NO SPOILERS
The Devil's Advocate
Pub Date: Aug 05 2025
Archive Date: Aug 19 2025

I enjoyed this book! I only wish I read the books in order of the publication date so I could watch the characters grow. I’m going to read the first book and reread this again. Excellent storyline. And I love Eddie’s character.

This ARC was provided by the Atria Books Publicity Department via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

SO GOOD. Thrilling, exciting. Fast paced. I couldn't stop reading this and wanting to know what happened next. I will definitely be reading more from this author

I just finished The Devil’s Advocate by Steve Cavanagh, and wow, what a ride. This sixth installment in the Eddie Flynn series took me out of the familiar New York courtroom and dropped me into the heart of Alabama, where Eddie defends Andy Dubois, a Black man accused of murdering a white woman in a town steeped in corruption and racism.​
The Overbooked Bibliophile

From the start, the tension was palpable. The opening scenes, especially the chilling depiction of the electric chair, set a dark tone that lingered throughout. Eddie and his team—Kate, Bloch, and Harry—are up against more than just a flawed case; they're battling a system rigged against their client. The small-town dynamics, where everyone seems to know everyone else's business, added a layer of claustrophobia to the narrative.​
Crime Fiction Lover
+2
The Overbooked Bibliophile
+2
Goodreads
+2

Cavanagh's portrayal of the antagonist, District Attorney Randal Korn, was masterful. He exuded a cold, almost supernatural malevolence that made every courtroom encounter with him feel like a high-stakes chess match. But the real twist came with the introduction of 'The Pastor,' a shadowy figure whose influence over the town's events was both unsettling and brilliant.​
_ForBooksSake
+2
The Overbooked Bibliophile
+2
Frost Magazine
+2
thebookmagnet.co.uk

While the courtroom drama was intense, I did miss the earlier books' more frequent legal battles. Here, the investigative journey took center stage, with Eddie and his team navigating a web of deceit and danger. The pacing was relentless, and just when I thought I had a handle on the plot, another twist would throw me off course.​

One of the most striking aspects was how Cavanagh tackled themes of racism, white supremacy, and corruption. The story didn't just highlight these issues; it immersed me in them, making me feel the weight of injustice pressing down on every page. The author's note at the end provided valuable context, shedding light on the real-world inspirations behind the story.​
Goodreads
Goodreads

In the end, The Devil’s Advocate was a compelling, thought-provoking thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. While it may not have had as much courtroom drama as I would have liked, the intricate plot and complex characters more than made up for it. I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series.

Another five star read from Steve Cavanagh. Eddie and his team travel are never in comfortable situations but this time they are called in to travel to the south and save a man’s life from a corrupt power hungry DA. This one is not for the squeamish.

Steve Cavanagh and his Eddie Flynn series have rapidly become some of my favorites in line with Harlan Coben. This book finds Eddie and company fighting white supremacy in the Deep South. As always, this goes less than smoothly. I really enjoyed this installment. Parts of it made me deeply uncomfortable as the hate and racism is alive and well today. I fully admit I thought I had it all figured out until the very end. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity to read and review this very exciting book.

I love the Eddie Flynn books! I’ve now read all but book 3 and book 7 but plan to read those as soon as I can get my hands on them.
4 stars on this one. The tag line says he plans every murder but does he really? Seems to me he doesn’t plan as much as orchestrate the trials.

Another win for Steve Cavanagh. The Eddie Flynn books are always intriguing, plenty of twists and well written characters.
The Devil’s Advocate also delivered a dose of reality regarding the pervasive inequities in the judicial system, kudos to Cavanagh for highlighting the issue. Definitely a worthwhile read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this arc!

Intense, unsettling and mesmerizing, The Devil’s Advocate is an electrifying legal thriller with the pace of a runaway freight train that demands you keep reading as fast as possible to uncover the truth. Steve Cavanagh has crafted a world-class story that is insanely engrossing while feeling horrifyingly plausible.

College student Skylar Edwards is found murdered in her rural Alabama hometown and the Sheriff arrests Andy Dubois, a young black man who worked with Skylar at a truck stop bar. The evidence is overwhelmingly stacked against Andy and everyone believes he’s guilty. Proving his guilt is the job of district attorney Randal Korn, who happens to have the most death penalty convictions of anyone in the history of the United States…and it’s not even close. Eddie Flynn usually doesn’t take cases like this but is persuaded that something fishy is going on in Alabama and flies down from New York to defend Andy. And the more Flynn and his team dig into the case, the more they are convinced that not only is he innocent, but that there’s a dangerous conspiracy at play that they must stop before many more innocent people die.

This is pedal to the metal storytelling at its finest. The Devil’s Advocate is full throttle from start to finish, powered by the emotional dread of an innocent man being put to death by a corrupt system manipulated by powerful people with an agenda. And only a knight in shining armor, with a relentless will and balls of steel, can mount a challenge that maybe just maybe can thwart the inevitable. That’s Eddie Flynn. Along with a few of his ethically principled and integrity-driven colleagues, Flynn shows tremendous courage and virtuousness, unwilling to flinch in the face of mortal danger, to do what’s right and help the little guy stand a chance against a stacked deck. Making him a character that you connect with and root for with your entire being. Especially as he sticks it to those who think they’re too smart to be foiled.

The Devil’s Advocate will fill you with anxiety and foreboding before concluding in immensely satisfying fashion and restoring a smidge of faith in humanity. A book that begs to be read in one sitting and will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. A masterclass in storytelling by the great Steve Cavanagh.

This book was a slow burn for me, much more so than I'm used to which is why it lost a star for me. I did like how the author ended the book and to learn how he based the book on facts from the past.

This book made thought provoking but made me so angry! I appreciated the author shining light on the death penalty and racial injustice within the law. I can’t help but believe there are small towns that have governments exactly like the one depicted in the book.

This was fast paced and had a few twists I didn’t see coming. It wasn’t my favorite in the series, but definitely worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another great Steve Cavanagh book! Although this book is in a series, you definitely don’t need to read the book before ( or any of the books) to read this one. This book has mystery, unexpected turns, and just the right amount of likable characters. I highly recommend this book and this author!

This book is definitely a legal thriller! It also comes with a lot of mystery and drama. Even though this is a fictional book, it felt real while reading it. This was a fast paced, emotional and tense read. I feel like it was a combination of both character driven and plot driven. It flowed well, had multiple point of views and a diverse cast of characters! Some of the characters I liked and some I did not like at all. This comes with a lot of twists, so hold on tight while reading this one! It deals with crime, racism and white supremacy in Alabama. This is a heavy, strong and informative read. I really enjoyed reading this book of his! I have read other books by this author and he never disappoints!

“The Devil’s Advocate” is the sixth installment in the Eddie Flynn Series. This book addresses serious topics in today’s society we live in. Eddie Flynn is asked to go to Sunville to be a defense lawyer for a guy named Andy Dubois. Andy is convicted of killing a girl and faces the death penalty. However, Andy is innocent. An attorney named Randal Korn enjoys the innocent prisoners getting executed. He is beyond sick and twisted, it makes my stomach hurt! Towards the end, Will Randal Korn be able to outsmart Eddie Flynn in the legal battle? Be sure to read the content warnings of this book! I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Steve Cavanagh and Atria Books publishing for this advanced reader’s copy of this digital book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on August 5, 2025!

This is the sixth Eddie Flynn book in this series. Eddie has been recruited to Buckstown, Alabama to take over a case. Andy Dubois is a black man charged with the murder of a young white woman, Skylar Edwards. The prosecutor on the case is known as "The King of Death row" ..... Randal Korn who has the highest rate in the United States for death row convictions ever in history. This guy is absolutely despicable! He gets his rocks off by murdering others without getting his hands dirty.

This book is kinda like To Kill a Mockingbird--- racism in a corrupt town. It doesn't look good for Andy as all the evidence points to a guilty verdict. Evidence has been rigged .... people have been silenced.... and somehow Eddie and his team have to prove his innocence and find the real killer.

***IMPORTANT NOTE****

The Author's note in the end must NOT be missed - He mentions facts about White Supremacist groups, deadliest prosecutors, and racial segregation in the South live and breathing.

Once again, Steve can DO NO WRONG. Eddie Flynn for the win 🥇

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One of my best finds this year is Steve Cavanagh! He’s a new to me author and, thanks to the publisher and netgalley, Fifty Fifty was my first book in his Eddie Flynn legal series. I absolutely loved it and was shocked that this book, The Devil’s Advocate, is even better! Eddie is a complex, likable character and I love that he has his own series. Also, for anyone new reading this, you don’t have to read the books in order! If you see a “case” that catches your attention, grab it and read it. The author does a smashing job helping you understand the characters without needing all the other books for background.

This book has a villain who will make your skin crawl, and so many twists and turns that I read it in two sittings, only taking a break to sleep!

Thanks so much for the opportunity to read early!

I did not realize this was the 5th book in the series. I'll check out this author's prior work at the library first!

Thank you for allowing me to sample this eARC! I am leaving this honest feedback voluntarily.

This book does have dark themes so if you are prone to checking the trigger warnings definitely do that. As always Steve has many twists and turns that will leave you guessing. So many red herrings thrown in that once the end comes you are left shocked because it was something you would have never guessed

Another excellent Steve Cavanagh novel! I have read Thirteen and Fifty Fifty and loved both, so I was excited to dive into this one as well. There are quite a few twists in this one that I’ll admit to not having seen coming, which is always a great experience to have in a thriller. Cavanagh has a way of writing that makes you really feel everything that happens, making you tense and anxious. Eddie Flynn is quickly becoming one of my favorite fictional characters in writing! Thank you very much for the eARC via NetGalley and I look forward to reading more from Steve Cavanagh!

This story felt a little textbook, which may be why it took me longer to finish it, but it was still a book worth reading. I appreciate when a book is written to convey a message that remains to affect us today and although this book was a major downer in that sense, there was a lot to learn and this was something you had to see through.

Because of how much doubt was in our main character, I fear I had a moment or two in which I thought omg are doomed??? but I like how in the end it was a simple yet powerful mode of conclusion. The different POVs really create the necessary dimensions the story required. This was the only book I read in this series but I still felt attached to all the characters and their times of peril. The plot twist in the end was so sinister, and the author’s note in the end has genuinely placed a new fear in me that shouldn’t exist in 2025!




Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the arc!!

This was a wild ride. So many tweets and turns. There are quite a few dark themes, so check the trigger warnings. I didn't call the twist and I fell for a rew of the red herrings.

Eddie, a con turned lawyer, gets pulled to a capital murder case. Andy's life is in the line for a crime he didn't commit, but the system is rugged against him. Can Eddie and his team save him? Can they save themselves?

I can’t get enough of this series! I love Eddie Flynn this time he is fighting for Andy Dubois who is accused of murder and if he is found guilty will get the death penalty. The part at the end where he talk about the death penalty and what lead do this book was fascinating. Eddie and his team go to a small town in Alabama where they are not welcomed and the locals make it known they don’t want them there.

The team tries to stay one step ahead and risk their lives trying to correct the wrongs that have gone on for too long.