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

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.

I found Night Watcher to be an excellent thriller read that included tropes such as crime podcasts, family secrets, and a serial killer. There were parts of this read where I found myself to be highly jumpy; yes, I'm a scaredy cat, but I absolutely loved the read and would highly recommend it.

This book was FUN and I don't often gravitate towards thrillers much these days but this book had me on the edge of my seat. I kept anticipating the next bad thing and there were moments that just felt so realistically terrifying and eerie. The characters were well developed and the plot was spot on and had everything I enjoy in a thriller.

First thoughts/early bird review
I'll be back to shine this up!

Nola witnessed the murder of her childhood babysitter by the infamous serial killer, The Hiding Man, leaving a traumatic imprint on her adult life. Now, as an adult, she's taken over for her father’s late night call-in radio show featuring supernatural/paranormal experiences. One evening a call comes in that’s eerily similar to the murders that haunted Portland and touched Nola’s life.

Nola has a sense that she’s being watched and as the killings increase, her investigation hones in on someone close to her; as she follows the bread crumbs of the victims lives and those closest to her, it’s clear that The Hiding Man is watching, too.

I loved the growing tension in this story; Nola makes a fantastic MC and the supporting characters did not disappoint.
Tense and atmospheric, this is a page turning chilling thriller.

My thanks to HTP books for this gifted DRC! I’m excited to read more by this author!

Wow. I loved every page of this book. Woolsoncroft knows how to build suspense. I was jumping at every little sound I heard while reading. I’ll definitely be triple-checking that my door is locked, and my curtains are going to be pulled tight.

If you love a good suspenseful thriller, you’ll love Night Watcher.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this ARC! Woolsoncroft has a new fan.

I am a massive fan of Daphne Woolsoncroft's podcast, Going West. When I heard that she had a debut novel coming out, I knew that I had to get my hands on it. I am so excited that I was able to read it ahead of its release, courtesy of the publisher, Daphne, and NetGalley.

Night Watcher was extremely spooky and was so fun to read! It tells the story of Nola Strate, a radio host who happens to also be the child survivor of a notorious serial killer's attack. Now, The Hiding Man is back to killing, and Nola seems to be an ongoing target. I found the story of this faceless/masked man to be soooo creepy, and I was really compelled to keep reading to discover his identity.

The biggest "complaint" I have about this book is the pacing. Since it is a NetGalley book, I was reading it on my Kindle which can make it difficult to see how long it exactly is. But it felt extremely long. Some parts were extremely compelling and I couldn't put the book down. Other times I felt like the book was dragging and that there was a lot of extra detail and time in between key events that was unnecessary. Overall, the premise was super entertaining and accomplished what I think it set out to - I was creeped out!

4.5🌟
Oh my gosh…the beginning of this book was absolutely terrifying! I instantly thought, “What did I get myself into”!?🫣
But not to worry, my fellow scaredy cats. If you can get through the initial shock you’re in for a fantastic read! (Don’t give up!)

Nola is the online host for a popular radio show where callers share their own ghostly sightings. But tonight’s caller will change everything for Nola. This woman is claiming to see the figure of Nola’s 'true life' nightmare. The man who killed her babysitter in front of her all those years ago and was never caught. Can this be possible?

IS HE IS BACK?😱

Can Nola assist in rooting out The Hiding Man before he comes after her and finishing what he started?

Wow! A truly impressive debut.

Daphne Woolsoncroft’s writing felt polished and drew me in immediately. The storyline felt genuinely terrifying at times! The characters were all well developed and I loved Nola’s character as well as her supporting cast.

Here’s the break-down:
Writing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Character development ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Storyline ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Ending ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My only hiccup… I wanted a bit more punch from the ending, but overall it was an excellent debut! And I can’t wait to read her next!

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley

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.