Another brilliant thriller from Steve Cavanagh.
When Ellie is accused of murdering her husband and her best friend, she calls and asks for Eddie Flynn to defend her.
Eddie’s gut instinct tells him immediately that she’s innocent and with someone attempting to kill her as well, he knows they are trying to set her up for the murders.
It’s a difficult case and Eddie needs to use all his skills to get be ready to defend her in court.
He’s also concerned about his ex-wife and their daughter as someone is threatening them and this culminates in another murder.
Eddie knows he can’t defend Christine as he’s too close to them so he eventually agrees to let Kate and Harry represent her.
This is a gripping thriller that I absolutely loved.
Thanks to Headline for the opportunity to read this book.

This might just be my favourite book in the Eddie Flynn series yet! I loved how it tackled social media and in particular the “random acts of kindness”, I felt it showed just how toxic these can be! I loved all the twists and turns along the way, and how Eddies personal life was really pulled in to his case despite his best efforts to separate his work and home life. What’s brilliant about this series as each of the books can be read as a stand alone! A very easy, fast paced read that I devoured in one sitting. It’s everything you could ask for in a legal thriller! A must have read for 2025!! 5 stars!

I really have to circle back and read the earlier books in this series, because if they are as good as this one, then I have been missing out big time.
Eddie "The Fly" Flynn is back, and this time he's tasked with defending a social media influencer accused of double murder. 💉
A deadly game of cat and mouse follows, and the safety of Eddie's family is threatened. 💉
Once again the story is told from several POVs, with Eddie's being the only one told in the first person. The twists are many, but it's the one at the end that blindsided me. 👀
The pace is swift, and though it may be a little light on the courtroom drama, there's plenty of action to make up for it. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable read. 💉
Thanks to Headline Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

Eddie Flynn is one of my favourite fictional characters and this is another great story featuring the ex conman turned lawyer.

With some underlying social commentary around the dangers of social media and how much we put out to the world, Two Kinds of Stranger sees Eddie take on the defence of Elly, a social media superstar accused of murder. To complicate matters, Eddie has stakes in another case running at the same time, with lots to lose. With plenty of excellent twists and turns, the plot is as gripping as ever.

The supporting cast are on top form, though Kate's character felt a bit flat this time around, but it doesn't detract from the story. My only complaint was the court-room scenes weren't as lengthy or numerous as I'd hoped, as these (for me at least) are one of the strengths of this series.

That aside, this is another top dollar legal thriller from Steve Cavanagh and I'm hugely grateful to NetGalley and Headline for an ARC copy.

A very solid 4 stars!

I do love an Eddie Flynn story I havent read them in order but feel this could be read as a stand alone very good from start to finish and the twist was excellent

I’ve loved every book in the Eddie Flynn series, and Two Kinds of Stranger might just be one of my favourites yet. Cavanagh’s writing is always razor-sharp, but this instalment felt especially strong, tight plotting, brilliant pacing, and that signature mix of legal drama and twisty thriller that I can’t get enough of.
Eddie’s back doing what he does best: navigating impossible courtroom battles, uncovering buried secrets, and somehow staying one step ahead of danger (usually). It’s high stakes from the first chapter, and things only escalate from there.
🔍 My Thoughts
This one grabbed me early and didn’t let go. The story feels slick and confident, the courtroom scenes are as tense and cinematic as ever, and Eddie—charming, sharp, a little bit scrappy—is still one of the best leads in the genre.
I found this instalment stronger than the last, with a plot that keeps twisting and turning right to the end. Cavanagh knows how to land a reveal, and the payoff here is so satisfying. I raced through it and now I’m counting down the days until the next one (rumoured for next year!).
⚖️ What I Loved
• Gripping courtroom drama that’s full of suspense and clever reveals.
• Eddie Flynn at his best—smart, witty, and impossible not to root for.
• A plot that tightens with every chapter—no slow moments here.
• That classic Cavanagh twistiness that keeps you guessing right to the end.

Final Thoughts
Two Kinds of Stranger is everything I want in a legal thriller—fast, smart, and impossible to put down. If you’re a fan of Eddie Flynn, you’re in for a treat. And if you haven’t started the series yet, you’re seriously missing out.

This is a really great book-a thriller of a read that had me gripped from the first page to the last and kept me guessing from one chapter to the next with its various twists and developments. The numerous characters are well portrayed and likeable, except for the ones not meant to be, of course, and I don’t necessarily mean the killer when I say this! I now need to add this author to my list of favourites and catch up with his back catalogue.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review and to the author for his wonderful imagination and writing.

What a read! The author has done it again! Tension was throughout the book and so was the mystery and suspense. I really liked the writing style and the way the characters were portrayed. The pacing of the book was done correctly and I was flipping through the pages.

I eagerly wait for each new Steve Cavanagh release, and I always dive straight in.

He is one of the finest writers in the courtroom drama genre, in my opinion, and this one is up there with the best of them.

Eddie Flynn, one time trickster turned lawyer, takes on the case of an influencer accused of double murder. But things spiral when his family gets dragged into the frame. Eddie has to use his powers of deduction, influence, and sleight of hand to try to secure a win for his client, but the odds are very much against her.

