3.5 stars

As a big fan of Eddie Flynn and his crew, I have to say this latest installment was just okay for me. Don't get me wrong, it definitely kept me turning pages and I was totally hooked on the courtroom drama, Eddie's usual antics, and all the twists and turns!

However, this one got a little too political for my taste, and the topic itself was pretty heavy. It hit a bit too close to home with what's going on in the world right now, and honestly, it made me think a little too much and even got me a bit angry about how these things can happen in real life. Usually, I read to escape reality and get lost in a different world, so this one was a bit jarring.

That said, if you're a Steve Cavanagh fan or you've been following the Eddie Flynn series, you'll probably still want to pick this up. Just a heads up, you might want to check for content or trigger warnings beforehand, or at least read up on the book's topics if you're sensitive to certain subjects.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book. I voluntarily read it and gave an honest review.

Steve Cavanagh’s "The Devil’s Advocate," the sixth book in his popular Eddie Flynn series, is a gripping legal thriller. Feeling like a mix of true crime and high-stakes courtroom drama, the story once again follows former con artist turned defense lawyer Eddie Flynn as he heads to a small Southern town with a dark reputation. The town’s powerful district attorney has built a career on sending people to death row, and Eddie’s client may be next.

As always, Eddie is a clever, scrappy lead character who uses both his legal and street smarts to take on a corrupt town that doesn't care about real justice. The tension is high throughout as Eddie digs into the case and uncovers layer after layer of disturbing secrets. The plot contains plenty of twists, fast-paced courtroom scenes, and a sense of urgency. This is a fast-paced novel with short chapters and punchy dialogue that keep the story moving quickly.

"The Devil’s Advocate" is a solid pick for readers who enjoy engaging legal thrillers. Sharp storytelling mixes with serious themes. without getting too bogged down in the dramatic details. Readers will find themselves rooting for Eddie and turning pages to see how it ends.

The Devil's Advocate lays out the fundamentals from the start: DA Randal Korn is blood-thirsty and thoroughly enjoys sending men and women to the death penalty, even if they're not guilty and he knows it. His latest victim is Andy Dubois, who is innocent, and Eddie Flynn has a week to clear his name or he would be sentenced to death. Randal Korn is probably one of the dirtiest DA's ever and no matter how strategic Flynn is, Korn manages to get the upper hand. When Flynn went low, Korn went lower. I sped through this book in an evening because I wanted to see if Flynn could come up on top at the end. If you like fast-paced murder mysteries and/or legal thrillers, I think you'll really enjoy this series.

Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books and the author Steve Cavanagh
I absolutely love the Eddie Flynn series and this one did not disappoint.
Could not put it down, fast paced, quick read.
I will read anything Steve Cavanagh writes.
Highly Recommend.
5 stars

This book delivers on its promise of courtroom drama, corruption, and high-stakes tension. The setup is classic: a crooked DA, a wrongly accused man, and one clever defense lawyer racing against the clock to expose the truth. Eddie Flynn is a likable lead—quick-thinking, sharp-tongued, and slippery enough to keep things interesting.

The plot moves briskly, with enough twists to keep most readers engaged. The villain, Randal Korn, is unapologetically evil—maybe a little too much at times. The whole setup can feel exaggerated, almost cinematic in its extremes, which may not work for readers looking for a more grounded legal drama.

Some character motivations feel thin, and the courtroom antics occasionally stretch believability. But if you’re in the mood for a high-octane, David-vs-Goliath legal thriller with a clear sense of good vs evil, this will hit the mark—even if it doesn’t entirely surprise you.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This installment of the Eddie Flynn Series had me feeling all the things. I had to stop reading a few times because this book hit too close to home given the current state of our country right now. This book deals with racism and corruption in an Alabama murder case and there were a few times I felt physically ill while reading knowing that not only that the mistreatment of innocent parties, (especially the Black community since that’s what this book focuses on), has been happening for years, but that it’s still happening. Daily.

I find the multiple view points Cavanagh uses throughout his writing to really move the plot along well and the way he weaves these stories together is masterful. This book is fast paced, and despite being difficult to read emotionally, it was a book I flew through to find out what happened.

If you’re ready for a political themed legal thriller with a side of existential dread that will really make you think, this is the book for you!

While this book is part of a series, you don’t need to have read any of the other Eddie Flynn books in order to read this one, although I recommend them all because they’re worth the read.

Cavanagh's books are always sharp, fast, and smart. This was no exception!
This takes place in the Deep South - Alabama. A young man is wrongfully accused of a murder and faces the death penalty.
Corruption abounds in the town - the DA, the sheriff, and others.
Thankfully, Eddie Flynn and his crew come to town and take risks for a big reward.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

The Devil’s Advocate by Steve Cavanagh
Genre: Crime Thriller
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE is intense, uncomfortably timely, and kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.

Set in a small town in Alabama where the justice system is corrupt, racist, and ruled by people with deep pockets– the antagonists (plural!) are appalling and absolutely horrifying.

