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Eye Spy
Set on a fast-moving train over three hours, this high-octane thriller combines emotional family survival with edge-of-your-seat suspense.
Waiting for the Eurostar in Paris, Mark’s four-year-old daughter alerts him to a ‘Bad Man’ during a game of 'Eye Spy'.
Things only get worse when Mark notices that the man is on their train with a suspicious-looking suitcase, and he’s sitting ominously close.
With secrets unravelling from the past, can Mark piece together the jigsaw of his life in order to save his family?
Or will their journey come to a fatal end?
Waiting for the Eurostar in Paris, Mark’s four-year-old daughter alerts him to a ‘Bad Man’ during a game of 'Eye Spy'.
Things only get worse when Mark notices that the man is on their train with a suspicious-looking suitcase, and he’s sitting ominously close.
With secrets unravelling from the past, can Mark piece together the jigsaw of his life in order to save his family?
Or will their journey come to a fatal end?
- GenresThriller
Audible Audio
Published March 26, 2026
About the author
C.M. Ewan
6 books235 followersI write nerve-shredding thrillers about ordinary situations gone wrong -- the kind of thing that could happen to any of us!
My latest thriller THE INTERVIEW is about a seemingly normal job interview that turns out to be something very different and unexpected. It will be published in February 2022.
I'm also the author of A WINDOW BREAKS, a page-turning thriller that asks the question: what would you do if you woke up at 2 a.m. to hear somebody in your home?
I love to hear from readers and always respond to every email I receive.
You can contact me via:
my website www.chrisewan.com
on Twitter @chrisewan
on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chrisewanauthor
or on Instagram @c.m.ewan
Writing as Chris Ewan, I'm also the author of SAFE HOUSE, DARK TIDES, DEAD LINE and LONG TIME LOST, as well as the popular GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO ... series of mysteries about globetrotting crime writer and thief-for-hire, Charlie Howard.
THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO ... novels are warm, witty and perfect for fans of cosy mysteries. If you think you might like to try one, you can download your FREE copy of THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO MURDER, a novella set during the Cannes film festival, by visiting my website www.chrisewan.com and joining my email newsletter.
I was born in Taunton in 1976 and graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in American Studies with a minor in Canadian Literature, then later trained as a lawyer. After an eleven-year spell living on the Isle of Man, I now live in Somerset, England with my wife and two children, where I write full time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
April 12, 2026
Hot damn! An additive, white-knuckle ride of hairpin turns and palpable tension, Eye Spy was the crème de la crème of psychological thrillers in no uncertain terms. You see, with an action movie-like vibe and short, punchy chapters, I was swept up in this adrenaline-fueled tale from beginning to end. Don’t get me wrong, despite the fact that this story was driven by anxiety-inducing dread and a very real sense of fear, the true-to-life relationships between these relatable characters came alive on the page. Heartbreaking, propulsive, and beyond original, it took intriguing family drama and ultra high stakes and melded them together into one unputdownable novel. An unforgettable one-sitting read, I could feel my blood pressure rising higher and higher the closer I got to that *mic drop* of a last page. After all, it left me with a gigantic, Cheshire Cat-like grin on my face.
So what else did I love about Ewan’s newest page-turning stunner? Well, considering that it was blindingly fast-paced and chock-full of surprises, I was somewhat shocked to find such on-point characterizations. I mean, not only was the plot both taut and intense, but the emotion behind the action was perfectly drawn. Even better? I wasn’t able to guess a single thing. You see, with each additional twist, the plot shifted just enough to keep me from predicting what on earth was going on. But it was how everything felt both ripped from the headlines and deliciously unhinged that made me a fan. Well, and that ending. I can’t say much more without potentially spoiling the nail-biting showdown, so just know that if you love locked-room thrillers with a slight Harlan Coben feel mixed with cat-and-mouse chase vibes, you’re going to love this one as well. Rating of 5+ stars.
What else I loved:
- Took place over only three hours
- Dual interconnected plot lines
- Multiple POVs
- Oodles of suspicious characters
- Perfect pacing
- A masterclass in suspense
SYNOPSIS:
Eye Spy is the chillingly intense original thriller from C. M. Ewan, author of The House Hunt, The Interview and Strangers in the Car. Set on a fast-moving train over three hours, this high-octane thriller combines emotional family survival with edge-of-your-seat suspense.
Waiting for the Eurostar in Paris, Mark’s four-year-old daughter alerts him to a ‘Bad Man’ during a game of 'Eye Spy'.
Things only get worse when Mark notices that the man is on their train with a suspicious-looking suitcase, and he’s sitting ominously close.
With secrets unravelling from the past, can Mark piece together the jigsaw of his life in order to save his family?
Or will their journey come to a fatal end?
Thank you C.M. Ewan and Pan Macmillan for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 26, 2026
Content warning: bombing, death of parents, violence, murder, kidnapping, confinement, gun violence, mention of: stalking
So what else did I love about Ewan’s newest page-turning stunner? Well, considering that it was blindingly fast-paced and chock-full of surprises, I was somewhat shocked to find such on-point characterizations. I mean, not only was the plot both taut and intense, but the emotion behind the action was perfectly drawn. Even better? I wasn’t able to guess a single thing. You see, with each additional twist, the plot shifted just enough to keep me from predicting what on earth was going on. But it was how everything felt both ripped from the headlines and deliciously unhinged that made me a fan. Well, and that ending. I can’t say much more without potentially spoiling the nail-biting showdown, so just know that if you love locked-room thrillers with a slight Harlan Coben feel mixed with cat-and-mouse chase vibes, you’re going to love this one as well. Rating of 5+ stars.
What else I loved:
- Took place over only three hours
- Dual interconnected plot lines
- Multiple POVs
- Oodles of suspicious characters
- Perfect pacing
- A masterclass in suspense
SYNOPSIS:
Eye Spy is the chillingly intense original thriller from C. M. Ewan, author of The House Hunt, The Interview and Strangers in the Car. Set on a fast-moving train over three hours, this high-octane thriller combines emotional family survival with edge-of-your-seat suspense.
Waiting for the Eurostar in Paris, Mark’s four-year-old daughter alerts him to a ‘Bad Man’ during a game of 'Eye Spy'.
Things only get worse when Mark notices that the man is on their train with a suspicious-looking suitcase, and he’s sitting ominously close.
With secrets unravelling from the past, can Mark piece together the jigsaw of his life in order to save his family?
Or will their journey come to a fatal end?
Thank you C.M. Ewan and Pan Macmillan for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 26, 2026
Content warning: bombing, death of parents, violence, murder, kidnapping, confinement, gun violence, mention of: stalking
April 10, 2026
Who would have thought that a simple game of Eye Spy would lead to a terrifying journey on a Eurostar train.
Following a short break in Paris, the drama begins at check-in for the return journey to London and doesn’t let up. When the ‘Bad Man’ that four year old Molly spots is seated in the same carriage as Mark and his two daughters this turns into a mile a minute ride of unbelievable tension and suspense. Mark’s wife Claire is not with them, she has to work but insisted they go without her. However Claire has secrets of her own and as the story progressed, there is a foreboding that this train journey will not end well for anyone.
Mark has his own sad backstory which still haunts him, as does Claire – this is how they met. Mark isn’t a superhero – he’s just an normal dad, trying to get along with his moody and stroppy teenage stepdaughter Freya but from the situation he finds himself in on that train he has to dig deep and find every piece of courage and intuition to keep them safe. Seemingly outwitted at every turn by those who would suffer no guilt for the consequences of their actions, he must find a way to get his family off that train alive.
With chapters counting down the timeline to arrival in London, the suspense never lets up. There are aspects to this thriller to make it different from the norm and although I guessed some of where it was heading, there was an intake of breath at certain revelations and twists.
This was a cracking read and I thoroughly enjoyed it even if I didn’t have any fingernails left at the end! I’ve been on the Eurostar many times but thankfully, unlike Mark and his family, the only drama I’ve encountered is not putting my watch forward an hour on arrival in Paris 😳
A definite recommended read.
Following a short break in Paris, the drama begins at check-in for the return journey to London and doesn’t let up. When the ‘Bad Man’ that four year old Molly spots is seated in the same carriage as Mark and his two daughters this turns into a mile a minute ride of unbelievable tension and suspense. Mark’s wife Claire is not with them, she has to work but insisted they go without her. However Claire has secrets of her own and as the story progressed, there is a foreboding that this train journey will not end well for anyone.
