“There's something wrong with Ruby.”

Yes, yes there is.

WITNESS 8 has one of the coolest hired killers ever. I mean, seriously, a well-mannered, cultured hitman? Yes, please!

Aside from that, we have rich people behaving badly (because don’t they always?), a complex murder case, and Eddie, our MC, getting himself into and out of trouble.

I love how Cavanagh creates vivid characters that I can so easily envision.

WITNESS 8 gives us lots of reasons to keep turning pages!

I alternated between the ebook and audiobook. While I thought Adam Sims did a fantastic job narrating Eddie’s parts, I struggled with the female POV parts. Sims’s voice is deep and gravelly, which sounded weird (to me) when he was speaking from a female POV. I wish the audiobook production had added a female narrator.

*Thanks to Atria Books for the free ebook download, and to Simon Audio for the free audiobook download.*

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful book by Steve Cavanagh. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

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. She's mostly invisible to those around her, but she sees everything. When she witnesses a murder, she has a different plan involved rather than telling the truth. Enter
Eddie Flynn, streetwise ex con-artist-turned-defense attorney, now tasked with representing John Jackson - the one charged with the neighborhood murder. But to save his client’s life, Eddie must first protect his own, as the scariest organized criminals in the city are out for his head.

A new book in this series featuring Eddie Flynn, conman turned defense lawyer, is always something to look forward to. Eddie is nothing if not loyal, and I love his allegiance to his friends and his clients - especially since he's a defense attorney who only represents those he feels are innocent. This installment had lots of different POV, but the story kept me glued. I like legal thrillers, and it was fun to see Eddie be once again one step ahead of the prosecution.

Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for this ARC! Tho this the 8th book in the Eddie Flynn series it is the first I read and at no point did I feel I needed any background from the previous books. Eddie the ex con now lawyer who only takes on cases that he knows his client is telling the truth.
There has been a murder in one of the wealthiest streets in New York that Ruby witnesses, sees the gun put in the trash and pins it on her employer what can be her motive? With a whole cast of characters and plot lines this was a whirl of a story that I couldn’t put down. There are so many colorful characters in this story I just want to go read all the series. This very clever storyline and wonderful writing will keep you guessing till the end!

When i saw that Steve Cavanagh was back with another episode of the Eddie Flynn show, i couldn't sign up fast enough!! (Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!)

A conman turned lawyer, Eddie Flynn get results – but he does not do things by the book. Through his unconventional methods, Eddie Flynn protects the innocence of the wrongly accused – at whatever cost necessary – and restores justice within the community.

It doesn't matter how many Steve Cavanagh books I read, I'm always left in awe. What an absolutely amazing writer, every book is an unforgettable experience! Look out for this one on March 25th

You know when reading a fantastic book just makes pieces of your brain click together? Reading Steve Cavanaugh’s latest, Witness 8, was that for me. I really just flat out enjoyed it from start-to-finish. Multiple crimes, multiple suspects, a healthy dose of psychopathy, and some law and order vibes. Add in the perfect sardonic, operates outside of the rules, conman-turned-hero in Eddie Flynn, and *swoon.* Honestly, I have no notes. I read it in one sitting, was a 10/10 for me! Go buy it! Seriously!


SYNOPSIS: what if your only witness to a murder had an ulterior motive? Ruby has always known she was “different,” perhaps even “unsettling.” Pushed to the outskirts of the Upper West Side by her abusive and reckless father, she spends most of her days cleaning the homes and nannying the children of her former neighbors. Fueled by the injustice, she usually mollifies her impotent rage by slipping something into her boss’s morning coffees. But on the way home one night, Ruby witnesses a murder, and decides there is more to gain from her proximity to Manhattan’s rich and powerful. Enter Eddie Flynn, conman-turned-defense attorney who’s been tasked with representing an innocent man who’s on the stand for murder. Just as he gears up to fight another good fight, the fight comes to his doorstep. Someone has taken a hit out on Eddie, and instead of advocating for the city’s criminal underbelly, he’s now become one of its targets. Can Eddie save an innocent man from the noose? Or has his time already run out?

Thank you, Steve Cavanagh, Atria Books and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book. The opinions are my own and freely given.

All of your favorite characters in the Eddie Flynn series are back.

It starts with Eddie representing a man who is pulled over for muddy license plates but has an unregistered weapon. Eddie determines that the cop who made the arrest is getting kickbacks.

Then there is a woman who grew up on the ritzy street that she now works on. She witnesses a murder of one of the residents and frames another resident that she works for.

There is a contract put out to kill Eddie and he is trying to figure out who actually killed the woman because he believes that his client didn't.

Quick read. I love this character. He knows how to skirt the line between lawful and his previous life as a conman.

Even if you haven't read all of the Eddie Flynn series, you can still read this as a stand alone.

Highly recommend.

Ruby grew up with the wealthy elite until her father ruined it. Now she is working as a nanny and cleaner in the same wealthy neighborhood she grew up in. The irony is not lost on Ruby and she’s taking advantage of it.

