Night Watcher is fine. The writing is fine. The plot is fine. The narration is fine. It’s fine. I had high hopes with the great beginning, but it turned into a “just fine” popcorn thriller.

Once again, I succumbed to glowing early reviews of a book I was on the fence about reading. Kudos to the reviewers whose enthusiasm persuaded me to request Night Watcher!

Here’s the deal. I am typically not a fan of books about serial killers. However, sometimes audiobooks can elevate my experience with them. This was the case with Night Watcher.

Nola Strate is a late-night call-in radio host of Night Watch in Portland, Oregon who listens to stories about hauntings for a living. One night, a caller describes a scene that is reminiscent of The Hiding Man, the serial killer she escaped from as a child. Then the caller is murdered, and she feels as if she is being watched. Is the serial killer back to finish what he started?

I listened to the audiobook, which is read by Helen Laser, Will Collyer and Daphne Woolsoncroft. I really enjoyed this format and recommend it.
Night Watcher is Woolsoncroft’s debut novel, inspired by the real disappearance and presumed murder of her Aunt Carol, whom she mentions also inspired her popular podcast, Going West. I was not familiar with Woolsoncroft or her podcast prior to reading this book.

My thoughts:
1. Cliché...It’s a book about a serial killer. Nothing new here.
2. There was a little too much telling instead of showing the reader what was happening, causing a lack of suspense and fear.
3. The reveal of the serial killer was uninspiring.

Overall, this is a promising debut author, and I would be interested in reading more from her!

3.5/5 stars rounded up

Expected publication date: 7/8/25

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC of Night Watcher in exchange for an honest review.

The story started off strong and definitely had an unsettling and creepy feel but then I felt the story lost steam in the middle. The killer reveal was lackluster for me as well and I felt the ending was rushed.

Narration:

I wanted the narrators to have more emotion when it came to this story. Everything felt so monotone especially when things were supposed to be tense and scary.

Thank you @grandcentralpub @hachetteaudio #partner for the gifted copy of this terrifying audiobook.

Well well well… what do we have here? A book so creepy I literally had to turn it off one night and switch to something fluffy because I was legit scared. Daphne Woolsoncroft painted the picture of one of my biggest childhood fears — let’s just say it involves babysitting at night. Oof.

From the very first chapter, this book had me holding my breath, checking my closets, and eyeing the shadows under my bed. The atmosphere? Atmosphering at its absolute finest. It got so intense this quickly became a daytime-only read for me… not that it mattered, because I ended up binging the whole thing the next day. Daphne had me truly scurrrrrred.

The cover alone deserves bonus points for its nightmare fuel status. In this one, we meet Nola — and without spoiling that opening scene, just know it’s traumatic, chilling, and sets the tone for everything to come. Years later, Nola’s done her best to escape her past, but when she appears on a call-in ghost story talk show, the most unsettling call of all comes through… and suddenly her old nightmare feels terrifyingly real.

If you’re a thriller lover, do yourself a favor — go in blind, light a candle (or maybe don’t), grab a blanket to hide under, and clear your schedule because once you start, you won’t stop.

Also — my heart goes out to Daphne for the very real inspiration behind this book. Thank you for inviting us into your nightmare and turning something terrifying into a seriously unforgettable read.

I really enjoyed the writing style and the fast pace of this book. It was so easy to get hooked from the start. Nola’s backstory and the eerie tension surrounding The Hiding Man made for a compelling setup. I was fully invested and thought this was shaping up to be a solid 4 star read.

Unfortunately, the ending fell flat for me. After such a strong buildup, it just didn’t deliver the payoff I was hoping for and left me feeling underwhelmed.

Thank you NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing & Hachette Audio for the e-arc & ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow!

I couldn't STOP listening to this audiobook. I was very kindly accepted to listen to this audiobook and I am so glad that I was. The plot was fast paced and intriguing. There were no 'fluffy filler bits' within the story - everything was there for one reason or another. The story flowed seamlessly, and honestly I was really creeped out for the majority of it which is basically what you're after when reading a Thriller!

The Narrators Helen Laser and Will Collyer did an amazing job of really bringing the novel to life. It was also a really nice touch that the Preface and Foreword were narrated by the author Daphne Woolsoncroft.

