I didn't realize this was a series when I got approved on Netgalley. I don't think it took away from the story and my understanding to start with book 8, but I think some of the dynamics and character backgrounds would have been more impactful had I started at the beginning. That said, that was my fault for not realizing.

I really liked the writing and will definitely read more by this author, but this particular story wasn't super intriguing to me. The first half was a lot of set up and felt like it dragged a bit. The latter half did pick up pace wise and I found it much more engaging. I really liked Eddie Flynn, con man turned lawyer. His methods were very entertaining and I can see why this series has carried on so long.

I do think my problem is that I'm not sure courtroom thrillers are my cup of tea. I'm curious to try more from this series to see if it was this particular story or this particular subgenre that's my issue.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of Witness 8!!

It took me a bit to get into this book, but once I got there, I was really hooked. I truly didn’t know what was happening — and didn’t even have a good guess! — until the whole story wrapped up.

If you’re looking for something tense with twists, ~very~ complicated characters, and a whole bunch of confusion, this is it.

Murders upon murders abound in this legal thriller set in a posh Manhattan neighborhood. We have an unreliable narrator named Ruby, and get a peek into crooked NYC police as well. The book starts with a bang when Ruby witnesses a murder and knows who the killer is, but we don't learn who it is until the end. The multiple plots were easy to keep up with, and I liked how the author kept with each POV for several chapters before moving on to the next one.

This book gave what it was suppose to give it was a true page turner from the very first chapter I was on the edge of my seat I’m sure this book will be talked about

5 STARS!
the way steve cavanagh writes legal thriller is out of this world and I absolutely love any book that is written by him. if you want a medium paced grippy thriller that insanely hooks the readers in then this one is for you

A murder in a wealthy neighborhood has one true witness. But she’s using what she knows to her advantage. This is part of a series and a lot of the characters were already known to readers. The author did a good job of introducing them to new readers.

New characters were introduced well also. The main new character is Ruby and she used to be part of the wealthy neighborhood. Now she’s the help, but she is not to be trusted. I didn’t care for Ruby. I really didn’t understand what motivated her and once it was revealed it barely made sense to me.

This book was good, but I’m betting there are better books among this series.

This was fast paced and really enjoyable to read
I did find there was a lot going on and at some points it was a little too much to keep up with. But overall, I liked it and I liked how it all tied in together!

Steve Cavanagh is back with another installment of the Eddie Flynn series.

Witness 8, was a complex, twist-filled ride that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Cavanagh masterfully weaved together multiple storylines, creating a web of suspense that was both engaging and unpredictable. The narrative centers around Eddie Flynn defending a murder, but it quickly expands to include a dangerously manipulative witness and a contract on Flynn's own life. The character of Ruby Johnson adds a very interesting element to the story. Her motivations, and actions make the reader question her throughout the entire book.

Eddie Flynn's is a combination of legal brilliance, street smarts and a touch of con artistry. His unconventional methods and sharp wit contribute to the book's fast-paced and exciting nature.

Cavanagh is known for his ability to craft surprising twists, and "Witness 8" is no exception. This book is packed with unexpected revelations and twists that will keep even seasoned thriller readers guessing.

All in all, this book is a hit and will be well loved.

Hats off to Steve Cavanagh and the team at Atria Books, check out this teaser :

What if the witness was more twisted than the killer?

Something is wrong with Ruby Johnson.

A former resident of the ultra-elite Manhattan upper class, Ruby now works as a maid in the type of houses she used to live in. Unassuming, she sees everyone’s dirty secrets from the inside of their beautiful, renovated brownstones. But when Ruby witnesses a murder, she has wicked plans in mind that don’t involve telling the authorities the truth.

Eddie Flynn, streetwise ex con-artist-turned-defense attorney, is the only lawyer in New York City willing to take on hopeless cases. And none is more hopeless than John Jackson’s—the gun that killed his neighbor found, with Jackson’s DNA, in his own home. Flynn and his unconventional team will need to use every trick they know to keep an innocent man from being locked up. But to save his client’s life, Eddie must first protect his own, as the scariest organized criminals in the city are out for his head.

This was a great book. I want to start off by saying that I actually haven’t read the Eddie Flynn series before this book, but I did read and love Kill for Me Kill for You which was such a fun twisty read.

This book started off so gripping with Ruby working for the rich elite neighborhood that she used to be part of. But when she calls in a tip about the murder she witnessed- she actually told a lie and we find out more as to why she lied. The main character of the series- Eddie Flynn ends up being the attorney for the innocent man that Ruby accused. This book was also a fun twisty read with chapters that are quick to get through. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the eARC.

This is everything one would want in a crime/legal thriller. I was totally engrossed in this story from the very start where Ruby, a nanny in an elite Manhattan neighborhood, is walking home and witnesses a murder. However, instead of calling the police and reporting the crime, she has devious plans of her own to get what she wants. Meanwhile, Eddie Flynn, an ex-con turned lawyer, is hired to defend the man accused of said murder. It’s a multi-POV book with a complex and integrative plot that wraps up nicely in the end. I was definitely not expecting the ending and I audibly gasped when that plot twist was revealed. This is the eight book in the Eddie Flynn series but can be read as a standalone as I did. There’s some character development and attachments that I probably missed from recurring characters in previous books but besides that it reads well as a standalone. I highly recommend this book if you’re into crime thrillers.

I've come to expect nothing less than a brilliant plot spun by Steve Cavanagh. This one was full of layers and twists and the mystery behind it was just chef's kiss!! Huge thanks to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to go through the arc for an honest review. It took me a bit of time to go through it - I felt I had to stop to 'digest' everything I'd just read before I peeled yet another layer of the action. By now Eddie Flynn had become my buddy too and I'm always looking forward to his next 'adventure'. Loved it! looking forward to more books by S. Cavanagh

I loved this one! Thank you so much for the ARC! I was constantly guessing if I had the answer right the entire time. It was so well written, the perfect amount of detail without becoming boring! The characters and plot were easy to follow and I couldn't put this book down. This was my first Steve Cavanagh book but definitely won't be my last!

I gave up on this one after a few chapters. When the main character knows the “toughest”, the “scariest”, the best people , it’s just kind of just blah. I won’t this one since I didn’t finish it. It just wasn’t for me.

Too many characters, too many details to keep up with and yet I feel like nothing really happened that kept my attention. I found myself skimming through several different points because I was losing interest. Very little character development.
I don’t like leaving even semi negative reviews because I can’t even imagine how hard it is to wrote a book when I can barely write reviews but this just felt like it went all over the place and I didn’t love the ride. I think this author just isn’t for me as this isn’t the first time I’ve felt this was about his books. I know he’s well liked so it may be more me than the book, but that’s the beauty of books.
Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review

I wanted to get into this one, but I didn't realize it was part of a series. I felt like I was missing a lot of the background, and that's my fault. I liked the writing and the storyline, but I wish I had read the first one and not one this far in.

WITNESS 8 is the eighth installment of the captivating journey of streetwise ex-con-artist-turned-defense attorney Eddie Flynn. In this installment, Eddie takes on another seemingly hopeless case, defending the successful brain surgeon, Dr John Jackson, accused of killing his neighbor. The twist? Ruby Johnson, the nanny for many of the residents, including Dr  Jackson, witnessed the murder. Cunning as she is, she decides to use this information to manipulate the truth to further her agenda, adding a new layer of complexity to the story.

The story, set in the vibrant backdrop of New York City, is narrated from various perspectives, adding a unique layer of intrigue to the narrative. It unfolds into an effortlessly flowing, high-paced, tension-packed suspense narrative. An added story complication? Eddie, after winning a recent case involving the NY police, has to dodge hitmen who are out to get him. It's an exhilarating read that fans of legal thrillers will highly enjoy!

My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the digital advance review copy. I want to give a special shoutout to Steve Cavanagh for crafting such a great series. While each book can be read as a standalone, WITNESS 8 is a worthy addition to the lot. I can't wait for the next one!

Four stars to the storyline as I really enjoyed the plot and the characters. Full of suspense and knowing what we know.. an interesting plot twist (trying not to say too much) we get to figure out what happens with the characters.
I found the ending to be a bit lacking. The detectives just randomly guessed as to what happened, without much background. I would have liked to have seen more depth with the conclusion.
I did not read the series and I was able to enjoy this without any prior knowledge of the main characters, which I really loved!
Thank you NetGalley for the gifted copy.

AMAZING! wow wow WOW. Steve can WRITE. This may be my favorite so far because of all the different layers to the story. I really hope we hear a lot more of Mr. Christmas.

This was my first book by Steve Cavanagh, and I really enjoyed it! I loved his writing style, and I love Eddie Flynn and his team. Flynn has street smarts and is savvy, but that can get him in trouble and have him watching his back. He uses his skills to get his clients off, but he has his work cut out for him in this newest case. A wealthy woman is killed in her own home and the cops arrested an innocent man, Flynn’s client, for the murder, based on an anonymous phone call.

Ruby Johnson is a twisted person who has an agenda, but she has her reasons. She is a maid on the street and saw the whole thing go down. She recognized the killer. The book takes us on a journey to explain her reasons. There were many twists and turns and I was engaged until the very end. I loved this book and want to read more from this series now.

Thanks to the author and Atria Books for the copies to read.

overall a good book. a little confusing, but for those who like legal / mystery/ thriller it was a good book! and i definitely didn’t know it was 8 in the eddie flynn series. i liked to go in order, just personal preference.