What happens when the voices of the night become the echoes of your past? Daphne Woolsoncroft’s Night Watcher takes this haunting premise and spins it into a pulse-pounding thriller that lingers in your mind long after the final page. Set in the fog-drenched streets of Portland, Oregon, this debut novel masterfully fuses psychological suspense, true crime realism, and the eerie intimacy of a late-night radio show.
Nola Strate, the host of a popular radio call-in show Night Watch, listens to stories of hauntings and unexplained encounters. But when one caller describes something that hits far too close to home, Nola’s carefully constructed world begins to unravel. Years ago, she escaped the clutches of a serial killer known as The Hiding Man. She has tried to forget, to move on, to live a quiet life behind security cameras and studio microphones. Until now. The voice on the line reignites her worst nightmare because it sounds like he’s back.
From the first few pages, Woolsoncroft grips readers with cinematic tension. The opening scene is terrifyingly vivid, the kind of horror that makes you glance at your window just to be sure no one is watching. The atmosphere drips with dread, but it’s not only the fear of what’s lurking in the dark it’s also the psychological unraveling of a woman who refuses to be a victim again.
Nola is a deeply compelling protagonist: intelligent, traumatized, and relentless. Her growth throughout the story feels real, her emotions raw and believable. The supporting cast her producer Harvey, the weary detective Jack, and her unsettling neighbor add layers of intrigue that keep the reader guessing at every turn. And though the police dismiss her claims, Nola’s determination to hunt the truth gives this story its fiery heart.
The narrative moves between past and present, using shifting perspectives that heighten suspense and deepen the mystery. Woolsoncroft, a true crime podcaster herself, injects authenticity into every scene. The way she portrays fear, obsession, and the thin line between paranoia and reality feels expertly researched and emotionally true.
Critics have praised the book’s sharp pacing and character depth. Some readers wished for a slightly punchier ending, but most agree that this debut is remarkably polished and deeply immersive. The tension builds like a storm rolling in quiet at first, then impossible to escape.
By the final chapters, the story crescendos into a nail-biting finale that will leave you breathless. The revelation of The Hiding Man’s identity may not be the only thing that chills you; it’s the realization of how trauma lingers, how memory deceives, and how danger can feel eerily familiar when it comes knocking again.
Woolsoncroft’s Night Watcher is the kind of thriller that demands to be read with all the lights on. Taut, haunting, and emotionally charged, it marks the arrival of a powerful new voice in psychological suspense. Fans of Lisa Jewell, Jennifer Hillier, and true crime fiction will devour this one in a single sitting.
If you’re ready for a story that will have you checking the locks twice before bed, grab your copy here: Buy Night Watcher on Amazon