“Success or failure as a lawyer is not determined by your knowledge of the law; it is, however, greatly determined by your knowledge of human behavior.”

When a neighbor is accused of murder, Eddie Flynn takes the case trying to fix this gross injustice. He uses “creative” lawyering and examines human behavior, not just the facts. He also tends to throw a good con in to help solve the case. 🙌

Ruby works behind the scenes and delivers twist after twist that you won’t see coming. I didn’t love one aspect of the ending but it made sense for the story.

Cavanagh is quickly becoming a favorite thriller writer of mine and he’s one of the very few that can entertain me in a courtroom thriller!

Witness 8 is the 8th book in the Eddie Flynn series.

I don’t generally read series books, but I had read the book Kill For Me Kill For You by Steve Cavanagh, which was really good. So when I read that Steve Cavanagh was releasing a new novel I requested an ARC from Netgalley right then. I was excited when I received an email that Atria Books allowed me an ARC.

I will start off by saying that I did enjoy this book and about half way in was when it really started to reel me in. The storyline was really unfolding and some of the questions I had were starting to tie together and start to make more sense. The ending definitely had some plots twists, which were exciting and caught me off guard.

Eddie Flynn, the main character, is a defense attorney, former con-man. He takes on a case defending a man who has been accused of murder. Eddie believes his client is innocent and does everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, he can to prove his clients innocence. He works with a very tight knit team, Harry, Kate, Lake, Bloch, and Denise, to prove his clients innocence as well as get Eddie out of some tough spots.

This book has everything: action, suspense, court room drama, mobsters, hitmen, dirty cops, etc.

The only somewhat negative for me was that in the beginning I had a tough time keeping all the characters straight. But I will also say I sometimes have focus issues. This book didn’t grab me right away, but that was partly because the book wasn’t what I was expecting. I hadn’t really read the synopsis of the book. I just knew I really liked the first Steve Cavanagh book I had read.

All in all I am glad I stuck with this book and I really liked how I was really on the edge of my seat half way through til the end. I couldn’t put the book down at that point. The twists and turns just kept coming! Aside from keeping track of the characters, I’d say this was an easy read and I will continue to and look forward to read more books by Mr. Cavanagh!

My ARC was provided for my honest review from Atria Books via Netgalley. Thank you both for the opportunity to read and review this book in advance!

Another SMASH from one of my fave thriller authors. The pacing, the twists, the highly unreliable narrator. .. all perfectly executed. Definitely recommend this and the Eddie Flynn series to my thriller girlies!

I loved Kill for me, Kill for you by Steve Cavanagh so much. I was excited for Witness 8, however it didn't surprise me like Kill for me did. This book wasn't a favorite for me, however I'm looking forward to more books from Steve in the future.

Ex-con turned lawyer Eddie Flynn has been brought in to defend John Jackson, a resident of an elite neighborhood in Manhattan who has been accused of murder. The case seems near impossible as the gun used in the crime is found in Jackson's house with his DNA on it. But as Flynn and his associates begin to investigate the case, some strange things are uncovered. This includes Jackson's nanny/maid Ruby, who is actually a witness to the crime and has some level of involvement in the case. Flynn and crew must piece together what really happened to save an innocent man.

This was my first book by Cavanagh and the first book in the series I have read. Even though I came in at the 8th book, it was an easy read to get into, and I didn't feel too lost with the characters. I enjoyed being able to experience Ruby's perspective as well as the defense, trying to figure out what transpired. I thought I had everything figured out, but there were just enough surprising elements at the end to give that thriller feeling. Steve Cavanagh books will now be on my TBR list for the future.

Thank you to Atria Books, NetGalley, and Steve Cavanagh for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

As with every Steve Cavanagh book I've read, it was absolutely fantastic! The details are so thorough, meticulous, and piece together perfectly at the end. It was exciting, fast paced, and I couldn't put it down. Everything I look for in a good book. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I thought the reasoning behind Ruby's actions was kind of, I don't know, cliche? It was more of a ugh really that's why, moment. However, it was still amazing. There were great plot twists that I couldn't predict. I truly loved reading it. I hope there's a next book because, that ending, chefs kiss. A perfect opening for another book that I would be very interested in reading! Highly recommend!!

Thank you Atria Books publishing for providing me an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for my review.

I picked this up in the beginning of my NetGalley journey as an instant download to help introduce me to ARCs. After reading I realize I probably wouldn't have picked it up otherwise. I really struggle with thrillers that have a ton of characters, and every character has the same or almost equal importance. I was so confused for a good majority of this story; really only the beginning and end made sense to me. I found Ruby's story kind of interesting, and I'm glad I stuck around for those twists in the ends. Besides that, it really just felt like a jumble in the middle, but I gave it three stars because I was interested enough to finish the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the free copy in exchange for my honest review!

Witness #8 is a sharp, high-stakes legal thriller with nonstop twists and intense courtroom drama. The story centers around a murder case with a key witness whose testimony could change everything—but nothing is quite what it seems.

