This book has a lot of twists and turns. I loved the characters and their development with a deep, psychological delve into a few of the main characters. I was surprised in several places, especially in the second half of the book. Very suspenseful. I loved the multiple backgrounds of the House Of Horrors, the twisted trees, and a few other great ones. If anything, there were too many locations - not fully "explored." Crazily enough for a horror, I was happy with the ending.

I kept seeing this book and was so excited when it came to NetGalley! A thrilling story about murder and a girl who has gone missing, will have you at the mercy of your kindle until the very end!

This definitely took me a while to get into, but I’m glad I stuck with it because it all came together in the end. There were a lot of moving parts, different timelines, forgotten memories that made it feel a bit tedious. Once I got to the last quarter of the book though things were coming together and it was a very satisfying read! I will definitely read this authors other books.

4 stars

Fans of Markert's and of horror, thriller, and mystery, will find a lot to enjoy in this most recent effort!

Tess has a mysterious past that her parents whisked her away from early in life, though she has ongoing questions and lingering suspicions that keep her tied to those suspicious times and events. This all comes back full force when, at the start of the novel, her daughter is kidnapped.

As is so often the case in mystery/thriller, a standout part of this experience is getting to see how all the pieces fit, so I recommend reading as little as possible about this book in advance. That noted, readers who are sensitive to child abuse and suicide should be mindful of the content.

I loved the pacing, characterization, and way that events both unfold and resolve here. This is another engaging read from Markert, and it won't be my last!

What a thrilling journey this book took me on! As a first-time reader of this author, I was unsure of what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. The synopsis piqued my interest when I saw it on Netgally, and the actual read exceeded my expectations. This heart-pounding and chilling thriller, with its tale of murder, suspense, and psychological terror, had me on the edge of my seat. Now I can't wait to get to 'The Nightmare Man' by this author, which is on my September/October TBR.

This story begins just before the execution of a notorious serial killer known as Father Silence, whose dark and twisted crimes haunted the Southern town of Twisted Tree. Several miles away in Montana, recently separated detective Tess Claibourne waits for midnight to roll around and the news that Father Silence has finally been put to death. Her father was the one to catch him, and his crimes have haunted their family for years.

Once the execution has been carried out, Tess feels as though she can move on with her life and figure out what to do about her cheating husband, Justin. But what Tess doesn't know is things are about to get worse for her. The day after the execution, someone close to Tess is murdered in a fashion eerily similar to the murders committed by Father Silence. When the killer, who calls himself The Outcast, kidnaps Tess's daughter, it's a race against time to bring him down.

With no clear leads to follow, Tess is forced to team up with her husband, Justin, and delve into the mind of the sole survivor of Father Silence's gruesome crimes. The problem is that this is a very dangerous man, and he's locked away in prison, but Tess will do whatever she needs to do to get her daughter back, even if it means taking some risky chances. The further she involves herself in the case, the more dangerous things become, culminating in a heart-pounding final act.

What made this one so enjoyable for me was the way the author combined elements of horror and psychological suspense. While the plot feels familiar (detective hunting a copycat serial killer while struggling with childhood traumas and needing to connect with another murderer to help solve this crime - hello, "Silence of the Lambs"), Markert makes it feel fresh and exciting. Thriller lovers will find much to love in this book, with its captivating and fast-paced plot.

Markert's storytelling skills are truly impressive, creating a tense and suspenseful atmosphere that held me captive until the end. The character development is also top-notch. Tess is a complex and relatable protagonist I rooted for the entire way. Justin, her philandering husband, is also someone I actually liked, and Danny, Tess's coworker and Justin's best friend, is equally likable. While I enjoyed all these characters, I think I was most transfixed with Noah, the boy who survived Father Silence and then turned into a cold-blooded murderer. His character was creepy yet sympathetic. And of course, we can't forget about "The Outcast" - the big bad at the story's center. He was even creepier, and I loved that the author fleshed him out in a way that made him more than just an ominous presence.

Overall, Sleep Tight is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a tightly wound fast-paced thriller with a touch of horror. It's a haunting and suspenseful tale full of great characters and creepy antagonists that had me eagerly flipping the pages. This is definitely one that you'll want to add to your TBR for the upcoming Halloween season.

This story came out of the gate at a full gallop! The opening chapters were gripping and intense and an absolutely riveting beginning for the author's newest standalone horror book. With themes of long buried trauma, memory, and the complicated web of family relationships, this book both explores some fascinating topics and keeps the thrills coming at a fast pace.

