Thank you Hachette Audio, Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for my gifted copy.

Id been hearing great things about The Night Watcher and it didn't disappoint. I listened mainly during the day because geez, that watcher was scary AF. Wow wow wow. This book was incredible. That mask.......yikes.

This book was so good! It caught our attention right from the first chapter and never stopped until the end.

Hubby and I chose it for our recent road trip and couldn’t wait to get back in the car to finish it! It was a captivating story and the narrators were excellent, great tone and cadence.

Nola Strate is the host of Night Watch, a popular podcast that takes calls from people with interesting mystery sightings or ghost stories. One night she gets a call that terrifies her, from a woman in fear for her life, the person she describes turns Nola’s blood cold. The serial killer that terrorized the streets when she was a young girl might be back and Nola is one of the only people to have seen him. His name was the Hiding Man.

As a body is discovered and the police start to also wonder if he is back; Nola decides she can’t just stay scared, she has to find the identity of the Hiding Man. Is he closer to her than she knows. This book was exciting from start to end.

Thank you to NetGalley, the audio house, narrator and author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this audiobook in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

Thank you Hachette Audio/Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an ALC (Advanced Listening Copy) of Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft.

I’ve been in a major reading slump where nothing sounds good enough to read so it was nice to read a book that grabbed me from the beginning!

This ended up being a middle-of-the-road thriller for me. I enjoyed the alternating narrators and how it moved back and forth between past and present. There was definitely a creepy/scary element but not so much it made me unable to sleep at night!

I couldn’t rate it higher due to lack of character development, Nola making questionable decisions (going back to her home night after night, like really?!), and a few loose ends. Overall, an entertaining read.

| thank you @hachetteaudio @grandcentralpub for the complementary listening access! |

5 ⭐️ narration: 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳 (𝘮𝘦).

📕:
I’m happy to note that Night Watcher is a bangerrrrr! 🔥 Everything from the author’s note to the inspiration around true events, only added to my overall experience.

📖:
Nola is a survivor of a violent crime where she was witness to a tragic murder. She was only a child when this occurred but the trauma and details of the evening (including the perpetrator) is something that is still fresh in her mind.

Now as an adult she has taken over her dad’s true-crime podcast. Night Watcher had me hooked from the beginning, and my interest never once wavered.

𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺:
-𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙘𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙨
-𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜
-𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨 (𝙚𝙨𝙥 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚)
-𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨
-𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡-𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨
-𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙪𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚
-𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨

🖤 What I enjoyed:
The cat & mouse feeling Nola (and others) experienced, it gave the book an atmospheric twist.

I liked the focus on how the setting and narrative become intertwined,
highlighting the severity of the situation.

Years ago, on a road trip through the PNW, my friend and I listened to the podcast The Dark Parts to entertain us along the ride. You can imagine that I was so excited to see that Daphne Woolsoncroft was diving into the book world!

This was so fun to listen to! It really helped that it was multiple people to really drive home the point of it being multiple POV as well as a non-linear timeline. The actors added to the tone and made it more dynamic.

The story and pacing is very engaging and, with it being different time frames, it’s well put together in a way that flows rather than being choppy. You also become invested in each of the characters and get to know their different histories as well.

The storyline being inspired by a true story is intriguing as well as hard to hear what happened in the author’s personal life.

What a strong debut from Woolsoncroft - I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!

Thank you so much to the author, Daphne Woolsoncroft, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for the advanced audio copy of Night Watcher!

When Nola was 8 years old, she witnessed her 21-year-old babysitter’s murder.

The serial killer, dubbed The Hiding Man, left behind a chilling message:

‘I’ll Be Watching’.

He was never caught.

Twenty years later Nola is still haunted by the events of that terrible night, imagining The Hiding Man lurking around every corner. And she’s right to be worried, because when a distressed caller phones Night Watch (the name of the radio show/podcast Nola hosts) claiming an intruder is outside her home, and then is subsequently attacked on the air, the description she gives is eerie similar to the masked man Nola saw all those years ago. Is The Hiding Man back?

Nola has felt powerless for the past twenty years. This evil man has taken enough from her. It’s time he was unmasked and punished for his crimes. And Nola’s going to be the one to do it!

PROS:

1. Nola was a strong, empathetic, resilient, resourceful character. Her emotions, fear, and trauma were spot on. The exact kind of narrator you want.

2. The descriptions of Nola’s surroundings – her current home, childhood home, neighbourhood and Portland, Oregon in general were all vividly drawn and immersive.

3. I had no issues with the writing.

4. The narrators, Helen Laser (Nola) and Will Collyer (HIM and Jack) were excellent. I have no hesitation in recommending the audiobook.

5. The Foreword and Afterword voiced by the author, Daphne Woolsoncraft, were both raw, honest, and heartbreaking. I commend her reasons for writing Night Watcher.

CONS:

1. The identity of the serial killer was anticlimactic.

2. The only thing that crept me out was the description of the mask the killer wore. In comparison to other novels I’ve read involving serial killers, Night Watcher didn’t scare me. To be fair it takes a lot to scare me, and having read so many I’m hard to surprise.

3. Second narrator Jack was not only a boring character, but an inept detective. Glad there were more chapters from Nola’s POV.

4. Some scenes dragged, following Nola around almost in real time didn’t work for me when nothing was happening.

5. Shouldn’t it have been called Night Watch rather than Night Watcher since that was the name of the radio show? Or The Hiding Man?

