On the night of his execution, Father Silence, Twisted Tree’s most prolific serial killer, finally breaks his silence with an ominous warning and the town’s nightmare begins again.

Tess Claiborne is a detective and Twisted Tree native haunted by a traumatic past that she can’t quite piece together. Her father was one of the detectives responsible for bringing down Father Silence in his House Of Horrors , and after the execution she believes they can finally put the past behind them, but the true horror is just beginning.

Over the years, Father Silence had amassed a cult following along with a copycat killer that goes by the name The Outcast. After her father is murdered and her daughter is abducted by The Outcast, Tess finds herself dragged back in and realizes she has to return to where it all started. She needs to meet with Father Silence’s only survivor with the hope that he can help her get her daughter back before it’s too late and stop Father Silence’s legacy once and for all.

This was a fantastic psychological thriller with a supernatural twist. The story is told by a series of flashbacks, old interviews, and articles helping the reader piece together the past with the present day. With short chapters and great pacing ,I was hooked on the first page and had a hard time putting it down! I will definitely be thinking about this one for a while!

Thanks to J.H. Markert , NetGalley, and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC
#netgalley #jhmarkert #jhmarkertauthor #crookedlanebooks #sleeptight #fathersilence

My thanks to Crooked Lane Books, J.H. Markert and Netgalley.
This damn author is pretty freaking fantastic!
Sure, its only the second book of his I've read, but hoo wee! What a fucking ride!
I loved this book. It was every sort of messed up and honestly? I'm here for that!

Shut up!!! This was so good! I started and finished it in a day, even took it out to dinner with me—my hubs just rolled his eyes. I’m sorry but I couldn’t stop.

Ok, so, we have a serial killer getting the electric chair and that sets off a whole series of unfortunate events. Our protagonist gets the brunt of it; he parents get brutally murdered, her daughter is kidnapped, her husband cheated on her (not necessarily related but still F him), and now she’s having gnarly blackouts dredging up some dark repressed memories. Basically, ain’t nobody can be trusted in this book 👀

There is a TON happening in the story but it never feels confusing or redundant. From about 40% on the story is just nonstop suspense. During dinner my husband kindly asked if I could stop talking to my book. Excuse me sir, but no, I cannot because I was figuring 💩 out and got excited.

Great book, awesome creepy small town, occult, dark secrets horror story. Bravo

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC!

What a good book!!! This was one I had a hard time putting down!

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc copy I enjoyed this book I don’t really like these types of tropes in a book like detective type books but this one I did like this is my second book I’ve read from this author and I think I will continue to read from this author. I was not disappointed

A compelling read about a woman dealing with a troubled past. Markert creates a sense of unease, exploring the lasting impact of traumatic experiences. It's an engaging read - my first by JH Markert - but I'll definitely be seeking out their other titles.

First, I don’t think this one is as good as his last two. Those really blew me away. This one oscillates between feeling like NOS4A2 (awesome) and James Patterson’s Along Came a Spider (not awesome). However, this one still has quite a bit to like — including Markert’s ability to tie together a bunch of threads at the end in a satisfying way, creepy scenes and an array of interesting characters. I just feel like this idea didn’t have the same heart or legs as his last two. If you like thrillers, I think you’ll enjoy this one. If you prefer horror, you might be left wishing for more.

“Sleep Tight” is a heart-pounding thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The character development is excellent, drawing you deeply into their lives and making the unfolding horror even more impactful. The "Before" chapters were particularly enjoyable, adding depth and context to the chilling events. This book is packed to the brim with tension, ensuring you'll be up way past your bedtime, unable to put it down. The haunting tale is woven with captivating prose and reads as an old-school horror. Each page is filled with suspense, and the twists and turns will leave you breathless.

“Sleep Tight” is not just a thriller; it’s an experience. The atmosphere, the pacing, and the terror are crafted to perfection. This is a must-read promising a journey into darkness that you won't soon forget. Haunting and unforgettable, I highly recommend this one for those who love a good scare and appreciate finely tuned storytelling.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and J.H. Markert for the opportunity to read and review “Sleep Tight” prior to its publication date.

This was such a fun read and I enjoyed it immensely.
Even though the story reads throughout different time periods and from the perspective of multiple characters, it's easy to follow along and stay hooked. I was worried the story would take the lazy route of "Surprise! It's just Dissociative identity disorder!" but it's far deeper than that. This spooky crime thriller hit all the marks. 10/10 no notes

Sleep Tight is a suspense-filled, fast-paced novel. The characters are decently developed, although it felt a little lacking for a few of them. The book is well written. It held my attention the entire time. I would place this as a suspense or thriller novel. Definitely worth the read.

