Thirteen is a fast-paced thriller that follows a clever con artist turned defense attorney as he struggles to prove his client’s innocence in spite of the all the evidence. Unbeknownst to him, the real killer has his own agenda for everyone involved, and he’s on the jury.

This is the fourth book in the series but it was easy to read without any prior knowledge from the other books. I never felt lost or confused about anything.

The main character is Eddie Flynn, and the book is told mainly from his perspective. He’s a recovering alcoholic with some regrets who believes in the law, in giving his clients the best defense possible and in doing what is right. I really liked him as a main character. He had a dark past and issues that he struggled with constantly but he stayed strong and worked hard.

The other characters were also neatly fleshed out and realistic – all but the killer. The killer, Kane, was stereotypical in personality and characteristics. He is a psychopath/sociopath(?) type that feels little to no emotion other pride and delight in killing. He’s highly intelligent and social adept to the point that he’s lived most of his life in normal society without a hitch. His motives are weak and his “mission” and “beliefs” just didn’t seem plausible enough to me. I didn’t like reading from his perspective and I didn’t like him as a villain. Overall, he was too predictable as a character type, unrealistic and honestly, a bit boring.

Cavanagh’s writing style clearly reveals a good knowledge of the law and court proceedings, perhaps with a fictional dramatical flair. He manages to keep it simple, matter-of-fact and yet engaging and very clever, with just the right pace. The action and court scenes, in particular, were very well written in my opinion.

Overall, this book is thoroughly interesting and I was glued to the pages, even as I believed the story was headed one way and then it didn’t. Plot twists! It was surprisingly unpredictable and fun and I really enjoyed reading it!

A police/legal thriller with a complicated hero and a unique villain. Great character development and a satisfying ending.

Great, fast-moving plot, and well-constructed characters. This was my first in the Eddie Flynn series and I definitely want to start at the beginning and read them all.

Thirteen's been on my To Be Read list since last fall - the synopsis sold me on this one, so I was really excited to have the chance to read it early. From the very beginning, I was pulled into this story. It kept me engaged throughout. The choice to feature both Flynn and Kane's perspectives isn't a unique one, and while I felt it necessary in places, I do wonder if perhaps we could have done with a little less from Kane.

I especially appreciated that there was a full cast of characters - not only the hero and the villain, but all the people required to mount a high-profile court case. I felt like I got a good handle on all of them except perhaps the jury. At times, it was difficult for me to distinguish between jury members (though I recognize that that may have been purposeful. And I was tickled to read their bios as constructed by Arnold. Their voter status felt so true to life!).

I highly recommend Thirteen if you like fast-paced mysteries and/or legal thrillers. This one worked well for me without having read others in the series.

Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for a free e-arc of this title for review.

This was like the ultimate law student dream book and as an almost-law-student, I can say that it was indeed really, really good. I enjoyed it very much.

The tag line immediately gripped my attention. Thoroughly interesting read that kept me glued to the pages, It was surprisingly unpredictable . This is my first book by the author and I plan to read more. Thanks Netgally for the ARC

Many of us have a secret desire to be that lawyer who captivates the courtroom and flushes out the pure and evil facts, protecting the lives of the humans around us that we respect and love; to be instinctive, intuitive, working from the heart. Steve Cavanagh taps into that desire and allows us to step into that role, wade through the deceit, sense the misconceptions and expose the true evil that lives among us.
This is a captivating yet dangerously evil read about a repulsive and heartless being who, by deception and sheer cunning continues to reign for years, until he meets his match: a rogue lawyer. The battleground is the courtroom; the pressure and risks are palpable. You can’t help but relate to Eddie Flynn; his heart is in the right place but his social skills are severely lacking. I must read more of Eddie and live vicariously through his antics. What an entertaining yet tense and unpredictable read!
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks so much to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for making it available.)

Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh is a fast and furious book about a super-smart serial killer who infiltrates a jury. He has an objective and he will do anything to carry out that objective. ANYTHING.

This book is also about a con-man turned defense attorney and his client, an up and coming Hollywood superstar, who has been charged with murdering his wife and bodyguard.

Why does the serial killer need to be on the jury? Is the movie star guilty of the murders? Why do the cops hate Eddie Flynn, the lawyer? Whose going to die next? Looking for the answers to these questions meant I didn't want to put this down once I started reading!

The only criticism I have about this book is that I felt the need to suspend belief more and more as the book went on and the stakes and craziness got higher. Is there really a serial killer out there that is this smart and crazy and where everything always goes their way? Man, I hope not.

This is the 4th in a series about Eddie Flynn but I had no problem jumping in without having read any of the others. And, I am definitely planning on checking out what Flynn gets up to next.

There is hardly anyone out there (or so I would have to believe) who has not aalready heard of this book. It has the most fascinating tagline which gives the plot of the story away while still not taking the thrill away from the book.

It is not my usual fare, legal thrillers are hardly my cup of tea (usually) but I was still impressed with the frantic pace where something meaningful was constantly happening. It is the fourth book of Eddie Flynn but it does not take long for anyone to get to know Mr. Flynn, a man who changed the side of the law that he worked in for his conscience's sake. This conscience is a millstone around his neck because when he sees someone being unfairly taken advantage of, he has to drop his personal comfort to assist. The first couple of chapters where we are not getting to know the evil villain of the piece, we are given a crash course in the working of the mind of Eddie Flynn. It is entertaining and helps set up Eddie as a champion in our minds before we venture further into the murky case. 

There is something for all kinds of thriller readers in this tale, Eddie is trying to keep a hold on the only family life he knows, and his friends while simultaneously trying to prove a man innocent of the crime he has been accused of. I think I might just go back and pick up another of the previous books if and when I get the chance. I recommend this to anyone on the lookout for something different to give this a shot (if you haven't already read it)

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is completely based on my own reading experience.

ARC from NETGALLEY

I am a huge #NOTAFAN of legal so-0cale thrillers but Joshua and "con-man" Eddie made me stay connected. I love the way Eddie's courtroom maneuvering seemed all to real. I am still #NOTAFAN but this one is good, and different.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh


“Here was a man who’d murdered for pleasure. It was a game. Only this wasn’t a man. This was one of the monsters.”

Thank you to Orion and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book!

This was a wonderful court room thriller that does not let up! Robert Solomon and Ariella Bloom are the latest Hollywood hot couple. When Ariella is found brutally murdered in bed next to their security guard, all evidence points to Robert being responsible for their deaths. Eddie Flynn ends up as the primary defence attorney for Robert and as he investigates, he links these murders to several other case and realizes that they may actually be dealing with a serial killer. He believes the killer is in the courtroom, but he’s not the one on trial.

This was such a fast paced book with lots of moving parts and many important characters but Steve Cavanagh manages to introduce them all wonderfully. I loved flipping between the detective and the killers view and watching the trial unfold from their perspectives. The way that Cavanagh wrote this serial killer story is mind blowing and bone chilling! Joshua Kane is truly a brilliant and terrifying character. Although this is the fourth instalment of the Eddie Flynn stories, I still felt that as a reader you get to learn a lot about his backstory and he is a very likeable detective. Thirteen works well as a stand-alone book but I still look forward to going back and reading the other Eddie Flynn novels! This one certainly kept me up past my bedtime!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary e-copy of THIRTEEN by Steve Cavanagh in exchange for my honest review

Eddie Flynn, an ex con man, is a defense lawyer in NYC. His new case has been swept up by the media because his client, Bobby Solman, is a movie star that is charged with killing his wife and head security. The evidence they have on Bobby is incredible but Eddie believes him.

The other POV we hear is of Joshua Kane. He is an intelligent serial killer and has managed to get a seat on the jury! I haven’t read too many courtroom dramas and now I am a fan! I love the back to back arguments between the lawyers!

The suspense that is built up in the court room scenes is electric and I had real difficulty putting this book down. I don’t think I’ve ever come across this concept before, and that’s a rarity these days.

But as strange as the concept may seem the story is very believable, and completely engrossing.

Definitely a MUST read.

The serial killer on the jury! Smart, bold, original, and it kept my interest throughout! I highly recommend! I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I really liked this book and the writer's style. The pace was good and kept my attention. I liked that ethe ending was not predictable. I will definitely read more fro. Mr. Cavanaugh. Thank you!

WOW! Amazing book!! Started reading and just couldn't stop myself. There is so much suspense, drama and mystery in this book. Eddie is defending a Hollywood actor accused of killing his wife and bodyguard and a serial killer ends up in the jury with a purpose. What could possibly happen!? Riveting and Outstanding! Definitely recommend!

This was the first book I read in the Eddie Flynn series and am excited to go back and read the others. The concept of this book is excellent. Although I enjoyed Eddie’s POV much more than Kane’s, overall I was very entertained by the entire story.

I do not really enjoy courtroom dramas, but this one is a courtroom with a difference - the defence lawyer is Eddie Flynn.

I have not read any books in this series before so I was not familiar with Eddie and his methods, but I quickly came to enjoy him very much indeed. He has very strong personal beliefs in fairness and justice but is always ready to use a con in court if it will lead him to the right end. He is also very smart.

Almost as smart as the murderer who is not even being tried but has insinuated himself onto the jury! Both of them were much smarter than me as I had absolutely no idea which of the jurors was our man. I dutifully followed all the author's red herrings and got it completely wrong.

This was a really exciting read. It moved fast, the characters were interesting, the death count was beyond belief! It is a fun book. Don't try and analyse it, just dive in and enjoy it.

What a interesting take on your usual serial killer mystery thriller. I didn't even expect the twist! What a fun read.

Book Description

THE SERIAL KILLER ISN'T ON TRIAL.

HE'S ON THE JURY...

They were Hollywood's hottest power couple. They had the world at their feet. Now one of them is dead and Hollywood star Robert Solomon is charged with the brutal murder of his beautiful wife.

This is the celebrity murder trial of the century and the defence want one man on their team: con artist turned lawyer Eddie Flynn.

All the evidence points to Robert's guilt, but as the trial begins a series of sinister incidents in the court room start to raise doubts in Eddie's mind.

What if there's more than one actor in the courtroom?

What if the killer isn't on trial? What if the killer is on the jury?

My Thoughts

This is the fourth book in Steve Cavanagh's Eddie Flynn series and though I rarely jump into a series, not having read the prior books....well, come on.....that tag on the cover! There was no way I was going to let this one get by me, and I am happy to say that it worked fine as a stand-alone. I tried thinking of one book I had read where the killer is a member of the jury, and nothing clicked....not saying it hasn't been done, but I thought it was so clever!
Robert Soloman is on trial for murder. He swears he is innocent and when Eddie Flynn joins his legal team, he believes Robert. This is an important point because it is a huge part of Eddie's character. Unlike some lawyers, Eddie will not represent a client that he thinks is guilty, so no matter how much the 'evidence' suggests Robert is guilty, Eddie will do whatever it takes to uncover the truth and make sure that justice is served.
The POV shifts from Eddie to Joshua Kane, aka, the serial killer and both perspectives kept me riveted to this suspenseful story. A beach read for me, and an enjoyable afternoon getting to know Eddie and hoping he would figure out who was on the jury. The prior books are now on my TBR list!
Steve Cavanagh won the 2019 Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year! Congratulations!
I received a DRC from Flatiron Books through NetGalley. The US publication date is August 13th!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Orion Publishing through Net Gallery in exchange for an honest review.

I am not one that usually reads crime thrillers or anything to do with law. I just never find it exciting. However, this book caught my eye a few weeks ago, before I even received an ARC to review it. I am so thankful I did because I do not think I would have picked it up for a long time. Not because I didn’t think I would enjoy it, but because I would probably want to see more reviews on it before I decided to spend money on it. That is probably a terrible thing for me to say, but in the end, I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to spread it throughout the book community!

So, where do I begin? Well I’d like to make it know that despite the fact that this book is labeled as Eddie Flynn #4 it is fitting just as a stand alone. Cavanagh does a really great job in explaining Eddie’s background and all the people in his life. At certain points I was a bit confused with his affiliation and feelings towards certain characters so I will definitely need to revisit the books prior to this one.

However, I do not recommend this book to the faint of heart because oh. my. God. The way people are killed in this book is terrible. Also, I am now scared of the world because the way people are framed in this book. I can’t. I am never going outside again… I say this as I am currently as work.

Th only downside I have is that a lot of things are thrown at you towards the end and it did confuse me. Maybe it is because I don’t read crime thrillers much so I couldn’t follow. Though, despite that, I do recommend this book as that miscommunication was probably just a “me” problem. So if you’re into crime thrillers or action packed novels, this book is definitely for you.

If you would like to see my review in addition to the spoiler section, please check out my blog!

Thirteen is the 4th book in Steve Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn series. While this book can stand alone, I feel that the reading may be more engaged with the main character if they knew more of his back story.

Bobby Solomon, one of the hottest actors of the time is on trial for the murder of his also famous wife and their chief of security. In this case, the killer is not the defendant but a serial killer so intent on getting away with his crime that he works his way onto the jury.

Bobby’s hot shot legal team finds Eddie Flynn, a local defense attorney who is not afraid to go after the police department but as the trial gets under way and more information comes to light, Eddie turns out to be Bobby’s only hope. Eddie employs everything from legal maneuvering to sleight of hand to keep Bobby from going to jail for the rest of his life but it might not be enough as the serial killer works from the inside to gut the jury.

This was a an interesting mix of police procedural and psychological thriller.

I found the pacing of the first third of the book to be a little slow and disjointed. There were a few course changes so fantastically improbably that I found them to be unbelievable. The story telling really picks up as the trial begins and there are enough twist and turns and red herrings to keep the reading guessing and surprised.

The entire novel is written without a setting in the sense that nothing was described, not the wood grain of the bench, the leather interior of the car, the leaves on the trees. Just as in books where the setting is so important as to become its own character, the lack of setting in this book was just as glaringly noticeable and made everything read in grey-scale.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange to my honest opinion.