Thoughts

This was a good traditional horror book in the lane of Stephen King. It was detailed and very focused on the characters.

I thought it was good. It was creepy and kept me guessing what was going on.

It didn't feel completely unique but the details were different from things I have read before.

I think if you are a King fan then you will enjoy this book. It comes out January 10th 2023!

The Nightmare Man ended up being one of my favorite reads of 2022. It had so many elements that I enjoyed, starting with a spooky old house and some supernatural vibes that seem to infiltrate the story in the best creepy ways. The complex storyline and the depth/growth of the characters came as a surprise. At the beginning, I felt like it was going to be easy to figure out. As the story goes on, though, the details start to converge and make sense. I could definitely see this as a movie! It's scary and has a lot of trigger moments. The whole story is about nightmares, and it definitely serves that purpose. Now that I've finished the book, I'm tempted to reread it to see if there were clues I missed along the way.

The author's note at the end revealed that this author has written several books under a different name. I realized that I've read some of his books that were released under a Christian publisher. That really surprised me, since this book has a lot of adult content and profanity. I hope he continues to write within the Christian fiction genre, though, because his books are great!

“In the hollow. Deep down in the hollow. That’s what Grandpa Robert always said. We’d ask where nightmares came from. The Nightmare Man plants them deep down in the hollow.”

Wow this was so dark. Ben Bookman's recently published story, the Scarecrow seems to have come to life. A family is murdered exactly as he described in his book, only they were killed before it was published. Ben becomes the main suspect, and doesn't help himself when he wants that the next murder in the book is likely to be recreated soon

There are several flashbacks as we are shown Ben's childhood at the eerie Blackwood estate and the time he spent with his very creepy grandfather. His grandfather had been obsessed with dreams, especially nightmares.

My biggest critique is that there are a lot of characters in this story and with the flashbacks there were times when it was hard to follow. But overall I still really enjoyed it.

Thank you netgalley and Crooked Lane books for giving me an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Nightmare man is a creepy, nail-biting tale, sometimes resembling a nightmare itself! The story is well written and the characters are fascinating, some of them horrifyingly so! The plot has some nightmarish twists, which are totally unpredictable and sometimes a little confusing - much like dreams and nightmares can be. The Nightmare Man is a well-written novel with an apt title. Horror is not my preferred genre, but I was enthralled throughout. Thanks to J. H. Markert, Crooked Lane Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC.

Ben Brookman is a bestselling horror novelist but when someone starts bringing his horror stories to real life and a man shoots himself at one of Ben's book signing events claiming that Ben stole his nightmare, everything in Ben's life starts unraveling!! Ben has always been looked at as a strange character after his younger brother went missing and signs led to Ben having something to do with the disappearance. Now, is he behind the recent killings based on his story and a child abduction or is something more sinister occurring? Where does he get the ideas for his books which are people's biggest nightmares? How did he write his latest novel in a weekend but does not remember writing it? And, where does he sneak off to at night?
Detective Mills is a loner detective who investigated the disappearance of Ben's brother, Devin, and many other children since, as well as, numerous other strange occurrences in their town!. Now he will try to find answers to why their town has seemed to attract disorder! Detective Mills also has an ability to remove nightmares from others but draws them into his own subconscious making sleep near impossible for he suffers with the nightmares of many.

Wow! This book truly gave me my own nightmares! It was a horror story and psychological thriller wrapped into one which is the best of both worlds in my opinion! Horror is a difficult subject to write as most times it lacks the character development necessary to attract the reader but Market does a great job of engaging you with the characters and allowing you to have empathy for them all! And, I really thought I had the book figured out pretty early but there was one major shocker near the end that I didn't see coming! Overall, I really enjoyed The Nightmare Man and will look forward to more books by J.H. Market!

A creepy horror novel that , if you're a fan of the gene, might remind you a bit others you've read. Ben Bookman has always experienced odd blips in his memory but now he's written a book full of murders and those deaths are coming to life. He, of course becomes the main suspect not only in this case but also in earlier ones. It doesn't help that his grandfather was able to remove bad dreams from children. dreams that would then come to life. The detectives chasing Bookman are old school and dogged. Some of it's pretty gruesome, other bits almost amusing. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. It might not have been for me but Markert knows his market.

In a unique mix of urban legend and crime procedural, author J.H Markert creates a rich and thoroughly entertaining read with The Nightmare Man.

