The Nightmare man started out strong with its creepy storyline that seemed very Stephen King like. An author writing a book about a serial killer called The Scarecrow. However as he is writing the book the killings are taking place. Hmm.. To make things even more creepy our writer is an unreliable character as he sleep walks and has no memory of what he does during this time.
There are 2 detectives on this case trying to find who is behind these murders and guess who is the prime suspect? The book had me hooked so far but then alot of more characters were introduced and really weird stuff went on that I couldn't follow and frankly I got lost.. I found I was working hard on trying to understand who was who and what and why that I gave up half way through.
There are so many others that love this book but I just found it work.
The positive points of this book are its so well written as its creepiness feeling is definitely there if you like that..you will love this book. It does remind me alot of Stephen King in the style of writing.
I want to thank Netgalley and Crooked Lane books for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

This is an awesome but frightening story. Ben is a horror writer whose stories have began to come to life. The setting is rural and small town which adds to the drama. The characters are superbly intricate and interesting. It is also a police procedural which shows a father and daughter partnering to solve the crimes. The author ramps up the tension as the reader turns the pages leading to the culmination that reveals all.

The Nightmare Man by J.H. Markert is a horror story about an author named Ben Bookman. He is the heir to an old mansion called Blackwood Mansion where his grandfather who was a psychiatrist treated people for their dreams. He had an asylum built on the property and that’s where some of his patients stayed. Ben Bookman is a horror author and his latest book which he has little memory of writing in the atrium, soon starts to become reality. Someone is living out all the scenes in the book by going on a murdering spree. This was a little creepy, some scenes were a little sick but overall I found it to be an enjoyable read. I liked most of the characters, especially the cop named Mills and his daughter Samantha Blue. The one character that I couldn’t quite figure out was Ben’s young daughter. Bookman’s family were all a bit weird and I guess it ran in the genes. The story ended a little strange I felt and I’m not sure I completely understood how I was supposed to take it. I’d like to thank Crooked Lane Marketing for inviting me to read an early copy and sending me the widget. I’d also like to thank NetGalley. This was a creepy good read. I really enjoyed it which surprised me as I don’t usually read much in the line of horror. It’s one I’d recommend and I’m giving it a 4 star rating!

While it was a little convoluted with the plethora of characters I found all the twists, turns, and unexpected deaths quite delightful.

Splendide read that had me on the edge of my sit. Reacting out loud and I was amazed at the concept of the story! Loved it!

The Nightmare man is a well written horror mystery. It has an interesting plot that felt original and not like anything I’ve read before. I thought the storyline was good but I did feel like it was missing the truly scary stuff that I was really looking forward to. I mean there is some blood and gory details, which I enjoyed but at the same time I found it didn’t get my heart racing, like I thought it would.

Although I liked the main storyline I wasn’t quite a fan of the mini storyline. They just felt like they didn’t fit. They do come together at the end but personally I think they would have been better as individual stories.

The characters were an interesting bunch, I didn’t find any of them particularly likeable but I did like some of the relationships between the different characters. My particular favourite was the complicated relation between rookie Detective Blue and her father Detective Mills.

This is a hard book to share thoughts on without giving away spoilers, but overall, a good book read that I would recommend to those who like mild horror reads but at the same time are mystery thriller fans.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers Crooked Lane Books for a copy of my eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts.

My rating: 3.5 Stars

Though I thought this would be a good fit for me and my love of horror, I just couldn't get into this book. I thought that the overall writing was good, but the story didn't hit me.

I tried to like this book. I picked it up several times and read a bit. I just can't get into it. I like horror ok. Mainly Stephen King horror and thought this one would be great. I may just be in a slump here but I got about 2/3 of the way in and just could not pick it back up again. It's just not for me. I would just mark it DNF but I feel I invested enough to leave this.

I just didn't engage with any of the characters or the storyline.

Bestsellinig horror author Ben Bookman creates nightmares. When bodies are found in a barn, hanging in cocoons that have been stitched from corn husks, the crime is a near perfect imitation of her newest book, The Scarecrow. Someone is bringing the horror to life...but it gets a lot worse from there. What's going on at the Blackwood estate is SO much worse. The history and folklore made this one really intriguing and it's just the right kind of creepy.

