A low-key horror hit to look forward to this fall. It feels like Alex North's Whisper Man (which the blurbs reference). It also feels like J.D. Barker's "The Fourth Monkey." It's a psychological horror story that leaves a gossamer shadow in your heart the deeper your read.
The writing is pretty sharp. I think I was expecting something that re-invented the wheel, which is the only reason I considered docking a star. Ultimately, however, the story doesn't need to reinvent the genre. It delivers an outstanding story of menace and dread. Pick it up if you like psychologically dark stories.

Thank you Crooked Lane Books for the gifted ARC!

I LOVED everything about this book. The pacing was great, we got different character POV chapters, and the way everything weaved together was so intriguing to me.

There was a slight element of paranormal in this one, like Markert's other novels, and it was really well done. I wasn't really expecting a "big reveal" but we did get one and it was SO good! I cannot say enough good things about this one. I think it has dethroned The Nightmare Man as my favorite Markert novel!

Sleep Tight pub date is September 10.

Sleep Tight is a suspense thriller that borders on horror. J.H. Markert really knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat. It was intense and kept me up late at night reading longer than I should because I wanted to know what would happen next.

The execution of a high profile killer sets things in motion for Tess and the small town of Twisted Tree. There is murder, kidnapping, a cult, and mayhem in this book, plus a lot more.

I really liked how Tess had holes in her memory from something that happened in her past and how what she had blocked out tied into what was happening in the present.

I thought the characters are well-written and every plot point in the story comes together nicely in the end. I thought the handling of sensitive subjects was done well, also.

Trigger warnings for this book include: murder of adults and children, drug addiction, kidnapping, mental health issues, mentions of child abuse.

Last fall, I read “Mister Lullaby” by this author, and really enjoyed it. I thought it started slowly but then finished strong, and I liked all the imagery. I liked this one too, though maybe not quite as much. This felt the opposite to me - it started really strong, then got a bit too drawn-out towards the middle and end. In both books, I felt like there were too many characters to keep track of, but this one may have been worse in that aspect, as several characters have several names, and this spans several generations.

We start this book with a serial killer named Jeff Pritchard (aka Father Silence) being executed. He killed at least nineteen people, but one got away - a child named Noah, who is now in a hospital for the criminally insane. When a copycat killer calling themselves “The Outcast” kills the detective who originally arrested Father Silence, it brings into the story Tess and Justin, his daughter and her soon-to-be ex-husband. While Father Silence kidnapped/killed the neglected, the mentally ill, the drug addicted, The Outcast seems happy taking anyone, including Tess and Justin’s daughter, Julie.

The whole book is about trying to find Julie, and it also has the story of the past. I really loved this as it started out, but the more I read, the more convoluted it felt. This was an interesting concept, but it just got too muddied and the ending felt abrupt compared to the rest of the relatively slow book. It also went from more of a straight horror story into a fantasy story, and that’s something I usually don’t care for. This was good, but I liked “Mister Lullaby” better (and I still haven’t read “The Nightmare Man!”). 3.5 stars.

(Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, J.H. Markert and NetGalley for the ARC I’m exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on September 10, 2024.)

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC. 4.5 for this book. This is a slow burn thriller with lots of characters. However it all comes together nicely at the end. There were times when I needed more to happen but needed to know what was going on. It had a nice psychological aspect to it but some was harder I believe. I can’t go into detail as it will spoil anything. There were parts that creeped me out and will probably continue from this author.

Solid thriller and not what I expected. The inclusion of D.I.D. was certainly unique and not something that has been overdone in the genre. The plot twists were well timed and keep me reading late into the night. My only complaint was that some of the side stories and characters we just unneeded or not advanced. Noah and Benjamin sharing a mind and only mentioned twice? Just unnecessary for the storyline. It was realistic and then...what? Completely removed me from the realism of the story. But he got me back. The infidelity? Justin's drinking? Tess's addiction? Killing all the farm animals? And then the reveal of how the grandfather actually died? Glossed over. That I would have liked to hear more about. Home girl was deranged!

Overall a great thriller, and makes me want to read more by the author.

Creepy and suspenseful.

My only complaint is there are a lot of characters to keep up with as well as a lot going on. At times it was hard to keep up with who was who and what is actually happening.

Tess is a detective just like her father. Her father is known for putting away the notorious Father Silence and that case haunts him to this day. It becomes clear that Tess's father is to be punished for his involvement in putting away the murderer. A new murderer comes to the surface, Outcast, and a series of events unravels as people end up murdered and ultimately Tess's daughter gets kidnapped.

Many twists that keep you guessing, and the reveals are flawless. Well written and thrilling.

"Sleep Tight" by J.H. Markert is my first read from this author, and it did not disappoint. Channeling the eerie and captivating style of Stephen King, this book has been generating quite the buzz, and for good reason. Once the story gets off the ground, it becomes an utterly compelling read.

