Thank you, NetGalley, for the digital copy of this book.

Two sisters accuse each other of murdering their father. Two defense teams, 1 trial. Eddie Flynn takes the case of Sophia, who he believes is the innocent sister. Kate Brooks takes on Alexandra, who she also believes is innocent. Eddie and Kate work to get a not guilty verdict for their respective clients, but which will win out.

The is told from Eddie and Kate POVs. There is also a POV of "She" who is the murderer, but we don't know which one. Loved this story as it kept me flip flopping between which of the sisters was actually guilty.

This is the 5th book in the Eddie Flynn series, but they do not need to be read in order (in fact I have read them all out of whack and I haven't been lost yet).

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review. I thought that this was an ARC (as in unreleased) but when I added it to my Goodreads it says it was already released? I’m assuming they just re-released them with new covers for the release of the new one, Witness 8, either way, I’m happy to be able to read them. I feel that there are very few legal thrillers that have appealed to me as much as the Eddie Flynn series, with its unique premise each novel delivers a compelling legal thriller again and again. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a legal thriller or enjoys thrillers that have a bit of a slow burn but also are very entertaining and compelling.

Two sisters are arrested for the murder of their father. Both claim innocence and accuse the other. Which one is lying?

🤩 What an incredible premise for a book!
Fifty Fifty was my first book by this author but it will certainly not be my last! I love a book with some good courtroom trial drama and this one delivers. I loved the way it was told from Eddie, Kate, and the killer’s pov. Eddie is great and I’m excited to go back and read the books that came before this one. It’ll be bittersweet, I’m sure. Kate was amazing. It was really interesting to see both of their perspectives because they both believed in their client’s innocence. We get to see the truth unravel along with them and I loved it. A true page turner for me. I finished it one day because I needed answers! The pacing was perfect and I never lost interest. If you enjoy legal thrillers then read this immediately! ♟️

*Alexa play ‘She’ by Elvis Costello.*

Eddie Flynn does it again! Two sisters are found in their father’s home when he is discovered dead by the authorities when they both call 9-1-1 to report his injuries and accuse the other of his murder. Eddie finds himself defending Sophia while her sister, Alexandra is being defended by a smart but new defense attorney. People are dying and nobody can figure out which sister is at fault. This story is one that will keep you guessing.

This story was a fast paced legal thriller whose chapters were a little bit on the longer side but so captivating that I hardly noticed. It is told through multiple perspectives including the killer.

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

Fifty-Fifty (Eddie Flynn #5) by Steve Cavanagh.

I rated this 3.5 stars (4 stars).

Alexandra Avellino has just found her father’s mutilated body and needs to call the police right away.

Sofia Avellino has just found her father’s mutilated body and needs to call the police right away.

Each sister believes the other did it. Both women are to go on trial at the same time in front of one jury. One of them did it. But who? Eddie Flynn, a lawyer and ex-con man, never takes a case he can’t solve from the start but this one has him confused. Eddie represents Sofia Avellino, who is likely seen as the more guilty sister. One of the sisters is a true monster who is seeking out their father’s 45 million dollar estate, and has kept her monster side hidden.

I started this book not knowing it was a reprint or the 5th in a series, definitely can be read as a stand alone though, did not feel like I was missing out on a lot of info. This was my first legal thriller book, I enjoyed it but not something I will gravitate to often more keen on watching it in a show instead of a book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This is another great story in the Eddie Flynn series. It did a great job of keeping me guessing and wondering what the actual truth was. I never cared much for legal thrillers until I started reading Steve Cavanagh and I think that’s because Eddie is such a complex, flawed, interesting lawyer and it makes me much less dry to read. I can’t wait to finish the rest of the series!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for a free eARC in exchange for my honest review!

A 911 call, 2 sisters who hate each other, a murdered father, and a DA who wants a conviction regardless of which sister actually did it.  The sisters each insist they are innocent and that the other one is the murderer.  In book 5 of the Eddie Flynn series, Eddie takes the case of one of the sisters and tries to figure out who is the liar and who is innocent.

This is my third Cavanagh book and my favorite so far.  I read book 4 of the series and this one was so much more fun for me to read.  I read it in a day because I had to know who  the murderer. was (I could ot go to sleep without knowing).  There are multiple POVs telling this story (including an anonymous "She" who is the murderer).  Personally I could not figure this one out from the bread crumbs of clues Cavanagh sprinkled around.  I do have one issue that would only bother me - a lawyer in the story is sued for breaching her non-compete and non-solicit - BUT in NY State non-competes are not enforceable against lawyers.  This is a great popcorn thriller that instantly engrosses and delivers the twists!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC to review

Absolutely incredible thriller! I loved the differentiating characters and moments in time. It was so wild to read the murderer's point of view along with the opposing lawyers. I loved the twists and turns in this!!

I typically don't read legal thrillers, but I was so intrigued by the premise that I had to give it a shot. 2 sisters on trial where one killed the father and they're both blaming the other. Their defense attorneys are both convinced their client is the innocent one.

