read if you like:
📚 the Eddie Flynn series
🕵🏻 detective procedurals
💁🏻‍♀️ unreliable witnesses

summary:
This is the 8th book in the Eddie Flynn series, but you don’t need to read the rest of the series to pick this one up! The story revolves around a seemingly simple murder case that quickly unravels into a complex story of lies and deceit. Ruby Johnson, a former socialite now maid, witnesses a murder in her wealthy Manhattan neighborhood. She knows the victim and the killer, but instead of coming forward, she makes an anonymous call to the police and accuses the wrong person. Eddie Flynn, ex-con-turned-defense attorney, is brought in to defend the innocent man. As he digs deeper into the case, he discovers that Ruby is an unreliable witness with hidden motivations. With his client's life on the line, Flynn must fight through secrets and lies to expose the truth.

The plot of this was a little complex for me, which made it a little hard to follow, but the twists and turns throughout it kept me engaged. I always struggle a bit though when I don’t like the protagonist — and Ruby was as unlikeable as they come. Her hidden agenda and willingness to pursue an innocent man was hard to swallow, but fortunately, Eddie is an interesting and unique character in of himself. The book is intense at times, which I think is a signature of this series, but the creativity and cunningness of Eddie add a light twist.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy, and if you like the Eddie Flynn series, check this next one out when it releases on March 10, 2025.

I absolutely loved Kill For Me Kill For You. That was my first Steve Cavanaugh book and it was spectacular. After reading that I read Thirteen and became acquainted with Eddie Flynn and crew. I really enjoyed Witness 8 because it brought me back into Eddie’s orbit. Still plenty of twists and thrills but not as thrilling as Kill For Me. Solid four star read. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

I always look forward to new releases from Steve Cavanagh and this was another great one! I love the Eddie Flynn character and glad his story continues. This one felt different from the previous as it had many different elements. Of course you had the main story but many side stories that all came together in the court house to close off the main murder story. I always feel like Eddie is the modern day Perry Mason where he closes cases in the final court room with his attention to detail that blow the case wide open. I will always recommend Steve Cavanagh to anyone looking for a good page turner where you simply cannot put it down as you need to know what happens next. This is the first ARC i've read of his and I was so happy to be able to read it as I don't think I could wait until next year
100% recommend!

Ruby was once one of them. Until she wasn’t. “Greenbacks and kickbacks.” Mr. Christmas. The Red Priest. “Tony Two Fu(ks.” “What do you think of Marlon Brando?” I was obsessed with this book, and while it’s my first Eddie Flynn, it will not be my last! Thank you Steve Cavanagh and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the advanced copy of ‘Witness 8’.

Another Eddie Flynn book that I love! It's is so engaging and keeps you on your toes!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved Kill for Me, Kill for You. I had not read any of the other Eddie books, so this was a little different for me. It took me a while to get a hold on all of the characters. Steve is a superb writer, and I think will enjoy anything he reads. 3.5 stars.

This was my first Steve Cavanagh, but it definitely won’t be my last! I loved every single aspect of this. The multiple POVs, the legal and courtroom drama, the criminal masterminds. There were so many pieces and characters in play, and I loved how all of it wrapped up so nicely at the end. It was twisty and turny, had me laughing out loud at parts, and was full of love and friendship despite all the murder and chaos. Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this fast paced crime thriller ! The plot is solid , the characters are well rounded and the twists are so good. This is my first Eddie Flynn novel by Steve Cavanagh but it won’t be my only! The author had me laughing out loud at some parts and completely shocked and haunted at the same time. It was a fantastic read!

Thank you to Steve Cavanagh , Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early!

Ruby Johnson, her mother, and her father, used to live in a high class area in New York, until the family lost everything due to her fathers gambling problem, and then his disappearance, leaving Ruby and her mother to deal with everything that they have lost. Now, Ruby works as a nanny and a housekeeper to the wealthy families in the same area that she had grown up in. One day, Ruby witnesses the murder of one of the women who live on the street, she uses it as an opportunity to change her life by anonymously calling in the murder, and pinning the blame on someone else, even though she knew the murderer.

Eddie Flynn is an ex-con man who has become a lawyer, and has ended up with a bounty on his head. He is also hired to be a part of the team that defends the man that Ruby had accused of murder. Flynn and his team must prove that their innocent client is actually innocent, even though multiple things point to him being the killer, while also dealing with multiple other obstacles.

This story is told through multiple POVs, and at first, it was a bit confusing keeping track of all of them - who everyone was and how they were related. I have not read any of the other books in the series, so everyone was new to me, and this probably did contribute to the confusion at first. The pacing was good - short chapters with enough in them to keep the reader interested and wanting more.

The ending didn't quite shock me, but I do think that it ended up giving one of the characters a nice conclusion to the story of her past, at least about what we were told, although I am sure that there is more to be discovered. And I do hope that there is more to the story about Ruby and Mr. Christmas in future books due to that little tidbit at the end.

Do I recommend this book? Yes, however, for me, it wasn't as thrilling and non-stop as I would have liked, but still a really good book overall with a very solid plot and characters that were fantastic and well written.

Thank you to Steve Cavanagh, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.

Another great law book from Steven Cavanagh. I enjoyed reading another book with Eddie Flynn, the con man turned lawyer. The book kept my attention, was interesting, had some great twists, and allowed Eddie to use his skills set. I especially like the depiction of Ruby and Mr. Christmas, two chilling characters who were depicted well. The murder mystery was well executed and the trial well presented with some nail biting moments. Definitely recommend especially if you are Eddie Flynn fans.

Witness 8 was a fun ride! Even though I hadn't read the previous books in the series, I found it incredibly easy to dive right in without feeling lost. Eddie Flynn, the sharp defense attorney, leads a cast of well-drawn characters that you quickly get invested in. The story is fast-paced, full of twists, and keeps you guessing until the very end. Cavanagh's ability to blend courtroom drama with suspenseful storytelling makes this a page-turner. I’m excited to read more from this series!

If you’re looking for Frieda McFadden with more courtroom and legal drama, try this!

This was a great, thrilling read!! I loved that in some aspects, you knew who the bad guy was, but there were other bad guys that you had to try and figure out. Well drawn out, characters feel real and are well developed. I noticed this book is in a series, I have not read the others, but I did not feel I was missing any information. I recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

I just finished reading the first book by Steve Cavanagh, and I'm thrilled that I did. I'll be on the lookout for more books by this author. The story revolves around a maid and an ex-convict turned lawyer entangled in a murder mystery. Rudy, the maid, witnesses a murder but instead of reporting it to the police, she chooses to frame her boss and blackmail the real killer. On the other hand, Eddie, the ex-convict turned lawyer, brings his street smarts into the courtroom. As their worlds collide, the story unfolds into a suspenseful legal drama. Eddie faces a hit being put out on him, and Rudy's questionable choices begin to catch up with her. The plot keeps you engaged and on the edge of your seat until the end.

Thanks to Net Galley, Simon & Schuster, and the author of the ARC.

I LOVED THIS ONE! I read Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh and really enjoyed it so I was very excited to read something else by him. He does such a great job writing thrillers!

Steve Cavanagh’s enthralled me earlier this year with Kill For Me, Kill For You. I was thrilled to hear that his new series installment, Witness 8, continues his winning streak of hot crime, even hotter characters, and wonderful prose and pacing. Devious housemaids, the mob, nonstop action make this new installment engaging and fierce!

Ruby witnesses a murder and decides to capitalize on it. She sends two men requests for money to keep her silence. But which one is the killer? In the meantime Eddie Flynn is trying to prove his accused client is innocent all the while being targeted himself by multiple hit men.
This book had a ton of moving characters and pieces but was still easy to follow! I enjoyed how Ruby and Eddie’s story combined to tell this tale.

"There is something wrong with Ruby."

I was given this arc to review from Netgalley and I could not have been more surprised with how much I LOVED this book. This was my first read of a novel from the author Steve Cavanagh and I was not disappointed. Psychological thriller to its finest. I loved the multiple points of views and I never imagined I could fell so much sympathy and pain for a cold blooded killer. So many layers make up this novel from hit men, to a lawyer case involving a possible misjudged victim, to a twisted young women. Most of all was the twists and turns I had my jaw dropped on the floor during some scenes. Not only could I not put this book down, but I also could not shut up about it!

"What if the witness was more twisted than the killer" This is a MAJOR understatement and the whole ride is so exciting. I felt like I was sitting on the edge of my seat the whole time.

Ruby and Eddie our two main Pov's tell the story of two very different characters that are brought into each others lives through a trail for a women who is murdered in the neighborhood Ruby is employed. They both bring in many other characters and their pov's as well, pulling us further into the mystery of who really committed the murder and what is going on with Ruby. Along with all the other issues (hit men) Eddie encounters trying to solve this case.

Thank you again to Netgalley for this arc!

Steve Cavanagh's *Witness 8* offers another thrilling installment in the Eddie Flynn series, where our favorite ex-con-turned-lawyer showcases his talent for bending the rules to reveal the truth. In this novel, Eddie is tasked with defending Dr. Jackson, a man wrongly accused of murder. The accusations are led by Ruby, a local woman with her own questionable motives. Ruby's unreliability as a narrator adds layers of tension, keeping readers guessing about her true intentions.

Cavanagh builds a vivid world populated with a colorful cast, from hitmen to former FBI agents, all playing crucial roles in the fight for justice. The story also features some formidable women who steal the show, adding grit and complexity to the legal drama. Cavanagh's pacing keeps you on edge, delivering twist after twist, as Eddie pulls off some of his signature legal cons to defend his client.

Overall, *Witness 8* is a captivating legal thriller filled with suspense, intrigue, and a cast of unforgettable characters. Fans of the series will love how Eddie once again proves that he’s as sharp as ever in a courtroom, and newcomers will quickly be drawn into the fast-paced world of Eddie Flynn.

I didn’t realize this was part of a series of books even though it can be read as a stand alone.

There were definitely some twists I didn’t see coming. When I thought I had part of it figured out, I was wrong.

I devoured this point in less than a week. It was a quick read. A little confusing with all the different characters but it all tied itself up nicely at the end. Looking forward to reading more books by this author.

This was my second book by this author. There were quite a few characters to have to pay attention to but overall, it was a good, quick read. There were a couple twists toward the end I didn’t see coming.