The power of good writing and a well-structured plot. It stands as a testament to the author's talent and dedication to their craft, providing readers with an enjoyable and thought-provoking experience. Whether you're a casual reader or a literature enthusiast, this book is sure to leave you with a sense of fulfillment and a desire to explore more of the author's works. So, for anyone looking to delve into a captivating story, I wholeheartedly recommend picking up this gem—it may just become one of your favorites, too.

Witness 8 kept me guessing at every turn! The way each storyline came together at the end was so clever. This is the second book I've ready by Steve Cavanagh and he's quickly becoming a favorite thriller author!

Steve Cavanagh delivers a courtroom drama that’s all about tension and character depth rather than simple thrills or a classic whodunit. From the beginning, you’re pulled into a high-stakes murder case where almost every person involved has something to hide—and something to lose. Instead of relying on one narrator, the story jumps between multiple characters’ perspectives, i might say too many POVs, but surprisingly that didn’t confuse me, giving me an inside look at their motives, fears, and pasts.

What sets this novel apart is how even the so-called “villains” become surprisingly sympathetic once you learn their backstories. It’s not just about right and wrong; it’s about how real people can end up in complicated situations. The courtroom scenes are the heart of the book, packed with enough twists and smart legal maneuvering to keep you hooked.

Cavanagh’s writing style feels vivid and personal, as if you’re right there at the defense table or in the gallery watching it all unfold. You don’t need to be a legal buff to appreciate this story, either—it’s about human nature, the secrets we keep, and what happens when wealth, power, and desperation collide. If you enjoy character-driven suspense with a genuinely gripping trial at its core, this one’s a must-read.

Things i loved

1- Courtroom Atmosphere
If there is a hallmark of Steve Cavanagh’s style, it’s his ability to bring the courtroom to life. He weaves legal strategy, witness testimonies, and cross-examinations into scenes as gripping as any high-speed chase. The novel’s suspense is heightened by how deftly Cavanagh handles each revelation; we see how one piece of evidence or one misstep in testimony can tip the scales, sometimes in startling ways

2- Character Development
One of the novel’s standout qualities is its rich character work. Told through multiple viewpoints, each chapter dives deeply into individual backstories, shaping our empathy for a broad cast that includes not only protagonists and sympathetic witnesses but also the so-called “villains.” It’s rare in legal thrillers to walk away rooting for nearly everyone in some capacity, yet Cavanagh succeeds by giving even the antagonists three-dimensional motivations and vulnerabilities. Ruby herself anchors the narrative with a mixture of desperation and determination—a woman who has lost her previous status, yet still fights doggedly for justice and survival.


Verdict
Fans of methodical, character-driven legal dramas will find a lot to love here. While it doesn’t rely on the usual shock-and-awe pace of typical thrillers, the tension never wavers. The shifting perspectives give a comprehensive view of the trial, the investigation, and the personal motives at play—making for an immersive read where every character, guilty or not, becomes fascinating. If you’re looking for a courtroom page-turner that’s as invested in unraveling its cast’s deepest secrets as it is in delivering a dramatic legal showdown, this Steve Cavanagh novel should be at the top of your list.

5/5

Witness 8 is the eighth installment in the Eddie Flynn series. This is the first book I have read by this author, so this can be read as a standalone without any confusion.

Con man turned defense attorney Eddie Flynn has been hired for a new case. A renowned Manhattan Neurosurgeon has been charged with murder. But he didn’t do it, he’s been set up, but why?

Ruby Johnson, once a resident among the rich on this Manhattan street has now become the help. She’s a nanny, house cleaner, and all around hired help, she also has witnessed a murder. Ruby calls the police with an anonymous tip about the killer, but why did she set up Dr Jackson? She’s the nanny to his son, his wife Alison seems to like Ruby, so maybe there is something to the statement, “There’s something wrong with Ruby Johnson.”

As the case unfolds, you realize there are many micro stories unwinding at the same time. Take for instance the hit that has been place on the head of Eddie Flynn, hard to help a client when you are trying to void being killed at the same time.

