Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful book by Steve Cavanagh, part of the Eddie Flynn series. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Two sisters are on trial for the murder of their father. They both call 911 and accuse each other. One of them is a liar and a killer. But which one?

Wow! I'm a huge fan of Eddie Flynn, con man turned defense attorney, and have loved all the books I've read, even though I'm reading them out of order. No matter - each can stand on its own, and this one will truly blow you away. It was so creatively written. We hear from both defense attorneys - Eddie and Kate - as well as from "she," one of the sisters. This is a fabulous legal thriller, psychological thriller, and drama all rolled into one fabulous book. Just like the title states, I flip flopped constantly as to who was the guilty party, and loved the way it all played out. Kate is a fabulous new character and I'm anxious to learn more about her in future books.

3.5 stars

Here is another chapter in the Eddie Flynn series, I have read book 8 and 1 - in that order and now the 5th book. I think they work fine as a stand alone, though I am curious about some of the players. I hope to read the rest of the series in order.

Fifty Fifty is a fast paced story about two sisters each charged with the murder of their father, both say the other one did it. The story alternates point of view between each of the sisters and Eddie along with another one. It was an intriguing read that kept my attention. There was action along with familiar faces from his other books and yes, I did have to suspend my belief a couple times.

If you like an addicting read with courtroom drama, twist and turns along with unreliable characters, mystery and suspense then I highly recommend Steve Cavanaugh.

Thanks to Atria Books for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

⚖️ W R O N G F U L W E D N E S D A Y review ⚖️ featuring “Fifty Fifty” by Steve Cavanagh!

MY RATING: 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

Former mayor Frank Avellino has been murdered, stabbed 53 times to be exact. Both of his daughters (Alexandra and Sofia) are arrested at the scene of the crime, each of them blaming the other for his murder.

With a $49 million dollar inheritance on the line and one of the sisters being a murderer AND a liar, it’s hard to know which sister to trust.

The police seem to think that Frank was going to cut one of the sisters out of the will completely before his death, but they don’t know which one …

Did one of the sisters panic that she was going to be cut out of the will and kill her father before he made the changes? Or did the sisters team up to murder their father? Now that they are both on trial for the same murder, the chances are 50/50!

I LOVED this book so much and am such a fan of Steve Cavanagh after reading Kill for Me, Kill for You! This story is so emotionally twisted and dark and as a reader you go back and forth between pinning the murder on each sister multiple times over. Each sister is delusional, creepy, super unreliable and knows how to put on a sinister show. This family dynamic is not okay and will grip you every step of the way!

Thank you kindly to @sscav @atriabooks @atriathrillers @simonschusterca @netgalley for my #gifted digital copy of this re-release from 2020 in exchange for my honest review!

This is only my second Eddie Flynn novel, but its quickly becoming a favorite series! In this one, the father of two is murdered, and one of his daughters is the killer. But which one? Both sisters are convincing in their innocence, which means not only is one a killer but also an accomplished liar. Cavanagh had me guessing right up to the very end – a guess that changed often as the story developed.
This is part investigative mystery, part psychological thriller. The different POVs help ramp up the suspense, the side characters add charm and depth and the quick pace will have you unable to put it down!
Although part of a series, these books can be read as stand alones. But I do want to go back and read the ones that I’ve missed because I really like the character of Eddie Flynn. The smart scrappy lawyer has more depth to him than he likes to show.

This was a fast-paced and chilling read! The premise of two sisters accusing each other of murder kept me guessing the entire time. The tension between Alexandra and Sofia was palpable, and the dual perspectives added an extra layer of suspense. I loved how the story unraveled bit by bit, revealing just enough to keep you hooked without giving away the ending. A few moments dragged slightly, but overall, it’s a gripping courtroom thriller with plenty of twists. If you enjoy dark family secrets and mind games, this one’s worth picking up!

Atria eARC
This is my second book I've read in this series out of order, and it doesn't bother me in the slightest because Cavanagh writes such page-turners. I also really the Eddie Flynn character. He's richly developed and perfectly flawed. This one was so interesting with the pitting of the sisters against each other with each accusing the other of murdering their father. His courtroom scenes are full of tension and always keep me wondering what's going to happen all the way throughout. He paced out the developments perfectly to keep me turning the pages quicker and quicker. I can't wait to keep returning to this series and his other works.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I've heard great things about Steve Cavanagh but hadn't read anything by him before. I can say that it didn't disappoint. The premise sucks you in and keeps you guessing for most of it. It was fast-paced with well developed characters. While it was part of a series, you can read it as a stand-alone. The ending was a little predictable because so much evidence was left throughout the book aiming you toward one sister but it was still a great read!

The author always does a great job with the suspense and his writing. Feeling like you are right there in the story. I really enjoyed this book and overall this author when it comes to any of his writings. Will definitely be in the look out for books to come.

Finally! For those of us that are fans of the Eddie Flynn series, we can read book 5 after a long wait! And what a book it is.

Eddie Flynn receives a phone call letting him know a potential client is in jail. After meeting with her, she agrees to let him defend her. The case: Her father, the former mayor, has been murdered. The catch: Within a minute of each other, the client and her sister both call 911 to report the other sister committed the murder.

Which sister committed the murder? You can guess. There is a Fifty Fifty shot you will get it right. But, spoiler alert, you most likely will change your opinion several times during this well written novel.

Even if you have never read an Eddie Flynn thriller, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. You will not regret it. It is the perfect summer time read.

My only complaint is there is a death that seems written just for shock effect. It doesn't truly seem to add a lot to the story. But even with that "complaint", the murder is so well written, it will have you sitting on the edge of your seat.

Fifty Fifty, Steve Cavanagh 📚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Love a good Steve Cavanagh book! (AKA, all of them).

This is book # 5 of the Eddie Flynn series, and was just rereleased today! Highly recommend it ✔️ You do NOT need to read this series in order.

The story is a true “Who did it?!” and it had me roped in right from the start!

Thank you to Steve Cavanagh, Atria Books & NetGalley for this ARC! 🫶🏻

💭: ““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?”

This was alright. I thought a lot of it was kind of unnecessary, and there wasn’t really a good investigation. It was just them believing the two girls, and not really doing their own thing I feel. I felt like the book was longer than needed, especially for it to not really be going anywhere until 60% or more of the way through.
I normally love cop and fbi type thrillers, but this one just missed the mark for me. It felt rushed, and not a whole ton of action. The characters also didn’t seem to have too much dimension. Kate was a badass though, I liked her.

FIFTY FIFTY by Steve Cavanagh
Two sisters each call 911 to report that the other has murdered their father. Both have motives, both seem guilty — but only one is telling the truth. Defense attorney Eddie Flynn takes on one sister’s case, while his rival represents the other. As the trial unfolds, it becomes a deadly game of strategy and deceit, with Eddie racing to uncover the real killer before the wrong woman is convicted.

Steve Cavanagh has done it again!
FIFTY FIFTY is a legal thriller that had me from the first page and didnt let go. With a fast-paced plot, short chapters, and (un)likable characters you’ll love to second-guess, this one kept me fully engaged. The story is told through multiple points of view — but don’t let that scare you. Each POV is clear and adds to the tension, especially the chapters narrated by “She,” our mysterious killer.

Did I guess who did it? Yes.
Did it ruin anything? Absolutely not.
The suspense, misdirection, and courtroom drama made every page worth it.

Originally published in 2020 as book 5 in the Eddie Flynn series, FIFTY FIFTY is finally being released in the U.S. on June 3, 2025. Eddie Flynn, the ex-con turned defense attorney, is smart, scrappy, and just the kind of hero you want leading the charge for justice.

Thank you Atria Books via NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Be sure to pick up your copy on June 3!

ARC READ

This was a fast paced legal thriller with multiPOV that was such a fun time. This was my first steve Cavanagh Book and I will definetly be picking up more. I realized that this is technically book 5 of this series but rest assured you do not need to read all the others first (i will definetely be going back to read the others). My guess is some characters in the book were probably met in previous books but I still felt like I got to know the characters (Harry, Harper) and was invested in thier side plots

The pacing was excellent for most of the book. There were many chapters with breadcrumbs where you were trying to figure out what sister it was and you keep second guessing youself the entire time and even more complicated as both lawyers are sure thier client is innocent. Part 4 of this book had me seriously scooting off my chair trying to read as fast I could just to find out what was happening. Then we get to the trial. I loved the courtroom drama. Every witness, I was just waiting to see how the lawyers could counter.
The ending had me high fiving the air with the Kate situation and the final lawyer team (trying not to spoil anything)
Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others who enjoy legal thrillers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and especially Atria for the ARC fin exchange for an honest review

Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you’re looking for a fast-paced legal thriller, look no further than the Eddie Flynn series.

This one was a page turner and kept me guessing the entire time. Such an interesting premise, and I felt like it was explored in the best way. This one was particularly interesting because it literally tells you one of the sisters did the crime in the very beginning, so the whole time I was trying to decide which one I believed more.

I had previously read Witness 8 as my intro to these characters, so I really enjoyed getting to revisit them and seeing more of their journey. While reading Witness 8 did reveal some of the things that happened to the characters, I didn’t feel like I needed to have read these in any particular order.

Keeping my review short because I believe one should experience these books as blindly as possible. Fans of books that grip you from the beginning, twists and turns, and books that explore the entire legal process will find much to love.

Thank you NetGalley for the gift of this book

Two sisters blame each other for the murder of their father . Both were there when it happened and both called 911 at the same time .

The lawyers Eddie and Kate each representing one sister have to go head to head and discover the truth …

Who do you think did it ?

A huge thank you to Atria books and NetGalley for offering me the chance to read this book as an ARC. It was such a good read. I’m glad to know it is a series. This gives me more to read by Steve Cavanagh!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria for this gifted copy!

Steve Cavanagh is officially one of my favorite authors. I love his Eddie Flynn series. IT IS SO GOOD. Every case he takes on is unique and twisty. When a political figure is murdered, both of his daughters each accuse each other. Alexandra, so put together and seemingly level headed and Sofia, the black sheep of the family. Both had childhood abuse and each have motive. As the trial progress, more murders occur with people too close to this case. Once you have it figured it out another twist gets thrown at you. I was back and forth with the sisters and the evidence was damning but nothing would’ve made me want to be either of their lawyers. Well written, evenly paced. I really enjoyed this one.

A rich man is murdered, and his two daughters are in custody. Each sister is claiming to be victimized and pointing an accusing finger at the other as the killer. Only one of them is telling the truth . . . but which one? No one wants to put the wrong sister in jeopardy. The lawyers on both sides have to remind themselves that it’s their job to present evidence to the jury, and it’s those members alone who decide guilt or innocence.

You simply can’t go wrong with an Eddie Flynn mystery.

I highly recommend this novel for fans of twisty psychological thrillers and suspenseful courtroom dramas.

I thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of Fifty Fifty for my unbiased evaluation.  4 stars

4.25 🌟

This was a fun one! The second I saw the premise on NetGalley, I knew I had to request it:


“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?


I enjoy legal thrillers, but man, every time I read one, I'm so grateful that I do not work in any capacity with the law. What a convoluted mess that is. I liked both lawyers in this, and you get each of their POVs. The sisters are both interesting. It's hard to tell which one to believe, and they will keep you guessing until the end. This is my kind of book!

If you're like me and have no idea this is part of a series, don't worry - you can read it as a standalone. And now I have to read the first four books in the Eddie Flynn series (as if my TBR needs any fattening).

Recommended for those who like fast-paced legal thrillers and whodunnits.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC.

Wow, this one was a wild legal thriller!

We begin with two different 911 calls made within minutes of one another. Each is from a sister claiming that their father was killed by the other sister. With the suspicion being blamed on both girls, they are both taken into custody with a high-profile legal case to follow. Because not only is this a case of sisters blaming one another, but their father was none other than Frank Avellino, the former New York City mayor. And his murder was horrendous to look at, even for the most seasoned cops. The girls are soon presented with a pick of the litter in their choice of defense attorney.

Eddie Flynn is not your typical lawyer. He was once a con artist who changed his ways when someone took a leap of faith on him. Eddie is notorious for only defending clients who he believes didn't commit the crime. He is instantly drawn to Sophia Avellino, as anyone can tell she's had a troubled past and seems to be struggling in her present situation. There's no way should could be such a gruesome killer. That leaves her sister, Alexandra Avellino. She is scooped up by the defense team of a big name law firm. With these two pitted against one another, things are bound to shake out in the court room.

---

We get perspectives from different characters in this one. Mainly Eddie, Kate (legal team of big firm), and "She." The allusive She keeps you guessing which sister it is referring to. The way the perspectives change makes this book move quickly, as you constantly want to know what's going to happen with one character as it cuts to another perspective. Also, we are introduced to Kate, a fresh out of law school legal associate, looking to make her way into the law world, which isn't easy when you work at a male dominated practice that looks at you like you have no place in the room. Anyone who's read from the Eddie Flynn series knows just how likeable Eddie can be and this one was no different.

Overall, this one had me guessing and cockily confident that I'd figured out the twist, but even I was surprised by some of the twists in this one. I would say anyone who picks this up is bound to be surprised by at least some aspect of the story. It was compelling, as you quickly cared about Eddie and Kate, even though they're pitted against one another in the courtroom. The only thing to be aware of is it's definitely a courtroom thriller. If you aren't into seeing the case play out in front of the jury and the behind the scenes details of lawyers and how they build their case, this one may not be for you. Even if you haven't read others in the series, Cavanaugh did a fantastic job of getting the information you needed to know the context of any overlapping characters. So don't be afraid to pick this one up, because if you're into legal thrillers, this one is a must read!

*Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for my honest review.*