A big thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book, and for introducing me to an author and character that I will surely be following. This is the fourth book in the Eddie Flynn series, based on the character of the same name who is a con artist turned defense lawyer. It's completely readable as a standalone and although it does mention a bit about Eddie's life and character journey, nothing leaves you feeling lost.

Genre: Thriller, Suspense

Length: 368 pages

Blurb:

Eddie Flynn protects the innocent. When a high profile case involving an incredibly popular actor comes his way through one of the biggest law firms in the city, Eddie refuses. The actor is on trial for the murder of his actress wife and bodyguard. Eddie has no reason to believe his innocence, nor does he know why the reputed firm wants him on the case. Until Eddie meets the accused. Willing to go to any length to protect an innocent man, Eddie takes the case up under overwhelming evidence against his client. Eddie is confident that the real killer is out there - he just has to convince the jury of that. But the killer is closer than even Eddie can imagine. And convincing a jury may not be so easy when the killer is part of it.

Overall Rating: 8 out of 10

Plot: 9 out of 10

Characterization: 9 out of 10

Primary Element: 9 out of 10 for its suspense

Writing Style: 8 out of 10

Part of a Series: Yes. This is #4, but can be read as a standalone without any problem.

Highlighted Takeaway:

The plot twist. It's very rare that the killer-reveal takes you by real surprise, but Steve Cavanagh manages to do just that.

What I Liked:

Eddie Flynn's character is one of the most rounded, yet realistic, I've read. There are a few fictional characters who I absolutely love because of their complexity and human-ness, with David Baldacci's Amos Decker being one such character. Eddie Flynn makes it to that list and as one of the top ones for sure. Cavanagh has created a very relatable character in Flynn, one who keeps you hooked from the first page.

What I Didn’t Like:

Not a thing!

Who Should Read It:

Anyone who enjoyed watching The Mentalist, and anyone who enjoys reading fast-paced courtroom-action-suspense novels. Also anyone who enjoys a good serial killer mystery and legal thrillers.

Who Should Avoid:

Anyone who is put off very quickly by violence. There isn't too much gore in this book, but there is some violence which may not sit too well with those not too used to it.

Read It For:

The suspense, the intricate storyline, and Eddie Flynn.

I don't have a single bad thing to say about this book. Fans of court house drama and crime will be very pleased with this refreshing story. Read it!

he captures the mood and time with atmosphere and suspense. A true legend. He is an author to watch.

What happens when the man you're looking for, is right in front of your eyes?

When a high-profile client is found on trial for murder, lawyer Eddie Flynn will do whatever it takes to save his client Robert 'Bobby' Solomon. It isn't as easy as it seems. All evidence points toward Mr. Solomon, and for awhile the readers are led to believe that it is the end for Bobby.

This fast-paced thriller jumps back and fourth from the perspective of Eddie, and a serial killer by the name of Joshua Kane. Their stories are intertwined in a way you could not imagine. Kane is determined to get Bobby a guilty verdict while he sits on the jury. The question is why? It was very interesting to see the good vs. evil concept played out on page. Each chapter had it's own tone, depending on who's view it was from.

Thirteen is the fourth installment of the series, something I had no clue when I picked it up! The novel is so well written, that it could also work as a stand alone as it does a very good job at describing the characters to first time readers. I loved how the characters were so well-written and full of knowledge, it also helped to have some very supportive secondary characters.

Every point in the book serves a purpose, it does not include unnecessary information and explains legal concepts very well. I've always been very interested in court cases, as well as legal matters. This book did an amazing job at blending everything well together!

I've given this a 5/5 stars! And I plan on picking up the others in the series.

*I would like to thank NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the copy of this book in exchange of an honest review

I loved this book, and I usually don’t like a courtroom drama!
From the very beginning, the action begins. You quickly learn that the main character is a serial killer. His well calculated plan to get on the jury of a trial for a murder that he actually committed is memorizing. From start to finish, this book keeps your attention and has you wanting to read “just one more chapter.”

I heard so many good things about this book and was really looking forward to reading it. The book is part of a series and whilst i prefer to read books in the order that they were written, this book can be read as a standalone novel.

Early in the book we learn that the main character is a serial killer and he murders people and finds himself on the jury.

The book was so gripping and so well written. I found it really hard to do anything else or concentrate on anything else whilst reading this book.

I thought this would make a nice change from the usual crime stories but I was reminded that I just don't like courtroom dramas. That has nothing to do with the book itself, it's just a setting I do not enjoy.

I didn’t expect much going into this, having discovered this is part of a series that I haven't read, but the description sounded stand-alone enough that I figured I'd read it anyway, even if I don't have any background information on certain characters. The premise was really intriguing to me, a serial killer that is on the jury? How fascinating!

This definitely grabbed you right from the start. It was a well-crafted thriller; the bad guy was interesting and realistic, the lawyer was flawed but likeable, the defendant was suspicious, so you weren’t really sure what side to come down on. And most importantly, the plot, motive and flow were all very strong and detailed, but not over the top.

The story had a lot of great little things that subtly built up to create a fast moving, intriguing book that was three steps ahead of me the entire time, always coming up with another twist that I didn’t see coming. Sure, there were a few things that ended up being a bit predictable, but not so transparent that I had it all pegged from the start.

Things got pretty wild towards the end and it started to move really quickly, but it didn’t derail the book and I was so pleased with the payoff. In fact, I was pleased with this entire book. I didn’t feel lost at all, a good job was done to fill in the gaps for those who foolishly didn’t read any other books. I was expecting your typical thriller but this strayed far from the usual formula, was very clever and outwitted me. I definitely recommend it.

