This is most definitely one of my reads of 2020 and one that I can't recommend highly enough and although this is number 5 in the series, it can most certainly be read as a standalone - so what are you waiting for ... go buy it now!

With fantastic characters that you are drawn to and care about, an original and brilliant plot with twists and turns that keep you guessing, fast paced and so enthralling and riveting that you just have to read one more chapter and then one more and then ..... you get the idea 😊

I have read number 4 in the series "Thirteen" which was absolutely brilliant and one of my reads of 2018 and one of the best books I have ever read! I thought it couldn't be topped but "Fifty-Fifty" comes very, very close.

Thank you to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

He has done it again! Another brilliant novel by Steve Cavanagh. I have loved reading this and just LOVE the Eddie Flynn series.

Thank you for an ARC of this book!

Today I’m thrilled to be sharing my no spoiler review for the latest book by Steve Cavanagh, published on 3rd September 2020 and now a Richard and Judy BookClub pick. Thank you to Orion Publishing for a digital review copy via NetGalley – my thoughts are my own and not influenced by the gift.

So I’m starting this review with a couple of confessions. Firstly, I hadn’t heard of Steve Cavanagh or the Eddie Flynn series until I started reading the digital proof copy. I also hadn’t requested the digital proof copy, but had shared a post about it to fellow book bloggers, and then had a copy sent to me via NetGalley.

However, I started seeing great reviews, so decided to put my blog tour books to one side and travel to New York to find out more. As a British Law graduate, I’m always fascinated by how different our legal system is to that in the USA. Twenty plus years ago I enjoyed reading John Grisham books, now I’ve discovered the storytelling of Steve Cavanagh.

I will now need to go back to read the earlier Eddie Flynn novels, but was able to catch up quickly on the story and read this without having read the previous books. Eddie is a great character, with lots of contacts in unusual places, who wants to stop innocent people going to prison.

The story kept me guessing until the end, would it be Sofia or Alexandra (or both) who killed their father. Alongside this rollercoaster ride, we also have a sexism in the workplace storyline.

With an excellent storyline and superb storytelling, this is one of my 5 star reads of 2020.

Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh
Loved it! This book ticked every single box for me. Two sisters accused of murdering their father, both make a 911 call accusing the other.
This is book is part of the Eddie Flynn series, but being me, this is the first book of the series that I have read even though I own most of the rest of the series, it reads brilliantly as a stand alone.
I loved Eddie and Kate, and really enjoyed the alternating chapters, but what really got me interested was the chapters entitled She, told from the killers perspective, although you don't know who this is.
I changed my mind so many times reading this, I just could not decide who the killer was. So many times I found myself smirking at how clever this book is, and that's one of my bench marks for a psychological thriller.
I loved the court room scenes too. I could picture this whole storyline play out in my head. I am absolutely going to go back now and catch up on this series.
Loved it, loved it, loved it, one of my favourite books so far this year out of 94 books read. I can't wait to read more from this author.

I just love Eddie Flynn, despite being a relative latecomer to the series. Over the past few months I've caught up on all the Flynn novels and the only thing left to do now is to tell Steve Cavanagh to step away from the Guinness and get behind his writing desk.

First up, what a cunning premise for a mystery - I'm so jealous - wish I'd thought that concept up. Well as usual, Flynn is a brilliant character, whose street wise knowledge , sardonic amusement and personal issues make him a dream to read. He's just such a well rounded character. One minute I'mm laughing and the next I want to shout at him regarding his personal life.

The additional characters that we are introduced to in this book are great. Thoroughly believable, delightfully varied and perfectly drawn.
I love the balance between the courtroom scenes and the external drama that goes on. You're never quite sure who to believe and that feeling of being off kilter was deliciously appealing. In terms of deciding which sister is the guilty party, it was like a roller-coaster ride,
Cavanagh takes us by the short and curlies and dances us round every conceivable permutation of guilt and innocence whilst making us privy to the killer's thoughts and we're never quite sure which sister we're dealing with.
Excellent plotting, great characterisation, snappy dialogue and fantastic storyline make this a winner.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of Fifty Fifty but that has in no way influenced my review.

Coming to a series part-way through can be tricky. I've only read Fifty Fifty and the previous book, Thirteen, in the Eddie Flynn series. Not once while reading these books have I ever felt lost, or that everyone else (everyone who has read the series from the start) knows something I don't. That's a tricky thing to accomplish when you're five books into a series so kudos to the author. I absolutely loved Thirteen which is a very clever, well-plotted novel. So I was keen to find out if the author could follow it up with something equally as impressive. He has.

