The Night Watcher by Tariq Ashkanani

 

Private investigator Callie Munro has been hired by Grant Miller to find out if his wife is having an affair. Shortly after providing the evidence, Grant's wife disappears, and everyone assumes he's responsible. Callie isn't so sure and soon uncovers a possible serial killer lurking around the streets of Edinburgh.

I first heard about Tariq Ashkanani in 2024 when absolutely everyone was talking about The Midnight King, a twisted tale about an author who is a serial killer (you can read my review here). When I saw that his latest novel, The Night Watcher, was available as part of the Amazon First Reads program, I didn't hesitate in downloading it.

The Night Watcher is the first book in the Callie Munro series, and I'll certainly be reading the rest of the series as they are published. Callie is such a likeable figure, despite her flaws. Being raised in the foster system has moulded Callie into a loner, she's tough and independent, she has no regard for authority and hates being told what to do. Woe betide anyone who thinks she's a pushover because she's female.

The story moves at a brisk pace. The writing is sparse, which adds to the momentum and reinforces the fact that Callie is a woman of action; she'll worry about the consequences later. This impulsive nature does cause problems as Callie finds herself straddling two very distinct worlds as she hunts for a serial killer. Finding an ally in the police force proves to be extremely beneficial, but this has to be carefully balanced with the support she gets from the leader of Edinburgh's largest criminal gang, support that Callie knows will, eventually, carry a cost.

Throughout the novel, we hear from the killer; these sections are chilling and haunting. When it becomes obvious that he knows that Callie is hunting him, you begin to worry for her safety, and begin to question who he is. I was surprised by the final reveal in this hard-hitting, gritty thriller, and it has left me wanting more.

The Night Watcher by Tariq Ashkanani will be published on 1st December 2025 in paperback, ebook and audio format.

Author Details

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.