Oh Boy! This was a wild ride. The elements of this story are everything I like; cult, serial killer, premonitions, dark themes, police & psychology relationships. In this story we follow Tess, who in current time is witnessing a serial killer get the death penalty. Once this occurs, weird things start happening and due to an event she has to revisit her hometown. The darkness in this book is similar to the one in Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter. This would have been a 5 star and I would have push this down people’s throat (consensually) IF the author would have not used the laziest plot device in this story. The representation of this device was awful, and this is coming from somebody who works in that specific field. Also, the way they tried to explain the way somebody was skimming in this novel was unrealistic. The different character were great, and the fact that we get inside the main character’s head was awesome. Gave more depth to Tess. Also, the different clues used in this story we do get to see, which are mostly old police files. So much potential ALL wasted. Overall, I do look forward to more books by this author and hope they make better choices to tell even better stories.

This was such a great book! I believe it has all the great elements to be made into a movie! The book touches on things like marital problems, childhood trauma, cults, murder, etc. The book is mainly told from the point of view of Tess who is a detective just like her father. Her father had been the lead detective in a murder investigation in their old home town in Twisted Tree and the person responsible was named Father Silence. Right from the beginning we learn that Father Silence has finally been executed so you would think that the nightmare is finally over, however it is just the beginning of a new nightmare!
This book is a different kind of horror that no parent wants to go through. I liked that the story was told from present time to past time. Tess has had some blocked memories from her childhood that begin to resurface with the kidnapping of her daughter, Julia.
The story develops really well and there were a lot of twists and turns to get to the truth.
I definitely recommend this story! Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books. All opinions are my own.

This author writes the CREEPIEST books! This book did not disappoint me and I loved it!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and J.H. Markert for the complementary digital copy in exchange for my honest review 🖤👀

The story starts strong with an intriguing cast, but becomes complex as it unfolds, making it difficult to follow characters and plot connections. The book's pace slows in the middle, which may affect some readers. If you like thrillers, this may appeal, but horror fans may desire more. Despite some issues with this read, I'm still interested in exploring more of J.H. Markert's work.

→ Serial killer
→ Cults
→ Childhood trauma

INSANE!!! This book had me at the edge of my seat, nothing existed but the need to keep going. I read this a couple of days ago and the intensity of it is still fresh on my mind. The psychological horror was through the roof, the twists were well done and it’s a book that seriously had me constantly changing what I thought was happening.
I cannot recommend this enough, it’s a fantastic read!

💀💀💀💀💀/5

Thank you so much to the author, @crookedlanebooks and @netgalley for the ARC for my honest opinion.

Der erste Teil des Buches war langsam, und ich hätte es fast aufgegeben, aber ich bin froh, dass ich es nicht getan habe. In der letzten Hälfte nahm es dann endlich an Fahrt auf. Eine verrückte Wendung nach der anderen ließ meinen Kopf schwirren. Ich mochte die gruseligen Stellen, aber ich wünschte, es hätte mehr davon gegeben.

Sleep Tight follows Tess who has become a detective to follow in her father’s footsteps. Father Silence, a serial killer that once terrorised her hometown by disguising himself as a priest has been put to sleep after spending two decades behind bars after her father caught him. The next morning after his execution, her father is dead and a new serial killer is taking credit for it with the name, the Outcast who has a connection with Father Silence. After the Outcast kidnaps her daughter, Tessa must travel back to her hometown to face her past and the memories she would rather keep buried.

There was so much to love about this book. There was never ending twists and turns that had me hanging onto every word. I did not want to put this book down.

I loved that the characters felt real and flawed, especially in the circumstances of a book like this.

I had such great fun with this book and I’m excited to pick up more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

DNF at 59%

I tried, really and truly. But I had gotten to this point and didn't really care what happened in the past or currently.

It was too slow, if the pace has been faster maybe it would have worked for me.

Thank you to Crooked Lane books and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Beware the one who got away......"

Round of applause for the wonderful J. H. Markert!!!! This new novel is nothing short of the expected amazing writing of his I have grown to love!

Sleep Tight is an engrossing story where we meet Tess, who followed in her father's footsteps and became a detective. Father Silence terrorized Twisted Tree, her hometown, and was finally put to death. What Tess wasn't prepared for was that she would have to return back to her childhood home, relive her trauma and find her daughter who was kidnapped by The Outcast and a bunch of followers of the late Father Silence. The ride we are taken on is intense, nail biting and chilling. She had blocked out most of her trauma, but as it keeps coming back the closer she gets to her daughter, the more terrifying her situation becomes. This was a totally wild ride of a book and I cannot recommend this book enough!

All the characters were so vivid, so realistic that I was super enthralled and engrossed in this story. I couldn't put it down. I had to know what happened and I was there for the entirety of this rollercoaster.

I had to read the acknowledgements, as many times I don't, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that hopefully SOON us fans may be able to look forward to him revisiting the world of The Nightmare Man and Mister Lullaby!!

I look forward to seeing where his next book Dig will lead as he has become an expert horror author that I will willing recommend to every horror fan alike always!

Now that is how you write a detective novel!

We meet Tess, a detective, right after a serial killer has been put to death. I loathe detective novels. I can’t even express how much I feel like they are overdone and redundant. On top of that, Tess is a mess. As these characters usually are. However, this books explores the mind and how trauma affects our brain. She has a psychologist husband who overall, aides her in her journey to piece things together, even if she is reluctant.