While its title may seem like something made for kids, this multi-layered tale is at times not for the faint-hearted.

Markert also creates a set of rich characters, including author Ben Bookman, who becomes embroiled in the story after a random person kills themselves at one of his book signings.

Detective Mills is soon on the case, and we find out the tale of The Nightmare Man could be a horror novel coming to life before our eyes.

Markert utilises horror tropes but inverts expectations in some cases, such as the mysterious Blackwood Estate and the disappearance of Ben's brother 13 years ago.

The Nightmare Man starts really strong and only gets better as we reach the chilling conclusion. One of the best reads of 2022.

I split my time with The Nightmare Man between listening to the audio copy and the ecopy. In the audio, the narrator did a good job with all the characters.

So I am going to say, I really enjoyed The Nightmare Man. It was creepy as heck and had a concept that I, personally had not read anything like before. I mean, seriously, the idea that nightmares can actually come to life is, well, the stuff of nightmares!

The story was mostly set in a small rural town. One of the best parts of the setting is the mansion and psychiatric hospital that is at the center of the story. There were two main protagonists in the book, a horror writer, Ben, who seems to be writing books that some psycho is reenacting in real life, and an older detective who has been dealing with the bizarrely high crime rate of the small rural town in which they both live. The writer is part of the family who has owned the mysterious house and hospital for generations. He suffers from memory loss when he visits the house, but he writes like crazy when he is there and those end up being the books that life imitates. Ben's family history is doled out throughout the story tying the past and the present together. This is done well. The detective is in failing health, and is now partnered with his adult daughter, with whom he has a complicated relationship. Because he has been involved in the crimes throughout the decades, he is basically obsessed with resolving the crime before he dies....or to die trying.

There are lots of characters in the novel and all of them are interesting in what they add to the story. While Horror is not my favorite genre, I really enjoyed this one!

A great overall plot and memoriable characters that hook you into the story right away! I will be recommending this title to my fellow readers!

I’m not crazy about horror but I really liked this book. It was a slow burn and definitely creepy. The plot was unique and original!

Bestselling novelist and heir to the Blackwood estate, Ben Bookman, spent a weekend at his family's home to finish his latest horror novel, The Scarecrow. But then the story comes to life.

Detective Mills is called to the scene of a horrendous murder scene. A scene which mirrors a scene from Ben Bookman's book. Then another family is murdered and Detective Mills and his daughter, Detective Samantha Blue, work hard to find the link between the author and the murders.

Ben becomes their prime suspect. The only thing he remembers from the night of the first murders was that he was in the atrium of his grandfather's house.

This book grabbed me from the very beginning. I had both the e-book and audiobook versions of this book but found myself listening to the audiobook more. I was captivated and made time to keep listening to the audiobook. I was certain this was going to be a 4 or 5 star read for me. But then toward the end, my interest began to wane. I also thought while listening that this might work better as a movie. There are a lot of characters and a lot going on in this book. Somehow, I think 'seeing' the characters on screen would make the cast of characters more engaging and interesting.

As I mentioned, I loved the beginning and middle but lost my way at the end. I found this to be enjoyable but missing just that little bit of something at the end to keep me loving the plot.

I thought the narrator of this book did a fantastic job and I appreciated the author's originality and creativity. There was a sense of tension and unease through most of the book.

The Nightmare Man is so readable. I truly didn’t want to put it down. The scarecrow had me nervous but then you add in the Mares, taking and collecting them, Ii was sucked in. As a book lover I really enjoyed the fact that books were involved even better. When things start happening in real life coming straight out Ben Bookmans book, terror is spread all around. The detectives race to read and find out what could be next. There’s different plot points in the story that all come together amazingly, how everyone is connected to what’s happening. You get a little bit of everything the perfect spooky mansion with mare trees, father and daughter detectives with a struggling relationship, and horriable nightmares that come to life. . It was creepy hearing about others nightmares but also the lore behind what made you have them. I was kept guessing what could go wrong next and how everyone had effects on the story.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for my copy for honest review.

I am sure there is an audience for this book, unfortunately it was not me. I hope that if you are interested in this type of story that you take a chance on this book.. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.

This was a twisted yet fun, wild ride from start to finish.