Overall, I devoured this audiobook - it lasted only 2 days and although I am sad it is now over, I am more than excited for the next book!

Listened to the audiobook
Thank you Net Galley & Hachette for the ARC

Nola Strate is a late-night radio show host. Her devoted callers relate creepy and mysterious stories, and one night she receives a terrifying call from a woman who swears there’s a ghost in her house. After the call ends abruptly, Nola is shaken to realize that the woman’s ghostly visitor reminds her of an incident in her past she’d rather forget.

When Nola was eight years old, her babysitter was murdered by a serial killer known as The Hiding Man, who confusingly left Nola alive, but left her a pointed message, drawn in her babysitter’s blood. Now, twenty years later, The Hiding Man may be back. Nola, her producer and love interest Harvey, local cop Jack and Nola’s dad rush to discover his identity as new bodies - those of women seemingly connected to earlier murders - are piling up.

The Hiding Man is a CREEPY baddie, and there are a few pretty scary moments in this thriller. Written by a true-crime podcaster with a personal connection to her subject, this novel reads fast and smoothly. Nola is a strong FMC, making mostly good decisions (aside from a few annoying moments (babe, he was definitely in your house like YESTERDAY, get those ring cameras going!) The police work is a little tedious, and the love story is not needed, but overall this zipped along. I worried this might be like other podcast-centered thrillers, but Nola’s profession mostly takes a backseat once the story gets going.

The audiobook was well read and performed by two narrators and genuinely delivered a couple of chills

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ (4.5/5)

Thanks to Hachette Audio / Grand Central Publishing for my #gifted copy of this one.

TBH, I wasn’t really expecting much with this audiobook because with horror/thrillers I usually strike out in finding decent books. IMO horror has got to be one of THE hardest genres to write. It’s just so subjective, it’s success is based on what the readers like in a horror novel and that’s tough because horror is such a unique group of readers and what people fear varies drastically from person to person. This was so good and nailed the thriller-horror vibe.

The characters were great so was the audio narration. I really enjoyed seeing this one play out.

This book could’ve ended with the
“Worst Detective Ever & Biggest
Asshole” mugs…but I liked how it ended too. I mean the mugs and what they represented, ya just don’t get much better than that. If this ever gets made into a movie and the mugs don’t make the cut I’ll rage. #chefskiss. It was such a nice touch.

Night Watcher was Sooooo good!!! Definitely had more of a serious mystery vibe, which I absolutely love. It is definitely my jam read!! This book has a really interesting premise the author in real life is a true crime podcaster and she writes her heroine Nola Strate as a podcast host. Nola witnessed a traumatic murder when she was 8 and now 20 years later the murderer might be back. And this time he might be trying to finish what he started that night. The plot, moves at a breakneck pace with a constant feeling of dread. I was in the edge of my seat listening to this book and was biting my nails from start to finish. I literally can’t wait to read it to see how it compares to the audio which is masterfully done with top notch narration thst truly brings the story to life. I was so sure I had it figured out early on but wow was I thrilled to not only find out I was wrong it tied back to twists from the beginning when Nola was questioning her sanity and memory. Let me just say masterfully played so well done! It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel although there are hints to the author having two books I couldn’t find the other one. Sad day for real but I did totally happily find her podcast which is a great listen to any true crime fans. Also just to reiterate the podcast angle was an excellent unique twist which in my opinion adds realism to the amateur sleuthing which can be overdone and border on the unrealistic. However, as a crime podcaster this did not seem out of Nola’s scope and left her with only thin threads to follow that didn’t snap together until the final battle. Another aspect I really enjoyed nothing was overdone and left you wondering how point A and B came together. Super creepy book that has you double and triple locking all the windows n doors n wondering if security cameras are a good or bad thing! And for all those things that go bump in the night let’s all find a little Nite Watcher inside of us! Definitely highly recommend this one!

Night Watcher is wonderfully scary and deeply unsettling. The story feels too real at times, which only makes it more chilling. The tension builds steadily and never lets up. I was completely hooked! If you are looking for a smart, psychological horror that gets under your skin, this one delivers.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the chance to listen to this book in exchange for my opinion.

Narrator was wonderful! I enjoyed this story, it was creepy but not super scary. I kept (wrongly) guessing who I thought the killer was and it was a fun, quick read. Thank you!