A book about a horror writer who's books come to life? I am here for it!

This book had me on the edge of my seat from the start. All the weird things happening, falling the books and current work in progress of the main character gave the book the perfect creepy vibe.

The characters in this book had me too. They fit in this little box of the perfect cast of characters to make a great story jump from the pages.

If you're looking for a book with that creepy vibe and a hint of paranormal, this book is one the one for you.

I was first attracted to this cover since I can not resist a creepy scarecrow. The synopsis further piqued my interest even though I thought it may not be all that original. This is not the first time in horror that strange murders have seemed to copy an author's book. However, this is not the same old hat.

This is a story that spans generations. Ben and his sister grew up in a dysfunctional family and suffered the tragic loss of their younger brother who has been presumed dead. Not long after this, their parents were killed in a car crash. Years have passed but Ben has kept secrets, including the fact that he still looks for his brother. His sister Emily has also kept secrets concerning what really happened to her in their grandfather's forbidden room. There is much I could tell you about grandfather but I don't want to spoil anything for you. Suffice it to say that although this may sound more like a psychological thriller it is grandpa that brings about the supernatural horror.

As a child, Ben already knew he wanted to be a writer. Now he has grown up to be a best selling author. He has written a gruesome novel full of grisly murders. Unfortunately, he is struggling to complete the sequel, his marriage is falling apart, and the police have lots of questions for him about the dead bodies that are turning up in real life exactly the way he wrote them in his novel.

Detective Mills is trying to unravel this mystery but he has secrets and demons of his own that have burdened him for most of his life. His daughter Sam has followed in his footsteps of police work and their dysfunctional relationship further complicates matters.

The Nightmare Man is full of unexpected surprises and twisty paths that I didn't see coming. The relationship between Detective Mills and his daughter and the relationship between Ben and his wife feels genuine. It is dark, and original, and cleverly written. Each character, even those who play a minor role have their own creepy backstory. The chills are many and the fear runs rampant especially if like me you have ever been plagued with nightmares.

4 out of 5 stars

My thanks to Crooked Lane Books

The Nightmare Man is a deliciously creepy novel that features nightmare worthy scenes of horror, twists and turns, an asylum(!!!), and so much more.

This is reminiscent of old school horror novels, and is sure to give the reader the chills or leave them slack jawed and wanting more.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the digital arc. My opinions are my own.

It’s probably me to be honest. I was looking forward to a horror as it’s been ages since I read one, For some reason this one just didn’t grab me, I didn’t connect with any of the characters, and I struggled to maintain interest in the plot.

As I said, there’s nothing wrong at all with the story, or the writing, it just wasn’t a fit for me unfortunately.

My thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books. My review is based on an advance copy that I received from the publisher.

I finished this quite literally 10 minutes ago.

This book was CREEPY GUYS. It was exactly what I look for in a spooky read, and it is positively spine-tingling.

It was a great blend of mystery, horror and thriller. All I needed to know when reading the summary was that it had something to do with scarecrows, an author, and some pretty wicked murders, and I was like "one for me please!" I was so grateful to be approved for my NetGalley copy! (thank you Crooked Lane Books as well)

I loved the way the characters were written - they were so human that you couldn't help becoming attached to them and invested in their lives. What was even scarier was the skill that went into turning childish nightmares like The Boogeyman and Tooth Fairy into fully-realised figures. Carnage ensues.

The mystery unfolds nicely, with some pretty grisly murders along the way, dropping a whole bunch of red herrings that, surely, are the only thing that makes sense until.. you're viciously slapped with the truth. I thought it was very original and well-executed.

It is a slow burn so keep that in mind if you consider picking it up.

Thank god I don't live anywhere near a farm and scarecrows because I'd be having nightmares about them every night.

This title will be featured in the upcoming January 2023 issue of Fangoria Magazine, in the Nightmare Library column. Please contact the reviewer directly for more information.

