 I had extremely high hopes for this book as there has been a lot of hype in the Psychological Thriller Readers Facebook group. J.D. Barker’s The Fourth Monkey sets out to be a dark, twisty psychological thriller which gave me echoes of James Patterson’s early Alex Cross novels - but ultimately, it feels more like an imitation than a reinvention. The premise is definitely intriguing: a notorious serial killer known as The Fourth Monkey Killer dies unexpectedly, leaving behind a diary that promises to reveal the location of his latest victim. Detective Sam Porter races against time to find the killer’s identity and find the girl before it’s too late. On paper, it’s a formula for high-stakes suspense but in reality it fell short of the mark. Lots of elements of this book were hallmarks of a good thriller; alternating timelines, shocking reveals, and a cat-and-mouse dynamic between detective and killer. Unfortunately in this case it often felt predictable and over-rehearsed. The supposed twists are recognisable far too early, and the diary entries come off as melodramatic rather than chilling. While Barker’s pacing is good and the story occasionally grips you out of sheer momentum, the characters feel like stock archetypes; the brooding detective with a haunted past (who in this case feels very one dimensional), the genius killer with a tragic childhood, and the damsel in distress who exists mostly to drive the plot forward. Readers familiar with early Alex Cross novels will recognise the structure, tone, and even the rhythm, but without the same emotional weight or originality. As a minor point, I was also quite put off by some of the dialogue between the detectives in relation to women. I listened to the audiobook version on Audible (which was a solid performance) and maybe the lines being animiated is why this hit a nerve. Regardless, I felt outdated and added to the narrative of the female characters being mere background dressing. The Fourth Monkey isn’t a bad book, it's a solid 3/5 read. It hits all the expected notes of the genre but rarely offers anything new. For readers craving a nostalgic throwback to 1990s serial killer thrillers, it may scratch the itch. But for those seeking genuine surprises look up the Pierre Lemaitre books.
9 Comments
Brian Bauer
28/3/2026 11:57:51 pm
Michigan Lottery Player Wins $1 Million Powerball Prize
Merel Chiassonam
12/8/2026 12:45:31 am
I have been a crab fisherman for 40 years. I started working at a local fish plant a few years ago. I love playing lotto bets, so I buy lotto tickets often but find it difficult to win. I read about Lord Bubuza's lottery spells on the internet, so I contacted him for help to win Lotto 649. He told me that he would need to cast a lotto spell so that he can reveal the lotto numbers I will choose. I was sceptical, but my wife Nancy told me to give it a try. I provided his requirements to cast the lotto spells, and he gave me the numbers. I bought a Lotto 649 ticket and played as Lord Bubuza instructed, to my surprise it was a big win. I won $64,000,000. My partner Nancy and I travelled to the Atlantic Lottery in Moncton to confirm the win and collect the prize. I will retire from my crab fishing with this win and continue to recommend lord Bubuza. Join me and appreciate Lord Bubuza for his help via Email: [email protected] or WhatsApp: +1 (365) 808 5313
Juliette Lamour
14/6/2026 12:39:49 am
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Kevin M. Hudson
30/7/2026 05:35:10 pm
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8/8/2026 04:22:02 pm
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8/8/2026 11:10:43 pm
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Merel Chiassonam
12/8/2026 12:45:49 am
I have been a crab fisherman for 40 years. I started working at a local fish plant a few years ago. I love playing lotto bets, so I buy lotto tickets often but find it difficult to win. I read about Lord Bubuza's lottery spells on the internet, so I contacted him for help to win Lotto 649. He told me that he would need to cast a lotto spell so that he can reveal the lotto numbers I will choose. I was sceptical, but my wife Nancy told me to give it a try. I provided his requirements to cast the lotto spells, and he gave me the numbers. I bought a Lotto 649 ticket and played as Lord Bubuza instructed, to my surprise it was a big win. I won $64,000,000. My partner Nancy and I travelled to the Atlantic Lottery in Moncton to confirm the win and collect the prize. I will retire from my crab fishing with this win and continue to recommend lord Bubuza. Join me and appreciate Lord Bubuza for his help via Email: [email protected] or WhatsApp: +1 (365) 808 5313 ..
Michael J Weirsky
10/8/2026 07:52:57 am
Hello, I want to share my testimony with all of you. I have daily 9 to 5 jobs but while I work, I try my luck at playing instant Lotto. On this particular day, I decided to seek help online regarding tips for winning the lottery and I saw many individuals testifying about Meduza spells. I reached out to him and informed him that I needed help to win the lottery and he clarified the process to me stating that after he casts the spell, it will take 48 hours for him to provide me the winning numbers which I accepted. I followed all his instructions and he provided me with the numbers to enter the Lottery. After the draw the following morning I received a notification on the Lottery app on my phone indicating that I was the lucky winner of $273 million on the New Jersey Lottery and I'm here to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Meduza. If you seek for help in any aspect of your life, Whats - App +1 807 798-3042 or Email: [email protected] or visit: lordmeduzaspelltemple.com
Merel Chiassonam
12/8/2026 12:46:41 am
I have been a crab fisherman for 40 years. I started working at a local fish plant a few years ago. I love playing lotto bets, so I buy lotto tickets often but find it difficult to win. I read about Lord Bubuza's lottery spells on the internet, so I contacted him for help to win Lotto 649. He told me that he would need to cast a lotto spell so that he can reveal the lotto numbers I will choose. I was sceptical, but my wife Nancy told me to give it a try. I provided his requirements to cast the lotto spells, and he gave me the numbers. I bought a Lotto 649 ticket and played as Lord Bubuza instructed, to my surprise it was a big win. I won $64,000,000. My partner Nancy and I travelled to the Atlantic Lottery in Moncton to confirm the win and collect the prize. I will retire from my crab fishing with this win and continue to recommend lord Bubuza. Join me and appreciate Lord Bubuza for his help via Email: [email protected] or WhatsApp: +1 (365) 808 5313 ..!! Leave a Reply. |
Welcome!Artist, Baker and Blogger. Mum to my two beautiful, cheeky girls. Muddling my way through parenthood with equally cheeky Husband. 
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