4.5 ⭐️

This is not my normal genre, but I went in blind and hoped for the best. Boy, did it deliver. Creepy, scary at times, held my interest the whole time.

The mashup of folklore from all over the world with a little paranormal (not sure that’s the right word) was just so perfect.

Coma patients and a tag tag team of townies teaming together to keep the “real world” safe from Mr. Nightmare and all of his creatures that make up our nightmares was just so good!

4.5 ⭐️
So, I had no idea what to expect with this one. Horror, thriller, absolute nightmare is what I got. There was a moment when I was trying to explain to my friend what was happening, and saying that the goldfish and the seashells came out of the train tunnel, while The Lullaby Express driver was taking calls on his shell phone, we’re absolutely not clear enough for her to understand lmao! I understand everything that was happening, and I’m a little alarmed at myself that I did 😂 When you try to explain it, it makes no sense coming out of your mouth. Nightmare monsters, serial killers, dream worlds, coma patients, PTSD, hidden identity, the list is literally never ending, but it somehow comes together flawlessly. Multiple POVs tell this story in the most bizarre and gruesome way. The narration was top tier, and really added to the depth of the story. Gross, fascinating, and very well done.

Nope, not a big fan. It could be me, because I'm in a Rut, but I couldn't get into this whole horror.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape media for this audiobook ARC. This was my second read by this author, I listened to The Nightmare Man which I liked but I didn’t love.

I really enjoyed this story and both narrators were a perfect match for this audiobook! My only complaints are I found the story hard to follow on audio and because of the dual timeline going back and forth. Also, this might just be, but I found it hard to differentiate the characters Teddy, Maddy and Sully due to all their names ending in Y.

Overall, this was a creepy and interesting horror story that I’d probably recommend reading physical vs on audio.

It's rare that I ask for an ARC from an unknown, (to me), author. But the synopsis of this was so enticing I had to request it and I'm glad I did!

In the town of Harrod's Reach, there is a tunnel. The entire town knows something is wrong in that tunnel. Sometimes people go in and never come out. Dead bodies tend to be found there, and sometimes there are only parts of bodies. Just as Gideon returns to his hometown from his overseas service, the tunnel starts acting up again. This time around though, people are on to it. Will the folks of Harrod's Reach survive the terrors of the tunnel? You'll have to read this to find out!

My brief synopsis can't contain everything going on in this book. The returning Gideon faces his hometown friends and family, his feelings of guilt surrounding his brother, and his feelings of smallness, being thought of locally as a coward. His childhood friends Jax and Beth remain, but even Jax doesn't think much of Gideon. There are layers of guilt in this book and I've always thought that both guilt and grief are excellent emotions on which to base a horror story.

But there is still so much else going on in this town. Here, as in Salem's Lot, the town itself becomes a character. And speaking of characters, this book has some original and super-creepy villains. A Black Widow. A man growing horns out of his head. Horn man's evil mother. The Nanny.
All of these villains combine into a group and descend on the town like a swarm. What fun!

Narrated by David Bendena and Lauren Ezzo, who both did a terrific job, this audio had me hooked,, but it did take a bit of time to grow on me. I slowly became more curious, then curiouser, then total addiction. I think I devoured this audio in just a few days and now I've become an instant fan of this author.

Highly recommended, especially to those horror fans that can't help but be sucked in to one of my favorite horror tropes-evil in a small town!

*Thanks to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley and the author for the free audio download in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*

🎧4.25⭐️

I had the audiobook read by David Bendena and Lauren Ezzo who do a great job with the narration.

The small town of Harrod’s Reach has seen more than its fair share of the macabre. When Sully is injured in an old disused tunnel there are calls from the townsfolk to brick it up. Gideon his brother leaves the town, returning three years later. On Gideon’s return Deputy Sherif Beth Gardner finds two bodies at the tunnels opening.

This has a very creepy feel. We follow a few of the characters from the town, and a few who are drawn to the town. It very much has a Stephen King vibe but maintaining a good pace throughout ( unlike SK).
I like my horror to have a premise that I can buy into, which this one does really well for the most part. For much of the book the emphasis is on creepy rather than full on horror, it develops into horror in the later stages.

I really liked Beth and Gideon, so was rooting for them throughout, their characters are well fleshed to make them likeable.

