Member Reviews

I loved this new Eddie Flynn novel. It had me guessing and changing my mind on who I thought was the killer the whole way through.

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It took me a bit to get through this book, but it was so well written. I loved that I didn’t have to read the other Eddie Flynn books in order to understand this one. While it was a bit too long and slow paced for my usual taste, it was still enjoyable regardless. This book definitely had me thinking I knew who the killer was, fully believe I was correct, only for it to not be right in the end. I loved that extra little twist. I will definitely be interested in reading more books about Eddie and Kate if they are made. Thank you Netgalley for giving me a digital ARC in exchange for this review!

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A Gripping Masterpiece! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Steve Cavanagh's Fifty Fifty is a heart-pounding legal thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The complexity of the plot, combined with the sharp writing and unpredictable twists, makes this novel impossible to put down. The characters are brilliantly crafted, particularly the dynamic between Eddie Flynn and his clients, which adds depth and emotional tension to the story.

Cavanagh’s ability to weave a compelling narrative around a courtroom drama is unmatched. The pacing is perfect, and just when you think you have the plot figured out, Cavanagh pulls you in a new direction. Every chapter builds toward a stunning conclusion that will leave you speechless. Fifty Fifty is an absolute must-read for fans of legal thrillers and anyone who loves a good, twisty mystery.

This book is a testament to Steve Cavanagh's talent, and it solidifies his place as one of the best in the genre. If you're looking for a book that will keep you guessing until the very end, look no further—Fifty Fifty is a thrilling ride you won't want to miss.

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I love all books by Steve Cavanagh! This book had me guessing the entire time about who did it! I love the new character introduced in this book and am excited to see her in the next books. I was sad to see one character exit. If you love smart, suspenseful books, you must read this!

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4.25 ⭐️'s
I really liked this one! It is the second book I have read from the Eddie Flynn series - my first being Thirteen. I liked Fifty-Fifty more, and I can't wait to dive into Witness 8!

Steve Cavanagh excels at getting into the mind of a killer, but he does an equally impressive job relaying court proceedings and investigations. As far as legal thrillers go, you'd be hard-pressed to find anything better. His twists are superb, and even if you figure out some of the story, I promise you missed something. I am always shocked at some point while reading Steve Cavanagh. My favorite is still his stand-alone: Kill For Me, Kill For You (Steve set the bar for his books pretty high with that masterpiece), but I thoroughly enjoyed Fifty-Fifty and didn't want to put it down.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the chance to read an ARC of the republication.

P.S. You do not need to read the whole series. Each plot follows a different case, and there isn't much backstory. I have picked the ones that sound most interesting to me, so if you are hesitant to start this because of where it falls in the series count, that's a non-issue.

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Steve Cavanagh has quickly become a staple on my shelves, with books like Kill for Me, Kill for You, Thirteen, and Witness 8 keeping me hooked. Fifty Fifty is yet another brilliant addition to his collection, delivering everything I love about his writing—mind-blowing twists, razor-sharp courtroom drama, and relentless suspense.

The premise is absolutely gripping: two sisters, both calling 911, both claiming the other murdered their father. From the first page, I was drawn into the high-stakes legal battle, and the tension never let up. Cavanagh’s ability to craft intricate, unpredictable plots is unmatched, and this book had me second-guessing everyone until the final reveal.

I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy and add it to my growing Cavanagh collection. If you love fast-paced legal thrillers with shocking twists, Fifty Fifty is a must-read. Highly recommend!

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Fifty-Fifty is about the trial of two sisters, Sofia and Alexandra, who are each accusing the other of murdering their father. There are 3 POV's - the lawyer defending Sofia, the lawyer defending Alexandra, and She, who is the unnamed "evil" sister. When I started this book, I did not realize that it is book 5 in a series, but reading the first four books are not necessary to pick up this one.

I knew from only 10% into this book, that it was going to be a five star read for me. I was hooked from the first page, and had a hard time putting the book down. The writing was captivating, easy to follow, and fast paced. It's difficult to list all the good things about this book without spoiling anything, but I promise you, this story will have your brain turning, your jaw dropping, your emotions mixing, and your hands flipping the pages as fast as possible.

I will definitely be reading more of Steve Cavanagh's books in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 This book is like if law & order + criminal minds had a baby—so good!! The brutal murder of the millionaire father with 2 daughters who both seem like they could’ve done it. It’s giving confusing and thrown for a loop the whole book🤯 The way that it was written with legit legal jargon and you went through the entire process from beginning to end was such a fun ride. I def thought one of the sisters was guilty the entire time….I enjoyed finding out if I was right or wrong🙊 I def recommend you add this to your summer tbr! It comes out June 3rd! **Thank you to Atria Books via NetGalley for the eARC copy of this book**🫶🏻

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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7398198216Steve Cavanagh’s Fifty Fifty delivers yet another high-stakes, twist-filled legal thriller featuring Eddie Flynn, the conman-turned-defense attorney we’ve come to love. This time, Eddie finds himself defending one of two sisters, both accused of murdering their father, and both pointing the finger at each other. Alongside Eddie is Kate Brooks, a fresh but determined defense attorney with her own compelling backstory representing the other sister. As the trial unfolds, the reader is also given chilling glimpses into the mind of the true killer, though their identity remains hidden throughout the book.

