Fantastic premise and plot but the execution left something to be desired. I felt that the pacing was a bit slow in parts and I wasn't DYING to get back to it. Still, definitely solid and not bad, just not my favorite!

I really enjoyed this book so much! It was such a wild scary rollercoaster! It felt like I was watching a dark horror thriller. I had no idea what was going to happen next and was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I absolutely will be checking this one out again when it releases, but on audiobook because I think this would be fantastic in that medium - especially if they got someone to do all the different characters.

J.H Markert is a wonderful author and his attention to dark detail does not go unnoticed. Every character was carefully thought out and and every location was so detailed that you can almost feel like you were reading a movie script. It was so easy to follow along and envision what you were reading. Those types of novels for me are the best in this spooky genre.

I will say at times I felt as though there were too many characters to keep track of, however overall it did work for the story being told. The flashbacks and the full circle moments of it all were brilliant. The ending of the story did not feel overdone or easy to solve - but original and fresh - which can be hard in a horror novel.

I will be recommending this to my friends! And I will be talking about this long after its official release day in Sept. 2024! Very excited to pick up some other books by J.H. Markert!

Thanks so much to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the ARC!

I liked the premise of this book and the plotline was very intriguing, but I wasn’t a big fan of the pacing and I felt like the author tried to do too much with the story. I thought that the first 60% of the book were very slow paced and then once we hit 60% it started to become too fast paced. In other words the lead up was slow and the reveal was almost too fast.

I also thought that there were too much happening in this book. It got very confusing sometimes, because the author kept adding on to the plot. There were also a few things I didn’t feel like we got a proper answer to.

However the atmosphere of the books was very spooky and I liked the suspense in the book, so I will definitely still recommend it!

If you read this be sure to set aside enough time to read it in one sitting. This is a fast-paced psychological thriller with super crazy characters. Lots of bad people. Perhaps too many characters but I was surprisingly able to keep up. I wouldn’t say this has lots of twists, just lots of bizarre stuff happening. I didn’t like that Tess had a drug problem. It seemed totally unnecessary to the plot. Other than that I highly enjoyed this book. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

This book is so disgustingly good, I don't think I was deserving of a gift as wonderful as this ARC. J. H. Markert once again creates the creepiest detective story that is boarderline supernatural. I love that not everything can bee 100% clearly explained away, always making you wonder if there is more at play than the obvious. I appreciate that his characters are never perfect, they have their own flaws that actually bring value to the story and make them more relatable.

Though Markert is his own unique genius, he continues to remind me of a more graphic Stephen King with the cohesive worlds he is able to build across his books. When I open one of his books, I know I'm in for the craziest ride.

J.H. Markert's horror books have never disappointed me, so I went into his new horror novel totally blind. 'Sleep Tight' turned out to be one of my favorite books of 2024, perhaps ever: it's smart, atmospheric, complex, incredibly well-written... and totally scary! It's written as a crime/thriller/mystery type of a book, with a lot of emphasis on the mystery part; but when things click somewhere around the middle, you realize this is a superb supernatural horror book, selling itself not on gore, jump scares, or other cheap gimmicks, but on a magnificently plotted fast-paced cult horror story, full of uncanny evil characters, relatable family people, and terrific supporting figures. It's very hard not to care about them all, even the villains. The names are also immediately eye-catching: a serial killer named "Father Silence," a kidnapper of children, calling himself "The Outcast," and the bizarre "Mother" everyone is afraid of! Not to mention the various places the unrelenting action brings you to: an abandoned orphanage, a convent, a killer's basement, and, of course, the brilliantly conceived Playhouse, where the missing kids are taken to. Everything builds bit by bit into a supernatural adventure involving abuse survivors (some with multiple personalities - the most absorbing, chilling scenes in the book revolve around them!), creepy children, strong women, and monstrous parents. The book's style and focus is reminiscent of Silence of the Lambs and the movie Split - though the story's resolution and the characters' approach to family and evil are entirely different. In sum, this is simply an amazing read recommended to all horror fans who like slashers, cults, nasty revelations, and detective thrillers with a supernatural twist!

Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, & J.H. Markert for the chance of an early read! All opinions are my own.

This story was dark and creepy and had supernatural undertones woven throughout, all while uncovering a compelling and complex mystery.

Our FMC (Tess) is the daughter of the small-town detective who made a name for himself after capturing Father Silence. Now, 20-ish years later, Tess is following in her father's footsteps and has become a detective as well. She's thrown into a case that involves a serial killer that has haunted her since childhood (Father Silence). Tess gets word that he's off death row and has finally been executed - but instead of getting a moment of relief, a copycat killer is on the loose; This time, Tess's own daughter is one of the missing people.

Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, & J.H. Markert for the eARC copy in exchange for my honest review!

I had heard of J. H. Markert previously but had never read any of his books. That will definitely be changing after reading 'Sleep Tight'. I must now consume everything this man writes!

I was completely captivated and utterly enthralled by the very beginning.
Each chapter had me feeling equally intrigued, confused and on edge right up to the very end when it all came together beautifully.
Playing on personal fears of mine this book had me holding my own child extra close each and every day.
If you are wanting an amazing thriller which will keep you on your toes with every page, this is for you!

Thankyou to Crooked Lane Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review has been posted to Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph.

Sleep Tight Kept Me Up ALL NIGHT!

Sleep Tight is the latest paranormal horror adventure from J. H. Markert. Just like the other stories, I quickly found myself a fan. In Sleep Tight, our characters are dealing with a serial killer and the dangerous legacy Father Silence introduced into the small town of Twisted Tree. The opens up with some of the individuals who brought in Father Silence being ritualistically murdered and the arresting detective's daughter, Tess, is somehow at the center of this conflict. When it continues to get all too personal with her daughter being kidnapped, this story takes off like wildfire.

I felt like this story was truly a fast-paced adventure! This starts immediately with action and it doesn't relent as the investigation and hunt for missing children commences. I enjoyed solving the mystery with the main characters and the switching perspectives was done so well that I could not put this story down until I had answers. The writing style keeps you in the thick of the mystery! It's just really great writing and I think it continues to keep getting better with each book from J H Markert.

Readers of psychological thrillers are going to DEVOUR this book. I think it holds so much for readers of any genre, but this psychological thriller had my heart racing and with some horror thrown in, this was an amazing read for 2024!

Thank you to the publisher for giving me the chance to read a digital ARC of Sleep Tight by JH Market. I have previously read The Nightmare Man by Market and really enjoyed it, and I need to read Mister Lullaby, but this one also speaks volumes why I enjoy reading Market's books. They are creepy and the tension is palpable. When I read Market's books, I feel like I can literally feel the hairs on the back on my neck standing up. It will also make you think about going to sleep and what could happen, reminiscent of A Nightmare on Elm Street. Well done!

[Snack-Size Review] Sleep Tight, by J. H. Markert

Quick Bite: Put this one down, I dare you.

(*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*)

What It’s About: Seventeen years ago, the serial killer known as Father Silence was arrested by Tess’s father. Today, he’s just been executed. But the story is far from over - the killings are happening again, and Tess’s daughter may be the next victim.

A Word From The Nerd: The synopsis doesn’t do justice to the incredibly complex story here. I’m not going to give a lot of details, because frankly, I’d be writing for days trying to cover it all. There’s a bit of Silence of the Lambs, some cult stuff, some major family dysfunction (across several families), addiction, and the coolest serial killer moniker I’ve seen in a while.

The Nerd’s Rating: FIVE HAPPY NEURONS (and some Old Sam bourbon.)

4.5 stars rounded up. My thanks to Crooked Lane Books, J.H. Markert and Netgalley for the Advanced Copy.

Confession time: I fully went into this novel expecting to be underwhelmed. The cover certainly caught my attention, but the synopsis didn't hook me and felt very similar to many other books that didn't deliver what they promised and left me disappointed. Being unfamiliar with the author, I was quick to assume I probably wouldn't enjoy this one either. I'll happily admit how wrong I was.

At the 30% mark I stopped being an arrogant know-it-all and realised this book had all the depth and layered story telling I was looking for. Markert introduced character after character, thread after thread, and somehow weaved them all together for a show-stopping finish. I can honestly say, this is the only book from the past... year(?) that managed to surprise me and kept me guessing. I hadn't figured out the reveals before I was supposed to, which is so uncommon these days that I had to tack on another half star for that alone.

Also found the inclusion of interview snippets, articles, and evidence from previous crime scenes to be quite effective at building on the story. The multiple POVs as well, while potentially confusing for some, really just worked for me to create a sense of scope. Markert utilised a lot of techniques here that really strengthened the experience of reading.

I'll definitely be checking out more from this author.

Wow! J. H. Markert might be my favorite horror author right now!

I absolutely loved The Nightmare Man. That book was 5 stars.

Now, I love Sleep Tight. The book was absolutely fantastic. It has everything I love in horror novels. This book is suspenseful, thrilling, and horrifying without being overly gory. This was an ideal horror book for me and I can't wait to read his backlist title, Mr. Lullaby, and any future stories J. H. Markert writes.

This one started off very strong, and although I got a little bogged down toward the middle, it redeemed itself in the end. There are A LOT of characters to keep up with, and that's always a negative for me.

