Yes!!! This was the audiobook I was looking for! I flew through this one! Thank you to NetGalley, the author Daphne woolsoncroft, and the publisher Hachette Audio for this audio copy of Night Watcher for my honest review. And a wonderful job to the narrators Helen Laser; Will Collyer and Daphne Woolsoncroft!! The only thing Is that when jacks prospectives came I wish the female did the voice for Nola not the male but it was still good!

This was a fast paced book! That’s for sure. It was creepy and everything I didn’t know I needed in an audio book. Although I did guess the killer it was still a fun and fast paced read!

We follow Nola, she did take over her dad’s podcast “night watcher” so he can become a full time author. But one call changed everything for Nola. It brought back a memory from years ago… a murder that she witnessed… we follow the point of view for Nola, jack, and the killer. Can they catch him before it’s too late? Why does everything keep going missing? Is everyone safe? What about that next door neighbor?

I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to Hachette Audio for my gifted audiobook via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Can I just say that FOMO is real. I saw this one everywhere on Booksta and knew I had to have it in audio format. Tell me how this one is a debut?! It has all the thrills and chills of a seasoned author. As the author is a true crime podcaster, I felt that vibe throughout the story telling. Also, Ms. Woolsoncroft's family has experienced crime in a way that has been impactful which she shares in her book. That gives her a sensitivity otherwise often not found.

Nola Strate is not only a podcaster of the unexplainable, she is a witness to and possible survivor of a serial killing when she was a child. Years later the unthinkable happens during one of her podcast, a caller is experiencing being watched while online with Nola.

No spoilers here but the characters and plot were all that I could ask for and then some. The ending wasn't quite as splashy as the beginning thus the 4.5 stars. Night Watcher features multiple narrators. The narration of Nola provided by Helen Laser, was especially good and I tried listening at different speeds to see if I got the same impact of intensity during anxiety driven portions of the book. Yep, no reason to speed this one up to achieve the thriller vibes. In a nutshell, narration was easy to follow and was able to bring the suspense and thrill to the story.

This will have you on the edge of your seat, staying up late to binge this book.

Nola is a late night call-in radio host for hauntings and cryptic sightings.
When a caller frantically calls in what turns into a murder, Nola is reminded of her own experience with a serial killer as a child.
Is the Hiding Man back?

Whilst the reveal and villain was very obvious, the build up and tense atmosphere and great character work made up for it.

There is a romance sub-plot which was actually very sweet, and a broken relationship with her celebrity father.

We got three perspectives.
Nola.
Jack, the detective on the case which felt pretty unnecessary and broke the pacing.
Then, rarely, Him. The serial killer which just ramped up the suspense and creepiness.

The ending was too easy for me and the pacing was a bit rushed for the climax.

I appreciated the author’s note as this was inspired by her aunt’s disappearance years before and the serial killer that came from that.
The author is also a podcast host which definitely added authenticity.

Audiobook arc gifted by publisher.

The story isn’t bad. The problem, I think is the writing.
The author essentially wrote a podcast where she indulges in descriptions instead of building a world with real, living characters. What is lacking are the feelings and emotions which is strange because the first person narrative should have naturally offered a sense of intimacy. The book is so dry, I got bored.

E.g.In one of the very first chapters the main character wakes up hangover after the night of drinking and we learn that she drove herself home. This fact is glossed over like it is the most normal, the most acceptable thing. This behaviour is never explained, never plays any part in Nola’s supposed childhood trauma. It is also a good example of a missed opportunity to create a relatable character.

Listening to Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft was like experiencing the thrill of watching Halloween for the first time—not because the plot is similar, but because it delivered that same eerie, spine-tingling intensity that had me completely hooked. I absolutely LOVED it!

Helen Laser and Will Collyer did a phenomenal job narrating this audiobook. Their performances were immersive and emotionally charged—Helen Laser brought Nola Strate’s fear and determination to life, while Will Collyer added layers of suspense and tension. Together, they made the story feel cinematic and chilling in the best way.

What made this story even more powerful for me was knowing that the author, Daphne Woolsoncroft, drew from her own real-life experience with a similar situation. That personal connection added a raw, authentic layer that made me feel even more invested in Nola’s journey. You can feel the honesty and emotional truth behind the fear—and it hits hard.

