J.H. Markert is one of the best horror writers in the game and I loved Sleep Tight-- the Outcast and Father Silence are chilling horror villains.

From the beginning this book had me turning the pages. It was very grabbing and had my heart racing. The story went off in a different direction and kind of slowed down for me a bit by focusing more on characters than the story line. As brutal as the cabin & warehouse scenes were, I wanted more of that thrill.

This was a quick and easy read, and the cover was fantastic. Sad to say those are the two most positive things I can say about it.

Based on the cover and the blurb I had high hopes that I’d be getting a spooky horror story, but this one turned out to be more of a police procedural than a horror story. It started off strong but quickly went downhill. There were just too many characters, too many plot holes, and way too many tropes thrown in - serial killers, multiple POVs, cults, psychic connections, multiple personalities, repressed memories, child abuse, child abduction, addiction, cheating, murdered parents, psychics, house of horrors, religion. It made the story confusing and created too many plot holes for the story to make sense or for all of the storylines to have any clear resolution.

The story jumps right into the action early on, which doesn’t give the reader much time to get to the know the characters or to feel any connection to them that would make us care about what happens to them. The protagonist, Tess, is a detective and recovering addict who recently separated from her cheating husband, Justin. Tess’s father was one of the detectives who arrested the serial killer Father Silence, whose execution sets the story in motion. Neither Tess nor Justin were particularly likable characters and it was very hard to connect with either one of them or to understand many of their choices throughout the story.

There was some build up toward the end of the book along with some hope that things would be redeemed in the end, but that too turned out to be anticlimactic. The end came quickly and without a lot of fanfare. It’s probably also a problem when you find yourself rooting more for one of the bad guys in the end than for the main character and supposed “hero” of the story.

This could have been interesting if it had stuck to a couple of tropes and really fleshed out the storyline around those topics instead of trying to fit everything and the kitchen sink into one story.

Thanks NetGally and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced copy.

Kidnapping, murder, cults, telepathy, and repressed memories...this book had it all and then some. It was a police procedural dusted with suspense thriller and horror aspects. The final third had my head spinning with so much action and a bomb cyclone of reveals.

Tess is a cop suffering from PTSD and a failing marriage. Her husband Justin is trying to fix their marriage after finding solace in another woman's bed. Her dad, now retired from the police force, was one of two cops who brought down a serial killer twenty years ago, infamously known as Father Silence. On the eve of his execution, her father and mother are murdered. As Tess and her partner Danny investigate this heinous crime, Tess and Justin's young daughter Julia is kidnapped by someone known as The Outcast. The plot revolves around the investigation of the murders and kidnapping.

There were sprinkles of paranormal mystery, which never really went anywhere. I was hoping for more development on that front as I think it would have brightened the plot and added a layer of horror-based complexity.

I also found the hodgepodge of elements overwhelming with none fully developed. The first two-thirds of the plot was fairly slow and uneventful with everything happening in the final quarter. As a result, it was difficult to keep up and felt rushed.

As with this author's last book, the characters needed more depth and development. They were somewhat caricature-ish. It was difficult to bond emotionally with them, hence difficult to care what happened to them.

For all of those reasons, it lost stars. However, I believe this author has the capacity for another "knock-your-socks-off" read like The Nightmare Man. And although this particular book didn't work the best for me, there are others who loved it, so I suggest reading their reviews. I look forward to reading more by this author.

A gracious thank you to #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the first two in the same universe. This one felt like much more of a police procedural than the others did.

The atmosphere of the book was creepy, and I thought all the characters were very well developed. I enjoyed Tess as the main character.

At times, I found it a little harder to follow than some of the other books, but overall I enjoyed it.

If the “ I’m so scared right now you shut up” sound was a book. This gave me all the creepy feels and genuinely scared me at times I was looking over my shoulder

I had such high hopes for this novel. The setting was intriguing as I live in Kentucky and recognize many of the places mentioned. The creep factor was there and there was plenty happening. But that was also the downfall...too much going on and too many characters making it hard to follow. Plus it was beyond farfetched but some of the best horror is. This one was a miss for me but I will still read more from the author as I think the potential for a great book is there. My thanks to Crooked Lane Books for providing a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

*Delayed review due to personal circumstances*

I was ecstatic to be chosen as an early reader for this book, it sounded right up my street and I always love a head start in books perfect for spooky season!

Brutal serial killer, Father Silence, left 19 dead and one survivor, a small child, in the basement of his "horror house" in Twisted Trees.
Nearly 20 years since Father's arrest, right after his execution, the Detective who arrested Father Silence is found dead and a new serial killer has come to light, calling himself "The Outcast".

This book kept me on the edge of my seat, frantically trying to work out who on earth The Outcast was. I loved the different POVs from past memories to present day, and the explosive ending was perfect!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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!