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DS Alice Washington Thriller #1
All Eyes on You: A completely gripping crime thriller and mystery novel
She wrote a killer story. Now it's coming true...
In the small village of Fortbridge, it's hard to keep a secret. But bestselling crime writer Camilla Harton-Gray is faced with a twist she couldn't see her very own stalker, whose behaviour seems to take a leaf out of Camilla's own novels.
Grappling with a bizarre set of clues, stubborn coworkers and a crisis of confidence, DS Alice Washington knows this is her chance to get it together and prove herself.
But as the pressure builds and Alice's grip on her instincts hangs by a thread, it becomes clear that Camilla's stalker will do anything to keep their identity hidden...
Readers can't get enough of All Eyes On
'A dark, suspenseful thriller that explores the unsettling boundaries between fiction and reality'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Twisty...an accomplished debut'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'A very gripping read'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'A cracking, fast-paced read with twists that kept me guessing'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'I loved this razor sharp thriller'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
In the small village of Fortbridge, it's hard to keep a secret. But bestselling crime writer Camilla Harton-Gray is faced with a twist she couldn't see her very own stalker, whose behaviour seems to take a leaf out of Camilla's own novels.
Grappling with a bizarre set of clues, stubborn coworkers and a crisis of confidence, DS Alice Washington knows this is her chance to get it together and prove herself.
But as the pressure builds and Alice's grip on her instincts hangs by a thread, it becomes clear that Camilla's stalker will do anything to keep their identity hidden...
Readers can't get enough of All Eyes On
'A dark, suspenseful thriller that explores the unsettling boundaries between fiction and reality'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Twisty...an accomplished debut'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'A very gripping read'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'A cracking, fast-paced read with twists that kept me guessing'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'I loved this razor sharp thriller'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- GenresMystery
447 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2025
About the author
Sam Frances
2 booksSam Frances is a British crime thriller author from Tyne and Wear. She writes stories that combines her love of sardonic characters with her background in policing and lives in London with her partner and their wolf pack of pets.
When not writing (or daydreaming about writing or listening to writing podcasts), she can usually be found no more than 9-10 metres from a block of cheese, either in deep conversation with one of her cats, or playing a musical instrument poorly.
You can find her on Instagram and X @SamFranWriter. All Eyes on You, the first book in the DS Alice Washington series, is her first novel.
When not writing (or daydreaming about writing or listening to writing podcasts), she can usually be found no more than 9-10 metres from a block of cheese, either in deep conversation with one of her cats, or playing a musical instrument poorly.
You can find her on Instagram and X @SamFranWriter. All Eyes on You, the first book in the DS Alice Washington series, is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 28, 2026
There were parts of this book that were really enjoyable but on the whole the pace was slow and the author probably should have gone with the 'less is more' approach as this was overlong. Alice and Roy were interesting enough and I did like the camaraderie between them, but some of the Alice chapters felt like they were written by a different author. The characters got more page time than the actual crime which is a shame as switched around it would have made this a more solid read. This does however rally towards the end with some good twists. A series I would probably keep on reading despite some flaws in this one. 3.5⭐️
March 27, 2025
Bestselling crime writer Camilla is faced with a stalker who has taken inspiration through her own novels. DS Alice Washington investigates and knows she needs to prove herself, however the stalker will do what ever it takes to stay hidden.
I enjoy reading thrillers with stalking elements and a police procedural so this sounded like it would be a great read. This ended up having an intriguing, unsettling premise with some strong, well developed characters. Even though this was a good book, I struggled for some reason to get into it and stay invested in the story. This hasn’t put me off reading more books by this author though and I’d be interested to see what the outline is for the next one. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
I enjoy reading thrillers with stalking elements and a police procedural so this sounded like it would be a great read. This ended up having an intriguing, unsettling premise with some strong, well developed characters. Even though this was a good book, I struggled for some reason to get into it and stay invested in the story. This hasn’t put me off reading more books by this author though and I’d be interested to see what the outline is for the next one. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
July 8, 2026
A great whodunnit. It’s a pity the ‘why’ isn’t as strong (3.5 stars)
It’s been the same every year for the past three years. I go to the Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate. I watch some panels featuring a plethora of crime fiction authors and then, over the course of three quarters of a million pints of Theakstons ale, chat to some more authors in the beer tent. And I want – really – to read at least one book by every single one of them before next year’s event.