The Nightmare Man is certainly pulpy (complimentary) and in the best way. It's a little gross, a little upsetting, the suspense is written in well, and if you think too hard or too long about the implications of the reveal you will definitely have nightmares. I'm not sure I got along well with the formatting of the novel because I have a tough time when there are out-of-time chapters in full italics.
I enjoyed the complicated relationship between the two main detectives, which is something I don't often see and it gave the novel some additional depth and emotion that served the story well. I did feel like the pacing was off a bit; it felt as though it took a while to get going again after the initial (very engaging) set pieces. I did feel like I had to trudge through it a bit in the middle.
This one is definitely for folks who have a good handle on what they like with horror—genre all the way and satisfyingly so.

The Nightmare Man is an absolutely thrilling read! Relatable characters, intriguing settings, a solid story, and a wealth of mysteries. Markert puts the reader in the middle of things right from the start, pacing the tale brilliantly, allowing glimpses of the whole picture only when it suits him. This makes for a terrific horror novel, bringing the reader into the story bit by bit, providing a deeply satisfying feeling of discovery.

A creepy mansion, conjoined with a mysterious asylum, which we don’t see until later in the story, haunts the background, as the story develops layer by layer. In a smart and no-nonsense way, we are introduced to Detective Mills and his daughter, Samantha (Blue), on the one hand, and the Nightmare Man himself, the horror author Ben Bookman, on the other. The narrative revolves around the issue of family: the father-daughter relationship, marital problems, family secrets, the strength of past sins, and a haunting family legacy. Once this has been set up, the supernatural element transforms everything into the most disturbing, suspenseful, and extraordinarily creative horror tale I’ve seen in a long while! This is the kind of book every horror fan longs for!

The main premise (the reality of nightmares and their impact in the case of children) is original, extremely well-done, and never derails the emotional baggage characterizing the twists and turns of the Bookman family’s story.

In addition, the writing is pure joy: fresh, intelligent, sharp, and direct, constantly urging the reader to turn the page and see how it all pans out.

Special thanks to Crooked Lane Books, the author and NetGalley for an advance reader's copy.

This is the best kind of horror novel. It is haunting and many times gory, but the solid storyline is intricate and absorbing. Oh yes, there are definitely nightmares here. The premise is a doctor can take nightmares away from children and they will no longer have them. However, he captures the nightmares in a book. When the book is opened for a certain short period of times the nightmare contained in the book can escape and become real. There are those who have nightmares and a few who can take nightmares away. There is a creepy, old mansion with an even creepier asylum on the grounds to set the atmosphere.

There are some really good characters here. I most liked Detective Mills and his daughter, Samantha. I ended up sometimes liking Ben Bookman, the horror author, but not always. I really liked Ben's daughter though. There are a lot of characters to keep up with, so I have to admit to sometimes getting a little mixed up. The history of the nightmares and how they are passed was really interesting.

I recommend this to anyone who likes scary stories and can handle some chaotic gore. It gets gross sometimes. The story is a good one!

Thanks to Crooked Lane Bpoks through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on January 10, 2023.

The Nightmare Man hit the perfect level of horror and mystery for me and has made me look at nightmares in a whole new way, It was a slow-burn horror, all the murders and nightmares build on themselves until all that's left is the answer that seems impossible but is also the only thing that makes any sense at all.

This story is multilayered, and the characters were so real feeling it sucked in from the first page, the deeper I got into the story the faster I wanted to finish to see how everything was going to end. I loved the family dynamics and how everything was connected, The scenes at Blackwood were some of the creepiest and my favorite.

All the horrors inside have me a little worried about what I will be dreaming about tonight. It doesn't help that I live in the country with lots of farms that grow corn, and have scarecrows... I'll definitely be keeping an eye on them.

Bravo J.H. Markert! As your first horror novel, this book is a big win! I’ve been strapped to find a book I consider “perfect.” One that fits the level of horror, thriller, and mystery I desire, with beautifully descriptive writing, that keeps you hooked from the moment you pick it up. I consider this a perfectly written book!