Night Watcher is a chilling serial killer thriller and the debut novel of Daphne Woolsoncroft, host of the hit true crime podcast “Go West.” The novel combines true-crime-style sleuthing with slasher-style horror. The story follows late-night show host Nola Strate, who was scarred by witnessing a masked killer slaughter her babysitter at age eight. When a woman frantically calls in to her show describing a similar masked figure she’s witnessed outside her home—and is subsequently murdered—Nola suspects that the notorious “Hiding Man” has returned. With the police dismissive of her worries and her father’s odd behavior drawing suspicion, she sets out to confront the monster from her past and take him down.

This novel is highly original with its blending of true-crime podcast elements with classic 80s slasher-style horror, making it an addictive and highly bingeable read. The story is told from the dual perspectives of Nola and Jack, the police officer who’s been a friend of Nola and her dad for years. Nola’s palpable terror, along with her sheer determination to find and confront the killer who scarred her 20 years earlier, makes her POV extremely captivating and suspenseful. The POV of the killer also comes in intermittently, providing readers short, frightening glimpses into his demented psyche and his twisted plans!

Aside from Nola, Jack, and her father, the side characters only come for scenes that help advance the plot. Nola is a compelling and determined protagonist. As in most horror films, she makes (very obvious) poor choices that put her in danger—most notably returning home alone multiple times when she knows there’s big risk and not being completely honest with others about what’s been happening. Her amateur sleuthing efforts sometimes feel far-fetched, but her compelling dialogue and tense inner thoughts always keep readers fully engaged. Aside from Nola, Jack is the only other character who is well developed. His inner monologues portray him to be a very honorable man and a likeable character, and his shared history with Nola and her father adds additional layers of suspense to the story.

The pacing of the story is pretty relentless, with short chapters that often end in cliffhangers, keeping readers furiously turning the pages, needing to know how it’s all going to end! The constant, creepy tension, heightened by well-placed scares, will send shivers down readers’ spines! The story escalates in terror towards the end with some very graphic murder scenes that are not for the faint of heart—and it’s best not to read those scenes right before bed! The author’s notes at the beginning and end of the book provide fascinating insight into the author’s family history with a suspected killer and give insight into how the novel came about—they’re definitely worth a read as they make the story even more thought-provoking afterwards!

Overall, Night Watcher is a standout debut novel that will especially resonate with fans of slasher-style horror and true-crime. Readers looking for their next summer thriller with lots of psychological tension should immediately grab a copy of this book—and enjoy it with the lights on!