Mark has his own sad backstory which still haunts him, as does Claire – this is how they met. Mark isn’t a superhero – he’s just an normal dad, trying to get along with his moody and stroppy teenage stepdaughter Freya but from the situation he finds himself in on that train he has to dig deep and find every piece of courage and intuition to keep them safe. Seemingly outwitted at every turn by those who would suffer no guilt for the consequences of their actions, he must find a way to get his family off that train alive.
With chapters counting down the timeline to arrival in London, the suspense never lets up. There are aspects to this thriller to make it different from the norm and although I guessed some of where it was heading, there was an intake of breath at certain revelations and twists.
This was a cracking read and I thoroughly enjoyed it even if I didn’t have any fingernails left at the end! I’ve been on the Eurostar many times but thankfully, unlike Mark and his family, the only drama I’ve encountered is not putting my watch forward an hour on arrival in Paris 😳
A definite recommended read.
April 11, 2026
This book was quite the ride! C.M EWAN is an exceptional author and I have thoroughly enjoyed most of his books. This one was no exception. In full transparency, I couldn’t fully get into the story for the first half of the book because of the pieces of the story that were missing… but once I got to the part where everything just clicked together and I fully understood what was happing - I enjoyed it a lot! The second half was pacy, edge of your seat and action packed! The twists were expertly crafted. Specifically the last quarter of the book was immensely good. C.M EWAN never lets me down and his writing is just impeccable. I truly can’t wait for his next. 4 🌟
March 30, 2026
I'm not sure any book has ever made me feel as anxious as Eye Spy, and I mean that in the best way possible. Punchy, fast-paced, and with not a single moment to spare, C.M. Ewan has demonstrated his expertise in creating tense situations that you can't look away from, even if your heart is in your mouth from start to finish.
Eye Spy is the story of Mark who's on his way back from a trip to Paris with his young daughter, Molly, and teenage step-daughter, Freya. It's been an uneventful trip, and Mark expects an uneventful journey home, too. But when Molly points out a 'Bad Man' in baggage check in the station during a game of eye spy, the three-hour journey home to London spirals quickly into a nightmare.
I don't need to spoil any more of the plot, because the joy of Eye Spy is experiencing everything as it unravels. Short and sharp chapters, often just three pages long, hold your attention on a knife edge, and from one cliffhanger to another, you'll be furiously turning the pages, desperate to find out what's going to happen.
Ewan has such a fantastic writing style; accessible, relatable and human, while also being tense and heart-stopping. Not a word has been spared - everything on the page exists purely to either up the tension or make you care about these characters. An incredible novel, and undoubtedly one of the best thrillers of the year. Do not sleep on this one.
Eye Spy is the story of Mark who's on his way back from a trip to Paris with his young daughter, Molly, and teenage step-daughter, Freya. It's been an uneventful trip, and Mark expects an uneventful journey home, too. But when Molly points out a 'Bad Man' in baggage check in the station during a game of eye spy, the three-hour journey home to London spirals quickly into a nightmare.
I don't need to spoil any more of the plot, because the joy of Eye Spy is experiencing everything as it unravels. Short and sharp chapters, often just three pages long, hold your attention on a knife edge, and from one cliffhanger to another, you'll be furiously turning the pages, desperate to find out what's going to happen.
Ewan has such a fantastic writing style; accessible, relatable and human, while also being tense and heart-stopping. Not a word has been spared - everything on the page exists purely to either up the tension or make you care about these characters. An incredible novel, and undoubtedly one of the best thrillers of the year. Do not sleep on this one.
April 11, 2026
ARC review received via NetGalley
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up
I sped through the last 40% of this book in 1 sitting- and I think that says it all!
This story follows Mark, step dad to Freya (15) and Dad to Molly (4) whilst on a return trip on the Eurostar between Paris and London. When Mark becomes suspicious of another passenger travelling on the train, the journey home quickly turns into a journey Mark or his family will never forget.
When I say this book gave me THE WORST anxiety, I cannot emphasise that enough. I think in part I just heavily related to Mark as I also have a 4 year old daughter and a 16 year old stepdaughter (the similarity was uncanny since, like Mark, I also met my stepdaughter when she was 9!!) but that said, it is clear that C.M. Ewan’s knows how to write high stakes and that kept me on the edge of my seat the ENTIRE time.
If you enjoy anxiety inducing, nerve wracking , high stakes and full of suspense thrillers, this one is for you!
A huge thank you to Pan Macmillan, C.M Ewan and NetGalley for access to this ARC.
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up
I sped through the last 40% of this book in 1 sitting- and I think that says it all!
This story follows Mark, step dad to Freya (15) and Dad to Molly (4) whilst on a return trip on the Eurostar between Paris and London. When Mark becomes suspicious of another passenger travelling on the train, the journey home quickly turns into a journey Mark or his family will never forget.
When I say this book gave me THE WORST anxiety, I cannot emphasise that enough. I think in part I just heavily related to Mark as I also have a 4 year old daughter and a 16 year old stepdaughter (the similarity was uncanny since, like Mark, I also met my stepdaughter when she was 9!!) but that said, it is clear that C.M. Ewan’s knows how to write high stakes and that kept me on the edge of my seat the ENTIRE time.
If you enjoy anxiety inducing, nerve wracking , high stakes and full of suspense thrillers, this one is for you!
A huge thank you to Pan Macmillan, C.M Ewan and NetGalley for access to this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 ⭐ rounded up.
This is my first book by C. M. Ewan and it was an absolute blast. The chapters are short and sharp, and the twists and turns begin almost immediately. It pulls you in quickly and doesn’t really give you a chance to catch your breath.
I can’t say I truly loved any of the characters, apart from adorable Molly, but they felt realistic, relatable and well developed. Even when they frustrated me, I was still rooting for them, which says a lot about how well they were written.
There’s a part of me that wants to say some of the storyline felt a little implausible. But honestly, given how unpredictable and chaotic the real world can be, especially right now, it didn’t feel as far fetched as it might have done a few years ago.
Overall, this was a fast paced, gripping thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC. This review is my own.
This is my first book by C. M. Ewan and it was an absolute blast. The chapters are short and sharp, and the twists and turns begin almost immediately. It pulls you in quickly and doesn’t really give you a chance to catch your breath.
I can’t say I truly loved any of the characters, apart from adorable Molly, but they felt realistic, relatable and well developed. Even when they frustrated me, I was still rooting for them, which says a lot about how well they were written.
There’s a part of me that wants to say some of the storyline felt a little implausible. But honestly, given how unpredictable and chaotic the real world can be, especially right now, it didn’t feel as far fetched as it might have done a few years ago.
Overall, this was a fast paced, gripping thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC. This review is my own.
November 22, 2025
'I spy with my little eye, something beginning with ... B and M.'
'Bad Man.'
Mark is travelling back from Paris with his four-year-old daughter, Molly, and fifteen-year-old step-daughter, Freya. His wife Claire had to drop out of the trip last minute due to work, so Mark has had his hands full.
They’re making their way through the Eurostar security line when Molly suddenly and very loudly, much to Mark's embarrassment, announces that she’s spotted a "bad man" during a game of I/Eye Spy. Merde!
Once they’re on board and settled, Mark tries to steal a moment to read, but that plan is quickly derailed as he notices the Bad Man taking a seat nearby. Mark’s train of thought turns back to Molly’s earlier observation. Why did she say it? What exactly does she see?
If this sounds like an interesting journey, you’re on the right track. Anyone who has read any C. M. Ewan before will know he takes everyday situations and then cranks them up to 11. With most of the story taking place on the train itself, the time frame of the short 2+ hour journey really adds to the pacing and tension.
One of my favourite parts of the book was actually the relationship between Mark and his daughters. As a step-mum myself, As a step-mum myself, I found the family’s dynamic believable and well written.
If you’re looking for a tense, fast-paced thriller, then you should get all aboard and choo-choose 'Eye Spy'.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the ARC.
'Bad Man.'
Mark is travelling back from Paris with his four-year-old daughter, Molly, and fifteen-year-old step-daughter, Freya. His wife Claire had to drop out of the trip last minute due to work, so Mark has had his hands full.
They’re making their way through the Eurostar security line when Molly suddenly and very loudly, much to Mark's embarrassment, announces that she’s spotted a "bad man" during a game of I/Eye Spy. Merde!