Let’s see what else happens… her daughter goes missing. I know, that’s what happens in these books. But the question is why? Why after serial killer is dead? Where is the only boy who survived the killer? Why are you seeing the point of view of the woman who lives in the killers house?

Is everything about mental health or is there something else supernatural going on? Oh and let’s sprinkle in a little bit of cult influence as well!

This book had a story so well weaved with twists that twisted hard! It makes your head spin. Hard to predict book! Absolutely loved it.

Book releases Sept 10th 2024!

Thank you netgalley and to the publisher for letting me read this book!

On the night of his execution, Father Silence, Twisted Tree’s most prolific serial killer, finally breaks his silence with an ominous warning and the town’s nightmare begins again.

Tess Claiborne is a detective and Twisted Tree native haunted by a traumatic past that she can’t quite piece together. Her father was one of the detectives responsible for bringing down Father Silence in his House Of Horrors , and after the execution she believes they can finally put the past behind them, but the true horror is just beginning.

Over the years, Father Silence had amassed a cult following along with a copycat killer that goes by the name The Outcast. After her father is murdered and her daughter is abducted by The Outcast, Tess finds herself dragged back in and realizes she has to return to where it all started. She needs to meet with Father Silence’s only survivor with the hope that he can help her get her daughter back before it’s too late and stop Father Silence’s legacy once and for all.

This was a fantastic psychological thriller with a supernatural twist. The story is told by a series of flashbacks, old interviews, and articles helping the reader piece together the past with the present day. With short chapters and great pacing ,I was hooked on the first page and had a hard time putting it down! I will definitely be thinking about this one for a while!

Thanks to J.H. Markert , NetGalley, and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC
#netgalley #jhmarkert #jhmarkertauthor #crookedlanebooks #sleeptight #fathersilence

My thanks to Crooked Lane Books, J.H. Markert and Netgalley.
This damn author is pretty freaking fantastic!
Sure, its only the second book of his I've read, but hoo wee! What a fucking ride!
I loved this book. It was every sort of messed up and honestly? I'm here for that!

Shut up!!! This was so good! I started and finished it in a day, even took it out to dinner with me—my hubs just rolled his eyes. I’m sorry but I couldn’t stop.

Ok, so, we have a serial killer getting the electric chair and that sets off a whole series of unfortunate events. Our protagonist gets the brunt of it; he parents get brutally murdered, her daughter is kidnapped, her husband cheated on her (not necessarily related but still F him), and now she’s having gnarly blackouts dredging up some dark repressed memories. Basically, ain’t nobody can be trusted in this book 👀

There is a TON happening in the story but it never feels confusing or redundant. From about 40% on the story is just nonstop suspense. During dinner my husband kindly asked if I could stop talking to my book. Excuse me sir, but no, I cannot because I was figuring 💩 out and got excited.

Great book, awesome creepy small town, occult, dark secrets horror story. Bravo

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc copy I enjoyed this book I don’t really like these types of tropes in a book like detective type books but this one I did like this is my second book I’ve read from this author and I think I will continue to read from this author. I was not disappointed

A compelling read about a woman dealing with a troubled past. Markert creates a sense of unease, exploring the lasting impact of traumatic experiences. It's an engaging read - my first by JH Markert - but I'll definitely be seeking out their other titles.

First, I don’t think this one is as good as his last two. Those really blew me away. This one oscillates between feeling like NOS4A2 (awesome) and James Patterson’s Along Came a Spider (not awesome). However, this one still has quite a bit to like — including Markert’s ability to tie together a bunch of threads at the end in a satisfying way, creepy scenes and an array of interesting characters. I just feel like this idea didn’t have the same heart or legs as his last two. If you like thrillers, I think you’ll enjoy this one. If you prefer horror, you might be left wishing for more.

“Sleep Tight” is a heart-pounding thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The character development is excellent, drawing you deeply into their lives and making the unfolding horror even more impactful. The "Before" chapters were particularly enjoyable, adding depth and context to the chilling events. This book is packed to the brim with tension, ensuring you'll be up way past your bedtime, unable to put it down. The haunting tale is woven with captivating prose and reads as an old-school horror. Each page is filled with suspense, and the twists and turns will leave you breathless.

“Sleep Tight” is not just a thriller; it’s an experience. The atmosphere, the pacing, and the terror are crafted to perfection. This is a must-read promising a journey into darkness that you won't soon forget. Haunting and unforgettable, I highly recommend this one for those who love a good scare and appreciate finely tuned storytelling.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and J.H. Markert for the opportunity to read and review “Sleep Tight” prior to its publication date.

This was such a fun read and I enjoyed it immensely.
Even though the story reads throughout different time periods and from the perspective of multiple characters, it's easy to follow along and stay hooked. I was worried the story would take the lazy route of "Surprise! It's just Dissociative identity disorder!" but it's far deeper than that. This spooky crime thriller hit all the marks. 10/10 no notes

Sleep Tight is a suspense-filled, fast-paced novel. The characters are decently developed, although it felt a little lacking for a few of them. The book is well written. It held my attention the entire time. I would place this as a suspense or thriller novel. Definitely worth the read.

Sleep Tight is the first book I've read by J.H. Markert and I am looking forward to reading more. Sleep Tight is a fast-paced thriller which will keep you guessing until the very end!