One terrifying event can change your whole life…... Nola was a child in bed when she heard a noise downstairs. Her babysitter lies dead on the floor and Nola comes face-to-face with The Hiding Man.
20 years have passed, and she is the host of a late-night radio show, Night Watch. When a terrified caller is connected, what she says is eerily like what Nola lived through. Things start to make her believe that The Hiding Man is back, and he is coming for her.
I am not going to risk spoiler territory, but I will just say that my final guess was…... wrong. I narrowed my choices down to two characters, and newsflash, neither one was The Hiding Man. My mystery and thriller radar has been off lately. Not a terrible thing, it means there are still authors who can surprise me.

I'm on the fence on this one. Night Watcher hooked me from the start and gave me all the dark and spooky goodness I was hoping for, but the ending was kind of lame

When Nola Strate was a young girl, she was one of only two people to live after seeing a brutal serial killer, known as “The Hiding Man.” Now, 20 years later, she’s a radio host, taking calls from people who claim to have mysterious and creepy encounters. But one night a call becomes all too real when the woman on the phone starts panicking and says that a man is after her. And the man sounds suspiciously like The Hiding Man, who was never caught. Nola begins feeling like she’s being watched as things begin to intensify. Soon, Nola will have to face her worst fears one way or another.

This book is told for multiple points of view along a mostly linear timeline, and I found it very easy to follow. The author writes in a very readable format, so I never felt lost with the different characters coming in and out of the story.

An incredibly creepy atmosphere just pervades this book right from the beginning. The author does a great job of creating a world where we, as the reader are drawn in to the story right away, and the action doesn’t take long to start. The radio format add an extra layer of creepiness, because there’s the anonymity factor, plus at first, no one really believes Nola when she says she immediately recognizes what’s going on.

This definitely adds a bit of an unreliable narrator situation, which, if you followed my reviews, you know I love because there’s something very intense and seriously suspenseful about not knowing whether something is all in someone’s mind or if it’s real. Are you paranoid or are they really out to get you?

There’s so many little details about this book that make it a great thriller, one of them, being that the author doesn’t throw in any “out of left field” twists in the end that make the ending unrealistic. The clues are all there, it’s up to us as the reader, to put it all together and see where the answer lies.

Overall, this was a great creepy mystery/thriller. I’m really excited to see where this author goes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC. There might be minor spoilers in my review.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The premise is great and it had some dark and spooky moments that will probably stick with me.

The killer's description is eerie and could possibly give me nightmares for the foreseeable future.

I was very into the story right up until the end. The ending just fell flat for me. The detective on the case calls the killer's frame job "masterful", which is laughable. The evidence could be explained away by any decent lawyer and if you know the  basics of forensic science, useless. The police in general in this story were just incompetent. The detective's POV could have been left out completely and I don't think it would have made a huge impact. The lack of proper basic police procedural really took me out of the story.

I wish there was a little more detail on the killer. The ending felt rushed and there were so many questions I had left about the killer.

For a debut novel, it wasn't bad. The journey was fun, just the ending dampened it.

This book was creepy in the best way and it quickly made it into my top ten reads. Daphne Woolsoncroft did such an amazing job building suspense and delivering that eerie vibe that keeps you checking over your shoulder.

Y’all know I have a weakness for a good serial killer storyline, and this one completely hit the spot. I was hooked from the first page and could not stop reading. The radio show angle was so unique and added an extra layer of tension I loved.

If you’re looking for a chilling thriller with a haunting past and a heroine you can root for, Night Watcher is it.

4.5-5⭐️

A slow-burn mystery/thriller that reads JUST like an episode of Dateline. I needed this creepy story more than I knew. Such an impressive debut.

The writing is fantastic but also the pure talent it takes to make me question myself and the identity of The Hiding Man the entire book. Secrets continuously unraveled. More bodies kept popping up. The closer Nola got to the truth, she was thrown another curveball. Then we get to the ending.. it was wrapped up nicely!

I absolutely loved this and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Night Watchers is a fast pace thriller about a serial killer who comes back to finish the job fifteen years later.

I really enjoyed this one. I was sucked in from the beginning. I love a good podcast element and that opening scene was fantastic. The pacing of this book keeps up the entire way through and really keeps the reader engaged with the plot. My only grip is I never really cared about our main character. I found her decisions at times a bit strange. But overall I still really enjoyed this one. You should definitely check it out if you love a faced pace thriller centered around a serial killer with a podcast element.
3.5/5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

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.