Publication Date July 8, 2025

I’m generally not a huge fan of horror, creepy stalkers, or books that prompt me to get up and check to be sure the doors are locked. I am, however, a fan of talk radio, true crime (especially podcasts), and the “plucky heroine” trope. So I was intrigued to get a copy of Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft (thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley) in exchange for this honest review. 

I had heard this book mentioned on the podcast Going West (“…and I’m your host Daphne”) and was happy to dive right in. The protagonist, Nola Strate, is the host of a talk radio show that used to be run by her father. After her childhood trauma from her dealing with a notorious serial killer when she was growing up in the Pacific Northwest (full of serial killers, it seems),Nola takes precautions such as security cameras and generally tries to be cautious to avoid any more incidents. But events lead her to think she is being stalked, and then a caller to her show relates an incident with an intruder that is eerily reminiscent of Nola’s own experience…and the story takes off. 

There are plenty of creepy things, like a bizarro next-door neighbor, a police force that doesn’t take her seriously, a masked man, and clues that suggest her own father (EEEK!) may be involved. 

Woolsoncroft has a good ear for creepy stuff, and the story moves right along. It isn’t really my genre in terms of the “you won’t be able to sleep after reading this!” vibe, but it is solid escapist reading with plenty of familiar creepiness. I just wish the “plucky heroine” characters didn’t so often inspire the reader to yell things along the lines of “Don’t go into the basement! Are you insane?” I look forward to more from our host Daphne, and give this one 3.5 (rounded up to  four) stars.