I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I thought this book started out fantastically. There was the creepiness factor, the atmosphere, the mystery. This was quite a brutal story that didn't shy away from the morbid details. However, once the plot began to pick up, it felt like this became an episode of Criminal Minds. Now, I absolutely loved that show, but the plot points became rather cliche and predictable. The ending went off the rails and felt disconnected from the rest of the book. That being said, I did overall enjoy the book.

Honestly one of the hardest books to rate right now because my mind is all over the place. I think I'm landing on 3.5? But the ending really brings this together and raised it from a 3.

Pacing: this one has its ups and downs for sure. Some moments are one thing after another, and then it dies down and I could feel myself drifting. There were quite a few times where I didn't really care about picking it up again... but I was too invested in the child abduction to give up.

My thoughts:
- The story starts off really strong with a solid mystery of the case of Father Silence, we have the eerie tale of his arrest and subsequent execution, which catapults the story even more.
- The way that Tess is so central to this story, it's obvious that her trauma-induced amnesia is going to play a significant role, but it really takes the entire book to get everything out there...
- This book, in ebook form, felt like it went on forever. So while it started off strong, the pacing going back and forth made this feel incredible long and drawn out. But I also don't know how it could have been any shorter and still maintained the level of depth necessary for the twists.
- This book has the spooky vibes for sure, especially when the animal masks come into play. And this is also when the story gets even more twisted than before.
- When it says psychological horror/thriller, they mean it. This book goes DEEP into the psyche and the long term effects of abuse or trauma. Although the horror descriptor is more for tone and psychological shock value rather than gore or scariness.
- As far as the twists go, I think they were really good, despite me being able to see them coming very early on. But that's just because I love solving a mystery before the characters do.
- My biggest complaint is that I feel like I have questions after the book is over. And not questions of like what comes next, but almost like plot holes that don't quite add up to the conclusion. A lot of these questions are spoilers for the twists/resolution so I can't go into detail, but at one point two characters know things about what each other are doing when they shouldn't... and based on the explanation given for the entire narrative, this shouldn't be possible? Maybe I'm just dense but this throws a wrench in the way this book is founded on the reality of psychology. (Sorry that went deep?)

J. H. Markert has a talent for writing horribly creepy books that will stick with you when you’re done and this book was not an exception. I did think this one was pretty slow for the first half or so, but I’m glad I stuck with it because the last third had me on the edge of my seat. I liked that there was a small element of the mystical in this one, but it was also horrifyingly realistic. 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 boy who got away from Father Silence may hold the keys to everything.

This was a much anticipated read from one of my favorite authors. I really enjoyed the uniqueness of The Nightmare Man and Mister Lullaby, so I knew the author's newest book will make the top of my tbr this Fall. In this novel, Detective Tess Claibourne must face her past to solve what looks like a work of a serial killer while dealing with her own family falling apart.

The great thing about this latest novel is that it's more of a thriller than a horror read, compared to the previous books, which is my personal preference. If you want to dip your toes in supernatural and occult horror, this book gives you that experience minus the gore. I'm a huge fan of detective novels and serial killer investigations, so this book was right up my alley.

This was such a propulsive read and a real page-turner. The characters were intriguing and well-painted. There was so much madness surrounding the main characters, but the author did a great job with multiple timelines bringing all the stories together in the end. I honestly felt sorry for some of the antagonists in the book. Such a twisted tale!

This is a perfect spooky supernatural thriller for the season!Enjoy a good mix of detective serial killer investigation and psychological thriller with the elements of horror fiction.

Sleep Tight, the newest book by J.H. Markert, will most definitely make sure you do not sleep tight. This is the 4th book of his I’ve experienced and he is quickly becoming a favorite. He seems to have an innate ability to truly nail that creepy vibe that will leave you feeling unsettled. And while their styles are very different, Markert likes to use short chapters, often with a bit of a twist at the end making you want to keep reading, much like James Patterson. As for what the story is about, I’d suggest going in known as little as possible and because well honestly I am not even sure how to go about describing this one without giving away too much of the story, but I’ll try. This is a wild mix of a detective story, tracking of a serial killer, and a healthy dose of horror.

Two decades ago Tess Claibourne’s father helped capture a twisted serial killer who dressed as a priest. Once captured he never spoke, thus the press dubbed him ‘Father Silence’, until the night of his execution. You’d think the nightmare would be over, but it’s not. A new threat as arrived: the Outcast. And he is inserting himself into Tess’s life in a major way. (I won’t say how, though if you’ve read the book blurb you already know some of it.) This is a tight, intense, and wonderfully twisted tale. As in any story, especially horror, the involvement of children can really tighten the tension/stakes, and that is most definitely the case here. I’d venture to say this is a book that most people are going to have an incredibly hard time putting down. I know I did. Memorable characters and an intense and excellent storyline kept reading this one all night. I feel this is Markert’s best book to date, and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next. I’d like to thank Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Sleep Tight.

https://www.amazon.com/review/RTN7OUBHBUL74/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

I absolutely loved this book! This is a must read if you love thriller or horror. I loved the fast pace of it sometimes when reading a crime thriller book it drags but this one did not. From beginning to end this kept my attention and on the edge of my seat!