Once they’re on board and settled, Mark tries to steal a moment to read, but that plan is quickly derailed as he notices the Bad Man taking a seat nearby. Mark’s train of thought turns back to Molly’s earlier observation. Why did she say it? What exactly does she see?
If this sounds like an interesting journey, you’re on the right track. Anyone who has read any C. M. Ewan before will know he takes everyday situations and then cranks them up to 11. With most of the story taking place on the train itself, the time frame of the short 2+ hour journey really adds to the pacing and tension.
One of my favourite parts of the book was actually the relationship between Mark and his daughters. As a step-mum myself, As a step-mum myself, I found the family’s dynamic believable and well written.
If you’re looking for a tense, fast-paced thriller, then you should get all aboard and choo-choose 'Eye Spy'.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the ARC.
March 9, 2026
4.5⭐️💫 Waiting for the Eurostar in Paris, Mark’s four-year-old daughter alerts him to a ‘Bad Man’ during a game of 'Eye Spy'. Things only get worse when Mark notices that the man is on their train with a suspicious-looking suitcase, and he’s sitting ominously close. With secrets unravelling from the past, can Mark piece together the jigsaw of his life in order to save his family? Or will their journey come to a fatal end?
Wow, this is a book that grabs your attention right from the very first page!
I absolutely loved the format of this story being told in real-time, the clock counting down to the arrival of the Eurostar train in London after leaving Paris. The events that happen in this three hour period are tense & action-packed and honestly, I felt like I was a passenger on the train with Mark, Freya and Molly, living through every experience and emotion with them.
Chris’s writing is always gripping and intriguing and this latest title doesn’t deviate from this, giving you the feeling of your heart racing throughout, not allowing you to disembark from the tense journey until the ultimate mind-blowing conclusion.
The chapters giving Claire’s POV were perfectly balanced and inserted at just the right sections to increase the intrigue and suspicion, I honestly didn’t figure out the twists at all until each reveal moment. The fast pace makes this such an encapsulating read, I can also see it making a very good film too!
Another brilliant read from Chris, if you want a high octane twisty thriller then look no further, highly recommend!
Wow, this is a book that grabs your attention right from the very first page!
I absolutely loved the format of this story being told in real-time, the clock counting down to the arrival of the Eurostar train in London after leaving Paris. The events that happen in this three hour period are tense & action-packed and honestly, I felt like I was a passenger on the train with Mark, Freya and Molly, living through every experience and emotion with them.
Chris’s writing is always gripping and intriguing and this latest title doesn’t deviate from this, giving you the feeling of your heart racing throughout, not allowing you to disembark from the tense journey until the ultimate mind-blowing conclusion.
The chapters giving Claire’s POV were perfectly balanced and inserted at just the right sections to increase the intrigue and suspicion, I honestly didn’t figure out the twists at all until each reveal moment. The fast pace makes this such an encapsulating read, I can also see it making a very good film too!
Another brilliant read from Chris, if you want a high octane twisty thriller then look no further, highly recommend!
April 6, 2026
All my reviews can be found at damppebbles.com
I could not put this book down! Wow. Tense, utterly gripping and with a delicious sense of building dread, this family thriller set on the Eurostar had me on the literal edge of my seat. Mark and his family (four-year-old Molly and fifteen-year-old stepdaughter Freya) are heading home after a short break in Paris. Mark’s wife, Claire, had to stay behind due to a work emergency, but she insisted they go ahead with the break anyway. Mark is understandably exhausted, and the girls are anxious to see their mum. But going through security, Molly does what four-year-olds sometimes do. She makes an uncomfortable comment about one of their fellow passengers during a game of Eye Spy. But this is no ordinary, embarrassing comment. This is a whole new level of awkwardness. She calls the passenger a ‘Bad Man’. Mark is instantly mortified, but also on high alert. When the stranger boards the same train as Mark, but this time with a slightly different-looking suitcase, Mark’s concern grows exponentially. Stuck a few seats away from this ominous stranger and with his mind working overtime, cautious Mark knows he needs to act. Before it’s too late…..
Eye Spy is a high-stakes, full-on family thriller that I devoured with utter glee. The book starts with a shocking scene: a terrorist attack in Helsinki, which kills several bystanders, including Mark’s recently retired parents. Mark is on a video call with them when it happens, ensuring he suffers the kind of trauma no amount of time or therapy will ever erase. As a result, Mark is a cautious man. Always alert, always aware of what is going on in the background. The tragedy, however, does bring a note of happiness when he meets Claire, whose father was also killed in the same attack. They later marry and have a daughter, Molly. So when presented with a ‘Bad Man’ who is acting highly suspicious on the Eurostar, Mark’s instincts automatically kick in. But in truth, he doesn’t know the half of it. I really liked Mark. The situation he finds himself in is pretty concerning to start with. It then spirals into something utterly terrifying. Trapped in a metal tube under the English Channel with his two daughters to protect and very little help from elsewhere, I was gripped and unable to tear myself away from the story. And on the occasions I did have to ‘do normal life’, I was always excited to return to Eye Spy.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Eye Spy is a tense, taut and completely engaging thriller which I devoured with gusto. Perfectly paced with bucketfuls of intrigue, I loved every second I spent reading this brilliantly written book. I’ve said it once, but I’ll say it again, WOW! I believed in the characters, I believed in their situation, and I couldn’t get enough of Mark’s journey to the truth (and what a truth it is!). Seriously good stuff! Chock-full of suspicion and mounting dread, utterly compelling from the get-go, this book hooked me in and didn’t let me go until I’d turned the final page. Just superb! I was kept guessing throughout. At no point was I able to predict where the story was going, which is always a bonus. I’ve read books by this author before and he never disappoints. I am officially a fan. All in all, Eye Spy is impossible to tear yourself away from. It’s a captivating, high-octane family-driven thriller with tonnes of suspense, suspicion and a superbly written cast of characters. Just when you think things can’t get any worse for Mark, they do. Tenfold. Bloody marvellous! Highly recommended.
I could not put this book down! Wow. Tense, utterly gripping and with a delicious sense of building dread, this family thriller set on the Eurostar had me on the literal edge of my seat. Mark and his family (four-year-old Molly and fifteen-year-old stepdaughter Freya) are heading home after a short break in Paris. Mark’s wife, Claire, had to stay behind due to a work emergency, but she insisted they go ahead with the break anyway. Mark is understandably exhausted, and the girls are anxious to see their mum. But going through security, Molly does what four-year-olds sometimes do. She makes an uncomfortable comment about one of their fellow passengers during a game of Eye Spy. But this is no ordinary, embarrassing comment. This is a whole new level of awkwardness. She calls the passenger a ‘Bad Man’. Mark is instantly mortified, but also on high alert. When the stranger boards the same train as Mark, but this time with a slightly different-looking suitcase, Mark’s concern grows exponentially. Stuck a few seats away from this ominous stranger and with his mind working overtime, cautious Mark knows he needs to act. Before it’s too late…..
Eye Spy is a high-stakes, full-on family thriller that I devoured with utter glee. The book starts with a shocking scene: a terrorist attack in Helsinki, which kills several bystanders, including Mark’s recently retired parents. Mark is on a video call with them when it happens, ensuring he suffers the kind of trauma no amount of time or therapy will ever erase. As a result, Mark is a cautious man. Always alert, always aware of what is going on in the background. The tragedy, however, does bring a note of happiness when he meets Claire, whose father was also killed in the same attack. They later marry and have a daughter, Molly. So when presented with a ‘Bad Man’ who is acting highly suspicious on the Eurostar, Mark’s instincts automatically kick in. But in truth, he doesn’t know the half of it. I really liked Mark. The situation he finds himself in is pretty concerning to start with. It then spirals into something utterly terrifying. Trapped in a metal tube under the English Channel with his two daughters to protect and very little help from elsewhere, I was gripped and unable to tear myself away from the story. And on the occasions I did have to ‘do normal life’, I was always excited to return to Eye Spy.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Eye Spy is a tense, taut and completely engaging thriller which I devoured with gusto. Perfectly paced with bucketfuls of intrigue, I loved every second I spent reading this brilliantly written book. I’ve said it once, but I’ll say it again, WOW! I believed in the characters, I believed in their situation, and I couldn’t get enough of Mark’s journey to the truth (and what a truth it is!). Seriously good stuff! Chock-full of suspicion and mounting dread, utterly compelling from the get-go, this book hooked me in and didn’t let me go until I’d turned the final page. Just superb! I was kept guessing throughout. At no point was I able to predict where the story was going, which is always a bonus. I’ve read books by this author before and he never disappoints. I am officially a fan. All in all, Eye Spy is impossible to tear yourself away from. It’s a captivating, high-octane family-driven thriller with tonnes of suspense, suspicion and a superbly written cast of characters. Just when you think things can’t get any worse for Mark, they do. Tenfold. Bloody marvellous! Highly recommended.
