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The Finer Things
His art will take your breath away.
In the shadows of 1950s New York, a brilliant mind teeters on the edge of madness. Edgar Maguire's sculptures are taking the art world by storm, but behind each masterpiece lies a horrifying secret.
When Fiona, the object of Edgar's lifelong obsession, reenters his life, it ignites a passion that blurs the lines between creation and destruction. As his art evolves into something terrifyingly beautiful, a trail of bodies begins to surface across the city.
Detective George Snyder is closing in, but can he unravel the connection between the murders and Edgar's rising star before it's too late?
In the shadows of 1950s New York, a brilliant mind teeters on the edge of madness. Edgar Maguire's sculptures are taking the art world by storm, but behind each masterpiece lies a horrifying secret.
When Fiona, the object of Edgar's lifelong obsession, reenters his life, it ignites a passion that blurs the lines between creation and destruction. As his art evolves into something terrifyingly beautiful, a trail of bodies begins to surface across the city.
Detective George Snyder is closing in, but can he unravel the connection between the murders and Edgar's rising star before it's too late?
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 8, 2025
24 people are currently reading
3936 people want to read
About the author
J.D. Barker
55 books6,912 followersJ.D. Barker is the New York Times and international best-selling author of numerous novels, including DRACUL and the wildly popular 4MK series. He is currently collaborating with James Patterson. His books have been translated into two dozen languages, sold in more than 150 countries, and optioned for both film and television. Barker resides in coastal New Hampshire with his wife, Dayna, and their daughter, Ember.
A note from J.D.
As a child I was always told the dark could not hurt me, that the shadows creeping in the corners of my room were nothing more than just that, shadows. The sounds nothing more than the settling of our old home, creaking as it found comfort in the earth only to move again when it became restless, if ever so slightly. I would never sleep without closing the closet door, oh no; the door had to be shut tight. The darkness lurking inside needed to be held at bay, the whispers silenced. Rest would only come after I checked under the bed at least twice and quickly wrapped myself in the safety of the sheets (which no monster could penetrate), pulling them tight over my head.
I would never go down to the basement.
Never.
I had seen enough movies to know better, I had read enough stories to know what happens to little boys who wandered off into dark, dismal places alone. And there were stories, so many stories.
Reading was my sanctuary, a place where I could disappear for hours at a time, lost in the pages of a good book. It didn’t take long before I felt the urge to create my own.
I first began to write as a child, spinning tales of ghosts and gremlins, mystical places and people. For most of us, that’s where it begins—as children we have such wonderful imaginations, some of us have simply found it hard to grow up. I’ve spent countless hours trying to explain to friends and family why I enjoy it, why I would rather lock myself in a quiet little room and put pen to paper for hours at a time than throw around a baseball or simply watch television. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I want to do just that, sometimes I wish for it, but even then the need to write is always there in the back of my mind, the characters are impatiently tapping their feet, waiting their turn, wanting to be heard. I wake in the middle of the night and reach for the pad beside my bed, sometimes scrawling page after page of their words, their lives. Then they’re quiet, if only for a little while. To stop would mean madness, or even worse—the calm, numbing sanity I see in others as they slip through the day without purpose. They don’t know what it’s like, they don’t understand. Something as simple as a pencil can open the door to a new world, can create life or experience death. Writing can take you to places you’ve never been, introduce you to people you’ve never met, take you back to when you first saw those shadows in your room, when you first heard the sounds mumbling ever so softly from your closet, and it can show you what uttered them. It can scare the hell out of you, and that’s when you know it’s good.
jd
A note from J.D.
As a child I was always told the dark could not hurt me, that the shadows creeping in the corners of my room were nothing more than just that, shadows. The sounds nothing more than the settling of our old home, creaking as it found comfort in the earth only to move again when it became restless, if ever so slightly. I would never sleep without closing the closet door, oh no; the door had to be shut tight. The darkness lurking inside needed to be held at bay, the whispers silenced. Rest would only come after I checked under the bed at least twice and quickly wrapped myself in the safety of the sheets (which no monster could penetrate), pulling them tight over my head.
I would never go down to the basement.
Never.
I had seen enough movies to know better, I had read enough stories to know what happens to little boys who wandered off into dark, dismal places alone. And there were stories, so many stories.
Reading was my sanctuary, a place where I could disappear for hours at a time, lost in the pages of a good book. It didn’t take long before I felt the urge to create my own.
I first began to write as a child, spinning tales of ghosts and gremlins, mystical places and people. For most of us, that’s where it begins—as children we have such wonderful imaginations, some of us have simply found it hard to grow up. I’ve spent countless hours trying to explain to friends and family why I enjoy it, why I would rather lock myself in a quiet little room and put pen to paper for hours at a time than throw around a baseball or simply watch television. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I want to do just that, sometimes I wish for it, but even then the need to write is always there in the back of my mind, the characters are impatiently tapping their feet, waiting their turn, wanting to be heard. I wake in the middle of the night and reach for the pad beside my bed, sometimes scrawling page after page of their words, their lives. Then they’re quiet, if only for a little while. To stop would mean madness, or even worse—the calm, numbing sanity I see in others as they slip through the day without purpose. They don’t know what it’s like, they don’t understand. Something as simple as a pencil can open the door to a new world, can create life or experience death. Writing can take you to places you’ve never been, introduce you to people you’ve never met, take you back to when you first saw those shadows in your room, when you first heard the sounds mumbling ever so softly from your closet, and it can show you what uttered them. It can scare the hell out of you, and that’s when you know it’s good.
jd
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
July 1, 2025
Welp! It pains me to write this review. I am a HUGE fan of J.D. Barker and have now read 10 of his books. Many of which were five star reads for me, but The Finer Things was not fine at all. I had to check a few times to see if he did in fact write this book because this was not on par to his usually wonderfully written and executed books. I'm still scratching my head and wondering how much he wrote as opposed to how much the person he co-authored the book with wrote. I am always instantly gripped and instantly addicted to his books and writings. This one did not work for me at all.
1950s New York
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and Edgar Maguire seems to have the skills that delight the eyes of many. He is a sculptor, and his art is to die for. When Fiona, re-enters his life, his passion is ignited, and his creations are well - unique!
Sigh We can't love every book a writer writes, and we certainly can't love every book that we pick up. This book blurs the line between madness, genius, skill, obsession, and art. Normally, I would find this to be intriguing, but I found the dialogue to be off, the scenes were odd and clunky. I don't know how else to describe them. The characters of Fiona and Edgar have a connection, but I never felt it. They were supposed to have a deep connection, but it felt very surface and dull.
UGH! I am at a loss. Again, I love J.D. Barker's writing but, in this book, it did not feel as if he wrote it at all. He is such a beautiful writer and writes intriguing, interesting and unique characters but all of that was lacking in this book. If you have not read J.D. Baker's work before, I strongly suggest you read Dracul,She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be, or any book in his 4MK thriller series starting with The Fourth Monkey. They are amazing, addictive, thrilling and hard to put down books.
What did work for me in this book was the atmosphere and the setting. This book did play out like an old black and white movie in my mind.
There are reviewers who enjoyed this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well. As I mentioned, I love J.D. Barkers other books and will happily read what he writes next.
Thank you to Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
1950s New York
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and Edgar Maguire seems to have the skills that delight the eyes of many. He is a sculptor, and his art is to die for. When Fiona, re-enters his life, his passion is ignited, and his creations are well - unique!
