Member Reviews
Another great book in the Eddie Flynn series. Great story and even better antagonist. A must read for anyone into thrillers and intensity
Steve Cavanagh has been a favorite for me since I read his last book, Kill for Me, Kill for You. Of course I had to give his newest a try, and I was not disappointed. This book was excellent! The story was engaging and the characters well-developed. Another highly recommended book for Cavanagh.
There has been a murder committed in the lush community on West 74th Street in Manhattan. And the only person who witnessed the murder is out to accomplish her own purposes. No way is she going to give up her secrets to the police. Eddie Flynn is on the job as John Jackson's defense attorney for the case. He knows Jackson is telling the truth when he says he did not murder the victim. But how can he possibly figure out who did when all evidence points to Jackson?
Thank you Steve Cavanagh and Atria Books for the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.
I greatly enjoyed this domestic murder mystery! I loved reading about the process of going through court for a murder charge and learning more about how to sway a jury. This whole book was like an episode of an epic police or lawyer show, such as The Lincoln Lawyer, but better! I liked how Cavanagh uses several different characters' voices to tell the story through their individual eyes. And I really liked how the storylines connected. I will definitely have to go back and read the other Eddie Flynn books.
This book comes out in March of 2025, and when it does, I highly recommend you pick this one up! It is a delight from start to finish, and the perfect read for anyone who enjoys a good high-stakes lawyer-oriented mystery.
Witness 8 is the latest in Steve Cavanagh's Eddie Flynn series, and it does not disappoint!
Flynn is hired to represent a man falsely accused of murder. As the novel progresses, we see that things become much more complicated than simply 'not guilty' and Eddie has to figure out a way to navigate all these additional threats to him and his friends. The variety of moving pieces are a lot for even Eddie to handle, and all the while an unknown threat lurks in the background.
While I guessed part of the twist, I was surprised by an unexpected turn of events. The ending leaves me questioning whether we may see some of the newer characters again in Eddie's universe.
If you like twisty psychological thrillers, Witness 8 is definitely one to read. I can't wait for the next one.
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
This story was fantastic! I've come to expect no less when it comes to a Steve Cavanagh novel.
˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ 4 Stars ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗
Twists and turns, multiple villains, unexpected surprises along with Eddie's gang of well-rounded and quality crew that you can't help but admire as they tackle another high-profile case.
˚ ༘✶ ⋆。˚ ⁀➷ 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ࿐ ࿔*:・゚
The story opens up with a lavish 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. She calls 911 but doesn't tell them the entire truth...
Suddenly, 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.
˚ ༘✶ ⋆。˚ ⁀➷ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ࿐ ࿔*:・゚
I find that sometimes it's so hard to give a quick summary of a mystery/thriller lol. I'm always afraid of saying too much, even if it's in the blurb. I've never been much of a blurb reader myself, especially when it comes to thrillers- I prefer to go in blind.
╰⪼ Whether you choose to go in blind or not... the scene is certainly set in this one and as the story progresses you have multiple storylines, characters and possibilities that you're following which makes the story move at a quick pace and avoid any dragging points.
Your brain does put in a bit of work on this one lol mine was surely spinning all kinds of thoughts and predictions throughout.
╰⪼ I do want to say this... This is the 8th installment in this series, but you can read any one of them as a standalone. I've mentioned it before, but I just want to add that Cavanagh gives quick reminders of who reoccurring characters are, or who another character is that isn't in the current novel in the event you haven't read the series in its entirety. Super helpful and it's quick and to the point so that if you have read the entire series, it's not repetitive.
˚ ༘✶ ⋆。˚ ⁀➷ 𝓜𝓸𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓵𝓸𝓷𝓰.... ࿐ ࿔*:・゚
I'm not the biggest fan of Bloch and Kate. For whatever reason they come across a little stiff to me - kind of rigid personalities? This could very well be the intention, but I would love to see a little more flair from both of them. The glimpses we get of Kate while she's in lawyer mode doing her thing in court- I appreciated. She seemed to come into her own a little more during those scenes and I'd love more of that.
The chapters are fairly short, and the pacing moves pretty quickly with all of the moving parts in the story. Often the chapters end on mini cliffhangers that do a great job at keeping you flying through the pages.
Some of the twists weren't necessarily shocking to me considering the many morally black and dark heather gray characters we have here but others left me with my jaw dropped.
I think Cavanagh did a stellar job at tying everything up at the conclusion while also leaving us some breadcrumbs for the potential to see some characters again.
╰⪼ Steve Cavanagh has built quite the Eddie Flynn world here and continues to do so. It's expansive, vivid and filled with incredible characters good and bad. Can't recommend this series enough. If you need a change of pace and something you can sink your teeth into that offers genuine characters, twists and turns and shocking surprises - give Eddiboi and his team a shot.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and Steve Cavanagh for the advanced digital copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 💐
Steve Cavanagh is a new author I have discovered and he’s quickly becoming a favorite! Witness 8, although a book in a series, can be read as a stand alone book. The main character in the series is a con man turned lawyer. I instantly liked him. I look forward to more books by this author and would love to see these books turned into a Netflix series!
Eddie Flynn is one of my favorite characters. The lawyer, who is a former con man, actually integrates lots of his former occupation into his current law practice. He must put all his skills to work to protect his innocent client who is being framed by his son’s nanny. Meanwhile, Eddie has a target on his own back as numerous assassins are out to eliminate him.
So this is a legal thriller, something that I don’t read a lot of but I think I’ll seek out this genre more often now.
Ruby Johnston, twenty something maid and nanny for several of her neighbours in a prestigious New York neighbourhood, witnesses a murder of a wealthy socialite and decides to try to profit from the horrific event to further her own agenda. You see, Ruby used to live in said neighbourhood until her drunk, wife beating, father split and left her and her mother with nothing.
Lawyer and former con man, Eddie Flynn, and his team are working tirelessly to defend a successful surgeon who has been accused of the murder when the gun used was found in his home. At the same time there is a hit out on Eddie from past dealings in the courtroom and he, along with his team, have to navigate keeping him alive.
I have to say that the threads of the narrative were twined together nicely and the way the courtroom scenes were written was so good!
If you are looking for twists, turns, surprises, and revelations around every corner, then this book is for you. Crime thriller, court room drama, and mob/hit men story lines abound! Eddie Flynn is a former con-artist turned defense attorney who is hired by the Jackson family after Mr. Jackson is framed for murder by his housemaid. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of "edge of your seat" excitement I found in this novel! It was my first book by Steve Cavanagh but definitely will not be my last!
Steve Cavanagh's "Witness 8" is a gripping addition to the Eddie Flynn series, showcasing the author's talent for crafting intricate legal thrillers. This eighth installment follows Eddie Flynn, a former con artist turned defense attorney, as he takes on another seemingly hopeless case.
The plot centers around John Jackson, accused of murder with damning evidence against him. Complicating matters is Ruby Johnson, a former Manhattan elite now working as a maid.Ruby's involvement as a witness to a murder adds a twisted dimension to the plot, as her intentions are far from straightforward. The chapters written from Ruby's perspective provide a chilling insight into her psyche and motivations.
While Eddie grapples with defending his client, he must also contend with a hit placed on his own life, corrupt NYPD officers, and the shooting of his long-time friend and mentor, Harry. These multiple threads weave together to create a tapestry of tension and suspense that keeps the pages turning.
Cavanagh's trademark twists and surprises are in full force here, continually challenging readers' assumptions and keeping them guessing until the very end. The author's ability to balance the courtroom drama with high-stakes action showcases his versatility as a writer.
"Witness 8" is a testament to Cavanagh's understanding of the legal thriller genre. It's a riveting, multi-layered thriller that combines psychological depth with breakneck pacing, making it a must-read for fans of crime fiction and an excellent entry point for newcomers to the series.
A big thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the eighth book (no relation to the title) in Cavanagh’s excellent Eddie Flynn series and a story not to be missed.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Current day, New York City and various other locales
Characters: Eddie Flynn, former con artist and now a semi-legitimate lawyer filled with a bag of tricks, Ruby Johnson, the enigmatic “Witness 8,” Mr. Christmas, a professional and multi-dimensional assassin, and Eddie’s terrific, recurring legal staff of Kate, Harry, Bloch, and Lake.
Overview: In parallel plot lines Eddie has conned and humiliated the wrong dirty cop in a previous court case and is also hired to defend a surgeon who is accused of murder in an exclusive area of Manhattan. Ruby Johnson is involved in more ways than one. Kate plays a key role in court while Bloch and Lake try to defend Harry from Mr. Christmas and provide clues to successfully defend the murder trial. This is a quick-paced, non-stop, surprise-filled thriller. (If I could think of more action-packed hyphenated adjectives to describe this great story, I’d add them.)
Recommendation: I rate this book 5 stars
Extras: The strength of this book is the distinctive, vivid character descriptions, particularly Ruby (do we love or hate her?), Bloch, one of the best female protagonists in current legal series, and Mr. Christmas, who, most likely will return around the holidays in Flynn Series #9 (?).
Thanx to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to provide this candid review.
3.75 stars!
Ruby Johnson once lived a privileged life on Manhattan's West 74th Street until her father's gambling addiction ruined everything. With her father gone, Ruby and her mother were left in poverty.
Now working as a maid for wealthy families on the same street, Ruby despises her new life and longs to reclaim her lost status. When she witnesses a murder, she sees a chance to change everything. Knowing both the victim and the killer, she makes an anonymous call to the police, falsely naming the murderer with a hidden agenda.
Eddie Flynn, a former conman turned lawyer, takes on the case to defend the innocent man Ruby accused. Though Eddie is known for his unorthodox and sometimes reckless methods, he’s determined to uncover the truth. As Ruby's devious plans unfold, the story twists and turns, leading to a chilling confrontation with a character called Mr. Christmas—a name that belies his sinister nature.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, particularly impressed by how Cavanagh vividly captures the intricacies of courtroom drama and the legal nuances of murder cases. While the multiple perspectives added depth, I found myself constantly eager to return to Ruby's point of view. Her unhinged nature made her story the most compelling, leaving me fascinated and wanting to understand what made her the way she is.
The characters in this book were wonderfully multi-faceted, and I appreciated how they were portrayed as they worked to solve the crime. I found myself rooting for all of them, which added to the story's complexity. Although this book is part of a series, it stood out as a strong standalone, and I’m excited to explore more of this author’s work in the future.
I don’t know how or why I was chosen to read an ARC of this but I truly don’t know how Steve comes up with these ideas 😭 brb reading all of the other Eddie Flynn books because I’m obsessed with legal thrillers now
Witness 8 is part of a series staring a lawyer and former con man, Eddie Flynn. This is the first book in this series that I read and was pleased that I didn’t feel like I was missing any of the plot without having read the previous 8 mystery’s in this series. This kept my interest and it was a good, well plotted, psychological thriller. I look forward to reading more books by Steve Cavanagh!
Witness 8 is the eighth novel in Steve Cavanagh's Eddie Flynn series. Having not read any of the prior novels, I was a bit concerned that I might be at a disadvantage but was happy to discover that I had nothing to worry about - Witness 8 stands on its own. This is a solid psychological thriller with twists and turns that will keep you guessing. Con artist-turned-lawyer Eddie Flynn and his colleagues/friends/sidekicks are such a likeable group - you'll be rooting for them all from the start. This story turns the traditional killer / witness roles upside down in knots and twists that will make your head spin.
Witness 8 is the 8th book in the Eddie Flynn series. Prior to this, I have only read book 4 (Th1rt3en) which I read as a standalone and absolutely loved! Witness 8 has surpassed all of my expectations, and has quickly made its way to my top 5 this year.
I loved absolutely everything about this book. The storyline, the characters and everything in between. The MC is a badass lawyer and ex-con, and it is so entertaining to read. The book was 415 pages of endless twists and it had me hooked the entire time.
Cavanaghs writing style is 🤯🤯 in these books. The amount of detail and knowledge describing the court cases/ crime scene investigations and all similar details were all so descriptive and fascinating. I literally felt like I was watching a Law and Order episode on my TV.
Overall, this was a spectacular read and now I’m going to go back and read the rest of the Eddie Flynn series!
Thank you so much @netgalley & @atriabooks for an ARC of this wild read.
Number 8 in the Eddie Flynn series, this mystery is about Flynn and his associates trying to save a doctor wrongly accused of murder. Eddie Flynn is the rough around the edges attorney who used to be a con man and now tries to save others who are innocent. There are a lot of viewpoints in this story, probably too many at times and I kept waiting to get back to Eddie. One of the viewpoints is from Ruby, a young woman who works as a nanny and house cleaner for a group of wealthy people in a neighborhood Ruby once lived in. I think the readers were supposed to root for Ruby but her actions regarding a child were straight out child abuse and I couldn't get behind her at all.
There are really three stories here: Eddie helping out Dr. Johnson who was accused of murdering a woman he barely knew and had no reason to kill, a plot to kill Eddie started. by some police officers and Ruby and her quest to steal money from people. Eddie's story introduced us to the interesting Mr. Christmas who is a quirky hitman obsessed with Marlon Brando and how all of these stories come together is due to the craftmanship Cavanagh shows in all his books. The book dragged a bit in the middle as many new characters were brought into the fray and several groups of killers were after Eddie. As usual, the courtroom scenes were my favorite as Eddie and his associate Kate picked apart the case brought by the ambitious DA, Castro. Cavanagh shines in his courtroom scenes and I was wishing for more of them and less scenes of Ruby and her very odd behavior. The ending was exciting and all of he pieces came together in a surprising way. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC for review.
"Witness 8" is the latest installment in the Eddie Flynn series, characterized by its rapid pace and abundant action. The narrative introduces a host of compelling characters, including Ruby Johnson, a nanny who becomes a key witness to a murder. Interestingly, Ruby's employer finds themselves on trial for the very crime she witnessed. The story culminates in a shocking twist that will leave readers astounded.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC to read and review.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of “Witness 8” in exchange for an honest review.
Steve Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn books are one of the best legal thriller series I have ever read. “Witness 8” is an other superb entry in the series, this time finding lawyer/former con man Eddie and his team defending a family man falsely accused of the murder of a neighbor. In the process, Eddie finds himself in the crosshairs of Manhattan mobsters, rogue cops, hitmen, and the ruthless District Attorney. Meanwhile, Eddie’s dearest friend is fighting for his life, while a troubled girl working for the accused’s family wreaks havoc on his case.
Fast-paced, suspenseful, witty, and moving at times, “Witness 8” races toward a twisty and satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended….here’s hoping for many more future entries in this fantastic series. Five stars.
I liked this! It was a change from what I typically read, but in a good way. The plot was fast paced and had just enough twists to keep me on my toes. My only complaint is that there were SO many characters and plot lines that I ended up mixing them up if I read too quickly or without paying enough attention. Good read though! I’ll definitely check out this author again.