Atmospheric and tense but falls short of its potential

SLEEP TIGHT by J.H. MARKERT

Rating: 3 ⭐️
Genre: horror, thriller, mystery

Sleep Tight sets the stage for a deeply disturbing and emotionally charged thriller, and it somewhat delivers. This novel promises a blend of gritty horror and psychological suspense rooted in generational trauma and small-town secrets and while it does have an eerie atmosphere, brutal crimes, and a compelling hook, it’s honestly a bit lacklustre.

Tess Claibourne is a strong central figure damaged, determined, and propelled by both grief and maternal instinct. Her journey back to Twisted Tree is layered with emotional baggage, and the town itself, cloaked in fog and forgotten sins, provides a rich and unsettling backdrop. The story moves briskly, keeping you hooked with short chapters (thank goodness), ominous reveals, and just enough dread to keep the pages turning.

However, for all its dark charm, it just doesn't quite reach the chilling heights it aims for. The central mystery is intriguing but not especially original, and seasoned thriller or horror readers may find many of the twists predictable. The "Outcast" killer lacks the nuance or terror of Father Silence, and his motivations feel undercooked by the end. Similarly, the boy survivor, now a man in a psychiatric facility-could have been a far more complex and compelling figure than the trope he's ultimately reduced to.

The writing is solid and occasionally evocative, especially in the more nightmarish sequences, but it leans heavily on familiar horror beats and horror-movie logic. Tess's arc is emotionally satisfying, but the final act, while tense, descends into melodrama and wraps up too neatly for such a gruesome and psychologically layered premise.

Thank you kindly to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for this advanced readers copy!

Apologies, but this is a DNF for me this time. I tried to read it, but just couldn't get on with the plot - I don't think it's caught me at the right time/mood. I will absolutely be trying again and will update if I finish.

Sleep Tight
JH Markert
4⭐️

Pub Date: 9/24/2024

This was such a fast read for me. I was entertained and frustrated and deeply disturbed - it's perfect for readers who are looking for a dark and atmospheric psychological thriller with a touch of horror. Expect cults, religion, serial killers. It also touches subjects of grief, addiction and abuse so proceed with caution. This story has 2 timelines, is medium to fast paced, and is jam-packed with gory details. With VERY complex characters, this can be a little chaotic and overwhelming to follow but I think that's the genius of this book. It just sucks the reader into this whirlwind of a plot. It was very intense from the beginning, an absolute page turner, with surprisingly relatable and lovable side characters. However, I felt like there were some reveals that just came out of nowhere. They answer the questions but also felt lacking in some way. Eitherway, I enjoyed the "process" of this whole "hunt"!

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Press for a gifted e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert is a dark and twisty thriller that dives deep into buried memories, sinister cults, and the terrifying edges of the subconscious. With a haunting atmosphere and nonstop tension, it keeps you questioning what’s real right up to the last few pages. Good job!

This book had a lot of potential but was ultimately too confusing and over the top when I finally got around to reading it. I enjoyed the first half but the mystery just kept getting more complex that around the 65% mark, I found myself skimming the remainder of the book. I do like this author's work usually so I will be keen to read what he writes next.

This was just way too much of everything and nothing at all. There were too many characters, too many POVs, too many tropes. Just too much. SO much unnecessary dialogue. There were some scary scenes, and I appreciate those for sure, but it wasn't enough to save the book for me.

Y’all do not sleep on this book 😉 This book made my little spooky soul so happy. The beginning is very much police procedural, which I love. The ins and outs of the case and how our FMC, Tess, handles everything is mind blowing. Tess is especially close to this case which makes it even better. The anxiety this book gave me was off the walls, but in the best way possible. I loved the “before” chapters and was constantly trying to piece together the old case and how this new one was connected. There were a lot of characters and a lot going on in this book but I was able to follow it all easily. The audio was also amazing and I flew through this one because I HAD to know what happened. There’s also some cult aspects and everyone should know my love of the culty vibes by now. It was just the perfect read for spooky season and I just loved it

I read this during spooky season and I was immediately sucked in. Some of the things I loved about this book:
- A nice mix of thriller and horror
- Fast-paced
- Couldn't put it down
Can't wait to read what the author does next. My customers love this one whenever it's in my shop!

Sleep Tight is a chilling, fast-paced thriller that expertly blends mystery, trauma, and suspense. J.H. Markert creates an eerie atmosphere in the town of Twisted Tree, where Detective Tess Claibourne must confront a terrifying past when her daughter is kidnapped. The plot twists are sharp, the characters well-developed, and the tension never lets up. A gripping read that lingers long after the last page.

I’m not gonna lie to you - I read this back in November and it’s as if my memory has been erased. I remember nothing but the vibes.

So there was this man who disguised himself as a priest to prey on vulnerable members of society. His “House of Horrors” was found with one survivor who is now in hospital for the criminally insane. This pretend-priest is finally executed years later, but there’s another serial killer on the loose and the original detective’s daughter is now the one who must catch this guy. (Thanks, google!)

Confused? Me too. I think my main issue was there were so many characters that I would constantly think “wait, who is this again?” And it’s hard when reading on a kindle cos it’s awkward to flip back a few pages or chapters to jog your memory. There was just A LOT going on and jumping back and forth in time. My brain was struggling.

But clearly I enjoyed SOMETHING since I gave it 3 stars. I remember enjoying excerpts from police interviews back when Father Silence was caught. I also have a vague recollection of liking the main female character (the detective’s daughter) and the tensions between her and her husband, it really helped humanise them.

But yeah if you like police procedurals that are also quite twisty and dark, then I guess I’d recommend Sleep Tight? Maybe you could tell me what happens at the end cos I have no clue! 3 stars.

Sleep Tight kept me up all night- even scarier I was in Kentucky while reading it so it felt like it was happening around me!

This book was great at building suspense and had a bit of everything! The storyline was unique and interesting, and I was really surprised by all of the twists and turns up until the very end. I liked the alternating timelines and flashbacks to tell the story and to give clues along the way. However, with those alternating timelines came a lot of characters to try to keep track of, which became a little confusing at times. I liked how everything came together to a spooky, satisfying ending.

I wouldn't necessarily consider this a typical horror, but it was a great thriller/police procedural!

This book was so good it gave me anxiety. I'm newer to the horror thriller genre so need to look for more books like this.
I will be looking for more books by this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC

Another stellar read by J.H. Markert. This author isn't afraid to delve into the creepy and sometimes disturbing stories. This one had that - - but also had a great mystery tucked in with all the horror. It kept me glued to it and flipping pages - - or tapping them on my kindle rather - - as fast as I could. This is one of those where I hesitate to say too much about the storyline. I will just say, if you aren't afraid of things that go bump in the dark or a little spooky - - or actually downright scary happenings, pick this one up. I've read several others by this author and I'm never disappointed - - sometimes a little freaked out - - but never disappointed.

This was a thrilling read that really kept me on edge. The story follows Nora, who’s dealing with the grief of losing her sister, but things take a dark turn when she uncovers a strange link between her sister’s death and unsettling events in her life. I found myself hooked from the start, trying to piece together the mystery alongside Nora. The twists were unexpected, and the suspense really built up, making it hard to put down. It’s a fast-paced, gripping book that I genuinely enjoyed, especially if you’re into thrillers with lots of surprises.

Sleep Tight by J. H. Markert is a chilling horror thriller that follows Tess Claibourne, a detective haunted by her past and the legacy of a notorious serial killer named Father Silence. Father Silence terrorized the rural town of Twisted Tree, masquerading as a priest while preying on vulnerable members of society. His killing spree ended when the police discovered his "House of Horrors" and found nineteen bodies, but one survivor—a boy who was locked away in a hospital for the criminally insane.

Now, nearly two decades later, Father Silence is executed, but his death only sets off a new wave of terror. The detective who arrested Father Silence is found dead, and a new serial killer, the Outcast, claims responsibility for the murder. Tess, the detective’s daughter, is plunged into the investigation, but she’s haunted by her own trauma and the resurgence of the horrors that marked her childhood.

When Tess’s own daughter is kidnapped by the Outcast, she is forced to confront her worst fears and the memories she’s buried deep inside. With few leads to follow, Tess returns to Twisted Tree to seek out the boy who survived Father Silence’s reign of terror. The boy now lives in a fractured, broken mind, and Tess must uncover the secrets hidden within if she has any hope of saving her daughter.

Sleep Tight is a dark, twisting tale that combines elements of psychological horror, mystery, and suspense. With a deeply unsettling atmosphere and a relentless pace, it will keep readers on edge until the final, terrifying reveal. Fans of Catriona Ward and Stephen King will find this story irresistible as it delves into the darkest corners of the human psyche.

I've been looking forward to reading Sleep Tight for a while; I just never got the time for it. The Nightmare Man and Mister Lullaby by the same author, J. H. Markert, are two horror books that I devoured when I read them, so I might have had quite high expectations.

I found Sleep Tight to be a good book, just not as captivating as the books I've read by Markert before. The best part of the book came towards the end when everything started to fall into place, and you got the background on Father Silence, etc. It's a perfectly fine book—well-written and interesting. I'm eagerly waiting to read Spider to the Fly by Markert. I got a review copy the other day.

Excuse me Mr. Markert, but who gave you the right? Who gave you the right to put this book in front of me and blow me away? I wasn’t even 20% in and the amount of stuff Markert threw at me that was crazy, intense, and had me in a choke hold is insurmountable. This was a wild ride and I was here for it. It was jam packed full of action and suspense and had me on the edge of my seat. The few and minor negatives were I was left with some questions that I wish were answered. I also wasn’t a big fan of another aspect that I’ll keep secret to avoid spoilers, but this a great book to read during spooky season! I will definitely be checking out this author’s other work.

Solid tension and plot in the early stages, but some of the prose felt undercooked, and it left me pretty cold by the end.

Excellent Book! I couldn’t put it down! It was so twisty and gruesome. I’ve never read anything by J.H. Market, but I definitely have them flagged for any books to add to my TBR