This was my first Eddie Flynn book - I was a bit worried that starting with book 5 would be confusing or problematic, but I didn't run into any issues. The author did a great job of giving me enough background that I wasn't confused but I don't think any veteran readers would be irritated with too much re-explaining. I felt like I was missing some background details on the characters' relationships but it wasn't to the detriment of the book. It made me want to start on book 1 to learn more about everyone.

The story is told from multiple perspectives, including the murderer, "She". She'll refer to "Sister" in her chapters and it was really interesting to get her perspective throughout the story and how she's manipulating events.

The story felt a bit heavy on the "judge/prosecutor bad, defense attorneys good". The judge was a white supremist and the prosecutor was pretending (?) he was as well to curry favor.

I really enjoyed the final reveal on the murderer. It felt believable and appropriate. The story was resolved in a very satisfactory way, including some of the smaller plotlines. I'm excited to both go back to the first book as well as read books after this one.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advance review copy.

this one was a 9/10! it was intriguing, and the plot was very creative and exciting. 911 calls simultaneously from estranged sisters accusing eachother? count me in. the story was very tense, which i love. worth a read.

Thank you NetGalley and Steve Cavanagh for sending me an ARC of Fifty Fifty.

This book was a solid 4.5 star for me. Two sisters are on trial for murder and each one is accusing the other. Who do you believe is telling the truth?

In this book you are following both sisters' lawyers as well as the guilty sister who is "she". The chokehold this book had on me. Steve Cavanagh just has a way of writing situations that make your jaw drop to the floor. Loved the courtroom part of this book.

If you're looking for a wild ride, check this book out! Cavanagh is officially an auto-buy author for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Steve Cavanagh, and Atria Books for the eARC. This was a gripping legal thriller with a refreshingly unique plot and plenty of unexpected twists. Dark, intense, and utterly compelling from start to finish.

When requesting this book I was unaware it was part of a series. But it can easily be read as a stand alone. I was drawn to this book since I loved Kill for me Kill for you. This book had great character development, great suspense and kept me turning the page until the end because I needed to know who had done it. Great engaging read!

4.5 stars!

Alexandra and Sofia Avellino both discover their father's mutilated body, each accusing the other of murder. Alexandra believes Sofia is the killer, while Sofia thinks Alexandra committed the crime. They are set to stand trial together, facing the same jury, but one of them is lying and is indeed a murderer.

Here we go again! Admittedly, I’m diving into these books out of order, but each one stands on its own so brilliantly that I don’t feel like I’m missing a thing.

With just two books from this series under my belt—neither of which were read consecutively—I’m pleasantly surprised by how well everything fits together. Eddie Flynn is back, and this time he’s hoping he made the right call. He has a knack for spotting innocence, but will his instincts hold true this time? The character development is fantastic—consistent and realistic, making you feel like you know these people personally.

We’re treated to multiple points of view through Eddie, Kate, Bloch, Harry, and the enigmatic “She.” But who exactly is She? The suspense is palpable!

The author’s background as a lawyer shines through in the meticulous descriptions of the courtroom environment, adding a rich layer of authenticity to the narrative. I particularly appreciate how refreshingly straightforward these books are; they cut to the chase, keeping you intrigued and glued to the pages.

If you enjoy clever, suspenseful writing that keeps you guessing until the very last moment, this series is must-read. I can hardly wait for more—this one was nearly impossible to put down! You’ll find plenty of clues to unravel the mystery of who She is, but trust me, you’ll be second-guessing yourself right up until the final reveal. Happy reading!

Thank you, Atria Books, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

📚 ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

Fifty Fifty By Steve Cavanaugh
Publication Date: June 3, 2025
Publisher: Atria Books

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Huge thanks go out to Atria Books and Atria Thrillers for sending me this #gifted book as a part of their Atria Influencers program -- and to NetGalley for this e-arc -- in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

Fifty Fifty is a heart-pounding thriller with a whodunnit mystery the likes of which I've never read! This is now my second read featuring Eddie Flynn, the former con-artist-turned-defense-attorney, who is utterly brilliant. I genuinely can't get enough of Eddie and the rest of the cast of characters in this series. And Steve Cavanaugh simply doesn't seem capable of penning a story that is anything less than a 5⭐ read for me!

This story is told with alternating chapters from the perspectives of multiple POVs. The chapters written from the perspective of "She," the unknown female serial killer in the book, were absolutely chilling.

One night, 911 receives two phone calls from the same address, one minute apart. The first is made by Alexandra, who reports her sister Sofia killed their father and is still in the house. The second is made by Sofia, who reports her sister Alexandra killed their father and is still in the house. Only one of the girls is telling the truth -- the other is a killer and a liar. But which sister is telling the truth?

Oh my gosh, did this book keep me guessing!! I could not figure out which sister was the evil one, and every time I thought I figured it out, I'd learn something new and change my mind all over again. Back and forth and back and forth, throughout the entire book. I didn't know until the very end of the book....and my heart was pounding as I waited to see which customary Cavanaugh twist was going to be the last big reveal. I freaking LOVED this clever book!

