Steve Cavanagh delivers another explosive legal thriller that yanks you straight into the fire and dares you to look away. In The Devil’s Advocate, Eddie Flynn heads to a small Southern town to defend a young Black man facing the death penalty—and runs headfirst into a system so corrupt, it practically snarls.

The courtroom drama is razor-sharp, the pacing relentless, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. What stood out most was the way Cavanagh weaves in themes of racism, systemic failure, and moral ambiguity without losing the thread of entertainment. The antagonist, DA Randall Korn, is unnervingly evil—bordering on too much at times—but undeniably effective in making the reader squirm.

Though it dragged slightly in the first half, the payoff is worth it. Fans of the series will enjoy seeing Eddie and his crew back in action, but newcomers won’t be lost. Gritty, thought-provoking, and intense, this is courtroom noir that punches with purpose.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my 2nd Cavanagh novel, and it was even more intense than the first one I read (Fifty Fifty). I have to thank Maudee Genao of SS Atria Books for the complementary copy, because this book is a gem!! I love the main characters, especially Eddie with his colorful past. This book had a lot of different distasteful elements in it, and was about fighting discrimination and corruption when everything is stacked against you. It was a very tense nail-biter of a case where you just can't imagine any hope of bringing the truth to light. Cavanagh has assembled a cast of characters that each have such different talents and skills - I love reading about how each works to assemble their part of the case. There is the defense investigation and the court proceedings, each being an intricate dance. I enjoyed every little twist and the intense psychological game between Korn and Eddie. This book should be on everyone Thriller lover's TBR list!

In a small American town, a boy is on trial for murder. They’re going for the death penalty and the district attorney on the case gets what he wants every time, guilty or not. Eddie Flynn is the defense attorney on the case and the further this trial goes on, the more corruption is revealed.

This book made my blood boil at times. The corruption in this small town… the chapters are quick and you won’t want to put this book down, I promise!

I rated this 3.5 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Review: The Devil’s Advocate by Steve Cavanagh

The Devil’s Advocate is a gripping legal thriller that sees Eddie Flynn take on his most dangerous opponent yet—a corrupt Alabama DA known for sending innocent people to death row. With his client’s life on the line and a rigged system to fight, Eddie dives headfirst into a case full of twists, tension, and moral stakes.

Steve Cavanagh’s sharp writing, fast pacing, and smart courtroom drama keep the suspense high from start to finish. The story doesn’t just entertain—it raises important questions about justice and capital punishment. Eddie’s team adds heart to the plot, and their dynamic is a highlight.

While the book works well on its own, I wished I had read the earlier books to better understand Eddie’s background. Still, this was a strong, surprising, and thought-provoking read.

Eddie Flynn is my absolute fav defense lawyer and nobody can tell me otherwise 🔥 I will say this book was not my favorite out of the Eddie Flynn series. I think it dragged on too much, I felt myself getting confused with what was going on BUT once I sorted it out and got to the halfway point, there was no putting it down! The plot was amazing and told a GREAT story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Once again, Cavanagh has written another twisty, entertaining read. In this installment of the Eddie Flynn series, Flynn and his colleagues leave their NYC practice to travel to Alabama to represent a young black man being accused of a murder he didn’t commit. With the death penalty on the line, Flynn works his magic to poke holes in the DA’s case to save his client.

This book didn’t disappoint, and I can’t wait to read more of the Eddie Flynn series.

Thank you Netgalley for this copy. It's so hard to get this book series in America sometimes. This book was Sooo good! I love Eddie Flynn books! I said it before, Steve Cavanagh never misses. His development of characters is top notch. The story lines are always unique and he writes so good. Now on to #7!!!

Another home run by one of my favorite crime authors. Eddie Flynn has to be one of the best characters ever with his no nonsense personality and cunning style. His dynamic with Harry, Kate and Bloch is so enjoyable to read. This book made me angry, and felt close to home given the current political climate. I loved the premise of a prosecutor with too many successful death row cases and how this story kept me reading to find out what happens next.

The villains in this book were so awful to the point where it was actually unbelievable and made me DNF this book about half way through. I understand what the author was trying to get at with a small southern town and some of the issues that arise in those places but it lacked the subtlety to really examine those issues with any meaning. Every awful a character could do- they did. And just when you thought you’d met the worst person in existence just walk about two blocks and there’s another one even worse. It was too on the nose. I do think I’d maybe try another in this series because I do like the main character but this one wasn’t it.

I don’t know what I was expecting, but wow. I really enjoyed this book. The story had many layers and slowly drew me in. The set up and how it all played out - genius. Steve Cavanagh’s descriptive depiction of characters and scenes had me immersed in the story and seriously rooting for Andy… and against Korn. Excuse me while I add all of Cavanagh’s backlog to my TBR list.

