Member Reviews

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

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The Devil's Advocate by Steve Cavanagh. Fast paced, convoluted murders and motives Engrossing and compelling read. Interesting characters, either love them or loathe them, as with Randal Korn (evil and creepy.) Difficult to stop reading. Surprising and cunningly twisted ending. Very good addition to the Eddie Flynn series.
Thank you to the author, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

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This wasn’t my favorite novel by this author but I still enjoyed the story, specifically the personalities of the main characters. I had a good time reading it and will still recommend his books to others.

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*The Devil's Advocate* by Steve Cavanagh is a thrilling legal drama that grips readers from start to finish. Cavanagh delivers a masterfully crafted story that not only showcases his strong writing skills but also introduces a compelling cast of characters that you can’t help but become invested in. The protagonist, Eddie Flynn, is a charismatic, sharp-witted defense lawyer who’s easy to root for, and his journey through the case is an emotional rollercoaster. Cavanagh’s ability to create such a well-rounded and flawed character makes Eddie feel like a real person, one you can’t help but cheer on, even when things look impossible.

The plot itself is a labyrinth of twists and turns, filled with suspense and tension that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. As Eddie navigates the intricacies of a high-profile case involving a ruthless billionaire, Cavanagh expertly weaves in numerous surprises, ensuring that there’s never a dull moment. The courtroom scenes are particularly exhilarating, with the stakes always feeling incredibly high. The tension between Eddie and the opposing counsel, as well as the mounting pressure from outside forces, makes for a gripping read. It’s clear that Cavanagh has a deep understanding of the legal world, and his portrayal of the trial process feels both authentic and exciting.

Ultimately, *The Devil's Advocate* succeeds in being both a page-turner and an insightful look into the complexities of the legal system. With strong characters, a twisting plot, and heart-pounding trial scenes, Cavanagh has crafted a standout novel that’s sure to captivate fans of legal thrillers. If you’re looking for a book that will keep you guessing until the very end, this one is an absolute must-read.

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Randal Korn, district attorney of Sunville County, Alabama, sadistically enjoys watching men die in the electric chair, and the more innocent they are, the better. And so we meet our central evil villain of “The Devil’s Advocate.” This is part of Cavanagh’s con man turned defense lawyer Eddie Flynn series and by this thriller (the sixth), Kate Brooks and her investigator Melissa Bloch, have joined Eddie and former judge/now consultant Harry Ford in Alabama. Clarence, Harry’s adorable stray dog, is back in New York with newly hired legal secretary Denise. All of the Flynn books do well as standalones — enough backstory is eventually revealed to get to know the main defense team quickly.

There are some similarities to Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” (although Eddie as Atticus is a childless outsider). A young black man is accused (without much evidence) of killing a young white woman. Harper Lee probably would be horrified to read a book where racism is far worse and law enforcement are true monsters. We do, however, have to patiently wait for the bad guys to get their comeuppance. There are also quite a few more senseless murders that are committed only to make sure an innocent man gets the electric chair without regard that the real killer goes free. Randal Korn is one of the most memorable despicable fictional beings — even the reader will imagine smelling Koran’s strange rotting flesh disease. But Skylar’s murderer is equally reprehensible.

Since I’m now familiar with Eddie and crew, I trust that they will prevail in the end (however, previous series characters have been unfortunately harmed), so I read this series with optimism (and, eh, hope for sweet sudden justified revenge). This installment was amazing as the others I’ve read. 4.5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Dr. Cheryl Banbury has green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): MAYBE Camellias are more shrub-like and wouldn’t be peaking out of the grass as individual flowers. Also, it’s Alabama and not a single mention of kudzu, “the vine that ate the South”. Cotton fields and Spanish moss do make a geographically proper appearance.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

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You never know what situation Eddie Flynn will find himself in, and this time, it's a case that had me questioning everything. The Devil’s Advocate delivers a gripping legal thriller with serious 1950s vibes—think deep-seated corruption, small-town secrets, and a justice system that’s anything but just. Cavanagh masterfully builds tension, making every twist hit hard. If you love courtroom thrillers with high stakes and a protagonist who never backs down, this one’s a must-read.

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Read this book so fast. The story line was as usual amazing from Steve but it made my blood BOIL. Definitely recommend!

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Great read in the Eddie Flynn series.
Eddie is at it again in his own inestimable ways with his faithful gang alongside.
Eddie heads south to try and save a young man from death row. Andy has been arrested
and jailed by the #1 death penalty prosecutor in the US. Eddie has been asked by Berlin,
a multi faceted secret govt agent to represent Andy and get the prosecutor at the same time.
Eddie and his gang all head south to run right into racism, murder, domestic terrorism and mayhem at every turn.
Non stop action and suspense, with returning and engaging characters from Eddie's likeable office crew.
A really enjoyable, riveting read.
Next case, please.

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I have become a big fan of Steve Cavanaugh’s writing. I’ve enjoyed digging into his Eddie Flynn series. This book in the series is different. In a good way. The Devil’s Advocate finds Eddie and his team traveling to the deep south to take on a pro bono case. The scary part about this story is it isn’t just a story. It handles racism and the judicial system and issues that really happen in our world.

