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Eddie Flynn #1
The Defence
The truth has no place in a courtroom. The truth doesn't matter in a trial.
The only thing that matters is what the prosecution can prove.
Eddie Flynn used to be a con artist. Then he became a lawyer. Turned out the two weren't that different.
It's been over a year since Eddie vowed never to set foot in a courtroom again. But now he doesn't have a choice. Olek Volchek, the infamous head of the Russian mafia in New York, has strapped a bomb to Eddie's back and kidnapped his ten-year-old daughter Amy.
Eddie only has 48 hours to defend Volchek in an impossible murder trial - and win - if wants to save his daughter.
Under the scrutiny of the media and the FBI, Eddie must use his razor-sharp wit and every con-artist trick in the book to defend his 'client' and ensure Amy's safety. With the timer on his back ticking away, can Eddie convince the jury of the impossible?
Lose this case and he loses everything.
The only thing that matters is what the prosecution can prove.
Eddie Flynn used to be a con artist. Then he became a lawyer. Turned out the two weren't that different.
It's been over a year since Eddie vowed never to set foot in a courtroom again. But now he doesn't have a choice. Olek Volchek, the infamous head of the Russian mafia in New York, has strapped a bomb to Eddie's back and kidnapped his ten-year-old daughter Amy.
Eddie only has 48 hours to defend Volchek in an impossible murder trial - and win - if wants to save his daughter.
Under the scrutiny of the media and the FBI, Eddie must use his razor-sharp wit and every con-artist trick in the book to defend his 'client' and ensure Amy's safety. With the timer on his back ticking away, can Eddie convince the jury of the impossible?
Lose this case and he loses everything.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 12, 2015
5025 people are currently reading
64326 people want to read
About the author
Steve Cavanagh
31 books11k followersSteve 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,507 reviews
April 3, 2024
The Defense (Eddie Flynn #1)
by Steve Cavanagh, Adam Sims (Narrator)
Eddie Flynn used to be a con artist, a good one, but then he went straight, went to law school, became a defense lawyer, got married, and had a kid. His last case sent him off the deep end into drinking, he lost his wife, and now gets to visit his kid on weekends. So Eddie's not doing so well anymore.
Then things get worse when the Russian mob grabs Eddie, attaches a bomb to his back and tells him he has 48 hours to successfully defend mob boss Olek Volchek or Eddie's ten year old daughter will die a long and horrible death. There seems to be no way Eddie is going to get his daughter out of this alive but he's going to use every con artist and lawyer skill he has to try to save his daughter and turn things around on the Russian mob. Eddie isn't even allowed to leave the courthouse during this time and things seem bound to end up in an explosion of the worst kind.
I usually don't enjoy books that involve the mob, any mob. This one has both the Russian mob and the Italian mob, plus a con artist main character. Despite those three strikes against the book it starts off with such a bang that I had to know how Eddie was going to get out of this impossible situation. It's all a bit of a stretch that so much can happen in such a short time but it's also an entertaining and horrifying situation that had me wanting to know how this story would end. Since this is a series, I now have several more books to watch Eddie work his magic but I do hope he can stay away from the mob, in the future.
Pub May 3 2016 by Macmillan Audio
by Steve Cavanagh, Adam Sims (Narrator)
Eddie Flynn used to be a con artist, a good one, but then he went straight, went to law school, became a defense lawyer, got married, and had a kid. His last case sent him off the deep end into drinking, he lost his wife, and now gets to visit his kid on weekends. So Eddie's not doing so well anymore.
Then things get worse when the Russian mob grabs Eddie, attaches a bomb to his back and tells him he has 48 hours to successfully defend mob boss Olek Volchek or Eddie's ten year old daughter will die a long and horrible death. There seems to be no way Eddie is going to get his daughter out of this alive but he's going to use every con artist and lawyer skill he has to try to save his daughter and turn things around on the Russian mob. Eddie isn't even allowed to leave the courthouse during this time and things seem bound to end up in an explosion of the worst kind.
I usually don't enjoy books that involve the mob, any mob. This one has both the Russian mob and the Italian mob, plus a con artist main character. Despite those three strikes against the book it starts off with such a bang that I had to know how Eddie was going to get out of this impossible situation. It's all a bit of a stretch that so much can happen in such a short time but it's also an entertaining and horrifying situation that had me wanting to know how this story would end. Since this is a series, I now have several more books to watch Eddie work his magic but I do hope he can stay away from the mob, in the future.
Pub May 3 2016 by Macmillan Audio
July 2, 2022
5 sinful stars for this guilty pleasure.
A compulsive read that had everything; intelligent plot building, unexpected twists, deliciously evil characters, the flawed but omniscient lawyer, and story telling that was remarkably visual. However, the standout was the way in which the lawyer out manoeuvred and manipulated the evidence, the witnesses, the prosecution team, and even the Russian mob. Intelligent and cryptically divine. Now added to one of my favourite crime / thrillers ever.
The Case and Plot
Eddie Flynn has retired or so he thinks, until his former partner Jack Halloran is permanently indisposed after failing to meet the challenge of defending Russian mafia boss Olek Volchek. To ensure better cooperation this time, Eddie’s ten-year-old daughter is kidnapped for security and to remind Flynn, his daughter’s life can end with only a phone call.
Easy enough plot, Eddie must successfully defend Volchek and blow up their star witness, with a bomb that he was forced to carry into the court building. To add to the intrigue and tension, Flynn wears the boom in his outsized suit jacket throughout the trial. To add to this heightened sense of drama, he has only two days to prepare for the case. However, deciding to challenge his captors physically, he is then physically reminded that the mob mean business. So now Eddie has reduced his prep time to one day. However, for Eddie
“The truth has no place in a courtroom. The only thing that matters is what the prosecution can prove.”
My Defence
Was this perfect – No. As it was the first book in the series, we had a lot of back story on Eddie Flynn. Some of this did drag. For those of us who know little about the US court system, we were treated with some context setting and the authors knowledge but some of the extra detail was also unnecessary. Was the plot believable – certainly not all of it either.
However, this was a cracking suspense thriller that kept me hooked, absorbed, and totally captivated and my favourite kind of thriller when it works. The court room scenes that I normally do not enjoy were fantastic. I loved the intelligent way in which Flynn contested, and sometimes destroyed the evidence and the witnesses. I loved that despite wearing a bomb and with his daughter held hostage, Flynn seemed to be one step ahead of the Mafia and so this ever present sense of time was handling brilliantly. Accretive, relentless, and penetrating.
In short and in my defence. A court room drama that excels many others I have read, a thriller with incredibly good twists and subplots, a clock ticking pace that is exhilarating and will keep you at the edge of your seat, and to top it off has some of my favourite characters who possess the type of wit and humour that I enjoy.
This wasn’t about revenge, first it was about survival. Chilling, yet satisfying. Intelligent yet simple. A common trope but unique, and oh so satisfying and highly recommended. I rest my case !!!
A compulsive read that had everything; intelligent plot building, unexpected twists, deliciously evil characters, the flawed but omniscient lawyer, and story telling that was remarkably visual. However, the standout was the way in which the lawyer out manoeuvred and manipulated the evidence, the witnesses, the prosecution team, and even the Russian mob. Intelligent and cryptically divine. Now added to one of my favourite crime / thrillers ever.
The Case and Plot
Eddie Flynn has retired or so he thinks, until his former partner Jack Halloran is permanently indisposed after failing to meet the challenge of defending Russian mafia boss Olek Volchek. To ensure better cooperation this time, Eddie’s ten-year-old daughter is kidnapped for security and to remind Flynn, his daughter’s life can end with only a phone call.
