Father’s Day

Having enjoyed Steve Cavanagh's "Witness 8" and "Th1rt3en," both captivating Eddie Flynn novels, I was happy to see Atria Books releasing "Fifty Fifty" in the US, an earlier entry in the series originally available elsewhere in 2020. These thrillers are the perfect solutions to reading slumps, books that will have you staying up much too late to knock off one more chapter.

Eddie is a former conman turned defense attorney. This background adds more opportunity to spice up a courtroom drama setting. In “Fifty Fifty” Eddie is defending one of two sisters accusing each other of brutally butchering their father. The prosecution decides to try the sisters together, hoping to convict both, but convinced they will receive at least one conviction.

The two sisters could not have more different personalities. Eddie’s client, Sofia, has a history of mental problems and seems to be the odds-on-favorite to take the fall. The other sister, Alexandra, is strikingly attractive and a social butterfly. In chapters labelled “She,” we see the unidentified murderous one methodically killing off any threats to her alibi. Cavanagh has us jumping back and forth throughout, trying to see if we are being duped into misdirection. It is so obvious who is guilty…is it? No, that’s what he wants us to believe… wait, no…

Cavanagh is a master. At the risk of sounding sacrilegious, I rank Eddie Flynn just ahead of Michael Connelly’s Lincoln Lawyer escapes. Wonderful choices to make.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #FiftyFifty #NetGalley

Why don’t I read thrillers more often?! If I’d had had the time to devour this in one sitting, I most certainly would have. To say I was hooked from the first page is an understatement.

The inner-connectedness of the characters and the way this book had me completely second guessing everything was perfection. One second I was SURE the killer was this person and the next moment I felt they were innocent.

I have no clue how this was my first Steve Cavanagh book but it definitely won’t be my last.

A fast-paced thriller that grabs you literally from the first page. I was not aware this was a re-release, so this series was very new to me, but this is the fifth installment in the Eddie Flynn series. I really enjoyed reading from all perspectives, the storyline and character development was very well done. The court room setting at times felt a bit too wordy for me, and I did feel myself zoning out at times. Overall, the fast pacing of the book kept me guessing and reading until the very end!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own

This was a super compelling and addicting read! It’s the fifth book in the Eddie Flynn series but the first one I’ve read, and my first book from the author. After this I will definitely be picking up more. We follow Eddie as he represents one of two sisters accused of murdering their father, both sisters are blaming the other but as the story progresses we see that they both have motives and means. I definitely flipped back and forth in who I thought was the murderer and although ultimately I came to the right conclusion early on I still enjoyed seeing how the story played out. I guess I don’t read many legal procedurals because this was a different point of view for me, usually we follow the police investigation side of things but I enjoyed seeing the ins and outs of the court process. I also really liked that the author put a lot of thought into the legal aspects of forensics, I thought it was a very realistic take on how things typically happen. I am definitely excited to read more by this author!

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for this e-ARC that I chose to read and review

Having never read one of the other Eddie Flynn books from Steve Cavanagh, I was worried that I would be missing a lot of back story. But I would have never known this was a series. While I did guess the killer based off one particular sentence that stood out to me, I loved all of the back and forth and twists and turns. It was a wild ride

DISCLAIMER !!
I requested this book without knowing it was part of a series. So for me personally, I felt the need to read the first four books, and by the time that was done this book had already been released. I bought it and read it physically. This review will be for the physical book and sadly not for the arc, I am sorry if this is an issue.


I loved this book ! It was my favorite out of the Eddie Flynn novels yet. I liked that we are getting a bit darker and more series, it really will reel you in. I read this book in one sitting, because it was so interesting and was not able to be put down.
I can’t wait to continue the series and see where they go !

Thank you, @SSCav and @AtriaBooks for my free book. #AtriaPartner

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Fifty Fifty (Eddie Flynn, Book 5) by Steve Cavanagh
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 384 / Genre: Psychological Thriller
Original Release Date: August 26, 2020
Paperback Release Date: June 3, 2025

Alexandra and Sofia are sisters on trial for the brutal murder of their father. They accuse each other of the crime. Defense attorney Eddie Flynn is representing Sofia. Is she the innocent victim in all this or is she the cold-blooded killer?

This case was so juicy and twisty. My guess on who the killer was changed after almost every chapter. So good! While this is the fifth book in the Eddie Flynn series, I read this as a standalone. He gave enough background so I didn’t miss out too much, although I would’ve gotten more out of the recurring character storylines if I had read the series from the beginning. I’ve read books 1 and 8, but definitely plan to go back and read the rest at some point.

I think I might have rated it 5 stars had I had more time to focus on it.
Sophie and Alexandra Avellino are both on trial for the murder of their father. Except only one of them did it. Eddie Flynn and Kate Brooks both think their clients are innocent, except one of them is a killer. But which sister is the murderer? And which attorney backed the right horse?
I really liked the method of storytelling for this one! Just when you thought you had it figured out because a clue was dropped something would pop up that would make you think the other way.
I will say I think I figured out who the killer was before the reveal but I really enjoyed how it all unfolded.
I’m definitely going to be going back and reading more of the books in this series! I loved that you didn’t need to read the earlier books to enjoy this one!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Once again, I am amazed at how good this series is. I think this may be my favorite so far.

If you like thrillers but haven’t tried this series yet, do it!!!!

