Sleep Tight

by Matthew J. Costello

It started with a little boy. A little boy who sneaked out to go to the pool and was never seen again. Old Miss Waverly disappeared soon afterward. And then that hotshot student vanished into thin air. Things like this just didn't happen in a quiet town like Harley. Except that Harley was no longer a quiet town.

Noah was getting scared. He knew something bad was happening because his father came home looking worried ever night. And his mother wouldn't let him go anywhere alone. Then the dreams began. The dreams about the Tall Man. The Tall Man was coming to get him. The Tall Man was coming to steal a little boy's soul - and feed off his innocence...

Genres: Horror

301 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1987

About the author

Matthew John Costello (born 1948) is an American horror, Gothic, and science fiction writer. His articles have appeared in publications including the Los Angeles Times and Sports Illustrated. He scripted Trilobyte's bestselling CD-ROM interactive dramas The 7th Guest and its sequel The 11th Hour, as well as many other video games.
(source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Jack Tripper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike many of the reviewers here, I found this to be an entertaining, and often chilling, "supernatural evil in small town" tale. The story takes its sweet ass time to unfold, but the tension and creepy vibes steadily grow, and I found myself sucked into the mystery of just what the hell is going on in the usually boring neighborhood of Harley, NY. People are disappearing at a rapid pace -- mostly children, but not all -- and the town mayor has to team up with a NYC detective to try and find the killer or kidnapper. Though it seems the culprit may not be human. But then who's the sinister-looking "tall man" periodically seen lurking in the shadows?

There's a bit of a Lovecraftian or cosmic horror angle to this story that I loved, with some ultra-freaky imagery relating to (Slightly Spoilery) mirrors and other dimensions. About the only negative for me is the same one I have with nearly all of Costello's horror work I've read: the constant POV shifts. I'm all for having a large cast of characters, but not when so many exist solely for the purpose of being killed. Though I suppose that's necessary so that we the reader know the true threat of the big baddie or baddies. I just hate when I'm getting into a storyline only to suddenly have to wade through chapters featuring obvious redshirts in order to get back to it.

Overall, I thought this was in the upper echelon of 80s Zebra titles, with decent characterization, cool kills, and an intriguing central mystery -- as well as loads of mid-80s references that will make all the oldheads nostalgic -- but I expect it would only appeal to those like myself who never seem to tire of "small town horror" novels. I dig the cliches and tropes, and other than the nature of the evil menace (which I found to be damn spooky), there's not a lot here that hasn't been done before. All I know is that it's done well here, and I enjoyed it.

[Kurt Reichenbaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining 80's horror from Zebra books. I really did buy this just for the cover. The story inside is chock full of suburban families with their teenage kids getting mixed up in a cosmic horror gig. There is a Stephen King element to it in that domestic angst is described along with the scary stuff. That stuff I don't mind, but one of my pet peeves in novels, particularly horror novels, is when a nightmare is described in detail. Nightmares are nightmares, and everyone gets them. To me, a nightmare is page filler. Thankfully, that's not overdone here, but still enough for me to skip some pages along the way. What I liked more than the horror shenanigans is a look at the period in which the story takes place. Music references like "We Built This City on Rock and Roll" and Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Yes, "We Built This City" is the worst song ever produced by a band who completely sold out, but I did get an urge to play my Frankie Goes to Hollywood record again. Even Huey Lewis and the News got a shout out. And teenagers actually had to call each other up or hunt each other down old-school style. I don't remember any scenes of smoking in the school restrooms though. Fun novel. Like sticky candy, not exactly something nutritious, but still fun to indulge in as the nights cool off.

[Judith Sonnet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun. More Lovecraftian than I expected.

[DJMikeG · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent debut novel from Costello. Like most Zebra books from the 80s, the book is much better than the lame cover art would lead you to believe. The ending isn't great, but this is a fast, fun, read with some very frightening sequences. Recommended for fans of "Phantasm", as that seems to be a major influence on the book.

[Wayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

A real dud from the Zebra horror books of the 1980's. A jumble of dull events that all lead to a head scratcher of an ending. I should of seen it coming though. I read one of his other books not to long ago, "Darkborn" and I had pretty much the same feelings about that.

It all has to do with some kind of demon? that comes through a mirror in someone's basement in a small eastern town. It grabs kids and old ladies and drunk sewer workers to do something with. I'm not trying to save you from finding out why, because I don't know why. It's all confusing. Then there is an old Jewish man in Germany that must stop all of this. Throw in a chain smoking detective and you just get more befuddled.

[Tome Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t let the vague description on this back of this book fool you. This is a Phenomenal read! I didn’t know what to expect based on what the back of the book gave us. The reviews here made me think middle of the road at best. I honestly just wanted to read it for the cover art and publisher. Then I started reading it and was surprised at how much I was enjoying it. I’m not a fan of cosmic horror but this book was definitely the exception. It’s part comic horror, part police procedural and it works. Me me, Never had a dull moment while reading this and the ending, what I think makes or breaks a book, was good. If you own this one I suggest picking it up and reading it right now. 5 stars.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another of my 80's horror I have, with the cool/cheesy cover. Another small town, where local folks are disappearing/and having strange dreams. This one jumped around too much for me. Police chief ends up in the "bad" house....how did he find it? I'll save this one, only for the cover art.

[Tamia Polarhedgemunk · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book desperately needed a better editor