4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Publishing for an advanced copy of Fifty Fifty.

Lawyer Eddie Flynn is called in about a new case. Two sisters both called 911 saying the other one killed their father. Sofia and Alexandra have not had a relationship with one another since they were kids. Alexandra is the one who has her life together and is doing well for herself while Sofia has struggled since they were kids death of their mother when they were kids. Eddie meets with Sofia and believes in her innocence so he takes her case on. The evidence shows that both of the women could be responsible so Eddie will just have to do what he does best, find the needle in the haystack!

This was a really great fast paced book that kept me guessing the entire time! I loved the plot and the characters and the twist and turns were great!

This book wrecked my nerves in the best way possible. I don’t think I took a full breath the entire time I was reading it. Fifty Fifty is the definition of a perfect whodunit: two sisters, one murdered father, and an unrelenting courtroom drama where both women point the finger at each other. Cavanagh masterfully plays with perception and tension—just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist dropped and flipped everything upside down.

The pacing is razor sharp, the courtroom scenes are brilliantly written, and the psychological manipulation will have your anxiety spiking (in a good way!). I pride myself on guessing twists, but this one? No chance. Absolutely unputdownable.

A legal thriller that messes with your mind and keeps you questioning everyone’s truth—HIGHLY recommend if you love a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat mystery with zero filler.

"Justice, if there was such a thing, rarely saw its reflection in a verdict." ⚖️✨

“My biggest problem as a lawyer is I want to guilty to get punished and the innocent to go free. And the law doesn't work that way. Never has. Never will." ⚖️✨

EDDDDDDDDDDDDDDIE FLYYYYYYYNNNNNNNNNN, strikes again. I am obsessed with this character by Steve Cavanagh and am hopeful that this legal thriller series will continue to thrive!! This edition, released today, June 3, 2025, isn't the first time this book has been released, and is #5 in the Eddie Flynn series. Fifty Fifty can totally be read alone, although some of the characters are seen in his other books and their histories and details may make more sense when you read these stories chronologically.

Fifty Fifty is about two sisters, Sofia and Alexandra, that both find themselves on trial for the murder of their father…the former mayor in New York. 👯‍♀️

Twisty and turny in Cavanagh's signature style, this book truly had me bouncing between whodunit until the very end. The suspense and nerve-wracking twists kept me up way past my bedtime and totally captivated and invested. I am totally hooked on Eddie Flynn and loved that this book had the "She" chapter - you truly weren't sure which of the sisters it was until the very end! The good vs. evil sister drama was deliciously evil and excellently executed. 👏🏻

As a lawyer, I sometimes cringe at "legal thrillers, especially when written by the defense perspective. But I truly love Eddie Flynn's character and his values and how he incorporates real issues and strategies into the story and highlights unrealistic legal points for the purpose of the plot. ⚖️

If you enjoyed Witness 8 or Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh you will definitely love this one too! Just remember that I warned you to clear your schedule and buckle your seatbelt!! 🎢

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good courtroom drama but throw in some thriller and I am hooked. What an excellent and well-written story. I loved everything about this story. I haven't read the others in this series but I don't think it took away anything.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

Two sisters, two frantic 911 calls, each accusing the other of stabbing their father, former NYC mayor Frank Avellino. One of the sisters is guilty, but which one?

You probably recognize Steve Cavanagh’s name from the wildly popular thriller “Kill for Me, Kill for You.” That fantastically twisty book was one of my top thrillers in 2024 and since my toxic trait is adding books to my TBR without reading the synopsis… well, you can probably see where this is going! I grabbed Fifty Fifty without knowing it’s the fifth book in the Eddie Flynn series, and while this is not a problem because this book reads great all by itself, my never-ending TBR just grew by seven books (eight if you count book #9, Two Kinds of Stranger, which isn’t out yet) because I need more Eddie Flynn in my life!

Eddie is such a great character, a con artist turned criminal defense attorney (some might say the two aren’t all that different!), and the supporting cast is stellar too. I particularly liked watching Kate come into her own as a young attorney. The plot is crafty, clever, and completely original. The twists kept me on my toes the entire time, and I kept changing my mind on which sister was the culprit (I had a “fifty fifty” chance of getting it right, lol!). I know the word “unputdownable” gets bandied about a lot, but this book is genuinely so bingeable, I finished it in less than two days! Perfect for fans of John Grisham and David Ellis.

I both read and listened to this one, and Adam Sims does a great job narrating the audiobook version, infusing Eddie with an engaging bit of wise guy attitude. It was nice to have both print and audio on this one, because the plot is intricate and there are a lot of characters to keep track of, so it was helpful to be able to easily flip back and reference things that happened earlier in the plot.

Many thanks to Atria Books and Simon Audio for the advance copies of this book!

BRAVO...another masterful legal thriller with nonstop twists!

All you need to know about this story: Two sisters on trial for murder. They accuse each other. Who do you believe, Sophia or Alexandra?

FIFTY FIFTY is a tense, gripping rollercoaster of psychological suspense that had me guessing at every turn. Ex-con turned defense attorney Eddie Flynn is back in the courtroom defending Sophia, one of two sisters accused of killing their father, the mayor of NY. His antics and dark humor always make for an interesting story, both in and out of the courtroom. He has "colorful" friends in high places which always up the stakes. The side characters (particularly Kate and Harry) are becoming more developed as I read more of this series. I live for the courtroom drama as Eddie always has a trick up his sleeve to outwit his opponent. Petition to adapt ALL Cavanagh's books to screen, please!

ENTERTAINING, addicting and begging to be devoured (especially on audio), get comfy and DIG IN.

**Although this is book 5 in the Eddie Flynn series, it can be read as a standalone.

A masterpiece makes its way to the US!! Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh was a fantastic read! A courtroom drama meets thriller, this one keeps you guessing until the very end. I loved getting to know Eddie and Kate and their friends who come to their aid. I’ll keep this spoiler free, but will say you will guess 10 different endings and not get one right!!

Absolutely incredible! I dare say, this might be even better than Th1rt3en… yes, yes I do! I was hooked from the very beginning to the last page. I was convinced I had figured out which sister was behind it all, picking up on the subtle clues Cavanagh cleverly scattered throughout. But that final twist? Completely blindsided me and in the best diabolical way.
Eddie is quickly becoming one of my favorite fictional detectives. With his shady past and his determination to stay on the right path makes him such a relatable character. The dynamics between the characters were expertly done, and the mysterious “She” chapters added an extra layer of intrigue that kept me guessing and changing my mind on which sister was the killer. I will forever recommend this book, it was so brilliantly written and brilliantly executed!

*Thank you to Steve Cavanagh, Atria Books and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

My favorite Steve Cavanagh book yet! This crime thriller is absolutely addicting and you'll be tempted to finish it in one sitting.

Two sisters call 911 one night, each reporting that the other killed their father. Their father was once the mayor, and the dual arrests in the case immediately make headlines. Lawyers Eddie and Kate represent the two sisters during a fascinating and shocking trial.

This book was so freaking good! The plot immediately pulled me in with reading the 911 calls the sisters make and not knowing who to trust right off the bat. The multiple POVs worked extremely well for giving bits and pieces about each character, and no POV could ever be as compelling as the one simply titled "She", as in the killer. I was reading those sections slowly and word by word, trying to find any little hint about which sister it could possibly be. Cavanagh kept me guessing all the way until the end.

This may be book 5 in the Eddie Flynn series, but it easily works as a standalone. I've officially put Cavanagh on my autobuy list and might have to immediately go on to The Devil's Advocate (book 6) next!

Fifty Fifty is an absolute page-turner—tense, twisty, and one of the best legal thrillers I’ve read in a while. When ex-NYC mayor Frank Avellino is found brutally murdered, his two daughters, Sofia and Alexandra, both call 911... and both accuse the other of the crime. Now they’re on trial together, and it’s up to Eddie Flynn and newcomer Kate Brooks to defend them—Eddie represents Sofia, Kate defends Alexandra. One of them is lying. One of them is a cold-blooded killer.

Told through multiple perspectives, including the voice of the guilty sister (“She”), the story keeps you guessing until the final verdict. The courtroom scenes are gripping, the twists are relentless, and the stakes are sky-high. Eddie and Kate are both principled, sharp, and easy to root for, and the tension between the legal teams adds another layer of suspense.

Even if you think you’ve figured it out, you haven’t. This one had me second-guessing everything, right up to the final pages. Fast-paced and genuinely hard to put down—if you love legal thrillers, this one’s a must.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fifty Fifty was originally published in the UK in 2020. It is being reissued in the US on June 3, 2025. It is the fifth in a series involving Eddie Flynn, a con man turned lawyer (some may say that is a short trip). Eddie is a defense attorney involved in what is probably the strangest case in his career. Two sisters are accused of murdering their father and each accuses the other.

The story moves very quickly and with plenty of twists and even some humor. I really liked the character of Kate, who is the novice defense attorney defending one of the sisters. Both Eddie and Kate are convinced that the sister they are defending is the innocent one, but one of them is wrong. Very entertaining and engaging, even as it keeps you guessing, Fifty Fifty is such an enjoyable read. It is certainly not necessary to have read the previous books in the series, however I will be doing that just for the anticipated pleasure of it.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Two sisters on trial for the murder of their father
One of them is a liar and a killer
But which one?

Steve Cavanagh has done it again. This is my third read by him and my second from the Eddie Flynn series. I felt like I was watching a movie in my head the entire time I was reading. The cat-and-mouse game between the sisters dragged a bit in the middle but SC knows how to keep you hooked and reel you back in with his twists that come out of nowhere.

I really enjoyed the multiple POVs between the attorneys and the mysterious “She”.

Thank you Atria Books for the arc copy

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this early—I seen a friend do an ARC review and I just had to read it! I’m happy to report it more than delivered. If you’re into legal thrillers with jaw-dropping twists and layered characters you can’t quite figure out, this one needs to be on your radar. And great news: it hits shelves tomorrow, June 3rd!

The book wastes no time pulling you in. The setup? Two sisters, one murder, and two separate 911 calls placed at the exact same moment. From the same location. That alone had me suspicious—like, how does that even happen unless something shady’s going on?

But that theory unraveled fast. These sisters aren’t partners in crime—they’re estranged, bitter, and barely surviving the wreckage of their shared past. And what unfolds between them is complicated, unsettling, and, at times, genuinely heartbreaking. Their connection to their father (the high-profile murder victim) is twisted in ways you can’t quite untangle until the very end.

The deeper I got, the more invested I became in both women. Every time I thought I had a handle on one of them, a new layer was revealed that changed everything. I love trying to piece together the puzzle before it clicks into place—but this book kept slipping through my fingers in the best way. Just when I was confident, the narrative would pivot and leave me questioning all of it.

One thing I didn’t expect to love as much as I did? The legal teams. Eddie is sharp, calm under pressure, and has a quiet sense of justice that grounds the chaos. Kate, on the other hand, is ambitious, navigating a hostile work environment, and still manages to command the courtroom with power and grace. Watching them move through the case—separately, but connected—gave the story even more dimension. Their perspectives were smart, emotional, and often made things even harder to untangle.

And then there’s the mysterious “She.”
No spoilers—but Absolutely chilling. It’s rare to get such an intimate look inside the mind of a killer without revealing their identity, and it was handled so well. It completely threw off my rhythm, in the best way.

By the time the courtroom scenes kicked in, I was fully locked in. The tension was thick, the stakes kept climbing, and I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough. Every twist landed. Every emotional beat hit. And the ending? Genuinely satisfying and just unnerving enough to linger.

This is a standout legal thriller that combines smart plotting, sharp writing, and unforgettable characters. Suspenseful without being predictable, dark without losing its heart.
Easily a five-star read. And yes… I’ll never hear “She” by Elvis Costello the same way again. Yes, I looked it up because I had no clue about the song and now....my mind has fused this story and that song together forever!!

Fifty Fifty:⁣
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Thank you so much @atriabooks and @simon.audio for my gifted copies!⁣
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“Racists are weak, Eddie. They only have strength in numbers”. ⁣
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Listen, whomever said you don’t have to read these in order is a dirty dirty liar. I read Witness 8 and LOVED it. There are two big characters that we end up getting their backstory in Fifty Fifty… which would have been helpful before reading Witness 8. I felt like I was out of loop on one part, and it’s because it was in a previous book. I love a series and backstory, but the “standalone” part is only the actual case, not the characters. It’s like a big spoiler alert 😂. If you’re invested in characters, y’all better just wait until they all re-release and then go in numerical order. ⁣
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Regardless, it was twisty, it was gritty, it was Eddie Flynn fantastic. I apologize to every other attorney series I’ve ever read, because no one holds a flame to Eddie. That ending?! Chef’s kiss perfection. ⁣
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Audio read again by Adam Sims. Highly recommend the audio, it was really well done.⁣
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Overall, a massive hit. I wish I read them in order, but I’ve learned my lesson for the next one!

Ding dang dally. I don't even know what that means, but it smacked me in the brain as I finished reading this banger.

Phew, these characters are pure gold. Every. Single. Time.

I have so much to say but can't seem to process a single coherent thought.

Two sisters, both accusing each other of a despicable crime. One has to be guilty because they were the only two around. Which one? I don't know. Do you know? There's a Fifty fifty chance you're right. I might have been wrong. I was. Moving on...

Eddie Flynn is just about my favourite character of all time. Harry is up there too and also, of course, good boy Clarence.

If you like lawyer thrillers and crime and all the good stuff. Read it. It's intricate, complex and so intriguing. Good luck putting it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a gifted copy of this novel!

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy binging crime dramas, whether they be in book or television form. Although this book is part of a series, I didn’t realize that going in, but had no issues reading it as a standalone. There are a few POVs here that change often to keep readers’ interest. I didn’t realize have a guess as to the whodunnit aspect, but was ultimately wrong and I was pleasantly surprised! The crime that punctuated the plot was unique and held my interest throughout, and makes me want to pick up the other books in this series. I recommend giving it a read!

Thank you to Atria Books and Steve Cavanagh for an e-arc of this book! This was such an interesting story, especially considering that this mystery starts out with only two potential murderers and has to keep the suspense from there. I became invested quickly, especially with the several perspectives on this legal thriller — including both defense counselors and the murderer. I thought it was really smart to title the murderer’s chapters “She” to keep greater anonymity and suspense. I loved how intricate the story was and I was kept guessing until the end! This is perfect for fans of the Lincoln Lawyer and Suits!! 4.25 🌟

Easily one of my favorite Eddie Flynn novels to date. As with his other Eddie Flynn novels, Cavanagh writes from the view points of several characters. Personally, I like this style as it keeps me engaged.

Two sisters, one murder trial. Eddie is introduced to the case when he is taken to meet the sister that no one wants to represent because she is seen as the "unstable" sister, and therefore more likely to be the killer. But if you know Eddie, you know he won't represent someone unless he believes they're innocent. At the station, he also meets Kate Brooks, an up and coming young lawyer trying to make it big at a big firm, until she ditches that firm.

While these two make up the primary viewpoints, we also get the viewpoint of "She," assumed to be the sister who is the killer. This definitely throws the reader for a loop and keeps you guessing as "she" actually commits multiple murders that do not come out until later in the book once Flynn and Brooks start to piece things together.

This one is definitely a page turner! Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

📚: Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh
⭐️: 4.5/5 (rounding down on #goodreads)

“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.”

Two sisters on trial for murder. They accuse each other. One of them is a liar and a killer... but which one?

Honestly, the synopsis was enough for me to be very excited to get my hands on Fifty Fifty prior to its first-ever release in the US. The premise is like a game of chess, with the whodunnit ping pong'ing until the very end. While this had a bit of a slow start for me, it picked up quickly -- and the multiple POV's made it unputdownable by the end. I, for one, am very much looking forward to catching up on Cavanagh's backlog of books.

Big thanks to Atria Books via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Fifty Fifty is out tomorrow, 6/3!

I just finished reading this ARC from NetGalley. So dang good! I was all, she did it! No, she did it. Wait, back to the original guess. This chick is messed up. But which one is it? Whew, got it figured out. But wait, haha! No you don’t.
Absolutely love this series and can’t wait to read the next one! Keep em coming, Steve-o!