3.75 rounded up to 4 stars

It wasn't bad, just a little underwhelming. Mostly due to the end and the way it wraps up.

I'm not normally a thriller reader (more the psychological thriller fan) and this one was just creepy enough not to freak me out too much

I wish there had been more podcast elements in it, which is what I was under the impression it was mostly about, but it really was just a minor aspect of the plot.

It was quite a page turner and I did appreciate the alternating perspectives.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this e-ARC

I read many thriller and horror books. Night Watcher was a standout for many reasons. Certain scenes gave me goosebumps and had me watching my back. Daphne Woolsoncroft masterfully added tension throughout the novel. I highly enjoyed this book and will look for more by the author.

Thank you to Netgalley, Daphne Woolsoncroft, and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC.

3.75 stars rounded up.

Fast paced? Yes!
Intriguing plot? Yes!
Creepy vibes? Yes!
True crime podcast/radio show? Yes!

This book had a lot of things that I really liked. Short chapters, fast pace, a decent plot that definitely had some creepy moments...most of what I like in a thriller. While reading, it definitely made me not want to be home alone. It's the kind of book that has you listening for sounds outside if you're reading it at night.

My only complaint is that the ending was a little lackluster. I actually had a few different theories and it didn't turn out to be any of them, which was fine. I like being surprised by the ending. But this one was actually a little disappointing. I wanted something more after following the whole story. Overall, a very decent read.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
As a child Nola watched as her babysitter was murdered— they called him the hiding man as he wore a mask,
Years later she takes over her father’s talk show. One night she receives a call that convinces her the hiding man is back. She feels watched. Will she be his next victim? He knows she saw the murder.
When she feels no one is getting to the bottom of this killer mystery she decides to be the night watcher to uncover him…. Will it work?

I'm a fan of plots centered around podcasts, so I knew pretty quickly that this would be a winner for me. A serial killer that Nola encountered 20 years ago is suddenly back and ready for revenge. The bodies are piling up, and Nola needs to figure out who he is and how to stop him before she becomes the next victim.

This definitely got my heart rate up a few times, and I flew right through it.

4.5 🌟

I'm not familiar with Daphne Woolsoncroft's podcast, but I was curious to see how her expertise would come through in a book. To my surprise Nola's radio show, while important, wasn't heavily utilized to tell the story. It was effective where it was used however because I found Felicity's phone call to be quite scary. Though I wouldn't say that Night Watcher is horror, there were definitely some creepy parts. Especially in the beginning.

I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. There were never any slow or boring parts, it just moved along at a nice pace. The characters were likable, particularly Nola. The ending was a bit lackluster for me though. I don't want to say why but it just seemed like it could have used a more shocking twist. Other than the ending being somewhat of a letdown, I thought Night Watcher was great, and I look forward to seeing what Ms. Woolsoncroft comes out with next!

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!

Nola is a likable character which makes the fear factor in this plot even more enticing. The short chapters and twists kept me turning pages. Who is the killer? I liked the way the story unfolds. Great read!

Night watcher was really creepy, in a good way. Kept me guessing, and wrapped up nicely.
Nola was home when her babysitter was murdered years ago. And the murderer left a note for her. Now that she is an adult, is she being targeted by the same person? Or is it someone closer?

The premise here was so intriguing. An absolute page turner. I do wish there had been more about the radio show--I love that dark, mysterious stuff. And after a great build-up, I was quite disappointed with the ending.

I would rate this a 3.5/4 rounded up.

It wasn't bad, just a little underwhelming. [Then I felt like I went through it all for the suspect to be someone that we were told it was earlier on, which was kind of disapointing (hide spoiler)]

I wish there had been more podcast elements in it, which is what I was under the impression it was mostly about, but it really was just a minor aspect of the plot.

Overall, it was fine and I enjoyed it, but it wasn't outstanding.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this arc!

Night Watcher is what I hope will be a big hit for thriller readers, it is not your run of the mill basic “hunted by a serial killer” book.
Nola the main protagonist is trying to be an ordinary adult, go to work, see her friends, and try not to think about the horrific serial killer who tormented the east coast 20 years ago.
Just you know normal things.
Nola’s job is a radio host ( Night Watch) listening to haunting's and cryptid's, the regular things that go bump in the night. Until it becomes something real, someone who wants to hurt others just for the hell of it.

I couldn’t put this down, fun and made me more paranoid about looking out my kitchen window at night. Really do hope there isn’t a maniac watching me watching him.
The characters were relatable and sensible, I really did like the radio show aspect since nowadays everybody has at least one podcast they enjoy.
I do think the one thing that I did not like was an impromptu romance between two characters that didn’t give an organic vibe, it just came on too strong at the moment.
All in all I would read this again when October rolls around, a good thriller, perfect spooky vibes.

Thank You to Daphne Woolsoncroft, Grand Central Publishing, and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

I always love the true crime/podcast plot in a book, however it is a tad overdone! I enjoyed this book despite that and really liked the writing style! Some of the twists were predictable, but others left me guessing. Definitely recommend!

* an honest review of an ARC*
Another true crime podcast thriller but this one added a serial killer into the mix. It was a little too slow for me at times but I’m a fast paced thriller kind of girl. The switching of perspectives at some points was also jarring to me at times so it took me out of the story more than I wanted. But if you can’t get enough of the true crime podcast concept then give this one a try!

Requested this book off netgalley (thank you to them and the publishers!!) because the premise of this book sounded really interesting to me. One of my favorite reads from last year was bright young women by JK so I was extremely excited to start this book because I felt it gave a similar vibe. I found the author’s writing great and easy to follow (thriller mysteries can get a bit clunky) and I enjoyed the podcast and small town aspects of this book. I believe the author was also very successful in creating an intensely suspenseful environment, I was freaked out whenever I read this at night lmao

My main issues were with the pacing as well as the perspective switching. I DID enjoy reading from all perspectives, however going from first person to third person for the first few times were jarring. It also just felt really long at times which is why it took me a while to finish it. The subplot with the podcasters 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨 was also abrupt and idk I didn’t see the point?

Again, I did have an enjoyable experience reading this book - I love thrillers and books that don’t glorify or romanticize serial murderers. Would recommend to anyone who feels the same!

A true crime podcast based story with a serial killer antagonist… I’m in!

This story follows Nola (love the name) who narrowly escaped The Hiding Man when she was 8 years old. Since then she’s been tormented by those memories. And rightfully so! One night on her podcast show, she gets a terrifying call that leads her to believe The Hiding Man is back. And the story takes off from there!

Now I loveeee scary stories and scary movies! And I love being scared (I have an over active imagination 🤣) and this one did truly give me the creeps at parts. I could imagine being 8 year old Nola and I could imagine being her as an adult staring out her kitchen window and wondering if she’s going crazy.

I couldn’t decide on the rating of this book and it really came down to the ending. The closer I got to the end I knew it would determine the stars I gave. How could it not? There was so much hype leading up to WHO The Hiding Man was. The author sets up the story with multiple potential suspects and I guess I would have preferred a different outcome.

Overall, a good new thriller! I love the podcast angle since I’m a huge podcast fan and this one delivered.

Night Watcher is available on July 8, 2025.

Thank you to @netgalley and @grandcentralpublishing for this ARC.

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.

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.
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