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The Nightmare Man
T. Kingfisher meets Cassandra Khaw in a chilling horror novel that illustrates the fine line between humanity and monstrosity.
Blackwood mansion looms, surrounded by nightmare pines, atop the hill over the small town of New Haven. Ben Bookman, bestselling novelist and heir to the Blackwood estate, spent a weekend at the ancestral home to finish writing his latest horror novel, The Scarecrow. Now, on the eve of the book’s release, the terrible story within begins to unfold in real life.
Detective Mills arrives at the scene of a gruesome murder: a family butchered and bundled inside cocoons stitched from corn husks, and hung from the rafters of a barn, eerily mirroring the opening of Bookman’s latest novel. When another family is killed in a similar manner, Mills, along with his daughter, rookie detective Samantha Blue, is determined to find the link to the book—and the killer—before the story reaches its chilling climax.
As the series of “Scarecrow crimes” continues to mirror the book, Ben quickly becomes the prime suspect. He can’t remember much from the night he finished writing the novel, but he knows he wrote it in The Atrium, his grandfather’s forbidden room full of numbered books. Thousands of books. Books without words.
As Ben digs deep into Blackwood’s history he learns he may have triggered a release of something trapped long ago—and it won’t stop with the horrors buried within the pages of his book.
Blackwood mansion looms, surrounded by nightmare pines, atop the hill over the small town of New Haven. Ben Bookman, bestselling novelist and heir to the Blackwood estate, spent a weekend at the ancestral home to finish writing his latest horror novel, The Scarecrow. Now, on the eve of the book’s release, the terrible story within begins to unfold in real life.
Detective Mills arrives at the scene of a gruesome murder: a family butchered and bundled inside cocoons stitched from corn husks, and hung from the rafters of a barn, eerily mirroring the opening of Bookman’s latest novel. When another family is killed in a similar manner, Mills, along with his daughter, rookie detective Samantha Blue, is determined to find the link to the book—and the killer—before the story reaches its chilling climax.
As the series of “Scarecrow crimes” continues to mirror the book, Ben quickly becomes the prime suspect. He can’t remember much from the night he finished writing the novel, but he knows he wrote it in The Atrium, his grandfather’s forbidden room full of numbered books. Thousands of books. Books without words.
As Ben digs deep into Blackwood’s history he learns he may have triggered a release of something trapped long ago—and it won’t stop with the horrors buried within the pages of his book.
326 pages, Hardcover
First published January 10, 2023
360 people are currently reading
20769 people want to read
About the author
J.H. Markert
8 books902 followersAlso writes under James Markert.
J. H. Markert is a producer, screenwriter, husband, and father of two from Louisville, Kentucky, where he was also a tennis pro for 25 years. He graduated with a degree in History from the University of Louisville.
J. H. Markert is a producer, screenwriter, husband, and father of two from Louisville, Kentucky, where he was also a tennis pro for 25 years. He graduated with a degree in History from the University of Louisville.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,285 reviews
October 6, 2023
REREAD - Listened to the audio from the library this time around and I guess I’m changing to a 3 star review. I’m about to quit leaving star reviews on some books I’m confused about how I feel
4 Stars
I’m trying to find the words for this review. It’s a sad day as Queen Elizabeth has died so I’m going to keep this short.
I kept going back and forth between 4 and 4.5 stars. Some things I didn’t like for my own personal reasons. There were also many times I got confused with all of the different people of them being called by different names.
All of this aside, I felt this was a refreshing horror novel. I loved the different ways the deaths were portrayed. I loved certain other aspects I can’t mention as they would be major spoilers! There are twists and turns, gruesome scenes and crazy revelations. I did grow to love a few characters and some deaths in the book got to me.
I might have to get a physical copy of this one but definitely a finished kindle version
*Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane for a digital copy of the book
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
MY BLOG: https://melissa413readsalot.blogspot....
4 Stars
I’m trying to find the words for this review. It’s a sad day as Queen Elizabeth has died so I’m going to keep this short.
I kept going back and forth between 4 and 4.5 stars. Some things I didn’t like for my own personal reasons. There were also many times I got confused with all of the different people of them being called by different names.
All of this aside, I felt this was a refreshing horror novel. I loved the different ways the deaths were portrayed. I loved certain other aspects I can’t mention as they would be major spoilers! There are twists and turns, gruesome scenes and crazy revelations. I did grow to love a few characters and some deaths in the book got to me.
I might have to get a physical copy of this one but definitely a finished kindle version
*Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane for a digital copy of the book
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
MY BLOG: https://melissa413readsalot.blogspot....
March 10, 2025
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Ben Bookman is a best-selling Horror novelist in the vein of Stephen King. Ben's not afraid to get dark and growing up at his family's spooky estate, known as Blackwood, certainly provided him with plenty of inspiration.
In fact, Ben returned to the estate for a weekend retreat to help him finish his latest book, The Scarecrow.
That weekend is shrouded in mystery. It's mentioned a few separate times in the narrative, you can tell something fairly serious went down, but it's unclear what. Even Ben can't recall what happened there.
Regardless, the freaking book got finished and that's the most important thing.
Unfortunately, before the book is even officially released, the terrible events from the story begin to occur in real life. It's as if the story has crawled off the page and taken over Ben's hometown of New Haven.
New Haven native, Detective Mills and his daughter, Rookie Detective Blue, are tasked with looking into the gruesome murders that become known as the Scarecrow Crimes. Unsurprisingly, Ben is their prime suspect.
How else would anyone know his text that well? It hasn't even released yet. Perhaps it was a Netgalley Reader...
This story starts out with the first bloody crime scene. An entire family butchered, individually encased in cocoons made of corn husks and hung in their own barn.
Hey, I told you it gets dark. There is oozing blood, flies and let's not even consider the smell.
Mills and Blue are in for the most startling investigation of their lives. Ben Bloom is just trying to save his family from harm and his reputation. If anyone can get to the bottom of these crimes, it should be the man who wrote them.
The build-up of this had me temporarily fooled. I thought this was going in one direction, a sort of predictable direction, but enjoyably, it was not that. This is actually a unique and twisted tale that definitely kept me engaged.
There are a lot of characters and I'll admit, at times I lost track a bit. That was sort of a downfall for me. I had to relisten to some parts a few times. It's the kind of story, if you aren't 100% paying attention you are going to miss something; particularly towards the end.
Additionally, I felt this was a little drawn out. I think it could have been cut down a bit and it still would have had the same impact.
With this being said, I did really appreciate Markert's creativity and the Horror imagery was well-presented. This is a big scope kind of story and honestly, I'm not completely sure I picked up on all the different aspects of it.
This was left off nicely though, where I could actually see there being a strong continuation to this story. There are definitely some things that could use further exploration. I'd absolutely be willing to go along for the ride.
I definitely recommend this to Horror fans, or fans of dark, potentially supernatural Thrillers. I think a lot of Readers will really enjoy this one.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with copies to read and review. I am looking forward to more from J.H. Markert!
