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Eye Spy
Not yet published
Expected 26 Mar 26
Eye Spy
is the chillingly intense brand-new thriller from C. M. Ewan, author of The House Hunt, The Interview and Strangers in the Car.
* * *
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?
Set on a fast-moving train over three hours, this high-octane thriller combines emotional family survival with edge-of-your-seat suspense.
* * *
Praise for C.M.
‘Fantastic’ – Lee Child, author of The Jack Reacher series
‘C. M. Ewan never once drops the pace’ – Clare Mackintosh, author of Hostage
‘Totally brilliant’ – BA Paris, author of The Therapist
‘Nobody does heart-thumping, dry-mouth, claustrophobic thrillers like C.M. Ewan’ – Sharon Bolton, author of The Pact
* * *
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?
Set on a fast-moving train over three hours, this high-octane thriller combines emotional family survival with edge-of-your-seat suspense.
* * *
Praise for C.M.
‘Fantastic’ – Lee Child, author of The Jack Reacher series
‘C. M. Ewan never once drops the pace’ – Clare Mackintosh, author of Hostage
‘Totally brilliant’ – BA Paris, author of The Therapist
‘Nobody does heart-thumping, dry-mouth, claustrophobic thrillers like C.M. Ewan’ – Sharon Bolton, author of The Pact
- GenresThriller
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 26, 2026
3 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
C.M. Ewan
7 books222 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 - 28 of 28 reviews
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.
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.
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 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
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
While waiting at the station for the Eurostar in Paris, Mark’s four year old daughter alerts him to the ‘bad man’ during a game of eye spy. Things get worse when he becomes suspicious of him and his suitcase on the train. With secrets from the past, can Mark piece together the puzzle to save his family?
C.M Ewan has become a go to author for me, so I was excited to see another by him, especially when I saw the synopsis. This ended up being another fantastic thriller by this author, which was very fast paced and full of suspense. I was hooked straight away to the storyline and had a hard time putting it down, each chapter leaves you with the need to read ‘just one more’. Even though I have read a few train thrillers, I love how the author always comes with original spins on certain premises, managing to make them entertaining, while feeling fresh and innovative.
The story was action packed and high octane, however what I found worked really well was that it also had highly emotional moments, with explorations of family dynamics. The characters were all strongly portrayed and I was rooting for Mark as the main character. I had a lot of fun watching the story unravel and discovering all the turns it would take. This is one I will recommend and I could definitely see this becoming a blockbuster movie. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next. 4.5 stars rounded down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
C.M Ewan has become a go to author for me, so I was excited to see another by him, especially when I saw the synopsis. This ended up being another fantastic thriller by this author, which was very fast paced and full of suspense. I was hooked straight away to the storyline and had a hard time putting it down, each chapter leaves you with the need to read ‘just one more’. Even though I have read a few train thrillers, I love how the author always comes with original spins on certain premises, managing to make them entertaining, while feeling fresh and innovative.
The story was action packed and high octane, however what I found worked really well was that it also had highly emotional moments, with explorations of family dynamics. The characters were all strongly portrayed and I was rooting for Mark as the main character. I had a lot of fun watching the story unravel and discovering all the turns it would take. This is one I will recommend and I could definitely see this becoming a blockbuster movie. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next. 4.5 stars rounded down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Eye Spy by C.M.Ewan
The location for most of the action on this train is on a Eurostar train and I read it whilst travelling on a Eurostar so I inevitably the entire journey thinking about the logistics of what was happening. Mark is travelling with his daughters back from Paris when his youngest daughter alerts him to a “Bad Man” in the queue near them. This same bad man then appears in their carriage only now his luggage appears different.
This is a claustrophobic thriller set as it is on board the train but interspersed with Mark’s wife meeting a stranger in a London hotel. What is going on? Is his wife having an affair or is it something much more sinister.
We know that Mark and his wife were drawn together by an explosion which affected both of their families but we do not know the details of this until later in the story. It keeps you turning the pages throughout and the way in which everything is resolved at the end is very satisfying. The reader is kept in the dark about what is going on for a large part of the book but it is a good choice as a thriller if you do not mind that.
I will be recommending it at various book groups and would like to thank the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.
The location for most of the action on this train is on a Eurostar train and I read it whilst travelling on a Eurostar so I inevitably the entire journey thinking about the logistics of what was happening. Mark is travelling with his daughters back from Paris when his youngest daughter alerts him to a “Bad Man” in the queue near them. This same bad man then appears in their carriage only now his luggage appears different.
This is a claustrophobic thriller set as it is on board the train but interspersed with Mark’s wife meeting a stranger in a London hotel. What is going on? Is his wife having an affair or is it something much more sinister.
We know that Mark and his wife were drawn together by an explosion which affected both of their families but we do not know the details of this until later in the story. It keeps you turning the pages throughout and the way in which everything is resolved at the end is very satisfying. The reader is kept in the dark about what is going on for a large part of the book but it is a good choice as a thriller if you do not mind that.
I will be recommending it at various book groups and would like to thank the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.
December 20, 2025
4.5⭐️
What a riveting read this was, and another stunning book from author C.M. Ewan!
After reading the blurb, I really had no idea that such a thrilling story was hidden within the pages of this book. I want you to discover that story for yourselves so there are no spoilers here.
The main narrative is interwoven with flashbacks to past events, phone texts, and online threads to an incident which occurred six years ago. It’s intriguing, it’s dynamic, and it’s a parent’s worst nightmare!
The layout itself reminded me of the spokes of a bicycle wheel - each chapter is a different snippet of events which are seemingly unrelated, but you know they are going to converge and eventually you’ll see how they all reach that one overlapping spot.
I loved the short chapters which had me thinking…just another one…just another one…and another hour flashed quickly by as I was caught in the clutches of this totally addictive read.
It is such a brilliant plot, and is so very cleverly woven with some ingenious twists and turns along the way. I was completely gripped from start to finish, and absolutely loved it!
With many thanks to the publishers for sending me a proof copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
What a riveting read this was, and another stunning book from author C.M. Ewan!
After reading the blurb, I really had no idea that such a thrilling story was hidden within the pages of this book. I want you to discover that story for yourselves so there are no spoilers here.
The main narrative is interwoven with flashbacks to past events, phone texts, and online threads to an incident which occurred six years ago. It’s intriguing, it’s dynamic, and it’s a parent’s worst nightmare!
The layout itself reminded me of the spokes of a bicycle wheel - each chapter is a different snippet of events which are seemingly unrelated, but you know they are going to converge and eventually you’ll see how they all reach that one overlapping spot.
I loved the short chapters which had me thinking…just another one…just another one…and another hour flashed quickly by as I was caught in the clutches of this totally addictive read.
It is such a brilliant plot, and is so very cleverly woven with some ingenious twists and turns along the way. I was completely gripped from start to finish, and absolutely loved it!
With many thanks to the publishers for sending me a proof copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 21, 2026
Review of ‘Eye Spy’ by C. M. Ewan, due to be published on 26 March 2026 by Pan Macmillan.
Mark finds himself travelling with his stepdaughter Freya and daughter Molly on the Eurostar from Paris on his own, after his wife Claire declares she can’t go on their planned trip as she is too busy at work. Just as they are going through security, Mark is alarmed when 4 year old Molly points at a man in the queue next to them and loudly announces him to be a ‘bad man’.
Mark further feels tension when the ‘bad man’ turns up in the same train carriage as him, with a completely different suitcase to the one he previously had. Freya then disappears, with Mark issued with a chilling warning to do as he is told or she will be killed.
The storyline weaves through the timeline that the family are on the train, interspersed with Mark’s painful memories of his parents death in Helsinki some 6 years previously, and Claire’s clandestine meeting with a mystery unknown man in London.
