After having read and enjoyed my very first Steve Cavanagh book, I was super excited when the publisher reached out and offered me an arc of his new book. I didn't know at the time that it was the 8th in a series. (Yes, I knew there was a series, but I had previously read a stand alone.) I am not good at entering series mid-run. I like to be there from the beginning and meet the characters as they are developed by the author. But, I didn't have the time or ability to read the first 7 books, so I dove in! Thankfully, Mr. Cavanagh does an excellent job at briefly referring to previous events that might impact the current installment. At no point in time did I really feel like I was missing something, other than 7 books that are probably really good reads based on this one. Eddie Flynn borders on the edge of believable and not plausible. He is an attorney that relies on his former con man days tricks to help his clients in unique ways. In this book, he uses those tricks to help himself as well. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and can say it is a complete read on its own. So, now the question is: do I go back and read the first 7 or just keep reading from here on?

Careful who you choose to invite into your home.
Ruby grew up among the upper-crust on west 74th street in New York. But after her father left her and her mother high and dry, they found themselves holed up in a small apartment in Hell’s Kitchen.

But Ruby isn’t ready to leave the old neighborhood behind. She finds work among the wealthy families she used to live among. Working as a maid, a nanny, really whatever they need, she will do.

But make no mistake, Ruby has an agenda. And when the perfect opportunity lands in her lap she jumps at the chance to set her plan into action.

Detective Eddie Flynn is back! A former con artist, now a top criminal attorney in New York. Fiercely loyal to his friends, and if he believes in your innocence he will fight with everything he has to get you acquitted.

Eddie has a lot on his plate on in this this latest installment - in one of the best legal thriller series out there. Not only is he defending a doctor accused of murder, but Eddie is also dodging bullets as someone has put a hit out on him.

Can Eddie stay focused on the trial while staying one step ahead of an assassin’s bullet?

You’ll just have to read this book to find out. And though it’s book eight of the series it can definitely stand on its own.

Thank you to Atria Books via both NetGalley and Edelweiss.

Review of "Witness 8" by Steve Cavanagh - ★★☆☆☆

Thank you for the opportunity to read an ARC of "Witness 8." Unfortunately, I found myself quite disappointed with this book, rating it just 2 stars. While I had high hopes given the buzz around Steve Cavanagh's work, this particular story felt disjointed and difficult to follow.

The multiple points of view were overwhelming, and I often struggled to keep track of whose perspective I was in. Additionally, the tense of the writing seemed to shift in a way that added to my confusion rather than enhancing the narrative. I found myself lost in the plot more often than not, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the story.

I appreciate the effort that went into crafting this novel, and I plan to give Cavanagh's other works a try, as I've heard such great things. However, "Witness 8" just didn't resonate with me, and I hope for a more cohesive experience in future reads.

Steve Cavanagh does it again! Another amazing crime/legal thriller, and a great edition to the Eddie Flynn series! With plenty of twists and turns, you won’t be able to put this book down. The need-to-know how this would wrap up was so strong, I finished it in two sittings! If you haven’t read Steve Cavanagh, please do yourself a favor and start now- you won’t regret it!

First thank you to atria books and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨3.75 stars

Synopsis: Eddie Flynn is a lawyer but was a con man originally. His past very much helps him when needed in the courtroom or elsewhere to win his cases. Now he is representing a prominent doctor accused of murder after a hit has been put on him from his last case. Can he find the real murder before he is murdered?

What I liked: this was a fun wild ride. Lots of great twists and turns and the pacing was fast. The twists at the end blew me away. This was my first book by the author but not my last. His characters are all characters. So unique and he writes so descriptive that you really feel like you know them.
There were a few things that I guess and didn’t agree with the way things were handled all the time but it was a fun ride. I read it in less than 2 days.

My first book by this author and I loved it! Amazing charecters even the ones I didn’t like. Storyline that twisted and turned all over the place. A great book!

I enjoyed this book. The overall plot ans characters were great as well as the pacing. It was an intriguing read and I would definitely recommend this to others

Steve Cavanagh is the only author I can trust to give me a 5 star legal thriller every single time! He has a way of hooking you in from the start and not letting go until the end. The twists, the characters, the setting...all just so good!!

I love Cavanagh’s writing, especially the few Eddie Flynn books I’ve read (the beauty of this series is you don’t really need to read them all to understand what’s going on). They give me old school Law & Order vibes - if McCoy was a defense attorney and also used to be a criminal. The premises are always a bit farfetched but just so damn enjoyable you don’t care. The characters have intriguing and troubled backstories, the twists keep you on your toes, and overall it’s just a fun world to get lost in. I highly recommend this book, and frankly anything else he wants to write!

Thank you Atria and Netgalley for this ARC. Witness 8 is out 3/25!

4.5/5 stars

🪰🪰🪰🪰🪰 / 5

WITNESS 8 by Steve Cavanagh

thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for early access to the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

quick thoughts:
⭐️ 5/5
🤫 mysterious nanny witnesses murder & her employer is a suspect—Eddie Flynn is hired to defend him
👩🏻‍⚖️ legal/psychological thriller
✍🏼 multiple POVs, short chapters
🎱 book 8 in Eddie Flynn series (can be read as standalone)
👍🏼 would recommend to thriller lovers!

i immediately requested this one on NetGalley because KILL FOR ME KILL FOR YOU was one of my top reads of last year. i assumed this one had to be good since it’s book 8 in the series, and i’m so glad i was right 😎

🎶 “all these thoughts have never stopped”

i was genuinely shocked by the prologue, and then the first chapter where i was introduced to Eddie Flynn had me shaking my head in disgust and then smirking and chuckling. it’s safe to say i’m now an Eddie Flynn fan 😋

this was so much more than just a thriller. the author touched on some important themes regarding social injustice—i’d recommend checking out @alymaverinoreads’s amazing review because she hit the nail on the head, and i couldn’t have said it better myself!

Steve Cavanagh has now become an autobuy author for me because he’s 2 for 2 with 5-star reviews from me 😎

Steve Cavanagh is among my top five favorite authors. I am obsessed with the Eddie Flynn series, and I hope he keeps writing them forever. He has the fantastic talent of grabbing from the front page and not letting you go until four in the morning. Cavanaugh is the King of Legal thrillers, and I absolutely loved the angle that the witness was unreliable and using the murder/information to her advantage. Who doesn’t love a book about the elite upper class. There are so many twists in this book I have whiplash (in a good way). Cancel all your plans and get ready for Witness Eight. I will recommend his books to anyone that will listen.

Thank you, Net Galley, the author, and the publisher, for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Phew this book! I loved it. I loved that it was a legal thriller, with side of mobs, hit men, and seeing what is really happening (or at least some of it) while watching the lawyers trying to figure it out on their own. I LOVE the characters. Eddie and his amazing group of lovable, smart badasses just made me day. I could not stop reading from the very first page and I already miss it. No spoilers but it was diabolical.

4.5 stars! This was a great concept. I love the angle of the witness being unreliable and using the murder to her advantage. The twist of her dad being in the walls was great! Overall, another top notch book from Cavanagh.

"Witness 8" is the eighth novel in the Eddie Flynn series. I had previously read and enjoyed Steve Cavanagh's "Kill for Me, Kill for You," and I picked this up without realizing it was part of a series. Oops! It worked really well as a standalone, though. Overall, it was an entertaining legal thriller. I always enjoy some courtroom drama, and the plot was compelling. I think where I struggled with this book is that the story was told from the POV of nine characters, which made it feel a bit disjointed. It was also apparent that the author is not a fan of prosecutors, which was hard for me as a former APA. This book didn't quite live up to the exciting and twisty "Kill for Me, Kill for You." However, the other books in the series have glowing reviews, so I might still check them out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my second Steve Cavanagh thriller and it didn't disappoint. Thanks to the audio and the digital, I was able to fly through this book! The way the elite upper class were portrayed was so fun, not to mention the hit list. I loved it!

I suggest you RUN, don't walk, to your nearest bookstore, online retailer, library...wherever you get your books!

Now, I haven't read the previous seven novels in this series, but I didn't feel as if I was missing anything (although I need to find time to go back and read them!). Don't be afraid to just jump right in!

Ruby is a nanny and housecleaner for several homes in a rich neighborhood. While walking home one night, she sees something she shouldn't have which starts a wild series of events. Eddie Flynn is a con artist turned defense lawyer, which are actually pretty similar careers. When surgeon John Jackson is arrested for the murder of his neighbor, Margaret Blakemore, he hires Eddie to defend him and prove his innocence. With evidence stacked against John, Eddie has his work cut out for him, but that's not all he's dealing with. He's gotten on the wrong side of New York's Finest, and now there's a price on his head. While trying to duck and swerve to stay alive, he has to find a way to save John's.

With so many things going on, I never knew where things were going next. It wasn't that the plots were hard to follow, there were just crazy twists that I didn't see coming.

All in all, this was a great thriller that pulled me in from the start. From hit men to blackmail, a frame job to mobsters, there's something for everyone! If you like a fast-paced mystery, this is for you!

Thank you to @NetGalley and @AtriaBooks for a digital copy for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.

This book had all the potential to be so strong. But honestly it was a little boring. The characters did not resonate with me and I didn't really want to root for them in this story.

Just finished this and I flew through it! Just like I’ve done for every book by Steve Cavanagh! I started The Defence in January and could not wait to pick the next one up! Each book in the Eddie Flynn series can stand alone, but I definitely recommend checking them all out for the backstory. They just keep getting better from the first one.

“What if the witness is more twisted than the killer?" Ruby witnesses a crime but ends up changing her story but to what purpose. When John Jackson is arrested, Eddie Flynn’s law team steps in, believing he is actually innocent. To complicate matters, Eddie has pissed off a criminal organization, and now he has to defend Jackson while also protecting the people he cares about.

Cavanagh knows how to pull so many emotions from a legal thriller. The found family vibe is great, and the tension kept me on the edge of my seat. Watching Eddie use all his skills from his past as a con man and his connections is always a blast! Even though I sometimes see the twists coming (probably because I read 8 in 2 months), it’s always thrilling to see how he navigates tricky situations.

Eddie has become an all-time favorite character of mine; watching him let people in just melts my heart. This book introduced Mr. Christmas, a character I hope to see more of, who provided insight into one of my new favorites, Gabriel Lake. While I missed Eddie’s courtroom scenes this time, I liked seeing more of Kate in action.

Cavanagh has become an auto-buy author for me. If you’re into thrilling legal dramas this is one you won’t want to miss!

Welcome to West Seventy-fourth Street, where only the richest of the rich reside. Where one of their residents (though not one they considered worthy) has been killed by one of their own. Where the murder was witnessed by an outsider who longs to be an insider. Alas, Ruby remains mostly invisible to these people and only viewed as the help. But don't feel too bad or worried for Ruby because she's not your average or even trustworthy witness; as her grandmother would tell you, "there's something wrong with Ruby."

Enter my favorite ex con man turned lawyer, Eddie Flynn. He knows his client is innocent; he just has to prove it. And he must do so with New York's (not so) Finest putting a hit out on his head. (Because what would an Eddie Flynn case be without a bunch of extra balls in the air - including his life - for him to juggle?!)

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Steve's writing shines the most vibrant with this series. Every single one has been a solid read for me. Somehow 8 books deep, Eddie as a character and each new case he takes remain as fresh and invigorating as ever. This is me, once again, telling you to read this series!!

🔻Side note to Steve: Chapter 29's opening (& 70's as well)... Not cool, good sir! The absolute way my heart plummeted! 😭😅

🔸 I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.🔸
🔹 Thank you to Net Galley, Atria, and Steve Cavanagh for this eARC.🔹
🎉 Publication date: March 25, 2025

Received an ARC via NetGalley.

This is the third book in a row I requested without realizing it was part of a series. Whereas I skipped the other two, this one sounded interesting enough where I figured I’d just deal with playing catch up with the interpersonal stuff.

Honestly, it didn’t even matter that this was the 8th one in the series. It could act as a standalone in that you get a pretty good look into all the players so you don’t feel out of the loop. The story itself was fast past, complex (in a good way, still easy enough to follow along!), and entertaining.

I’m keeping the series on my radar to go back the beginning and read them all when I can work off the more pressing books in my TBR.