April 4, 2026
Mark is about to board the Eurostar from Paris to London with his four year-old daughter Molly and his teenage step daughter Emily. Molly suddenly announces that she’s spotted a ‘bad man’, much to mark’s embarrassment. However this soon changes to concern when he realises the man is sitting very close to them on the train - and carrying a completely different suitcase. Should Mark speak up? Or stay quiet?
Whew, this is how you write a thriller! The short snappy chapters had me hooked from page one and I think I read the first hundred pages without even realising, I was that engrossed. It’s wonderfully written with relatable and endearing characters (I loved Molly so much) but also simmering with suspicious ones too. I honestly didn’t know who to trust!
I read a lot of thrillers, just like you lot do, so nothing much phases me these days. However Eye Spy is different. It really dud get my heart racing, it really was impossible to put down and I genuinely had no clue where the story was going.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I really think he’s a force to be reckoned with.
Whew, this is how you write a thriller! The short snappy chapters had me hooked from page one and I think I read the first hundred pages without even realising, I was that engrossed. It’s wonderfully written with relatable and endearing characters (I loved Molly so much) but also simmering with suspicious ones too. I honestly didn’t know who to trust!
I read a lot of thrillers, just like you lot do, so nothing much phases me these days. However Eye Spy is different. It really dud get my heart racing, it really was impossible to put down and I genuinely had no clue where the story was going.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I really think he’s a force to be reckoned with.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
I really enjoyed this and the setting was interesting as well, taking place mostly on a train.
I had guessed a couple of things before they were revealed but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book.
I really enjoyed this and the setting was interesting as well, taking place mostly on a train.
I had guessed a couple of things before they were revealed but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book.
February 8, 2026
5⭐️
AD-PR PRODUCT
A fast-paced, alarmingly good thriller! 😍
Brace yourself as you board this thrilling read with ascending tension and a plot that throttles with conviction. The chapters were short and snappy, the story was cleverly unwound and the book had some shocking twists.
I loved the instant wave of feeling as if something troubling to come is thrust upon you from the beginning and how this remained throughout the entire read. Ewan captures your attention with a game of Eye Spy which will never let you look at the game the same way again.
Ewan’s writing is skilful and slick and not once did my attention waver from this high-octane read. My heart was beating in parallel with the speed of the train as I grappled with the pages to steadfastly unravel the story.
I had mixed feelings about the protagonist Mark, as at times I wanted to shake him and tell him to do something about the situation, but at other times I really sympathised with the nightmare position he was in, especially with his children. Despite the book’s fast-paced nature, the train journey felt like a lifetime for Mark and I love how Ewan achieved this balance.
The book culminated very unexpectedly and I was really impressed as I didn’t know the direction it was heading in throughout. This read is a fantastically entertaining ride and the perfect book to binge.
A huge thank you @bookbreakuk @panmacmillan for this proof copy of Eye Spy which is publishing March 2026! 💛
You must check out this book! 😍
⚠️ Please check out the trigger warnings! ⚠️
AD-PR PRODUCT
A fast-paced, alarmingly good thriller! 😍
Brace yourself as you board this thrilling read with ascending tension and a plot that throttles with conviction. The chapters were short and snappy, the story was cleverly unwound and the book had some shocking twists.
I loved the instant wave of feeling as if something troubling to come is thrust upon you from the beginning and how this remained throughout the entire read. Ewan captures your attention with a game of Eye Spy which will never let you look at the game the same way again.
Ewan’s writing is skilful and slick and not once did my attention waver from this high-octane read. My heart was beating in parallel with the speed of the train as I grappled with the pages to steadfastly unravel the story.
I had mixed feelings about the protagonist Mark, as at times I wanted to shake him and tell him to do something about the situation, but at other times I really sympathised with the nightmare position he was in, especially with his children. Despite the book’s fast-paced nature, the train journey felt like a lifetime for Mark and I love how Ewan achieved this balance.
The book culminated very unexpectedly and I was really impressed as I didn’t know the direction it was heading in throughout. This read is a fantastically entertaining ride and the perfect book to binge.
A huge thank you @bookbreakuk @panmacmillan for this proof copy of Eye Spy which is publishing March 2026! 💛
You must check out this book! 😍
⚠️ Please check out the trigger warnings! ⚠️
Read
March 29, 2026Reading the entirety of this book that takes place on a Eurostar train with my sister while we were also on a Eurostar train was incredibly fun! And it’s such a good book as well, I was invested and intruiged from beginning to end.
April 4, 2026
This book is a full on read from start to finish. The story moves as fast as the train it is set on. Honestly, this is a super fast paced book that moves the story on quickly with such energy but everything is relevant, every word, character and action helps make the story feel very real. The reactions and feelings of every character are written so well especially 4 year old Molly, she brings the story to life because she is an innocent character in every sense of the word. This story is brilliantly written and I will now work my way through the author’s back catalogue.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Helsinki, 6 years previously Marks parents were killed in a terrorist attack. Since then, he suffers from paranoia and panic attacks so when his young daughter spots a "bad man" in a security queue before boarding the Eurostar from Paris to London his senses are heightened. Much of the story is based on the train where Mark's neurosis and paranoia becomes even greater. Unbeknown to him his wife Claire, who cancelled going on the trip to Paris, is meeting with a mystery man in a hotel.
I found this a fairly unique storyline, but my personal opinion is that it could have been condensed somewhat. I get that we're supposed to feel Mark's tension but for some reason I can't explain he annoyed me. Once the train approached London and we were on proper soil I found the book more suspenseful. A satisfying ending though
I found this a fairly unique storyline, but my personal opinion is that it could have been condensed somewhat. I get that we're supposed to feel Mark's tension but for some reason I can't explain he annoyed me. Once the train approached London and we were on proper soil I found the book more suspenseful. A satisfying ending though
April 2, 2026
This was so tense from the start, action all the way. I was fully immersed as soon as things took a turn. Mark and his 2 girls are on a city break in Paris and when they are getting the Eurostar back to England, a game of Eye Spy takes a bit of a weird and sinister turn when Molly’s go alerts Mark to a Bad man. From there, things just spiral and he must do everything the bad man says or he’ll never see Freya again.
This was so well written, all go from the start and there were so many twists and secrets that just kept showing up. There were chapters from Claire, Marks’ wife, that didn’t make sense to begin with then revealed a horrid truth. A really great book and an author I’ll definitely read again.
This was so well written, all go from the start and there were so many twists and secrets that just kept showing up. There were chapters from Claire, Marks’ wife, that didn’t make sense to begin with then revealed a horrid truth. A really great book and an author I’ll definitely read again.
March 26, 2026
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed C M Ewan’s books in the past but this one fell a little bit short for me. I found Mark a weak and pathetic character who I thoroughly disliked from the start. The skipping from a terrorist attack in Helsinki six years previously, to now when Mark is on a Eurostar train from Paris to London with his teenage stepdaughter and his four year old daughter, to a London hotel bar where Mark’s wife is meeting an unknown man all should have served to be tension inducing but sadly the over descriptions of Mark’s train journey was like wading through treacle. I appreciate the plot was good on paper but I think it missed the mark for me.
January 17, 2026
This was tense with a capital T, I was so freaked out by Molly’s observations, the setting being in a trapped environment really added to this.
I’m a massive fan of the author, his books are always a page turner and could easily be situations that occur (cross fingers not in my lifetime 🤣). This seemed a slower pace, but I felt this enabled me to feel Marks growing fear and paranoia as he struggled to find out what was happening as they sped on through the Eurostar.
This is full of secrets, anticipation and fear which all come together perfectly and each characters involvement is explained.
I’m a massive fan of the author, his books are always a page turner and could easily be situations that occur (cross fingers not in my lifetime 🤣). This seemed a slower pace, but I felt this enabled me to feel Marks growing fear and paranoia as he struggled to find out what was happening as they sped on through the Eurostar.
