Member Reviews
This is such an original premise, brilliantly written and well-researched. I particularly enjoyed the characters’ development and how expertly the story came together. Another favourite for me!
I found this book really boring. It's not badly written, it's just that it's way too slow paced for me.
I thought this would be a really cool book because I love police procedural shows and the blurb of this book read like it would be like Law and Order. And for the most part, it is. It's just that the lawyer is basically super-powered with everything he can do that others can't, and the villain is a super villain which didn't feel realistic at all, and combined with how slow the plot is, I was just so bored.
I hace already bought this one for my shelf. What an exciting and fun ride, seeing things from this perspective! A new take on thrillers, I really enjoyed this.
A gripping story of a serial killers movements. The killer has the intelligence to get away with his crimes for many years, he is clever, but also has help. An ‘unputdownable’ read as I really wanted him to be caught. The twist and turns in the story keeps the reader in suspense throughout the book.
I do love a good crime/thriller/courtroom story and so I was excited to finally get around to reading Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh.
But.
I didn't like Kane from the first introduction, and while I know that's the point, it wasn't because he was unlikeable as a character, it was because he was completely unbelievable and in a situation that I couldn't stretch to believe. He has a fake arm? Sure. Ok. He can open three mailbags and sort 50-odd letters into male/female addressees in less than three minutes. Sure. Ok. This is just the prologue and I don't have the time or energy to go on.
This book also falls into my pet peeve when it comes to reading. The trick gotcha moment where the big reveal is made is one that no reader could have worked out because there are no clues. Overall, disappointing as a read.
Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh is excellent, gripping and great characters. A real page turner which I found hard to put down.
The two main characters are Defence lawyer Eddie Flynn and serial killer Joshua Kane who is on the jury for the trial of Hollywood movie star Robert Solomon, who has been charged with the murder of his wife and security guard.
As tensions start to rise, the narrative changes and as a reader you are left questioning whether or not there is note than one killer, is it Robert, is it Kane or is there someone else hiding in plains sight?
Steve Cavanagh is one of my must reads now. His Eddie Flynn series is thrilling, fast moving and hard hitting. A real page turner which I found hard to put down.
Steve Cavanagh is a total genius - the suspense in this book is incredible and I've raved about it to everyone I know. It had me at the tagline (The serial killer isn’t on trial. He’s on the jury) and it didn't disappoint. Full of great and likeable characters like Eddie Flynn (and of course one you loathe), the narrative is quick, full of action and dripping with clues that you then try and piece together.
I've gone on to read everything else Cavanagh has written off the back of Thirteen, loved it!
Loved it, it was gripping from the first sentence, it grabbed me and did not let go. I would recommend this book it is a great read and very well written.
Absolutely enjoyed from start to finish, u didn't want the book to end. Highly recommended, if you like books that keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat.
When I received a copy of the ARC, the first thing that drew me to this was the cover. The tantalising teaser of a serial killer being on the Jury of THE Celebrity Murder Trial of the century, instead of being on trial.
The story is told from two points of view; the defence lawyer, Eddie Flynn and the killer who has managed to infiltrate the jury. By doing so, you are witness to a very clever cat and mouse game. Flynn is trying to gather evidence to prove that Robert is innocent, all the while we watch as the Killer plays out his macabre game in loading the dice to get a guilty verdict.
For much of the book, the killers motivation for doing this, remains unknown. Even when it is revealed, the author manages to throw another little mystery that had gone very much under the radar. This was all over who the killer was pretending to be. For much of the book I had assumed that it was one particular juror, Cavanagh had so expertly placed these clues pointing to my choice. So in the closing chapters, the rug was pulled right under my feet. Yet, on retrospect it I could see how I came to my decision. It was a con worthy of Flynn himself.
Though the mystery of the serial killer takes up a big chunk of the book, the trail part of the book was just as gripping. Watching Flynn at work proved to be just as nail biting. Yes, you knew that there was a rogue juror on the jury but I was still holding my breath on which way the jurors would fall.
While reading this, I was unaware that this was the forth book in a series. However, I didn’t feel that I was missing anything for Cavanagh had given enough details to bring you up to speed without slowing down the plot.
Eddie Flynn was very easy to like and I couldn’t help but root for him throughout the story. He was in a real David and Goliath situation when defending his client, but when the trial got tough, Flynn dodged and dived like a professional boxer and you could see he was beginning to put holes in the prosecutors’ case.
After finishing the book, I felt a sense of relief that the whole thing was over and that everything turned out for the best for everyone. There was a little bit of a bittersweet conclusion to Eddies personal life, but after the events of the book and what had been hinted at throughout the book, his decision was the right one. That isn’t to say that it will hurt any less, but I could see why he decided to do this.
VERDICT:
The last book that really caught me off guard like this was Ragdoll by Daniel Cole. Both books showcase carefully crafted thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat. With each chapter, I had to keep reading on for I was dying to see how the book would pan out.
Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.
After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.
I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.
Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.
Enjoyed this a lot even though it got very silly in places. All made sense in the end though. Must say, well done to the author, never saw the twist coming
Unfortunately I read this book a while ago and seem to have missed it when writing reviews..
However, thanks to NetGalley for the ARC :-)
This is the first book featuring Eddie Flynn that I have read but it works fine as a standalone and I don't feel I had missed anything of the history of the character. I did really enjoy Thirteen and it was a fantastic concept.
Drama in the courtroom. The chapters go between the lawyer and the killer who we learn had managed to get himself into the jury and is watching over the court case that he is involved in. Gripping and an excellent read
I haven’t read any of the other books in the series, but how could I resist a tag line like that?
We put our faith in a jury to listen to the evidence presented and make an impartial decision. So, how would it feel to suspect that the very person who’s committed a crime has wrangled their way onto the jury? Terrifying.
Initially, this had a lot of strands. There’s ex-con Eddie Flynn who’s asked to help out on a murder case. There’s the Hollywood star accused of murdering his wife. And there’s a man - identity unknown - who is doing whatever it takes to get himself into the required position.
It’s not clear who’s responsible, and we only have a vague sense that this well-known actor is innocent of the crime he’s accused of. Shifting perspectives mean we know Eddie is on the right track, but we are desperate to see whether he’s good enough to prove this quite preposterous idea.
It isn’t giving too much away to say that what starts off as one seemingly clear-cut case soon becomes something very very different.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first Eddie Flynn book I read. It was a very good thriller. It was a pacy read, we get an insight into the killer's mind as well.
I don't know how I have not read anything by this author before but this book was brilliant. Absolutely thrilling. Compelling. Well written.