DNF @15%

I liked the prologue. I thought this was going to lean more towards horror, but it's more of a police procedural and I don't typically like those types of books.

** “In hindsight, a lot people should have known a lot of things. But unfortunately, the world doesn’t ever run in reverse. And one thing I’ve learned to be a hard truth is that hindsight never proves useful.” **

Under pen name J.H. Markert, author James Markert continues his rebrand in the contemporary horror/suspense genre with “Sleep Tight,” a deeply dark and disturbing thriller.

The execution of Jeff Pritchard, aka Father Silence, convicted of the deaths of several teenagers, sets off a flurry of horrific events. Tess Claiborne, whose father helped arrest Pritchard, is quickly pulled into the situation when several people involved with the original case are targeted.

But when she meets the boy who got away, Noah Nichols, things get even stranger. He becomes a catalyst for information to help solve the present-day situations.

Markert delivers a brilliant story with incredibly twisty plot lines that will shock and stump the reader. He is an expert at creating deeply flawed characters, as well as incredibly evil and psychologically damaged people.

His story reveals the damage that can be done when we treat others as outcasts, as well as what happens when we bury secrets, and the impact of bitterness and revenge.

“Sleep Tight,” which is due out Sept. 10, will appeal to fans of shows like “Criminal Minds” and authors like Stephen King and Ted Dekker. However, be forewarned this book, unlike Dekker’s, contains a lot of foul language.

Five stars out of five.

Crooked Lane Books provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Missoula police detective Tess Claiborne must find Outcast fast. This moves back and forth in time to tell the story of Father Silence, a heinous killer who even in death hovers over the lives of many. This is a fast paced (thanks to short chapters) read that merges crime and horror. You'll root for Tess even as you cringe at the situations she faces. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARc. A good read.

This book was something else! Wow. Though it stated off with a bang and what seemed high action it was also slow. Which I know doesn’t make sense but I just felt in the beginning we were going round and round without anything truly happening.
But man as we got into it it was so fun and crazy.
So many creepy elements and so many twists. I loved all of that.
Loved the ending. Very horror book vibes. Def an interesting book!

ARC 📖 Review: Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub Date: 9/10/24

This was one of my most anticipated releases this year! I did enjoy this story as it was a fast paced police procedural with a great concept. That being said there were so many characters to keep track of which confused me at times and caused me to lose interest throughout. I would definitely still recommend this one, just make sure you keep track of all the characters 😂and you’ll enjoy it! Thank you @netgalley and @crookedlanebooks for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

☠️🧒🏼🛝

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.

#horrorreader #policeproceduralbooks #bookstagram #booknerd #booksbooksbooks #read #reader #bookworm #booklover #readmorehorror #spookyreads #reading #scarybooks #books

💥💥Book Review 💥💥

Sleep Tight
By J. H. Markert

4 🌟’s

This book was an amazing book to read from the very beginning of the book. It always had me gripping the edge of my seat for what is coming next. It has different POV’s because it goes between past and present showing growth in all the characters that play apart in this novel. This is book is filled with non-stop idolization of cult monstrosities, malicious villains, and empathetic/believable group of characters. This is a perfect crime thriller with cultish trepidation.


hank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this one! Police procedural, dissociative identity disorder, serial killers and family drama.

The main characters, Tess and Justin, search for their kidnapped daughter. Tess, a detective, realizes that this kidnapping is personal and is tied to a serial killer from her hometown, who was recently put to death in the electric chair. Lots of twists and turns. Loved the addition of Noah, the escaped victim of the killer, and his other personalities.

For fans of thrillers, generational trauma and horror.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

This was the first book I have read by this author, and I have to say I am HOOKED! I will definitely be checking into their other novels. I am a huge Mystery/Thriller fan and Sleep Tight checked all of the boxes for a book I knew I would LOVE: a serial killer, copy-cat murders, kidnapping, revenge, a crazy cult that wears animal masks, multiple personalities/identity disorders, stolen/assumed identities, psychic visions and fractured memories. This book was SO GOOD!

Sleep Tight opens in the aftermath of a series of brutal murders, committed (in the past) by a man known as "Father Silence". He kidnapped a bunch of kids and a whole bunch of other bodies were found in his "House of Horrors" when he was finally arrested, Fast forward into the present, and Father Silence is about to finally be executed for his crimes. Which triggers a series of copy-cat murders which don't seem to be random -- more a revenge plot against those involved in the Father Silence case.

Detective Tess Claiborne, is sucked back into the new investigation, when her parents and daughter (Julia) targeted by the new killer, The Outcast. Tess and her husband Justin spend most of the book helping the investigation and trying to find their missing daughter. Along the way, Tess must battle her broken memories of her encounter in the past with Father Silence and race against time to solve the case to save her family and her childhood town from the killer.

