Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I just could not get into this book which actually bummed me out because I have heard good things about this author but with 9 POVs I just could not get into it. I was lost the whole time.

Stayed up absolutely wayyy too late finishing this one last night! SO good. This isn’t my first Steve Cavanagh book (I read thirteen several years ago & enjoyed it) so I had an idea of what to expect, but I loved that this can absolutely be read as a standalone. The author does a really good job of painting a full picture so that these are able to be read independently.

Eddie Flynn is a former con man turned trial lawyer who always has something up his sleeve. He’s constantly scheming, juggling so many things that I honestly forgot about some of the balls he had up in the air until they landed. This makes for a really interesting story since I was always wondering what the heck he was doing sometimes. Really fun twists but a lot of players to keep track of. Not a lot of court room drama in this one but lots of drama elsewhere.

My chief complaint is that there were almost too many POVs (nine I think) and that was a little distracting because I had to keep reassessing where we were in the timeline (meaning that something happened in character As chapter and then the next chapter is about character B but it’s now before what happened in character As chapter so you’re like wait what time is it?).

I really enjoyed this one and im looking forward to seeing where Steve Cavanagh takes Eddie Flynn & co. next!

Thank you to Atria books & Netgalley for the e-ARC. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Wɪᴛɴᴇss 8 ɪs ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴇʟʟɪɴɢ ᴘsʏᴄʜᴏʟᴏɢɪᴄᴀʟ ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ, ᴘᴀᴄᴋᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛᴡɪsᴛs ᴀɴᴅ ᴀɴ ɪɴᴛʀɪɢᴜɪɴɢ ᴘʟᴏᴛʟɪɴᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴜᴇssɪɴɢ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ.

Tᴏʟᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴍᴜʟᴛɪᴘʟᴇ POV ᴀɴᴅ sᴛᴏʀʏʟɪɴᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ᴡᴇʟʟ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴘʟᴏᴛ, ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ғᴀsᴛ ᴘᴀᴄᴇᴅ ᴘᴀɢᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇʀ ғɪʟʟᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇxᴇᴅ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs.

Tʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ sʜᴏʀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴏsᴛ ᴇɴᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴍɪɴɪ ᴄʟɪғғʜᴀɴɢᴇʀ, ᴜʀɢɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ᴛᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀɢᴇs.

Fᴀᴄɪɴɢ ᴏғғ ᴀɢᴀɪɴsᴛ ᴄʀᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴄᴏᴘs ᴀɴᴅ ᴠᴀʀɪᴏᴜs ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛs ᴛᴏ ʜɪs ʟɪғᴇ, ( ᴇɴᴛᴇʀ Mʀ Cʜʀɪsᴛᴍᴀs) Eᴅᴅɪᴇ Fʟʏɴɴ ɪs ᴘᴜʟʟᴇᴅ ᴅᴇᴇᴘᴇʀ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀɪᴍɪɴᴀʟ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀʙᴇʟʟʏ ᴏғ Nᴇᴡ Yᴏʀᴋ Cɪᴛʏ. - ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀ ʜɪs ᴄʟɪᴇɴᴛs ɴᴀᴍᴇ. Tʜɪs ᴋᴇᴇᴘs ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ ᴍᴏᴠɪɴɢ ᴀʟᴏɴɢ ᴀᴛ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋ ɴᴇᴄᴋ sᴘᴇᴇᴅ.

Tʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴅɢᴇ ᴏғ ᴍʏ sᴇᴀᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ I ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜʟʏ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ ғɪʟʟᴇᴅ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ.
I ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ Sᴛᴇᴠᴇ Cᴀᴠᴀɴᴀɢʜ's ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴋɴᴏᴡ I'ᴍ ɪɴ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴀ ɴᴇᴡ ᴏɴᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴇs ᴏᴜᴛ.

Yᴇs ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʜᴀs ɪᴛs ғʟᴀᴡs , ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʀᴛʀᴏᴏᴍ sᴄᴇɴᴇs ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ sᴄᴀʟᴇᴅ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ɪɴ ᴛʜɪs ᴏɴᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ ᴀ ғᴀᴠᴏᴜʀ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴍᴍᴇʀsᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪɴᴅ ɪɴ Fʟʏɴɴ's ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ. Aʟʟ ᴇɪɢʜᴛ ᴀʀᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇʀʟᴏᴄᴋᴇᴅ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴀs sᴛᴀɴᴅᴀʟᴏɴᴇs. Bᴜᴛ sᴛᴀʀᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴏɴᴇ ...Yᴏᴜ ᴡᴏɴ'ᴛ ʀᴇɢʀᴇᴛ ɪᴛ.

