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The Faces of Marcus Blake
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Expected 16 Feb 27Win a free kindle copy of this book!
5 days and 21:16:13
100 copies available
U.S. only
He can be anyone. Even you.
A dying inmate makes one last deliver a letter. Volunteer prison chaplain Thomas Reyes has broken the rules for the men inside before; what harm could one small act of mercy do?
By morning, the inmate is dead. So is an orderly. And a man walks out of the prison gates wearing a face that doesn't belong to him.
Marcus Blake is not who he says he is. He never is. A holy man. A killer. A miracle of flesh made clay, the result of an experiment that should never have happened, hunting the scientist who created him and burning through every life in his way.
Now Reyes's simple kindness has marked him. And when Blake turns toward the person the Preacher loves most, Reyes must find a man no one can recognize before Blake claims his final face.
From New York Times bestselling author J.D. Barker and I.O. Adler comes a relentless thriller about faith, identity, and the terrifying how do you hunt a man who can become anyone?
A dying inmate makes one last deliver a letter. Volunteer prison chaplain Thomas Reyes has broken the rules for the men inside before; what harm could one small act of mercy do?
By morning, the inmate is dead. So is an orderly. And a man walks out of the prison gates wearing a face that doesn't belong to him.
Marcus Blake is not who he says he is. He never is. A holy man. A killer. A miracle of flesh made clay, the result of an experiment that should never have happened, hunting the scientist who created him and burning through every life in his way.
Now Reyes's simple kindness has marked him. And when Blake turns toward the person the Preacher loves most, Reyes must find a man no one can recognize before Blake claims his final face.
From New York Times bestselling author J.D. Barker and I.O. Adler comes a relentless thriller about faith, identity, and the terrifying how do you hunt a man who can become anyone?
- GenresThriller
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 16, 2027
About the author
J.D. Barker
60 books7,595 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 - 14 of 14 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Faces of Marcus Blake by J.D. Barker
Thomas Reyes is a good man but the treatment of his father by people who should have been on the right side of the law changed him. Now he's a volunteer prison chaplain, with his day job being an insurance agent. He has broken rules for those who need his help and his desire to help men who have no one else on their side helped to break up his marriage. Still, Reyes and his ex wife are on good terms, mostly because they want the best for their twenty year old daughter and supporting each other helps to support her.
This time, all he was going to do was deliver a letter. But the elderly inmate he was helping wasn't "right". Reyes is going to learn there is a man out there who can be whoever he wants to be thanks to the fact that he's a living experiment gone wrong and rogue. Reyes now has a target on his head and so do his ex-wife and his daughter.
The story is pretty much action and the action is not pretty. Bodies will pile up, faces may be copied, the evidence of more experiments becomes clear. Who is good and who is bad is sometimes impossible to know. All the while, Reyes will do whatever he must do to save his daughter, this everyman who is thrown into a huge mess of greed and power using innocent people for evil reasons. Now I need a slow, boring book so I can calm down!
Expected publication February 16, 2027
Thank you to Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles and NetGalley for this ARC
Thomas Reyes is a good man but the treatment of his father by people who should have been on the right side of the law changed him. Now he's a volunteer prison chaplain, with his day job being an insurance agent. He has broken rules for those who need his help and his desire to help men who have no one else on their side helped to break up his marriage. Still, Reyes and his ex wife are on good terms, mostly because they want the best for their twenty year old daughter and supporting each other helps to support her.
This time, all he was going to do was deliver a letter. But the elderly inmate he was helping wasn't "right". Reyes is going to learn there is a man out there who can be whoever he wants to be thanks to the fact that he's a living experiment gone wrong and rogue. Reyes now has a target on his head and so do his ex-wife and his daughter.
The story is pretty much action and the action is not pretty. Bodies will pile up, faces may be copied, the evidence of more experiments becomes clear. Who is good and who is bad is sometimes impossible to know. All the while, Reyes will do whatever he must do to save his daughter, this everyman who is thrown into a huge mess of greed and power using innocent people for evil reasons. Now I need a slow, boring book so I can calm down!
Expected publication February 16, 2027
Thank you to Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles and NetGalley for this ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A dying inmate makes one last request - delivery of a letter. Volunteer prison chaplain Thomas Reyes, has broken the rules for the men inside before, what harm could one small act of mercy do? Well we’re about to find out!
