Witness 8 introduces us to Ruby Johnson, a nanny and maid on Manhattan's West 74th Street. One night, she witnesses her neighbor Margaret's murder. Knowing both the victim and the killer, Ruby makes an anonymous call to the police, but she doesn't tell the whole truth. There's something unsettling about Ruby, and her actions set off a chain of events that pull in Eddie Flynn, a former con artist turned defense attorney. Eddie takes on the case of John Jackson, a pediatric brain surgeon accused of the crime, and must navigate a web of deceit to uncover the truth.​

👨‍⚖️ Legal Thriller – The courtroom drama is intense and central to the plot.​
🕵️‍♂️ Amateur Sleuth – Ruby's involvement adds an unconventional investigative angle.​
🔄 Unreliable Witness – Ruby's dubious credibility keeps readers guessing.​
💥 High-Stakes Tension – Eddie faces personal threats while defending his client.​

If you're a fan of authors like John Grisham or Michael Connelly, who masterfully blend legal intricacies with suspenseful storytelling, you'll likely enjoy Steve Cavanagh's work.​

In conclusion, Witness 8 is a gripping legal thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. With its complex characters and unpredictable twists, it's a must-read for fans of the genre.​

​I received an ARC from NetGalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Steve Cavanagh, and Atria Books for the eARC. This was a fantastic detective mystery, packed with twists and turns intricately woven into the narrative. Steve Cavanagh's ability to craft a complex story with multiple characters and plotlines that seamlessly come together is truly impressive. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

⭐️: 3.5/5

I had no idea going into this that this is technically part of a series of interconnected stand alones. I think because of that, descriptions for the main characters were lacking. I cannot tell you what Eddie looks like. I’ve got nothing. Not knowing this was part of a series did hinder my experience just a little. That’s my fault not the writers.

With all that being said, I did really enjoy this story. Specifically Mr Christmas. I’m so intrigued by him for only being somewhat of a minor side character. The way this ended did set up for another book, which I will be reading. Something about a con man being a lawyer makes a normal procedural book interesting.

🚨Book Spotlight🚨
*
Thank you @atriabooks and @stevencavanaugh Were you a fan of Kill for Me, Kill for You ?! He’s got a new book out 🥳. This is part of a 8 part series, but you can easily just jump into this book without reading the previous books. It’s a combination of Housemaid, police procedural, and more. Definitely a super fun and quick read!
*
Summary- 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.
*

I’m excited to add another new to me author to my thriller author list!

Despite Witness 8 being the eighth book in the Eddie Flynn series, I decided to make this my first book by Steve Cavanagh. This book was delivered as a psychological legal thriller with con men & multiple villains and it delivered. This book has many twists and turns so it kept me engaged until the very end.

I did find there were too many characters to keep track of, and this could be because I’m starting the eighth book where these characters have been introduced in previous instalments.

Overall, I enjoyed this and can totally see why Cavanagh is loved for his propulsive thrillers. I’m going to pick up his beloved standalones Thirteen and Kill For Me, Kill For You since this was such a quick and grasping story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the arc in exchange for an honest review. This one hits the shelves March 25!

First of all, I had no idea this book was part of a series. I definitely have to go back and read the rest of the books.. What a character Eddie Flynn was!! You will absolutely love him..

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Unfortunately, I did not connect with the stories or the plot of this book. With that being said, I am interested in checking out more by Steve Cavanaugh in the future as he seems to be extremely popular...

So I’ve been obsessed with @sscav since discovering this series. And oh my God was this worth a wait. I love the Flynn series so much. The character development is always fantastic. The expressive detail makes you feel like you’re watching a movie instead. I would actually love for this to become a TV series. The way the Bosch books were done. I was pretty much hooked from page one. So much excitement right upfront. This is very much a fast paste read and don’t be surprised if you wait up all night just to finish it. Can’t wait to buy it.

Steve Cavanagh delivers a gripping legal thriller with Witness 8, a fast-paced and twist-filled ride that keeps you guessing until the very end. Eddie Flynn, the sharp-witted former conman turned defense attorney, is once again thrown into a case where nothing is as it seems. This time, he’s defending a wealthy man accused of murder—but the only witness has her own dangerous secrets.

What I loved most about this book was the intricate plotting and constant tension. The courtroom drama is intense, and the multiple perspectives add layers of suspense. Cavanagh is a master at misdirection, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, another twist changes everything. Eddie remains a fantastic protagonist—cunning, relentless, and always a step ahead.

That said, Witness 8 does juggle a lot of moving parts, and at times, the number of characters and perspectives made it feel a bit overwhelming. Some plot threads could have been more streamlined for a smoother narrative flow. Still, the twists kept me hooked, and the ending was incredibly satisfying.

If you enjoy legal thrillers with sharp dialogue, high-stakes courtroom battles, and morally gray characters, this is definitely worth picking up. Witness 8 is another strong entry in the Eddie Flynn series, proving once again why Cavanagh is a standout in the genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book will keep you guessing what is going on until the end. My mouth dropped at the ending.
A nanny/housekeeper/helper who used to live in the affluent neighborhood witnesses a murder when she's walking home. This starts a whole slew of who done it's and brings in people from the outside that add some crazy to the story but also have you asking how is this all going to work out.
There were a couple slower times in court that I could have done without the long spiels but that I guess added to the suspense and what pans out in the end. It is a wild book. Steve Cavanagh has quite the mysterious imagination.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I love Eddie Flynn!! If you have not started this series and you enjoy thrillers, I highly recommend starting it immediately! You will not be sorry. Each book is a standalone mystery but I recommend starting at the beginning to meet all the side characters that become a part of Eddie’s team/family.

This story was so good! It was fast paced and action packed. I enjoyed the investigation and the court scenes. I love all the side characters.

The only thing I’m disappointed about is I have finished the book and now have to wait for the next one!

Thank you @atriabooks @sscav and @netgalley for the eARC of this book!!

Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh is another Eddie Flynn legal thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The novel revolves around Eddie Flynn, a former con artist turned defense attorney, as he faces off against a corrupt system to defend his client. Cavanagh always masterfully builds suspense and clever twists making every page full of emotion and interesting dialogue. The character development is rich, especially with Eddie Flynn, who is both charismatic and deeply flawed. The courtroom drama is intense and fast-paced, with unexpected revelations that challenge both the characters and readers. Overall, Witness 8 is a a must-read for fans of legal dramas and favorites of Steve Cavanagh.

The main character, Eddie Flynn, is a con-artist turned lawyer with questionable practices. He’s whip-smart and frequently outwits his opponents.

In Witness 8, Eddie’s latest client is a wealthy family man accused of killing his neighbor. The only witness to the murder, has sinister plans of her own and clouds the investigation in order to reclaim something she lost. With one twist after the other, Witness 8, kept me at the edge of my seat waiting for the next surprise!

This was so good! The narrative was definitely different than any book I’ve ever read. It was fun to try to piece together what had actually happened. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time!!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release. Witness 8 had a lot going on. Too many characters to juggle, honestly. While the twists were there, I struggled to stay invested. Loved "Kill For Me, Kill for You" though! Looking forward to his next book.

Ruby is a former Upper East Side resident until her father runs off with another woman. Now, she only cleans their houses and cares for their children... until she witnesses a murder. Eddie Flynn, a conman, turned lawyer, takes on a client accused of murdering his Upper East side neighbor. When murders begin to happen, all around this case, Eddie knows something is off. Now, he must figure out what that is all while avoiding being killed thanks to the hit put out on him.

There is nothing like an Eddie Flynn novel. You can't help but root for the guy who knows how to con a con and still influence a jury. His devotion to his clients and friends shines through in every sense. Cavanagh lets you think that you have the story figured out but then throws a curve that makes perfect sense. The only issue with this thriller is that there were too many storylines to follow.

WOW! I loved Witness 8. I What a fast paced psychological thriller full of twist and turns. The characters are multi-faceted and even some of the bad people have very redeeming qualities. The book is told from the POV of many different characters (Eddie, Bloch, Ruby, Ben Gray, Kate, Mr. Christmas, Harry, Lake, Angel & finally The Man).

This is the 8th book in the Eddie Flynn series. I haven’t read any of the others and didn’t miss out on any of the previous contest. This book works as a standalone read. I can’t wait to read other books by Steve Cavanagh. I really enjoy his writing style and storytelling.

Thank you to NetGalley & Atria Books for letting me read this ARC.

𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 4/5 ⭐️

Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh is an action packed, fast-paced thriller that leads you on an interesting story from multiple perspectives.
We follow several characters throughout the book each having something to offer to the story.

Eddie is an ex conman turned lawyer who only represents those he believes are innocent and Ruby is a young woman who has a hard life and would do anything to protect her mom. These were the two characters that stood out the most to me.

I liked a lot of the other characters as well but I felt that Eddie and Ruby were the ones who really told the story. Eddie was great. He was smart, funny, conniving, and his heart is in the right place. Ruby was very unlikeable throughout all of the book but was an important part of it.

This had a lot of moving parts and you definitely need to pay attention. It could get confusing at times with all the action and the perspectives.

I really thought the ending was interesting and definitely seems to set it up for another book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Ruby Johnson has had a hard life. Sick mother, abusive father, and the desire to run away from it all. Fortunately for Ruby, she witnesses a murder while walking home from work. This murder has the ability to change her life for the better. Unfortunately for Ruby, her boss is falsely accused of being the murderer. Even worse, Eddie Flynn is his lawyer.

This book could have been very good. There were a lot of interesting elements and plot points that could have made it a truly engaging thriller. However, there was just so much going on that it made it hard to concentrate. The biggest problem was the sheer number of narrators and perspectives this book is written from. 8 different narrators, not including the epilogue. Had this book been more focused on maybe 4 of those perspectives, it would have felt cleaner, easier to understand, and more engaging as you’d be able to better connect with the characters. I just felt disconnected from all of them, and because there was so many people to follow, the book failed to get into the story and characters as deeply as it could have. It felt very shallow.

I read a lot of thrillers, and I am truly not sure I’d consider this a thriller. It is more crime drama, and almost felt like I was reading an episode of law and order but without the cops solving the crime. (I love law and order so this wasn’t a problem.)

I’d consider reading this author’s standalone novels to see if maybe I prefer those. All in all, it was not a bad book, but one I wouldn’t reach for again.

Ruby's family used to be rich, but her father lost everything because of his gambling, before he disappeared and left Ruby and her mother alone. She now works as a maid/nanny in the neighborhood she used to live in, and she desperately wants to be part of that world again. When she witnesses a murder in one of the homes, she grabs the opportunity to cash in and change her life. She knows both the victim and the kller, so she calls the police anonymously with the killer's name. But is she telling the truth?
This legal thriller/mystery is book 8 in the Eddie Flynn series, but you can pick this one up before reading the rest, as each books covers one case. It started out great, but as it went on, I thought there were too many POVs and too many things going in, which made it hard to follow. I did not see the twist coming, but I have to admit I was so lost through the whole thing that I stopped caring, so I was not paying as much attention as I should have. I've read many fantastic reviews, so I just think this one was not for me!
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.