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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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.