If you are looking for a fast faced thriller that pulls you in from the very beginning and doesn’t let up, this is it! A chilling unputdownable thriller. Woolsoncroft did an amazing job developing great characters and creating a super creepy villain in “The Hiding Man.” This one will have you peeking out the window and double checking your locks! I was lucky enough to receive an ALC and the narration was great. Definitely recommend.

Although I love true crime I’m not a podcast listener (I would probably love them but my limited free time is spent reading😆) so I wasn’t familiar with Daphne Woolsoncroft prior to this. I appreciated her foreword and authors notes with a little backstory. I’m also exciting that she mentioned more books are coming because she’s definitely found a new fan!

Nola is a late night radio host of the show "Night Watch". She is haunted by an early childhood experience where she came face to face with a serial killer but survived to tell the tale.

The story is told in dual timelines and things in the current time start to look similar to her previous experience with what looks like a mimic of her years ago drama. Nola starts to feel watched in time, and is determined to get to the bottom of things.

This book has great red herrings and psychological suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the radio/podcast type baseline that kept things current and concerning. Perhaps the strength of this book comes from the history of Woolsoncroft and her current job as a true crime podcaster of 6 years. Her aunt disappeared in 1984 by the hands of her boyfriend and was never arrested-has brought about a baseline for her to write from, and she does this so well in this book.

This is her debut and I can't wait to see what she writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the gifted ALC.

Fun!! I was not familiar with the author's podcast, and initially skeptical about a first novel by a new writer. I needn't have feared, though-- this was a fun, well-paced, character-ful thriller wit a well-utilized multiple narrator sitch. The narrators were great and I was thrilled it wasn't the author (that almost NEVER works for me). The reveal was a bit anticlimactic, but that was okay-- I was glad it wasn't overly plotted to make all the pieces fit. I also could have used a bit more of a connection with the podcast-- I really really liked what little we got of it and wouldn't have minded more of the macabre.

Thank you so much to Daphne Woolsoncroft,
Hachette Audio | Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC of the audiobook Night Watcher.

This book was absolutely phenomenal. It was captivating from the very beginning! As soon as I started listening I knew it was going to be almost problematic because I needed to listen to the entire story. Are we sure this is a debut novel?? I am so incredibly impressed.

Nola Strait saw the Hiding Man twenty years ago and now it’s time to figure out if he’s back. Is it a copycat? Is she just being paranoid due to unresolved childhood trauma?

I did end up guessing this ending but only as one theory out of so many! This is a trope I haven’t read before and I loved it!!!! I wish I could give this book 50/5 stars but I guess a 5/5 will do! This book is sure to be a sensation.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for this ALC!

For a debut book and a thriller at that this was impressive. It didn’t drag along too much, we didn’t get an overloaded cast of characters as a distraction, and it didn’t seem like a big disrespectful mess from a true crime podcaster. The author having a personal relation to this also shows in the handling.

Was the twist pretty obvious to me? Yes, but I didn’t do my typical eye roll when that happens. At the very least I was still entertained, and was spooked at times since The Hiding Man was very much a real “boogeyman”. I’m glad everyone didn’t gaslight Nola about her feelings. She wasn’t hallucinating or just having nightmares stemming from childhood trauma, she stood on business. Would I have done all that digging? Likely not and tbh I would have moved. Definitely wouldn’t be handling my dad’s old show, or really having much contact with him. Chic was perfectly written as a prick, cheater, and off putting thriller writer, and I feel like realistically they all gotta be a lil sick right? Just like we readers gotta be a lil off for consuming so many of these…

I’m giving this a 3.75 rounded up rating because the ending was kinda bland. I wasn’t that on edge when we got to the conclusion, even though the POV from “Him” explaining his motives was quite terrifying.

Narration was great, easy to follow along to and understand. Very clear, and Helen Laser had all the emotional depth needed.

I'm so surprised and impressed that this is a debut novel!

