What a book! I was at the edge of seat and making all kinds of guesses, all wrong. LOL The narrators did a fantastic job and I will be looking for more books by Daphne Woolsoncroft. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Absolutely loved this atmosphere thriller that follows a radio host who takes calls from locals about spooky or ghostly sightings on her show night watcher. When Nora receives a call that is a chilling reminder of her close escape from a masked serial killer she is deeply thrown off. Now a woman that called in is dead, and others begin to come in the area in similar ways from which she escaped as a teen. Furthermore, she begins to receive Cryptic messages and fears for her life- is a killer. She escaped from finally come back to finish what he started? Told in short, quick chapters and multi POV, this book will keep your attention from getting into it. 10/10 recommend. Out 7/8! Thank you @netgalley for the audiobook! Can’t wait for everyone to read it.

So spooky. Gah. Should not have listened to this alone in the dark by myself. Freaked myself out for sure. Thank you for letting me listen in advance. Love the narrators too.

"Night Watcher" is a pulse-pounding, spine-tingling thriller that I could not put down. Whatever you do, do not start this right before bed because you won't be able to stop reading. The story is told from the perspectives of Nola, a radio host, and Jack, a local detective. I really enjoyed the dual POVs because I didn't know who to trust. The flashbacks to Nola's experience of escaping a serial killer when she was a child were so descriptive that I could not sleep after reading them! I had many theories about who the killer was, but I was still surprised when the reveal came. I think in the end I just wanted a little more. Overall, an amazing debut!

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Helen Laser and Will Collyer. Laser is one of my faves, so I was very excited to listen. They both did a great job and were perfect for their roles. Their performances were full of emotion, tension, and suspense. Laser, especially, gave me goosebumps with her chilling storytelling. Highly recommend this one on audio!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This is easily my favorite audiobook of the year so far! Nola has a nighttime call in show listening to peoples spooky stories. When one call sounds just way too familiar of an incident from when she was a child. Fearing a serial killer is back to finish the job, Nola fears she is next. This was really good. Had all the spooky elements! It would be fantastic as a series (hint, hint). The narrator was clear and concise and for me the voice matched the characters! Fantastic!

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio/Grand Central Publishing, and Daphnee Woolsoncroft for the advanced audiobook copy of The Watcher.

I’m giving this book a 4 out of 5 stars. It was excellent! I really enjoyed the serial killer storyline. I was convinced I had figured out the killer from the beginning, but I do wish the reveal had been more closely tied to the family. The mask element added a creepy vibe, and the live call from one of the victims made the story even more frightening.

The story was different from what I have read lately, and it was a nice change. I think thriller fans will really enjoy this one.

Not going to lie, I was surprised that Nola was into men, she totally gave off lesbian vibes (haha). I wasn’t a fan of the dad, he just came across as a pretty terrible person.

The narration was great! I enjoy Helen Laser’s work. I give the narration a 4.5 out of 5.

If you’re in the mood for something spine-tingling, Night Watcher delivers on the spooky vibes in all the best ways. Daphne Woolsoncroft’s writing pulls you in from the start, with an eerie setting and a story that keeps you turning the pages well into the night.

I really enjoyed the overall flow of the plot—the pacing was solid, and the creepiness factor stayed consistent throughout. Woolsoncroft has a great way of building suspense without relying too heavily on jump scares or gore, which I appreciated.

That said, the twist at the end didn’t quite land for me. It was definitely unexpected, but it also felt a bit rushed—almost like the villain was chosen at random. I found myself wishing for a bit more buildup or reasoning behind that reveal to make it feel more satisfying.

Still, this was a fun, chilling read that I’d recommend to fans of moody thrillers or those looking for a quick scare with solid writing.

Night Watcher is a very atmospheric mystery novel with some slasher-y vibes, which was something I really appreciated in this book.
There is also a huge podcast element to it, which was not very appealing to me, personally.
I've truly enjoyed some mystery or thrillers with podcast elements in a not so distant past, but lately it hasn't been working for me. And with Night Watcher was no expection.
The author does a good job of building up suspense and developing the cast of characters slowly (not in the bad way!), which is also something I always appreciate when it is decently done.
However, even though I enjoyed the construction of characters and the narrative (oh, and the atmosphere!), I didn't connect with no one, really. I noticed I didn't care for some things, but maybe it is just me.
I honestly cannot pinpoint anything essentially wrong with this book. It just didn't work for well for me, personally.

The audiobook was quite entertaining and dynamic to get to due to many narrators voicing different characters, which is a great reason to consider listening to it.

Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette Audio, for allowing me to listen to this ALC.

I’ve always been into podcast-style stories, so this one really grabbed me. It’s not just a tale — it feels more like a real, raw experience you’re being let in on. That made it way more intense and believable.

The horror vibes are subtle but effective, creeping up on you in a way that sticks with you long after listening. It’s not about big scares, but the kind of unease that makes you think twice.

The audio production was crazy good — the voice acting and sound effects pulled me completely into the world. It was like being inside the story, not just hearing it.

If you like immersive, atmospheric stories that aren’t just tales but feel real and haunting, I definitely recommend this one.

