Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh is a brilliantly paced legal thriller that kept me hooked from the first page. The courtroom drama is intense and full of clever twists, with characters that feel both real and unpredictable. I absolutely loved the suspense and couldn’t put it down until the final verdict.

2.75 ⭐️

I requested an advance copy of this US release after reading Steve Cavanagh’s Kill for Me, Kill for You and giving it an easy rating of 5 stars. I’m bummed to say this book did not quite live up to my excitement.

While full of twists and turns, far too much of this book was spent in the courtroom IMO. And while I’m no legal expert, some of the proceedings seemed dubious to say the least. I’ll say the ending was good! Even if some of the steps taken to get there seemed slightly forced with cringey dialogue.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria for sending me digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I went into Fifty Fifty not knowing what to expect, but I came out a fan. I am a big fan of thrillers with multiple points of view and this one delivered. Right from the opening 911 calls, I was hooked.

Stephen takes us deep into the courtroom and beyond, weaving a clever game of cat and mouse that kept me guessing. Eddie and Kate are both compelling characters that are smart, and layered and their evolving roles kept me invested. I especially appreciated getting glimpses into the mind of the killer, which added another layer of tension without giving anything away too soon.

The case at the center of the book involves two sisters accused of the same crime, and watching their stories unfold added a fascinating emotional and psychological layer to the plot.

This is only my second legal thriller but I am quickly becoming a fan of the genre. Stephen pulls readers straight into the drama, making you question everyone and everything. After reading this I am definitely curious to go back and read the other books in the Eddie Flynn series.

Big thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

4 stars

This book was a solid entry in the Eddie Flynn series. It wasn’t my favorite of the series and I found the twist to be pretty predictable but the plotting and execution were there. As a warning, this was a lot more gruesome at times than the other books in the series and I did have to skim over some of it.

The characters are always enjoyable to read about. I liked the addition of Kate and Bloch and an expanded role for Harry. It was interesting to see how they joined the series after having read Witness 8 first. I don’t really understand the strange order they’re being released on e-book. However, the book stands alone enough that you could also read it without the rest of the series.

I am a huge fan of Steve Cavanagh so was very excited to earn Fifty Fifty. His writing keeps your attention and keeps you guessing.
The brutal murder of the former mayor of NYC; both of his daughters are in the home. One of them killed him and each sister blames the other for the murder. A combined trial, murder of witnesses, and chapters from the POV of "She".
This one took a little time to get into, but once the case went to trial, I was speed-reading and couldn't put this down.
I wasn't completely surprised by the twist, but appreciated the journey of this book.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

Two sisters, a murdered father, one is innocent, one is guilty. This story quickly drew me in and had me questioning the entire time. Told from multiple POV and interspersed with chapters from "She" the killer. It was the right combo of mystery, lawyer, and creepy murder.

After reading this book, I discovered that Eddie Flynn is a series character but you can read this as a stand alone.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!!

This book had me guessing from start to finish! Just when I thought I had the twists figured out—it threw me for another loop. Steve Cavanagh delivers once again. An easy 5/5 stars!

Two sisters accuse each other of killing their father. He was brutally stabbed to death by one of them. But which one? Eddie Flynn is called to represent one of the sisters who he believes is innocent. We also get the perspective of the other lawyer, Kate, who also believes her client is innocent. One is a liar and serial killer, the other is not. It's hard to say more without giving some of the twists away.

I love this series, especially Eddie Flynn and his friend Harry, a former judge. The books always seem to start off a little slow for me as the mystery unfolds and Eddie and his team investigate the murder, but by the halfway mark things take off. The legal process is so interesting, and considering Eddie used to be a con artist and wasn't formally trained as a lawyer, he often does some unorthodox things.

If you enjoy legal thrillers, this is a great series!

Man I love this author. Everytime I grab an Eddie Flynn book I am sucked in and it's hard to come back to the real world. I keep running back to these pages because I just have to know what is happening next.

