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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Fifty Fifty, the fifth installment in Steve Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn series, is a stunning legal thriller that cements the series as one of my reigning favorites. Cavanagh has crafted one of the most clever courtroom dramas I’ve read, with a plot that had me hooked from the first chapter.
In Fifty Fifty, former mayor of New York Frank Avellino is found murdered. Each of his two daughters accuse the other of the crime, while maintaining their own innocence. Eddie Flynn is tasked with defending the sister he believes is innocent, while likely proving the other guilty. A tense, high-stakes trial follows and Eddie is forced to play detective as much as defense attorney.
Having read later books in this series, what I loved most about Fifty Fifty were the introductions to characters who later become favorites. Eddie is at his best when he’s working with others, and the interactions between Eddie and his allies characters are always fun to read. As a reader, I also enjoyed playing detective myself but, true to Cavanagh’s style, the reveal still managed to surprise me.
The trial scenes in Fifty Fifty are some of the best in the series. This feels like the most time we’ve spent with Eddie Flynn in the courtroom and this is where Cavanagh’s background as a former lawyer himself really shines. These scenes are tense and dramatic while also feeling realistic. Even as someone who doesn’t typically gravitate toward legal fiction, I found myself completely engrossed in the courtroom chapters.
With no critiques from me, this is a 5-star read in my book. I’d recommend Fifty Fifty to fans of courtroom dramas, legal thrillers, and even procedural TV like Law & Order.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In Fifty Fifty, former mayor of New York Frank Avellino is found murdered. Each of his two daughters accuse the other of the crime, while maintaining their own innocence. Eddie Flynn is tasked with defending the sister he believes is innocent, while likely proving the other guilty. A tense, high-stakes trial follows and Eddie is forced to play detective as much as defense attorney.
Having read later books in this series, what I loved most about Fifty Fifty were the introductions to characters who later become favorites. Eddie is at his best when he’s working with others, and the interactions between Eddie and his allies characters are always fun to read. As a reader, I also enjoyed playing detective myself but, true to Cavanagh’s style, the reveal still managed to surprise me.
The trial scenes in Fifty Fifty are some of the best in the series. This feels like the most time we’ve spent with Eddie Flynn in the courtroom and this is where Cavanagh’s background as a former lawyer himself really shines. These scenes are tense and dramatic while also feeling realistic. Even as someone who doesn’t typically gravitate toward legal fiction, I found myself completely engrossed in the courtroom chapters.
With no critiques from me, this is a 5-star read in my book. I’d recommend Fifty Fifty to fans of courtroom dramas, legal thrillers, and even procedural TV like Law & Order.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
How do I even say anything on this book without giving away any spoilers? I think this review will be a bit shorter than my reviews normally are, but take this as a good sign, because the less you know, the more hooked you will be, and the more surprises await you.
Let’s start with the murder plot and the lawsuit tied to it. The premise was very interesting, and Cavanagh truly delivered in my opinion as well. Everything felt wrapped up nicely, and throughout the whole book I just kept switching between the sisters. One minute I could give you a whole list of reasons as to why Alexandra did it, and the other I could do the same for Sofia. What I loved as well was that the book incorporated the killer’s POV from time to time, which was simply named “she”. With these POVs, I got insights into the killer that could help me investigate who did it. The book truly kept me on the edge of my seat with the plot, and to me the ending felt perfectly executed. No loose ends, and everything was incredibly intense. So much so that I wanted to scream at the book! I would perhaps have liked a bit more insights into how the killer executed her plan, however. I got the necessary info there, but some more details would also have been interesting.
One tiny downside for me was that I wasn’t as invested in Eddie’s personal storyline as I was with Thirteen (the previous book in this series, but you can read them separately as well). This was very much a background thing compared to the main plot story, though, so it didn’t bother me much. I was very invested in Kate’s storyline on the other hand! I really liked her character, and I was continuously cheering her on.
All in all, I very much enjoyed this thriller. According to me, Steve Cavanagh knows how to write a good legal thriller for sure.
Let’s start with the murder plot and the lawsuit tied to it. The premise was very interesting, and Cavanagh truly delivered in my opinion as well. Everything felt wrapped up nicely, and throughout the whole book I just kept switching between the sisters. One minute I could give you a whole list of reasons as to why Alexandra did it, and the other I could do the same for Sofia. What I loved as well was that the book incorporated the killer’s POV from time to time, which was simply named “she”. With these POVs, I got insights into the killer that could help me investigate who did it. The book truly kept me on the edge of my seat with the plot, and to me the ending felt perfectly executed. No loose ends, and everything was incredibly intense. So much so that I wanted to scream at the book! I would perhaps have liked a bit more insights into how the killer executed her plan, however. I got the necessary info there, but some more details would also have been interesting.
One tiny downside for me was that I wasn’t as invested in Eddie’s personal storyline as I was with Thirteen (the previous book in this series, but you can read them separately as well). This was very much a background thing compared to the main plot story, though, so it didn’t bother me much. I was very invested in Kate’s storyline on the other hand! I really liked her character, and I was continuously cheering her on.
All in all, I very much enjoyed this thriller. According to me, Steve Cavanagh knows how to write a good legal thriller for sure.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wow this was a true thriller! When people ask me for a thriller rec I’m going to tell them to pick this up. Steve Cavanagh really knows how to write thrillers well. I’ve read a few of his books and they are a real page turner with a great twist at the end. This book was no exception. I was hooked from the beginning, two sisters blamed for killing their father. Who is the killer? Sofia or Alexandra? I liked the chapters titled “She” . You didn’t know what sister it was, but boy was she a killing machine. I was surprised at how well she got away with things and also her motorcycle skills.
I would say pick this up, it’s a fast-paced thriller that will keep you guessing till the ending. I had to know what happened so I binged the last 30% of it in one sitting.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria books for an advanced copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes