<i>ARC provided by Net Galley for an Honest Review</i>
What a wild ride this was. A harrowing journey for heroine Tess to rescue her daughter and finally put the pieces of her past behind her. Unfortunately for Tess she seems to be the key piece to the resurgence of a killer and kidnapper of children. After a well known serial killer called Father Silence is put to death the mystery grows deeper. Tess loses her parents and her daughter is taken leaving her no time to heal, grieve or even deal. As she unravels her past, the present comes knocking and she can't help but question whether Father Silence worked alone. No one is safe if there is still someone else out there. But how could there be a partner the police never knew about? Often teamed with her estranged husband or fellow officers, Tess chases down leads one after the other. There was quite a lot of characters that I did occasionally confuse but the main ones were easy to differentiate. The book remains pretty intense from start to finish not only because a child's life many hang in the balance but so does Tess's sanity. With her life coming apart at the seams Tess's character shines as much as she does flounder (ie. she struggles with addiction) and proves she may be a flawed heroine but one you continue to root for.

This book had be guessing until the very end! I thought I knew, was sure I knew, I didn't know. What a ride this was! I loved it.

A terrifying mystery that keeps you one edge!
I could not stop reading!
The story follows Tess after a hometown murderer is sentence to death by the state for a series of deaths and kidnappings. Tess' father was there the night of arresst and has decided to take it easy and escape the world. However after her parents are found dead and her daughter missing tess must work with her cheating husband to solve who is hurting her family and why.
Filled with violence, mystery and death, this book is perfect for readers of stephan king, agatha christie and vc andrews all wrapped up in one novel

"Sleep Tight" was an incredibly gripping read that left me completely shocked. I devoured the book in one night, eagerly seeking clues about the mysterious kidnapper/killer and unraveling the secrets of the past. The constant suspense kept me on edge throughout. I'm definitely planning to buy a physical copy when it's released. Huge thanks to Crooked Lanes Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book caught my attention the moment I laid eyes on the cover. Reading it did not disappoint! It had me hanging and guessing what would happen next. A strong read and highly recommended!

Oh my goodness, what a fantastic read! I don’t know if I’ll be able to Sleep Tight after reading this one…I was absolutely consumed by this book and finished it in one afternoon. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, eager to keep finding clues as to what was going on, who the kidnapper/killer may be, and what happened all those years ago. I will absolutely be purchasing a physical copy when this comes out!

Many thanks to Crooked Lanes Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love darker books but rarely find ones that really feel like a page turner for me. This time that's exactly what I got. I enjoyed every page of this one.

Sleep Tight was an enjoyable, fast paced horror read. I found the characters to be very engaging, and with the addition of some good old fashioned creepiness, it made this book hard to put down. I didn't find this one to be as compelling as the author's prior work but it was still a good read! There was just a bit too much going on. If he could have narrowed the focus and left out some of the many many plot elements it would have done wonders for the tension. Thanks for letting me take an early look!

I just went back and reread the book description to ensure I wouldn’t fall into spoiler territory with this review.
A killer,Father Silence, terrorized the town of Twisted Tree, many years ago, and is finally being put to death. This should be a relief to everyone who is connected to this tragic time. But somehow, his death has incited a new wave of violence. The new killers name is the Outcast and he gets busy quickly.
Tess moved away from Twisted Tree after Father Silence was captured by her father. She is now a detective like her father, who is now retired. Sadly,her father and mother are both murdered, and Tess’s young daughter Julia is kidnapped. Why is Tess’s family being targeted? Can she figure it out and save her daughter?
The past is definitely connected to what is happening, but how? Father Silence Is dead, there is no doubt about that. As the past and present merge, we find out about Jess’s memory gaps from when she was a teenager. A whole slew of, let’s just say extremely deranged characters emerge, as Jess keeps searching to find her daughter. For most of the story, I wasn’t sure if there were just bad people involved or if this town was indeed controlled by evil.
Everything comes together in a way that I did not see coming! I hated that real life got in the way of my reading! This story had it all, and the cult,The Lost Children of Silence, was creepy beyond words. I loved how the author brought the story together, and the last line made me think/hope that there could be more in a future book.

This is a fantastic novel that's part serial killer thriller, part detective story, and part horror. These elements all weave together to form an unputdownable bone chilling read.

