I was able to finish Fifty Fifty this week on my lunch break at work and it was soo good!

Steve Cavanaugh is the man! I am a superfan now. If you enjoy mysteries, psychological thrillers, and/or courtroom suspense and haven't jumped on the bandwagon, now is the time. His book Kill For Me, Kill For You was amazing and has had such great success recently that the publishers are releasing some of his older work in paperback and with new covers. His newest book Witness 8 (LOVED) is the eighth book in his Eddie Flynn series, and has had great success as a standalone. I read Thirteen (book 4) from the series a few years ago and also LOVED it, so I was excited when I got approved on Netgalley to read Fifty Fifty (book five). Steve is a former lawyer so you get a good dose of legal education, and a look into how things go down in a courtroom and behind the scenes of a trial.

Super quick synopsis:
Sisters Sophia and Alexandra are both present when their dad, a former mayor of New York, is brutally murdered in his home. Each calls 911 on the other and blames them for the murder. Who did it?!

I was fully onboard from the start. The premise is wild and the way he tells the stories from the different perspectives of people involved is so bingeable and intriguing. I was guessing who it was until the end and absolutely flew through this one. Go get it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was everything I've come to expect from Cavanaugh's legal thrillers! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time trying to figure out which sister did what! If you love juicy, twist courtroom thrillers, this one is for you!

(Eddie Flynn, #5) - 3.5

❊ Sibling Rivalry
❊ Murder Mystery
❊ Courtroom Thriller

This one had me invested from the start. Sofia says Alexandra did it. Alexandra says Sofia did it. Someone is lying. This is a sinister story of misdirection. I love a good courtroom thriller, and this book delivered just that.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This is Book No. 5 of the Eddie Flynn series, and the first I read. I’m not sure about the other books in the series, but this can be read as a stand-alone.

The story hooks you at the beginning, with two calls to 911. First, Alexandra Avellino calls to say she has just found her father’s stabbed and mutilated body, her sister is the killer and she is still in the house with a knife. Then less than a minute later, Sofia Avellino calls to say she has just found her father’s stabbed and mutilated body, her sister is the killer and she is still in the house with a knife. The remainder of the book is told from three viewpoints: Eddie Flynn as Sofia’s lawyer, Kate Brooks as Alexandra’s lawyer, and someone named She as the killer.

The sisters are going to be tried jointly, and I was expecting a more substantive courtroom drama. The courtroom testimonies and scenes weren’t all that interesting or entertaining. Most of the focus is on the lawyers’ mix of emotions as they present their case, trying to connect with the jury, each realizing maybe they were wrong and their client is the killer, doubting their performance, thinking on their feet, etc. I would have liked to learn more of the process of a joint trial, like who goes first and how is that decided, how does jury selection work, etc.

The plot gets stretched a bit thin, and the ending is a bit predictable. As for Eddie Flynn, I liked him as a character but at the same time there was something off putting about him. He certainly doesn’t miss a chance to tell you he is superior, and his conceit and smugness becomes monotonous. Kate is portrayed as the bright young lawyer, but I found her a bit meek. She is the victim of sexual harassment, and I was looking for her to stand up for herself a bit more. I understand when it’s the partner of the law firm, but when it’s a peer, I wanted her to display her strength and initiative, to stand up for herself.

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special thanks to netgalley and atria books for the ARC!

3.5/5 stars. this was a pretty good read. my biggest issues were that it dragged at times/felt longer than necessary and that the whole legal process being the main focus of the story was a bit boring for me at times. everything tied together very meticulously and enjoyably in the end, but i think i would’ve enjoyed it more had the plot been more focused on the “thrill” of the story rather than the trial process.

would still recommend this for sure, especially to those who enjoy the more legal side of things.

I will read anything by Steve Cavanagh because WHEEWWWWW this was good! This book kept my attention the entire time. I needed to know which sister did it and I did guess it after the first twist was revealed but it was still such a great book in my opinion. Super fast pace and keeps you wanting to read more!