Tʜɪs sᴇʀɪᴇs ɪs ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴍʏ ғᴀᴠᴏʀɪᴛᴇs. Aᴘᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ɢᴏᴇs ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ Sᴛᴇᴠᴇ Cᴀᴠᴀɴᴀɢʜ, ᴀᴛʀɪᴀ ʙᴏᴏᴋs ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ ғᴏʀα ᴍʏ ɢɪғᴛᴇᴅ ᴄᴏᴘʏ. Mʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ᴡᴀs ᴠᴏʟᴜɴᴛᴀʀʏ.

This book continue the series of Eddie Flynn dramas and does not disappoint. It is a fast paced thriller with a lot of drama. I always look forward to new Eddie Flynn books as he is one of my favorite characters.

This book introduces Ruby as their villain and I was not a fan of her. Her character just did not have something that previous villains have had. However, they do introduce Lake and Mr. Christmas who I thought were great additions and supported the cast wonderfully. Once Mr.. Christmas was introduced I felt like it helped me like Ruby a little bit more as a villain.

All of the usual characters like Kate and Bloch remain steady through this book and I think that Bloch is really growing on me. Kate seems to have really taken off as a trial lawyer and is learning a lot from Eddie, so much so, she is able to support a lot of the trial on her own, while Eddie does some of the crazy side work while trying to not get himself killed in the process. This book has a lot going on, more so, than the other books. The author does a WONDERFUL job tying it all up in a neat little bow at the end! This was not a disappointment!

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

If I ever get in trouble I want Eddie Flynn on my side!!!!

This is my 2nd Steve Cavanagh book. ( first one : Kill for me , Kill for you (which I loved)) This is part of the Eddie Flynn Series but does stand alone. I love this writing style. Great mix of drama, courtroom drama and suspense.

Witness 8 is a solid thriller. The chapters are short and left me wanting to keep turning the page. The plot was great and told the story perfectly. I really felt bad for the Jackson Family. 

New alert: That Ruby is crazy, unhinged and above all loves her mother.  This story does show what money, power and crazy will do to people. LOVED IT!!!

I highly recommend this book.  I look forward to reading more Eddie Flynn books.

I really enjoyed this book. This story follows an ex con man Eddie Flynn who represents the underdogs of the world. You also follow Ruby who works as a maid for the elite in New York City where she used to be one of them before her father messed things up. I loved the twist and turns this book had. It really shows you what people are capable of when money is involved.

☆ARC REVIEW☆
Publication date: March 25, 2025

Gave a 2.5 stars but rounded up.

Unpopular opinion... I didn't love it. I absolutely have loved Steve Cavanagh's work and the new cover is so intriguing so I thought I was going to love this one.

Unfortunately there were wayyyy too many POVs and it took too long to get "thrilling".

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not a legal thriller reader, but it’s Steve Cavanagh so I wanted to give it a try. This story involves crooked cops, psycho nannies, a con-artist turned DA and a whole lot of hit men. There were quite a few characters in this story so it took a bit to get to know who everyone was. The story moves pretty fast, each chapter about a different character so you better keep up! I liked the twists in this book and the reveal at the end I didn’t guess. Is it bad to say my favorite character was Mr. Christmas? You’ll have to read this book to find out why…

Thank you Atria Books for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

There isn't another like Eddie Flynn no matter WHO he goes up against in the courtroom. HUGE shoutout and thanks to Steve, NetGalley + my favorite team over at Atria for this incredible eARC! LOVED IT!

What to Expect:
⭐ A classic who did it murder case with twists and turns
⭐ Legal Thriller
⭐ Multiple Villans
⭐ Multiple POVs
⭐ Courtroom drama

My Thoughts:
I haven't read something from Steve in awhile. He had me hooked on his Eddie Flynn books ever since I picked up a copy of The Defense. This one hooks you just as deep if not deeper!

Oe big note: If there is one thing you have to know and understand is that Steves books can feel chaotic if you haven't read them before! He really digs deep in his books. He takes time building a story and not just main characters BUT the secondary and third characters. No single character is brought in to the story without them having some impact on the overall plot. Which is why there is a bit of back and forth/character swapping and it all requires the reader to fully focus on which character is speaking. That was the case for me with this one.

When I started this book, I had to re-read the first 40-50 pages. I kept losing track of whether Eddie was talking, one of his "crew/colleagues" or a sub character of the story. It isn't unlikley to read a sub story to the current story with a sub character that ends up tying back to the overarching story.