Night Watcher was a super solid thriller with an eerie premise and an opening sequence that will stick with readers. Woolsoncroft's writing made it so that I could imagine this book as a movie while reading and it's definitely one I'd want to see. I love thriller stories that have a little bit of a horror and mystery element and this had both. Additionally, I went into this one blindly and did not know that our author was a podcaster, so I really appreciated the author's note/acknowledgments as well as the radio show element within the story itself.

As far as some drawbacks, I will say that our characters felt a little flat at times, and I couldn't completely feel connected to them as a result. This also made it hard to be super invested in Jack's chapters, especially considering they were in 3rd person. I also found the Hiding Man's identity to be a little lackluster, but I didn't guess who it was correctly so at least there was that element of shock. I was also pleasantly surprised that there was a romantic subplot but that it did not take up a lot of time or intervene too heavily with the plot.

As far as the narration itself, I think both of our narrators did a great job. The audio wasn't over the top or anything especially memorable, but still provided an enjoyable listening experience.

All in all, I had fun with this book and would pick up a story by this author again.

4.5/5 star review! This was a fantastic thriller from start to finish. I loved the writing style, the pacing, and the plot was gripping. My only minor complaint was that I wish the ending was more shocking/climactic, but I loved it and would highly recommend it!

Thank you Netgalley & Hachette Audio for access to this FANTASTIC audiobook!

Yep, this was a good one—and by “good,” I mean I’m sleeping with the lights on for the foreseeable future. It takes a lot to creep me out, but this debut (!!) had me glancing over my shoulder in broad daylight and jumping at every nighttime creak like I was living inside the book.

It gave me the same goosebump-level tension I felt reading The Nothing Man and I’ll Be Gone in the Dark—realistic, slow-burn terror that burrows under your skin and stays there. The writing is sharp, the pacing is propulsive, and it never tips into unbelievable territory, which only makes it scarier. And for some reason listening on audio make it feel that much creepier.

Go in knowing as little as possible, and just enjoy the ride (and maybe triple-check your locks). I smell a movie or tv deal in this book’s future—and I’ll be watching... from under a blanket...with my husband and dogs right next to me.

Listening to *Night Watch* feels like tuning into static at 3AM and hearing something you were never meant to hear, whispers, footsteps, breath. It's the kind of book that doesn't just creep up on you; it wraps around you like Portland fog, slow and suffocating. Nola Strate is a late-night radio host who’s built her life around keeping fear at arm’s length. She listens to callers share ghost stories and sightings, the kind of stuff that keeps people up for fun, but for Nola, it’s not fun. It’s survival. Because years ago, she escaped the clutches of a killer known only as The Hiding Man. Now, the past is clawing back, and the question isn’t just *is he back?” - it’s “Was he ever gone?”* This book dances the razor-thin line between psychological and supernatural horror. You don't know if The Hiding Man is real, imagined, or something older and darker than either. It keeps you questioning. Every neighbor feels suspicious. Every shadow moves. Every caller might be a warning in disguise. The pacing is electric, especially in audio. The narrator nails the late-night radio vibes warm and intimate but tinged with unease. You feel like you’re in the booth with Nola, headphones on, as the world outside goes quiet in the worst possible way.

What makes this story especially gripping is how unreliable *everything* becomes. Nola, her memories, the people she trusts, even the timeline, it all starts to unravel. You’ll second-guess everyone and still be blindsided. It’s paranoia served hot, and the flavor lingers.

If you like your thrillers soaked in rain, tinged with dread, and layered with trauma that refuses to stay buried, this one’s for you. Just maybe keep a light on. And don’t answer unknown calls.

This book was AMAZING and absolutely in the top 5 I've read this year. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time waiting to see what happened. I can't wait to read more from this author.

👺‼️ 👺 Book Review! 👺‼️ 👺

👺Title: Night Watcher
👺 Author: Daphne Woolsoncroft
👺 Genre: #psychologicalthriller #mysterythriller #horror
👺 Goodreads rating: 4.12⭐️’s
👺# of Goodreads ratings: 398
👺 MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
👺 Publishing Date: July 8, 2025

My Thoughts:
When is the last time a book really scared you? I’m not talking about a jump-scare. I’m talking about the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, and then when it’s dark and you’re alone, you start turning around really fast so you can see the person that could possibly be following you? That’s what this book did to me!!!
The other night I put my son to bed, and I was reading it, and I was alone in my family room and it was dark and I had to stop reading because I was getting so freaked out!!!

Blurb:

With a mysterious next‑door neighbor lurking in the shadows, more people getting hurt, the police not taking her concerns seriously, and evidence pointing towards her own father, Nola decides to become, like her listeners, a Night Watcher herself, and uncover the monster behind the Hiding Man's mask.

QOTD: name the last book that really scared you.

Thank you to #Netgalley for an advanced audible copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This one started out as a fantastic read and completely hooked me in the beginning.

We follow Nola, who survived a horrific night in her childhood when her babysitter was murdered by a serial killer while watching her. Years later, Nola hosts a live call-in radio show, and during one episode she gets a chilling call from a frantic woman who says there’s something in her house. The woman ends up dead, and Nola becomes convinced the serial killer from her past is back.

I really loved the premise and the creepy atmosphere. The idea of a masked murderer, terrifying home break-ins, and the connection to Nola’s past made for such a tense setup.

It had me in a chokehold at the start but unfortunately fell a bit flat in the middle and lost my attention. I didn’t feel particularly invested in any of the characters and thought they could have been developed more. The ending also felt pretty anticlimactic, which was disappointing after such a strong start.

That said, I really enjoyed the writing style, and I think Daphne Woolsoncroft has the potential to write an amazing thriller. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for whatever she writes next!

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio and Grand Central Publishing for the ALC.

3.5 stars rounded up.

A gripping mystery with a bit of true-crime-feeling grit. Radio host Nola Strate is an engaging, layered protagonist—still haunted by a childhood brush with a serial killer known as the Hiding Man. When a late-night caller describes an intruder eerily similar to him, Nola is pulled into a chilling investigation no one else believes.
The Hiding Man has a terrifying MO — he (if he is in fact a he) haunts his victims for months before he attacks. Moving items around the house. Making creaking noises outside their home. Just enough that notice, but also not enough that they can’t explain it away. Because what’s more likely? You absent-mindedly put your keys in a weird (but plausible) place – or there’s a serial killer messing with you for funsies.
The mystery is tense and well-paced, with just the right dose of paranoia. Nola’s relationship with her charming but tricksy father—also a former radio star—adds complexity and suspicion. The end didn’t completely have the impact I was hoping for, but it’s still a smart, suspenseful debut that’s worth reading.

Truly frightening and exhilarating thriller! One of the best thrillers I’ve read this year. The narrators were fantastic, especially the one that did Nola’s part. I was hooked from the very beginning and ended up binging this audiobook in one day. I recommend this and would read another book by the author.

Girlies this was scary as shit from page one😭 I had goosebumps, heart palpitations, and a sudden urge to triple check every door lock. The atmosphere is thick with dread, the pacing never lets up, and that villain? Straight nightmare fuel.

This kept me guessing the WHOLE👏TIME👏 I had at least 6 people in mind of who the killer was and I was still wrong

And then I flipped to the author bio and realized this is a debut? Absolutely floored, babe. Daphne Woolsoncroft did not come to play🤭🤭

Also, I was reading it at like 2-3 AM, so that definitely didn’t help with the creep factor.

Huge thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook, listening in the dark made the whole experience even creepier. If you want a thriller that grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go, add Night Watcher to your tbr ASAPPP

Thank you to Daphne Woolsoncroft, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I hate to say it, but this was so boring for me. What sold me was the podcast aspect. The podcast was one chapter, that was it.

