*Thank you a ton to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!*

I found myself very much enjoying J.H. Markert's writing style - it was straight forward, and knew where to keep you on your toes in terms of its horror elements. The multiple POVs enhanced the experience of the story, as we get to see how not only people see the current events but also saw in the past events.

Beth Gardner as one of the main characters was a pleasant one to read on. I found myself connecting most with her, finding her thought process from start to end. Then again, all the characters had that likability - and it's not always found in horror novels like these. There's always a chance of the characters being underdeveloped or not having much personality: this isn't a problem that Mister Lullaby has at all, as everyone has their own identity in the novel.

The setting, characters and plot as a whole kept my attention from start to finish, and I would recommend this to any fan of the horror genre!

An engrossing read about a town where there is an old railway tunnel that may be a doorway between our world and a land of dreams and nightmares. I am still processing my thoughts about the book, particularly the ending, but I did like it as I always like this author's novels. 3.5 stars

After reading and LOVING The Nightmare Man by this author I had Mister Lullaby high on my anticipated reads list, and it so did not disappoint. It was equally as creepy, descriptive and atmospheric and, per usual, I was so incredibly fascinated by the sleep element throughout. While I believe it's not required to read The Nightmare Man before this one, I highly recommend it as there was subtle nods to that creepy character throughout.

J.H. Markert is quickly making his way to my favorite authors list, and I can't wait to see what his twisty mind comes out with next. Thank you so much Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for my review copy!

This book was an okay read for me. It had many characters, which at times I found a bit confusing as I did not read it all in one sitting, but I read over a week. I wish I read Nightmare Man first. A bit slow to start, but enjoyed the horror elements throughout the book. Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy of this e-arc.
3 star.

** “What if the make-believe exists? What if that’s what we see when we dream.” **

Under pen name J.H. Markert, author James Markert continues to rebrand into a new style of books with his latest contemporary horror/suspense novel “Mister Lullaby,” a deeply dark and disturbing thriller taken literally from nightmares.

When Gideon Dupree returns home from his stint in the military, trouble seems to arrive in town with him — all revolving around the mysterious and deadly tunnel found near the town. He joins forces with his childhood friend, Deputy Sheriff Beth Gardner, to figure out who’s brutally murdering people and leaving their body parts behind, as well as why strange creatures and plants are coming out of the tunnel.

Can they figure out who is committing the horrific murders, and what their connection is to a mysterious Lalaland (“a euphoric mental state detached from the harsher realities of life”) connected to the tunnel, lullabies (“a song or folk poem meant to help a child fall asleep”), and mares (“in Germanic folklore, a malicious creature that sits on people’s chests while they sleep, causing nightmares”).

Markert does an incredible job of developing a world full of horror, intrigue, fear and courage. His fans will also enjoy finding references to his other books written under both pseudonyms.

“Mister Lullaby,” which is due out Nov. 21, will appeal to fans of shows like “Criminal Minds” and authors like Stephen King and Ted Dekker. However, be forewarned this book, unlike Dekker’s, contains a lot of foul language as well as lustful situations. This is very much a mainstream, contemporary novel.

Four stars out of five.

Crooked Lane Books provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

I loved The Nightmare Man. I gave it all the stars, and I went into Mister Lullaby with eager anticipation, ready for more. Unfortunately, it just didn't grab me the way TNM did. I gave it a solid try, reading to the 33 percent mark, but that's where I left off. It just felt disjointed, and there were some aspects of the story that I just wasn't able to connect with. Thinking that it might come together, I gave it longer than I initially thought that I would after a description of animal violence, which is a hard stop for me. Thanks for the opportunity to review, and I will be eagerly awaiting J.H. Markert's next book.

This cover is so creepy and glorious. I had to have this after Markert’s last book, The Nightmare Man, left me with just that, NIGHTMARES! I couldn’t recommend it enough. But with this one, I felt like it fell short for me. Maybe I had too high expectations, but it felt a little too procedural for me. It was a little all over the place and the characters weren’t very likable. I wanted to love it, and will definitely rush to read whatever is next for this author. This one, unfortunately just didn’t work for me.

I loved this authors first book so much, and was so excited to get this widget. However, I found it really hard to keep track of all of these characters. There was so much going on, yet it also felt so slow at times. I think the concept was really neat. And it had a good level of horror. I will recommend to those that I know will like this type of book.

4.25 stars / This review will be posted on goodreads.com today.


Horror master Markert gives us a standalone, somewhat sequel to The Nightmare Man. When those Nightmares go loose in the world, this novel is born. It is everything a horror novel should be.

Harrod’s Reach is a small town at the crossroads of Nebraska & Kansas. It is heavily forested with a set of abandoned train tracks and an very old tunnel through One Side Mountain. The tunnel has been the site of many horrific events over the years, most recently causing one boy, Sully, to be comatose for the last 3 years.

When Sully’s older brother Gideon comes home from war, the tunnel seems to be coming alive again. Sully awakens from his coma, temporarily, to recite a list of names. What are these names? Town firefighter Jax feels compelled to write them down and to repeat them while leaving a message for his deputy wife Beth.