Two sisters on trial for the brutal murder of their father. Both women claim their innocence and accuse the other of the barbaric crime. Both called 911 within minutes of each other claiming to be terrified of the other and fearful for her own life. One is telling the truth. The other is a cold blooded killer and manipulator with a hidden dark side. It's down to Flynn and his team to tear the sister's lives apart and find the killer...

What a page-turner! This is an assured, clever legal thriller that ticks all the boxes. I don't tend to read many legal thrillers (although there has been a bit of a spike recently) but when they're this good, I ask myself why! The author is a master story-teller and this is one series crime fans cannot ignore.

It's very difficult to talk about the plot of Fifty Fifty as there's a good chance I'll say something I shouldn't and give the game away. So I won't. Except to say it's gripping, thrilling and full of doubt. I decided who the guilty party was quite early on, only to change my mind, again and again and again. Cavanagh is very adept at the art of misdirection and red herrings, and I loved it!

The returning characters are all great (I do have a soft spot for Judge Harry Ford, and now Clarence) but special mention to Kate Brooks who is the new kid on the block and out to make her name. Whilst Eddie represents Sofia, Kate represents the other sister, Alexandra. You can't help but feel for Kate who throws herself in at the deep end making a stand against her misogynistic, sexist, truly revolting senior partner. And she really has thrown herself in deep. First solo case and you're against Eddie Flynn. Ouch.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, I would. This and the brilliant Thirteen (which still remains my favourite Cavanagh book but only because of the unforgettable bad guy!). I love Flynn's character and I will happily, gladly read this series for as long as it continues. I will also be going back to the beginning to check out where it all began. How could I not? Fifty Fifty is a terrific book. Highly readable, totally engrossing and I want more Flynn! Recommended.

I chose to read and review an eARC of Fifty Fifty. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy of this book!
I wanted to love this book so much, have heard so many amazing reviews about the author and the book so when I got accepted on Netgalley I was over the moon.
2 sisters have both accused each other of murder and Eddie Flynn is now having to try and work out if he is really representing the innocent or the guilty sister.
It had me gripped in the beginning, explaining each sister and each story but the big letdown for me reading it was from the beginning I thought it was one of the sisters and nothing could make me budge from thinking it was her and I was right!
So for me the twists and turns of the book weren't enough to keep me guessing as I had worked out who I thought it was and it was right. For me I could see it, starting to think I should change genre as I seem to guess the outcome alot recently which let's the book down for me!!
I can see how it is hyped and keeps people gripped and it is a good read, just wasnt completely surprising for me.
Was my first book by Steve Cavanagh but have other books of his to read and definitely hasn't put me off as enjoyed Eddie and the other characters!

I loved this book! I couldn't put it down and finished it within 24hours. It opens with such a dramatic scene and I was hooked right away. The concept of having 2 sisters accusing each other works really well, and every time I thought I'd found a clue that pointed to one of them something else would happen to make me think it was the other one! It was tense, fast paced and very cleverly written. An excellent thriller.

A difficult one for me to review as I can’t put my finger on where it went wrong for me. I read lots of other readers views and that didn’t help! I’m in the minority too so all the more reason to come up with some useful criticism. I just wasn’t blown away. I got a bit bored by the guesswork I kept doing as to who was the bad “she”. I will say I think it will make a good audiobook though as it’s got that kind of audio rhythm running through
it ( can’t explain that well either today.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.

When this author has a new book released you know you are In for a fantastic five star read. His latest does not disappoint. I my opinion this book has blown Thirteen to smithereens. Hooked from the first to the last page. A one sitting book that is impossible to put down. A fantastic tour de force of a crime thriller and so much more. A whodunnit which had me constantly changing my mind. A very very happy reader.
Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

I've been reading the Eddie Flynn books from the start and I've always loved them. At times they have been a little bit far fetched but they have always been gripping. Fifty-Fifty has to be Steve Cavanagh's best book by far and completely outdoes all the others.

It left me guessing right until the end. I thought I knew who did it and changed my mind so many times, including theorising outside of the the 2 suspects which were presented. This book is insanely clever, with lots of little subtle clues which are dropped along the way. Even some clues to throw you completely.

Another 5 star from Cavanagh.

Excellence is the only predictable thing about a Steve Cavanagh novel. Deliciously twisty, fast moving and impossible to guess the ending even when the cast of characters is small. Eddie Flynn goes from strength to strength, he is developing as a character and I am really looking forward to his next outing. Thanks to Orion and Netgalley for this perfectly thrilling thriller.

Two sisters on trial for murder. Both accuse each other.
Who do YOU believe?

This latest courtroom drama in the Eddie Flynn series begins at the end of the trial, the jury are back and they have made a decision. The book then rewinds three months to when it all began;

Two 911 calls...one house...same night...each call blaming the other person

Frank Avellino has been murdered, brutally mutilated and his daughters Alexandra and Sofia are each claiming the other one did it, there is clearly no love lost between the two, but which of them is telling the truth and which is the murderer, who do you believe? Eddie is hired to represent Sofia and Kate Brooks to represent Alexandra, both believing their respective clients are innocent. It's now up to the jury to decide.

This is the third book I've read, and the sixth in the Eddie Flynn series, by this author and although they are all standalone, it's best to read them in order to understand Eddie's background, I didn't realise when I started reading Thirteen that there were three previous books, I need to go back and read these. Eddie is a no nonsense lawyer who was previously a conman so he knows the workings of the criminal mind and he's a very likeable guy. I immediately took to Kate, this is her first trial as an independent lawyer, she's a gutsy individual and determined to do right by her client. The plot is well crafted, a real edge of your seat drama and the title of the book sums it up completely because, during the entire story, I was switching between blaming Sofia and Alexandra equally, it was definitely a fifty fifty split. One thing I was sure of though, was that there would be that final twist in the tale and sure enough there it was. Cavanagh, you smashed it, what a cracking read.

I'd like to thank Orion and Netgalley for the auto approval. I'll post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

Another brilliant book from Steve Cavanagh.
I loved the concept of this story and as I got drawn deeper into it, it got better and better.
Frank is murdered at home and both his daughters make 911 calls to say they’ve found his body and seen their sister in the property.
Both sisters are arrested, but which one is guilty?
Flynn takes on Sofia’s case and Kate takes on Alexandra’s case and each believe their client is innocent.
There’s a few more shocking deaths that causes ripples during the trial but one which is personal to Flynn, and one he won’t drop.
We get to hear the killer’s thoughts from chapters from their perspective but even with this I couldn’t guess who the murderer was.
This is a very cleverly written crime thriller that I can highly recommend.
Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Oh, I have been waiting for this book for so long… or so it seemed. I am a huge fan of the Eddie Flynn series and I was so excited for this fifth novel that I read it in one day.

I really like the character of Eddie Flynn. An ex con turned into a lawyer who would do anything to defend his client, he is smart, resourceful, and really good at his job. He defends only people he is certain they are innocent, and he usually can figure this out in the first minutes of meeting them. His new client is Sofia Avellino. Her father, Frank Avellino, ex mayor of New York, was stabbed 53 times in his home, and his two daughters, Sofia and Alexandra, accuse each other of the murder. While Eddie Flynn represents Sofia, Kate Brooks, a young lawyer who has to prove herself constantly to her male colleagues and her creepy boss, defends Alexandra. One of them is telling the truth, the other is lying, but which one?

Fifty-Fifty is fast-paced, twisty, and highly suspenseful. The story is told from three different point of views. Eddie Flynn, sure of Sofia’s innocence, needs to figure out the truth about the two sisters. Kate Brooks, on the other hand, is sure that Alexandra is the sister telling the truth and needs to prove it. And then there is “She”. “She” is the killer. We don’t know which of the sisters she is, the author never gives it away, but we follow her as, in cold blood, she gets rid of any proof that could lead to her.

Easily read as a stand-alone – although I highly recommend the first four books in the series – Fifty-Fifty is another powerful, gripping, and compelling page-turner by the master of twists-that-you-won’t-see-coming Steve Cavanagh. I am a huge fan of all his novels, but the Eddie Flynn series is my favourite and Fifty-Fifty is his best so far.

One victim and two murder suspects. They are sisters and they are telling the same story. ‘My sister murdered my dad’. Who committed the crime.
This is a book that will have you at the edge of your seat. Racing to get to the end of the book to discover the verdict.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc in return for an honest review.

Another great courtroom drama from Steve Cavanagh. Fast paced, strong characters.
Eddie with faces with a unknown case, he has always met his clients and just known if they are guilty or not, but this time it’s different. Two sister arrested for the murder of their father, did both do it or just one. Eddie will only represent the innocent and after specking to one of the sister, he knows he needs to fight for her freedom.
I absolutely love the new character kate, she strong willed and I look forward to hearing more about her life.

Another extremely addictive read by Steve Cavanagh. His books never disappoint. Action and drama all the way. Just brilliant!

Many thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this ARC for which I have given my voluntary and unbiased review.

I do love a story that can turn your head upside down and inside out, which is exactly what Fifty/Fifty does! I changed my mind so many times before I finally settled on an answer and I guessed right. Phew! Although sometimes, you wish you weren’t right!!

It was lovely to be back with Eddie and see where he was after the “Thirteen” case, to see where life had taken him and who he still around, like Harper and Harry. The case is a complex one, a man is murdered, murdered by one of his daughters, so it seems yet they are accusing each other of the murder. It was a haunting beginning with the 911 call, the sisters both afraid, both hiding but both are raising the roof over the brutal murder of their father.

It is a game of cat and mouse except we do not know who is the cat and who is the mouse. One minute I was #TeamSofia and other times I was #TeamAlexandra, however, I was swayed by one sister more than the other. The fascinating thing, the thing I liked, is you question everything. You question what is in front of you. You question your own decision. You question who is right and who is wrong? Finally, you even question the finality of it all.

Eddie is our main man, seeing the story unfold through his eyes, but there are chapters with Kate, a newbie to the fold, Harry, Bloch and the creepy-ass “She.” That has more of meaning too and it’s ruined me! But seriously those chapters were pure evil, dark and chilling but so delightful to read.

I am not even joking when I say that one segment I had my heart in my throat, one bit, so many viewpoints around one situation and seriously I could not see how it would fall out and I did not expect the fall out we got. What a punch in the gut!

This has been one crazy-ass ride and I have loved every minute of it, plus who doesn’t love a good old Easter Egg in a story – this one had me chuckling out loud because it added an extra depth and made me think even more about what was in front of me and the endless possibilities that lay there!

I think I might even go as far as to say this is better than Thirteen and I loved that! I love Eddie and this is a complete hand banger of a story. It is a story to devour wholly but to take your time with. I found some bits I raced through as I urgently needed the outcome but other bits I took my time. I sat back and watched the court case, which was just blinding to watch. I love courtroom thrillers and this is one that had me salivating, waiting for the jury's verdict, but did they choose the right one? You will have to read it to find out…..

Do you know what? Just away and buy this book, will you? I know you won’t be sorry. It’s FANBLOODYTASTIC! Honestly, I ripped through it, loving every single minute.

I am a huge fan of the Eddie Flynn books anyway. There’s something about this conman turned lawyer that is a little bit cheeky and I love that he is never knowingly on the side of the bad guys.

But this one is a cut above even the most excellent of these books. This one is a humdinger. First we have the fantastic premise. Alexandra and Sofia Avellino are the daughters of a wealthy former New York Mayor, Frank Avellino, who now lies dead – stabbed 53 times in a house occupied by only his daughters. Two sisters, in the same house, both have called 911 and each is claiming the other sister has murdered her father.

Neither woman likes the other. Both have had difficult lives and neither presents the best side of themselves – assuming they both have a good side. Every time Flynn thinks he’s found a weakness, it is closed up by a contrary piece of evidence from the other side.

Eddie’s biggest issue comes with having to decide which client he will take on. He likes to be convinced of their innocence from the outset, but with this one a balance of probabilities is required in the absence of any other obvious evidence.

It’s a tricky situation and in true Flynn form it’s only going to get more convoluted. Things are not helped by the fact that prosecuting this case is a man who would like nothing better than to lock up both women and throw away the key – and he wouldn’t mind at all bringing Eddie and the other sister’s Counsel down with them.

Kate Brooks is the other Counsel. For good reasons, she shafted her firm Levy, Bernard and Groff to get this case and now the firm’s senior partner is prosecuting it. Kate, too, believes in her client’s innocence – so much so that she has pitted herself against Eddie Flynn to win it.

Cavanagh sets up his scenes with so much tension and twistiness that each has you reeling from one sister to another as you hear the latest revelations. With his trusted team of former judge, Harry Ford and investigator Harper, Eddie uses all his wiles to ensure that his client gets the innocent verdict she deserves.

As we follow the case, we are also treated to the murderer’s perspective. Known only as ‘She’ we learn a little of what was going through her mind as the trial progresses. The net result is that it feels like you in a fast paced game of table tennis – only you are the ball, being batted backwards and forwards between the accused sisters.

Once again, Cavanagh nails the whole aspect of a courtroom drama and in doing so in this book he offers us more of a glimpse into the life and world of Eddie Flynn and offers the reader some serious character development opportunities that I hope to see further explored in future novels.

Verdict: Top class, twisty, engaging and completely compulsive reading. Fantastic characters and a SUPERB plot. I adored this book. Steve Cavanagh is at the top of his game and long may that continue. An absolute MUST READ. Go, buy it…NOW!