Steve Cavanagh delivers a fast-paced, clever plot that kept me hooked from the first chapter. The audiobook narration was excellent and really brought the tension to life.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen!

I’ve heard a lot about Steve Cavanagh’s books and when I saw this one jumped at a chance for the review. I wasn’t aware that it was part of a series, but was able to jump in and thoroughly enjoy this twisty thriller. MC Ruby is witness to murder but instead of calling it into the police, she holds out in order to benefit herself. Ruby was part of the social elite that she now works for and knows all of their dirty little secrets.

I fully plan on going to read the rest in this series as this author has peaked my interest with his fantastic writing style.

4-⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and opinion. Would definitely recommend and good luck on publication day, March 25, 2025.

I was nervous to jump into this since it's technically book 8 in the series, but with the encouragement of friends, I picked this one up. They were exactly right, and though it probably would have been a richer experience if I had met the characters before, I had no problem getting my bearings.

Witness 8 was fast paced and action packed! The premise drew me in and I liked how morally grey most of the characters were. It was an interesting mix of personalities and I especially loved the found family. There were several different intricate plot lines in the book and I'm really impressed by how Steve Cavanagh wove them all together. Some parts were a bit too convenient, but there were also some great twists. I'm just starting my thriller journey and appreciated that this wasn't scary or overly gory (though there are some disturbing scenes/plot points).

There were quite a few characters/POV's to juggle in this one, but Adam Sims handled it with ease. He did a wonderful job voicing all of the different characters and I didn't want to stop listening once I started. I will definitely be going back and reading the previous books in the series!

Audiobook Review
Overall 4.5 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 4 stars

*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*

Murder, courtroom drama, Peyton Place Manhattan neighborhood, family secrets, affairs, Gangs and police corruption all rolled into one thriller! Eddie Flynn, ex con, turned attorney is defending surgeon John Jackson who has been accused of murdering the "most popular" woman on the street. Ruby is the Jackson's maid and actually witnessed the murder and decides that she can make some money and stop the voices she hears by framing Dr. Jackson but also blackmailing the 2 best suspects who were having an affair with the victim. Ruby used to live in this neighborhood until her Dad gambled away all their money and now her Mom needs extra care and she can't afford it without the blackmail money. Meanwhile there is a hit out on Eddie as he not only tries to prove Dr. Jackson didn't do it but keep himself and his team safe from every hitman on the East Coast. There are a lot of characters and a lot happening in this book but I love the clever way Eddie uncovers the facts, what a badass his partner, Bloch is, and how Steve Cavanagh weaves everyone together to leave us guessing the whole time.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Steve Cavanagh has written the ultimate BEST series I've ever read. I cannot wait to see Eddie Flynn's series continue.

Ruby Johnson is different. She works as a nanny for the upscale/elite neighborhood, in which she lived with her own family before her and her family had to leave. She has infiltrated herself into the lives of all the important people in her former neighborhood. One night, she's leaving one of her current employers' residences when she witnesses the unthinkable. Ruby Johnson has just witnessed a murdered, in the elite neighborhood, and it's someone well known to the community. Now she holds the power to tell the truth to the authorities or play a game.

John Jackson has been arrested by the NYPD police for the murder, but he is professing his innocence. Al Parrish, John's attorney, has listed the help of Eddie Flynn. Eddie Flynn is a lawyer, former con artist, who knows all the tricks and loops to obtain a not guilty verdict. If Eddie thinks you're not guilty, he will do everything he can to prove it. He's enlisted the help of Gabriel Lake and Bloch. Eddie must also try to keep himself out of trouble and stay alive so he can prove Jackson's innocence.

It's no secret that I absolutely love Eddie Flynn, but I absolutely loved Lake and Bloch's characters as well. I did miss 3 novels prior to this one in the series, but I am absolutely going back to read those as soon as possible. Although I missed those novels, this is super easy to pick up and follow as a stand-alone. I feel like you get plenty of back story to help fill in any missing pieces.

This is a fast paced, engaging novel. Left on a cliff hanger. Multiple POVs. I really need Netflix or Hulu to make a series out of Eddie Flynn novels. I would absolutely binge watch every single episode.

Thank you to Atria books and NetGalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have only recently discovered Steve Cavanagh as an author. I started with Thirteen - which was so good I have started working my way through the rest of the series. When I saw this book on NetGalley I didn't hesitate to request. While I don't feel like this is quite as good as Thirteen - that is really just splitting hairs. Witness 8 is fast paced, its full of this motley crew cast of characters that not only serve the story but make you care and root for them. I love the crime elements, the legal elements - really all of it. The twists in this story are completely unexpected and I am pretty sure I gasped out loud at one point. I definitely teared up at least twice. There is a lot of depth to this legal thriller.
This is another great Eddie Flynn story. I can't wait to see what happens next!. 4.5 out of 5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC copy

I love the multiple POVs and intermingling story lines. A full course whodunnit that leaves you guessing until the end.