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Samantha Leiffer Mystery #1
Hide Your Eyes
Hide Your Eyes. NEW Hardcover
308 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
29 people are currently reading
713 people want to read
About the author
Alison Gaylin
41 books1,778 followersUSA Today and international bestselling author Alison Gaylin has won the Edgar and Shamus awards, and has been nominated for many more, including the L.A. Times Book Prize, the ITW Thriller, the Strand Book Award, the Anthony and the Macavity. She is currently at work on her 15th novel.
Series:
* Samantha Leiffer Mystery
* Simone Glass Mystery
Series:
* Samantha Leiffer Mystery
* Simone Glass Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
November 10, 2012
If someone had told me a few months ago that there was such a book as chick-lit romantic suspense, I would have said they were crazy. Alas, little did I know that not only does such a book exits, it's a totally awesome new genre! You really don't want to miss HIDE YOUR EYES by Alison Gaylin, and you definitely don't want to overlook her brand of sassiness, sarcastic humor, and down-and-dirty romantic suspense.
Poor Samantha Leiffer-the girl just cannot get a break! She moved to New York to be with the love of her life, Nate, a man more breathtaking than a god and more charming than a snake. The only problem was, Nate really was a snake, one who boinked everyone within walking distance of his and Samantha's apartment. And by everyone, I mean everyone-seems old Nate wasn't very discriminating when it came to the male or female status of his conquests. So here's poor Sam, working two jobs-one as a teacher at the Sunny Side nursery school, the other in the box-office of an off-off-off-off-off Broadway theater named the Space-and on Valentine's Day, that day of love and passion, she just so happens to witness a man and woman drop an ice chest into the Hudson River. That alone might be suspicious, but after all, it's a low point in Sam's life, and she's suspicious by nature.
What follows is something that even her mother, Sydney Stark-Leiffer, self-help guru and mostly off-her-rocker publicity hound, wouldn't be able to come up with a quick answer to. There really was something suspicious in that hastily dumped ice chest-a body, to be exact, and one with it's eyes gouged out, to be even more exact. Suddenly, Sam's life is in more upheaval than her Space coworker who took a three-year vow of silence to save her voice for her upcoming one-woman show.
Now a mystery psychopath in mirrored sunglasses is following her around, she's getting heavy-breathing and intimidating phone calls in the middle of the night, and a one-man Hercules show by the name of John Krull is helping Sam in her find-the-bad-guy detective show.
HIDE YOUR EYES is, beyond and without a doubt, simply awesome. Told in first person, you'll nevertheless feel as if you're walking beside Sam as she comes to terms with everything that's going on in her life-the departure of slimy Nate, the entrance of yummy Krull, the schizophrenia of her mother, the eccentricities of her circle of friends, and not to mention her need to single-handedly bring justice to New York. Alison Gaylin has penned a true winner, and I can't wait for the sequel.
Poor Samantha Leiffer-the girl just cannot get a break! She moved to New York to be with the love of her life, Nate, a man more breathtaking than a god and more charming than a snake. The only problem was, Nate really was a snake, one who boinked everyone within walking distance of his and Samantha's apartment. And by everyone, I mean everyone-seems old Nate wasn't very discriminating when it came to the male or female status of his conquests. So here's poor Sam, working two jobs-one as a teacher at the Sunny Side nursery school, the other in the box-office of an off-off-off-off-off Broadway theater named the Space-and on Valentine's Day, that day of love and passion, she just so happens to witness a man and woman drop an ice chest into the Hudson River. That alone might be suspicious, but after all, it's a low point in Sam's life, and she's suspicious by nature.
What follows is something that even her mother, Sydney Stark-Leiffer, self-help guru and mostly off-her-rocker publicity hound, wouldn't be able to come up with a quick answer to. There really was something suspicious in that hastily dumped ice chest-a body, to be exact, and one with it's eyes gouged out, to be even more exact. Suddenly, Sam's life is in more upheaval than her Space coworker who took a three-year vow of silence to save her voice for her upcoming one-woman show.
