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The Windowman
Not yet published
Expected 8 Dec 26An accused LA serial killer disappears after being released on appeal, triggering a nationwide manhunt and descent into obsession that will thrill fans of Elmore Leonard and James Ellroy.
With a series of occult slayings, a killer known as “the Windowman” terrorizes Southern California and sends the media into overdrive.
Damon Midnight goes down for the crimes, but a botched prosecution sets him free. As he starts a new life in an idyllic suburb, he vanishes—and three intertwining narratives explore his public and private faces.
Annabelle Picolini is the Orange County schoolteacher who loves him. Harlan Crumb is the tormented prosecutor who is hunting him. Blaire Belmont is the hapless method actor who wants to be him—at least long enough for his breakout movie role. As they orbit around the mystery of Damon Midnight, clues to his fate begin to emerge.
Blending suspense and gallows humor, The Windowman is a twisty psychological crime novel that casts a wry glance at the American fixation on killers and fame.
With a series of occult slayings, a killer known as “the Windowman” terrorizes Southern California and sends the media into overdrive.
Damon Midnight goes down for the crimes, but a botched prosecution sets him free. As he starts a new life in an idyllic suburb, he vanishes—and three intertwining narratives explore his public and private faces.
Annabelle Picolini is the Orange County schoolteacher who loves him. Harlan Crumb is the tormented prosecutor who is hunting him. Blaire Belmont is the hapless method actor who wants to be him—at least long enough for his breakout movie role. As they orbit around the mystery of Damon Midnight, clues to his fate begin to emerge.
Blending suspense and gallows humor, The Windowman is a twisty psychological crime novel that casts a wry glance at the American fixation on killers and fame.
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication December 8, 2026
About the author
Christopher Goffard
7 books50 followersChristopher Goffard is one of America's most acclaimed literary journalists. He has written for the St. Petersburg Times and the Los Angeles Times. He is the author of You Will See Fire: A Search for Justice in Kenya, based on his Los Angeles Times series; the novel Snitch Jacket, which was a finalist for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel; and Dirty John and Other True Stories of Outlaws and Outsiders. His work appears regularly in the Best American Newspaper Narratives series.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 30, 2026
Oh my. This book made me completely uncomfortable and I could not get enough! Wow.
First off, I loved the prose and the depth of the words the author used to convey the story. I had to Google some of the words and phrases because, damn, I have never seen or heard some of them before!
This is a story about a convicted serial killer, a loving wife who would do anything for her husband, a failing actor, a deputy district attorney, and a fierce detective. All of them connected. All of them tormented by a vile human being.
Annabelle — Oh, poor Annabelle. I felt so sorry for her. Although she’s the kind of character you either love or hate, her character development, inner thoughts, and darker side carried an enigmatic force that kept pulling me in.
Crumb — Ugh, I hated being inside his head. A lovestruck DDA who made me cringe the entire time. Yet, there was a certain depth to his character beneath all his clouded judgment.
Jagger — I love her. She’s tough. She’s fierce. YES!
Blaire — Disturbed and lost, but he eventually found peace in the end. He became one of my favourite characters in this book.
Damon Midnight — Let’s just say he deserved every bad thing in the world.
Overall, this is a thought-provoking novel with equally complex characters. I enjoyed this one, even when it made me uncomfortable.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
First off, I loved the prose and the depth of the words the author used to convey the story. I had to Google some of the words and phrases because, damn, I have never seen or heard some of them before!
This is a story about a convicted serial killer, a loving wife who would do anything for her husband, a failing actor, a deputy district attorney, and a fierce detective. All of them connected. All of them tormented by a vile human being.
Annabelle — Oh, poor Annabelle. I felt so sorry for her. Although she’s the kind of character you either love or hate, her character development, inner thoughts, and darker side carried an enigmatic force that kept pulling me in.
Crumb — Ugh, I hated being inside his head. A lovestruck DDA who made me cringe the entire time. Yet, there was a certain depth to his character beneath all his clouded judgment.
Jagger — I love her. She’s tough. She’s fierce. YES!
Blaire — Disturbed and lost, but he eventually found peace in the end. He became one of my favourite characters in this book.
Damon Midnight — Let’s just say he deserved every bad thing in the world.
Overall, this is a thought-provoking novel with equally complex characters. I enjoyed this one, even when it made me uncomfortable.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This was an excellent serial killer thriller. I was intrigued by the people in his orbit. I liked the grittiness and the fact that the author didn't shy away from the darker parts.
September 2, 2026
There are those books that I am highly anticipating and those which I stumble across when searching for my next read.
The Windowman
by Christopher Goffard falls into the latter category and I am all the more happy for it. The Windowman was an unsettling, yet intriguing read where the characters shined in each and every chapter.