I’ll be honest, I don’t usually love to be scared, whether it’s books or tv, but I couldn’t stop listening to this one. The story, the narration, and the POVs really drew me in from the start and never let me down from then on. I loved how the novel was written and narrated; I literally had the chills several times while the audiobook played. I won’t give too much of the plot, but will say if you are looking for an eerie, heart-racing mystery thriller with some true crime podcast elements, this audiobook is absolutely fantastic.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

This is a great thriller with a nostalgic slasher component. The audiobook is really well done with multiple narrators that almost makes it feel like watching a slasher flick. It was suspenseful and I kept going back and forth on who was the "bad guy". I really enjoyed the writing as well and will look for other books by this author.

What a pleasant surprise. This is the perfect read for thriller/horror lovers. It has all the ingredients for masterful storytelling within it’s genre.

4.5/5

If you’re looking for a listen that will leave you checking your locks Night Watcher might be your next obsession. This was a chilling, emotionally charged thriller that had me completely hooked. From the very first chapter, there’s a creeping sense of dread that never lets up, and I found myself holding my breath more than once.

The story centers on Nola, a woman haunted by a terrifying event from her childhood. She’s tired of living in fear, and her inner strength really shines through as the story progresses. What made her especially compelling was how real she felt, flawed, anxious, but determined. I was rooting for her the whole way.

The audio version absolutely heightened the experience. Helen Laser’s narration was phenomenal as always and she nailed Nola’s vulnerability and quiet strength, and her delivery added a visceral layer to the fear simmering beneath the surface. It felt like I was living inside the story, which only made the tension that much harder to shake.

Woolsoncroft’s background as a true crime podcaster clearly shows, she understands the anatomy of fear and builds suspense in a way that feels unnervingly plausible. Fast paced, addictively eerie, and deeply unsettling, I flew through this in a single day, because once I hit play, I couldn’t stop.

Omg this might be one of my new favorite thrillers. I couldn’t put it down the entire time I was listening. My heart was racing and I felt like I was going through the same things Nola was because the descriptions were so good! I loved the aspect of the podcast in this, especially listening to it as an audiobook. I also loved all of the different POVs we got, including that of the killer! This was so amazing and deserves so much hype once it’s published!

This is quite literally the best thriller I’ve EVER listened to!! Not only was the story captivating from the first chapter but the narrators did an amazing job of building the suspense!! You could literally feel Nola’s anxiety through Helen’s voice!! When Will read as the detective you could hear his decisive and investigative thoughts and when he read as the hiding man I quite literally had the chills!! This was an audiobook that I didn’t want to stop listening to I was on the edge of my seat the WHOLE time!! I look forward to reading Daphne’s next book!! I will be recommending this to my book club (we love thrillers) and everyone I know!!

As a child, Nola Strate survived a serial killer, now 20 years later he is targeting women once again and has set his sights on finishing what he started and Nola could be his next victim.

This was a thrilling read, very tense and suspenseful. I listened to the audiobook version and I thought the narrators were amazing. As the story builds you are drawn into each character and the events. You don't know who to trust and everyone is a potential suspect. I definitely recommend this fast paced thriller read that will have you hooked from the beginning!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Grand Central Publishing for the ALC for this book!

Night Watcher is an incredible debut. For fans of podcasts and serial killers this book is for you. It's not stop edge of your seat action. I found the author's inspiration for this novel to be incredible. The audiobook was outstanding and I thought the narration done by the author to be excellent.

Many thanks to Hachette Audio for my #gifted ALC.

This review will be shared to my Instagram account @coffee.break.book.reviews

Nola is the one that got away from a serial killer when she was a child, which probably influenced her career as a late night call in radio host. She starts to feel as though she's being watched and there are mysterious events leading her to believe The Hiding Man is watching her now, but the police won't take her seriously. She also find someone else who managed to see the serial killer, but she wonders -- how close to home is the killer? I enjoyed the narration and the suspense leading up to the revelation, which was a surprise for me but well done.

Thank you to Daphne Woolsoncroft, Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!

Nola Strate hosts a podcast called Night Watch, where callers share creepy encounters of ghosts and all things spooky. Ironically, Nola herself survived a serial killer breaking into her childhood home decades ago and when a caller describes a similar incident on air, Nola becomes convinced she is being watched again. Only this time, she will uncover the man behind the mask - the man who became known as The Hiding Man and terrorized her city.

First - it is mind blowing that this book is a debut!! Early on, the creey factor was through the roof. I found myself getting scared while reading it late at night with the lights off. The way the author so vividly described the Hiding Man and his mask made me scared of my own shadow! One particular scene even had me holding my breath. Told from multiple points of view, and over dual timelines, readers get a look at the childhood trauma that shaped Nola’s life and where she is at now. While simultaneously, detective Jack is trying to get to the bottom of things. I had my guesses about who the Hiding Man really was and I didn’t even come close to figuring it out. All in all - a very solid thriller that kept tension high all throughout. I will be first in line to read what this author comes up with next!

“Night Watcher” releases July 8, 2025. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shorty :)

Very intriguing premise, creepy and sinister, but there are so many things lacking here. I didn’t connect with the MC, I just didn’t find her to be very interesting and complex character. The narrators were very good, but maybe the dryness of the material was preventing me to enjoy them more. Most of all I am very disappointed by the ending and the killer’s motivation. The big negative of the book is the weak villain. There was a good building of tension, but I stopped caring altogether about what was happening. This is not a bad book, but since it’s a debut, I expect the next book of the author to be better.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Grand Central Publishing for the ALC.