I loved the characters, specifically Nola, as well as the character relationships. The plot twist was one I didn’t expect.

3.5 stars rounded up.

This is one of those books you see are available as Read Now on NetGalley and just immediately download- and I have no regrets. Night Watcher reads like a mix between your favorite true crime podcast and an episode of Criminal Minds that gave you nightmares in middle school and still occasionally haunts you in the middle of the night.

When a strange call comes into her radio show, Nola is drawn into the investigation of a serial killer she escaped as a child. Is the Hidden Man really back and can Nola survive another encounter with Him?

Overall, this was such a fun and engaging thriller that was genuinely terrifying at points- five chapters in, I did put it down because it was getting dark and I was worried I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I read much more, and then read the rest of it in two sittings the next day.

I will say that, even as a first-person hater, I found the first-person sections to be much more engaging and snappier than the third person sections. I wasn’t familiar with the author and her podcast before reading but there were moments where I started wondering if maybe the third person chapters were meant to be read as more of a podcast/radio show transcript. When I read them in that voice, these sections were a lot stronger, but I wasn’t able to keep that sort of podcaster voice going in my head consistently.

The true crime of it all was at times frustrating in the way that true crime often is- Nola makes some stupid choices, the police are not the most competent, answers aren’t always as satisfying as you wish they were- but even though I’ve grown out of my teenaged true crime phase, my ex-murderino heart had the best time.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!

It has been a while since I was this addicted to a book, but wow, I could not put this down!

Night Watcher follows Nola, a podcast host who receives a strange call one night that leaves her having to confront her past and memories she wishes to forget. Told in dual pov, we follow Nola and detective Jack as they both try to uncover the truth behind the series of murders that begin happening in their town.

Overall, I thought this was a very well-written book that kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat. It was atmospheric, chilling, and genuinely had me anxious at times. There was not a moment I was bored or felt the pacing of the book get slow. I was constantly trying to guess the ending and thought Daphne Woolsoncroft did a great job of making everything flow well and make sense. I’m looking forward to reading more books by Woolsoncroft, and I would definitely check this book out if you enjoy suspenseful and creepy thrillers.

I really enjoyed the book until the ending. I was hoping the killer was someone else. But defiantly a good fast read!

Daphne please keep writing books!!

Nola is a late night radio host. When she was younger, a serial killer killed her babysitter. From then one, she was traumatized by the hiding man.

Nola feels like she’s being stalked. After someone calls in to the radio show about an intruder in their home, she believes the hiding man is back and is coming for her. Who is behind the hiding man’s mask? Nola decides to find out.

This story was so addicting. I couldn’t put this book down. There were so many twists and so much going on! I was SHOCKED by the ending. I honestly had no idea who the hiding man was!

Daphne really knows how to keep readers attention and pull you into the story. I did want the book to end! If you want a chilling and addicting read, I’d definitely recommend this book!

Rating: ✨✨✨✨ ✨
Publication Date: July 8 2025

Thank you NetGalley, Daphne and Grand Central Publishing for the eARC!!

#NightWatcher #NetGalley.

Nola Strate hosts a radio show about the terrors of the night when a woman calls-in during a disturbing encounter. This forces Nola to recall her own horrific experience as a child, and points to evidence that the serial killer called The Hiding Man may be taking lives once again. Told from multiple points of view including the killer’s, this creepy and menacing read will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers.

I found Night Watcher to be an excellent thriller read that included tropes such as crime podcasts, family secrets, and a serial killer. There were parts of this read where I found myself to be highly jumpy. I absolutely loved the read and would highly recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Twenty years ago, Nola’s babysitter was murdered by a man in a mask. A woman calls the Night Watcher podcast and describes what she thinks is a ghost in her house that looks just like the man that killed her babysitter. He was presumed dead. But now he’s back to finish what he started.

This was a good thriller debut. The ending was in my opinion lacking after such a gripping buildup.

This is a dark, dramatic and sinister thriller, and I loved every single page of it. We’re all afraid of serial killers, but imagine being in the same house with one as a young child, knowing that he just brutally killed your babysitter. This is exactly what happened to Nola Strate when she was only 8-years-old.

Twenty years later, Nola has a feeling that her worst nightmare is resurfacing when a person calls into her radio show describing the same masked man. Once again, she’s living in fear, feeling like she’s being watched, and other women are being murdered.

Taut and suspenseful, NIGHT WATCHER is an addictive read. It would make a great horror movie. There are no crazy twists, no surprise endings, it’s a just a good solid, 5-star thriller.

Thank you, NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced reader copy.

I was obsessed with this book. It is terrifying and so scary and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I was unsure who the suspect was, and was wrong every time. I truly loved the main character, and the radio premise.

Such a creepy chilling suspenseful book. Loved it b it couldn’t read it at night. lol. Truely could be such a good scary movie!

Woolsoncroft’s debut is polished and well-crafted, pulling you right into the mystery from the start. I found myself on edge, constantly eager to uncover the killer’s identity. The book is straightforward—no convoluted subplots or major twists, just a bit of misdirection—but it doesn’t need anything extra to keep you hooked. The story is engaging, and the ending feels both logical and satisfying. The characters are well-developed, and the serial killer is genuinely chilling. This would make an excellent movie. Overall, it’s a simple yet compelling mystery that’s a pleasure to read

Before you dive into Night Watcher, I must offer a word of caution: do not read this book alone at night in the comfort of your home. It delivers some of the most chilling vibes I have ever encountered in literature. The story follows Nola, who witnessed her babysitter's murder at the hands of a masked man when she was just eight years old. This man was a serial killer that instilled fear in a small region of Oregon. Fast forward to the present, and Nola has stepped into her father's shoes, hosting the radio podcast Night Watcher. When a woman calls in with a terrifying tale and is later found murdered, the question arises: is the notorious Hiding Man, the serial killer, back in action? Prepare for numerous twists and an abundance of terror! I rate this captivating read 4 stars!

A special thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the advance reader's copy.

This was a solid, good serial killer book. Woolsoncroft’s writing in her debut thriller is solid, polished, and well done. She immediately draws you into the mystery of the story and keeps you turning pages. Throughout the entire I book, I was so anxious to know who the killer was. This was an easy, straightforward read. There weren’t any crazy subplots, and there really wasn’t a twist, a little misdirection, but no major plot twist. And honestly, the book doesn’t suffer at all from that. The story is engaging and the conclusion is reasonable and believable. I could honestly see this being made into an excellent movie. The characters were well written, and the serial killer at the center of this story was creepy as fuck. Overall, this was a simple, solid mystery that was easy and enjoyable to read! A great debut!

Daphne is the host of Going West podcast, and I'm a huge fan and have been listening for years! When I heard she had a book coming out, I had to get it, and I was lucky enough to get an ARC!
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Daphne didn't disappoint in her debut novel which follows radio host Lola, who is being stalked by a serial killer whose face she saw 20 plus years ago when he murdered her babysitter. This was fun, fast-paced, and hella creepy, and I was here for it! Do not read at night, you will get the heebie jeebies! 5 stars from me, and definitely check it out when it's released in July!
#arc #netgalley #bookreviewer
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@daphne.woolsoncroft @goingwestpodcast

thank you NetGalley!

Nightwatcher seemed like a very interesting thriller to me, with an addictive pace. The story never slows down—honestly, the author really nailed it with this one, managing to keep the suspense going right until the end.
The only criticism I have is about the ending; I felt everything was resolved too quickly, and it was quite unrealistic compared to the rest of the story.

I expected more, but even so, I think it’s a good book—perfect for when you’re stuck with heavier reads, because it’s very light and also quite scary, so I recommend reading it during the day.

I love true crime and all things spooky pod casts so I was excited about this book. I was totally glued and couldn't put it down. I loved the whole serial killer back on the lose vibe but the ending for me was a little let down. It kind of got prectable at the end but I still liked the book.

I should preface this by saying this is not my normal genre but the summary sucked me in! I will admit I had a few moments where I was pretty creeped out and I definitely couldn't read it at night, but when I felt brave enough to read I was super into it.

The story is about Nola, a podcast host who witnessed a serial killer murder her babysitter when she was a child. She spends her life terrified "The Hiding Man" is going to come back to find her some day. Fast forward to her as an adult when strange things start happening to her and suddenly it seems The Hiding Man could truly be back at it.

I did feel the podcast piece of it was a bit of a missed opportunity - I felt like that could have been incorporated more throughout the story instead of just a short part of the beginning. Outside of that I was definitely hooked and enjoyed this story!

Daphne Woolsoncroft does a fantastic job in writing this type of book, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from this type of book. It had that suspenseful feel that I was looking for and enjoyed in this type of plot. I was invested in what was happening with the characters and how they were told in this. I enjoyed the idea of a radio host and that it was used in this storyline.

Oh man was this was a challenge to read, it was honestly a bit all over the place and felt disjointed at times. I did not dislike the book necessarily but it was also not one of my favorites.