Witness 8 is a legal thriller with a side of psychological thriller—like John Grisham meets Gillian Flynn, but with a streetwise con-artist-turned-lawyer at the helm.

Set in the heart of Manhattan, much of the story unfolds on West 74th Street and inside the gritty Manhattan Criminal Courthouse. It’s the eighth book in the Eddie Flynn series, but don’t worry if you’re jumping in here (I did)—this one grabs you right from the prologue and doesn’t let go.

Eddie Flynn is a former con artist turned unconventional defense attorney. Smart, fast-talking, and reckless in the best way. He doesn’t just defend his clients—he hustles for them. Ruby Johnson is a nanny and maid who sees and hears everything. She’s manipulative, greedy, and an expert at twisting situations to her advantage. John Jackson is Eddie’s latest client, accused of murder. The case looks hopeless, but Eddie’s never been one to walk away from a challenge.

The book hooks you from the start. Ruby witnesses a murder—but instead of telling the cops the truth, she hatches a far more devious plan. Meanwhile, Eddie takes on Jackson’s seemingly unwinnable case, but as if that weren’t enough, he’s also got organized criminals breathing down his neck.

With multiple POVs, an unreliable narrator, courtroom battles, and secrets around every corner, the tension builds fast—and doesn’t slow down.

What I Liked
-Twists, Twists, and More Twists – Just when you think you know where this is going, boom, you don’t.
- Eddie Flynn – A defense attorney with the swagger of a con man? Yes, please.
- Fast-Paced, High-Stakes Drama – The courtroom scenes crackle with intensity, and the street-level action keeps you on edge.
- The Ending – Satisfying, surprising, and absolutely earned.

If you love legal thrillers with bite, this one delivers. Sharp writing, high tension, and characters you won’t forget—I’m officially hooked on Steve Cavanagh.

Few authors can write absorbing legal thrillers like Steve Cavanagh. Witness 8 has it all: humor, a sympathetic yet scary witness to murder, life-and-death situations, and a roller coaster ride of a courtroom drama.

I love watching the way Eddie Flynn's mind works. He's not your usual lawyer. He's a streetwise ex-con-artist-turned-defense-attorney, and he knows all sorts of people from all walks of life. The team he has assembled is top-notch, so much so that it seems that there is nothing they cannot do.

As a witness to murder, Ruby Johnson is scary yet sympathetic. I felt for her circumstances, but she was so skilled in her manipulations that I wanted her stopped ASAP. Ruby also made me realize just how much the "hired help" knows about the families they work for. My advice to the rich? Pay your servants well, be nice, and don't anger them. They always know much more than you think.

To add to Eddie's worries, there's the danger for those near and dear to him-- not just from corrupt police officers but also from an assassin named Mr. Christmas. (Don't you love his name?)

If you love legal thrillers, by all means, acquaint yourself with Eddie Flynn. I would definitely want him defending me if I were on trial.

WITNESS 8 is part of an ongoing series, yet could be read as a stand-alone.

I have not previously read any part of the Eddie Flynn series, so all of the characters were new to me.

I thought the premise was interesting, but for the characters, I really was only interested in one - Ruby.

The rest had their own backstories and I felt a bit lost trying to follow along.

WITNESS 8 would be a fun mystery for those who have read the previous books in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an e-copy of WITNESS 8 to review.

I rate WITNESS 8 three out of five stars.

I always look forward to a reunion with Eddie Flynn and his associates, but I have to admit that I did miss having Eddie in court, as Kate is more of a straight shooter and not quite as much fun-But Ruby and Christmas were GREAT new characters!

Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh is a fast-paced thriller that kept me hooked from the beginning, but I’m left feeling a bit conflicted about it overall. As a fan of suspense and psychological thrillers, I was excited to dive into this one, especially since Cavanagh's books are often praised for their twists and character development.
The premise of the story — a key witness to a murder who may or may not be telling the truth — is intriguing, and I definitely found myself wanting to keep reading to figure out what would happen next. Cavanagh does a good job of creating tension and keeping the plot moving at a fast pace.
However, there were a few things that didn’t fully work for me. First, I had a hard time connecting with the protagonists. While the story moves quickly, I didn’t feel like I got enough depth into the main characters’ motivations and backstory. The twists were very predictable and the ending was wrapped up a little too conveniently for my taste.
Overall, Witness 8 is a solid thriller with some great moments of suspense, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. It’s an enjoyable read if you’re looking for something quick and engaging, but it won’t be the kind of book you’ll be thinking about long after you’ve finished it.

Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

Thank you so much to Atria for the approval to read this new Steve Cavanagh book!

4.5 stars for my first Eddie Flynn! ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

I haven't read anything from this author previously but have seen wonderful reviews for Thirteen and others in this series as well as Kill for Me, Kill for You, both of which are on my TBR (as well as the rest of the Eddie Flynn series). This CAN be read as a standalone, I'm guessing I'd have known more backstory on the main characters but they are given enough depth in this story that I didn't feel as I was missing anything by not reading any Eddie Flynn before this.

This book has A LOT going on but it was done in a way that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Eddie and his team are some of my favorite characters. They are each flawed but their redeeming qualities make up for their minor shortfalls. I couldn't help rooting for them to solve this mystery. The readers know what is happening behind the scenes from the beginning but have to go along for the ride as Eddie and his team uncover the facts.

The other character's POV were interesting to read. Mr. Christmas is a wonderfully complex character. Is he just a bad guy? Does he have good, redeeming traits? The other POV also add depth to the mysteries and I loved how well-done they all were.

Side note: I had one big question going throughout this story (it might be a spoiler 🤔) and I'm glad it got answered by the end because that would have driven me crazy and made me knock off a star LOL

I'd recommend this to readers that love:
-multi-POV
-multiple story lines converging
-rich people behaving badly
-"reformed" con man now working as a lawyer
-few courtroom scenes (from other reviews I see that the courtroom aspect is more prevalent in other Eddie Flynn stories)

This was a great book! It captured me right from the beginning chapter. Steve Cavanagh is a fantastic writer and really keeps you on the edge of your seat. This book is no different. Loved the twists and turns. The end did wrap up a little quick for me but it will make for an easy read.

Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh was an amazing and compelling thrill ride that had me hooked the entire way through.
Steve Cavanagh’s books always maintain my interest and this was no exception.
He has written another great book, exciting, thrilling and a real page-turner.

Eddie Flynn novels are known for their breakneck pacing, legal intrigue, and shocking twists.

Strengths:
1. Tightly Plotted Legal Thriller – Cavanagh excels at crafting intricate legal dramas with relentless pacing. Witness 8 continues this trend, offering a high-stakes courtroom battle with unexpected revelations.
2. Complex and Charismatic Protagonist – Eddie Flynn, the conman-turned-lawyer, remains one of the most compelling protagonists in modern legal thrillers. His street-smart tactics, combined with legal brilliance, make for engaging storytelling.
3. Jaw-Dropping Twists – Cavanagh is known for masterful misdirection, often pulling the rug out from under readers in ways that feel both shocking and satisfying. Witness 8 delivers on this front.
4. Sharp and Snappy Prose – His writing style is lean, propulsive, and filled with razor-sharp dialogue, ensuring a quick and engaging read.

Potential Weaknesses:
1. Formulaic Structure – While Cavanagh’s thrillers are consistently entertaining, some readers may find that Witness 8 follows a familiar pattern seen in previous Eddie Flynn novels, potentially making some elements predictable.
2. Over-the-Top Twists – While his books thrive on shocking developments, at times, the twists can stretch believability, making them feel more cinematic than realistic.
3. Character Depth vs. Plot Momentum – The fast-paced nature of the novel and many POVs meant that the secondary characters did not receive enough depth or development.

Conclusion:
Witness 8 maintains Steve Cavanagh’s track record. This gripping legal thriller is packed with tension, courtroom drama, and a protagonist who outsmarts his opponents in thrilling fashion. While it leans on familiar beats, fans of the series will likely find it another exciting and addictive entry.

Eddie Flynn is my new fav character and I cannot wait to read more of Steve’s books! This was my first Eddie Flynn novel and I am hooked on this series

This is the eighth book in the series, but can totally be read as a standalone, or out of order. I felt the author did an amazing job of writing this thriller with multiple POV between the good, the bad, and the evil characters

Ruby accidentally witnessed a murder on one of NYCs most elite streets. As a witness you would probably call 911 right? But not Ruby.. she has alternative motives and thinks she can use this to her advantage

When a surgeon is blamed for the murder, life on the infamous block is no longer safe. A cast of characters, both in and out of the law, are focused on keeping secrets buried deep..

Eddie Flynn, ex con turned lawyer is just the man you want on your defense team. He has connections and the right group of people working with him. But has he suddenly become the target of a hit man? Can he keep the threats at bay while trying to solve a murder and protect his innocent client?

While initially it felt like a slow burn, this book will quickly have you wanting more. What starts as one murder, turns into another, with secrets slowly uncovered, and ending you won’t believe!

Although this is part of a series, it worked well as a stand alone. It took me a bit to get into it but I would say by halfway I was invested and wanted to keep reading to find out what happened. It was suspenseful and entertaining and the ending tied everything together perfectly. This review is posted on Goodreads as well

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 3/25
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I love Eddie Flynn. There, I’ve said it. He is so unbelievably smart and cunning. I have read a few of the Eddie Flynn series and with each book I can never wait to see how he is going to get himself or his client out of whatever situation they got themselves into.
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These books are such fantastic court room drama / police procedural / thrillers. Fast paced right from the start told in multiple POVs with crazy wild plot twists, this book will have you flying through the pages and staying up way past your bedtime. You will fall in love with every character, the good and the bad.
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These books can be read as stand alone novels, as I had no problem following along this book, but some of the characters backstories will be explored in greater detail in other books. I really look forward to reading more of of this series and getting to know the characters history more.
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Steve Cavanagh is an author is will always read. His books are just so addicting. I highly highly highly recommend starting the Eddie Flynn series, and without a doubt read this one! This was such a joy to read! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Steve Cavanagh and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

There’s just something about Cavanagh’s books that are so fun to read. Love the character of Eddie Flynn and his motley crew so much! And always so twisty.

Steve Cavanagh is officially an auto-buy author for me now, especially after reading Witness 8.

I seriously love his Eddie Flynn novels and need to go back to Steve’s backlist.

Witness 8 was another dark and deliciously twisty legal thriller featuring a cast of characters that I absolutely adored, and a few that were horrific.

Ex conman turned brilliant trial lawyer Eddie Flynn is hired to defend an innocent wealthy surgeon framed by their seemingly normal nanny Ruby. The tactics used by Eddie to defend his client are so off the wall but seemingly very effective and I enjoyed it all.

This is my 4th book of Steve’s, the 2nd in his Eddie Flynn series. So far I’ve loved them all.

*Thanks so much to partner Atria Books and to NetGalley for the gifted eARC!*

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was a fun read and kept me entertained throughout. I really liked the characters and the funny moments throuought. This was my first Steve cavanagh book and I can't wait to read more!

Even though this was the 8th book in the series, it truly could be a standalone. I loved the idea of the witness being the unreliable narrator, and her chapters in the book were truly wild. However, this book had a LOT going on (likely due to being 8 books into the series with a lot of past character development & issues built up).

Witness 8
by Steve Cavanagh
Pub Date: Mar 25 2025

Witness 8 is a riveting psychological thriller from master of twists, author: Steve Cavanagh from the Eddie Flynn series. A fantastic plot, great characters, lots of drama, everything you'd expect in a psychological thriller! Although this book is from a series, I had no problem reading it as a stand-a-lone.

Synopsis:

Something is wrong with Ruby Johnson. A former resident of the ultra-elite Manhattan upper class, Ruby now works as a maid in the type of houses she used to live in. Unassuming, she sees everyone’s dirty secrets from the inside of their beautiful, renovated brownstones. But when Ruby witnesses a murder, she has wicked plans in mind that don’t involve telling the authorities the truth.

Many thanks to #NetGalley #AtriaBooks for providing me with an E-ARC of this exciting thriller!

Witness 8 is a twisted, fast-paced, and suspenseful ride. Eddie Flynn is an interesting character who was once a con man and now practices law, only defending clients he believes are innocent. To make things even more complicated, Eddie offends the wrong group of corrupt players in the city and now has a bounty on his head. Eddie's current client, John Jackson, is accused of murder, and the odds are stacked against him because of a witness named Ruby who has an interesting story of her own. Fans of fast-paced crime and legal thrillers will enjoy this book.

Thank you, Atria Books and NetGalley, for my eARC of Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

I really enjoyed Witness 8 and although this was my first Eddie Flynn novel, it can be read as a standalone. I will say, it made me want to go back and catch up on the other 7 before this one.

My first Cavanagh novel, Kill for Me, Kill for You, made my staff picks display, and this one probably will make the cut as well.

The characters were so well written, the plot was engaging and interesting, and I love the twists that Cavanagh threw in. I enjoyed the multiple POVs, the action and suspense, and the wild ride we were taken on.

I highly recommend reading some of Cavanagh's work and if you're into thrillers, twists and turns, and hate-to-love characters, Witness 8 is for you.

I have heard great things about this author. I didn't know this was part of a series but I couldn't really tell. I thought the writing was brilliant. I loved the way he told this story.

I just love this series. I have always loved mystery series and this is becoming a new favourite for me. This author just does twists so well.