Compellingly written, with great attention to detail, vivid descriptions of character and place, and great plotting. Loved it. Had to finish it in one sitting.

The second Steve Cavanagh, Eddie Flynn novel I have read and enjoyed this one more than the first. For me a slow burner leading to a well written conclusion. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

I love Eddie Flynn & his ever growing team. Loved how Tiktok played a part but do feel the police might have been more on Logan esp as he had committed the specific crime a few times before.

Elly is an influencer who puts a lot of emphasis on random acts of kindness. Sadly, it is precisely one such act that lands her in seriously hot water.

Already reeling from the revelation that her new husband James is cheating on her with her best friend Harriet (something that she discovers during a live broadcast), the last thing Elly needs is to find herself in the crosshairs of a psychopath who decides to frame her for a sensational double murder for his own twisted reasons.

There are two key plotlines running through this novel, and both are gripping. Steve Cavanagh once again provides high-quality entertainment, demonstrating yet again that he deserves his spot on my must-read list!

Two Kinds of Strangers is book 9 in the brilliant Eddie Flynn series but can easily read as a standalone.
Ellie Parker is a famous social media influencer and is famous for her acts of kindness. Millions love her until she catches her husband in bed with a friend live on social media. She is totally humiliated.
Two weeks later she helps a stranger with a broken arm to help with his case at Grand central station but doing so put itself in danger. And the stranger starts playing a sadistic game of cat and mouse and tries to frame her for murder. But in comes Eddie Flynn and co to help her with her case.
I don’t usually go for many court room dramas, but Steven Cavanagh is an exception. This is another brilliant page turner by the author. The story keeping you engaged though out. How Eddie and is team trying to figure out how to help Ellie. The sadistic killer seemed to have covered all his bases so Elly will be guilty of murder. I thought this plot was so cleverly written. I keep kicking myself as this is the only the second book of the series I have read but I will go back and read the others now. 5 stars from me. I can’t wait to read more.

I do love an Eddie Flynn novel. There is something compelling about the character, and his various colleagues, that makes me want to return to the books time and again. Maybe it's the styling, the straight talking, first person narrative that is led by Eddie, or perhaps it is the devious nature of the bad guys, whose perspective we are always treated to, but there is always a hook in these books, one that keeps me glued to the pages right to the very end. This latest, Two Kinds of Stranger, is no exception. It's pacy, it's packed with threat and tension, and it had me suckered in from the off.

There are two elements to this particular story that see Eddie and the team stretched to their limits. And it's not just the bad guys Eddie needs to watch out for as there is a very vindictive D.A. waiting in the wings to make sure Eddie receives his comeuppance - be that directly or through his family. It seems this time around anything goes. Eddie's main case is that of a social media influencer who finds herself on the wrong side of the law shortly after accidentally live broadcasting the (as of then) lowest point in her life to her followers. Ellie is a character who I couldn't help feeling a touch sorry for, not just because of what happens to her, but more because of her overwhelming naivety in the face of an adversary so manipulative I had to wonder if Eddie would manage to get the better of them this time around. Conversely, Eddie's partner, Kate, finds herself defending Eddie's ex-wife who stands accused of murder, alongside her new husband. Two uber complex cases linked by the one common denominator - Eddie Flynn.

This book is teeming with threat and tension. The killer in this case is a truly evil doer. There have been some real dark characters in this series, and I'd say that this is perhaps not the worst of them, but certainly one of the most tricky to get to grips with, in part because proving their existence is harder than you might think given there are two witnesses to their being in the midst of everything. But there is a certain charisma to them as well, in as much as a sociopath can be charismatic - more worn like an overcoat and of little real substance. I didn't particularly want to see them succeed - no bad guy should ever win really, should they - but I was very intrigued to see how far they would go, and there were certain parts in the book when I could feel myself getting enraged with the possibility of what might happen. What was planned to happen. How far Steve Cavanagh takes this, you'll have to read to see, but it certainly had me on edge at times.

One of the key draws in this series is the characters, and this series has one of the best ensemble 'casts' in crime fiction. From the inimitable former trickster, Eddie, to former judge, Harry, each one adds their own style and personality to the story and I don't think this would have been the same book had a single one of them been missing. Kate is the yin to Eddie's yang, his moral conscience if you like, but this particular series of cases pushes her to her limits. Bloch and Lake are back, bringing their own brand of chaos to the action scenes. I really like both of them, Block for her very straight and rigid focus, Lake for his less organised, but no less volatile streak. They make the action scenes believable, making a perfectly irresistible, if socially incompatible, pairing. Both are high on intellect, but chalk and cheese personality wise and I am there for every moment of it.

The court scenes in the book are perhaps fewer in number, than most legal thrillers, a lot of what happens being about the investigation and locating missing witnesses, but those that appear land perfectly. Eddie's skill in twisting the narrative to support his clients is second to none, but all delivered in a way that feel authentic. It may push the boundaries of accepted practice, but that is Eddie's style and what makes him such a compelling character. I love those moments in court, where that one killer question can make all the difference to the fate of those involved, and the American justice system in which these books are set just seems to lend itself more completely to that kind of twist than the more traditional UK court could ever do.