Two sisters have been through a life of misery. Both call 911 one evening and report their father dead, killed by the other sister. So, who did it?

Sofia has a history of mental health issues, while Alexandra seems perfectly well put together. Eddie is called in to interview for representation and automatically is suggested for Sofia. He obtains the case and starts his investigation. Shortly after, his investigator / love interest is murdered and he must continue on.

Will he find the real killer?

Steve does it again, not sure how. But I was hanging on to the edge of my seat.
I'm not a legal thriller type of reader but Steve Cavanagh is quickly becoming a binge-worthy author.
when both sisters accuse the other of killing their father, who do you believe?
The one who is put-together and has everything to gain (as said father is a millionaire) or the mentally unstable sister, who also has everything to gain.
Follow the mastermind as he weaves a story from both defenses point of view and the killer.
It will lead you one way, then another, then another, until you're not sure which way is up.

Another great read from Steve Cavanagh. It had me second guessing til the end on who really committed the murder. Highly recommend for a fun and fast paced read. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Fifty Fifty is exactly what you'd expect- lawyer with morals defending one sister. Another lawyer with morals defending the other sister. Which sister is lying?
I think this would be a very interesting book if it were written from the perspective of both sisters. Instead, it became a little hokey and predictable. Of course, Eddie Flynn is perfect, and able to catch everything, including Kate's issues at work (eye roll). There wasn't anything gasp worthy, but I will say that it was fast paced and a little fun. Just know what you're getting into, and you won't be disappointed.

Interesting and fast paced. It’s a quick read and would recommend it; however with this author I keep feeling there are so many loose ends which are conveniently left hanging. Only reason it doesn’t get a 5 star.

Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh took me completely by surprise with how deeply invested I became in the story. It was the kind of thriller that I had no real expectations of going into it besides an intriguing sounding description and was completely blown away by in the end.

There are so many things about this book that I loved and could go on about to encourage readers to pick it up. It is both a murder investigation and a court trial, both filled with so much tension and uncertainty. It genuinely keeps you guessing who the murderer is and is filled with such high stakes that it honestly becomes impossible to stop reading because you just want answers and relief from the constant back and forth of which sister is the true culprit. What adds greater stakes to this is the fact that you get the point of view of both trial lawyers, so just when you think you want to see the namesake of the series come out the winner, you develop a sympathy for Kate, the lawyer of the other defendant, and also don’t want to see her be the one to defend the murderer.

I really like that it provided the point of views of both lawyers, and on top of that there was also the non-identifying point of view of the true murderer throughout the course of the novel that gave insight into what “she” was doing throughout the course of the trial to cover her tracks and frame her sister. Another aspect to this book that actually took me by surprise was just how deeply invested I became in the characters in such a short timeframe. This was my first Eddie Flynn series book, and despite the fact that it’s in the middle of said series of books, I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything important to the character and previous stories told. From this I assume they each can serve as standalones, allowing readers to jump in at any point in the series as I did. The fact that I was able to care for the characters so much in such a short number of pages really shocked me, especially because side characters were included and I was genuinely concerned about a number of them because the killer proves herself to be quite deadly and unafraid of killing throughout the book.

The highlight of Fifty Fifty for me ended up being the trial itself. It has been a long time since I’ve found a thriller that actually focuses on the trial aspect of a case, and this was so well done in this book that I was completely invested in this book from the start of the trial. I loved a well written court case focused novel and this was everything I could have hoped for. My takeaway from this book quite frankly, was that I’m very much looking forward to reading more of the Eddie Flynn series, because I really hope I’ll come away with a similar experience to this one. I definitely recommend this book to fans of thrillers and/or court cases, because it did not disappoint and now I feel fully invested in diving deeper into this series of books.

I absolutely love Eddie Flynn—he’s such a sharp, compelling character, and I can’t wait to read more of his cases. Fifty Fifty had me completely hooked from the start. I was second-guessing myself the entire time trying to figure out who the killer was, and I never saw the final twist coming. It’s a clever, tightly plotted legal thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through.