The novel intrigued me on all fronts that I love: true crime, psychology, forensics, police procedural elements, and multiple POVs that keep the narrative fresh and engaging with every turn of the page. This is horror at its finest, complete with serial killers and dark, twisted elements that left me riveted.

The portrayal of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) did become a bit confusing towards the end with the multiple personalities, but it didn’t detract significantly from the overall experience. In fact, I appreciated how the ending left the door open for a potential sequel (fingers crossed).

"Sleep Tight" offers a wild ride featuring druggies wearing weird animal masks, thunderstorms, an old amusement park, priests, the paranormal, kidnapping, mommy issues, &&& lotssss of murder. The blend of these elements created a unique and terrifying atmosphere that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Overall, I have no critiques for this one; chef's kiss. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a police procedural horror with a sprinkle of cult activity and a lot of terror. It’s so unique, and I’m definitely interested in exploring more of J.H. Markert’s work.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and J.H. Markert for providing a complimentary digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I'll be honest at first glance the big draw to Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert was the fantastic cover art and title design, but after the first few pages of this horror novel we were in for the long haul.


Father Silence once terrorized the rural town of Twisted Tree, disguising himself as a priest to prey on the most vulnerable members of society. When the police finally found his "House of Horrors," they uncovered nineteen bodies and one survivor–a boy now locked away in a hospital for the criminally insane.

Nearly two decades later, Father Silence is finally put to death, but by the next morning, the detective who made the original arrest is found dead. A new serial killer is taking credit for the murder and calling himself the Outcast.

The detective’s daughter, Tess Claibourne, is a detective herself, haunted by childhood trauma and horrified by the death of her father and the resurgence of Father Silence’s legacy. When Tess’s daughter is kidnapped by the Outcast, Tess is forced to face her worst fears and long-buried memories. With no leads to follow, she travels back to Twisted Tree to visit the boy who survived and see what secrets might be buried in the tangled web of his broken mind.

Aside for the wonderful artwork, as I delved into the pages, I was immediately drawn in by the dark and complex framework of the human psyche that J.H. Markert expertly weaves throughout the narrative. Throughout my reading experience, there was a perpetual sense of anticipation surrounding how the book would unfold. While some of the twists were predictable, it's really hard to write a novel nowadays and not have at least a few predictable twists, the bulk of the twists and turns were unpredictable, keeping us on edge as we raced through towards the end.

Sleep Tight was not only a super suspenseful novel, but one with depth and complexity in character development. The characters all felt real and flawed, making them relatable despite the dark circumstances of the novel. Tess Claibourne's journey from detective to determined mother seeking answers was both heartbreaking and empowering.

Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert is a gripping, thrilling and intense horror novel with some pretty stellar twists, complex and well-developed characters, and a pretty atmospheric and dark setting. Sleep Tight is a horror novel that delivers on all fronts. While we loved the cover art, the story was just as good.

Sleep Tight
by: J.H. Markert
due 9-2024
Crooked Lane
5.0

There is a satanic cult in the town of Twisted Tree. Its haunted by its past, held hostage by its present, and people are being killed in the name of Father Silence. They wear the masks of animals.

This novel twists and turns, like a can of worms. The complex story lines help keep the creepy feeling at a high-it enhances the story and deepens the connection between Father Silence, Noah, Tess and the town of Twisted Tree. Noah and the black eyes have conjured an image in my mind that I can't forget. Its one of my favorite parts of the story. J.H. Markert is a writer whose work I will look for. I loved this book.

Complex, unforgettable and enthralling, don't miss this one, sure to become a classic.
Thanks to Net Galley for sending this e-book ARC for review
#SleepTight #NetGalley

Oh Boy! This was a wild ride. The elements of this story are everything I like; cult, serial killer, premonitions, dark themes, police & psychology relationships. In this story we follow Tess, who in current time is witnessing a serial killer get the death penalty. Once this occurs, weird things start happening and due to an event she has to revisit her hometown. The darkness in this book is similar to the one in Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter. This would have been a 5 star and I would have push this down people’s throat (consensually) IF the author would have not used the laziest plot device in this story. The representation of this device was awful, and this is coming from somebody who works in that specific field. Also, the way they tried to explain the way somebody was skimming in this novel was unrealistic. The different character were great, and the fact that we get inside the main character’s head was awesome. Gave more depth to Tess. Also, the different clues used in this story we do get to see, which are mostly old police files. So much potential ALL wasted. Overall, I do look forward to more books by this author and hope they make better choices to tell even better stories.