An okay read, but one that didn’t leave much of an impression. Don’t take my word for it though, the 5-star reviews have been pouring in.

I’d like to thank, Netgalley, Hachette Audio, and Daphne Woolsoncroft for the audio-ARC.

Publication Date: 8 July 2025.

I binged this so fast and really loved it! The way this book was able to immediately get under my skin and creep me out! The audio was chilling, addictive and the multiple narrators brought this book to life. I definitely recommend this format! It is completely atmospheric and the alternating timelines were so well done! I cannot believe this was a debut! The way this story was masterfully crafted as the mystery unraveled was impressive and made it impossible to stop listening! I loved the addition of a podcast intertwined within. The ending felt slightly abrupt, but everything wrapped so nicely! Cannot wait to read more from this author!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Helen Laser, Will Collyer, and Daphne Woolsoncroft do an excellent job narrating this story.

Nola has taken over her dad's true crime/supernatural radio call in show (what we had prior to podcasts). Its a natural fit for her as she suffered a traumatic event that understandably shaped her. Her babysitter was murdered while actually babysitting her! Nola carries guilt over this into the present day as the "faceless man" was never caught. True crime really does influence Nola's life, and that's especially obvious when she starts to feel she is being watched and when she begins to wonder if that killer from the past has now returned.

I loved this audiobook and the story. This is a well written, fast paced thriller that builds the suspense as the story progresses. I loved the characters and their flaws as well. A totally fantastic read!

Narrated by Helen Laser; Will Collyer; Daphne Woolsoncroft

Night Watcher might be my most favorite thriller of the year, hands down. I was hooked from the first sentence. The author, Daphne Woolsoncroft hosts her own true crime podcast, Going West, which clearly served as fantastic inspiration for this novel.
This book was so SCARY from the very beginning and did not let up on the creep factor until the very end. Daphne Woolsoncroft crafted such a bone chillingly terrifying villain with The Hiding Man.
I had so many guesses and suspicions as the story progressed that all turned out to be WRONG and I love when that happens. So many times I was genuinely scared listening to this book, and that’s a rarity. Even my husband who was mostly following along due to proximity was disturbed by certain parts.
This was a dual narration with Helen Laser narrating Nola’s chapters and Will Collyer narrating Jack and The Hiding Man, identified in chapter beginnings as “Him” and I found both narrators enjoyable and easy to listen to. I appreciated that the especially tense moments were narrated in a way that accurately portrayed their significance without being overly dramatic.
I thoroughly loved this book and am eager to own it in physical copy so I can read it myself as well.

Thank you so much to Hachette Audio for giving me this ALC!
Publication date 7/8/25

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of Night Watcher and was immediately intrigued by the premise, though this was my first time reading anything by Daphne Woolsoncroft. After learning she’s also a true crime podcaster in real life, my interest grew even more.
I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the story hooked me. Once the plot picked up, I found myself completely invested in Nola’s journey, on the edge of my seat right through to the end. Woolsoncroft does an excellent job of creating a terrifyingly realistic villain, the kind of monster that makes you glance over your shoulder.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read, and I’m excited to see what Daphne Woolsoncroft writes next.

Nola works at a radio station who takes calls from people wanting to tell stories of hauntings and cryptic sightings. One evening she gets a call from a woman that triggers memories from Nola’s past. When she was a kid she escaped from a serial killer. Nola is being watched, again.

I listened to the audiobook of this and I found it hard to get into the story. I found the plot intriguing and there was potential but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I read it instead of listened.

I rated the book 2.5 stars.

Thank you Netgalley for this audio edition of Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft.

Oooh boy, this book will make your skin crawl, save this gem for Halloween.

Nola is a supernatural podcaster with a decent fanbase, and handsome coworker that she has a crush on. Life is good until a string of suspicious sightings triggers a memory of Nola's escape from a well-known serial killer. Now she is afraid that this killer is back, and even more afraid that it could be someone close to her.

This really did hit all the boxes of a good, spooky, thriller. I can't say that it changed my life, but it definitely entertained. This would be perfect for a dark October night.

Title: Night Watcher
Author: Daphne Woolsoncroft
Format: 🎧
Narrators Helen Laser, Will Collyer
Publisher: Hachette Audio/Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Mystery
Pub Date: July 8, 2025
My Rating: 4.6 Stars
Pages 336

Nola Strate is an online host in Portland, Oregon for a late night call-in radio show called “Night Watch”.
It is a popular radio show where callers share personal ghostly sightings.
Nola gets a call from a woman who states she saw the man who killed her babysitter!

Twenty years ago when Nola was a child, she witnessed the killing of her babysitter Mia by a serial killer who was never caught.
She has been vigilant about her safety with security cameras outside her Oregon home, additionally she has never talked about her terrible experience on her radio show, However, she knows If he indeed is still out there-she is in danger!.

This was a fast read and whodunit kept me guessing.
The story was great and so were the audiobook performers!!!
I enjoyed the author’s note/acknowledgements with was narrated by the author. She tells us although her story is fictional; aunt’s murder was her inspiration for writing this story.
Mote about the Author ~ Daphne Woolsoncroft, a Los Angeles native, is the producer of the hit true crime podcast Going West, also co-hosts with her husband Heath.
When she isn’t writing or researching true crime cases, you can find her traveling to gloomy destinations, catching the newest horror film in theaters, or reading on the couch with her plump English Bulldog, Dewey.

Want to thank NetGalley and Hachette Audio/Grand Central Publishing for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 8, 2025.

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