Easy enough plot, Eddie must successfully defend Volchek and blow up their star witness, with a bomb that he was forced to carry into the court building. To add to the intrigue and tension, Flynn wears the boom in his outsized suit jacket throughout the trial. To add to this heightened sense of drama, he has only two days to prepare for the case. However, deciding to challenge his captors physically, he is then physically reminded that the mob mean business. So now Eddie has reduced his prep time to one day. However, for Eddie
“The truth has no place in a courtroom. The only thing that matters is what the prosecution can prove.”
My Defence
Was this perfect – No. As it was the first book in the series, we had a lot of back story on Eddie Flynn. Some of this did drag. For those of us who know little about the US court system, we were treated with some context setting and the authors knowledge but some of the extra detail was also unnecessary. Was the plot believable – certainly not all of it either.
However, this was a cracking suspense thriller that kept me hooked, absorbed, and totally captivated and my favourite kind of thriller when it works. The court room scenes that I normally do not enjoy were fantastic. I loved the intelligent way in which Flynn contested, and sometimes destroyed the evidence and the witnesses. I loved that despite wearing a bomb and with his daughter held hostage, Flynn seemed to be one step ahead of the Mafia and so this ever present sense of time was handling brilliantly. Accretive, relentless, and penetrating.
In short and in my defence. A court room drama that excels many others I have read, a thriller with incredibly good twists and subplots, a clock ticking pace that is exhilarating and will keep you at the edge of your seat, and to top it off has some of my favourite characters who possess the type of wit and humour that I enjoy.
This wasn’t about revenge, first it was about survival. Chilling, yet satisfying. Intelligent yet simple. A common trope but unique, and oh so satisfying and highly recommended. I rest my case !!!
February 22, 2020
The Defense by Steve Cavanagh is a 2016 Flatiron publication.
After reading all the glowing reviews for ‘Thirteen’, I’ve been dying to tap into the Eddie Flynn series.
This first book in the series introduces us to Eddie Flynn, a former con man turned lawyer, who has given up his career after a horrible ordeal that left him broken, and suffering from a deep crisis of conscience.
However, he gets pulled back in the courtroom kicking and screaming, with a bomb attached to his body, and the fate of his young daughter hanging in the balance. To save his daughter, Flynn must provide the defense for Olek Volchek, the head of the Russian Mafia in New York.
With only 48 hours to work with, Eddie must be creative, not only to stay one step ahead of his client, but also the FBI. Brushing up on a few tricks from his shady past, might be the best way to outsmart Volchek and get his daughter back. Can he pull off the impossible?
I’d say this series got off to a very solid start. Flynn has brains and street smarts, which gives him an added edge in this intense drama. But he also has a lot of heart, which made me want to cheer him on, even more.
I loved the courtroom scenes, but this is not your typical legal thriller. The story is very fast-paced with lots of twists and double crosses. The action kept my pulse racing, furiously turning pages as fast as possible. Although, some areas in the plot are highly implausible, it was wildly entertaining- and that’s good enough for me.
This could be the start of a beautiful friendship between me, Eddie Flynn, and Steve Cavanagh. I can’t wait to read the next installment!
*I listened to portions of this book via my Scribd subscription. The narration is fine, except that the Russian accents sounded more like a Dracula impersonation, which was too much of a distraction for me. I ended up sticking with the e-book format for this one.
After reading all the glowing reviews for ‘Thirteen’, I’ve been dying to tap into the Eddie Flynn series.
This first book in the series introduces us to Eddie Flynn, a former con man turned lawyer, who has given up his career after a horrible ordeal that left him broken, and suffering from a deep crisis of conscience.
However, he gets pulled back in the courtroom kicking and screaming, with a bomb attached to his body, and the fate of his young daughter hanging in the balance. To save his daughter, Flynn must provide the defense for Olek Volchek, the head of the Russian Mafia in New York.
With only 48 hours to work with, Eddie must be creative, not only to stay one step ahead of his client, but also the FBI. Brushing up on a few tricks from his shady past, might be the best way to outsmart Volchek and get his daughter back. Can he pull off the impossible?
I’d say this series got off to a very solid start. Flynn has brains and street smarts, which gives him an added edge in this intense drama. But he also has a lot of heart, which made me want to cheer him on, even more.
I loved the courtroom scenes, but this is not your typical legal thriller. The story is very fast-paced with lots of twists and double crosses. The action kept my pulse racing, furiously turning pages as fast as possible. Although, some areas in the plot are highly implausible, it was wildly entertaining- and that’s good enough for me.
This could be the start of a beautiful friendship between me, Eddie Flynn, and Steve Cavanagh. I can’t wait to read the next installment!
*I listened to portions of this book via my Scribd subscription. The narration is fine, except that the Russian accents sounded more like a Dracula impersonation, which was too much of a distraction for me. I ended up sticking with the e-book format for this one.
December 28, 2017
This is the first thrill ride of a legal thriller featuring lawyer and con artist Eddie Flynn set in New York. I have read the other two, and loved them, and this one is just as great. Eddie has not been practicing law after the overwhelming guilt he feels after defending Ted Berkley and getting him acquitted of attempting to abduct Hanna Tublowski, only for him to go on to savagely assault and rape her later. He is separated from his wife, Christine, and living for the times he gets to see his precious daughter, Amy. To Eddie's utter horror, he is forced to defend Olek Volchek, a Russian Mafia boss, on a charge of murder for instructing Benny, his enforcer, to kill a man. Volchek is not expecting to get off, and has Eddie wear a bomb jacket, to kill the main witness, Benny, in court. To ensure that Eddie does exactly what he is told, Amy has been taken. Arturus, Volchek's right hand man, is managing the court proceedings and Eddie's defence.
Eddie is terrified out of his mind and for good reason, his ex-law partner, Jack and his wife have been gruesomely killed and the threats against Amy do not bear thinking about. Eddie finds himself have to fall back on his skills acquired as a grifter and ace conman, a past he thought he had left behind. Anomalies and odd events soon make it clear that there is much more going on than a plan to evade justice and kill the prosecution's main witness, nothing is as it seems. Eddie has to dig deep and use his trusty intuitiion to work out what is really going on, ensure his daughter, Amy is unharmed and prevent an atrocity occurring. However, all the odds seem to be against him and he cannot trust the police or the FBI to help. As time begins to run out, he is forced to rely on his saviour, Judge Harry Ford, his childhood friend, now a crime boss, Jimmy 'The Hat', and the Lizard.
I am so glad I eventually got round to reading this, it sets up the series beautifully with its tense and fast paced action ride. It establishes Eddie as a charismatic protagonist, a man who finds that there is not much to differentiate his previous career as a con man and that of being a lawyer. He has the street smarts and the intelligence, and, he needs them to stay one step ahead of the catastrophe building up all around him, and to ensure the safety of Amy. The short chapters keep the reader engaged, as you unreservedly cheer for Eddie to succeed. A compelling crime thriller that is pure drama, that has you avidly turning the pages till you finish. A fabulous read, not many legal thrillers are as good as this. Highly recommended!
Eddie is terrified out of his mind and for good reason, his ex-law partner, Jack and his wife have been gruesomely killed and the threats against Amy do not bear thinking about. Eddie finds himself have to fall back on his skills acquired as a grifter and ace conman, a past he thought he had left behind. Anomalies and odd events soon make it clear that there is much more going on than a plan to evade justice and kill the prosecution's main witness, nothing is as it seems. Eddie has to dig deep and use his trusty intuitiion to work out what is really going on, ensure his daughter, Amy is unharmed and prevent an atrocity occurring. However, all the odds seem to be against him and he cannot trust the police or the FBI to help. As time begins to run out, he is forced to rely on his saviour, Judge Harry Ford, his childhood friend, now a crime boss, Jimmy 'The Hat', and the Lizard.
I am so glad I eventually got round to reading this, it sets up the series beautifully with its tense and fast paced action ride. It establishes Eddie as a charismatic protagonist, a man who finds that there is not much to differentiate his previous career as a con man and that of being a lawyer. He has the street smarts and the intelligence, and, he needs them to stay one step ahead of the catastrophe building up all around him, and to ensure the safety of Amy. The short chapters keep the reader engaged, as you unreservedly cheer for Eddie to succeed. A compelling crime thriller that is pure drama, that has you avidly turning the pages till you finish. A fabulous read, not many legal thrillers are as good as this. Highly recommended!
October 28, 2020
A while ago many friends seemed to be reading Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh, mostly giving it 5 star reviews. I discovered it was part of a well established thriller series featuring con man turned attorney, Eddie Flynn.
Intrigued, I picked up The Defence - book number one.
Eddie turns out to be a pretty cool character. Tough, clever and amusing he’s an appealing good guy, but it goes without saying that he’s trailing the wreckage of his personal life behind him and breaks the odd rule here and there.
Once he was a petty (but successful) conman, but was urged to use his skills to the general good and study to be a lawyer. At the time he was helped by a desire to see the medical insurance companies that badly let down his mother, see some justice.
The Defence is certainly action packed. Within a page or two we find Eddie being coerced into defending a Russian mafia boss and entering court with explosives strapped to his chest!
So begins a tangled story involving the mob (Russian and Italian), corrupt FBI agents, an exciting court case and a break neck race for Eddie to save his own skin and that of his estranged wife and 10 year old daughter.
Eddie’s back story is pretty original and it’s fun to see his con man skills, sleight of hand, misdirection etc work along side his sharp lawyerly technique.
The plot is of course crazy, you won’t find much like it in the newspapers (or I certainly hope not!) but the writing is good and the characters are well fleshed out, so .......... its best to just sit back and enjoy this adrenalin fuelled ride.
A strong series opener and I’m looking forward to catching up with Eddie again soon!
Intrigued, I picked up The Defence - book number one.
Eddie turns out to be a pretty cool character. Tough, clever and amusing he’s an appealing good guy, but it goes without saying that he’s trailing the wreckage of his personal life behind him and breaks the odd rule here and there.
Once he was a petty (but successful) conman, but was urged to use his skills to the general good and study to be a lawyer. At the time he was helped by a desire to see the medical insurance companies that badly let down his mother, see some justice.
The Defence is certainly action packed. Within a page or two we find Eddie being coerced into defending a Russian mafia boss and entering court with explosives strapped to his chest!
So begins a tangled story involving the mob (Russian and Italian), corrupt FBI agents, an exciting court case and a break neck race for Eddie to save his own skin and that of his estranged wife and 10 year old daughter.
Eddie’s back story is pretty original and it’s fun to see his con man skills, sleight of hand, misdirection etc work along side his sharp lawyerly technique.
The plot is of course crazy, you won’t find much like it in the newspapers (or I certainly hope not!) but the writing is good and the characters are well fleshed out, so .......... its best to just sit back and enjoy this adrenalin fuelled ride.
A strong series opener and I’m looking forward to catching up with Eddie again soon!
August 24, 2021
like most people, i started this series out of order. i began with book #4, thirteen, when it started to get a lot of attention (and for very good reason). its a fantastic book, so i was excited to go back to where the series began.
while i do think this is a great legal thriller, i didnt obsess over it like i did with other books later in the series. this could be because this is SCs debut, so im just used to his more established and complex storytelling. or it could be because i dont care about mafia plots. the russians vs the italians isnt really interesting to me.
but what i do love is eddie flynn and his entire thought process. how he perceives practicing law through the lens of being an ex-con man is amazing. watching him command (aka manipulate) the courtroom is so riveting and definitely worth reading.
overall, this is a good starting point for the series. eddie flynn definitely shines as a character - not even a boring plot could bring him down.
↠ 3.5 stars
while i do think this is a great legal thriller, i didnt obsess over it like i did with other books later in the series. this could be because this is SCs debut, so im just used to his more established and complex storytelling. or it could be because i dont care about mafia plots. the russians vs the italians isnt really interesting to me.
but what i do love is eddie flynn and his entire thought process. how he perceives practicing law through the lens of being an ex-con man is amazing. watching him command (aka manipulate) the courtroom is so riveting and definitely worth reading.
overall, this is a good starting point for the series. eddie flynn definitely shines as a character - not even a boring plot could bring him down.
↠ 3.5 stars
June 26, 2020
I've read three of Cavanagh's books in the past two weeks and The Defense is equally a gripping edge-of-your-seat thriller featuring our hero, con artist turned lawyer, Eddie Flynn. If you like Jack Reacher then this series is a must-read!
June 5, 2022
One morning, Eddie Flynn gets 2 bad news, The Russian Mafia kidnapped his daughter and he’s also strapped with a bomb, he now has to obey the boss and find a way to win an impossible trial.
Flynn is a con artist who grew up on the streets but also a lawyer and those two things mixed together were a great fit in the story. He was a interesting character with a good backstory.
The plot was great, fast-paced, packed with actions and twists right up until the end. Even when you think you know where the story is heading, there is always new events changing how the protagonist has to handle things. Flynn is full of surprises and resourceful.
I had a blast reading this book, was the story entirely believable ? No, but nonetheless a really good one.
4.5 ⭐️
Flynn is a con artist who grew up on the streets but also a lawyer and those two things mixed together were a great fit in the story. He was a interesting character with a good backstory.
The plot was great, fast-paced, packed with actions and twists right up until the end. Even when you think you know where the story is heading, there is always new events changing how the protagonist has to handle things. Flynn is full of surprises and resourceful.
I had a blast reading this book, was the story entirely believable ? No, but nonetheless a really good one.
4.5 ⭐️
August 25, 2022
(3.5/5 - for the book ; 5/5 for the audio narration)
When con man–turned-lawyer, Eddie Flynn, finds himself strapped to a bomb and forced to represent Russian mob boss Olek Volchek boss in a murder case, he has to rely on his instincts, reverting to tricks of the trade of the old life he has left behind and his friends (past and present) and former allies to help him save his ten-year-old daughter who is being held hostage by the mafia and ensure that justice is served. Narrated from the PoV of Eddie Flynn in the first person as the events take place in the present day, we are also given plenty of insight into Eddie’s past life, how he became a lawyer and a recent case that significantly impacted both his professional and personal life.
While it might not get points for originality ( the stereotypical Mafia boss and his cronies, in-fighting and gang wars and the overused “Do-as-I-say–or-your-family-dies” trope), Steve Cavanagh’s The Defense is an engaging action-packed legal thriller with interesting characters, well-scripted courtroom drama, a good dose of humor thrown in for good measure, consistent pacing and enough tension to keep you hooked till the end. Though (as with most novels in this genre) there are OTT moments, The Defense by Steve Cavanagh is an entertaining read and a promising beginning to the Eddie Flynn series.