I don't want to say too much about the plot because discovering the various ins and outs of the narrative was something that kept me glued to the pages. Go in blind, I say.

But there are plenty of horrific moments, highlighted by past secrets, seemingly supernatural events, and relationships that twist and change over time.

And speaking of twists... yeah, there are a lot of them in store especially in the final third of the novel. This is a book that keeps you guessing, wondering, and sometimes scratching your head but when it all comes together, it's a jaw dropping affair as those loose ends are brought to life.

I didn't want to stop reading and even though life got in the way (stupid real life lol), I still managed to read it in two days. It's just too good to leave alone for any length of time.

I highly, highly recommend this novel.

A very creepy horror novel from one of my favorite authors. His southern novels under the name James Markert are some of my favorite and I am "today years old" realizing this is the same person. He writes brilliant horror as well as Southern magical realism. Great read.

First of all, that cover? Absolutely yes. So good. Had I not already been a Markert fan, I would’ve picked this up for the cover alone. Something about this color scheme on a horror thriller always does it for.

I liked this less than The Nightmare Man and more than Mister Lullaby. For those familiar with his other works. this one definitely has less horror elements but is his most terrifying. Likely due to the fact that it was the most realistic.

This is a fast-paced read that is non-stop action from beginning to end. I found Tess to be a compelling protagonist (though amnesia/repressed memories is a trope I feel is a bit tired at this point) and I eagerly ate up this story. All the main characters had solid back stories that made you root for them and understand their character motives a bit more. There were some great twists, too! I mean, I predicted most of them but I’m Detective Lloyd in this genre so it’s not uncommon for that to happen.

Highly recommend to fans of mystery thrillers, cult stories, and detective novels.

In 'Sleep Tight' we follow the story of detective Tess Claibourne.

Tess is the daughter of the detective who arrested the gruesome serial killer 'Father Silence' whose execution is planned for the near future.

Tess didn’t have an easy life after her father caught this gruesome murderer. The family moved regularly and Tess seems to have gaps in her memory.

Now that Tess is an adult, she has settled down with her husband and daughter Julia.

But then Julia is kidnapped in broad daylight and Tess' past catches up with her.

Her loss of memory does not help, and when the perpetrator also leaves bizarre clues that seem to have a link with 'Father Silence', Tess sees only one option: return to the hometown where it all started. Twisted Tree.

Although involved characters are well introduced, J.H. Markert wastes no time in extensive build-up. You therefore get to know the characters better by reading between the lines.

The book starts off intense. And when we meet the characters, the tension builds immediately.

As a thriller fan, I personally love this, although a number of events happened a little too quickly in my opinion, so the development of a number of things could definitely have been better.

J.H. Markert is absolutely capable of drawing the reader completely into the story. Not only do we see interesting characters who have their own agenda, but we also see how J.H. Markert brings his characters to life by staying as close to the truth as possible.

In this story J.H. Markt clearly researched psychiatric disorders and the addition of the disorder in this book made the entire story not only harrowing but also incredibly intense.

Add that to a gruesome murderer, a kidnapped child and the flashbacks of the traumatized Tess, and the story is complete.

What made this thriller so good for me was the complexity of everything.

Everything is connected and J.H. Markert is able to surprise you again and again with a twist that draws you deeper and deeper into the story.

In this thriller he definitely “plays” with human psychology and traumatised children.

I thought the plot was surprising and awesome, although the ending may have gone a little too quickly. But maybe I just wasn't ready to say goodbye yet.

J.H. Markert, luckily for me, uses gruesome details. These can also be found in this story. Although slightly less and less graphic than in 'The Nightmare Man'.

The story ends with an epilogue that again has a dark edge.


Conclusion
'Sleep Tight' is definitely a page turner!

I loved the complexity of the story and especially with the addition of the psychological aspects, this story was intense.

The characters were interesting and unique and definitely made the story come alive.

The horrific events, past and present, as well as the urgency to solve this case and get Julia home, were palpable.

Perhaps the pace could have been a bit slower and a number of peripheral issues could have gotten a little more attention in the elaboration, but it was not disruptive.

I absolutely enjoyed this new thriller by J.H. Marker!

