I’ve been a huge fan of the Eddie Flynn books since I read the first one, so I was delighted to be able to read Fifty Fifty. It’s a really clever premise, and I found it to be highly entertaining. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book in this series that’s left me disappointed, and Fifty Fifty keeps that going. I really enjoyed this one, and it definitely kept me turning the pages.

I don’t know how he does it, but every time Steve Cavanagh releases a new book its totally explosive! Fifty-Fifty follows on from Thirteen (which was one of the most amazing books I have ever read!) and we catch up with Eddie Flynn again. Two sisters are accused of the brutal murder of their father, but each blames the other, ultimately, they end up in a joint trial with Eddie representing one of them. Its. Really great storyline that’s gripping right to the end.

The story telling is excellent, Steve has a way of making you fall into the book immediately, by the end of the first couple of pages you will be hooked on the roller coaster ride and are unable to put the book down, even for sleeping! The story is tense, exciting, strong and full of twists and turns. Every time you think you know what’s going to happen next it doesn’t and everything changes again.

Unlike the other books in this series that are told from Eddie’s point of view, this one is split between Eddie, a new character Kate and ‘She’ who is one of the sisters. In every ‘she’ chapter I was desperately trying to work out which sister was telling the story and I changed my mind so many times throughout, there are some very clever twists that stop you from knowing.

The characters are well developed, we meet up with some old friends here as well, the very loveable Harry Ford and Harper, who Eddie is clearly in love with. The new characters are introduced quickly and well and integrate brilliantly with the other characters. Sofia and Alexandra (the sisters) are amazing, they are so well thought out, both are dark in different ways and you truly don’t know who done it until the very end. You realise that despite growing up with great wealth, they are both kind of messed up in their own ways and one is exceptionally clever. The situation with Kate and her boss, Theodore Levy is intense and leaves your blood boiling.

There are so many emotions in this book, you will laugh, you will cry, you will love and hate, and, if you’re anything like me, part way through you will hold your breath for longer than you thought possible while waiting to find out what happened!

This is a phenomenal read, only second in the series for me due to loving thirteen so very much but an outstanding read all the same. Well done Steve Cavanagh!

Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#FiftyFifty #NetGalley

Is there a better contemporary thriller writer than Steve Cavanagh? I seriously doubt it. In a crowded marketplace it is not always easy to standout, but Cavanagh's novels are head and shoulders above the rest. It is the winning combination of innate talent and an unerring eye for what will hook his reader from the get-go, that makes Cavanagh's novels a must-read for lovers of crime fiction. We have advisory warnings for adult content, Cavanagh's books should come with a similar caution for the reader, warning all about their sheer addictiveness. For lovers of 'Thirteen', Cavanagh's bestselling thriller, rest assured, you will love 'Fifty-Fifty', too. The author's winning combination of fiendishly clever plotting, an irresistible 'hook', and characters that seem to defy their fictional existence, such is their realism, is ever present in this book, as it was in Cavanagh's others. We reunite with old friends and meet new ones. Most importantly, the maverick lawyer and ex-grifter, Eddie Flynn, is back.. Flynn, with an uncanny ability to discern the guilt or innocence of his clients, has taken on the unenviable task of defending Sofia Avellino, accused of killing her father. But it is not only Sofia on trial for murder, her sister Alexandra, too, is standing trial for the same crime. Both sisters claim the other was responsible for the crime, but which one is guilty. Flynn is convinced of Sofia's innocence, but is his instinct right in this instance? For much of the novel we know only one sister is guilty. 'She', as the chapters containing her point of view are titled, is a psychopath, serial killer, and chess master - both literally and figuratively. 'She' is also right where she wants to be, standing trial for murder but confident of her eventual acquittal. Nothing is as it seems in this mesmerising tale, however, with the proverbial Sword of Damocles alternatively hanging over the heads of both sisters. It is a fifty-fifty deal, heads or tales, Sophia or Alexandra. Only by reading this stunning, tense, literal page-turner of a book will you be able to answer these questions. I guarantee you will not be disappointed in this genuine, must-read thriller. Then there is the stunning denouement.... you won't see it coming. Awesome, awestruck, gob-smacked, speechless, come to mind. Now I have run out of superlatives, of which there are an inadequate amount in the English lexicon to describe Steve Cavanagh's latest novel, I will put to rest this review.

A must-read for 2020

Wow oh wow! When they say explosive follow up to Thirteen they weren’t kidding!

Brilliant, breathtaking and fantastic. I didn’t think it could get better than Thirteen but Mr Cavanagh has true talent. I wish all thrillers could be this amazing!

Would love to see another part to this story. I can’t get enough!

Whilst I do own previous Cavanagh novels this was the first I've read. That fantastic synopsis drew me instantly. I love a good mystery and its been too long since I read a criminal trial story.

Fifty Fifty is told in a mixture of first and third person from the point of view of opposing defense lawyers Eddie and Kate as well as the mysterious 'She'.
She only refers to her sibling as 'Sister', never by name so we have no idea whether we are reading about Sofia or Alexandra. Very clever move Cavanagh.
There are several hints dropped as to who 'She' might be but I assumed red herrings abound and mistrusted every clue given.

Cavanagh puts the reader in a really tricky position. Not only did I have no idea which sister was guilty, I couldn't decide which sister I wanted to be guilty. This wasn't because I warmed to either Alexandra or Sofia, but because their defense teams were such pure kindhearted characters that I didnt want either side to be wrong!
Each lawyer has an endearing friendship with their assistant, Eddie with Harry the ex judge, and Kate with Bloch the investigator. Adding Clarence the stray dog was icing on a three tier cake.

It was puzzling to be reading a court case involving such a brutal murder yet finding myself against the prosecutor.
In fact my favourite moment of the novel involves a dog and egg on the face of DA Dreyer- you'll know it when you get to it. I laughed out loud.

Fifty Fifty has everything this reader wanted; A solid whodunit with friendship, loyalty and an unhealthy dose of murderous violence tied up in an intelligent battle of the court.

I first met Eddie Flynn last year reading Thirteen, which made me an instant fan of the former con artist and clever lawyer. I decided to do a series binge-read of the first four books of the series in May, and I just couldn't help myself reading the ARC of Fifty Fifty straight after even though it's not due for quite some time... Because one thing is true: these books are seriously addicting. You've been warned!

Fifty Fifty is no different than the previous books, and reads almost like an action movie. Book number five gives us another mindblowing case to lose ourselves in... Although this book does have a different feel than the previous books. Instead of focusing on Eddie Flynn as the main POV, Fifty Fifty opts for a multiple POV structure where both Eddie, new character and lawyer Kate and the murderer (named 'She') share the spotlight. On top of that, we have other POVs popping up as needed, both to add suspense and give us clues of what is going to happen next... But the main focus is always on both Eddie, Kate and the killer. This new POV structure by no means made me enjoy the story less though, and it made for a very interesting change in tone of this series.

I liked that the Fifty Fifty title made reference to more than one aspect of the plot. How? Well, not only do we have two sisters and a 50% probability of guessing right which sister is guilty, but we also have Eddie now having to share the attention fifty fifty with new character and lawyer Kate. While in a way I was a bit sad to see less of Eddie, I did like the introduction of Kate and her friend and investigator Bloch. Both are strong female characters that added their little something to the plot, and I hope to see more of them in the future!

Talking about the characters... Apart from being introduced to new characters, old favorites like Harry, Eddie and Harper make their appearance again too. Every time I start a new Eddie Flynn book it feels like meeting up with old friends, and these characters are definitely part of the reason this series is one of my favorites. The characters are realistically developed and feel rounded, especially since they have flaws as well as strength. Fifty Fifty does have a twist involving one on the characters that completely shocked me and left me feeling sad even after I finished the story... I don't want to give away too much to avoid spoilers, but those who have already read Fifty Fifty will know what I'm talking about.

The writing itself draws you right in and the different POVs allow different angles to be brought to attention while also making you doubt what is true and which sister is guilty. Fifty Fifty is no ordinary legal thriller, and while part of the focus is on the court case, you will also get plenty of action, violence, a serial killer and a conspiracy plot to frame their sister. Basically, the story has a lot going on at once, will keep you on your toes and the danger grows as it becomes clear that those who know too much about the case tend to lose their lives... The building up of the suspense is simply spot on and that vibe of foreboding and danger is omnipresent.

There is a lot to love in Fifty Fifty and while I do think Thirteen is my absolute favorite of the series so far, Fifty Fifty comes a close second. This is without doubt one of the most exhilarating legal thriller series I've read to this date and I definitely can't wait to find out what Steve Cavanagh has in store for Eddie Flynn next.

Fifty Fifty was the book I had been looking forward to the most this year, and when I was approved for a copy on NetGalley, I couldn’t have been more excited. Steve Cavanagh is one of my favourite authors, and this book definitely lives up to the exceptionally high level that he has already set with his previous books. This is the fifth book in the Eddie Flynn series, but I have found that every book, including Fifty Fifty could easily be read as a standalone.

From the very beginning, this book has you completely hooked, you are desperate to read on. I liked how the opening chapter is actually set after the murder, and during the trial. This chapter ends on a cliffhanger, before going back in time to the night of the murder for chapter 2, which really captures your attention, and gets you excited for what is still to come in the story.

I absolutely love the character of Eddie Flynn! Eddie’s personality brings a little light humour to the otherwise serious and dark situations that he finds himself in. He’s sarcastic, funny, isn’t afraid to speak his mind, and will stand by anyone who he believes is being wronged. Where a lot of lawyers only care about getting a win, Eddie genuinely cares about getting justice. He’s not your typical lawyer, and that is why this series of books is so enjoyable.

I also really enjoyed Kate’s character, who is new to the series. Initially, I felt sorry for her, and also a little frustrated that she was clearly holding back her real fighting spirit. But the way she got her own back, and then really stepped up was exactly what I wanted to see, and I was cheering for her the whole way through.

I love when thrillers have multiple POV, and in Fifty Fifty you see situations play out through the eyes and minds of quite a few different characters, but I particularly enjoyed that there were chapters from the murderer’s POV, without giving away the identity. If anything, those chapters made you even more unsure as to who did it!

From the very start, and throughout the entire book, I was constantly changing my mind as to which sister I thought had done it. The details of the murder are shocking, and absolutely brutal, and you couldn’t imagine either of the two sisters being capable of such horrors. I remained completely undecided until the identity of the murderer was revealed! So many twists were thrown in during the trial process that totally flip your theories upside down, and has you on the edge of your seat. It made it impossible to put this book down.

WHAT AN ENDING! So many things happened in those last few chapters that you could never have seen coming, it was tense, gripping, and full of action. And then you have the very last page of the book, which is so heart warming, but also completely heartbreaking at the same time, it caught me totally off guard, and actually made me quite emotional.

I am really hoping that there will be more books to come in the Eddie Flynn series, because I am definitely not ready to leave this character behind, and I doubt I will be any time soon.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Orion for my copy of the book. I can’t explain how grateful I am!

I give Fifty Fifty a 5 star rating!

Two sisters, both on trial for murdering their father. They are both accusing each other but one of them is lying. Which one is it?

This is the second Eddie Flynn I have read, I haven’t read the first two and I feel that I have been able to follow a bit of Eddie’s story through these. I really enjoyed reading this, changing my mind who was responsible for her fathers death constantly as there were lots of twists throughout. I changed it again about 80% in, with a theory and then found out that I was correct. This however, didn’t spoil the ending for me in any way. I was on the edge of my seat until I had closed the book feeling smug that I worked it out! I thought the book was very cleverly written and I can’t wait to find out what happens in Eddies next story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Orion Publishing group for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book. First book I’ve read by the author although I have bought two of his books based off customer feedback as he’s been a real word-of-mouth phenomenon in my shop. We must get asked weekly for 13. The book had me utterly hooked and I raced through it. Great plotting, characters and a thrill ride from start to finish

Definitely a book I’ll be putting into hands in my shop and one that’s an instant classic to the crime genre

In the name of all that is Holy, Steve Cavanagh has just about killed me with this latest Eddie Flynn novel! Talk about a rollercoaster, my heart has still not settled two days after reading Fifty Fifty.
Eddie Flynn is back folks and he is caught up in a trial which had me glued to the pages! I swear it felt as though it was real, I was turning on the news at night half expecting to see the reports from the courts!
Now we all know how dull law can be, how dry and dreary it is in real life but Steve Cavanagh brings the whole process to life in this series with everything from creating a sense of place to creating a colourful cast of characters who most definitely step out of the pages and into my head! And little gems of random information such as the ravens in New York helped create the authenticity of this read.
Now talking of plot, I want to see inside of Steve Cavanagh’s brain, how complex and twisted it must be to create such a masterpiece as this, he surely has to be a plotter to execute such a detailed and cleverly thought out storyline, one which will give you whiplash as you switch from thinking one thing then to another as both sisters are put on trial for the murder of their father. Sofia and Alexandra Avellino were exquisitely dark women and with little snippets of their past fed to the reader throughout the book you would be forgiven for thinking both of them carried a degree of guilt but you are also made to feel a certain level of pity for them as you realise that a life of wealth doesn’t necessarily mean a life of happiness.
A new character is introduced, Kate Brooks, a newly qualified lawyer and through her character the level of misogyny and sexual harassment experienced by women in the professional world is expertly explored as she falls prey to the advances of her boss, Theodore Levy. I can’t say anymore but let’s just say my blood was boiling over more than once! Katie is a brilliant addition to the series and cannot wait to see more of her.
And of course, Eddie Flynn. Ah, Eddie, what a character, conman turned lawyer but not one out just to make a quick buck. Eddie Flynn will only represent those he believes to be innocent, and he knows the innocent from the guilty and now his job is to convince the jury of the same, a job he is highly confident in. But this case is different, this one he has no idea what’s going to happen and watching him wrestle with his conscience and emotions through this book is compelling. Steve Cavanagh has certainly put him through his paces with this one!
Once again Steve Cavanagh has nailed it with a breathtakingly clever plot executed perfectly as usual by the author. Dare I say it? But for me Fifty Fifty is THE best Eddie Flynn yet!

My review will be on my blog closer to publication day

This is a well written, solid 3* Good Read.

It's part of a series involving lawyer, Eddie Flynn, although, can easily be read as a stand alone - bet you'll want to go back and read the others though!

Eddie gets involved in a complex murder case that involves 2 sisters, both blaming the other for the murder of their father. The story is told from various perspectives, including the murderess (only known as 'SHE'), it's a gripping tale, told well. I enjoyed it, but, wasn't wow'ed by it.

An easy legal drama / thriller read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.

After the amazing Thirteen it was hard to see where Steve Cavanagh could go with his splendid creation Eddie Flynn; the premise was so original that it seemed unmatchable but this great novel comes close. When two sisters accuse each other of killing their father and both come to trial, which one will be found guilty and which one will inherit? Engrossing from start to finish.

My thanks to Netgalley and Orion for a copy of “Fifty-Fifty “ for an honest review.

I loved , and have recommended, Steve Cavanagh’s last book “ Thirteen”, and this book definitely lived up to my high expectations !
It was a perfect thriller , with so many twists and surprises in the story, that I was constantly changing my mind to the guilty party..
I look forward to the next book and will certainly be recommending this to anyone wanting an engrossing read that keeps you guessing up to the end..

Steve Cavanagh gives us another fabulous addition to his great legal thriller series, set in New York City, featuring Eddie Flynn, ex-con man now lawyer, discovering the two share a remarkable similarity. It begins with Eddie awaiting the verdict on his latest court trial, he learns the jury have finished their deliberations after having been out for 48 minutes. The one thing that Eddie knows is that you cannot come to a fair and balanced verdict in this, the most complex of cases, in New York's history, it just isn't possible. Usually Eddie is clear as to the upcoming verdicts in his cases, but this one has him floundering, he just can't call it, it could go either way, it is fifty-fifty as to which sister the jury finds guilty.

The story then goes back in time to the beginning, when the city's emergency services receive two 911 calls in quick succession from estranged sisters, Alexandra and Sofia Avellino, at the home of their murdered father, Frank, the ex-NYC mayor, stabbed 53 times, with each sister accusing the other of the heinous crime. Eddie, who never takes on a client he believes is guilty, represents Sofia, knowing she is likely to be seen as the more guilty in the joint trial with her history of mental health problems in comparison with the more successful, and confident Alexandra. Kate Brooks is representing Alexandra in her first case since leaving Levy, Bernard and Groff after her traumatic experiences at the firm. Just like Eddie, Kate has a conscience, but she is just as convinced that Alexandra is innocent, and she will do everything in her power to ensure that she is found not guilty. One of the sisters is truly monstrous, having cold bloodedly planned to ensure she inherits Frank's $49 million dollar estate by ensuring her sister is found guilty of the murder, she is as guilty as sin, having spent a life time keeping her evil nature hidden, that rare beast, a prolific female serial killer, but is it Alexandra or Sofia?

This tense, riveting thriller is related from the perspectives of Eddie and the other major players, including the murderous sister represented in the guise of she, with the reader left reeling and oscillating from one to the other of the sisters as the twists come thick and fast. For Eddie, once again tragedy strikes as he experiences an unbearable loss as a consequence of what he does. Cavanagh introduces Kate, another lawyer in the mould of Eddie, along with her remarkable life long friend and private investigator, Melissa Bloch, both women destined to return in future installments of this series. This is a hugely entertaining and compulsive addition to this wonderful series, although there were occasions when I felt Cavanagh overplayed his hand in the plotting with a little too much of a heavy touch. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.

A telephone call is received by the police from a young woman, stating that her father has been killed by her sister and that she is still in the house. Seconds later, another call is received from the sister, saying the same thing. One of them is lying. One of them is a cold-hearted killer. Both of them stand accused of murder but who should we believe?

Steve Cavanagh has become the author with the killer hook and this has definitely continued in Fifty Fifty. From the very start, where we have two separate calls being made to the emergency services, from two sisters each accusing the other of murder, I was immediately drawn in to this twisty, sadistic tale of cat and mouse.

In Fifty Fifty, we have two defendants, each protesting their innocence and each represented by a lawyer who believes in what their client is telling them. One of them is being played, but who? Eddie Flynn is defending Sofia Avellino, a messed up young woman with a history of psychological trauma. Does she have it in her to carry out such a horrific crime? New lawyer Kate Brooks is representing Sofia's sister, Alexandra, a woman much more together than her sister, but does her calm demeanor hide something more sinister? Usually when reading a book like this, I have some sort of theory as to who the guilty party is but I truly could not make up my mind! Just when I'd think it was definitely Alexandra, something would happen to lead me to believe it was Sofia, only a few chapters later have me convinced, yet again that it was Alexandra! I loved how this plot kept me on my toes, keeping me guessing right to the end.

There was one part of the book that had me holding my breath, desperate to read the next part yet, simultaneously, not daring to as I knew that something horrific was about to happen. I do not want to give away any spoilers, but this was a magnificent piece of writing and all I can say is Steve Cavanagh, how could you? If you've already read the book, you will know which part I am referring to, if not, strap yourself in as you're in for a bumpy ride!

The author's last book was called Twisted, and this one definitely follows suit. Fifty Fifty has a gripping plot that kept me on my toes throughout, outfoxing me at every turn. If you've never read a Steve Cavanagh book, you won't go far wrong with this one. Superb!

Oo what a book, I love this authors books and jumped at the chance to read this one and it did not disappoint.

Another great legal thriller seeing the return of Eddie Flynn in this great series. I read this over a couple of nights, a brilliant storyline that meant I was wide awake and didn't want to sleep until I had finished it as the twists and turns were fantastic.

I can't wait to read more by this author who has quickly become a goto author for a guaranteed good read

Two sisters on trial for the murder of their father, both blame each other but who did it? This book was inventive, fascinating and written to perfection. A brilliant story with so many twists and turns, it was impossible to feel bored. I enjoyed every second of this and will 100% be reading this author's entire back list as his talent is blatantly obvious.
This thriller was well planned, heart wrenching and at times made my stomach flip. It is most definitely a 5 star read if it wasn't for the (in my case) predictable plot twist which I had guessed from the beginning of the book. This does not detract from the enjoyment of this story and it's amazing writing.
I urge any thriller fan to read this book, you will not be disappointed!

Fifty Fifty is the fifth book in the Eddie Flynn series, but it's the first one I've read and it worked fine as a stand-alone. However, I'll definitely be going back and reading the others after this, as I absolutely loved it! So twisty, so unpredictable... Even when the final judgement arrived, I still didn't have things all figured out. Recommended.

The thing I love most about this author, is the ability to fall straight into the story without trying. You don’t ‘read a chapter to try and get into it’, it’s more like the story rises off the pages, grabs you by the ears and pulls you in!
I found it almost impossible to put down from the minute I started reading to the climatic twist at the end. The writing is something special, carefully choreographed to keep you guessing. I absolutely loved one particular part in the book of the killer and others at the same moment in time which leaves you guessing to the end.
Highly recommended!

I loved this book! Steve Cavanagh's storytelling is excellent and draws you into the story right from the start. The book has a very clever storyline...two sisters Sofia and Alexandra Avellino are both accused of murdering their father. They are both blaming each other! Both women are tried in a joint trial and Eddie Flynn is representing one of them.

This story has fantastic characters. It's tense, exciting and full of twists which will keep you changing your mind throughout the story.

I have previously read Twisted (I did spot the reference to J T Le Beau in this book) but this is the first Eddie Flynn book I've read. It most certainly can be read as a stand alone book. Highly recommended and a solid 5 stars from me. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley, Orion Publishing and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.