Extra points for the audiobook! I don’t think I would have enjoyed this one as much as I did if I had just read the book. I paired my reading with the fabulous audio narration by Adam Sims who made the story and the characters come alive! Despite the tropes and the farfetchedness, overall I enjoyed this action-packed thriller and liked the main character. I’ve been told that the series gets better as it progresses and I look forward to exploring more from this author!
When con man–turned-lawyer, Eddie Flynn, finds himself strapped to a bomb and forced to represent Russian mob boss Olek Volchek boss in a murder case, he has to rely on his instincts, reverting to tricks of the trade of the old life he has left behind and his friends (past and present) and former allies to help him save his ten-year-old daughter who is being held hostage by the mafia and ensure that justice is served. Narrated from the PoV of Eddie Flynn in the first person as the events take place in the present day, we are also given plenty of insight into Eddie’s past life, how he became a lawyer and a recent case that significantly impacted both his professional and personal life.
While it might not get points for originality ( the stereotypical Mafia boss and his cronies, in-fighting and gang wars and the overused “Do-as-I-say–or-your-family-dies” trope), Steve Cavanagh’s The Defense is an engaging action-packed legal thriller with interesting characters, well-scripted courtroom drama, a good dose of humor thrown in for good measure, consistent pacing and enough tension to keep you hooked till the end. Though (as with most novels in this genre) there are OTT moments, The Defense by Steve Cavanagh is an entertaining read and a promising beginning to the Eddie Flynn series.
Extra points for the audiobook! I don’t think I would have enjoyed this one as much as I did if I had just read the book. I paired my reading with the fabulous audio narration by Adam Sims who made the story and the characters come alive! Despite the tropes and the farfetchedness, overall I enjoyed this action-packed thriller and liked the main character. I’ve been told that the series gets better as it progresses and I look forward to exploring more from this author!
December 18, 2021
3.5 ⭐️
A couple of years ago, I requested “Thirteen”, not realizing that it was book 4 in the Eddie Flynn series! (legal thrillers)
I hate when that happens!! Usually.
This time, it will end up being a blessing in disguise. Because if I had read this one first, I may not have continued the series, thinking that he might always be defending “the Mob”and I would have missed out on “Thirteen”.
“The Defense” introduces us to Eddie Flynn -a con artist turned lawyer. He used to hustle insurance companies, which it turns out, isn’t much different from hustling juries.
And, he has just been “recruited” by the Russian Mafia-to defend the “BOSS” Olek Volchek. Olek has had Eddie’s daughter Amy, kidnapped and unless he does what he has been told to do-Amy will be killed. If that wasn’t enough incentive, a bomb has been strapped to Eddie’s back.
The author is a lawyer from Dublin, so the courtroom scenes are brilliant! Right up until the end of the book, I had absolutely zero theories on how Eddie was going to get out of this alive or save his daughter.
ZILCH
I just don’t enjoy Mafia stories-they just seem so cliché.
So, while I still enjoyed how CLEVER, our protagonist is-I didn’t enjoy book one as much as I did “Thirteen” …
See review if interested here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
But, I am looking forward to continuing the series and reading about how Eddie Flynn manages to defend criminals with OTHER PROFESSIONS….
After all, as Eddie says “The truth doesn’t matter in a trial-the only thing that matters is what the prosecution can prove. “
A couple of years ago, I requested “Thirteen”, not realizing that it was book 4 in the Eddie Flynn series! (legal thrillers)
I hate when that happens!! Usually.
This time, it will end up being a blessing in disguise. Because if I had read this one first, I may not have continued the series, thinking that he might always be defending “the Mob”and I would have missed out on “Thirteen”.
“The Defense” introduces us to Eddie Flynn -a con artist turned lawyer. He used to hustle insurance companies, which it turns out, isn’t much different from hustling juries.
And, he has just been “recruited” by the Russian Mafia-to defend the “BOSS” Olek Volchek. Olek has had Eddie’s daughter Amy, kidnapped and unless he does what he has been told to do-Amy will be killed. If that wasn’t enough incentive, a bomb has been strapped to Eddie’s back.
The author is a lawyer from Dublin, so the courtroom scenes are brilliant! Right up until the end of the book, I had absolutely zero theories on how Eddie was going to get out of this alive or save his daughter.
ZILCH
I just don’t enjoy Mafia stories-they just seem so cliché.
So, while I still enjoyed how CLEVER, our protagonist is-I didn’t enjoy book one as much as I did “Thirteen” …
See review if interested here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
But, I am looking forward to continuing the series and reading about how Eddie Flynn manages to defend criminals with OTHER PROFESSIONS….
After all, as Eddie says “The truth doesn’t matter in a trial-the only thing that matters is what the prosecution can prove. “
September 21, 2022
3.5⭐
Sometimes it’s good to go back to where it all began.
Not being one to jump into a series midway, for some odd reason I did just that reading book four, titled Thirteen. Instead of continuing forward with number five, my curiosity got the best of me. I just had to go back and start with book one.
It was time to get to know Mr. Eddie Flynn.
Wow! What an interesting and complex character we’re introduced to.
Eddie is a former con-man turned defense attorney. We’re well supplied with plenty of insight to understand what makes Eddie the man he is today. So much background that I actually looked just to ensure this indeed was book one. YUP! Back to the book...
Eddie is approached by the Russian Mafia to do the impossible. Place a bomb on the witness stand during a trial to get rid of a very damaging witness. It’s a no-brainer for Eddie…he can’t say no. They have his daughter. It’s now on his shoulders alone to find a way to free his daughter. Maybe even use his pedigree as both attorney and street-savvy con artist to help get out of this pickle.
Though I’m guessing this is not going to stand out as a favorite in this series. I’m still all in and waiting on the audio for book two to come available from my library.
Thank you to my local library 🎧
Sometimes it’s good to go back to where it all began.
Not being one to jump into a series midway, for some odd reason I did just that reading book four, titled Thirteen. Instead of continuing forward with number five, my curiosity got the best of me. I just had to go back and start with book one.
It was time to get to know Mr. Eddie Flynn.
Wow! What an interesting and complex character we’re introduced to.
Eddie is a former con-man turned defense attorney. We’re well supplied with plenty of insight to understand what makes Eddie the man he is today. So much background that I actually looked just to ensure this indeed was book one. YUP! Back to the book...
Eddie is approached by the Russian Mafia to do the impossible. Place a bomb on the witness stand during a trial to get rid of a very damaging witness. It’s a no-brainer for Eddie…he can’t say no. They have his daughter. It’s now on his shoulders alone to find a way to free his daughter. Maybe even use his pedigree as both attorney and street-savvy con artist to help get out of this pickle.
Though I’m guessing this is not going to stand out as a favorite in this series. I’m still all in and waiting on the audio for book two to come available from my library.
Thank you to my local library 🎧
November 23, 2023
It kept me on my toes until the end.
I liked that Flynn, the protagonist, is not just a lawyer but has a controversial past and let's say... A bit shady. There is a certain dichotomy in his actions and he can be defined as morally gray.
My only criticism is that the plot is a bit unoriginal and that we once again have a lawyer with disagreements with his family because of his job and his vices (alcohol). Someday I would like to read about a lawyer without addictions, with a united family despite the difficulties that arise in the life of a criminal lawyer. I think this is why I liked Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni so much.
---------------
Me mantuvo alerta hasta el final.
