Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy to read and review.

I wasn’t familiar with this series or this author and I’m now happily aware and will add additional books to my “to-read” list. A mystery/thriller that was fast-paced and twisty to keep me captivated.

I didn’t feel like I was missing anything having not had read any earlier novels, so I’m sure one could read it as a standalone, but that might change as I delve into their canon.

Cavanagh did it again!! While I have not read the whole Eddie Flynn series, I have read a few. You do not have to have read the entire series to understand what is happening in this book. Cavanagh introduces well known characters in such a beautiful way in all of his novels. The DEPTH of the characters in this book is amazing. I could not wait to finish this book to see where Flynn is taken. Between crazy housekeepers, hit men, and a quiet neighborhood murder......read this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I didn’t know this was part of a series when I requested. It sounded good but once I got into it, it just wasn’t for me. There seem to be a few too many story lines going around and lacking history with the characters and style of writing it made it a turn off. Nothing wrong with it just not for me!

Reads like a high stakes action movie. And even though this is book #8 in the series, you can jump right in (just like I did) and not feel like you are behind in the story.

Lots of characters and many POV but your main person is Eddie Flynn - previous con man turned defense attorney. He's finishing up one case when he's pulled into another. But this second case is an innocent man accused of murder and Flynn knows he has to take the case and keep an innocent man from behind bars just to get a DA re-elected.

This is a fun, high adventure read. Every chapter draws you and leaves you hanging, wanting to devour another chapter. All the strings in the air that Flynn is working on don't play out for the reader until they all come masterfully together in the end. I liked the twists and the interesting characters. I loved Flynn's team and how tight they were and how much they trusted him. The mystery was interesting, this was a highly entertaining read. I'd definitely check out more from this author.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Thank you for the ARC!
Enjoyed this book, it was a little hard to get into but once you do it’s great ! Enjoy all the books from the author !

there was a lot going on in this book. At times I found it hard to follow. It was interesting and I liked the concept but overall wasn't the biggest fan. I can definitely see other people enjoying this book.

Another winner by Steve Cavanagh! This was such a fun one! Ruby grew up in an upscale neighborhood in Manhattan until her father gambled & drank all their money away. Forced to relocate, Ruby is still determined to be apart of that world. She spends her days cleaning & babysitting for residents of the street. One night while walking home, she witnesses a murder. Ruby decides to use this to her advantage. The police receive an anonymous type & find the murder weapon. Enter Eddie Flynn, previous con artist turned lawyer. Eddie is hired to defend the suspected murderer.

Filled with twists and some sub plots, I found this storyline intriguing and fun. I was hooked pretty quickly and eager to see what happened. I was trying to predict things, but Eddie was always one step ahead of me. Would definitely recommend this one!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I just loved this book! Such well written characters that were super complex and were all so intriguing. This book was such a fun read from start to finish. Great plot that was well paced, awesome writing, I loved every minute of reading this book. I couldn't guess what would happen next and it was fantastic! I want to read everything else this author has every written!

Steve Cavanagh is a talented author. Unfortunately, I just could not get into this book. Bouncing between so many POVs felt like a chore.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I enjoyed his last book immensely, but this one wasn’t for me. I was skimming by the end. Maybe because it was part of a series I didn’t read.

Thank you Atria Books for the gifted digital ARC!

I waited *way* too long to jump on the Eddie Flynn bandwagon, and now I've read all the books and I kind of don't know what to do with myself. Five months ago I started book one (The Plea) and I was completely sucked into the world of our favorite conman turned lawyer.

Witness 8 STRESSED. ME. OUT. The chapters focusing on Ruby were equal parts terrifying and infuriating. I have not had such a visceral reaction to a character in quite awhile.

I couldn't stop flipping pages to see how Eddie was going to get himself out of trouble this time around. If you've enjoyed the other books in this series, I'm completely confident you'll love this one too.

Witness 8 is out now in the UK, and publishes in the US on March 25.

A really great book!! I will definitely be keeping an eye out for this author! Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review!

Steve Cavanagh knows how to deliver a truly captivating thriller!

Eddie Flynn is one of my favorite book characters out there. He is the defense lawyer I would want if I were in trouble. As an ex-con, he is highly intelligent, street smart and will continuously throw you for loops with his actions. He is the lawyer who will willingly take on a hopeless case if it means he has a chance to defend the innocent. Nothing will get past him, even if you momentarily think it has.

Witness 8 is the 8th installment in the Eddie Flynn series. I have missed a few in between and still had no problems reading this one. There is definitely some information I missed (finalization of a divorce with ex-wife and Harper) but it did not cause any confusion while reading.