Ben Bookman is a best-selling Horror novelist in the vein of Stephen King. Ben's not afraid to get dark and growing up at his family's spooky estate, known as Blackwood, certainly provided him with plenty of inspiration.
In fact, Ben returned to the estate for a weekend retreat to help him finish his latest book, The Scarecrow.
That weekend is shrouded in mystery. It's mentioned a few separate times in the narrative, you can tell something fairly serious went down, but it's unclear what. Even Ben can't recall what happened there.
Regardless, the freaking book got finished and that's the most important thing.
Unfortunately, before the book is even officially released, the terrible events from the story begin to occur in real life. It's as if the story has crawled off the page and taken over Ben's hometown of New Haven.
New Haven native, Detective Mills and his daughter, Rookie Detective Blue, are tasked with looking into the gruesome murders that become known as the Scarecrow Crimes. Unsurprisingly, Ben is their prime suspect.
How else would anyone know his text that well? It hasn't even released yet. Perhaps it was a Netgalley Reader...
This story starts out with the first bloody crime scene. An entire family butchered, individually encased in cocoons made of corn husks and hung in their own barn.
Hey, I told you it gets dark. There is oozing blood, flies and let's not even consider the smell.
Mills and Blue are in for the most startling investigation of their lives. Ben Bloom is just trying to save his family from harm and his reputation. If anyone can get to the bottom of these crimes, it should be the man who wrote them.
The build-up of this had me temporarily fooled. I thought this was going in one direction, a sort of predictable direction, but enjoyably, it was not that. This is actually a unique and twisted tale that definitely kept me engaged.
There are a lot of characters and I'll admit, at times I lost track a bit. That was sort of a downfall for me. I had to relisten to some parts a few times. It's the kind of story, if you aren't 100% paying attention you are going to miss something; particularly towards the end.
Additionally, I felt this was a little drawn out. I think it could have been cut down a bit and it still would have had the same impact.
With this being said, I did really appreciate Markert's creativity and the Horror imagery was well-presented. This is a big scope kind of story and honestly, I'm not completely sure I picked up on all the different aspects of it.
This was left off nicely though, where I could actually see there being a strong continuation to this story. There are definitely some things that could use further exploration. I'd absolutely be willing to go along for the ride.
I definitely recommend this to Horror fans, or fans of dark, potentially supernatural Thrillers. I think a lot of Readers will really enjoy this one.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with copies to read and review. I am looking forward to more from J.H. Markert!
December 20, 2022
Bestselling novelist and heir to the Blackwood estate, Ben Bookman, spent a weekend at his family's home to finish his latest horror novel, The Scarecrow. But then the story comes to life.
Detective Mills is called to the scene of a horrendous murder scene. A scene which mirrors a scene from Ben Bookman's book. Then another family is murdered and Detective Mills and his daughter, Detective Samantha Blue, work hard to find the link between the author and the murders.
Ben becomes their prime suspect. The only thing he remembers from the night of the first murders was that he was in the atrium of his grandfather's house.
This book grabbed me from the very beginning. I had both the e-book and audiobook versions of this book but found myself listening to the audiobook more. I was captivated and made time to keep listening to the audiobook. I was certain this was going to be a 4 or 5 star read for me. But then toward the end, my interest began to wane. I also thought while listening that this might work better as a movie. There are a lot of characters and a lot going on in this book. Somehow, I think 'seeing' the characters on screen would make the cast of characters more engaging and interesting.
As I mentioned, I loved the beginning and middle but lost my way at the end. I found this to be enjoyable but missing just that little bit of something at the end to keep me loving the plot.
I thought the narrator of this book did a fantastic job and I appreciated the author's originality and creativity. There was a sense of tension and unease through most of the book.
Thank you to Crooked Lane books and Dreamscape Media and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Detective Mills is called to the scene of a horrendous murder scene. A scene which mirrors a scene from Ben Bookman's book. Then another family is murdered and Detective Mills and his daughter, Detective Samantha Blue, work hard to find the link between the author and the murders.
Ben becomes their prime suspect. The only thing he remembers from the night of the first murders was that he was in the atrium of his grandfather's house.
This book grabbed me from the very beginning. I had both the e-book and audiobook versions of this book but found myself listening to the audiobook more. I was captivated and made time to keep listening to the audiobook. I was certain this was going to be a 4 or 5 star read for me. But then toward the end, my interest began to wane. I also thought while listening that this might work better as a movie. There are a lot of characters and a lot going on in this book. Somehow, I think 'seeing' the characters on screen would make the cast of characters more engaging and interesting.
As I mentioned, I loved the beginning and middle but lost my way at the end. I found this to be enjoyable but missing just that little bit of something at the end to keep me loving the plot.
I thought the narrator of this book did a fantastic job and I appreciated the author's originality and creativity. There was a sense of tension and unease through most of the book.
Thank you to Crooked Lane books and Dreamscape Media and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
December 26, 2022
The Nightmare Man by J.H. Markert is a 2023 Crooked Lane Books publication.
I seldom read new horror novels, excepting one or two favorite authors, but this one was pointed out to me as one I might want to check out.
I figured it wouldn’t hurt to step outside of my comfort zone just a little bit, as well. So, this was maybe an unusual pick for me to read during the Christmas season.
The story starts off with a grisly crime scene, one that mimics passages from horror novelist Ben Bookman’s latest book. Things spiral downwards from there as Ben becomes a prime suspect.
As horror novels go, this one is unique. There is the requisite gore- apparently a requirement in horror novels these days, as ‘atmosphere’ doesn’t compute any longer- but, that said, it’s a smart thriller with some interesting twists.
One will have to go slow and remain focused as it would be easy to get lost or confused in some parts. After the initial adrenaline rush, the story does lose momentum a bit- but eventually the pieces begin to fit together nicely.
Overall, not really knowing anything about the work of the authors this novel was compared to, and not being in the loop for what counts as a good horror/thriller anymore- I can only say I thought this is probably one that could appeal to more of a mainstream readership, because while violent, it doesn’t depend on that alone- it does have a plot and an interesting premise. I am glad I gave it a try and will consider trying out more books by this author.
3.5 stars
I seldom read new horror novels, excepting one or two favorite authors, but this one was pointed out to me as one I might want to check out.
I figured it wouldn’t hurt to step outside of my comfort zone just a little bit, as well. So, this was maybe an unusual pick for me to read during the Christmas season.
The story starts off with a grisly crime scene, one that mimics passages from horror novelist Ben Bookman’s latest book. Things spiral downwards from there as Ben becomes a prime suspect.
As horror novels go, this one is unique. There is the requisite gore- apparently a requirement in horror novels these days, as ‘atmosphere’ doesn’t compute any longer- but, that said, it’s a smart thriller with some interesting twists.
One will have to go slow and remain focused as it would be easy to get lost or confused in some parts. After the initial adrenaline rush, the story does lose momentum a bit- but eventually the pieces begin to fit together nicely.
