Fifty-Fifty

I was blown away by this book. Honestly I did not think there was any chance he could top his last book Thirteen which was amazing but this one has blown it out the water. In this story we meet two sisters both have been arrested for murdering their father. One of them did it but the question is what one and as the two team set up their cases and the bodies start piling up the question is which of the convincing sisters is actually pure evil? I loved the twists and turns of this novel as we read the inside thoughts of the actually murder but which sister is she and are any of the defence team safe?

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.

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!

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 the second book I read by Steve Cavanagh and let me fill you in right away, it was just as brilliant as Twisted, the first one I read. The title for this novel is perfect but just the same, he could also have called it Twisted 2 and it would work just as fine.

The general feeling I had when reading Fifty Fifty was that there was a conflicting war raging in my head and it started as soon as I had turned those first few pages. I simply can NOT have not knowing who the culprit is when I know full well it has to be one of only two suspects. I mean, how hard can it be? I’m a master sleuth after all :-). Well it was giving me a splitting headache, that’s how hard it was.

At first both sisters seemed possible suspects but then I thought more clues were leading towards one of them. One of them has mental issues, the other one is pretty organised and calculated, so you have your pick. I was well aware that it could of course also be a clever move from the author leading me on and that I needed to pick the other one… although if I were a profiler, I’d definitely be going with one sister.. at least I think… Argh, after a while I simply didn’t know anymore what to think. The best strategy in such a case I find is settling with ‘your initial thought’ so I did just that and guess what, everything added up for her being the one. Yeah and still I was wrong :-). I’ll tell you who else was wrong: her lawyer! Both Flynn and Kate are convinced that their client is innocent and at least one of them is in for a big surprise. That’s the only thing about the whole book that seems a bit unreal, they are both such goody toeshoes, neither wants to take clients on who aren’t innocent. I learned enough by now to know that a lawyer with a conscience, only prepared to defend innocent clients is not how the world goes round, and two of them in the same room… let’s just say it made me shake my head for far too long.

Anyway it takes a lot of skill for a story to work for both characters and not be obvious who’s pulling the strings. Cavanagh really kept me guessing and spreading uncertainty with each new revelation that was brought up or dismantled in the courtroom. Flynn is one heck of a lawyer and Kate’s not too bad herself. I was hanging onto their words to see how they would discredit a witness or turn a testimony into their favour. I was very excited to see if the baddie would get away with it after all and of course I was more than interested to know why the father had to die in the first place. Everything falls into place in the end and afterwards you’ll just say of course…

I haven’t read the rest of the series yet (I certainly will though!) but I was at no disadvantage, this can be read perfectly as a standalone. Brilliant and addictive!

Eddie Flynn is back and this time its Fifty- Fifty if he's defending the right girl.

This outing for Eddie Flynn is very court room based as we follow the trial of Sofia and Alexandra Avellino, sisters how are both accused by each other of the murderer of their father Frank.
All the way through this book I was fifty-fifty as to whether I knew who was the actual killer. The book is riddled with clues but still I was unsure.

This is another great book by Steve Cavanagh and one I will be recommending to fans of Eddie Flynn.

I will never be able to listen to She by Elvis Costello again within thinking of this book !

Thank you to the author, publishers and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in return for an unbiased review.

Wow what a story. I recently read Th1rt3en by the same author and absolutely loved it so could not wait to read this. The story picks up another case for Eddie Flynn from the previous story. The characters are reintroduced but not to the extent of repetitiveness. I love the characters, I love the clever and articulate way in which legal arguments are made in the courtroom and I love the twists throughout. A fantastic read and would say that you do not need to have read the series in order or tried before. Can’t wait for more

Why haven't I found this author before?

I absolutely loved this book, really well written and can certainly tell that he had done his research before writing it.

Two sister - One murdered Father

Each accusing the other

Totally addictive and amazing twists in the storyline.

Highly recommended

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for ARC

Thanks net galley and thanks Steve Cavanagh for letting me have an early edition of this book, for an honest opinion of what I think.
It was one of the most exciting murder and court room books I have ever read,maybe the best.
Two sisters who hated each other, murdered their father, and both sisters said the other one did it.
I must admit I never guessed the ending, and the book was so great could not put it down.
Would give this book more than five stars if I could.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good court room drama.