Night Watcher
Daphne Woolsoncroft
Pub: 7/8/25
4☆

Nola Strate is being watched, again.
 
After an encounter with a notorious serial killer in the Pacific Northwest as a child, Nola has grown up and tried her best to forget her traumatizing night with the Hiding Man. She installed security cameras outside her Oregon home, never spoke of her experience, and now hosts Night Watch, a popular radio call-in show her semi‑famous father used to run. When coincidences lead Nola to believe that she is being stalked, and a caller on Night Watch has a live incident with an intruder in the caller's home—the description of whom is chillingly familiar—Nola is convinced that the Hiding Man has resurfaced and is coming for her.
 
With a mysterious next‑door neighbor lurking in the shadows, more people getting hurt, the police not taking her concerns seriously, and evidence pointing towards her own father, Nola decides to become, like her listeners, a Night Watcher herself, and uncover the monster behind the Hiding Man's mask.

My Thoughts:
Here is where I admit that I have not listened to Woolsoncroft’s podcast and after reading, I immediately want to change that.

Night Watcher hooked me from the very beginning and the tension filled story kept me fully invested and flipping pages to figure out how it all played out. I love thrillers that are so intense they make you feel on edge and this was definitely one of those! I could not stop picturing that mask! 😳 A solid debut and I definitely look forward to more from Woolsoncroft!

What I enjoyed:
✨ Atmospheric Thriller
✨ Suspenseful Mystery
✨ Serial Killer
✨ True Crime
✨ Fast Paced/Page Turner

Thank you so much to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copies.

What an interesting story about a survivor of a serial killer. The main character, Nola, is a podcast host with radio call-ins about spooky experiences. She hears a caller that she thinks is murdered by the killer of her past. With a semi famous father and close friends with the lead detective on these cases, it tells a compelling story. I really liked the character builds and the ending was very pat but still satisfying. Definitely worth the read.

I chose to read this at night and boy did it freak me out! Such a creepy story. Loved it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I’m not familiar with the author or her podcast, but it’s interesting to see a bit of behind the scenes of true crime podcasts/radio shows from someone in the industry. I read and watch a lot of horrors and thrillers and this book had me genuinely scared at points. The author did an amazing job of building tension and creeping unease from page one, and the vivid descriptions made it all the more creepy. Like some have said I found the ending to be a bit lacklustre but this was still a really solid debut.

Thank you, Grand Central Publishing for providing the copy of Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft. If you like to be scared, read this book, just don’t read it alone at night! Imagine seeing a serial killer when you are just a kid, then growing up and feeling like the serial killer is back and is out to get you. To top it off, Nola hosts a radio show and listeners call in and tell their personal scary stories. I loved parts of the book, but didn’t like how the characters (other than Nola) were not very well defined. Nola’s chapters were great, but Jack’s chapters didn’t feel engaging. The growing tension kept me reading because I was worried about Nola’s well-being! The ending was a bit of a letdown for me, but I still enjoyed this book and look forward to more books by this author. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

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!
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@daphne.woolsoncroft @goingwestpodcast