All that to say, after getting fully focused I was HOOKED. I ended up flying through the last 50-60 chapters VERY quickly. Eddie Flynn is a fantastic character. He is a deep character with many layers and little to no fear. He fears more for the "family" he has around him. he is easily one of my favorite lawyer thriller characters I've yet to find.

That said this story is action packed, with interesting secondary characters, funny frenemies, and some deep corruption, violence and crime. This story has so many layers and when you start to think you have it all figured out, it doesn't end the whole way you think it will.

I truly enjoyed jumping back in to Eddies world! I am looking forward to picking up some others in the line!


Synopsis:
Something is wrong with Ruby Johnson.

A former resident of the ultra-elite Manhattan upper class, Ruby now works as a maid in the type of houses she used to live in. Unassuming, she sees everyone’s dirty secrets from the inside of their beautiful, renovated brownstones. But when Ruby witnesses a murder, she has wicked plans in mind that don’t involve telling the authorities the truth.

Eddie Flynn, streetwise ex con-artist-turned-defense attorney, is the only lawyer in New York City willing to take on hopeless cases. And none is more hopeless than John Jackson’s—the gun that killed his neighbor found, with Jackson’s DNA, in his own home. Flynn and his unconventional team will need to use every trick they know to keep an innocent man from being locked up. But to save his client’s life, Eddie must first protect his own, as the scariest organized criminals in the city are out for his head.

★ 4 Stars ★

Packed with twists, multiple villains, and Eddie Flynn’s sharp legal team, this fast-paced mystery keeps you guessing. A nanny witnesses a murder but hides the full truth, leading to an innocent man being accused. With evidence piling up, Eddie and his crew must unravel the real story.

I didn’t realize this was part of a series, but you don’t need to read the previous books to enjoy it. It works great as a standalone! Short chapters and mini cliffhangers keep the pages turning, and while some twists are predictable, others will leave you stunned. Cavanagh expertly ties it all together while teasing future surprises.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

Ruby Johnson, a former elite Manhattan resident turned maid, witnesses a murder and concocts a plan instead of telling the authorities. Eddie Flynn, a streetwise ex-con artist turned defense attorney, takes on the case of John Jackson, accused of a murder he didn't commit. Flynn must use all his tricks to save his client and protect himself from dangerous organized criminals.

I enjoy this author and his brilliant writing style! When I first got my hands on this book, I didn't realize it was part of a series. But now that I know, I can't wait to go back and read the previous books. However, let me tell you, this book can definitely hold its own and is just as thrilling even if you haven't read the others.

This was a gripping, fast-paced read that I simply couldn't put down. The clever twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating what would happen next. The main character, Ruby, goes through a major life change and witnesses a murder, only to frame her employer. While Ruby is a well-developed character with clever intentions, it's hard to sympathize with her due to her actions. Following Ruby, Eddie, and Mr. Christmas throughout the book adds depth to the story from different perspectives.

If you enjoy suspenseful tales of bad guys turning into good guys, courtroom lies and deceit, and a clever police procedural, then this book is a must-read for you! I highly recommend diving into the previous books before this one hits the shelves but rest assured, this story can definitely stand alone. Get ready for an exciting and thrilling ride!

Thank you, Atria Books, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What if the witness was more twisted than the killer? Ruby used to be a resident in the ultra-elite Manhattan neighborhood, after her parents fall from grace, she now works as a Nanny for her once neighbors. Ruby witnesses a murder and decides to use the information to her advantage. Eddie Flynn is the only lawyer in New York City willing to take on hopeless cases. And none is more hopeless than John Jackson’s—the gun that killed his neighbor found, with Jackson’s DNA, in his own home.

I LOVE a crime thriller/legal series! This was my first Eddie Flynn (number 8, can be read as a standalone) but I can definitely see myself getting caught up and loving the entire series.

Flynn is an ex-conman turned lawyer, and I adored his character, I was thoroughly entertained whenever he appeared on the page. While there were a lot of characters and POVs (9!), I was invested in each part of the plot and how the pieces came together. The pacing was great, the chapters were short and the reveals kept coming.

This is the kind of series I could follow for many years!

DNF @ 36%

After loving his last novel (Kill for me, Kill for You) I immediately went ahead and requested this book.

I should have done more research because this is part of a series and although the stories are definitely stand-alone (different mysteries to be solved in each book) I do think I would have benefited from reading previously published books in this series.

The characters became a bit unmanageable and I didn’t feel invested enough in the cases to power through. I would consider returning to this one after I had read a few others to help me catch up and fully understand the characters and their backgrounds!

My first by this author and will definitely be reading more because I love a courtroom thriller. There were a lot of characters and things happening, but the plot was still very easy to follow.

Ruby is a nanny for several families on one of the wealthiest streets in New York. She is simply the help and is never paid much attention to…until she witnesses a murder amongst these wealthy families.
Told in multiple POVs, this story unfolds in ways that are truly unpredictable.

I enjoyed this courtroom thriller! I had never read this author before, but I learned in reading this one that there is a whole series dedicated to the main lawyer, Eddie. I would recommend checking them out!!

Thank you @atriabooks & @netgalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

In this gripping novel, Ruby, a former resident of an exclusive neighborhood, now works as a nanny and housemaid for many of its affluent residents. One night, she witnesses a shocking murder, but instead of reporting it to the police, she makes an anonymous phone call and devises an elaborate scheme of blackmail. Unfortunately, the police arrest John Jackson, the wrong man.

Enter Eddie Flynn, a former con artist turned defense attorney, who believes Jackson is innocent and embarks on a mission to uncover the truth. As Eddie navigates the treacherous waters of deception, he soon realizes that someone is out to kill him.

This was my first Eddie Flynn novel, which is the eighth book in a series that can be read in any order. Flynn and his crew are well-rounded characters, and their complexities, along with a captivating premise and numerous twists, make this story a delight. Filled with intricate alternate storylines, this book promises to keep readers engaged, ensuring a thrilling experience from start to finish.

Once a member of the upper elite class, Ruby now works as a maid and babysitter for people who once used to be her neighbors. On her way home one night, she witnesses a murder. Eddie Flynn used to be a con-artist and now he is a lawyer. He takes John Johnson’s case – he’s been charged with murder after a tip lead to finding the murder weapon in his home. Flynn uses his team and their unconventional methods to keep their client out of prison and to prove his innocence.

This is the 8th book in the series. It can be read as a standalone but there are a few references to earlier books. I love Flynn’s character. His out of the box thinking as a lawyer is exactly what makes a lawyer successful. It’s what makes a good lawyer great, and who really helps their clients. As a lawyer myself, I enjoyed this aspect.

There were a little too many points of view in the book for my personal liking. There are a total of 9 points of view being told. At times, I would forget who someone was, or when one was introduced I had to ask myself “who is this again?” It just got to be a little too much for me.

Ruby was an interesting character and the plot surrounding her was great. There was another subplot occurring that I could have done without. Again, that’s my personal opinion. I did enjoy the twist at the end and thought it was a really good one.

I really enjoy this author and so even though this wasn’t the 5 star book I was hoping it would be, I will keep reading his work!

Ruby used to live in one of the brownstones on W 74th and now, after her father lost everything and they had to move, she is a nanny and housekeeper for the homes on the block while taking care of her sick mother. One night she witnesses a murder in one of the houses and can identify who pulled the trigger. Now attorney Eddie Flynn has taken on the case of the accused man and one of the neighbors, John Jackson and is having his own life being threatened. Why is John being framed, what secrets has Ruby been hiding and who killed their neighbor?

I love a novel that takes place in my hood - although I am not aware of a wealthy west 74th enclave. I liked much of this book however, there was a giant plot hole that was driving me crazy for much of the book and I think that took away from some of my enjoyment. I like that the author places his novels in my neighborhood, but I liked his last one (Kill for Me, Kill for You) better. While I enjoyed the audio (I actually thought the narrator was Steve Buscemi at first - which btw would have been amazing!) but there was a bit of confusion on my part and had to go read the book to fully catch up and fully understand what was going on (there was a Eddie Flynn side story that confused me).

3.75 stars

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC to review

This book is the newest in the Eddie Flynn series. This is the first book I’ve read in the series, so it can be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed this book. I was on the edge of my seat through most of it. I highly recommend it. I loved it so much that I am adding the rest of the series to my TBR.

This is my first Eddie Flynn book by Steve Cavanagh, however I have read Kill for Me, Kill for You, which I rated 5 stars. This story follows defense attorney Kate Brooks, who takes on a murder case that seems impossible to win—especially with Witness 8, a mysterious key witness, testifying against her client. But as she digs deeper, things start to unravel in ways she never expected, putting both her case and her life at risk.

The pacing is pretty good with short, addictive chapters that make it easy to fly through. There’s a big twist, of course, and while it was unexpected it didn’t completely impress me. I was hoping for just a little more of that jaw-dropping moment that I felt multiple times in Kill for Me, Kill for You.

That said, it is still an entertaining read, and I’d recommend it to anyone who loves a fast-paced legal thriller.