Sigh We can't love every book a writer writes, and we certainly can't love every book that we pick up. This book blurs the line between madness, genius, skill, obsession, and art. Normally, I would find this to be intriguing, but I found the dialogue to be off, the scenes were odd and clunky. I don't know how else to describe them. The characters of Fiona and Edgar have a connection, but I never felt it. They were supposed to have a deep connection, but it felt very surface and dull.
UGH! I am at a loss. Again, I love J.D. Barker's writing but, in this book, it did not feel as if he wrote it at all. He is such a beautiful writer and writes intriguing, interesting and unique characters but all of that was lacking in this book. If you have not read J.D. Baker's work before, I strongly suggest you read Dracul,She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be, or any book in his 4MK thriller series starting with The Fourth Monkey. They are amazing, addictive, thrilling and hard to put down books.
What did work for me in this book was the atmosphere and the setting. This book did play out like an old black and white movie in my mind.
There are reviewers who enjoyed this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well. As I mentioned, I love J.D. Barkers other books and will happily read what he writes next.
Thank you to Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
July 19, 2025
I saw J. D. Barker's name and I had to get this book. I'm a fan of his wirting, althought I had never heard of Kyle Dunn. The description sounded interesting.
Description:
His art will take your breath away.
In the shadows of 1950s New York, a brilliant mind teeters on the edge of madness. Edgar Maguire's sculptures are taking the art world by storm, but behind each masterpiece lies a horrifying secret.
When Fiona, the object of Edgar's lifelong obsession, reenters his life, it ignites a passion that blurs the lines between creation and destruction. As his art evolves into something terrifyingly beautiful, a trail of bodies begins to surface across the city.
Detective George Snyder is closing in, but can he unravel the connection between the murders and Edgar's rising star before it's too late?
My Thoughts:
Definitely not my kind of art. An interesting story and I guess you could call the art unique - but criminally unique. The sculptures gave me a creepy feeling just reading about how they were built and what Edgar and Fiona did to create them. Fiona and Edgar, the main characters had an intense relationship - I would say obsessive. I really didn't care for either of them. I did enjoy reading about the political nuances in the art world and how Fiona's mother handled her successful business. The artists have major egos! Definitely not my favorite J. D. Barker book, but it is well written and has good pacing. I don't think I like Barker's collaborations as much as the books he has written himself.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster | Hampton Creek Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
His art will take your breath away.
In the shadows of 1950s New York, a brilliant mind teeters on the edge of madness. Edgar Maguire's sculptures are taking the art world by storm, but behind each masterpiece lies a horrifying secret.
When Fiona, the object of Edgar's lifelong obsession, reenters his life, it ignites a passion that blurs the lines between creation and destruction. As his art evolves into something terrifyingly beautiful, a trail of bodies begins to surface across the city.
Detective George Snyder is closing in, but can he unravel the connection between the murders and Edgar's rising star before it's too late?
My Thoughts:
Definitely not my kind of art. An interesting story and I guess you could call the art unique - but criminally unique. The sculptures gave me a creepy feeling just reading about how they were built and what Edgar and Fiona did to create them. Fiona and Edgar, the main characters had an intense relationship - I would say obsessive. I really didn't care for either of them. I did enjoy reading about the political nuances in the art world and how Fiona's mother handled her successful business. The artists have major egos! Definitely not my favorite J. D. Barker book, but it is well written and has good pacing. I don't think I like Barker's collaborations as much as the books he has written himself.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster | Hampton Creek Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.
June 17, 2025
This book reads like a satire in a straitjacket. What begins as a stylish noir quickly morphs into something more surreal, a dark, twisted reflection on the all-consuming nature of art and the industry built around it.
JD Barker and Kyle Dunn have delivered a book that feels like it's sculpted from the bones of the victims in the pages.
This isn’t just a story of madness. It’s a discussion on the cannibalistic nature of the creative arts industry, of how talent is discovered, hyped, exploited, and discarded. The book satirises the art world’s obsession with novelty, its hunger for genius no matter the cost. Art is held as sacred, but it’s also parasitic, demanding not just the artist’s time and mind, but their body, memories, and soul. It's also a discussion on the immortality of beauty, and what beauty means to the audience or, in this case, the witness.
The characters are functional more than layered, shaped by the story’s frantic pace and warped tone. The prose is jagged and unrelenting, like watching a plot unfold through warped glass. It’s not emotionally rich, but it is conceptually rich.
But even though the characters may be thin, there's not denying the dark spiral you'll journey down with this story. This is not a comfortable read. It’s eerie, unsettling, and deliberately alienating. But as satire, it lands hard and if you let it sink in, it becomes something memorable, like a sculpture built from madness, obsession, and the brittle bones of ambition.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book for an honest review.
JD Barker and Kyle Dunn have delivered a book that feels like it's sculpted from the bones of the victims in the pages.
This isn’t just a story of madness. It’s a discussion on the cannibalistic nature of the creative arts industry, of how talent is discovered, hyped, exploited, and discarded. The book satirises the art world’s obsession with novelty, its hunger for genius no matter the cost. Art is held as sacred, but it’s also parasitic, demanding not just the artist’s time and mind, but their body, memories, and soul. It's also a discussion on the immortality of beauty, and what beauty means to the audience or, in this case, the witness.
The characters are functional more than layered, shaped by the story’s frantic pace and warped tone. The prose is jagged and unrelenting, like watching a plot unfold through warped glass. It’s not emotionally rich, but it is conceptually rich.
But even though the characters may be thin, there's not denying the dark spiral you'll journey down with this story. This is not a comfortable read. It’s eerie, unsettling, and deliberately alienating. But as satire, it lands hard and if you let it sink in, it becomes something memorable, like a sculpture built from madness, obsession, and the brittle bones of ambition.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book for an honest review.
July 8, 2025
The Finer Things 4⭐️
It’s important to go into this book remembering this is co-authored and not your typical JD Barker solo novel. I think many people have given a low rating because they had too specific of expectations going into it. I found it to be unique, dark, but entertaining, platte cleanser compared to my recent reads. This quirky noir is set in the 50’s and follows an artist’s obsession and spiral into madness. At times while I read I pictured it as a play in my mind. Many of the gruesome scenes play out calmly vs thrilling slasher scenes, which tied everything back to the “art” of it all.
Thank you NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
Pub Date Jul 08 2025
It’s important to go into this book remembering this is co-authored and not your typical JD Barker solo novel. I think many people have given a low rating because they had too specific of expectations going into it. I found it to be unique, dark, but entertaining, platte cleanser compared to my recent reads. This quirky noir is set in the 50’s and follows an artist’s obsession and spiral into madness. At times while I read I pictured it as a play in my mind. Many of the gruesome scenes play out calmly vs thrilling slasher scenes, which tied everything back to the “art” of it all.
Thank you NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
Pub Date Jul 08 2025
July 17, 2025
Ooooff, you can always tell when Mr Barker co writes with another author. It’s not his usual best work. 🫣
July 7, 2025
Overall Rating : F
I received this GIVEAWAY from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
"The worst thing that can happen to an artist is success. The lucky ones die in obscurity."
Let me preface by saying I have read 4 other books by J.D. Barker and I absolutely loved them. They are the perfect amount of suspense, criminal drama, twists, and character development I ever dreamed of. Which just makes this all the more disappointing. I could see the potential in this; a struggling artist finds his long lost friend from his orphanage and she becomes his muse. But to achieve critical acclaim, he descends into madness, where murder becomes his new tool. It seemed very interesting, but the writing? Abismal.
