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!
My August 2026 Reads
It’s the last day of August and it’s time to share what I read this month! This month’s post will be a little different as I am choosing to NOT have a ‘top rated read’ or ‘lowest rated read’. The reason is because of what I read this month. I listened to three audio books, which were a series, and after way too long, I finished a book I was sent by another author. The #4MK trilogy was basically a continuous story and the first two books I had read back in 2017 and 2018. These were read again as the first in a prequel trilogy is being released in September and J.D. Barker and his publisher sent the original trilogy AND an arc of the upcoming prequel! Many thanks to them for sending me those books!
And I also received Aoh by Jennifer Renson earlier in the year. But thanks to The Crash on Netflix, I have been watching a lot of True Crime documentaries. And this is interfering with my reading! Many thanks to Jennifer for sending me the book and her wonderful patience in me for finally completing it!
Let’s see if I can get my reading mojo back/watch less documentaries and get The First Scarlet Door read before publication day on September 22nd! This it the title of the first of the prequel trilogy to the #4MK trilogy!
Here is what I read in August:
The #4MK trilogy by J.D. Barker:
The Fourth Monkey- 5 stars
The Fifth to Die- 4.5 stars
The Sixth Wicked Child- 4.5 stars
Aoh by Jennifer Renson- 4 stars
What was your August reading month like? Let’s see what September and the Fall brings us! Fall is my favorite season and I am ready for it to cool off as it has been super hot this summer!
[Top]Cover Reveal: Flesh Endures by Sue C Bentley
Today I am helping in the cover reveal for Flesh Endures by Sue C Bentley. It comes out on October 28th in the UK, but I can not find it anywhere on Amazon US. Be sure to check out the cover for this one, it’s a pretty one!
Book Description:
Lord Karolan, endowed with an arcane knowledge of alchemy, knows immortality comes at a price, for any lover perishes at his touch. His only companion is his ‘familiar’ – a greedy, wanton spirit that attached itself to him during his transformation and feasts on his fleshly desires as it yearns to become human.
Karolan saves Garnetta from the plague sweeping through early gothic Europe, by bestowing the ‘dark gift’ upon her, but without her permission. A bond of desire develops between the two, and a future for them seems possible. Until Garnetta learns the shocking truth about what Karolan’s laboratory holds, and what he has done to her.
Fleeing in horror, she unwittingly falls into the hands of the inquisition. Found guilty of heresy, she is to be subject to a fate even she cannot survive. Dare she open her heart to Karolan now she knows what he is? All while risking attracting his ‘familiar’ – now attached to her also and eager to inhabit her enticing female form.
Karolan is desperate to find the woman he has grown to love, knowing that only a leap of faith can lead him to her, before time runs out.
Now….. What does the cover look like?????? Keep scrolling to find out!!
Almost there!!!
Here it is:
Pre-Order Your Copy Here:
Amazon UK
Waterstones
Troubador
About the Author:
Sue’s first love is gothic fiction, both to read and to write. Her books for adults are inspired by classics like Frankenstein, Dracula, the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch and William Blake, Victoriana, and the dark fairy tales and folklore of the British Isles. She has published a number of novels using pen names, notably for Virgin Publishing’s Black Lace imprint – erotic fiction for women, written by women. And for LittleBrown’s, XLibris list. She is also the author of a Sunday Times, worldwide bestselling children’s series for Penguin Random House. During recent years she has returned to writing for adults, exploring her favourite themes with two dark fantasy novels for JoffeBooks. Her short stories have also been published in a number of anthologies. Flesh Endures is the product of her latest journey into the dark underworld of her imagination.
Contact Sue:
Instagram @therealsuebentley
TikTok @suebentley09