Ben Bookman is a famous horror author and the heir of a family that has an interesting legacy. Not only is the Blackwood estate creepy with its black, bare trees but an asylum sits on it’s property that was built by his grandfather. Ben spends a weekend at the estate to finish his newest horror novel, The Scarecrow. Before the book has even been released, murders start to happen that are exactly like what transpires in his book. Detective Mills, a veteran detective that is familiar with the Blackwood estate and the Bookmans, starts investigating and begins to piece together how old cases may be connected to these new ones. And, of course, Ben Bookman is a suspect. Could it be that something was released?

This book has so many moving parts. There’s a bit of a detective novel, a bit of thriller, and all of it is definitely a horror book. It made me think if Goosebumps was set in a country version of Gotham and was rated R. There’s definitely a lot going on and I can see people getting confused as I did in brief moments throughout, but if you stick with it it’s completely worth it. I loved how the book jumped between perspectives and also we got to see some glimpses into the past that made the twists come together so well. While the main twist wasn’t a huge shock as it seemed to be hinted throughout the book, there are plenty of bombshells that will leave your jaw on the floor.

I very much enjoyed this read and recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this arc.

I am going to start this review by saying how much I love the cover of this book. Scarecrows are such scary things, they have this human shape and are made to scare not only birds but also humans who think they can come to life, like me.

In this novel we follow a horror author named Benjamin, or Ben Bookman, who has just finished writing his latest novel, The Scarecrow. As soon as his book is released, somebody starts to act out the scenes in this book in real life. Ben’s latest novel describes a scarecrow coming to life and he not only kills people but he places the bodies or the body parts inside a cocoon made of corn husks tied together. The crime scenes are perfectly replicated from Ben’s book down to the smallest details.

The book has a great premise and a great start. The opening scene is terrifying and it catches your attention from the very beginning. But the book does not have only one terrifying scene. It has many, and each one becomes more terrifying and more horrible as the story goes on. The story is multilayered and shows that people have their obscure side, a part that is usually hidden, enabling them to commit atrocities to other human beings.

The story is full of twists and turns. It is dark and it keeps getting more so the more we learn about Ben’s past. The pieces of the story are all wound up together at the end. Great pacing, excellent premise and execution. I believe J. H. Markert is leaving his mark among the great horror authors. I am looking forward to what he is going to write next.

A compelling horror story that had me engaged from the beginning. I liked the character development of the detectives.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Okay, I am not sure what I expected with this book but it is not what I got. I mean this in the best way possible!

It is not often a book creeps me out but this one got me. I loved that this was so rooted in books, specifically that a doctor could take your nightmares away by storing it in a book - while Ben is trying to get these terrors out by writing a book.

This book is intricate and expertly weaved. The way the characters relate and inter-connect is incredible. I found myself flipping through the pages unable to put it down. The nightmares are so specific and creepy. I loved the lore that the nightmares could be taken away from people. That this gift was passed down through time added to the intrigue. The police investigation added so much value to the story.

The author kept the story going til the last pages of the book - ramping up at the very end. Can we talk about the ending? Perfect.

As someone who experienced nightmares as a child, this book hit. It is definitely one that will linger with me and I will be recommending it to others looking for a scare for sure.

Not really sure how I feel about this book. I mean, I should have loved it, a dark book about a writer where his stories are played out in real life. I liked the crime and police procedural part of it, as well as the characters.

It was a good story but for me, not great, I am glad to have read it and it was creepy as anything. The main character of Ben was not very likeable at all and ai feel that impacted my feelings a bit.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book to read.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for the review copy.
I don't read a lot of horror, but when I do this is exactly the type of book I'm looking for. The first half builds up the characters of Detective Mills, Blue, and Ben Bookman. The books that Ben writes are horror and those exact murders start happening. This book was intriguing, extremely creepy, and was so interesting when it came to digging into actual nightmares. I found the slow back and forth pacing to be perfect. I didn't want to stop turning pages to figure out what was exactly going on in this town with so much crime and the infamous nightmare doctor's grandson's book seemingly predicting murder. I also loved the end and all of the explanations. It was a story that's really well done.

I just finished reading the Nightmare Man. Parts got a little confusing to me regarding characters and their relationships. They also frequently changed names so I wasn't sure if it was same person or another . I almost needed a cheat sheet to keep track of who was who.
I did enjoy reading and seeing the story line develop with the nightmares and the evil emerging. I do recommend for anyone that is a fan of horror stories. The nightmares were very frightening. luckily it didn't suffer any strange dreams while reading this- but who's to say my subconscious won't still throw a doozy at me. I would have given it a 5 star rating except for the character confusion.