By morning, the inmate is dead. So is an orderly. And a man walks out of the prison gates wearing a face that doesn't belong to him.
Thanks to an experiment that’s gone too far, Marcus Blake can change his face at will. He could even change it to yours if it suited him! However, things are starting to go wrong with his body, and Blake needs to find the scientist responsible for his special ability, in order to put things right.
This dark and twisted sci-fi thriller held me spellbound with its intricate plotting, superb pacing, and tension throughout. A real page turner!
*Thanks to Netgalley and Hampton Creek Press/ Simon and Schuster for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
By morning, the inmate is dead. So is an orderly. And a man walks out of the prison gates wearing a face that doesn't belong to him.
Thanks to an experiment that’s gone too far, Marcus Blake can change his face at will. He could even change it to yours if it suited him! However, things are starting to go wrong with his body, and Blake needs to find the scientist responsible for his special ability, in order to put things right.
This dark and twisted sci-fi thriller held me spellbound with its intricate plotting, superb pacing, and tension throughout. A real page turner!
*Thanks to Netgalley and Hampton Creek Press/ Simon and Schuster for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4+
Who is Marcus Blake? He's not who he says he is, he's a shape shifter and he's on the hunt.
Prison volunteer chaplain Thomas Reyes is kind enough to follow through on a dying inmates request to deliver a letter. Although it's against the rules, it's an act of mercy and what harm can it do? By morning, the inmate is dead and so is an orderly and a man walks out of the prison gates wearing his face. Unfortunately, Reyes actions, despite his good intentions, make him a marked man as Marcus Blake is on a mission.
Any JD Barker (and collaborator) is a cause for celebration in my opinion! What does he/they deliver to readers? Quite simply, a creatively dark storyline. From the first word to the last, the novel holds me in its thrall, intrigued and engaged as a dangerous and deadly game of cat and mouse ensures, with so many twists and turns it's dizzying! I have no idea what will happen next, except that it wouldn't be good and Reyes will need every ounce of bravery and resilience. The pace is fast, it's an action packed dystopian thriller, with tension in spades especially as I have no idea which character will actually turn up.
Thomas Reyes is the standout character who tries to do right, driven by faith and the love of his family especially his daughter Gabby. Despite his good intentions, sometimes he has to cross lines that would never occur to him to do in normal circumstances. As for Marcus, I alternate between feeling sorry for him and despairing with very little in between. Marcus is not the only one wearing a different face, here characters present as respectable but so are not as they play with things that shouldn't be messed with. I guess you could say they have God complexes, but don't act remotely godly. One character fools me to the end.
This is a sort of updated Frankenstein style story, obviously JD style.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hampton Creek Press/Simon and Schuster for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Who is Marcus Blake? He's not who he says he is, he's a shape shifter and he's on the hunt.
Prison volunteer chaplain Thomas Reyes is kind enough to follow through on a dying inmates request to deliver a letter. Although it's against the rules, it's an act of mercy and what harm can it do? By morning, the inmate is dead and so is an orderly and a man walks out of the prison gates wearing his face. Unfortunately, Reyes actions, despite his good intentions, make him a marked man as Marcus Blake is on a mission.
Any JD Barker (and collaborator) is a cause for celebration in my opinion! What does he/they deliver to readers? Quite simply, a creatively dark storyline. From the first word to the last, the novel holds me in its thrall, intrigued and engaged as a dangerous and deadly game of cat and mouse ensures, with so many twists and turns it's dizzying! I have no idea what will happen next, except that it wouldn't be good and Reyes will need every ounce of bravery and resilience. The pace is fast, it's an action packed dystopian thriller, with tension in spades especially as I have no idea which character will actually turn up.
Thomas Reyes is the standout character who tries to do right, driven by faith and the love of his family especially his daughter Gabby. Despite his good intentions, sometimes he has to cross lines that would never occur to him to do in normal circumstances. As for Marcus, I alternate between feeling sorry for him and despairing with very little in between. Marcus is not the only one wearing a different face, here characters present as respectable but so are not as they play with things that shouldn't be messed with. I guess you could say they have God complexes, but don't act remotely godly. One character fools me to the end.