This is full of secrets, anticipation and fear which all come together perfectly and each characters involvement is explained.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have to admit I am a bit of a fan of this author and he never fails to excite me with every new release. This was no exception to that and, once I opened the book, it held me captive, guessing all the way, until finally it spat me out at the end wholly satisfied. Good job I read it on a day I had nothing planned!
So... we start with a family going on holiday. I say family, I actually mean father Mark, daughter Molly, and step-daughter Freya, the mother Claire having had to bow out due to work commitments. Mark is a bit wary of having to spend time away but, when we first meet up with them, the holiday is finally over and they are just about to board the Eurostar for the journey home. And it is there where four year old Molly wants to play her current obsession... Eye-Spy (or I-Spy as it is usually known as). So... something beginning with BM turns out to be Bad Man, which absolutely shocks Mark and leaves him embarrassed and apologetic to the business man with the briefcase she was referring to. Long story short and the same man turns up in their carriage and Mark becomes obsessed with him and starts to catastrophise why Molly would think he's bad... But is he just another passenger or is he really a Bad Man!
Obviously he isn't the former - short boring book that'd be - but what happens next is a high octane fast moving cat and mouse game which has Mark trying desperately to save his family, whilst his wife, well, let's just say that she wasn't stuck at work...!
I love the way that this author takes people in a pretty normal situation and completely flips things up. Normal, or what you and they think are normal people turn out to be anything but and, well, secrets will out! And it's all set over the 2 hour Eurostar journey, and a wee bit of London action to wrap it all up! I already said it held me captive cos that's exactly what it did. It's fast paced all the way through with only a few quieter moments for a bit of reader respite before off it goes again, aided by the fact that there is absolutely no waffle or padding. Boy does that progress the story well!
I also loved the way that we occasionally dipped into what Claire was doing. That was very well teased and had me wondering what on earth she was up to. In fact, I wondered what the whole book was up to for the majority too, truth be told. But then when we eventually got there, it happened organically and I just had to sit back and applaud the author for a job very well done.
All in all, a cracking addition to an already well impressive back catalogue. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
So... we start with a family going on holiday. I say family, I actually mean father Mark, daughter Molly, and step-daughter Freya, the mother Claire having had to bow out due to work commitments. Mark is a bit wary of having to spend time away but, when we first meet up with them, the holiday is finally over and they are just about to board the Eurostar for the journey home. And it is there where four year old Molly wants to play her current obsession... Eye-Spy (or I-Spy as it is usually known as). So... something beginning with BM turns out to be Bad Man, which absolutely shocks Mark and leaves him embarrassed and apologetic to the business man with the briefcase she was referring to. Long story short and the same man turns up in their carriage and Mark becomes obsessed with him and starts to catastrophise why Molly would think he's bad... But is he just another passenger or is he really a Bad Man!
Obviously he isn't the former - short boring book that'd be - but what happens next is a high octane fast moving cat and mouse game which has Mark trying desperately to save his family, whilst his wife, well, let's just say that she wasn't stuck at work...!
I love the way that this author takes people in a pretty normal situation and completely flips things up. Normal, or what you and they think are normal people turn out to be anything but and, well, secrets will out! And it's all set over the 2 hour Eurostar journey, and a wee bit of London action to wrap it all up! I already said it held me captive cos that's exactly what it did. It's fast paced all the way through with only a few quieter moments for a bit of reader respite before off it goes again, aided by the fact that there is absolutely no waffle or padding. Boy does that progress the story well!
I also loved the way that we occasionally dipped into what Claire was doing. That was very well teased and had me wondering what on earth she was up to. In fact, I wondered what the whole book was up to for the majority too, truth be told. But then when we eventually got there, it happened organically and I just had to sit back and applaud the author for a job very well done.
All in all, a cracking addition to an already well impressive back catalogue. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A short break in Paris turns into a nightmare when Mark's step-daughter disappears on board the return trip via the Eurostar. A sinister figure warns Mark that he must follow his instructions if he's to see his step-daughter again.
Author C. M. Ewan has raised the stakes in the locked-room genre with Eye Spy, which takes place onboard the Eurostar train on its non-stop return journey from Paris to London.
Mark is feeling frazzled before he even boards the train. A family break in Paris was disrupted when a work emergency meant that his wife, Claire, couldn't make the trip. After an exhausting few days with his sixteen-year-old step-daughter, Freya, and four-year-old daughter, Molly, Mark just wants to get home. Things aren't helped when Molly causes a scene involving another passenger at the security gate.
Once on board, Mark is apprehensive when he notices the very same passenger from security is sitting nearby. He also notices that the man now has a completely different suitcase. We quickly learn that events in the recent past have made Mark extremely suspicious and fearful, possibly even paranoid. He's constantly on the lookout for danger, and as a result of his suspicions, decides to inform a member of train staff, but Mark's vague concerns don't seem to interest the staff. Threats follow when Mark returns to his seat. It is made clear that unless he follows a set of instructions, he'll live to regret it.
With the story told in real-time, there is a real sense of urgency, almost panic. Mark's churning emotions, his doubt in his own ability to protect his children, all add to the feeling of terror. Every so often, we get snippets of information regarding the past event which has made Mark fearful, and these really added to the blistering pace and the intrigue of the novel. When Mark's panic is combined with the sense of urgency and a non-stop train journey, you do wonder how there can be a positive conclusion.
As the end of the journey approached, I felt a sense of anger on Mark's behalf; no matter what he did, there was always one more hoop for him to jump through. I was filled with dread that survival was not an option. The dramatic ending was satisfying, and it was great to see karma making an appearance.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on:-
Twitter; @Debbie_Hart_UK
Instagram; @reading_for_leisure_blog
Author C. M. Ewan has raised the stakes in the locked-room genre with Eye Spy, which takes place onboard the Eurostar train on its non-stop return journey from Paris to London.
Mark is feeling frazzled before he even boards the train. A family break in Paris was disrupted when a work emergency meant that his wife, Claire, couldn't make the trip. After an exhausting few days with his sixteen-year-old step-daughter, Freya, and four-year-old daughter, Molly, Mark just wants to get home. Things aren't helped when Molly causes a scene involving another passenger at the security gate.
Once on board, Mark is apprehensive when he notices the very same passenger from security is sitting nearby. He also notices that the man now has a completely different suitcase. We quickly learn that events in the recent past have made Mark extremely suspicious and fearful, possibly even paranoid. He's constantly on the lookout for danger, and as a result of his suspicions, decides to inform a member of train staff, but Mark's vague concerns don't seem to interest the staff. Threats follow when Mark returns to his seat. It is made clear that unless he follows a set of instructions, he'll live to regret it.
With the story told in real-time, there is a real sense of urgency, almost panic. Mark's churning emotions, his doubt in his own ability to protect his children, all add to the feeling of terror. Every so often, we get snippets of information regarding the past event which has made Mark fearful, and these really added to the blistering pace and the intrigue of the novel. When Mark's panic is combined with the sense of urgency and a non-stop train journey, you do wonder how there can be a positive conclusion.
As the end of the journey approached, I felt a sense of anger on Mark's behalf; no matter what he did, there was always one more hoop for him to jump through. I was filled with dread that survival was not an option. The dramatic ending was satisfying, and it was great to see karma making an appearance.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on:-
Twitter; @Debbie_Hart_UK
Instagram; @reading_for_leisure_blog
December 1, 2025
I found Eye Spy to be a gripping thriller right from the start. I was immediately hooked by the story of Mark, who is returning home from Paris on the Eurostar with his daughter Molly and stepdaughter Freya.
The story creates a sense of worry early on, with Molly spotting a bad man at check-in and Mark later noticing this same man acting suspiciously on the train. Most of the story happens on the Eurostar as Mark gets more and more worried. Back in London, Mark's wife, Claire, is secretly meeting with a man whose name we don't know.
The novel focuses on a narrator who is both determined and careful. The way he sees things changes as the pressure builds. The other characters, his wife, his child, and a few of the other passengers and crew, act as reflections, bringing out themes of trust, loyalty, and what it costs to keep secrets. What happens between these people forces Mark to make tough choices and to understand strength in a more complete way.
The book often talks about things like doing what's right to keep people safe versus respecting their privacy, the moral responsibility parents have to protect their kids, and how easily normal life can fall apart when fear takes over. It feels tense, risky, and morally ambiguous, which fits well with a world where news spreads fast, but the truth is hard to find.