Whether justice is served in this book you will need to read for yourself, but it is certainly one of those books that makes you think about the power and impact of kindness, both good and bad. As the saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished, and that goes tenfold for the characters in this particular book. Perfect pacing, a real building of tension and some moments that got my adrenaline pumping in. borderline unhealthy ways, this is another Eddie Flynn classic and fans will love it. It just might make you a little more conscious of how much of your life you really want to post on line, and that isn't necessarily a bad thing now, is it?

Two Kinds of Stranger Steve Cavanagh

5 stars

Why haven't I read this author before?

I chose this book because the plot seemed really interesting and I was not disappointed. I did not realise that Eddie Flynn and his colleagues have featured in other books but I will certainly try and read them.

Elly Parker has been married to James for 6 months and documents her life on Tic Tok on a daily basis but also tries to do an act of kindness every day. Her whole life falls apart when she catches her husband and her best friend in bed together and of course this is immediately available on her social media. Despite being totally devastated , Elly cannot resist helping a man on crutches who is struggling with his luggage only to wake up in hospital having been poisoned but also accused of murder.

Enter Eddie Flynn and his trusted colleagues, Kate, Harry, Block and Lake. This was my first introduction to these characters but I soon found out how they love to take on clients with seemingly no hope and the way Eddie, in particular, is happy to slightly circumnavigate the law in order to prove his client innocent.

The stranger that Elly helped is called Logan and we learn that he is a sociopath who loves to kill people and get away with it. We hear some of the story from his viewpoint which made for interesting reading and the story is further complicated when Eddie's ex-wife and current husband are also accused of a crime that they didn't commit.

The story races along with so many twists and turns and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. At the end there was a completely unexpected twist which I did not see coming and absolutely loved. I now need to read the previous books in this series. Highly recommended. .


Karen Deborah
Netgalley

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Another great Eddie Flynn book. Great writing style that draws you in quick and keeps you guessing.

This is a solid 4.5 star read. I loved it and was hooked, start to finish.

Steve Cavanagh's Two Kinds Of Stranger hits the ground running and it doesn't stop. Each chapter was punchy, not too long and offered a small morsel to whet your appetite.

Delivered through multiple POVs, the story focuses around Elly, a New York TikTok influencer, who shares her whole life with her followers. From her morning coffee at Starbucks, her toiletry shop, daily random acts of kindness, and even her wedding. So when it comes to celebrating her six-month anniversary of wedded bliss, of course she's going to live stream it, which means her millions of followers are right there with her when she discovers her new husband in bed with her best friend.

From hereon, Elly's life unravels faster than a New York minute until she is ultimately arrested, charged with the murders of the two people who broke her heart.

Two Kinds of Stranger combines psychological tension, cat and mouse games, and the broken powerhouse of the New York justice system.

Lawyer Eddie Flynn and his team of individually damaged but genius wrecking balls, fight to clear Elly's name, but they also need to keep themselves alive, as the true killer will stop at nothing to ensure Elly is found guilty.

I honestly could not put this book down. It is packed full of suspense, twists and turns, and shock after shock. This was my first Eddie Flynn book and although it is the ninth book in the series, I didn't feel as though I was at a disadvantage, not having read the previous ones. A truly fantastic read, that won't be my last of Steve Cavanagh's.

I suppose I cannot accept the modern 'occupation' of being an influencer. In this book there is Elly, a TikTok influencer (oh dear!) who tries to be kind at odd times.

She is also recently married but is her husband being kind with her best friend?

In steps Eddy Flynn to take her case when her ex husband is murdered.

I will admit that I find Mr Flynn and his team superb but I have never really enjoyed some of the previous books. That's just me as the writing is excellent.

Thanks to Net Galley and Headline for the chance to read and review..

Loved this book. Steve Cavanagh does it again! Great modern storyline with a social influencer main character. Kept me guessing right until the end. I love Eddie Flynn!

Ellie Parker is a famous influencer who seems to have the perfect life, known for her acts of kindness. When a betrayal witnessed by thousands makes her the target for a sadistic game, her nightmare becomes worse than she could have imagined. It is down to Eddie Flynn and the team to take on the case where nothing is as it seems.

As an avid reader of this author and the Eddie Flynn series being a firm favourite, I knew I had to read this immediately! This ended up another fantastic addition to this brilliant series, with a clever plot and twists and turns in every chapter. There are two main storylines running in this book, with two engaging court cases to keep the reader hooked, making it hard to put down.

The characters are some of the best I have read and felt like I was catching up with old friends reading. I love that the author has developed a set of flawed characters, with plenty of depth, that you can’t help but root for. You really get a feel for the authentic, close relationship between them all, while the new characters are also written with similar genuineness. The storyline is multilayered and fast paced, with some creepy, tense moments thrown in. The ending left me very satisfied also. My main issue is that I now have to wait ages for the next instalment! This series definitely remains a favourite and one that I will continue to recommend to all. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.