I simply MUST get my hands on all of the other Eddie Flynn books and binge read every one! This is the perfect series for fans of thriller series (which can be read in any order!) with memorable and endearing badass characters, intelligent suspense, fast-paced plots, and a touch of courtroom drama in every book. If you love twisty plots that'll keep you guessing, you've definitely got to meet Eddie Flynn! Thank you again to Atria Books and Atria Thrillers for this book -- I'm so honored to be a part of your Atria Influencers program!

#FiftyFifty #SteveCavanaugh #AtriaBooks #AtriaThrillers #AtriaPartner #gifted #AtriaInfluencer #ARCs #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #fivestarreads #mustreads #bookreviews #bookrecs #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #booklover #bookaddict

Eddie Flynn is back for the fifth installment of this detective series by Steve Cavanagh. Two sister are on trial for murdering their father, Frank, the former mayor of NYC. The catch? They were both in the house the night he was murdered, they both say they are the innocent one, and they blame each other for the death of their father. Eddie Flynn has taken on the role of the defense attorney for Sofia while Kate Brooks is hired to defend Alexandra. Which sister is innocent and which is just plain evil?

Review:
4.5 stars
I was hooked from the first line of this book, which has been difficult to do lately. This is a true detective book with evidence being presented, court hearings, witness testimony, etc. It is full of twists and turns that you won't see coming. I loved the "She" chapters that give us the POV of the killer without revealing who that is. This entire book was perfection for me up until the ending. I had a gut feeling I knew where this was going and who the killer was from the very beginning and I was hoping that I was wrong and the author would throw one last twist at me, but that didn't happen. I was completely right with my initial prediction which was just a little disappointing (I personally love being wrong and tricked). I still really enjoyed this one a lot and this series as a whole! I have only read books 4 and now 5, but am going to work my way through all of them (I personally don't think they need to be read in order and can be read as standalones).
The republication of Fifty Fifty is available now!
Thank you to NetGalley, Steve Cavanagh, and Atria Books for this ARC of Fifty Fifty in exchange for an honest review!

Two sisters, Alexandra and Sophia, accuse each other of killing their father. With 911 calls a minute apart each declare the other a dangerous killer. One of the sisters did in fact kill their father, but which one? Tried together one or both could be convicted or acquitted, it’s up to the jury to decide. Eddy Flynn is back defending Sophia. Sure of her innocence all he has to do is prove it. Newcomer Kate Brooks is defending Alexandra. She, too, believes in the innocence of her client, but someone is lying. Someone is extremely dangerous, but which one? This was a great read, although a bit graphic in places. Looking forward to more of Eddy and Kate! Thank you to Orion and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This will easily be, and stay, one of my top reads of 2025!

Two sisters call 911, just one minute apart.
Both are terrified.
Both say their father has been brutally unalived.
And both claim…the other sister did it.

Who would you believe?!

When I started this book, I was super skeptical. How could we possibly get both sisters’ POVs and still manage a twist that wasn’t obvious? I assumed I’d figure it out in two chapters.
Well… I was DEAD wrong. Steve Cavanagh did it again.

This book is so masterfully written, it keeps you guessing right up until the final page.

You’ll read a scene or notice a detail and think, “Ah, it has to be Alexandra,” or “Nope, definitely Sofia”, only to flip the page and second-guess everything again.

Did I have a gut feeling who it was? Yes.
Was I right? Also yes.
But did I still doubt myself, switch theories constantly, and question every clue? Absolutely. It was a wild ride!

There were so many petty, funny, chaotic moments sprinkled throughout the book, between different characters, that gave me a much-needed break from the intensity. I loved it!

And let’s talk about the gruesome murder scenes and jaw-dropping reveals:
This is easily the book I gasped the most while reading!

Might be my favorite in the series so far? I can’t decide—I’ve loved them all!

Despite being “legal thrillers,” these books are so easy to read. They’re nothing like the heavy courtroom slogs you might expect. I promise!

In fact, this one leans heavily into the thriller side before the courtroom drama even begins: unaliving, psychological POVs, twisted plotting.
The pacing is perfect. The blend? Chef’s kiss.

P.S. You can totally read this as a standalone.
Please do.
Pick it up now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for review based upon my honest opinion.

I love the character of Eddie Flynn ! Eddie‘s new case is to defend one of two sisters who have both accused one another of killing their elderly rich father. Eddie is sure that he has backed the right one and that his client is innocent.
Facing off against him is another lawyer representing the other sister, who also thinks their client is innocent.

Which of these sisters committed the crime or did they do it together . Things change quickly and as you follow the story, you’re not sure who’s innocent and who’s guilty and if anyone else is at risk of being murdered. Every time I read one of these books I’m on the edge of my seat. Great storyline, great pacing and super interesting characters.

I absolutely love this character and cannot wait to read the rest of the series ! This is the fifth book in the Eddie Flynn series, it is easily read as a standalone book. I have not read all of them, but I am quickly filling in the ones I have not read. I’m looking forward to more in the future.

I just love the Eddie Flynn series. This is my fifth one and I swear they just keep getting better. Cavanaugh has you second guessing yourself several times over the course of Fifty Fifty. Love that Judge Henry is once again back! So excited to jump into the next one!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance copy in exchange for a honest review.