This is a sort of updated Frankenstein style story, obviously JD style.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hampton Creek Press/Simon and Schuster for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
November 9, 2026
The story of a man with a changing face who is on the rampage in search of the scientist who created him, The Faces Of Marcus Blake is a fast paced if somewhat silly thriller that unfortunately left me cold.
I’m a big fan of Barkers novels but his collaborations for me have nearly all been misses and this one continues the trend. I had little or no connection with any of the characters and the story felt like it was written by a teenage boy.
It is fast paced and there are some exciting and suspenseful passages but for the most part one chapter blurs into the other with little or any soul or substance to get your teeth into.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
I’m a big fan of Barkers novels but his collaborations for me have nearly all been misses and this one continues the trend. I had little or no connection with any of the characters and the story felt like it was written by a teenage boy.
It is fast paced and there are some exciting and suspenseful passages but for the most part one chapter blurs into the other with little or any soul or substance to get your teeth into.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
Read
October 28, 2026 The Faces of Marcus Blake by I.O. Adler and J.D. Barker is a stand alone thriller published by Simon & Schuster.
A crime fiction, psychology thriller that had me up long into the night. Literally unputdownable, fast paced, drama laden and twistsy, an outstanding read. The book is a wonderful read and deserves all the stars.
A crime fiction, psychology thriller that had me up long into the night. Literally unputdownable, fast paced, drama laden and twistsy, an outstanding read. The book is a wonderful read and deserves all the stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster.
Thomas Reyes, a prison chaplain, decides to help a dying inmate without realising that he is in fact Marcus Blake, the result of an experiment. When Blake escapes, Reyes finds himself pursued and threatened as well.
Complex characters who sometimes waver between good and evil, and a plot in which ethical dilemmas play a key role, are the main strengths of this thriller with touches of science fiction.
The tension and pace build as the novel progresses, and it kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. This novel is certainly well worth your time.
Thomas Reyes, a prison chaplain, decides to help a dying inmate without realising that he is in fact Marcus Blake, the result of an experiment. When Blake escapes, Reyes finds himself pursued and threatened as well.
Complex characters who sometimes waver between good and evil, and a plot in which ethical dilemmas play a key role, are the main strengths of this thriller with touches of science fiction.
The tension and pace build as the novel progresses, and it kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. This novel is certainly well worth your time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ok, wow! The premise of this book alone had me completely intrigued. A man that can change his appearance to wear the faces of others? Sign me up! I went into this book full force and the intensity and action never let up. It was a definite page turner but didn't quite meet the five-star mark for me. As much as I detest long-winded details on any subject, the science behind the 'ability' was not explained well enough. I understood why these experiments were instituted and some of the results were portrayed, but nothing was given on how the tests were performed or the failures. How did this happen? What did these people go through? This lack of details caused some confusion for me. It didn't take away from the suspense nor the entertainment value. This was still a very interesting and enjoyable read. I just needed more to fully comprehend the experiment. I also would have liked more face changes...but that's just me. I would definitely recommend.
Thank you to Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for granting me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you to Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for granting me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
344 pages
5 stars
This is a remarkably exciting thriller.
Marcus Blake can be anyone. He is anyone.
A volunteer prison chaplain chooses to deliver a letter from a dying prisoner. But are things really as they seem?
The consequences of the chaplain’s choice snowball into an intricate set of problems. Not only for the chaplain, but also for his family. His ex-wife and daughter become mixed up in the fray.
A major corporation becomes involved with very dangerous consequences. People are killed and kidnapped.
Who is this corporation? Why are they hunting the chaplain and the prisoner?
You must read this exciting novel. The characters are unique and fresh. There are several players in this drama, and they all play an integral part. I enjoyed learning about them and enjoyed the surprises along the way.
I want to thank NetGalley and Hampton Street Press - Simon & Schuster for forwarding to me a copy of this remarkable book. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
5 stars
This is a remarkably exciting thriller.
Marcus Blake can be anyone. He is anyone.
A volunteer prison chaplain chooses to deliver a letter from a dying prisoner. But are things really as they seem?
The consequences of the chaplain’s choice snowball into an intricate set of problems. Not only for the chaplain, but also for his family. His ex-wife and daughter become mixed up in the fray.