Now a mystery psychopath in mirrored sunglasses is following her around, she's getting heavy-breathing and intimidating phone calls in the middle of the night, and a one-man Hercules show by the name of John Krull is helping Sam in her find-the-bad-guy detective show.
HIDE YOUR EYES is, beyond and without a doubt, simply awesome. Told in first person, you'll nevertheless feel as if you're walking beside Sam as she comes to terms with everything that's going on in her life-the departure of slimy Nate, the entrance of yummy Krull, the schizophrenia of her mother, the eccentricities of her circle of friends, and not to mention her need to single-handedly bring justice to New York. Alison Gaylin has penned a true winner, and I can't wait for the sequel.
August 17, 2019
Funny and smart and a little bit silly; while containing some pretty dark, creepy subject matter. A fast and entertaining vacation read and I was excited to find that it’s a series.
June 6, 2021
I wasn't sure if Gaylin was going for satire, but, whatever it worked into a nice fun read. Goodreads didn't have the hardback so I am posting under paperback. There is some strange characters a few lovers and one killer of children. enjoy.
February 3, 2022
"More corpses then little you." The whisper was genderless, but strong like an icy wind.
Hide Your Eyes by Alison Gaylin is a mystery novel.
Samantha accidentally sees two people; a man and a woman dumping an ice chest into the river. She's suspicious of the content of the chest and has a feeling she has just witnessed a crime. Everyone she tells does not believe her mother thinks she's into drugs her best when thinks she is too superstitious and a detective tells her she could just report littering.
When the ice chest is finally found karma Samantha decides to investigate on her own alongside with the detective. She is soon being stalked but she is determined to find who the killer is and reveal some pretty creepy stuff.
I found this book full of witty humour and also alot of dark creepy things. I also enjoyed the characters Samantha who is superstitious and jumps to conclusions without evidence and detective with a down-to-earth personality who only relies on evidence. It is an enjoyable quick read.
Hide Your Eyes by Alison Gaylin is a mystery novel.
Samantha accidentally sees two people; a man and a woman dumping an ice chest into the river. She's suspicious of the content of the chest and has a feeling she has just witnessed a crime. Everyone she tells does not believe her mother thinks she's into drugs her best when thinks she is too superstitious and a detective tells her she could just report littering.
When the ice chest is finally found karma Samantha decides to investigate on her own alongside with the detective. She is soon being stalked but she is determined to find who the killer is and reveal some pretty creepy stuff.
I found this book full of witty humour and also alot of dark creepy things. I also enjoyed the characters Samantha who is superstitious and jumps to conclusions without evidence and detective with a down-to-earth personality who only relies on evidence. It is an enjoyable quick read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2025
The mystery plot, once it finally started up, was worth reading the book for. I did not find any of the characters engaging or interesting.
August 22, 2018
It was a fun reading. Even though I felt like she was in rush for finishing (the last chapter) but I enjoyed enough to give her 4. Once in a while that I could finish the book in 10 days. :)
April 26, 2020
Witty and a quick read. Will read the next installment.
July 17, 2020
Great read. Breezed through it in a day, kept my interest all the way. First time I read this author and will read more by her.
August 7, 2021
Thrilling but a bit dark for my taste, as I recall.
November 21, 2020
This book kept my interest throughout. in spite of the fact this is a story about solving some murders and catching the killer, this book had some humorous aspects to it. the main character is a young woman who is superstitious and jumps to conclusions without much evidence. the detective is a down to earth personality who of course relies on the evidence.
March 9, 2018
I don’t know who recommended this to me, but had I known this involved a serial killer, I would have given it a pass. Once started, though, I had to finish. Well written, just not my favorite plot line.
April 6, 2020
Excellent!!
July 18, 2021
3.5. Audible
February 16, 2023
I did not think I’d love this book as much as I did. I really enjoyed it and somehow did not see the plot twist coming. I really recommend.
November 29, 2023
quite enjoyable...:)
January 28, 2022
If you like James Patterson, this is for you: simple and ridiculous.