I was confused the entire time reading this. Not because of the plot, but because the writing was so stilted, bland, abrupt, and lacked any emotional response. Told mostly through dialogue, I got no notion of feelings from any of the characters. They talk like they are just trying to explain that they are "angry", "sad", or "happy", without conveying the emotion. Then, abruptly changes tune to move the story on. It felt like reading the first draft that then skipped through the entire editing process to get it published as fast as possible.
This was the first Giveaway I've won in awhile and am disheartened that it turned out like this. This won't turn me away from Mr. Barkers work completely, but I will be looking closer to see if a secondary author is involved with his works.
I received this GIVEAWAY from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
"The worst thing that can happen to an artist is success. The lucky ones die in obscurity."
Let me preface by saying I have read 4 other books by J.D. Barker and I absolutely loved them. They are the perfect amount of suspense, criminal drama, twists, and character development I ever dreamed of. Which just makes this all the more disappointing. I could see the potential in this; a struggling artist finds his long lost friend from his orphanage and she becomes his muse. But to achieve critical acclaim, he descends into madness, where murder becomes his new tool. It seemed very interesting, but the writing? Abismal.
I was confused the entire time reading this. Not because of the plot, but because the writing was so stilted, bland, abrupt, and lacked any emotional response. Told mostly through dialogue, I got no notion of feelings from any of the characters. They talk like they are just trying to explain that they are "angry", "sad", or "happy", without conveying the emotion. Then, abruptly changes tune to move the story on. It felt like reading the first draft that then skipped through the entire editing process to get it published as fast as possible.
This was the first Giveaway I've won in awhile and am disheartened that it turned out like this. This won't turn me away from Mr. Barkers work completely, but I will be looking closer to see if a secondary author is involved with his works.
July 9, 2025
3.5 stars
The Finer Things by J.D. Barker & Kyle Dunn is a thriller about a sculptor and the woman he loves.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Simon & Schuster/Hampton Creek Press and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Opinions:
First, I really enjoy Barker's work, and grab each one as soon as it is available. I find I enjoy the books where he writes on his own more than his collaborations, but this does not really deter me. This book didn't bring me the satisfaction that others have. However, that could just be the topic. I'm not an "art world" reader.
However, that's not to say this wasn't good. It just didn't grab me as much as his other work. The dynamic between Edgar and Fiona, although predictable, was intense. I was at least able to find some sympathy for Edgar (most of the time), but Fiona never grew on me due to her actions as a child and then her actions as an adult. There weren't really any true likable characters.
The book really looks at egos and jealousy, passion, obsession, and murder. It also looked at mental health. The overall plot held no twists or surprises...everything was inevitable.
It was a dark and graphic tale, filled with enough gore to make it somewhat horror, but as with most of Barker's work when he collaborates, something was missing.
Anyway, until next time....
For a more thorough review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, my own synopsis of the book, and its author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
April 9, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley and Independent Book Publishers Association, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Although I tried hard, I couldn't finish this one.
Triggers: (Till 44% on NetGalley Shelf, I got this far)
murder
gore
nudeness
drug usage
Before I get into more details, I'd like to point out that my not liking this book doesn't take away from its worth. I don't wish to hurt anyone's feelings, I simply speak my mind.
My biggest problem with the whole book is its story. I've read almost half of it, and I still don't know what it was all about. Events happen with hardly a moment of pause, and I kept wondering what was just happening and, most importantly, why. The worst part is probably the fact that even though so much occurs, still nothing significant happens the whole time. Reading this book felt like riding an endless roller coaster where I circled the same spot over and over again.
That point was the sculpting. No matter how far I got, it always came back to this. Which isn't the problem. My issue was that the characters spent all of their time talking about it, fetching material for it, or just sculpting. They hardly ever do anything else.
Which brings me to my next point. The characters. (Fiona and Edgar) Their whole communication is about the difficulties of sculpting and their unbreakable loyalty and love for each other, while we never get to see what caused this great affection. Other times, one of them completely forgets about the other and just leaves the scene while the partner stays behind. It's a bit rough, I believe.
Overall, I found it monotone and dull, so I couldn't make myself read another page. I cannot recommend it, as I found no enjoyment reading it. I've always loved J.D. Barker's books. He even wrote one of my favs of all time. But lately I've been disheartened by his work, which causes me great dismay. I know it's not the book's fault, nor is it Barker's. It might rather indicate that it's time to part ways.
Although I tried hard, I couldn't finish this one.
Triggers: (Till 44% on NetGalley Shelf, I got this far)
murder
gore
nudeness
drug usage
Before I get into more details, I'd like to point out that my not liking this book doesn't take away from its worth. I don't wish to hurt anyone's feelings, I simply speak my mind.
My biggest problem with the whole book is its story. I've read almost half of it, and I still don't know what it was all about. Events happen with hardly a moment of pause, and I kept wondering what was just happening and, most importantly, why. The worst part is probably the fact that even though so much occurs, still nothing significant happens the whole time. Reading this book felt like riding an endless roller coaster where I circled the same spot over and over again.
That point was the sculpting. No matter how far I got, it always came back to this. Which isn't the problem. My issue was that the characters spent all of their time talking about it, fetching material for it, or just sculpting. They hardly ever do anything else.
Which brings me to my next point. The characters. (Fiona and Edgar) Their whole communication is about the difficulties of sculpting and their unbreakable loyalty and love for each other, while we never get to see what caused this great affection. Other times, one of them completely forgets about the other and just leaves the scene while the partner stays behind. It's a bit rough, I believe.
Overall, I found it monotone and dull, so I couldn't make myself read another page. I cannot recommend it, as I found no enjoyment reading it. I've always loved J.D. Barker's books. He even wrote one of my favs of all time. But lately I've been disheartened by his work, which causes me great dismay. I know it's not the book's fault, nor is it Barker's. It might rather indicate that it's time to part ways.
July 9, 2025
I won this ARC as a GoodReads giveaway.
I really like this book. I'm pretty sure one or both of the authors was inspired by A Bucket of Blood. even if it was just a coincidence, I then spent the rest of the book picturing Dick Miller as the main character.
I'm not sure why this book is getting a lot of hate. it's my first JD Barker book, so I don't have anything to compare it to.
it was a fun read, I absolutely recommend other people read it.
I really like this book. I'm pretty sure one or both of the authors was inspired by A Bucket of Blood. even if it was just a coincidence, I then spent the rest of the book picturing Dick Miller as the main character.
I'm not sure why this book is getting a lot of hate. it's my first JD Barker book, so I don't have anything to compare it to.
it was a fun read, I absolutely recommend other people read it.
July 19, 2025
If I had to come up with one way to define author J.D. Barker over his career it is the fact that his work is undefinable. He has spanned the breadth of the horror and thriller genres with everything from supernatural to serial killer to psychological thrillers. Now, his latest release, co-written with writer Kyle Dunn, may be his most difficult novel to define yet.
THE FINER THINGS is set in a completely different time period and one that seems alien to readers in 2025 --- the early 1950’s. It is a story about obsession, the search for perfection, and all amidst the burgeoning fine art world in New York City. Edgar Maguire has always hidden from sight or simply been discounted because of the terrible scars that disfigure him, even on his face. However, his two obsessions drive him to do things he never believed he was capable of. The first is art, specifically sculpture work, and the second is his muse Fiona who he has been enamored with since their time together in the New York foster system.
