I could not stop reading this. This story had me in it's grips from page one. AMAZING with great pacing. It gave criminal minds and fall vibes.

A soul survivor of a serial killers rampage now resides in a mental institution. As a young boy he was the only one left after a twisted man posing as a priest would entice the broken to trust him. When he is finally captured and the horrors in his home are exposed he is found guilty and will be put to death. Twenty years later he is finally put to death but instead of relief there is a new killer that is preying upon those connected to the case, including the arresting officers. This becomes a race to the finish as a detective’s daughter is taken by this new killer, The Outcast.

This was a pulse pounding thriller that kept adding twist after twist. This is the second book that I have read by the author and it will not be my last. He deftly amps up the tension and I was propelled to keep reading late into the night. A perfect read for the spooky season or if you enjoy a good twisty thriller!!

5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so boring, I would have DNFed it if my friend hadn't been buddy reading it with me and finished first. For people who were in law enforcement these characters made some truly questionable decisions. Like, the retired detective and his cop daughter who both were exposed to a horrific serial murder case involving children years before didn't think anything of writing a little girl's first and last name, age, and name of her school on the back of her class photo?! By the time the action started I was already too annoyed with the main character for blaming herself for her husband cheating to be very invested in the storyline, and it used a lot of predictable tropes that irk me, like repressed memories and secret disassociative identity. This was not for me, but I appreciated the chance to read an advance copy in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author, and I hope this one finds its audience.

Sleep Tight is a dark, twisted thriller. While not as spooky as some of the author’s other books, this one is still a pulse pounding thriller. A detective who helped catch a killer when she was a child, Tess is now the one must chase down a killer and a cult who worships the serial killer from her childhood. Her parents murder and her own child abducted, Tess is on a time clock to face the past and a new horror show. The pages fly by in this twisted and unpredictable thriller from an author I have found to be highly reliable for a wild and shocking thrill ride. My voluntary, unbiased, and non mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

Sleep Tight
by JH Markert

Father Silence is responsible for the deaths of many children, and years later he is executed for his crimes. What should be the end becomes the beginning of the nightmare all over again. Tess arrives at the scene of a murder, and while there receives a call from the murderer, admitting to "the bad thing". Everything spirals out of control, everyone connected to the old case is in danger, and Tess's daughter Julia is kidnapped on her way to school.

First off, the cover is so creepy and sets the tone for a creepy book. This book immediately sucked me into the drama and mystery. There were so many unknowns right away and I felt like we hit the ground running with all of the plot. Noah was a fascinating character and I loved parts that included him- but that's all I'll say so I don't give anything away. The overall plot was unique and I haven't read anything quite the same. The connections and all of the puzzle pieces were admittedly a little confusing at times because there was so much going on, but I didn't find myself missing the bigger picture if I didn't quite make a connection. I think it could have been a little creepier if we had more of the animal masks and culty vibes, but even still I think any bad people with masks are scary. Overall this was an exciting read and a solid pick for a spooky fall!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert. I believe this is a first for me from this author. All opinions are my own.

BEWARE THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY ....

Tess is a survivor, a detective's daughter, as well as a detective herself. She is married and has one daughter. Tess and her parents are from a small town, Twisted Tree, that saw its share of horror in the past and that horror has returned.

This novel starts at a breakneck speed into the action. Short chapters, multiple POVs, and pure chaos. (Especially in Twisted Tree) You will find lots of twists (no PUN intended) and turns in this story. I read it fast and only lost my way a little bit in the shifts of discoveries. Readers who like serial killers, kidnapping, and a large body count; will like this one. Sleep Tight is now available from all major retailers. Happy Reading!

What a TWISTY book! Very creepy and super exciting! I will say that the second half was actually insane and could definitely confuse a lot of people! I had a great time reading this one and I was completely sucked into the story right away! This one is perfect for spooky time reading and has all the things anyone could ask for in a thriller!! Love it and looking forward to reading the other books by this author!!!!