With a series of occult slayings, a killer known as “the Windowman” terrorizes Southern California and sends the media into overdrive.
Damon Midnight goes down for the crimes, but a botched prosecution sets him free. As he starts a new life in an idyllic suburb, he vanishes—and three intertwining narratives explore his public and private faces.
Annabelle Picolini is the Orange County schoolteacher who loves him. Harlan Crumb is the tormented prosecutor who is hunting him. Blaire Belmont is the hapless method actor who wants to be him—at least long enough for his breakout movie role. As they orbit around the mystery of Damon Midnight, clues to his fate begin to emerge.
Goffard crafts a story that takes nods from the Night Stalker case featuring Richard Ramirez, but definitely stands on its own. What is, in the end, a fascinating manhunt for a serial killer is also a wonderful character study of those surrounding the killer himself, including his wife (who he married after the killings), a district attorney, a detective, an actor, and a detective all on the search for something. With each chapter unfolding part of their story which also is really Damon Midnight's (the killer) story.
Each character is carry some sort of weight due to the actions of Midnight over the years. Annabelle, his wife, would do anything for him, even if things have been different since he was set free. You can feel her pain, but also the grief that builds as the days pass with him missing. Blaire, the actor, is studding for a role as the serial killer, but is also not all there himself. So diving deep into the mind of a killer is likely not the best for him. Not to mention those in law enforcement and the lawyer's who fought for his conviction, only to have him set free and the torment this must cause them.
Typically I am not one for a story with a ton of different characters, but Goffard chooses a variety of characters that are distinctively different and carry their own stories along with the center story. It's one of those books that I can connect with the characters, not fully on a personal level as I don't know any serial killers (that I know of), but in a way as I feel for their struggles.
The Windowman is a gripping character-driven thriller that carries a lot of weight. Author Christopher Goffard crafts a story with multiple points-of-view during a difficult time with a serial killer at the center. The Windowman isn't just as casual read as it might torment even you after putting it down. More proof to not put your blinders on when looking for a new read.
The Windowman hits bookstores everywhere on December 8, 2026 from Crooked Lane Books.
NOTE: We received an advance copy of The Windowman from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
With a series of occult slayings, a killer known as “the Windowman” terrorizes Southern California and sends the media into overdrive.
Damon Midnight goes down for the crimes, but a botched prosecution sets him free. As he starts a new life in an idyllic suburb, he vanishes—and three intertwining narratives explore his public and private faces.
Annabelle Picolini is the Orange County schoolteacher who loves him. Harlan Crumb is the tormented prosecutor who is hunting him. Blaire Belmont is the hapless method actor who wants to be him—at least long enough for his breakout movie role. As they orbit around the mystery of Damon Midnight, clues to his fate begin to emerge.
Goffard crafts a story that takes nods from the Night Stalker case featuring Richard Ramirez, but definitely stands on its own. What is, in the end, a fascinating manhunt for a serial killer is also a wonderful character study of those surrounding the killer himself, including his wife (who he married after the killings), a district attorney, a detective, an actor, and a detective all on the search for something. With each chapter unfolding part of their story which also is really Damon Midnight's (the killer) story.
Each character is carry some sort of weight due to the actions of Midnight over the years. Annabelle, his wife, would do anything for him, even if things have been different since he was set free. You can feel her pain, but also the grief that builds as the days pass with him missing. Blaire, the actor, is studding for a role as the serial killer, but is also not all there himself. So diving deep into the mind of a killer is likely not the best for him. Not to mention those in law enforcement and the lawyer's who fought for his conviction, only to have him set free and the torment this must cause them.
Typically I am not one for a story with a ton of different characters, but Goffard chooses a variety of characters that are distinctively different and carry their own stories along with the center story. It's one of those books that I can connect with the characters, not fully on a personal level as I don't know any serial killers (that I know of), but in a way as I feel for their struggles.
The Windowman is a gripping character-driven thriller that carries a lot of weight. Author Christopher Goffard crafts a story with multiple points-of-view during a difficult time with a serial killer at the center. The Windowman isn't just as casual read as it might torment even you after putting it down. More proof to not put your blinders on when looking for a new read.
The Windowman hits bookstores everywhere on December 8, 2026 from Crooked Lane Books.
NOTE: We received an advance copy of The Windowman from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
October 15, 2026
I knew I HAD to read this one when @crookedlanebooks reached out about it! A dark, gritty crime thriller about a missing serial killer? Occult slayings? 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧. 𝐌𝐞. 𝐔𝐏! 🔪🩸
࣪ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪
Damon Midnight, aka The Windowman, is an accused LA serial killer sitting in prison when Anna, a schoolteacher, falls in love with him. She should be terrified of the man who terrorized Southern California with a series of occult slayings, but she believes he's innocent.