This was such a great book! I believe it has all the great elements to be made into a movie! The book touches on things like marital problems, childhood trauma, cults, murder, etc. The book is mainly told from the point of view of Tess who is a detective just like her father. Her father had been the lead detective in a murder investigation in their old home town in Twisted Tree and the person responsible was named Father Silence. Right from the beginning we learn that Father Silence has finally been executed so you would think that the nightmare is finally over, however it is just the beginning of a new nightmare!
This book is a different kind of horror that no parent wants to go through. I liked that the story was told from present time to past time. Tess has had some blocked memories from her childhood that begin to resurface with the kidnapping of her daughter, Julia.
The story develops really well and there were a lot of twists and turns to get to the truth.
I definitely recommend this story! Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books. All opinions are my own.

This author writes the CREEPIEST books! This book did not disappoint me and I loved it!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and J.H. Markert for the complementary digital copy in exchange for my honest review 🖤👀

The story starts strong with an intriguing cast, but becomes complex as it unfolds, making it difficult to follow characters and plot connections. The book's pace slows in the middle, which may affect some readers. If you like thrillers, this may appeal, but horror fans may desire more. Despite some issues with this read, I'm still interested in exploring more of J.H. Markert's work.

→ Serial killer
→ Cults
→ Childhood trauma

INSANE!!! This book had me at the edge of my seat, nothing existed but the need to keep going. I read this a couple of days ago and the intensity of it is still fresh on my mind. The psychological horror was through the roof, the twists were well done and it’s a book that seriously had me constantly changing what I thought was happening.
I cannot recommend this enough, it’s a fantastic read!

💀💀💀💀💀/5

Thank you so much to the author, @crookedlanebooks and @netgalley for the ARC for my honest opinion.

Der erste Teil des Buches war langsam, und ich hätte es fast aufgegeben, aber ich bin froh, dass ich es nicht getan habe. In der letzten Hälfte nahm es dann endlich an Fahrt auf. Eine verrückte Wendung nach der anderen ließ meinen Kopf schwirren. Ich mochte die gruseligen Stellen, aber ich wünschte, es hätte mehr davon gegeben.

Sleep Tight follows Tess who has become a detective to follow in her father’s footsteps. Father Silence, a serial killer that once terrorised her hometown by disguising himself as a priest has been put to sleep after spending two decades behind bars after her father caught him. The next morning after his execution, her father is dead and a new serial killer is taking credit for it with the name, the Outcast who has a connection with Father Silence. After the Outcast kidnaps her daughter, Tessa must travel back to her hometown to face her past and the memories she would rather keep buried.

There was so much to love about this book. There was never ending twists and turns that had me hanging onto every word. I did not want to put this book down.

I loved that the characters felt real and flawed, especially in the circumstances of a book like this.

I had such great fun with this book and I’m excited to pick up more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

DNF at 59%

I tried, really and truly. But I had gotten to this point and didn't really care what happened in the past or currently.

It was too slow, if the pace has been faster maybe it would have worked for me.

Thank you to Crooked Lane books and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Beware the one who got away......"

Round of applause for the wonderful J. H. Markert!!!! This new novel is nothing short of the expected amazing writing of his I have grown to love!

Sleep Tight is an engrossing story where we meet Tess, who followed in her father's footsteps and became a detective. Father Silence terrorized Twisted Tree, her hometown, and was finally put to death. What Tess wasn't prepared for was that she would have to return back to her childhood home, relive her trauma and find her daughter who was kidnapped by The Outcast and a bunch of followers of the late Father Silence. The ride we are taken on is intense, nail biting and chilling. She had blocked out most of her trauma, but as it keeps coming back the closer she gets to her daughter, the more terrifying her situation becomes. This was a totally wild ride of a book and I cannot recommend this book enough!

All the characters were so vivid, so realistic that I was super enthralled and engrossed in this story. I couldn't put it down. I had to know what happened and I was there for the entirety of this rollercoaster.

I had to read the acknowledgements, as many times I don't, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that hopefully SOON us fans may be able to look forward to him revisiting the world of The Nightmare Man and Mister Lullaby!!

I look forward to seeing where his next book Dig will lead as he has become an expert horror author that I will willing recommend to every horror fan alike always!

Now that is how you write a detective novel!

We meet Tess, a detective, right after a serial killer has been put to death. I loathe detective novels. I can’t even express how much I feel like they are overdone and redundant. On top of that, Tess is a mess. As these characters usually are. However, this books explores the mind and how trauma affects our brain. She has a psychologist husband who overall, aides her in her journey to piece things together, even if she is reluctant.

Let’s see what else happens… her daughter goes missing. I know, that’s what happens in these books. But the question is why? Why after serial killer is dead? Where is the only boy who survived the killer? Why are you seeing the point of view of the woman who lives in the killers house?

Is everything about mental health or is there something else supernatural going on? Oh and let’s sprinkle in a little bit of cult influence as well!

This book had a story so well weaved with twists that twisted hard! It makes your head spin. Hard to predict book! Absolutely loved it.

Book releases Sept 10th 2024!

Thank you netgalley and to the publisher for letting me read this book!