A major corporation becomes involved with very dangerous consequences. People are killed and kidnapped.
Who is this corporation? Why are they hunting the chaplain and the prisoner?
You must read this exciting novel. The characters are unique and fresh. There are several players in this drama, and they all play an integral part. I enjoyed learning about them and enjoyed the surprises along the way.
I want to thank NetGalley and Hampton Street Press - Simon & Schuster for forwarding to me a copy of this remarkable book. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC of The Faces of Marcus Blake by J.D. Barker.
This book is a dark, twisted sci-fi thriller that explores what happens when science goes too far and the people responsible refuse to face the consequences.
Marcus Blake is the product of a laboratory experiment gone horribly wrong. But beneath it all, Marcus just wants to be cured.
Thomas Reyes is a volunteer prison chaplain who finds himself caught in the middle of a dangerous conspiracy after being tricked into delivering a letter. What seems like a simple favor quickly spirals into a life threatening situation and nobody is safe.
Marcus may be dangerous, but is he truly the monster, or is he the result of people who played God and abandoned their creation? The story blurs the lines between victim and villain, forcing you to question who deserves your sympathy and who the real monsters are.
I truly did love this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fast-paced, sci-fi thriller that is full of twists and turns.
This book is a dark, twisted sci-fi thriller that explores what happens when science goes too far and the people responsible refuse to face the consequences.
Marcus Blake is the product of a laboratory experiment gone horribly wrong. But beneath it all, Marcus just wants to be cured.
Thomas Reyes is a volunteer prison chaplain who finds himself caught in the middle of a dangerous conspiracy after being tricked into delivering a letter. What seems like a simple favor quickly spirals into a life threatening situation and nobody is safe.
Marcus may be dangerous, but is he truly the monster, or is he the result of people who played God and abandoned their creation? The story blurs the lines between victim and villain, forcing you to question who deserves your sympathy and who the real monsters are.
I truly did love this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fast-paced, sci-fi thriller that is full of twists and turns.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“The Faces of Marcus Blake” is a SciFi/Thriller that pits an unwitting hero against a devil in disguise and corporate greed.
The set up takes just a moment in time, and then we are off to the races. I love how Barker can write so many different styles of novels. I have yet to be disappointed with any of his work.
This one kept me on the edge of my seat from about page one. What was an added bonus is how Reyes is such great character that you will be more invested in him than any other character in the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
The set up takes just a moment in time, and then we are off to the races. I love how Barker can write so many different styles of novels. I have yet to be disappointed with any of his work.
This one kept me on the edge of my seat from about page one. What was an added bonus is how Reyes is such great character that you will be more invested in him than any other character in the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Faces of Marcus Blake by J.D. Barker is a masterclass in crime fiction and psychological suspense. From the very first page, the narrative is utterly gripping, anchoring the reader in a richly atmospheric setting with a fast-paced, unpredictable storyline. Barker expertly crafts a deeply intriguing mystery centered around the enigmatic title character, continually raising the compelling question: Who is Marcus Blake? With its intricate plotting, palpable tension, and satisfying twists, this stellar thriller is a definitive five-star read for fans of the genre.
Thank you so much #NetGalley for the ARC to read and review. I can’t wait to read more by this author.
Thank you so much #NetGalley for the ARC to read and review. I can’t wait to read more by this author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Interesting thriller, based around a man with a changing face on a rampage to find the scientist who created him.
Fast paced, with enough human emotion and character development to stop it getting silly. Enjoying it despite it not being my go-to genre.
Fast paced, with enough human emotion and character development to stop it getting silly. Enjoying it despite it not being my go-to genre.
November 11, 2026
I really like JD Barker, but this was terrible. I honestly don’t even know why I finished it. This felt ridiculously childish. If you told me a 12 year old wrote this, I would’ve believed you. This wasn’t even an interesting concept. This was so unrealistic and ridiculous.
November 13, 2026
For the 2nd time ever…. I DNF a book, JD Barker book at that. My fave author, this pains me.
Too many characters and the plot was just dumb.
Thanks NetGalley but no.
Too many characters and the plot was just dumb.
Thanks NetGalley but no.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews