Book Review: Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft

4⭐
Genre ~ mystery/thriller
Setting ~ Oregon
Publication date ~ July 8, 2025
Publisher ~ Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Audio
Est Page Count ~ 332 (50 chapters)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 7 minutes
Narrators ~ Helen Laser, Will Collyer
POV ~ 1st & 3rd
Featuring ~ debut, present and past timeline, serial killer, murder, violence

My review:

When Nola was just a kid a serial killer took her babysitters life while she was watching her. They were never caught. Now it’s 20 years later and she’s sure the killer is back, but no one believes her. Her past timeline was in the 3rd and the present in the 1st, present tense.

We get some Him chapters that enhanced the plot, but ultimately left me unexcited because I did call it and the why was meh.

We, also, hear from Jack the detective back then, and still now. His investigative skills weren’t super great, but I didn’t mind him as a character.

At one point Nola’s father is a possible suspect (in the blurb, not a spoiler) ~ really hated him and what made him one. Why does that have to be in so many books? Anyway, her mom and Harvey, the producer of the show, were great.

Overall, the suspense was great and I was on the edge of my drivers seat many times. Glad I listened or else I might have been looking over my shoulder quite a few times. You can tell the author is a true crime podcaster as she knew the ins and outs of the biz. A fab debut and I’ll definitely keep her on my radar.

Author’s note ~ adds an extra layer to the story since we learn it’s inspired by a true story because her aunt disappeared, probably murdered, many years ago before she was born.

Narration notes:
They both did a great job. She sounded properly frantic and emotional when necessary. He did good, sounded a little young when in the present, but good overall.

Road trip listened with my true, and fictional, crime loving teen. We finished it about 2 miles from home, so the timing was perfect.
Her thoughts ~ took a quick snooze, but enjoyed what happened while I was awake.

Get your copy on ~ Amazon

Add to your never ending TBR  ~ goodreads

I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve read it.

Book blurb:

Nola Strate, a late night call-in radio host in Portland, Oregon, listens to stories of hauntings and cryptic sightings for a living. But one foggy, wet evening, when a caller describes an eerie scene that triggers memories of Nola’s escape from a serial killer years before, she becomes fearfully aware that he’s back to finish what he started.

Nola Strate is being watched, again.

After an encounter with a notorious serial killer in the Pacific Northwest as a child, Nola has grown up and tried her best to forget her traumatizing night with The Hiding Man. She installed security cameras outside her Oregon home, never spoke of her experience, and now hosts Night Watch, a popular radio call-in show her semi‑famous father used to run. When coincidences lead Nola to believe that she is being stalked, and a caller on Night Watch has a live incident with an intruder in the caller’s home—the description of whom is chillingly familiar—Nola is convinced that The Hiding Man has resurfaced and is coming for her.

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.

Thanks for stopping by!  
Other ways to connect with me ⬇