I purchased this book for my own collection. I borrowed the audiobook from the library.
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing / Hachette Audio
Published: July 8, 2025
Summary:
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.
My thoughts:
OMG…what a creepy, unsettling read and yet, I couldn’t have loved it more! I am so glad I got to this one before the end of the year…it is definitely making my top reads for this year, without a doubt!
This book had me fully engaged and invested right from the get-go and there was never any lull. While I had the print version on hand, I pretty much listened to it all in one sitting, and really had a hard time stopping for any reason…I was that into the story…and I’m glad I started it first thing in the morning because I’m not sure it’s a book I’d want to be reading right before bed!
What I loved:
🖤 The true crime/podcast element
🔪 Uber creepy serial killer story
🖤 Past trauma
🔪 Misdirection and red herrings galore
🖤 Pitch-perfect pacing
Not sure how this is a debut, but it is not to be missed…and more importantly, the author’s note where Woolsoncroft shares the inspiration for this incredible story.
Audio thoughts:
The narration of this was amazing. Helen Laser and Will Collyer were phenomenal, hitting just the right tone for this creepy book. And I loved that the author herself read the intro…it was perfection all around!!
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