It just will not work. There are lots of moving parts here, some of which require the in depth knowledge from 4MK. The story is told from multiple POVs as the timeline moves along. This book kept my interest the entire time. This is all about the story. This isn't a book with great in depth character development. And know that going in, you need to commit to book three. My thanks to netgalley and Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt for an advance copy of this book.
View all 20 comments. Although this does work as a stand-alone novel, I strongly encourage you to read the first book in the series, "The Fourth Monkey". Barker fan in the process!!! I know I am! Anson Bishop, the Four Monkey Killer is still on the loose!!!! This guy is seriously playing a mean game of hide and seek! Detective "You can't play God, without being acquainted with the devil. It appears there is another killer in the city. Is this the work of Bishop? Nah, the MO doesn't fit.
But who? Porter just can't let go of the Bishop case. He is, shall we say, obsessed and keeps looking. He does some digging and, in the process, gets in trouble at work, but he still can't let it go. A serial killer has alluded him. He can't let that go. He is going to find Bishop no matter what! Or is he? So by now, I'm salivating What happens if he finds Bishop? What happens if Bishop finds him first? What happened with the girl found under the ice? Who is the other killer?????
I loved the parts with the other killer and his victims in this book. Man, was he deliciously evil in a twisted-guy-who-creeps-you-out kind of way. He was seriously messed up! While reading I kept wondering "what the heck is he looking for? Color me intrigued. There are two different story lines going on in this book and it doesn't appear that they are connected but Barker must have a very creative, imaginative and twisted mind, which I am thankful for!
Plus, there is going to be another book in this series. When I got to the last page, I believe my words were "Are you fucking kidding me? That's it????? So, the series will continue, and I will be there with bated breath wanting, no needing, to find out what happens next!
I know it is going to be good! It must be! Again, yet another well written book by J. Obviously, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I did enjoy "The Fourth Monkey" a tad bit more, but this was still very good. For me this book really shined when showing the new killer and the girls he kidnapped. Barker does a good job at keeping the reader guessing as to what this guy's motivation was and what he was hoping the girls would see.
An added plus was the addition of Bishop's mother. Mom-of-the-year she was NOT! For those who read the first book in the series, you will know what I mean! Even she is creepy. I think there was a creep-a-thon going on in this book! So, I think it is safe to say, I enjoyed this book and I think most of you will too!
Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions in this review are my own. See more of my reviews at www. View all 24 comments. Jan 31, Mort rated it it was amazing. Yes, ladies and gents, and those others I'd rather not mention, this book was great. Let me explain something to you - this turned out to be a big-ass book. While the official page count on GR is pages, it turned out to be the fine-print edition.
At pages, it weighs in heavier than expected. A while back a saw a review by someone claiming to be a super speed reader. Fortunately, I am one of the few ultra-super-speed-readers in the world. Why, Soup-Herb!!! Why, I once finished thirteen books in a single day.
Seriously, to those super speed readers out there, while I admire your skill, there is no need to rub it in our faces, okay?
Doing something exceedingly well should sometimes just be kept to oneself - take personal pride in it without gloating. Or would you like to discuss some super-diarrhea? Anyway, it took me a while to get through this one, is actually the point I'm trying to make, but through no fault of the author. He did a brilliant job, real life can just be time consuming, but if I had the opportunity, I'm sure I would have finished it in about three days - that's how well this one was written.
No spoilers from me - just a warning: Read the first book in the series before you tackle this one. It will not be like a one night stand - you'll want to know more. Read the second one and expect your mind to be deconfuckulated. Read the third one if you want to get a decent night's sleep again.
Loved this - looking forward to the conclusion!! View all 21 comments. Jul 03, Theresa Alan rated it it was amazing. Barker will keep you awake well past the time you should go to bed. This is a taut, well-done thriller. However, my other recommendation to you would be this: Unless you have a great memory, maybe wait until all the books in this series are complete so you can just read them one after the other. I read The Fourth Monkey a year ago and was mildly tra J. I should have been traumatized by this one, too.
I would definitely read that book before this one. The Four Monkey Killer 4MK is still on the loose, and Detective Sam Porter is secretly still after him even though that case has been given to the Feds , even while after this new guy. This is a well-written, well-paced book.
One pet peeve: Why does Barker refer to all the male cops by their last names throughout the novel and all the female cops and characters by their first names? View all 14 comments. Sep 24, Julie rated it it was amazing Shelves: e-book , , thrillers , mystery-shelf , overdrive. Barker is a Houghton Mifflin Harcourt publication. Porter and Nash are no longer working the 4MK case, but this new series of murders will keep them plenty occupied and more than a little perplexed.