Sleep Tight is the first book I've read by J.H. Markert and I am looking forward to reading more. Sleep Tight is a fast-paced thriller which will keep you guessing until the very end!

First read by this author based on positive reviews. This book leans more to horror than mystery/suspense/thriller and I’d probably compare it somewhat to The Whisper Man by Alex North.

Title ok, cover ok, writing very good.

I liked the characters a lot and the first half of the book definitely kept be more interested than the second half. Still a good ending overall. I think not being a huge horror fan left this book as more average with me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

My first read from this author, Sleep Tight is a twisty thriller. I enjoyed it for the most part and it was interesting trying to figure out the mystery. This is a story about cults, family dynamics, lone survivors and of course, murder. A serial killer is finally put to death and this sets off a whole chain of events, including the death of the arresting detective and the kidnapping of his granddaughter. The detective's daughter, Tess, a detective herself has to piece together the why and who. Pay close attention. There's a good amount of characters and plot lines that all tie together in the end!

Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert
Forthcoming Sept 10, 2024

The town of Twisted Tree, Kentucky has a notorious reputation of the history of a serial killer nicknamed Father Silence wreaking havoc twenty years ago. When the day finally arrives to execute the criminal, detective Tess Claibourne is relieved knowing the man her father and his partner apprehended will finally be out of their lives for good.

But when Tess and her estranged psychologist husband Justin find out that their only daughter Julia has been kidnapped, so begins a frightening ordeal, a game of cat and mouse between Julia and the new, evolving killer who may or may not be a protégé of Father Silence.

Things escalate further when Julia’s parents and the other lead detective from the case twenty years ago are brutally murdered. Chasing down clues leads them to the only survivor of Father Silence, who himself has serious mental health issues and is in prison for killing his own father. But he may have answers that Tess and Justin need to bring their daughter home alive.

Being a big fan of serial killer storylines, this book’s premise really appealed to me. And for the first third of the book I felt like it was a fast-paced almost-procedural with a lot of moving parts. There in lies the issue I had, I felt like there may have been a little too many irons in the fire.

While I loved Tess’s flawed character—a pill popping probable alcoholic with a cheating husband and some repressed memories she’s struggling with—I think perhaps having all of the various plot lines and tropes added within the book just may have watered it down too much for me. When I can’t keep track of characters and themes then that’s a sign for me that things are taking a turn in the wrong direction.
I liked the story well enough, but sometimes less is more. I would definitely buy this author again though, as he knows how to write horror.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is my first book by J. H. Markert. I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was intrigued from the beginning with the prologue, and couldn't wait to delve deeper. What I didn't prepare for was the inability to put it down! I couldn't wait to see where the story would go next.

It was a fast paced thriller with a few good twists to keep you on your toes. One moment you were focussed on the serial killer, next it was a kidnapper and a cult.

I really enjoyed the characters and their development throughout the book, especially Tess. I think what made the book better for me was the jumps back in time and how they connected to current events.

This book is a must read for thriller readers!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars.
Once again Markert has woven a complicated nightmare and “Sleep Tight” just might be my favorite so far. This book has everything: a cult, murder, big plot twists, missing memories, and more.
It’s a commitment to read because there are a *lot* of components, you wouldn’t want to go into it unfocused, but you won’t regret it!

Looking for a book that will keep you hooked from start to finish? Try 'Sleep Tight' by JH Marker, I can confidently say that this has been one of the most engaging reads I've come across in a while. I'm now a fan of this author and look forward to exploring more of his works, especially if they are as well-crafted as this one.
I will say that if you are affected by childhood trauma and abuse, this might not be a book for you.
A silence of the lambs crossed with American horror story feel to this one.
If your a fan of a good horror/ thriller and the stuff nightmares are made from I definitely recommend this book.
Thank you NetGalley and The publisher Crooked lanes for the ARC. I will definitely keep this one as one that I need to share with everyone

I really enjoyed this book., as I have all this authors work! The characters were well developed and the story was great, suspenseful, interesting through the book, I never felt it dragged or was slow in parts. I would absolutely recommend this book to friends. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I was looking forward to reading this one but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me. I was expecting something else instead of just a crime/detective story. I dnf’d at about 22%, I took a month break and tried picking it back up but just couldn’t

Thank you NetGalley and to the publishers for giving me this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Sleep Tight is Dark, creepy and unsettling.
Without question J. H. Markert’s best yet.
Reminiscent of old school Stephen King.
This has everything you want from in a Horror novel.
I thought The nightmare man was great, but Sleep Tight is his best yet!