I really enjoyed this book, and I couldn't put it down! The plot definitely kept you guessing until the end. The big reveals were SO GOOD and so well-timed! The multiple personalities did make things a little confusing at times, but it was definitely worth it when the ending was revealed! It was a very twisted but well-woven web of characters and backstories and it really all came together beautifully. I would highly recommend this book to everyone, especially if you love a good thriller about serial killers!

Rating: 4 stars!

Im sorry, what?! The Outcast, Father Silence, Tess & her family, the multiple snips of POVs, the Playhouse.. Everything about this book had me chomping at the bit to read more. I had to figure out who the Outcast was.

There were slower parts of the story, but I think everything that was in the book was needed to have the grand reveal at the end with every character's backstory.

This book gave more "police thriller" vibes vs. straight horror, but there were definately strong horror elements.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | A Gripping Psychological Thriller with Depth

J.H. Markert’s Sleep Tight is an engaging psychological thriller that delves into the darker aspects of the human psyche. The novel’s intricate plot and well-drawn characters create a suspenseful and immersive reading experience. Markert’s skillful storytelling keeps readers on edge, with unexpected twists and a gripping narrative that explores themes of fear and trust. While some plot elements may feel familiar, the book’s strong character development and compelling suspense make it a standout entry in the genre. A captivating read for fans of psychological thrillers.

This is one super creepy crime horror novel that absolutely NEEDS to be on your spooky TBR list this fall!

This was the first book I have read by @jamesmarkert74 but it will not be my last. This story was jam packed with elements that I love in a suspenseful crime novel:
🕵🏻‍♀️ a tough female detective/protagonist
🏚️ creepy buildings/locations
🖤 a slight touch of supernatural elements
👀 cult vibes
🏘️ small Southern town setting
💨 fast paced

Thank you @crookedlanebooks for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

(This same review was shared on the Barnes & Noble website)

Do you love true crime or intense thrillers? Sleep Tight is perfect for you.

Honestly when serial killer was mentioned and knowing it was a horror thriller, I was here for it no questions asked. The comparisons to The Whisper Man feel very on brand because of the focus on children (also child death) and the thriller aspects of both books. What starts as an execution of the serial killer, leads to more deaths and a winding road that leads Catriona Ward back to her hometown where everything started.

I couldn't put this book down. I felt the pacing was just right to keep me reading. Although maybe a tad long, I enjoyed this book a lot. I really want to dive into Markert's backlist. I can't wait for what he comes out with next.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for review consideration.

A twisty, well-written thriller/suspense that hooked me right from the start. I really enjoyed this novel and will keep an eye out for more from this author.

Thank you, net Galley and Crooked Lane Books, for this title.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
If I had judged the book solely on its cover, I would've probably passed on it. However, I was pleasantly surprised that the description was spot on. Whisper Man meets Black Phone, and I’ve read and seen both.

THAT'S DISTURBING
😳 Excerpt..." While at the orphanage, Danny (Tess's partner) is looking for clues about the copycat killer, and he finds a room full of creepy porcelain dolls that seem to follow who enters the room. (Cause ...yeah, that's not creepy at all 🫳🏿)

MY OBSERVATIONS
🕵🏻‍♀️ A serial killer in a small town named Twisted Tree is put to death, but right before the electrocution, he whispers his last words to a priest, and the murders continue.

🕵🏻‍♀️ Tess's (the detective) daughter has been taken, and she is determined to find her, even though she's too close to the case.

🕵🏻‍♀️ Tess knows she has been targeted because her father (also a detective) arrested the original serial killer, Jeff Pritchard, known as Father Silence because after he was caught, he never spoke a single word.

🕵🏻‍♀️ Is there a copycat killer? That wants to keep police guessing.

🕵🏻‍♀️ The new copycat is also leaving Tess clues at every scene, but Tess knows she only has a limited amount of time to find her daughter.

WHAT I ENJOYED
This story had a few plot twists with some BIG reveals in the ending, and I was pleasantly surprised.

The story keeps the pace, and there are just enough details to keep you from getting lost, but not so many that the story seems to be going in a whole new direction.

There is a supernatural element that's (also) revealed at the end. This quick-paced thriller will have you second-guessing the killer in each chapter. It took me several chapters to figure out who was behind everything as the story kept eluding to “the mother,” or so I thought.

I loved this title. While it was light on the horror element, it's definitely a great true-crime-styled mystery-thriller with a paranormal element. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fast-paced read.

I really enjoyed this author's prior books, especially The Nightmare Man, so I was really excited for this book when I saw it. At first I thought it wouldn't be my favorite, it didn't start off with a really creepy scene, or at least not as much as I had expected from this author. So I thought that's fine, I rarely love everything from an author and maybe this is the one I am just meh on.