Meanwhile, Simple Simon, a very large, mostly non-verbal man who lives in the forest, finds two bodies in the forest in front of the tunnel. Were the deaths the result of the tunnel? And what was Doc doing in there before he was attacked too?

The mind of Markert is quite active. This story definitely stands alone from The Nightmare Man, but also weaves elements of that story into it. It is absolutely a book about evil revisiting our world from another and the strength of good people in the face of this evil.

I am a huge fan of J.H. Markert’s writing and can’t wait to see what comes next.

This is the perfect read for Halloween and anytime you want that creepy, horror story. I got all the Stephen King vibes and went down this rabbit hole that I couldn’t stop reading. I’m all for the dark and twisty. The revenge type read. Grab this and prepare to hunker down and delve into the unknown.

Mister Lullaby is a testament to creativity and a chilling, creepy narrative that immediately captivates readers. The author's phenomenal writing style weaves a web of suspense and horror, ensuring readers are hooked from the very beginning. This story is a masterclass in the art of crafting a spine-tingling tale, offering something for every horror aficionado. The blend of creativity and the eerie atmosphere makes Mister Lullaby a must-read for fans of the genre, promising a thrilling and immersive experience that lingers long after the last page is turned.

Mister Lullaby is the second book I've read by this author, and it didn't disappoint. I've been looking for a book that would send chills down my spine, and I finally one.

Mister Lullaby is a gripping and imaginative story that is set in a small town called Harrod's Reach, where strange things start to happen near an old train station in the town.

The story is a little slow to start, but the pace picks up, and the story gets gripping to the point I couldn't put it down. This gives me a mix of Stephen King IT and Stranger Things vibes, both of which I loved reading and watching.

I found the folklore and history of lullabies interesting and liked the way it was incorporated into the story.

I loved the characters. There are plenty of them, but they are well done, and at no point did I feel confused as to who was who. My favourite of them all was Gideon and Beth. I loved their courage and determination to help find out the truth as well as protect their small town.

Although well written, I did feel the ending was a little rushed, and I wasn't a fan of the abrupt ending. I am hoping that this ending means that there is a sequel coming as there are a couple of unanswered questions.

Overall, it's a great spine-chilling book, and I can't wait to read more from this author.

A big thank you to NetGalley and the publishers Crooked Lane Books for my digital review copy (eARC). These are my honest and unbiased thoughts, and I am sharing them voluntarily.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

J H Markert is back again with the latest terrifying plunge into a small town on the brink of murder and mayhem!

Mister Lullaby puts Harrod's Reach center stage. This small town is overdue for a crisis all because of the old abandoned railway tunnel in the center of the town. Once one of the town's young people falls into a coma after exploring this tunnel, they decide something needs to be done. However, something is planning on using this tunnel to enter into our world. Nightmares begin to bleed into reality and not everyone is going to make it out alive.

This is a slow-burn novel whose payoff was next level. Genuinely, this novel takes the time to invest in the characters before showcasing how each character has a role in the final confrontation. I think one of the most powerful parts of Markert's writing style is their ability to tap into real-life grief, trauma, and the overall dark side of humanity. Markert knows how to write a villain, but they also know exactly how to craft the heroes of the tale as well. Dynamic characters that you will root for until the last page. That is one of the strongest parts of Markert's writing in my mind. (In addition to just building great suspense and scaring the daylights out of me.

Readers of this story should also be on the lookout for some Easter eggs from previous works as well. The mention of the Nightmare Man in this novel was such a fun surprise and made me immediately want to dive back into that story as well. However, check this book out! You won't be disappointed!

This is a novel about nightmares. Nightmares that come to life to terrorize the small town Harrod’s Reach. Mister Lullaby is the follow up to The Nightmare Man, but can completely be a standalone. There are small connections between the two books, but they do not effect the story. While The Nightmare Man is the beginning of the nightmare, Mister Lullaby is the horrific aftermath.
The only issue I have with this fantastic novel is that the ending was way to abrupt. It feels like there could be another novel regarding nightmares from Mr. Markert. I certainly hope so.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this e-arc.*

I was excited to read this because The Nightmare Man was so inventive that I couldn’t wait to see what Markert came up with next. Everyone is comparing this guy to Stephen King and I get that. I get that so much because the first half of this story felt like I was reading fan fiction of Doctor Sleep. At one point I almost put it down. But then I hit the halfway point, and I couldn’t have put this book down if I wanted to. I stayed up past my bedtime reading and I was so into it that when my husband rolled over and touched my arm it scared the shit out of me. Lucky for him I don’t sleep with a knife under my pillow.

“Lullabies were full of monsters. Full of dark, disguised by beautiful singsong rhymes. Or was it the sinister disguised by something beautiful?”

Harrod’s Reach is a strange small town with a strange abandoned railroad tunnel in the woods. People go inside and never come out, people find body parts, weird colored animals appear around it—it’s bizarre. Why people still live in this town I have no clue. There is a whole cast of characters in this book (another thing I’m not really a fan of) Deputy Sheriff Beth, Gideon who has just returned from war, Sully who is young boy in a coma, Simon the recluse who lives in the woods, a weird guy named Teddy and many more, and they all come together in this town, near this tunnel. What happens there is bizarre and fantastical and gory and scary and captivating. And even though I wasn’t a fan of the first half of the book, the second half absolutely made up for it and I may be a Markert fan for life.