I felt that it ended a bit abruptly, so the ends aren’t all totally tied up, there’s enough to give closure. I wonder if there is a sequel in the pipeline.

I enjoyed it, and think if you are a toe dip horror reader this one could be for you.

I loved the creepy atmosphere of this book and the shaping of the characters. While I haven’t finished completely I am looking to the end. I wouldn’t say I am finding this book “scary” but it definitely gives a dark and unsettling feeling at you read it. Will update this review when I finish !

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2-Format: audiobook, Genre: Horror

Deeper, darker and creepier than I expected. This is a book with two story lines that eventually converge. A small town has some strange occurrences that have been happening for several decades revolving around a tunnel in the town. A man finds a seashell that tells him to search out coma patients, aka “dead heads,” and put an end to their lives. There was a lot of build up that seemed mundane at parts, but, finally, the story comes together and Mister Lullaby’s sinister plan comes full circle. There were some medical inaccuracies that were distracting to me because of my nursing background, but it doesn’t take away from the story too much.

There were times that I had trouble following the story just because it would get very wordy and the timelines were confusing in the beginning. I think I would’ve enjoyed having the book to refer back to or just reading the book rather than listening to the audiobook. I also like to listen to audiobooks when I’m doing something else-driving, cleaning, etc. I think that this story may be better enjoyed with no distractions. The narrators were great! It was easy to differentiate the many characters. The pacing were easy to listen to and allowed for increased speed for those that prefer 1.25x-1.5x reading speeds.

I did enjoy this story. I will be getting my hands on a copy of the novel to read through to see if I enjoy it even more through reading!

Thank you @NetGalley and #Dreamscape  for the opportunity to listen to this free copy for an honest review!

#MisterLullaby #NetGalley #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #horror #TheMidNOCBookClub

2.5- 2.75 Stars
Love the concept, but not the execution

It's always exciting to stumble upon a novel with an imaginative premise, and this one certainly had it. An alternate world linked to coma patients and a mysterious tunnel - who wouldn't be intrigued by that? However, as I dove into the story, I couldn't help but feel a bit lost in the sea of characters. The constant shifts between the present and past didn't make things easier either. Don't get me wrong, the idea was fascinating, but the execution left much to be desired.

Overall, not for me. But if you enjoy unique and unconventional plots, then this novel might be worth a try.

*** Thank you to NetGalley, J.H. Markert, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

Do I have a complaint about this book? Yes, yes I do. I absolutely loved this book when I had a the chance to read an eARC of it over the summer. I loved it even more having just gotten a chance to listen to an advanced audio version. But I was struck with the same thought both times, I wanted more. There is so much going on in this book, so many wonderfully twisted things I would have loved for Markert to have expanded upon. I suppose he must ascribe to the old adage of ‘always leave them wanting more’! Either that or he just enjoys torturing his fans, lol.

So what is Mister Lullaby all about? Well, it’s classic small town horror…with wide reaching implications. I must admit I was not and am still not familiar with James Market’s novels. I keep meaning to check them out. I only discovered him when he first published The Nightmare Man back in January 2023 under the J.H. Market pen name. Mister Lullaby feels like Market has taken bit and pieces from some of the masters like King, Koontz, McCammon, and Hill and crafted them into his own special brand of horror. Evil from ‘the other side’ (known as Lala Land) is influencing some over here and also trying to find a way to come over as well. We have a busload of truly demented serial killers. ‘Special’ children in comatose states and simple/childlike adults acting as a defense against the rising evil, with their loved ones doing their best to defend them. As I said, I only wished he’d explored/expanded some areas/characters more. I would have loved to know more of the backstory to some of those twisted passengers we only passingly met from the Lullaby Express. Based on The Nightmare Man and Mister Lullaby I’m thrilled by the prospect of future adventures into Market’s wonderful imagination. I’d like to thank Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Mister Lullaby and Dreamscape Media for the chance to listen to the advanced audio version of the book. There is no wrong way to experience this novel.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2FOV69DT1F9VW/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

"Theodore Lomax didn't start believing in God until he was fully convinced of the Devil."

Which is a good thing considering the number of times I whispered "Oh my God!" while listening to the terrifying creative Mister Lullaby by phenomenal horror thriller author J.H. Markert

The small town of Harrod's Reach is unaware that deep inside the decrepit abandoned train tunnel, where many died in a horrific accident years ago, there's a veiled wall where grotesque sleep monsters, led by evil incarnate Mister Lullaby, lie in wait for their innocent victims.