You are reading a story about fictitious characters, but in reality you could be reading the story of a real person that has encountered these issues. Race, financial status, and who you know shouldn’t play a role in being accused of a crime, and especially in getting a fair trial. Eddie and his team have to work and uncover if that is exactly what is at play in this Stephen Cavanaugh novel. I felt so many things, my biggest feeling being anger how many people have probably been unfairly prosecuted and convicted because of race. I really enjoyed the novel and I’m thankful to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC an exchange for my honest review.

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Engaging and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where legal thrillers are popular.

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In The Devil’s Advocate, Steve Cavanagh crafts a fast-paced, heart-pounding legal thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Set in the high-stakes world of courtroom drama, the novel follows Eddie Flynn, a former con artist turned defense lawyer, who is drawn into a case that threatens to unravel both his career and his life.

Cavanagh’s writing is sharp, engaging, and filled with twists and turns that make the book a page-turner. Eddie Flynn is a deeply flawed but likeable protagonist, whose quick wit and unorthodox methods often clash with the strict rules of the legal world. His complex character is what drives much of the novel's suspense, as readers are taken on a journey through the dark underbelly of the justice system, where morality is often negotiable, and survival is key.

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A thrilling book that keeps you turning the pages until the shocking ending. Full of twists and turns and shocks. Brilliant! I highly recommend reading this book! 📖

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The Devils Advocate is the 6th book in the Eddie Flynn series, and in this installment, Eddie is asked by a shadowy government figure to travel to Alabama to defend a Black man who faces the death penalty in the killing of a young white woman. He’ll be facing off against a district attorney who has sent more defendants to Death Row than any other DA in the country. But Eddie is walking into a maelstrom, and his case is just the tip of the iceberg. Definitely a lot going on here as a related secondary plot unfolds as Eddie battles a complex web of corruption in this small town. While this is an action packed story, the intricacies of the background plot seemed to slow things down, and took away from the compelling courtroom scenes, where Eddie (and this series) shines. Overall, highly entertaining, fans will not be disappointed, and a good book for new readers to meet Eddie. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Ok I think that Cavanagh is the King when it comes to legal thrillers .

Eddie Flynn is back at it again , and what I love about this series is we have ex con now professional lawyer and he always seems to find himself in the most intense court cases .

This thriller gives a southern setting , threaded with racism and a political stance, which makes the reader wanting justice more than ever and will have you gripping each page.

If you like pulse pounding, short chapters , smart dialogue and legal thrillers then I highly recommend picking up one of Eddie Flynn's cases and giving them ago, and I am not a legal thriller /court room genre reader , but big but I really enjoy these !

I did not know this was part of a series , but it did not matter and can be totally read as a stand alone!

Thank you Netgalley , Atria Books and Steve Cavanagh for this gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Respectfully Another Read by Angie

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I have loved Steve Cavanagh’s work beginning with the first book of his I ever tried, and this book is no exception. It is very well written, easy to read, and kept me engaged from start to finish. I definitely would recommend this book to others!

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could not put down. the mystery is so good. i love seeing who was the real culprit. all these books in the series are very good

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Wow! This book has A LOT to unpack! I had to sit with it overnight before writing this review!

The Devil's Advocate starts with an opening bang, and you can just feel how awful this villain is going to be from the first few pages.
Eddie, Harry, Kate and Bloch are sent to Alabama by a man in an unknown government agency (he may have been in another book I have not read yet). When they get to Alabama they experience so much hostility that I didn't even feel welcome reading this book! The book has a theme of racism and sexism but over all the villains are white supremacists, which just make me so angry!
Believe me when I say you will have all the feelings here in this book, most of all, you will feel this tension.

Can Eddie stay out of trouble? Probably not!
Are there multiple villains in this book? Yes! It was such a crazy ride of who is the Pastor, who isn't and why is that guys leg bleeding so bad but no one cares? I had lots of questions but this was a great book!
I do not think there is one Eddie Flynn novel I haven't loved!

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Thank you NetGalley and publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

Another enjoyable addition to the Eddie Flynn series. Like most of Steve Cavanagh titles, it hooks you right from the start and keeps you guessing until the end.

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Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

This is the second book I’ve ever read by Steve Cavanagh and the second book in the Eddie Flynn series. He is such a complex character that it makes the reading more compelling. I also read Fifty Fifty in this same series. It doesn’t seem to matter if you’ve read any of the other books. I’m sure it helps some, but the underlying story is enjoyable even without the other books.

I didn’t think I liked legal thrillers, but I really like these books. They keep you guessing and it’s paced well and makes you want to keep reading. I highly recommend this book if you like legal thrillers. Even if you don’t it’s worth checking these books out.

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5 stars out of 5.

Wow this book was such a great read. I was immediately drawn in and could not turn the pages fast enough. There is a lot going on in the book and I appreciated the background information we were given. This was my first book in the Eddie Flynn series and I thought it could be read as a standalone. I was not confused or lost at all since we get so much back story. With that said, all the characters are well developed especially Korn. I could not stand him the entire book!

This is one of my favorite reads of 2025 so far, highly recommend!

In The Devil's Advocate, We met Randal Korn, who is the DA in a small town. He has a very high death penalty rate and he enjoys seeing people suffer, even if those convicted were really innocent. Now, a young girl is brutally murdered and Korn tries to set up Andy, her co worker for the crime. Then Andy's lawyer goes missing so here comes Eddie Flynn from New York to help Andy's trial. Eddie and his team have multiple road blocks in the case and it seems like it is useless. Tragedy strikes multiple times and Eddie realizes maybe they bit off more than they can chew.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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