This is the second Eddie Flynn book I’ve read, and he’s an entertaining character. This book contained two storylines: the murder of a NY socialite and a group out to get Eddie. The storyline about the contract on Eddie - even though it did intertwine with the other story - seemed superfluous and distracting from the more interesting part of the book.

Ruby is an absolutely bonkers character, and the book was most enjoyable when she was the focus. The reader needs a few leaps of faith with some of the assumptions and deductions that happen, but overall, it’s a fun book.

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

3/3.5 ⭐️
when a witness to a murder turns out to he more deranged than the killer. in this book we follow ruby- who grew up on the upper side but, after her father left her and her mother with nothing they struggled. as her mother's health declines the odd house cleaning/nannying jobs aren't cutting it anymore and she is growing increasingly desperate. overall its a decent thriller and having not read any of the other books in this series it wasn't super hard to follow along. i did find that there were a lot of characters and reading from the different POV's did make it a little confusing at times.

Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh was a great read. It was gripping and entertaining and I expected nothing less…There’s something wrong with Ruby and right from the get go you find out why. And things can only get better from there.

This is my first Steve Cavanagh book and I must say that I enjoyed it. I was a little worried when I found out it is a part of a series, because I have not read the others. While I feel that my reader experience would have been enhanced if I had read the prior novels, I still was able to enjoy this read without doing so.
I did have a little difficulty getting into the book. It was a little flat in the beginning and I believe that is completely my fault by not having prior introduction to many of the characters in this book. By around 40%, the plotlines really started to pick up and things began to grab my attention. The whole time I stayed curious of what Ruby's, the neighborhood maid/nanny, end game was. The other main character, Eddie Flynn, had his own issues he was dealing with on the side which gave the whole novel a more complex read. Again, I feel like I would have enjoyed his plotline more had I read the prior novels, but it was okay. I do intend to go back a read them. I did not find the twist shocking. I felt that it made sense and really could see it leading to that.
Reading this felt like watching an episode of Law and Order and I think that any fan of that show would also enjoy reading this series if they follow the same format.

Thank you so much to Atria and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy in return for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Witness 8 grabbed me from the very first page and didn’t let go. Ruby Johnson, the main character, is fascinating. Once part of the wealthy Manhattan elite, she now works as a maid, observing the lives of the rich and powerful from the inside. But when she witnesses a murder, her plans for revenge take an unexpected, dark turn. I loved how Ruby's character was so complex—she's unassuming on the outside but has this secret, dangerous side to her.

Then there's Eddie Flynn, the ex-con turned defense attorney who always seems to take on the most hopeless cases. His character is tough and street-smart, and the way he uses his unique skills to try and save an innocent man from a murder charge is nothing short of impressive. The tension throughout the story, as Eddie and his team fight against both the law and dangerous criminals, had me constantly on edge.

The plot twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end. While I could have done with a bit more depth in some secondary characters, the writing was fast-paced, and the way the story blended suspense, and mystery made for an incredibly entertaining read.

This is the 8th book in the Eddie Flynn legal thriller series. Normally I like to read a series in order, but so far reading a couple out of order (This one and Thirteen) has worked out. I really enjoyed them and look forward to reading the rest of the books. This one has a complicated plot, but one that comes together nicely by the end. I enjoyed the complex characters and the 'shades of grey' they present. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital advance reading copy. 4/5 stars

This is my first Eddie Flynn book and I will need to start reading the series at book 1.
Steve Cavanagh is a new author and need to read his back list. Than you for the ARC, much appreciated!

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Atria books for the ARC of this novel.

This book is a crime procedural that I don’t think I was expecting going into the book. I have read other books by this author but I didn’t realized until I started this book that it was part of a series.

I think if I had read other books in the series I would have enjoyed this more. I didn’t know the characters from the other books and I think that I just couldn’t fully invest in the book because of it.

Overall, I think if you have read the other book in this series you will enjoy this book.

3.5/5 stars rounded up to 4 for this review.

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I came so so close to DNFing this book at around 40%, instead I ended up just skimming a good portion of it. At this point of the book I just found myself not caring about anything going on especially things that weren't necessary to the main plot. The only two things that I found interesting were Eddie and Ruby.

For one thing when I first read the synopsis of this I had no idea that this was part of a series so I probably would not have requested this on Net Galley if I had known otherwise. It definitely could be read as a standalone but I still felt like I was missing out on things. There were also a TON of points of view, too many for my taste. With it being in a series every time a new point of view came up I had to ask myself who the heck this person was and if I was supposed to know them already or not.

I have read one of this author's standalone books and I would definitely read more of those but I wouldn't read anymore of this series. Though the main character Eddie is interesting, this book just wasn't for me.

I was genuinely excited to dive into this book, especially after how much I loved the author's first book in the series. I didn't release that this book was in the series associated with "The Defense". However, this book never captured my attention in the same way. I felt like this lacked the pacing and intrigue that I had with the first book in the series. I was disappointed throughout the entire book and felt boredom while reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the advanced ready copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was looking forward to giving this series a shot after really enjoying KILL FOR ME, KILL FOR YOU from this author last year. Unfortunately, this story was not really my thing. It's a gritty crime procedural set in NY with crime bosses and over-the-top heavy accents and overall just not my thing.