Characters are well developed, Molly tugs at your heartstrings and Freya’s plight injects fear into the storytelling. This was a tense and wild ride, it gets its hooks into you on the first page and has you firmly held in its grip until the very last page.
Mark finds himself travelling with his stepdaughter Freya and daughter Molly on the Eurostar from Paris on his own, after his wife Claire declares she can’t go on their planned trip as she is too busy at work. Just as they are going through security, Mark is alarmed when 4 year old Molly points at a man in the queue next to them and loudly announces him to be a ‘bad man’.
Mark further feels tension when the ‘bad man’ turns up in the same train carriage as him, with a completely different suitcase to the one he previously had. Freya then disappears, with Mark issued with a chilling warning to do as he is told or she will be killed.
The storyline weaves through the timeline that the family are on the train, interspersed with Mark’s painful memories of his parents death in Helsinki some 6 years previously, and Claire’s clandestine meeting with a mystery unknown man in London.
Characters are well developed, Molly tugs at your heartstrings and Freya’s plight injects fear into the storytelling. This was a tense and wild ride, it gets its hooks into you on the first page and has you firmly held in its grip until the very last page.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’m not usually a fan of stories that take place mostly in one location, but Eye Spy proves just how well it can work when done right. This is a fast-paced, gripping thriller that keeps up its momentum throughout and constantly keeps you guessing.
Set mainly on the Eurostar, the tension is immediate and unrelenting. You’re left wondering who the real villains are, why a father and his daughters are being targeted, and why Mark’s wife, Claire, isn’t where she said she would be. There’s always something happening, and the twists keep coming without ever feeling overdone. Alongside the action, the story has real emotional depth. The chapters that revisit the explosion in Helsinki six years earlier — where people close to Mark and Claire were killed — are woven in perfectly and add weight to the present-day events. I also loved the countdown at the start of each chapter, which adds urgency and makes the book incredibly hard to put down.
This is a strong, well-executed thriller that balances pace, suspense, and emotion beautifully. Another winner from C.M. Ewan, and definitely one of my favourites.
Set mainly on the Eurostar, the tension is immediate and unrelenting. You’re left wondering who the real villains are, why a father and his daughters are being targeted, and why Mark’s wife, Claire, isn’t where she said she would be. There’s always something happening, and the twists keep coming without ever feeling overdone. Alongside the action, the story has real emotional depth. The chapters that revisit the explosion in Helsinki six years earlier — where people close to Mark and Claire were killed — are woven in perfectly and add weight to the present-day events. I also loved the countdown at the start of each chapter, which adds urgency and makes the book incredibly hard to put down.
This is a strong, well-executed thriller that balances pace, suspense, and emotion beautifully. Another winner from C.M. Ewan, and definitely one of my favourites.
November 14, 2025
Chris Ewan has, in recent years, become a master at taking ordinary people and putting them into extraordinary situations and, with Eye Spy, he's achieved another absolute page-turner. It's a race against time tale of Mark, Claire and their two daughters, with most of the action taking place over the three hours it takes for the train to travel from Paris to London. Youngest daughter Molly, sees a "bad man" before they board the train, and not much will improve on the subsequent journey to London, where Mark's wife, Claire, is engaged in a secret meeting with another unnamed man...
The main event behind the story is the explosion that killed members of their family six years ago and ultimately brought them together. But, of course, there is so much more than this playing out, with tendrils of fallout from this disaster affecting players far and wide.
I thoroughly enjoyed being able to suspend my disbelief and go along for this very bumpy ride, and trying to stay ahead of Mark and Claire as they (and the reader!) hurtle towards a denouement that will leave their lives changed.
The main event behind the story is the explosion that killed members of their family six years ago and ultimately brought them together. But, of course, there is so much more than this playing out, with tendrils of fallout from this disaster affecting players far and wide.
I thoroughly enjoyed being able to suspend my disbelief and go along for this very bumpy ride, and trying to stay ahead of Mark and Claire as they (and the reader!) hurtle towards a denouement that will leave their lives changed.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Eye Spy by C. M. Ewan is an edge of your seat thriller, which I read in one sitting.
The story begins with Mark returning back to London after a break in Paris with his teenage step-daughter Freya and his four year old daughter Molly. Going through Security Checks at Gare de Nord, Molly points out a man and shouts out “Bad man” whilst playing Eye Spy. Mark doesn’t think much of it and apologies to the man in question.
On the train journey back to London, Mark’s world is turned upside down on the train journey back to London. Adding to the tension is the countdown on the arrival time back to St Pancras and the simple fact he and his daughters are trapped on a high speed train.
This is a taut thriller with twists and turns and doesn’t disappoint.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Pan Macmillan, for making this e-ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The story begins with Mark returning back to London after a break in Paris with his teenage step-daughter Freya and his four year old daughter Molly. Going through Security Checks at Gare de Nord, Molly points out a man and shouts out “Bad man” whilst playing Eye Spy. Mark doesn’t think much of it and apologies to the man in question.
On the train journey back to London, Mark’s world is turned upside down on the train journey back to London. Adding to the tension is the countdown on the arrival time back to St Pancras and the simple fact he and his daughters are trapped on a high speed train.
This is a taut thriller with twists and turns and doesn’t disappoint.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Pan Macmillan, for making this e-ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
Mark is travelling back from France with his daughter and step daughter, after his wife couldn't make the trip due to work commitments. While going through security, Mark's young daughter points out a man and calls him a Bad Man. Mark feels uneasy but brushes it off. Until the Bad Man sits near Mark on the ride home to the UK and things escalate far more than you would expect.
This author always writes high energy, and high tension stories, and this one was no different. What a train journey!! I never saw half the things coming that did, the story was so well written, fast paced, and had many twists in it, that all linked together. The characters were all well written, and although some elements of the story are unbelievable, it does make you think how an ordinary day can change so quickly.
Mark is travelling back from France with his daughter and step daughter, after his wife couldn't make the trip due to work commitments. While going through security, Mark's young daughter points out a man and calls him a Bad Man. Mark feels uneasy but brushes it off. Until the Bad Man sits near Mark on the ride home to the UK and things escalate far more than you would expect.
This author always writes high energy, and high tension stories, and this one was no different. What a train journey!! I never saw half the things coming that did, the story was so well written, fast paced, and had many twists in it, that all linked together. The characters were all well written, and although some elements of the story are unbelievable, it does make you think how an ordinary day can change so quickly.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was lucky enough to be given a copy of this book through netgalley, and I deliberately saved it to read during Twixmas where I could fully immerse myself in the story, as being an avid fan of the author, I knew I'd not be able to put it down once I started.
And I wasn't wrong... the usual tingly shins and sweaty feet soon showed themselves as they always do with his books and I love it!
C M Ewan is one of my very few 'go to' authors where I absolutely know i will be in for a thrilling journey and this book was no different. Right from the off I knew I was in for a treat.
Highly recommended and if you haven't read his others, seek them out whilst waiting for the publication day for this one.
And I wasn't wrong... the usual tingly shins and sweaty feet soon showed themselves as they always do with his books and I love it!
C M Ewan is one of my very few 'go to' authors where I absolutely know i will be in for a thrilling journey and this book was no different. Right from the off I knew I was in for a treat.
Highly recommended and if you haven't read his others, seek them out whilst waiting for the publication day for this one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Many thanks to netgalley, the author and the publisher for approving my request to read this book.
Mark is travelling back from Paris with his stepdaughter Freya and his young daughter Molly. Whilst going through security checks Molly sees a man beside them and utters the words 'bad man'. Mildly embarrassed Mark apologises for Molly's random outburst and puts the event to the back of his mind. Upon boarding the Eurostar to take them home Mark taken aback to see the bad man in their carriage waiting for them but who is he and what does he want?
Eye Spy is a taut, twisty thriller and the tension ramps up with every page you turn. I absolutely loved it and found it extremely hard to put down.
5 stars from me-highly recommend!
Mark is travelling back from Paris with his stepdaughter Freya and his young daughter Molly. Whilst going through security checks Molly sees a man beside them and utters the words 'bad man'. Mildly embarrassed Mark apologises for Molly's random outburst and puts the event to the back of his mind. Upon boarding the Eurostar to take them home Mark taken aback to see the bad man in their carriage waiting for them but who is he and what does he want?
Eye Spy is a taut, twisty thriller and the tension ramps up with every page you turn. I absolutely loved it and found it extremely hard to put down.
5 stars from me-highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was an up all night, read til your eyes hurt, thriller. Mark and his two daughters are travelling on the Eurostar back from Paris when his youngest daughter spots a ‘Bad Man’ at the departure gate. Mark is immediately suspicious but doesn’t know if this post traumatic stress is due to past events in his life..
Once on the train things start getting very odd. The Bad Man is sat right behind them and makes it clear that Mark has to help the man, or there will be severe consequences for Mark’s family.
The story is action packed with twists and unexpected revelations every turn. I couldn’t stop reading., desperate to find that how it all played out
Once on the train things start getting very odd. The Bad Man is sat right behind them and makes it clear that Mark has to help the man, or there will be severe consequences for Mark’s family.
The story is action packed with twists and unexpected revelations every turn. I couldn’t stop reading., desperate to find that how it all played out
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of an advance copy received by Netgalley.
I'm a big fan of C.M. Ewan and I was so excited to be given this book to review and I wasn't disappointed. This fast paced train thriller was impossible to put down.
I liked how the author holds your attention from the start with the opening chapter with Mark's daughter playing I spy "B.M" for "Bad Man" this immediately had me hooked and I raced through the pages all the way to the conclusion.
Overall this is a solid choice for readers who love a story that's impossible to put down and enjoy a fast paced thriller.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan for providing this book for review via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I'm a big fan of C.M. Ewan and I was so excited to be given this book to review and I wasn't disappointed. This fast paced train thriller was impossible to put down.
I liked how the author holds your attention from the start with the opening chapter with Mark's daughter playing I spy "B.M" for "Bad Man" this immediately had me hooked and I raced through the pages all the way to the conclusion.
Overall this is a solid choice for readers who love a story that's impossible to put down and enjoy a fast paced thriller.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan for providing this book for review via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
December 3, 2025
A page turner of a thriller.
Not sure what was happening at the beginning, but suddenly it all comes into focus and the ride is an exciting, scary ride on a roller coaster.
A family trip to Paris ends up being the Dad/stepdad taking the kids without the Mum…was it planned? When the younger daughter shouts out at a stranger in the Eurostar departure area, is she just being a naughty child, or is there a reason? Is the past horrors that brought the parents together in the first place about to tear them apart?
Wonderfully written. Can’t wait till it’s made into a film or to series!
Not sure what was happening at the beginning, but suddenly it all comes into focus and the ride is an exciting, scary ride on a roller coaster.
A family trip to Paris ends up being the Dad/stepdad taking the kids without the Mum…was it planned? When the younger daughter shouts out at a stranger in the Eurostar departure area, is she just being a naughty child, or is there a reason? Is the past horrors that brought the parents together in the first place about to tear them apart?
Wonderfully written. Can’t wait till it’s made into a film or to series!
December 6, 2025
I would like to thank Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
An INTENSE thriller!
If you're looking for a book to take your time away, this is one for you. This book would be perfect for a commute. Then again, I suppose as a lot of the drama happens on the train, perhaps it'd be too stressful.
I'm not normally a fan of a first-person POV so I enjoyed the multiple POVS. I spent a lot of time reading this stressed and I was desperate to get to the end - so I knew what on earth was going on.
