I enjoyed this story, but I really think I need to go back and read the series from the beginning to have a proper understanding and connection with the characters.

The twists were twisty, but not enough for my liking. I also found myself getting lost with what was going on and would have to go back. Overall, I think I’m just missing something and will go to the beginning of the series and come back later.

I do enjoy Steve Cavanagh’s writing and will continue to read this author.

Witness 8: 👀🎱🚔⁣
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Thank you so much @atriathrillers and @simon.audio for my gifted copies!⁣
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I let my husband listen before me and he only had great things to say about it. We went though the highs and lows of finding out it’s a SERIES but it’s not released in order, and then acceptance it can be read out of order (it’s ok they’re standalones we can) Then, all my friends said it was also a 5 ⭐️ so I HAD to finally trudge myself through the TBR and move Witness 8 to the top. ⁣
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I loved the audio. It immediately made me think Eddie Flynn was Edward Norton and now I can’t unthink it. He’s my Eddie Flynn. I high recommend the audio, I couldn’t get enough of it.⁣
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The book itself is so good. I’ve never been a major fan of legal thrillers, but move over Law & Order, I need the rest of this series in my life. I absolutely loved the different POVs and really was into Ruby’s twisted mind to see her motivations for things.⁣
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Overall, a huge hit in the Sligh home as both are obsessed. Out now, don’t mind me as I start my ARCs for the others in the series because this is the type of writing I can get behind.

Rounded up from 3.75 ⭐️’s

You truly can’t go wrong with a Steve Cavanagh book. I was immediately sucked into the story and was eager to see how it played out. I also appreciate that you can skip around in the series as each book focuses on Eddie’s current case.

That said, it wasn’t my favorite of his. I love Cavanagh’s books because of how well plotted they are. You generally don’t need to suspend belief, which in my option, is really important when it comes to legal thrillers. Unfortunately, this had a MAJOR plot hole and that bummed me out. I don’t really think it is a spoiler, since I picked up on it right away, but to protect others’ reading experiences I will post it at the bottom of this review.

I still enjoyed the book and would recommend it. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an early copy.

POTENTIAL SPOILER AHEAD ⚠️
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LAST CHANCE 🫣

Here is the plot hole that caused me to take off a star in my rating:
The murder takes place on an affluent street in NYC. The neighborhood is wary of outsiders, and full of busy body snobs. How is it possible that NONE of these homes have security cameras. Not even a ring camera?!? Granted, that would negate a lot of the “unknowns” in the plot, but it is such a clear omission.

Witness 8 is actually my first Steve Cavanagh read and I can say that I’ll definitely be checking out more of his work.
I enjoyed the wit of the protagonist Eddie Flynn as well as the passages told from the unreliable narrator’s (Ruby) perspective. I do wish I’d read some of the earlier books in this series before Witness 8 to get a better feel for the background stories of the numerous supporting characters.

Overall an enjoyable read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for the opportunity to read this book!

I’ve always been drawn to legal thrillers, but Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh took my interest to a whole new level. The courtroom drama in this book was absolutely gripping. I loved how Cavanagh managed to weave the legal proceedings in a way that was both intense and understandable. The tactical moves in court and the intricacies of Eddie Flynn’s defense strategies kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next. It felt like I was right there in the courtroom, watching everything unfold with bated breath.

But what really made the story stand out for me were the characters and how they all intertwined. Ruby Johnson, the seemingly unassuming maid with a wicked secret, had layers to her that made the whole story unpredictable. Her relationship with the other characters added so much depth to the plot. I couldn’t help but get swept up in the way each character’s actions connected in unexpected and twisty ways. There were so many times I thought I knew where the story was going, only to be thrown off by another shocking turn.

The mix of the legal elements and complex character dynamics really made Witness 8 a page-turner for me. Every twist felt earned, and Cavanagh did a masterful job at keeping me guessing, right up until the very end. If you're a fan of tense legal thrillers with intricate relationships and jaw-dropping surprises, this book is a must-read.

I discovered Steve Cavanagh’s books when I joined Bookstagram, and since then, I’ve been hooked. There’s something about his stories that always draws me in—his ability to craft compelling characters and intricate plots is exceptional. This book, in particular, was twisty, riveting, and brilliantly executed.

This is my first book from Steve Cavanagh and I'm only upset that I didn't find him sooner. As someone whose favorite authors include Shari Lapena, Mary Kubica, and Meghan Miranda, this title falls right into my wheelhouse.

This book was thrilling, comedic, and entertaining with a plot line that will keep you needing to read more. I couldn't put it down. Will be reading more from Steve in the future.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for my review.

This book kept me enthralled from beginning to end. A thrilling book that keeps you turning the pages until the shocking ending. Full of twists and turns and shocks. Brilliant! I highly recommend reading this book! 📖

2.5 stars
This book took me forever to get through. I really like Eddie Flynn, former con artist turned attorney, but this book features two plot tropes that I personally cannot stand and that colored my enjoyment: a wrongly accused person and a hit put out on someone and them trying to avoid being killed.

Neither of those are spoilers, we know from the beginning that the person accused of and on trial for the murder did not do it, we just don't know why and how he was framed. And honestly, when push comes to shove and everything is laid out for the reader, I found the ending to be very lackluster and anticlimactic. There was an intriguing twist that I didn't see coming, but it was such a chore to get there that I honestly considered not pushing through.

One of the biggest problems was that there were too many points of view, too much going on, and it detracted from the main story. The whole hitman side story kept the plot from being engaging and cohesive for me.

Overall, this book felt like a season of The Rookie television show condensed down into one book. Entertaining, but not very believable and kind of forgettable.

This novel differs from the cozy mysteries I tend to gravitate towards. It felt like Suits + The Mafia + a murder mystery- an exhilarating and gripping combination.

This book, which is set in an upper-class neighborhood in New York City, follows the trial of a man who seems to have been wrongly accused of murder. The police's only evidence of his involvement are an anonymous caller who said he was seen entering the victim's house and a gun with his DNA on it that seems to match the murder weapon. As the story unfolds and the lead lawyer, Eddie Flynn, becomes the target of different hitmen and mafia members, the mystery develops, and characters question how reliable the only witness is.

The writing style made the book a quick and relatively easy read. The mystery unfurled deliciously and kept me on my feet. I read over three-fourths of this 400+ page book in one day because I could not stop until I had completed it.

I recommend this to anyone who likes a good courtroom drama or a clever mystery.

I read this book without reading any of the series's previous novels and can say that it can be enjoyed as a standalone novel if you do not want to read the other books in the series to get to this one.

This book was such a pleasant surprise! I thought it was likely to be good as I’ve heard great things about Cavanagh’s books, but the vibe is much different than I expected. (Also worth noting, this book is the eighth in the series and while I haven’t read any of the others, I didn’t feel lost in the slightest. It stood entirely on its own.)

It’s a twisty, gritty, legal thriller (but with some heart), and I loved it. It’s the sort of book where I didn’t really care about the actual whodunnit, I just immensely enjoyed the journey there. That’s the best kind of mystery/thriller. I will absolutely be reading more Steve Cavanagh books in the near future.

I was gifted this e-arc from the publisher. I went into this book not knowing it’s a series of novels. But it really read as a standalone.
It’s not my usual genre but I enjoyed the story. I really liked this authors writing style. And I have to say I will read more of this series.

I love the Eddie Flynn novels. I really like how I can read them in any order and it doesn't impact the story. I am working my way through the previous books, but I didn't want to wait to read the new one. An anonymous tip leads police to a seemingly loving husband and father for a murder. Eddie Flynn believes he's innocent, but is he?

I love the way these stories always keep me on my toes. I thought I figured out the twists several times, but I am still always shocked.

I already knew that before I started this book it was going to be soo good and I was write. The story line was great the characters are well written and it all just worked out great. I stayed up all night reading this

Wow! Steve Cavanagh does it again! I am just so wrapped up in his writing. I feel like I’m actually there on the scene. This is my second book of his that I’ve read and I’m not stopping anytime soon! This book way so good and intriguing that I couldn’t put it down!

From the very first page, Witness 8 had me completely hooked! Steve Cavanagh masterfully weaves a fast-paced, twist-filled legal thriller that kept me on edge the entire time. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another twist hit, making it impossible to put the book down.

The different character POVs were seamless and fit together perfectly, adding layers of intrigue without ever being confusing. Each perspective added something vital to the story, making the twists even more shocking and satisfying. Eddie Flynn remains one of the most compelling legal thriller protagonists out there, and his sharp mind and unrelenting pursuit of justice make every moment gripping.

If you love thrillers packed with surprises, high-stakes courtroom drama, and expertly crafted storytelling, Witness 8 is an absolute must-read!

I didn't realize this was a series when I got approved on Netgalley. I don't think it took away from the story and my understanding to start with book 8, but I think some of the dynamics and character backgrounds would have been more impactful had I started at the beginning. That said, that was my fault for not realizing.

I really liked the writing and will definitely read more by this author, but this particular story wasn't super intriguing to me. The first half was a lot of set up and felt like it dragged a bit. The latter half did pick up pace wise and I found it much more engaging. I really liked Eddie Flynn, con man turned lawyer. His methods were very entertaining and I can see why this series has carried on so long.

I do think my problem is that I'm not sure courtroom thrillers are my cup of tea. I'm curious to try more from this series to see if it was this particular story or this particular subgenre that's my issue.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of Witness 8!!

It took me a bit to get into this book, but once I got there, I was really hooked. I truly didn’t know what was happening — and didn’t even have a good guess! — until the whole story wrapped up.

If you’re looking for something tense with twists, ~very~ complicated characters, and a whole bunch of confusion, this is it.

Murders upon murders abound in this legal thriller set in a posh Manhattan neighborhood. We have an unreliable narrator named Ruby, and get a peek into crooked NYC police as well. The book starts with a bang when Ruby witnesses a murder and knows who the killer is, but we don't learn who it is until the end. The multiple plots were easy to keep up with, and I liked how the author kept with each POV for several chapters before moving on to the next one.

This book gave what it was suppose to give it was a true page turner from the very first chapter I was on the edge of my seat I’m sure this book will be talked about