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Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for a free and honest review.

Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh is the fifth installment in the Eddie Flynn series. It all starts with two phone calls into 911. One call from Alexandra Avellino says she has found her father murdered by her sister, Sofia. Another call from Sofia at the same time says she has found her father murdered by her sister, Alexandra. Who is telling the truth and who is a cold blooded murderer? Both are now on trial for the murder and it is up to con-man turned defense lawyer, Eddie Flynn to unravel the mystery before the wrong sister is sent to jail. Can he piece together the puzzle before the wrong sister is sent to prison?

First and foremost what I love about Fifty Fifty is that while it is a story in a series you can easily read it as a standalone novel. Steve Cavanagh weaves in enough background on the characters that if you do wind up reading the Eddie Flynn books out of order you still know enough to connect with the characters and stories. All of the cases, Eddie takes on are easily self contained in their respective books. I absolutely loved the cast of characters in this book and it was amazing how despite diverse the cast was they each had their moments to shine and tell the readers who they were. I also absolutely loved the mystery and loved that I was guessing all the way up to the end and piecing the puzzle together with the characters. I love a mystery novel where I get about to 80 percent done before I finally see the fully picture. It shows that the crumbs were so beautifully sprinkled through the whole book that you get your epic ah-ha moment

Ultimately I have found I am falling in love with this series and can’t wait to read more. Definitely have the Defense saved to go back and listen to the rest of Eddie’s wild journeys as our favorite New York defense attorney.

I am addicted to this series!! Eddie Flynn is now representing Sofia who is accused on murdering her father and she is saying her sister, Alexandra, did it. This was such an interesting premise with both sister at the crime scene. The chapters are told in multiple POV as like the other books but this one has a "she" perspective who is the killer.

Lots of wrenches thrown along the way to make you guess which sister is guilty. The story grabbed my attention with all the courtroom drama and how it played out.

Thank you @atriabooks for a copy of this.

What a thriller!!! I just KNEW I had this one figured out, but NO! Twisty, deceptive, and wild… this one is sure to please fans of psychological thrillers! Loved it!

Thank you to Steve Cavanagh, NetGalley, and Simon & Schuster for the advanced reader copy of Fifty Fifty!

While this wasn’t the fastest-paced legal thriller I’ve read, it definitely had its strengths. I initially struggled to find my footing with the multiple POVs and the heavy use of legal jargon—it slowed the momentum and made it a bit tricky to follow in the early chapters. But once I hit the 75% mark, I was fully invested.

The trial, the case, the characters—it all started clicking into place. I especially enjoyed Eddie Flynn and Kate, and I’m really looking forward to reading more about them in future books. The courtroom drama became gripping, and I genuinely couldn’t figure out who was guilty, which made the final reveal all the more satisfying.

While the twist wasn’t my favorite of all time, it was clever and well-executed. I appreciated how the story circled back to earlier clues—it made the ending feel earned, even if it didn’t totally shock me.

Overall, this was a solid and entertaining legal thriller. A slower burn, but worth it in the end. I’m giving it 4 stars!

This novel is being republished through Atria Books next month. I’ve had Steve Cavanagh’s books on my TBR list for a long time, but usually find my ARC titles taking priority. So I was happy to be approved for the republished ARC of Fifty Fifty and dip my toes into the Eddie Flynn series. Safe to say, I’ll be diving into the rest now that I’m hooked.

Fifty fifty is a story of a brutally murdered father whose killer is one of his daughters. Is it the ‘odd’ black sheep of the family, or the New York socialite that everyone is drawn to? One thing is for sure, any/all potential witnesses are dying before they can share their information.

The characters are well written and relatable.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date Jun 03 2025

I love Eddie Flynn. He’s a bad-ass lawyer with impeccable street smarts! &&& in Fifty-Fifty he does it again ♟️

Two sisters on the scene of their VERY rich father’s murder…&&& they’re accusing each other!!! While this book took a hot minute for me to get invested &&& it didn’t find it to be super-twisty…still LOVED the antics of Mr. Flynn & his crew. &&& as a Grisham fan at heart, I absolutely loved Cavanaughs courtroom drama.

I love courtroom & police procedure…& this book brought it! Fifty-Fifty is a super fun thriller! Out next week in. Rand new paperback! 🔪👨🏻‍⚖️

My favorite so far in the fantastic Eddie Flynn series. Perfect pacing, character growth, a premise you care about from the beginning…can I give it 6 stars? Would make perfect beach/airplane reading.

5⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this fantastic arc in exchange for an honest review

Two sisters. Their father's murder. They each point the finger at the other. What a fantastic premise. This is my favorite Eddie Flynn book thus far. He just gets better and better. I love the way Cavanagh keeps me guessing without making twists too far fetched and implausible. Highly recommend. I loved it.

This one was a wild ride. In true Cavanaugh fashion, the twists and turns keep coming. Just when you think you have it all figured out, one more thing happens. The twists wrapping up the end began to get a little far-fetched and "too much" for my taste, but still an overall win for Cavanaugh.

Another incredible read by Steve Cavanagh! The plot was intriguing. The characters were brilliant. The pacing was fantastic. The twists were twisting!

That being said, this book had me on a roller coaster of emotions. While it can be read as a stand alone, those of us who have been reading the series may have attachments to different recurring characters. I won’t say more to avoid spoilers, other than Eddie deserves a break as well as a Coke and a smile. He’s been through the wringer. Thankfully, Harry is right there with him every step of the way. Their friendship is endearing. Also, as an aside, Clarence is the goodest boy!