Fiona Caldwell, now Fiona Haberstein following her adoption by the wealthy and famous arthouse and gallery owner, Sylvia Haberstein, peppers the narrative of this novel with excerpts from something referred to as ‘The Last Testament of Fiona Haberstein nee’ Caldwell.’ The excerpts are initially confusing but later make much more sense once the secrets of this eerie story are revealed. Early on in the story, Fiona and Edgar reunite when they are ironically working as art class models for an art teacher and struggling artist named Gino Fallici. Fiona indicates to Edgar that this must indeed be fate and is soon swept away from any intentions Gino had for her and shacking up with Edgar in a seedy Manhattan hotel room.
Edgar makes a sculpture of his muse, Fiona, and upon showing it to Gino inside their hotel room Gino is immediately stricken silent and falls to the floor. Whether it was a heart attack, or his heart exploding from setting his eyes upon a piece of art unlike anything he had ever seen before, Gino was indeed no more. Rather than calling the police or disposing of him and running, Edgar and Fiona are inspired to do something unheard of. They build a new sculpture literally using his body parts within the plaster which gives the creation an appearance otherwise unique to anything else in this genre. Whether it was mutual obsession or simply two artistic young people seeking to boldly create in the fashion of Picasso, Dali, or Jackson Pollock, Edgar and Fiona now are unable to turn back from continuing to produce their own brand of art to make a name for themselves.
Edgar just wants to get out from under the years of abuse he took due to his disfigurement while Fiona wanted out from under the thumb of her wealthy and manipulative adopted mother, Sylvia. Much to Fiona’s chagrin, Edgar approaches Sylvia about having his unique sculpture pieces displayed in her famous art gallery entitled The Finer Things. They strike a deal, but it may be temporary until Edgar grows famous enough to go it on his own with Fiona as his partner. Of course, the desire and need for more human subjects to support Edgar’s sculptures continues and this serial spree of murders does not go unnoticed by the local NYPD.
Detective George Snyder is particularly interested in stopping this case of serial murder, which at one point looked like it could be contributed to warring gangs from the NY/NJ docks area. However, he keeps coming back to his number one suspect, the scar-faced Edgar Maguire who he is confident is up to some really deadly deeds all in the name of his art. If Snyder truly were aware of what Edgar and Fiona were up to it would have rocked his world, especially based on the far more innocent time they were living in. Meanwhile, the cat and mouse game continues through the finale as Edgar and Fiona take each new artistic creation to a higher level under the guise that art eludes conventional mortality. THE FINER THINGS is not for the faint-hearted but is sure to please the legions of fans that J.D. Barker has amassed throughout his solo career and partnerships with writers James Patterson and now Kyle Dunn.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
THE FINER THINGS is set in a completely different time period and one that seems alien to readers in 2025 --- the early 1950’s. It is a story about obsession, the search for perfection, and all amidst the burgeoning fine art world in New York City. Edgar Maguire has always hidden from sight or simply been discounted because of the terrible scars that disfigure him, even on his face. However, his two obsessions drive him to do things he never believed he was capable of. The first is art, specifically sculpture work, and the second is his muse Fiona who he has been enamored with since their time together in the New York foster system.
Fiona Caldwell, now Fiona Haberstein following her adoption by the wealthy and famous arthouse and gallery owner, Sylvia Haberstein, peppers the narrative of this novel with excerpts from something referred to as ‘The Last Testament of Fiona Haberstein nee’ Caldwell.’ The excerpts are initially confusing but later make much more sense once the secrets of this eerie story are revealed. Early on in the story, Fiona and Edgar reunite when they are ironically working as art class models for an art teacher and struggling artist named Gino Fallici. Fiona indicates to Edgar that this must indeed be fate and is soon swept away from any intentions Gino had for her and shacking up with Edgar in a seedy Manhattan hotel room.
Edgar makes a sculpture of his muse, Fiona, and upon showing it to Gino inside their hotel room Gino is immediately stricken silent and falls to the floor. Whether it was a heart attack, or his heart exploding from setting his eyes upon a piece of art unlike anything he had ever seen before, Gino was indeed no more. Rather than calling the police or disposing of him and running, Edgar and Fiona are inspired to do something unheard of. They build a new sculpture literally using his body parts within the plaster which gives the creation an appearance otherwise unique to anything else in this genre. Whether it was mutual obsession or simply two artistic young people seeking to boldly create in the fashion of Picasso, Dali, or Jackson Pollock, Edgar and Fiona now are unable to turn back from continuing to produce their own brand of art to make a name for themselves.
Edgar just wants to get out from under the years of abuse he took due to his disfigurement while Fiona wanted out from under the thumb of her wealthy and manipulative adopted mother, Sylvia. Much to Fiona’s chagrin, Edgar approaches Sylvia about having his unique sculpture pieces displayed in her famous art gallery entitled The Finer Things. They strike a deal, but it may be temporary until Edgar grows famous enough to go it on his own with Fiona as his partner. Of course, the desire and need for more human subjects to support Edgar’s sculptures continues and this serial spree of murders does not go unnoticed by the local NYPD.
Detective George Snyder is particularly interested in stopping this case of serial murder, which at one point looked like it could be contributed to warring gangs from the NY/NJ docks area. However, he keeps coming back to his number one suspect, the scar-faced Edgar Maguire who he is confident is up to some really deadly deeds all in the name of his art. If Snyder truly were aware of what Edgar and Fiona were up to it would have rocked his world, especially based on the far more innocent time they were living in. Meanwhile, the cat and mouse game continues through the finale as Edgar and Fiona take each new artistic creation to a higher level under the guise that art eludes conventional mortality. THE FINER THINGS is not for the faint-hearted but is sure to please the legions of fans that J.D. Barker has amassed throughout his solo career and partnerships with writers James Patterson and now Kyle Dunn.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
September 19, 2025
This was not the campy "creepy wax museum" book that I wanted it to be, but it did turn out to be rather interesting in places.
Edgar Maguire is a sculptor obsessed with Fiona, a girl he met when they were both in an orphanage together. She was adopted young, but due to facial deformity, Edgar was never adopted. As soon as he ages out of the orphanage, Edgar travels to New York City to find Fiona.
While there, he becomes wrapped up in a dangerous new form of inspiration for his art, while Fiona eggs him on. And from there, it is one long descent into madness for Edgar.
This book was an interesting look at how a person who wants to be an artist might justify becoming a serial killer. Whether Edgar is schizophrenic or has some other form of mental illness is left open to interpretation, although many of the synptoms are there.
That said, the book is dark and gruesomely explicit in a couple places, and Edgar's tortured art and mental decline is not the stuff of entertainment most of the time. I think I understand what the author was going for, but despite good writing, the book was a bit heavy for me. 3 out of 5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley, Hampton Creek Press, and Simon and Schuster for the advanced reader copy. This is a voluntary review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Edgar Maguire is a sculptor obsessed with Fiona, a girl he met when they were both in an orphanage together. She was adopted young, but due to facial deformity, Edgar was never adopted. As soon as he ages out of the orphanage, Edgar travels to New York City to find Fiona.
While there, he becomes wrapped up in a dangerous new form of inspiration for his art, while Fiona eggs him on. And from there, it is one long descent into madness for Edgar.
This book was an interesting look at how a person who wants to be an artist might justify becoming a serial killer. Whether Edgar is schizophrenic or has some other form of mental illness is left open to interpretation, although many of the synptoms are there.
That said, the book is dark and gruesomely explicit in a couple places, and Edgar's tortured art and mental decline is not the stuff of entertainment most of the time. I think I understand what the author was going for, but despite good writing, the book was a bit heavy for me. 3 out of 5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley, Hampton Creek Press, and Simon and Schuster for the advanced reader copy. This is a voluntary review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 18, 2025
This was one strange book. It's a journey inside an insane mind and into the dark sides of the art world. It's historical fiction and horror with some deranged characters. It's different but I liked it.
