After reading Witness 8 I definitely want to read more Steve Cavanagh books. I was absolutely hooked from the very beginning of this book.

Eddie Flynn is an ex con now turned lawyer. A lawyer who is not afraid to play dirty. This backfires, however, when a bounty is put on his head and the delightful Mr Christmas, assassin extraordinaire, is determined to hunt him down.

Then we have Ruby Johnson, once living in a well to do Manhattan area, but now pennyless and working as a nanny/cleaner to the very people she used to call her neighbours. On her way back home after a night of babysitting Ruby witnesses a murder. She knows both the victim and perpetrator. Instead of reporting it to the police, Ruby uses this to her advantage to blackmail, frame and murder those who get in her way of making a better life for herself and her mother.

When Eddie and Ruby's world's collide who will come out on top? How does Mr Christmas come into this?

This is literally on the edge of your seat reading. I devoured this book and despite Eddie Flynn seemingly being in a series reading this book as a one off still works.

Great read!

My thanks to Headline publishing and NetGalley for a copy of “ Witness 8 “ for an honest review.

I’ve been really impressed by Steve Cavanagh’s previous books so I was really looking forwards to reading this one.
Unfortunately, for some reason, I just couldn’t get into this .I found myself skimming through the book and I just didnt stay interested in the storyline .I gave up a third of the way in.
I’ll definitely try the next release but this one just wasn’t for me

A brilliantly gripping and twisty crime series, featuring Eddie Flynn, a quick-thinking former confidence trickster turned defence lawyer who combines his two professions with devastating effect.

When a highly respected brain surgeon is accused by an anonymous tip-off of murdering his neighbour, and the Attorney General plans to use the case to support his election campaign, Flynn's team have their work cut out even without the hit which has been ordered on Flynn's life.

Ruby used to live in a wealthy neighbourhood, but now cleans and babysits for the same families whilst saving every penny to care for her sick mother alone after her absent father's debts took everything from them.

Meanwhile, the competition is heating up to secure the hit on Flynn, with interested parties arriving from across the country and putting the entire team at risk.

I am a huge fan of Steve Cavanagh so I was delighted to read this book earlier than the release date. As usual it did not disappoint. It kept me gripped throughout and I couldn't put it down.
Thank you to Steve Cavanagh and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This eighth instalment of the Eddie Flynn series was a fun, twisting take on a legal drama. We meet Ruby Johnson, a housekeeper/nanny in an affluent area, as she witnesses a murder when leaving work. She reports the murder of the victim – her friend – but identifies someone else as the murderer.

When Eddie and his team take on the defence of the man accused, they doubt Ruby’s version of events but need to establish what happened – and why – before their client is convicted of murder.

This was a great legal thriller, with a satisfying plot and which licked along at a good pace. I enjoyed the side stories of Mr. Christmas and Ruby’s background, and look forward to reading the next in the series.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh is a thrilling legal drama that exceeded all my expectations. The story centers around Eddie Flynn, a sharp-witted defense attorney, as he takes on one of his most dangerous and unpredictable cases yet. At the heart of the case is Ruby Johnson, a witness whose motives and secrets add layers of intrigue to an already intense narrative.

Cavanagh’s writing is razor-sharp, and the courtroom drama is electric—full of twists, tension, and clever legal maneuvers that kept me hooked. Eddie’s unorthodox methods and his unwavering pursuit of justice make him an unforgettable protagonist. The pacing is masterful, with each chapter ratcheting up the suspense as the truth unfolds in unexpected ways.

What really stood out to me was the complexity of Ruby’s character and how her story challenges assumptions at every turn. The supporting cast, including Eddie’s loyal team, adds depth and personality, while the subplot involving rival hitmen brings an additional layer of danger and excitement.

This book isn’t just a legal thriller—it’s a gripping exploration of deception, power, and what it takes to uncover the truth. Witness 8 is an absolute triumph and a must-read for fans of the genre. A solid 5 stars—Cavanagh is at the top of his game!

I have been meaning to read this series for a long time but this is the first book I have got to! As a stand alone it is a brilliant novel, fast paced, gripping characters, short chapters that keep you reading, and a plot that keeps you guessing.

As a series I am guessing it is also good, but I didn’t feel at any point I needed to know more of the past to understand what was happening. So it’s a win win in that respect.

I loved the characters, especially Mr Christmas. A great read, I will definitely put the others up my TBR list.

I am new to this author and will certainly be reading more! Very impressive, twists and turns kept me reading and could not put it down!

The pacing was relentless, and the twists hit hard. The story kept me on edge with its dark and complex mystery.

Ruby Johnson is a nanny and maid to wealthy families in Manhattan’s West 74th Street. They trust her, because her family used to be one of them. Now, no longer having any family wealth, Ruby instead works for those with the wealth, in her eyes, being taken for granted, being overlooked, and not seen or appreciated. She is privy to all of their routines, their secrets, all their arguments, finances, everything they do. They don’t realise she is always watching.

On her way home from working one of their fancy events one night, she witnesses one of the neighbour’s being murdered. She knows the victim. She recognises the killer. She sees where the killer hides the murder weapon. Ruby makes an anonymous call to the police and names the murderer, who just happens to be her employer. But she lies about who it is. Why? She has her own twisted reasons.

Eddie Flynn is a trial lawyer, ironically a former conman. He is called in to defend who he believes is an innocent man accused of this murder. Eddie only defends innocent men, and he is convinced that this man, a top neurosurgeon, and by all accounts, a wonderful man, is innocent. He just needs to find a way to prove that. When the murder weapon is suddenly found in the neurosurgeon's closet, the case suddenly becomes harder to win.

This was a very interesting read. Ruby is a complex character, who evolves continuously as the story progresses. She becomes more and more unlikable when you see how twisted she is, yet she is also vulnerable and emotional in her rationale for her madness. It is hard to completely hate her. Eddie is a force to be reckoned with, along with the team he has built around him. He takes everything in his stride, and when the story is on him and his team I found myself really engaged. With Ruby at times, I was wanting the story to move along, but I think that was because her single mindedness became a bit repetitive.

Overall, it is a brilliant read, which took some very unexpected turns. It kept me on my toes, and kept me turning those pages and refusing to put the book down until very late in the morning!

*I received this book from NetGalley for review, but all opinions are my own.

Sometimes it’s really great to read a different genre and Steve Cavanagh’s Witness 8 helped ring the changes.

This is a real romp of a novel with murder, intrigue, cons, and courtroom drama. If you’re familiar with Eddie Flynn novels then you’ll know what to expect, with all of the familiar faces present. If like me, you’ve only read one in the series previously - or even none - I don’t think that it affects your enjoyment too much.

An eventful quick and easy read with lots of action and a likeable protagonist. The speed of the action helps to distract you from some of the less likely plot elements.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this novel.

Another great book from Steven Cavanagh! This is a brilliantly twisty thriller. Someone is murdered in a wealthy neighbourhood and there is one witness. One of the neighbours is arrested but is he the killer?
This was intriguing from the first to last page. This book has great characters believable and an exciting plot that makes this a definite page turner.

I really tried to get into this book, I just could not gel with the writing which is such a shame.
It just was not for me so I did DNF.

A terrific, twisting and highly enjoyable tale from start to finish.
The plot keeps you guessing, the surprises never stop and it a brilliant page turner.
Highly recommended

A clever, twisted thriller. A murder in an affluent neighbourhood. One witness. One of the neighbours is arrested and is to stand trial but is he the killer? A cleaner who attends to most of the houses and integrates within the families becoming someone that is hard to cope without.
This was intriguing from the first to last page. The characters are believable and the plot exciting, an absolute page-turner.
Steve Cavanagh never fails to thrill and I really hope there is more to follow.

Witness 8 is another fabulous crime thriller with the wonderful Eddie Flynn.
When a woman is murdered in an upper class are of New York it is witnessed by Ruby a maid that works in a couple of these houses. Instead of informing the police of what she saw she makes an anonymous phone call to the police saying she saw the culprit but giving the name of a completely innocent man, a top neurosurgeon whose child she looks after.
Eddie takes on the case and believes this man is completely innocent and that he has been framed, but proving it is going to prove almost impossible. With a number of corrupt police officers, a power hungry DA that will stop at nothing to obtain a conviction and a few assassins that have been paid to murder Eddie there are many strands to unravel.
Action filled, brilliant plotting, superb court scenes and characters good and bad with great depth this is a book that flows beautifully often with humour but not without some dark heart pumping moments
Another winner from this author who certainly knows how to spin a story and keep you throughly invested in every page.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book , I loved the beginning and then i started to loose a bit of interest. I persevered and wow am I glad a did . The second half of the book was brilliant, the story really took off. By the time I got to the ending I thought what a great book that was . I would definitely recommend this book . I will be looking for more books from this author. 5 stars from me

For most of this book I was more reading to see if it got better - there was enough of a pull there to not make you quit but not enough so that I wanted to keep on reading. Thankfully it then does start to fully unravel and turns into quite an enjoyable book in the end.

A solid thriller, a page turner that kept on the edge and turning pages.
Solid plot, good storytelling, a story which is both entertaining and disturbing at times
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A cracking court room drama/thriller - in a New York street populated only by the rich a woman is shot dead in her home. An anonymous caller points the finger at respected doctor John Jackson - who seemingly has no motive to kill the dead woman. The Jackson's nanny, Ruby, however has an urgent need for money, and secrets she does not want to find out. In the mix is Eddie Flynn, conman turned lawyer. I have to admit that at the outset I wasn't sure that I'd like this book - my first introduction to Flynn comes with him talking about greenbacks and kickbacks and his perspective as a conman. The book soon won me over, however, a well-told story where the good guys win the day. With thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this ARC