Finding out who the killer was was a complete letdown. I honestly would have worked out better if it were another character (don't want to say who and give anything away).

I liked the dual POVs, but that was all I liked.

Nola was only a child when the hiding man killed her babysitter while she hid upstairs. She remembers his masked face, and while she has put the past behind her never to speak of again, she hosts a podcast called Night Watch. When someone calls in worried about an intruder and winds up dead, Nola begins to feel like she is being watched. Could the Hiding Man be back?

This book started off so strong! I was ready and wanting to know who the Hiding Man was, was he back, and what was going to happen! I listened to this one and it was such a great way to take in this story, especially with the podcast angle, which I really enjoyed! I also loved that the story is told from one of the initial witnesses perspectives. I have seen some say it was a really scary read, but I don’t tend to get scared by books, so take that for what you will! Overall I really enjoyed this book and going along for the ride, though I wish the reveal had a bit more to it.

Thank you to @hachetteaudio and @grandcentralpub for my gifted copies of these books!

I loved this one all the way through and was so sure it was going to be a five-star read for me until the very end.

Nola runs a podcast where people call in with scary stories. The book kicks off with a woman who calls in during what sounds like the middle of a home invasion. The problem is the facts are eerily similar to an old cold case where Nola is one of the only survivors to see the killer.

The book follows Nola who is convinced that the killer is back, and she is determined to solve the cold case on her own. The book was super creepy and easy to fall right into. There were lots of twists and turns, and some horrifying suspects.

As I mentioned, I loved the story a lot until we got to the reveal of who the killer was and why. I found it to be wildly anticlimactic, especially with all the potential suspects we were thrown. It didn't take away from how much I loved reading the book, it just wasn't really a satisfying ending for one that was so good all the way through.

Creepy start, but the mystery couldn’t keep its momentum.
Thank you, Grand Central Publishing & Hatchett Audio for the gifted copy of Night Watcher {partner}

Genre: Mystery
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 7.8.2025
Pages: 336
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

This was one of those mysteries that had so much potential… but in the end, it just didn’t quite work for me.

The opening had that perfect blend of eerie atmosphere and unease that I love in a mystery, but somewhere along the way, the tension fizzled out. Maybe I’ve just read too many stories about serial killers and unsolved cases, but this one felt overly familiar—too convenient, too cliché.

The characters didn’t do much to elevate the story, either. One of the male leads, a police detective, kept missing obvious details that made him come across as strangely aloof and a little unbelievable. I did enjoy the female protagonist and the way her story unfolded—but even that didn’t feel like enough to carry the whole book.

I wanted more complexity. More edge. Something that would keep me up late flipping pages. Sadly, this one just didn’t get there.

Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆.5
I think that the reason I kept reading Night Watcher is because the narration was perfection! It added the perfect eerie element and kept me hyper focused on what was happening. If you’re going to give this one a read, I highly recommend reading it with your ears.

Read if you enjoy:
🎙️ True Crime Podcasts
🕵🏽‍♀️ Unsolved Mysteries
🗣️ Multiple POV
📖 Debut Novels

I recommend reading Night Watcher if you enjoyed the pacing of Someone in the Attic or Nightwatching.

Nola Strate hosts Night Watch, a late-night call-in show where listeners share eerie tales of hauntings and cryptic sightings. But when one caller describes something disturbingly familiar, Nola realizes her past is catching up with her. In a dual timeline, we have Nola's experience 20 years ago when she survived a close encounter with a serial killer known as The Hiding Man. She’s stayed quiet ever since—until now. The man who once hunted her may be back, and this time, he’s not alone. With the police dismissing her fears, neighbors acting strange, and her own father under suspicion, Nola must step out from behind the mic and into the dark. If she wants to survive, she’ll have to become the hunter.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this digital audio e-arc.*