This had an interesting premise and some chilling moments. Perhaps the overall story would have been more to my liking if I’d read, rather than listened to it. The melodramatic writing combined with some melodramatic over-voice-acting had me sighing and rolling my eyes.

Daphne Woolsoncroft's Night Watcher is everything I dream of when picking up a thriller. Night Watcher is a pulse-pounding story about Nola, whose story crossed with a notorious PNW serial killer as a child. Now, she is the host of a radio program. The program receives a call that makes Nola's mind go back to that night and slowly but surely, the feeling that the Hiding Man is back creeps into Nola.

A certified page-turner, I could not put this down. It was creepy and scary and atmospheric in all the best ways.

I really enjoyed the audio production and would highly recommend that version to readers. The narration was excellent and the pacing was perfect.

The fact that this book was actually inspired by the disappearance of her aunt and the killer behind it send chills down my spine.
The narrator did a fantastic job and the production of this audiobook was top notch
Highly highly recommend

First off check out this author's name! Doesn't it sound just perfect for the suspense/thriller genre? She's the real-life host and producer of the hit true crime podcast, "Going West" and this is her debut novel. Suffice to say she can write! I listened to the audio and the narrators did a wonderful job and I couldn't stop listening!

Nola, is the host of a call-in radio program about the supernatural. One night she gets a call from a frantic caller who is scared for her life. When the caller begins to describe certain things Nola flashes back to her childhood and an encounter with a serial killer. Is he back?

This one starts out very creepy and suspenseful and leaves you guessing. I was a little underwhelmed with the culprit but the overall story is still great. Line this one up for the Fall and spooky season. It's not to be missed!

Published on July 8, 2025

I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Hachette Audio for granting me access to this Advance Listeners Copy.

This was a solid debut! I was afraid of a fictional killer! I loved how Nola had her on show, following in her father’s footsteps.The dynamic between the characters was intriguing and kept the plot moving. There was one part that could have been left out (or maybe I am just good at guessing killers) but otherwise this was a strong mystery. This is definitely a book you don’t want to read at night!

This book was just recently published last Tuesday so I haven’t seen a ton around about it yet. I didn’t mind this book but it certainly was not my favorite thriller of the year.

I found the story to be interesting, following a late night radio host that once escaped from a serial killer only to have him seemingly become active again when she is an adult. In general, I liked the premise and have a fondness for the peculiar like the MC but it just wasn’t a home run for me. My biggest complaint is that I felt like the ending was too tidy but that is probably just a me thing!

The narration and everything was good though!!

I really enjoyed this one -- 4.5 for me but rounded down as it wasn't quite a 5.

I liked the different POVs and the whodunnit of it all. The stalker was perfectly creepy and did give me the shivers when their mask was first explained (I may have checked out my window before going to bed with a little bit of dread). I think it's great for newer horror/thriller readers as it has the creep factor without being too much. Awesome job.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC audio of this book! It is my first by this author, and I am interested in reading more! Night Watcher was a fast paced thriller, just what I needed to get out of a slumo! Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to listen to Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft. Narrated by Helen Laser and Will Collyer.

This was great to listen to! Both narrators were believable and engaging.

I want to talk about the radio show. First, props for adding this feature in. It’s clear radio isn’t nearly as significant as podcast and many other social media outlets. However, it’s nostalgic for those who woke up with radio morning shows, listened to their favorite radio personalities on their way to work and possibly fell asleep listening to them at night.

Second, I felt the mystery/thriller portion kept my interest. Keeps you curious and trying to figure out who, why, when and how? It did drag a bit in the middle but we are receiving some necessary information.

Third, the reveal and motives are underwhelming. Perks for receiving the pov from the killer. That was a nice touch.

Overall, this is a 3.5 star for me. A fun read for anyone who enjoys thrillers/mystery. This is NOT HORROR!

This was an excellent plotline for a debut novel. It was propulsive and well-narrated. I very much enjoyed the true crime tie-in. My only hang up was a lot of repetition of words where other words would have served better.

I loved this. I have not been scared by a book in longer than I can remember. This is exactly the book I’d expect a true crime podcaster to write.

read half of this book and I listened to the other half. The audio version was soooooo good.
4.5 ⭐️
I couldn’t put this book down. I’ve been looking for a good thriller to listen to and this book was it for me.

Nola Strate is being watched again. Nola had a run in with a serial killer when she was a kid and she’s trying to stop being traumatized and move on with her life. She’s never told a soul about the encounter and she even runs a popular radio show called “Night Watch”. A woman calls into the show and she’s saying scary things but Nola and her coworkers think it’s a big joke. She can’t be joking though because she knows things that only Nola knows.

This book is so good. I loved trying to guess who the mysterious man is.

Thanks netgalley and publisher for a chance to read and listen to this story for free in return for my honest opinion.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Hachette Audio/Grand Central Publishing for allowing me to listen to an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Nigh Watcher is the debut thriller from Daphne Woolsoncroft. As a fan of horror and thriller books, I was intrigued by the premise of this book; and boy it did not disappoint! It was truly a gripping and addictive read. I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrators really brought the story to life while maintaining a creepy and unsettling air. The book hits the ground running with a truly terrifying beginning.