This story has everything. A murder mystery of the rich and famous, a nanny with a secret, a defense attorney with a past, a hit man with compassion, sort of. This is a unique story that will keep you paying attention at the turn of each page. So many twists, none of which are predictable, will keep you guessing until the very end.

This is my first tangle with Steve Cavanagh and will not be my last! He’s a mastermind of mystery that I can’t wait o read whatever he’s writing!

I would like to thank Netgalley, Atria Books and Steve Cavanagh for this deliciously twisted advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this one but wish I had realized it was part of a series before starting it! I enjoyed the racing and the writing style. The multiple points of view also kept me intrigued.

This is the first book I’ve read by Cavanaugh and his storytelling skill is intense. I love a good crime murder mystery now and again and this one fit the bill.

I was reminded of another series of books that included the housekeeper/child caregiver, but as I started reading this, I saw that there’s absolutely nothing similar.

There are so many twists in the story and the author personalized it so much that I actually hated some of the characters. The intense story and overwhelming emotion of this got to me in some parts.

There’s nothing better than a book that you can get deeply involved with and those extreme reactions mean the author’s doing an amazing job. This author certainly did that for me.

I love the main character because he’s not squeaky clean. He’s got a history and knows how to use it to help solve his cases and protect his clients. Unique and just a great overall heart-stopping, engaging story. I’m looking forward to reading more in the series.

If you need a good crime murder mystery for your next read, check this one out. Witness 8 will blow you away.

I've read a few books by this author and with each one I become more and more of a fan.

Pretty sure this one has claimed the spot as my favorite Cavanagh book to date. Will be very hard to top it.

I kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time

Eddie Flynn- Ex con man turned lawyer. And Ruby, a nanny on 74th Street. A very posh part of Manhattan. Ruby use to be a part of the neighborhood until her father spent all their money and disappeared. Now Ruby just wants to be a part of the neighborhood again.

"Ruby thought herself foolish to have expected to be welcomed and treated as an equal this evening, treated like a member of the community. She was not one of them anymore. She was the help. Silent. Invisible. But that was also her power. She was a poisonous spider, lurking in the dark corner of every home on the street."


Ruby knows all the gossip in the neighborhood. On the way home one evening, she witnesses a murder. She watches the murderer flee and drop the weapon in some trash on the side of the road. She calls the police and reports the crime, however she points the finger at someone else. But why?

Eddie Flynn and his team are hired to defend the innocent man that Ruby blamed for the murder. It seems that there is a lot of evidence against this man making Eddie's job an uphill battle.
As Eddie tried to save an innocent man from spending the rest of his life in jail, he has to watch his own back too. Seems he has made a few of the wrong people mad, and someone has taken out a hit on him.

This was a pretty great read. But I haven't yet came across a bad Steven Cavanagh book. I always enjoy his books. I think he is now an auto buy author for me along with Colleen Hoover and Riley Sager. I really loved the Character of Mr Christmas. He was not what I would picture as a usual hitman. I also enjoyed the many different POVs. I didn't realize there were eight different POVs until I saw someone else talking about it. It was a little hard to keep up with in the beginning, but after a while it wasn't an issue.

There were a few twist and turns but not as big a twist at the end as I was expecting. Nonetheless, still was a great read.

3.5 founded to 4 stars.

Big shoutout to Atria Books and Netgalley for providing me with an e- book copy through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed were my own.

Thank you Atria and NetGalley for this advanced copy of Witness 8. This book is a bit of a thriller mixed with detective mystery which I wasn’t fully expecting. There were lots of twists and turns that certainly keep the reader on their toes. Some of the “surprises” I saw coming and others not as much. What I didn’t love was how many characters there were. It felt like there were far too many people to keep track of. I understand how they were all intended to further throw the reader of the track but it felt superfluous. Some had more feature time than others but even with the extra page time, those characters lacked some development. I think the other aspect that put this book at 3 stars rather than 4 was just the amount of police/legal/investigative plot. There were a lot of technical details which again, make sense for the story, but just aren’t as engaging for me as a reader. I’m sure lots of people will love this book it just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

I can't believe how much I enjoyed this since I haven't read the others in the series! This author writes such a compelling thriller that I was able to pick right up where it started and become absorbed.

