**Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria, and Steve Cavanagh for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!**

"That's the problem with being a semi-reformed criminal: you are never free from guilt. Exposure is always just a phone call away." - Eoin Colfer

Although Eddie Flynn has been careful to keep his checkered past under wraps, there's always the lingering threat of being discovered to keep him TRULY on his toes. Life as an ex-con is complicated enough, but Eddie has chosen to put his years of being on the wrong side of the law to good use: he works as a defense attorney willing to take on cases that nobody else would EVER consider...and you'd better BELIEVE he's going to win every last one. With his solid knowledge of New York's seedy underground network of criminals, lawyers, judges, and those on both the right side (and wrong side) of the law, Flynn has made a name for himself...and he has no intention of letting up, no matter how challenging the case.

...And he's about to land a real doozy. Ruby Johnson, who has been working as a maid for some of New York's brownstone-dwelling elite after a fall from social graces of her own, has had a horrifying day: she has witnessed a murder. But Ruby has far more on her mind than helping to reveal the killer...and curating a perfectly crafted story of what REALLY happened that fateful day is at the top of her list. It is neighbor John Jackson's DNA that is found on the murder weapon and he becomes an easy suspect. As we soon learn, however, Ruby's own malicious and revenge-fueled desires might be purposely leading Eddie Flynn in the OPPOSITE direction of protecting his client John Jackson. Can Eddie and his crack team get to the heart of the matter before Jackson gets locked up for good? Or will the same group of mafia thugs that has been tailing Eddie for so long FINALLY get their chance to bring his empire crashing down to dust...permanently?

Whenever a book series has more than say, 3 or 4 installments, I tend to doubt it's going to be for me. It takes SUCH a strong and prolific writer to not only world build at a level that justifies so many books but demands them. When it comes to thriller serials, especially, I am not one to gravitate towards the James Pattersons of the world (or even Agatha Christie novels...YET! They are on my list!) so despite an enthusiastic fan base and several glowing reviews from trusted fellow readers, I still had quite a bit of hesitation picking up this EIGHT installment of the Eddie Flynn series from Steve Cavanagh...and even more so because I opted to read this as a stand-alone novel to sort of 'get a feel' before diving in more or exiting the pool (so to speak).

But I'm glad summer thriller season is nearly upon us and my beach towels are at the ready...because my first experience with Eddie Flynn and his colorful cast of characters got me PSYCHED to dive even deeper into this particular backlist (and to stay and splash around for QUITE a while!)

After LOVING my first encounter with Cavanagh in Kill For Me, Kill For You, a standalone psych thriller with a Hitchcock-inspired plot, I knew Cavanagh could write a stunning twist...and needless to say, this book does have a couple. Moreso though, rather than the thrill-a-minute psychological warfare of my prior Cavanagh read, the Eddie Flynn series focuses more on the syndicate as a whole and reads as a cross between a legal thriller and an action thriller. And while I do feel that reading the series in order would be beneficial, I was relieved to feel confident in the decision to read this book as a stand-alone novel: Cavanagh gives quick and efficient recapping of important characters, and although a main cast of 7+ characters would NORMALLY be enough to give me the ick all on its own, I felt an affinity for them fairly quickly and can see why the fan base feels the same.

So what exactly makes these characters sort of spring to life? Solid, intriguing narration from several perspectives is enough all on its own to keep the plot moving - Ruby has all the devious hubris of an unreliable narrator that you will absolutely LOVE if that's your jam, and hitman-for-hire Christmas could have his own series too! Though perhaps the 'hunting Eddie' plot would be more thrilling and better informed by the prior books, I got invested in the character and his devious methods and brilliant mind pretty quickly, and was rooting for his victory from the jump. Though the plot definitely moves at an action thriller pace (read: breakneck at times) the legal proceedings and some emotional scenes help to balance out the chaos and add a bit of gravitas to keep this from dipping into pure popcorn territory. Though I'm not sure if I'd want Eddie representing me, since he IS a Defense Attorney, I guess that says something about me? (HOPEFULLY that I'm just a law abiding citizen...but it wouldn't be so bad having him on speed dial just in case, that's all I'll say!)

And with the next installment right around the corner (at the time of this review, it is only slated for a UK release) it seems that this wily, crafty, and cunning protagonist might have '9' lives after all!

4 stars

This was the first book I have read in the Eddie Flynn series and it definitely stood on its own. Eddie has a team of several great characters supporting him, and I suspect prior books helped readers to know them better. I look forward to getting to know them when I go back to the beginning.

This book gave me Lincoln Lawyer vibes, at least the TV version. Eddie Flynn is scrappy and crafty and I enjoyed his creative antics.

At times, the writing felt choppy and I found it hard to get into the rhythm of his writing. I do intend to read the next book in the series to decide if I will go back and start at the beginning

If you love a courtroom trial, you have to read this! I understand why people love Cavanagh's books. I couldn't put Witness 8 down!! I flew through this and enjoyed every minute of it. Highly recommend for a bingeable thriller.

(4.5 stars)
Eddie Flynn is back! And boy, is this a twisty and clever story. Eddie Flynn is a defense attorney in New York City, but he’s not your typical lawyer. He was once a con artist himself and is extremely street-smart. Witness 8 is (appropriately enough) the eighth book in this wonderful series.

The main story: Ruby Johnson used to live on West 74th Street in Manhattan (a very upscale area for those who don’t know NYC), but her family fell on hard times when her father disappeared and they were left with his debts. She now lives in a small apartment in a decidedly less posh neighborhood with her sick mother, and gets by with jobs for people who currently live on West 74th. She cleans, she babysits/nannies, etc.

One night on her way home, she witnesses a murder in a house on the street. She sees the murderer go back to a party down the block. She comes up with a scheme to get money out of the situation, to escape her miserable life and pay for her mother’s care.

John Jackson is a pediatric brain surgeon and he is accused of the murder. He says he’s innocent and Eddie Flynn is asked to help with the case because that family’s attorney doesn’t usually do criminal/murder cases. Jackson is the father of one of the families Ruby works for.

A subplot involves Eddie ticking off some police officers who were pulling a scam involving tow trucks and now he has a price on his head. Because of this, we get introduced to an interesting hit man who goes by Mr. Christmas.

There are definitely moments of humor sprinkled throughout the book. One of my favorites was when Eddie asked a few young associates from the posh law firm engaged by the Jacksons to do something unusual. I don’t want to spoil the fun so I’ll just leave it there.

Witness 8 can be read as a standalone, but if this is your first Eddie Flynn book, I guarantee you’ll want to go back and read the rest. (Confession: I’ve only read two others so far!)

Every time I read one of these books, I find it remarkable that an author who lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland can write so accurately about NYC. I’m quite familiar with the city and it drives me nuts when I read books that are inaccurate about places; this never happens with Steve Cavanagh. Either he’s spent a lot of time in NYC or he’s got a wonderful consultant/editor who makes sure things are spot-on.

Highly recommended.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

DNF at 10%

This book did not hold my interest. The writing was stilted and the characters were unlikeable. Also, it was not made obvious that this was a rerelease, or that this book is number 8 in a series.

This story was so well done and I really enjoyed it. I enjoy reading from this author and I'm looking forward to the next book. The plot was really well explored and I enjoyed the overall story. The characters were great and I was able to dive myself into this book. It was well done and I highly recommend. This book was so good.

This was a really interesting story to follow. The key witness being the make or break in the trial, was something that was really timely for me (I just got done with jury duty, LOL!)
It was drama filled and kept me guessing til the last minute.

I’ve never been a big fan of legal thrillers. Courtroom drama just isn’t my thing. But there is something about the way Cavanagh writes legal thrillers that makes me want to ignore my huge TBR pile and devour every single book he’s ever written immediately. I’m not kidding.

Cavanagh’s books have a sense of humanity that sets them apart, and I think that’s why I love them. His characters are flawed. The good guys have complicated pasts, the bad guys can be morally gray, and even the truly terrible villains sometimes have moments of redemption. Everyone feels real, layered, and human. Reading his stories feels personal… like I am right there inside the narrative. That’s the best way I can describe how I feel about his books.

Witness 8 had me hooked from the start. The setup, the investigation, the characters, the dialogue, the ending… everything was intense, frustrating, and satisfying in equal measure. It was fast-paced and compelling, and I’m not saying another word about the plot because I refuse to spoil a single thing.

