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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
dark
tense
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The verdict in this case will be to close to call
Its the kind of lurid, high profile case that lawyers dream about. Frank Avellino, the former mayor of New York City, is dead in his home, brutally murdered. The 911 operators received two phone calls almost simultaneously from the residence, one from each of Frank's daughters Sofia and Alexandra. Each sister is accusing the other of having killed their father, and one of them is telling the truth...but which one? Eddie Flynn, conman turned lawyer, will be representing Sofia, while Kate Brooks, a newly minted attorney trying to rise above the pack in the powerful law firm where she works, has Alexandra for a client. Each lawyer is convinced that their client is the innocent one, but clearly at least one of them is mistaken. As evidence is uncovered it points in both directions; the sisters' upbringing for example was far from idyllic with a mother who at best would be called abusive, but her actions were directed at both her daughters, so it doesn't help implicate or exonerate either one. This case will go down to the wire...will the jury get it right, or will the wrong sister be convicted?
Fifty Fifty is a fast paced legal thriller which throws twist after twist into the narrative, making it hard for the reader to pinpoint the killer. Eddie is an interesting lead character, a lawyer who started life as a successful con artist and found that the same skills that made him good in that earlier career serve him equally well in sizing up his clients (he refuses to defend a guilty client) and manipulating juries. In this latest case even he can't get a bead on how the jury will vote, and for him its an unsettling sensation. Kate is an ambitious young lawyer who finds that her path to a successful career flows straight through a group of sexist, condescending men who control the field in which she works and therefore her future. Its not enough for her to work hard and well, she has to duck groping hands and awkward passes. The story is told in chapters with alternating perspectives from Eddie, Kate and "She" (the killer), and as the killer details the motivations driving her it explains why things have unfolded as the they have...but it doesn't help the reader figure out which sister "She" is. The driving force of the book is not the characters, though, it is the courtroom action and the intriguing story line that keep the reader turning the pages. Readers of Michael Connelly's Lincoln Lawyer series, Harlan Coben and Lisa Scottoline would be likely to find this an enjoyable read. My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me access to this clever legal thriller in exchange for my honest review.
Its the kind of lurid, high profile case that lawyers dream about. Frank Avellino, the former mayor of New York City, is dead in his home, brutally murdered. The 911 operators received two phone calls almost simultaneously from the residence, one from each of Frank's daughters Sofia and Alexandra. Each sister is accusing the other of having killed their father, and one of them is telling the truth...but which one? Eddie Flynn, conman turned lawyer, will be representing Sofia, while Kate Brooks, a newly minted attorney trying to rise above the pack in the powerful law firm where she works, has Alexandra for a client. Each lawyer is convinced that their client is the innocent one, but clearly at least one of them is mistaken. As evidence is uncovered it points in both directions; the sisters' upbringing for example was far from idyllic with a mother who at best would be called abusive, but her actions were directed at both her daughters, so it doesn't help implicate or exonerate either one. This case will go down to the wire...will the jury get it right, or will the wrong sister be convicted?
Fifty Fifty is a fast paced legal thriller which throws twist after twist into the narrative, making it hard for the reader to pinpoint the killer. Eddie is an interesting lead character, a lawyer who started life as a successful con artist and found that the same skills that made him good in that earlier career serve him equally well in sizing up his clients (he refuses to defend a guilty client) and manipulating juries. In this latest case even he can't get a bead on how the jury will vote, and for him its an unsettling sensation. Kate is an ambitious young lawyer who finds that her path to a successful career flows straight through a group of sexist, condescending men who control the field in which she works and therefore her future. Its not enough for her to work hard and well, she has to duck groping hands and awkward passes. The story is told in chapters with alternating perspectives from Eddie, Kate and "She" (the killer), and as the killer details the motivations driving her it explains why things have unfolded as the they have...but it doesn't help the reader figure out which sister "She" is. The driving force of the book is not the characters, though, it is the courtroom action and the intriguing story line that keep the reader turning the pages. Readers of Michael Connelly's Lincoln Lawyer series, Harlan Coben and Lisa Scottoline would be likely to find this an enjoyable read. My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me access to this clever legal thriller in exchange for my honest review.
adventurous
dark
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:
Complicated
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Two sisters. One murdered father. Each swears the other did it.
Fifty Fifty is a fast-paced legal thriller that grabs you from page one and refuses to let go. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, Cavanagh twists the plot again, leaving you questioning everything.
The courtroom drama crackles with tension, and the psychological battle between the sisters is as chilling as it is compelling. By the end, you’re left thinking, “What did I just read?”—in the best way possible.
A wild, thought-provoking ride you won’t forget.
Thank you @netgalley for the digital copy and allowing me to give an open honest review.
#netgally #BookReview #FiftyFifty #SteveCavanagh #ThrillerReads #PlotTwist #MustRead #booktok #bookrecs #bookrecommendations #bookreviewer #eddieflynn #eddieflynnseries
Couldn’t connect to the characters or story.
A father and public figure dead. His two daughters arrested for the crime. Which one is guilty?
Though I’ve had the Eddie Flynn books on my radar for quite some time, this was my first time reading the author.
The synopsis was very interesting to me so I decided to give it a try (despite being the fifth title in an established series). I started this, to be pulled into the story right away and I liked the storyline (minus a couple of issues), and the characters as well.
I found Fifty Fifty well written, engaging, and a fun read. It also kept me guessing right up to the end. I enjoyed this and will definitely read more of the series.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the DRC
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Two sisters blame each other for the murder of their father . Both were there when it happened and both called 911 at the same time .
The lawyers Eddie and Kate each representing one sister have to go head to head and discover the truth …
Who do you think did it ?
The lawyers Eddie and Kate each representing one sister have to go head to head and discover the truth …
Who do you think did it ?
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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:
Yes
5 Stars!
Thank you to Atria Books & NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
One murder. Two sisters. Two phone calls, each accusing the other of murder.
This story is told from three narrators. Eddie, who is the rough around the edges lawyer defending Sofia, who has accused her sister, Alexandra of murdering their father. Kate, who is an up-and-coming lawyer who is defending Alexandra, who accused Sofia of murdering their father. And, our final narrator, “She”.
This book was a wild psychological thriller roller coaster! It kept me guessing the entire time I was reading it. I don’t find myself gravitating toward legal thrillers, but this book made me reconsider that! It was obvious how knowledgeable the author was on law and how the legal system works, but the way the information was presented in this book made it easy to follow and truly kept me on my toes. LOVED the back and forth as the trial took place, and getting a peek into how Eddie & Kate approached defending Sofia & Alexandra.
My favorite chapters were when “She” took over the story. Subtle hints were dropped through the entire book about who “She” might be, and her POV was SO creepy (but in a good, well written thriller way!).
Pick this book up if you like stories told from multiple points of view, suspense, and well thought out plots, that include a diverse and engaging cast of characters!
Thank you to Atria Books & NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
One murder. Two sisters. Two phone calls, each accusing the other of murder.
This story is told from three narrators. Eddie, who is the rough around the edges lawyer defending Sofia, who has accused her sister, Alexandra of murdering their father. Kate, who is an up-and-coming lawyer who is defending Alexandra, who accused Sofia of murdering their father. And, our final narrator, “She”.
This book was a wild psychological thriller roller coaster! It kept me guessing the entire time I was reading it. I don’t find myself gravitating toward legal thrillers, but this book made me reconsider that! It was obvious how knowledgeable the author was on law and how the legal system works, but the way the information was presented in this book made it easy to follow and truly kept me on my toes. LOVED the back and forth as the trial took place, and getting a peek into how Eddie & Kate approached defending Sofia & Alexandra.
My favorite chapters were when “She” took over the story. Subtle hints were dropped through the entire book about who “She” might be, and her POV was SO creepy (but in a good, well written thriller way!).
Pick this book up if you like stories told from multiple points of view, suspense, and well thought out plots, that include a diverse and engaging cast of characters!