Sleep Tight pulled me in from the beginning and never let go. There were a good bit of characters in this one, but it never got confusing and they all were written well. I really felt for our main character, her life was completely unraveling but she held it all together and did what she had to for her daughter. If you enjoy serial killers, creepy cults and psychological thrillers, make sure to add this to your TBR. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for my eARC and Dreamscape Media for my advanced audio book. Sleep Tight is available today!

✨Thank you so much to Dreamscape Media and Crooked Lane Books for my gifted audio, digital, and physical copies of this book!✨

This was a highly HIGHLY anticipated release for me. And I really enjoyed it for the most part.

I don’t know why, but going into this book I had anticipated something supernatural/paranormal. I don’t know why I expected that, but it was a bit of a letdown that it was not what I had expected going in. This was a classic game of cat and mouse, and there were many twists and turns around every corner that all came full circle in the end.

I had a lot of theories, and pretty much none of them were correct. 😅 But that’s something I can appreciate in a thriller, the fact that I can be kept guessing. The author did a great job leading the reader/listener to theories without adding senseless red herrings to the plot which I also really appreciated.

This plot is very complex. There are a lot of characters, and a lot of moving parts. I don’t want to use the word convoluted because I didn’t find that to be the case, but it was a lot of action and a lot to keep straight to understand the story. This book read like a thriller movie to me.

This book had a great story, but I was expecting to be SCARED. But I didn’t really find this one to be all that scary. Thrilling, definitely. And I guess it still can be classified as horror but it definitely rides the line between “thrilling” and “scary”.

Andi Arndt is a good narrator and I thought she did well here.

Overall, I liked this one. If you love a detective/serial killer cat and mouse story, you’ll like it.

"Are we born evil or made that way?"

"MOTHER LOVES YOU SLEEP TIGHT"

I still haven't caught my breath from reading and listening to the frenetic non stop anxiety driven Sleep Tight, by compulsory author for every horror thriller fan, J.H. Market.

From the first page to the last it is a race against evil. The scariest part is the evil isn't supernatural. It's the worst of humanity. We start with the electric chair death of the serial killer known as Father Silence. He posed as a priest to lure his young victims and since he's been on death row he hasn't spoken a word. But the night of his execution leaves a trail of death.

Detective Tess Claiborne wakes up thinking the worst is over. The serial killer her father, also a detective, captured is dead. Her family can be at peace. Then she gets the phone call. He calls himself "Outcast." He's sorry. Her parents can see the darkness now. Oh, and one more thing, he has taken her daughter Julia from her elementary school.

Is he a copy cat killer? Or is something even more sinister emerging from the darkness. As Tess, her estranged husband Justin and her faithful detective partner Danny, use every lead to find Julia, Tess is having memories, of when her father was hunting this killer. Does she hold the key to finding Julia.

Just BRAVO to voice actress Andi Arndt. Her ability to express panic, fear, anger, regret, rage and overwhelming anxiety is a testimony to her award-worthy acting skills.

This writer never disappoints and Sleep Tight is his best thoroughly frightening frantic horror thriller to date. Sleep, I don't think so. Once you start this one sleep will be elusive, tight or otherwise.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair & honest review. All opinions are my own.

I've enjoyed J.H. Markert's previous works, but Sleep Tight is by far my favorite. This freakishly spine-tingling thriller with a touch of things unexplainable should for sure be added to the spooky season TBR of all thriller lovers. I've seen Sleep Tight classified as horror, and, while there are some dark and gritty scenes, it's not overly gory. I loved the characters, particularly Tess, but Father Silence and the Outkast are also intriguing, and, with this one, J.H. Markert cements his must-read status.

Man, I need to get a dead bolt for my door after reading this.

I love the horror and psychological thriller aspect of this. Copy cat killers fascinate me, as it inherently goes against the narcissistic need of serial killers. So, when I got the chance to read this book that examines not just a copy cat killer and how it terrifies people, but also the trauma of living after a serial killer terrorizes your town, I jumped on it. This book left me feeling really creeped out and scared, I had to lock my doors three times before I went to bed.

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC of this book!

Sleep Tight, unfortunately did not beat out The Nightmare Man as my favorite book by J.H. Markert, but it definitely holds its own when compared. This was a well-written horror full of serial killers, a sinister cult, kidnapping, anxiety inducing chapters, and a huge jolt from the very beginning. Absolutely loved the "before" chapters as they help with clearing up and alluding to a lot that went on in the book and each chapter packed a punch, sometimes more than necessary. The character and their personal relationship's development was well put together and kept me glued to the novel from the first page to the very last. Thoroughly enjoyed this one and cannot even begin to express how eager I am to read whatever J.H. Markert comes up with next.