Overall, not really knowing anything about the work of the authors this novel was compared to, and not being in the loop for what counts as a good horror/thriller anymore- I can only say I thought this is probably one that could appeal to more of a mainstream readership, because while violent, it doesn’t depend on that alone- it does have a plot and an interesting premise. I am glad I gave it a try and will consider trying out more books by this author.
3.5 stars
October 24, 2022
“Sally,” Dr. Knowles shouted. “Enough.”
One of the orderlies sprayed something into her eyes. Sally backed away from the bars, wiping at her face with the same fingernails she’d used to pluck out teeth from her neighbor’s little boy, and from four more children in the neighborhood before being caught. “One of the brothers,” shouted Sally, as Bruce continued clapping and Creech played on with his violin. “Told her that if you didn’t believe in the Tooth Fairy then she’d take a tooth from your mouth instead. Rip it out with her fingernails. Straight from the gums.” Sally made as if to rip a tooth from her own mouth, before shouting, “This became her nightmare.”
She gripped the bars again and continued. “In August of 1937, Ingrid and her parents traveled from Idaho to meet with Bernard Bookman’s daughter, Dr. Amelia Bookman. Ingrid left Blackwood cured.”
Mills walked toward Sally Pratchett, and the woman backed away from him. She cowered in the corner, laughing.
It was so loud now Father Frank held his ears."
p320
This excerpt comes from the best, scariest scene in J.H. Markert's NIGHTMARE MAN. It's chaotic right? Written that way. A cross-fire exchange between 9 or 10 (I think) characters, mostly named, half of which are mentally ill and have a history of violence and the other half are presumed morally superior and are also violent. It's a cherry of a scene. Cherry chaos.
I feel bad giving this book 2.5 stars because it has potential. Unfortunately, the narrative is very un-cherry chaos. I read the book twice, but I'm still not really sure what I read. The plot points drown in activity, the cast is enormous. They talk too much and spend entirely too much time traveling.
Some readers like this lack of focus on narrative in favor of other elements. I don't like it unless it's so clever it blows my mind. HOUSE OF LEAVES or RAW SHARK TEXTS. Otherwise, I need structure to my 400 pages of words. For me, NIGHTMARE MAN is just a suspenseful mess that never comes together.
Thank you NetGalley, J.H. Markert, and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.
Rating 2.5 stars rounded up for the 🍒
Finished October 2022
Recommended for fans of supernatural horror, ghost stories, asylum/insanity horror, existential horror; horror fans who like a loose narrative.
TW whoa so so many, excessive alcohol and drug consumption, violence against children, torture of imprisoned people, but I want to focus on the mental illness trigger, as this population really catches some unfavorable assumptions and cliches in this narrative
*Follow my Instagram book blog for all my reviews, challenges, and book lists! http://www.instagram.com/donasbooks *
One of the orderlies sprayed something into her eyes. Sally backed away from the bars, wiping at her face with the same fingernails she’d used to pluck out teeth from her neighbor’s little boy, and from four more children in the neighborhood before being caught. “One of the brothers,” shouted Sally, as Bruce continued clapping and Creech played on with his violin. “Told her that if you didn’t believe in the Tooth Fairy then she’d take a tooth from your mouth instead. Rip it out with her fingernails. Straight from the gums.” Sally made as if to rip a tooth from her own mouth, before shouting, “This became her nightmare.”
She gripped the bars again and continued. “In August of 1937, Ingrid and her parents traveled from Idaho to meet with Bernard Bookman’s daughter, Dr. Amelia Bookman. Ingrid left Blackwood cured.”
Mills walked toward Sally Pratchett, and the woman backed away from him. She cowered in the corner, laughing.
It was so loud now Father Frank held his ears."
p320
This excerpt comes from the best, scariest scene in J.H. Markert's NIGHTMARE MAN. It's chaotic right? Written that way. A cross-fire exchange between 9 or 10 (I think) characters, mostly named, half of which are mentally ill and have a history of violence and the other half are presumed morally superior and are also violent. It's a cherry of a scene. Cherry chaos.
I feel bad giving this book 2.5 stars because it has potential. Unfortunately, the narrative is very un-cherry chaos. I read the book twice, but I'm still not really sure what I read. The plot points drown in activity, the cast is enormous. They talk too much and spend entirely too much time traveling.
Some readers like this lack of focus on narrative in favor of other elements. I don't like it unless it's so clever it blows my mind. HOUSE OF LEAVES or RAW SHARK TEXTS. Otherwise, I need structure to my 400 pages of words. For me, NIGHTMARE MAN is just a suspenseful mess that never comes together.
Thank you NetGalley, J.H. Markert, and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.
Rating 2.5 stars rounded up for the 🍒
Finished October 2022
Recommended for fans of supernatural horror, ghost stories, asylum/insanity horror, existential horror; horror fans who like a loose narrative.
TW whoa so so many, excessive alcohol and drug consumption, violence against children, torture of imprisoned people, but I want to focus on the mental illness trigger, as this population really catches some unfavorable assumptions and cliches in this narrative
*Follow my Instagram book blog for all my reviews, challenges, and book lists! http://www.instagram.com/donasbooks *
March 19, 2024
Overly Ambitious Plot...
THE NIGHTMARE MAN by J.H. Market
No spoilers. 2 1/2 stars. I stopped reading this book at 90%. I just didn't want to invest another hour of the day with this one...
The plot, put simply, is about a horror author whose novels unleash a murderer who mimics the events in each of his books...
Then the race is on...
To unmask the culprit before he kills again... and again...
Okay... the first half of the book was clumsy. The dialog between characters was clunky, especially between the father and daughter police detectives who called each other by their last names. Erm, I just wasn't buying it. Conversations between the author and his wife were just as cringe-worthy.
Then there were the weird conversations between the author and his sister... and police detective Mills and the Catholic father... Whew!! Unrealistic!
Mysteries in this story abound and abound and abound again... so much so that I lost track of what some of those mysteries were and were they even worth my time trying to solve them.
The various folklore and fairy tales inserted into the story would fill an encyclopedia. Nah, too much work and not enough relaxation and enjoyment.
All that being said, the second half, which is normally where the loose ends come together, was an overly twisted road that required a GPS system to navigate.
I had to take copious notes in the last 25% just to follow the plot twists and the enormous cast of characters, and, in the end, it was just waaaaay too much work.
The idea of a horror novel with nightmares as its theme was promising, but this story branched out and bifurcated a little too much for me.
If someone asked me to recommend a good horror story... sadly, it wouldn't be this one.
THE NIGHTMARE MAN by J.H. Market
No spoilers. 2 1/2 stars. I stopped reading this book at 90%. I just didn't want to invest another hour of the day with this one...
The plot, put simply, is about a horror author whose novels unleash a murderer who mimics the events in each of his books...
Then the race is on...
To unmask the culprit before he kills again... and again...
