More Boring Bible Study (NMBBS) is a great study piece for beginners in their faith and those not familiar with the Bible. The Bible can be intimidating in the first place, and then to choose the ‘correct’ version for you to read and understand it can be just as confusing. Faith Womack understands this and strives to help those who need assistance with reading and understanding the Bible, myself included.
NMBBS is easy to understand and is a short 5.5 hour listen. You can feel how passionate Womack is with bringing her words to life in this study as narrator. You can even feel her emotion as she narrates this Bible study.
At no fault of this Bible study book, for me personally the audio was a good introduction, but I would definitely benefit from a physical copy to be able to study on my own. I found myself wanting to go back and be able to actually study, but was not able to with the audiobook. And this is the point with this book! To learn to actually study the Bible. There are mentions of a PDF attachment which were not included in my review copy. I felt having this would have also have improved on the book.
I did like how Womack summarized at the end of each chapter with what she calls ‘Bible Nerd Notes’. One thing that did surprise me were that there were two sentences in different parts of the book that came off as ‘political jabs’ to me. I don’t know if it was intentional or not, but I actually listened to those sentences a second time. Political jabs are not necessary with a Bible Study book, if you agree with the statements or not.
Overall, I enjoyed this Bible Study and hope to get a physical copy of this book at some point.
Thank you to the publisher for having the book available as “Listen Now” on NetGalley. I most likely would have never heard of the book if it had not been there.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Audiobook Review: Ransom by Raena Rood
Ransom
Series: The Reverence Trilogy, Book Three
Author: Raena Rood
Narrator: Brittany Goodwin
Audio Released: April 3, 2026
Audiobook: 10 hours 52 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: June 10-16, 2026
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description:
Kira Liebert’s brief taste of freedom beyond Vita Nova’s wall shatters when Patrol soldiers seize young Teddy, dragging him back to face certain death. With no choice but to follow, she returns to the city that branded her a traitor—only to be captured and cast into the Confines, the brutal prison where the condemned await execution. She emerges from the darkness bearing two impossible a blue rose on her wrist and a new identity as Victor Devlin’s secret daughter.
Deep in the wilderness of the Unregulated Zone, Ghost refuses to surrender another soul to Vita Nova’s cruel ritual. A scarred and haunted man whose past with Devlin and Kira’s mother holds secrets that could topple Vita Nova itself, he knows the true cost of inaction. With Will, Brack, and Grace at his side, he plans a desperate rescue attempt. One final chance at redemption that could cost him everything.
As the clock winds down and the city watches her every move, Kira finds herself caught between two fathers on opposite sides of the wall—one who claims her as his own and one who refuses to let her go. Because while some fathers demand sacrifice, others stand ready to sacrifice everything.
RANSOM is the heart-stopping conclusion to the Reverence trilogy that when everything you love is at stake, what are you willing to sacrifice?
Jessica’s Review:
The Reverence Trilogy is a Christian Dystopian series that has a unique premise and Ransom finishes the trilogy with 5 stars!
Ransom picks up where Rebellion ended. I actually re-listened to the last few chapters of Rebellion as it had been a few months since I listened to it. I was fully emersed in the story and wanted to find out how everyone’s story was going to end. I can say this: Ransom ended the series perfectly! When I saw the dedication I wondered if I was going to cry but I did not. I think that if I had actually read it versus listen that I would have cried! All of the characters we have grown to love (or love to hate) are back for the conclusion.
This is a series about several types of love, sacrifices, hope, and fathers. Rood even dedicated the novel to her father, father-in-law, and God. The series is Christian Dystopian, but it does not ‘preach’ at you if you are a non-believer. We do have a love story with Kira and Will, but the series is so much more than their story.
This is actually a hard review to write, but in a positive way: This series is so good! I don’t feel like I can give the right words for it. If the premise of the series intrigues you, give it a chance: It has a clean and sweet romance, but there is also violence. While not graphic, but people do die before their time in Vita Nova. If you enjoy YA dystopian book or Christian Fiction then at least look to see if this series would be of interest to you.
Brittany Goodwin returns as narrator and she did a good job again! I’m glad she came back for the final book and we didn’t have a change of narrators like we did between the first and second.
This review comes at a good time with Father’s Day this weekend. I try to not think about Father’s Day much since I lost my dad at 19, but it is definitely fitting and a bit of God timing that I got this audiobook listened to and review done at this time.
Many thanks to Raena Rood for sending me an audible copy to listen to. I really enjoyed this series and will be looking at your other books you have written.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK