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.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #AtriaBooks for the book #Witness8 by #SteveCavanagh. This book is full of drama, murder and deception. Ruby is a maid in the ritzy upper class Manhattan homes and she has just witnessed a murder. She witnesses a murder and instead do telling the cops the truth, she has plans of her own. Eddie Flynn is a defense attorney assigned to John Jackson, the accused murderer, case. Not only does he have to try and get John’s charges dropped, he has to save himself against some criminals out to get him.

WOW. JUST. WOW! Another absolute banger from the legal thriller genius himself! 🙌 Steve Cavanagh does it again with edge-of-your-seat tension, mind-blowing twists, and the brilliant Eddie Flynn back in action. This book is the gift that keeps on giving, and I’m honestly in awe of how masterfully crafted it is.

Another banger in the Eddie Flynn series! I am only two books into this series but it is sooo good. Cavanagh writes really engaging thrillers that will grip you and keep you on the edge of your seat. Eddie has his typical charm and slightly underhanded ways throughout which make me absolutely adore him. While I would highly recommend this and it can be read as a standalone, I would start with THE DEFENSE because there will definitely be spoilers from prior books and you’ll just have background information on the supporting cast.

Amazing! I loved this twisty legal thriller - as usual, Cavanagh delivers an intense, fast-paced story with fantastic characters. Completly compelling!

There’s something off about Ruby Johnson. She’s got that quiet, unassuming presence—the kind that makes her easy to overlook. But make no mistake, Ruby sees everything. She used to sip champagne in penthouses; now, she scrubs their floors. And when she witnesses a brutal murder, she doesn’t panic. She plots.

Enter Eddie Flynn, ex-con-turned-defense-lawyer, and the only person standing between an innocent man and a lifetime behind bars. John Jackson is on trial for a murder he swears he didn’t commit. The gun? Found in his home. His DNA? All over it. The case is a prosecutor’s dream—airtight, locked up with a pretty bow on top. But Eddie? He knows better.

And then there’s Mr. Christmas. With a name like that, you’d expect candy canes and goodwill. But this guy isn’t Santa Claus—he’s a stone-cold assassin, and if Eddie doesn’t watch his back, he might not make it to closing arguments.

Witness 8 delivers all the sharp twists and legal thrills I’ve come to expect from Steve Cavanagh. Some reveals weren’t surprising (let’s be real, certain characters just radiate trouble), but others? I’m still picking my jaw up off the floor. The pacing is relentless, the courtroom drama crackles with tension, and Eddie’s signature wit keeps it all effortlessly entertaining. Whether you’re a longtime fan or diving into your first Eddie Flynn novel, this one’s a must-read.

Thanks to Atria Books for this advance copy via NetGalley for an honest, voluntary review.

#Witness8 #NetGalley #AtriaBooks #SteveCavanagh

Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh is the 8th book in the Eddie Flynn series and releases on March 25! This is my first of the Eddie Flynn series and I’m definitely going to be going back and starting this series at the beginning! 🕵🏻‍♂️

I loved Steve Cavanagh’s book Kill for Me, Kill for You, which came out in 2024 and was really successful, and I think Witness 8 is going to be just as popular! 🫶🏻

Eddie Flynn is a con-man turned defense attorney, and when a woman from a wealthy Manhattan street winds up dead and John Jackson, the woman’s neighbor, has the gun used to kill her with his DNA on it in his home, it seems like an open and shut case. Enter Ruby Johnson, a former resident of this street, who ends up down on her luck and now the maid and nanny of the residents of this street, who ends up using her fly-under-the-radar role to get all of the insider information on what’s actually going down in this neighborhood. 👀

Eddie Flynn’s character is so, so good and totally makes this book. This was one of those books that you find yourself cancelling all obligations and priorities to finish - it’s absolutely unputdownable!! My only warning would be that there is a lot going on and a lot of moving parts and characters, with different POV, so really...cancel your plans! 🤪

I will also add that you don’t need to have read the other books in the series to be able to understand what is going on here - but it does seem like there is background here that would probably be helpful and/or cool. I’m diving into the Eddie Flynn backlog, so I will report back!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Steve Cavanagh, and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This baby releases March 25, 2025! 💖

Witness 8 is my first Eddie Flynn lawyer novel. I loved my first Steve Cavanagh book Kill for me, Kill for you so I was extremely excited when I got approved for this ARC.

The story starts with Eddie winning his first case where he gets on the bad side of some cops. It then moves on to Ruby who you find outs father caused them to get evicted from their house on a very wealthy street. She’s now been hired to clean and help take care of the people on the street when her and her mom have to move and she needs to support them. One night on her way home she watches a murder on the street and she takes the murder weapon to frame a father on the street. There are many twists and turns in this book which makes you wonder what’s really going on with Ruby.

The only thing I didn’t like about this book is at the beginning there were so many different storylines going on it was hard to keep up with everything and keep it straight. It felt a little all over the place until it all connected in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second book I read from the Eddie Flynn series and I love that this series can be read as standalone novels. If I had read more of the series in order, I think I would have a deeper appreciation for some of the character's relationships, but I don't feel it effected how much I enjoyed this book.

I love the way Cavanagh portrays Eddie Flynn. He crafts a character who elicits a wide range of emotions, skillfully balancing sharp wit with the story's inherent tension; providing moments of levity within the serious legal narrative.

While I found this book slightly less suspenseful than the previous book I read in the series (Thirteen), it was still an engaging story and you just have to keep reading to find out what tricks Eddie has up his sleeve. While there seemed to be too many subplots that might have impacted the suspenseful storyline, I enjoyed how Cavanagh weaved them together to create a chilling ending.

I really enjoyed this book, especially as all the action began towards the second half of the book. It was really cool to see how people were connected to eachother and watching the pieces fall into place. Overall this book was a great read and I will absolutely be reading more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley, Steve Cavanaugh and Atria Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest review

many thanks to atria books, the author, and netgalley for this arc

wow, wow, wow, if I could give this book 6 stars I would. I was hooked from page one through to the end and it just kept getting better. the multiple povs were perfection and I never once felt confused about who was talking. even though I haven't read any of the previous books in the series, I felt connected to the characters and was painted a really good picture of their flaws and motivations. the cliffhanger chapters were so well done and even when I was convinced I knew what was going on, I was still wrong (yet nothing ever seemed to come out of left field).

I could not recommend this book enough, it is truly one of the best I've read this year. if you like procedural novels with some very interesting approaches to the law, this will 100% be up your alley. there's truly something for everyone in this book; rich people's lives falling apart, crooked cops, schemes, and genuinely good banter. do yourself a favor and pick this one up.

Where do I even begin with this one?? Let me tell you it is a doozy but in a good way. I liked the multiple POVs; I think it helped tie the whole story together. The plot twists were crazy and the characters were likable. So much went on in just 416 pages.

I have never read anything by this author, but I will be looking out for other books they write in the future. I really enjoyed the story as well as the pacing of the story.

There's a party on West 74th street, Manhattan, New York. All the neighbors are in attendance. Ruby, the nanny/housekeeper for many of the residents along the street is walking on her way home when she witnesses one of the neighbors get shot and killed in their home. She knows the killer, watches them run away from the scene. An anonymous tip points the police in the direction of a neighbor- one who appears to be a kind, caring and ethical person, husband and father. The evidence is pointing at him, but Eddie and crew believe he's innocent and have to come up with a plan to clear his name despite the piling evidence.

This is the 8th book in the Eddie Flynn series but can be read as a stand alone with out any issues. Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this gifted copy!

Steve Cavanagh is easily becoming one of my new favorite authors. His thrillers are fast paced, detailed, and exhilarating. I love that his Eddie Flynn series can be read as stand alone books like Witness 8. Wow, there is a whole lot of crazy in this book. We follow Eddie Flynn, ex con artist turned defense attorney, on his next case defending a well known, wealthy surgeon who is accused of murdering his neighbor. I couldn’t put this book down. I’m pretty sure I read it in less than 2 days. As my third Steve Cavanagh book, I am committed to reading the rest of his books.

4.5/5 stars