Okay... the first half of the book was clumsy. The dialog between characters was clunky, especially between the father and daughter police detectives who called each other by their last names. Erm, I just wasn't buying it. Conversations between the author and his wife were just as cringe-worthy.
Then there were the weird conversations between the author and his sister... and police detective Mills and the Catholic father... Whew!! Unrealistic!
Mysteries in this story abound and abound and abound again... so much so that I lost track of what some of those mysteries were and were they even worth my time trying to solve them.
The various folklore and fairy tales inserted into the story would fill an encyclopedia. Nah, too much work and not enough relaxation and enjoyment.
All that being said, the second half, which is normally where the loose ends come together, was an overly twisted road that required a GPS system to navigate.
I had to take copious notes in the last 25% just to follow the plot twists and the enormous cast of characters, and, in the end, it was just waaaaay too much work.
The idea of a horror novel with nightmares as its theme was promising, but this story branched out and bifurcated a little too much for me.
If someone asked me to recommend a good horror story... sadly, it wouldn't be this one.
December 31, 2022
This cover just ropes you in. It suggests horror, nightmares and keeping the light on at night. I was not disappointed! With multiple POV's and plot lines twisted in one it brings everything you want to keep turning the pages. The character building starts from page one and surprisingly continues right to the end. With so many different characters I could easily keep up and that is testament of good writing skills. The plot lines was amazing in the way that it played out. I had a small idea on the twist line but was still pleasantly surprised at how intricate and detailed it turned out.
Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
March 3, 2024
Thrilling, creepy, and fun!
FRTC
FRTC
December 27, 2022
A really horrific book that threw in everything we fear. Nightmares, books filled with them, monsters, things jumping out of hiding places, an insane man, cannibalism, asylums, cuttings, exorcisms, a creepy mansion aptly named Blackwood, murder, and lots of harrowing things.
Ben Bookman, has written a new novel, one whose content seems to be coming true. The title, The Scarecrow, seems to be coming true as Detective Mills arrives at the sight of a nightmare killing of a family sewn into cocoons made of cornhusks, hanging from the rafters of a barn. The eeriness of the murder plus this being one of the tenets of Bookman's novel, brings about more chilling happenings. Then another family was found in the same condition. Along with Mills' daughter they try to find the killer, one of whom was suspected to be Ben Bookman.
Is murder imitating art?
Ben had finished his book in a room called "The Atrium" in the mansion. The Atrium held the mysterious horde of books, all without words. The books' horrors continue to reveal themselves and the secret of the mansion, releases much anxiety and of course terror and fatalism.
There was much going on in this story, many characters, and a story that might be considered a tad OTT. I did enjoy the start of the story, but as the book went on, I found myself a bit confused as to who was who. I did listen to this story and probably would have done better with the written version. Creepy, frightening, and terrifying might be the words to describe this one and perhaps too, it might be a bit too much for some.
Thank you to J.H. Markert, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for a copy of this book which will publish on January 10, 2023.
Ben Bookman, has written a new novel, one whose content seems to be coming true. The title, The Scarecrow, seems to be coming true as Detective Mills arrives at the sight of a nightmare killing of a family sewn into cocoons made of cornhusks, hanging from the rafters of a barn. The eeriness of the murder plus this being one of the tenets of Bookman's novel, brings about more chilling happenings. Then another family was found in the same condition. Along with Mills' daughter they try to find the killer, one of whom was suspected to be Ben Bookman.
Is murder imitating art?
Ben had finished his book in a room called "The Atrium" in the mansion. The Atrium held the mysterious horde of books, all without words. The books' horrors continue to reveal themselves and the secret of the mansion, releases much anxiety and of course terror and fatalism.
There was much going on in this story, many characters, and a story that might be considered a tad OTT. I did enjoy the start of the story, but as the book went on, I found myself a bit confused as to who was who. I did listen to this story and probably would have done better with the written version. Creepy, frightening, and terrifying might be the words to describe this one and perhaps too, it might be a bit too much for some.
Thank you to J.H. Markert, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for a copy of this book which will publish on January 10, 2023.
August 11, 2022
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: January 10, 2023
Novelist Ben Bookman (killer name for an author by the way) wrote his novel, The Scarecrow, over the course of one weekend spent alone in his family’s rundown (and creepy) family estate. During a release tour, a fan commits suicide during a book signing, claiming Bookman was able to “see his nightmares”. Then, people in and around Ben’s small community are being brutally murdered- in the exact ways that are portrayed in the novel. Police begin to question Ben, looking for a connection, but Ben knows that some of his secrets can’t come out, whatever the cost.
J.H. Markert’s first horror novel, “The Nightmare Man”, is a hodgepodge of different elements- first, Ben’s family history with his grandfather, the man known to “stop nightmares”, which leads to Ben’s chosen profession. Then, there’s the history behind the manor house itself, which has its own deep, dark secrets hidden behind the walls. The police investigator, Mills, has his own history with nightmares, that only get worse as the investigation continues, leading to even more tension with him and his daughter, also a police officer. Markert has a lot of ideas in one novel, and although each and every one of them were deliciously spooky and entertaining, they didn’t seem to gel together until the first third of the book.
I wanted more of the Bookman family history with their “capturing nightmares”, more of the history behind the manor and more of Mills’ background, not just with his estranged daughter but throughout his childhood. “The Nightmare Man” had enough juice in it to power a series of novels instead of just one, and I wish Markert had turned this into a multi-novel series (which is something I rarely say). I wanted more of everything! Luckily, Markert managed to focus on enough of the spooky plot points to keep me reading, and I was pulled in from the start, desperate to know how it ended.
There are a lot of characters in this novel, which can sometimes be difficult to sort through, especially with all the familial relationships, but it’s worth the effort. The novel is narrated by Mills and Ben alternatively, with segments from the “before” (before the two merged paths following the investigation), which builds up tension while providing a bit of background knowledge and character development.
“The Nightmare Man” is something straight out of a Stephen King novel (except in this case, a J.H. Markert) and I definitely think that Markert is making a name for himself in horror fiction. I eagerly look forward to having more novels to haunt my dreams!
Expected publication date: January 10, 2023
Novelist Ben Bookman (killer name for an author by the way) wrote his novel, The Scarecrow, over the course of one weekend spent alone in his family’s rundown (and creepy) family estate. During a release tour, a fan commits suicide during a book signing, claiming Bookman was able to “see his nightmares”. Then, people in and around Ben’s small community are being brutally murdered- in the exact ways that are portrayed in the novel. Police begin to question Ben, looking for a connection, but Ben knows that some of his secrets can’t come out, whatever the cost.
J.H. Markert’s first horror novel, “The Nightmare Man”, is a hodgepodge of different elements- first, Ben’s family history with his grandfather, the man known to “stop nightmares”, which leads to Ben’s chosen profession. Then, there’s the history behind the manor house itself, which has its own deep, dark secrets hidden behind the walls. The police investigator, Mills, has his own history with nightmares, that only get worse as the investigation continues, leading to even more tension with him and his daughter, also a police officer. Markert has a lot of ideas in one novel, and although each and every one of them were deliciously spooky and entertaining, they didn’t seem to gel together until the first third of the book.