January 1, 2026
This was interesting and well written. The pacing was good and I was invested in the characters. The story is unique. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to J.D. Barker, Kyle Dunn, Hampton Creek Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 15, 2025
I do think this is a step up from the last two Barker books I've read. The premise was interesting and the atmosphere was dark and moody. But I figured out the "twist" like 30% in and waiting for the official reveal was painstaking after that. I also usually really like Barker's villain characters but honestly I just felt bad for this very sick man most of the time.
August 19, 2025
A Novel With Too Many Issues
Fiona Cadwell finds baby Edgar Maguire in a basket on the steps of St Mary’s orphanage. She takes him inside. He is such a cute baby. He quickly becomes Mother Abagail’s favorite. One day, Mother Abagail showers all of her attention on him. That night, the serpent in Fiona boils over. She goes downstairs and mutilates Edgar’s face with the knife. She makes him ugly. She becomes Edgar's only friend at the orphanage. The next chapter jumps around two decades later, in 1952, New York. Edgar is looking for Fiona. From this start, a very dark and macabre thriller starts.
This novel has three main storyline threads. The first is the last testament of Fiona Haberstein, née Cadwell. This thread provides much of the background on the Edgar and Fiona relations while they are in the orphanage, and how she left before he did. This thread is the best one and offers much insight into the nature of those two and how their relationship grew. The second thread deals with the sculpting and murder spree of Edgar and Fiona. Trying to follow this thread was difficult as it did not seem to be leading to an end. It was just a matter of murders without much forethought, then sculpting, and finally using Fiona’s foster mother’s gallery to sell his work. This thread lacked all direction except escalation. The third thread was the police investigation of the murders. This investigation is best described as ineffective. The main storyline, as a whole, never captured my interest. The author tried to raise the suspense by having Edgar and Fiona have close calls with the police and the possible discovery of the secret of his sculptures. It did not work for me. Then, right at the 50% point, I did write myself a note that what I had just read was interesting. Unfortunately, it was just a blip and not an inflection point to a better story.
Many aspects of this novel can cause some readers to stop reading. There is a very brief, intimate scene and a reference to a crime against a woman. The bad and impious language is present. The violent savagery of the attacks is implied or described after the attacks. The content is definitely adult.
Horror is this book's genre. My basic assessment is that this is a no-brainer action book. Horror is not a genre that I usually read. There is not even one aspect of the book that I liked. This author is one of my Must-Read authors. I have read ten previous novels, and they have not been five or four stars. This one was the first where he was the lead coauthor. I still look forward to the author’s next novel. For this novel, I do not recommend reading it. I rate this novel two stars, as it has problems, and I was disappointed.
I received the free, pre-publication e-book version of this novel from Hampton Creek Press through NetGalley. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Hampton Creek Press, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.
Fiona Cadwell finds baby Edgar Maguire in a basket on the steps of St Mary’s orphanage. She takes him inside. He is such a cute baby. He quickly becomes Mother Abagail’s favorite. One day, Mother Abagail showers all of her attention on him. That night, the serpent in Fiona boils over. She goes downstairs and mutilates Edgar’s face with the knife. She makes him ugly. She becomes Edgar's only friend at the orphanage. The next chapter jumps around two decades later, in 1952, New York. Edgar is looking for Fiona. From this start, a very dark and macabre thriller starts.
This novel has three main storyline threads. The first is the last testament of Fiona Haberstein, née Cadwell. This thread provides much of the background on the Edgar and Fiona relations while they are in the orphanage, and how she left before he did. This thread is the best one and offers much insight into the nature of those two and how their relationship grew. The second thread deals with the sculpting and murder spree of Edgar and Fiona. Trying to follow this thread was difficult as it did not seem to be leading to an end. It was just a matter of murders without much forethought, then sculpting, and finally using Fiona’s foster mother’s gallery to sell his work. This thread lacked all direction except escalation. The third thread was the police investigation of the murders. This investigation is best described as ineffective. The main storyline, as a whole, never captured my interest. The author tried to raise the suspense by having Edgar and Fiona have close calls with the police and the possible discovery of the secret of his sculptures. It did not work for me. Then, right at the 50% point, I did write myself a note that what I had just read was interesting. Unfortunately, it was just a blip and not an inflection point to a better story.
Many aspects of this novel can cause some readers to stop reading. There is a very brief, intimate scene and a reference to a crime against a woman. The bad and impious language is present. The violent savagery of the attacks is implied or described after the attacks. The content is definitely adult.
Horror is this book's genre. My basic assessment is that this is a no-brainer action book. Horror is not a genre that I usually read. There is not even one aspect of the book that I liked. This author is one of my Must-Read authors. I have read ten previous novels, and they have not been five or four stars. This one was the first where he was the lead coauthor. I still look forward to the author’s next novel. For this novel, I do not recommend reading it. I rate this novel two stars, as it has problems, and I was disappointed.
I received the free, pre-publication e-book version of this novel from Hampton Creek Press through NetGalley. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Hampton Creek Press, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.
July 5, 2025
Y’all, this book is like stepping into a smoky 1950s art gallery—gorgeous, haunting, and just unsettling enough to make you sweat. Edgar Maguire’s sculptures are the talk of New York, but behind every masterpiece????? His art will take your breath away… maybe permanently.
When Fiona, his lifelong obsession, reappears, Edgar spirals from genius to unhinged artist real quick. Passion turns deadly, and Detective George Snyder is hot on the trail, trying to piece together the blood-streaked puzzle.
Creepy, atmospheric, and chillingly beautiful, it’s a twisted tale of love, madness, and marble. One star off for a slow stretch mid-book, but otherwise? A dark, delicious ride. Just don’t read it alone in a quiet room.
Thanks to Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster for providing this advance copy via NetGalley for my voluntary review. #NetGalley #TheFinerThings
When Fiona, his lifelong obsession, reappears, Edgar spirals from genius to unhinged artist real quick. Passion turns deadly, and Detective George Snyder is hot on the trail, trying to piece together the blood-streaked puzzle.
Creepy, atmospheric, and chillingly beautiful, it’s a twisted tale of love, madness, and marble. One star off for a slow stretch mid-book, but otherwise? A dark, delicious ride. Just don’t read it alone in a quiet room.
Thanks to Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster for providing this advance copy via NetGalley for my voluntary review. #NetGalley #TheFinerThings
July 30, 2025
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I’ve always loved JD Barker stories and The Finer Things was no different. The time and location of the story was beautiful- New York, 1950s. I’m not an art lover or critic, but I was captivated by Edgar’s dedication and obsession to the art world and his love for Fiona. This book had great character development, whether you hated or loved them, they were memorable! If you enjoy a fast-paced thriller involving love, art, and murder…this one’s for you.
August 24, 2025
Again I will start a review for a J.D. Barker book with a WOW! This may contain a few spoilers. This head spinning story line had me hooked, reading late into the evenings. I had no idea at the beginning what a nut job Edgar was. He had lost his touch with the reality I think at a very early age. His obsession with Fiona at a young age I think made her terrified of him and I think that’s why she jumped off the building after he found her in New York. Of course I’m just speculating what could have been in J.D.’s mind when writing this book.
Of course he has done it again by making really messed up. Just the way I like it. Ready for what’s next from J.D.!