Thank you to netgalley and crooked lane books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The book begins with Father Silence, serial killer who once terrorized the town of Twisted Tree, being executed. He killed 19 but one got away. And now there is a copy cat killer called The Outcast who takes the grand daughter of detective who arrested Father Silence.

I enjoyed this book. It got a little slow at some parts. It is part horror, part mystery and part fantasy. A good Halloween read.

J.H. Markert is a definite go-to author for me. Ever since I read The Nightmare Man, I am HERE for his spooky stories.
The only survivor of a serial killer may be the key to stopping more murder and mayhem. Of course that survivor is in an asylum for the criminally insane, but that is neither here nor there. Detective Tess Claiborne's father, Leland Patterson, helped out away the serial killer known as Father Silence. On the eve of his electrocution, however, Jeff Pritchard, aka Father Silence, breaks his 17-year quiet to whisper, "Beware the one that got away."
When Tess's parents are found murdered the next day and her daughter kidnapped, Tess must revisit her own childhood trauma, and childhood home of Twisted Tree, KY, to find her daughter and the answers she seeks. This is arriving just in time for scary season!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this e-arc.*

This book, THIS BOOK. Idk what I was expecting going into this one but it was not the ride it took me on. About 10% into this book sh*t hit the fan and I was not prepared. Sleep Tight is so brilliant and filled with tension. It made me feel like I was reading an episode of Criminal minds. If you love Crime books I highly suggest you read Sleep Tight. I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to give anything away. Just buckle up and enjoy the ride because it is so worth it.
4/5 Stars

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved Markert‘s two previous titles. So no doubt I was requesting Sleep Tight by J. H. Markert.
This is another intriguing horror thriller.
The author did a good job in delivering this story, he never spares punches or surprises and the it kept me on the edge.
The storyline was unpredictable, keeping me fully engaged as I navigated through its twists and turns. The intensity of the plot never wavered, and I found myself constantly eager to see what would happen next.

This is my first J.H. Markert book but it most certainly won't be my last. I don't know what I was expecting going into this book but I think I was expecting more horror elements (at least initially in the story). The story begins with a serial killer from Tess's (our main character) past being put to death for his crimes. This sets off a series of events - a kidnapping, a double murder, and the rise of a cult in Tess's hometown.

We follow the story from multiple POVs - Tess, Justin (Tess's husband) Danny (Tess's Partner and Justin's best friend) as well as some POVs from the antagonist of this story.

I think my expectation of a scarier book initially tainted a little about how I was feeling about the story however it was super fast-paced, had a lot of short chapters, and cliff hanger endings - the ending of the overall story was fantastic - there were minor supernatural elements to the story which I didn't necessarily love.

Sleep Tight is labeled as a horror thriller. However, it reads more like a psychological thriller featuring a serial killer with a bit of police procedural thrown in for spice. I liked it but was expecting a more supernatural vibe that just wasn’t there.

The renowned serial killer nicknamed Father Silence is executed by the state. But a copycat killer is emulating his style. Detectives who worked on Father Silence’s case and their families are being targeted. Detective Tess’ daughter Julia is kidnapped. Can Tess, her partner Danny, and her estranged husband Julian find Julia before it’s too late? Do Tess’ repressed memories contain a clue to the copycat’s identity?

The main plot twist rapidly increased the number of characters to keep straight. I occasionally had to look back to figure out who people were when they were introduced early but then only appeared again much later in the story. Even with those asides, this book kept me reading well into the night. It has a high creepiness factor from the first chapter to the last. Sleep Tight is highly recommended for serial killer and pulse-pounding thriller fans. Not so much for horror buffs. 4 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an advanced review copy.

I’ve been so excited to read this book for a long time and I’m sad now that it’s over. But that’s only because I enjoyed it so much and didn’t want it to end! @jamesmarkert74 hit this one out of the park with the creep factor and the absolute bonkers twists and turns! If you’re into cult vibes, creepy serial killers, and the darkest aspects of human nature then you’ll love this book!

"Sleep Tight" by J.H. Markert is a deeply unsettling 5-star read. Tess Claiborne, a detective with the Missoula Police Department, receives a disturbing call from a mysterious man who tells her that two people are dead and that he's sorry. Tess must return to her hometown of Twisted Tree, Kentucky, to confront her past and save her family's future.

The story is fast-paced and held my interest throughout, with alternating chapters between the main characters—both good and evil. There are also "Before" chapters featuring interviews with witnesses to the crimes committed by Father Silence, which add crucial perspective to what Tess is up against. I highly recommend this book for fans of horror, particularly those interested in stories with a religious angle. However, be aware that the book contains numerous crimes against children, so if that is a trigger for you, it's best to avoid it.

I'm an instant fan of J.H. Markert and look forward to exploring his other novels.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books, J. H. Markert, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.