Sometimes the only clear difference between an inmate and a guard is the side of the bars they happen to be standing on that particular day. His unauthorized investigation earns him a suspension, leaving Clair and Nash on their own. Porter is the obsessed, driven cop, going rogue to catch a notorious serial killer. Clair and Nash make a pretty good team in their own right- along with Kloz, who adds some tech stuff into the mix, and are great characters, plus, Nash is beginning to worm his way into my good graces, a little more than before.
This story has a little more polish and shine, which is to be expected, but it does lose some of its grit and super dark atmosphere as a result. However, the plot is more elaborate and complex, with a stronger psychological pull, relying less on the ghoulish theatrics. It is a story one should consume slowly and carefully, as the story line is very busy- lots to absorb and digest! I do hope the next installment comes very, very soon- which reminds me- please read these books in order and expect a frustrating cliffhanger.
View all 27 comments. Jun 16, Christine rated it really liked it Shelves: net-galley , ebooks , police-procedural-fbi. Despite that, this one was hard for me to rate. First of all, do not even try reading this without reading the first book, The Fourth Monkey. It is just not an option. Talk about a flow-breaker. I was a little miffed that there was not enough backstory in the current book to get me up to speed without having to backtrack to the first book.
Once I got oriented, the book took off! There are dual plotlines, both highly gripping. We are back in the chase for 4MK and possibly for other killers as well. There are several investigations going on at once in three different cities. There are relatively short chapters allowing for all the investigations to be covered at the same time.
This was a highlight in the first book and definitely a high point of this book as well. It is very well written, but again you need to have the background of The Fourth Monkey to follow this one. It does allow us to see the rest of his team in action without him.
Clair Bear, Kloz, and Nash are prominently featured doing their thing. I got tired of the scenes of the teenage girls in captivity with the sicko. I think the more I read thrillers, the less tolerant I am of these scenes. I defy anyone to predict what happens. The ending was a stunner. Well done, Mr. Barker, very well done indeed. But did you have to leave those great big loose ends? I guess you did, as I hear you are planning to conclude the saga with a third book! I do think knowing that almost cancels out my irritation over the lack of a nice red bow at the finish.
This is a true 4. I highly highly recommend this little series. Barker for an ARC of this novel. Opinions are totally mine and are not biased in any way. View all 41 comments. Aug 23, Paromjit rated it really liked it Shelves: crime-fiction , mystery , netgalley , thriller. There are so many reviews of this thriller that I will not waste time outlining aspects of the plot. Suffice it to say Barker is an old hand at raising suspense and tension with short snappy chapters and multiple threads that eventually connect.
In enters another serial killer targeting young girls, torturing and killing them, imprisoning them in cages, an overused and too familiar trope as I wondered just how many serial killers the author is going to give us. Anson Bishop, the original 4MK ser There are so many reviews of this thriller that I will not waste time outlining aspects of the plot.
Anson Bishop, the original 4MK serial killer is portrayed as the master serial killer, several steps ahead of Detective Porter searching for mommy dearest, Bishop's mother, and Agent Poole and the Chicago Metro police team. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading this octane fuelled sequel, however, it is beginning to bear all the hallmarks of a never ending soap opera for which my tolerance levels are starting to wear rather thin, particularly with its cliffhanger ending.
I can probably see myself reading the next one, but after that, if it continues in this vein, I will probably drop it. View all 12 comments. The first book in this series The Fourth Monkey was one of my favorite reads last year I usually just jump into series books wherever I want too but with these you are going to have to read them in order because you'll be totally lost Everybody is back from the first book and now some missing girls are starting to turn up.
The town is still all creeped out from old Monk The first book in this series The Fourth Monkey was one of my favorite reads last year The town is still all creeped out from old Monkey Killing serial killer and they automatically think it is him. The MO is different but this is some gruesome happenings and well..
The killer completely stumps the team and the lead detective from the first book gets himself suspended during this investigation. That ain't gonna stop him if you have ever read the thrillars you would totally know that. So stuff happens. Now why didn't I go completely fangirl over this one? I think it's a case of second book syndrome.. There are some moments that I felt like the story went all over the place and lost me for a few.
That's not hard to do Then that ending I'll still read whatever this dude writes because I'm already drooling for the next one. I capitalized the reading because everyone already thinks I'm a bit nuts. Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review. This book is a fascinating read, especially following the police force with their investigations and the IT guy!