Wow! I could not put this book down. It’s a courtroom procedural with tons of action, violence, and suspense. This is the sixth book in the Eddie Flynn series but the author is skilled at providing all the necessary backstory to make sense to a new reader (this can be read as a stand-alone) while making it abundantly clear that the rest of the series is a must-read.

I loved Eddie Flynn and his team– they don’t do everything by the book but they’re out for justice and willing to take risks to make it happen. The themes in this thriller are heavy and the antagonists are the worst kind of people, so prepare to be enraged. But the overwhelming message is positive and shows how people willing to make difficult decisions for the greater good are extremely valuable. If you’re looking for a tense thriller with excellent writing and fantastic characters you’ll want to pick this up!

Thank you @atriabooks @atriathrillers for the complimentary ARC!

4.5/5
Thank you @simon.audio @atriabooks #partner for the gifted copies of this book!

I am fully convinced Steve Cavanagh cannot write a bad book. If you’re not reading this series (or honestly anything he’s written), you are seriously missing out. His books are downright clever — whip smart, meticulously detailed, and filled with plots that actually stand out in a sea of thrillers. I’ve loved every single one I’ve picked up!

The Devil’s Advocate is book 6 in the Eddie Flynn series and confession time: I haven’t been reading these in order. I’ve been hopping around like a bunny and having an absolute blast. So if you’re worried about starting mid-series — don’t be. You’ll be just fine, promise.

In this one, Eddie’s got his work cut out for him. He’s battling racism, death threats, dirty cops, and people who should be on the side of justice but are knee-deep in corruption. Honestly, I’ve read some nonfiction lately that wasn’t far off from this fictional tale, which made this book hit even harder.

This one was an absolute banger! Not shocking I am sure. It is fast-paced, twisty, smart, and totally addictive. If you love legal thrillers, courtroom drama, and a main character who is a baddy, then I am going to advise you to grab your wallet and head to your nearest bookstore to start adding this series to your cart!

✨ Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
🫧 Vibes: small town, suspense, tension
🎶 Song: the devil within - digital daggers
📖 Favourite Quote: "This stain has always been on America. It's just that we're able to see it a lot clearer these days."
📚 Would I recommend? Absolutely!!
💬 Final thoughts: I never want this series to end.

In the package:
📦 twisty plot
📦 terrifying perpetrator
📦 corrupt characters

In this Eddie Flynn novel, he faces off against a ruthless prosecutor obsessed with the death penalty, fighting to save an innocent man in a small town where the justice system is rigged to kill, even if they're not guilty.

This one was INCREDIBLE but also incredibly frustrating. Eddie had to jump through so many hoops because of the amount of corruption going on in that town. I really didn't think he would be able to prove Andy's innocence. Once again, the courtroom scenes with gripping and had my heart racing. I never thought I would enjoy a legal thriller this much but Steve Cavanagh's writing is just impeccable and easy to follow. The stakes kept rising with every chapter and I was on the edge of my seat several times with my blood boiling. If you're looking for a book that makes you feel something, this is it.

📚Read if you enjoyed: The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly, Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh

I didn’t realize this was part of a series. Upon further research I was told by many people that I could read it as a standalone book. I enjoyed this book and I am intrigued about the story. I am definitely going to start at the beginning of the series to get the full understanding of the storyline. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book.

A face paced legal thriller in the Eddie Flynn series. Con man turned lawyer, Eddie Flynn is up against an evil DA that thrives on getting people convicted and put on death row just for the thrill of it, whether they are guilty or not.
The body count is a little high … so it does stretch credibility a bit. But Cavanagh surrounds Eddie with a great supporting group of colleagues that continue to make this series work.
Thanks to net galley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first time reading a book by Steve Cavanagh, but that didn't detract from the reading experience. The author did a great job expressing knowledge of the law and legal system. The plot for this story was complex and high stakes as the MC is trying to prove the innocence of his defendant despite the odds being stacked up against him. Honestly, there were times when this story gave me vibes similar to the book A Time To Kill--not in terms of plot but similar-ish elements in a good way. I enjoyed reading this story and woukd recommend it.

Thank you to Negalley and Atria books for letting me read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Solid legal thriller with a chilling villain and clever courtroom twists. The plot is gripping, but the pacing dragged in places, slowing the momentum. Still, Eddie Flynn fans will appreciate the tension and mind games.

Eddie Flynn is called upon to defend a young back man (Andy Dubois) in Alabama accused of killing a young woman named Skylar Edwards. It is a case stacked against him - two confessions, DNA evidence, and a witness who claims Andy and Skylar were having an argument the night she was killed. The person who called Eddie to take the case believes Andy is innocent and being framed and the defense lawyer handling his case has gone missing. The local DA in Buckstown, Alabama is Randal Korn, the man who leads the nation in the number of death penalty cases he has tried and won. Eddie Flynn and his team (Harry, Kate, and Bloch) travel to Alabama and try to mount a defense for Andy. They are met with hostility from everyone in town from the moment they arrive. They know the evidence has been fabricated - but how do they prove it? I have read other Eddie Flynn books and enjoyed them. This was another good one in my opinion. It was fast paced and full of the typical Eddie antics that make him such a good character and keep him a step ahead of his adversaries. The racism the team faces trying to defend a black man is horrible and the book draws some parallels to the Atticus Finch character in To Kill a Mockingbird. The white supremacists in the book made my skin crawl and made me sad to think there are so many in our country. I loved the book even though you could guess how it would end, I loved the journey of how it gets there. I give the book 4.5 stars out of 5 which I’ll round up to 5.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on August 12, 2025.

Steve Cavanagh is one of my favorite authors, with good reason. His plots are always unique, with unexpected twists and turns. The Devil's Advocate was no different. This novel takes Eddie Flynn down south, where his skills are put to the test as he tries to save an innocent man. It is Eddie at his finest--I enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next novel.

Thank you Atria Books @atriabooks and Steve Cavanagh @sscav for this free book!
“The Devil’s Advocate”(Eddie Flynn #6) by Steve Cavanagh ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Legal Thriller. Location: Buckstown, Alabama, USA

THE SERIES: Eddie Flynn was famed conman “Eddie Fly”. Now he’s a skilled defense trial lawyer. He shares an office in Manhattan’s Tribeca district with his partner/attorney Kate Brooks, consultant Harry Ford, investigator Bloch, investigator Gabriel Lake (former FBI), and assistant Denise. He’s known for taking hopeless cases.

THIS BOOK: Ambitious, sadistic District Attorney Randal Korn lives to watch prisoners executed-even if they’re not guilty. He uses the power of his office to dehumanize, torture, and kill-because it gives him pleasure. His corrupt, racist partners in crime are Judge Chandler and Sheriff Lomax. Now innocent Black man Andy Dubois faces the death penalty for the murder of a young “prom queen” White girl, and Korn is going for a fast conviction. Eddie and his team have 7 days to save DuBois-and find the real killer. With iconic lawyer Eddie defending a client against widespread racism, you may find echoes of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, and a sad reminder that, at least in the Deep South, it seems things haven’t changed much since the 1930s.

Author Cavanagh has written one of his fastest-paced thrillers, full of fascinating trial scenes, corruption, murders, blackmail, intimidation, lies, greed, all fueled by entrenched racism. His descriptions add color and intensity to the plot: (Korn: “It’s the corpses of broken enemies that you leave in your wake...That’s how you measure your life.”) (“Running at full speed in 110° heat, with 89% humidity, is a lot like swimming through hot soup.”) His prose is clever, relevant, and sadly ironic: (“Lincoln’s party was the one crying for tolerance in the South for a long time.” “Things change, I said.”)(“Lot of people out there think they can speak their mind now, no matter how repulsive.”)(“Racism armed Americans better than the NRA could ever have hoped.” Cavanagh’s book will keep you guessing till the end-but you’ll be hooked once you read the prologue about Korn and another innocent Black man. It’s a well-written and researched struggle between good and evil, full of shocking twists. Add a wise-cracking hero, and it’s 5 stars from me📚👩🏼‍🦳#thedevilsadvocate #stevecavanagh

𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 4/5 ⭐️

The Devil’s Advocate by Steve Cavanagh is the sixth installment in the Eddie Flynn series. Eddie is back with all out favorite characters and some new villains in this legal thriller! Eddie is asked to defend an innocent man up for the death penalty in Alabama but the system is stacked against him!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this! Publish date is August 5th, 2025!

This might be my favorite Eddie Flynn novel so far. I really do enjoy them. I like his street smarts and his drive to protect those who are innocent. He doesn’t do it for the money, he does it because it is the right thing to do.

Easy read. I was turning those pages so fast seeing what trouble Eddie and the gang were going to get themselves into this time! Definitely some heavier themes in this one than in the previous Eddie Flynn books I have read but it definitely played right into the storyline and made sense.

Legal thrillers are always so much fun to me. This is fast-paced, tense, and has a lot of edge of your seat moments! How is Eddie going to defend this case and keep him and his team safe?! You will just have to read this to find out!

Steve Cavanagh did not disappoint in this the nerve wrecking and suspensefully intense courtroom drama. I could not put it down and really enjoyed it! Was really excited to read this one!

The Devil’s Advocate delivers exactly what fans of Steve Cavanagh have come to expect—sharp courtroom drama, relentless pacing, and a lead character who’s as clever as he is morally grounded. Eddie Flynn, the con-artist-turned-defense-lawyer, is once again up against impossible odds, this time facing off with a corrupt Southern DA who seems to enjoy executions a little too much.

Randal Korn is chilling as a villain—ruthless, manipulative, and disturbingly believable. Cavanagh pulls no punches in painting a justice system that feels broken and dangerous, raising the stakes as Eddie races to save an innocent man from death row.

The plot is tight, with plenty of twists and turns, and the courtroom scenes are thrilling without becoming over-the-top. While some moments stretch plausibility, and a few side characters could have used a bit more depth, the overall story is gripping and hard to put down.

If you're a fan of legal thrillers with morally complex heroes and pulse-pounding suspense, this one’s worth the read. Eddie Flynn remains one of the most entertaining legal protagonists out there.