Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
WOW! Seriously, the best courtroom drama/thriller I've read in a long time! Twists coming out of nowhere, murder happening left and right, and justice in more ways than one. I absolutely loved it and now my TBR just got a whole lot longer because I have to read everything Steve Cavanagh has written.

Two sisters on trial together for the brutal murder of their father. Each sister insists the other is guilty and evidence points to both. The chapters from the murderers POV will have your mind reeling. This book was full of suspense and is the definition of thriller. It was a quick read because I did not want to stop reading and it had me guessing until the last chapter.

My first by this author. I’m interested in reading past Eddie Flynn books. I love that he’s a former con artist.
This book didn’t give anything away as to who done it. It was neck and neck neck the whole way. I was not in love with the ending but did like the new friendships that developed.

The story is about two sisters, Alexandra and Sofia Avellino, who are both accused of killing their father. Each one says the other is guilty, but only one of them is telling the truth.

Eddie Flynn, a smart and clever lawyer, has to figure out who the real killer is. The book is full of twists and surprises that keep you guessing until the very end. The courtroom scenes are exciting, and the story moves fast, making it hard to put down. Without spoiling, I had a feeling where it was going which is why I’m giving it four stars instead of five.

If you like mysteries or legal thrillers, Fifty Fifty is a great book to try!

Book Review: Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Steve Cavanagh’s Fifty Fifty is a masterclass in deception, a legal thriller that keeps you second-guessing every motive, every alibi, and every carefully placed clue. The premise is deceptively simple: two sisters, Alexandra and Sofia Avellino, each call 911 to report their father’s brutal murder. Each one swears the other did it. One is lying. One is a murderer. But which one…
What Makes Fifty Fifty Stand Out?

While many thrillers rely on unreliable narrators, Fifty Fifty takes it a step further by making the reader feel like they’re in the jury box. The alternating perspectives between Eddie Flynn (a former conman turned defense attorney) and Kate Brooks (a rookie lawyer thrown into the deep end) create a layered, high-stakes courtroom drama where no one—not the attorneys, not the accused, and certainly not the reader—can be sure who is telling the truth.

Strengths:

✔ Unrelenting Suspense – Cavanagh structures the novel in a way that keeps you turning the pages, desperate for answers.
✔ Clever Courtroom Drama – If you enjoy legal thrillers that blend sharp strategy with psychological warfare, this book delivers.
✔ Mind-Blowing Twists – Just when you think you’ve figured it out, the story veers in a completely unexpected direction.
✔ Well-Developed Characters – Eddie Flynn remains a standout protagonist, but Kate Brooks’ perspective adds a fresh dynamic.

Potential Weaknesses:

✖ Some readers might find the pacing too fast—there’s barely time to breathe before the next twist hits.
✖ A few legal elements stretch believability, but that’s part of what makes it so thrilling.

Final Verdict:

If you love books that keep you guessing until the final page, Fifty Fifty is a must-read. Cavanagh has crafted a near-perfect legal thriller with enough twists and turns to leave you reeling. Even seasoned mystery readers will struggle to unravel this one before the shocking reveal.

I love the Eddie Flynn series – You feel the anxiety as if you were watching it all play out front and center. When you think you got it, NOPE, guess again! Thank you for the ARC Net Galley #FiftyFifty #SteveCavanagh #NetGalley

Two sisters, two 911 calls, one brutal murder ✨

It’s my boy, Eddie Flynn! In Fifty Fifty, we have multiple points of view, including that of Eddie a conman turned defense attorney, Kate- a young lawyer working to make her mark, we have diary entries from the deceased, and the point of view of the unknown- She who is obviously the murderer, but we don’t know who it is just yet.

Y’all. I love this series so much! I really thought I had the answers and knew what was going on, but I was so incredibly wrong up until the very end. I’ve been reading these completely out of order, but I think this is my favorite one so far!

This thriller kept me guessing until the very end—I never figured out the killer! I found myself obsessively analyzing the killer’s POV sections, trying to piece it together, but the twists completely surprised me. The multiple POVs were a highlight, adding depth and tension, and the courtroom scenes were absolutely gripping. While this book can definitely be read as a standalone, I enjoyed it so much that I’ll be picking up the rest of the Eddie Flynn series. A solid 5-star read!