This was another well-executed Eddie Flynn tale that makes it very hard for me to wait patiently for the next installment.

Such a fast paced riveting read! I had a hard time putting this book down and loved every second of it! Such a twisty and engaging story line. The characters were complex and interesting. Such a great book, I can’t wait to recommend this book!

Smart and twisty a propulsive read. Two sisters on trial for the brutal murder of their father, both placed a 911 call accusing the other. A unnamed narrator of “She” giving the blow by blow backstory along with a great legal team that’s hard not to love, did I mention there’s a stray dog? Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this US release for an honest review.

I knew this was part of a series, but also read it could be a standalone. Let’s just say I will be starting this series with book one now and going through them. I loved it.

I loved this book I didn't even realize it was part of a series till I started reading, but now I'm hooked. Two sisters are accusing each other of murdering their father a former mayor and the courtroom drama is intense. The twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end. Highly recommend! Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC for my honest opinion.

Wow, I've never read any of Steve Cavanagh's books before but this kept me glued to the very end. It's part of a series starring defense attorney Eddie Flynn, however it stands strong as a standalone novel, showcasing Cavanagh's prowess in crafting intricate plots and compelling characters.

The novel kicks off with a chilling premise: two sisters, Alexandra and Sofia Avellino, each call 911 to report their father's murder, accusing the other of the crime. This sets the stage for a high-stakes legal battle, with ex-conman turned defense attorney Eddie Flynn representing Sofia, and ambitious young lawyer Kate Brooks defending Alexandra. As the trial unfolds, the question looms—who is the real killer, and who is lying?

The story is told through multiple perspectives, including Eddie, Kate, and an anonymous "She," presumed to be the murderer. This structure and multiple twists add depth to the plot and keeps readers guessing until the very end. If you were to compare this to a John Grisham book, I would say this is more of a thriller, vs. a procedural legal mystery. The author was a lawyer so that is evident in the courtroom scenes and legal strategies used by each side.

The main character, Eddie Flynn is a witty, resourceful, and morally grounded lawyer, but meets his match in Kate Brooks, a formidable counterpart. At several points in the novel, you're not sure who to root for as both sides seem equally matched. It's complex, intelligent, and a fun read to get introduced to this author.

Fifty-Fifty is another high-stakes, high-tension legal thriller from Steve Cavanagh that proves why the Eddie Flynn series continues to deliver. This time, Flynn finds himself defending one of two sisters—both accused of the same brutal crime, both claiming the other did it. With a joint trial and a jury that must decide who’s lying, the premise alone hooks you instantly.

Cavanagh excels at courtroom drama, and this installment is no exception. The legal strategy, sharp cross-examinations, and shifting perspectives build a strong sense of momentum. The back-and-forth between the sisters’ accounts keeps the reader guessing right up until the final reveal—and the payoff is well worth the ride.

Eddie Flynn remains a likable and resourceful protagonist, though the real intrigue lies in the psychological chess match between Alexandra and Sofia. The pacing is brisk, and the short chapters make it nearly impossible not to binge.

The only reason this isn’t a five-star read is that a few plot twists stretch believability, and some characters outside the central trio don’t get much development. Still, it’s a thoroughly satisfying thriller with clever misdirection and razor-sharp tension.

If you love courtroom thrillers with a strong hook and a relentless pace, Fifty-Fifty is a must-read.

Fifty-Fifty by Steve Cavanagh

Thank You NetGalley and Atria Books for a complimentary copy of this novel! All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Frank Avellino has been murdered with multiple stab wounds and the suspects... his two daughters Alexandra and Sofia! Both are found in his house with his blood on their clothes and both placed 9-1-1 calls saying the other sister did it. Two sisters – one of them is lying and is a killer – but both manage to convince their respective lawyers of their innocence. This is a great psychological thriller filled with edge-of-your seat courtroom drama!!! While this novel was previously released, it’s being re-released, and I had the pleasure of reading it for an honest review. I’m not big on courtroom drama novels, but this one definitely did not disappoint!! There is a lot happening and the ending at the end will leave you with some unexpected twists you probably won’t see coming!
AVAILABLE June 3, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the advanced reader copy of Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh. This book was SO good. I was totally pulled in from the first chapter.

The whole setup is a little over the top and wild, but I ate it up. Two sisters are both accused of murdering their powerful and rich father, and each one swears the other did it. Eddie Flynn is a lawyer who only represents those who he feels are truly innocent. He is certain he is representing the innocent sister, but is he? You don’t know who to trust, and honestly, I was second-guessing everything the whole way through. I kept flipping pages thinking, “Okay, now I know who it is”… and then bam, twist. It totally got me.

The legal drama side of it was really well done too. I actually enjoyed the courtroom scenes. It felt believable but still super fast-paced and exciting. I loved the way the story was told from different points of view including the unknown guilty sister. It added so much tension. Also, Eddie Flynn is such a great main character. I hadn’t read any of the other books in the series before this one, but it totally worked as a standalone.

If you're into legal thrillers or just want something that’s smart, twisty, and impossible to put down, I highly recommend this one. One of my favorites this year, hands down.

The alternating perspectives is so deceptive. Go good! It’s like a Comoran Strike novel but with a legal perspective and courtroom drama!

I have never read this Author before! All I can say is wow, wow, wow! I can't to read all of the books in this series now! The suspense, the guessing who the killer is, and all the characters literally bouncing off each other, makes for one heated and suspenseful book!! The ending was shocking!! I can't wait for more Eddie Flynn!!