I really enjoyed the plot of Night Watcher—it had the perfect mix of suspense and creep factor, especially when reading (or listening) at night. The pacing kept me engaged from start to finish, and the multiple POVs added a lot of depth to the story. I appreciated seeing different angles unfold without getting lost or confused.

I also liked how, just when I thought I had figured out who the killer was, the story literally investigated that possibility—then completely shut it down and killed my dreams, making the narrative feel active and unpredictable.

The audio production used both male and female narrators, which helped bring the different perspectives to life. It was a thoughtful choice that made the transitions between characters clear. That said, the delivery felt a little too flat—almost monotone—which sometimes dulled the emotional impact during intense moments. A bit more vocal range would have elevated the tension even further.

One part that didn’t quite work for me was the romance subplot. It didn’t feel natural in the context of a story that leaned heavily into horror and psychological suspense. I wasn’t looking for romantic tension; I was here for the eerie atmosphere, the mystery, and the threat lurking in the shadows.

I also wish the killer had been more closely tied to the main characters. While the story was chilling, the final reveal felt a little distant and didn’t land with the emotional punch I was hoping for. A more personal connection could have made the ending far more satisfying. I also wish there was more of an explanation into why he was doing these things and why he chose the people he chose (from his POV).

Still, this was a solid debut with a unique setup, strong pacing, and a genuinely unsettling tone. If you like thrillers with a slightly creepy edge and layered perspectives, this one is worth checking

Who better to write a book (albeit fictional) about a serial killer of young women than someone whose own aunt disappeared and was believed murdered when in her 20s and someone who now hosts a popular true crime podcast? You will definitely want to keep the lights on as you listen to Night Watcher because the fear and suspense are definitely real! The narration made it even more realistic as I could hear the Hiding Man’s voice in my head.

Nola Straight is a late night radio host in Portland, Oregon for a program she inherited from her father Chick. The show, Night Watch delves into haunting and creepy crawlers. One evening a woman calls into the show and is seemingly murdered on air--even more disturbingly she mentions a man in a white mask having been watching her before she starts screaming for her life.

This is especially meaningful to Nola, as her babysitter was murdered when she was a child, young Nola stumbling across the grisly scene and spotting a man in a creepy white mask. A man responsible for many murders who was never found, known as the Hiding Man. Is he back again after all of these years and can Nola solve the crimes, more importantly will she make it out alive?

The Night Watcher is a spooky novel that brings to words that that feeling you get on the back of your neck when something creeps you out. It has plenty of twists and turns that keep it interesting, my main complaint is the uncovering of the killer is quite underwhelming and didn't feel like a good enough payoff for a strong story. 3.5 stars.

I received this advance audio copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

3.75 ⭐️ rounded up - Audio arc review.
Horror, mystery and thrillers are my favorite genres to listen to on audio, and this book packs a fun combo punch with elements from all three. The first 25% delivers some serious creepy chills that had me locking my door and thanking myself for living in an apt building with my windows several stories off the ground 🤣. Unfortunately, the final reveal felt a bit lackluster after a fun, suspenseful build up. While I did enjoy this book, I was hoping for a more exciting twist.

Both narrators deliver captivating reads that kept me fully immersed through the entire listen.

Thank you NetGalley & Hachette Audio for the audio arc.

Review: Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft

This is hands-down one of the best thrillers I’ve read this year! Night Watcher feels incredibly current, blending the unsettling presence of true crime with layered, relatable family dynamics. The plot takes you straight into a nightmare that feels just far enough removed from everyday life—until it suddenly doesn’t.

Nola is a compelling lead: guarded, determined, and shaped by a trauma no one would ever want to imagine. As the tension builds and the line between paranoia and truth blurs, you’re left wondering who you can trust right alongside her.

The audiobook version is exceptional—Helen Laser and Will Collyer truly bring the characters to life with performances that feel vivid and emotionally in tune with the story. They maintain a strong, steady pace that matches the intensity of the plot perfectly, never rushing but never dragging. Their narration adds an extra layer of suspense, making the eerie twists hit even harder. I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn’t bring myself to press pause.

If you love atmospheric thrillers with strong female leads, eerie twists, and a storyline that keeps you guessing until the final page, I highly recommend giving this one a go.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

I needed a little more from this story. I needed it to feel thrilling, creepy, heart-pounding, and it just fell flat. I realize that the author is a true crime podcaster and I have listened to the audiobooks from true crime podcasters before, but the narration really threw me off and I believe a proper narrator could have saved the book a little. It had more of a William Shattner-esque tone to it to where it was very dry and disnegaging.