Sleep Tight leans more into police procedural and psychological thriller than the author's last book, Mister Lullaby, and it's a well developed, suspenseful story that kept me engaged until the end. The author's writing quickly pulled me in and got me invested in his flawed, believable characters, creative storylines, and nightmarish villains. Whichever direction he takes within the horror genre, I'm a fan.

I loved Sleep Tight just as much as I did the author's previous books. I know J.H. Markert never lets me down when I'm in the mood for a clever, multi-layered plot, sinister atmosphere, and characters who intrigue me and get me invested in their stories. This is a book best read when you can fully focus on the story and keep up with all the story threads, but for readers who love complex, well written stories that won't allow you to glance away for even a moment this book isn't to be missed.

Thank you Netgalley & Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review!

Sleep Tight is my first read by this Author and it definitely did not disappoint. I was sucked in right from the very first page. If you like horror, serial killer vibes this book is for you. Highly recommend.

Father Silence, a criminal who has committed terrorizing acts in the town of Twisted Tree is on death row and finally executed after 19 bodies were found in his terror house.

Detective Tess Clairebourne and her psychologist husband, Justin's marriage is going through a rough patch. When her parents are brutally murdered and their daughter is kidnapped, they are compelled to work together setting aside their marital issues. A new serial killer is taking credit for the murders and calling himself the Outcast.

Tess knows she has to seek out Noah Nichols, the only survivor of Father Silence's murder spree who is now in a criminally insane mental hospital. But finding the truth is more difficult than Tess thought as Noah proves to be an enigma - a puzzle that Tess and Justin must solve before time runs out.

This book is chilling and dark. It teeters on the edge of the supernatural while also dealing with psychological elements and real-world horror. The compelling prologue sets the stage for an action packed, enthralling mystery and complex, flawed characters propel the story forward.

Told in a series of flashbacks, old interviews and articles the narrative effortlessly helps piece together the past with the present. Still I felt the ending did not give me the much needed closure and left me wanting more. A sequel maybe??

I would still recommend it as the fast pace and spine tingling twists are sure to keep you up way past your bedtime.

Thank you @netgalley and @crookedlanebooks for the ARC to read and review.

I had previously read The Nightmare Man by J. H. Market and loved it, so I had high hopes for Sleep Tight. I was not disappointed! It weaves small town true crimes, mental health, and maybe some supernatural elements. The pace of the story moves along perfectly and left me hooked until the very end.

I gave Sleep Tight 4 stars because it kept my interest the whole way through. I had to keep reading to know what was going on. I did not give it 5 stars because it was a bit out there. I felt the author crammed a lot of different topics into this book and maybe it was a bit too much. You will encounter dissociation, cults, kidnapping, repressed trauma, murder, sexual assault, serial killers, mental health hospitals, and the list goes on. Maybe the author was going for complex and that's fine but it was hard to keep up. This isn't a book that you can skim and you have to pay attention to the details. I personally would not do well listening to this book in audio version due to complexity. That being said, it was an interesting story written by a creative author. This book is for you if you like complex detective stories.

It was so good!
The story is a twisty nightmare of lost children, missing memories and a trail of dead bodies that plague Detective Tess Claibourne, her husband and her partner and friend.
This was so twisty and insane that sometimes I got a little confused or overwhelmed at the info and had to sit back and think about it. But in the end everything became clear and the impression remained excellent!

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for the advanced readers copy of Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert. This story started off with a bang! It kept me intrigued till about half way thru and then the story got a little slow. Good creep factor and thriller atmosphere.

It was definitely interesting. I think the plot and concept was a lot more interesting than the characters. Of all of the characters, only one really felt irreplaceable. I still had a super fun time reading it and read it incredibly quickly.

The story follows a detectives daughter Tesd who is trying to solve the new string of murders that seem to be inspired by the Fathers Silence original killings. When her own daughter is kidnapped by the "outcast" As she delves deeper into the case, she uncovers dark secrets and shocking twists.

The pacing of the book is fast and keeps you guessing until the very end. The author does a great job of building suspense and creating a sense of unease throughout the story. My only con of this book is that the cover makes this book gave the impression of being more of a horror story than it was. There definitely is a psychological part of it though.

Overall, Sleep Tight is a gripping and intense thriller that will keep you up at night, eagerly turning the pages to see how it all unfolds.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Book for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.

Thank you to the publisher Cooked Lane Books for an advanced copy of this novel- it was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.25 rounded down to 4.

