Eddie Flynn Archives

Book review: Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh

August 15, 20242 min read

Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh is a tricky read as one of our narrators (a young woman called Ruby Johnson), with whom I initially assumed I was meant to bond, ends up being thoroughly unlikeable. Possibly quite psychotic in fact. We’re offered some insight into her unpleasant childhood which could potentially elicit some sympathy, but… she’s guilelessly wicked in quite a purposeful way and some of her actions make it impossible to feel anything but shock and horror. Of course at the same time there is something sufficiently charismatic about her that she’s able to play nice and sane… some of the time, at least.

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Book review: The Accomplice by Steve Cavanagh

July 23, 20222 min read

I’m loving this Eddie Flynn series by Irish author Steve Cavanagh. The legal procedurals offer a great balance of courtroom drama, twisty plots and a really likeable and engaging cast of characters. Here in particular, amidst the legalese and police investigation, Cavanagh’s inserted the FBI. Or more aptly, an FBI-reject who I found to be fascinating. There’s reference, for example, to the much-lauded FBI’s Behavioural Analysis Unit (BAU) having very poor solve-rates and a flawed profiling methodology. *Googles to check*

I’m not usually a fan of detail but Cavanagh offers up loads and has the talent to drop it in seamlessly without detracting from the events unfolding.

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Book review: The Devil’s Advocate by Steve Cavanagh

July 24, 20213 min read

I’ve only read a couple of Steve Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn novels in the past and always reflect on how I miss the golden days of the legal procedural.

Cavanagh manages to easily traverse the balance between the mystery / crime solving element and showcasing the (both) boring and enterprising foibles of the justice system. He’s also created very likeable characters in the ensemble cast supporting Eddie and – in some ways – I find myself drawn as much to them as I do to the former con-man turned-lawyer.

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Book review: Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh

February 16, 20203 min read

I came across Irish author Steve Cavanagh’s name last year when his 2019 novel Thirteen won Crime Novel of the Year at Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival (which – incidentally – I’ve fantasised about attending someday). He was also touring with a number of other authors I knew so I kept seeing him on social media again and again.

It wasn’t until later I realised I’d actually read one of his books – The Liar in 2017 – which I really enjoyed. And of course I heard (only) fabulous things about Thirteen, and though I’ve not read it I really must. More so now I’ve read the fifth in the series featuring Eddie Flynn, Fifty Fifty.

I mention in my review of The Liar that it’s only when I read a legal procedural that I’m reminded how much I enjoy them. I’m also reminded that though once they were a dime a dozen and they’re now as rare as hen’s teeth. (Apologies for the idioms but you get what I mean….)

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Book review: The Liar by Steve Cavanagh

May 18, 20172 min read

The Liar by Steve Cavanagh is the THIRD excellent legal thriller I’ve read in the last few months. In my reviews of both A Criminal Defense by William L Myers Jnr and Say Nothing by Brad Parks, I commented on the fact it’d been a while since I’d read any courtroom dramas / legal procedurals, but I’ve certainly been getting my fix recently and it’s reminded me how much I loved early work by Scott Turow and Steve Martini.

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