Me gustó que Flynn, el protagonista, no sea sólo un abogado sino tenga un pasado controversial y digamos... Un tanto turbio. Hay cierta dicotomía en su accionar y puede ser definido como moralmente gris.
Mi única crítica es que la trama es un tanto poco original y que nuevamente tengamos un abogado con discrepancias con su familia por su trabajo y sus vicios (alcohol). Me gustaría leer alguna vez sobre un abogado sin addiciciones, con una familia unida a pesar de las dificultades que se presentan en la vida de un abogado penal. Creo que por esto Her Deadly Game de Robert Dugoni me gustó tanto.
Nov 21--------------
So... The title on the book cover is different from the title in GR. That made me wonder and search the right spelling, found out that 'defence' and 'defense' are the same word spelled differently. 'Defence' is the correct spelling if you're writing in British English, whereas 'defense' is the correct spelling if you're writing in American English.
Good to know.
I liked that Flynn, the protagonist, is not just a lawyer but has a controversial past and let's say... A bit shady. There is a certain dichotomy in his actions and he can be defined as morally gray.
My only criticism is that the plot is a bit unoriginal and that we once again have a lawyer with disagreements with his family because of his job and his vices (alcohol). Someday I would like to read about a lawyer without addictions, with a united family despite the difficulties that arise in the life of a criminal lawyer. I think this is why I liked Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni so much.
---------------
Me mantuvo alerta hasta el final.
Me gustó que Flynn, el protagonista, no sea sólo un abogado sino tenga un pasado controversial y digamos... Un tanto turbio. Hay cierta dicotomía en su accionar y puede ser definido como moralmente gris.
Mi única crítica es que la trama es un tanto poco original y que nuevamente tengamos un abogado con discrepancias con su familia por su trabajo y sus vicios (alcohol). Me gustaría leer alguna vez sobre un abogado sin addiciciones, con una familia unida a pesar de las dificultades que se presentan en la vida de un abogado penal. Creo que por esto Her Deadly Game de Robert Dugoni me gustó tanto.
Nov 21--------------
So... The title on the book cover is different from the title in GR. That made me wonder and search the right spelling, found out that 'defence' and 'defense' are the same word spelled differently. 'Defence' is the correct spelling if you're writing in British English, whereas 'defense' is the correct spelling if you're writing in American English.
Good to know.
December 27, 2019
Turing my attention to a new series, I wanted to try Steve Cavanagh’s legal thrillers, which have been recommended to be over the years. Eddie Flynn is a lawyer with a sordid past. Having hit the bottle when things were not going well and with a past as a con artist, Flynn has alienated his family and pushed himself close to being disbarred. After he takes over a murder trial for his former partner, Flynn has no idea what he’s agreed to do. Approached by the Russian mafia, Flynn is told that he will smuggle a bomb into the courthouse and plant it on the witness stand so that the prosecution’s witness meets an untimely demise. To help convince the lawyer, Flynn is told that his daughter is in the custody of the Russians, who are happy to kill her if the need arises. With all the pressure put upon him, Flynn tries to find legal loopholes that will allow him to win this case for his client without being implicated in any violent acts. Worried that Amy might still be harmed, Flynn seeks outside help, only to discover that there are moles on both sides at every turn. Walking on eggshells, Flynn advances the case to the point that ‘Witness X’ is set to testify, he who is supposed to be blown up. With Amy not yet safe and the threats mounting, Flynn must decide how to play it all and leave him able to live with himself. An intense legal thriller with twists that will keep the reader wanting to know more! Recommended to those who love legal thrillers, as well as the reader who enjoys seeing the ‘little guy’ fight for parity.
I always enjoy learning about new authors and the series they create that have earned much praise. The debut legal thriller has all the elements needed for a good series, with a lawyer whose luck seems to have run out and a client who refuses to accept anything but an acquittal. Eddie Flynn has a wonderful backstory, a lawyer whose skills are high but personal choices lead much to be desired. Allowing work to take over his life, Flynn alienates those who are most important. When placed in the unenviable position of having to break the law to secure his daughter’s release, there is no question about what he intends on doing. Using his legal skills and gritty personality, Flynn is able to bend the rules, though whether it is to his advantage remains in question. There are other characters who help to keep the story moving effectively. Cavanagh depicts them perfectly and keeps the reader on their toes as plot twists stack up throughout. With a strong story and some great action in the middle of a high-impact thriller, Cavanagh has set the ground for a great series here. I cannot wait to get to the next book, which is sure to add more to the Eddie Flynn backstory.
Kudos, Mr. Cavanagh, for a great start to the series. You have a great handle on the legal thriller genre and I will certainly continue with this series.
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/...
I always enjoy learning about new authors and the series they create that have earned much praise. The debut legal thriller has all the elements needed for a good series, with a lawyer whose luck seems to have run out and a client who refuses to accept anything but an acquittal. Eddie Flynn has a wonderful backstory, a lawyer whose skills are high but personal choices lead much to be desired. Allowing work to take over his life, Flynn alienates those who are most important. When placed in the unenviable position of having to break the law to secure his daughter’s release, there is no question about what he intends on doing. Using his legal skills and gritty personality, Flynn is able to bend the rules, though whether it is to his advantage remains in question. There are other characters who help to keep the story moving effectively. Cavanagh depicts them perfectly and keeps the reader on their toes as plot twists stack up throughout. With a strong story and some great action in the middle of a high-impact thriller, Cavanagh has set the ground for a great series here. I cannot wait to get to the next book, which is sure to add more to the Eddie Flynn backstory.
Kudos, Mr. Cavanagh, for a great start to the series. You have a great handle on the legal thriller genre and I will certainly continue with this series.
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/...
April 18, 2021
I had put my life as a hustler behind me. Now I was glad, glad that I still possessed those skills.Eddie Flynn has had a rough year. He stopped practicing law after his last case ended in tragedy. His wife left him. He doesn’t get to see his 10-year-old daughter as often as he’d like. He’s got a drinking problem. But none of that compares to the very bad morning Flynn has when Olek Volchek, the head of the New York Russian mob, crashes his breakfast, straps a bomb to his back, and forces Flynn into an impossible arrangement: defend Volchek in a murder trial starting that morning and plant a bomb in the courtroom that will kill the state’s star witness, or else Volchek will kill Flynn’s daughter.
Now, if that plot sounds ridiculous, well ... that’s because it is. This story has nonsense (such as a prosecutor planning to present only five witnesses in a murder trial against a mob boss) piled atop absurdities (like Flynn figuring out in less than an hour how to discredit an expert witness who multiple blue chip law firms considered unassailable) piled atop coincidences (Flynn just happens to have been childhood friends with the head of a different crime family).
But that ridiculousness doesn’t mean this book wasn’t a fun read. Flynn’s first-person narration is entertaining. His backstory is solid, and his mindset—that his skills as a trial lawyer are basically the same he used in his former life as a con man—is an interesting one. His courtroom style is straight out of the movie My Cousin Vinny, as is his story for how he decided to go to law school. And the there’s more to the villain’s plans than first meet the eye, and some of the twists are less predictable than others.
For multiple reasons, this book reminded me of the movie Die Hard. Flynn is the right man in the wrong place at the wrong time, and he’s forced into a series of escalating trial scenes and action sequences that he alone just might be able to pull off. The plot may stretch believability past the breaking point, but it’s a total adrenaline rush.
March 11, 2022
Reread in preparation for book 7.
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My main thought right now: I’m way too attracted to this fictional character.
He’s a con artist turned lawyer. He’s charismatic and a genius. He has a way of turning situations around, not through luck but through the workings of his mind. He knows how to play the game. Think Sherlock Holmes. But I might be making that connection because I’m currently watching the show.
It’s intense, thrilling, anxiety-inducing, all the feelings that a good thriller is supposed to create and a damn good one this is.
I love that their was as much focus on the plot and the action as well as the character development. We really get to know Eddie Flynn and it makes watching him do his job that much more exciting to read about.
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My main thought right now: I’m way too attracted to this fictional character.
He’s a con artist turned lawyer. He’s charismatic and a genius. He has a way of turning situations around, not through luck but through the workings of his mind. He knows how to play the game. Think Sherlock Holmes. But I might be making that connection because I’m currently watching the show.
It’s intense, thrilling, anxiety-inducing, all the feelings that a good thriller is supposed to create and a damn good one this is.
I love that their was as much focus on the plot and the action as well as the character development. We really get to know Eddie Flynn and it makes watching him do his job that much more exciting to read about.
November 11, 2024
The Defense by Steve Cavanagh is a fast-paced, cleverly plotted legal thriller. Eddie Flynn, a former con artist turned defense attorney, is an engaging and complex protagonist, navigating a high-stakes case where his client’s life is on the line. The author does an excellent job blending courtroom drama with twists and turns.
The novel’s strength lies in its sharp writing, memorable characters, and suspenseful narrative. Eddie’s quick wit and moral compass make him a compelling hero, even if his methods aren’t always by the book. The plot is well-paced, though at times it feels a bit predictable, especially in the final act. Still, the journey is thoroughly enjoyable, with enough tension that kept me hooked.
Overall, The Defense is an excellent choice for people who like legal thrillers and character-driven suspense. It’s an intriguing introduction to the Eddie Flynn series and sets the stage for what promises to be a compelling continuation. I cast wait to continue this series
My Eddie Flynn Series Ratings-
The Defense- 4.25 Stars
The Plea- 4- Stars
Quotes-
🧑⚖️"The truth has no place in a courtroom. The only thing that matters is what the prosecution can prove.”
🧑⚖️"Hustling an insurance company was like playing poker with Satan—his house, his rules.”
🎧Audiobook🎧
The novel’s strength lies in its sharp writing, memorable characters, and suspenseful narrative. Eddie’s quick wit and moral compass make him a compelling hero, even if his methods aren’t always by the book. The plot is well-paced, though at times it feels a bit predictable, especially in the final act. Still, the journey is thoroughly enjoyable, with enough tension that kept me hooked.
Overall, The Defense is an excellent choice for people who like legal thrillers and character-driven suspense. It’s an intriguing introduction to the Eddie Flynn series and sets the stage for what promises to be a compelling continuation. I cast wait to continue this series
My Eddie Flynn Series Ratings-
The Defense- 4.25 Stars
The Plea- 4- Stars
Quotes-
🧑⚖️"The truth has no place in a courtroom. The only thing that matters is what the prosecution can prove.”
🧑⚖️"Hustling an insurance company was like playing poker with Satan—his house, his rules.”
🎧Audiobook🎧
December 18, 2021
Currently, Eddie Flynn is well and truly down on his uppers when he is held at gunpoint in the bathroom and if that’s not bad enough he’ll find it gets worse by the minute.Russian mob leader Volchek wants Eddie to represent him in a murder case even though he is no longer practising law but obviously it’s way more twisted and that as the threat levels escalate. The old Eddie, the con artist, is reborn and he has 31 hours to not only save himself but also his beloved daughter.
Well, it starts with a jaw thunker at several other points my jaw gets bruised! It’s a good fast paced thriller, fraught with tension and danger as Eddie finds he is at the centre of a very dangerous game for which he doesn’t know the rules so has to use his ingenuity and create his own. He is brave, gutsy instinctive, intuitive and clever (a bit too clever???) and I definitely don’t envy those that he comes up against. The ups and downs of the case are very good and it gets very murky, if a bit of a head spinner. The court room scenes are the stand out feature of the book. Towards the end the game comes on of persuasion and audacity as it builds to a high octane finale.
My only reservation is that the first half is a bit clunky at times as it backtracked to Eddie’s past to give us the big picture and it’s overly detailed on occasions. Other than that it’s a darn exciting read and I’m looking forward to reading the next one!
Well, it starts with a jaw thunker at several other points my jaw gets bruised! It’s a good fast paced thriller, fraught with tension and danger as Eddie finds he is at the centre of a very dangerous game for which he doesn’t know the rules so has to use his ingenuity and create his own. He is brave, gutsy instinctive, intuitive and clever (a bit too clever???) and I definitely don’t envy those that he comes up against. The ups and downs of the case are very good and it gets very murky, if a bit of a head spinner. The court room scenes are the stand out feature of the book. Towards the end the game comes on of persuasion and audacity as it builds to a high octane finale.
My only reservation is that the first half is a bit clunky at times as it backtracked to Eddie’s past to give us the big picture and it’s overly detailed on occasions. Other than that it’s a darn exciting read and I’m looking forward to reading the next one!
July 26, 2019
What do you get when you combine an outrageous plot, a crafty lawyer, Russian mobsters and a few Mafiosi for good measure? A rip-roaring, page-turning legal thriller that stretches incredulity, but you’re willing to throw plausibility out the window for the sake of the story. Even when our wily hero takes a turn as half-Spiderman, half-Flying Wallenda, you’re too far gone to do anything but stifle your inner critic and keep going.
After a rather cumbersome read, I wanted pure entertainment and that always leads me to mysteries and legal dramas (blame Nancy Drew and later Scott Turow). Cavanagh is a new author to me discovered after reading an enthusiastic review of his fourth in this Flynn series (thanks, Holly!) and my little OCD heart felt it needed to start at the beginning and I’m so glad I did. I’m already queued up for the second in the series, The Plea.
4.5 stars of breathless, improbable pleasure.
After a rather cumbersome read, I wanted pure entertainment and that always leads me to mysteries and legal dramas (blame Nancy Drew and later Scott Turow). Cavanagh is a new author to me discovered after reading an enthusiastic review of his fourth in this Flynn series (thanks, Holly!) and my little OCD heart felt it needed to start at the beginning and I’m so glad I did. I’m already queued up for the second in the series, The Plea.
4.5 stars of breathless, improbable pleasure.
May 7, 2024
3.75⭐️ I was engrossed with the story guys.
The bomb, the courtroom saga, the Russian mob, the Italian mob, the twists, everything. My lower rating wasn't because this book wasn't good, it was amazing. I think I was just a me problem, I didn't enjoy this as much as his other books. And then I thought maybe it's because there were too many twists with the mind games and motives of every character so I was distracted often but maybe that's not it. I'm unsure. I'm still going to read the rest of the books in the series because I'm sure it's a me problem fr
The bomb, the courtroom saga, the Russian mob, the Italian mob, the twists, everything. My lower rating wasn't because this book wasn't good, it was amazing. I think I was just a me problem, I didn't enjoy this as much as his other books. And then I thought maybe it's because there were too many twists with the mind games and motives of every character so I was distracted often but maybe that's not it. I'm unsure. I'm still going to read the rest of the books in the series because I'm sure it's a me problem fr
July 14, 2021
Rivetting
Having read Thirteen, I knew I had to read the rest of the series. Sometimes that can be a mistake, but not this time. Right from the first page you get pulled in by the action. As Eddie goes to the rest room and gets a gun pointed at his head. The Russian mafia have a strange way of asking for help! There are various other “incentives”, but I will leave those for you to discover.
The situation seems helpless and there is no way this can end well, but Eddie was a con man/hustler and has ways of turning situations to his advantage. The plot is incredibly well thought out and would be a great story even without a superb character such as Eddie, but with him…..
This moves at an incredible pace, with lots of tension, excitement, emotion and banter.
Steve Cavanagh manages to pull off not only one of the best courtroom dramas, I have read in a long time, but a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. With lots of humour, emotion and action. Eddie Flynn is a great character, definitely want to read more
Having read Thirteen, I knew I had to read the rest of the series. Sometimes that can be a mistake, but not this time. Right from the first page you get pulled in by the action. As Eddie goes to the rest room and gets a gun pointed at his head. The Russian mafia have a strange way of asking for help! There are various other “incentives”, but I will leave those for you to discover.
The situation seems helpless and there is no way this can end well, but Eddie was a con man/hustler and has ways of turning situations to his advantage. The plot is incredibly well thought out and would be a great story even without a superb character such as Eddie, but with him…..
This moves at an incredible pace, with lots of tension, excitement, emotion and banter.
Steve Cavanagh manages to pull off not only one of the best courtroom dramas, I have read in a long time, but a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. With lots of humour, emotion and action. Eddie Flynn is a great character, definitely want to read more
January 29, 2025
This author captivated me when I first read his book Th1rt3en. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Remember, the one with the serial killer on the same jury in which he actually was the murderer? (Not a spoiler.)
The author’s main character Eddie Flynn (both books) who is a lawyer conman intrigues me.
Just looking at the covers of the authors books is enough!
This one has several one liners to go along with the title of the book – lawyer, husband, father, con artist, hustler, criminal.
Goodness gracious, what are we in for now?
How about this…What happens when you are forced to defend a mob boss for a murder he ordered – and you are supposed to get him off for this murder?
And, if you don’t, he will not only kill your daughter for which he has kidnapped, but he will also kill you?
Well, let’s just say, sit back for a very satisfying page turner!
Remember, the one with the serial killer on the same jury in which he actually was the murderer? (Not a spoiler.)
The author’s main character Eddie Flynn (both books) who is a lawyer conman intrigues me.
Just looking at the covers of the authors books is enough!
This one has several one liners to go along with the title of the book – lawyer, husband, father, con artist, hustler, criminal.
Goodness gracious, what are we in for now?
How about this…What happens when you are forced to defend a mob boss for a murder he ordered – and you are supposed to get him off for this murder?
And, if you don’t, he will not only kill your daughter for which he has kidnapped, but he will also kill you?
Well, let’s just say, sit back for a very satisfying page turner!
February 10, 2023
“Eddie Flynn used to be a con artist. Then he became a lawyer. Turned out the two weren’t that different.”
Olek Volchek, the local kingpin of the Russian Mafia, is in the dock for murder. And the FBI has a slam-dunk witness whose rock solid incontrovertible testimony constitutes the sure win for the prosecution, under tighter lock and key and more safely guarded than the main vaults in Fort Knox. And that has placed Eddie Flynn, Volchek’s defense lawyer, into a rather prickly pickle. Volchek’s last resort was to kidnap Flynn’s young daughter and to weaponize the lawyer himself – to force him to wear a small tactical bomb into court and to plant it underneath the witness chair. Boom … no witness, no conviction!
And there you have it! A simple but wickedly ingenious evil premise and THE DEFENCE wins my recommendation as one of the fastest, most gripping, high speed legal thrillers that I’ve ever had the pleasure to read!
The story is told in a convincing first person narrative style in absolutely linear real-time with nary a single deviation over the period of the three day duration of the trial and what an exciting story it is! Flynn’s character development is brilliant as Cavanagh manages to make him tread that razor thin edge between deceptive and cleverly unscrupulous versus flat out illegal. Think of ANY of the time-worn chestnuts and tired tropes that are commonly plastered on the back cover marketing fluff for lesser contenders for entry into the crowded thriller genre – “pedal to the metal on page one”, “never lets you go”, “you’ll be reading into the wee hours”, “an exhilarating roller-coaster ride”, “will take your breath away” … they ALL apply without the least exaggeration!
And BONUS – this is the debut novel for Eddie Flynn’s character in a series that now holds such extraordinary promise. Definitely recommended and I’m on the hunt for a copy of #2 THE PLEA.
Paul Weiss
Olek Volchek, the local kingpin of the Russian Mafia, is in the dock for murder. And the FBI has a slam-dunk witness whose rock solid incontrovertible testimony constitutes the sure win for the prosecution, under tighter lock and key and more safely guarded than the main vaults in Fort Knox. And that has placed Eddie Flynn, Volchek’s defense lawyer, into a rather prickly pickle. Volchek’s last resort was to kidnap Flynn’s young daughter and to weaponize the lawyer himself – to force him to wear a small tactical bomb into court and to plant it underneath the witness chair. Boom … no witness, no conviction!
And there you have it! A simple but wickedly ingenious evil premise and THE DEFENCE wins my recommendation as one of the fastest, most gripping, high speed legal thrillers that I’ve ever had the pleasure to read!
The story is told in a convincing first person narrative style in absolutely linear real-time with nary a single deviation over the period of the three day duration of the trial and what an exciting story it is! Flynn’s character development is brilliant as Cavanagh manages to make him tread that razor thin edge between deceptive and cleverly unscrupulous versus flat out illegal. Think of ANY of the time-worn chestnuts and tired tropes that are commonly plastered on the back cover marketing fluff for lesser contenders for entry into the crowded thriller genre – “pedal to the metal on page one”, “never lets you go”, “you’ll be reading into the wee hours”, “an exhilarating roller-coaster ride”, “will take your breath away” … they ALL apply without the least exaggeration!
And BONUS – this is the debut novel for Eddie Flynn’s character in a series that now holds such extraordinary promise. Definitely recommended and I’m on the hunt for a copy of #2 THE PLEA.
Paul Weiss
January 26, 2020
I can see why my goodreads friends are loving this series. What an unlikely thriller hero. Thoroughly entertained!
May 14, 2022
Eddie Flynn, Book 1. Amazing! This series starts and just takes of running. You really have to take your hat off to Eddie for being able to defend Volchek in a murder trial on a moments notice, with his daughter being kidnapped by the Russian Mafia for incentive, and having a bomb strapped to him as security.
The plot around this was so well thought out, you really have to give Steve a slap on the back. Cant wait to read the rest of this series.
The plot around this was so well thought out, you really have to give Steve a slap on the back. Cant wait to read the rest of this series.
June 15, 2019
The Defense gripped me from the first page and was a compelling courtroom/action drama. The thrills, action and intrigue never let up. I was riveted by its intensity throughout. Although this was the first of a series, any of the Eddie Flynn crime novels can be read as a stand-alone.
Eddie was an expert con-man before becoming a lawyer. He was accomplished in such skills as swindler, grifter, and sleight of hand artist. After becoming a lawyer he felt the two occupations had a lot in common. He frequently uses con-man trickery in court, in search of justice.
Eddie has not tried a case in over a year. He is consumed by guilt by the horrible outcome of his last case. After defending a man accused of raping a young woman, he was set free, only to abduct the same victim again. She was found horribly injured and her body suffered some permanent damage. Eddie started drinking heavily, finally going into rehab. His wife left him. The light of his life is his 10-year-old daughter Amy. Thoughts of her, occasional visits and frequent phone calls are what sustains him.
