Dena’s Comments (group member since Dec 30, 2019)

Dena’s comments from the 4MK Discussion Group group.

Jennifer wrote: "I loved this series. I love unreliable narrators and the diary entries. I know that there are lots of questions that are left unanswered or that are left for the reader to puzzle out, but the main ..."

Hi Jennifer,
I think that is an excellent point and I don't think you missed anything (or I missed it also). I have also wondered about that on many occasions. How can Bishop ever be ok with his parents abandoning him like they did. I do wonder what happened to Father. If he was not killed in the beginning, when Mother left and ran away with Mrs. Carter, then where did he go? And why? I have thought about this a lot and have not really come up with any answers, just more questions.

We know that at some point Bishop was back in contact with Father, as we know Father pretended to be the Psychiatrist that Sam went to visit at the treatment center hoping to look at Bishop's patient chart. So when and how did he get in touch with him? Has he always been?

In the Diary entries, Bishop seemed to look up to his father and idolize him. And we also know that he is a sociopath, so how does that factor in? It seems that when Bishop loves someone he will do anything for them (like the other kids at the Finicky house). Perhaps he just loved his parents blindly and while it may have hurt that they abandoned him, he could forgive them because of who they were??

I'll keep thinking, and I'll be interested to see if anyone else has any thoughts on the subject.

J.D. Barker

Welcome to the final discussion of "The Sixth Wicked Child" by J.D. Barker. Please take note that we will be discussing this book in depth and SPOILERS ARE ALLOWED. If you have not read this book yet, I do not recommend reading further in this post.

Here are some questions to get us started, but please feel free to ask any other questions you may have or expand further on any topic.

1) Do you think the author intentionally left the ending vague? What do you think happened in the final scene? Do you think it was absolutely/positively Sam who shot Bishop? At first it seemed obvious. Of course it was Sam who shot Bishop. But there was an element of doubt in the back of my mind because Bishop is SO 'crafty', and because the author doesn't exactly put in black and white who was shot.

This is why I question it:
Bishop asked Sam who else knew he was there. Did he just want to be sure that his group of friends would be safe if Sam gave his word? Or was he asking because if no one knew Sam was there, no one would know where to look for him (Sam) if he "disappeared"?

Also, once Sam confirms that no one else knew he was there, it states "Bishop forced his breathing to slow, forced his body to remain calm, as Father had taught him." So I questioned: as Father had taught him to do when? Before he killed someone? Or just to remain calm? Was he resigning himself to the fact that this was the end for him? Or was he formulating a plan of attack?

I've re-read the ending several times and I do honestly believe that it was Sam who did the shooting. But I thought it would be good to get your insight!?!?!



2) Who do you think the title of the book refers to? Who is the Sixth Wicked Child?


3) Bishop misunderstood Porter’s involvement with Ms. Finicky and the other “corrupt” police officers. Do you think he felt bad when he read Hillburn’s letter and ultimately realized the truth? If he had known the truth about Porter, how do you think events would have been different?


4) I keep thinking about the the figure 8, or Infinity symbol. It was tattooed on several victims, and it was also drawn on the pages of the poetry book found in Porter’s house. What do you think this symbol signifies? Could the symbol represent the eight children from the Finicky House?


5) The Diary gives us insight into Bishop’s life during his stay at the Finicky House for Wayward Children. Does this insight, in any way, make you sympathetic toward Bishop?


6) People are not always what they appear to be, and Anson Bishop is no exception. While there is no doubt he has evil tendencies, there must also be reasons why his friends remain loyal to him. What does that say about him? What does that say about them?


7) Were you surprised to learn the true identity of “The Kid”?


8) Are you still thinking about these characters as if they are real (like I am???)?


I could go on and on with the questions but this should get us started. Please feel free to chime in with any other questions you have or anything further you want to discuss.... Mother, Father, the phrase Father Forgive Me, the craftiness of the author, etc., etc.

