“As private investigators go, Callie Munro is tougher than most. She’s had to be. Abandoned as a baby and raised by a succession of strangers, she knows a thing or two about surviving…

…but she never expected to find herself hunting a serial killer.

After uncovering a string of missing women—women no one seems to care about—Callie refuses to look away. With police ignoring the evidence, her only ally is an organised crime boss with his own agenda.

The deeper Callie digs, the more dangerous the hunt becomes. Every clue exposes another lie. Every step brings the killer closer.

She’s fighting for the forgotten. But if she’s not careful, she’ll be next.”

Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to share my review of The Night Watcher by Tariq Ashkanani. The Night Watcher was published by Thomas & Mercer on 1st December 2025 and is available in paperback, audio and digital formats.

The first in a new series from Tariq Ashkanani, hooray! I count myself as a bit of a fan of this author. So I was surprised when Amazon announced an unexpected new release from him. Clearly, I’m living up to my reputation of not knowing who is publishing what and when. I’d totally missed this until it landed in my inbox as an Amazon First Reads. Thank you very much, Amazon. I’ll have *that* one–without looking at any of the others on offer. There was no question really. Anyhoo, I downloaded it and read it towards the end of 2025….and I loved it!

Callie Munro didn’t have the best start in life. Abandoned as a baby and passed around numerous foster homes, she feels she’s missing a crucial part of who she is by not knowing who her parents were. It has become a bit of a mission for her to find the truth. Now, Callie is a private investigator, investigating insurance fraud and cheating spouses on the mean streets of Edinburgh. Whilst investigating one such cheating spouse, she stumbles upon a number of other women who have disappeared. The police don’t seem all that concerned, but Callie is able to connect the dots and draw her own conclusions. Someone is hunting the women of Edinburgh, and if Callie doesn’t put a stop to it, she could be next…

What a thrilling thriller! Possibly the most thrilling, edge-of-your-seat book I’ve read in a while. The Night Watcher is the definition of a page-turner. Engrossing, tense and impossible to walk away from. I was drawn into the dark underbelly of Edinburgh, with Callie raging against the system, feeling hopeless and ineffectual. The pacing is fast, almost urgent, with something always happening. A new shock or surprise is just around the corner. The characters were interesting, not particularly likeable but I’ve come to expect that from most crime thrillers. Callie, herself, felt a little flat. Her past, her abandonment, plays a large part in who she is as an adult. I found myself not really caring about that side of her life (clearly, I’m a terrible person!). I just wanted her to hunt the bad guys down and do them some damage! I guess I didn’t feel fully invested in the character, but that can build with time. I do feel I’m being a little unfair and overly critical in this observation but it was how I felt whilst reading.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Night Watcher is a rollercoaster of a read. Thrills, spills and non-stop happenings. I loved how completely, how wonderfully full-on the plot was. I loved how dark and violent the book was overall. There’s one particular scene that I won’t go into for spoiler’s sake, but Callie is driving and gets a flat tyre. Oh my days, my heart was in my mouth. The apprehension, the tension, the complete and utter dread I felt. Marvellous stuff. I always love a writer who can evoke emotion in me and Ashkanani had me sweating buckets at that (and other points) during this book! If you’re looking for an entertaining thriller, then look no further. This is it. Easy to read, full of suspense, plenty of red herrings and superb pacing. Recommended.

The Night Watcher by Tariq Ashkanani was published in the UK by Thomas & Mercer on 1st December 2025 and is available in paperback, audio and digital formats (please note, the following links are affiliate links which means I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | bookshop.org | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop | damppebbles amazon.co.uk shop | damppebbles amazon.com shop |

Tariq Ashkanani is a writer based in Edinburgh, Scotland. His debut thriller, Welcome to Cooper, won the Bloody Scotland Debut Award and was shortlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger. The Cooper-verse continues in the prequel novel, Follow Me to the Edge.

His latest book – THE MIDNIGHT KING – won the Bloody Scotland McIlvanney Award.

When he’s not writing, his dulcet tones can be heard interviewing other writers on the podcast Page One, which he co-hosts.