. I just read my two favorite books of the year back to back, and Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft absolutely earns its place at the top. This debut is phenomenal—the kind of thriller you cancel plans for just so you can keep reading. Out July 8, and mark my words, this will be the book everyone is buzzing about this summer.

Written by the host of the true crime podcast Going West, this book knows how to build tension. It’s fast, chilling, and deeply atmospheric, with the trifecta I look for in a perfect thriller: airtight pacing, relentless tension, and a killer twist I didn’t see coming.

We follow Nola Strate, a late-night radio host who once survived a terrifying encounter with a serial killer known as The Hiding Man. Years later, she’s rebuilt her life—until eerie things start happening again, and a chilling phone call to her show sends her spiraling back into fear. Is he back? Is someone playing games? Or is the truth even darker?

I loved the media angle, the foggy Oregon setting, and the way Woolsoncroft blends true crime podcast energy with psychological suspense. If you loved None of This Is True, this one needs to be on your radar.

I liked this. It was a fast and easy read. I definitely had times where I was creeped out. The audiobook has great narrators and they really pulled me in. I think conflict was resolved a little too easy, but overall I had a good time.

Links to come

After a near miss and a traumatizing experience with a serial killer called the Hiding Man during her childhood, Nola Strate has rebuilt her life with plenty of safeguards in place. This includes taking over Night Watch, her father's radio show, now dedicated to various creepy experiences and events.

But when she starts to believe that she has a stalker, and that perhaps her nemesis has returned to haunt her, Nola realises that she must do whatever is necessary to save herself...

Chilling, entertaining and atmospheric, Nola is an appealing protagonist, and this will appeal to fans of serial killer stories. This is worth checking out.

what a blast this book was!!! Started with a bang, I was hooked literally from the first chapter. Great narration by both narrators, this was my first audiobook ever and I was not disappointed. Skimming through the chapters I completed it very fast. Overall, the book was well written, only a few points here and there as some things were there that I was not able to make sense of. Loved the MFC and I was totally clueless about who the serial killer would be and the end was a complete shocker for me. It was just what I needed at the moment as I was going through a reading slump.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Hachetteaudio for the audiobook. All and all, a solid 4-star read for me.

oh my god this book was so good !!!! 🤩 the kill and death scenes were chilling and the mystery went in so many different directions. The vibes were just so good I felt like I was watching a slasher movie!! Def recommend this one !! And the narration was amazing too.

This was a really great listen. It has the perfect amount of eerie creepiness with an intriguing story. It’s a great combination of a the crime story coupled with a frightening psychological thriller. The narrators did a fantastic job and kept me totally immersed in the story.

I loved this book. It was creepy, fast-paced, and totally addictive from page one. The radio call-in twist was genius and made everything feel so real and personal. The suspense built perfectly and I was second guessing everyone by the end.

Nola is such a strong lead. You feel her fear, her trauma, and her determination to face the nightmare she thought she’d left behind. The Hiding Man storyline gave me chills.

Also, I’ve been a longtime listener of Daphne Woolsoncroft’s true crime podcast, so I was already a fan before this book. You can tell she knows her stuff. The way she writes tension and fear is so sharp and unsettling in the best way.

One of the best debuts I’ve read in a while. If you’re into serial killer thrillers with a chilling premise and a strong female lead, Night Watcher is a must.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 — completely hooked!
Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft was everything I want in an audiobook and more. A thriller with horror vibes, multiple POVs, and zero dull moments? Sign me upppp. I usually struggle to stay focused on audiobooks, but this one had me hooked from the very first chapter — no zoning out, no rewinding, just utter immersion.

The narrators (Helen Laser, Will Collyer, and the author herself) absolutely nailed it. The pacing was spot on, the characters were likable, the tone was easy to follow and easy to keep up with who was who, and every chapter pulled me deeper in. I even caught myself thinking about the story when I wasn’t listening — and that never happens. I honestly didn’t want it to end.

If you’re into fast-paced thrillers with just the right amount of creepy, add this to your TBR ASAP.

what an awesome debut! I could not stop listening once I started since I needed to know how it ended! I loved the dual narratives and the horrifying descriptions of the Hiding Man. I will absolutely be on the look out for this author's next book.