When Damon is released after a botched prosecution, Anna thinks they're finally going to build a life together as a married couple, raising their son. But then Damon disappears... leaving behind nothing but his teeth and a thumb. 😳🩸
Enter Harlan Crumb, the prosecutor determined to uncover the truth. His investigation leads him to Blaire Belmont, a method actor who once hoped to land the role of Damon. As Harlan digs deeper, he uncovers a dark, twisted history between them, and the mystery surrounding Damon's disappearance becomes even more disturbing.
࣪ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪
Honestly, I wasn't sure how I felt about this book at first. There were definitely moments when I felt ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ uncomfortable and thought, "Uhh, I don't know if this one is for me..." But I pushed through, and I'm SO glad I did! The darkness and grittiness only added to the tension and made the buildup to the ending that much better. And THAT ENDING?! 🤯💥 𝕄𝕀ℕ𝔻. 𝔹𝕃𝕆𝕎ℕ.
I was fascinated by the different character POVs and how they all connected to Damon. He's absolutely VILE, so watching the tables turn and seeing him get a taste of his own medicine was SO satisfying.
✨ 𝖳𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄 𝗒𝗈𝗎 @𝖼𝗋𝗈𝗈𝗄𝖾𝖽𝗅𝖺𝗇𝖾𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗌 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗆𝗒 𝗀𝗂𝖿𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝖼𝗈𝗉𝗒 𝗈𝖿 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝖻𝗒 𝖢𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗉𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖦𝗈𝖿𝖿𝖺𝗋𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗌𝖾𝗌 𝗈𝗇 𝖣𝖾𝖼𝖾𝗆𝖻𝖾𝗋 8𝗍𝗁.
࣪ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪
Damon Midnight, aka The Windowman, is an accused LA serial killer sitting in prison when Anna, a schoolteacher, falls in love with him. She should be terrified of the man who terrorized Southern California with a series of occult slayings, but she believes he's innocent.
When Damon is released after a botched prosecution, Anna thinks they're finally going to build a life together as a married couple, raising their son. But then Damon disappears... leaving behind nothing but his teeth and a thumb. 😳🩸
Enter Harlan Crumb, the prosecutor determined to uncover the truth. His investigation leads him to Blaire Belmont, a method actor who once hoped to land the role of Damon. As Harlan digs deeper, he uncovers a dark, twisted history between them, and the mystery surrounding Damon's disappearance becomes even more disturbing.
࣪ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪
Honestly, I wasn't sure how I felt about this book at first. There were definitely moments when I felt ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ uncomfortable and thought, "Uhh, I don't know if this one is for me..." But I pushed through, and I'm SO glad I did! The darkness and grittiness only added to the tension and made the buildup to the ending that much better. And THAT ENDING?! 🤯💥 𝕄𝕀ℕ𝔻. 𝔹𝕃𝕆𝕎ℕ.
I was fascinated by the different character POVs and how they all connected to Damon. He's absolutely VILE, so watching the tables turn and seeing him get a taste of his own medicine was SO satisfying.
✨ 𝖳𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄 𝗒𝗈𝗎 @𝖼𝗋𝗈𝗈𝗄𝖾𝖽𝗅𝖺𝗇𝖾𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗌 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗆𝗒 𝗀𝗂𝖿𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝖼𝗈𝗉𝗒 𝗈𝖿 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝖻𝗒 𝖢𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗉𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖦𝗈𝖿𝖿𝖺𝗋𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗌𝖾𝗌 𝗈𝗇 𝖣𝖾𝖼𝖾𝗆𝖻𝖾𝗋 8𝗍𝗁.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Thank you to Crooked Lane for a complimentary arc of The Windowman. All opinions expressed are my own.*
I remember reading the synopsis for this and thinking, ‘this could be interesting’. What I didn’t expect was to be so delightfully surprised by just how well the book delivered exactly what the synopsis had already promised.
Despite being a work of fiction, this story had me feeling like I was watching real events unfold through four different perspectives during the Golden Age of serial killers. There’s an uncomfortable familiarity to it, particularly if you’ve watched documentaries about cases like Richard Ramirez or Ted Bundy. The influence of Ramirez and the Night Stalker case is noticeable, but Goffard never makes the story feel like a copy of what came before it. Instead, he takes that familiar atmosphere and builds something distinctly his own.
At the centre of the story is Damon Midnight, a man facing life in prison. Annabelle Picolini is the woman he meets and marries while he’s incarcerated. Blaire Belmont is a method actor desperate to become Damon in the hope that the role will finally give him his breakout performance. And Harlan Crumb is the prosecutor determined to bring Damon down.