I was also surprised to find how many POVs and characters the story followed. It didn't feel like a very focused story - if it was just following the witness (the corrupt maid) I likely would've enjoyed it more based on my own personal reading preferences.

Thank you to the publisher for granting me access to an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions remain my own.

I love Steve Cavanaugh but this was not my favorite by him. I do like multiple POVs in thrillers but I felt like this book had too many that led to an unnecessary amount of storylines and the character development lacked as a result. The suspense was still present which moved the story along and the twists were mixed throughout as Steve Cavanaugh is known for but the lack of focus on a few characters especially main characters was a bit of this books downfall. I would still recommend reading it but not at the top of my favorites list. 3.25/5

WITNESS 8 by Steve Cavanagh

When Ruby Johnson, a former socialite turned maid, witnesses a murder, her testimony could make or break the case. But defense attorney Eddie Flynn realizes Ruby isn’t just any witness—she has her own dangerous secrets and agenda- that might not line up with the truth.

This was a gripping legal thriller with an unconventional lawyer. Even though it’s part of a series, it works well as a standalone. I loved Eddie’s character, but Ruby’s character felt a little too off from the start—I wish her true nature had been revealed more gradually. There were a lot of POVs, which made for a little confusion, and the ending felt rushed and left a few loose ends. Still, this was an entertaining, fast-paced ride that kept me hooked!

This is Steve Cavanagh’s first book I've ever read. I loved the mystery, development of the characters, and twists that can have you second guessing yourself. It was an absolutely amazing book & I would definitely recommend to others.

This is the first book I've read in the Eddie Flynn series, but I've been wanting to get into it. This one might have finally been last push I needed to start! Very gripping and a great read. I didn't feel like I was really missing anything by not reading the rest of the series first, which was nice too!

Thank you NetGalley for this opportunity!

It pains me to say this, but this installment fell flat for me. Aside from one unexpected twist, the crime plot and court case felt dull and tedious, and the antagonists—especially Ruby the Nanny—lacked the tension and intrigue I was hoping for. The regular characters were the saving grace, keeping me engaged enough to finish. I love this series and will absolutely continue reading it, but Witness 8 is the only one out of the five I’ve read that didn’t earn a five-star rating from me. That said, I still have three more to go, so hopefully, I have better luck with those! My opinion seems to be in the minority, though—most readers have absolutely loved this one.

Ruby is a maid to the ultra-elite. When she witnesses a murder, she keeps the information to herself for her own purposes. Meanwhile, Eddie Flynn, a streetwise defense attorney, is tasked with representing a hopeless case.

To be clear, this is not the typical genre book that I enjoy and I had not read any of Cavanagh’s detective stories before this one, but I am so glad I gave this one a chance! It has a courtroom thrills, mystery, many characters that defy ‘good and evil’, and some twists that may just change your ideas and opinions on the characters. It was a thicker book and took some time to get through, but I highly recommend. I could tell the characters had a rich background and I could have benefited from the knowledge from the previous books, but it didn’t take away from my entertainment.

“This happens every day in America. Innocent people get caught in a machine that destroys them and their families. I didn’t have a magic button to stop the machine. No fail-safe device. No cut off switch. Amid the roar of the grinding steel wheels of justice, I only had words. They were my sole weapon.”

Witness 8 comes out 3/25.

Steve did it again. This was a rollercoaster ride with Eddie and friends . One of the best series out there.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters in this book. I did not realize when I started reading that this was part of a series, but after some research learned that it would be okay to read as a stand alone book. I wish that I had read the whole series first, but still really enjoyed!

Buckle up, thriller fans, because "Witness 8" by Steve Cavanagh is one wild ride you won't want to miss! From the very first page, this book had me hooked, and I found myself completely unable to put it down.

Cavanagh's storytelling is like a rollercoaster - fast, thrilling, and full of unexpected turns. The pages practically turned themselves as I raced through the story, desperate to uncover the next twist. And boy, are there twists! Just when I thought I had it all figured out, Cavanagh threw another curveball that left me reeling.

At the heart of this gripping tale is Eddie Flynn, a defense attorney with a knack for conning his way to the truth. His confidence is infectious, and I found myself rooting for him every step of the way. What really sets Eddie apart is his unconventional team. They're a motley crew from diverse backgrounds, but their dynamics work brilliantly, creating a perfect blend of skills and personalities.

Then there's Ruby, the titular witness. Her character is a masterclass in complexity. Just when I thought I had her pegged, Cavanagh revealed new layers that made me question everything. She's the kind of character you want to dislike, but can't help but feel a twinge of understanding for.

As my first Steve Cavanagh novel, "Witness 8" has definitely made me a fan. The mind-blowing revelations, the intricate plot, and the compelling characters have me itching to dive into his backlist, especially the rest of the Eddie Flynn series.

If you're looking for a thriller that'll keep you guessing until the very end, "Witness 8" is a must-read. Trust me, you'll be as hooked as I was, and probably joining me in the Steve Cavanagh fan club!

Thank you, Atria Books and NetGalley, for my free books.