Ruby used to live in a high end upper west side neighborhood until her father left his family and they lost everything. Ruby now works in that neighborhood as a nanny and one night she witnesses a murder and instead of going to the police, she exacts a plan that ruins the lives of her old neighbors.

Eddie Flynn is brought into the scene to defend one of the neighbors who has been accused of the murder. Eddie is an ex con turned lawyer who surrounds himself with an interesting team who help him solve this case. Eddie's way of doing business in clever, unconventional and maybe not so legal. To complicate things there is a hit out on. him so he's dodging hitmen throughout.

I've never read an Eddie Flynn novel before and will definitely being going back and reading more. This book had me guessing, engaged and wanting to see what happens next. I couldn't put it down!

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Steve Cavanagh for the ARC.

I’ve read a few of the books from this series and one thing I love is that they work well as standalone. This is the newest book in the Eddie Flynn series. As always, you get more out if you start from the first book and work your way to this one, but it’s not necessary.

As usual, it’s a unique story line with a few twists and turns, predominantly in the final 25%. While I find the books to be a good read, they’re unnecessarily LONG. I feel like there is so much extra fluff that could be removed and the story would be just fine. The longer the book, the less desire I have to continue to read, especially if it’s a slow burn like this one. The plot develops well but takes forever to get there. I feel like I started this book very excited and finished it relieved that it was finally over. It wasn’t very exciting to keep my attention going, for that there’s a loss of a star.

Secondly, there is way too many perspectives! I believe there was 8 or 9 different character perspectives to follow along with. Cavanagh has a create writing ability so the storylines don’t get lost, but it’s a lot to mentally keep track of. Each chapter is a new perspective but it’s identified clearly. However, with 9 different perspectives, it’s often difficult to remember whose perspective it is. With that, there’s also quite a few names to keep track of, lots of characters to remember. To me, it was just too much. That being said, the characters aren’t as developed as they could be. The chapters are fairly short and I’m thankful for that, it’s easier to put down and take a break without feeling lost when you pick it up again.

For me, this one was just okay. I found the length and the amount of characters to be irritating. I’m giving it 3⭐️ because the writing and the plot were really well done. Had it been shorter and taken up less of my mental energy to keep track of characters, it could have been a 5⭐️.

Wow! Never saw the ending coming. Had suspicions and the first couple out of many were right.
This is my first Eddie Flynn book and I will be reading more. He’s a character everyone will love. He’s a bad guy turned good guy now fighting for the bad guy or, in John Jackson’s case, a mistaken bad guy. And what can I say about Ruby and Mr Christmas (btw, what a name). Ruby has your emotions doing cartwheels as you feel for her the wonder what she is up too. Mr Christmas has some surprises as well. Hopefully there’s a book on the horizon. Pretty please.

WITNESS 8 was another hit from Steve Cavanagh, who continues to delight and entertain with Eddie Flynn and company. This was a flat out fun novel from beginning to end, and a complete joy to read. Cavanagh is such a clever and thoughtful writer, so skilled at pulling together threads of different stories to form a cohesive and entertaining whole. It’s rare that I find myself laughing out loud and smirking with glee while reading, but Cavanagh has a way of pulling out these emotions. Already excited for the next one and will happily read anything this author writes!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review WITNESS 8.

Another winner! I felt like this one was good, but not as good as the last in the series. I’ll definitely tell my friends they should read this one. Thanks for the ARC NetGalley.

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒆𝒏. 𝑺𝒐𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆.

Though the blurb focused on Ruby Johnson, a cleaner who witnesses a murder, she wasn't really the main premise of the book. Ruby knew the victim, and she knew the killer; she also has been holding a long-standing grudge for being ushered out the wealthy neighborhood that she used to live in with her mother. Because of this grudge, Ruby isn't telling the truth about the murder.

Eddie Flynn, con man turned lawyer, is there to defend the accused. I expected the focus to shift to the case, but once again, another storyline was introduced. Someone has a vendetta against Flynn and will stop at nothing until he's dead.

Usually I'm not a fan of so many moving parts in a thriller; I want my action centralized and focused. However, these storylines were all connected in such a sophisticated way, and the author brought everything together with ease. I thoroughly enjoyed this installment and look forward to knocking out his backlist.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this early copy. At the time this review was written, this title was expected to publish March 11, 2025 in the US.

It was so good to see former conman Eddie Flynn again. He is now a lawyer and wow does he have a complicated case. John Jackson, his client is accused of murdering his neighbor. There seems to be no reason why he would commit this crime. The evidence doesn’t lie though, or does it?
Ruby Johnson is the Jackson’s nanny. From our first interaction with her, we know that she is very different from the face she presents to the world. But does Ruby have anything to do with the crime John’s been accused of? You’re going to have to read this engaging book to find out.
Can Eddie figure out what is really going on before his client goes to prison? Heck can Eddie stay alive long enough to do that? There was a lot going on and I just flew through the pages. Great characters, a good mystery, and a terrific series. 4.5 stars.

Firstly, I didn’t realize this book was part of a series when I started so while I could follow the story I feel like I definitely was missing the backstory of all of the characters. There was a lot going on in this book and a lot of POV’s and plot lines to follow. It did all come together in the end though. Overall it was a good story, but I prefer my suspense books to have more suspense about the main plot and less of a crime mob aspect. Because of this I gave it 3 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

I was so excited to been given an ARC for this book!
Steve Cavanagh definitely knows how to write a story where you route for the good guys abs bad guys. Eddie was brought to life again in this novel and he didn't miss a beat or disappoint. Loved everything about this book in the series. Ending was spot on!!

