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!

Happy #PubWeek to 𝑵𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻 𝑾𝑨𝑻𝑪𝑯𝑬𝑹 𝒃𝒚 𝑫𝒂𝒑𝒉𝒏𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒐𝒍𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒕, graciously #gifted to be by @grandcentralpub & @hachetteaudio via @netgalley!

I am not a call-in or podcast listener, however, I am discovering that I find it utterly entertaining to read about them. The writing format seems to explore the reasons people begin them, why they listen, and how they can both help and hurt. I find this all fascinating.

In this tale, Nola is a late-night host of a radio program and gets a very unnerving call. She is immediately flashing back to a childhood trauma and is sure she is being stalked after even more unsettling events. She is beginning to look at everyone suspiciously as evidence begins to point toward her father. She has to get to the bottom of it before a past ghost strikes again.

I am finding my favorite combo of hearing and seeing the words I read to be ideal for this. Helen Laser and Will Colyer expertly navigate the perspectives and portray the growing tension well.

I did enjoy this suspenseful read, and had no idea when the reveal came. It felt a bit anticlimactic to me for some reason, but I appreciated the motives behind it and how this book explored that a bit, giving a teeny bit of humanity to the villain. I loved the red herrings, especially one of which I cannot speak, lest I spoil it. The old adage of not judging a book (which makes everyone a possibility! ).

I would definitely recommend this story in either format for fans of suspense.

The main character, Nola, hosts a true crime radio/podcast called "Night Watcher."
Nola witnessed her babysitter's murder by a masked man when she was eight years The killer is known as "The Hiding Man" and wears a mask. He leaves a note saying he'll be watching her.Nola feels like she's being watched and believes the killer has returned.Murders start occurring that mirror the cases Nola covers on her show.
It's chilling, creepy, and completely addictive.if you want a good thriller please pick this book up! Thank you NetGalley !!

Wow! This book really spooked me even if I was listening to it during daytime. The narrator did a really great job with the story.

I was glad I requested this book because I really enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher Hachette Audio.

Honestly spooked me a little which never happens! So far this is my thriller of the year and honestly, the best thriller I can remember reading in YEARS. Nola is a compelling main character, the podcast element works well, and The Hiding Man is legitimately scary. It's kinda found footage, it's kinda home invasion, and it's kinda quiet stalking; all horror elements that I love and are more popular in film than in literature but here... it's pure cinema*! (*no really I would watch this movie so fast)

Also, the narration for the audiobook is SO GOOD. You really have to walk a fine line narrating thrillers to convey the right amount of tension without becoming melodramatic and both of the narrators hit the nail on the head.

ALC received from Netgalley and publisher

ARC REVIEW- *posing late* (7/8/25): night watcher by daphne woodsoncroft 🔪 the only surviving victim of a long-dormant serial killer who becomes shockingly aware that he has returned to her hometown in the pacific northwest.

being so honest, when I learned this was written by a podcaster, I wrote it off… I quickly realized I should've NEVER done that. night watcher was CHILLING 👀 I made the mistake of starting this audiobook at night. as a girly who lives in a house alone, just like our fmc, you best believe I was double checking my locks & looking behind my doors as soon as the sun went under.

🩸 there were multiple murders in this foggy small town, suspicious neighbors who lurk in the shadows, a small budding romance between a radio host/producer and a serial killer who fancies a riddle. my only want was getting a bigger punch from the ending.

the audiobook was fantastic! the narrators had me SO immersed in this thriller you would've found me cowering under my covers. I want to get my hands on a physical copy to see the spooky illustration talked about in the acknowledgments!!

thank you hachette audio for the alc! do you know the hiding man? 💓 4.5 stars!

Nola was a child when her babysitter was viciously murdered by a serial killer. Nola is forever haunted by the event and the terrifying message that the killer left for her. Twenty years later Nola is the co-host of a popular podcast. Then one evening, a strange call into the podcast, unnerves Nola, who then fears that the serial killer is back.

The premise of the novel reads like a generic thriller, yet due to the excellent characterization of Nola, it made me engage with the story and I found it an entertaining read.
I liked the narrative technique of having Nola’s past timeline in the third person and her present timeline in the first. This helped show the distinction between the two timelines and stopped confusion for the reader/listener.

I have listened to Daphne Woolsoncroft’s podcast ‘Going West ‘ that she both hosts and produces. I have always respected her ability to tell a true crime story, in a away that both captivates the listener, but respects the victims of those crimes.

I really appreciated the inclusion of Daphne’s note, as I was unaware of the disappearance (and believed murder of her Aunt). Hearing from the perspective of someone who has been directly affected by crime, added an extra layer to the narration and story.

I enjoyed that the story focused on Nola and those affected by crime, rather then the perpetrator. The perpetrator was nothing special, just a psychopath with a desire to kill. I enjoyed the odd chapter being from his perspective, but I am glad that his narrative did not saturate the story. The main focus was the protagonist Nola, whose story of survival was what I was invested in. Sadly, the reality is that a victims of a crimes are often overshadowed and immortalized by their perpetrator. I respected that the book didn’t delve a great detail in to the perpetrator and he was almost a background character in Nola’s story.

I consumed the novel via audiobook and it was a most enjoyable to listen to. The narrator’s did an excellent job and gripped me by conveying the emotions of the characters in a believable manner.

My only critiques are that the ending was somewhat anticlimactic and the length of the story could have been shortened. Apart from that, I have no complaints about the book.
I would like to thank NetGallery, Grand Central Publishing, Hatchet Audio and the author, Daphne Woolsoncroft, for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy.

I thoroughly recommend reading/listening to ‘Night Watcher’, it will grip you and may even cause you to have a few sleepless nights!

After seeing some glowing reviews, I decided to request Night Watcher. It wasn't for me for a few reasons, but take it with a grain of salt since a lot of folks loved it.

I'm not as into serial killer thrillers anymore, so that's a me problem. I think it will have to be something special and really unique for me to get back into that sub-genre. This one felt like others I've read. Friends said it was super creepy. I could see that in some scenes. Nola's childhood experiences as well as the final scene were intense. Otherwise it felt pretty normal.

I don't mean to nitpick writing since I'm not an author and appreciate people putting books out into the world. And typically, I don't even really notice writing styles or know how to put my finger on what I like or dislike. However, here I felt like someone consulted a thesaurus to use bigger words and added clunky extra descriptions like when I needed to write longer papers in school.

Helen Laser is great, so I knew if I was going to try it that it would via audio. I do recommend that format for audio fans.