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Leonard Howells durchlebt einen Albtraum: Seine Tochter Caroline wurde entführt und dabei lebensgefährlich verletzt. Nur einem Mann traut Howell zu, sie zu retten: Eddie Flynn. Eddie weiß, wie es ist, eine Tochter zu verlieren. Und als ehemaliger Betrüger und jetziger Spitzenanwalt kennt er alle Tricks, um seine Gegner hinters Licht zu führen. Doch als die Lösegeldübergabe scheitert und Leonard Howells selbst unter Verdacht gerät, sind plötzlich zwei Leben in Gefahr. Irgendjemand zieht im Hintergrund die Fäden in einem Spiel, das vor vielen Jahren begann. Und in dem Eddie bald nicht mehr weiß, wer die Wahrheit sagt, und wer lügt ...

508 pages, Paperback

First published May 18, 2017

892 people are currently reading
31579 people want to read

About the author

Steve Cavanagh

30 books10.7k followers
Steve Cavanagh is a critically acclaimed, Sunday Times best-selling author of the Eddie Flynn series which has sold a million copies in the UK. His third novel, The Liar, won the CWA Gold Dagger for Crime Novel of the year 2018. Thirteen won the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime novel of the year 2019. FIFTY FIFTY was a Richard and Judy Book club choice, and the BBC Between The Covers book club choice. All of his novels have been nominated for major awards. He is a consistent International bestseller.

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5 stars
7,225 (44%)
4 stars
7,120 (43%)
3 stars
1,797 (10%)
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1 star
48 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,342 reviews
Profile Image for Paromjit.
3,080 reviews26.3k followers
May 14, 2017
Steve Cavanagh writes some of the best legal thrillers I have ever read, and this is his best one yet. We are back with ex-con man, hustler, lawyer, and all round good guy, Eddie Flynn, facing his most challenging case yet. He is going to have to fully utilise his sleights of hand and draw on his ability to con. In the hours of darkness, Eddie gets a call from a man he knew in his younger days, Leonard Howell, asking Eddie to be his lawyer. Howell's 17 year old daughter, Caroline, has been abducted and a ransom payment has been organised. Howell has other plans afoot which do not involve the FBI, are illegal, and wants Eddie to cover his back. Amy, Eddie's daughter was kidnapped in the past, and feeling Howell's pain, he agrees in a heartbeat. It all goes to hell in a handcart as the ransom drops spectacularly misfire resulting in Howell being charged with the murder of Caroline.

Eddie has no intention in letting Howell, an innocent man in his view, be convicted. At the same time, he has been served to release the casework on the trial of the now deceased Julie Rosen to the notorious lawyer, Max Copeland, who plans to appeal and ruin the career of Judge Harry Ford, to whom Eddie owes everything. Eddie is not going to stand idly by and let that occur. At White Plains, New York, Howell's trial opens, a gripping court drama ensues, packed with twist after twist. Continually facing the unexpected, Eddie is forced to think on his feet, aided by Agent Harper, whilst his client lies in a coma. In an effort to prevent a tragedy, Eddie is pushed to pull one of the biggest cons of his life, will he succeed?. As a dangerous finale takes place in a cemetery, connections with the Julie Rosen case come together.

This is a thrill ride of a novel that is so hard to put down, with its outstanding plotting and a charismatic central character in Eddie Flynn, a lawyer extraordinaire. The supporting cast is terrific, from the broken man that is Howell, to the smart and courageous Agent Harper. Cavanagh is a gifted thriller writer who knows exactly how to write stunning and tense stories full of suspense. If you have never read the Eddie Flynn series, I highly recommend that you do so. Thanks to Lauren Woosey and Orion for an ARC.
September 7, 2022
4 radical stars for the unconventional but fascinating Eddie Flynn. And what's the premise of this latest installment in a cleverly written series.

You can watch a thief, but you can’t watch a liar – but here we have both!!!

Suspenseful, dangerous, and fast moving, and written by an author who brings entertainment into the court room and interest into an otherwise dangerous business. An author who can make the court room an exciting place to be, as we watch the legendary New York lawyer Eddie Flynn take on another high-profile case. A man who exacts his own form of judgement and punishment as he dispels with protocol and deploys a meticulously forensic mind in solving cases.

The Plot

Seasoned New York lawyer, Eddie Flynn, is anything but conventional and with a list of successful court room wins under his belt, he has become one to the feared, envied, and resented lawyers to grace the New York justice circuit. A man regarded with suspicion by his prosecuting adversaries and disliked for his court room antics as he plays with procedure as much as his learned colleagues.
So, when hired by Leonard Howell, to represent him, not with past discretions but for the crimes he is about to commit by duping the police in a £20M ransom pay-out for the return of his 20 year old daughter Caroline, Eddie has met his match. But is he telling the truth?.

