I found this mystery/thriller to be a bit lackluster. And as well all know, that disappoints me when I feel like the premise has so much potential to be so good. I need a thriller to be thrilling.

This book follows a true crime podcast/radio show that follows a specific serial killer. And that serial killer just so happened to have escaped. Now, the host thinks she is being stalked...and, of course, by that specific serial killer. Now doesn't that sounds so fascinating? So good? Well, that's what I thought too. I just didn't find this to live up to what I wanted it to.

Overall, this was okay. It definitely wasn't terrible. But it also wasn't amazing. I found it to be quite slowly paced and the characters did not have much development to them at all (before or during the story).

Random note, but I think it's so interesting how popular books about true crime podcasts are becoming. I mean, it makes complete and total sense to me, given how popular true crime podcasts are. Just something I've noticed. Anyways...

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

There’s a strange sense of déjà vu with this novel—lately, it seems like every other book revolves around a true crime podcaster entangled in their own eerie investigation, often with a lurking serial killer in the shadows. While this story delivers some solid twists, the overarching premise feels a bit worn out.

That being said, the core of the novel is undeniably chilling. Imagine witnessing a brutal murder as a child, being haunted for years by the grotesque face of the killer, only to discover decades later that he’s back—and he’s coming for you. That’s exactly where Nora finds herself, and as if that weren’t terrifying enough, she hears the murderer’s resurgence broadcasted live, as his newest victim unknowingly foretells her fate—while Nora listens in horror.

It’s a gripping start, and the tension only builds from there. As the story unfolds, we’re pulled into a labyrinth of secrets, past victims, and Nora’s growing certainty that she’s next. The paranoia is palpable—every character seems like they could be the killer, making the mystery all the more thrilling to unravel. While Nora’s podcast isn’t used as a direct storytelling device, it plays a pivotal role in the murderer’s twisted agenda, and the way everything comes full circle is deeply satisfying.

I enjoyed the plot of the story but at times felt like I was taken out by the characters dialogue. I did enjoy it and would recommend this to someone who enjoys the genre.

On some level, I feel like I've read this novel before - there have recently been so many novels about crime podcasters caught up in a spooky mystery of their own (usually with a serial killer thrown into the mix for good measure.) This is a fine novel with a couple of good twists, but the overall trope feels a bit overdone.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing this book, with my honest review below.

I can’t imagine seeing a violent murder as a child, being haunted by the most despicable and creepy looking murderer for decades, and then knowing that he is stalking you and your borrowed time is coming to an end. Nora is in this uniquely terrible position, and to really pour salt on the wound she is re-introduced to the murderer she witnessed as a kid over the airways - as his first victim in decades all but narrates her death with Nora listening.

You can’t easily top that as an opening and as this book moves along we get a deeper and murkier view into the hidden man, his victims (past and present) and Nora’s determination that he is after her. It feels like everyone could be the murderer and I had a grand time trying to sort it out. While the tie in of Nora’s radio show / podcast isn’t used to narrate the mystery (which I enjoy in a novel) it carries a lot of meaning to the murderer’s motive and I loved that it came full circle.

Daphne Woolsoncroft, already known for her gripping true crime podcast Going West, takes a thrilling leap into the world of fiction with Night Watcher, a chilling psychological thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

The story centers around Nola Strate, a radio show host for Night Watch, a late-night call-in program where listeners share their most unsettling stories, often about the supernatural. Nola is no stranger to real-world horror as she is still haunted by the memories of a notorious serial killer experience with the "Hiding Man," as a child. This traumatic past has left Nola hyperaware of danger, and while she is brave in her role as a radio host, she’s also deeply scarred and hesitant to face the dark realities of her life head-on.

The tension builds when a caller to Night Watch describes an incident so eerily familiar to Nola that it sends a cold chill down her spine. The details match the M.O. of the Hiding Man, the killer she has feared for years. As strange events unfold and Nola finds herself in increasing danger, she must confront her past and her worst fears. Is the Hiding Man truly after her, or is her trauma playing tricks on her mind? With each passing day, the line between fear and reality blurs, and Nola is thrust into a race against time to uncover the truth and protect herself from a killer who may be closer than she realizes.

Woolsoncroft’s ability to build suspense is masterful. From the ominous atmosphere of Nola’s radio show to the creeping dread that intensifies with every new clue, the book’s pacing is perfectly calibrated to keep readers on edge. The story’s twists and turns are unpredictable, with each chapter heightening the tension until the final, heart-stopping revelation. Without a doubt, Night Watcher is one of the scariest books I’ve read in a long time. Woolsoncroft’s experience as a true crime podcaster shines through in her meticulous attention to detail, her insight into fear, and her ability to weave real-world horrors into the fabric of the narrative. This is a book that taps into the deepest, most primal fears we all share—the fear of being watched, hunted, and unable to trust the safety of our own minds.

Night Watcher is a gripping, atmospheric, and thoroughly chilling thriller that will keep you up at night. Fans of psychological suspense and true crime will find much to love in this fast-paced, heart-pounding story.
#grancentralpublishing #nightwatcher #daphnewoolsoncroft

3.5 stars. This was an okay read. Nothing was wring with it, but it felt like a middle of the road thriller. There just was not a whole lot that shocked me.