I must be getting better with deciphering this author's intent because two of the biggest twists I actually figured out ahead of when they were revealed. That in no way took away from the book as a whole because until the twists were revealed it could have gone either way.

Absolutely love this author's writing. If you enjoy police procedurals and legal thrillers, grab anything by this author. I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

This review has been posted to Goodreads and Storygraph on May 10th, 2025. Links provided.

When the police respond to a grisly murder at the home of former New York City mayor Frank Avellino, they’re faced with a chilling dilemma—both of his daughters, Alexandra and Sofia, have called 911 within moments of each other, each insisting the other committed the brutal act. As the investigation unfolds, both women are arrested and placed on trial together in a rare dual-defendant case, despite each claiming to be innocent. Eddie Flynn, the sharp-tongued defense attorney with a knack for impossible cases, steps in to represent Sofia, while newcomer Kate Brooks fights on Alexandra’s behalf. With two sisters, two competing legal teams, and only one truth, the courtroom becomes a high-stakes battleground. Throughout the novel, shifting points of view, including the voice of the unnamed guilty sister, deepen the mystery and lead to a shocking finale.

As someone already hooked on the Eddie Flynn series, I went into this book expecting to enjoy it—and I wasn’t wrong. That said, I did find the early chapters a little drawn out. The setup, though essential, didn’t move as briskly as I’ve come to expect from Cavanagh. But once the story hit its stride, particularly in the latter half, it became a compulsive read. The interplay between Eddie and Kate added a fresh dynamic, and the inclusion of the mysterious “she” perspective was a brilliant way to keep the tension simmering. I especially appreciated how the legal strategy unfolded like a game of high-stakes chess (pun intended), with each side trying to outmaneuver the other and keep the prosecutor at bay while the truth remained elusive. By the time I reached the trial scenes—always my favorite part of these books—I was fully invested. The suspense was pitch-perfect, and the twists kept me guessing until the final chapters. Overall, the second half delivered everything I love about this series - smart twists, sharp dialogue, and a payoff that made the wait worthwhile.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read to an ARC of Fifty Fifty in return for my honest review.

This book kept me on my toes the entire time. I thought I had the twists figured out three different times but it truly kept me guessing until the end. Steve Cavanagh never disappoints! 5/5 stars. I will read anything by Cavanagh!

A big fan of Steve Cavanagh, this did not disappoint. I once again enjoyed diving into the world of Eddie Flynn. This time Eddie is taking on an interesting case: a father murdered where both daughters accuse each other. As he maneuvers the many obstacles, uncovers crazy plot twists and discovers the truth, the reader goes along on a crazy ride. While Mr. Flynn’s adventures aren’t always the most realistic, they are always extremely entertaining, fast-paced and full of vibrant characters. Cavanagh writes an exciting books that twists and turns while still wrapping up lose ends with a neat bow - I look forward to reading many more by him in the future!

Steve Cavanaugh has a smart and calculated way with words to create the maximum impact of his twists and turns, of which there are plentiful instances in this fast-paced narrative. I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery ride.

Fifty Fifty was such a fun, fast-paced read. I loved trying to figure out which sister was guilty—it really kept me guessing the whole time. The courtroom scenes were super sharp and didn’t drag, which I appreciated. I liked how smart and quick the main characters were, and the twists actually surprised me (which doesn’t happen often). It was one of those thrillers that just flies by because you're totally hooked.

Thank you to Steve Cavanaugh, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

“911 what’s your emergency?”

“My dad’s dead. My sister Sofia killed him. She’s still in the house. Please send help.”

“My dad’s dead. My sister Alexandra killed him. She’s still in the house. Please send help.”

One of them is a liar and a killer.

But which one?

