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!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC digital copy. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

Suspenseful and mysterious. Kept me interested even when I thought I had it figured out. Reminiscent of other books I’ve enjoyed, and deserving as a good read on its own merit.

4 out of 5 stars and my respect to the author.

i absolutely love steve cavanagh. i know i haven't read all the books in the eddie flynn series, just this one and witness 8.. but this has me wanting to read everything. i'm not usually a fan of legal thrillers/dramas because i find them hard to understand, but cavanagh has a way of writing that is easily digestible and extremely addictive. fifty fifty sunk it's claws into me and had me hooked until the very in. there were so many twists and turns that i genuinely didn't know what to believe. i will definitely be picking up more steve cavanagh books in the future. easy 5 stars!

thank you atria books for the early copy of this re-release!

Thank you Netgalley for a free copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Two sisters call for an ambulance claiming the other one is responsible for the gruesome murder of their father. Eddie Flynn, famous lawyer with a morality complex to only defend the innocent, decides to represent one of the sister. Have his morals led him astray? Has his decision to help others cost him more than he was prepared to lose? Read to find out!

I'd previously read "Kill For Me, Kill For You" which I enjoyed so I was looking forward to this ARC. Unfortunately the plot did not live up the the premise. At the beginning I truly struggled to keep all the lawyers straight. This is the right book in the Eddie Flynn series so I'm not sure if it was due to a lack of prior knowledge with the series or a lack of interest. My favorite part of the book was hearing from the guilty sister's POV which each chapter is titled "Her." I also found the second half of the book to be more enjoyable once the trial started. Lastly, if you choose to read this book be prepared for some gore/graphic scenes. I think this is a great book for people who prefer Law and Order type of stories but it just wasn't the right book for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh. I absolutely love the Eddie Flynn series! This story keeps you guessing till the end. I like books that are written from the perspectives of the characters. Two sisters both call 911 when they find their father dead. Each sister claims they are innocent and blames the other for their father’s death. Quick read with great court room drama. This is an intense thriller you won’t want to put down.

this legal thriller had me hooked from the start. two sisters are on trial for killing their father, and one of them is lying.

it’s fast paced, twisty and full of drama. perfect if you like thrillers with lots of tension and unreliable characters.

Steve Cavanagh never disappoints. This book was a real page turner and I couldn't put it down. He is a master writer AND I love the Eddie Flynn series. The book is about 2 sisters who point the finger to each other as to who was responsible for their father's death. READ IT!

I really enjoyed this book! I would suggest it to friends. I enjoyed the writing style of Steve Cavanagh.

gripping and thrilling. pulls you in and doesn't let go. very well written and the twist was fun. 5 stars. tysm for the arc. would recommend.

Thank you for the ARC!
This book had me from the start . I loved all the different POVs from the characters . It was a twist after twist and I definitely did not see that ending coming. Definitely recommend ! 5 stars !

This is my first book by Steve Cavanagh and it got me out of my reading slump! This is a story about two sisters accusing each other of murdering their father. Whodunnit? This book had me on the edge of my seat! It had the perfect balance of a thriller novel without being too gruesome in the details! With thrillers, I always try to decide within the first few chapters of who I think the killer is and the end threw me for a loop! Fifty Fifty had good plot twists throughout that I finished this book in one day! I will definitely be reading more books by this author!

The twists and turns that kept me guessing throughout this book still have me wanting more! This book is a top read of 2025 so far for sure! The multiple POVs were super easy to follow along with and the writing just flowed effortlessly. I am so honoured I was able to read an ARC!

Fifty Fifty
by Steve Cavanagh
Pub Date: Jun 03 2025
Love me some Steve Cavanagh and this one did not disappoint.
Two sisters, two 911 calls, one savagely murdered father. Both were in the house. Both stand to inherit millions of dollars....Which one is lying?
When the prosecution decides to try them both at the same time, their lawyers' best bet is to make the other sister look guilty.
One is a cunning socialite and the other has been in and out of rehabs and is known to be mentally unstable. As the evidence mounts, it looks like either could be a cold blooded killer.

"One of us is a pawn in a killer's game."

I love when a mystery keeps me guessing up until the last page. Two sisters - each present at the time of murder of their father. The murder is brutal. The DA is charging both girls, hoping for at least one charge of murder to stick to one of them but he'd love to take them both down.

Eddie Flynn is back. He's taking on the case of Sofia. She's the sister he believes didn't do it, because he won't take a case of someone he doesn't believe is innocent. The clues are well laid out. The characters are funny and realistic. The subject is shocking and the sheer amount of deaths in this one was a surprise. It's fun when a mystery can keep you wondering and jumping back and forth with the evidence, wondering who did it. I can't wait to read the next one in the series!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Wow this was a true thriller! When people ask me for a thriller rec I’m going to tell them to pick this up. Steve Cavanagh really knows how to write thrillers well. I’ve read a few of his books and they are a real page turner with a great twist at the end. This book was no exception. I was hooked from the beginning, two sisters blamed for killing their father. Who is the killer? Sofia or Alexandra? I liked the chapters titled “She” . You didn’t know what sister it was, but boy was she a killing machine. I was surprised at how well she got away with things and also her motorcycle skills.

I would say pick this up, it’s a fast-paced thriller that will keep you guessing till the ending. I had to know what happened so I binged the last 30% of it in one sitting.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria books for an advanced copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Fifty Fifty
Steve Cavanagh
Eddie Flynn #5
4.5⭐️

Pub Date: 6/3/2025

I have read one book from this author before and it was one of the most fantastic and well written thriller books I've ever read. So when I got this book, I dove in blind and got myself ready for a wild ride. And nope, it did not disappoint. I never read the first few installments of this series but I was able to read this no problem. Obviously I didn't know the MC as much as I would if I have read the first few books but it still works. So dive in guys!

It was interesting straight up. No beating around the bush here. Blood right away. 2 sisters blaming each other for murdering their father. It was intentional. It was planned. Every step of the way. It's obvious one of them did it. But the rollercoaster Canavagh put me through was just scrumptious! I flipped back and forth on which sister truly did it. Everything they both said and did were suspicious. Both Alex and Sofia had motives and each had compelling evidence that pointed to them. Something happened to someone important here and Cavangh built up the suspense so much I could not put it down until I knew. My suspect radar was definitely going haywire and I had a legitimately hard and frustrating time figuring it out. It was SO MUCH FUN to read!

I'm definitely invested and I need the whole Eddie Flynn collection now!

Thank you Netgalley and Atria for a gifted physical and e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.