4.5 stars

The Nightmare Man by J.H. Markert is a horror novel.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books (and in particular Dulce Botello) and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Ben Bookman is a best-selling author, specializing in horror.  He recently completed his latest novel, The Scarecrow, while at Blackwood Mansion.  He is heir to the estate where he spent his childhood.  When he returned from his weekend away, he was different.  His wife and daughter Bri are concerned, and their nanny left shortly after his return.  During Ben's first book-signing of the new book, a man commits suicide.

Meanwhile, his book seems to be playing out in real life.  Are both The Scarecrow and The Screamer real people?  Has Ben released something from Blackwood's Atrium?

Detective Mills and his daughter, rookie detective Samantha Blue, arrive at a farmhouse where the family was butchered, sewn inside corn husks, and hung from rafters in the barn.  Then another couple suffers a similar fate.

Mills has a history with Ben and Blackwood Mansion.  He investigated the disappearance of Ben's younger brother Devon.  He remembers Ben's grandfather who ran an insane asylum, and sometimes took psychiatric patients back to Blackwood, and showed them the room with the empty books.  He also remembers being a patient of the great psychiatrist.

But what is happening now, is a nightmare!


My Opinions:   
This was great.  The premise of books that can contain or release nightmares, a psychiatrist who may or may not be above-board, a horror writer who knows more than he thinks, and a detective that is more than average.

The plot was deep, sometimes gory, sometimes heart-breaking, and always compelling.  The atmospheric old mansion was wonderful.  The Atrium and Tower were really unique.

Although I thought it was a little long, I loved the Stephen King references, and the folklore, so I'm not really sure how it could have been shortened.

The characters were wonderful.  In particular, Mills and Sam were a wonderful father/daughter team, even though they had their differences.  I really liked Bri and Emily.  Ben, Amanda and Jennifer kept me guessing.

Overall, I really enjoyed it, and will watch for more horror from this author.

I liked the combination of horror and American Folklore in the story. A writer writes stories based on what his grandfather used to tell him, but what he thought as made up stories maybe they were not.

I really enjoyed this original story. The world Markert creates where nightmares come true was fantastical and scary and full of dark magic.The place where I got tripped up was the writing style. To me, The Nightmare Man felt like a debut from a young author so I was surprised when I read that Markert is a pseudonym and he has written multiple other books under other pen names. Nevertheless, if you are a fan of King or Dean Koontz and don't mind some magic in your horror, this one is for you. And I loved the character of MIlls--what a guy! Pretty much everyone else was deplorable and while I sometimes struggle with unlikeable characters, I was ok here,.

A spectacularly spooky read! Imagine being a horror author and every gruesome thing you pen comes to life. It's happening to someone else in real time. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it!!
Really enjoyed this book, looking forward to reading more from the this author.
Definitely a great introduction to their work!

I read J.H. Markert’s THE NIGHTMARE MAN back in January and loved it. It was such an easy and entertaining read but I really took my time with it. I was trying to savor it I think 🤔.

Detective Mills and Blue (father and daughter) team up to solve a grisly murder in their small town. When it looks like the murder is somehow based on a newly publish horror novel by author Ben Bookman, it sends Detective Mills down a deep and convoluted rabbit hole of crime and weirdness.

At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about this supernatural horror story but it worked well with the book once the story started to unfold. And the characters grew on me - which I didn’t realize until I got emotional toward the end because of a certain character!

I will say the beginning kind of confused me but like I said it worked out once it started to unfold. All the different stories and characters came together, even though it was hard to keep track of at times. Other than that, I really enjoyed the story.

If you like seeing nightmares come true, be sure to pick this up!

Terrifying and Bone Chilling.......................

The Nightmare Man by J. H. Markert is a book which is going to petrify you and shake you to the core. With its extreme hair raising plot, the author presents a horror tale never told. The plot is definitely going to give you creeps at night. You would not be able to relax at any point while reading the book. Every page brings new secrets with new characters. Also, the plot switches on and off between past and present. And, if I talk about the climax, it was satisfying as it summarizes all the mysteries of the plot.

Definitely, 5 stars for the book. Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an opportunity to read and review the book.

3.5 Star.. The idea behind this book was great, it was a good read, but it just fell short. I might have been expecting a horror novel though.

Ben Bookman, main character and novelist, has finished his Scarecrow book when murders in the area start to mimic the ones in his book. (Somewhat a familiar premise).

Detective Mills- Veteran cop with a substance abuse problem, alongside his rookie detective daughter, Sam Blue, (who has daddy issues) are determined, no matter how many laws are broken, to solve the case.

Ben becomes a suspect in the murders because he can’t remember how his book came to be finished, he’s cocky when questioned by the detectives, and was sort of a suspect when his younger brother went missing when they were kids.

There are a lot of flashbacks throughout the book (in no consistent order) like Ben’s grandfather who was basically a mental mad scientist who owned Blackwood, a home in the middle of the woods with an atrium full of wordless books- which his grand kids weren’t allowed in, and an asylum attached to house his patients that have nightmares. What could go wrong? So now Ben has to dig into his past to claim his innocence.

There was too much going on in this book with too many stories weaved into one to make it work. The ending was choppy and rushed. This was more of a crime novel over horror. Think a Dan Brown book with some Hannibal Lector and the tiniest dash of supernatural that should have had more focus in the book.
For the most part, you can guess what will happen. There was a few “whoa” moments, but also some real cheesy parts that made you roll your eyes with impossibility. It was well-written, just needed some tweaking. Maybe just removing some of the side stories/backgrounds that don’t contribute to the main idea. The first half of the novel was great- fresh and fast-paced, but the second half dragged with all the plot lines. The characters were all equally unlikeable and predictable. I leave off with-of course the veteran cop has a priest friend.

What a crazy, wild, fantastic book! This was very well done and was not like anything I’ve read in a while honestly. There are horror and supernatural elements woven into this thriller, and to top it off, it also has book within a book components too. The audio was great, David Bendena did a wonderful job bringing this one to life. This was dark, twisted, and kept me on the edge of my seat as I waited to see how the final scene would end, and it most certainly did not disappoint. All the stars for this one, I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the digital galley and to Dreamscape Media for the ALC to review.

A deliciously dark and twisted tale that is full of lots of twists and turns. A perfect read for thriller lovers.

The Nightmare Man had a really good premise, and reminded me of some of the older school horror novels from my earlier days. With a fairly intriguing story line that got off to a strong start, fairly strong character development for the first half of the book, and some campy dialogue that I rather enjoyed, what could go wrong? Unfortunately, while the book started off rather strong, it didn't finish that way, and I found myself struggling to push through to the end.

While I expected the story to be focused more on Ben Bookman (even the names are cheesy, something I loved), the actual main characters were Detective Mills and his daughter Detective Blue who had something of a complicated relationship due to Mills struggles with alcoholism and insomnia throughout the years. And while the character development of these characters was very well done, I don't think the author took the opportunity to address the issues as well as he could. I did like how the author showed how complicated a relationship can be, and how there are always more than one side to an issue. I did feel like Ben's character wasn't as developed as the others which made him come across as unlikable and troubled, suffering from trauma due to his brother's disappearance all those years ago. I am not saying that that does not define one's life, I am saying that it is more complicated than it appears in this book, and I felt like it did a disservice to Ben's character. To me, it felt like the author was using Ben as a red herring, something that didn't quite work.

The first half of the book was quite intriguing, and I found myself flying through the pages. There was a lot going on and I found myself constantly flipping from one character to another as the guilty party, trying to figure out who could have done such a thing. While there were definitely some paranormal elements, they were superseded by the mystery and the horrible deaths and I enjoyed the investigation as that is something I like. I devour police procedural novels as fast as I devour horror novels so to have both of these in this novel was a treat. Unfortunately, when the book took on more of a paranormal element and focused on the nightmares, which was interesting, the whole plot went sideways for me and I started to lose interest. It's not that there weren't intriguing elements, it's just that the story became bogged down with too many plot lines and became muddled which made the great tension and overall spookiness of the first half disappear. And honestly, I just didn't see the point of some of the plot lines, such as the Jennifer/Julia one as I don't think all of them were necessary to the story.

The Nightmare Man is well-written and has an intriguing story line, but too many plot lines in the second half of the book muddled up the story to the point where I started to lose interest and had to push through to the end. I did like the character development and enjoyed the idea behind this novel as I know I would not want my nightmares coming alive, but felt the author didn't use the ideas as well as he could have. However, there was so much potential in this book that I am definitely looking forward to his next book in this genre, and hopes he writes more.

This novel explores an old house in the woods and the family that lived and worked from there thru a series of kidnappings and murders. And dreams or nightmares…..
Clever plot, fast paced and a pretty good telling of an older than time story.
If you enjoy a twisty bit of horror, this is the book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me this ARC.

I have always been a fan of horror, Stephen King comes to mind, so when I saw this book being offered, I thought what the heck. I was not prepared for what came on the 336 pages. Not a page that did not catch my attention.

Ben Bookman, a horror author, has written numerous novels, all horror genre. He is currently working on his latest book called the Scarecrow. A bit of back story, Ben comes from a wealthy family, has a younger brother, and he is heir to Blackwood, an asylum. Ben has had nightmares for as long as he can remember, that is why he writes about them. At Blackwood, there is the Atrium that his grandfather has forbidden Ben and his brother to go in, but he does, he thinks that he wrote The Scarecrow. This room has many books, with no words. Now how could a room and its secrets be the cause of all the mayhem that is going on in the town?

Ben's brother disappeared when he was young and Ben has been doing what he can to locate him, is he dead or still alive. Ben is at a book signing when a man comes up to him, Ben thinking he wants a book signed, instead the man pulls a gun and blows his brains out.

A family is butchered, bound in corn husks and hung from the rafters of their barn. Similiar to what Ben has written in his book. As more murders happen, all mirroring Ben's book, the police are beginning to suspect Ben. He can't explain his absences, he is a sleepwalker.

Detective Mills along with his daughter Samantha Blue are tasked with solving the spate of murders that are happening in the small community. Detective Mills is another person who has nightmares, it turns out he is able to take on other people's nightmares.

Ben now is determined to find out the history of Blackwood, his parents' deaths in a car crash, and his brother's disappearance but this puts his wife and daughter's lives at risk. How is all this connected? Go get the book and find out, you will not be disappointed.

I read this book in a few sittings, riveted to the pages. Like I said I have always been a fan of horror, ever since I read the first Stephen King book Carrie. This book totally freaked me out. Scary from page to page, but I loved it and give it 5 stars for the scare factor!

I hope this is the beginning book in a series!. Wonderfully creepy and mysterious. I mean, curses, creepy old houses, lost time, gory murders...what's not to love?

I couldn't connect with the characters. The ideas are interesting and I usually like a shocking beginning, but I found it problematic that the shocks were so early that I didn't care whatever happened to the characters. It wasn't the type of book I was expecting.

The Nightmare Man is an example of a novel with *too many* ideas that somehow still sticks the landing.

The basic plot as billed on the dust jacket is as follows: writer writes new horror book and crimes begin being committed that mirror the book.

This plot summary had me hooked and I enjoyed the book immensely more while the story stayed on the rails, but the book kept doing an Inception on me and pulling me deeper into the convoluted mess of a “dark family history” and constant flashbacks.

The Nightmare Man did itself a disservice by continually breaking the pacing every other chapter by taking us into some random flashback. Seriously. It happened so goddamn much.

For as messy as the plot felt, it still made sense, which is a massive accomplishment considering how much shit they crammed in.

Unfortunately the novel remained too true to its Stephen King roots and had a rushed and absolute let down of an ending.

When The Nightmare Man wasn’t getting in its own way and was hitting a solid stride it was a delight and delivered on some spooky atmosphere and kept me guessing. I don’t see it ending up on my best of the year list, but I’m glad to have read it.

3/5 ⭐️

As a veteran in law enforcement, Detective Winchester Mills had seen the darkest side of people. But his latest case of murder mirroring popular author Ben Bookman’s latest novel rattled him to the core. Digging deeper into the case, both risked unleashing a secret neither of them ready to face.

Even though one of the main plot points was predictable, this was an enjoyable story. A lot of things happened throughout the book, but everything comes together at the end.

The Nightmare Man is a story of breaking free. It would appeal to readers who enjoy horror with supernatural element.

The Nightmare Man began as a crime thriller and turned into so much more. It weaves together the supernatural with the natural in all the best ways.

I gave this a book out of five stars. I like all the different aspects. I loved the ending, I didn’t see it coming. I plan on getting a finished copy of this.

THE NIGHTMARE MAN, by J.H. Markert is what I consider to be a mash up of different genres: horror, mystery, police procedural, thriller, and even dark fantasy. We begin with Detective Mills--whose closure rate is unprecedented--and the arrival of Ben Bookman, a horror novelist with his latest horrific book.

When real life crimes start mimicking the bizarre murders in Bookman's own book, it causes Mills, and his daughter, detective Blue, try to delve deeper into the mystery of this connection.

"What if nightmares are real, Father?.... What if sometimes they get out?"

Could you imagine a scene any more horrific? Your worst nightmares brought to life?

This is what the characters in this book are looking at.

I found the first half to be quite compelling, learning about the characters, and their connection with the various nightmares being acted out. However, after about the half way point, new characters--who often didn't seem to help, or add to the story at all--(other than to further confuse the main idea), kept popping in. This really took me out of the story several times, and I had to go back to make sure I didn't miss anything .

Overall, a strong beginning, with an overly complex ending.

This book is told in 3rd person from alternating POVs from the main characters of Detective Mills and Ben with flashbacks to “before”. This book was a super fast paced page turner. I really enjoyed the main characters and was hooked from the very first page. I loved how unique and creepy this book was. It definitely has some imaginative folklore but I really loved that aspect because it made it different from other horror books I’ve read. I definitely will be keeping an eye out for this author’s next horror book 👀 definitely recommend this one!