This novel is packed with action , this thriller keeps you hooked from first page to last
The story follows the murder of Rob Solomon’s wife a Hollywood celebrity, her husband is charged with her murder
Eddie Flynn was once a con artist but is now a lawyer called in to help prove his clients innocence
He believes Rob is innocent he just doesn’t know how to prove it
He had his work cut out for him will he be able to get Rob off the hook but then who should be on the hook?

"Th1rt3en" is the fourth in the Eddie Flynn series by civil rights lawyer and author Steve Cavanagh, however each can be read as a standalone novel or in series order.

This was my first novel featuring Eddie Flynn, a man with a con artist past who is now a New York criminal defence lawyer, and that in conjunction with the strapline “The serial killer isn’t on trial. He’s on the Jury…” was what piqued my interest in this book straightaway. The cover line doesn’t give too much away as the story isn’t just about who is guilty, but more about whether they will be caught and how and why they do it. This premise is ingenious and so unique and along with the fast paced plot makes you wonder what twists and turns will happen next.

Sadly however, I partly guessed the ending midway through the story but this in no way spoiled my enjoyable of the story and plot – I just wanted to keep reading to find out if I was correct, especially with so much misdirection and red herrings in the case.

Eddie – despite his dodgy background – is a likeable character and there was just enough of his backstory and subplots to not detract but flesh out the continuing story across the series of books. It was also interesting for Cavanagh to mix up the narrative by having Eddie’s chapters told in the first person and the killers in the third. This really added a different dimension and didn’t feel unbalanced at all. There isn’t also too much American legal jargon or technicalities – a relief to a British reader who has battled through some legalise-heavy US novels in the past!

3/5 – Great, fast-paced and full of suspense. A true page-turner. Would have been a 4/5 if not for guessing part of the ending. Very reminiscent of early John Grisham novels. Will definitely be recommending to others who love legal thrillers and will be checking out the others in the series.

Thank-you to NetGalley for providing me with an Advance Readers e-proof copy from publishers Orion.

Fantastic novel. Great characterisation throughout and suspense was building all the way through. Loved the final twist.

This is the fourth in Steve Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn series, I haven’t read any of the others and not being one for courtroom thrillers, probably wouldn’t have read this one, except for the tag line:

‘The serial killer isn’t on trial, HE’S ON THE JURY’

That hooked me, and I’m so glad it did, this book is innovative, pacy and packs a punch.
Lee Child says it’s ‘Outstanding’ and I certainly don’t disagree.

Just to confirm, Thirteen reads fine as a stand-alone novel, having said that I will now go back and read the rest of the series, just because I’m well chuffed to have discovered Steve Cavanagh and am not ready to put him on the shelf just yet.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book of Steve Cavanagh's that I've read, so I was slightly worried that I hadn't read the first three books in this series; however, that tag line is genius and I was hooked! I thought this was one of the most original stories I've read in a long time, and I'll definitely be reading more of Steve's work in the future.

Brilliant! Fast paced courtroom thriller which I could not put down. Kept me guessing right until the end. Totally recommended.

Absolutely fabulous. Brilliantly plotted fast paced with loads of twists. I’m off to buy a hard copy for my Dad who I know will love this as much as I do. It would make a great film. Thank you Steve Cavanagh - world class

I was sent a copy of Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh to read and review by NetGalley.
This is the first novel I have read by Steve Cavanagh. The protagonist, Eddie Flynn, seems to be a well-established character who I have since found has appeared in the authors previous books. Not having read the other work didn’t however detract from my enjoyment of the story as it worked well as a stand alone novel with enough back story peppered throughout. Thirteen is a well written book with alternate first person/third person chapters. There are plenty of twists and turns and don’t let the courtroom aspect put you off as the author clearly knows his stuff but doesn’t make it dry or tedious in any way. Thirteen is quite a fast-paced page turner. A good read.

A reasonable thriller with quite an original concept concerning a serial killer who steals the identity of certain victims in order to frame others for the murders he commits. This is the fourth book in a series but the first one I’d read so I couldn’t appreciate the significance of previous events in the main character’s life. It does work as a stand-alone read however, is well written and has quite a few twists along the way. The outcome is never really in doubt though and that detracts from the ‘thriller’ effect.

With thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for a free review copy.

WOW, WOW, WOW 😮😮😮

I can't even begin to explain how much I enjoyed this book ... it was so good, I didn't want it to end and I'm not one who normally reads courtroom books but I was drawn to this because of the serial killer angle .... I know, I know, I'm a little strange in my reading tastes! Don't judge me 😉

Now, this is the first book I have read by this author containing Flynn and although it would have probably helped with background information to have read previous ones, I don't feel it is absolutely necessary but I will certainly be seeking them out after reading this.

Anyway, this book is basically about the murder of a starlet and her supposed lover - they were found by the husband who allegedly beat him to death with a baseball bat and stabbed her repeatedly. In comes Flynn as part of the defence team who becomes 'the' defence team following a few revelations whereby the main lawyer (who is employed by the studio) is told to withdraw. Meanwhile, someone is going to great lengths to be on the jury ... welcome to Joshua Kane, a very disturbed individual.

Flynn is a fantastic character; I adore him - so likeable and not 'up himself' like many lawyers seem to be portrayed ... he's "normal" ... well, if you can call a previous con-man with a shady history normal but it does give him a unique view of things which certainly comes in handy in his line of work.

Joshua Kane is far from normal but what a great character he is - such a good baddie!!

The supporting cast were equally as good and all had their part to play in this fantastic book.

The chapters are written alternatively between Flynn and Kane and whilst Flynn's are written in the first person, Kane's are written in the third; this was, I think, a stroke of genius as it gives different perspectives from Flynn who's trying his best for his client to Kane who is cleverly manipulating things from the jury box. The pace of the book is perfect; there's plenty of action, thrills, twists and turns that had me hooked from page one.

This is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best books I have ever read and one of the very few that I will read again.

Many thanks to the publisher, Orion Publishing Group, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review - thank you so much, I absolutely loved it and cannot recommend it highly enough.

This book was out of my usual genre but wow, what a read!

The blurb caught my eye and I knew even then by my intrigue it had to be worth reading!

The story was so incredibly unique and oh so clever, intricately threaded and weaved. I was enthralled by the characters and how the story played out.

This is my first book by this author, but it won’t be my last, and I will definitely be expanding my genre options.

5 thrilled, thriller stars!

* arc received via NetGalley and Orion Publishing *

Eddie Flynn used to be a con artist but has turned his skills to becoming a defence lawyer but likes to keep a low profile. but when he is approached by Rudy Carp to assist with a profile murder charge against a well known actor, his interest was piqued enough to accept. Robert Solomon had only been married two months when his wife Ariella and Chief of Security Carl were murdered in bed with all evidence pointing the finger at Robert. Eddie starts digging and finds the evidence doesn't quite fit and believes the murder was done by somebody else. As the FBI and old acquaintances help find evidence to prove Robert's innocence - the murder trial begins. With members of the jury being killed or going missing, its a race against time to find the real killer - but is the killer part of the jury?

This is a gentle paced book that leads you down a few routes as to who the real killer may be but then the twists at the end throws you right back to square one - it does keep you guessing right to the end.

Really enjoyed reading this book and thank Netgalley for enabling me to read an early copy - I will definitely be looking at other books by this author.

What an interesting idea this book poses, a serial killer who can infiltrate a jury to send an innocent man to prison for a crime that he himself has committed. The book started off a little slowly but a few chapters in and I didn't want to put it down. This is actually the 4th book in a series of con man turned lawyer Eddie Flynn hes a likeable hero in the story and although there have been others before this, Thirteen reads perfectly well as a standalone novel, but I think I will definitely read more from Steve Cavanagh.

A great book. Fast paced, lots of interest, great characters and a twist at the end. What more could you want?

'To your knowledge, is there anything that would preclude you from serving on this jury?'

Murder wasn't the hard part. It was just the start of the game.

Joshua Kane has been preparing for this moment his whole life. He's done it before. But this is the big one.

This is the murder trial of the century. And Kane has killed to get the best seat in the house.

But there's someone on his tail. Someone who suspects that the killer isn't the man on trial.

Kane knows time is running out - he just needs to get to the conviction without being discovered.

Fabulous original plot had me hooked from start to finish, highly recommend.

I have not read this author before but will definitely be reading his previous books.

I felt I was watching a film. It is,written with such precision, I could imagine every detail.
It had me enthralled from the start and kept me enthralled until the end.

My favourite book this year - a new fan.

Thank you netgalley, Orion publishing and Steve Cavanagh for allowing me to read and review this book.

Written by Steve Cavanagh — The courtroom drama market seems to have been cornered for many years by John Grisham, with a little Michael Connelly and his creation Mickey Haller on the side. Look out folks, because with Thirteen Steve Cavanagh, and his con artist turned lawyer Eddie Flynn, are making a serious bid for the top spot in legal thrillers.

Thirteen is Cavanagh’s fourth Eddie Flynn novel but fear not if you haven’t made his acquaintance before. Flynn’s backstory is subtly inserted into the narrative – so subtly that you hardly realise you’re being drip-fed. Which is a relief – because a huge info drop would slow down the pace of this fast and furious work of fiction. Thirteen is a book where you want to crack on, no matter what time the clock is showing.

The story opens as down-and-out Joshua Kane panhandles for spare change outside the Criminal Courts Building in Manhattan, New York. His mind is on death, and he fantasises about killing the passers-by who ignore his pleas for quarters. Apart from those morbid thoughts he seems harmless enough. But soon we see another side to Kane and in a flash a mailman is dead and his cargo of mailbags from the court building has been tampered with. It’s the first step in a plan that Kane has been formulating for quite some time…

Six weeks later, Eddie Flynn is in the same building, plying his trade in a two-bit case involving an ex hooker caught in possession of drugs and drugs paraphernalia. Eddie likes to tweak the rules a little and the fact that the court is waiting for a tardy witness, an NYPD detective by the name of Mike Granger, is all down to Eddie’s handiwork.

He manages to get the case dismissed – and it’s then he notices someone who looks decidedly out of place in the small courtroom. It’s Rudy Carp, a big-shot lawyer who is about to take on the biggest trial of the year. Movie star Robert Solomon is charged with the murders of his actress wife Ariella Bloom and their chief of security Carl Tozer and the prosecution is convinced they have a cast-iron case – but Carp says Bobby is innocent and the police set him up. Most important of all, he wants Eddie to join the defence team.

Is the former hustler about to hit the big time at last? Eddie is torn, but the thought of a steady job in a well established firm tips the tables and he’s in. Trouble is, the deeper he probes into the case, the more Eddie is convinced that Carp is right and Bobby didn’t do it. But if the film star isn’t the murderer, then who is?

Eddie’s progress is charted alongside that of the shady killer I mentioned earlier, and as the contents of those mailbags are delivered far and wide, Joshua Kane’s quest becomes clearer. One bag contained jury summonses for the Solomon trial, and by hook or by crook, Kane is determined to be one of the chosen 12 good men and true.

How he goes about it is a revelation, and quite possibly one of the most imaginative plot lines I’ve come across. Steve Cavanagh’s imagination must have done somersaults to come up with some of the jaw-droppingly devious, though entirely plausible, things that happen in the course of this excellent novel. Eddie Flynn is a multi-faceted, hugely likeable central character, while Kane is also finely rendered. He’s evil, but with no hint of the pantomime villain that he could have become in the hands of a less skilled writer. British author Cavanagh is also right at home in an American environment and he deserves top marks for creating dialogue and settings which have an authentic ring to them.

This book is like velcro – it gets its hooks into you and won’t let go and there’s a sense of loss when the final page has been turned and real life floods in again. We’ve previously reviewed The Liar and The Plea on this site, both of which received five-star reviews. Looks like Steve Cavanagh’s on for a well-deserved hat-trick.

Read our interview with Steve Cavanagh here, and if your appetite has been whetted for legal thrillers, try Neil White’s From the Shadows, first in a new series.

Orion Books
Print/Kindle/iBook
£3.99

CFL Rating: 5 Stars

I haven’t read any of the other Eddie Flynn books, and the author has done a good job of making sure this works well as a stand alone. It follows the trial of Bobby Solomon, a Hollywood star accused of murdering his wife and head of security. The evidence seems stacked against him, but Eddie, a hotshot lawyer, has a gut feeling that Bobby is innocent, and launches into trying to find the real killer. Every few chapters, we switch to the real killer’s point if view, and follow his plan to position himself on the jury in order to secure a guilty verdict for Bobby. It’s an engaging story and I did read it pretty quickly, but parts of it felt a bit rushed and the characters were occasionally under developed and over idealised (although, to be fair, this could be because it’s part of a series and maybe the characters were developed in more detail in other books).

There were a few good twists and the author definitely caught me out a few times - you make an assumption about something and realise later that there’s more to it, which kept things interesting.

An intricately woven thriller that kept me reading and enjoying to the end. Lot's of twists and turns,very cleverly written.

I didn't get this book. The writing was confusing, i had trouble following whose point of view it was and many times i had to go back and reread things to make sense of it. I also didn't connect with the main character at all. I was very disappointed in this.