The witness has her own twisted agenda

Margaret "Maggs" Blakemore lives in a very tony NYC neighborhood on West Seventy-Fourth Street, a former model whose tendency to stray outside the bounds of matrimony has made her less than popular with the other wives in their circle (particularly given that some of her liasons have been with their husbands). So when one of the neighbors throws a big party, Maggs isn't invited....which creates the perfect opportunity for someone to shoot her dead in her home. It would have been the perfect crime had there not been a witness, the neighborhood families' maid/cleaner/babysitter, who was headed home for the night from one of the adjacent homes. In normal cases such a witness would have called the police to tell them all she saw and the crime would be neatly wrapped up, but this is no normal case and Ruby is no normal witness, She lived in the neighborhood as a child until her hard drinking, wife-abusing father lost all their money and disappeared, leaving Ruby and her mother in heavily reduced circumstances and forced to leave their home. Now Ruby is considered good enough to work for the neighborhood families (she used to be "one of them", after all) but not their social equal, which leaves her quite resentful. She considers what she saw as the perfect opportunity to get the kind of money she deserves which will in turn help get her failing mother the medical care she needs and Ruby a new chance at life. She uses her access to the various neighborhood homes to plant evidence on someone other than the actual culprit who is subsequently arrested for the crime. That man turns to defense attorney (and former conman) Eddie Flynn to take his case, which seems to be headed for certain conviction. Eddie and his team are known for taking on hopeless causes, as long as they believe their client is innocent....and in this case they are certain their client did not kill Maggs Blakemore. Even as they set out to dig into what happened at the Blakemore home and who else might have had a motive to kill Maggs, Eddie has an even bigger problem facing him. There is a $50,000 bounty on his head, placed there by the head of one of the biggest criminal organizations in the city of whom he has inadvertently run afoul. Can he keep one step ahead of the various hitmen who descend upon the Big Apple to take him out and collect the money and still figure out a way to prove his client is innocent of the crime he is accused of committing?
In this, the eighth outing in the Eddie Flynn series, the ever resourceful and crafty lawyer and his band of colorful (to put in mildly) associates is up against a challenging case with a price on his own head. His street smarts and understanding of human nature, things which made him as talented a con artist as they do a successful defense attorney, are on full display as he undermines the PR crusade of the prosecuting DA (who just happens to be running for reelection) leverages mob contacts and others to figure out who wants him dead, and along with his talented bench of co-workers gets to the bottom of Magg's murder. Its hard not to like Eddie, and harder still to not enjoy how he shows up the uptown law firm who brought him in to the case. Ruby is a quirky sort of psychopath, a person about whom many in her life have long said, "There's something wrong with Ruby." Her resentment of the people amongst whom she once lived as an equal who now treat her as just another one of "the help" is easy to understand, and her desperation to find money to make her mother's final years more comfortable is also not hard to comprehend. The steps she takes, blackmail and beyond, not to mention the voice that talks to her from a painting? Not so easy to accept and empathize with Ruby on those. Toss in a dirty cop, a hitman known as Mr. Christmas and a mob boss who has been friends with Eddie since back in the day, and you have quite an assortment of narrators and key figures. There is plenty of action and more than a few twists and turns as the story barrels towards its conclusion, and readers of Michael Connelly's Lincoln Lawyer books, Harlan Coben and Lawrence Block among others will likely find this as entertaining a thriller as I did. My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me access to this fast-paced tale in exchange for my honest review.

Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh is a fast paced mystery that starts with a nanny witnessing a murder and then one other employers end up under suspicion for it. Former con man turned lawyer Eddie Flynn ends up with this case where he utilizes some unusual techniques to help his client. This book has a lot of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Steve Cavanagh quickly became one of my favorite authors and Witness 8 didn't disappoint. The latest addition to the Eddie Flynn series, Witness 8 kept me guessing until the end!

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for a copy of this suspense filled book in exchange for my honest review.

Witness 8 is the latest in a series focusing on EddieFlynn, con man turned defense attorney. This was my first foray into the series and I will definitely be diving into the back catalog. Witness 8 can definitely be read as a standalone. The characters of Eddie and his team were very interesting but it was the title character, Witness 8 aka Ruby who was intriguing and terrible at the same time. Ruby was a witness to a murder in her old neighborhood but rather than calling the police at that time, she uses it as an opportunity for blackmail. She manages to wreak havoc on innocent people in the attempt to achieve her goals.