I had a hard time with the themes in this book.
Capital punishment, corruption, and racism in a small town.
I felt myself getting mad while reading. I know this was the reality and still is in some places today, but this was a tough read.
A young black man is accused of murder. So Eddie tries to defend a man who has the whole town against him. Again, just made me angry, but I realize in today's climate, these issues are still relevant.
I will give it to the author, This is incredibly well-written.
The plot was structured well. The pace was okay. I felt the first half of the book was a bit slower than I would like, but it picks up about halfway.
The characters were well-developed.
I was guessing for most of the book. It was action-packed.
Tough themes, enlightening story, a lot packed into this plot.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Happy Reading!

Steve Cavanagh does it again. The Eddie Flynn series has me absolutely consumed. The courtroom drama, the suspense, I ate it all up. I will forever read anything and everything that this man writes.

One of my favorite characters, Eddie Flynn is back. This time he is representing Andy Dubois. Accused of murder, he is facing the death penalty. Oh, and the district attorney only cares that he wins. Putting an innocent man to death does not make Randall Korn lose one minute of sleep.
If you have read any of the books in this series, you know that Eddie uses many shall I say unusual methods to defend his clients. This book was no different. Lots of twists and if anyone should have been facing death row, it was the district attorney.
Time spent with Eddie is always enjoyable.

Another great Eddie Flynn novel. I'm devouring them all up as fast as I can.
It's not just Eddie, but the team he surrounds himself with that I find myself being attached to, although not too attached because I know what Steve likes to do to them once in awhile

As a huge fan of Steve Cavanagh, this one certainly did not disappoint.

The plot,
The suspense.
The intense courtroom drama..
and Eddie Flynn!!!

The perfect thriller!!!

There is an endless list of suspects that makes this story so good and one I couldn’t stop reading. Every free minute I would grab the book. Highly recommend.

Steve Cavanagh doesn’t again!!!!

Steve Cavanagh’s The Devil’s Advocate is a scorching legal thriller that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. This installment in the Eddie Flynn series finds the charismatic con-man-turned-lawyer facing his most dangerous adversary yet: a corrupt district attorney in Alabama who’s built his career on executing innocent people—and Eddie’s client might be next.

From the moment Flynn steps into the Deep South, the tension is relentless. Cavanagh’s signature blend of courtroom drama, sharp dialogue, and high-stakes maneuvering makes every page feel like a closing argument. The pacing is tight, the twists are ruthless, and Eddie’s moral compass—flawed but unshakable—guides readers through a legal system warped by ambition and prejudice.

What sets this novel apart is its unflinching look at capital punishment and systemic injustice. Cavanagh doesn’t just entertain; he provokes thought. The antagonist, DA Randal Korn, is chillingly believable—a Southern gothic villain cloaked in legal authority—and Flynn’s battle against him is more than a case; it’s a crusade.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of Eddie Flynn or new to the series, The Devil’s Advocate delivers a powerful punch: part legal thriller, part social commentary, all heart-pounding suspense. It’s courtroom noir at its finest.

I absolutely love the Eddie Flynn series. This is another fast paced smart legal thriller that had me at the edge of my seat. In this one, Eddie and his crew travel to Alabama to confront a crooked DA intent on sending as many people as possible to the electric chair. To be expected, there is a heavy emphasis on racism, white supremacy, and corruption in the police and court systems which will likely rub people the wrong way. Reading the author’s note at the end is a must as the evil DA is loosely based on real historical figures. I can never figure out how Eddie will get himself out of the complex situations he finds himself but I am always impressed with the intricate plot lines and the ultimate resolution. This can absolutely be read as a stand alone so there is no need to read these all in order. I do encourage reading all of them because each plot lines is different but the excellent characters are woven throughout the series. I highly recommend the Eddie Flynn series and loved this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Steve Cavanagh always delivers with his Eddie Flynn series. Eddie goes down south to save a death row inmate. Very infuriating at the system and locals but great book.

Wow! The suspense and twists were wonderful! I really enjoyed this one. This is my first book by this author. i will be back

I am addicted to these books. This is my second Eddie Flynn novel, and I need to read the rest ASAP.

Thank you, Net Galley and Atria Books, for an ARC of this book.

This book was so gripping, addicting, twisty, and cunning and gave me so much anxiety that I wanted to burst. The story was so captivating and interesting and cleverly plotted. I had no idea how everything was going to tie together in the end, but it was definitely worth it.

The characters are so different but cohesive as a team. One of my favorite things is that these books stand alone. I didn't need to read any of the previous books to love the characters and the story.

Even though there are different perspectives throughout the book, it flows really well. I can not say enough how good these books are, I'm totally hooked on this series and feel so appreciative I was able to review this book.