My first ever Cavanagh read was Twisted, and I feel like every other book of his I read, I always compare it to that. Because For me, this fell a little short in comparison to Twisted, so I gave it 4 stars.
That being said, this book was a very well-written police procedural crime novel, and Eddie Flynn has always been a well-built character that I can get behind and route for. It was twisty, but not in the shocking, omg what unearth did I just read sense, but more in a slow and steady sense, which I think is also why it fell short of a 5-star read for me. There were so many different characters and storylines that it was hard to follow who was who at times, which is possibly why the twists fell short for me.
Ruby was a great character, and I loved the chapters from her point of view.
All in all, I read it quickly and it was a well-paced, intricate novel with a great storyline and well-built characters, and I would recommend it. It's just those few things that fell short of 5 stars for me. I look forward to reading more from Cavanagh, as always, in the future.

Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh
Out in the UK 1 August

This was my first encounter with conman turned lawman Eddie Flynn, despite it being book 8 in the series. It didn’t matter though - it works as a standalone. It reminded me a little of The Lincoln Lawyer, but was a bit lighter with some humour & hints of Breaking Bad in the characters.

Ruby, nanny & maid to the wealthy elite of Manhattan, witnesses a murder. But what will she do with that information? Eddie has to defend the accused man and survive a price on his head while navigating the city’s politics.

A pacy novel with plenty of great characters - and it’s fun working out what Eddie’s up to next!

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book

man oh man this book i was on the edge of my seat right till the end...

ruby johnson sees all and knows all... she is invisible to the people she surrounds ... so when she witnesses a murder, the murderer doesnt even see her

now ruby has a plan....

eddie flynn a former con man now a brilliant lawyer has a slight problem theres a hit out on him but his new client needs him to stay alive so that he can get him off a murder charge

its all hands on deck for this highly charged action packed thriller of a ride... well worth the sleepless night of reading it just to see how it all ended...

cant wait for the next time to catch up with eddie and his team

‘Witness 8’ by Steve Cavanagh is the eighth book in the Eddie Flynn series of courtroom thrillers, following conman-turned-lawyer Eddie and his team as they defend only the innocent against the most serious of crimes. In this instalment, their client John is a wealthy and revered paediatric brain surgeon whose life came crashing down around him when an anonymous witness planted a false tip implicating him as a murderer. Like other books in the series, we look through multiple pairs of eyes, including those of Ruby, a babysitter and cleaner for the posh residents of the street where she once lived before her father lost their fortune and disappeared. She was an interesting character whose unpredictable actions drove much of the plot.

I really enjoyed the dynamics between Eddie, Harry, Kate, Bloch and the rest of the team, and it was fascinating to uncover more layers of Lake’s story in this novel. Eddie’s courtroom subterfuge was as entertaining as ever, and multiple threads of plot came together satisfyingly in the end. The book also maintained feelings of tension and dread throughout, and I raced through it, eager to see how it ended!

Steve Cavanagh has set the bar extremely high for this series, and while this novel was excellent, I have to say that it didn’t quite impact me as much as some of the previous instalments… I felt less connection to the client than to Andy in ‘The Devil’s Advocate’, less fascination for the puppet-master than in either ‘Thirteen’ or ‘The Accomplice’ and was less gripped than I was by ‘Fifty Fifty’. I’d say it ranks on par with the first three (still wonderful) books for me, and I will certainly be incredibly eager to read Book 9 when we are treated to that.

All in all, this gets 4.5 stars… for the reasons above I couldn’t quite give it the full five, but honestly I 100% recommend it to fans of the series, and implore those who haven’t met Eddie Flynn yet to get acquainted!

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Headline via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This Eddie Flynn novel captivates with its blend of domestic suspense and noir set against the backdrop of affluent New York City. Eddie Flynn, our protagonist, reveals a more tender aspect of his character amidst the turmoil. The plot centers on Ruby, the nanny and housekeeper, who becomes an eyewitness to a chilling murder. The accused, a prominent surgeon, finds his life spiraling out of control, with Eddie stepping in as his defense attorney.

Among the intriguing cast, you'll encounter Mr. Christmas, a character with an unusual fixation on Marlon Brando, adding depth to the narrative. The story's twists and turns keep the reader in suspense until the very end, making it a thrilling read well into the night.

Even if this is your first encounter with Eddie Flynn, the book stands alone beautifully. Highly recommended!

An explosive novel that had me hooked from the start.
Plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing.
A fast paced thriller that you will find hard to put down. Thank you to NetGalley, Headline and the author for the chance to review.