I also absolutely loved the podcast element. As a fan of true crime and audio storytelling, the Night Watch radio show within the story added a brilliant and original twist. It gave the book a unique structure and made it feel modern and relevant while amplifying the suspense.

The pacing, the atmosphere, the creeping sense of dread—all of it was perfectly executed. This is one of those rare thrillers that stays with you. If you’re into psychological suspense with a true crime flavor and an unforgettable heroine, Night Watcher is a must-listen. Highly, highly recommended!

One of my favourite thriller reads of the year. Perhaps it was not a full five star, but I loved & enjoyed it nevertheless. Nola Strategy is an amazing protagonist. Her struggles, fears and sheer resilience brought tears to my eyes more time than one. The other cast is also very messy and not perfect, making the book feel more real. Another thing is the slight ghostly feel to the story (Nola being a paranormal radio host and all) which a treat for me, a primarily horror reader. I also loved how there was no glamourisation or romanticisation of the serial killer in this book. He is a sick human and that's it. Killers deserved to be shamed, not raved. The book is clearly very personal to the author. You can feel it while listening to the note at the beginning and the one at the end. Honestly, what a perfect tribute this book is. I am sure it will resonate with many. The narrators beautifully brought this book to life, making my heart race and palms sweat. I loved the narrator for Nola's a little more than Jack's, as that narrator enunciated the words in a way that was a little difficult to understand. Otherwise, no complaints with the production. Very cinematic and engaging. (4.5 out of 5 stars).

Night Watcher
Daphne Woolsoncroft
7/08/2025
Hachett Audio
Grand Central Publishing

Daphne Woolsoncroft seamlessly blends her talent for atmospheric storytelling with her sharp investigative instincts. As the host of the Going West podcast, she’s captivated millions with her ability to humanize cold cases and build tension through detail and tone. With her debut novel Night Watcher, she brings that same intensity to the page, crafting a haunting narrative rooted in personal trauma and eerie late-night radio.
My husband and I listened to Night Watcher on our trip to the beach this summer and we were both hooked! This book has everything that readers and listeners of crime thrillers want. Multiple POV’s, each with their own narrator. (Let me just tell you these narrators blew this out of the water.) This is a slow-burn thriller that pulls you in with its eerie atmosphere and doesn’t let go.
Read the blurb and just trust me when I say, we tried to guess and figure this out as we were driving. The red herrings were placed perfectly and neither of us saw the ending coming. Taut, atmospheric, and emotionally charged, Night Watcher is a haunting debut that burrows under your skin. Daphne Woolsoncroft delivers a masterclass in slow-burning suspense, where the line between survivor and prey is razor-thin—and no one escapes the past unscathed

I cannot say more good things about this book. I am absolutely stunned. From the plot to the characters, from the production and audiobook narration, and just the overall creepy as hell vibes, this book was a solid 10/10. Helen Laser and Will Collyer did a wonderful job with the narration, there's been many times where a book has been wonderful and the narrators just didn't do it justice but this is not one of those times.

There were so many points in this book where I was so creeped out and I loved it. Daphne Woolsoncroft has definitely gained a new fan in me!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I finished this book in one day. I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. Meet Nola when she’s 8 years old and escapes the death grip of a serial killer they called the hiding man. Fast forward, as an adult Nola suspects he’s returned. Fast paced writing, a wicked good narrator, and a plot that had me trapped in my ear buds until the very last chapter.

Thank you so much to Hachette Audio for a gifted ALC of this book.

Night Watcher follows Nola Strate, who survived a terrifying encounter with a serial killer known as The Hiding Man as a child and has spent her adult life trying to move on. Now the host of Night Watch, a radio show once run by her semi-famous father, Nola starts to feel like she's being watched again. When a caller describes a live break-in that sounds eerily familiar, Nola becomes convinced that The Hiding Man is back. Oh my god...this book started off with a bang and never let up! It’s intense, creepy, and filled with nonstop suspense. I wouldn’t recommend reading this one at night, especially if you’re alone! The true crime elements were so well done, and the audio version made it feel like I was right there with Nola as she tries to unravel what was real and what was fear. This one will definitely be on my mind for a while!

This audiobook hooked from the beginning. I thought I might have had it figured out but was pleased with the twist. This book is a little different than what I normally read but it kept my attention and kept me wanting to listen more. I like that it’s fiction but based off true crime stories.

