I have really loved some of these Eddie Flynn books but I think they’ve run their course for me. I like to revisit some of the usual characters but find the storylines just kind of run of the mill. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 ⭐️

This was my first foray into the Eddie Flynn series, and I’m already regretting not picking up one of these books sooner! Eddie Flynn is a fascinating protagonist—his sharp legal mind and resourcefulness kept me glued to the story. I found myself curious about both his past and how his character would evolve moving forward.

While Eddie was a standout, I struggled to fully connect with Ruby’s character. Her storyline intrigued me, and I’d be interested in seeing where life takes her after the events of this book. That said, her role felt a bit underdeveloped compared to the larger, high-stakes legal drama.

As someone new to legal and crime thrillers, I found Witness 8 to be a compelling introduction to the genre. The twists and courtroom strategies were enjoyable. Overall, I’d rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars. It’s a solid read that has piqued my interest in Steve Cavanagh’s work, and I’ll likely pick up another Eddie Flynn book in the future.

Ruby Johnson grew up on Manhattan’s elite street amongst the ultra rich. That is until her father, along with his gambling habits, loses it all. In order to provide for her and her dying Mother, Ruby becomes the cleaner and baby sitter for that same elite neighborhood she grew up in, West 74th Street. One night while leaving a sitter job, Ruby witnesses the murder of a resident on the block. Does she report it to the police or use what she just saw for her own games?
Eddie Flynn is a con man turned lawyer who represents a resident of West 74th Street for the murder, after an anonymous call is placed to the police naming him as the shooter. It is then up to Eddie and his team to get to the bottom of the case while dealing with his own predicament to get an innocent man free.
I didn’t know this book was part of a series that follows Eddie Flynn, but no need to read the others before as I felt this can also be read as a stand alone. I really enjoyed all the great twists and turns that this book took me on. I did feel there were too many character POV’s that were at times unnecessary and a bit confusing. Overall I enjoyed this book from beginning to the end.

I didn't realize that this book was part of a series. I enjoyed the characters and writing style. I'll definitely read the other books in the series. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

I haven’t read any of the other ones in this series, but this one felt a little all over the place. I was still intrigued, but a bit overwhelmed with all the additional story lines. I was still interested enough that I’d go back and read the other ones starting from the beginning.

After reading Kill for Me, Kill for You, I was super excited to receive an arc for this book! I didn’t realize this was apart of a series, but really enjoyed the book nonetheless. Another quick, easy and twisty read!

Thank you to Atria Books via both NetGalley and Edelweiss

Having read Steve Cavanagh in the past and enjoying it, I was interested in this new release. I did find myself enjoying it, however trying to keep up with so many points of view was a little much. I probably would of enjoyed it a lot more without some of the unnecessary additions.

Full disclosed this is my first expected
With this author and series. I was assured it could
Be read as a stand alone and it absolutely can.
It was definitely a fast paced mystery to unwind and for those that like the police procedurals/ detective novels this will be a great read for you.

I can now say I’m over that era but overall it was enjoyable.
However… It started off great! I was excited as I thought this was going to be right up my alley until the POV changed. I did not enjoy the multiple POV. It’s too much to keep
Track of while trying to read for enjoyment.
So for me personally this would be a 3.5⭐️ book but for others I rounded up.

This book comes out on March of 2025 so if this is up
Your alley, get it on your TBR.

I want to thank Net Galley and Simon & Schuester/ Atria Publishjng for the free ARC which enables me to be able to leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

Kill for Me, Kill for Me was my first book by Cavanagh, and I raced through it. This echoed that same pace.

However, Witness 8 follows an ex-con-turned-defense-attorney, Eddie Flynn, who is the central character in other books of his - so yay for me to have a backlist to go through.

I love a legal thriller, and this one had plenty of unexpected turns. Plus, it was the first time in a while I got drawn into a character and was truly invested in their actions.

In this book, Flynn represents a wealthy male doctor accused of killing his wealthy female neighbor and has to follow the limited clues to prove his innocence.

The wrench in the plan is the witness to the crime, Ruby. Once living in the world of wealth herself, now she works for them as a nanny and is hanging onto her own secrets.

The story is told from multiple perspectives, which I like because of the details it provides and the way it moves the story along. Ruby’s perspective is a little out there which became distracting. Don’t want to say much because I don’t want to spoil it but you kind of just have to go with it.

Though the mystery of the case didn’t have a surprising ending, there were plenty of shocks, all the way up to the final pages.

It’s not so much of a whodunit – it’s more of a discovery of why that question is the least interesting part of the book.

4.5🌟
Careful who you choose to invite into your home.
Ruby grew up among the upper-crust on west 74th street in New York. But after her father left her and her mother high and dry, they found themselves holed up in a small apartment in Hell’s Kitchen.

But Ruby isn’t ready to leave the old neighborhood behind. She finds work among the wealthy families she used to live among. Working as a maid, a nanny, really whatever they need, she will do.

But make no mistake, Ruby has an agenda. And when the perfect opportunity lands in her lap she jumps at the chance to set her plan into action.

Detective Eddie Flynn is back! A former con artist, now a top criminal attorney in New York. Fiercely loyal to his friends, and if he believes in your innocence he will fight with everything he has to get you acquitted.

Eddie has a lot on his plate on in this this latest installment - in one of the best legal thriller series out there. Not only is he defending a doctor accused of murder, but Eddie is also dodging bullets as someone has put a hit out on him.

Can Eddie stay focused on the trial while staying one step ahead of an assassin’s bullet?

You’ll just have to read this book to find out. And though it’s book eight of the series it can definitely stand on its own.

Thank you to Atria Books via both NetGalley and Edelweiss.

When I requested this book, I didn’t realize that it’s part of a series, so that is my fault and probably why I didn’t enjoy this as much as I could have. That being said, this is a well written mystery with enjoyable characters, it just wasn’t anything groundbreaking in terms of plot. I did enjoy the short chapters, always a plus, but I won’t be reading more from this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

After reading Kill for Me, Kill for You, I was very excited to receive an arc for this book. I was hoping for the same type of twisting thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. While this novel did deliver edge of your seat thrills, there is also a backstory and character development that I missed by not starting this series from the beginning. I think I may have enjoyed it more and taken a lot more from the story if I would have not read it out of order. This also reminded me more of a police style mystery/thriller, so it read a little differently. I do intend to read the series now, though, to see how it all comes together.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of the ebook!

I must start off my saying I read this authors other book Kill for me Kill for you and I automatically requested this book but I didn’t realize this is book 8 in a series. I wish I would have read the others as I did feel a bit lost as far as not knowing the Eddie character very well. I did love the POV from Ruby and it had me interested in the book but again I wish I would of paid attention that it was book 8 so that I could of enjoyed it more.

Truth is its own witness.

But then, whose truth is really the truth?

Steve Cavanagh is back again and he's packin'.......a full-out thriller here with all the bells and whistles. I've read a few of the previous books in this standout series and not always in order. Witness 8 reads perfectly as a standalone. You'll be tempted. Even I will go back now and pick up the breadcrumbs of the previous books that I didn't catch before. That's how good this series is.

Cavanagh introduces us to Ruby Johnson. Ruby wears many hats on the high-end West 74th Street lined with mansions and the well heeled residents who carry on grandly behind their doors. Ruby is a maid, a housekeeper, a nanny, a babsitter, and a jack of all trades. She's the sole support of her ailing mother. One thing we'll find out is that Ruby and her mother were once golden and living in one of those mansions years ago. But all that has changed.

It was after midnight when Ruby began walking home to her rundown apartment. Fate put her in the moment. She gazed up at a window and witnessed the murder of one of those residents. Ruby hid and followed the perp as the gun was hidden in a nearby garbage bag. Ol' Ruby knows how things will play out going forward.

Eddy Flynn, ex con artist turned sensational lawyer, will step in. He's representing John Jackson, a renowned New York City surgeon, who has been charged with this murder. Jackson pleads innocent. It's up to Eddy and his famous team to dig through this one.

Cavanagh doesn't make it easy for Eddy. He never does. Eddy knows the streets of New York like the back of his hand. He's dealt with the underbelly for years. But this time the underbelly is coming for Eddy. Eddy has a price on his head after messin' with New York's Finest. We'll meet a hitman by the name of Mr. Christmas who has a penchant for Marlon Brando. Mr. Christmas has Eddy in his scope.......every move......every breath.

I absolutely enjoyed Witness 8. Steve Cavanagh keeps his readers engaged from the very onset with twists and turns and bolts of humor here and there. You can actually start with this one and wind your way back to experience just how Eddy's team formed their bond. Don't pass this one up. Bravo, Steve Cavanagh, just bravo.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Orion Books and to the talented Steve Cavanagh for the opportunity.

Loved, loved, loved! This story was wonderful and I enjoyed every moment of it!
Even though this book is part of a series I think it did just fine as a stand alone.

Thank you to the publisher, Steve Cavanagh, and Net Galley for the opportunity to receive an ARC!

This was my first Steve Cavanagh book and I loved it! There were so many twists and turns. I was NOT expecting that ending!

Thank you Atria Books for granting me an ARC! All opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced by the publisher.

I’ll be honest and say that I have not read all the Eddie Flynn novels, so I am by no means an expert. But I liked how this book added new aspects to eddies character and life that were not in the books I read previously.

Ruby was an interesting character I spent the entire time wondering what was her stake in it and why she didn’t just tell the police what she witnessed.

I really like the fact that there is a case that is this specific story, but that it all ties into the larger tale of Eddie and his friends. It reminds me a lot of procedural dramas (my favorite kind of tv show).

Around 60% things started to come together and it started to REALLY get interesting. And the ending…totally worth it.

*Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Fair warning, I've been jumping around in the Eddie Flynn series. I've read #4 and now #8. In all fairness, they are fairly independent. But I think for the best reading experience, I should've read all of them.

That being said, the plot is diabolical. There's no limit on PoVs and we get new ones popping up in the most opportune places. I didn't realize how the frame job shaped up until the last minute, but the clues were all there. There's action, crime, corruption, the whole shebang! And of course, your typical Eddie Flynn con artistry.

I seriously couldn't put this book down and can't wait to go back to the earlier books.

Steve Cavanagh’s Witness 8 is yet another gripping installment in the Eddie Flynn series, and it doesn’t disappoint. As a huge fan of Cavanagh’s work, I’ve been eagerly waiting for this one, and it definitely lived up to the hype. If you’ve been following Eddie Flynn’s journey from conman to defense lawyer, this latest book is a perfect next chapter in his complicated, action-packed world.

The story kicks off with Ruby Johnson, a young woman in her twenties who works as a maid and nanny in a fancy New York neighborhood. Ruby’s got some history with the area—she used to be part of the elite crowd, but now she’s on the other side of the fence, cleaning the homes of the rich people she once hung out with. One night, Ruby witnesses the murder of a wealthy socialite, and she decides to use what she saw to her advantage. Enter Eddie Flynn, the conman-turned-lawyer, who gets dragged into defending a doctor accused of murdering his neighbor based on some suspicious evidence. But things get messy fast. Not only does Eddie have to prove his client’s innocence, but he’s also got dangerous criminals gunning for him after some bad blood from a previous case.

Cavanagh does a fantastic job of weaving together multiple plot threads and perspectives, keeping the tension high and the twists coming. Eddie is as smart, witty, and resourceful as ever, but it’s the supporting cast that really makes the book shine. Alongside Eddie are his loyal team members—Kate Brooks, Harry Ford, Melissa Bloch, and Gabriel Lake—and the dynamic between them adds a lot of depth to the story. While Eddie isn’t quite in the spotlight as much in this book, Cavanagh gives his team plenty of room to shine, which keeps things fresh and exciting.

The pacing is fast, with short, punchy chapters that keep you turning pages like crazy. Some of the twists might feel a little familiar if you’ve read the previous books, but Cavanagh has a way of keeping you on your toes and subverting expectations just when you think you know what’s coming. One of the best new additions in this book is Mr. Christmas, a cold-blooded hitman who’s got a personal vendetta against Eddie. He’s a great character—menacing and full of surprises—and I’m hoping we see more of him in the future.

As usual, there’s a perfect mix of humor and tension throughout Witness 8. Eddie’s quick wit and street-smart ways provide plenty of laughs, even when things are getting intense. There’s a scene where Eddie has to use his old conman skills to dig up some crucial evidence, and it’s just so satisfying to watch him work his magic.

What I really liked in this book was seeing Eddie’s more vulnerable side, especially in his relationship with Harry Ford. Eddie’s always been tough and a bit of a lone wolf, but there are some moments where he leans on Harry for support, and it adds a nice emotional layer to the story. It’s a great reminder that Eddie might be a master at navigating the criminal underworld, but he’s still got a lot to learn from the people who’ve had his back all along.

Witness 8 doesn’t quite have the same complex twists as some of the previous books in the series, but it’s still a super enjoyable read. The stakes feel high, the characters are as compelling as ever, and the twists will keep you hooked right to the end. Cavanagh once again proves that he’s a master at blending action, humor, and heart in a legal thriller.

If you’re a fan of fast-paced, character-driven thrillers with plenty of humor and tension, Witness 8 is definitely worth picking up. Eddie Flynn’s world is one I’m always excited to return to, and I can’t wait to see what trouble he and his team get into next

This was my first read of the Eddie Flynn series and I am OBSESSED. This reminded me of the good old mobster movies from back in the day. I immediately went to Libby to see what else was available in this series. This is my second Cavanagh book and I am officially a huge fan!