I wanted more of the Bookman family history with their “capturing nightmares”, more of the history behind the manor and more of Mills’ background, not just with his estranged daughter but throughout his childhood. “The Nightmare Man” had enough juice in it to power a series of novels instead of just one, and I wish Markert had turned this into a multi-novel series (which is something I rarely say). I wanted more of everything! Luckily, Markert managed to focus on enough of the spooky plot points to keep me reading, and I was pulled in from the start, desperate to know how it ended.
There are a lot of characters in this novel, which can sometimes be difficult to sort through, especially with all the familial relationships, but it’s worth the effort. The novel is narrated by Mills and Ben alternatively, with segments from the “before” (before the two merged paths following the investigation), which builds up tension while providing a bit of background knowledge and character development.
“The Nightmare Man” is something straight out of a Stephen King novel (except in this case, a J.H. Markert) and I definitely think that Markert is making a name for himself in horror fiction. I eagerly look forward to having more novels to haunt my dreams!
July 27, 2022
If you are looking for a old-skool horror novel, like the ones you used to sneak out of the library as a kid in the 80's, then this is you go to book! It is very well written, has good character development but it is also a bit cheesy. The names of the characters for example got my eyes rolling: Detective Blue and Officer Black? Hmmm...
The story is a slightly more original take than what you would expect: a psychologist treats children who have terrifying nightmares and he is very capable at his job. He also has erected an asylum on the grounds of his property, a grand and dark house at the outskirts of the woods atop a hill overlooking the city and the asylum. Do you get the heebie-jeebies yet? No, well then know that about every monster that lives in the still of the night is about to get real !
The whole book is carried by two main characters: rookie Detective Blue and her father Detective Mills. I enjoyed their banter and their complicated relationship in general, it worked really well. Also the third main character, the author named Bookman (yes, indeed!) is unlikable, but very interesting. The first half of the book is defined by the development of these characters, and I thought it was very well done. The second half is centered more about the plot development, and there is where it went a bit downwards for me. The author threaded a lot of different plotlines together and it got a bit murky because of that.
All in all it is well written, but I'm afraid I'm expecting more goosebumps when I read a horror novel.
A sincere thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and the author for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The story is a slightly more original take than what you would expect: a psychologist treats children who have terrifying nightmares and he is very capable at his job. He also has erected an asylum on the grounds of his property, a grand and dark house at the outskirts of the woods atop a hill overlooking the city and the asylum. Do you get the heebie-jeebies yet? No, well then know that about every monster that lives in the still of the night is about to get real !
The whole book is carried by two main characters: rookie Detective Blue and her father Detective Mills. I enjoyed their banter and their complicated relationship in general, it worked really well. Also the third main character, the author named Bookman (yes, indeed!) is unlikable, but very interesting. The first half of the book is defined by the development of these characters, and I thought it was very well done. The second half is centered more about the plot development, and there is where it went a bit downwards for me. The author threaded a lot of different plotlines together and it got a bit murky because of that.
All in all it is well written, but I'm afraid I'm expecting more goosebumps when I read a horror novel.
A sincere thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and the author for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
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November 26, 2023Well......what to say about this book.
As much as I was looking forward to reading it and have owned it for quite awhile I thought it would be one creepy romp that would keep my insomnia fueled. The story starts out great and kept my attention for the first 20% of the book but then it all started going downhill for me. I am surprised that I lasted as long as I did with reading it as normally a book that is not doing it for me I will lay down long before the 58% mark but I thought it would get better.
A tiny backstory for you readers:
Ben Bookman is a horror writer and his book The Scarecrow seems to come alive as the things that happen in the book starts happening in real life as in his book there are horrific murders and it seems that those murders have overflowed into real life almost as if someone read the book and is now committing the crimes except there is a twist to it all which I will not put in this backdrop of a story as it would be a spoiler.
The story was good up to a point but the structure of the story is mainly why I am laying the book down. Too many characters is weaved into the storyline making it hard to focus on who is who - I have read books where there are a lot of characters but depending on the author and how they write it sometimes that can be written smoothly but not with this book. The other thing that drove me nutso was too much dialogue - I would consider it an overabundance of characters talking back and forth with bits and pieces of the story weaved within. For me there needs to be a balance of dialogue and story - that does not exist in this book - there is way more dialogue than story laid within these pages.
So the book was not enjoyable to me and I won't waste anymore of my time reading it - there are plenty of other books to read. It seems I am in the minority on this book as well as from glancing at reviews there are quite a few people that liked or loved the book, but this one was just not for me. There are no star ratings with this book as I don't rate books I do not finish.
As much as I was looking forward to reading it and have owned it for quite awhile I thought it would be one creepy romp that would keep my insomnia fueled. The story starts out great and kept my attention for the first 20% of the book but then it all started going downhill for me. I am surprised that I lasted as long as I did with reading it as normally a book that is not doing it for me I will lay down long before the 58% mark but I thought it would get better.
A tiny backstory for you readers:
Ben Bookman is a horror writer and his book The Scarecrow seems to come alive as the things that happen in the book starts happening in real life as in his book there are horrific murders and it seems that those murders have overflowed into real life almost as if someone read the book and is now committing the crimes except there is a twist to it all which I will not put in this backdrop of a story as it would be a spoiler.
The story was good up to a point but the structure of the story is mainly why I am laying the book down. Too many characters is weaved into the storyline making it hard to focus on who is who - I have read books where there are a lot of characters but depending on the author and how they write it sometimes that can be written smoothly but not with this book. The other thing that drove me nutso was too much dialogue - I would consider it an overabundance of characters talking back and forth with bits and pieces of the story weaved within. For me there needs to be a balance of dialogue and story - that does not exist in this book - there is way more dialogue than story laid within these pages.
So the book was not enjoyable to me and I won't waste anymore of my time reading it - there are plenty of other books to read. It seems I am in the minority on this book as well as from glancing at reviews there are quite a few people that liked or loved the book, but this one was just not for me. There are no star ratings with this book as I don't rate books I do not finish.
December 18, 2022
What is the scariest book you have read?
The Nightmare Man by J. H. Markert
Narrated by David Bendena (12 hours 2 min.)
Audiobook and Book Review
J. H. Markert's The Nightmare Man is for hard-core horror fans. It is a very haunting and scary story that is not for the faint of heart. Written along the lines of Freddy Kreuger meets Stephen King, the book is multidimensional with cryptic characters. The writer successfully engages the reader's imagination with fear of the unknown. It combines ordinary circumstances with shocking and grotesque settings used to create a real sense of terror.
The fantastic narrative adds a delicious element of horror to the book. David Bendena's voice is just right for reading. With the cover tightly cinched around my neck, it sent shivers down my spine. This is a must read and listen for horror fans!
Synopsis:
Ben Bookman is a best-selling author. As his new horror novel is released, he is faced with the fact that the brutal murders in his book are actually happening. Police Detective Mills and his daughter Samantha Blue are determined to solve this unusual case before the rest of the book comes to pass.
The Nightmare Man is too scary for me to review and not include a strong warning. The novel will have a huge audience with high reviews, but it will not appeal to everyone because of its extremely graphic violence. Be sure to check the trigger warnings before proceeding.
The Nightmare Man by J. H. Markert is available on January 10th.
(4.25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫)
Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Crooked Lane Books for sharing this totally spooky book and audiobook with me. Your kindness is appreciated!
The Nightmare Man #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #blogtour #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #Audible #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom #trending #bestsellingbooks #b
The Nightmare Man by J. H. Markert
Narrated by David Bendena (12 hours 2 min.)
Audiobook and Book Review
J. H. Markert's The Nightmare Man is for hard-core horror fans. It is a very haunting and scary story that is not for the faint of heart. Written along the lines of Freddy Kreuger meets Stephen King, the book is multidimensional with cryptic characters. The writer successfully engages the reader's imagination with fear of the unknown. It combines ordinary circumstances with shocking and grotesque settings used to create a real sense of terror.
The fantastic narrative adds a delicious element of horror to the book. David Bendena's voice is just right for reading. With the cover tightly cinched around my neck, it sent shivers down my spine. This is a must read and listen for horror fans!
Synopsis:
Ben Bookman is a best-selling author. As his new horror novel is released, he is faced with the fact that the brutal murders in his book are actually happening. Police Detective Mills and his daughter Samantha Blue are determined to solve this unusual case before the rest of the book comes to pass.
The Nightmare Man is too scary for me to review and not include a strong warning. The novel will have a huge audience with high reviews, but it will not appeal to everyone because of its extremely graphic violence. Be sure to check the trigger warnings before proceeding.
The Nightmare Man by J. H. Markert is available on January 10th.
(4.25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫)
Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Crooked Lane Books for sharing this totally spooky book and audiobook with me. Your kindness is appreciated!
The Nightmare Man #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #blogtour #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #Audible #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom #trending #bestsellingbooks #b
January 6, 2023
Ben Bookman was a bestselling author, and heir to the Blackwood estate. His wife Amanda and their daughter Brianna were with Ben at the book-signing release of his latest book, The Scarecrow, when the unthinkable happened. It was the beginning of a horror run of terrible events - deaths, murders, brutality - that saw Ben himself being arrested.
Detective Mills and his rookie detective police daughter, Samantha Blue, were deeply involved in the investigation of the murders and deaths that were mirroring Ben's book, and they were doing everything they could to stop what they suspected would happen next. But would they have the power over what was occurring, the power to stop the brutality in its tracks?
The Nightmare Man is my first by J.H. Markert and although I don't read horror as a rule, I wouldn't class this so much as horror, more a dark thriller. There were a lot of characters in this book, so many that I ended up just going with the flow as I couldn't remember who the minor characters were. It dragged in places but I finished it. I think fans of the genre - dark, evil, brutal - would enjoy The Nightmare Man, but, unfortunately, it didn't really do much for me.
With thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Detective Mills and his rookie detective police daughter, Samantha Blue, were deeply involved in the investigation of the murders and deaths that were mirroring Ben's book, and they were doing everything they could to stop what they suspected would happen next. But would they have the power over what was occurring, the power to stop the brutality in its tracks?
The Nightmare Man is my first by J.H. Markert and although I don't read horror as a rule, I wouldn't class this so much as horror, more a dark thriller. There were a lot of characters in this book, so many that I ended up just going with the flow as I couldn't remember who the minor characters were. It dragged in places but I finished it. I think fans of the genre - dark, evil, brutal - would enjoy The Nightmare Man, but, unfortunately, it didn't really do much for me.
With thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2023
This had a great premise: a popular horror writer's fictional nightmares become reality when someone recreates a series of murders straight out of the pages of his latest book.
But . . . the tale quickly becomes too convoluted with too many characters, too many killers, too many bizarre scenarios, and, well, just TOO MUCH. The last 40 pages or so include three, count 'em THREE BIG REVEALS, and so much action/shooting/slashing/stabbing that I was rolling my eyes instead of shivering with fear. I also felt cheated by the fact that pertinent information that might have led me to guess the killer was only revealed after we learned the identity of the killer.
The author plans to turn this into a series. I hope it works out for him, but I won't be along for the ride.
But . . . the tale quickly becomes too convoluted with too many characters, too many killers, too many bizarre scenarios, and, well, just TOO MUCH. The last 40 pages or so include three, count 'em THREE BIG REVEALS, and so much action/shooting/slashing/stabbing that I was rolling my eyes instead of shivering with fear. I also felt cheated by the fact that pertinent information that might have led me to guess the killer was only revealed after we learned the identity of the killer.
The author plans to turn this into a series. I hope it works out for him, but I won't be along for the ride.
November 30, 2022
This is the best kind of horror novel. It is haunting and many times gory, but the solid storyline is intricate and absorbing. Oh yes, there are definitely nightmares here. The premise is a doctor can take nightmares away from children and they will no longer have them. However, he captures the nightmares in a book. When the book is opened for a certain short period of times the nightmare contained in the book can escape and become real. There are those who have nightmares and a few who can take nightmares away. There is a creepy, old mansion with an even creepier asylum on the grounds to set the atmosphere.
There are some really good characters here. I most liked Detective Mills and his daughter, Samantha. I ended up sometimes liking Ben Bookman, the horror author, but not always. I really liked Ben's daughter though. There are a lot of characters to keep up with, so I have to admit to sometimes getting a little mixed up. The history of the nightmares and how they are passed was really interesting.
I recommend this to anyone who likes scary stories and can handle some chaotic gore. It gets gross sometimes. The story is a good one!
Thanks to Crooked Lane Bpoks through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on January 10, 2023.
There are some really good characters here. I most liked Detective Mills and his daughter, Samantha. I ended up sometimes liking Ben Bookman, the horror author, but not always. I really liked Ben's daughter though. There are a lot of characters to keep up with, so I have to admit to sometimes getting a little mixed up. The history of the nightmares and how they are passed was really interesting.
I recommend this to anyone who likes scary stories and can handle some chaotic gore. It gets gross sometimes. The story is a good one!
Thanks to Crooked Lane Bpoks through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on January 10, 2023.
January 17, 2023
I wish I could say I loved this book. However, ancient evil horror is difficult to write, and few authors can nail it.
The idea for The Nightmare Man is not a unique one, piggybacking on the idea of nightmare trapping, nor is it presented in a fresh way here. What really killed it for me was the lack of actual action and agonizingly long explanations of what was going on, after we already saw it play out a few times and could reason through the gist of what was happening. With just two hours to go in the audiobook, I decided I didn't care enough about the fate of the troupe of unlikeable characters to finish. I'd heard all I could stand.