Omg. This is one incredible book fast read and intense. This has to be turned into a movie or series or something. I loved everything about this book 10/10

Death Row inmate, Jeff Pritchard aka Father Silence, is on countdown to his execution. The new Governor is old school. No lethal injection for this killer, the Governor wants to make sure, so Old Sparky has been brought out of retirement. Not having spoken since his arrest 17 years ago, Pritchard whispers his last words to the warden just before the lever is pulled.

Waiting for news from the execution cell is retired Detective Leland Patterson, one of the men who brought Pritchard down. Also waiting is Leland’s daughter, Detective Jess Claiborne. When the deed is done, all can breathe a sigh of relief. Or can they?

OMG! From the first page I knew this book was going to be the perfect read for me. Captivating, exciting, the suspense builds and builds until remembering to breathe becomes necessary 🤣.

An awe inspiring masterful story told so well. The ideal mix of horror and crime, sublime. No unnecessary repetition, just a straightforward story that keeps twisting and unraveling. A joy to read.

Markert is fast working his way to be among the great horror storytellers. His company amongst the likes of Malfi, Tudor, Chizmar and the master himself, King, is assured if this is anything to go by. A definite purchase when published in September 2024.

Well done, an excellent read. 100% recommendation.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books.

I genuinely hope this book reaches the screen as a Netflix movie or series. It was phenomenal. The serial killer known as Father Silence has been executed but, before anyone can relax, the detective who arrested him is found dead. A new nightmare has begun. This is a must-read for thriller lovers and, like Markert’s other books, the writing and old school horror feel is top notch. I will recommend this book closer to publication and thanks so much for the opportunity to read!

Fast paced, nonstop and chilling from the first to very last page!
The book blurb has everything you need to know about this book. All that is missing is how brilliant it is.
This is a fast paced book that has you tearing through the pages as quickly as you can possibly read. I honestly, truly couldn’t put this book down. I even dreamed about it!
It plays on every parent’s emotions and fears. Your child has been taken by an unknown male and to make it worse, your parents were both murdered the night before in a gruesome, planned attack.
They know it cannot have been the media dubbed Father Silence, the serial killer Detective Tess Claibourne’s father arrested years ago because he was sentenced to death by the electric chair the night her parents were both murdered, but the fact it happened on the same night cannot be coincidence.
Now a new killer has come forefront of the investigation, calling himself the Outcast. And he has Tess and Justine’s daughter and another unknown little boy.
As the hunt for the missing children gets underway Tess also has to battle her own demons if she has any chance of finding her daughter and catching the Outcast.
As they travel back to her childhood hometown of Twisted Tree it soon becomes clear this is no ordinary crime fiction.
A satanic cult calling themselves the Lost Children of Silence has sprung up in the town and they seem to be involved somehow and things are definitely not what them seem.
Filled with plot twists and chilling scenes this would make a great horror movie!
J. H. Markert is one of my favourite horror writers. His last book Mister Lullaby was one of my top books of the year last year and this one will definitely be in the top of my favourite books of this year as well.
Every horror fan as long as any fans of crime fiction needs to read this book.
Sleep Tight will be published on 24 Sept. 2024 and is available to preorder now.
It honestly one book not to be missed this year!

This felt like a wonderful episode of Criminal Minds. I absolutely loved all the elements in this story. The characters, the setting, and the plot were all on point.

This was a ride. Twisted tree. More like twisty book. I loved it. I don't have a lot to say other than I loved this book and I will deff get it when it comes out.

Wow, this was hands down phenomenal!

With a riveting first page, this book immediately throws you into the deep end. I knew it was going to be good instantly. It was a five star prediction by chapter one.

A cop with an addiction problem, a past filled with repressed memories…

The day after a well known serial killer, Father Silence is put to death, one of the police officers who arrested him all those years ago is found dead. Now a new killer calling himself the Outcast is prowling, scooping up children as he goes.

Tess, the daughter of the now murdered arresting officer has spent her life trying to get away from Father Silence and the cloud that surrounds her memories of that time in her childhood. When the Outcast kidnaps her daughter, she is pulled back into that whole mess, encouraging her addictive tendencies. She will stop at nothing to find her daughter, learning more about the Outcast and Father Silence in the process.

This perfectly pairs crime thriller with cultish horror! There are so many level to this story, and as you peel them back, more horrors bleed out. From start to finish, this book had me locked in!