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh due to be published March 11, 2025.
Ruby Johnson is a former upper-class woman that now works as a maid for some of her past friends because of the sins of her father. When Ruby witnesses a murder, she sets out plans to frame people. Eddie Flynn has to try to stop her before innocent people are convicted. Will he get killed in the process?
I have read every book Steve Cavanagh has written so I was excited to get this one – it did not disappoint!
Ruby was evil personified, but you could understand her motives. I love all the characters – Eddie, Kate, Harry, Lake, Bloch – and how they had their own chapters with their take on everything. Each one of them could have their own series! I loved it – one of those I couldn’t wait to find out how it ended, but then the book would be over!
Definitely put this on your TBR list – and all the other Eddie Flynn books if you have not read them!
#NetGalley #SteveCavanagh #AtriaBooks #Witness8

After loving this author’s last major hit, I had really high hopes. Unfortunately, I did not feel the same way about this book as I did his last one. It felt like things weren’t fully fleshed out and I wanted more depth.

Steve Cavanagh is one of my new favorite authors. I've read all the books in his Eddie Flynn series, plus all but one of his stand alones (saving it so I'm not done with all his back log!).

While this could operate as a stand alone, it does build on the prior 7 books, so I would recommend reading them all in order for maximum effect. There are a lot of moving parts here, but tightly written. The courtroom scenes are especially fun. I even got a little emotional at the end.

I'm not sure this QUITE lived up to <i>Kill For Me, Kill for You</i> which was outstanding, but I absolutely had a fun time reading this.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Publishes March 11, 2025, so there's time to read the first 7 in the series before this is released!

Add this book to your TBR list now...i mean it. Now. It was phenomenal!!! I was on the edge of my seat, and could not put this book down. The story was so gripping and wonderfully done.

I love a good Steve Cavanagh book. Witness 8 is his latest work. It was a great book, just as you would expect.

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

I feel like this won’t be the last we hear of Eddie Flynn and his team and I’m glad to think that.

I need to know more about Bloch for starters. This bad ass female that needs her own book. A history into Eddie’s past. Maybe some more on Mr. Christmas and Lake.

I’ll be honest, I skimmed over all the trial and witness things because I knew Johnson would get off. So none of the testimonies really mattered to me and I just skipped all that. I kept reading the Ruby sections and the Eddie parts because I knew they would tie together eventually. Who did kill Maggs? And why was Ruby so messy about everything?

Overall I enjoyed this.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Like any skilled Angler, Cavanagh draws you in and sets the hook deep and fast; I was addicted by the first chapter..

Steve Cavanagh is an exciting new find for me, I will be catching up to the Eddie Flynn series.

I can attest to the grip this book will have on you as a "freestanding" read if you are somehow unaware of this talented author (as I formerly was).

Witness 8 is a masterful novel which blends psychological intrigue with legal drama in a way that keeps readers captive. This novel, the eighth in the series, showcases Cavanagh’s talent for crafting unguessable twists and complex characters.

This story revolves around Ruby Johnson, a former Manhattan socialite turned maid, who witnesses a murder.

However, Ruby is not your typical innocent witness and her intentions are far from straightforward. Instead of reporting the crime, she concocts a plan that entangles her deeper into a web of deceit and danger.

Eddie Flynn, the streetwise ex-con-artist-turned-defense attorney, takes on the seemingly hopeless case of John Jackson, a hapless innocent whose DNA is found on the murder weapon.

Cavanagh excels in character development, particularly with Ruby Johnson. Her transformation from a privileged socialite to a cunning maid with a dark agenda and psychopathic tendencies is both believable and chilling.

Eddie Flynn is a compelling protagonist, his street smarts and legal acumen making him a formidable opponent in the courtroom. The supporting characters, including Flynn’s unconventional team, add depth and richness to the narrative.

Cavanagh’s writing is crisp and engaging, with a pace that never lets up. His ability to weave intricate legal details with psychological suspense is impressive. The dialogue is sharp and realistic, adding to the authenticity of the courtroom scenes. The alternating perspectives between Ruby and Flynn provide a well-rounded view of the unfolding drama, keeping readers "on the hook' for every page.

Witness 8 explores themes of justice, deception, and the lines between right and wrong. Ruby’s character challenges the reader’s perception of morality, while Flynn’s relentless pursuit of the truth highlights the complexities of the legal system. The novel delves into the impact of past traumas on present actions, adding a layer of psychological depth to the story.

Witness 8 is a standout thriller that will appeal to fans of legal dramas, crime novels, and psychological suspense. Steve Cavanagh has proven his prowess in creating a gripping narrative filled with unexpected twists and multifaceted characters.

Note: There are numerous good authors writing mysteries and psychological suspense these days, make sure to make room on your bookshelf for this novel by this uniquely gifted writer...

Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books and the author Steve Cavanagh.
WOW,
I could not put this novel down, fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller.
Eddie Flynn is a great character who has a way with people and situations.
This latest installment in the Eddie Flynn series did not disappoint and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
Highly recommend
5 stars

An absolutely fantastic book!! This can be read as a standalone even though it’s a part of a great series. with an excellent, suspenseful plot. I loved the plot and characters. Excellent attention to detail and well-written.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Steve Cavanagh never lets me down! And neither does Eddie Flynn.

Goodness. Cavanagh’s books are like watching a movie in my head. He has a special gift of being able to write in a way that the reader can completely visualize everything, but also the plot is racing, but also you care about the characters, BUT ALSO there are so many threads weaving together! It’s such an impressive feat.

The reason this wasn’t a full five stars for me is that the ending wasn’t quite as strong S I had hoped and I wish there was one big twist that would’ve knocked me off my feet. BUT that being said, I had so much fun and will pick up whatever this man writes!