I've been trying to figure out Bishop's relationship with his mother. And who killed the real Sarah Werner? Originally I thought Bishop was calling all the shots and probably had Mother pretend to be Sarah after having her killed, but if he thanked Sam for bringing Finicky and Mother to him, then did he really not know where Mother was? Or was she refusing to meet up with him? And if that was the case did Mother act on her own to kill Sarah? And what does Bishop intend to do with Mother? When mother made a comment that he (Bishop) wouldn't hurt her and his response was something like "we'll see about that." So many questions!!! my brain is still swimming!

Yes, Christine, I thought the same thing about how Sam didn't recognize Bishop when he was pretending to be Watson. Are they working together? Is it a fake? Does Bishop just look that much different from when he was a kid? It really boggles the mind!

I'll have to to back and refresh my memory about the bodies in the house. or maybe more is revealed in the next book. Does anyone else have thoughts about the bodies found?

Renee wrote: "Ok, just to touch on the ending! I was like NO! It will be about a year before the next book! I have considered holding back on reading trilogies until all 3 books are published after reading this ..."

I agree, Renee, that ending was pretty brutal, wasn't it? When I first read it I had a year to wait for the third book also, and it was a little like torture (yikes). I have seen some one star reviews on this book solely because the book ended on a cliffhanger. I think that is quite unfair because, 1) this a trilogy so we know in advance that there is another book to come, and 2) it was an amazing book. But yeah, that bit with Sara Werner... I did not see that coming! All of it was so good!

We've made it to our second discussion in the 4MK Discussion Group. We will focus on the SECOND book in the trilogy, "The Fifth to Die". Please note that we will be discussing this book in-depth and SPOILERS ARE ALLOWED. If you have not read this book yet, I do not recommend reading further in this post. And if you have read beyond the second book, please be sure not to post any spoilers for book 3. This discussion is for the second book only. That being said, let's get started!

I'll start with the most obvious shocker - the ending! But please feel free to discuss any other aspect of this book or expand further on any topic.

1) WHAT. JUST. HAPPENED? A lot is going on at the ending of this book. We find out that Porter’s name is on the deed to the property with the lake and two houses in Simpsonville, SC (Bishop's childhood home). We also see old photos of Porter with a young Anson Bishop. How do you think Porter is connected to, or involved in, this case?

2) Toward the end of the book, we find out that Bishop’s father is still alive, and also that the Diary contains "little white lies". Why do you think Bishop lied about his father’s death? Where is Father now?

3) After discovering Libby McInley’s body, Klozowski suggested that it may not have been Bishop who killed Libby after all, but rather it might have been Bishop’s mother who killed her. What do you think about Kloz’s theory? Do you think Mother has an agenda of her own?

4) When Porter brought Jane Doe and the woman he knew as Sarah Werner to the Guyon Hotel, Bishop says “I want to thank you for bringing Mother to me, Sam. Finicky as well. Two birds.” What do you think Bishop’s intentions are with his mother?

5) 4MK is always one step ahead of the police. What are your theories on how he is able to accomplish this?

6) Once again we see the symbol of a Figure 8, or Infinity symbol, come up. Emory Connors, Jacob Kittner and Jane Doe all had this symbol tattooed on their wrists. What do you think this symbol signifies? Do you think it is important? Or do you think it might be a red herring?

7) The ending of this book leaves the reader with so many unanswered questions. How do you feel about cliffhangers like this one? What theories do you have about the next book and how you think the story will progress.

Renee wrote: "1)I was totally surprised that Paul Watson was 4 MK! It was a terrific twist as I never thought it was someone on the team. I pay much closer attention to books that I’ve read since this one! Trust..."

Ha, Renee!! "Trust no one." I love it!!

Rebekah wrote: "4) Jacob Kittner was tattooed with an infinity symbol / figure eight. What do you think this symbol represents? Do you think it was significant or do you think it was a red herring?

I have NO idea..."