Of course he has done it again by making really messed up. Just the way I like it. Ready for what’s next from J.D.!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
I am a fan of JD Barker, so I was excited to start this book.
Unfortunately, this book was not for me. It centers around an artist, and I just couldn’t get into the character. Both the dialogue and characters seemed a bit weird/off to me. I did finish it, so there’s that, but I wouldn’t recommend this book unless you are a huge art fan or an artist.
I am a fan of JD Barker, so I was excited to start this book.
Unfortunately, this book was not for me. It centers around an artist, and I just couldn’t get into the character. Both the dialogue and characters seemed a bit weird/off to me. I did finish it, so there’s that, but I wouldn’t recommend this book unless you are a huge art fan or an artist.
August 5, 2025
I couldn’t put this one down. I binge read it from begin to end.
August 20, 2025
I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway. This book is strange and beautiful and thought provoking. While it seems only to be a bizarre tale on the surface, it has layers and is full of social commentary about art, the art world, power differences between men and women and rich and poor, and the definition of beauty. I wasn’t expecting satirical horror but that’s what was delivered and I was here for it.
August 29, 2025
Wow I have no idea what I just read. I seen it coming but still didn’t think it would end like that .
July 6, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press/Simon & Schuster for the ARC. I’m so disappointed in this book. I normally thoroughly devour any book written by Barker but this one was a struggle from start to finish. I really wanted to quit on this book and I probably should have but I was hoping at some point it would take a turn and be up to par of his previous books. Sadly it didn’t
July 20, 2025
J.D. Barker’s work is undefinable. He has spanned the breadth of the horror and thriller genres with everything from the supernatural to serial killers to psychological suspense. Now, his latest release, written with Kyle Dunn, may be his most difficult novel to define.
THE FINER THINGS is set in a completely different time period and one that seems alien to readers in 2025 --- the early 1950s. It is a story about obsession and the search for perfection amidst the burgeoning fine art world in New York City. Edgar Maguire has always been hidden from sight or simply has been discounted because of the terrible scars that disfigure him. However, his two obsessions drive him to do things he never believed he was capable of doing: art, specifically sculpture work, and his muse, Fiona, with whom he has been enamored since their time together in the foster care system.
Fiona Caldwell --- now Fiona Haberstein following her adoption by the wealthy and famous arthouse and gallery owner Sylvia Haberstein --- peppers the narrative with excerpts from “The Last Testament of Fiona Haberstein, née Caldwell.” These pieces are initially confusing, but they make much more sense once the secrets of this eerie story are revealed. Early on, Fiona and Edgar reunite when they work as models for Gino Fallici, an art teacher and a struggling artist. Fiona indicates to Edgar that this must be fate and is soon swept away from any intentions Gino had for her as she shacks up with Edgar in a seedy Manhattan hotel.
Edgar makes a sculpture of Fiona and shows it to Gino in their hotel room. Gino is immediately struck silent and falls to the floor. Whether it was a heart attack, or his heart exploding from setting his eyes on a piece of art unlike anything he had ever seen before, Gino is no more. Rather than calling the police or disposing of him and running, Edgar and Fiona are inspired to do something unheard of. They build a new sculpture using his body parts within the plaster, which gives the creation an appearance otherwise unique to anything else in this genre. Whether it is mutual obsession or simply two artistic people seeking to boldly create in the fashion of Picasso, Dalí or Pollock, Edgar and Fiona are unable to turn back from continuing to produce their own brand of art to make a name for themselves.
Edgar just wants to get out from under the years of abuse he took due to his disfigurement, while Fiona wants out from under the thumb of her manipulative adoptive mother. Much to Fiona’s chagrin, Edgar approaches Sylvia about having his unique sculpture pieces displayed in her art gallery, The Finer Things. They strike a deal, but it may be temporary until Edgar grows famous enough to go it on his own with Fiona as his partner. Of course, the desire and need for more human subjects to support Edgar’s sculptures continue, and this serial spree of murders does not go unnoticed by the NYPD.
Detective George Snyder is particularly interested in stopping these homicides, which at one point looks like they could be attributed to warring gangs from the New York/New Jersey docks area. However, he keeps coming back to his #1 suspect, the scar-faced Edgar Maguire, who he is confident is up to some seriously deadly deeds, all in the name of his art. If Snyder truly was aware of what Edgar and Fiona were up to, it would have rocked his world, especially considering the far more innocent time in which they were living.
The cat-and-mouse game continues through the finale as Edgar and Fiona take each new artistic creation to a higher level under the guise that art eludes conventional mortality. THE FINER THINGS is not for the faint-hearted but is sure to please the legions of fans that J.D. Barker has amassed through his solo career and his partnerships with James Patterson and now Kyle Dunn.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
THE FINER THINGS is set in a completely different time period and one that seems alien to readers in 2025 --- the early 1950s. It is a story about obsession and the search for perfection amidst the burgeoning fine art world in New York City. Edgar Maguire has always been hidden from sight or simply has been discounted because of the terrible scars that disfigure him. However, his two obsessions drive him to do things he never believed he was capable of doing: art, specifically sculpture work, and his muse, Fiona, with whom he has been enamored since their time together in the foster care system.
Fiona Caldwell --- now Fiona Haberstein following her adoption by the wealthy and famous arthouse and gallery owner Sylvia Haberstein --- peppers the narrative with excerpts from “The Last Testament of Fiona Haberstein, née Caldwell.” These pieces are initially confusing, but they make much more sense once the secrets of this eerie story are revealed. Early on, Fiona and Edgar reunite when they work as models for Gino Fallici, an art teacher and a struggling artist. Fiona indicates to Edgar that this must be fate and is soon swept away from any intentions Gino had for her as she shacks up with Edgar in a seedy Manhattan hotel.
Edgar makes a sculpture of Fiona and shows it to Gino in their hotel room. Gino is immediately struck silent and falls to the floor. Whether it was a heart attack, or his heart exploding from setting his eyes on a piece of art unlike anything he had ever seen before, Gino is no more. Rather than calling the police or disposing of him and running, Edgar and Fiona are inspired to do something unheard of. They build a new sculpture using his body parts within the plaster, which gives the creation an appearance otherwise unique to anything else in this genre. Whether it is mutual obsession or simply two artistic people seeking to boldly create in the fashion of Picasso, Dalí or Pollock, Edgar and Fiona are unable to turn back from continuing to produce their own brand of art to make a name for themselves.
Edgar just wants to get out from under the years of abuse he took due to his disfigurement, while Fiona wants out from under the thumb of her manipulative adoptive mother. Much to Fiona’s chagrin, Edgar approaches Sylvia about having his unique sculpture pieces displayed in her art gallery, The Finer Things. They strike a deal, but it may be temporary until Edgar grows famous enough to go it on his own with Fiona as his partner. Of course, the desire and need for more human subjects to support Edgar’s sculptures continue, and this serial spree of murders does not go unnoticed by the NYPD.
Detective George Snyder is particularly interested in stopping these homicides, which at one point looks like they could be attributed to warring gangs from the New York/New Jersey docks area. However, he keeps coming back to his #1 suspect, the scar-faced Edgar Maguire, who he is confident is up to some seriously deadly deeds, all in the name of his art. If Snyder truly was aware of what Edgar and Fiona were up to, it would have rocked his world, especially considering the far more innocent time in which they were living.