Steve Cavanaugh never lets me down. In Fifty-Fifty, two sisters, Alexandria and Sofia Avellino, are both on trial for the brutal murder of their father. Frank, an old Mayor for New York City, was stabbed fifty-three times. Both sisters made 911 calls that night separately. Each sister is claiming that the other one is the killer. Both a hefty inheritance and justice are at stake. I loved the aspect of two sitters being pitted against each other. I found myself not knowing which could be trusted in telling the truth because they were both so convincing. Eddie has always prided himself of being a good judge of character. He is representing Sophia while new attorney, Kate Brooks is representing Alexandria. Both Eddie and Alexandria believe that their client is innocent. There are also sections of the book titled "She" which allows readers to get into the head of the diabolical killer-YES PLEASE! This makes things even more intriguing and interesting. The courtroom scenes are tense and dramatic while also feeling realistic and those were some of the chapters I enjoyed the most because as brilliant as Eddie is, he's also hysterical. His sarcastic wit broke up the palpable tension. This is the kind of book that just hooks you instantly and leaves you wanting just one more chapter as you race to the final conclusion. Full of twists and turns, this book will have you on the edge of your seat. Will you be able to guess who the real killer is? You have to read to find out!

i always have so much fun reading a steve cavanagh book. he is a master with plot twists, always keeping you guessing and second guessing until the final page. he develops these characters to keep the reader engaged and we feel like we know these people; we care about them so deeply that we want to see them succeed, even if they are in fact the murderer. when the final verdict came out, i felt like i was in the court room witnessing everything. and then the drama kept going! this is my third cavanagh book (yes i did jump from the defense to this) but he is currently 3 for 3 with 5 stars from me. i anticipate a 4th one with my next read from him. he just gets me so excited!

Okay so i’m an idiot that didn’t realize this was the fifth book in a series. yes. i did that. yes. i read a lot. yes i’m sorry i didn’t notice.
that being said, im super comprehensive and i figured out the plot pretty easily and book pretty easily. i kinda want to go back to 1-4 and read those and then re read this one. but that would be for another year 😂😅
anyways!!!!
I liked the book! giving it 4 stars and i want to give it 5 so bad, but i truly am an idiot that didn’t realize and there were some things i feel like i didn’t understand.

Thank you to Netgalley for this free copy of the book! i am writing this review on my own.

Fifty Fifty, the fifth installment in Steve Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn series, is a stunning legal thriller that cements the series as one of my reigning favorites. Cavanagh has crafted one of the most clever courtroom dramas I’ve read, with a plot that had me hooked from the first chapter.

In Fifty Fifty, former mayor of New York Frank Avellino is found murdered. Each of his two daughters accuse the other of the crime, while maintaining their own innocence. Eddie Flynn is tasked with defending the sister he believes is innocent, while likely proving the other guilty. A tense, high-stakes trial follows and Eddie is forced to play detective as much as defense attorney.

Having read later books in this series, what I loved most about Fifty Fifty were the introductions to characters who later become favorites. Eddie is at his best when he’s working with others, and the interactions between Eddie and his allies characters are always fun to read. As a reader, I also enjoyed playing detective myself but, true to Cavanagh’s style, the reveal still managed to surprise me.

The trial scenes in Fifty Fifty are some of the best in the series. This feels like the most time we’ve spent with Eddie Flynn in the courtroom and this is where Cavanagh’s background as a former lawyer himself really shines. These scenes are tense and dramatic while also feeling realistic. Even as someone who doesn’t typically gravitate toward legal fiction, I found myself completely engrossed in the courtroom chapters.

With no critiques from me, this is a 5-star read in my book. I’d recommend Fifty Fifty to fans of courtroom dramas, legal thrillers, and even procedural TV like Law & Order.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Reviews will run on Goodreads and StoryGraph on pub date per publisher request.

Eddie has solved another case in his on way. Steve abilities as a writer to have you thinking one thing and a total opposite thing is happening needs be studied. Fifty Fifty is in my top three of the Eddie Flynn series.

Wow! I loved this! I couldn’t put it down and read during every free second I could spare. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!