Each POV works incredibly well, offering a different angle on the same phenomenon: what happens when a killer becomes a fixation for the media, the public, and how it affects the people closest to the case. Together, these perspectives create an authenticity that makes the story feel uncomfortably believable.
The Windowman is thought-provoking and delivers exactly what it promises: a look at America’s fascination with killers, fame, and the blurred line between infamy and celebrity. If you’ve ever found yourself intrigued by documentaries following the hunt and prosecution of serial killers over the last several decades, you’ll find plenty of that same uncomfortable intrigue and suspense here. A fictional story that feels just real enough to make you uneasy - and I couldn’t recommend it more.
I remember reading the synopsis for this and thinking, ‘this could be interesting’. What I didn’t expect was to be so delightfully surprised by just how well the book delivered exactly what the synopsis had already promised.
Despite being a work of fiction, this story had me feeling like I was watching real events unfold through four different perspectives during the Golden Age of serial killers. There’s an uncomfortable familiarity to it, particularly if you’ve watched documentaries about cases like Richard Ramirez or Ted Bundy. The influence of Ramirez and the Night Stalker case is noticeable, but Goffard never makes the story feel like a copy of what came before it. Instead, he takes that familiar atmosphere and builds something distinctly his own.
At the centre of the story is Damon Midnight, a man facing life in prison. Annabelle Picolini is the woman he meets and marries while he’s incarcerated. Blaire Belmont is a method actor desperate to become Damon in the hope that the role will finally give him his breakout performance. And Harlan Crumb is the prosecutor determined to bring Damon down.
Each POV works incredibly well, offering a different angle on the same phenomenon: what happens when a killer becomes a fixation for the media, the public, and how it affects the people closest to the case. Together, these perspectives create an authenticity that makes the story feel uncomfortably believable.
The Windowman is thought-provoking and delivers exactly what it promises: a look at America’s fascination with killers, fame, and the blurred line between infamy and celebrity. If you’ve ever found yourself intrigued by documentaries following the hunt and prosecution of serial killers over the last several decades, you’ll find plenty of that same uncomfortable intrigue and suspense here. A fictional story that feels just real enough to make you uneasy - and I couldn’t recommend it more.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
**A copy was provided to me via Netgalley**
An interesting perspective in an alternative universe, inspired by Richard Ramirez' s story as the Nightstalker. The "Windowman" explores the seedy underbelly of LA juxtaposed with the suffocating constraints of suburbia, in what could have followed the nuptials of the convicted serial murderer, had he ever been released back into the world. Much like Ramirez, the book's main character Damon Midnight is facing life in prison when he becomes enthralled by a Christian, virginal, red-headed paramour, from a childhood and life worlds away from his own. Strangely echoing real life, they form an unlikely bond and marry in prison, between their Cerulean Blue walls. However, unlike in real life, in the Windowman they finally consummate and explore what such an unusual and likely ill-fated pairing would have brought to the world. Explored from the perspective of a failing marriage and a criminal investigation, this is a riveting and tongue in cheek homage to America's fascination with serial killers, their demystification and the unveiling of the actual depravity and commonality of murder. Far from being a revolutionary thinker or mastermind evil genius, Damon Midnight becomes almost caricature of himself as the man and the myth are dissected. Much more interesting are revealed to be the lives affected and fascinated by his deeds, in an exploration of our uncomfortably human curiosity for consuming and seeking out of the macabre.
An interesting perspective in an alternative universe, inspired by Richard Ramirez' s story as the Nightstalker. The "Windowman" explores the seedy underbelly of LA juxtaposed with the suffocating constraints of suburbia, in what could have followed the nuptials of the convicted serial murderer, had he ever been released back into the world. Much like Ramirez, the book's main character Damon Midnight is facing life in prison when he becomes enthralled by a Christian, virginal, red-headed paramour, from a childhood and life worlds away from his own. Strangely echoing real life, they form an unlikely bond and marry in prison, between their Cerulean Blue walls. However, unlike in real life, in the Windowman they finally consummate and explore what such an unusual and likely ill-fated pairing would have brought to the world. Explored from the perspective of a failing marriage and a criminal investigation, this is a riveting and tongue in cheek homage to America's fascination with serial killers, their demystification and the unveiling of the actual depravity and commonality of murder. Far from being a revolutionary thinker or mastermind evil genius, Damon Midnight becomes almost caricature of himself as the man and the myth are dissected. Much more interesting are revealed to be the lives affected and fascinated by his deeds, in an exploration of our uncomfortably human curiosity for consuming and seeking out of the macabre.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews