Thanks to Flatiron Books for gifting me a copy of Thirteen via Edelweiss. I have not read the other books in this series and I had no problem following along! Thirteen is a fast paced thriller with two POVs, and it was exactly what I needed!

Eddie Flynn, an ex conman, 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! I recommend 4 ⭐️!

Th!rte3n Steve Cavanagh

It says on the cover that “The Seral Killer isn’t on trial, he’s on the jury”, that’s not a spoiler, and its not even half the story.

This is the story of a diligent defence attorney that’s not scared to chase the truth.

When Eddie Flynn is asked to take second seat on the defence table in the biggest murder trail the state has ever seen, which just happens to involve one of Americas up-and-coming movie stars, it’s not because he’s one of those vain celebrity attorney’s. It’s because he’s known to take on the NYPD, and because he can be sacrificed by the defence team if they seem to be losing the case.

Robert Solomon is the star on trial, all the evidence points to him being the only suspect in the murder of his wife, and his head of security, who were found in his bed.

As Eddie starts to dig into the evidence he starts to realise that the case against Robert is strong but there is one piece of evidence which is wrong, in fact it’s very wrong. That one piece of evidence is enough to get Eddie looking at who else might have committed the crime, and what he comes up with is shocking. Could there be a serial killer on the loose that nobody has yet identified.

As the cover of the book says the killer isn’t on trial, he’s on the jury. If you have committed the perfect murder how do you ensure that somebody else takes the blame for it. Does the ultimate frame include influencing the jury from within.

The story follows Eddie, before and after, he has taken on the second seat position. We listen in to his thoughts and watch as he starts to suspect that not everything in this case is as it seems.

The story also follows the serial killer, Joshua Kane. This is an unusual path for a crime book. The criminal is known to the reader from the start. Kane’s story unfolds as the story follows him over the days just before, and during, the trail. The big question is, will he get away with it?

This is one of the best court room-crime thrillers I’ve read for years. From the start the reader is aware of what is happening and can see who the bad guy is. So there’s no who-done-it.

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.

A great read.

Pages: 368

This really isn't my genre, but I actually really enjoyed this!
This is a quick review, as I don't have much experience with the type of story.
The pacing was tense and writing taut with suspension, and I loved the juxtaposition between the investigative lawyer and the serial killer - a cat and mouse that plays out right in front of your eyes.
A chilling afternoon read - highly recommended to fans of the genre, recommended as a fun trial to those who haven't or don't go in for crime novels in general. Very enjoyable.

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It is my first book read by this author. I hope to read more books by this author.

After so much hearing about this book on Facebook groups, I decided to give it a try. I downloaded it and took the kindle with me on the beach. And oh, my God, I couldn’t leave it for two whole days! This book is so addicting. How come I haven’t heard about this author before? Thirteen is fourth in the series! My jaw dropped so many times, I still have some sand in my mouth, hahaha! So, after so many recommendations, here is another one. Let me tell you something about one of the best books I’ve read this year.

Bobby Solomon and his wife had everything. They were living the American dream. Both were celebrities with a reality show on the go. Then Bobby came home one night and found his wife and the bodyguard killed in the bedroom. Everything pointed to Bobby, a jealous husband who had found that his wife was having an affair and killed her and her lover.

The defense want only one man, the lawyer Eddie Flynn. Eddie Flynn is like a bulldog in the courtroom and out of it. One look at Bobby Solomon and he knows that this guy is innocent. But if he is innocent, who is the real killer?

Among the evidence, there is a dollar bill stuffed in the mouth of the bodyguard. Some kind of payback or what? No one takes that evidence seriously. But as the investigation goes, Eddie Flynn finds out that dollar bills are also found is some other cases, some other murders in different countries. But are these victims connected somehow or it is just pure coincidence? Is it possible that there is a serial killer on sight?

Not wanting to reveal more, I’ll just say: “WOW”! This book left me speechless. It has a very unique plot and very grippy story. Even if it was fourth in the series, I had no problems reading it as a standalone. It is very different from the thrillers I’ve read lately, all in a positive way. It really stands out! I’ll highly recommend this book to everyone I can, even the publishers in my country. After this, I’ll be definitely in search of the other books in the series. I love it! Totally recommended!

Oh this was soooo good. Gripping, thrilling and I was completely absorbed in the story. This was a book where you wanted to race to the end but also savour each chapter.

Hollywood power couple Bobby and Ariella are under the spot light as Ariella is found dead in bed, alongside the couples bodyguard, Carl Tozer.

Bobby's DNA is found at the crime scene, he has no alibi and the baseball bat which killed Carl is Bobby's. Open and shut case. The media have practically found Bobby guilty before the trial even began.

But what if Bobby's pleas of innocence are real? What if something more sinister is going on? What if there was a rogue juror?

Step in defence attorney Eddie Flynn, who is smart enough to ask himself these questions and many more...

Really enjoyed this book, the second of Steve Cavanagh's I have read through Netgalley - so thank you for helping me to find a new author! This is my honest opinion..

This was a good one! Read it in two days! Nail biter. Jury duty will never be the same...will def read more from Mr Cavanagh!

WOW is this book gritty and gruesome! Interesting premise (though it does require some willful suspension of disbelief) and decent characters. The back and forth breaks up the narrative a bit, but all in all it’s a quick read.

Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh is a disturbing courtroom thriller that keeps you turning those pages! A serial killer on the jury and an ex-con turned lawyer defending the accused…it just works brilliantly! I love murder / thriller / courtroom novels all thrown into one and this is one of the best I have read!

The plot is brilliant – so many twists and you will NOT see them coming – and the characters were fascinating! The murderer is brilliantly manipulative, and Eddie is intelligent and engaging. The supporting characters also all add immense value to the story.

The intriguing storyline kept me interested all the way through – nothing predictable at all and as the bombshells started dropping leading up to the finale, I kept thinking man, this is so clever!

I have not read any of Steve Cavanagh’s books before and did not know this was the fourth book in the series but no matter, it can be read standalone. However, now that I know, I’ll be reading the first three too and Mr. Cavanagh is firmly on my “favourite authors” list!

This is the fourth book in the Eddie Flynn series, but if you haven’t read the first three, don’t let that stop you. this book is a showstopper all on its own. Flynn is a defense attorney, known for handling high-profile clients in high-profile cases. His newest client is Hollywood superstar Bobby Solomon who stands accused of murdering his wife and chief of security after finding them in bed together. The prosecution has an ironclad case against Solomon, but what no one knows is that the real killer has taken great pains to land himself a spot on the jury to make sure Solomon goes down for good. Cavanagh is an unbelievably talented author who can spin a tale so twisted and so warped that you may have a hard time coming up for air

Five stars...ALL OF THE STARS!

In a market saturated with legal thrillers, Thirteen needs its own category! This concept was brilliant and the execution superb. I could not put it down.

Thirteen is the 4th book in the Eddie Flynn series but works as a stand alone. Eddie is an ex-con turned lawyer who goes toe to toe in a battle of brains with a serial killer who wrangles his way onto a jury. This book is so clever, so intriguing, so filled with red herrings and brilliant misdirection that I CANNOT wait to go back and read the others.

There is an interesting sub-plot with some "bad guys" but I dare not say too much, except for this: Get yourself a copy and get to it even if legal thrillers are not your jam! You won't be sorry!

Thank you to the brilliant Steve Cavanagh, Flatiron Books and Netgalley for giving me this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I have not read Steve Cavanagh's prior novels in this series, but after reading Thirteen I will be certainly picking them up. This is an excellent stand alone novel where you get a great sense of the the main character without having to read the previous stories to understand what is going on. While I normally feel bogged down with legal thrillers, this one was different. The courtroom scenes held just enough jargon to set the scene without being bored to tears by official court business.

I found myself reading it every moment in the day I was not doing something else. It was such a thrilling and gripping read that every time I picked up the book I felt this tingle on the back of my neck as though the killer might even be watching me! There were several twists in the story, as is to be expected, and the story did not disappoint!

Thankyou to NetGalley, Flatiron Books and the author, Steve Cavanaugh, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of Thirteen in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
What a concept! I jumped at the chance to review this book as the premise had me intrigued. I loved it.
The storyline was well thought out and written with characters that made the story come alive. I can't wait for more from this author.

There are so many reviews for this, I don't think I can add any helpful info. But it was an excellent legal thriller. Recommended.

Incredibly chilling read a serial killer not on trial a serial killer is on the jury.a member of the jury,Tense thrilling a wild read unputdownable characters come alive,Grab this book, #flatironbooks

4.5 ★s
Thirteen is the fourth book in the Eddie Flynn series by Irish lawyer and author, Steve Cavanagh. Eddie Flynn had been approached by high-profile lawyer Rudy Carp, but was reluctant to join his team for Bobby Solomon’s trial. Bobby was charged with the murder of his wife, Ariel Bloom and his head of security, Carl Tozer. On meeting Bobby, however, Eddie became convinced of his innocence. Eddie’s role would be to discredit the NYPD’s handling of evidence.

The case looked almost hopeless but there was a piece of evidence that had Eddie puzzled, so he called on his ex-FBI friend, Harper, to do some digging. His good friend Judge Harry Ford would be on the bench and the prosecution had a hired gun to put their case. Art Pryor had a reputation for getting convictions, and doing so quickly. But then the unexpected happened, and suddenly Eddie was defending Bobby by himself.

Cavanagh sets up his story with chapters that alternate between Eddie’s narrative and the perspective of the murderer. So the reader is immediately aware of what this man has done to get onto the jury, and why, if not the full extent of his actions. Eddie is smart, but is this serial killer smarter?

Cavanagh’s tale is full of twists and turns and red herrings to mislead and distract the reader. Eddie indulges in some clever courtroom antics and also mixes it with the bad guys in a physical sense. There’s plenty of action leading to a heart-stopping climax in this gripping page-turner.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Flatiron Books

There’s no shortage of legal thrillers to get you attention, but Steve Cavanagh has come up with an interesting twist that makes “THIRTE3N” a good choice. Lawyer Eddie Flynn tells the story from his point of view, but we also hear from one of the jurors, who just happens to be the murderer. An excellent “hook” in this fast-paced story.

''Thirteen'' is one of those rare novels that live up to the hype created by both critics and readers. This was also the first book written by the Irish author Steve Cavanagh and i proceeded to read the book with caution, but any reservations I had vanished after reading the first 40-50 pages of the novel. The story unfolds in a fast pace and its not-too-short and not-too-long length guarantees the total absence of verbalism and unnecessary descriptive parts that have nothing to do with the central plotline. As a result, the reader never gets bored and you will find yourselves turning the pages in a frenetic pace in order to see what happens next.
Eddie Flynn is an ex-grifter and currently successful attorney who takes on the case of a possible murder by a famous young actor, Robert Solomon who is charged with double homicide, his wife and head of security. The case seems impossible at first sight due to vast amount of evidence against his client but Flynn is a remarkable lawyer who will do his best in order to acquit the young thespian. The trial itself, which begins at the middle of the book, ends up being a battle of wits between Flynn and the real perpetrator who is sitting on the jury. Steve Cavanagh has studied law and he is currently a legal practitioner, specializing in civil rights law and his professional experience helps to create a genuine trial atmosphere. The dialogue between lawyers and law enforcement agents sounds more truthful as it is based on those happening in real life.
The story is narrated by two points of view, Flynn's and the real killer's, which adds to the overall tension as the trial is coming to an end and the revelation of the true guilty party gets closer. It should be noted that there is a critique to the American dream which is denounced by the perpetrator as ''the great American lie'' and even acts as a motivation for his gruesome acts. Such social commentary is more than welcomed when it is placed in the right time, at the right place and S. Cavanagh inserts his critique in a masterful and subtle way.
Of course there are many twists from beginning to end in the novel's rich plot and don't be surprised if you find yourselves finishing the book even in one sitting. If you still haven't read it, you better do yourselves a favour and delve into this perfect example of blending a murder mystery, a serial-killer hunt and a legal thriller.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for this compelling book in return for an honest review. This is a fast-paced thriller which combines legal maneuvering in a courtroom drama with an attempt to expose a secretive and warped serial killer in order to save a famous celebrity on trial for murder. The plot was complicated and preposterous, but I found the story intriguing and enjoyable.

The description of the diabolical serial killer seemed far fetched and lacked believability. He is a master of disguise, capable of impersonating the gestures and voices of others and forging their handwriting. He also has a physiological inability to feel pain. He has been carrying out his murderous deeds for years, always evading suspicion. Some suspension of disbelief is essential in order to connect with the mystery.

His mode of operation is targeting people who have had recent good luck and fortune. Instead of killing them, he sets them up as prime suspects for the murder of others.

This time his victim is a young actor who has risen to fame as a much in demand Hollywood Star. He married an actress who co-stars with him in a big budget movie soon to be released. They also have an upcoming reality show together. He found his wife and security guard murdered in their home, and there is much evidence pointing to him as the killer.

Eddie Flynn, a charismatic con-man turned defence lawyer, feels that despite all the signs pointing towards the actor’s guilt he has a gut feeling that he is innocent. He agrees to defend him. He feels the case will prove to his estranged wife that he can try a legal case without putting his family in jeopardy (which has been a problem in their past). Alcohol was an escape for him. What he doesn’t realize is how complicated and dangerous this case will be. The true killer is on the jury through treachery, murder and disguise. Not only is Flynn in danger, but also the legal teams, both prosecution and defence, and members of the jury.

Flynn decides that his client can only be saved by exposing corrupt cops who have manipulated the evidence and to discover the true killer. The trial has already started so there isn’t much time. He must rely on all his legal expertise and skills from his con-man past. People connected to the case are being killed. Is it even possible in such a complicated trial to have a successful outcome?

The Tagline for this book is what initially drew me to it. It’s clever and intriguing, I mean, the serial killer is on the jury??!! What??!! With a hook like that, I just HAD to read this book!

It’s the fourth in a series, and admittedly I haven’t read the others, but that didn’t matter - it was very easy to follow and get an idea of Eddie’s past. And if you only ever read this, it also works well as a stand alone novel.

Con-man turned criminal defense attorney, Eddie Flynn, has just landed the case of his career. In fact, it’s the case of the century! However, the prosecution’s case is solid and looks like a slam dunk, but...

“In a criminal trial, forensic evidence is God. But I’m a defense attorney. I got the devil on my side. And he doesn’t play fair.”

This book was incredibly exciting and so very well written. The author takes us on a journey through alternating POV chapters between Eddie and our serial killer, and boy does it make for thrilling reading!

Layers upon layers, and twists and turns that had me continually guessing, and cheering, and gasping. And totally surprised!

All in all, Thirteen was very well executed, and should be a hit with any reader who enjoys the courtroom drama and mystery/thriller/suspense genres. A great read! And that cover - stunning!

Thank you to Steve Cavanagh, Flatiron Books, and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.