I would be sure to try this author again, but this book just did not hold my interest. When I requested, it did not indicate that it was part of a series. You can read alone, but I always like starting with first of the series. It was a bit slow and underwhelming. There was not enough twists to keep my interest and this took me a bit to get through.
Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the early copy of this ARC.
3 star

A meticulously well-written crime novel with a did-not-see-that-coming twist and an ending that will leave you wanting more!

I was nervous to read Witness 8 because I have not read books 1 through 7 of the Eddie Flynn series. However, at no point did I feel out of the loop and if anything I am intrigued with the main character of Eddie Flynn and will most definitely be reading more of the series.

The plot grabbed me from the very first chapter and moved at a consistent pace. The characters are interesting and unique, helping you to keep track as there are quite a few players and sometimes there are random new POV chapters inserted to keep things interesting. All in all, a great crime read.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book!

This is my first Steve Cavanagh book, I had no idea it was part of a series, but I will definitely be checking that out. This installment starts with Ruby Johnson, once part of an elite New York neighborhood and is now working as a maid and nanny. While working she witnesses the murder of a wealthy socialite and seizes the chance to manipulate the truth for her own gain. Meanwhile, defense attorney Eddie Flynn is tasked with proving the innocence of a renowned surgeon accused of the crime. As Eddie navigates the complexities of the case, he must also evade hired assassins sent by powerful enemies from a past case, including the dangerous Mr. Christmas. With high-stakes legal drama and criminal threats converging, Eddie and his team face a relentless race to uncover the truth while staying alive. This book is the definition of a thriller! Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy!

First, thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this granted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I unfortunately did not finish this book at 35%. I was immediately interested in the very beginning but soon found myself struggling to keep a plethora of characters straight and trying to make the connection to one another. The dual storylines/flashbacks are distracting and found myself wanting to know more about the current drama unfolding rather than knowing about the past of the defense attorney. I also acknowledge that this book is a part of a series and I probably would have been absolutely hooked had I read the 7 other books about Eddie Flynn. I didn’t realize this was book #8 and probably wouldn’t have requested it had I realized it before. I just felt bored and didn’t want to pick it back up.

3.5⭐️

I have read a couple of Steve Cavanagh’s book and they are always entertaining thrillers. This is my first Eddie Flynn book and I think it worked well as a standalone book. There was a lot going on and several POVs, but there was an unexpected twist that I loved. I am looking forward to reading other books with Eddie Flynn.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Steve Cavanagh never disappoints with his Eddie Flynn series. This book sees Eddie taking on the case of John Jackson, a prominent surgeon accused of murdering a neighbor woman. This is from multiple points of view and is a whirlwind ride. Full of action and humor, it's a story you can't stop reading. The prologue alone is enough to get you hooked. I hope Mr. Cavanagh continues Eddie's story forever!!

DNF. The first chapter of this started out strong and I was excited for a fast paced thriller. But as soon as I got to the second chapter the pace slowed all the way down and I was pretty bored with it. I tried reading this in a couple different formats but ultimately it wasn't for me.

Thanks Netgalley and Atria Books for providing this ARC to me!

Oh my gosh this is such a fun book! Twists and turns abound and the characters are fantastic! Eddie Flynn is an amazing character with a great backstory. Ruby scares the crap out of me and I’m pretty sure I will have nightmares about Mr. Christmas. And who can forget Tony “Two Fucks”??? Great characters and a story that kept me enthralled until the very end.

This is not my first Steve Cavanaugh novel but it is my first with Eddie Flynn and it won’t be my last. I will now need to read the seven previous novels in this series.

Highly recommend!

Witness 8 was a fun book, there was so much going on, but easy to follow. This book is part of a series, I have read one or two from it, but I did not have a hard time with it or feel like I was missing too much. It was a good mystery and I most likely will continue the series.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC for my honest opinion.

I received this ARC copy courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is my first book by this author and I am glad I requested it! Thrillers are not my go-to genre but my love for John Grisham (Pelican Brief and more) and John Lescroart (13th Juror) books drew me to this legal thriller. Now, as an attorney, I read (enjoy and scrutinize) them a little differently but applaud how the author approach this story. Looks like there are quite a few books in the broader series that I need to go and catch up on! 4 stars.

You know that feeling when you finish a book and immediately wonder how you've missed an entire series? That's exactly where I landed after "Witness 8" by Steve Cavanagh. Somehow, this was my first Eddie Flynn novel, but it won't be my last.

In "Witness 8," former Manhattan socialite Ruby Johnson now cleans houses instead of living in them. She witnesses a murder, and instead of helping, she decides to play her own game. Enter Eddie Flynn, the con-artist-turned-lawyer willing to take on the hopeless case of John Jackson, a man accused of murder with what looks like rock-solid evidence against him. Cue the chaos — and the twists.

This book had me guessing from start to finish. Cavanagh spins a web so tight that I found myself muttering "what the hell is going on" more than once (and loving it). I'm usually good at predicting thrillers, but this one kept me on my toes.

The pacing is fast but not rushed, the characters are sharp, and the whole thing reads like it's begging to be adapted for TV. (Seriously, why isn't there a Steve Cavanagh series yet?!) The only small challenge was keeping up with the multiple perspectives at first, but once you adjust, it adds more layers to the story.

If you love a twisty, clever thriller that refuses to let you get comfortable, "Witness 8" should be your next read. And don't be surprised if you end up adding the whole Eddie Flynn series to your TBR.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was an enjoyable read with a creative premise and some strong moments. I liked the overall idea and a few of the characters stood out to me, but the story didn’t completely hold my attention all the way through. The pacing felt a little uneven, and at times I found it hard to stay fully engaged.

Overall, it was a solid story with potential, and I think readers who enjoy this genre will still find it worth checking out.

Another hit by Steve Cavanagh! So many twists and turns and Eddie Flynn is just the greatest. What will he do next? So many tricks up his sleeve. Witness 8 is so much more than a whodunnit, or thriller. It’s Law and Order on steroids and I’m here for it!

How am I just now discovering Cavanagh? I loved this book. The nonstop action and interesting characters made it hard to put down. I read it in less than 24 hours.

After spending 20 years in the legal field, it is no surprise that legal thrillers are my favorite in the genre. I work in the more routine, less dramatic side of law, so diving into the high-stakes world of criminal cases is a thrilling escape. While the story does require some suspension of disbelief, none of the liberties taken pulled me out of the experience. I was drawn in by the plot and character motivations, so much so that I could not stop turning the pages.

While the mystery is satisfying, and the ending left me giddy with anticipation for what might come (what I hope will come) the characters are what truly captivated me. There are so many deliciously entertaining characters. Even jumping in at book eight, I quickly got the vibe of who everyone was, and honestly, I was shocked by how fast I became attached to the crew. Even the typically unlikeable characters made me feel things I shouldn't be. Mr. Christmas has my whole heart, and it worries me a little.

I listened to the audiobook while occasionally following along with the digital version, and Adam Sims did an outstanding job. With so many characters to keep track of, his narration made it effortless to follow the story.

I highly recommend Witness 8. If jumping in mid-series makes you nervous, this worked as a standalone. Now, excuse me while I read every book Cavanaugh has written.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Simon Audio for the gifted copies in exchange for an honest review.

Once a part of the elite community, Ruby has since been disgraced thanks to her father. Working as a nanny and a maid, she knows more about a murder than she lets on to.

Eddie Flynn, conman turned lawyer, has been tasked with representing her employer and the accused John Jackson. But Flynn is facing his own turmoil.

Although part of a series, I was able to read this completely as a stand alone. I’m sure fans of the series will enjoy this, but any reader of legal thrillers/mysteries will as well. It’s always to find a series to recommend to my husband - this is right up his alley.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books.

Wow this was quite the page turner!

This is the 8th book in the Eddie Flynn series but I didn’t realize that when I got it on NetGalley. I’m a stickler for reading series in order but I do not think you feel lost by reading this one first. But I do feel like I need to read the other 7 very soon.

This book makes you really think about who you met into your home and around your family. Ruby Johnson seems like a decent hardworking young nanny but she certainly isn’t. Read the book to find out just how bad she is, you won’t regret it. This is an excellent legal thriller. I finished it in 2 days.

**Thanks to the author and Atria Books for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.**

This book is definitely out of my comfort zone, but I still wanted to give it a try because the blurb sounded interesting. I've tried picking this book up so many times, but I just can't get myself immersed in it enough to read past the first few pages. This book is unfortunately not for me. Thank you to Atria for sending me an early copy!

Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh

Okay, this was my first Steve Cavanagh novel and it will NOT be my last. In fact I’m ready to campaign for Cavanagh Fan Club President immediately.

If you love a good police procedural that feels gritty, tense, and absolutely electric with psychological mind games…RUN, don’t walk to pick this one up.

The mystery was sharp.
The characters? A deliciously weird and obscure little lineup I absolutely adored.
And Mr. Christmas?? That man is unhinged in the best way possible. Seriously — no notes. But Ruby…yowzer.

It hit all my happy reader buttons:
Police Procedural Goodness
Psychological Twists
Obscure, fascinating cast of characters
Unreliable vibes
Big “trust no one” energy
Mr. Christmas, you are chaos incarnate)

Would I recommend this book?
HECK YES. If you like your mysteries tense, psychological, and a little bit unhinged…this one is absolutely for you.

One thing about me? I love Steve Cavanagh as an author, and will always say yes to another Eddie Flynn novel!

I first read Thirteen, and was OBSESSED! I haven’t gone back and read the others, and although Witness 8 is technically the 8th installment, Cavanagh does such a good job of dropping you right into the story, while filling in all the details at the same time!

Loved the multiple POVs, and loved the fact that I didn’t know where any one story line was heading! I felt confused at times, but it all came together at the end. There were a few twists I did guess, but the major ones I didn’t see coming!

I also love how these books all have trials within them, and the fact that Eddie Flynn is just that good!

Steve Cavanagh has written an unputdownable thriller. First, an ADA who has a slam dunk case but wants to settle with negligible consequences for the defendant - why? Second, maybe not so reformed con artist turned defense attorney Eddie Flynn understands the be all and end all is about money and who is shaking it from which tree. That is just the run up to the case he is about to catch and the characters involved in this engaging and high stakes story. The dialog was completely engaging, the story moved and zigged and turned and kept moving. The characterizations were well drawn and oh how they hit a certain type spot on. The cons are stupendous and the roads travelled scary.

Steve Cavanagh is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors of the crime/thriller genre. Many thanks to Atria/Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for a copy