I'll definitely think of this book when I next play Eye Spy.
An INTENSE thriller!
If you're looking for a book to take your time away, this is one for you. This book would be perfect for a commute. Then again, I suppose as a lot of the drama happens on the train, perhaps it'd be too stressful.
I'm not normally a fan of a first-person POV so I enjoyed the multiple POVS. I spent a lot of time reading this stressed and I was desperate to get to the end - so I knew what on earth was going on.
I'll definitely think of this book when I next play Eye Spy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Absolutely banged through this in an afternoon, so good.
Really edge of seat stuff that hooks you straight in then doesn't let go. A tense thriller with the added benefits of a great mystery element and intelligent plotting.
The main protagonist is engaging and relatable and is in an insane situation that keeps spiralling further out of control. Great stuff and best of all Eye Spy lands its hugely satisfying ending with a quiet flourish.
Wildly entertaining as a novel and would make great tv. Recommended.
Really edge of seat stuff that hooks you straight in then doesn't let go. A tense thriller with the added benefits of a great mystery element and intelligent plotting.
The main protagonist is engaging and relatable and is in an insane situation that keeps spiralling further out of control. Great stuff and best of all Eye Spy lands its hugely satisfying ending with a quiet flourish.
Wildly entertaining as a novel and would make great tv. Recommended.
November 28, 2025
This was such a tense, absorbing thriller I realised I was starting to feel the main character (Mark's) anxiety whilst reading it! It's a very fast paced thriller which takes places over the space of just a few hours, I was intrigued as to how it was all going to come together and couldn't stop reading it.
Very reminiscent of Simon Kernick's books, another of my favourite authors. If you like his books you'll love Chris's books too.
Very reminiscent of Simon Kernick's books, another of my favourite authors. If you like his books you'll love Chris's books too.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
On an ordinary holiday with his family, playing a game to pass the transit time with his children, Mark steps into circumstances beyond anything he could have imagined...
Trapped in a perilous situation on a moving high speed train, intense action and immense suspense is swiftly delivered in this high tension story. Well worth checking out for thriller readers in particular!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Trapped in a perilous situation on a moving high speed train, intense action and immense suspense is swiftly delivered in this high tension story. Well worth checking out for thriller readers in particular!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Eye Spy
By C. M. Ewan
Published by Pan Macmillan
Eye Spy is the latest chilling thriller from C. M. Ewan, author of The House Hunt, The Interview and Strangers in the Car. Perfect for those of you seeking twists, turns and intense conversations.
Funny how secrets can seem so trivial in the beginning. However, time can be so cruel when your loved ones are in danger.
Waiting for the Eurostar in Paris, Mark, his teenage step daughter and his four-year-old daughter become the target after a historical terror alert comes back into the equation. Molly alerts Mark to a ‘Bad Man’ during a game of 'Eye Spy' whilst on the train and things spiral out of control.
Intense conversations, a missing step daughter and a suspicious-looking suitcase sets Marks mind reeling with ideas!
Is this a set up?
Is this a retaliation for his online rants?
And how is this linked to his wife?
As secrets unravel from the past, Mark MUST piece everything together in order to save his family. No one wants their family to be destroyed!
Or will their journey come to a fatal end?
Praise for C.M. Ewan and his classic intense writing, a great start to 2026.
Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature.
#Netgallery
By C. M. Ewan
Published by Pan Macmillan
Eye Spy is the latest chilling thriller from C. M. Ewan, author of The House Hunt, The Interview and Strangers in the Car. Perfect for those of you seeking twists, turns and intense conversations.
Funny how secrets can seem so trivial in the beginning. However, time can be so cruel when your loved ones are in danger.
Waiting for the Eurostar in Paris, Mark, his teenage step daughter and his four-year-old daughter become the target after a historical terror alert comes back into the equation. Molly alerts Mark to a ‘Bad Man’ during a game of 'Eye Spy' whilst on the train and things spiral out of control.
Intense conversations, a missing step daughter and a suspicious-looking suitcase sets Marks mind reeling with ideas!
Is this a set up?
Is this a retaliation for his online rants?
And how is this linked to his wife?
As secrets unravel from the past, Mark MUST piece everything together in order to save his family. No one wants their family to be destroyed!
Or will their journey come to a fatal end?
Praise for C.M. Ewan and his classic intense writing, a great start to 2026.
Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature.
#Netgallery
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Another great read from C.M. Ewan – if you have not read any of this authors books yet, you really need to add him to your 2026 TBR.
Eye Spy is a fast-paced, high-tension thriller that wastes no time pulling you into the action. The opening scene alone—seen through the innocent but chilling warning of a four-year-old child—immediately sets the tone and had me feeling uneasy from the very start.
The confined setting of the Eurostar is used brilliantly. With the entire story unfolding over just a few hours, the sense of urgency and claustrophobia is intense, and I genuinely felt the pressure building with every chapter. Mark is a compelling lead: a devoted father thrown into an unthinkable situation, forced to confront both a present danger and secrets from his past that begin to unravel at the worst possible moment.
What really worked for me was the emotional core of the story. This isn’t just a race against time—it’s about family, protection, and the lengths a parent will go to keep their child safe. The suspense is relentless, and Ewan keeps the stakes high with short chapters and constant twists that make it hard to put the book down.
While a few moments felt a little unbelievable, the overall execution was gripping and satisfying. The tight timeframe and escalating tension kept me hooked right through to the end.
A tense, cinematic thriller that delivers edge-of-your-seat suspense and emotional impact in equal measure. Perfect for fans of fast-moving, contained-set thrillers. I highly recommend this one.
https://featzreviews.com/eye-spy-book...
Eye Spy is a fast-paced, high-tension thriller that wastes no time pulling you into the action. The opening scene alone—seen through the innocent but chilling warning of a four-year-old child—immediately sets the tone and had me feeling uneasy from the very start.
The confined setting of the Eurostar is used brilliantly. With the entire story unfolding over just a few hours, the sense of urgency and claustrophobia is intense, and I genuinely felt the pressure building with every chapter. Mark is a compelling lead: a devoted father thrown into an unthinkable situation, forced to confront both a present danger and secrets from his past that begin to unravel at the worst possible moment.
What really worked for me was the emotional core of the story. This isn’t just a race against time—it’s about family, protection, and the lengths a parent will go to keep their child safe. The suspense is relentless, and Ewan keeps the stakes high with short chapters and constant twists that make it hard to put the book down.
While a few moments felt a little unbelievable, the overall execution was gripping and satisfying. The tight timeframe and escalating tension kept me hooked right through to the end.
A tense, cinematic thriller that delivers edge-of-your-seat suspense and emotional impact in equal measure. Perfect for fans of fast-moving, contained-set thrillers. I highly recommend this one.
https://featzreviews.com/eye-spy-book...
January 20, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. Eye Spy was a fast paced psychological thriller that had me hooked right from the start. It did take a while for all the connecting threads to weave together and this created some great plot twists. This book was action packed with a really well written perfect ending.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Ewan’s best thriller yet!
December 24, 2025
Eye Spy started off as a really intriguing thriller and I was immediately drawn into the plot involving Mark, travelling home from Paris on the Eurostar with his daughter Mollie and step daughter Freya. The sense of unease begins early on when Mollie sees a ‘bad man’ at check in and Mark later discovers this man acting suspiciously on their train. The novel primarily takes place on the Eurostar journey as Mark becomes increasingly anxious and suspicious. I liked the fact that I had no idea where the plot was going and was intrigued by the link with a bombing in Helsinki in which Mark’s parents died. However, although this had all the ingredients of a good thriller, after about a third of the way through I found that it became slow and repetitive and lost the sense of tension and unease. A mixed read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
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.
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