Told in multiple POVs with crazy twists and outcomes you will never imagine, this is a book you will not be able to put down! I was glued to every. single. page. If you have never experienced Eddie Flynn, I highly recommend jumping into this series ASAP!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh
Rating: 5 stars
Pub date: 3/11

Thank you so much to Netgally and Atria for my advanced copy.

Steve Cavanagh is back with another incredible thriller in Witness 8! It has everything I love in a thriller: it’s fast-paced, full of twists, and packed with sharp dialogue. It’s also the first book I’ve read in this series, and it can easily be read as a standalone.

Eddie, an ex-conman-turned-defense-attorney, takes on an impossible case—defending John Jackson, a man who’s been accused of killing his neighbor, and his DNA is all over the murder weapon. The evidence is stacked against him, but Eddie knows there’s more to the story.

Then there’s Ruby Johnson, who might just be the most fascinating character in the book. Once part of Manhattan’s elite, she now works as a maid in the same world she used to belong to. When she witnesses the murder on her way home from work, she seizes an opportunity, but not in the way you’d expect. She’s clever, a little twisted, and impossible to figure out, which makes her storyline so gripping.

This book had me hooked. The courtroom drama, the action, the banter—it all just works. I also love how Eddie’s relationships, especially with his mentor Harry, add heart to the story.

If you love legal thrillers with a side of psychological suspense, Witness 8 is a must-read.

Loved Witness 8! I did not know this was a series when I started, thought it might be after awhile and definitely knew by the end but it did not take away from this as a stand alone. Loved all the regular characters and I'm going back to read the previous book(s).. I love quirky and unusual good guys and Eddie and his team are great. This had me guessing the entire time and it was hard to put down, A definite page turner!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC!

Steve Cavanagh's "Witness 8" is a masterful addition to the Eddie Flynn series, delivering a gripping legal thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The novel introduces Ruby Johnson, a nanny and maid in Manhattan who becomes the key witness to a murder. However, Ruby's testimony is far from straightforward, adding layers of complexity to the case. Eddie Flynn, the ex-con-artist-turned-defense attorney, takes on the daunting task of defending an innocent man accused of the crime. Cavanagh's intricate plotting and well-developed characters make for a compelling read, with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. Fans of legal thrillers will find "Witness 8" to be a standout entry in the genre.

Ex con man turned defensive attorney Eddie Flynn tries to pull an ace from a deck stacked against him. Steep odds are Eddie’s sweet spot so the reader gets to sit back and watch the magic.

This is a fast paced and thoroughly enjoyable series. I recommend reading them in order. The main story could be stand alone but the side stories carry over from book to book.

What a thriller! This was tense and kept me guessing. There were quite a few characters to keep track of, but they all played a part in the multiple story lines.
A woman is killed late at night in an upscale NYC neighborhood. A nanny/housekeeper witnesses the murder and then frames her employer. Former con man, now lawyer Eddie and his team are defending the accused and go to great lengths to find out the truth.
I consider this a "smart" thriller as you do need to pay attention to the details and it's a complicated storyline. I was completely hooked and can't wait to read more of Cavanagh's books.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

I have to admit that this is my first Eddie Flynn book, but I can clearly see why this character has his own series.
Eddie started off as a conman before becoming one of NYC’s most unconventional criminal lawyers. Now he must defend a powerful, yet innocent man, for a murder he didn’t commit.
But first, we meet Ruby Johnson. A maid/nanny to the wealthy including for the accused.
One of the first things we discover is that some people, including her own grandmother, think that there is something wrong with her.
So when it’s Ruby who happens to be walking home from a job when she sees the murder take place, she immediately from a pay phone calls the police. Only Ruby lies about who the real killer is and instead frames an innocent man.
But the real question is why?
Steve Cavanagh takes you on a fast and pacey thrill ride with twist and turns that will leave your head spinning.

“They’re forgetting something…you can’t cheat a con man…”

I read book 4 of the Eddie Flynn series without realizing it was part of a series…and when I was finished, I promptly went back to the beginning and binged the entire series - books one through seven. In three weeks, because I simply could NOT put them down. I was ecstatic to get an ARC of the newest one, “Witness 8.”

Eddie is fascinating, intelligent, loyal, complicated yet simple. He’s basically the ideal man and I love how these books take us through his thought process and we get to see how his brain works! Right off the bat, this story drew me in. The reader knew from the beginning a bit of what was happening, but not the why. As the story went on, and Eddie finally revealed the truth, my jaw dropped - I never saw it coming! There were moments that made my breath catch, not only because of the mystery at hand but also seeing Eddie with his found family. He really grew to love the people around him, at his law practice and it always warms my heart to see just how good they all are together. I hope Eddie Fly’s adventures never, ever end!

“Witness 8” releases March 25, 2025. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)