How many horror tropes can you throw into a novel before it starts to feel like a parody?

Luckily, Sleep Tight doesn’t quite reach those ignoble heights, but the issue is that it comes too close for my appreciation.

I quite enjoy Markert’s writing and storytelling style, but the deeper we got into this book the more it seemed like he couldn’t help but throw in another horror trope. The cast of characters was already pretty large, the plot was already pretty sprawling, and there were no issues with pacing. In my mind, introducing more tropes was just for shock value in a book that already had plenty of shock value already and the characters started to get lost in the mire.

I am going to say that if you’re a sensitive reader in any way, you’re really going to want to check the CWs for this book before you read it. I’m not a sensitive reader, but I know there is a massive amount of triggering material in here for those who are.

I was provided a copy of this title by the publishers and author via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. All reviews rated three stars or lower will not be posted to my social media. Thank you.

File Under: Crime Thriller/Cult Horror/Kidnapping/Murder Thriller/Occult Fiction/Psychological Thriller/Serial Killer

J H Markert knocks it out of the park yet again with another creepy, spooky book! I read Mister Lullaby last year and absolutely loved it so I couldn’t wait for Markert’s new book this year. This book was the perfect spooky book that I was wanting to read for fall. I was instantly hooked from the start and did not want to put it down. With the short chapters and twisty storyline this book had me in its clutches until the end. I had no idea what was going to happen whatsoever throughout the book and so enjoyed the wild, creepy rollercoaster ride that it was. I loved the multiple POVs and the interviews that were sprinkled throughout the story to piece everything together.

Overall, I absolutely loved this horror book and highly recommend it to anyone who wants a spooky fall read!

💤Book Review💤
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Summary- 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.
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Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️
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My thoughts- this one had potential but it also had some problems. Thank you @crookedlanebooks and @netgalley for the advanced copy of this one, it released last week. I thought I was going to love this one, but it had quite a bit of problems. The ending was a bit out all over the place, the characters weren’t super likable, and there was just a bit too much going on in this book. I really disliked the bit about the killer having a facial deformity and stutter. It’s 2024 it’s really not cool to make that the underlying reason a person becomes a killer. It just didn’t sit right with me but the overall premise of this was good. 🥴
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QOTD- what are you currently reading ? I’m working on The Night We Lost Him.
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Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert delivers a chilling, edge-of-your-seat thriller that expertly weaves mystery and suspense into a tightly-knit plot. From the very first page, you're thrust into a dark and eerie atmosphere that keeps you questioning every character's motive and the reality of the world they inhabit.Character development is strong, with protagonists that feel real and complex, their fears and motivations adding depth to the unfolding mystery. However, some side characters might have benefited from more fleshing out, as they occasionally feel like plot devices rather than fully realized people.Thematically, Sleep Tight explores fear, paranoia, and trust, all set against a backdrop that feels as threatening as the dangers the characters face. The novel’s atmosphere is immersive, and the tension keeps building until the very end, making it a hard book to put down.On the downside, certain plot elements might feel familiar to avid readers of the thriller genre, and a few of the twists can seem a bit predictable if you’ve read a lot of similar books. Still, the execution is strong enough that these moments don’t detract too much from the overall enjoyment.Overall, Sleep Tight is a solid read for fans of psychological thrillers. It combines suspenseful writing, a haunting atmosphere, and characters that pull you into their world, making for an engaging, if not entirely groundbreaking, thriller.

Sleep Tight is a terrifying thriller with police procedural elements. When the infamous Father Silence is executed, everyone connected with the original case breathes a sigh of relief. Until, that is, all hell starts breaking loose.

After loving Mister Lullaby by Markert I was very excited to receive an ARC of this title. While I felt that Sleep Tight moved at a way slower pace, it was still an interesting story and I enjoyed the cult elements quite a bit. I think anyone expecting a true horror story may be let down, but fans of psychological thrillers, police procedurals, and the supernatural will love this one!

**Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for the ARC of this thrilling title and to NetGalley for the eARC!**

Sleep Tight is a dark detective procedural that veers into “horror” territory with its disturbing content and flawed characters. It’s for fans of The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart and the TV show Luther starring Idris Elba.

The novel itself is dark and dreary and starts off strong, with high stakes and a shocking twist. The story is delivered to us from numerous perspectives, and there’s also snippets from the past meant to fill in the blanks about the mysterious Father Silence, a serial killer who was active twenty years ago and is just now facing his death sentence.

The protagonist of the story is Tess, a police detective who’s married to her job, which might be why her literal marriage is on the rocks. Her father was the detective who took down the infamous Father Silence when she was only thirteen. She’s wanted to fill her father’s shoes ever since. She’s a flawed character, and I wanted to like her, but there was something about her that fell a little flat. That said, the book relies more on plot and style, so my not feeling for the main character didn’t greatly impact my enjoyment of the story itself. However, if I had related to her more, the rest of the story’s twists may have packed a harder punch.

Sleep Tight is very atmospheric and twisted and not for the faint of heart. The narrative never gets too detailed with the gore or psychologically disturbing content, but there are quite a few triggers that are touched on, so proceed with caution.

I was addicted to this audio - I cleaned for hours to keep it going.
I loved the women's issues weaved into the story- that's what made it a five star read for me. Subtle ways women talk about autonomy away from men.
Loved these characters, family history and drama.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Unfortunately, I am here to report that this one did not work for me, a fact that is extra upsetting considering how much I have loved J.H. Markert's other novels. Sleep Tight is a book that straddles that horror/thriller line following a serial killer whose crimes haven been deeply entwined with detective Tess Claibourne's personal life. I won't spend too much time on the plot for fear of spoilers, but Tess' daughter is kidnapped by a killer known as the Outcast. The stakes increase exponentially as we follow Tess in her plight to save her daughter.

There are a few aspects of this novel that did work for me, and I'll unpack them here. There is no doubt that this is a relatively fast-paced novel with the threats of danger looming incredibly large over these characters. It makes for a great deal of suspense in the beginning of the novel and keeps growing. On paper, everything about this novel feels like it was written for me, but here's where things fell apart for me.

Markert implements many plot devices, sub plots, and POV jumps to write this story. However, these things ultimately came across as too busy, and I felt slightly lost in the shuffle. This also probably stems from my struggle to connect with many of these characters. In some ways, their general characterizations seem perfect for this kind of story, but in the end, they just felt like surface level depictions of much deeper issues to explore other ideas.

I have seen a lot of love for this book so I know I am in the minority here. Maybe it was right book, wrong time. This is a title I would consider revisiting in the future to see if these thoughts of mine hold up, especially given how big of a fan I am of Markert.

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.