A lot of thrillers have covers that warn you about the “shocking twist” contained inside. Never let it be said this author does things in half measures. He delivers a fast paced legal thriller with so many twists I lost count.

The plot in a nutshell: former conman turned lawyer Eddie Flynn takes on the case of a lifetime when he agrees to represent a disgraced movie star on trial for murder, unaware the real killer is on the jury. Dual story lines mean we spend equal time with Eddie & Joshua Kane, a clever & resourceful psychopath.

It all begins when Eddie is offered second chair for the trial of Robert Solomon. Through a series of circumstances, he ends up trying the case alone. He’s used to dealing with less illustrious clientele & the spotlight created by the media feeding frenzy is not helping his personal life.

Although this is book #4 in the series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone. We get plenty of background on Eddie as well as Joshua as they work the case from opposite sides. Most of the first half is taken up by introducing the players & setting the scene for what follows. Then it becomes a full on thriller packed with action, reveals & suspense.

It took me a little while to get into the story. Eddie is a likeable guy, burdened by guilt for the life he used to lead. He’s trying to make a difference but alcoholism & a tendency to attract trouble has ended up costing him his family. As for the killer, he too is trying to right past wrongs but that’s where any similarity ends. We meet him through this case but gradually learn the breathtaking scope of his crimes.

This is a great book to pack with you for the beach or any travelling you have planned this summer. You will have to suspend your disbelief in places but my advice is just go with it & enjoy the roller coaster ride.

Legal thrillers aren’t really the types of books I lean toward, but this one was really good. The character development was on point.

This is a great reading. Published 2018 in UK, the story moves quickly and has twists and turns.
Thirteen comes from the selection of alternates to a jury. A crime is committed, the unsubscribe found, a famous movie star, and now to trail. Is he really guilty or is he being framed by someone? Questioning until the very end.

Wow! What a suspenseful, twisty ride! I love a good serial killer story and this one was great. Part courtroom drama, part police procedural, part thriller, it kept me up all night because I literally couldn’t put it down.
Told in alternating perspectives between Eddie Flynn, conman-turned-lawyer, and the killer, there was lots of action & gore, and it kept me guessing til the very end. This is 4th in a series, but very much a stand alone story that didn’t require reading of the others to fully enjoy. But you can bet I’m going to go back & read all of them now!

I stopped reading it once the author says the veteran detective charged a prostitute with drug possession because she wouldn’t give him a freebie. Trash.

An excellent, unique courtroom thriller. I enjoyed it even though I hadn't read the previous books in the series.

Excellent book with twisty roads and fast-paced tension
My first read of this series however, no problem as a stand-alone book
Clever and fun, bit of suspension of disbelief

I got an eARC thanks to NetGalley. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a quick read that hooked me from the beginning. And kept me guessing to the end. I thought I figured out pieces, only to find I was totally wrong! I loved Eddie Flynn’s character. The writing is engaging and fast paced. I’m not usually a fan of crime dramas but this was a major win for me. All around a great read. I want to read the others in this series now!

I had a hard time getting into this one but I am glad I stuck it out. Brilliantly plotted this story keeps the reader on their toes. There are so many shocks in this one. The plot is intense and unique. The procedural parts add to the story without being dry. This one kept my attention until the conclusion. I would definitely read this author again.

I don’t usually read legal thrillers but after reading the discription something caught me. I just had to read this one. And wow...this was amazing. So many twists I was nearly dizzy by the end.

Eddie Flynn is a defence lawyer. He use to be a conman so he’s got more up at his sleeve than your usual lawyers. He is one sneaky little bastard. His new client is a famous actor, Bobby Solomon who is accused of murdering 2 people. Flynn is sure he is innocent. Someone set him up. But who? And why?
The who part is known from the start. Joshua Kane.
One of the most important questions is will Flynn be able to prove Solomon’s innocence? And could he find the real killer?

This was intense. I really liked that Steve Cavanagh gave Kane his own chapters. His guilt was known but there were still plenty of surprises regarding him. His character is well developed and you get to know him, his past too as the story goes on. I rarely meet in books with his kind of evil. He is kind of remind me of Hannibal Lecter.

Eddie Flynn is interesting because of his past as a conman, how he still uses the skills he picked up. I wasn’t really interested in his private life, I felt those parts unreleted to the story.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books for my copy and Steve Cavanagh for his gripping story that kept me up well into the nights.

Wow! This book was amazing. I rarely read courtroom/legal thrillers - no particular reason its just I'm not normally drawn to them but the synopsis for this book just had me so intrigued! "The Serial Killer is not on trial - he's on the Jury" - How fascinating does that sound!!. I didn't know that this was the 4th book of a series when i picked this book out - I normally don't like reading series out of order but this one was perfectly fine to read - I wasn't lost - i think the only thing i may have missed was a little bit of Eddie Flynn's past history but the author did an excellent job of recapping things. This book was such a thrilling read. I recommend it highly especially for those who love a good courtroom or legal thriller. I give this book 4.5 stars!

Thirteen is my first Steve Cavanaugh book but it certainly will not be my last.
What attracted me to this book was the cover and the tag line The serial killer isn’t on trial, he’s on the jury jumped right out at me and I just knew I had to read it and was so pleased I got the chance. I was gripped from start to finish.
Although this is the fourth book in the series, I really did not feel at a lose and feel it can be easily read as a stand alone although I will be reading the other three as I can not get enough.
It was full of twists and turns which really kept me on my toes and my theories always proved wrong keeping me wanting more and sitting on the edge of my seat.
I feel the characters were well written.
Fantastically written thriller and would recommend it highly.