Only I kept reading and after a few chapters I couldn't put it down. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. This one actually might be my favorite of the three. It is the story of a cop returning to her hometown after her daughter was kidnapped (and everyone involved in that). She has to try and remember what happened back then and figure out what is happening now to save her. There are a lot of moving parts, a lot of stuff in the past and present that were really fun to read. There is a creepy cult that I loved and just some of the idea were really interesting. Trying to figure out how it all fit together and why everything was happening was really great. Some of the scenes, just like the author's prior books, were so imaginative and interesting and creepy. I loved it. Such a great read. I don't want to say much more as I don't want to spoil anything, but if you are a fan of this author definitely check it out. If not it is a good place to start.

This is the story of Father Silence, a brutal serial killer that left behind 19 bodies and one survivor. A small kid was the only one to make it out alive from this sadistic killer’s basement.

He dressed up as a priest to approach people and get them to trust him. After his arrest, he refused to speak. This got him the nickname of Father Silence.

Right after his execution, people are being murdered again, kids are being kidnapped and the police are running out of time to find them alive.

We follow detective Tess as she tries to uncover the identity of this new killer and catch them before it is too late. This is personal for Tess and there is no stone she will leave unturned to find those children.

Even though this did feel more of a thriller than a horror, it was a thrilling cat and mouse tale between a smart detective with nothing to lose and an evasive killer.

For me personally the first part of the book felt much stronger but I did appreciate all the intricate twists and turns to the story and all the reveals you get in the last 20% of the book. That part was great and it felt like the ending of a Saw movie where all the pieces of the puzzle just connect.

Thank you to NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.

This is the first book I read by the author and I thought the idea was interesting. That being said, the beginning started a bit slow, but once it got going it was interesting but then it kind of fell off again.

Overall this was just a middling book for me. There were interesting characters and ideas, but some of it that never really got explained very well. Then the ending just felt a little too neatly wrapped up. I might try more by this author down the road because the characters were intriguing.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview Sleep Tight. This is part police procedural and drama.
A police detective named Tess is a tough cop but she is plagued with trams and secrets. She just separated from her husband due to an affair and she’s on her own raising a child.
She’s lives in the shadows of death and her father who was a cop is part of it
An execution of a serial killer sets the stage for old memories to erupt. Soon Tess is not part of a circus and memories of the past. Her child is now kidnapped and all she has now is the determination to get her back and find the man who has changed her life forever.
Good book but too much dialogue that’s not necessary. 3 stars

James Markert has done it again. He has the ability to set his reader in the middle of a storm, as the story whirls around them. The pace picking up speed as the cracks of thunder breaks through. As the flicking of the pages increases, the intensity mounts. Sleep Tight held me captive, chilling me to my bones, my heart rate increased, my toes curled, as I plunged headfirst into this phenomenal read.

Tess, a small-town detective in Montana, has been having a heck of a few months. She has kicked her husband out of the house, she is not the parent her daughter picks, and the dreaded execution of Father Silence is just around the bend. Her father made his arrest twenty years ago. Uncovering a house of horrors. Bodies buried in the yard, children found in the basement, one boy making it out alive. Father Silence is the devil in priests clothing. He still rocks the small town of Twisted Tree from his prison cell. The morning after he is put to death Tess is given the news that her father and mother were both murdered the night before. If Father Silence was on the electric chair, who was doing the killing? Did her father miss something twenty years ago. As the case ramps up and Tess’s own daughter is kidnapped. All clues lead back to her small hometown of Twisted Tree!

The way the characters are written makes you feel like they are old friends. They are flawed, down on their luck, each having their own secrets. The settings are tense, atmospheric, and puts you on the edge of your seat. That clap of thunder, the rain gushing out of the heavens, makes anyone stop and take notice. I also love a book that brings cults into the mix. This needs to be at the top of your Spooky Season reading list! I have loved all of his books, but this is my new favorite. Thank you to James Markert and Crooked Lane Books for this highly bingeable read. Did I mention I was up until 1am this morning. Unable to put it down, my eyes clued to the pages.

Five stars for the best horror book I’ve read in ages! Honestly, there wasn’t a single thing that I would change about this story. It was dark, insanely twisted and jam-packed with crazy twists and turns that I never saw coming.

Child abduction tropes aren’t my jam. But, apparently, I neglected to read the full synopsis before requesting it. With that being said, it wasn’t the primary focus of the story and there was so much else going on that it didn’t bother me one bit.

I highly recommend adding Sleep Tight to your spooky season TBR immediately, if not sooner!

Read if you like:

✨Child abduction tropes
✨Unpredictable plots
✨Fast-paced reads
✨Childhood trauma
✨Serial killers

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this ARC!