Sleep Tight might leave readers with mixed feelings. The pacing is off, hooking the reader for several chapters at a time before slowly petering off though dubbed as a horror, this novel leans more crime fiction, despite the occasional eerie atmosphere. Overall, though the plot itself is intriguing, the reader may find their desire to learn the conclusion jumping back and forth between “I must keep reading to learn the ending” and “eh, I’ll pick it back up in a few days.”

📚 Review: Sleep Tight
I want to start by saying that I did enjoy this one, but I was expecting it to be something different. So, I was left a little disappointed in this one. But, this is a me problem, not the book problem. The story was really good. I enjoyed it and was engaged the whole time. I ended up doing the audio book for this one and I thought the narrators did a great job. But, with a cover and title like this, I was expecting more of a haunted type of thriller (like We Used To Live Here) where this was more of a detective story. But again, this was a me problem. The storyline was good. I just wanted scary or spooky.
So, perhaps this is an unpopular opinion on this one, but this was ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 stars for me!
I liked it, but was expecting something different. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Have you read this one this spooky season?? What were your thoughts?

A family drama with some police procedural and a supernatural element.

I love J. H. Markert's writing. He writes some of the craziest stories with a mix of so many different characters and story lines. And instead of being confusing it creates an interesting story you just can't wait to see how it turns out. This book was no different. A mysterious serial killer that hasn't said a word in decades being executed is already intriguing enough. Then a kid is kidnapped and it's all connected had me hooked. Tess is an interesting and flawed character and learning how she's connected in so many different ways made the story more mysterious. Seeing things from her perspective and having her have to juggle so many different things; being a detective, mourning a death, being a mom trying to find her kidnapped daughter, and being a wife and friend gave so many different angles to connect me to the story and the characters. See different narrators and perspectives pop up throughout the book made it that more mysterious but also answered some questions along the way. All of these aspects leading to a satisfying end in my opinion.

This is a book that will keep you completely intrigued and flipping through the pages. I highly recommend the audiobook. The narrators are very talented giving life to the many different characters.

When this book starts, your instantly drawn in and I feel like for the most part my attention was kept throughout the book. I will have to say my biggest annoyance was all the characters but sometimes that's a me problem, hahaha. Tess had some major issues so adding her daughter being kidnapped was the cherry on top to this mess of a character. She's an unreliable narrator but honestly, it's not even her fault. That girl has been through so much. I wish there was more on Father Silence, like who he was as a person and a serial killer but once again, that's me wanting a deeper story on this insane killer. Overall, I recommend this book to anyone who has interests in serial killers and maybe some cults...because WOW. I would totally read a whole book based on the BEFORE of this book even if J.H. Markert put a little in this one.

Sleep Tight by J H Markert

When a serial killer is put to death finally, things should have been over… But the trouble is just beginning. Murders are happening and missing children…. Detective Tess Clairborne has a vested interest in this case. Her father put the serial killer away and it seems to be her family being targeted by the horrors that have just begun.

Have you ever listened to a book and it just hits you? I love horror but it's been years since a really good horror hit my TBR and this one ticked all my creeper boxes.

The Outcast has committed murder and taken Tess’ daughter. He is even leaving clues but why? I loved the characters. This book was a spider web of intrigue and bone chilling aftershocks! I didn’t expect the ending and I held my own kids a little tighter when I was done.

4.5 stars

I had such high hopes for this one, I mean just look at that cover, but it was just ok for me. It had a great start, but I was expecting more horror. I also felt like the second half just had so many moving parts and felt a bit convoluted, so I didn’t always feel motivated to keep reading/listening. I know I’ve seen great reviews for this book (it’s one of the reasons I started it), so what didn’t work for me, might work for you! The audiobook performance was really well done; Andi Arndt did a great job of distinguishing characters!

Sleep Tight was a great read! It grabbed my attention right away and kept me entertained throughout the whole book. I loved the complexity of some of the characters. I will definitely be checking out the authors next books.

I was seeing this book all over and decided to grab the audio ALC and give it a try. I was worried it would be too scary… but it was soooo good!! I was so invested and enjoyed it a lot. A great seasonal (or anytime really) read. It falls into the thriller, suspense, psychological thriller and horror categories. I did not get the horror vibes though, it was much more of a thriller to me. So that suited me very well. It is dark and creepy, but very well-written and so suspenseful. The story line was so twisty and kept me guessing what was happening. There were multiple points of views, flashbacks and interviews that helped to piece it all together. My least favorite part was the cult vibes, so I wouldn’t recommend it if that isn’t your thing, but the rest was good enough it outweighed that for me.

The narrator is Andi Arndt and I really enjoyed the narration. It enhanced the story so well and I would definitely recommend this on audio.

𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓬𝓻𝓲𝓹𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷:
The sole survivor of a serial killer might hold the key to stopping a new spree of murders in this propulsive thriller…

𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼:
"In hindsight, a lot of people should have known a lot of things. But unfortunately, the world doesn't ever run in reverse. And one thing l've learned to be a hard truth is that hindsight never proves useful."

Thank you to the author J.H. Markert, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the audiobook.