But all too soon, the festival is over and I have to go home. And back to work. Then life happens, and blog tours get my attention, and suddenly, somehow, someone has stolen the next 10 months and an email lands to tell me that tickets for the next festival have just gone on sale. And I realise that I haven’t opened any of the books I’ve promised to read.
This year was no exception. But, with the promise of a 2-week holiday spanning the end of May and the start of June, I could at least make a start on my 2025 Harrogate Haul. And the author who – quite randomly, as far as I can recall – made it to the top was Sam Frances.
Sam was one of quite a large number of authors to whom I was introduced to in the beer tent last year. She was one of a rather smaller number that I could still remember afterwards. Because she was an absolute delight. And that left me with that increasingly familiar, but no less unwelcome nagging thought as I opened her first novel, All Eyes On You. ‘God, I really hope I enjoy this. I don’t want to have to be critical of this author.’
Good news: I really liked the main character: Detective Sergeant Alice Washington. On the outside, she’s intelligent, determined and feisty and with a sarcastic sense of humour that brought a smile to my face on occasions. I don’t know whether, in Sam Frances’ mind, she speaks with the author’s own Tyne and Wear accent but in my mind, she did. Yet she’s also, let’s just say carrying some baggage, which has left her plagued with self-doubt. Let’s also just say that I completely understood, and empathised with this.
I also liked that the storyline tackled the theme of stalking: not one that’s commonly explored in crime fiction novels, but one that appeared to have been well-researched and sensitively portrayed in this one. I also thought that the intrigue was nicely judged: we had the puzzle of why the stalker appeared to be copying scenes from the novels written by his victim: a best-selling crime author. On top of that, we had the chapters from an unknown narrator and wondered how these would fit in to the plot.
Ah, the plot … unfortunately, this for me is where this book isn’t so great. I’ll avoid details for fear of spoilers, but there was one character in particular who seemed to have appeared rather too conveniently. And when the solution was revealed, I’m not entirely convinced that the villain’s motivation came across strongly enough. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not so-far fetched as to spoil the book. It’s more that I thought the ‘whodunnit’ part of the story was fine, but the ‘whydunnit’ a bit less so.
My hard, but honest conclusion is therefore that, whilst I enjoyed parts of All Eyes On You very much, I didn’t love the book as a whole as much as I’d hoped I would. However, I’ll hastily clarify that this is no reason to write Sam Frances off as an author. For proof of this point, look no further than the great Angela Marsons. Not only is she my single current favourite writer, but she’s also sold so many millions of books that she’s almost single-handedly been responsible for the fortunes of her publisher. But I seem to recall that after reading her first novel, Silent Scream in 2016, I wasn’t wholly convinced by that either. It took a few more books for her to really start to shine.
The good news – I hope – for Sam is that she already has one more chance. Her next book, One By One, came away with me on holiday too. And I didn’t need to think twice about starting it immediately.
It’s been the same every year for the past three years. I go to the Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate. I watch some panels featuring a plethora of crime fiction authors and then, over the course of three quarters of a million pints of Theakstons ale, chat to some more authors in the beer tent. And I want – really – to read at least one book by every single one of them before next year’s event.
But all too soon, the festival is over and I have to go home. And back to work. Then life happens, and blog tours get my attention, and suddenly, somehow, someone has stolen the next 10 months and an email lands to tell me that tickets for the next festival have just gone on sale. And I realise that I haven’t opened any of the books I’ve promised to read.
This year was no exception. But, with the promise of a 2-week holiday spanning the end of May and the start of June, I could at least make a start on my 2025 Harrogate Haul. And the author who – quite randomly, as far as I can recall – made it to the top was Sam Frances.
Sam was one of quite a large number of authors to whom I was introduced to in the beer tent last year. She was one of a rather smaller number that I could still remember afterwards. Because she was an absolute delight. And that left me with that increasingly familiar, but no less unwelcome nagging thought as I opened her first novel, All Eyes On You. ‘God, I really hope I enjoy this. I don’t want to have to be critical of this author.’
Good news: I really liked the main character: Detective Sergeant Alice Washington. On the outside, she’s intelligent, determined and feisty and with a sarcastic sense of humour that brought a smile to my face on occasions. I don’t know whether, in Sam Frances’ mind, she speaks with the author’s own Tyne and Wear accent but in my mind, she did. Yet she’s also, let’s just say carrying some baggage, which has left her plagued with self-doubt. Let’s also just say that I completely understood, and empathised with this.
