Cavanagh is excellent at his craft- he evokes emotions and depth in each of his characters, leaving you wanting more. Eddie Flynn is a lawyer I would want in my corner- precariously balancing that fine line between legal and illegal, knowing how to bend the system to best suit his clients. His motley crew of employees are quirky, funny and endearing. Ruby, the possible antagonist, is odd and eccentric, with somewhat of a vendetta towards her past that remains a bit unclear until the end. This book has all the twists, turns and side stories (including a hired hit, framed suspects, and a budding romance) needed to make a great novel! Thank you to #NetGalley and #AtriaBooks for the Arc!

Happy for another Steve Cavanagh! An intertwined tale of the suspect and the witness. Well written and kept me engaged.

This was a fast paced read with complex character development. It had several unexpected turns and ended up being quite the joy to read.

Another great thriller by Steve Cavanagh. His writing is always so well done. Loved the multiple POVs between the attorneys and the witness. Each character had specific characteristics where you could easily tell them apart. Legal thrillers always intrigue me, especially with all the detailing of the investigation and trial. Maybe that’s just me? 🤣 Would absolutely recommend!!

This was the first Eddie Flynn book I read. I wished that I had read the other books before this one because there were a lot of characters to keep track off and figure out who they were.

Witness 8 is about Ruby Johnson who witnessed a murder on 74th street. She used to live in the neighborhood/street until her father lost all their money. Now she worked as a nanny/maid to some of the families on the street. She keeps the investigation on their toes as they try to solve the murder and Eddie tries to clear his client of the murder charges.

Before Eddie takes on the case of the surgeon John Jackson who was accused of murder he upset New York’s finest. They put a bounty on his head, so while he is defending the surgeon and trying to find the real murder he is also trying to stay alive. Mr. Christmas is one of the hitmen who comes to New York to take out Eddie but realizes he knows one of Eddie’s team members. He then wants to find out more about Eddie and his ties with Lake. I enjoyed Mr. Christmas and hope that is in further books.

This book has a lot of twists and the ending ties them all together and some of the ways I would have never guest.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for giving me an ARC copy of Witness 8. I look forward to reading more in the future.

4.25⭐️ This was a fun read. I couldn’t put the book down. I had to know who and why. I started to figure out a couple things towards the end, but loved how the book wrapped it all up. Eddie Flynn is one of my favorites to read about, and can’t wait for the next one. Thank you NetGalley for the Arc.

Witness 8 is a wild ride from start to finish—fast-paced, full of twists, and absolutely bonkers in the best way. There are multiple storylines at play, each more bizarre than the last, and while they all come together in the end, there were definitely moments where I felt like I was barely keeping up. But honestly? That chaos worked. It was the kind of controlled mayhem that keeps you turning pages late into the night.

This was my first Eddie Flynn book (even though it’s book eight in the series), and now I completely get the hype. Eddie is brilliant—smart, strategic, always five steps ahead of everyone else. He’s the kind of character you root for, even when everything is falling apart around him. The courtroom scenes were some of my favorites—sharp, suspenseful, and dripping with drama.

Then there’s Ruby. Whew. Her antics were a lot. She was doing the absolute most at all times, and while her extremes occasionally made me pause, she definitely added to the overall unpredictability of the story.

The suspense never let up, and the action scenes kept my heart racing. It was a lot to take in at times, but if you’re into twisty thrillers with courtroom drama, clever characters, and a slightly unhinged vibe, Witness 8 delivers.

Now excuse me while I go add the rest of the Eddie Flynn series to my TBR…

Really enjoyed this one! only my 3rd book from this author, and i've enjoyed everything i've read from him so far! Witness 8 is a gripping legal thriller that masterfully blends courtroom drama with psychological suspense. The narrative centers on Eddie Flynn, a former con artist turned defense attorney, as he defends John Jackson, a man wrongfully accused of murder. The case becomes increasingly complex as Eddie's investigation uncovers layers of deceit, placing both his client and himself in grave danger.

Already, Steve Cavanagh - I'm sold.

Not only did I love the story, I was head over heels for the richly drawn characters and cannot wait to read more by this author - especially anything involving Eddie Flynn.

I thought this was a fantastic and really creative book. I loved the premise of a master manipulator who gets away with murder...and framing others for murder. The pacing was great, the characters were well drawn out and really interesting, and I just couldn't put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm really looking forward to reading the previous books in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Steve Cavanagh for the advanced digital copy, in exchange for an honest review.

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.

When I requested this, I was not aware or didn't pay attention that is was book 8 in the Eddie Flynn series. Regardless, I enjoyed it thoroughly and in my opinion could be read as a stand alone. Well I may have been missing some backstory, it did not feel that way. I understood and had a good perspective of all of the characters and their quirks and personalities. I like the combination of legal/cop/psychological thriller with some good humor and sarcasm dropped in!

