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Reviewed by: Heather Maneiro, High School Librarian Title: Sleep Tight
Author: J. H. Markert
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Year: 2024 Good for Grades: 11-12, Adult Genre/Type of Book: Horror
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: Death, Horror Themes
Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: Book of the Month Selection
If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be: When you grow up the daughter of a murder detective, your own memories of what you can't remember may be the real thing to fear.
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Review:
Abstract and Mini-Review
Tess Claiborne’s life is a mess. After her husband helps her through her opioid addiction, it seems like their marriage may be over. Then Tess receives the phone call that her parents have been murdered the night her father’s most infamous serial-killer collar is put to death. Tess knows she must be the one to take on the case, especially when her daughter is kidnapped. The crimes must be connected. But if Father Silence is dead, who is committing the crimes and could this be related to Tess’s lost memories of her childhood?
Recommendation Justification
Fellow author, Peter Farris, responding has called J.H. Markert “a clear heir to Stephen King.” Other reviewers have indicated this title wasn’t quite scary enough for this Halloween season, however, I found the horror in this title to be exactly what makes King’s horror so scary – the true psychological horror, versus the blood and gore of Hollywood.
Uses in the Library/Classroom
This would primarily be a title to recommend to your classic and psychological horror fans looking for the next title for pleasure reading.
Appropriateness of Artwork
The cover art has already had several of my students asking when this title will be processed so that they can read it.
Number of party hats:
For more information about this book, see the publisher's website.