Tess, a detective's daughter, grows up to be just that. Her life revolved around watching her father and his partner chase and catch a serial killer dubbed Father Silence. Father Silence who lured his victims dressed as a priest. Father Silence who believed he was cleansing the world of sinners and scum. Father Silence who kidnapped unloved and unwanted children and gave them a loving and nurturing home. The night that Father Silence meets the end of his death sentence, Tess calls her father and checks on him. The next day her father and mother are found dead. A pair of black eyes was left behind leading Tess and the detective team to the next clue. Next, Tess' daughter is kidnapped by Father Friday and a nonstop heart-pounding chase to find Father Friday and save Tess' daughter begins.

To save Tess, she must travel back home, face her past, and work to uncover blocked memories. Sleep Tight is a twisted psychological thriller ride that will rock the reader, taking them through a roller coaster of emotions and place them in the world of a scared mother, a skilled detective, and even the mind of a serial killer that doesn't want to do the "bad thing" (kill). The mind of a serial killer that one may actually have empathy for (if you can imagine that).

Within the first few pages, this storyline captured me and I’m so glad it remained that way for the rest of it. Spooky, atmospheric and fast paced - it has everything you look for in a horror book. The author is an incredible writer and his level of detail and descriptions made it an immersive, edge of your seat read. There are several complex characters throughout and even though I found it hard to keep track at times, overall it was still a well executed story. I really enjoyed how for a solid portion of this book, I was constantly guessing as to what was going to happen next and while I did eventually piece it together before the reveal, this did not detract from a suspenseful and very dramatic ending. Be forewarned that this read can get quite intense at times but I would definitely recommend picking it up if this is your usual go-to genre!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to review a digital advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

J H Markert knows how to draw me into a story!
Detective Tess Claiborne is going through some personal things with her husband when her parents are killed and her daughter kidnapped. The same person seemingly perpetrates both. This takes her and her husband back to her hometown, the place where a notorious serial killer was caught by her father many years before. Long-buried memories resurface, a cult is in residence, and they are all connected to the recently deceased serial killer.
This took me on a wild ride! From the first page of the prologue I was hooked, and I couldn't put it down, reading it in one sitting.
Fast-paced with plenty of twists and turns and some vaguely supernatural moments that are the perfect amount of chilling and horrifying. The plot and the characters will keep you invested from the jump and you won't want to put it down until you reach the end.
This is the third book I've read by this author and will absolutely be reading anything else he publishes!!

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Sleep Tight by J. H. Markert in exchange for an honest review. I love reading J. H. Markert at night, the books are spooky in a slow burn sort of way. The storyline with the missing children, a serial killer and a cop with missing memories really pulled me in and kept my interest. This is a great book.

Sleep Tight Review!! 💤

Thank you @Netgalley and @crookedlane books for this gifted E-read!! Sleep Tight is out now!!

After reading the synopsis on this one it sounded absolutely terrifying! I knew I had to read it. Sleep Tight was a 4.5/5 ⭐️. This one was so fast paced, I think it would be an amazing movie! This is a book that you really have to focus on. There is A LOT happening at all times. There were parts I was really overwhelmed at. There were a lot of characters and parts of the plot to keep straight and I was confused at times. This one was creepy and dark and so so perfect for spooky season! I loved it!

Synopsis: A serial killer with a house of horrors is finally put to death. But the very next morning police already suspect they have a copy cat killer on their hands.

Everyone's been talking about this book right now and for good reason. It's gory, suspenseful and creepy. You usually can't go wrong with a serial killer novel.
I almost finished this book in under 24 hours.


The infamous serial killer Father Silence seems to have some fans because even though he was sentenced to death, children are still going missing under similar circumstances. One of those children is the daughter of detective Tess Claibourne. She's particularly close to the case because her dad was one of the detectives who made the arrest. And now with her daughter missing she will do anything to solve this case.


You'll find:
creepy cults
animal head masks
repressed memories
dissociative identities
drug/alcohol addiction