Rebekah, about your question of the Watch Shop, that's an interesting one!! I guess I was thinking that when he said his uncle owned the watch shop it was so he would seem important to the team, and that they would want him to stay involved? Give him a task to follow up on? But also it definitely was a clue, a way to lead the team to the Dry Cleaners, where the ticket came from, and where they found Emory's clothes... another clue. I don't know what he would have done if Porter actually went with him to the watch shop during a time that it was opened.... maybe he had someone there pretending to be his uncle?

Angel wrote: "This is a re-read for me. I don't usually reread suspense books, because once you know the twist it just seems kind of pointless. But this is one I have always wanted to go back and look for clues ..."

Angel, I'm glad you are enjoying the book the second time around, I am as well. I still didn't see *many* clues as to who 4MK was, but as you said anything would be subtle. And it is great the second time also. I found more clues about other things in the book and also felt like I got to know the characters a bit more.

For example, I noticed this time around that in the Diary Bishop mentioned Father picking up his fedora when he went off to work, and then there was the fedora that was found on the guy who was hit by the bus. I don't know if that was connected but I have to think it was as fedoras are not really common. As if it was a piece of his past that had meaning to him. Just little clues or connections.

Just like all of you, I was surprised to find out who Watson really was! It wasn't until, like you Maureen, I got that sinking feeling when they were in Sam's apartment. I really liked Watson, and of course loved the references to "Dr. Watson" [being the Sherlock nerd that I am]. After we found out who he was I was cringing for Sam, who opened up to him about his wife's murder.

I agree with you all about the Diary. A lot felt over the top but it could definitely be because it was written as Bishop remembered it as a kid. Sometimes perception really is reality. And did you catch the comments from Mother in Chapter 81, when she said to Mrs. Carter "I told you the boy was broken. He's not right, never has been," and then where she asked Anson "When was the last time you took your medication?" Might be an insight to his mental wellness??

That's a really good point, Nils, about 4MK killing the innocents so that they would suffer as he felt he suffered, at the hands of his evil parents. I hadn't looked at it that way. He is definitely going about it in a sick way!

I'm SO glad Emory lived in the end. I was also shocked to find out that her mother was Mrs. Carter!! There are so many little pieces that tie together.

I agree with you, Christine, in that Porter and 4MK have a weird connection. Maybe it's cop/criminal? Good vs. evil? Like Sherlock and Moriarty?

Do you think the man who killed Porter's wife is really dead? Or do you think the ear in the box was just the first stage like his other victims??

I do hope Sam help's find Bishop's mother also, Nils, it would be really interesting to get to know her and see if she is really as crazy as she was portrayed in the Diary.

J.D. BarkerThe Fourth Monkey

Welcome to our first discussion in the 4MK Discussion Group. We will focus on the FIRST book in the trilogy "The Fourth Monkey". Please take note that we will be discussing this book in depth and SPOILERS ARE ALLOWED. If you have not read this book yet, I do not recommend reading further in this post. And if you have read beyond the first book, please be sure not to post any spoilers for book 2 and/or 3. This discussion is for the first book only. That being said, let's begin!!

Here are some questions to get us started, but please feel free to ask any other questions you may have or expand further on any topic.

1) Were you surprised to find out who 4MK really was? Were there any signs that Paul Watson wasn't who he claimed to be?

2) Do you think the Diary is 100% true? Sometimes what people perceive is what they believe to be true. Could the Diary be true in Bishop's mind?

3) 4MK is viewed as a monster because he is killing the (innocent) loved ones of people he believes to be evil. How do you think he would be viewed if he killed the 'evil doers' directly? Would he be seen more as a vigilante? or even a hero?

4) Jacob Kittner was tattooed with an infinity symbol / figure eight. What do you think this symbol represents? Do you think it was significant or do you think it was a red herring?

5) Mother ran off with Mrs. Carter and Franklin Kirby. Why do you think she left Bishop behind? Do you think this was always her intention?

6) How do you feel about the ending? Do you think Porter will help Bishop find his mother?

7) What are your thoughts on how book two will progress?

8) Are there any unanswered questions you are still trying to puzzle out?


These are just a few questions to get us started. Feel free to answer any of them, or all of them, or pose some questions of your own.