The novel is well written with touches of humor and sentiment wrapped around some killings. The story moves along quickly and I really enjoyed the characters and look forward to reading the rest of the series, both backwards and forward.
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Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

A nice addition to the Eddie Flynn series. Perhaps not as dark as 13 but still twisty.
Fairly solid legal thriller.
3 1/2 stars will round up to 4 because I like Cavanaugh 's writing style.

Eddie Flynn does it again, with a little help from his friends. Eddie's no longer a lone wolf. He has his own little family in Kate, Bloch, Henry, and Clarence the dog.

There's a lot happening in this story, not just the murder trial of a surgeon accused of killing one of his neighbors in cold blood. For one, there's a bounty on Eddie's head. His buddies in low places warn him, but it doesn't mean Eddie is safe.

This added tension to an already high-speed, electrifying plot!

The main villain here is a psychopath named Ruby, and can I just say no one writes a good psychopath better than Steve Cavanagh. The bad guy in Th1rt3en remains in top place. The difference is that Ruby doesn't necessarily enjoy killing. She doesn't mind as long as it suits her purpose.

My one minor criticism is there are too many POVs here. I counted at least nine, maybe ten. That's a lot of jumping around between characters' heads. Not that it gets confusing, not at all, but it was a bit jarring. Some of the minor secondary characters didn't really need a voice.

Overall, Witness 8 is a fantastic read, with plenty of action, double-crossing, twists, and humor. Eddie Fly never disappoints. I'm looking forward to book 9 coming out this summer.

When I requested this arc I did not realize it was part of a series. I did still enjoy it, but I think I would’ve have enjoyed it more had I had more background going in. I almost always love books with multi povs so that was great for me, but it was a little too descriptive for me. I cared more about the plot than how wonderful someone’s kitchen was.

So I did NOT realize that this was the 8th book in a series I haven't read. But you know what? It didn't matter. This book was one part neighborhood suspense and one part courtroom drama. Yes, it wa a bit over the top at times, but I really did enjoy it. I will definitely check out more Eddie Flynn books but also hope the author writes more standalone.

More details in my full review, up now!

I love Eddie Flynn and was so happy to read another book featuring him. Ruby, oh Ruby, she was crazy but her reasons made sense. She loved her mom and believed her actions were just. I loved Eddie and his found family, which even included a dog named Clarence. You do not need to read the others books, to read this one. I will definitely go and read the ones I haven’t. 5/5 stars!

It takes a con man to see the twists and Eddie Flynn is at the top of his game in this book.

Every one of these books have been better than the last (for me)
I am so excited to see what's next with not one but 2 other novels later this year.

Fast read. Snappy Dialog. Great Twists and several villains.

He's the new millennium's Perry Mason.

This book has former rich vs. rich people in a class struggle without a political lecture.

Going into this book I missed the fact that it was book 8 of a series. But it worked completely fine as a standalone story and since I loved it, I'm excited to go back and start the series from the beginning. I actually love when that happens.

"𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘙𝘶𝘣𝘺 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘯.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘮𝘢 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺."

Ruby Johnson used to live among the upper-class in the elite neighborhood that she now works as a maid and nanny. Her family's fall from financial grace has left her slightly bitter. One night while walking home from work, she witnesses the murder of a neighbor... and sees it as an opportunity of sorts.

Eddie Flynn is a former con-artist and current defense attorney who takes the case of the person accused of the neighbor's murder. The story follows his eclectic team during the investigation and trial.
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There were so many things I enjoyed about this book. I think my favorite was the cast of characters. Eddie himself was so smart and interesting with his background as a con-artist. It was obvious that his way of thinking was a little different than everybody else because of his previous lifestyle. I also loved his team with each character being unique and fleshed out.

The plot was fast-paced with multi POV so it was a super quick and entertaining read. Part legal-thriller, part mystery, part domestic suspense... if you enjoy any of these genres I think you'll have fun with this book too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Why am I only finding out about author Steve Cavanagh now? Witness 8 is a legal thriller with a side of psychological thriller. Set in New York City, much of it takes place on West 74th Street in Manhattan as well as at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse. The novel is the eighth book in the Eddie Flynn series and is told from multiple points of view. Those include Eddie as well as Ruby Johnson, a maid and nanny that works for many of the families.

