I am obsessed with anything SC writes - everything I've read, I've loved. This was a dark and twisty thriller that I couldn't put down - highly recommend - 4.5 rounded up

I really loved the writing style and the angle of this mystery. It was new to me, and I loved the unreliable narrator vibes. It was super interesting.

This is book #5 in the Eddie Flynn series and can also be read as a standalone. Two sisters are found at scene of their father's murder and both call the cops saying the other sister is the killer. 

The hook to this story is dynamite and I was so excited to pick this up for that alone. However, the execution fell a bit flat for me. I didn't root for either sister to be innocent and thought the killer was a bit obvious. I thought there were too many unanswered questions and this just didn't feel that clever, compared to some of his other books. And the blatant sexual harassment on Kate was overkill and almost made me DNF this one.

Fifty Fifty is a gripping legal thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end. The premise is brilliant—two sisters, both accused of murdering their father, and both pointing the finger at the other. Steve Cavanagh does an excellent job weaving together courtroom drama, sharp twists, and complex characters, especially defense attorney Eddie Flynn, who’s as clever as he is compelling. While some parts felt slightly formulaic, the pacing and suspense made it hard to put down. It’s a smart, well-written mystery that fans of courtroom thrillers will definitely enjoy.

This is a very well written book with a great plot. Great premise about 2 sisters who are both found in the house with their murdered father. Each sister is claiming the other did it. Unfortunately it was too graphic for me and I wasn’t able to finish. I would call this a thriller/ horror.

This was my first Steve Cavanagh book and will definitely not be my last.

Fifty Fifty was a great read about two sisters who call 911 on each other for the murder of their father. The book is written extremely well and thoughtfully, to where each chapter and piece of evidence can be seen from either side or go either way like a flip of a coin (Fifty Fifty to be exact).

The book started out fast paced and never pulls back. The story is well told through the discovery phase, the trial and subsequent revelations thereafter. Every time you think you have the book pegged and the killer nailed down a new piece of the puzzle is revealed and you begin to second guess yourself. I will say I was correct in the end but the twists, turns and uncertainty getting there was a thrill ride from start to finish.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an unbiased review. I cant wait to delve into the next chapter of this authors works.

This was okay for me, nothing really special or earth shattering. It does keep you guessing on a key reveal but I got a bit lost along the way how certain things were figured out. Overall just okay, probably wouldn’t come back to this one.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

My first Steve Cavanagh book and it did not disappoint! I was immediately drawn to the plot and hooked by the two 911 calls. I thought the different POVs were brilliant, especially “She.” Every time I thought I had the actual killer figured out, the story went on twists and turns. I thought the POVs were clever especially when they were going through tense events simultaneously and I didn’t know who was going to die, if anyone. I was at the edge of my seat with the way he wrote some of those POV scenes. I particularly loved the trial. As someone who works in the court system and can serve as an expert witness, I appreciated how technical these scenes were but also how captivating they were. I am looking forward to diving into the rest of the Eddie Flynn series! 4⭐️

A fun thriller with nonstop twists. Two sisters, one accused of murder - one is guilty, but which? Gripping, clever, and impossible to guess until the end.

Thank you to Atria, who provided an ARC of this book to everyone at the #bookhuddle Victoria Retreat!

This was my first Eddie Flynn and I didn't realize it was part of a series until after I was well into it - grateful that I could read without feeling like I missed much! This was a fun legal thriller that kept me guessing until the end. I really enjoyed it!

Steve Cavanagh always keeps me guessing and that did not change with "Fifty Fifty". Two sisters both accusing each other of brutally murdering their father. Which sister is telling the truth? One sister is very put together and stable in her adult life while the other sister has struggled with mental health and addiction issues. Should one sister's history be her demise in the trial? Or is the other sister's entire life a complete lie? There are so many questions arising that I kept going back and forth on who I thought did it. There is one part of the book that made me want whoever did it to go down ever more so and I think any reader will know exactly what I mean when you reach that part of the book. I was so mad, angry, and sad all at the same time. The ending was shocking to me and the details that come out during this back and forth do not leave either sister unscathed. Thank you NetGalley for this opportunity to review Steve Cavanagh once more. I can't wait to read more of his work.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh is a smart, fast-paced legal thriller with a killer hook: two sisters, one dead father, and both claim the other is the murderer. What follows is a twisty courtroom drama that keeps you guessing until the final verdict. Cavanagh masterfully builds tension, and his protagonist Eddie Flynn is as sharp and likable as ever. The pacing is electric, and the legal strategy sequences are particularly compelling for fans of the genre.

The only reason it’s not a full five stars for me is that a few of the twists were slightly telegraphed—but that didn’t stop me from devouring the book in a day.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly just wow I had so much fun with this. Going down in my once you pop you can’t stop list! Honestly started and finished basically in one sitting, everything that a thriller should be! I really didn’t know what to believe and officially need to read all of this authors work. Love the setting the characters the theme the criminal law aspects !

I didn’t know that this was part of a series. It could be read as a stand alone but it would be better I am sure if you read the others. Thank you for the advanced copy

This was such a clever legal thriller! The setup completely pulled me in—two sisters, one of them definitely killed their father, and both are blaming each other. It’s the kind of plot that makes you second-guess every character and theory you come up with, and I loved that.

That said, the beginning was a little slow for me. I didn’t feel fully hooked until about halfway through, but once it hit that point, I flew through the rest. The courtroom drama was so well done—tense, layered, and full of twists without feeling too far-fetched. I also really enjoyed the alternating POVs, especially getting into the mind of the killer. It added an extra layer of suspense that worked really well.

If you like legal thrillers with smart twists and characters that keep you guessing, this is definitely worth picking up.



thank you to net galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review *

Fast-paced, tense, clever. I love Eddie Flynn and how he always finds his way to the truth. It was hard to put it down once I started!

Talk about a legal thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end! Fifty Fifty had me hooked from the start with its unique take on the classic whodunnit. Right away, you know the crime was committed by one of two sisters—but the real question is: which one?

What I loved most was the constant back-and-forth in my own mind, trying to figure out who the guilty sister was. Cavanagh does an excellent job creating doubt and suspense, making both women seem equally capable and equally innocent. And the courtroom scenes? Intense and sharp, as always with Eddie Flynn at the helm.

Another great layer to the story is how Cavanagh sprinkles in chilling chapters from the killer's perspective. You know you’re hearing from the murderer, but you don’t know *who* it is, which adds this eerie, psychological edge to the whole experience. It gave me just enough to keep theorizing, but never quite enough to be sure.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Atria Books for early access to this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I just finished Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh. I really enjoyed it and was quite happy to read another book featuring lawyer Eddie Flynn and his supporting crew - Fifty Fifty.

Neat fact - Cavanagh is a lawyer himself. He is now a full time writer - and his books benefit from his 'insider' knowledge. I like the

The premise of this case is another great idea. Two sisters each call 911, reporting that their father has been killed - by their sister! Which one is telling the truth? Who is a killer? Well, we readers are privy to what "She" has done...and it's downright scary!

I really liked the 'behind' machinations of the trial. If you like twists and turns, you'll find them in Fifty Fifty. It's a page turner!

Note that you can read these as stand alones.

Prepare to have your mind blown by Steve Cavanagh's "Fifty Fifty," a psychological thriller that masterfully ratchets up the suspense and keeps you on the edge of your seat from the very first page.

The premise is simple yet utterly gripping: two sisters, Sofia and Alexandra, are on trial for the murder of their father. Both were in the house. Both called 911. Both accuse the other. The chilling 911 calls, presented as the book's opening, immediately plunge you into a world of betrayal, deceit, and a desperate fight for survival.

"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. One of them is a killer. But which one? This is the central question that fuels the narrative, and Cavanagh expertly weaves a complex web of secrets, lies, and half-truths that will leave you constantly questioning who to believe.

As the trial unfolds, the sisters' pasts are laid bare, revealing a troubled family history and a deep-seated rivalry that has simmered for years. Each sister's account of the events leading up to their father's death is compelling, filled with plausible details and emotional appeals. But as a reader, you know that one of them is meticulously crafting a lie, and the tension lies in trying to decipher the truth from the fiction.

Cavanagh, hailed as a "wickedly clever" master of twisty thrillers by The New York Times, lives up to his reputation with "Fifty Fifty." The plot is a labyrinth of unexpected turns and shocking revelations. Just when you think you have a handle on who is guilty, a new piece of evidence or a sudden twist will send you spirling back to uncertainty. The pacing is relentless, each chapter ending with a hook that compels you to keep reading, desperate to uncover the truth.

Beyond the thrilling plot, "Fifty Fifty" is also a deeply engaging exploration of family dynamics, the corrosive effects of resentment, and the lengths people will go to protect themselves, even at the expense of their own flesh and blood. The characters are complex and flawed, making their motivations and actions all the more intriguing.

If you're a fan of psychological thrillers that mess with your mind, "Fifty Fifty" is an absolute must-read. It's a book that will have you second-guessing every character, every piece of evidence, and every twist until the final, explosive conclusion. Get ready for a suspenseful, exciting, and truly mind-blowing reading experience.

The beginning of this book was a little slow, but once it picked up I couldn’t put it down. I love a murder mystery that keeps you guessing and I also love a book than includes a trial/verdict. This book delivered both of those elements perfectly and then some. I found myself actually torn 50/50 between the sisters.