Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for granting me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was shocked by this book! I did not know what to expect going into it, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was gripping from the very beginning and it hooked me in. The suspense was suspensing and I had to keep going to figure out who was actually the killer.

Two sisters are accused of brutally killing their father. One sister has diagnosed mental health issues and the other is typical. They go into the courtroom pointing the finger at the other one so you don’t know who to believe. It grabs you right from the beginning with the 911 calls that come from within the house from both sisters saying the other sister killed her dad.

Why I Rated It 5 Stars
The tension in the story was undeniable. It had me guessing at every turn as to who the killer was. At every point I was changing my mind about which sister was the killer and the twists and turns were very twisty.

The characters were well written. I love the idea of an ex-con turned lawyer defending people. He was witty and brilliant. The storytelling was on point as well. It was immersive in the courtroom and within the city of New York. It was an experience and I couldn’t stop listening to it. I will definitely be checking out the rest of the Eddie Flynn series.

Overall, if you like psychological thrillers, you need to read this one. It was fabulous and well-done.

Review posted to GoodReads on 8/26/25

Another solid offering from Steve Cavanagh. i love that this can be read as a standalone. so anyone out there who feels intimidated (or lazy, if youre like me. lol) by the #5 but thinks the synopsis sounds interesting, then go ahead and pick this up. you will still get a full and rewarding reading experience!

While a fast read, this wasn't my favorite. Granted, this is also my first Eddie Flynn novel, so maybe having more backstory would have been better? Overall I felt the characters lacked depth and that there wasn't much to the ending of the book.

Fifty Fifty is a gripping legal thriller that pulls you in from the very first chapter. Two sisters are found in their father’s home the night he is murdered. Both place frantic 911 calls each blaming the other. With blood and DNA tying them both to the scene, the case heads to trial in a unique setup: two separate defense attorneys, Eddie Flynn and Kate Brooks, representing the sisters in the same courtroom at the same time.

This book is packed with twists and turns that keep you on your toes, constantly questioning who is telling the truth and who is the better liar. As the trial unfolds, you start to uncover a chilling pattern of other murders, raising the stakes even higher. The fast pace and sharp writing make it hard to put down, and the courtroom tension is masterfully written. The biggest question lingers all the way through: will the real killer walk free, leaving the wrong person behind bars?

Fifty Fifty is a must-read for fans of legal thrillers and anyone who loves a smart, twisty story that keeps you guessing.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

Lawyer becomes involved in a high profile murder case involving sisters. They accuse each other of the murder of their father. Parts of the story felt cumbersome, as if intentionally getting in its own way. I also felt that the characters personality changed from time to time making it less realistic. Great promise to the story and I’d still read another of his novels. Thanks to NetGalley for the read.

It’s an easy read. That being said, for me, it was missing the ability to pull me in and make me devour a mystery/thriller to find out what happened, that I love so much about the Genre. You won’t be disappointed in this book by any means.

Fifty Fifty is a fast-paced, twisty, and suspenseful thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story pulls you in immediately and never lets go, layering clever misdirection with shocking reveals that make it nearly impossible to put down. The courtroom drama is razor-sharp, and the shifting perspectives keep you constantly second-guessing who to trust.

The tension builds brilliantly, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, another twist turns everything upside down. The pacing is spot-on, with short, punchy chapters that drive the story forward and heighten the suspense. It’s one of those rare thrillers that truly keeps you on edge until the very last page.

The only reason I didn’t give it a full 5 stars is that a couple of the turns felt slightly over the top—but honestly, that’s part of the fun with a book like this. Overall, Fifty Fifty is a gripping, high-stakes thriller that fans of courtroom dramas and psychological suspense will absolutely love.

I think I expected too much going into this one, which is why I was somewhat disappointed.

The premise that two sisters are accusing each other of the murder of their father is fascinating, and the back-and-forth perspectives of each sister were well done.

It's a fast-paced read that I enjoyed, but I was hoping for a little more surprise at the end.

Still a solid four stars!

Thank you to #netgalley for this ARC of #fiftyfifty

I'd been hearing about Steve Cavanagh but never picked up one of his books, until now. And I'm hoping they're all like this, because this novel blew me out of the water!

First of all, the premise. Two sisters, both accused of their father's murder. Which one did it? Was it Alexandra, the perfect daughter, the apple of her father's eye, basically perfect in every way? Or was it Sofia, the daughter that self-harms, is constantly causing trouble, a woman that has everything but it's just not enough?

Being that I've never read a novel by Cavanagh, this book introduced me to Eddie, a lawyer who had some bad luck in the past, but has a heart of gold. I absolutely adore Eddie, he's just the type of MC that you really hope will continue in books for so long.

I found myself speed reading through this novel. I made assumption about what I thought was going on, but I had absolutely no idea. And it was SO GOOD.

Get your hands on this book now.

In Fifty Fifty, Cavanagh delivers a razor-sharp courtroom thriller fueled by tension, misdirection, and breakneck pacing. When two sisters accuse each other of murdering their powerful father, defense attorney Eddie Flynn must untangle lies from truth in a case where both women seem equally guilty. Cavanagh’s mastery of suspense, clever twists, and authentic legal drama make this an addictive page-turner. Perfect for fans of John Grisham and Michael Connelly, Fifty Fifty is a smart, high-stakes legal thriller that keeps readers guessing until the final verdict.

I loved this! The Eddie Flynn series is right up there with my other favourite character like mickey haller and Bosch!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

This book hooked me from page one. There was so much back and forth about who the killer was, that every time I thought I had it figured out, some new evidence would appear that would make me question my judgement. By the time the true killer was revealed, my head was spinning. Steve Cavanagh hits it out of the park with this legal thriller! I can’t wait to read more of his work.

Steve Cavanagh's Fifty Fifty is a masterclass in legal thrillers. From the very first page, I was hooked by the high stakes courtroom drama and the brilliantly deceptive plot.
The premise is irresistible! Two sisters, each accusing the other of brutally murdering their father. Both are manipulative, both have motives, and both are on trial but only one is guilty. As the case unfolds, the tension is unbearable in the best possible way.
What sets this book apart is Cavanagh's ability to misdirect without ever cheating the reader. Eddie Flynn, the street smart con man turned lawyer, is as
compelling as ever. His charisma, sharp instincts, and moral code make him one of the most likable protagonists in the genre.
The courtroom scenes crackle with energy and authenticity. And the twist? Absolutely killer. Just when you think you've figured it out boom Cavanagh flips the script. Easily one of the best legal thrillers l've read in years!

Two sisters make identical 911 calls about the stabbing of their politico father and each blames the other for the murder. Long dissociated, dad's new will could be the motive for this crime.

Thus starts the trial of the two sisters by two engaging lawyers, each who are convinced their client is innocent. The intricacies of whether you prosecute the sisters as a couple or individual trials makes for interesting legal procedure.

Eddy is a former con man with contacts and fascinating associates that help him prepare his case. Kate, the other attorney, trying to make a place for herself in her office has high aspirations and her own set of distinguishing helpers .

There were so many times as a reader I bounced between the guilt of the suspects: so sure of one, when a new twist led me back to square one....almost as much as their lawyers did.

The personalities of all the characters add so much more to the telling of this wild tale. I hope to see them all working together again.

This is a well done tale full of twists and turns that leaves the reader wondering what to believe, who the killer is, and how they managed to frame their sibling. The two women are as different as night and day; one is a 'good girl' with a good job, active social life and is an overall golden girl. She's the light of her father's life. The other sister is the 'bad girl' She has a myriad of mental health issues including frequent self harm and struggles through life. She is considered by man, especially her sister, as a failure.

This is number 5 in the Eddie Flynn series. I have not read the other books, so I was a little bit lost on some references, but it read just fine as a stand alone. Eddie is a scrappy lawyer who isn't above skirting the rules a bit to get to the truth. He and his team dive into this mystery believing that their client is innocent but having that faith buffeted by contradicting evidence.

We see inside the killer's mind but don't know who she is. It's fun to try piecing together any clues you can glean to try and guess her identity, but Cavanaugh is really good at dangling that carrot just out of reach.

This is a solid read with an intriguing plot and good characters. Definitely worth getting.

When picking up this book, I didn't realize it was part of a series. I found it could be read as a stand alone. I really enjoyed it and want to start at the beginning. This book had me hooked and I found it so twisty. Looking forward to more books from this author and I will be checking out the backlist.

Best thriller I've read in some time. It was fast paced and the story had me so captivated, I just needed to know which of the two sisters was the killer.

It definitely keeps you on your toes, I kept thinking I knew where everything was going, but in reality I was guessing till the very end which is what I want when reading thrillers and mystery books.

Would recommend to anyone who loves a whodunit that keeps you guessing.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Usually I'm a big fan of this author. This story just moved a little slowly. As always the legal aspects and thriller parts were on point.

I slept on this one and I’m so sorry I did! This was so freakin good! Steve Cavanagh is really killing it out here. Characters are well written, fun to follow and so interesting. Makes the story much better! Loved the plot of this one and the multiple POV was done perfectly! Fantastic story!

MURDER - Two sisters pointing fingers...at each other. Well, which one was it? Who do you believe?

Oh man, Steve Cavanagh is the best. His characters are well-fleshed out and loveable and his stories are fun and exciting and keep you on your toes.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.