I'm such a fan of J.H. Markert's horror books. He always does a fantastic job with creating flawed characters, and I love the spooky, atmospheric feeling I have the entire time while reading. This one was no different, and I was not disappointed in the slightest!

Sleep Tight was a bit different than his previous two horror novels, which had more of a supernatural aspect and were interconnected loosely. This one was completely different from that, focusing more on satanic cults, which was terrifying in its own way. Tess was fantastically troubled, and her struggles and pain really came through for me.

*slight spoilers below*

I'm not going to lie though, when the "criminally insane asylum" with the multiple personality trope came to the forefront of the plot, I was a bit wary just because with the constant misrepresentation of mental health in a lot of horror/thriller books. Generally, it tends to put some of those illnesses in a negative light. However, James tread very carefully around this, and turned it into something slightly different/intriguing. I do wish there was more depth on how he spun this (I don't want to completely spoil anything), because it was a bit of a unique spin on the multiple personality trope and I thought it was interesting.

I also felt there wasn't a lot of closure with Tess's struggles and her issues in her marriage, it just kind of seemed swept under the rug once everything resolved. It wasn't a bad ending by any means, I just wished it was a little more resolved than it was.

Overall I sped through this one, and absolutely enjoyed it. Can't wait for the next!

I enjoyed parts of this book but for me it attempted too much. Within the story we get marital breakdown, multiple personalities (Dissociative Identity Disorder), kidnap, murder, childhood abuse, execution and amnesia from trauma – and that merely touches on what the reader is in for. As a result, I found it a little confusing, a little disjointed and a little long. On the positive side, I did enjoy the relationship between detective Tess and her cheating husband, Justin. On discovering his unfaithfulness, Tess throws Justin out. Ironically, when tragedy strikes, they are forced together again. To summarise: I raced through a few really enjoyable, suspenseful chapters of this book, but I found the rest a little mediocre.

Seventeen years ago, Jeff Pritchard, reigned terror in the small town of Twisted Tree, Kentucky. He disguised himself as a priest to kidnap children and brought them back to the basement of his “House of Horrors”. By the time FBI and local police officers figured out who he was, they uncovered nineteen bodies, but saved the one surviver. Noah lived through this nightmare, but he wasn’t the same child as before…darkness had taken over his body which landed him inside an insane asylum for the rest of his life.

Two decades later Jeff Pritchard, known as Father Silence, was finally put to death by electric chair for the sins and horrifying actions he brought on the town. The next morning, the detective who arrested Father Silence was found dead inside his cabin. A new serial killer, Outcast, is emerging and he has a cult of followers that are going after every single person that helped put Father Silence in prison.

I started reading this book late one night and devoured the first half well into the morning. The last thing I wanted to do was sleep tight when one of the main character’s had figured out the Outcast’s identity. The last half of the book left my heart pounding as the mysterious pieces were finally clicking together and the story spun a completely different way than I thought it would. I should’ve taken a picture of my heart rate on my Apple Watch, my heart was literally beating out of my chest at midnight when I finished the book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane for the pre-release copy of Sleep Tight. Below is my honest review.

I haven't read anything by JH Markert before, but I think he's definitely going on my "to read more" list.

This one opens the day of a criminal execution, and pretty much zooms forward at a breakneck pace the rest of the book. It was a lot of fun to read (not a lot of fun for the characters to live out LOL).

I think my biggest gripe was the not-so-likable main character. I mean, who knows they're racing to find their daughter, kidnapped and in danger, and still pops some pills, potentially lowering their own ability to do what is necessary to get their kid back?

All in all, it seemed to be a movie screen-play turned into a book, and I'd love to see the movie.

Four stars, recommended for fans of mystery/thriller, cults, and gritty cop dramas.

Well it started off strong. It was creepy and parts were horrific but then it started to drag and only ticked back up towards the end. Even with the short chapters, some could have easily been edited out. Sometimes when a chapter would leave off on a cliff hanger, the reveal in next chapter felt more like an after thought. I felt for the FMC at first but she never fully developed. Its odd how all the sudden she started to remember things and yet was initially hesitant to share them. The ending was a tad bit predictable and anticlimactic.

3 stars

This book was thrilling and I was gripped by it from the beginning! I was expecting more horror in this one and it felt more like a police procedural.

A lot was going on in this story and I felt it could have been edited out most of it. Some characters were very unnecessary and pointless.
This story would have been a solid 4 if it wasn’t for the pointless characters and the plots weren’t all over the place.

Also, the ending was pretty disappointing. Not sure if it was because I did not care for the characters and I didn’t connect with any of them.

Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC.