Witness 8 is another excellent addition to the Eddie Flynn series by Steve Cavanaugh. I have read all the book in the series that are available here, and this one is just as smart and twisty as the rest of them. If you are looking for ex con men who are unconventional lawyers, hit men with their own set of morals, shady policemen and wealthy people being frames for murder, look no further!

In this book, Eddie and his team set out to defend a prominent surgeon who is accused of murdering one of the neighbors in his well to do community. There is a witness to this crime, but she is looking to use this information to her advantage as she knows a lot of secrets as the "invisible" maid/babysitter who works for several of the families. An additional storyline is added as Eddie angered the wrong people and now has a price on his head.

This book is faced paced and continues to advance the stories and the characters we have come to love. The team races against the clock to save an innocent man while avoiding the various hitmen that are trying to fulfill a contract. The book takes some unexpected turns and has a satisfying conclusion. I do think it would also be enjoyable as a standalone book as high-level background is given, enough to enjoy the story without being lost while, not totally rehashing items for the series followers

I highly recommend this book and thank NetGalley and Atria books for the advanced copy.

Wow what a wild ride !! This author never misses ! Great writing as usual and full of mystery ! Great plot and I highly recommend.

4.5 stars…I love Steve Cavanagh! This book was wild. The twists, the tension, the way everything just kept getting messier—I couldn’t put it down. Eddie Flynn is back doing what he does best: defending the impossible, outsmarting the system, and somehow making it all look effortless.

But the real scene-stealer? Ruby Johnson. She’s so sketchy, and I loved it. She’s not your typical witness—she’s playing her own game, and you know she’s lying, but figuring out how much kept me flipping pages way too late at night. Meanwhile, Eddie is stuck defending a guy who looks guilty as hell, and the deeper he digs, the more dangerous everything gets.

The pacing is fast, the courtroom scenes are sharp, and the twists actually got me. (Like, I thought I had it figured out. I did not.) My only tiny complaint is that the crime world stuff felt a little over-the-top at times, but honestly, I was having too much fun to care.

If you like legal thrillers that feel like a rollercoaster—high stakes, smart characters, and plenty of “oh sh*t” moments—this one’s for you.

Witness 8 was my first book by Steve Cavanagh and it was an easy five stars. It was book #8 in the Eddie Flynn series but I was able to enjoy it as a standalone without any difficulty. However, I loved it so much that I want to go back and read the entire series!

Characters can really make or break a book for me, and they were flawlessly executed in this one. While Eddie was my absolute favorite, I loved every single member of his team. They were all distinct, well-developed and interesting.

I was also a big fan of the case that this story was centred on. There were so many layers to uncover, and my heart broke for John Jackson and his family.

Thank you so much to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC!

Read if you like:

✨Found family
✨The Lincoln Lawyer
✨Legal thrillers
✨Morally grey characters

Solid crime thriller with a well-liked cast of characters. Not my favourite of the series, but was a good read with an intriguing premise.

This book is a wild and unbelievable ride. Our protagonist, conman turned defense lawyer, Eddie Flynn, remains lovable despite hanging on to many of his earlier traits. And our primary villain - there are several - presents as crazy and evil, yet, strangely, very clever. You need to suspend disbelief if you want to enjoy this novel, but if a fast-moving and exciting tale floats your boat, this book is for you.

Steve Cavanagh is one of my favorite authors. I devour his books every time. He does such an excellent job at developing the plot and the characters and having twists that fit but also come out of left field (in a good way). I can't wait to read more by this author, especially more Eddie Flynn! I would give this book (and all his books) higher than 5 stars if I could!

https://www.instagram.com/share/reel/BAErN5fcviRuby is a formerly part of the Manhattan upper class, but now she works for them as she tries to make ends meet while caring for her ailing mother after her father ran out. Seemingly invisible, she is privy to their darkest secrets, including murder but, with her own agenda in mind, can she be relied on to tell the truth?

Eddie Flynn is a street wise defense attorney who is asked to defend the alleged murder whom he knows is innocent. Can he unravel Ruby's lies in time to save his client?

Thoughts 💭
There are a lot of moving parts to this one. You have Ruby, the unreliable witness who is tampering and misleading everyone she comes into contact with. John Jackson is the surgeon accused of murder after the gun who killed his neighbor is found in his house. Eddie Flynn is an ex-con artist turned defense attorney who takes on Jackson's case. With Eddie comes other lawyers, private detectives, criminals, hitmen, and even a serial killer. At times, all of this noise makes it hard to keep up with what was happening. This was still a fun thriller that kept me on my toes with twists I didn't expect. I got attached to most of the characters, and the rest of the series sounds like a fun read. Thriller fans, this one is for you, just keep in mind this is book eight.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a really fun read with many different POVs and story lines which were all really
Intriguing. There wasn’t a dull moment. This is part of the Eddie Flynn series book 8 but can be read as a stand alone

This book is about maid/nanny who is former resident of an upper class street, named Ruby. But when Ruby witnesses a murder, she has twisted plans with this information.

Eddie Flynn, an ex con-artist-turned-defense attorney, is back at it again and takes on John Jackson’s case when the gun who killed his neighbour is found with his own DNA in his home .

Such a good read! Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC

I didnt realize this book was part of a series. I don't think it affected the story line that much however I do think some details are left out. I expected more twists and I didn't have a deep connection for the characters. It was ok but I expected more.

Eddie Flynn is back! I was so excited to dive in to this latest installment of the Eddie Flynn series, and it did not disappoint! 🙌

I wouldn’t say this was the twistiest of the series, but it was still a great read! Thirteen will always be my favorite though!! 👏

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Steve Cavanagh for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

Ruby decides to walk home after a late night of babysitting. What she doesn’t expect is to witness one of the residents being murdered. She sees the suspect run out for the house and dump the weapon. She has enough information to go to the police, but she has another plan in place first. Eddie Flynn is a defense attorney taking on John Jackson’s case, after he’s accused of murdering his neighbor, with an anonymous tip saying the weapon is in his home. He claims he’s being framed, and Eddie is determined to prove it.

My favorite book last year was Kill For Me, Kill For You by this author, so I jumped at the chance to read this book. There were a lot of characters to remember, which was a bit of a struggle at first. My favorite chapters were reading from Ruby’s perspective and to see what crazy thing would happen next. I also enjoyed reading how Eddie found a way around his obstacles in the courtroom and on the street. The end was jam packed with shorter chapters, cliffhangers, twists, and lots of action. This was a fun read! I definitely recommend for those who like police or legal thrillers.

Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh is a very highly recommended twisty psychological and legal thriller. This was un-put-downable, riveting page-turner that can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel.

Ruby Johnson, 22-years-old, works as a maid, babysitter, and nanny for several homes along Manhattan's wealthy West 74th Street. It is a street where Ruby and her parents once lived before her father lost everything with his gambling and then abandoned them. Now her mother is ill and she's doing whatever she can to take care of her. After babysitting one night, she leaves the Jackson's house and witnesses from the street through a window a man kill a woman. She sees the man flee, finds the gun he used in a garbage can, and then uses it to frame Dr. John Jackson for the crime through an anonymous phone call to the police. She has a twisted plan she is setting in motion that will help her and her mother.

Eddie Flynn, a streetwise ex con-artist who is now a defense attorney, takes on Jackson's defense with help from his team: legal partner Kate Brooks, office manager Denise, investigators Melissa Bloch and Gabriel Lake, and his mentor retired Judge Harry Ford. Eddie is known for using some questionable and creative tactics to uncover the truth. Complicating matters is the fact that a criminal organization has put out a hit on Eddie, so he is under a constant threat.

Everything about Witness 8 is entertaining! The writing and plotting is exceptional. The tension remains high throughout this fast-paced engrossing thriller as Eddie works out the defense and watches out for a hit man. You likely won't know what he's planning until it's already accomplished, but it is entertaining and intriguing to follow Eddie's actions and clever plans come into fruition.

All the members of Eddie's team work well together and they all have distinct personalities. It is engaging and sometimes amusing to see Eddie's encounters with the wide variety of contacts he has around the city. Ruby is a deliciously deceptive and devious character. There is an interesting assassin called Mr. Christmas who becomes involved in the plot too. You might have to set a little bit of disbelief aside, which I gladly did because the whole novel is so well done.

Witness 8 is absolutely very highly recommended. Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advance reader's copy. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review has been published on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

I may not have requested this if I had known it was #8 in the series, but I’m glad I didn’t know! There was enough context and background that I didn’t NEED to have read the others, although i’m sure I would have had a deeper connection to some of the secondary characters if I had.
This is also a book that I wouldn’t normally choose to read for myself, but i’m glad I requested it because I enjoyed it!

I always enjoy books by Cavanaugh, and this one was no exception. The twists always keep me on the edge of my seat trying to guess what is going to happen next. In this book, lawyer Eddie Flynn is back and better than ever as he tries to prove the witness is lying.

This book really took me by surprise!! It was a clever, quick read that maintained a brisk, steady pace all the way to the climactic ending. It’s not a genre I reach for very often, but I’m glad I did. I imagine the author had a crazy whiteboard with red strings all over it (like that Charlie Day meme!) and the end result of all that work was very satisfying. The plot reminded me of the Lincoln Lawyer (show, not books, because again…I don’t usually read this) with a lawyer who can see steps ahead and is able to move all the pieces of the puzzle toward a thrilling conclusion.

This book was my first by this author, and it made me want to go back and read the other Eddie Flynn stories as well as some standalones. Love me a good complicated crime thriller/mystery!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the digital arc!

Ruby used to live like Manhattan's elite; now, she just nannies and cleans for them, after losing everything when her father left Ruby and her mother. But when Ruby witnesses the murder of one of those fabulous residents, she's quick to turn it into an opportunity.

This whole story felt very Gotham; murders and other crimes are perpetrated right and left, no one is leaving DNA or is being seen (in the city!!!), and NO ONE is getting caught. Apparently none of the cops, good or bad, are actually very good at their jobs. Or, Manhattan is ripe with professional hitmen that are also perfect criminals. This was so frustrating for me. It seemed like several characters displayed a lack of emotion that bordered on sociopathy, but what are the odds that there would be so many in such close quarters, or that they would all come together and not recognize those traits in each other? This is another where I think you would have to suspend disbelief in order to get full enjoyment of the book, lest you spend several hours shouting, "what's wrong with you??" and, "why are you like this???" at your book/Kindle. If you can ignore the fact that most everyone except the main characters are incompetent, then I think you'll get a kick out of this one

I may not have requested this book if I knew up front that it was #8 in the series, but I’m glad I didn’t know! There was enough context and background that I didn’t NEED to have read the others, although i’m sure I would have had a deeper connection to some of the secondary characters if I had.
This is also a book that I wouldn’t normally choose to read for myself, but i’m glad I requested it because I really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to going back and reading some of the prior Eddie Flynn books now.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria for the arc of this book. I was unaware when I was approved that this is the 8th? book in the series. However, I was able to follow along just fine and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was a little shocked at how many POVS this story has, but they were easy to follow along with. Eddie Flynn is my absolute favorite character, and I can't wait to go back and read more of the series when my tbr allows it.

This book was fantastic! I wanted to stay up all night reading it. It was so hard to put down! This book is a gripping legal thriller in the Eddie Flynn series. This was the first book I have read from the series, and I did not feel lost or like I was missing anything. I will most definitely be reading the other books in the series now.

Eddie is a former con-artist turned defense lawyer when he is presented with an unusual murder case. He knows his client Jack is innocent of all charges, but there is a mysterious “witness” who claims to hold all the pieces to seal Jack’s fate. However, the more Eddie digs deeper into the case, it becomes apparent that the witness might not be what they seem, throwing everything into doubt.

This book has a fast-paced plot, intricate twists, and clever dialogue, that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Cavanagh masterfully blends courtroom drama with thrilling suspense, creating a narrative full of unexpected turns. Eddie Flynn’s character continues to evolve, showing growth as both a lawyer and a person, and the moral dilemmas he faces in the story add a layer of depth to the thriller genre.

The tension builds throughout the book, making it hard to put down. Cavanagh’s ability to craft unpredictable twists ensures that the conclusion is both satisfying and shocking. I never saw the twist at the end coming.

This book is a must read, especially if you are a fan of courtroom dramas. Steve Cavanagh will now be an autobuy author of mine. Thank you NetGalley for providing me an arc copy of this book for my review.