Eddy Flynn is back in action! Past con artist, current DA, he is the patron saint of lost causes in NYC. In Witness 8 he takes on John Jackson's case - a many who surely killed him neighbor, an ultra wealthy woman. Add in Ruby, previously part of the elite and now relegated to cleaning their houses and you have a complicated mystery. Eddy needs to prove John's innocence while ducking plenty of men out for his head! It's a quick moving thriller . #atria #witness8 #stevecavanagh

Witness 8 is the 8th books in the Eddie Flynn series by Steve Cavanagh. I was not aware this was a series when I requested the ARC, but despite there being a lot of characters and back story, I was easily able to follow the plot and really enjoyed the book.

Ruby Johnson is a maid/nanny in an exclusive neighborhood when she witnesses a murder. She takes it as her opportunity to change her life-back to where she came from as one of her neighbors as the wealthy elite. Eddie Flynn was a conman and is now a lawyer and along with his partners takes the case of the guy who is accused of committing the murder. Ruby also has a direct connection with him.

Positives:
A lot of twists and turns
Well paced and short chapters focusing on many characters
I enjoyed the main character as well as all of the minor characters and felt they were well developed.

Negatives:
Not a major negative but there were a lot of points f view to keep track of-at least 8.

I will definitely go back and read the other 7 books in the series now. I liked Eddie Flynn that much!

I really enjoyed this book. It sucked me right in from the beginning, kept me guessing and completely blindsided me multiple times in the end.
We first meet Ruby, who witnesses a crime. Ruby, formerly a resident on W 74th street, now works as a maid/nanny to its current residents. Ruby sees this crime as an easy was to get her wealth back.
We also have Eddie Flynn, former con-man turned lawyer, who gets hired by the accused. Eddie also has a price on his head after losing new York’s finest some money they are illegally drawing in on the side.
This was my first Steve Cavanagh novel, but will definitely not be my last! Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC!

This was a let down in my opinion. Specially after reading KIll for me Kill for you which is my best read of the year so far. There was so much that didn’t connect in terms of parallel plot lines…and the main story fell flat for me in its wrap up.. I also kind of predicted the twist in the end and didn’t care much about the new characters that were introduced for the sake of this book….
I really wanted to love it but unfortunately was an average read.
Thirteen was ao much better in terms of the Eddie Flynn series..

3.5/4 (very torn)

Okay this was good but A LOT. There are 10+ characters you need to keep track of as you read. As well as multiple story lines that really do not connect to the main plot (corrupt police, mob, murder for hire). I think that if Cavanagh got rid of those three plot points and just focused on the murder on E 74th I would have enjoyed it a little more. If you like reading books where the protagonist is a lawyer/detective and outlines cases in detail, then read this. You almost feel like you have a police report in front of you as you read. Additionally, if you like TWISTED young female characters with zero moral compass, then Ruby will definitely be for you.

East 74th street is one of the most sought after streets in NYC. Although it is filled with brownstones, money, and prestige it is also filled with secrets. One night, a resident of east 74th is murdered in her home. Ruby (a self proclaimed poisonous spider), a former E 74th resident turned babysitter, saw the whole thing happen.Instead of going to the authorities, she begins to formulate a plan on how to frame John Jackson (her employer) and blackmail other residents to get what she wants. She isn't above mental and physical torture to those she surrounds herself with to finally be able to leave e 74th street. She picks her target John Jackson and begins the plot to his destruction.

Eddie, a former conman turned lawyer, is put on the case to defend jackson. He is unconstitutional when it comes to law, but will always get the job done. He has his crew (lawyers, con men, hit men) that he works with. As he begins to research the case, he also realizes that people are after him (didn't seem like a neccesary story line). As he tries to balance the mob coming after him and the case, he finds himself constantly wrapped up in drama.

The case continues, and Eddie is having a hard time figuring out WHO did it. He knows it's not his client, but as random clues keep coming in, there is no real evidence helping get his client free. One day, he finds out that two men on a E 74th street have been blackmailed for 250k. These two men were sleeping with the victim. Once the blackmail came out, he was able to track down who was orchestrating the case and find the real killer.

If you’re a fan of the recent domestic help thrillers, “The Maid” and “The Housemaid”, “Witness 8” starts out as “The Anti-Maid.” Nita Prose fans would be horrified; Frieda McMadden fans would be a tad more understanding, but Steve Cavanaugh’s maid, Ruby, is thoroughly in a horrifying class of her own. Ruby is not only a maid in one house on the upper west side of NYC, but she’s acquainted with an entire block of Seventy-Fourth Street, a street where, once upon a time, she also lived and belonged among the same rich people she now despises and tries to manipulate. Ruby witnessed a murder, but she’s decided to cover up the identity of the real killer and frame one of the neighbors instead.

Defending the framed person goes to Eddie Flynn, a bad boy lawyer who is the star of Cavanagh’s ongoing series. I haven’t read any previous Eddie Flynn thrillers before (I will now — I definitely like Eddie’s style and attitude). I felt similarities to “The Lincoln Lawyer”, but Eddie is more of a morally gray conman. He has an entire crew backing him up: Partner Kate Brooks; Office Manager Denise NoLastName; Investigator NoFirstName Bloch (she/her); retired Judge Harry Ford; and ex-FBI/P.I. Gabriel Lake. It’s not necessary to read previous books in the series — this is quite an action-packed standalone. Cavanagh provides enough background on Flynn’s legal family and you never feel that you’re missing context.

And as Eddie and his team try to solve the mystery and find the real killer (and hopefully expose Ruby as well), there’s also been a hit called out on him, so he’s dodging would-be assassins as well. I thought this side story would detract from the main premise, but I found myself enthralled in all the action and wondering how Eddie would solve the murder, exonerate his client and turn the tables on his assassin and people out to get him. 5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Detective Arthur Chase has sharp green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO I don’t even remember a houseplant being mentioned.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

Eddie Flynn is a lawyer to watch.
Ex con man turned defense lawyer is a fascinating man on the rise.
When a wealthy Manhattan socialite surgeon is accused of murder by an eye witness, Eddie needs to pull a huge trick out of his hat to get this case won.
But all is not always as it seems.
Eddie discovers a hit has been put out on him and maybe their witness isn't really as reliable as originally thought.
Ruby, the witness, came from a wealthy family who once lived in this very neighborhood but lost their fortune, leaving her to clean houses and babysit in these homes to make ends meet. Claiming to have witnessed the murder, she anonymously calls in the tip and the story takes off.
Riveting action with non stop thrills, dirty cops, hit men everywhere and Eddie Flynn at his very
best in his courtroom persona.
Nobody does it better.
Cavanaugh rocks with Eddie.
Please, bring on the next case.

I really wanted to love this coming off Kill for Me, Kill for You, but there was just way too much going on for it to truly be enjoyable to me. It’s action-packed, I’ll give it that. But I think the author could have tried to do less with fewer characters and had a more compelling result. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

This book was ok. There was a plot twist at the end but there were a lot of characters and it was hard to keep track of them since there were so many. It was a slow read and didn’t capture my attention so I felt I had to push to get through it. Ok but not my favorite.

I am officially hooked on the Eddie Flynn series. I started out the series reading this book and have gone back to the beginning and am on the third book now. I loved everything about this book and the characters.

Ruby grew up with money and lived her life on West Seventy-Fourth Street until her abusive father gambled all their money away and disappeared. This left her mother and her without anything. As Ruby grew up she started to become a maid, nanny, and housekeeper to her former neighbors. One night, walking home after work, she sees a client. Maggs, murdered. She quickly comes up with a plan that will ruin many people’s lives but hopefully get her the money she needs for herself and her mother.

Eddie Flynn is hired to represent Josh Jackson. A pediatric neurosurgeon accused of killing his neighbor, Maggs. Nothing makes sense with this case but Eddie and his team are determined to prove his innocence. All the while dealing with hit men coming after him, his mentor shot and in a coma after stepping in front of Eddie.

A pretty good mystery novel and an engaging read. Not the most original concept but definitely a good time!

I'm always 50/50 on Cavanagh's books. Some I really enjoy and others don't capture me. Witness 8 was an absolutely phenomenal novel from him. I'm really hoping they continue like this because he will have a reader for life from me!

Ruby Johnson is the neighborhood caretaker. She's a maid, she's a housekeeper, she is a babysitter - she is whatever the neighbors need her to be, so as long as she can stay on that street. But why? Well, Ruby used to be someone who lived on that street. That was until her father lost everything for her and her mother and they had to move away to another part of the city. At first, one would think it's nostalgia that lends Ruby to finding work on her old street. But is that all there is to it?

One night walking home from work, Ruby witnesses a murder among one of the neighbors. She knows instantly this will change her life forever. Her mom is sick and she needs good care, but even on what the neighbors are paying her - it isn't enough to put her mom somewhere nice, somewhere that she deserves. Ruby will use this murder to her advantage and potentially win at life. In the chapters that develop, she formulates a plan to bring what she thinks is justice to light.

4.5 Stars ⭐️

I was so excited when I saw this ARC available because I have been a big fan of this series. Each and every one of the previous books has held my interest and kept me completely invested yet STILL managed to throw in some majorly crazy curveballs.

This entire series is one of the best legal/courtroom thrillers out there - and I have read my fair share of this genre. I think one of the things that makes it so unique is the main character of Eddie Flynn. Eddie is such a unique character - the whole "con man turned attorney" is interesting when thrown out there, but Mr. Cavanagh really took this premise and ran with it. He created a complex and layered man who is flawed (he knows it) yet he manages to balance his crazy, laisse-faire attitude with a deeply caring side that he does his best to cover up. It is actually fun to watch his antics and see how his "past" influences his "present" behavior and skill in the court room.

Eddie has also created a family in his legal team and this book in particular really hit hard and pulled at my heartstrings - serious FEELS. There has been a contract put out on Eddie, and this ends up putting a target on everyone on the team as they try to go about putting together their defense for a murder case while still keeping everyone safe.

The entire cast of secondary characters -Kate, Bloch, Lake, Denise and Harry - have all been so nicely developed over the previous books and everyone together seems to just.....work. In the previous books, one of my favorite parts of the books have been watching Eddie do his magic in the courtroom. Unfortunately, we do not get to see as much of that in this book - but what we do see is brilliant. Kate also does a great job on her portion of the courtroom work.

This case was different. I was trying to think about how to describe my feelings (without spoilers), and the best way that I can explain what I was thinking as I was reading this was how crazy it all was. This storyline revolves around an antagonist who is so evil, but who is also ....well, crazy. A lot of their actions don't make linear sense, at least they don't follow a logical path and that makes it that much harder as everything unfolds. The level of careless vindictiveness is hard - hard to imagine and hard to understand - yet that is also what makes it so impactful.

This book is full of drama and non-stop action and it definitely kept me on my toes the entire way through. I think I went through the entire gamut of emotions on this one and I have to give complete kudos to Mr. Cavanagh for another amazing book. Yes, there was a little bit of OTT action that at times creates a need for the reader to manage or moderate the believability factor - for example, Mr. Christmas and his behavior, and the complete trust level given to Ruby by the Jackson's. But, overall, this storyline had me somehow falling more in love with the character of Eddie Flynn. I felt like we got to REALLY see a side of him that we haven't been able to see in the past and I was grateful for the privilege.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone. This book will be out for publication on March 11, 2025.

Steve Cavanagh is a master thriller author and this installment of the Eddie Flynn series is absolutely perfect. Action from the first page to the last and twist after twist you won’t see coming. I can’t wait for the next Eddie Flynn book. Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

Steve Cavanagh is a new favorite author for me. He is enthralling. He finds a way to engage you immediately and the ride does not let up. Witness 8 is another example of that. Now, I did not know this was part of a series (the 8th part), but I did not feel lost at all. It can be read as a standalone. Overall, this seems to be Cavanagh’s signature: Wild twists and turns, and I love it.

“Witness 8” by Steve Cavanagh is number 8 in the Eddie Flynn series, and can be easily picked up without having read any of the others. The story is about a woman who cleans/nanny’s for very wealthy families on the upper west side of New York. She used to be one of these wealthy families until her father lost his money and ran off leaving her alone with her very ill mother. While walking home one night she witnesses a murder, recognizes the murder, and proceeds to call it in and accuses the wrong person.
Eddie Flynn ex conman now defense attorney is called in to defend the wrongly accused victim. Along the way, he finds the woman to be an unreliable witness with hidden motives and psychological issues. Flynn fights to get through the lies and secrets to defend his innocent client, while at the same time a hit is put out on him by the mob.
The premise of this story attracted me immediately, but became very complex and hard to follow. For me there were too many characters and the two plot lines felt like two separate books.
I do think people who enjoy intense mystery/thriller novels will enjoy this series, this one book was just off for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This books grabs you from the onset. There are a lot of characters to go through, but with each chapter being from the perspective of one person, it doesn’t get confusing. I don’t think you need to start with The Defense, Eddie Flynn #1, but it would provide more of a deeper dive into Eddie and his associates - so a series worth following.

Ruby watches a murder, but instead of going to the police, she becomes more duplicitous to serve her own ends. It’s up to Edddie and his bag of courtroom tricks to defend his innocent client. If you like courtroom drama, legalese, and a cast of characters, this book delivers. Cavanagh is a brilliant crime writer.

🌟🔍 Witness 8 is a total thrill ride! 🔍🌟 Okay, so Steve Cavanagh is back, and he’s serving up another fabulous legal drama with twists that’ll keep you guessing! Ruby Johnson, our not-so-innocent maid, has some serious tricks up her sleeve, and Eddie Flynn, the charming ex-con lawyer, is the perfect hero to navigate this wild mess. 💥

The courtroom scenes are just chef’s kiss, and the pacing is so fast that you’ll be flying through the pages! Those mini cliffhangers? Yes, please! It’s super engaging and hard to put down. 🙌✨

Whether you’re a longtime fan or jumping in fresh, Cavanagh knows how to keep things lively and fun. If you love a good thriller packed with surprises, this one is a must-read! 🌈💖

🌟🌟🌟🌟 Big thanks to NetGalley for the online copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

I loved this book! This book had me turning the pages and completing it within 24 hours!! Steve Cavanagh writes another great thriller. Make sure you set some time aside to read this on!! Thank you to NetGallet for allowing me to read this book in exchange from my honest opinion.

My first Steve Cavanagh book and definitely not my last! I already downloaded the rest of the series. So many twists and surprises that I didn’t predict - which is hard to do!