I also liked that the storyline tackled the theme of stalking: not one that’s commonly explored in crime fiction novels, but one that appeared to have been well-researched and sensitively portrayed in this one. I also thought that the intrigue was nicely judged: we had the puzzle of why the stalker appeared to be copying scenes from the novels written by his victim: a best-selling crime author. On top of that, we had the chapters from an unknown narrator and wondered how these would fit in to the plot.
Ah, the plot … unfortunately, this for me is where this book isn’t so great. I’ll avoid details for fear of spoilers, but there was one character in particular who seemed to have appeared rather too conveniently. And when the solution was revealed, I’m not entirely convinced that the villain’s motivation came across strongly enough. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not so-far fetched as to spoil the book. It’s more that I thought the ‘whodunnit’ part of the story was fine, but the ‘whydunnit’ a bit less so.
My hard, but honest conclusion is therefore that, whilst I enjoyed parts of All Eyes On You very much, I didn’t love the book as a whole as much as I’d hoped I would. However, I’ll hastily clarify that this is no reason to write Sam Frances off as an author. For proof of this point, look no further than the great Angela Marsons. Not only is she my single current favourite writer, but she’s also sold so many millions of books that she’s almost single-handedly been responsible for the fortunes of her publisher. But I seem to recall that after reading her first novel, Silent Scream in 2016, I wasn’t wholly convinced by that either. It took a few more books for her to really start to shine.
The good news – I hope – for Sam is that she already has one more chance. Her next book, One By One, came away with me on holiday too. And I didn’t need to think twice about starting it immediately.
November 26, 2025
In the small village of Fortbridge, it's hard to keep a secret. But bestselling crime writer Camilla Harton-Gray is faced with a twist she couldn't see coming: her very own stalker, whose behaviour seems to take a leaf out of Camilla's own novels. Grappling with a bizarre set of clues, stubborn coworkers and a crisis of confidence, DS Alice Washington knows this is her chance to get it together and prove herself. But as the pressure builds and Alice's grip on her instincts hangs by a thread, it becomes clear that Camilla's stalker will do anything to keep their identity hidden...
After meeting Sam at The Book Party & Harrogate earlier this year, I was keen to read after chatting about it, so was over the moon to win a giveaway copy.
Alice is such an intriguing character, and from the off it is clear that she evidently going through a lot following recent events, and further back in her life. As a strong-willed woman her determination shines through and I really loved her characterisation, her thought process and emotions clearly resonating with the reader as to which direction she would head.
The plot is cleverly entwined with differing character POV’s - please tell me that I’m not the only one who ended up rooting for Ray by the end - and the twists are also placed expertly, building the tension, especially in the final section, resulting in a very climatic conclusion.
A fantastic debut and I am looking forward to continuing this series with Alice, delving into the characters lives more alongside another thrilling case I am sure. Sam, I have to admit I may have given Alice’s character your accent as I read this, so apologies if this wasn’t your intention for her but it really brought her to life even more for me!🙂
After meeting Sam at The Book Party & Harrogate earlier this year, I was keen to read after chatting about it, so was over the moon to win a giveaway copy.
Alice is such an intriguing character, and from the off it is clear that she evidently going through a lot following recent events, and further back in her life. As a strong-willed woman her determination shines through and I really loved her characterisation, her thought process and emotions clearly resonating with the reader as to which direction she would head.
The plot is cleverly entwined with differing character POV’s - please tell me that I’m not the only one who ended up rooting for Ray by the end - and the twists are also placed expertly, building the tension, especially in the final section, resulting in a very climatic conclusion.
A fantastic debut and I am looking forward to continuing this series with Alice, delving into the characters lives more alongside another thrilling case I am sure. Sam, I have to admit I may have given Alice’s character your accent as I read this, so apologies if this wasn’t your intention for her but it really brought her to life even more for me!🙂
March 31, 2025
I loved the premise of this story and was keen to start this book.
DS Alice Washington is investigating who might be stalking the bestselling crime writer Camilla Harton-Gray, who has recently moved back to live in the small village of Fortbridge. The episodes seem to be replicating details from Camilla's novels. Could the story be coming true? Can Alice with her colleague Roy solve the mystery and find the stalker before it gets more serious and people get hurt?
I found it a little slow to get into and immerse myself in the story.
It is narrated by both Alice and Roy, who are well developed characters. I loved the chapters written by a mysterious third narrator, detailing his unhappy childhood. I enjoyed trying to work out who the narrator was and how this would fit into the main story. I preferred the second half of the story the most as the tension builds and the strands come together.