This was my first Eddie Flynn book, but that was okay! I wasn’t lost or confused with any characters. The story pulled me in and even though I didn’t get to follow along with Eddie from his earlier journeys, this standalone journey was worth the ride.
I felt the connections with the other characters that Eddie had created and it pulled the story together. I enjoy the storyline and boy did it have me holding my breath!
Looking forward to reading more from Mr. Cavanagh's library.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All comments are my own.

Cavanagh's background as a former lawyer infuses the courtroom scenes with authenticity and intensity. The pacing is relentless, with sharp, concise chapters that propel the reader through the narrative. The clever misdirection and unexpected twists challenge the reader's assumptions, making for a truly engaging read.

While the novel primarily focuses on the legal drama, it also subtly touches on themes of family dynamics and the complexities of human behavior. The character development, particularly of Eddie Flynn, adds depth to the story, making it not just a thrilling legal battle but also an exploration of personal morality and justice.

In conclusion, Fifty Fifty is a standout entry in the Eddie Flynn series, offering a gripping narrative, well-crafted characters, and a plot that keeps readers guessing until the final page. It's a must-read for fans of legal thrillers and anyone who appreciates a well-executed mystery.

I knew after reading my first Eddie Flynn novel that I was in for the whole series. Fifty Fifty wasn’t my favorite, but I’m excited to continue my way through the series.

“Fifty Fifty” by Steve Cavangh is a legal procedural thriller. I found the plot engaging and twisty. It dragged at a few moments but I think that was because some parts were significantly faster paced. This book is from the middle of a series, but works as a standalone. Over all I was left guessing as to the murder and pleased with the reveal.

Fifty-Fifty is about two sisters that accuse each other of murdering their father. Eddie Flynn represents Sofia in the murder trial and Kate represents Alexandra. This is a high profile case because their father was the ex mayor of New York Frank Avelino.

Steve Cavanagh does a great job of you thinking it was one sister and then the other sister. This is the second Eddie Flynn book I read. I like how Kate and Eddie come together to try and solve which sister was the guilty party. I didn’t expect it to end like it did. All in all if you like court room drama and crime books I would recommend the Eddie Flynn series. I look forward to reading more Eddie Flynn books.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC copy for an honest review.

I received "Fifty Fifty" an an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my review.

This was my first book by Steve Cavanagh and if any of his other books are anything like "Fifty Fifty," then I am a fan. Any book that makes me want to continue reading and not want to put it down, is a winner in my book. I kept going back and forth on who I thought was the killer. I fell in love with the characters and the story line held my attention the whole time. I can't wait to read more by this author.

And what a wild ride that was?

Basic premise: two sisters are on trial for the murder of their father. They each blame the other sister, but who is telling the truth, and who is trying to hide it?

From the get-go, the reader is thrown back and forth by each side. We get POVs from both sister's attorneys, Kate and Eddie (our main character), and "she", which is the killer sister, whose identity is not revealed until the end. From all these angles, the reader is convinced that, without a doubt, one sister is the killer, but by the next chapter, we are convinced it's the other. I loved this stylistic choice by the author. It amps up the suspense, it makes the reader question their own sanity and complicates everything along the way. Loved, loved this way of writing.

I knocked one star down for some parts that seemed to drag out. There were moments that felt nonessential for the plot that could have been omitted. I think there were some added characters that didn't necessarily need to be there. I was hooked from the beginning, then the middle dragged on for me, and then I was hooked again about 3/4 through.

I would definitely recommend this for someone who is into police procedurals, thrillers or true crime lovers. I would read this author again and would definitely enjoy some more novels with Eddie at the helm.

I want to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story had me captivated from the very beginning. 2 sisters accusing the other of murdering their father. The twist and turns of this story will keep you on your toes. I didn’t realize this was a rerelease but and so glad I got the opportunity to read it.

Steve Cavanaugh does it again when he pits sisters against each other in his newest release, Fifty Fifty! This is another Eddie Flynn book, and it will keep you guessing the entire way. Who killed former mayor of New York City, Frankie Avellino? Both sisters were in the home when it happened. Both sisters called 911. Both sisters have been accused of the murder and are now on trial together. Eddie Flynn represents Sofia Avellino, and if you've read an Eddie Flynn novel, you know he always represents the innocent party. . . or does he?

Seriously, this book has you on the edge of your seat all the way through. You will constantly be changing your mind about who you think the killer is. There are some shocking twists and turns along the way. And you will also meet delightful new character Kate Brooks, an up and coming lawyer who I think we will probably see in some later books.

Here's my one gripe about Eddie Flynn, and this is probably because I'm a defense lawyer by trade. Eddie prides himself in representing only innocent clients. He investigates/vets them before he will represent them because he won't take the case if they did it. I feel like this is a little bit unrealistic in the real world. However, this book does touch on Eddie's reasoning behind his philosophy and I can appreciate it. And Cavanaugh's writing does make up for my cynicism when it comes to this part!

Many thanks to #NetGalley and #AtriaBooks for and ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first thriller in a while and I was really pleased with it.

The middle section had my heart racing, at every turn I thought I knew what was going to happen but I was consistently wrong.

I'm going to be thinking of this one for a long time, think Menendez Brothers meets psychopath.

I requested this one off NetGalley after reading Kill For Me, Kill For You and it did not disappoint.

Did not get to read - have way too many books on the shelf. Need to clear some out. Hope to get to this one in the future though.