Lawyer Eddie Flynn and his team only take on cases when they know the accused is innocent or has made a terrible mistake and is full of remorse. John Jackson is innocent, all the team know it, but an anonymous caller, plus DNA and the murder weapon put him well and truly in the frame. It’s up to Eddie and his cohorts to prove that Jackson has been set up.

What a great book! A first for me by this author and I loved it, immediately drawn in, it was compelling reading. Excellently depicted characters, twisty and tense plot, extremely well written.

That this was part of a series had no bearing on the book, absolutely perfect as a standalone, but I will definitely be reading more of Eddie and co.

Thank you NetGalley and Headline.

A Courtroom drama with surprising differences.
I had not come across Steve Cavanagh and his character Eddie Flynn before, and I really enjoyed reading the exploits of Eddie and his team. As a retired con man, Eddie, now now a defence attorney, sometimes uses his old skills to advantage for a case. Here, he does this to defend a driver wrongly stopped by the Police. This sets off a tragic train off events that leave Eddie literally in the gunsights. Another innocent client is charged with murder, and the two cases collide.
This is a tense book with the story rapidly moving forward. Steve Cavanagh provides very well-rounded descriptions of his characters and also of the various locations.
Simply, this is a very good book.

Excellent crime writing, it comes no better than this.

A nanny who appears so innocent and naïve can she be really holding all those secrets just to keep her mother safe?

A lot of characters in this book to get your head around but it works well and keeps you on tenterhooks right to the end.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

I do love an Eddie Flynn novel and this latest offering, Witness 8, is about as tricky and twisted as they come. Now, this is a story of a murder, one which takes place very early on in the novel. One crucial difference in this book compared to some other thrillers you may have read is that this murder is witnessed not only by us readers, but by someone who works on the street in question, a rather affluent area of New York where murder really isn't the done thing. That someone is Ruby Johnson, sometime Nanny, sometime cleaner to many of the homes on the street. Not only does Ruby witness the crime - the murder of a resident she is rather fond of - she also sees where the killer dumps the murder weapon. Obviously Ruby calls in the murder, identifies the killer and the book ends somewhere around halfway into chapter two ...

Yeah, right. Wouldn't that be nice and neat? One thing Mr Cavanagh does not do is offer us readers nice neat, quickly resolved, no conflict murders, and Witness 8 is no different. Because dear little Ruby does not do the right thing. She does not identify the killer. She doesn't put an end to the story in chapter two. Ruby very much has other ideas. Needless to say, the person who finds themself accused of the murder finds themselves defended by none other than one time trickster and con man, Eddie Flynn, which tells you all you need to know about their culpability, but less about why they stand accused in the first place. Ruby has not been entirely honest with people about what she saw that fateful night, which is really rather fortunate for readers as it means we are taken on a pacy, high stakes, sometimes surprisingly emotional rollercoaster of a thriller - just the way we like it.

Not only do we have the whys and wherefores of this murder case hanging over Eddie and the team, Eddie finds himself in the crosshairs of a very dangerous foe. Not only Eddie, but all those he works with an cares for, something we have grown accustomed to over the course of this series. It adds a layer of tension to an already intriguing and taught story, and it is this arc that gives the book the emotional intensity that really gripped me and kept me reading long past a time that could be considered decent when I had work the following day. Steve Cavanagh introduces hitman for hire, Mr Christmas, a character who, despite his chosen career, I actually really rather liked. He has a kind of code of conduct, something we can all be thankful for this time around, and a surprising link to someone else in the story. You have to admire his pride in his work, if not the profession itself, and his straight talking, very honest approach to dealing with his potential victims often made me smile.

The entire team is in play once again, including Gabriel Lake, whose untidy and sometimes unorthodox methods contrast starkly with the more confined and buttoned up approach of Eddie's more regular enforcer, Bloch. as a partnership they really shouldn't work, but something about them, their interactions and their polar opposite natures, really does make me smile. It's an irresistible pairing, and a bit like Eddie compared with his partner, Kate, each provides the Yin to the other's Yang. The way in which the author portrays that camaraderie in spite of differences that drive each other to a point of frustration is pitch perfect, and oart of the reason I was able to race through this book.

I loved the mystery in this book, the sense that there was some hidden motivation that we are never quite sure about. There are some significant hints dropped throughout for the eagle eyed who like to pitch themselves against the protagonists and race ahead in forming a conclusion. I admit, I am one of those people, and one of the key revelations in the book didn't take me entirely by surprise, but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book, it enhanced it as I sat wondering just when the rest of the team would finally catch up. Other than the identify of the killer - something kept as a closely guarded secret until near the end of the book - part of the fun of this novel was knowing in advance of everyone else what was on the horizon, watching the subterfuge and misdirection play out, and wondering if, at long last, Eddie's luck might be about to run out. If you want to know the answer to that question, well you'll just have to read the book, won't you?

Welcome back Eddie Flynn. I really love this series. I enjoy the way Eddie Flynn and his team work out their investigations. Flynn is an ex conman, so he knows how a cons brain works. And, uses this knowledge to his advantage.

Diving into an Eddie Flynn series is like having a family reunion. It's time to catch up on how the regulars are doing and obviously see if they will get their defendant out of jail.

I say this all the time, it's best to read a series from the start so that you can get to know the regular characters better. Their traits, their quirks and just how they gey along with each other. That way you become invested in their lives and want to know if they are fine or not. I'm being very vague there 😉

Witness 8 focuses on Ruby Johnson. She has witnessed a murder. The done thing would be to report it. But, not for Ruby. She sees a way of cashing in on this. And, she plays a very deadly game. Eddie and his team are defending the person that Ruby claims to be the murderer. Who will come out on top?

And, if you think that is enough to tend with. Well there's someone out there a bit cheesed off with Flynn. Will he survive?

Witness 8 was a well paced thriller. And I am very chuffed with myself that I actually figured out a key piece of evidence before the brains of Flynn and Kate 👏🏼

Every year I look forward to a Steve Cavanagh novel. However, more than that I REALLY look forward to an Eddie Flynn novel!!!
This one was just as amazing as the rest. I cannot say too much without spoilers, so all I will say is the way that Steve makes me believe someone is doomed and pulls at my heartstrings in many different ways …. I can’t express it .. I love him and hate him for it at the same time and this is why I love reading these novels.

Any new reader will be hooked and any long standing reader will feel at home again.
All I can say is thank you Steve, you never fail.

Loved the addition of Mr. Christmas. I can see him and Gabriel Lake pairing up in the future. That would certainly be entertaining,

The first Steve Cavanagh book I have read and although my favourite genre this book did not really inspire me. No doubt fans of Eddie Flynn will love this book though. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

After devouring my first novel by this author (Kill For Me Kill For You), I was eager to read another. Witness 8 is easily read as a standalone with an excellent, suspenseful plot. The backstory given for the multiple POVs is thorough and made me feel like I knew all of the characters. Such an intense read and I will definitely continue with this series. I loved Eddie & his team. Excellent writing and attention to detail - highly recommend!
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What can I say ,Steve your the best .I absolutely love Eddie Flynn ,he's the guy you want on your side.An amazing story that just kept on giving.Twists and turns,one red herring after another.A wild ride but the greatest story of Eddie so far.

As always with Steve Cavanagh books I was immediately hooked by this book and I just had to find out the truth.

This is another great Eddie Flynncase, where we glimpse a softer side to him (occasionally). Set in wealthy NYC this has a domestic/suburban noir feel with Ruby the nanny/housekeeper who witnesses a murder. A wealthy surgeon is accused and Eddie is his defense as his life slowly unravels.
There are other interesting characters - Mr Christmas who is obsessed with Marlon Brando- and the outcome is never clear. It will keep you guessing long into the night!
This reads well as a stand alone if you haven't read any others in the series. Loved it.

Yet again Steve Cavanagh takes us into Eddie Flynns world. I cannot tell you how many times I laughed out loud and then Oh No!!. I totally love these books which are cleverly researched and beautifully written. Just when you think it's all over Edfie is there to the rescue in his indomitable style. Full of twists and turns and the ending is brilliant. Hope to hear more from this gentleman who I will not name. Fabulous. Thanks Steve. I can't wait for the next one.

I couldn't wait for another Eddie Flynn adventure and it, definitely, didn't disappoint. It's a fast paced story that takes you around Manhattan and it's full of action. I loved it and now I am waiting for the next Eddie Flynn story, it feels like it's never enough.

Another amazing Steve Cavanagh book. I love Eddie Flynn and hs collegues and this book didn’t disappoint. I was gripped from the very beginning and couldn’t stop reading until I had finished. As always lots of twists and turns, Who did what, and why. The main protagonist Ruby was an easy character to dislike and I loved Mr Christmas. I was rooting for Eddie all the way through with a price on his head, no spoilers from me. They really should make Eddie Flynn into a Netflix series.