People who like thrillers that also make you think about society will see modern-day worries about security, tech, and family relationships in this book.
I liked that I had zero clue where the story would go next, and I was intrigued by the link to a bombing in Helsinki where Mark’s parents died. But, even though this book had everything it needed to be a good thriller, after reading a third of it, I thought it got slow and repetitive, and it lost its sense of tension and worry.
This book was dark, twisty, a little outrageous, and predictable, a mixed read.
The story creates a sense of worry early on, with Molly spotting a bad man at check-in and Mark later noticing this same man acting suspiciously on the train. Most of the story happens on the Eurostar as Mark gets more and more worried. Back in London, Mark's wife, Claire, is secretly meeting with a man whose name we don't know.
The novel focuses on a narrator who is both determined and careful. The way he sees things changes as the pressure builds. The other characters, his wife, his child, and a few of the other passengers and crew, act as reflections, bringing out themes of trust, loyalty, and what it costs to keep secrets. What happens between these people forces Mark to make tough choices and to understand strength in a more complete way.
The book often talks about things like doing what's right to keep people safe versus respecting their privacy, the moral responsibility parents have to protect their kids, and how easily normal life can fall apart when fear takes over. It feels tense, risky, and morally ambiguous, which fits well with a world where news spreads fast, but the truth is hard to find.
People who like thrillers that also make you think about society will see modern-day worries about security, tech, and family relationships in this book.
I liked that I had zero clue where the story would go next, and I was intrigued by the link to a bombing in Helsinki where Mark’s parents died. But, even though this book had everything it needed to be a good thriller, after reading a third of it, I thought it got slow and repetitive, and it lost its sense of tension and worry.
This book was dark, twisty, a little outrageous, and predictable, a mixed read.
January 30, 2026
I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I’d give this a strong 4 stars I think, as I had moments where I thought it was excellent and I really couldn’t stop reading* but I did think it could’ve been shorter and got to the last few chapters and climax a bit sooner. *By I couldn’t stop reading, I was so engrossed I read and then had to continue to finish it by 3:30am!
I loved the premise of this and how the story was told, it was so gripping and a real thriller. Family man Mark is returning from a trip to Paris with his two daughters (step-daughter, Freya, 15 yrs and Molly, 4 years) on the Eurostar. At the last minute, his wife, Claire, has had to pull out of the trip due to “important work issues”. One reason for how tense this is, is that we’re told the story via both Mark and Claire’s point of view and we’re given some red herrings that make us (well, me anyway!) mistrust her and her reasons for not taking the trip, as well as this connecting to a bombing in Helsinki six years earlier where Mark’s parents died and Claire’s dad. I loved how the trip starts going to security and Molly playing I/Eye Spy and spotting the “Bad Man”, Ryan, and loudly exclaiming this and Mark noticing the strange belongings in his luggage which later becomes clear (no spoilers). I really loved Molly - she was such a character and I felt I could really picture her and imagine her and Mark in their stressful train in pursuit of people and the truth. There are a good couple of twists - some unexpected - but the one at the end was very good.
I liked how there were multiple themes throughout of trust, distrust, honesty, spying, security, stranger danger, duplicity, moral dilemmas, family relationships and dynamics. It was very cleverly done and as well with the other passengers on the train and Mark - and us - not knowing who to trust.
Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
I’d give this a strong 4 stars I think, as I had moments where I thought it was excellent and I really couldn’t stop reading* but I did think it could’ve been shorter and got to the last few chapters and climax a bit sooner. *By I couldn’t stop reading, I was so engrossed I read and then had to continue to finish it by 3:30am!
I loved the premise of this and how the story was told, it was so gripping and a real thriller. Family man Mark is returning from a trip to Paris with his two daughters (step-daughter, Freya, 15 yrs and Molly, 4 years) on the Eurostar. At the last minute, his wife, Claire, has had to pull out of the trip due to “important work issues”. One reason for how tense this is, is that we’re told the story via both Mark and Claire’s point of view and we’re given some red herrings that make us (well, me anyway!) mistrust her and her reasons for not taking the trip, as well as this connecting to a bombing in Helsinki six years earlier where Mark’s parents died and Claire’s dad. I loved how the trip starts going to security and Molly playing I/Eye Spy and spotting the “Bad Man”, Ryan, and loudly exclaiming this and Mark noticing the strange belongings in his luggage which later becomes clear (no spoilers). I really loved Molly - she was such a character and I felt I could really picture her and imagine her and Mark in their stressful train in pursuit of people and the truth. There are a good couple of twists - some unexpected - but the one at the end was very good.
I liked how there were multiple themes throughout of trust, distrust, honesty, spying, security, stranger danger, duplicity, moral dilemmas, family relationships and dynamics. It was very cleverly done and as well with the other passengers on the train and Mark - and us - not knowing who to trust.
Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I found this book such a fast-paced, gripping thriller that I ended up reading it in just two sittings. From the very first page, the tension is dialled up to an almost unbearable level, and it never really lets up. It’s one of those books where you keep thinking “just one more chapter” – and suddenly it’0s the early hours of the morning!!
The setting is particularly brilliant. Mark is travelling home to London with his two daughters, aged four and fourteen, after a weekend sightseeing in Paris. When young Molly innocently points out a “bad man” at the station, it initially feels like the kind of thing a child might imagine. But as events escalate and this stranger begins to follow and then interact with Mark on the Eurostar, the atmosphere turns truly sinister.
The claustrophobic setting of the train works so well. There’s no easy escape at 200mph under the Channel, and that sense of confinement amplifies every interaction. The psychological tension builds as the stranger reveals unsettling knowledge about Mark’s life. How does he know so much about their family? Why is he targeting them? And most chilling of all - is this random, or is there something in Mark’s past that has triggered it?
I also thought the dynamic between the two daughters added an extra emotional layer. The vulnerability of travelling with children, especially in such a high-stakes situation, makes every decision feel urgent and dangerous. As a parent, you can’t help but imagine what you would do in the same situation.
This would make a fantastic film. The contained setting, the escalating cat-and-mouse tension, and the twists throughout feel incredibly cinematic. Overall, Eye Spy is a compulsive, edge-of-your-seat thriller that I’d highly recommend to anyone who loves fast-paced, high-tension reads.
The setting is particularly brilliant. Mark is travelling home to London with his two daughters, aged four and fourteen, after a weekend sightseeing in Paris. When young Molly innocently points out a “bad man” at the station, it initially feels like the kind of thing a child might imagine. But as events escalate and this stranger begins to follow and then interact with Mark on the Eurostar, the atmosphere turns truly sinister.
The claustrophobic setting of the train works so well. There’s no easy escape at 200mph under the Channel, and that sense of confinement amplifies every interaction. The psychological tension builds as the stranger reveals unsettling knowledge about Mark’s life. How does he know so much about their family? Why is he targeting them? And most chilling of all - is this random, or is there something in Mark’s past that has triggered it?
I also thought the dynamic between the two daughters added an extra emotional layer. The vulnerability of travelling with children, especially in such a high-stakes situation, makes every decision feel urgent and dangerous. As a parent, you can’t help but imagine what you would do in the same situation.
This would make a fantastic film. The contained setting, the escalating cat-and-mouse tension, and the twists throughout feel incredibly cinematic. Overall, Eye Spy is a compulsive, edge-of-your-seat thriller that I’d highly recommend to anyone who loves fast-paced, high-tension reads.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Mark and his wife Claire had arranged a family break to Paris on the Eurostar with Freya, 15 and Molly, 4 but at the last minute Claire said she had to pull out due to work commitments, but insisted that Mark still go with the girls and try to bond a bit more with his teenage stepdaughter. The couple were thrown together six years ago after a tragic incident in Helsinki, an event that Mark is still struggling to come to terms with and is very cautious now whenever he travels. On the way back, during a game of Eye Spy at the station, Molly points out a 'Bad Man' and it sets Mark's nerves tingling, this is made even worse when he spots the man on the train with a suitcase different to the one he was carrying at the station. The events that follow lead Mark on a desperate chase to protect his family at all costs, but why is he convinced this all links back to Helsinki?
Eye Spy is the new thriller by this author and, with its unique premise, it's quite literally a tense and thrilling ride on board the Eurostar for this family, told from the POV of both Mark and Claire. It's a fast paced read that draws out secrets from the past and leads them into some very harrowing events. There are a few completely despicable characters in this story, I spent the whole time reading this book not knowing who I could trust, but the one person that shone throughout for me was little Molly, what a brave and adorable girl she was. This is a gripping read, quite heavy at times on the train, but it really ramped up when they arrived back in London and the pieces started to fall into place. As with all Ewan's books, there are some great twists along the way, but the final one was my absolute favourite and made for a very satisfactory ending.