Read
May 21, 2020DNF.
January 19, 2014
I was very confused at the beginning of this book. The writing style, descriptive narrative was very dark. The cast of characters are a bit "out there" and are a bit hard to connect with. That said, I was compelled to keep reading.
Ms. Gaylin provides us with a crime and suspect but with so little information that you feel you have become the main character as you try and find out who is the culprit. The events, suspects, actions keep changing quickly that keep you guessing throughout. The next thing you know, you NEED to keep reading, you NEED to find out who is the murderer, you NEED to know. And when you do, wow, so not what you expected. To top it all off, she ends the book with the beginning of the next. The story just continues.
As this was her first novel, I look forward to reading her next one as I'm sure her writing and story telling will only improve and hopefully be another thriller in every sense.
Ms. Gaylin provides us with a crime and suspect but with so little information that you feel you have become the main character as you try and find out who is the culprit. The events, suspects, actions keep changing quickly that keep you guessing throughout. The next thing you know, you NEED to keep reading, you NEED to find out who is the murderer, you NEED to know. And when you do, wow, so not what you expected. To top it all off, she ends the book with the beginning of the next. The story just continues.
As this was her first novel, I look forward to reading her next one as I'm sure her writing and story telling will only improve and hopefully be another thriller in every sense.
July 16, 2016
I enjoy reading books that were nominated for awards but didn't win; this was one of those books (Edgar nomination). The nomination usually means the book is well written, has something unique and compelling, and is a good choice when faced with a vast array of books in the chosen genre.
I'm not sure I would have given this book the nomination. It was fine, but it wasn't compelling. The crimes were darker than the writing; the book was fluffier than it should have been for its topic. It flirted too close to the "chick lit" edge for me.
That being said, it was easy to pick up and put down during several short flights, and the theater setting with its theatrical cast of characters was not the English countryside!
I'll try another by this author, just to see her progression with future books, but I'll borrow them or find them in the library, just to make sure my Kindle $$ is well spent!
I'm not sure I would have given this book the nomination. It was fine, but it wasn't compelling. The crimes were darker than the writing; the book was fluffier than it should have been for its topic. It flirted too close to the "chick lit" edge for me.
That being said, it was easy to pick up and put down during several short flights, and the theater setting with its theatrical cast of characters was not the English countryside!
I'll try another by this author, just to see her progression with future books, but I'll borrow them or find them in the library, just to make sure my Kindle $$ is well spent!
February 16, 2013
I was in a bookstore looking for a good book to read. I was looking through the shelfs and this book caught my eyes. The book cover was interesting and the description wasn't bad either.
I decided to buy the book, and somehow I never got to read the book. It stayed with me for a year unread.
Recently I decided to read the unread books in my bookshelf.
I wasn't hooked at first, but then BOOM. I couldn't drop the books out of my hands, I was hooked. The book is very much interesting. Not the style I usually read, but very easily written and you can most definitely tell the author is a New-Yorker. (I'm still not sure though), but really think so.
The events are VERY interesting. I found Samantha's superstition VERY amusing. Loved it. Made me laugh in times where I really couldn't laugh.
Dolls. Totally freaked me out though and poor little kids
I decided to buy the book, and somehow I never got to read the book. It stayed with me for a year unread.
Recently I decided to read the unread books in my bookshelf.
I wasn't hooked at first, but then BOOM. I couldn't drop the books out of my hands, I was hooked. The book is very much interesting. Not the style I usually read, but very easily written and you can most definitely tell the author is a New-Yorker. (I'm still not sure though), but really think so.
The events are VERY interesting. I found Samantha's superstition VERY amusing. Loved it. Made me laugh in times where I really couldn't laugh.
Dolls. Totally freaked me out though and poor little kids
January 2, 2013
I made a rookie mistake. I read two books by the same author back to back-two different series no less.
What I like: I like that Gaylin has strong, well developed characters. Even though I found Samantha to be a bit of a ninny, I'd totally bogart Yale for a best gay.
