Review: Fifty-Fifty by Steve Cavanagh

Author: Steve Cavanagh
Edition: eBook
Publisher: Orion (September 3, 2020)
Genre: Adult, Thriller, Crime, Legal Thriller

Synopsis

My Review of Fifty-Fifty

Fifty-Fifty is a compelling and twisty legal thriller that solidifies the Eddie Flynn series as a new favourite of mine!

A New Favourite Series?

I’m officially a fan of the Eddie Flynn series! After reading Thirteen in late 2023 and being hooked, I was eager to dive into another book in this series. Steve Cavanagh delivers a legal thriller with high stakes, a con-man turned lawyer main character who always has a trick up his sleeve and a supporting cast of characters that immediately stole my heart. This one even has a dog!

My Review of Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh

One of my favourite aspect of the Eddie Flynn books is their outrageously dramatic premises. They hook you in, make me want to turn the pages at high speed and are easy to explain to friends! Which is why I have told everyone in my friend circle about this series because it is bringing me a lot of joy, precisely because it is so dramatic.

Fifty-Fifty sees Eddie take on a high-stakes murder case. The former major has been murdered and both of his daughters called 911, accusing the other. Who is telling the truth? One of them has to be the murderer, right?

Perspectives and Truths

The book switches perspective between Eddie, our clever protagonist who is set on only representing innocent clients, Kate, the slightly green defence attorney for the other sister, and “She”, the anonymous sister who is the ruthless killer.

The switching perspective keep the guessing game going, there’s plenty of clues pointing to either sister being the murderer, which makes it fun to guess along and make up your own theories. As with every Eddie Flynn book I have read so far, of course nothing is quite as it seems.

Twists and Turns

Steve Cavanagh’s twists are surprising but incredibly well set up and always satisfying. They’ll challenge your assumptions at every turn and keep you guessing until the very end!

One of the strong suits of Steve Cavanagh’s writing is the way he constructs fast-paced tension. The chapters are snappy, delivering just enough development and new information to keep you flipping the pages as if your life depends on it.

The Only Aspect I Didn’t Love

While Fifty-Fifty excels in delivering a gripping plot, it falls slightly short in terms of character development. I wish Eddie had a little more character development and moments to be less one-toned, same goes for the supporting cast. By its nature, the Eddie Flynn series is very plot focused and Steve Cavanagh does it incredibly well! But as a reader, I am always primarily rooting for the characters and I think with just a little more depth for the whole cast, this could’ve been a 5-star read for me.

Overall…

Fifty-Fifty was a fast-pace and delightfully twisty ride of a thriller that cemented the Eddie Flynn series firmly in my favourites to reach for when I need a snappy book that delivers on its premise, but never quite how you expected!

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This book is for you if…

…you like fast-paced books that keep you guessing until the very end!
…you are looking for a legal thriller series to binge!

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