Keep Your Eyes on Me

by Sam Blake

Strangers on a Train meets Dial M for Murder

When Vittoria Devine and Lily Power find themselves sitting next to each other on a flight to New York, they discover they both have men in their lives whose impact has been devastating. Lily's family life is in turmoil, her brother cheated out of his business and left on the brink of ruin. Vittoria's philandering husband has gotten his mistress pregnant, well, one of his mistresses at least.

By the time they land, Vittoria and Lily have realised that they can help each other right the balance. Exactly how far is each woman willing to go to make these men pay?

______________________

Praise for Sam Blake

'Dark plot twists full of intrigue' Liz Nugent

'A fast-paced thriller with a twisting plot' Irish Times

Genres: Audiobook, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Irish Literature

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 2, 2020

About the author

Join Sam's Readers’ Club and get a free e-copy of her addictive thriller ‘High Pressure’! Info at www.samblakebooks.com

Sam Blake has been writing fiction since 1999 when her husband went sailing across the Atlantic for 8 weeks and she had an idea for a book.

Her debut novel 'Little Bones' (Bonnier 2016) was a runaway bestseller. Across all her books Sam has been an Eason No 1 bestseller an Irish Times No 1 and shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards (in the crime or teen categories) five times. 2023 saw her multiple award shortlisted YA debut Something Terrible Happened Last Night hit the shelves. In 2024 Something's About to Blow Up won Irish Teen/YA Book of the Year.

Moving away from police procedurals, now writing 'deliciously twisted' (Daily Mail) bestselling psychological thrillers, Sam's focus is on strong female characters and 'creating genuine page turners with metronomic timing.' (Sunday Business Post).

Sam is originally from St. Albans in Hertfordshire but has lived at the foot of the Wicklow mountains, for more years than she lived in the UK. Follow her on social @samblakebooks.

Visit www.samblakebooks.com for more!

Reviews

[Danielle-Gemma💜 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly middle of the road book, kept me entertained on a lazy Sunday. Ending felt really rushed - the final twist was sprung on the reader in the last 10 pages and ended very quickly without a full explanation!

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two women met on a plane and planned the perfect revenge. All Vittoria to do was to become a professional dancer, but a tragic accident prevented her from achieving this. She married Marcus, a man of means and an eye for the ladies. Lily Power designs jewelry. She gets a once in a lifetime opportunity in New York. She has to go to America for the interview. But her brother has just lost the family business on a stupid bet. Lily is angered at his stupidity. Lily is determined to get the fami,y business back.

This book is so different from the Cat Connely series. When the two women meet there is an instant connection between them. The plotline is complex. The two women need to solve each others poroblems without anyone knowing that they know each other. 5he characters are realistic and the pace is fast. It's a bit far fetched in parts but it doesn't spoil the story. There is plenty of twists. I really liked this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Atlantic Books and the author Sam Clarke for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine, nothing wrong with it. More of a drama with moments of thriller, certainly not the thriller it was described to be on the cover (reviews calling it a psychological thriller were pushing it). I liked it though, but at times felt the same emotions were constantly reiterated. Some characters were betrayed and there were many chapters that just looped back to the character's emotions etc.
I really enjoyed the ending and the last 60 or so pages.
I enjoyed the book and each chapter deals with a different character, so I read it quickly, but really, when the "plan" was hatched, when the real plot was meant to be coming to the fore, it seemed bland and it never reached a climax.

[Mellisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Vittoria and Lily meet it's like fate. Sitting next to each other on a flight to New York, they both realise they have men close to them that have caused a devastating impact to their lives. They also both realise they can work together to seek revenge.

The story started really well, and had some really good, twisty moments that created a really tense atmosphere. However, the ending just didn't really feel like it came together very well. I didn't have that feeling at the end of a book when it's good, the wow I need to take a minute to really appreciate this ending moment. It was so good all the way through, and then when they put the final plan into action with the hotel it just stopped working. Especially when the New York launch event happened and the twist happened - the twist didn't feel very twisty. I didn't really know what was going on by that bit.

Honestly others may like this a lot better, and I think any book is worth a try. For me, this just didn't work.

[Natalie M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A devastatingly sad 2.5 stars.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the other novels written by Blake but this one was not up to the same standard for me. The above average plot made up for the mediocre characterisations and mundane run of the mill setting, etc.

Unfortunately, the narrator of the audiobook did not help either.I am fairly tolerant of just about anyone reading anything but in this instance the narrator sounded like a child and it did not bode well with the story.

The other books by this author are excellent, just skip this one.

[Reysha C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would not recommend this book as it was incredibly slow paced and the plot twist was predictable. The characters were not well developed and lacked personality. The book also felt too long and included many irrelevant parts. It was neither gripping or interesting however had potential at the beginning. Perhaps this book is more suited to a younger audience as I found it slightly cliche.

[Lexy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this book was good

[Fiction Addition Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vittoria Devine and Lily Power are travelling on a plane to NYC and discover that they have men in their lives who have created big problems for them both.
Lilly's brother has been cheated out of his business in a card game, and the there is Vittoria's husband who is a philander and his mistress is pregnant. They plot and scheme to put things right and they both take on each others male counterparts problems.

Overall I enjoyed this book, great characters, fantastic how Vittoria pulled it all off in the end, all be it farfetched but hey its like Hollywood.
Strong women solving big problems with lots of twists.

[W1nglockbooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when two women meet on a plane and share their stories of loss? Lily and Vittoria bond on a flight to NY and vow to help each other extract revenge on the men who’ve done them wrong.

I knew this book would have twists so I was kinda in the edge of my seat. I honestly was nicely surprised by said twists, especially the end. I had a few inklings but was wrong (though one bit I had half right)! I like when that happens. Note that any revenge novel or movie will require a few leap of faith in the ‘that would never happen in real life’. So think of it to the femme fatale film noir movies of yesteryear and enjoy the ride. A book doesn’t need to be like real life, that’s the point!

This book had lots of threads but it was nicely and tightly weaved together. This book is a nice slow burn almost noir thriller, perfect for a rainy day read.

It was a lovely surprise to have a few cameos from supporting characters in the Cat Connelly books too! I can’t help but think if Cat were in the case the ending would’ve been much more different. It made me hope with Ms B’s next book we return to that world. I think the break from churning those books out should refresh that series (see my reflections on the pages of those books for my issues with 2&3)

[Kestrel Carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Lucia Gannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read with a convoluted plot that will keep you guessing right to the last sentence.

[Laura Wonderchick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Way different from the Cat Connolly series this was a twisty tale of 2 strangers who meet and end up in a web of deceit. Can they solve each other’s problems without anyone ever knowing bc no one can tie the two of them together? Riveting, complex and no bookmark needed!
Thanks to the author for this early copy:)

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hell knoweth no fury....well you know the rest. And believe me, so do Vitoria & Lily. Loved the ending as well. This is full suspense and intrigue to say the least.....

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. Starts out well with a random encounter - a good choice as so many things in life are determined by random encounters. Then it starts to get nasty and convoluted. I got to like the two main characters, both women. This meant I was cheering them on as they plan their criminal activities.

I was quite taken aback with the ending and did not see it coming. Justice in a way, but not quite what I anticipated. I like when endings take me by surprise.

Worth a read for a thriller/crime that is not vacuous and has a good heart.

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep Your Eyes On Me is literary scout Sam Blake's fourth novel and this time it comes in the form of a captivating psychological thriller. I must say that the synopsis doesn't do the book justice as it makes it sound like every other thriller out there and infers it is run-of-the-mill, and nothing could be further from the truth. If it reminds you of Strangers On a Train that's because it is really just an updated version of it, however, it is incredibly well done replacing the train for a plane. I mean, what else of importance is there to do on a long plane journey to New York but to cook up plans of retribution? It centres around two women both on a quest for revenge against those who have wronged them with each helping the other to achieve it. Vittoria Devine has a grievance against her husband who is a serial cheat and who has managed to get another of the many women he's cheated with pregnant. Lily Power, on the other hand, has also been cheated but this time out of money by her brother. And they say blood is thicker than water but in this case, I seriously doubt it.

This is a feminist, feel-good read with a positive message of women helping other women in need and about having the confidence to take care of their respective problems. Needless to say, because neither has motive they agree to take care of each other's issues in the hopes that it fools the police authorities and causes total confusion before both cases turn decidedly cold. Ice cold. So do they pull it off? Well, that would be telling; you'll have to read it to find out. It's a slow burner but it works surprisingly well as the twists and surprises come at you thick and fast and the characters are not women I'd want to get on the wrong side of. It's a fabulously far-fetched yarn but this is one to enjoy for entertainment and not how realistic or close to real life it is, and boy was it greatly entertaining. A quick, easy read that will appeal to many different readers. If you enjoy domestic thrillers or family dramas and chick lit/women's fiction with a dash of girl power then I highly recommend this. Many thanks to Corvus for an ARC.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun thriller with shades of Hitchcock and Highsmith’s “Strangers On A Train.
When Lily Power’s brother Jack loses their family business in a game of cards Lily is devastated. About to start a new career in New York as a jewellery designer she fears she cannot leave London and Jack as he is so depressed. Lily will do anything to set things to right, particularly if she can get her hands on Croxley, the man who has won their shop. However she is at her wits end and really doesn’t know how she can get him to return the business as the promissory note Jack signed at the card game is a legal document.
Vittoria Devine is also in a state, She can no longer practise ballet due to a car accident and her husband, serial philanderer, Marcus, has got his girlfriend pregnant and although she wants to divorce him she will lose everything if she does, due to the prenup,
Vittoria and Lily meet by chance on a plane and after much soul searching they decide to solve each other’s problems.
This is a great read with lots of twists and turns- it becomes quite complicated at times and I really couldn’t guess how it was going to end.
Vittoria and Lily are both strong female characters- the men in their lives come across as incredibly weak and foolish. You would not want to get on the wrong side of either of them.
As I was reading the book I could just imagine it as a film- it was a very visual novel and the main characters, Lily and Vittoria really came alive.
“Keep Your Eyes On Me” was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I recommend it to all crime thriller fans who enjoy clever twists as well as a light hearted read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Tom Addis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm surprised at the high reviews here. I bought 'blood orange' by Harriet Tyce and 'Keep your eyes on me' on the same day. The former was a fun, well written, sexual thriller; a real page turner. In comparison I found this book to be a huge let down.

The characters are quite two dimensional, the plot is lifted from other (better) books and films (strangers on a train!) and the writing is at times really poor. For example, more than once the characters in new york refer to the UK being six hours behind. Which is the wrong way round! It's not pedantry to hope the author you're reading has checked the basic facts of their writing. So much of the plot is handed to us on a neat platter through internal dialogue. i just found this book very lazy compared to its genre fellows. My advice would be to go for a Lisa Jewell instead.

[charliesbookcorner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall the book was good, nothing too thrilling but it still kept me gripped, it was obvious from the start where this book was heading but I enjoyed the journey still. The book was pretty fast paced with plenty of twists along the way. I found both women easy to like which also helped with me not wanting to put the book down. I couldn’t wait to see their plans come into action. This book is very much a ‘just one more chapter...’ until you realise it’s 4am and you’ve read several more chapters. The only reason I’m not rating it more highly is because I’ve read better thrillers.

[babs · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
some how didn't get the ending???

[Valerie Campbell Ackroyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually listened to this on Audible as there are no paperbacks available in the U.S. that aren't pricey, with shipping dates weeks out.

I truly enjoyed the plot and the writing. There is a small problem with time differences between London and NYC--surprised that the editor didn't catch that. But, that aside, I thought the plot was excellent. At first I thought it was going to be a take-off of the old Alfred Hitchcock "Strangers on a Train" and there are certainly elements of that plot. In fact, Alfie is mentioned in the book when Vittoria comes across an old book of Hitchcock scripts. But that isn't a theme that is elaborated on--the revenge plot hatched between the two female protagonists, Lily and Vittoria, goes well beyond Strangers on a Train, using social media, stolen artifacts and stolen Nazi art. And I found the two characters, Lily and Vittoria, quite sympathetic.

The setup: Lily is a young London jewelry designer, just graduated but about to make it big with a famous upmarket NY department store. Saks Fifth Avenue might be the model for "42" the fictional store? However, just as she is about to fly to NY for her interview, her younger brother Jack announces he has lost the deed to the family antiquarian bookshop/print shop in a card game. Jack is hapless and depressed, incapable of solving the problem on his own and as Lily waits for her plane she tries to figure out how she can get the shop back for Jack. As Lily is sitting at the airport--or is it previous to this--when I am listening to a book I lose track of which chapter is which--we meet Vittoria, a former ballerina whose dreams were literally smashed in a car accident in which her husband, Marcus, an airline pilot, was driving. Marcus is a sleaze and Vittoria knows he was not only having an affair with a soap opera actress, said actress is now pregnant. Something Vittoria can never be due to her accident. Vittoria decides to fly to NYC for some retail therapy.

And so these two women meet in the airline's lounge and get to talking and . . . the game is on. But we don't know what all of the game is. This is revealed chapter by chapter. I was delighted by the intricacy of their plan and held my breath as each piece of it was revealed and completed. There are twists, some of which I didn't see coming although I anticipated one twist that never materialized. Never mind, it wasn't that important.

When Blake was describing some of the luxury of Vittoria's life she almost began to sound like 1970's author Judith Krantz, who wrote best seller Scruples, about the life of the rich and famous. But she stayed fairly surface level, not taking away from the thriller aspect, not spending too much time describing fashion or mansion. I appreciated that, I was glued to the book because of the "thriller" aspect not the high life.

Since I listened on Audible, I feel I should say that I found the narrator's voice a little too light, too high. I missed words, I missed sentences because I couldn't hear her properly. If I turned the sound up, it hurt my ears. Her inflection was uneven: sometimes she sounded like she was reading through and sometimes she tried to put more inflection in. But it was choppy.

So, four stars for the storyline but I would give the narration 2.5.

[Laura Crudden · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me personally this book was very disappointing, it has so much potential but it doesn't do enough for me, it's not exciting & horrific enough either.

[Hazel Tyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keeps you guessing all the way through with a good twist at the end.

[Mike Rymarz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off so promisingly and then faded away. Felt sometimes as though the language was a little too simple

[Ti.Me · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two women take up each other's personal causes in a deadly swirl of sabotage, trickery and setups.

Slow at times. 3 stars.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't recommend this one

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really intriguing story, kept my engrossed. Also well written. Now is there a second book because Vittoria’s story wasn’t wrapped up.

[Fionna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This has been done before, in a much better way. I kept expecting a twist that didn't come, and the ending was particularly flat

[Amanda Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of two wronged women who meet on a plane and plan the perfect revenge. I absolutely love how the author had me asking so many questions right from the start and wanting to keep reading even when my vision blurred and sleep begged for me to give in. There was so much to love about this book and if you are a writer and want to know how to plot like an expert, you have to read this. The plot is so well done and I found myself having loads of aha moments on how I could better my own writing as I read it.

For me, Vittoria's character really stood out. She was fantastic in every sense of the word, meticulous in her planning and execution of the perfect revenge on her cheating husband. The pacing was perfect and every time I said I'd finish for the night when I got to the end of the chapter, something else happened and I couldn't stop.

I tried, and failed miserably, to figure out how this book was going to end and for me that makes this story a winner. If you enjoy a story that will have you wondering right to the very end, then Keep Your Eyes on Me by Sam Blake is one you won't want to miss. Superb writing, excellent plotting, and characters you can get behind. A solid 5 star read and I'm grateful to Netgalley and Atlantic Books for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have given it 4 stars if it had a different ending. Also, although I think DeValera was a dreadful man who did untold damage to the country, I don't like to see him portrayed as a Nazi sympathiser. I never heard he expressed any anti-semitic views. He came from an era that saw England's enemies as Ireland's friends. Obviously he disliked the English (hardly surprising as the English government sentenced him to death and executed his friends) but he supported England during the war. He allowed all the English POWs to return to England. He didn't free the German POWs.