What I found annoying: The character pattern. Spunky heroine with kooky male sidekick. Brenna Spector/Trent (And She Was) and Samantha/Yale seem awfully interchangeable. Plus the hunky cop as love interest.
What I found really, really annoying: The public servant with a Hollywood name. Sally Fields the cop receptionist and Debbie Reynolds RN. It's too cutesy.
I hope that doesn't occur in every book. I may read one or two more just to be sure.
What I like: I like that Gaylin has strong, well developed characters. Even though I found Samantha to be a bit of a ninny, I'd totally bogart Yale for a best gay.
What I found annoying: The character pattern. Spunky heroine with kooky male sidekick. Brenna Spector/Trent (And She Was) and Samantha/Yale seem awfully interchangeable. Plus the hunky cop as love interest.
What I found really, really annoying: The public servant with a Hollywood name. Sally Fields the cop receptionist and Debbie Reynolds RN. It's too cutesy.
I hope that doesn't occur in every book. I may read one or two more just to be sure.
March 29, 2012
After reading the excellent AND SHE WAS, I had to go back and see some of this author's earlier work. This, I believe, is one of her first novels. It was enjoyable, but flawed--the mix of humor with dark suspense (very dark--the murder of children) did not really gel and Gaylin got bogged down in her plot, taking time away from what could have been a suspenseful story for fluffy passages about the main character's work that didn't really advance the story (although it helped us know better her very likable main character). Verdict: I would read the next book in this series, with the hope the author learned from her mistakes in this outing.
February 5, 2013
I loved this book. The characters were wonderful...quirky, interesting and very well drawn. This book is a mystery, but the heroine has a wonderful, witty sense of humor and it's told in first person. She balances two jobs...working in a theater box office and as a preschool teacher. The story is well told and interesting. The clues or messages are properly macabre. It's full of characters who seem to be the killer...but aren't. Quick, fun read.
June 14, 2011
Quite interesting, a mystery novel, it was a quick read, and chicken as I am, scared be at quite a few bits. It's the eerie-ness of it XD
But yeah, both the female and male leads were likable, and the 'suspect' was slightly surprising, it's an idea seen before, but still quite surprising,
Overall an enjoyable read, I'd recommend it for those looking for a quick and light read with touches of romance in it
Detective Krull (regardless of his clothes' taste) sounds hot XD
But yeah, both the female and male leads were likable, and the 'suspect' was slightly surprising, it's an idea seen before, but still quite surprising,
Overall an enjoyable read, I'd recommend it for those looking for a quick and light read with touches of romance in it
Detective Krull (regardless of his clothes' taste) sounds hot XD
April 25, 2016
Alison Gaylin's debut novel is fun, scary, sweet, awkward - somewhere between bubble gum for the mind and theater popcorn with extra butter. Some scenes were so funny I had to keep stopping to dry my eyes, then I'd laugh again until I was hiccuping. My dogs thought I'd lost my mind. Maybe I did, because despite its flaws, I really loved this book and couldn't wait to read the sequel, You Kill Me.
February 26, 2008
This is a mystery that I bought on impulse when I was at Queen Anne Avenue Books. It was written in the first person, which is usually a big red flag for me – I think it is really hard to tell a mystery story in the first person – but I was in the mood to buy something that day. Not a good choice. Some good lines, but no real character development. Not a keeper.
June 17, 2012
Not a great read, but not a bad one. It was definitely an easy one, though. Some of the descriptions were a little weird, and there was some cheesy dialogue, but have to give the author some kudos since I didn't figure out the "real" killer ahead of time. The book did get better toward the end, as the action increased.
March 27, 2012
I whiled away the morning/early afternoon reading snatches of this silly book while simultaneously cleaning my house. Both activities were equally wearying but at least my house is clean so it wasn't a complete waste of time.
October 1, 2012
For a first book, I thought this was very good. It had a lot of plot and I was enjoying every minute of this one. I am definitely going to look for more by this author. The suspense was good, with just a smattering of romance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews