Eddie is called to Alabama to defend a young man accused of murder. District Attorney Randal Korn is certain he has a slam dunk, he has done everything to assure a quick conviction and send Andy Dubois to death row. Eddie and Harry arrive when Dubois' lawyer goes missing. Soon Eddie finds himself behind bars with just seven days to mount a defense, Kate and Bloch are soon in town to join the defence. I really do enjoy Eddie but his cohorts, Harry, Kate and Bloch shine.  As always, Cavanagh delivers a unputdownable thriller that echoes some of the problems in society today.

This book had my blood boiling, and was gripping from start to finish. White supremacy, police corruption, and perversion of justice from the inside out are all themes of this novel. I've read some of Steve Kavanaugh's other works and he has become a regular in my book rotation.

When Eddie Flynn is asked to represent a client accused of murder in a small town in Alabama, he doesn't expect to find a place ripe with so much white supremacy. This is a story that will really get under your skin because you know there are so many small towns out there like this. Scary, but true. Also, a DA with so many death penalty convictions. Eddie, Harry, Kate and Bloch are all in for a case that will really test their resolve.

As with most of this series, the action and court room drama really pick up in the second half of the book. The first half sets the stage for the case and cast of characters, laying the foundation. We also get the POV of the DA and Pastor - horrible characters! I love the courtroom drama and the final resolution as Eddie slowly pulls all the evidence together and figures out who is behind everything. A slow start, but a great finish!

This was another great story by Steve Cavanagh.
Loved the characters and the twists and turns. Kept me quickly flipping the pages. Thanks NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC that will be released August 5, 2025!

Eddie Flynn is back in this nerve-wracking, anger inducing legal thriller. As always, if you haven't read an Eddie Flynn novel yet, this can be read as a stand-alone. I only started recently and have been devouring each and every one I get my hands on.

This particular story was a tragic one and so utterly infuriating. The actions and mindset of the people in the small southern town were despicable to put it lightly, including the sadistic district attorney who will stop at nothing to get a guilty verdict in death penalty cases no matter who the actual offender is. The scariest part about this was the reality behind it, and I highly recommend reading the author's note upon finishing. The writing style was impeccable, bringing the story, town, and characters to life. Eddie Flynn, as well as his crew, are some of my favorite characters in a book to date. Their methods, sympathy, strength, and humor were the icing on the cake and what kept this from becoming too dark. This had me on the edge of my seat throughout the entirety of the read, and there is not one single thing I would change. Five perfect stars for another perfect read from this author.

Thank you, Netgalley and Atria Books, for this ARC.

First thank you to atria books and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis: Eddie Flynn is back and facing a tough case. Skylar was a young woman working at a bar with Andy who is bright but different. One night Skylar goes missing and is found dead. Andy is arrested and goes on trial for his life against a da that has a very high rate of convictions with the death penalty

What I liked: his books are such great thrillers. There are short chapters with cliffhangers keeping you reading. There is social commentary in this book with the death penalty that I thought was very good. I liked how Eddie needed to relay on his team since his usual style does not match the southern style of life. Andy was so ernest that your empathy went up for him. Finally please read the authors note as to what lead him to write this story. It provides a lot of background and information.

I’m a HUGE fan of Steve Cavanagh and especially the Eddie Flynn series. All the previous books have been easy five stars for me. Eddie’s just one of those characters I never get tired of. But The Devil’s Advocate didn’t hit the same for some reason.
Don’t hate me, but this one wasn’t a favorite of his.This one takes place down South, where Eddie’s trying to save a man on death row and goes up against this super shady prosecutor who’s all about getting convictions no matter what. The legal stuff was still solid (Cavanagh always delivers there), but I found myself less into the story than usual. I think part of it was the focus on Southern politics and racial issues. I felt like it was a separate storyline that didn’t totally mesh with the murder case which maybe made it harder for me to stay invested. Something was just off for me with this one. However Cavanagh knows how to write characters, legal information, and always delivers on his twists that never lets me know how the story is going to end!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance copy.

Another amazing read from Steve Cavanagh, I literally could not put this book down and have never disliked a character in a book as strongly as I disliked Randal Korn! I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an edge of your seat courtroom thriller. I would also recommend you read the books in order: The Cross, The Defence, The Plea, The Liar, Thirteen, Fifty-Fifty, The Devil's Advocate and The Accomplice. Each book features the same characters; is completely original; and will be unlike anything you've read before - I guarantee it! Steve Cavanagh is one of a handful of authors whose books I purchase without first reading what the book is about, or looking at reviews - I know if Steve Cavanagh has written it, I'm guaranteed a fantastic, original read

The legal thriller I've been waiting for! From the first page until the last I was rooting for the innocent and impressed with the con-man turned lawyer. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves legal thrillers or is following Eddie Flynn's journey. I especially liked the side characters and am looking forward to more books following them.

Good news Eddie Flynn fans (and really anyone who loves a good thriller)! ‘The Devil’s Advocate’ is another excellent addition to this series that I’ve come to love. It’s smart, fast-paced, and once again I flew through Cavanagh’s latest in less than two days. This time, Flynn and his team (who I just adore) are pulled out of the usual New York City setting and dropped into a deeply unsettling southern town, offering a chilling change of scenery.

This story is both compelling and enraging, diving into themes of racism, white supremacy, and police corruption. Cavanagh doesn’t shy away from the ugly truths, and the result is a legal thriller that hits hard emotionally while still delivering all the twisty courtroom drama you’ve come to expect.

As always, Flynn and his team are sharp and relentless, and the writing keeps you guessing how they’ll untangle the web of injustice. If you love clever legal plots with difficult social commentary, I highly recommended this one!

I am so glad to see Steve Cavanaugh getting the audience he deserves.
Better still, seeing Eddie Flynn not becoming a lecturer instead of a lawyer
People I've talked with compare this to "To Kill A Mockingbird". For me, I see more "And Then There Were None" due to the antagonist.

Each story has ethical aspects but Steve remains more LeHane and gives everyone an equal view

Great Job!!!

Oh this was good. Really. Don’t want to say too much cause I’ll give the plot away but that prosecutor was a slimy dirty rat. Highly highly recommend

The Devil's Advocate by Steve Cavanagh is an intense high-octane legal thriller that was so good!
I’m a big fan of Cavanagh and will literally read his books when they release.

This is a gripping and intense legal thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
Cavanagh’s writing is sharp, fast-paced, and filled with clever twists that continually surprise the reader.
The complex characters and tight plot keep the tension high from start to finish.

Thank You NetGalley and Atria Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7795598959
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-devils-advocate-steve-cavanagh/1146384145

4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of The Devil’s Advocate.

Andy is going on trial for the murder of his coworker but he is innocent. District Attorney Randall Korn has a winning record for his cases and he always goes for the death penalty. He has everyone in his back pocket to make sure he gets the outcomes he wants. When a man approaches former con man turned lawyer Eddie Flynn who wants him to represent Andy because he knows something is off with the case. When Eddie and his team arrive in Alabama they realize just how much danger they are in with this case.

This was such an intense and psychological read. The twists and turns keep you guessing in the best way. I love the Eddie Flynn character so much!

This legal thriller does not disappoint. The setting is a small southern town fraught with racism, police corruption, and supreme race ideology. The main character, lawyer, Eddie Flynn is up against all of this as he tries to prove the innocence of a young man convicted of murder.

This was a great read that made me feel so many ways, because our country has places where these problems still exist.

If you’ve enjoyed any of this author’s other books you may enjoy this. The writing was terrific!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book is both excellent and extremely difficult to read. I absolutely love the Eddie Flynn books, and this one is no exception. Eddie and his colleagues are a delight to follow from book to book, and I love seeing the creative ways they help their clients. The twists are always so much fun.

That said, fun is not the right word for this particular book, which deals with racism, white supremacy, and corrupt, power-hungry politicians. It hits uncomfortably close to home in this day and age, but I’m so glad Cavanagh is writing about this. He takes a very serious issue and makes it an unputdownable read. Don’t miss the author’s note about the death penalty and the number-one threat to the US, according to the FBI.

This is my third Eddie Flynn book, and I can’t wait to read the rest!

4.5 ⭐️

I absolutely love everything in the Eddie Flynn series, but The Devil’s Advocate might be one of my favorites purely because of the setting - small-town Southern America. The atmosphere was so well drawn, with the heat, tension, and close-knit, corrupt community practically leaping off the page. It gave the whole story a urgent feel that made it impossible to put down.

From the very first chapter, I had a pit in my stomach. Randal Korn is one of the most despicable characters I’ve come across in a legal thriller, and that’s saying something. You just know from the start that he’s going to make things as hard and horrifying as possible.

One of the best things about this book is seeing Eddie and his team back in action. I always love the dynamic they bring. Each character is so distinct and brings something different to the table. I especially appreciated the deeper look into Harry’s character this time; he plays a really key role and shows more depth than we’ve seen before. And Kate absolutely owned the courtroom. Her performance during the trial scenes was electric.

This story is steeped in themes of racism, injustice, and abuse of power, and while it made me mad (in all the right ways), it also made me root harder for Eddie and his crew. The stakes feel incredibly real, especially with the life of a young Black man hanging in the balance in a town that’s already made up its mind.

Cavanagh never fails to deliver sharp courtroom drama, twisty reveals, and a satisfying conclusion. And this book was no exception. Each Eddie Flynn book somehow manages to be better than the last. I wouldn’t say this was my absolute favorite in the series, but it’s close. Gripping, tense, and packed with punch.

My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Atria Books for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love Cavanagh's courtroom thrillers and this one did not disappoint! Kept me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going to happen. There are some serious topics such as racism in this book so check your trigger warnings.

The sixth book in the Eddie Flynn legal thriller series takes Eddie and his team away from New York City to the southern town of Buckstown, Alabama. Randal Korn has sent more men to their deaths than any district attorney in the history of the United States. When a young woman, Skylar Edwards, is found murdered, the sheriff arrests the last person to see her alive, Andy Dubois.

Everyone in the town believes Andy is guilty. How can he get a fair trial? When the local defense attorney assigned to represent Andy disappears, a government fixer calls Eddie, a New York lawyer and former con-artist who is willing to take on hopeless cases if he believes his client is innocent. He plans to find the real killer and save Andy’s life, but the murders are just beginning.

Eddie’s team consists of himself, his new law partner Kate Brooks, consultant and retired judge Harry Ford, and resourceful private investigator Block. They work well together and aren’t easily intimidated. The characterization is done well for them, and for Andy and the other characters, including several antagonists.

The prologue is chilling and gives readers an indication of the lengths some people will go to for power over life and death. However, this is just the beginning. The plot has a lot of characters with several moving pieces and subplots. However, they’re all important to the story line in one way or another. The characters come to life and the plot is thought-provoking. How easily can a small community be swayed for or against someone? Does racism play a part? While there is an extensive investigation in a short amount of time, some action, and several murders, there is also plenty of time for courtroom drama. This story takes place over the course of approximately one week.

While this is well-written, it was also tough to read at times. The desire for the power of life or death as well as the enjoyment of others’ suffering are hard to read. Corruption, greed, lies, deceit, racism, and murder are additional threads that are prevalent in this story. There’s plenty of action outside the courtroom as well as inside it. The pacing is fast and the ending resolves everything, but I didn’t like some of the resolution. However, it also had a surprise for me. One of the antagonists was only known by a nickname. I was completely surprised by who this person was.

Overall, this is a solid legal thriller with compelling characters. I’m looking forward to reading more of this series. Although this is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone, but I recommend read the entire series. I also recommend reading the Author’s Note at the end of the book.

Atria Books and Steve Cavanagh provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for August 05, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

4.5 ⭐️ What an amazing book. I felt so many emotions reading this. You could feel the evil and the injustice taking place in this town. I am obsessed with the court room scenes and felt like I was on the edge of my seat and couldn't read fast enough. This was my first in the Eddie Flynn series and I am definitely reading all of them now.

Thank you Atria Books via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.