Loved this book! See my detailed review below and at the link! Thanks for the ARC. Can’t wait to read the next one.

Review:

I cannot get enough of the recurring main character, Eddie Flynn, and Fifty Fifty is another standout entry in what has become one of my favorite legal thriller series. This installment is super suspenseful, keeping me guessing right up until the final pages—and packing an emotional gut punch that stayed with me after I closed the book.

In Fifty Fifty, Eddie is defending one of two sisters—twins—both accused of the brutal murder of their father. From the very start, the question lingers: Is Eddie representing the innocent sister, or has he been manipulated by a cold-blooded killer? That tension builds beautifully throughout the novel, with Cavanagh masterfully weaving in twists that never feel cheap, only earned.

New characters add fresh layers to the story, and several are easy to root for (and hard to forget). The courtroom scenes are as gripping as ever, and Cavanagh continues to strike that perfect balance of clever plotting and real emotional depth.

This is a worthwhile and thrilling addition to an already amazing series. Fans of smart legal thrillers, sharp dialogue, and characters who feel real will find so much to love here.

I received this as an Arc from NetGalley and I am so happy I did.

This book had me addicted since page one! Major twist and turns that some had my jaw dropping. It was fast paced and was easy to follow.

Two sisters both accusing the other of murder.
Both of the presumed guilty. Both hire lawyers that they hope are going to get them off.

It’s a matter of who did it. What is real and what isn’t. Who is corrupt and who isn’t.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves who did it and who likes twist and turns

Great suspense book! It got a little gory at times, but I was definitely guessing until the end! I do wish that I had known it was part of a series, but I think other than knowing some background, it wasn’t a huge deal to read it without other books first. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you, Atria Books, for providing a copy of Fifty Fifty by Steve Cananaugh. I liked Kate and more books about her would be amazing. I have read other Eddie books and this was the first one I really loved. HIs emotional side added a lot to the story. It was fun and easy to read. The ending wasn't a huge surprise, and the clues pointing to one sister were sometimes implausible. I loved the courtroom scenes, and the parts where the lawyers confer were compelling. If you want a book that will keep you glued to the pages, try this one! 4 stars.

I just finished Fifty-Fifty by Steve Cavanagh, and wow—this one kept me hooked from start to finish. It’s the fifth book in the Eddie Flynn series, but you don’t really need to have read the others to dive in. The plot centers around two sisters, both accusing each other of murdering their powerful father, and from the very start, you’re left wondering who’s telling the truth.

Eddie Flynn, the main character, is a former conman turned lawyer, and he's just such a fun, sharp character to follow. He’s defending one of the sisters, Sofia, while another lawyer, Kate, is representing the other. The story jumps between their perspectives and even includes a creepy anonymous voice that adds a whole extra layer of suspense.

Cavanagh’s writing is super engaging, and the twists are relentless—in a good way. I was constantly second-guessing everyone, which I loved. That said, some of the plot twists were a bit much at times and made it tough to figure things out on your own, but honestly, that didn’t take away from the fun.

Overall, it’s a fast-paced, cleverly plotted legal thriller. If you're into courtroom drama with a psychological edge, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a go.

A fantastic read. This one keeps you guessing until the very end. It’s easy to think you know what’s going on and then have it shift completely a few chapters later. Well written, great characters and one that will keep you reading long past bedtime.

This book follows two sisters who have both been accused of murdering their father- and one of them is guilty.

I was completely intrigued by the premise and hooked for about the first 75% of the book. The author drops little hints that keep you wondering which sister is the killer while also working in some surprisingly scary scenes. Unfortunately, the book lost steam toward the end, and the actual reveal felt pretty predictable. Still, it was an enjoyable read that I found myself thinking about after finishing it, so while I will subtract a star for a disappointing ending, I still recommend the book to anyone who enjoys a thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publishers for allowing me to read this ARC.