Overall, I thought this was an interesting crime procedural that I quite enjoyed and a good debut.
AD-PR PRODUCT Thank you to the tagged publisher for sending this copy to review.
DS Alice Washington is investigating who might be stalking the bestselling crime writer Camilla Harton-Gray, who has recently moved back to live in the small village of Fortbridge. The episodes seem to be replicating details from Camilla's novels. Could the story be coming true? Can Alice with her colleague Roy solve the mystery and find the stalker before it gets more serious and people get hurt?
I found it a little slow to get into and immerse myself in the story.
It is narrated by both Alice and Roy, who are well developed characters. I loved the chapters written by a mysterious third narrator, detailing his unhappy childhood. I enjoyed trying to work out who the narrator was and how this would fit into the main story. I preferred the second half of the story the most as the tension builds and the strands come together.
Overall, I thought this was an interesting crime procedural that I quite enjoyed and a good debut.
AD-PR PRODUCT Thank you to the tagged publisher for sending this copy to review.
June 27, 2026
✨ Book Review ✨
All Eyes on you by Sam France’s
I won this in a competition and it was sitting on my TBR for too long! This is a crime thriller full of psychological suspense.
We meet DS Alice Washington as she investigates the stalking of bestselling crime writer Camilla only to discover that the stalker appears to be recreating scenes from Camilla's own novels.
Alice is the protagonist and I loved her witty self, flawed and how relatable she was. She struggles with self doubt constantly trying to prove her self at work professionally
I enjoyed this one especially when I could follow all the characters through! If you enjoy crime thrillers and detective stories then this is for you! I am intrigued about the next one, One by One!
Do you like crime thrillers ?
All Eyes on you by Sam France’s
I won this in a competition and it was sitting on my TBR for too long! This is a crime thriller full of psychological suspense.
We meet DS Alice Washington as she investigates the stalking of bestselling crime writer Camilla only to discover that the stalker appears to be recreating scenes from Camilla's own novels.
Alice is the protagonist and I loved her witty self, flawed and how relatable she was. She struggles with self doubt constantly trying to prove her self at work professionally
I enjoyed this one especially when I could follow all the characters through! If you enjoy crime thrillers and detective stories then this is for you! I am intrigued about the next one, One by One!
Do you like crime thrillers ?
February 6, 2025
I'm a big fan of mysteries and thrillers so couldn't say no to reading what I assume will be the start of a new detective series. Overall I enjoyed the plot in this book, however I did feel it could've been fleshed out a bit more (more happening with the stalking side of things) and I would've liked more action/depth when the stalker was revealed. The author did a good a job of giving the characters distinct personalities/backstories and describing/building their relationships to one another. I would happily read further books to see how the relationships change and grow.
April 7, 2026
Slow. Unexciting. Uninteresting.
I really wanted to enjoy this book, sticking with it as it was our Book Group choice.
The first chapter hooked me in and I settled down for a really good read. Unfortunately, I found the pace slow and the characters irritating with little suspense to keep me interested. I did finish it, and there were a couple of surprising plot twists at the end, but I found it lacked depth and focused more on what happens in a police station rather than the horror and trauma of stalking.
I really wanted to enjoy this book, sticking with it as it was our Book Group choice.
The first chapter hooked me in and I settled down for a really good read. Unfortunately, I found the pace slow and the characters irritating with little suspense to keep me interested. I did finish it, and there were a couple of surprising plot twists at the end, but I found it lacked depth and focused more on what happens in a police station rather than the horror and trauma of stalking.
July 9, 2026
There is a gorgeous, rhythmic cadence to the prose that makes reading it feel like a calm, meditative experience. It is beautifully written. I’ve ordered a copy from Amazon today because a style this graceful demands to be read on physical paper.
April 10, 2025
Pretty good thriller. Had some decent twist and turns. I particularly enjoyed the sarcastic quips between the characters. 8/10
October 20, 2025
3.5 stars
November 21, 2025
my girl alice suffers from a real case of millennial cringe free her!!!!!!
April 26, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this! I listened on audio and the narrator did a great job at portraying the snarky hides-her-pain-behind-jokes vibe that is DS Alice Washington.