The premise was interesting with a true crime podcaster being stalked by a serial killer from her childhood, but it just didn't live up to the interesting premise. It was very slow paced, and there was not much character development (which I know in thrillers it is not particularly heavily needed, but you at least like to have some). Give it a try if you find it interesting, but my ultimate opinion is to pass.

I would like to note and appreciate the fact that the author has had a true crime experience happen within her family and although she was not alive for it she saw the impact that it had on other family members and her dedication to show the trauma of these experiences should be commended.

3.5 stars, rounded up. The atmosphere is tense and unsettling, and the premise had real potential. But the characters, especially the protagonist, felt somewhat underdeveloped, and several of her decisions strained plausibility. The ending was abrupt, almost as if the story ran out of runway. Overall, however, I enjoyed.

The Night Watcher is a chilling, creepy, atmospheric, thrill inducing roller coaster ride. I mean this book kept me absolutely glued to the pages. I couldn't stop. It was so captivating, but also constantly left me with the feeling of being watched, just like the girls in the book. The author builds the dread, suspense and tempo of the books absolutely perfectly. I am telling you this is not a book you will be able to put down, it's quite impossible to not race to the finish line.

As for the plot, it moves at such a fast pace, there's always the constant feeling of dread. Constantly on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I was sure I had it figured out early on, which I believe was what the author was trying to do (sneaky sneaky). When the reveal came, that was where I was absolutely blindsided and didn't see it coming at all. It did go a little far in terms of realism, but I still really enjoyed it! The podcast part I truly enjoyed, I do wish that was explored more as it was so well done and added a lot to the story.

Overall, this was an amazing debut, impossible to look away from. Eerie and chill factor turned up to the max, kept me guessing until the very end. I haven't listened to the author's podcast (she is a host), well I'm definitely doing that ASAP!

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @grandcentralpub, @hachetteaudio & @daphnewoolsoncroft for my gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Okay.. phenomenal?!!!

Thriller with horror and podcast elements.. winning combination.

If you LOVED tell me what you did then please give this a try..

Also read it at night time if you want to be extra creeped out 😏😏

I love a book that can get under my skin in an eery manner and this absolutely did.

Main character - very likable and also a radio host who listens to hauntings.. honestly do I need to say more this book writes itself 😂 She had a run in with a serial killer as a child and she is started to get the vibes she’s being watched.. eek

This is where I tell you to put your phone down and go read it.

Thank you for the advanced copy!

Publishes: July 8th

I absolutely flew through this audiobook and enjoyed the whole story. I felt the mystery was well designed and it definitely made me feel uneasy while I was listening and felt for the characters. While I felt the ending lacked a bit of creativity, I did enjoy this overall and will recommend it to thriller readers.

Well if you’re looking for a thriller that will leave you completely unsettled.. this is the book to read. While it’s fiction it reads like a true crime story. It jumps into the action straight away and you connect to the characters along the way and get all the feels as if you’re watching it unfold in the news.

This is a duel POV book and I was so happy that it was done with dual narration as well as it allowed you to get into the minds of Nola and Jack the FMC and MMC respectively. Helen Laser and Will Collyer, the voice actors, did a great job with the narration both speaking at a good natural speaking speed. I did enjoy and connect with Ms Laser a bit more as Mr Collyer while good, didn’t seem to fully match “Jack”. But that’s completely a subjective opinion! Author Daphne Woolsoncroft also is credited in the narration as she narrates her authors notes and acknowledgments. I thought it was a nice touch to start the book with a note about her background and the place that the book came from. I’m also glad that she didn’t narrate her own book (rarely a good idea for fiction) as her skill is definitely with the pen and not book narration.

Over all this is a solid read that thriller lovers will eat up. It comes out on July 8th so preorder it or get it on your TBR now!

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from Hachette Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

I listened to the audiobook and the narration was perfect! This book has suspense, just the right amount of scare, and an enough action to keep you hooked and intrigued from beginning to end. I could not stop listening and finished in less than 24 hours!

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for letting me listen before the book is released!

Thank you NetGalley for an Arc Audiobook of Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft.

Once I started listening I did not want to stop. I stayed up all night listening to this book.

To start the Narrators were amazing! They added so much depth to this already great book.

The Hiding Man is the serial killer, that we follow in this book over the span of twenty years. This book starts with Nola seeing her babysitter killed when she was a child. Fast forward and Nola hosts a late night spooky radio show, that deals with tales that are haunting and chilling. A call in to the radio show leaves Nola facing the demons of her past.

The multiple narrators, the twists and turns, the dual timelines everything just came together. The writing style makes you feel so invested and leaves you wanting to keep the lights on and looking over your shoulder. Spooky read, even more so because of how realistic the story is.

