Sleep Tight: A Novel

by J. H. Markert

The sole survivor of a serial killer might hold the key to stopping a new spree of murders in this propulsive horror thriller in the vein of The Black Phone and The Whisper Man.

Dark and twisting at every turn, fans of Catriona Ward will love this chilling new tale from the deviously inventive horror author that Peter Farris calls the "clear heir to Stephen King.”

Beware the one who got away . . .

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.

The detective’s daughter, Tess Claibourne, is a detective herself, haunted by childhood trauma and horrified by the death of her father and the resurgence of Father Silence’s legacy.

When Tess’s daughter is kidnapped by the Outcast, Tess is forced to face her worst fears and long-buried memories. With no leads to follow, she travels back to Twisted Tree to visit the boy who survived and see what secrets might be buried in the tangled web of his broken mind.

With captivating prose and an old-school horror flair, Sleep Tight is a must-read, haunting tale from a true master of the genre.

• ISBN10: 1639108734
• ISBN13: 9781639108732
• Publish Date: 10 September 2024
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Crooked Lane Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 336
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9781639108732

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

When Tess Claibourne was just a little girl, her father arrested the most infamous serial killer of the time. Now, decades later, that killer is finally getting the justice he deserves. However, his death is about to kick a hornet's next.

It all starts with another series of murders, this time close to home. Then, a kidnapping. Now, Tess and her partner will have to desperately race against time to prevent the cycle from repeating once again.

My Review:

I have read and loved two other novels by J.H. Markert, so I fully expected to enjoy Sleep Tight. However, I have to admit that I was pretty disappointed by this read. Maybe I set my expectations too high?

My biggest problem with this book is its faux psychology. It heavily relies on psychological tropes, not all of which I consider appropriate. I don’t know how else to say this while avoiding spoilers.

While I enjoy Markert’s writing style, the constant twists and turns in Sleep Tight irritated me. It feels like every psychological trope was thrown into this book, and it really didn’t need that. Most of them did the book a disservice, as by the end, I felt like I was playing trope bingo.

On that note, be sure to lead a full list of the trigger warnings for Sleep Tight before diving in, especially if you’re sensitive to common triggers. There’s a lot in this book.

Highlights:
Suspense & Thriller
Thriller
Criminal Investigation
Serial Killer

Trigger Warnings:
Graphic Death & Violence
Kidnapping & Abuse
Child Abuse
Mental Health Concerns
Sexual Assault & Pregnancy

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