A great “don’t-let-strangers-in” plot I’ve read before was We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer. While that book leaned more toward horror, it absolutely blew my mind. If you’ve read it, you’re going to enjoy Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra just as much—except this one is a pure thriller.
From the very first page, Nightwatching grips you in its tense, claustrophobic atmosphere. Narrated from the perspective of a mother who must protect her children from an intruder. This psychological thriller is set against the backdrop of a snowstorm that cuts off all escape routes. The fast-paced, nail-biting tension will keep you on edge, and just when you think it’s over—oh no, you couldn’t be more wrong.
Plot Summary:
A mother is pushed to her breaking point when an intruder threatens her life and her children’s.
Home alone during a blizzard, she tucks her son back into bed and hears a noise. At first, it’s easy to dismiss as just another sound from the old house. But then comes the distinct, heavy tread of footsteps slowly climbing the stairs.
Terrified, she watches as a shadowed figure emerges in the hallway. Quietly waking her children, she hides them in a secret room concealed within the oldest part of the house. There, in suffocating darkness, she struggles to keep calm. Should she search for a weapon? Attempt escape?
Then she sees him again. That face. That voice. And suddenly, she realises she knows exactly who he is—and what he wants.
Tracy Sierra crafts a story that plays on primal fears, creating one of the most terrifying thrillers I’ve ever read. The author captures the psychological impact of being dismissed and disbelieved—a theme woven into the protagonist’s flashbacks and inner dialogue. These moments of self-doubt blur the lines between reality and perception, intensifying the horror of her ordeal.
The survival instincts of a mother protecting her children collide with raw fear, driving the story forward. Sierra’s portrayal of the protagonist’s mental battle is chilling and masterful. She uses flashbacks to tie the present danger to a haunting past, adding emotional depth and a sense of inevitability to the protagonist’s struggle.
The pacing is another highlight. Starting with a slow burn, it builds tension gradually before escalating into a relentless series of twists and turns. Sierra uses the snowstorm and the old house’s creaking isolation to create a setting that feels like a character in its own right—claustrophobic, eerie, and inescapable.
If you’re a fan of A Quiet Place or Hush, you’ll love Nightwatching. The tension of staying silent, hiding, and hoping the intruder leaves is palpable. Like in A Quiet Place, silence becomes its own form of communication, heightening the stakes with every suppressed breath or muffled movement.
For readers looking for similar narratives, Nightwatching evokes the isolation of No Exit by Taylor Adams and the mother-child survival dynamics of Room by Emma Donoghue. Fans of high-stakes thrillers like Panic Room will also find this story deeply satisfying.
At its core, this novel is a tribute to motherhood—the vulnerability of being alone with children in a dangerous situation, balanced by the primal instinct to protect them at all costs. The mother’s resilience, born of her love for her children, is what makes this story so compelling. The storm mirrors her emotional state: raw, chaotic, and unpredictable.
The book also delves into the long-term effects of gaslighting and invalidation. Through flashbacks, Sierra explores how past experiences of not being believed amplify the protagonist’s self-doubt. This psychological depth adds layers to the story, making the reader question: Is what we’re seeing real, or is it a projection of her worst fears?
Sierra’s descriptive writing is vivid and cinematic, immersing the reader in the snowstorm’s biting cold and the house’s oppressive darkness. The dialogue is sparse but effective, amplifying the tension. Every creak of the floorboards, every gust of wind feels meticulously crafted to keep you on edge.
The flashbacks are seamlessly integrated, providing context and emotional weight without disrupting the narrative’s flow. The pacing varies intentionally, slowing down to build dread and accelerating during moments of action or revelation.
One line that stayed with me was:
“Maybe bravery is just enduring. Maybe bravery doesn’t exist. All there is is getting through it.”
This sentence captures the essence of the story: a constant battle between fear and the will to survive.
Tracy Sierra’s debut thriller is a masterpiece of tension and psychological complexity. Nightwatching explores themes of fear, resilience, and the lengths a mother will go to protect her children. It’s a spine-chilling read that will leave you questioning every creak, shadow, and sound in your house long after you’ve turned the final page.
A must-read for fans of psychological thrillers, locked-room mysteries, and stories of survival. Even with its varying pace, Nightwatching delivers an unforgettable experience.