This book is authentically British and unashamedly Northern and fun. Ive seen shows exactly like this with the archetype characters that make a crime book everything it’s meant to be. I liked the backstory for Alice but also those of the supporting cast who all felt real and fleshed out enough for me to care about them. I liked the humour, the nostalgic references and the look into how UK policing works as we usually only see the US version. I also loved the subtle but poignant social commentary relating to Violence Against Women and Girls and how so many people are failing to protect us because of their own biases.
My only two issues with this were perhaps there were a little too many sarcastic quips/similes and that there wasnt actually that much of the stalking. The POV of the stalker was great and the reveal surprises at the end were largely unexpected but i think i needed it to be a tad bit scarier/focus more on the crimes.
Other than that, this was a smooth and easy read that had me interested from front to back. A really impressive debut and i hope to see more Alice adventures with the main man Roy!
This book is authentically British and unashamedly Northern and fun. Ive seen shows exactly like this with the archetype characters that make a crime book everything it’s meant to be. I liked the backstory for Alice but also those of the supporting cast who all felt real and fleshed out enough for me to care about them. I liked the humour, the nostalgic references and the look into how UK policing works as we usually only see the US version. I also loved the subtle but poignant social commentary relating to Violence Against Women and Girls and how so many people are failing to protect us because of their own biases.
My only two issues with this were perhaps there were a little too many sarcastic quips/similes and that there wasnt actually that much of the stalking. The POV of the stalker was great and the reveal surprises at the end were largely unexpected but i think i needed it to be a tad bit scarier/focus more on the crimes.
Other than that, this was a smooth and easy read that had me interested from front to back. A really impressive debut and i hope to see more Alice adventures with the main man Roy!
October 22, 2025
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I read All Eyes on You for book club, and honestly, it just didn’t hold my attention. It’s long, and the pacing drags under the weight of too many subplots and too much British slang that doesn’t translate well for American readers without more context. I had to look up words more than I wanted to.
The core idea—a detective investigating a stalker who turns out to be her best friend—had potential. But this story piles on trauma, secrets, and cases so heavily that it loses its emotional impact. Alice, the main character, is dealing with imposter syndrome, alcoholism, depression, career stagnation, and unprocessed trauma from a failed negotiation with a suicidal teen. That could have been a powerful storyline if it had room to breathe. Instead, we also get a stalker storyline, a serial killer subplot, a financial fraud twist, a manipulative boss, and a murdered journalist—all wrapped in a single book.
The twist that Alice’s best friend is the stalker? Great. The reveal that her love interest is a serial killer out for revenge on her father? Interesting. But having both felt like overkill. And don’t get me started on the random, forced personal reveal from Jane at the end—totally out of place and didn’t land for me.
Roy, Alice’s partner, was one of the more compelling and grounded characters, and I actually did root for Alice’s personal growth (she finally starts therapy!). But overall, I couldn’t suspend my disbelief long enough to enjoy the ride. This book tried to be too many things at once and ended up not succeeding at any one of them. I hear there’s a part two in the works, but I won’t be picking it up.
✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph ✏ TikTok
I read All Eyes on You for book club, and honestly, it just didn’t hold my attention. It’s long, and the pacing drags under the weight of too many subplots and too much British slang that doesn’t translate well for American readers without more context. I had to look up words more than I wanted to.
The core idea—a detective investigating a stalker who turns out to be her best friend—had potential. But this story piles on trauma, secrets, and cases so heavily that it loses its emotional impact. Alice, the main character, is dealing with imposter syndrome, alcoholism, depression, career stagnation, and unprocessed trauma from a failed negotiation with a suicidal teen. That could have been a powerful storyline if it had room to breathe. Instead, we also get a stalker storyline, a serial killer subplot, a financial fraud twist, a manipulative boss, and a murdered journalist—all wrapped in a single book.
The twist that Alice’s best friend is the stalker? Great. The reveal that her love interest is a serial killer out for revenge on her father? Interesting. But having both felt like overkill. And don’t get me started on the random, forced personal reveal from Jane at the end—totally out of place and didn’t land for me.
Roy, Alice’s partner, was one of the more compelling and grounded characters, and I actually did root for Alice’s personal growth (she finally starts therapy!). But overall, I couldn’t suspend my disbelief long enough to enjoy the ride. This book tried to be too many things at once and ended up not succeeding at any one of them. I hear there’s a part two in the works, but I won’t be picking it up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2025
A brilliant debut! Thoroughly enjoyed this twisty thriller. Kept me entertained and guessing, quite hard to put down! The audio narration is brilliant too!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews