Waaaaiiittt!!! I loved this book. The twist and turns were so captivating. I did go back & forth who I thought it would be… I was right. Wrong. Right. Lol

I really enjoy this series. This one can be read as a stand alone. Eddie is back in an interesting case. A murder trial with two suspects.

I didn't realize this was part of a series so I read this as a standalone. I felt a bit lost because of that, but the courtroom drama was entertaining nonetheless. It was somewhat predictable, however, I still enjoyed my time reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bottom line: This book made me go back and read every other book I could find by the author. That’s about the best review that can be given, I read and I wanted more.

The characters have layers which is always great. Sometimes thrillers can forget to fully flesh out characters because there is so much action, but Cavanagh has created some interesting ones in the Eddie Flynn series. While I read it before any of the others and still greatly enjoyed it, I do think it would be best enjoyed by reading the series in order. So, interesting characters that you get invested in and all of the tension of a quality legal thriller, even if Eddie Fly bends the law a bit here and there.

This was weird because I already read Book #8 in the Eddie Flynn series. I thought this was unrelated to the series and more like Kill for Me, Kill For You which I loved. But this was Book #5 in the Eddie Flynn series, so it was going backwards in time. There were characters being introduced that I already knew. So that was a little weird. Good concept, maybe dragged a little.

Holy crap! Another wild ride on the Eddie Flynn train!! This one may be the best one yet! Just when you think you have it figured out, everything you thought you knew changes. What are you waiting for! Get reading!

A 911 center gets two calls from the same house within minutes of each other. Two sisters accusing each other of murdering their father.

This is my kind of book. I love stories that involve twins or sisters (thank you, Sweet Valley High). This one did focus a lot on the lawyers and the first 30% was not the best for me. But it really picked up after that and I enjoyed the twists and turns. I have read a lot of suspense books, so the ending wasn’t a shock, but the first 3/4ths of the book kept me guessing. A very interesting read.

The perfect addition to the Eddie Flynn series. A twisted and absolutely gripping tale of two sisters who accuse each other of the the murder of their father. It's very well done and will keep you on your toes.

Steve Cavanagh's Eddie Flynn series is one of my favorite series ever. I'm a huge legal thriller fan so these stories are right up my alley. Each book I read by Cavanagh has been better than the last and Fifty-Fifty is one of my favorites in the series.

The case begins when two sisters - Alexandra and Sophia - each make a call to 911, accusing the other sister of murder and calling for help for their father. At stake is a $49 million estate. The story is split into five parts and is mostly told through the POVs of Eddie, Kate and She (the murderess). Judge Harry Ford retires at the beginning of this book and we get a handful of POVs from him as well, which I enjoyed immensely!

I spent the entirety of the book flip flopping between who I thought really did it. By the time the big reveal came around, I still hadn't fully decided on who the guilty one was. As usual, Cavanagh writes great courtroom scenes and I really enjoyed how he laid out his defense. It was clever and unique, as always.

Absolutely recommend this (and the entire Eddie Flynn series!) to everyone!

Thank you to Atria, Steve Cavanagh, and Atria Books for my free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Review: Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh

Steve Cavanagh’s Fifty Fifty is an absolutely riveting legal thriller that grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go. This is the fifth book in the Eddie Flynn series, but it works perfectly well as a standalone—though once you’ve read this one, you’ll definitely want to go back for more.

The setup is ingenious: two sisters each accuse the other of murdering their father, a powerful former mayor of New York. Both are clearly hiding something—but which one is guilty? Both are on trial, both have skilled defense attorneys (including Eddie Flynn himself), and the case unspools in a tense, twisty courtroom battle that keeps readers guessing until the very end.

Cavanagh’s writing is razor-sharp and lean, with no wasted words. The courtroom scenes are expertly crafted and full of crackling tension. Eddie is an immensely likable protagonist—smart, principled, and with just the right amount of irreverence—and the pacing is breakneck without sacrificing character depth.

One of the things I appreciated most was how Cavanagh plays with perspective and reader expectations. You’ll find yourself changing your mind again and again about which sister is guilty—and just when you think you’ve figured it out, Cavanagh pulls the rug out from under you in the best possible way.

In short: Fifty Fifty is a smart, taut, and thoroughly entertaining legal thriller with a brilliant premise and a fantastic payoff. If you’re a fan of John Grisham, Michael Connelly, or Lisa Scottoline, this is a must-read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I didn't realize at the time I requested this book that it was part of a series. I normally don't like these types of books. I requested this book because I had read a couple of others by Steve Cavanagh and thought they were quite good. This book did hold my interest, but just isn't really my type of book. That being said, I will still buy this authors books, though maybe not the series books.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this one. I loved the writing style and I found myself wondering the whole book if my prediction of “whodunnit” was right or wrong. I know it’s a standalone, but there are definitely side characters that I’m guessing are in prior books that would be interesting to go back and read.

Thank you, NetGalley, Atria Books, and Steve Cavanagh for allowing me to read and review!

📚Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh

⚠️CWs for graphic violence, blood/gore, murder, mental illness, self-harm, sexual harassment, police corruption, and more

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

This was a wild ride! I usually hate procedural/legal thrillers, but Steve Cavanagh's books seem to be an exception to that rule for me. Of the books I’ve read from him thus far, Fifty Fifty is easily my favorite to date. The setup had me hooked right from the start: two sisters on trial for the murder of their father but they are blaming each other for the crime. There were some elements of the plot that could have been pushed a little further or parts that felt a little hokey, but I was thoroughly engaged from start to finish. I also liked that I was able to predict some twists but there were some that still got me good. That's always fun to me.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review 💖

This book literally blew my mind!! Wow what a great book. I t this book we follow 2 sisters that both are being accused of their father’s murder and they are each blaming each other for the murder of their father but who did it?! I thought I knew then I didn’t, then I thought again and change my mind over again. At the end the book flowed so well I enjoyed the pacing of the book it truly drew me in and kept me engaged the whole time. I loved the plot twists at the end on how the book closed! I will definitely be reading more from this author highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for the advance readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Not my favorite by Steve Cavanagh but I still enjoyed it. His writing is one I always enjoy. Wish there was more growth in characters

Another part in the Eddie Flynn series and it did not disappoint. Eddie Flynn is an ex-con man now a lawyer. Three months earlier, two separate 911 calls had been received, a minute apart. Two sisters, Alexandra and Sophia, each calling for help and accusing the other of killing their Dad and fearing that they could be next.
This is a very clever and twisty thriller, very fast-paced, I could not put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

There is something so likable about the Eddie Flynn series! I really enjoyed this book, I changed my mind on who the killer was about every other chapter. I love books that will keep you guessing.

Sophia and Alexandria are sisters, blaming each other for the murder of their father. Both girls call 911 to report the crime and blame the other sister in the process. They are taken into custody and then have to choose their defense attorneys. Enter Eddie Flynn and Kate Brooks.

I enjoyed the trial portion of the book. I always like seeing how they react to the prosecution. This book was no exception. I also loved Kate. She was such a great character I can’t wait to read more about her in future books.

What happens when both sisters call 911 and both say the other one killed their father? 😳 That’s the setup in this wild ride of a thriller where you’re literally playing detective the entire time—and failing, in the best way.

Frank Avellino is a millionaire, murdered in his home. His daughters, Alexandra and Sofia, are the only suspects. Both are emotionally damaged, both had motive, and both could easily be lying. But only one is pure evil... I was totally flipping back and fourth between the two as the killer or both of them or neither of them. I was hard to pin this one down.

🔍 Why I Couldn’t Put It Down
Courtroom scenes are 🔥—so sharp and clever, especially Eddie Flynn’s cross-examinations
Alternating POVs: Sofia, Alexandra, their lawyers, and even the killer 🫣
Full of twists that make you question everything
No fluff, just fast-paced, dark, and addictive
I loved Eddie’s sarcastic wit, and Kate was a total badass in the courtroom. 🕵️‍♀️💔

😵‍💫 Perfect for Fans of:
Mind-twisting thrillers
Sibling rivalry taken to extremes
Legal drama that feels real, smart, and satisfying
By the time the verdict was read, I was sweating like I was on the jury. 😂

🧠🤯 Verdict: Absolutely binge-worthy. Cavanagh nails the psychological suspense with a killer (literally) courtroom showdown.

Thank you @atriabooks & @netgalley for my eARC!

This is only my second Steve Cavanaugh book and I am hooked. I was immediately sucked in to the story and couldn't wait to hear how it ended. I love Eddie and now Kate and can't wait to read more with these two. Good twists all the way until the end. I highly recommend!

Thank you @atriabooks for the gifted copy!

𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Fifty Fifty (Eddie Flynn 5)
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Steve Cavanagh
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: June 3, 2025
5⭐️

♟️ 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 ♟️
I loved this fast paced legal thriller! The premise hooked me and I didn’t want to put the story down! Two sisters call 911 blaming the other for their father’s murder. They both get put on trial and as a reader, you are trying to figure out which sister is the evil one! This is book 5 in a series, but can be read and enjoyed as a standalone!

I love how this story had me guessing which sister was the guilty party. Little clues throughout had me going back and forth. The mysterious chapters labeled “She” under the killers POV were very cleverly woven into the story.

I love how each lawyer, Eddie and another newer lawyer Kate, were defending the sister that they believed to be innocent. Eddie said he wasn’t a lawyer fighting to keep someone guilty out of jail. I loved the dynamic between the lawyers.

Police Procedurals and legal thrillers are one of my top favorite thrillers to read. I love going into the POV of law enforcement or the detectives when trying to solve a murder or case.

This is one of my favorite legal thrillers that I’ve read. This is a perfect bingeable thriller to pick up this summer! And I need to read other books in this series now!!

𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
♟️ Suspenseful Psychological Thrillers
♟️ Unexpected Twists & Turns
♟️ Legal Thrillers
♟️ Bingeable Stories