What a surprise to hear one of my favorite true crime podcast voices introducing her own book! I didn’t even realize when I requested the ARC.

I don’t mean this in any sort of negative way, but Night Watcher is another slightly suspenseful novel of a historical crime brought to present day with a podcast (radio show) tie-in. It was satisfactorily entertaining, but the specifics will likely vacate my brain in two days’ time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advance audio! Publishing July 8, 2025.

One of my favourite reads of the year so far. I absolutely loved reading about Nola and her journey in uncovering the truth about what happened in her childhood and where she stood now. Such a thrilling read, read a bit like a slasher or thriller movie. I could totally see this adapted to film, and I immediately put this author on my list of ones to watch.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book. This book was amazing very unputdownable. I was hooked from the very beginning where we meet Nola who works for a podcast which one night takes a very interesting turn for her from one of the callers. This book just kept building and building and kept me hooked. Amazing writing style by the author and I recommend anyone wanting to read this book to definitely do audio.

3.75 🌟

The story is inspired by the author, Daphne Woolsoncroft's aunt, who was murdered at the young age of 20. Her murderer was never charged with her death and went on to kill other women. What an absolute tragedy. Apparently, Woolsoncroft is a podcaster, which I didn't realize before reading the Author's Note. I'm interested in checking out her show.

I thought this was a pretty solid thriller. Even though the FMC made a few questionable choices that had me yelling at my book, I still liked her as a character. It was a creepy story and had me hooked from the beginning. I was slightly annoyed at the reveal, but due to spoilers, I won't mention why. This is definitely a respectable debut novel from Woolsoncroft.

Helen Laser and Will Collyer performed the narration for the audiobook. I usually prefer when there are separate narrators for male and female voices, and I thought they did an excellent job. Laser was especially great at showing emotion in her reading.

Recommended for fans of thrillers about serial killers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC.

I have one word for you to describe this book:

AMAZING

Amazing writing from the author and the narration of the characters was portraits to perfection by the voice actors. A gripping story that kept you guessing who was the killer. I finished it in half a day (that’s how good it was).

I enjoyed that multiple POV’s (I believe it was 3 POVS? If I’m not mistaken) .

Nola (victim)
Jack (detective)
Killer

Mixed in with the past and present POV really helped the development of the story and the buildup of anticipation to find out who it was.

Pretty basic, but decent, serial killer thriller. There wasn’t a whole lot to set it aside from others in the genre. I felt like the radio show element was very underutilized. The scene in the beginning mentioned in the synopsis was easily my favorite part, and I was disappointed when the novel didn’t reach that peak again. The reveal was underwhelmed and predictable. The writing style wasn’t ideal for me either, it was occasionally over described. More to come on TikTok.

OMG this was absolutely terrifying! A spooky little town had a serial unaliver 20 years ago, and they might be back and watching Nola again? I’m sweating just thinking about it. Night Watcher is a MUST read slasher thriller of this summer. I physically couldn’t put it down!! I gasped, I screamed (more than once), and I may or may not have fallen off my chair in sheer shock. There are no jump scares, but the level of unease had my skin crawling. Daphne created such a chilling, tension filled atmosphere that every single page had me on edge. I literally felt like I was being watched myself 👀

I loved Night Watcher by Daphne Wollsoncroft.

The book is about Nola Strate. She’s the host of a late-night, call-in radio show where listeners share haunted sightings and true crime stories. She inherited the show from her father when he stopped recording.

It’s an interesting job for her because, as a child, Nola barely escaped a masked serial killer known as “the Hiding Man” after he murdered her babysitter.

Now, she thinks he’s back.

The book was giving Scream vibes at times, which I loved.

It wasn’t totally unpredictable, but it was still really good.

If you decide to read it, you also may want to know a little bit about the author. She is real-life host of a true crime podcast. Her aunt went missing in 1984 and has never been found.

This lived experience absolutely shaped the Night Watcher book.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.25 Thanks so much to netgalley and Hackett audio for audiobook in return for an honest review. I loved this audiobook. The narrators were excellent it was like listening to a horror movie. Loved the storyline and the characters, definitely kept me wanting to keep listening. I finished this in 2 days it was very good. Definitely recommend to anyone liking spooky/ suspenseful reads.