The cat-and-mouse game continues through the finale as Edgar and Fiona take each new artistic creation to a higher level under the guise that art eludes conventional mortality. THE FINER THINGS is not for the faint-hearted but is sure to please the legions of fans that J.D. Barker has amassed through his solo career and his partnerships with James Patterson and now Kyle Dunn.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
July 20, 2025
J.D. Barker’s work is undefinable. He has spanned the breadth of the horror and thriller genres with everything from the supernatural to serial killers to psychological suspense. Now, his latest release, written with Kyle Dunn, may be his most difficult novel to define.
THE FINER THINGS is set in a completely different time period and one that seems alien to readers in 2025 --- the early 1950s. It is a story about obsession and the search for perfection amidst the burgeoning fine art world in New York City. Edgar Maguire has always been hidden from sight or simply has been discounted because of the terrible scars that disfigure him. However, his two obsessions drive him to do things he never believed he was capable of doing: art, specifically sculpture work, and his muse, Fiona, with whom he has been enamored since their time together in the foster care system.
Fiona Caldwell --- now Fiona Haberstein following her adoption by the wealthy and famous arthouse and gallery owner Sylvia Haberstein --- peppers the narrative with excerpts from “The Last Testament of Fiona Haberstein, née Caldwell.” These pieces are initially confusing, but they make much more sense once the secrets of this eerie story are revealed. Early on, Fiona and Edgar reunite when they work as models for Gino Fallici, an art teacher and a struggling artist. Fiona indicates to Edgar that this must be fate and is soon swept away from any intentions Gino had for her as she shacks up with Edgar in a seedy Manhattan hotel.
Edgar makes a sculpture of Fiona and shows it to Gino in their hotel room. Gino is immediately struck silent and falls to the floor. Whether it was a heart attack, or his heart exploding from setting his eyes on a piece of art unlike anything he had ever seen before, Gino is no more. Rather than calling the police or disposing of him and running, Edgar and Fiona are inspired to do something unheard of. They build a new sculpture using his body parts within the plaster, which gives the creation an appearance otherwise unique to anything else in this genre. Whether it is mutual obsession or simply two artistic people seeking to boldly create in the fashion of Picasso, Dalí or Pollock, Edgar and Fiona are unable to turn back from continuing to produce their own brand of art to make a name for themselves.
Edgar just wants to get out from under the years of abuse he took due to his disfigurement, while Fiona wants out from under the thumb of her manipulative adoptive mother. Much to Fiona’s chagrin, Edgar approaches Sylvia about having his unique sculpture pieces displayed in her art gallery, The Finer Things. They strike a deal, but it may be temporary until Edgar grows famous enough to go it on his own with Fiona as his partner. Of course, the desire and need for more human subjects to support Edgar’s sculptures continue, and this serial spree of murders does not go unnoticed by the NYPD.
Detective George Snyder is particularly interested in stopping these homicides, which at one point looks like they could be attributed to warring gangs from the New York/New Jersey docks area. However, he keeps coming back to his #1 suspect, the scar-faced Edgar Maguire, who he is confident is up to some seriously deadly deeds, all in the name of his art. If Snyder truly was aware of what Edgar and Fiona were up to, it would have rocked his world, especially considering the far more innocent time in which they were living.
The cat-and-mouse game continues through the finale as Edgar and Fiona take each new artistic creation to a higher level under the guise that art eludes conventional mortality. THE FINER THINGS is not for the faint-hearted but is sure to please the legions of fans that J.D. Barker has amassed through his solo career and his partnerships with James Patterson and now Kyle Dunn.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
THE FINER THINGS is set in a completely different time period and one that seems alien to readers in 2025 --- the early 1950s. It is a story about obsession and the search for perfection amidst the burgeoning fine art world in New York City. Edgar Maguire has always been hidden from sight or simply has been discounted because of the terrible scars that disfigure him. However, his two obsessions drive him to do things he never believed he was capable of doing: art, specifically sculpture work, and his muse, Fiona, with whom he has been enamored since their time together in the foster care system.
Fiona Caldwell --- now Fiona Haberstein following her adoption by the wealthy and famous arthouse and gallery owner Sylvia Haberstein --- peppers the narrative with excerpts from “The Last Testament of Fiona Haberstein, née Caldwell.” These pieces are initially confusing, but they make much more sense once the secrets of this eerie story are revealed. Early on, Fiona and Edgar reunite when they work as models for Gino Fallici, an art teacher and a struggling artist. Fiona indicates to Edgar that this must be fate and is soon swept away from any intentions Gino had for her as she shacks up with Edgar in a seedy Manhattan hotel.
Edgar makes a sculpture of Fiona and shows it to Gino in their hotel room. Gino is immediately struck silent and falls to the floor. Whether it was a heart attack, or his heart exploding from setting his eyes on a piece of art unlike anything he had ever seen before, Gino is no more. Rather than calling the police or disposing of him and running, Edgar and Fiona are inspired to do something unheard of. They build a new sculpture using his body parts within the plaster, which gives the creation an appearance otherwise unique to anything else in this genre. Whether it is mutual obsession or simply two artistic people seeking to boldly create in the fashion of Picasso, Dalí or Pollock, Edgar and Fiona are unable to turn back from continuing to produce their own brand of art to make a name for themselves.
Edgar just wants to get out from under the years of abuse he took due to his disfigurement, while Fiona wants out from under the thumb of her manipulative adoptive mother. Much to Fiona’s chagrin, Edgar approaches Sylvia about having his unique sculpture pieces displayed in her art gallery, The Finer Things. They strike a deal, but it may be temporary until Edgar grows famous enough to go it on his own with Fiona as his partner. Of course, the desire and need for more human subjects to support Edgar’s sculptures continue, and this serial spree of murders does not go unnoticed by the NYPD.
Detective George Snyder is particularly interested in stopping these homicides, which at one point looks like they could be attributed to warring gangs from the New York/New Jersey docks area. However, he keeps coming back to his #1 suspect, the scar-faced Edgar Maguire, who he is confident is up to some seriously deadly deeds, all in the name of his art. If Snyder truly was aware of what Edgar and Fiona were up to, it would have rocked his world, especially considering the far more innocent time in which they were living.
The cat-and-mouse game continues through the finale as Edgar and Fiona take each new artistic creation to a higher level under the guise that art eludes conventional mortality. THE FINER THINGS is not for the faint-hearted but is sure to please the legions of fans that J.D. Barker has amassed through his solo career and his partnerships with James Patterson and now Kyle Dunn.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
May 29, 2025
I feel like this is one of those books where you are going to get people who have very strong feelings about it. There will be people who will love it, and there will be people who hate it. Unfortunately, this book just really wasn't for me. I wanted more murder mystery and less gore.
This book is set in New York City during the 1950s. While there were places where NYC locations were mentioned and characters from that time were mentioned, overall I felt like the authors didn't take full advantage of the setting. It was easy to forget when and where this took place, and I would have liked for the setting to play a bigger role in the story.
Toward the end of the novel, there's a huge reveal. I felt like I was supposed to be surprised, but for most of the book, I had wondered about this. I won't ruin the book and tell you the huge reveal, but it wasn't a surprise at all.
This book has quite a bit of swearing, including several uses of the f-bomb. There are hints of sexual situations, but it doesn't go into a lot of detail. It gets a bit gory at times, especially when it comes to the killings. I can usually handle a little creepy of material, but I had to skip ahead at least one time.
One thing that I really liked about this book was that the chapters are very short. This made it easy to read a chapter or two even if I only had a few minutes.
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway, and I'm providing a voluntary review.
This book is set in New York City during the 1950s. While there were places where NYC locations were mentioned and characters from that time were mentioned, overall I felt like the authors didn't take full advantage of the setting. It was easy to forget when and where this took place, and I would have liked for the setting to play a bigger role in the story.