Having read several of Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn books, I’ve come to expect sharp courtroom drama, relentless pacing, and jaw-dropping twists, and Fifty Fifty delivers on all counts. The tension is palpable throughout, especially with the added complexity of Kate’s involvement; who do you root for when both Eddie and Kate are equally likable in different ways? While there were some emotionally devastating moments I could have done without, the novel’s ability to keep me guessing made up for it. I tore through this book in just over a day, and I’d highly recommend it to fans of fast-paced legal thrillers. That said, Thirteen still holds the title for my favorite Eddie Flynn novel to date—there was something about its premise and execution that felt particularly masterful. But Fifty Fifty is another strong entry in the series, and I look forward to reading more from Cavanagh.

A huge thank you to Atria Books eGalley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

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The description of the book on NetGalley is super confusing. I assumed the MCs will be two sisters and it will have a thriller like vibe, think Gone Girl, but turned out it was a fifth book in a series about lawyer. It was not stated anywhere in the description, a let down.

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“911 what’s your emergency?”

“My dad’s dead. My sister Sofia killed him. She’s still in the house. Please send help.”

“My dad’s dead. My sister Alexandra killed him. She’s still in the house. Please send help.”

One of them is a liar and a killer.

But which one?

This was so good! I was hooked from the beginning, you’re left guessing the entire time. I loved the pov switches between the mind of the murderer and the actual investigation. The trial got a little boring to read in the last quarter but really well written thriller! (4 ⭐️)

✨ Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review ✨

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Holy whiplash... this book sucked me right in and kept me going back and forth all the way to the end. A man is killed and both of his daughters blame each other for his brutal murder. They have a joint trial with separate attorneys, Eddie & Kate who each believe their client is innocent. I went back and forth so many times on who was guilty, and just when I was sure, I'd change my mind again. This is part of a series, but I've never read any of the rest and this functioned well as a standalone read. I will definitely be going back to read more in this series!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this copy to review!

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Two sisters on trial for their father’s murder, both placing the blame solely with the other. Who is the murderer and who is being framed?

The plot of this was very intriguing and I enjoyed the way the story was written. While novels with many side characters can feel distracting, I enjoyed the way each character was highlighted and felt each added to the story. Although I was able to predict the mastermind, I did find myself second guessing throughout, which kept me interested in the final outcome. I also liked how minor plot points were tied up nicely at the end, without plot holes left behind. A great read overall!

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Knowing that Steve Cavanagh is not one to disappoint, I was eager to dive into Fifty Fifty, a clever and twisty tale of two sisters arrested for the murder of their father. Both claim “the other sister did it” and we get the psychological thrill ride of trying to figure out who is the true murderess. Of course with Eddie Flynn defending one of them, we know we are in for some great courtroom suspense along with plenty of surprises.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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This one started slow for me but once I got invested I was hooked. The twists are great and keeps you guessing which sister actually did it.

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I couldn’t get into this one. I tried twice! The ratings and reviews are positive, so I’m an outlier. DNF at 33%.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Atria for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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5 Stars!

Thank you to Atria Books & NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

One murder. Two sisters. Two phone calls, each accusing the other of murder.

This story is told from three narrators. Eddie, who is the rough around the edges lawyer defending Sofia, who has accused her sister, Alexandra of murdering their father. Kate, who is an up-and-coming lawyer who is defending Alexandra, who accused Sofia of murdering their father. And, our final narrator, “She”.

This book was a wild psychological thriller roller coaster! It kept me guessing the entire time I was reading it. I don’t find myself gravitating toward legal thrillers, but this book made me reconsider that! It was obvious how knowledgeable the author was on law and how the legal system works, but the way the information was presented in this book made it easy to follow and truly kept me on my toes. LOVED the back and forth as the trial took place, and getting a peek into how Eddie & Kate approached defending Sofia & Alexandra.

My favorite chapters were when “She” took over the story. Subtle hints were dropped through the entire book about who “She” might be, and her POV was SO creepy (but in a good, well written thriller way!).

Pick this book up if you like stories told from multiple points of view, suspense, and well thought out plots, that include a diverse and engaging cast of characters!

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Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for a digital ARC of Fifty Fifty.

I was initially a little worried going into the book that I wouldn't understand some of the focal characters social relationships that are displayed while solving the murder, but I had no issue understanding the characters relationships to each other.

This book is a back and forth of guessing which sister did it. For a second you believe one sister then a chapter in her named perspective and all of the sudden you are seeing that the other sister could have done it. And just when you think it's over you look down at your kindle percentage and it says 90% and you are just waiting for the other shoe to drop. I was taken through the highs and low and watched both Eddie and young lawyer Kate expertly navigate a high profile murder case and come together when they truly needed to work together.

I loved Eddie and this book definitely left me feeling like I need to pick up the rest of the series ASAP!

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DNF - unfortunately I did not realize this book is from a series. While I appreciate that it could be read as a stand-alone, I personally would miss out on not having the character back story, so it is not for me. Thank you anyways for the opportunity!

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This is the type of book that you absolutely have to tell everyone about! It was so cleverly written. I would double back looking for any little clue that may help my inner sleuth. I could not put this book down. Very rarely do I read books twice, but this book is definitely worth a second read. I am so thankful to Atria Books and Steve Cavanagh for the opportunity to add this book masterpiece to my collection for an honest review.

All I can say is grab a notebook and begin your gathering your clues. Your chance of actually being correct is 50/50.

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