PNW setting.
Serial killer.
Past & present timeline.

Loved everything about this, the story, the characters, the twist. I really thought I had it figured out, I in fact did not. I flew through this NEEDING to know who the killer was. There were some tense moments, it was all so good.

The narration and production was excellent.

Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft is a chilling debut – but one that I thoroughly enjoyed. The story follows Nola, a late-night radio host whose show Night Watch focuses on haunted happenings and eerie encounters. Another important part of Nola, one she has tried hard to forget, is her encounter with The Hiding Man as a child. After experiencing strange occurrences and feeling she is being watched, a caller into the show with a familiar and terrifying message reaches out, Nola is forced to confront the darkest part of her past.

I have to say, the opening chapters amazingly deliver a strong sense of dread, enhanced by atmospheric writing and the slow unravelling of Nola’s trauma. The suspense is kept high throughout the story, and I felt it was a truly impressive debut.

I was able to listen to the audio version of this book, and I found the production is excellent. The narrators brought distinct voices and emotional nuance to the characters. I was so engaged in how this story was delivered I listened to about 80% of the story in one day.
Also appreciated that this book acknowledges the victims of crimes.

This book I think would be an amazing read for anyone into thrillers, true crime, or slasher horror. The audiobook = a perfect blend of creepy atmosphere and fast paced thriller for a dark late night listen!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hatchette Audio for the opportunity to listen to this advanced listening copy of Night Watcher.

Nola Strate is the only one who has ever seen the Hiding Man and lived to tell the tale. Nola was just a kid when the Hiding Man broke into her house and killed her babysitter Mia. Now two decades later the Hiding Man has resurfaced and Nola along with her producer for the radio show Night Watcher Harvey, witness the next victim in her final moments. When clues start pointing to Chic Strate, Nola's father as the possible killer Jack the lead detective doesn't want to believe that his best friend has pulled the wool over his eyes for decades. Will the Hiding Man be caught before Nola becomes the next victim. This is a fast paced page turner that will have you on the edge of your seats until the very end. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me listen an advanced copy of this audiobook.

This was a great fast-paced thriller! The story was interesting and easy to follow. I liked the extra background information the author provided as to why she wrote this book. I thought the narrators did a fantastic job bringing this creepy, serial killer story to life! I definitely felt my heart racing at different points throughout this book! I wasn’t blown away by the ending, but I still really enjoyed this read. Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Night Watcher is a fast paced thriller that is easy to follow and keeps you entertained! Not the twistiest or most jaw dropping but a good time.
Audio was performed great! Full cast of voices over a single narrator. The voices were appealing, clear and not exaggerated.

The premise is great! There were times I was scared to read while alone, I felt like if I wasn’t careful the killer would come for me next, However, as the book went on I was pulled out of the story. The back and forth had me not believing anything. I wish the narrative was a little more straightforward.

Now the end…..bruh. I called who it was so early and it was lame when the end happened. Kind of annoyed and wish it was less “ooop there he is!!”

I enjoyed the narrators! They brought the story to life,

The following is a review of The Night Watcher audiobook. Thank you to Hachette Audio for the ALC. I have been loving thrillers lately, and The Night Watcher is my first serial killer story! This fictional tale crafted by Daphne Woolsoncroft is a genuinely spooky and suspenseful listen that will have you glancing over your shoulder at night. Woolsoncroft delivers a tense, chilling debut that showcases her knack for storytelling, which comes as no surprise given her background as the successful host of the true crime podcast “Going West.”

While the writing could be smoother and more developed, I was impressed by the engaging plot that kept me captivated throughout. Woolsoncroft knows how to hold the attention of her audience, skillfully unraveling the disturbing agenda of the serial killer at the heart of the story in a way that feels immersive and deeply rooted in her passion for true crime. I especially loved the personal notes from the author at both the beginning and end of the audiobook; they gave a sense of intimacy and insight into her creative process. The narration is fantastic throughout, and one moment in particular (the call into Nola Strate’s late-night radio show) gave me chills!

I have very few critiques, but there are a couple of things that might not work for every reader. The shifts in narrative perspective, especially the switch between Nola’s first-person chapters and third-person chapters from other characters like Jack the detective, initially broke the story’s flow for me. Additionally, the ending and reveal may leave readers feeling underwhelmed.

Overall, this is a gripping, eerie book that I would recommend to fans of scary stories, true crime, fast pacing, and multiple POV narratives. I am truly excited to see what Daphne Woolsoncroft writes next. She is a promising new voice in the thriller genre.