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 9/10
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Happy pub week to this absolute gem of a book. I absolutely devoured this book in less than 24 hours and loved every single second of it.
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Sleep Tight will immediately catch your attention right from page one. Markert is able to weave such a chilling and haunting story in a dual timeline. I absolutely loved the little glimpses into Detective Tess's past and to what happened to Noah. There are a lot of different topics in this story as well and I really truly loved how Markert not only discussed these topics with respect, but he did a phenomenal job once again weaving these different topics together. The characters are great in this one and I really enjoyed seeing how a select few of them grew throughout the book. I connected with almost all of them.
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This entire book gives off unable to put down vibes, I literally didn't put this one down once i started it. I was absolutely glued to my air Pods and my book. It is gripping and thrilling and suspenseful and you can't help but wonder what the hell is going to happen the entire time. It is so fast paced, and action packed with some gore galore and I found it to be *chefs kiss* perfection. Let's not forget this book has epistolary elements with police records and interviews scattered throughout. One of my favorite features in books! Oh, and that ending though, I absolutely loved where he went with it, what went down and everything in-between. Absolutely phenomenal.
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I listened to this one via audiobook while reading both my eARC and my physical copy from BOTM. The ALC was narrated by Andi Arndt, and I have nothing but the highest praises. I loved every single second of the audiobook, I felt like I was sucked into the story and was living right alongside the characters watching what was happening. It was absolutely brilliant. Highly recommending the audiobook.
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I buddy read this with three of my favorite people: @analyzedbychris @shannonjumpreads and @erikalaceyreads and It was such a blast to be able to discuss things with each other!
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Overall, this book is an absolute must for all of my thriller / horror / mystery / crime fans looking for a spooky read. I cannot say enough how much I loved this book. Don't sleep on this one. Huge thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, Dreamscape Media and J. H. Markert for the eARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.

What a wild ride that was! I have always love books by JH Markert and this one had all of the tension, mystery, and surprises you would expect if you are a fan. This is what I want from horror. I don’t need a lot of gore or red herrings. I need a slowly unfurling story that doesn’t tease all the way through and then explain it all in the last few pages. I want to have moments when I make realizations right along with the characters. You should never be quite comfortable when it all ends.

Beyond creepy…anyone named Father Silence is sure to be in your nightmares. But when Father Silence is finally sentenced and put to death, the nightmare continues. Is the key to the new killings the lone survivor?

The premise of Sleep Tight was super intriguing: serial killers, kidnapping, cults, repressed memories--all the best things! Unfortunately, the execution fell flat for me. It was hard to feel connected to the characters, and there were a lot of details that didn't make sense for how smart the leads supposedly were.

However, I did still enjoy the cult aspect as well as Noah and all the connections back to Father Silence. If you're willing to overlook some of the details that don't hold up too well over scrutiny (why is a cop's kid going anywhere with a stranger? Why would a cop write the name of their kid's school on the back of their picture?) or if you've enjoyed Markert's writing in the past, you'll probably also like this one.

This is my first book by this author. I chose this book as I do any other based off the title and the cover photo. Isn’t that cover photo absolutely gorgeous. I thought this novel was extremely slow for the first half, however, if you can stick with it the last 1/3 or so will have you on the edge of your seat. I thought this novel had small amounts of magical realism throughout it., but that didn’t stop it from being very realistic and absolutely terrifying. When a man who murdered many people in a small town and then never spoke a word is finally put to death another series of events is starts. Tess finds herself in the middle of all of this despite not thinking about her home town in years. And it seems that the sole survivor that managed to get away from Father Silence may hold the keys to everything unraveling and the truth being set free.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.

This book has left me a bit torn. First off, I went in expecting a spooky horror book. Sure I knew it was a kidnapping but it had a creepy cult, serial killer, that cover? In the end it felt very police procedural. Now, don't get me wrong I love this but my expectations were off. And I feel like there was room for more horror, especially in the old mansion, the old distillery, the old orphanage, the old amusement park... But all of those places just didn't feel fleshed out.

Which takes me to my other issues, there was a LOT going on. A lot of characters, a lot of storylines, a lot of rabbit holes. However once again none of them felt totally fleshed out. There were a lot of loose ends at the end I felt never got answered.

This would be an absolutely brilliant TV series though. To flesh out the storylines, to expand on the spooky settings, and to bring some more horror into it.

Overall though, it was fast-paced and I enjoyed it. Though it did take me a whole week to read it, which is slow for me. So clearly wasn't fully captivating me.

I think it was so close to great it annoys me more. It really has all the bones to be something amazing but it just wasn't quite there in my opinion.

3.5/5.00

Police detective Tess, experiences every parent's nightmare when her daughter is abducted. Tess and her husband race against the clock to rescue her daughter and their quest takes them back to Tess' childhood town and the murders of children decades before.