The idea for The Nightmare Man is not a unique one, piggybacking on the idea of nightmare trapping, nor is it presented in a fresh way here. What really killed it for me was the lack of actual action and agonizingly long explanations of what was going on, after we already saw it play out a few times and could reason through the gist of what was happening. With just two hours to go in the audiobook, I decided I didn't care enough about the fate of the troupe of unlikeable characters to finish. I'd heard all I could stand.
January 13, 2023
The Nightmare Man is nearly the perfect classic horror novel – a successful horror author whose stories are more than mere fiction, an eerie small town where children have been going missing for years, a serial killer who wraps his victims in a disgusting cocoon, an original take on folk horror and a grumpy detective who is, in fact, more than a mere detective. It is an absolutely enthralling, many-faceted story that kept me nicely entertained for a few hours - despite the somewhat flat characters and the confusing time jumps.
I’d say it’s on par with Southern Gods or Kill Creek.
I’d say it’s on par with Southern Gods or Kill Creek.
January 1, 2023
Hold onto your hats kids, The Nightmare Man by J.H. Markert is a bumpy ride and boy was it a doozy!! I have never read anything like this wild and crazy book, and while some parts are just downright weird, I found myself totally loving it. It is bookish in nature since Ben Bookman is a writer (how novel with a last name like that), and Markert brings the suspense and gore with murders straight out of Ben’s book. I don’t think I fully grasped what the full plot would be since at one point, I thought the book was over, but I was nowhere close to being done. There are lots of horror elements and this definitely isn’t going to be a story for the faint of heart. Markert blends past and present together and while you would think the switches would be confusing, they really weren’t, and I was able to easily follow along. It also helped that the before chapters are labeled as such and are italicized in the book. There are also consistent viewpoint changes which I liked a lot even though at times those did get a touch confusing just for a moment. I eventually got used to them and I was fine listening to the audiobook.
And speaking of the audiobook, I loved it! The narrator is David Bendena and I just now realized I’ve actually listened to him narrate once before (he was in the cast for House of a Thousand Lies by Cody Luke Davis). I enjoyed his narration quite a bit for this book and I thought he did an excellent job with the different voices he had for the various characters. He added an extra creep factor on top of what was already there, and I would definitely recommend listening to The Nightmare Man. This would be an excellent book to read around Halloween, but if you love horror and spooky books all year round like me, it would be great anytime! There is one part that was akin to a Batman movie and more than once my mouth dropped open at things that happen in the story. I just loved the twisty and otherworldly feel this book provided and I am holding out hope that there is a series in here somewhere.
Thank you to the publishers for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
And speaking of the audiobook, I loved it! The narrator is David Bendena and I just now realized I’ve actually listened to him narrate once before (he was in the cast for House of a Thousand Lies by Cody Luke Davis). I enjoyed his narration quite a bit for this book and I thought he did an excellent job with the different voices he had for the various characters. He added an extra creep factor on top of what was already there, and I would definitely recommend listening to The Nightmare Man. This would be an excellent book to read around Halloween, but if you love horror and spooky books all year round like me, it would be great anytime! There is one part that was akin to a Batman movie and more than once my mouth dropped open at things that happen in the story. I just loved the twisty and otherworldly feel this book provided and I am holding out hope that there is a series in here somewhere.
Thank you to the publishers for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
December 23, 2023
The Nightmare Man captivated me from the very first chapter. Murders that are copied from a book are hardly a new thing to write about, but the way Markert writes it. Well, I was hooked and I found the story to be thrilling. The ending, well let's say that I want a sequel to this book because I feel that this is just the top of an iceberg...
Update: There is a sequel called The Mister Lullaby and I can't wait to read it!
Update: There is a sequel called The Mister Lullaby and I can't wait to read it!
March 4, 2024
Such a convoluted, unnecessarily overworked and interwoven mess of a plot. I really dislike overblown casts of characters who aren’t fully built out, and seem to be introduced solely in the name of world building. I didn’t care about a single person in this book. This will definitely live in my nightmares…man
June 5, 2023
I was intrigued by this and thought I was going to enjoy it but unfortunately not. The story did nothing to hook me into it and I never really felt invested in the story. Don't have much to say about it other than that.
November 21, 2022
Benjamin Bookman has become a sensational horror fiction writer. As a popular author, Ben is always on tour for his books. At a recent book signing event, a customer walks up to Ben and mutters, “You stole my nightmare…This is on you…” The customer then pulls out his gun aims the barrel under his chin and shoots himself in the head. And so begins the terrifying tale of The Nightmare Man. Well, not so terrifying…
The Nightmare Man starts out with a bang and a hook to match. But the story really fails to launch. I was hoping for an unputdownable, horrifying read that would keep me up all night. Unfortunately, it just ended up as a lukewarm read that could have used more “oomph.”
The story unfolds between past and present. However, I didn’t quite see the point of using some of the past narratives as it didn’t make much sense within the whole scheme of things. I kept wondering why they were included in the first place, as it just made for a disjointed read.
The premise of a fictional horror story becoming real has promise. It’s just that the execution didn’t quite make it. I seem to think that the narrative would have played out better if the science fiction and fantasy elements were left out. The focus could have been centralized on the gruesome murders and the sick perpetrators that executed them — tying them to an evil doctor that somehow brainwashed them into the monsters that they’ve become.
There were a number of characters. But in the horror genre, they don’t need to be well developed as much. It’s the slash factor that counts. However, I did find that the interchange in character names did get a bit confusing.
Not the best horror novel that I’ve read, but the author has promise being that I managed to finish the book. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work as his horror prowess grows. Two promising stars.
I received a digital ARC from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
The Nightmare Man starts out with a bang and a hook to match. But the story really fails to launch. I was hoping for an unputdownable, horrifying read that would keep me up all night. Unfortunately, it just ended up as a lukewarm read that could have used more “oomph.”
The story unfolds between past and present. However, I didn’t quite see the point of using some of the past narratives as it didn’t make much sense within the whole scheme of things. I kept wondering why they were included in the first place, as it just made for a disjointed read.
The premise of a fictional horror story becoming real has promise. It’s just that the execution didn’t quite make it. I seem to think that the narrative would have played out better if the science fiction and fantasy elements were left out. The focus could have been centralized on the gruesome murders and the sick perpetrators that executed them — tying them to an evil doctor that somehow brainwashed them into the monsters that they’ve become.
There were a number of characters. But in the horror genre, they don’t need to be well developed as much. It’s the slash factor that counts. However, I did find that the interchange in character names did get a bit confusing.
Not the best horror novel that I’ve read, but the author has promise being that I managed to finish the book. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work as his horror prowess grows. Two promising stars.
I received a digital ARC from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
January 28, 2023
This book was so damn good! If you like horror and even if you don't pick this one Up! and FYI it is great on Audio! Longer review to come
July 17, 2022
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Nightmare Man definitely had its creepy moments. I'll admit that I was on the edge of my seat for most of this book. Okay, all of it. The entire mystery took me on a horrific rollercoaster ride. One, that would probably make me pee in my pants from all the screaming.
