Sometimes you read a thriller that really hits the spot, and this is one. ‘Nightwatching’ was recommended by Jennie Godfrey at this year’s The Book Taster Live Event, and I knew it was a book that I had to read.
We all know how hard it is to review a thriller, as there is absolutely no way that you can give spoilers, especially to one as good as this. But, I am going to do my best.
A family are isolated in their home in New England by bad weather, when they are convinced that there is someone in the house watching them. As our unnamed central character does everything she thinks she needs to do to protect her family, there seems to be very little support from those around her. Nobody seems to quite believe her as they should, and for me that was an interesting point along the way. But that is about all I can say as you really need to read this book to understand what a wonderful thriller it is.
It uses a lot of wonderful techniques to build the tension, such as using names very little, which supports in building tension. There are some paragraphs that flash back, but this is done to show how our central character is thinking as she tries to unravel what appears to be happening to her and family. And it really does lead the reader down one path, then another – and has you unsure who you can trust as a reader.
I would genuinely have so much more to say about this book – but I want people to read it, because it seems to have gone slightly under the radar and it deserves its time in the spotlight. It would be an incredible read for a book club as there is so much to unpick.
I am also pretty sure you will find it hard to believe that this is a debut novel – I can’t wait to see what else Tracy Sierra will write (I have done a little research and it looks like we will be lucky with another book in 2026).