Serial killer Jeff Pritchard, dubbed Father Silence by the media, is being executed. He killed at least nineteen people, but one of his would-be victims escaped, a child named Noah, who is now in a hospital for the criminally insane. When a copycat killer called The Outcast kills the detective who originally arrested Jeff, that incident brings with it a lot of characters and a lot of plot lines to keep track of.

I feel like there was a lot of extraneous detail in this book that weren't present in the previous two, and while I did enjoy it, I did find myself getting bogged down a few times with all of the details.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this early copy. At the time this review was written, this title is set to publish September 24, 2024.

To me, this is easy horror to read. Every chapter ends on a cliff hanger making you want to keep reading. You’ll definitely be hooked and read most of it in one sitting.

The story has several twists that kept me guessing. At times it could be confusing. But made sense in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley, J. H. Markert, and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read Sleep Tight. I have written this review voluntarily.

Review: Not for me. The book was Too violent, graphic and awful for my taste. . Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.

Detective Tess Claibourne has spent many years haunted by a terrible event that happened when she was a teenager. She can’t remember all the details but it ended with her father arresting a serial killer called Father Silence. Now, after all these years, Father Silence is executed.
But there‘s a new serial killer in town. He‘s calling himself The Outcast and he just murdered Tess‘s parents and kidnapped her daughter. To stop this new horror, Tessa must face and untangle her web of lost memories.

I read my first J. H. Market book, Mister Lullaby, last year and really enjoyed it. When I was approved for an eARC of Sleep Tight, I couldn't wait to get started.

The story is part police procedural, cult horror and crime thriller - definitely something I like to read.
The mystery was compelling and the story held my interest from the beginning. There were lots of unexpected twists and some of the imagery creeped me out.

I‘m not necessarily a fan of an amnesiac narrator who doesn’t remember important parts of the backstory. It always feels a bit unbelievable and too convenient. But it still worked in the context of this story.

What didn’t work for me was the huge amount of characters. This in combination with the multiple POVs was quite confusing and I had a difficult time remembering who certain characters were and how aspects of the story fit together. There was just too much going on at times. Sometimes less is more.

In “Sleep Tight,” Father Silence, a serial killer, is finally executed. However, before anyone can rest tight, a new killer emerges targeting those connected to the original case and kidnapping children. Detective Tess Claibourne, haunted by her past and desperate to save her kidnapped daughter, goes back to Twisted Tree and seeks help from the sole survivor of Father Silence's crimes, hoping to unravel the mystery.

The book delivered a thrilling ride with its fast pace and constant tension. Despite the number of characters, the author skillfully developed each character, making them integral to the story and adding depth to their character. The inclusion of multiple perspectives offered a truly immersive experience. It was nice getting a glimpse of their minds throughout the story. I enjoyed the plot build-up with the author using police interviews from the past and showing memories. It can be predictable (if you read a lot of mystery/thrillers), but it didn’t diminish my overall reading experience– there were still moments that had me in awe. The suspense is strong, but I wouldn’t necessarily tag this as “horror.” There were also times were I struggled with the writing style and plot– it can become too messy and hard to follow. However, while the complex plot occasionally required me to pause and absorb everything, it ultimately kept me intrigued and wanting more.

I’ll keep more of my thoughts once this is published and everyone can read it to avoid spoilers, but I still definitely recommend this book! For the plot, I would give this 4 stars, but since the writing and plot can be hard to follow, I’ll give this a 3. This book will come out on September 2024! Thank you Crooked Lane Books, J. H. Market, and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

Review posted: July 13, 2024
Reviews can be found on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6664090684?book_show_action=false) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/p/C9XAb3yS2vQ/).

The cover of this booked grabbed me from the start so I had to request!

I loved "Sleep Tight" by J.H. Markert. It is a fast-paced thriller/crime/police procedural masterpiece that is packed with tension from cover to cover. The story is filled with so many likeable, though flawed, characters that make the storyline incredibly captivating.

I would highly recommend if you’re looking for a police procedural horror. I have never read any books from this author but have recently purchased The Nightmare Man and this was a great introduction to his writing style.

Thank you, #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

JH continues his nighttime theme brilliantly with "Sleep Tight." In the dark, all the scary things come out to play, and I find this incredibly interesting. He has a talent for blending fantasy and reality in such a masterful way that it keeps you hooked.

There were parts where I had to slow down my reading because there was so much happening that it was hard to wrap my mind around the story. Despite this, the pace is steady, and the plot moves forward nicely. The characters are complicated yet well-developed, making the story all the more engaging.

Overall, "Sleep Tight" is a fascinating read that balances horror and fantasy in a way that only JH can. If you enjoy stories that challenge your perception of reality and keep you on your toes, this is definitely one to add to your list


I would like to express my deep gratitude to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for their generosity in allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.