Night Watcher
- Judith D Collins
- Dec 3, 2025
- 5 min read
Narrators: Daphne Woolsoncroft, Helen Laser, Will Collyer
ISBN: 9781538770900
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: 07/08/2025
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC) (ALC)
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 killer 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.
My Review
NIGHT WATCHER by Daphne Woolsoncroft intricately weaves a gripping tale around Nola Strate, a determined radio host whose life was forever altered by a harrowing childhood encounter with a notorious serial killer known as "The Hiding Man."
Years later, as she navigates the complexities of adulthood, Nola is unexpectedly thrust back into the shadows of her past when a chilling live on-air call hints at the terrifying possibility that the elusive killer has returned.
This electrifying suspense thriller masterfully explores themes of fear, survival, and the haunting echoes of unresolved trauma, as Nola must confront the demons that have long lurked just beneath the surface.
About...
Past Trauma: At eight years old, Nola witnesses her babysitter's murder by a masked man, the "Hiding Man," a notorious serial killer in the Pacific Northwest who had already killed seven people. She escapes, but the trauma haunts her for two decades.
The Radio Show: Nola now hosts "Night Watch," a popular call-in radio show in Portland, Oregon, previously led by her father.
A Chilling Call: A caller to Nola's show describes a live incident with an intruder, providing a description chillingly familiar to Nola's childhood attacker, and the call ends abruptly in a struggle.
Stalking and Suspicion: Coincidences and escalating strange events lead Nola to believe she is being stalked and that the Hiding Man is back to finish what he started.
The Investigation: The police do not take Nola's concerns seriously, forcing her to investigate the matter herself. From multiple suspects, including a mysterious next-door neighbor and Nola's own father, with evidence pointing towards them at different points, also adds tension and misdirection.
Night Watcher: Nola decides to become a "Night Watcher" herself to uncover the killer's identity.
POVs/Timelines: The story builds suspense through alternating perspectives (Nola, Jack, a detective, and him (killer) named Jack, and the killer) and timelines (present day and twenty years earlier).
Nola ultimately uncovers the killer's identity and confronts the monster from her past, leading to a surprising conclusion.
My thoughts...
In the gripping and atmospheric narrative of Daphne Woolsoncroft's NIGHT WATCHER, readers are drawn into a world that is as unsettling as it is thought-provoking. This masterfully crafted crime thriller delves deep beyond mere suspense, unearthing the profound journey of confronting and ultimately reclaiming one's identity from the shadows of enduring trauma.
Through the poignant and harrowing experiences of Nola Strate, the novel intricately navigates the haunting specter of childhood fears that persist into adulthood, shaping not only one's sense of self but also the fragile notion of safety. Woolsoncroft’s narrative deftly captures the intricate process of facing these demons head-on, revealing the resilience of the human spirit in the quest for healing and self-discovery.
Themes and Messages...
The Persistence of Trauma
Female Resilience and Agency
The Cost of Survival
Intuition vs. Inaction
Generational Trauma
Ultimately, the book suggests that true justice and safety are only found when a survivor is willing to stop hiding and confront their personal "boogeyman" head-on. Nola is a relatable character transitioning from a cautious survivor into an active investigator, leveraging a combination of technical preparation, sharp intuition, and personal resolve to confront her monster.
The title NIGHT WATCHER holds multiple layers of significance, reflecting the protagonist's career, her deepest fears, and her ultimate transformation. Evoking the "quiet dread" and "creepy ambiance" of the Pacific Northwest setting, where fog and darkness allow both the predator and the protagonist to lurk unseen. It frames the novel as a "voyeuristic insight" into the mind of a stalker and the resilience of his target.
The author...
No stranger to the crime world, Daphne Woolsoncroft, is a pro. A Los Angeles native, the host and producer of the hit true crime podcast Going West, with 150K-200K listeners per episode and over two million monthly downloads.
The audiobook....
I had the delightful experience of both reading the book and immersing myself in the audiobook. The audiobook was nothing short of spectacular, brought to life by a talented cast of stars: the phenomenal Helen Laser, the captivating Will Collyer, and the insightful author. Their narration filled the story with passion and emotion, making the characters leap off the page and into my imagination, creating an incredibly immersive listening experience that I won't soon forget. I highly recommend the audiobook.
Recs...
For readers who enjoyed Night Watcher's mix of a serial killer, a resilient female protagonist, deep trauma, and a true-crime element, the following psychological thrillers offer similar themes and tension.
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
Dark Corners by Megan Goldin
The Night Swim by Megan Goldin
The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard
Beneath the Devil's Bridge by Loreth Anne White
Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra
Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier
The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter
The Night Shift by Alex Finlay
A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing, Hatchette Audio, and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading and listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: July 08, 2025
Praise
“Chilling and atmospheric! Night Watcher grips you with a sense of voyeurism as though you're the one being watched."
―Jeneva Rose, New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Divorce
"A truly terrifying page-turner to be read with the lights on. Daphne Woolsoncroft is a thriller writer to watch!”
―Robyn Harding, internationally bestselling author of The Haters
“Daphne Woolsoncroft is a natural storyteller who earned a name for herself with the integrity and respect she brings to her popular true-crime podcast. She infuses her novel with the same heart and empathy while at the same time giving you chills up your spine. Night Watcher is a terrifying story about a young woman’s determination, the complex relationships of fathers and daughters, and a quest for justice. A stunner of a novel from a rising star in the genre.”
―Alex Finlay, bestselling author of Parents Weekend
“Tautly plotted and masterfully unsettling. Night Watcher is the kind of haunting thriller that doesn’t just entertain—it stays with you, making you question every noise in the dark."
Jessie Pray, co-host of LOVE MURDER Podcast
“I didn’t just read—I gasped, flinched, and clutched the pages like they were keeping me alive.”
―Andie Cassette, co-host of Love Murder Podcast
About the Author
Daphne Woolsoncroft, a Los Angeles native, is the host and producer of the hit true crime podcast Going West, with 150K-200K listeners per episode and over two million monthly downloads. When she's not writing or researching true crime cases, you can find her traveling to gloomy destinations, catching the newest horror film in theaters, or reading on the couch with her plump English Bulldog, Dewey. INSTAGRAM