Mr. Lullaby has a mission: one that is communicated to him through a voice emanating from a blue seashell. He is to find the “dead-heads” (the comatose), and kill them. The reason: they are impeding the entry of evil into the world. Dead-heads are important in keeping the status quo in “Lalaland” (“everyone has been to Lalaland...only the strongest stay. The Rest of the world wakes up and goes about their days.”). Sad for us, the more he kills, the stronger he becomes, and the hold the deadheads have in Lalaland weakens.

Despite the specialized vocabulary (Mr. Lullaby, Lalaland, dead-heads, etc.) that can seem trite, the premise of a second reality that exists in the plane of the dreamworld (Lalaland) is fascinating and horrific. J. H. Markert seems to have had fun as he created the Dr. Seuss-like flora and fauna that seeps into the reality of the towns folk of Crooked Tree. Their cuteness belies the harm that they can do, unlike the more obvious evil manifested in the visages of Mr. Lullaby and his band of murderous cronies.

For me, the book would slow down in the areas where explanations and descriptions took over the narrative. As someone who thinks less is more, I found myself skipping sections. Others might enjoy this more than I did. I suggest you look for his previous book The Nightmare Man where the nightmares come to life through an author’s writing.

I would like to thank Crooked Lane Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

It’s like you’re living in a horror movie when you open this book. Mister Lullaby is out for vengeance after his tunnel has been closed up for a number of years. Your dreams and reality mix together in this mind twisting story.

I really enjoyed The Nightmare Man so I was eager to get my hands on this book. It was creepy and perfect for spooky season!

JH Markert is a master storyteller. He writes like old school King, with that deep world building vibe. You are completely transported to wherever he puts you, and leaving is a journey. The characters become your friends and enemies, their feelings are yours. When you finally put the book down, you can almost hear the pop of release the fictional world has on you.
Mister Lullaby is the follow up to The Nightmare Man, but can completely be a standalone. There are small connections between the two books, but they do not effect the story. While The Nightmare Man is the beginning of the nightmare, Mister Lullaby is the horrific aftermath. There are more hellish characters, actually a bus load of them, that invade small town lives. These nightmare characters really deserve their own books, maybe follow up novellas, so we can get more of their background. With so many different killing specialties, and their bizarre personas, I feel like it’s reminiscent of RL Stine’s books. I would be down with each one getting a tiny paperback story, with a vintage cover.
I’m not happy with the ending. First of all, I’m not happy it ended at all! I could have kept going, the story isn’t done. It was very abrupt, almost like running into a closed door. I don’t know if there is another book expected, but I feel like there could be. I mean, there will always be access to the nightmares, you just have to know how to let them out..

***ARC received from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley in exchange for honest review, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***

Mister Lullaby is not so much a direct sequel to The Nightmare Man but another story that takes place in the same world. You can certainly read this as a stand alone book, you could also read it first and then go read the previous book. Both are enough of a completely contained world that you don’t need to have read the other book but I think that it certainly helps.

I liked the two main leads, Beth and Gideon. Both are really interesting characters providing different perspectives of what is going on. I liked really that both are flawed characters, Gideon is a bit of an outcast within his community, a soldier returning from war that has been deeply scarred by what happened to him. As Sully’s older brother he was there when his brother was hurt in the tunnel and the book slowly pieces together the truth of the tunnel and how it drew in and impacted those in the town. Beth is the workaholic deputy that seems to have only one drive in her life, to be a great cop and solve crimes. There seems to be nothing more important to her and it was a good contrast between the two. Throughout the book there are hints that they have a deeper connection that stretches back to their birth but unfortunately it is never really explored in much detail. It felt like it was going to be set up as something that would have a bigger impact on the story and there is still time for it in future books as both their stories are not fully complete.

The other secondary POV are Mady and Teddy, Teddy is the far more interesting of the two while Maddy providers a lot of information about Lalaland. Teddy’s sections were really good, they are a lot more graphic than the others just by the nature of what he is up to but the violent never feels like it is over the top graphic. These books are far less gory horror and atmophere horror, playing off the characters fears and creating monsters that travel in the shadows. I love these types of horror books and this one is strong in that category.

I loved the concept of Lalaland, it was very atmospheric and the creatures that are trapped within the world are terrifying and wanting nothing more than to break free. There is also hope built into that world and interesting how it interconnects people trapped within comas.

I am really interested to see where the rest of this world goes. The book references The Nightmare Man from the previous book and Mister Lullaby from this book but there is a third, Mr. Dreams that is mentioned as a counter to the Nightmare Man. I don’t recall him being present in the previous book so I’m hoping that this will explore and eventually combine a book where all three characters come together.

Again, my issue with this book comes down to how quickly the book just ends. I had this issue with the previous book and I think the only way that this could fully work is if the characters return in additional books. There is no resolution, there are still a lot of unanswered question left will hopefully be addressed in a future book.

This is a wonderful horror book to read on an overcast fall day with the lights on.