I'd like to thank Pan MacMillan and Netgalley for inviting me to read this, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.
Eye Spy is the new thriller by this author and, with its unique premise, it's quite literally a tense and thrilling ride on board the Eurostar for this family, told from the POV of both Mark and Claire. It's a fast paced read that draws out secrets from the past and leads them into some very harrowing events. There are a few completely despicable characters in this story, I spent the whole time reading this book not knowing who I could trust, but the one person that shone throughout for me was little Molly, what a brave and adorable girl she was. This is a gripping read, quite heavy at times on the train, but it really ramped up when they arrived back in London and the pieces started to fall into place. As with all Ewan's books, there are some great twists along the way, but the final one was my absolute favourite and made for a very satisfactory ending.
I'd like to thank Pan MacMillan and Netgalley for inviting me to read this, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Eye Spy follows Mark, who is alerted by his four-year-old daughter to a ‘Bad Man’ during a game of Eye Spy when waiting for the Eurostar in Paris. Things then only get worse when Mark notices that the man is on their train with a suspicious-looking suitcase, sitting ominously close. With secrets unravelling from the past, can Mark piece together the jigsaw of his life in order to save his family? Or will their journey come to a fatal end?
Eye Spy is an exhilarating, gripping thriller that held me completely captive from start to finish. I went in with high expectations, but it didn’t just meet them, it exceeded them.
The premise is classic C.M. Ewan: an ordinary family on an ordinary day suddenly thrown into turmoil in a unique and emotional way. The story is intricately layered and cleverly constructed, yet it hooks you instantly, building tension from the very first pages.
The characters are expertly written. I could genuinely feel Mark’s anxiety radiating from the pages, especially in his instinct to protect his children at all costs. That emotional core raises the stakes even further, and combined with the sinister, cinematic atmosphere, it creates a constant sense of unease. The confined train setting only amplifies that pressure, making the whole experience feel intensely claustrophobic.
At times, I genuinely had to stop myself from reading ahead because I was so desperate to know how everything would connect. I also had no idea where it was heading at any point, but the relentless cat-and-mouse tension, shocking twists, and satisfying ending made for one unforgettable journey!
Eye Spy is now definitely up there as one of my favourite C.M. Ewan books so far.
Thank you so much to Pan and C.M. Ewan for sending me this copy to read and review. My opinions are my own.
Eye Spy is an exhilarating, gripping thriller that held me completely captive from start to finish. I went in with high expectations, but it didn’t just meet them, it exceeded them.
The premise is classic C.M. Ewan: an ordinary family on an ordinary day suddenly thrown into turmoil in a unique and emotional way. The story is intricately layered and cleverly constructed, yet it hooks you instantly, building tension from the very first pages.
The characters are expertly written. I could genuinely feel Mark’s anxiety radiating from the pages, especially in his instinct to protect his children at all costs. That emotional core raises the stakes even further, and combined with the sinister, cinematic atmosphere, it creates a constant sense of unease. The confined train setting only amplifies that pressure, making the whole experience feel intensely claustrophobic.
At times, I genuinely had to stop myself from reading ahead because I was so desperate to know how everything would connect. I also had no idea where it was heading at any point, but the relentless cat-and-mouse tension, shocking twists, and satisfying ending made for one unforgettable journey!
Eye Spy is now definitely up there as one of my favourite C.M. Ewan books so far.
Thank you so much to Pan and C.M. Ewan for sending me this copy to read and review. My opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5
Oh my GOD, this book does not let you pause for breath!! I know it’s going to be one of those that haunts me for a while (in the best way, I think? 😅) It is definitely the best locked-room type thriller I’ve read so buckle up. It’s claustrophobic, it’s unpredictable, it’s an anxiety-inducing nightmare. Still shocked I only discovered C.M. Ewan last year but I am genuinely a fan for life at this point.
Eye Spy is one of those books that, once you start, you won't be able to think about anything else. You’ll start dreaming about it (yes, I had a dream I was stuck on a train and couldn’t get off!) and you will be utterly traumatised by everything Mark has to go through. If you can hack that, then this is absolutely one for you.
Mark, his daughter, and his step-daughter are on their way home from a short trip to Paris. In the Eurostar security hall, his youngest, Molly spies a ‘Bad Man’ in a game of Eye Spy. If this wasn’t chilling enough, we meet the man again once on the train. And what plays out is a two-and-a-half-hour train journey of panic, of fear, of dread. A complete bloody nightmare. We know a devastating hotel bombing took the lives of his parents six years ago, and what unfolds is a complex whirlwind of uncovering the truth and how it all links to the present day. It is exceptionally well done.
This book is almost unbearable in its tension, it’s brilliantly immersive and will have you reading and reading and reading. I loved the characters, and their actions on and off the train at different points in time worked so well in giving us the whole picture. This one is a must read for crime/thriller fans. It’s going to be big, I can feel it! I look forward to being riddled with panic in whatever comes next from Chris! 😂
Oh my GOD, this book does not let you pause for breath!! I know it’s going to be one of those that haunts me for a while (in the best way, I think? 😅) It is definitely the best locked-room type thriller I’ve read so buckle up. It’s claustrophobic, it’s unpredictable, it’s an anxiety-inducing nightmare. Still shocked I only discovered C.M. Ewan last year but I am genuinely a fan for life at this point.
Eye Spy is one of those books that, once you start, you won't be able to think about anything else. You’ll start dreaming about it (yes, I had a dream I was stuck on a train and couldn’t get off!) and you will be utterly traumatised by everything Mark has to go through. If you can hack that, then this is absolutely one for you.
Mark, his daughter, and his step-daughter are on their way home from a short trip to Paris. In the Eurostar security hall, his youngest, Molly spies a ‘Bad Man’ in a game of Eye Spy. If this wasn’t chilling enough, we meet the man again once on the train. And what plays out is a two-and-a-half-hour train journey of panic, of fear, of dread. A complete bloody nightmare. We know a devastating hotel bombing took the lives of his parents six years ago, and what unfolds is a complex whirlwind of uncovering the truth and how it all links to the present day. It is exceptionally well done.
This book is almost unbearable in its tension, it’s brilliantly immersive and will have you reading and reading and reading. I loved the characters, and their actions on and off the train at different points in time worked so well in giving us the whole picture. This one is a must read for crime/thriller fans. It’s going to be big, I can feel it! I look forward to being riddled with panic in whatever comes next from Chris! 😂
March 31, 2026
Eye Spy is the latest tense, terrifying and totally addictive chiller from C M Ewan.
Mark is in Paris with his four-year-old daughter waiting for the Eurostar. In order to pass the time for what seems an interminable wait, Mark and his daughter begin to play a game of Eye Spy. However, their childish game takes a decidedly sinister term when his daughter alerts him to the presence of a ‘Bad Man’. Mark doesn’t think much of this initially. But is it his daughter’s overactive imagination to blame for this observation? Or something much more dangerous?
When the man gets on their train with a suspicious-looking suitcase and sits ominously close to them, Mark immediately realises that his family’s lives are at stake. But why were they targeted like this? Is it random? Or could he be an enemy from Mark’s past with an axe to grind wanting desperately to avenge old sins?
In a tight space where there is no escape, Mark needs to face up to demons he thought long buried and find a way to protect himself and his family. With failure not an option, he needs to be brave and work fast because the consequences do not bear thinking about should he not manage to outmanoeuvre the ‘Bad Man’ who wants him and his family dead.
I was holding my breath the entire time I was reading Eye Spy! A first-class thriller that consumed me, Eye Spy is a compulsively readable page-turner that I devoured in a single sitting. Shocking, exciting, unpredictable and chilling, C M Ewan’s Eye Spy will send your heart rate soaring and have you booking an appointment with your manicurist because you will end up chewing your nails to the elbow!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Mark is in Paris with his four-year-old daughter waiting for the Eurostar. In order to pass the time for what seems an interminable wait, Mark and his daughter begin to play a game of Eye Spy. However, their childish game takes a decidedly sinister term when his daughter alerts him to the presence of a ‘Bad Man’. Mark doesn’t think much of this initially. But is it his daughter’s overactive imagination to blame for this observation? Or something much more dangerous?
When the man gets on their train with a suspicious-looking suitcase and sits ominously close to them, Mark immediately realises that his family’s lives are at stake. But why were they targeted like this? Is it random? Or could he be an enemy from Mark’s past with an axe to grind wanting desperately to avenge old sins?
In a tight space where there is no escape, Mark needs to face up to demons he thought long buried and find a way to protect himself and his family. With failure not an option, he needs to be brave and work fast because the consequences do not bear thinking about should he not manage to outmanoeuvre the ‘Bad Man’ who wants him and his family dead.
I was holding my breath the entire time I was reading Eye Spy! A first-class thriller that consumed me, Eye Spy is a compulsively readable page-turner that I devoured in a single sitting. Shocking, exciting, unpredictable and chilling, C M Ewan’s Eye Spy will send your heart rate soaring and have you booking an appointment with your manicurist because you will end up chewing your nails to the elbow!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A journey home that no one expected
Mark finds himself taking his girls to Paris by himself, when his wife, Claire, has to pull out for work. Mark has a busy weekend, fitting in all the sights and experiences with his 16-year-old step daughter, Freya and his 4-year-old daughter, Molly.
On their journey home, they are playing I Spy and Molly creates quite the scene at security;
‘I spy… with my little eye, something beginning with… B and M.’ ‘B M, ‘she said, loudly. Bad Man.’
This is where events take a turn and the locked room drama increasingly gathers speed. The family clamber onto the Eurostar to take them towards London, and never in your wildest dreams would you imagine the events that would come to pass.
To say more would give spoilers but as a reader you could feel the emotions of Mark and how he felt during that journey. I found him slightly weak as a character, but it was clear how this added to the story. You could feel Mark’s concern, frustration and total panic.
The chapters showed different POV including Mark, Claire and Freya. This really added depth to the story and revealed events outside of Eurostar. Initially I didn’t like Claire, but my opinion changed throughout the book as we found out more about her, and both present day and historical events of significance.
Freya, was by far my favourite character. A typical, spiky, teenager navigating a tricky relationship with her stepdad, but loving and mothering her younger sibling.
I can totally see this book being adapted to screen and in some ways, this would enhance the story. The train section was slightly overlong and a visual here would break it up slightly. That being said, I really enjoyed this read and would totally recommend.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan and C.M. Ewan for access to the ARC.
Mark finds himself taking his girls to Paris by himself, when his wife, Claire, has to pull out for work. Mark has a busy weekend, fitting in all the sights and experiences with his 16-year-old step daughter, Freya and his 4-year-old daughter, Molly.
On their journey home, they are playing I Spy and Molly creates quite the scene at security;
‘I spy… with my little eye, something beginning with… B and M.’ ‘B M, ‘she said, loudly. Bad Man.’
This is where events take a turn and the locked room drama increasingly gathers speed. The family clamber onto the Eurostar to take them towards London, and never in your wildest dreams would you imagine the events that would come to pass.
To say more would give spoilers but as a reader you could feel the emotions of Mark and how he felt during that journey. I found him slightly weak as a character, but it was clear how this added to the story. You could feel Mark’s concern, frustration and total panic.
The chapters showed different POV including Mark, Claire and Freya. This really added depth to the story and revealed events outside of Eurostar. Initially I didn’t like Claire, but my opinion changed throughout the book as we found out more about her, and both present day and historical events of significance.
Freya, was by far my favourite character. A typical, spiky, teenager navigating a tricky relationship with her stepdad, but loving and mothering her younger sibling.
I can totally see this book being adapted to screen and in some ways, this would enhance the story. The train section was slightly overlong and a visual here would break it up slightly. That being said, I really enjoyed this read and would totally recommend.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan and C.M. Ewan for access to the ARC.
March 27, 2026
I picked up Eye Spy expecting a thriller, and it definitely delivered but it also surprised me with how tense and uncomfortable it made me feel in a good way.
The whole concept is really gripping, not knowing who to trust, and constantly second-guessing what’s the truth. From pretty early on, there’s this underlying sense of paranoia that just doesn’t let up. I found myself getting pulled into that mindset along with Mark, which made everything feel more intense.
One thing I really liked was the structure. The chapters are short, which makes it easy to keep reading “just one more,” and it really adds to the pace. The story also switches between the different points of view of Mark and his wife Claire, which I thought worked well. Seeing the situation from both sides added more tension and made things feel a bit more layered.
The tension is probably the strongest part. Even in quieter scenes, there’s this constant feeling that something isn’t right. It’s not just action-based suspense, it’s more psychological, which I personally found more effective.
That said, the pacing wasn’t perfect all the way through. The middle section did feel like it slowed down a bit compared to the strong start, and I found myself wanting things to move forward quicker. But the ending made up for it. It picks up again and delivers the kind of tension and payoff you’re hoping for in a thriller like this.
Eye Spy is a gripping, high-tension read that keeps you on edge for most of the book. It’s really effective at building suspense and keeping you hooked. It’s definitely all about the adrenaline and the twists.
The whole concept is really gripping, not knowing who to trust, and constantly second-guessing what’s the truth. From pretty early on, there’s this underlying sense of paranoia that just doesn’t let up. I found myself getting pulled into that mindset along with Mark, which made everything feel more intense.
One thing I really liked was the structure. The chapters are short, which makes it easy to keep reading “just one more,” and it really adds to the pace. The story also switches between the different points of view of Mark and his wife Claire, which I thought worked well. Seeing the situation from both sides added more tension and made things feel a bit more layered.
The tension is probably the strongest part. Even in quieter scenes, there’s this constant feeling that something isn’t right. It’s not just action-based suspense, it’s more psychological, which I personally found more effective.
That said, the pacing wasn’t perfect all the way through. The middle section did feel like it slowed down a bit compared to the strong start, and I found myself wanting things to move forward quicker. But the ending made up for it. It picks up again and delivers the kind of tension and payoff you’re hoping for in a thriller like this.
Eye Spy is a gripping, high-tension read that keeps you on edge for most of the book. It’s really effective at building suspense and keeping you hooked. It’s definitely all about the adrenaline and the twists.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have previous read and enjoyed The Interview and Strangers in the Car by C.M. Ewan, so I was excited to receive the ARC of his latest thriller – Eye Spy.
Mark and his daughters are getting the Eurostar back to England after a family holiday in Paris. But when young Molly is playing Eye Spy and points out a ‘Bad Man’ at security, Mark suddenly gets the feeling that something may be wrong…
Eye Spy is a claustrophobic thriller which mostly takes place on board on the Eurostar. It is interspersed with paragraphs about his wife Claire in a London hotel with a stranger and text messages from an unknown person. There are also a few chapters from other perspectives without context who are running away from someone. This did get a little frustrating at times as it takes quite a while to reveal how all the threads are related - as a reader you felt in the dark.
I thought the chapters in the Eurostar did start to drag a little – a lot of it is Mark spiralling and you get the impression he is quite a paranoid person anyway. However, the ending pulls all of the threads together in a way that is satisfying and action-packed. I also enjoyed the epilogue which further wrapped things up.
Overall, if you are looking for a spy-thriller, Eye Spy is a great choice, as long as you don’t mind being kept in the dark for a lot of it! Thank you to NetGalley & Pan Macmillan for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews check out Kindig Blog
Mark and his daughters are getting the Eurostar back to England after a family holiday in Paris. But when young Molly is playing Eye Spy and points out a ‘Bad Man’ at security, Mark suddenly gets the feeling that something may be wrong…
Eye Spy is a claustrophobic thriller which mostly takes place on board on the Eurostar. It is interspersed with paragraphs about his wife Claire in a London hotel with a stranger and text messages from an unknown person. There are also a few chapters from other perspectives without context who are running away from someone. This did get a little frustrating at times as it takes quite a while to reveal how all the threads are related - as a reader you felt in the dark.
I thought the chapters in the Eurostar did start to drag a little – a lot of it is Mark spiralling and you get the impression he is quite a paranoid person anyway. However, the ending pulls all of the threads together in a way that is satisfying and action-packed. I also enjoyed the epilogue which further wrapped things up.
Overall, if you are looking for a spy-thriller, Eye Spy is a great choice, as long as you don’t mind being kept in the dark for a lot of it! Thank you to NetGalley & Pan Macmillan for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews check out Kindig Blog
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