J.H. Markert is an author to keep an eye on! Despite a potentially misleading title, the story is more captivating than expected, especially for those interested in mild supernatural themes. The horror elements are well-placed, enhancing the narrative without being overly terrifying.

Noah is a particularly intriguing character, and the journey of Tess and Justin as they uncover the truth adds depth to the story.

Overall, this book boasts a unique concept, strong writing, and engaging moments that will keep you invested from start to finish.

I have very mixed thoughts on this. Overall, it was okay. It was a police procedural and not really a horror in my opinion, which would have been good going in. I loved the beginning, was very interested in the end, but the middle felt a bit sloggish to me. I felt like the end and all the things thrown in needed to be less rushed and the middle sped up some. Overall, it was fine, but I'm wondering if JH Markert is not the author for me

This is the third novel I've read from this author and is definitely my favourite. Fast paced with a lot of twists and turns. My only complaint is that it is marketed as a horror but reads more like a thriller so I was expecting a bit more of a supernatural element, similar to the author's previous two novels.

I enjoyed the horror aspect of this book, it was atmospheric and at times I felt chills down my back, The main character was infuriating at times and it was difficult to relate to her, the ending was wrapped up quickly but overall enjoyed, the book definitely scared me for sure!

Former tennis pro J.H. Markert continues to enjoy a bifurcated career as a novelist—but in recent years he’s put historical fiction on a back burner. Whether cleverly anticipating the whims of mass readership, or just following a (dark) blossoming of his muse, of late he’s enjoying considerable success with thrillers that stray into pure horror story.

“Sleep Tight” (Crooked Lane Books; 336 pages, $29.99) accomplishes in its main goal: exploitation of foundational fears, in a package that’s so readable it’s practically addictive. Almost all chapters are as concise as an unexpected glimpse in the corner of your eye. (And wouldn’t you know, a few longer sections—putting a supporting frame to bolster stretched plot logic and psychology of villains—are the only places that sag a bit).

This novel is a return engagement for several elements Markert often brings out. Diabolical killers with backstories that are outlandish but involving. Families fully fleshed out in how everyone responds to understandable stresses or staggering trauma. Heroic or noble figures, often in law enforcement, often women. And, to note because this crosses a line for some readers, children endangered in excruciating circumstances. For “Sleep Tight,” the legacy of an executed murderer leads to a bizarre kidnapping that causes estranged parents to reunite and face their own weaknesses.

This is a solid horror pick for anyone who loves books that don't treat readers like idiots. The pacing is quick and doesn't give you a chance to digest everything before the next thing happens, and in that way it almost puts you on edge. Because things happen quickly, there are moments the slip by, but the author does a nice job giving small reminders as you go.

A gripping and powerful horror thriller that kept me hooked and made me with lights on. Fleshout characters, fast paced and twisty
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Loved it. Literally every chapter was fantastic, completely unputdownable.
I wouldn't say I was scared as much as thrilled. The fast pace of the book didn't really give time to get over every detail.
A lot was happening in the same time, and while you definitely need to focus on the timelines and actions of each character, I think the author did a good job of reminding of the trail of each revelation. It was done subtly as not to be blatantly considered a recap, which I liked so much.
It was also really cool how some parts were concluded and explained. For a second I thought the book would take a different direction or do a bit of genre shift.
A point that needs to be made though, there was an aspect of the book that was total gimmick. It was my least favorite, the author just went over the top there.
It didn't make me hate or dislike the book, but it definitely persisted in my mind for a while after I finished the book.
I would say it's a great book. Same caliber of The Silent Patient, which is my favorite of the genre. Definitely worth reading.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I received this as an ARC on NetGalley.

I was expecting a horror novel judging by the cover and title. It was more of a crime suspense/thriller.

There were things I really liked and some things I thought were farfetched. It was hard for me to comprehend how and why things were the way they were. The implications of DID, despite it being extremely rare, and the literal mental connections with others was less believable.

Overall, it wasn’t terrible. Lots of layers. The character development was good. I liked the main character and her conflict with her husband, her addiction, and her background with her father.

I enjoyed this book. There are a lot of moments where I just wanted to be like WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! It had a very interesting plot and it seemed like there were twists every few chapters. Some I saw coming, others took me by surprise. I know some people consider this a police procedural, and while it does have a LOT of police presence, I wouldn't call it that. This is more of a mystery, not really a whodunnit, but a race in time to figure it all out before it's too late. There are a lot of deaths, but I don't think any of them are very graphic at all. It was pretty much "I shot him in the shoulder and it was bleeding but that didn't stop him" or something to that effect. I mostly listened to this on audiobook. The narrator was perfect for the story! She gave just the right amount of emotion and inflection. I listened to it everytime I was commuting to work and back. I wanted to listen to it every time I got in the car, but my family aren't big into reading/listening to books.
I know this review is very vague, but honestly, you need to read it for yourself. Even after reading the description, I did NOT get what I had expected but that was fine because what I did get was a great read anyway.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and J.H Markert for the chance to read ‘Sleep Tight’! This is my 2nd Markert book and I think the main commonality is unlikeable characters. If you need to like a character to read about them, this isn’t for you. I think I spent most of the book wishing the main character would get her shit together.

Talk about CREEPY. I love thrillers centered around serial killers and this one was Chefs kiss 😘🤌 I flew thru this and I loved it. 5 creeptastic stars!

J.H. Markert serves up a tense, scary psychological thriller with Sleep Tight.
Twenty years ago, Father Silence disguised himself as a priest and lured children to his house. Dubbed the “House of Horrors”, the home contained nineteen bodies and one survivor who is now locked away due to mental illness. The town of Twisted Trees is never the same.
After final appeals, Father Silence is put to death and everyone involved thinks that they can finally put the case behind them. Horrifically, it is not meant to be as the detective who made the original arrest if found gruesomely murdered. Someone calling himself the Outcast takes credit for the murder and leaves a painted eye behind. The Outcast then kidnaps the detective’s granddaughter. The girl’s mother Tess is a detective herself and is plagued by PTSD and buried memories from horrific memories from her childhood in Twisted Tree.
The only lead to follow takes Tess and her partner back to Twisted Tree to talk to the one who made it out alive. But how can he be the Outcast if he is being held in the hospital under lock and key?
Sleep Tight has typical Markert hallmarks but is not a typical Markert horror. The opening is the same: a house of a horrible crime. Past and present are cycled through, and the violence ramps up at the end. This is how you know you are reading the same writer. But this horror is very different. There is very little supernatural; this is a psychological thriller. At the beginning of the book, I was tired of the same archetype of character the author uses, a cop and his daughter who takes after him but once I saw how it was used in this book, I dropped my complaint. Markert used the archetype in a new way pulling at heartstrings and stretching taunt psychological strings. But as always, the story is multilayered and Tess’s story isn’t the only wire. Each character, even one of the perps, has a razor-sharp wire that keeps you from being able to take a deep breath at any point throughout the book. This was a great horror book.
When I first saw that Markert brought Dissociative Identity Disorder into the book I was scared. I was afraid he was just going to stereotype that these people were dangerous. While there have been instances and good entertainment has been made from these stories, the media has made these people seem diabolical. Markert focuses on the reasons that these personalities exist and gives the benefit of the doubt to the character’s father’s murder. And there was an interesting addition that was fun for the story. I was really happy with what was done with the character. Then the book ended, and I was pissed off. (You'll have to read to find out how. I’ve not spoiled it here.)
While Sleep Tight is very different from J.H. Markert’s last work, Mister Lullaby, it is a fabulous piece of psychological fiction. I just wish we would quit picking on people with DID.

This was a fantastic murder-mystery thriller that had a touch of horror and mental health representation woven into it. I know it sounds like genre overload but I’m pleased to say that the delicate balance of genres was done perfectly. Nothing felt overwhelming or on the flip side, left out.

I loved how many twists and turns this story took. I truly I had no idea what was coming next, or even what the eventual outcome would be which was super exciting as a reader. However twisty the book was, it was all explained in the end and wrapped up nicely thank goodness. Nothing felt out of place or unrealistic for the story.

The characters felt alive with how multidimensional and realistic in how they were written. I liked having mental health representation within the book, and with more than just one disorder. There was more emotion than I was expecting, and it added so much depth to the overall story. This was such a welcome surprise from the normal stone-faced protagonist and antagonist that thrillers are normally given.

Advertisements
Occasionally, some of your visitors may see an advertisement here,
as well as a Privacy & Cookies banner at the bottom of the page.
You can hide ads completely by upgrading to one of our paid plans.

Upgrade now Dismiss message

I found this to be an OK read.

The premise is interesting; a serial killer is executed and soon after, a series of shocking murders take place, that create doubt over the serial killer’s identity. The plot revolves around two couples; one of which is having marital issues following an affair and the wife, detective Tess Claibourne is not only struggling with her husband’s infidelity, but, also childhood trauma and hidden memories.

I really wanted to enjoy it more, but, found it quite confusing and frustrating.

Having said that, it’s not a bad read, but, in my opinion just an ok one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview in exchange for my honest review.

I always enjoy this authors writing and this was a great creepy thriller, kept me on edge with the compelling writing and pacy plot, it reminded me of Criminal Minds, not straight up horror but definitely a slithering insidiousness to it!

The cover of this book made me think I would be losing sleep due to creepiness, but it was less scary than I expected. Father Silence went on a killing spree, picking young boys that seemed to be outcasts. One of his “fans” begins to take credit after Jeff’s death and then begins kidnapping children himself. I live in Boise so it’s always fun to see our “small town” appear in books. I liked the plot and thought it had a lot of potential. It wasn’t a flop, but I felt the second half was a little slow with some unnecessary dialog that slowed it down a bit.

I love a good thriller...and this is exactly what I needed! I immediately had it ordered and stocked in our store. I loved the back and forth and the build up!!! Anticipation grew with each page. Chefs kiss!

Thank you to J.H. Markert, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This one was really good and the perfect read for Spooky Season.

When serial killer, Father Silence, is put to death after killing 19 people, the following morning someone else is killed and now a new serial killer is taking the credit.

If you are a fan of Criminal Minds, you will love this book.

This one had me hooked initially but got a little convoluted. It felt like maybe trying to put too many plotlines/connections and it got a little lost trying to follow it all.