Pub Date: Mar 25 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Eddie Flynn is back! When a neurosurgeon in NYC is framed for the murder of a rich socialite, Flynn and his team take on the case. It is clear that his client is innocent but proving this when his fingerprints are on the murder weapon which is found in his closet will prove to be difficult. Cavanagh adds some mayhem generated by dirty cops and paid assassins to the already complex case. I thoroughly enjoyed this. The ending was obvious but I hadn’t figured it out. This is among the best, if not THE best, of the Eddie Flynn books and I highly recommend it. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I was unable to finish this and thus will not be posting a full review. I wasn't engaged and this book just wasn't for me.

I was excited to receive this book, not realizing that it is a part of a series but none the less it was amazing. I love the way the author writes and kept my attention with the twists. I will definitely go back and read the whole series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Witness 8 is the 8th-installment in Steve Cavanagh's Eddie Flynn series, but the 1st-book I've read in the series. There's nothing like starting at the end. LOL -- I'm so excited that I already have 2-other books from the series on hand, because I'll definitely want to be picking them up as soon as possible. This was captivating and a thoroughly-intriguing mystery!!

If you aren't familiar with the series, as I wasn't, it does indeed follow Eddie Flynn, a criminal defense attorney, as well as his team, as they investigate, work and defend various cases in and around New York City.

In this novel, they're representing John Jackson, a wealthy man from the Upper East Side, who has been accused of shooting one of his neighbors. Jackson's DNA was on the gun, which was also found in his home. It seems like a hopeless case, but Eddie is confident Jackson is innocent and he fully intends to clear his name.

Also involved in the case is the girl who actually witnessed the crime, Ruby, who works as a maid in the upper-class neighborhood. Unfortunately, she's anxious to use her knowledge for her own benefit, not the benefit of the police, and certainly not to the benefit of the Jacksons.

There were some other side-plots that were a little less compelling for me, but nevertheless, they made the book stacked with content to keep the Reader entertained. I have a feeling, one of the side-plots in this, which revolves around Eddie, would be more intriguing to Readers who have read the series from the start, as they would be more attached to him emotionally.

With this being said, I enjoyed the entire thing, though I was a little less invested when it was exploring topics outside of the main murder case. I immediately vibed with Cavanagh's writing and he wasted no time kicking off this story, which I appreciated. It pulled me in from the very first pages. It's not an uplifting story, to say the least, I felt bad for many of the characters and what was happening to them, but it is a gripping story nonetheless.

Thank you to the publisher, Atria Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm really looking forward to reading the backlist books in this series!

Great thriller - my first from Cavanaugh (and of the Eddie Flynn books). I really liked that I was able to read this standalone without feeling like I’ve missed a ton of the Eddie Flynn story — I never felt lost.
A quick binge read keeping you on your toes as the web of lies keeps getting spun and trying to figure out how everything is connected.
Highly recommend and can’t wait to pick up the next one in this series!

Loved it. Started out kind of slow and a little disjointed with quite a few characters speaking. It didn't take long for Cavanagh to bring them all together in a way that made sense. Also lots of action, especially towards the end of the book, as well as twists that weren't expected.
I will definitely read the other Eddie Flynn books! I didn't realize this was a series.

Witness 8 is a gripping, well-crafted crime thriller that pulls you in from the very first page. This is a book within a series, but I do think it can be read as a standalone. The characters are deeply engaging — you quickly find yourself attached to them, invested in their fates, and eager to see where their stories lead. The details feel authentic, adding a layer of realism that makes the twists and turns even more compelling. If you enjoy a thriller that keeps you guessing and delivers well-developed characters along with a believable plot, Witness 8 is definitely worth reading.

I feel like sometimes it’s a little difficult to share a review of a thriller or mystery book because I fear I’m giving away too much or spoiling the story but this book was so twisty and interesting. The author does a great job at pulling you in and keeping you interesting. The story moves very quickly and the characters are very dynamic. I’ve never read a book quite like this before but I’m glad it was so different. I’m curious and would love to read more from this author because I enjoyed this book so much. I will be checking out more of this series.

WITNESS 8
Steve Cavanagh

This is my first time reading Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn series. I was told I could jump in in the middle of the series and not be lost or spoiled which is true.

In WITNESS 8 we are following Flynn on his newest case. A man has been accused of murder and it seems like a lock tight case. There is a weapon, motive, and opportunity.

But with Flynn on the job anything is possible.

I liked but did not love WITNESS 8. I enjoy Cavanagh’s writing but I think I will stick to his novels that do not feature Eddie Flynn.

The story was good. It kept my attention throughout. However, there wasn’t anything within the text that has compelled me to follow along with the series.

Have you read the Eddie Flynn series? Will you be picking up WITNESS 8?

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copies!

WITNESS 8…⭐️⭐️⭐️

Eddie Flynn is back with another doozie of a case but then again do we expect anything less from Steve Cavanaugh? Dr. Jackson has been charged with first-degree murder in an affluent neighborhood in NY. Eddie and his team are, of course, working against a lot of obstacles in this unputdownable new thriller to put the right person away.

Not only is Eddie trying to keep his client out of prison, but he’s also trying to stay alive. Can he do both? You’ll have to find out by reading Witness 8.

I can see so many opportunities for other stories that should be told from this fantastic novel such as the stories of Ruby, Esther and Mr. Christmas. The way everything is woven like a fine piece of lace is phenomenal!!