There's a lot of characters throughout the book. Of course, one might look a bit closer towards the detectives and the author. Yet, we have so many supporting characters that were quite interesting as well. I honestly had no idea who to trust and who to suspect. Throw in some demons, nightmares, and anything else made to distract me from the truth and I was hooked. Completely and unapologetically attached to this. I couldn't put it down until I got to the very end.
Other than that, some of the reveals grossed me our or made me cringe. It will depend on when it happens though and who it involves. Some made me sad too. Especially towards the end when so many things are happening and lots of death.
In the end, I'm so happy that I got the chance to jump into this thriller. Could totally see it becoming a movie and wouldn't be mad if we got another book with the nightmare man!
The Nightmare Man definitely had its creepy moments. I'll admit that I was on the edge of my seat for most of this book. Okay, all of it. The entire mystery took me on a horrific rollercoaster ride. One, that would probably make me pee in my pants from all the screaming.
There's a lot of characters throughout the book. Of course, one might look a bit closer towards the detectives and the author. Yet, we have so many supporting characters that were quite interesting as well. I honestly had no idea who to trust and who to suspect. Throw in some demons, nightmares, and anything else made to distract me from the truth and I was hooked. Completely and unapologetically attached to this. I couldn't put it down until I got to the very end.
Other than that, some of the reveals grossed me our or made me cringe. It will depend on when it happens though and who it involves. Some made me sad too. Especially towards the end when so many things are happening and lots of death.
In the end, I'm so happy that I got the chance to jump into this thriller. Could totally see it becoming a movie and wouldn't be mad if we got another book with the nightmare man!
September 29, 2025
3/5 ✩
“Sometimes teens need to get burned before they realize for themselves that fire is hot.”
QUICK SUMMARY
The Nightmare Man follows author Ben Bookman and officer Winchester Mills as murders that perfectly mimic Bookman’s writing begin to occur. Blending horror with crime thriller elements, Markert had a lot of great ideas and a very engaging book… up until the final stretch. Though the mystery and atmosphere were incredibly intriguing, the underwhelming characters and clumsy ending left something to be desired.
R.E.A.D.S. SCORE
R: 4/10
E: 5/10
A: 7/10
D: 6/10
S: 6/10
Total: 5.60/10.00
“Sometimes teens need to get burned before they realize for themselves that fire is hot.”
QUICK SUMMARY
The Nightmare Man follows author Ben Bookman and officer Winchester Mills as murders that perfectly mimic Bookman’s writing begin to occur. Blending horror with crime thriller elements, Markert had a lot of great ideas and a very engaging book… up until the final stretch. Though the mystery and atmosphere were incredibly intriguing, the underwhelming characters and clumsy ending left something to be desired.
R.E.A.D.S. SCORE
R: 4/10
E: 5/10
A: 7/10
D: 6/10
S: 6/10
Total: 5.60/10.00
March 3, 2025
The Nightmare Man by J.H Markert had so much potential but I think the ambitious plot was it's downfall. The author had a really great idea but it was lacking in execution. It was more thriller than horror which was disappointing, I think the reader figures everything out way before the characters so it loses any shock impact. Speaking of the characters they were all pretty bland and I don't think I will remember any of them.
I had to check whether this was the start of a series because of how to came to a close, I think if the author created a story from the ending of this book it could have been quite fascinating. Dreams have always been so interesting for me, and the premise that a nightmare can become reality should have been much more scary than this.
A lot of the plot focused on a tormented writer, but he lacked substance so it was hard to care about him. Although the background and idea of the villain was intriguing it was over shadowed by too much subplot. This would have been a much better book if it introduced the idea of real-life nightmares early on and expanded on that. It could have taken 100 or so pages to explain how it all came about and then jumped into some seriously messed up nightmares with some true body horror and suspense.
It was fairly well written and when it got to the more suspenseful moments it was well done. For me this was a massive missed opportunity.
I had to check whether this was the start of a series because of how to came to a close, I think if the author created a story from the ending of this book it could have been quite fascinating. Dreams have always been so interesting for me, and the premise that a nightmare can become reality should have been much more scary than this.
A lot of the plot focused on a tormented writer, but he lacked substance so it was hard to care about him. Although the background and idea of the villain was intriguing it was over shadowed by too much subplot. This would have been a much better book if it introduced the idea of real-life nightmares early on and expanded on that. It could have taken 100 or so pages to explain how it all came about and then jumped into some seriously messed up nightmares with some true body horror and suspense.
It was fairly well written and when it got to the more suspenseful moments it was well done. For me this was a massive missed opportunity.
December 24, 2022
Ben Bookman is a best selling author working on his new horror book when he realizes life is imitating art. The nightmares from his stories are coming to life. Detective Mills and daughter work side by side to piece together the events taking place.
While I enjoyed the book and was fascinated by the premise there were so many characters, especially at the end when the dots were being connected that it was difficult at times to remember who was who. I thought the beginning dragged a bit but it quickly picked up and enjoyed how the story unfolded especially when the creepy characters came to life.
The Nightmare Man is available January 10,233
Thank you to netgalley and crookedlanebooks for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
While I enjoyed the book and was fascinated by the premise there were so many characters, especially at the end when the dots were being connected that it was difficult at times to remember who was who. I thought the beginning dragged a bit but it quickly picked up and enjoyed how the story unfolded especially when the creepy characters came to life.
The Nightmare Man is available January 10,233
Thank you to netgalley and crookedlanebooks for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
March 30, 2023
The plot was everything everywhere all at once, with how the story thickens and branches out.
It’s a detective thriller mixed with horror/ paranormal aspects. I had to wait until I could give it my undivided attention to pick it up because you
can’t be caught skimming! It's easy to feel lost with so much going on with miles and Ben, but it is sooo well-written! I was utterly hooked from the beginning.. it feels Stephen King inspired in the way the author can suck you into the story. But chapter by chapter a new element was added and toward the end i felt like every Jack Jill and sally and their mother in town had a story with too many strings to tie back together.
I loved the ride, regardless of the destination. So for me it's like a 3.5 . 🚗
It’s a detective thriller mixed with horror/ paranormal aspects. I had to wait until I could give it my undivided attention to pick it up because you
can’t be caught skimming! It's easy to feel lost with so much going on with miles and Ben, but it is sooo well-written! I was utterly hooked from the beginning.. it feels Stephen King inspired in the way the author can suck you into the story. But chapter by chapter a new element was added and toward the end i felt like every Jack Jill and sally and their mother in town had a story with too many strings to tie back together.
I loved the ride, regardless of the destination. So for me it's like a 3.5 . 🚗
December 19, 2022
Not really sure how I feel about this book. I mean, I should have loved it, a dark book about a writer where his stories are played out in real life. I liked the crime and police procedural part of it, as well as the characters. It was a good story but for me, not great, I am glad to have read it and it was creepy as anything. The main character of Ben was not very likeable at all and I feel that impacted my feelings a bit. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book to read.
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