The story revolves around Nola, who hosts a late-night radio show call called Night Watch, where callers can discuss hauntings, ghost sightings, and other scary things. One night she is thrown back into an old childhood trauma when a woman calls in to her show saying there was an intruder in her home. Poor Nola was reminded of when she was a child a man dubbed The Hiding Man broke into her home and killed her babysitter. He was never caught. Now with a slew of new murders, Nola thinks he is back, and coming for her to finish what he started.

The writing was very good, and the characters, particularly Nola, were likeable, well-developed, and easy to root for. You could literally hear the tension and fear in the story. It definitely made me unsettled while reading at night, but kept me at the edge of my seat. I'm usually pretty good about guessing the identity of the killer, but I didn't guess it this time!

This book was a truly thrilling rollercoaster of a read and with a shocking ending. I will for sure be recommending this one to my horror aficionado friends and to anyone who might enjoy a good serial killer thriller! Definitely check this one out, especially the audiobook! You won't be disappointed.

Thank you Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Audio, Netgalley, and Woolsoncroft for the ARC!

If you like true crime podcasts, you are going to like this one. I loved how the story takes place in the present trying to solve a modern crime while also trying to solve crimes from the past, how the FMC is clearly dealing with a lot of PTSD, and how they were able to connect the killer to her. I enjoyed the true crime aspect of it, and the way in which society doesn't treat victims well. While there are several other books like this on the market, I do think this one is unique in the father/daughter aspect and the FMCs is open that she is often making poor choices.

Dang! This one had my heart racing from the first chapter!! It’s been a while since I had a thriller that had me on the edge of my seat! I enjoyed the heck out of this one! Fast paces, entertaining, and multiple points of view! Yes, please!
Helen Laser and Will Collyer did a fantastic job narrating the story! They paired well together! They took the story up to the next level, really put you in the trenches with them! We even got to hear from the author herself, Daphne Woolsoncroft!

Thank you NetGalley, Daphne Woolsoncroft, and Hachette Audio for the ARC of the audiobook.

I had really high expectations for NIGHT WATCHER because the reviews have been SO good. From page one this was an unnerving, don’t read at night or when you’re alone thriller. I was hooked by page one. Glued to the page and scared to walk downstairs when I wanted a bowl of cereal. I also almost jumped out of my skin when I was reading it in the tub and my cat walked in the bathroom.

However, the book lost some steam for me when it hit the 50% mark. There was a lot of real time movement with Nola which caused the storyline to drag. Some parts felt repetitive, and I could tell what the author was trying to do but it just didn’t quite land all the way for me.

Pros:

-atmospheric
-amazing writing
-great plot premise

Cons:

-plot development could’ve been stronger
-became repetitive
-anticlimactic reveal for the culprit

While it didn’t blow me away I did like this book. As always be sure to check it out for yourself!

Wow! What a fun and frightening debut. Chilling, tense, and dripping with unease from the first chapter to the last page!

The story opens with a spine-tingling call to the Night Watch radio show—and the creepiness never lets up. The sense that someone’s watching, things keep moving out of place, and seriously… you do not want to be the babysitter.

Daphne Woolsoncroft’s true crime roots shine here—her storytelling feels eerily real. The pacing is razor-sharp, and I absolutely flew through it. When I couldn’t listen to the audiobook, I found myself pulling up the eBook on my phone because I had to know what happened next. I especially loved the characters, with Nola standing out the most. I truly felt for her—traumatized as a teen, and now facing the terrifying possibility that her worst nightmare has returned.

🎧 Narration Note: Helen Laser and Will Collyer are phenomenal. They nail the tone and truly heighten the suspense. I was genuinely stressed out listening—perfect voices for this creepy ride.

Final Verdict: 👍 A thrilling debut that delivers on atmosphere, suspense, and strong character work. Don't read it alone at night!

~3.75, rounded up~
RECAP: Years after surviving a childhood encounter with a serial killer known as The Hiding Man, Nola Strate tries to move on, hosting Night Watch, a radio show once run by her father. But when a caller describes an intruder who sounds chillingly familiar & strange events escalate around her, Nola fears the killer is back. With the police dismissing her, danger closing in, and suspicion even falling on her father, Nola must uncover the truth & face the monster from her past.

REVIEW: This is great for readers who enjoy a tense & fast-paced story, where the main character is unsure what’s real & what’s not. Audiobook has dual narration, which I was a fan of. You're plunged into the action almost immediately, but not in a way that's confusing. There are some flashbacks, but they're done well. I wouldn't say this is necessarily a horror book - maybe very light horror, IMO, but it's definitely suspenseful. Having the author's note at the start also helped give me a better appreciation for her writing and where she was coming from.

This book was spooky with a storyline that was interesting to follow. I liked that there was a different narrator for the main character and for the detective I think it helped differentiate between the different timeline and overall the story. From the beginning I was convinced I knew who the hiding man was but I was wrong! That was nice bc sometimes I find books too predictable and this was not one of those books. I can honestly say I did not see the ending coming. Thank you to Netgally for this ARC.

A truly fantastic debut! This was one creepy book! I live in the Portland area and I found myself reading late at night, which really added to the fear factor! Several nights I actually had to stop listening because I really felt like someone could be watching! Also, masks are always eerie, but the one in this book is next level!

This book has a bit of something for everyone mystery, horror, family drama, and a budding romance. I enjoyed the podcast element too. I don’t want to go into too many specifics about the story! Just read it! It’s fast paced and will definitely suck you in!

I highly recommend the audiobook! The dual narration really brings the story to life!