Thank you Atria Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Entertaining and engaging. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

I found this to be an extremely interesting novel about a father who is murdered and it appears that one of his two daughters is the murderer. The investigative techniques utilized by the attorneys are enlightening as is the treatment of women in a law firm— both by her peers and the partner. There are many exhilarating aspects to the case and the reader can only guess as to the outcome of the trial. Having previously read several of the author’s novels (not in the order in which they were written), it was gratifying to discover how the legal team came together. This book is highly recommended for all devotees of this genre and I thank NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

Omg so in love with this book! I love how Eddie Flynn’s mind work and so determined to do this case as he is with all his cases. This is probably my favorite Eddie Flynn story. It made me laugh, cry, mad, just so many mixed emotions that played out and loved the story. Thank you NetGalley for this great opportunity!

Two frantic 911 calls - one made by Alexandra Avellino and one by Sofia Avellino reporting the murder of their father, former New York City Mayor Frank Avellino. The two sisters are in the home when the murder happens and blaming the other for the murder of their father. Who did it or are they both guilty? Eddy Flynn will represent Sofia in a case full of twists and surprises that keep you guessing until the end.

This is my first Eddy Flynn novel and I am hooked. Steve Cavanagh knows how to grab your attention from the first sentence. The characters are engaging and who wouldn’t love a stray dog named Clarence. Definitely recommend!

I want to thank Atria Books and NetGalley for providing an arc of this paperback in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this book! My only regret was not reading the first books In the series before this one. However, this author has done of the most rare things possible, which is seamlessly make a book I. A series that can also be standalone and it was so well done !
This book had me questioning who the suspect was til the last page. Loved it!

I really, really like this series. I haven't exactly read them in order, but every book has had great suspense and keeps you guessing the whole time. I love the team created by the characters, and the characters are always very well developed. A great legal thriller!

Thank you to Net Galley and Atria books for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Right from the beginning this story grabs you. I tried so hard during the entire book to figure out which sister killed their father. Just when I was convinced it was one something would happen that would turn the tides. The chapters from the killers point of view were my favorite as I wasn’t expecting that pov and how it’s labeled is perfectly frustrating. The book ended almost exactly as I had hoped once the killer was revealed. I was a little disappointed with the lack of romance because I so wanted it to happen. As someone who doesn’t normally read this genre I’m certain this book will live rent free in my head for some time.

This was my first Steve Cavanagh book, and I absolutely loved it! I flew through it in just two days because it had me completely hooked. The courtroom drama was intense, and I found myself deeply invested in every twist and turn. Eddie Flynn is such a compelling character, and I really enjoyed following his journey.

Cavanagh’s writing is easy to read, captivating, and full of suspense, making it impossible to put the book down. Even though this is part of a series, I appreciated that it worked perfectly as a standalone. I never felt lost, but now I definitely want to go back and read more to get a deeper understanding of Eddie Flynn’s background.

If you love legal thrillers packed with tension and sharp storytelling, Fifty Fifty is a must-read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

I was immediately hooked based on the summary alone! The premise was great and had SO much potential- I felt extremely invested in about the first 1/3 of the book, but then things kind of dropped off for me…
It seemed like every single clue was so purposely disproven for both sisters which left absolutely no way to guess the conclusion. The ending just did not provide the payoff I was hoping for- It felt like the author just picked the “give away” out of a hat. I would definitely try another book from Steve Cavanagh, but this one didn’t blow me away.

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @atriabooks for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is INSANE—in the best possible way! Fifty Fifty is like the most amazing, anxiety-inducing thriller movie playing in your head, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. From the first chapter, I was hooked, and the tension never let up.

Two sisters. One murdered father. Both calling 911, each blaming the other. But only one of them is telling the truth. As Eddie Flynn takes on one of the most high-stakes cases of his career, the twists and turns will leave your head spinning. Just when you think you know who’s guilty, Cavanagh throws another curveball, making you doubt everything.

If you love legal thrillers packed with mind-blowing suspense, Fifty Fifty is an absolute must-read. Steve Cavanagh delivers a masterclass in tension, misdirection, and nail-biting courtroom drama.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! This one is going to live in my head rent-free for a long time.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Wow! so many twists and turns following two lawyers defending two sisters accused of killing their father. Twists up until the final few pages of the novel. Great story line capturing not only the lawyers perspectives but the killers as well.

Do you love fast-paced mystery thrillers?

Fifty-Fifty will be your next favorite read.

Two sisters, One murdered father. Who is to blame?

This story is a driven by both plot and character with strong character development. The flaws of the characters are in focus and only one character is truthful.

Cavanagh delivers tension, misdirection, courtroom drama without the reader ever predicting the end of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.