I love Eddie Flynn. He is honestly one of the best depictions of a defense attorney I’ve ever read. Because he has seen both sides of the law, he is fearless, determined, protective, and calculating. He is also wildly unpredictable and never hesitates to bend the rules when necessary to make sure justice prevails. If I ever found myself in serious legal trouble, I would want the real-world version of Eddie Flynn in my corner without a doubt.

This is the 8th book in the Eddie Flynn series, and while each book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend starting from book one if you haven’t read any yet. I promise you’ll be hooked.

Thank you @netgalley and Atria Books for the eARC, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I had no idea that this was part of the Eddie Flynn series, but I am not obsessed and reading the other books of the series! I loved this thriller and really enjoyed the characters. The writing is suspenseful, and I appreciate the humor to the story as well. If you are looking for a well written thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, I highly recommend!

Witness 8 is a new Eddie Flynn book that has so many twists and turns. Eddie is an ex-con who is now a defense attorney. He is hired on by a local neurosurgeon who is accused of murdering a neighborhood woman. He insists that he is innocent and the trauma that his family endures becomes overwhelming. He can’t work and is ostracized by everyone that he knows. Eddie and his team put together a defense through interesting methods.
There is the direct story and then side stories that become intertwined by the ending. This story flows well and it is fun to revisit these characters.
Highly recommend!

#Witness8 #NetGalley #AtriaBooks

Steve Cavanagh has a masterful way of weaving intricate plots around Eddie Flynn, only to pull the rug out from under you in the most unexpected ways—and Witness 8 is no exception. As always, there’s a gripping courtroom case at the center, but what really elevates the story is the chaos happening in Eddie’s life outside the courtroom, adding layers of tension and intrigue.

Also worth mentioning: the narrator for the Eddie Flynn audiobooks is phenomenal. The range of voices and energy he brings to each character adds so much to the experience. If you're into legal thrillers with clever twists and fast pacing, this one won't disappoint.

This was such a thrilling book. I enjoyed it from start to finish. I will be recommending it to my friends and family.

I was surprised to learn that this is part of a series. Steve Cavanagh did it again though by providing a twisty whodunit that kept me entertained. I am now interested to read more books in this series featuring con artist Eddie Flynn. This book was well paced and thought out and kept me engaged and not wanting to put the book down.

Book Title: Witness 8
Author: Steve Cavanagh

What’s it about?
A fast-paced legal thriller centered around a mysterious witness in a major trial. As the story unfolds, nothing—and no one—is what they seem.

Favorite Part:
The courtroom scenes were gripping and well-paced. Every twist raised the stakes and made it impossible to put down.

Thoughts on Characters:
The characters, especially the witness, were complex and intriguing. I appreciated how Cavanagh layered motives and blurred the lines between truth and deception.

Would You Recommend It?
Absolutely. Fans of legal thrillers and twisty plots will love this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with the opportunity to review this book!

This one was just ok. I had a lot of trouble getting into the story line and caring about any of the characters. I like the concept, but it just didn’t quite do it for me.

Absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish. Everything exceeded my expectations — the quality, the service, and the overall attention to detail were top-notch. It’s clear that a lot of care and thought went into every aspect. I felt valued and appreciated throughout the entire process. Whether you’re new or returning, you can count on consistent excellence. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to anyone looking for something truly reliable and worthwhile. Five stars well earned! I’m already looking forward to coming back again. Thanks for such a smooth and enjoyable experience. Keep up the amazing work!

I'm a big fan of Cavanaugh and this was another good one. I am not a big fan of multiple POVs so that is why I marked it down a little. If you enjoy his writing styles, as I do, then you will enjoy this latest one. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was better than the last installment and kept me on the edge of my seat, it teetered off towards the middle but was able to pick back up. I look forward to what’s next from Steve Cabanaugh and his legal/crime thrillers.

3.5⭐️ - the story was interesting overall, but it dragged at points and some of the complications seemed unnecessary and/or unrealistic.

I love a good thriller and have been looking for new-to-me authors, which is why I requested this one. I really enjoyed this read--thanks so much for the gifted copy I can't wait to read more of his books--I've been seeing them everywhere and not sure how I hadnt picked one up until now