When young Sully Dupree is injured playing in the tunnel he inexplicably seeps into a coma. No one realizes his mind is trapped behind the veiled wall where Mister Lullaby will use him to unleash his demons in Sully's world.

Once again, voice actor David Bendena uses his vibrato to heighten the havoc created by this writer between the town and these monstrous creatures. Voice actor Lauren Ezzo trembling soft almost poetic lilting tone brought pure terror in the quiet moments.

In all the madness this brilliant storyteller has a scene where a couple have a slow dance and the description of their love and eyes just on each other had tears falling down my face. It was beauty among all the evil.

When I gave my 5 star review to this author's debut novel, The Nightmare Man, I wrote, "he is the rising heir to Stephen King." Well he has risen. With odes to King's Doctor Sleep, The Dead Zone, and The Dark Tower series Mister Lullaby will make sure you never sing a baby to sleep with a lullaby again.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from Dreamscape Media via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

J.H. Markert is a new-to-me author who’s been likened to Stephen King, Christopher Golden and T. Kingfisher! So of course, I had to check him out.

Mister Lullaby is a monster-y, serial killer-ish, horror thriller that connects the dream world and the waking world through a portal that just happens to be in a decrepit abandoned train tunnel.

I loved the creepy small-town setting and its parallel characters. It’s an incredibly imaginative story that blends elements of fantasy and the paranormal.
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I think fans of Chuck Wendig’s Wanderers novel and old-school Derry Maine lovers will enjoy it.

Thanks to #netgalley & #dreamscapemedia for the audiobook arc. The two narrators David Bendena & Lauren Ezzo really nailed this one!

I loved the beginning of this book, it was creepy and terrifying and I couldn't stop listening. I am a true crime and horror fanatic so this book was definitely up my aisle. I cant not wait to read or listen to more from this author. I know that some will find this book a little much, but if your like me and find psychopaths fascinating and absolutely terrifying, then this one is for you. I will recommend this to my friends who are also into true crime,

I was provided both an e-ARC and an Audio arc of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own. I appreciated having both formats available as there is alot going on in this book. There are multiple points of view and alot of characters to keep track of. Having the e-book handy to clarify plot points.

This book is told from multiple points of view, and the audiobook is narrated by a male and female narrator who switch on an off depending on which POV. I think they both did a good job narrating their different parts and they did justice brining the creepy atmosphere that Markert dreamt up.

I jumped at the opportunity to read this early as I loved The Nightmare Man. This has that same creepy vibe and a balance of horror and thriller that I really like. If you are a fan of Stephen King like I am, I think you will really enjoy the way this novel is put together. While the story isn't a copycat in any way of one of King's novels, the way the book is constructed, the horror elements, the strangeness factor, etc remind me alot of some of my favorite King books. Why did I only give it only 3 stars you ask? The ending...the ending felt a bit rushed to me and unfinished. As we approach what I'll call the final battle, I had check if this was book 1 of a series because there was no way things could wrap up with only a small amount of pages left. While the book does end, I don't feel closure I like to have at the end of a book. Up until the last pages, I was really enjoying this book.

This follows Gideon after returning from a tour on active duty to his home town where strange things happen around the old train tunnel. Many a townsfolk have been maimed in and around the tunnel and no one can explain why. Gideon's own brother has been in a coma for years after entering the tunnel. Beth the local Deputy Sheriff is trying to explain the local uptick in violence in town related to the tunnel. Teddy hears voices that tell him to do bad things and along the way to do those bad things he collects others who do bad things. Teddy, Beth, Gideon and others who are all part of the story that culminates in the town of Herrod's Reach all have a part to play as the tunnel brings nightmares to life in this atmospheric and creepy story.

