Oh! Just excellent!
This is far more than a whodunnit or police procedural thriller.
The characters are, so beautifully written and I certainly fell in love with the lead lawyer / ex conman.
Somehow complex yet easily readable, this is the first time I think I've called a novel unputdownable and meant it.
Already scouring the net to order more by this author.
Easy 5 stars from me.

Once again, I awaited a Steve Cavanagh release with bated breath, and he never disappoints.

The Eddie Flynn series is my favorite from an author in a long time. They captivate you until the very end, and Witness 8 is no different. There's the central plot and various subplots unfolding.

Without giving away spoilers, I spent half the book eager to discover the fate of a side character I've adored since the first book. Mr. Cavanagh, please don't put me through that again!

I'm always grateful to Netgalley for the opportunity to read their books before release, as well as to Mr. Cavanagh and his publishing team. I'm eagerly anticipating what's next for Eddie and his team..

Another great Eddie Flynn novel from Steve Cavanagh. This one felt a bit different...or maybe it's because I've read so many novels with sinister housemaids in them, it seems to be the thing at the moment. There were two storylines running side by side, both involving Eddie which connect well together in the end.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

4 🌟
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the next book in the Eddie Flynn series. He's always up to no good and using his sneaky tricks to get him to where he needs to be to succeed as a lawyer. Yes, they may not always be the best choices but somehow they always manage to work out (thanks to Cavanagh obviously). There is a good amount of action, though the chapters jump between so many characters that you really have to concentrate to ensure you remember whose chapter you're reading. Generally though, a good amount of action and of course lots of murders as per usual, but it kept me interested throughout!

I am very late to the Eddie Flynn party, and I plan to stay around! As an ex-con, Eddie is definitely not your average lawyer! He has a huge challenge placed at his door in this book, with an innocent man accused of murder and overwhelming evidence against him, including a witness.

That witness is Ruby, and she did indeed witness the murder, but she lied in order to frame John Jackson, the wealthy man she works for, a renowned brain surgeon and all-round top bloke. Why?

The characters in this book are brilliantly written, Mr Christmas in particular was a great addition to the main story, bringing Eddie a whole new set of problems to deal with in this detailed and gripping plot.

I loved the twist and the ending has me intrigued and eagerly awaiting the next book!

4.5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Steve Cavanagh and Headline for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I have been waiting for Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh for what feels like an eternity. The anticipation was so intense that I almost hesitated to read it, knowing that once I’d finished, the thrill of the unknown would be gone. However, picking it up felt effortless, and I was instantly reunited with old friends. Even though it had been a while since I’d read the previous books, I quickly remembered who everyone was and slipped back into the story with ease.
This book could certainly be read as a standalone. Any relevant past events are recapped succinctly, so it feels like you’re hearing about them for the first time rather than getting bogged down in unnecessary details. Cavanagh has a knack for weaving in backstory without it feeling intrusive, making it accessible to new readers while still rewarding loyal fans.
Eddie Flynn, as always, is a compelling character. His legal acumen and personal struggles make him a protagonist you can’t help but root for. Cavanagh’s portrayal of the legal world is both gritty and authentic, adding depth and realism to the narrative. The supporting characters are equally well-drawn, each contributing to the story in meaningful ways. I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between Eddie and his team, which adds a layer of camaraderie and tension to the plot.
The pacing of the book is swift, with Cavanagh’s trademark short chapters propelling the story forward. This makes for a gripping read that’s hard to put down. However, I did find that the plot twists were somewhat predictable this time around. In previous books, Cavanagh had me on the edge of my seat, guessing until the very end. However, in Witness 8, I could see some of the twists coming, which diminished the overall impact.
My expectations were sky-high, perhaps too high, and while I enjoyed the book, it didn’t quite deliver the wow factor I had hoped for. It seemed to lack a bit of Cavanagh’s usual magic and Flynn’s characteristic brilliance. The outcome and ending left me feeling slightly underwhelmed. I was hoping for a mind-blowing twist, but instead, it felt like the story just petered out, tying up loose ends and then concluding.
Occasionally, the events were a bit too predictable, which took away some of the suspense. The courtroom scenes, usually a highlight in Cavanagh’s books, felt somewhat formulaic this time. I missed the nail-biting tension and the unexpected revelations that typically come with Eddie’s cases. The stakes didn’t feel as high, and the resolution, while satisfying, lacked the punch I’ve come to expect from Cavanagh.
That said, Witness 8 is still a solid 4-star read. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t reach the dizzying heights of ‘Thirteen’ and ‘Fifty-Fifty’. Cavanagh’s writing is as sharp as ever, and his characters remain engaging and complex. For fans of the series, it’s a worthy addition, even if it doesn’t quite hit the mark of its predecessors. I’m hopeful that the next instalment will recapture the magic and deliver the thrilling experience that Cavanagh is known for.

Despite having multiple books by Steve Cavanagh on my bookshelf waiting to be ready for, embarrassingly this is the first one I’ve read and I must say, I’ve been missing out!
Even though this is the first I’d read in the Eddie Flynn series I had no trouble following the plot, I found it entertaining, filled with unexpected twists that kept me guessing. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I was proven wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed Cavanagh's writing style and will definitely be starting this series from the beginning.

★★★★
———————
I want to thank NetGalley and Headline for the opportunity to review this book.

Whats not to like about Eddie Flynn, one time conman, courtroom genius, loyal friend, mortal enemy.
A brilliant, unputdownable read.

Another great read from Steve Cavanagh.
Eddie and the team are asked to represent a surgeon who has been accused of murder.
As always Eddie needs to look him in the eye to get the sense of whether he’s innocent or not, and in his view, he’s not a killer.
We also follow Ruby who is the one who made the call about the murder, but it’s clear she’s up to something. She works for the rich and wealthy and as the story progresses we find out more about her life.
Eddie and Bloch get into trouble as usual and there’s lots of twists and turns in this book to keep you hooked.
Another great book from Steve Cavanagh.
Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I could pick up any Eddie Flynn book without reading the blurb and know that within the first few pages I'm sucked in.

Witness 8 was no different. I love that Eddie's con genes are still strong and how he uses it for good.

Some interesting characters in this story, namely Mr Christmas, a man of contradictions.

In this story we follow Eddie and his team representing a man who they believe has been framed but who everyone else thinks is guilty. If we know anything about Eddie Flynn by now, it's that he doesn't take the easy cases.

I always love it when he shows his cards to the reader, we know it's coming and the reveal is always part of the ride.

Already looking forward to Eddie's next adventure.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book, this is my honest opinion.

Mr Steve Cavanagh has done it yet again.

The Eddie Flynn series feels like home to me, and the way in which Cavanagh writes feels so familiar and comforting, despite the chaos that is ensued throughout the narrative.

This instalment in the series centres around Ruby, the neighbourhood nanny, who witnesses a murder on the very close-knit street. When making an anonymous tip to the police, she decided to lie about who murdered the victim, but for what reason?

This book has everything I love about a thriller; dysfunctional relationships, deceit and a whole lot of action. As the king of a courtroom drama, Steve has excellently portrayed the heightened stress and pressure of being a lawyer, and an ex con-artist. It was a fast-paced narrative, full of twists and turns, and moments of distrust, and it was one that I genuinely could not put down, even if I tried. The way in which Cavanagh has written this novel is so unbelievably immersive that it feels like you as a reader are sat, in the moment, watching everything unfold and wondering who to believe.

Another fantastic book in the Eddie Flynn series. A great plot with subplots and lots of twists to keep the reader on their toes! I absolutely devoured this and it just kept me going back to read which was made easy with the short chapters. I cannot wait to see what’s next for Eddie and his tribe as I feel there is more to come with Mr Christmas & Ruby.
Huge thanks to Netgalley for the early read!

The next Eddie Flynn novel finds him and his team representing a doctor accused of murder. There was an anonymous caller, although we as readers know it is Ruby, who pointed the finger at him. Ruby has her own motives that we see unfold in chapters that follow her.

I really enjoy the Eddie Flynn books and this one was no different! I really was intrigued by Ruby’s motivations although she is so devious I kept hoping she’d be caught. I think the author did a good enough job layering in breadcrumbs where if you really took time to plot things out you might figure out why for her, but if you’re caught up in everything, then it will be a twist (which is what it was for me!). Can’t wait for the next one in this series!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow!

Just wow! I can't say I'm surprised as everything Steve Cavanagh touches turns to literary gold!

Just when you think you have the story figured out and you know what is going to come next you get a surprise that you didn't see coming.

One of the things I like about Cavanagh's writing is that the new characters he introduces are brought in gradually. You are allowed to process them before a new one comes in, he does this brilliantly.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Headline Books for an ARC.

Ah, Eddie Flynn, one of my guilty pleasures. I’ve enjoyed these books ever since Thirteen – sorry, Th1rt3en – the rather bonkers story of a serial killer who frames people and then gets on the jury of the trail of the person that he has framed – and they have always been a fun read. It can’t be easy to come up with the concepts for these stories, especially when Eddie’s first case involved him having 48 hours to defend someone due to having a bomb strapped to his back, but somehow Cavanagh manages it.
Here, we have multiple strands that gel together very well. A contract on Eddie’s life, his distraction due to his colleague being wounded, Ruby’s story (both past and present), the current trial and the question of who actually killed Margaret. It’s not easy to bring that many strands to a satisfactory conclusion, or to make them mesh into a coherent narrative, but Cavanagh does it with aplomb.
On top of that, he does a very good job with the character of Ruby, a tortured soul who could just come across as an unpleasant sociopath (is there such a thing as a pleasant sociopath?) but despite her actions, this reader did find himself feeling sorry for her. A bit. Another character who could have come across as a stereotype is Mr Christmas – I’ll say no more about him, but he ended up being far more complex than I expected.
I mentioned in my review of The Accomplice that it was the best book in the series since Thirteen. Well, while I still think Thirteen is the best in the series due to the daft concept (and the fact that Cavanagh makes it work), this one runs it a very close second…

Loved it! Eddie Flynn is a genius of a character. A conman turned lawyer makes for the best type of courtroom drama; all of his little ‘plays’ towards the DA and the corrupt cops had me flying through this book. Looking forward to the next one!

Apart from the mysterious book title this was an excellent read and I would like to join Eddie's family.

This is the first book I have read in this US murder story with wonderful characters and lots of twists.

Eddie Flynn is an ex con artist, now a lawyer who is defending a falsely accused surgeon facing murder. Enter Ruby a nanny/cleaner for some of the wealthiest families. She is a nanny for the surgeon's family but has a secret and deviously hides it. No more spoilers. Loved Bloch, though!

On the plus side Mr Cavanagh injects a little humour into the story. On the negative side we have yet another abusive father - sorry this scenario seems over used?

Thanks to Net Galley and Headline for the chance to read and review.

Brilliant story, lots of little twists and enough of a mixture of new and old characters to add interest.
The chapters are also short enough that it is too easy to read 'just one' as the kettle boils! Hard to put down as is usual with Steve Cavanagh.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Another huge Eddie Flynn success!
Full of many old and new characters who all come to life and who you will never forget.
The story is fast moving, gripping, page turning and unputdownable.
It is a must read!
Congratulations Steve Cavanagh.....and with a reference to chess in your own words " What is the point of being a grandmaster if everyone else is an amateur.....life would soon lose its pleasure."
I would love to meet Eddie Flynn!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for an ARC of this brilliant book.

This was exactly what you expect from Eddie Flynn, fast moving, plenty of twists and turns a really good read, I have read some but not all of the "eddie" books, I found that there was just enough back ground information that it didn't take anything away from the book and I didn't feel I was missing something.