In "Witness 8," Steve Cavanagh introduces the intriguing character of Ruby Johnson, a woman who wears many hats in the upscale neighbourhood of West 74th Street. Ruby isn’t just a maid; she’s a housekeeper, nanny, babysitter, and jack of all trades while supporting her ailing mother. Once upon a time, Ruby and her mother enjoyed a golden life in one of the grand mansions that line the street, but those days have faded.

One fateful night, after midnight, Ruby begins her walk home to her rundown apartment. In a twist of fate, she gazes up at a window and witnesses a murder unfold before her eyes. As she hides, she sees the perpetrator conceal a gun in a nearby garbage bag. Understanding the gravity of the situation, Ruby realizes that her life is about to change dramatically.

Enter Eddie Flynn, an ex-con artist turned sensational lawyer, who finds himself representing John Jackson, a renowned New York City surgeon charged with the murder Ruby has witnessed. Jackson maintains his innocence, leaving Eddie and his talented team with the daunting task of unravelling the truth amidst the chaos.

Cavanagh masterfully complicates Eddie’s journey, ensuring that readers are on the edge of their seats. Eddie knows the streets of New York intimately, having navigated its darker sides for years. However, this time, he faces greater danger than ever before, as a hitman named Mr. Christmas, who oddly admires Marlon Brando, has set his sights on Eddie, ready to track his every move.

I thoroughly enjoyed "Witness 8." Steve Cavanagh has a remarkable talent for keeping his readers engaged. His books are filled with unexpected twists, turns, and humour that add to their charm. If you're new to the series, this book serves as a great entry point. It not only captivates you with its narrative but— The novel stands strong as a standalone read. Still, it likely resonates even more deeply for those familiar with the Eddie Flynn series. I found it quite enjoyable and highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates legal thrillers or is new to the genre—it's a great entry point! If you're new to the series, starting with this book is a great choice; it allows you to journey back and discover how Eddie’s team forged their strong bonds. The characters are engaging and feel like family, while Eddie's unique approach to solving mysteries is awe-inspiring..

After finishing *8th Witness*, I was so captivated that I immediately purchased all seven previous books in the Eddie Flynn series. I'm eager to begin Eddie’s journey from the start and explore his character development throughout the series.

I want to thank Atria Books and NetGalley for supplying (e-ARC) in return for a candid review.

Steve Cavanagh has become one of my favorite authors and definitely my most favorite legal thriller writers. Eddie Flynn is such a neat character, a lawyer with a shady past and many flaws yet so smart and loyal to his friends. This book is number 8 in the series and while not my favorite of the 8, it was a solid thriller, full of twists and interesting characters. The book's POV alternates between Eddie and Ruby, a young maid/babysitter who works on a NYC street full of wealthy families. One of these homeowners is murdered and another is accused. Eddie spends his time defending this innocent man and avoiding hit men who were sent to kill him. I didn't really enjoy the hit men aspect so this part kept this from being a 5 star read. I highly recommend picking up this one if you enjoy twisty, legal thrillers. Start with book 1 if you can!

I’ve been wanting to pick up a Steve Cavanagh book for a while now, and I was lucky enough to get sent the ARC for Witness 8. This book is part of his Eddie Flynn series. After reading this book, I can confidently say you can jump in at any point and don’t need to start with book one. Ruby Johnson witnesses a murder and she has a dark plan to make this crime work in her favor. Eddie Flynn is a con-man turned lawyer and is defending an innocent man on trial.

Ultimately, this was just okay. It was a bit slow paced for me and there were many different POVs (too many). I was hoping for something a bit more suspenseful and twisty. Despite this, I still enjoyed Eddie Flynn as a character and I look forward to trying other books in this series.

3.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a gripping legal thriller that showcases Steve Cavanagh's masterful storytelling and intricate plotting. The character development keeps readers invested in their fates. The pacing is relentless, with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. The dialogue is sharp, and the insights into the legal system lend authenticity and tension to the story. While it is a courtroom drama, the themes of justice, morality, and the complexities of truth elevate it beyond the ordinary.

I recently read another book by this author, Kill For Me, Kill For You and finished that in one sitting so I had high expectations for this book. I didn’t know that this was part of a series but it’s honestly great as a stand alone. This was a true thriller full of twists and turns that you won’t be able to put down. The story centers around Eddie Flynn, a former con artist turned defense attorney, who’s pulled into a high-stakes case involving a man accused of murdering his wife. The crucial witness to the case, “Witness 8,” has a pretty dark secret of her own, and things quickly spiral out of control. As Eddie digs deeper, it’s clear that no one is telling the whole truth, and the more he uncovers, the more dangerous the situation becomes. The pacing of this book was amazing that I was anxiously awaiting the next move. This author does an extremely great job of keeping you in suspense and captivating your attention from the start. The character of Eddie is one many can connect with as he does have vulnerability to him. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review and feedback.

I did not know this was part of a series so now it makes sense why it was so difficult for me to read. That being said, I cannot really give a fair review.

This book has made me want to go back and read more Eddie Flynn novels! You do not need to have read anything else from the series to pick this up, and I don't think the character relationships were rehashed in a way that would feel repetitive to someone that did know the material. Please, please, please, please, please write a follow up with Mr. Christmas. That character is worthy of his own series.
Overall, great pacing and the story had enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. I will be reading more!

💭 ⓂⓎ ⓉⒽⓄⓊⒼⒽⓉⓈ
Witness 8 is a gripping crime thriller that kept me hooked and eager to uncover what would happen next. Ruby, an odd and quirky character, rubbed me the wrong way at first, but her flaws became more intriguing as the story unfolded. The fast paced plot and twists kept me turning the pages, and the ending was satisfying.
While I enjoyed the book, the large cast of characters and subplots left me feeling a little lost at times. I later learned many of these characters, including Eddie Flynn, appear in other books, which might have helped me follow along better. Overall, this was an enjoyable and suspenseful read.

📚 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
🔫Psychological crime thriller
🐭Cat and mouse game
👨‍⚖️Courtroom drama
🕵️‍♂️Conman turned lawyer
💛Friendships
🔀Plot twist
🗣️Multiple POV

🕵️‍♂️𝕄𝕐 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾🕵️‍♂️
⭐️⭐️⭐️

💕Q U O T E: “𝐼𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝓊𝒷𝓁𝒾𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹 𝒶 𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝓉𝒶𝓀𝑒𝓈 𝑜𝒻𝒻 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝒾𝓉 𝑔𝑒𝓉𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓂𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸 𝓆𝓊𝒶𝓁𝒾𝓉𝓎 𝑜𝒻 “𝓌𝑜𝓇𝒹 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝑜𝓊𝓉𝒽.”

🙏 Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and Steve Cavanagh for this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. 💕

After multiples efforts to get in to this book spanning the course of 2 month; I finally decided to DNF. I enjoy Steve Cavanaugh’s books, but this one was difficult to get in to. By the time one of the main character’s starts talking to a picture of a priest on the wall I made the choice to put the book down.

Normally, Cavanaugh’s books are engaging and keep me guessing, but the multiple character point of views as well as a dull storyline made this book a struggle to get through without being able to devote more time during each reading session.

I will still continue to read Cavanaugh’s future books. One DNF does not turn me off of an author. This one just wasn’t a fit for me.

4.25/5

First I want to start off by saying I had no clue this was book 8 in a series. I read Kill for Me, Kill for You last year and loved it so I was very excited to see this author had a new book coming out.

I really enjoyed that even though this was book 8 in the series, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. I really enjoy the short, impactful chapters this author does. It makes a 400 page book easy to read and enjoy. Even though there were multiple POV’s to follow, it was easy enough to remember who was who. I think after reading this, I realized how much I enjoy Legal Thrillers.

I loved the twists and turns, I enjoyed the different characters, and really enjoyed the whole con man to Lawyer aspect. I think it gives the story an extra element because of how he thinks. Overall, I think I will go back to read the other books in this series, and can’t wait for more from this author!