This had a really strong start. I was invested. I was invested in the friend group, the betrayal, the dark history of father silence and tracking down the outsider. But as the story went on, it got more and more twisted and new characters were kept popping up.
I am not a fan of multiple POVs and multiple characters but I held on til the end.
I understood the story but it was just wayyy too much going on.
Think about 5 of the craziest law and order episodes you’ve ever seen and then through them all in one book. Then you’ll have the novel, Sleep tight. My honest feedback would be less is more.

Thank you #netgalley for this rec ❤️

Sleep Tight by J. H. Markert was a creepy read. I have loved all of this author's books. Looking forward to the next installment by this author.

Thank you so much to the publisher for the #gifted book and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook narrated by Andi Arndt who made the reading experience even spookier!
——
Sleep Tight is the perfect book if you’re looking to start your spooky season with a bang. The story wastes no time in getting downright creepy with a long-time serial killer called Father Silence put on death row that’s supposed to finally bring peace to a small town in Kentucky. However right after his death, the killings begin happening again, particularly on those who helped solve the case. In the process, the husband-wife detective duo’s only child is kidnapped by a mystery figure who calls himself the Outcast and is related mysteriously to Father Silence. The couple must race against time to solve the mystery of the copycat and save their daughter.

If you’re looking for an edge-of-your-seat, pretzel-twisty thriller, this book is it. It has all the perfect ingredients of mystery, cult vibes and spooky small town with sordid history that makes for the perfect concoction so you DON’T sleep tight. I paired the book with the audiobook because Andi Arndt is one of my favorite narrators, and she absolutely elevated the tension and anxiety that permeated throughout the book. *Small warning that there are mentions of farm animals killed after it has happened* This was my first James Markert book and now I can’t wait to read his other books! I read this book as part of the #thrillerobsessedbuddyread hosted by Brooke and I can’t wait for the discussion with the author!

Absolutely incredible read, the book was so creepy right from the start perfect for spooky season, it was so atmospheric which the narrator really took to a top
Notch level

This is totally not my usual genre. I love a good mystery/thriller, but the horror genre is more out of my realm. Any horror involving children is going to be tough to stomach at times, but I'm surprised at how gripped I was by this audiobook. I found myself drawn in right away. Tessa is certainly a flawed main character, but also had a lot of depth that made me just feel for her. This was a great read for this spooky season!

Thank you to J. H. Markert, Netgalley and Dreamscape media for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

What a ride this was! From the very beginning of SLEEP TIGHT, readers are taken on a mysterious and tense ride that involves past murders, current murders, an execution, and a kidnapping, all of which are directly linked to police detective Tess. Something happened in Tess’s past that ties in with the current events, and we slowly but surely learn about her and her family’s involvement with a serial killer named Father Silent. Now it seems that a new and deadly killer is out to finish what Father Silent started and it’s a race against the clock to not only get Tess’s daughter back, but to stop the new killer, The Outcast, from taking any more lives.⁣
⁣
This was my first book by Markert and I can solidly say that I’m now a fan. Brimming with mystery and tension, I loved the story from the beginning. The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the story to life and making me feel what Tess and the other characters were feeling. The audiobook was a fairly long one, but I was so invested in the story that I pretty much ignored all of my responsibilities, sped it up to 2x, and finished in a matter of hours. Definitely pick this one up if you’re a fan of serial killers, murder mysteries, and plenty of suspense and tension.

Omg I absolutely devoured this book! I was hooked right from the start and things just kept getting more interesting.

I'm always one for a creepy serial killer mystery, but add in some DID and you've fully got my attention. The way this story was written and woven together was so damn good.

I loved the FMC, our detective. She was a badass and took every punch like a champ. I also really enjoyed the other characters, especially Noah and his whole story. What an interesting twist to the story.

I often don't re-read books like this, but I feel like I could enjoy this one just as much a second time around. There was so much going on that kept your mind in detective mode trying to figure it all our with the characters in the story.

🦇🦇 Book Review 🦇🦇

Sleep Tight by J.H Markert

Thank you to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook version of this book. I highly recommend

Sleep Tight is a terrifying psychological thriller/mystery. It explores dark corners of the characters' memories and puts the reader in the passenger seat as they are forced to confront their current situations while facing their fears. Detective Tess Claibourne is in a race against time to find her kidnapped daughter, and her despair comes to life in the pages. It is easy to feel helpless as Tess scrambles to locate her daughter. My pulse quickened more than a few times as I read this novel. The plot and pacing are well done, the character development top notch. Some of the characters are creepy enough to make the skin tingle.

There is a lot happening in Sleep Tight, and sometimes the story struggles with the weight of so many storylines. While this may frustrate some readers, it is rewarding to watch the complex story come together. This is a great pick for anyone who like their thrillers to have a scary edge. It is a book that will play with your mind. The audio book performance by Andi Arndt is stellar. She reads the characters wonderfully.

Thank you @dreamscape_media @crookedlanebooks for the gifted ALC/book! #DSAudio24

♦️ 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 ♦️
This book was the perfect mix of an old mystery/crime mixed with a present day one. It had suspense, intrigue, and the unknown together with a very Criminal Minds vibe (profiling yes!)

I like stories where an old case pops up and is entangled with a new one, and this story had a lot of layers to it. Tess is a detective, and daughter of a detective who helped capture a twisted serial killer two decades ago.

A new serial killer emerges and kidnaps Tess’s daughter. She travels back to her hometown to chase down leads because everything seems mixed up with her father’s old case.

I enjoyed all the POVs in this book, which had me guessing who the bad guy was. There was an interesting psychological thriller aspect with one of the previous victims that added another layer to the story.

We also see Tess’s husband along for the ride, both because of his profession and missing daughter. They had some personal struggles happening, and I was happy to see how everything concluded for them.

I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future! It was a great read for this spooky season!

🎧 𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 🎧
Andi Arndt did a fabulous job narrating this story. She brought depth and vulnerability to Tess as she navigated difficult personal scenarios. Andi has a great voice for a suspense/thriller book and she’s very easy to follow along with!

🎧 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
♦️ Horror Stories
♦️ Police Procedurals
♦️ Criminal Minds-like Stories
♦️ Crime Followers
♦️ Psychological Thrillers

Are you looking for something truly spooky and dark to read ? JH Markert delivered dark and captivated me from the beginning to the last minute with „Sleep Tight"!
SLEEP TIGHT opens with the chilling execution of Father Silence, a man who once posed as a priest to kidnap and murder children. His crimes left just one survivor whose psychological scars are so deep that he remains in a hospital for the criminally insane. And suddenly somebody seems to pick up the baton.
For Tess, the daughter of one of the detectives who arrested Father Silence, today a detective herself this is personal. First the execution seems to bring closure-but then Tess gets a call from a man who calls himself as the Outcast. He's murdered Tess' parents and kidnapped her daughter. To rescue her, Tess must confront her buried memories, untangling the connection between the Outcast's crimes and Father Silence's horrific legacy.
Following Tess, the author balances other perspectives well, adding depth without confusing the plot. I was initially concerned about Tess as an unreliable narrator, given her struggles with alcohol, pills and memory lapses, but it worked brilliantly within the narrative.
I received an advance audio for SLEEP TIGHT through @dreamscape_media and I was so excited about this audiobook, it was an intense, gripping experience.
I completely binged this book !

"Beware of the one that got away."

Sleep Tight is a compelling tale that has a LOT going on. We have Tess, a final girl of sorts, who is now a detective. Father Silence, serial killer, cult leader, and kidnapper is finally, years later, put to death for his crimes. The nightmare is over and Silence's victims have gotten all the justice they're ever going to get. But the very next day, the detective that arrested Father Silence is found dead. That detective was Tess's father. Then more murder victims turn up. Then Tess's daughter is kidnapped. Then.. you'll have to read it to find out!

This is my third J. H. Markert book and they all have a similar vibe. Whacked out serial killers, fast paced plots and characters you can get behind. This one, though, at times felt like it just had too much going on. The cast of characters grew rapidly, there was a cult and a creepy church, a lot of psychology, a mental institution, and a creepy, abandoned park on an island. I mean, I enjoy all of these elements, but all in one book? I feel like this was a big mash up of some of my favorite themes, yet somehow it wasn't 100 percent successful.

That said, this was definitely inventive and fun especially towards the last third of the book. Characters are running all over god's green earth to save these kids and it was exciting. There's another level to Tess's story and her memory of how she became a final girl and the psychology is fascinating.

I was granted an audio ARC and the narrator Andi Arndt was excellent. Her role had to be challenging, can't say why because spoilers, but she pulled it off with aplomb.

Sleep Tight was a good time even if it felt somehow overstuffed, and I do recommend it!

3.5/4, rounded up for Goodreads.

*ARC from publisher

In a nutshell, Sleep Tight is a lot to work through. It's an interesting story, but it's also hard to track. I couldn't even attempt to guess how many character names we learned over the course of this story. It was one of those situations where I got to the end and would hear a name and be like, 'who's this'?

I will not even attempt to get into the actual plot with you...

I really enjoyed the initial set-up, hearing the story of Father Silence, and meeting our MC, Tess. There were also a lot of the bits towards the end were I felt fully invested, but the middle part got muddled and my attention definitely wavered because of that.

I guess I would say I felt similar with this author's earlier two works that I've read: The Nightmare Man and Mister Lullaby. Markert has exciting, ambitious concepts, but I'm not sure their execution always ends up working out for me. To be fair though, I enjoyed this more than I didn't.
I would recommend this to Readers who enjoy Gritty Crime Thrillers that swerve into Horror territory. This one succeeds in capturing that gritty, dangerous feel and I did feel like it progressed at a fast clip throughout.

Some of the aspects of this definitely worked better for me than others, but overall, I think it's a good book. I would also recommend the audiobook, as that was well narrated by the always fabulous Andi Arndt.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media for providing me with copies to read and review. J.H. Markert continues to intrigue me with his creative concepts and dark atmosphere. Though this wasn't my favorite of his, I still felt it had a lot of strengths. I will def be picking up whatever he releases next!