With a link to the Julie Rosen conviction, and the reopening of the case, Eddie is forced to defend Harry, a colleague – but is he telling the truth about the how the case was solved in the first place? and what links do we have with the kidnapping of Howell’s daughter in the present?. Not going to lie!!! But that’s the clue. There are links!!!

Review and Comments

4 stars for ‘The Liar’ and not the 5-star ratings the rest of this series has been getting – why?
The plot was more predictable than the others. I knew who the daughter was quite early on in the story, and I also felt the unorthodox court room antics were a bit too implausible this time round.
Nevertheless, this is still another excellent book by the very gifted thriller / writer – Steve Cavanagh.

The character of Eddie Flynn is one of my favourites in popular psychological crime. I adore anything with a puzzle and a book with so many twists you feel you’ve had a work out by the end of the book.

I love that Flynn is portrayed as a very human man with a clinical forensic mind who learnt by his mistakes; a flawed but deliciously unconventional man, as he recalls
“The victories are sweet and soon forgotten, but the mistakes stay with you forever.”

The standout for me in all Cavanagh’s books is the fast pace and a writing style that is perfect for crime / thrillers, coupled with the intricacy in the plot twists that keep you engaged, captivated, and fully immersed.

Another great book and you will not go wrong by indulging yourself in this Eddie Flynn series.
Profile Image for Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile.
789 reviews3,512 followers
September 15, 2022
The third installment of Steve Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn Series, The Liar has our conman-turned-lawyer helping an acquaintance from his old neighborhood. Wealthy businessman Leonard “Lenny” Howell’s seventeen-year-old daughter Caroline has been kidnapped and a ransom exchange is about to go down. Eddie, reverting to his old tricks, tries to chalk out a plan to best the kidnapper but unbeknownst to them they are being manipulated and playing right into the hands of the kidnapper. The kidnapper's agenda includes more than just kidnapping Lenny’s daughter and seems to be a step ahead. The tables are turned as Leonard Howell becomes the prime suspect in the disappearance and suspected murder of his daughter leaving it up to Eddie to prove his friend's innocence in court, find out what truly happened to Caroline and figure out who is behind it all.

Just before Eddie’s services are engaged by Howell, Eddie receives a subpoena for a cold case file that he inherited when he took over the firm of his friend and mentor Judge Harry Ford. The case is that of a woman by the name of Julia Rosen who was incarcerated for the murder of her infant daughter while high on drugs. She had insisted that the fire that caused the tragedy was started by a masked intruder but due to lack of evidence and the fact that she had drugs in her system resulted in a guilty verdict. Harry had been her lawyer and though he had believed in Julia’s innocence he had been unsuccessful in proving it. Even though Julia is now deceased, her case has been reopened with the intention of a posthumous exoneration. Max Copeland is a lawyer known for his success in similar cases and is responsible for ruining the careers of other criminal defense lawyers. Proving incompetent counsel and malpractice will surely end Harry’s career. Eddie will leave no stone unturned to help his mentor.

The narrative is shared by Eddie in the first –person with chapters detailing Julia Rosen’s case interspersed throughout the narrative. As the narrative progresses, it becomes evident that the timing of Julia’s case being reopened and Howell’s daughter’s kidnapping is no coincidence and there is more to the story than meets the eye. It is up to Eddie, who finds an unlikely ally in FBI Agent Harper, to find the truth behind Caroline’s kidnapping and how it is connected to the recently reopened murder case.

With its cast of interesting characters and multiple suspects, intricate plot, high-voltage courtroom drama, twists and action-packed suspense, The Liar is a thrilling read albeit somewhat predictable. For those who read a lot of thrillers, while it might not be too hard to connect the dots between the two cases I am sure you will enjoy the surprises along the way! I look forward to reading the remaining books in this series. Eddie Flynn is one of the most interesting protagonists I’ve come across recently and I’m eager to follow his story.

My reviews for the previous installments:
Book#1: The Defense
Book#2: The Plea
Profile Image for Jayme.
1,549 reviews4,495 followers
March 22, 2022
Eddie Flynn is a con man turned lawyer, who used to hustle insurance agencies-for personal reasons-but now he hustles juries instead.

This is book #3 in the series.

His father taught him a lot of what he knows-including some truths about cards.

“Luck has no part in it.” he told Eddie, “ Any hand can be a winning hand. Doesn’t matter if it’s the best hand at the table, or the worst. It’s all about how you play it.”

Eddie is going to have to count on that to win his latest case, because he definitely isn’t holding the best hand.

