The Devil's Advocate is a decent legal thriller with a compelling premise. While the courtroom drama was engaging, the plot felt a bit predictable at times, and some twists didn’t land as strongly as I expected. Overall, an okay read, but not as thrilling as I hoped.

The Summer of Steve (Cavanagh) continues with the 3rd 2025 release of one of his books that was previously not published in the US: Devil’s Advocate. In this one Eddie Flynn and the gang pull a My Cousin Vinny as they head south to take on an evil Alabama DA and the town he has corrupted. It channels Vinny and Greg Iles but in Cavanagh’s signature fast paced, twisty legal thriller style.

The case at the center of this book is the murder of the town sweetheart, which has been pinned on her Black coworker. Enter Eddie to (try to) save the day. But he and Harry might have met their match in the diabolical district attorney prosecuting the case.

Couldn’t stop reading - highly recommend. The ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Comes out August 5, 2025.

This is not the first book I’ve read by this author, but it IS the first book that I’ve read in his Eddie Flynn series. Normally, I don’t like to read a series out of order. I typically make the decision to start a series and then begin with #1. But thanks to NetGalley and Atria books, I was given the opportunity to read this book early (I believe it is a re-release of a previously released book).

And what can I say except WOW! I was immediately invested in the story, and I think it’s been quite awhile since I’ve experienced the range of emotions I felt reading this book. My gosh did I feel my blood boiling over the actions of the DA, Randall Korn, and his evil tendrils that had taken ahold of various members of the town ( and state) of Alabama.

I could not put this book down. I happened to be reading it during a particularly busy week and while I wanted to sit for hours on end and just plain get to the end (for vindication- hopefully!) I was forced to take my time and read when I could. I am absolutely going to be circling back to the start of the series and reading the rest of the Eddie Flynn books- though I had no issue reading this one despite it being in the later part of the series. I quickly developed an affinity with Eddie and his team and it didn’t take long before I was rooting for them. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

5 STARS!

Wow, The Devil's Advocate was such a great read!! I couldn't stop reading and finished the entire book in less than a day. Steve Cavanagh wrote characters that the reader can't help but to cheer for every step of the way...but also detest the characters you should. If you have read previous Eddie Flynn books, you understand that no character is safe and this heavily contributed to the suspense - I wasn't sure if any of the characters were going to stick around until the end. I really enjoyed the legal processes and twists in the story line as they were believable but also unexpected. The scariest part of this book is just how realistic this situation could be in some parts of the country with corruption reaching all parts of law and government.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for ghe ARC.

He’s won every trial…because he’s behind every murder.

Ambitious District Attorney Randal Korn lives to watch prisoners executed. Even if they are not guilty.

An innocent man, Andy Dubois, faces the death penalty for the murder of young girl. Korn has already fixed things to make sure he wins a fast conviction. The one thing Korn didn't count on was Eddie Flynn.

Slick, street smart, and cunning, the former con artist and now New York lawyer has only seven days to save an innocent man against a corrupt system and find the real killer.

In a week the judge will read the verdict, but will Eddie be alive to hear it?

What a wild ride! Another great legal thriller from author Steve Cavanaugh! Definitely worth reading. 4 out of 5 ⭐️

Always up for a twisty ride with Steve! I just discovered his books and can’t put them down. I didn’t realize this was a re-publish, as it can really stand as a new book too.

Where do I start with The Devil's Advocate by Steve Cavanagh? This was my first dive into his work, and I’m already excited to pick up more of his books! Honestly, I was a bit nervous about jumping into a series with a character who’s been around for a few books already, but I had nothing to worry about. There were a few nods to previous stories, but I never felt lost or confused—and that’s a big win!

The story is all about the classic good vs. evil battle, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a fast-paced thriller that completely pulled me in. I found myself racing through the chapters, completely hooked. If you’re in a reading slump (we’ve all been there), this book is the perfect remedy. It’s the kind of page-turner that makes you forget about everything else around you.

Cavanagh does a fantastic job of building tension and keeping things exciting. Just when you think you have it all figured out, he tosses in a twist that makes you gasp! The characters are relatable and feel real, which adds a nice depth to the story. You really start to care about what happens to them, which ups the stakes even more.

The writing is super engaging—it's clear and easy to digest, making it a breeze to read. The Devil's Advocate is an entertaining ride that I totally recommend. If you’re looking for something fun and thrilling that’ll grab your attention and keep you wanting more, look no further! I can’t wait to dive into Cavanagh's other books now.

I’m a brand new and HUGE fan of the Eddie Flynn series, these books are just so so fun. And dark.

This one takes Eddie to the Deep South where, even though this is a work of fiction, racism is still alive and well in real life and that makes this one even more terrifying than the others I’ve read. His villains are always truly evil, but the ones in this story are scum and the ending was all the more satisfying for it.

Eddie gives me Saul Goodman vibes, with his con artist background, and he’s always surprising me in and out of court with his antics. Luckily, he’s always on the good side.

I highly recommended this whole series!

This was my first Eddie Flynn novel, and I’m hooked! It had me angry in the best way, tackling racism and police corruption. The fast-paced plot kept me hooked from start to finish. If you like *Law & Order*-type books, this is a must-read. Eddie defends a man wrongly accused of a crime, trying to expose a corrupt sheriff.

I’m not a fan of legal dramas, but this one had less courtroom focus, which I liked. Eddie’s a great, flawed character, and the themes of white supremacy made the story even more powerful. Thanks to Atria Books, Steve Cavanagh, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

It’s official, I have a new favorite series with the Eddie Flynn books by Steve Cavanagh. The ex con artist turned lawyer always finds himself in a clusterful mystery with the legal thriller that follows full different levels of complexity. The cherry on top is that the cast of characters are always well written and explored in their own right. The Devil’s Advocate is no exception

We have a change of scenery in this book as Eddie goes down to Alabama with the tall order to save a man in seven days. It turns out Alabama has as many sinister people and intriguing mysteries as New York, and the plot does not stop moving quickly, but in such a way that you will stay up nights to see what happens next.

I can’t wait for the next book in this series, it seems each book somehow keeps up with the previous!

another amazing legal thriller by steve cavanagh. I have been captivated by the eddie flynn saga and this book did not disappoint. the courtroom drama and povs of every eddie flynn book hook you in and leave you wanting more. so glad i found this author and have continued reading this series!

Steve Cavanagh is the new king of legal thrillers. Forget all the other legal thriller writers out there. All hail Eddie Flynn, Defense Attorney extraordinaire/ hero to the underdog.
Summary: Randal Korn is the District Attorney for Buckstown, Alabama. This tiny town is the Death Penalty capital of the U.S., and Korn has made it that way. His methods are often illegal, and many innocent men have been put to death at his hand. When a young woman was tragically killed, Andy Dubois is quickly fingered as the culprit. Andy is innocent, but there is a lot of manufactured evidence pointing to him. Enter Eddie Flynn. He has a week to save Andy while he and his team face great danger at every turn.
What can I say here other than Cavanagh does it again? He consistently churns out a great novel with humor and heart.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In yet another thrilling installment of the Eddie Flynn series, Eddie and his crew head down to Alabama to defend a young man who faces the death penalty for the murder of a young woman that he did not commit. It turns out that Randal Korn, the local district attorney, has a habit of obtaining questionable death penalty sentences at an alarming frequency. Eddie and company soon realize that the problems in this Alabama town go far beyond their current case, and put them all in imminent danger.

Any fan of legal thrillers should not hesitate to dive into this fantastic series. The Devil’s Advocate is another highly entertaining, fast-paced addition to the Eddie Flynn saga.

First, a huge thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Second - WOW. Steve Cavanagh outdid himself with this twisty gem. Not only did this book take on the death penalty, it took on the racism that runs deep in many small, southern communities. And it's done to perfection. You may think you know the ending, but the how is the shock of it all. Highly recommend this one to everyone who enjoys a good story, with well developed characters and an intricate plot. Well done!!!

Eddie Flynn is at it again! I loved this book and could not put it down. A tragic murder of a small town girl leads to a crooked DA that thrives out of watching innocent people committed for crimes they were not responsible for. It is up to Eddie to defend a young man who has been wrongly accused in a town where everyone is against him. As the story continues, the reader is drawn into a web of people and trying to unravel how everyone is connected and who is the true criminal. I loved being able to see how Eddie, Harry, Katie and Bloch fought together to make sure the accused was set free. 5/5 for sure!

The Devil's Advocate by Steve Cavanagh
Eddie Flynn #6
3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (rounded up to 4)
Spice: 0/5
Cursing: min+
Format/Source: ebook ARC from NetGalley, Atria Books, and Simon and Schuster (ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)
Genres/Tropes: Thriller, suspense, Legal, Christians are evil bigots
Audience: Adult
Setting: NY, Alabama
Characters: Eddie, Harry, Kate, Broch, Randy, Skylar, Andy, Denise, Tom, Colt, Lucy, Patricia, Judge
👍 short chapters, multi POV, fast-paced, "moral" defense lawyer, Randy stinks of decay, justice, Eddie's team
👎 "'Christians' are evil bigots" trope, much more political based and judgemental than Cavanagh's other books, cursing (especially God's Name), needs more research...an AR-15 is not an automatic weapon
#bookstagram #arcreader #booklovers #booktok #twisty #thrillerbooks #netgalley

This book was not only full of immense tension and twists, but it was also so realistically written that I can see several events in this book actually happening. Excellent read!

Wow, the twists are definitely found in this novel! This is the second Steve Cavanaugh book that I have read, and didn't realize this was a part of the series. I am making plans to continue the rest of the series! I love him as an author.

This is the first Eddie Flynn novel I have read, and I am a fan! This book made me so angry, but in the way racism and police corruption would. I have to say it is amazing what ink and paper can make you feel. This was a fast-paced thriller that had me hooked from page one. If you like Law and Order type books, this one is absolutely a must have! A man is accused of a crime he did not commit, and Eddie Flynn is taking the case to find the real killer and free Andy Dubois, a corrupt sheriff. Amazing plot and it was hard to put down!

Oh my goodness how this book infuriated me. Not because it was a bad story or terribly written, because I can see many of the events actually occurring. Each Eddie Flynn book gets better and better. I really enjoyed Harry’s character in this book, he was so important to the story and we got a further look into what kind of man he is. Kate was flawless in the trial and absolutely crushed it. as mad as this made me I did really enjoy it and give it a solid 4 stars! Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Simon and Schuster for sending me this!