Overall, I thought the plot was unique and original. I really liked the use of the various creatures from mythology with relation to dreams an nightmares. The worldbuilding was well done and I enjoyed the interaction between characters. This is the type of horror book I enjoy where there is a sense of unease and a creep factor throughout. The only thing that kept me from giving this a higher rating was the ending. Perhaps there is more to this story, perhaps it was left more open ended on purpose for the reader to imagine what happens to the characters. I prefer to leave a novel with a sense of closure and I didn't get that here.

when i first saw this book, I was attracted by the cover, it is indeed a good one.
It gave me the creepy vibes.
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As I started the book, I thought it hat potential and I liked the writing.
However, it was too slow for my taste.
There were a lot of characters, jumping POVs back and forth, it was a bit messy in my opinion.
it can be confusing sometime, i needed to go back just to make sure.
the plot reminded me the Netflix German Serie "Dark" a lot, tho it developed into different direction.
but I couldn’t help to think of that while listening to the audiobook.
It wasn't scary nor disturbing, just a little creepy but it didn’t give me the thrill.
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As per the performance of the narrators, I think the male narrator did a great job.
It wasn’t that the female narrator was bad, the way she played it, just didn’t fit the character quite well, especially for Beth.
She was the Deputy, i expected her to be tough, and the narrator could have played her more animated and bring out her toughness. Beth was like whispering the whole time and sound very vulnerable as a deputy.
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Otherwise, i do think the author has potential to write great book. I hope to see his future works.

TL;DR - a bunch of children in comas try to save the world.

I really enjoyed the narrators in this book. I felt that they captured the personalities well, and although sometimes one narrator covered more than one character, the tone was great and I was able to tell them apart fairly easily, which is what I look for in a narrator.

I love any horror that mixes in the dream world with reality, and this one really hit the spot. Similar to his last book, this one is about the creatures of nightmares crossing over into reality and is rooted in different folklore.

At times, I found the book a little tough to follow because there was a lot going on and a lot of characters, but I picked it up pretty quickly. It was one of those books that I finished and immediately felt like I needed to start over from the beginning to pick up all of the nuances.

Overall, a really solid horror read.

Wow, this one was creepy and dripping with all my worst nightmares. Harrod’s Reach, a town with a train tunnel and a sordid past is going through turmoil…. Again.

When Gideon returns from overseas, sh*t starts hitting the fan almost immediately. Along with his high-school crush Beth, he must figure out what the hell is going on to save his loved ones.

Mister Lullaby shows us how thin the veil between reality and fantasy can really be. Gideon’s brother, a coma patient, has been stuck in LaLaLand, an “other” side to our world. Can Gideon and Beth close the door before Mister Lullaby leaks through into our world?!

I will definitely never listen to a lullaby the same way again…. This one poked at my own issues with nightmares and night terrors. The only thing that kept this book from being 5 stars for me was the ending. I loved this book on audio though and the narrators killed it! I cared about the characters and felt fully immersed in the town of Harrod’s Reach.

I will definitely be looking up The Nightmare Man by this author! Check this one out if you like horror, Friday The 13th, Stephen King’s It, nightmares, and crime sprees!

**Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Crooked Lane Books for the ALC of this terrifying title!**

Sometimes I think the horror genre does better in the movie industry vs the book industry. This was one of those examples. Part of the draw to horror is the visualization you get from movies and I felt this story lacked that in book version. There are a lot of characters and it skips between each persons pov which made it hard to focus and understand what was going on.

JH Markert definitely is reminding me of old school Stephen King in a really good way. Mister Lullaby is the second book I have read by the author and I see him as someone King's fans (like me) will enjoy reading between King's publishings. Mister Lullaby had shades of It to my mind and maybe that hurt my affection for it because It is one of my favorites so it is never good to compare something. However, another book Mister Lullaby reminded me of was NOS4A2 by Joe Hill, who happens to be Stephen King's son. In fact, my rating for this and NOS4A2 is basically the same: 3-3.5 stars. There were sections of the book I just loved and sections where I had trouble staying focused. There were a lot of characters to keep up with and not a ton of time to build the characters for the reader, which I think would have been helpful to raise my rating a bit. That said, Mister Lullaby is a solid horror from an up-an-coming author that I would recommend to all fans of the genre.

I hope there’s a sequel!

IT can’t be over!!

The town of Harrod’s Reach has a boarded up train tunnel with an horrific past. A terror tunnel. A sleep problem. Coma issue. Monster export portal! Serial everything’s!

What happens when the world of dreams is real & the nightmares want out?! There were some plot conveniences & I saw several twists coming but it was a well-written horror story that started you out with multiple possible threats.

I loved the characters, they were pretty fleshed out for such a short book! Told in 2 timelines, past & present. The lullaby bus was creepy! The narration was fantastic!

Thank you NetGalley & #Dreamscape Media I can’t wait for this author’s next book!