Leonard Howell’s 17 year old daughter, Caroline, has been kidnapped and he doesn’t trust local police or the FBI to get her back.

But, he trusts Eddie.

Unfortunately, the ransom drop doesn’t quite go as planned and Howell ends up on trial for her murder.

Meanwhile, Eddie’s old friend and mentor, Judge Harry Ford, is being accused of mishandling one of his earliest cases, from when he first began practicing law. Julie Rosen, was convicted of killing her infant daughter, but now there are questions about whether she was fit to stand trial. And, this case seems to somehow be related to Howell’s case.

Interspersed with our present day narrative are chapters about Julie Rosen.

Eddie will have to decipher fact from fiction with the help of Harry, and FBI Special agent Harper and once his latest case is set up in Part One, we are treated to joining Eddie in court where once again this clever lawyer will try to outwit and outplay his latest opponent in Parts 2 and 3.

Author Steve Cavanaugh is practicing lawyer in Dublin, and his brilliant court scenes are riveting! Although this book doesn’t fill you in on as much of Eddie Flynn’s background as in books one and two, this can definitely be read as a stand-alone.

I definitely see growth in the author’s writing as this installment is the most complex of the three books, and I look forward to continuing with this legal thriller series as I am enjoying it!

This is a monthly buddy read with Goodreads friends DeAnn, MarilynW, Mary Beth, Pat and Ceecee. Please be sure to check out their amazing reviews!

Next up in the series: Thirteen
Profile Image for Blaine.
1,020 reviews1,091 followers
July 25, 2021
There are many ways to spot a liar. Emotion is real, it can’t be faked. Love is real. Hate is real. Pain is more real than any of them. I knew what it was to be in pain. And I could taste it in the air around Howell. Losing a child is the wound that can never heal—that remains open and bleeding—always.
Pain was truth.
And that was good enough for me.

I had crossed the line too. And there was no coming back.
Last year, I read the first two Eddie Flynn books, The Defense and The Plea. In both books, the former con man turned lawyer is essentially blackmailed into taking impossible cases, and uses his part Clarence Darrow, part My Cousin Vinny courtroom skills to save the day. Both books were over-the-top in the best possible way, and I enjoyed them enough to buy a UK copy of the third book in the series, The Liar, as the book is inexplicably not being printed in the US currently.

An old family friend, Leonard Howell, reaches out to Eddie after getting a ransom demand for his missing daughter, Caroline. Lenny says he wants to get his daughter back his own way, and he wants Eddie to help resolve the legal trouble he expects from the FBI and his insurance company after paying the ransom. But when Caroline isn’t rescued, and the ransom goes missing, Eddie finds himself defending Lenny on murder charges. Meanwhile, Eddie gets a subpoena for the files of Julia Rosen, who his best friend, Judge Harry Ford, unsuccessfully defended on a charge of murdering her own infant daughter fifteen years earlier. Of course, it eventually turns out that there’s a connection between these two seemingly unconnected cases, and that many things are not as they first appeared….

The Liar has a good mix of trial scenes and action sequences, and Flynn’s first-person narration is always entertaining. The plot is full of twists and turns, crosses and double crosses, and I did not figure out what was really happening until it was finally revealed. And the book appears to set up a couple of new supporting characters I expect to see in future entries in the series. The Liar does not rely nearly as much on the ticking clock scenarios that dominated the first two books, making this one feel more realistic. Thankfully, that added sense of realism does not make this book any less thrilling. Recommended.
Profile Image for Youssra (semi ia).
718 reviews231 followers
April 19, 2025
Guys if I am ever falsely accused of a crime, hire Eddie Flynn to be my lawyer; otherwise, I'm cooked😭

4.5 stars! Steve, you are a genius and you scare me.
Profile Image for Liz Barnsley.
3,761 reviews1,077 followers
May 10, 2017
Bloody hell Steve Cavanagh has REALLY gone for it this time with a most terrific, edge of the seat, courtroom drama come nutty addictive thriller. I mean nutty in the best way because it is totally addictive. Like when you open a tube of pringles and then realise you’ve eaten them all without really thinking about it. With The Liar once you pop you can’t stop.

Hey I like the Pringles comparison. I also like Pringles. And Eddie Flynn. Conman turned lawyer, in this book hovering between the two as he tries to sort out a rather adrenalin fuelled situation. You’ll keep turning those pages both desperate to know the outcome and also wallowing in the rather beautifully written adventure that will get you there.

The thing I find with this series is each one gets better than the last. Steve Cavanagh manipulates the plot with vivacity, throwing the reader unexpected curveballs then barely giving them time to draw breath before chucking a chase or a momentary danger at them – really I think we’ll throw some pretzels in with those Pringles, certainly there are enough twists here to warrant that. And all so cleverly done too.

The writing is cool and effective, the story is chocka block full of heart, a lot of writers can write a banging thriller but not all of them can also slip in such elegantly layered character drama. Eddie is fascinating and utterly appealing, holding the whole thing together – here dealing with kidnapping, death, trouble a plenty with his usual wisecracking style. I just loved the whole thing.

The Liar, as with the previous Eddie Flynn novels is intelligent, thrilling, unpredictable and entirely brilliant – reading escapism at its very very best.

Highly Recommended.
Profile Image for Matt.
4,817 reviews13.1k followers
January 3, 2020
In this third legal thriller by Steve Cavanagh, Eddie Flynn faces one of the most daunting cases he’s ever faced, while being stuck in a web of deceit and lies that gets even more tangled with every plot twist. Having all but lost a connection to his family, Eddie Flynn has vowed to keep his legal practice quiet and above board. When Flynn receives a late night call from an old family friend, he is intrigued enough to make his way over to potentially sign-up a new client. On his way out the door, Flynn is served with a subpoena on a file he does not remember. When he arrives to help Leonard ‘Lennie’ Howell, Flynn learns that the case involves a kidnapping, specifically of Caroline Howell, a seventeen year-old girl. Howell intends to get the money from the insurance company and skim off the top, while forcing the kidnappers to release his daughter. Meanwhile, news of the Julie Rosen subpoena gains momentum, when Judge Harry Ford—someone to whom Flynn owes everything—is also implicated. It would seem that Rosen was a client of Ford’s, on trial for murdering her infant daughter and setting the house on fire. How can Flynn be involved in this case with the defendant long-dead and her insanity of no active consequence? While the authorities seek to locate Caroline Howell, they discover a large amount of her blood in the family basement, implicating Lennie as the likely killer. An explosion seeks to destroy all the evidence from the house, but Lennie Howell is still seen as the guilty party and Eddie Flynn now has a murder case on his hands. Howell insists that he is innocent and is being set-up, though the case seems fairly straightforward. When a prosecution witness takes the stand, the case implodes before the jury and everyone is scrambling to see if the witness is to be believed and whether Caroline might still be alive. Lies abound as Flynn is reminded of the horrors surrounding his own daughter’s abduction, but he must remain clear headed to serve his client well, and follow the progress of this mysterious Julie Rosen subpoena. A wonderfully constructed novel that keeps the reader hooked until the final reveal. This third book proves to be Cavanagh’s best, leaving the reader wanting more. Recommended to those who have come to love the Eddie Flynn series, as well as the reader who has a penchant for twisted legal thrillers.

I have been on a wonderful binge of these Steve Cavanagh novels over the past week or so. Their legal aspects are strong, mixed with a wonderful set of thrill-based plots that propels the novel forward. Eddie Flynn remains a gritty protagonist, still trying to keep himself above board when it comes to the practice of law. A former con artist, Flynn knows how to play dirty, though it would seem his clients have capitalised on this. Flynn uses his quick wit to astonish those who encounter him in court, finding the smallest nuance to blow a case wide open. Flynn is also fiercely loyal to those who have done him well, including Judge Harry Ford, who has appeared a few times in past novels. The handful of key characters in this story move the story forward in wonderful ways, building on their individual personalities to create a powerful narrative. The story itself mixes a child kidnapping with a case from years ago, keeping the reader busy as they juggle the multiple timelines in order to piece everything together. With a mix of short chapters and those of a heartier length, Cavanagh tells this shocking story that gets more tangled the further the narrative goes. A fabulous story that will keep readers wanting more while also appeasing series fans.

Kudos, Mr. Cavanagh, for another winner that has me rushing to get to the fourth novel soon. I cannot wait to see what awaits me!!

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Profile Image for chantalsbookstuff.
1,046 reviews1,055 followers
May 15, 2022
You have to ask... how does Steve weave it all together. Its absolutely mind shifting brilliance! He works a story (or two) and it just flows almost effortlessly and creates a plot twisting story that drops you jaw.

Eddie is back and this time without realizing it in the beginning, he has 2 major cases, years apart, that will change everything.

Cant wait to start the next book!
Profile Image for Ceecee .
2,739 reviews2,307 followers
March 23, 2022
Eddie Flynn receives a blast from the past when he gets a call from Leonard Howells who used to work for his father. Leonard's 17 year old daughter Caroline has been kidnapped and missing for nineteen days. Eddie makes his way to Lenny's house which is crawling with FBI agents. Eddie and leonard make a plan to deal with the ransom demand which goes spectacularly wrong. Well it would wouldn't it or we wouldn't have a story?! Almost simultaneously Eddie is issued a subpoena for all files relating to Julie Rosen from Max Copeland whose reputation as a Devils Advocate means he represents the worst kind of clients. Julie's name means nothing to Eddie - so why? It never rains but it pours. Could there possibly be a connection between the two cases or is it one of those random life events?

Of the first three books in this series this is the one I enjoy the most. Eddie still thinks on his feet, after all that's his character but he seems less of a smarty pants than previously and there's much more law in this. It's as if the author has settled into a good straight furrow and is confident in his character creation as he should be.

This is a very exciting story, full of well thought out twists and turns, some of which are absolute doozies. It's very hard to put down and I'm gripped by it from start to finish. I do call some of the outcome fairly early on but it's a hugely enjoyable process to see which bits I get right! I really like the character of SA Harper and like how she's in Eddie's corner as a seeker of truth.

PS Are they all made of titanium??!!! One character takes a rifle blast to the chest and lives and as for Eddie and Harper I won't spoil as it's Hollywood worthy but I'm not sure either should be walking for a while!!! It does however, make for spectacular reading! Overall, I thoroughly enjoy this read with my GR great buddies ❤️and I can't wait for the next.
Profile Image for Berengaria.
957 reviews193 followers
October 13, 2025
4 stars

short review for busy readers:
A fast-paced, enjoyable legal thriller from the Eddie Flynn series. Well structured, mature and with quite a number of realistic, likeable characters.

in detail:
Eddie Flynn is an anomaly. He's a trial lawyer, but he also has some of the old criminal gene in him inherited from his not-so-clean father.

And it's fathers who this thriller is focused on.

This was my first Cavanagh and I was struck by one thing: the pace of the novel never slackens. There's literally NO downtime! How he manages to keep Eddie running from one scene to the next is quite skilful, and even if he uses the thriller author's bag of tricks to keep us in suspense for another 30 pages, it's always logical why.

I was happy that much fewer suspensions of disbelief were needed than with your average thriller, which made the chase and the puzzle a lot more fun to follow.

While there might be a few stock characters (gold digger wife, goons) and some of the motivations and perps of the crime might be a slight bit too easy to spot, it doesn't take away from the overall high quality of this thriller.

Profile Image for Jenny.
144 reviews180 followers
November 28, 2022
Another good book by Steve Cavanagh, he really knows how to write thrillers in a engaging way, his writing style is very well suited for the genre.

The Liar was yet again fast-paced, with plenty of twists. It took me about 30-40% of the book to really understand where it was going and get into the story.

There is more characters in this one and I was struggling a bit to keep up. The Liar felt slower and less suspenseful compared to the others in the series I’ve read so far.

If you are looking for good thrillers, I’d say give this series a go, you wont be disappointed.

3.5 ⭐️
Profile Image for Darla.
4,823 reviews1,228 followers
January 1, 2022
Whoever tells the best story in court usually wins. Every con-artist is a story teller. So is every lawyer. Also, con-artists and lawyers share the same skills -- misdirection, manipulation, distraction and persuasion. ~ Steve Cavanagh on Eddie Flynn

Are you ready for another high-octane legal thriller starring Eddie Flynn? Buckle up. The action is nonstop and Eddie is determined once again to keep an innocent man from going to jail. This third installment begins with two men enlisting Eddie's help: Judge Harry Ford and a man whose daughter has been kidnapped. The pickpocket skills Eddie learned as a boy and his legal expertise will both come in handy. Eddie will also find himself on the same side as a female FBI agent who punches the accelerator on her Dodge Charger "like it owes her money." Enjoy the ride!
Profile Image for Pat.
2,310 reviews500 followers
March 23, 2022
4.5 rounded up.

I struggled to work out to whom the title referred as there are plenty of liars in this story, the 3rd Eddie Flynn book. And it is the best one yet! This time we see less of Eddie the conman and more of Eddie the lawyer, although he still employs a couple of his old tricks.

The book opens with a house fire in 2002 in which a baby dies and the mother, Julie Rosen, high on drugs, is rescued. She swears there was ‘man in black’ who had set the fire but the jury convicts her of murder. This incident will have a huge part to play in the unfolding story.

In the present two things happen on the same day - Eddie is served a subpoena for all files relating to the Julie Rosen case and an old friend, Leonard Howell, engages Eddie to represent him for crimes he is about to commit in paying the ransom for the return of his 20 year old daughter Caroline who has been missing for 19 days. There have been two ransom demands - one for $2 million dollars which the FBI is managing and another, secret demand, for $10 million which Howell will deliver himself. The first is of course the decoy. And, of course, the second ransom drop is also a bust.

Howell is then arrested for the murder of Caroline. There is no body but there is plenty of blood in the Howell’s basement which ‘experts’ say is indicative of fatal blood loss. But is she really dead?

There is a bombshell dropped by one witness during the trial which puts all assumptions in doubt. Eddie has to thread another camel through another needle to save his client and find the truth before it is too late.

Judge Harry Ford is back. He is also over a barrel over the Julie Rosen conviction with the claim that mishandled her defence. Eddie’s one and only ally is FBI Special Agent Harper who also doesn’t believe Howell killed his daughter and has a bone to pick with her FBI supervisor. But I really felt for Howell, betrayed by many of those he trusted.

This one raced to another very exciting conclusion. I’m wondering if we will see Harper again and if she turns into a love interest for Eddie. They did understand each other very well and there was respect on both sides. This was a buddy read with my Goodreads friends Jayme, Ceecee, Marilyn, DeAnn and Mary Beth. I am already looking forward to the next one!
Profile Image for Metodi Markov.
1,726 reviews438 followers
October 16, 2025
И третата книга за Еди Флин не разочарова - напрегнат и сравнително оригинален сюжет, добре изградени герои и много екшън.

Една звезда по-малко давам, защото доста рано се сетих, какво точно се случва в развръзката на романа.
Profile Image for Dora Koutsoukou .
2,247 reviews718 followers
December 9, 2020
4 🤩🤩🤩🤩🌟🌟🌟🌟s❗️❗️❗️❗️

This was my third consecutive Eddie Flynn’s story and I have become a great addict!!
This character is outstanding!!!
He is sharp, ingenious, down to earth, and pays attention to details. People around him usually underestimate him and that brings a great (hidden) smile to his face. He is highly concerned about justice and fairness and the way he exposes each case is brilliant.

The Liar was another fantastic read for me. Eddie was handling two different cases, as a defense attorney, and the twists and turns were amazing. Even if a few of them could be predicted, the author’s writing was engaging and totally captivating. The plot was very well developed, full of angst and tension.

A fabulous legal thriller, my congratulations to the author! 🤩🤩
Profile Image for Carolyn Walsh .
1,905 reviews563 followers
June 15, 2019
Steve Cavanagh writes gripping, well-plotted legal dramas which also contain thrilling action outside the court setting. With compelling characters, the author manages to write a fast-paced and suspenseful story. I can’t understand why I only became aware of his books several months ago, and this is the third book I have read by Cavanagh. I definitely intend to read the first two books in the Eddie Flynn series very soon.

Eddie Flynn is a compassionate man and a lawyer. In his past, he was a con-man and hustler. He is not above bending the law or going outside legalities, using methods techniques he learned when he was a con man in search for justice. He is astute and very clever but makes some mistakes in this well-plotted thriller.

An older friend and mentor, Judge Harry Ford, was once involved in a case where a woman was convicted of the murder of her baby and Harry was convinced of her guilt. The woman has since died in a mental institution and a ruthless lawyer, Copeland, is now reopening the case to exonerate her posthumously. His courtroom technique is to vilify the opposition and has destroyed the reputation and career of a number of lawyers. He has been very successful in his method and takes great pride in ruining others. Eddie wants to do everything his power to help Harry.

At the same time, he approached by Howell, a man who has been employed by a security firm to negotiate with kidnappers and terrorists over ransom demands. Howell’s 17-year-old daughter has been abducted Howell and has come up with a difficult and complex plan to pay a ransom in hopes of saving his daughter. This plan involves the switching of two identical suitcases each containing millions of dollars. The smaller amount is to be with the FBI at a designated drop off site, while Howell, himself plans to bring the other suitcase containing ransom money and hand it over at different spot. Eddie’s role is to switch the suitcases, an almost impossible task. He must use all the sleight of hand and distraction skills he learned in his con-man past. Something goes terribly wrong and the ransom money goes missing, clues suggest his daughter has been killed, and Howell is charged with murdering her.

A grief-stricken and distraught Howell wants to commit suicide. He insists on his innocence but no longer wants to live without his daughter. He begs Eddie to help him, and Ed-die lies by agreeing. This lie has disastrous results. Howell’s home burns down echoing the arson which killed the baby in the early case which involved Judge Harry Ford and which is now being contested by Copeland. Eddie suspects some vague connection, but no way of figuring out what is going on as everyone is lying.

During Howell’s trial, there are some twists and startling revelations which puts everything Eddie thought he knew in question. He strongly believes in his client, Howell’s innocence, and must gather all his con- man methods to find the truth. He is aided by brave female FBI agent, Harper, searching for the body of the missing girl in a cemetery, and in there is a showdown with a very dangerous man in a thrilling and heart-wrenching climax where the two cases come together.

Recommended to anyone who enjoys a courtroom thriller with pulse-pounding action and gripping suspense and unique legal trials. I thought this would make a terrific TV series. 4.5 stars.
Profile Image for Josh.
1,732 reviews174 followers
February 18, 2018
When the daughter of a prominent businessman who runs a successful security firm goes missing, the only person who can be called upon to assist in facilitating the transaction of a hefty ransom is Eddie Flynn.

Leonard Howell, the father, trusts few, it's his former life on the opposite side of the law which draws him to Flynn, the one time criminal/hardman turned lawyer.

Nothing about the ransom drop is normal. For one, there's two drops scheduled simultaneously, secondly, the FBI have no knowledge of the drop Howell is making. Additionally, there's something 'off' with the agents at Howell's house; a tension without cause.

From the moment Flynn climbs into Howell's waiting car in the middle of the night he's involved in a proverbial spider's web of lies, deceit, mistrust and murder.

Flynn is the modern day Perry Mason (created by Erle Stanley Gardner), a lawyer who isn't afraid to travel down that pitch black alley if it means he can scrap together evidence to secure his clients' freedom.

More grit than Grisham, Steve Cavanagh, once again blurs the lines between courtroom thriller and crime fiction to write an entertaining and enjoyable story that captivates the readers attention from start to finish.

My rating: 4/5 stars. I'm really enjoying this series and will have to pick up the latest Flynn thriller, Thirteen soon.
Profile Image for Adrienne.
527 reviews128 followers
January 10, 2020
Stupendous, incredible, exciting. A brilliant legal thriller (also domestic suspence and mystery), superbly plotted and beautifully written. Featuring Eddie Flynn - a man who learnt all the con games from his father and became a defense attorney. This skill meant he quickly realised he was being played. Plus he had the ability to see both sides of a game. But it take him quite awhile to understand what the actual game was.
I particularly liked Cavanagh's characters - good and bad - because of how clearly they were drawn. Very relatable.
Unputdownable.
Profile Image for John McDermott.
490 reviews93 followers
April 9, 2024
Imagine if, on a steamy ,rain-soaked night in New Orleans, Harvey Specter and Jack Reacher met and fell in love ❤️. Out of that blessed union emerges a fully formed Eddie Flynn, ready to fight injustice with either his razor-sharp legal brain or his fists of righteous fury !
In The Liar, he certainly needs both of those in yet another well plotted and over the top legal thriller. Very good entertainment.
3.75 🌟.
Profile Image for Emely Zoe.
198 reviews19 followers
March 27, 2025
Rasante Sogwirkung, Intrigen und Gewieftheit

Vom ersten bis zum letzten Kapitel Spannung pur.

Um einem alten Bekannten zu helfen, dem die Entführung seiner eigenen Tochter vorgeworfen wird, geht Eddie Flynn mal wieder aufs Ganze. Der Fall verstrickt sich mit der Vergangenheit und zwei Fälle werden zu einem.
Profile Image for Kate.
606 reviews579 followers
May 20, 2017
The Liar is without a doubt my favourite book of the series so far. It’s got an absolutely cracking plot, and is filled with the kind of characters I enjoy reading about. In this one, Eddie takes on Leonard Howell’s case. His daughter has been kidnapped, and Eddie knows only too well what horrors this entails as he has been through the same thing (that’s not a spoiler btw, it’s in the blurb!).

What follows is an epic game of cloak and dagger. The reader is kept as much in the dark as Eddie is, which makes it all the more fun as we learn things at the same time. From the outset, the tension crackles and it does not let up until the very end of The Liar. I found myself barrelling through the chapters, unable to put the book down until I reached the brilliant and gripping end. There isn’t a single bit of downtime in this book, so be prepared for an absolute rollercoaster of a read.

I love Eddie Flynn, I don’t hide it, I shout about it. He is one of my most favourite characters in recent years. There is something underdog-ish about him, something that makes the reader instantly root for him from the beginning. Beautifully flawed, yet it works in his favour. You shouldn’t underestimate Eddie Flynn. Ever!

I honestly cannot recommend The Liar highly enough. There aren’t enough superlatives in my vocabulary to vocalise how much I enjoy these books. Addictive, thrilling, massively fun, you won’t be disappointed picking up The Liar, or the previous two books either!!!

Highly, HIGHLY recommended!
Profile Image for Brenda.
725 reviews142 followers
April 9, 2020
Is it possible to have an overly complicated plot? This book comes close. Or maybe my attention span was a little shorter than usual. I enjoyed the book and am eager to continue the series.
298 reviews48 followers
February 7, 2021
I strongly urge any reader who has ever loved reading fictional courtroom trials to buy this series immediately! I try to read one of them at the beginning of each month and I have looked forward to it each and every time.

I'm really glad the series is turning less to the mafia-style action sequences and more to the expert plotting, because that's where Cavanagh really shines. While The Defense was amazing and we could all use an intense shoot out or two to keep the pace, nothing will ever match the adrenaline while you read one of the court cases.

The series is very cheap on Amazon and I look forward to Fifty-Fifty and Thirteen.
Profile Image for DeAnn.
1,757 reviews
March 23, 2022
4.5 pants on fire stars

My favorite con man turned lawyer, Eddie Flynn, is back in this third installment. Like the first two, this one starts with an almost impossible situation and somehow Eddie comes out on top.

He’s been retained by wealthy Leonard Howell. Lenny’s teen daughter Caroline has been kidnapped and he wants Eddie’s help to get her back.

This one has a botched ransom exchange and of course a tense trial where all sorts of mayhem take place! There are FBI agents, some more trustworthy than others. Secrets and lies plus legal tricks make this one a tense but totally enjoyable read. There’s a fire and a dramatic rescue, Eddie can do it all!

There’s also a side plot with Eddie’s mentor, Judge Harry, and an old case that is now under appeal.

Steve Cavanagh writes courtroom drama so well that I was speeding through this one. I had a few things figured out but there was a final twist that made this even more of a winner for me.

This is a monthly buddy read with Goodreads friends Jayme, MarilynW, Mary Beth, Pat and Ceecee. Please be sure to check out their amazing reviews!
Profile Image for Marty Fried.
1,234 reviews127 followers
August 15, 2021
Another great read from my latest favorite series, Eddie Flynn. Lots of excitement, surprises, a complex story, and Eddie Flynn's amazing ability to get out of impossible situations. At least in this one, it wasn't his family that was being threatened as in the first two.
Profile Image for Gary.
3,030 reviews427 followers
May 16, 2021
I love court drama novels and quirky characters, so this series is always going to be a winner for me. Another absorbing read by author Steve Cavanagh that made an excellent addition to the Eddie Flynn series. Eddie Flynn is a New York lawyer, having made the switch from a co artist and believes the two roles aren’t that different.

Eddie Flynn is called into action when wealthy businessman Leonard Howell’s daughter is kidnapped and he wants someone to do whatever is required to get his daughter back safely, even if it requires bending the laws. Leonard Howell’s thinks Eddie Flynn is just the man for the job, a con artist turned lawyer who knows how to get results and do what’s necessary.

With this series and the wonderful Eddie Flynn character you get the action and skulduggery of the con artist and the court room drama you are more likely to experience in a John Grisham novel. So for me this is win win. Fast paced and clever.
Profile Image for ApoorvaReads.
637 reviews428 followers
March 16, 2021
5 stars ⭐️

You ever come across an author and you feel that s/he just writes for you cause his/her books are entirely your taste and you can’t find even one book of the author which you don’t like? Well, steve cavanagh is THAT author for me.

Ladies and Gentlemen meet Steve Cavanagh- a man who’s after my heart (its a shame that he’s married😩). This guy can hella write. He has a special gift and im so happy and overjoyed with the fact that I gave him a chance with his novel ’Th1rt3en’ cause my life has changed since i read that fucking book.

I’m in love with this series and I was so into it that I forgot to keep track of all the books i read on goodreads cause i just couldn’t stop.

Steve knows how to keep readers on the edge of seat. You think you’ve got whats gonna happen and then the whole thing takes a turn and you’re left with looking at the wall in disbelief cause what the hell just happened.

‘The Liar’ without a doubt is one of the most terrifying, explosive, twisted book I’ve ever read. Steve does a great job with this one and its highly addictive and keeps you guessing till the end!

The series overall is something unique. I’ve had my fair share of crime, thriller and mystery books and i can proudly say that I’ve never read anything like this series before.

Steve has made a huge simp of this series. This is one of the best works I’ve ever read so far in my whole life and I don’t think anyone (besides steve) will be able to cross the bar this book has set for me!

Absolutely, absolutely the best author I’ve discovered this year and the best series I’ve read this whole year and the year isn’t even finished yet.

I would highly recommend this series to anyone who breathes:)



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My rating of the series cause im too lazy to write a review for each-
The defense- 5 stars
The plea- 4.75 stars
The liar- 5 stars
Th1rt3en- 10 stars (review up)
Fifty-fifty - 4.25 stars (review up)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,342 reviews

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