Toward the end of the novel, there's a huge reveal. I felt like I was supposed to be surprised, but for most of the book, I had wondered about this. I won't ruin the book and tell you the huge reveal, but it wasn't a surprise at all.
This book has quite a bit of swearing, including several uses of the f-bomb. There are hints of sexual situations, but it doesn't go into a lot of detail. It gets a bit gory at times, especially when it comes to the killings. I can usually handle a little creepy of material, but I had to skip ahead at least one time.
One thing that I really liked about this book was that the chapters are very short. This made it easy to read a chapter or two even if I only had a few minutes.
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway, and I'm providing a voluntary review.
July 14, 2025
** I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **
What a strange and chaotic book. And I don't mean that as a compliment. The concept of an artist going mad over his muse and leaving a trail of bodies in his wake sounded so interesting. I thought it would be such a cool, interesting read. I was, unfortunately, wrong.
The first twenty chapters of this book seriously had me wanting to mark it as DNF. Probably should've. The writing was so choppy, we didn't get enough of a lead into the action, and I genuinely could not keep the attempted setting in mind. 1950s New York sounded neat, but I never felt that, it always felt pre-WWI to me. And it being around Christmas? Each mention violently reminded me, because it was so spread out. The writing of the dialogue was also annoying. There was nothing setting up the emotions being portrayed and felt so choppy. It was almost painful to read.
Even as we finally started getting somewhere interesting plot-wise, these problems persisted. And I never understood the characters and their motivations. They kept going back and forth, up to the end, and I never fully got them or connected with them.
The last thirty-ish pages where it all got chaotic was confusing more than anything. It all just lost me. Especially the last two pages.
Overall, not great.
Rating: 1.5/5
Recommend? No
What a strange and chaotic book. And I don't mean that as a compliment. The concept of an artist going mad over his muse and leaving a trail of bodies in his wake sounded so interesting. I thought it would be such a cool, interesting read. I was, unfortunately, wrong.
The first twenty chapters of this book seriously had me wanting to mark it as DNF. Probably should've. The writing was so choppy, we didn't get enough of a lead into the action, and I genuinely could not keep the attempted setting in mind. 1950s New York sounded neat, but I never felt that, it always felt pre-WWI to me. And it being around Christmas? Each mention violently reminded me, because it was so spread out. The writing of the dialogue was also annoying. There was nothing setting up the emotions being portrayed and felt so choppy. It was almost painful to read.
Even as we finally started getting somewhere interesting plot-wise, these problems persisted. And I never understood the characters and their motivations. They kept going back and forth, up to the end, and I never fully got them or connected with them.
The last thirty-ish pages where it all got chaotic was confusing more than anything. It all just lost me. Especially the last two pages.
Overall, not great.
Rating: 1.5/5
Recommend? No
May 14, 2025
Set against the smoky backdrop of 1950s New York is a chilling tale of obsession, madness, and murder disguised as art.
Edgar Maguire is a rising star in the sculpting world, his work stunning, raw, and increasingly disturbing. When Fiona, the woman he’s long fixated on, comes back into his life, it’s the spark that sends him hurtling toward a bloody, twisted legacy.
On the other side of the city, Detective George Snyder is following a trail of bodies, and the closer he gets to the truth, the more tangled the web becomes. Between genius and insanity, between love and possession.
The concept has bite, and the atmosphere is dark and could be compelling but something about the execution didn’t fully land for me. While the setup is promising and the premise sinister in all the right ways, I found it hard to connect with the characters or feel truly immersed in the story. It read a bit flat, lacking the emotional weight or narrative grip I hoped for from such a vivid premise.
Still, if you’re in the mood for a noir-style thriller with art and murder interwoven in an unsettling dance, this might hit the mark for you.
Thank you to the authors and Net Galley for the arc, I am leaving this review with my honest opinion
Edgar Maguire is a rising star in the sculpting world, his work stunning, raw, and increasingly disturbing. When Fiona, the woman he’s long fixated on, comes back into his life, it’s the spark that sends him hurtling toward a bloody, twisted legacy.
On the other side of the city, Detective George Snyder is following a trail of bodies, and the closer he gets to the truth, the more tangled the web becomes. Between genius and insanity, between love and possession.
The concept has bite, and the atmosphere is dark and could be compelling but something about the execution didn’t fully land for me. While the setup is promising and the premise sinister in all the right ways, I found it hard to connect with the characters or feel truly immersed in the story. It read a bit flat, lacking the emotional weight or narrative grip I hoped for from such a vivid premise.
Still, if you’re in the mood for a noir-style thriller with art and murder interwoven in an unsettling dance, this might hit the mark for you.
Thank you to the authors and Net Galley for the arc, I am leaving this review with my honest opinion
July 24, 2025
The Finer Things is a dark, graphic thriller set in 1950s New York, following Edgar—a disfigured sculptor obsessed with his childhood friend Fiona—as his passion spirals into madness. While his art gains acclaim, a trail of gruesome murders draws the attention of Detective George Snyder, leading their stories to collide.
The premise was intriguing, and I appreciated the themes of obsession, ego, and mental health. However, this story didn’t grip me the way other Barker novels have. The relationship between Edgar and Fiona felt intense but predictable, and I struggled to connect with the characters. The plot was atmospheric but lacked twists, and some moments leaned more horror than thriller.
Though it wasn’t a favorite, it still offered an unsettling look into the darker side of art, ambition, and identity.
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster/Hampton Creek Press, and the authors for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The premise was intriguing, and I appreciated the themes of obsession, ego, and mental health. However, this story didn’t grip me the way other Barker novels have. The relationship between Edgar and Fiona felt intense but predictable, and I struggled to connect with the characters. The plot was atmospheric but lacked twists, and some moments leaned more horror than thriller.
Though it wasn’t a favorite, it still offered an unsettling look into the darker side of art, ambition, and identity.
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster/Hampton Creek Press, and the authors for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 3, 2025
The Finer Things by J.D. Barker, Kyle Dunn
I read the beginning of this book and was horrified by the act one child perpetrated on another in St. Mary’s home for orphans. Why would an adult admit in writing what was done to another and have it given to the person harmed? After reading the beginning, I read the end and found that it was as horrific as the beginning. My next action was to skim a bit in the middle and found out what happened to the two children in St. Mary’s during their time apart and then when they met up again later in life. I found out that there was blood, murder, obsession, art, sculpting, and crazy happenings with police looking for a murderer, too. At that point, I gave up. I had not read this author before and have a feeling I will not read his work in the future. I am sure others will enjoy this story, but it did not work for me.
Thank you to NetGallely and Hampton Creek-Simon & Schuster for the ARC – This is my honest review.
2-3 Stars
I read the beginning of this book and was horrified by the act one child perpetrated on another in St. Mary’s home for orphans. Why would an adult admit in writing what was done to another and have it given to the person harmed? After reading the beginning, I read the end and found that it was as horrific as the beginning. My next action was to skim a bit in the middle and found out what happened to the two children in St. Mary’s during their time apart and then when they met up again later in life. I found out that there was blood, murder, obsession, art, sculpting, and crazy happenings with police looking for a murderer, too. At that point, I gave up. I had not read this author before and have a feeling I will not read his work in the future. I am sure others will enjoy this story, but it did not work for me.
Thank you to NetGallely and Hampton Creek-Simon & Schuster for the ARC – This is my honest review.
2-3 Stars
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