Eddie is a streetwise former con-artist who is now a defense attorney with an unconventional team. He is cunning and has a quick wit, but he can be reckless at times and doesn’t always follow conventions. Ruby used to live on West 74th Street until she and her mother were forced to move. She tends to see and hear everyone’s secrets, is greedy, a liar, and a manipulator of people and situations.

The prologue immediately pulls readers into the story as they get to know the kind of person Ruby is. On her way home one night, she witnesses a murder. She doesn’t tell the authorities the truth since she has a much more complicated and diabolical plan in mind. Eddie is introduced in the first chapter in court and readers get a feel for his trial law capabilities.

Eddie and his team are willing to take on hopeless cases if they believe their client is innocent. John Jackson’s case seems hopeless, but they take the case after meeting with John and his wife, Alison. Readers would think this might be enough on Eddie’s plate, but organized criminals have a grievance with him that have him looking for trouble around every corner.

With a complex and multi-layered plot, an unreliable narrator, distinctive characters, a murder investigation, and a trial, this story kept me rapidly turning the pages. This is not your typical murder mystery or legal thriller. It has more depth and is thought-provoking and full of surprises and twists. The pacing is fast and the ending brings everything to a satisfactory conclusion that is well done. Many themes run throughout the novel including secrets, knowledge as power, family, lies, friendship, and much more.

Overall, this is a compelling, entertaining, and suspenseful story that kept me rapidly turning the pages. This is my first book by the author and I’m looking forward to reading more of his works. I can’t wait to see what happens next. Readers of legal thrillers that are unique as well as fans of the series will likely enjoy this high-stakes book.

Atria Books and Steve Cavanagh provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for March 25, 2025.

This was my first Eddie Flynn book and that could be why it was hard to follow for me. I liked the story, however, with so many POV’s and moving parts I found it hard to follow at times. I really enjoyed the character of Eddie Flynn and it was an overall good detective thriller.

I just have a soft spot for Steve Cavanagh and Eddie Flynn. These are good old fashioned crime novels and they are always entertaining. They are full of colorful characters and ridiculously hilarious situations- over the top in the best way. Can they be cheesy? Yes. And that's part of what makes me love them. This series is almost timeless, could take place in any decade.

This isn't my favorite in the Eddie Flynn series but it's a good time- entertaining and fun nonetheless.

3.5⭐️ Eddie Flynn, ex-con turned lawyer, is back on the scene as he works to clear his newest client, John Jackson, the sole suspect in a murder when the neighborhood maid places him at the scene, along with the weapon. But as Eddie and the gang work to save their client, he will come under fire from some of the most dangerous criminals in the city who are out for blood.

I have only read one other book in this series so far, Thirteen, but am already completely in love with Mr. Eddie Flynn. His character is whip-smart, full of sarcastic wit, and of course, has a heart of gold. I appreciate each and every scene he is in, and cannot get enough of him, especially as he works to figure out what happened and who is out to get him. A new character to this story that also completely drew me in is Ruby, one of the most cunning characters I have read lately. I found myself most drawn to her chapters as I tried to parse out just how much of her was smart versus insane.

While I enjoyed the overall plot line and, of course, Eddie Flynn, I found the story as a whole to be a little confusing as we bounced back and forth between so many characters and subplots. Looking back, I wish I had read this one solely with my eyes, or combined the audio with the physical book, and not relied solely on the audio due to the large cast of characters and complex storyline. All of that said, I would still recommend this book, and will definitely be continuing on with the series myself.

Read if you like:
▪️legal series
▪️unreliable narrators
▪️psychological thrillers
▪️police procedurals
▪️interesting characters
▪️multiple storylines and POVs

Thank you Atria Books for the advanced copy.

Eddie Flynn series book #8

A legal thriller

It opens with a bang….. a murder setting the stage for Ruby Johnson a nanny and cleaner to homes in the neighborhood to become the prime witness to a gruesome murder. …Will Ruby do the right thing and tell the authorities what she really saw and identify the right killer? Or will she do something else?... Knowing who he was and where he dumped the weapon was all she needed to put a plan into action

Of course, Ruby decision points to the wrong person and this poor man finds himself defended by a one-time con man Eddie Flynn who quickly took the case. It’s a race against time to uncover the truth while Eddie faces a personal threat from a hit man, the enigmatic Mr. Christmas.

Plain old murder mystery was not in the cards for Mr. Cavanagh he definitely had other ideas and has spun a very convoluted drama for us to enjoy. It is an amazing ride that had me hooked till I reached the last page. What a fun read and a fantastic story that dragged me in its fantastic plot, its legal sequences and its peculiar characters.

“Witness 8” is loaded with surprises and takes unexpected directions when Eddie finds himself defending his client while dealing with Mr. Christmas. The machinations is the game here Ruby played it well and her tactics blended well with the legal handlings and the investigations of Flynn’s team. This story is loaded with surprises and has left me constantly on the edge of my seat till the very end.

The build up to the conclusion and the end result is extremely well done. This is a wonderful novel: entertaining and pleasurable to read.

Synopsis: Lawyer Eddie Flynn is tasked with defending his client who claims to have been framed for a murder he didn’t commit. There was a witness to the murder, and she knows who the real killer is - but is she lying?

Thoughts: I was not aware that this is number 8 in a series, but it can be read as a standalone. Cavanaugh can be counted on to deliver a super twisty psychological thriller. These characters are all super interesting, particularly babysitter Ruby and hitman Mr. Christmas. I also like Flynn and his team and can totally see how a series following them works well. If this kind of story is your jam, Cananaugh definitely delivers. A note on the audio: Adam Sims does a great job narrating the multiple POVs here!

Read this if you like:
🫢 murder mysteries
🫢 crime procedurals
🫢 twisty psychological thrillers
🫢 multi pov

Looking for a riveting psychological thriller? Stop right there and grab Steve Cavanagh's Witness 8!

Eddie Flynn was a con artist before becoming a lawyer. His cleverness in a bad way came from his past but was still used as one of his lawyer tools to help good and innocent people.

Ruby Johnson was 22 years old and worked as a nanny, a maid, and a babysitter for several ultra-elite Manhattan upper-class people on West Seventy-fourth Street. She witnessed a murder scene and saw the weapon was left in the garbage. She picked it up and used it to frame another person. Why? She hated all those people who lived on that street. Again why? She used to grow up on that street. But again why? Pick this book up and read it.

Ruby was not the only problem Eddie had. He had a lot of other problems along with it! More than one group wanted his head.

A lot of twists and turns!

Steve Cavanagh's writing style intrigued me.

I find it hilarious because it is book 8 of the Eddie Flynn Series and it was my first book of this series. When I picked it up and started reading, I realized it was the latest book of the Eddie Flynn series. I am OCD, and I would like to start from the beginning. My daughter googled it and said I can technically read them out of order. After I finished it, she was right, however, it made me want to read his other seven books in this series.

This is my second book of Steve Cavanagh's books. The first was "Kill for Me, Kill for You." Highly recommended!

Thank you so much @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I admire it very much!

Eddie Flynn, you can do it all! A former conman turned brilliant defense lawyer has his work cut out for him as he an his team take on the case of Dr John Jackson, a prominent surgeon who is accused of murder.

The good doctor, residing with his family on the tony elite street in Manhattan was supposedly witnessed shooting the frivolous Maggs, (another resident) by their help Ruby. Problem is Jackson is innocent and Ruby is intent on seeing him "hang". Why is the prevailing question and Flynn and his former contacts and friends are on the case of finding the real killer., they make some eye opening discoveries.

There are lots of twists and murders. Even Flynn's life is in jeopardy. ...and who is this Ruby and her connection to a painting of a red priest?

I enjoyed this fast paced story, especially after making my way through a very slower previous book.

This book started out with a bang! It was told via multiple narrators, which kept the story moving and flowing surprisingly well.

Witness 8 is a fast paced and captivating read about a young woman who witnesses a crime and sees an opportunity, but her choices end up affecting so many others. This book wove an amazing tale of murder, deceit, blackmail, family, friendship and perseverance. I would highly recommend this book!

Thank you Atria Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.