I love the ice explanation and how the killer take extra time to commit such heinous acts in public places. I enjoy the humor between Porter and Nash, and even with the medical examiner Eisley. Each chapter is a heart pounding read and left you with a cliffhanger. A new chapter begins and the results is not what you thought it would be. It happened more than once for me. Definitely a read you could hardly put down. This book is told in the third person point of view following Detective Porter, well known for his role in chasing the serial killer 4MK, as he and his partner Nash are on their way to a crime scene, an aftermath of a 15 year old girl, Ella Reynolds who went missing after school.
Late that night, Detective Porter receives a call regarding another missing girl named Lili Davies. The dead girl found under the ice happens to wear the same clothes as the new missing girl.
Readers will also follow Lili Davies, told in third person point of view as a victim. Book 1 left off where the killer got in touch with Detective Porter to ask Porter to return him a favor. This sequel picks up with more intensity and a bigger puzzle to solve. The Fifth to Die is very well written and developed.
I love reading the detective work and how they are looking for clues, connections, and trails left behind by the killer. This story is big and deals with many characters and victims. I would recommend to read the duology back to back to keep up with the flow. I like the mystery and suspense. I like how smart the characters are: the police, the killers, and the victims and yet the killer seems to stay half a step ahead.
Despite the disturbing tortures, reading this book is most interesting because I get to follow many clever thoughts and work through many tough problems with the police. Love the twists! I most definitely recommend everyone to read this duology there will be a book 3 due to a major cliffhanger at the end of book 2 , just beware of torturing though.
Barker, publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest. View 2 comments. Jul 01, Carrie rated it really liked it Shelves: netgalley. The Fifth To Die by J. Barker is the second installment of the 4MK Thriller series. A police procedural series in which the detectives have been tracking a serial killer known as the Four Monkey Killer.
Picking up where the story had left off it would be best enjoyed reading in order to get to know the characters and what had happened up to this point. As a new body is found frozen beneath a lake it becomes apparent that this is a new killer on the loose but Porter goes against orders and continues his search meanwhile the other detectives begin to track down the new killer.
With the detectives separated in this installment the story is told from multiple points of view all throughout. There are also still peeks into the diary of 4MK that Porter has hung onto. Being someone that can be hit or miss with a police procedural I loved the first book of the series and was looking forward to this second and rejoining the detectives once again.
The casework seems realistic, the detectives likable and the story has plenty of twists and turns. This one did seem a bit long to me and perhaps could have moved a tad bit faster but overall it was right back to what I had come to expect from the series and now the wait begins yet again.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley. Aug 13, Felicia added it. In one word: discombobulated I doubt a fucking flow chart would help me in keeping up with all of the characters in this story.
By the end I had no idea who was who and it's left me in a pissy mood. I'll hold my rating until after I've read part 3, at which time I may lose my shit and have a full blown level seven nuclear meltdown. Where do I begin? I am confused and my head aches, but in a good way. I NEED to read the first book again! I loved The Fourth Monkey. We had a great relationship and understood each other.
Ours was a considerably smooth journey. The Fifth To Die? I am wrecked! I feel like I have been thrown in a washing machine and then left to dry in a desert all by my lonesome! Our devastating liaison is scandalous and outrageous. I am using big words because there is no other way to describe this hurricane. Ta Where do I begin? Talk about suspense! I need some time to heal.
I need to sleep! First take a deep breath. Make sure you DO NOT begin late at night unless you want to look like a zombie in the morning and that you have done all your important chores and there is nothing or no one to interrupt you.
Go grab The Fourth Monkey and start from there. Happy reading! Thanks to J. View all 28 comments. Failing to secure the capture of this brutal predator, Sam Porter is removed from the case but with another killer on the loose who is responsible for the kidnapping and the killing of young girls with equally vile displays of theatre, Porter starts his own investigation. In a strange way, I am drawn to the deliciously evil character of Bishop who is methodical, twisted, intelligent and resolute in his determination to punish the people for crimes he believes they have committed.
What I loved about The Fifth to Die are the added extras that Barker brings to his novels such as the evidence boards, the diary of the killer and an extremely intelligent plot. The characters are deeply drawn, vulnerable and determined, real and relatable and it was nice to step outside the normal format of a detective duo instead we followed the investigation of a detective side lined and his not so likely sidekick. If there was one thing, I disliked was the extent to which the book was left hanging with so many open questions even for a book that would most certainly have a sequel.
I would highly recommend this trilogy based on the two gripping books I have read so far. View all 32 comments. Book Blog Bookstagram This is what you have to know going into the 4MK series: This story is a marathon, not a sprint.
Barker has crafted a rich, intricate world full of robust, personality-driven characters, and advanced storytelling techniques. And he is presenting it to us, the reader, one giant novel at a time. There is no end until it ends. This series is detailed, not so much in visual descriptions, but in depth of narrative and connections. They are flying all over the place, from past to present, from case to case.
It could be too much maybe for some readers, but for me, it filled me with joy at how vast this puzzle really is. But I will say there is a case of girls disappearing, being stuck in a basement cage as every good serial killer is wont to do.
There are dead bodies. There is an FBI takeover. There is a prison break. There is a weird guy with a lisp and scars on his head.
There is Porter doing a lot of travelling trying to figure out just what the fuck 4MK is up to. In the end, some things make sense, but this really is a case of raising more questions than it answers. This is not a book you can jump into without reading the first in the series. Barker is doing with this trilogy. This is a very intense and thoughtful nemesis epic. Or Archie and Gretchen. Good vs. Brilliant Evil. Honestly, Bishop is just the fucking shit. If you want to really enjoy this book, you need to enjoy all that came before it.
You need to know the relationship between Bishop and Porter from the very beginning and become emotionally invested in all its dark, creepy aspects. The first book was a mile a minute. It literally blew my mind. I think it was brilliant, but it was missing that last, teeny-eeny little bit of oomphf. Barker is brought into the fold. Like, if Meg Gardiner is water, J. Barker is ice. Just call me Father Yod.
Praise be for Barker, the ultimate literary god. His voice is so unique, his thoughts so twisted and his ability to create a story that never stops is unmatched. View all 9 comments. Warning - slight spoiler from the first book ahead First thing: You HAVE to read the first book to understand this one, and if you read it a while back, do yourself a favor and reread the diary part of it before starting this. There is barely a touch of re-capping and you will miss a lot unless the diary is pretty fresh.
Plus, it's a creepy killer's diary. What's not to love? The diaries of monsters are so entertaining! This book wasn't as good as the first one - for a while. It took a few more pa Warning - slight spoiler from the first book ahead First thing: You HAVE to read the first book to understand this one, and if you read it a while back, do yourself a favor and reread the diary part of it before starting this.
It took a few more pages until I was glued to it, but don't worry, by the end I was giving it a standing ovation. In my head. You know, sitting there expressionless. That's how I roll. I never seem to give the correct reaction to things.
We get to follow around the cop friends we made in the first book, but our main guy is kinda in trouble for letting the serial killer escape in that one. Picky, picky! It's in the FBI's capable hands now. They will totally catch the guy. But, that's okay because our team has their own case to solve.
And, it's totally not related. At all. Back off, FBI! You didn't see anything. Good day, sir! Now, you might think from my happy little silly jokey review that this book is all fun and sunshine and unicorns.
You would be wrong. It's dark. Really dark. There are horrible things happening, so don't read it if you don't like murder, death, evil, and mayhem. Luckily, it's not in cursive, so go for it, Millennials!
View all 11 comments. Oct 11, Ellen Gail rated it really liked it Shelves: edelweiss , read-in-a-day , cliffhanger. You can't play God without being acquainted with the devil. That cliffhanger needs to be unhung right now. If you've read The Fourth Monkey , and if you're reading this, you really should have , you will be quite familiar with J. Barker 's love of a good plot twist. And boy oh boy is The Fifth to Die loaded with them. Quite a few I liked and one very big one that I have some What was that ending?
So this sequel picks up with Detective Porter and his squad of s You can't play God without being acquainted with the devil. So this sequel picks up with Detective Porter and his squad of sassy and badass detectives no longer on the Fourth Monkey case.
That's federal territory now. They have plenty to occupy them though, especially when a girl's body is found frozen in a lagoon under seemingly impossible circumstances. But can Porter learn to let go of his obsession with Bishop and now his mother?
And how far will he have to go, even into his own mind, to risk catching him? So, lets chat. First, as far as serial killer novels go, this is top notch. I can't even imagine how difficult it must be to develop such a sadistic yet intriguing character, THEN create a detective to be a sort of foil. I loved the addition of Sophie Rodriguez from Missing Children. I also liked that we got the victims' POV again!
The layout in general is pleasing; multi-perspective but not too many, interspersed with whiteboard updates and diary entries. A girl can't just disappear in today's world, not with cameras and the Internet everywhere. A girl disappears completely, and you gotta know something bad happened. As far as the plot goes, my feelings trend positive, but there are some things that bug me.
I did like that the story took a different direction. You couldn't just shrug and say, 'whelp, that dude is cutting off ears again, the rascal'.
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