Thrills and dangerous situations begin on page one and kept me riveted to every page. His ex-law partner, Jack, was to conduct the defence of a brutal Russian crime boss, Valchek. He was unable to carry out the demented orders and met a gruesome end. Valchek is to be tried on a murder charge after instructing one of his gang members, Benny, to kill a man. Eddie is being forced by the Russian mob to wear a concealed bomb in his jacket and blow up the witness, Benny, in court to prevent his testimony. He is also ordered to find a way to free Valchek. Eddie’s daughter, Amy, has been kidnapped, and Eddie is told unspeakable things will happen to her before she is murdered. If Eddie fails in his impossible orders, both he and his daughter will die.
A terrified Eddie must employ every skill he learned in law school, the court and as a former con-man. He gradually learns that there are many cons, deceptions, double-crosses and twists, and he is the victim of one of the biggest cons of all. He has been set up to take the blame when the bomb he is forced to carry is detonated, and the mob has no intention of letting himself or his daughter live, regardless of the outcome of the trial.
Eddie is faced with 48 hours to successfully defend Valchek, and against all odds save his beloved daughter’s life and his own. It is impossible to imagine any way he can succeed. Along with the twisty courtroom drama we have some spellbinding, suspenseful action scenes. I will definitely read more books by Steve Cavanagh.
Eddie was an expert con-man before becoming a lawyer. He was accomplished in such skills as swindler, grifter, and sleight of hand artist. After becoming a lawyer he felt the two occupations had a lot in common. He frequently uses con-man trickery in court, in search of justice.
Eddie has not tried a case in over a year. He is consumed by guilt by the horrible outcome of his last case. After defending a man accused of raping a young woman, he was set free, only to abduct the same victim again. She was found horribly injured and her body suffered some permanent damage. Eddie started drinking heavily, finally going into rehab. His wife left him. The light of his life is his 10-year-old daughter Amy. Thoughts of her, occasional visits and frequent phone calls are what sustains him.
Thrills and dangerous situations begin on page one and kept me riveted to every page. His ex-law partner, Jack, was to conduct the defence of a brutal Russian crime boss, Valchek. He was unable to carry out the demented orders and met a gruesome end. Valchek is to be tried on a murder charge after instructing one of his gang members, Benny, to kill a man. Eddie is being forced by the Russian mob to wear a concealed bomb in his jacket and blow up the witness, Benny, in court to prevent his testimony. He is also ordered to find a way to free Valchek. Eddie’s daughter, Amy, has been kidnapped, and Eddie is told unspeakable things will happen to her before she is murdered. If Eddie fails in his impossible orders, both he and his daughter will die.
A terrified Eddie must employ every skill he learned in law school, the court and as a former con-man. He gradually learns that there are many cons, deceptions, double-crosses and twists, and he is the victim of one of the biggest cons of all. He has been set up to take the blame when the bomb he is forced to carry is detonated, and the mob has no intention of letting himself or his daughter live, regardless of the outcome of the trial.
Eddie is faced with 48 hours to successfully defend Valchek, and against all odds save his beloved daughter’s life and his own. It is impossible to imagine any way he can succeed. Along with the twisty courtroom drama we have some spellbinding, suspenseful action scenes. I will definitely read more books by Steve Cavanagh.
September 12, 2019
4.5 Stars
I picked up the thriller Thirteen on audible before realising it was the 4th in a series. Although I probably could have started there, I have learned in the past that it is really better to start a series from the beginning. So I thought I would check out Eddie Flynn 1 – The Defence. So glad I did! The audio version of this was brilliant! So much fun!
The Story
Eddie is having a REALLY bad day. First thing he is eating breakfast, the next he is in court – where he swore he would never be again, defending a mob boss with a bomb around him about to go off at any minute. And they have his 10-year-old daughter and are going to kill her if he doesn't win this case...
My Thoughts
Oh man I loved it! NON STOP ACTION and TWIST AFTER TWIST! I got through this one so quickly because I could not stop listening!!
It was like reading an action movie. It literally did not stop. And I just LOVED the courtroom stuff. I mean sure, you have to suspend your beliefs slightly, but that’s what books are for DAMMIT!
The writing was fabulous, I really enjoyed the way he describes complex legal mumbo jumbo easily so that anyone can understand what is happening, and it was just so darn clever with those twists and turns.
I have already purchased the next one! I LOVED IT!
What did I think of the audio version?
Like a movie in my ears! Absolutely fantastic! I was a bit sad when it ended, but happy because there are MORE IN THE SERIES!
Would I recommend The Defence?
Yes absolutely! I thought it was just fantastic! I am sure most thriller fans will enjoy this one! Especially if they love a bit of courtroom drama and crazy twists.
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I picked up the thriller Thirteen on audible before realising it was the 4th in a series. Although I probably could have started there, I have learned in the past that it is really better to start a series from the beginning. So I thought I would check out Eddie Flynn 1 – The Defence. So glad I did! The audio version of this was brilliant! So much fun!
The Story
Eddie is having a REALLY bad day. First thing he is eating breakfast, the next he is in court – where he swore he would never be again, defending a mob boss with a bomb around him about to go off at any minute. And they have his 10-year-old daughter and are going to kill her if he doesn't win this case...
My Thoughts
Oh man I loved it! NON STOP ACTION and TWIST AFTER TWIST! I got through this one so quickly because I could not stop listening!!
It was like reading an action movie. It literally did not stop. And I just LOVED the courtroom stuff. I mean sure, you have to suspend your beliefs slightly, but that’s what books are for DAMMIT!
The writing was fabulous, I really enjoyed the way he describes complex legal mumbo jumbo easily so that anyone can understand what is happening, and it was just so darn clever with those twists and turns.
I have already purchased the next one! I LOVED IT!
What did I think of the audio version?
Like a movie in my ears! Absolutely fantastic! I was a bit sad when it ended, but happy because there are MORE IN THE SERIES!
Would I recommend The Defence?
Yes absolutely! I thought it was just fantastic! I am sure most thriller fans will enjoy this one! Especially if they love a bit of courtroom drama and crazy twists.
For more reviews check out my:
Blog
November 13, 2019
When we first meet Eddie Flynn he is being held at gunpoint. His assailant instructs Flynn to put on his coat -- and it now has a bomb inside. . .And this taut thrill ride continues through the entire novel with many twists and turns. One of the scenes that captivated my imagination was Flynn's ride on the back of a Kawasaki Ninja 650 through lower Manhattan during morning rush hour. The primary motivation for Flynn is saving his 10-year-old daughter Amy from the clutches of the Russian mob. It will take every last trick and resource he has to get her back. His tool chest includes calling on a boyhood friend who is a boss in the Italian mafia and the judge who turned him from being a con man into a lawyer. Flynn will need both those skill sets to survive and save Amy. Fans of John Grisham and "The Lincoln Lawyer" will want to check out this series.
July 18, 2023
Eddie Flynn was a con artist turned lawyer who has his entire life turned upside down when Olek Volchek, the head of the Russian Mafia in New York kidnaps Eddie's ten-year-old daughter and places a bomb on Eddie's back. Eddie is in a race against time to save his daughter and win an impossible murder trial. Eddie will need to rely on all his skills in this gripping, and hard to put down book!
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator. I enjoyed the twists and turns in fast paced cat-and-mouse book. I loved the tension, sense of danger and game of wits in this book. I rooted for Eddie the entire way. There are quite a few characters in this book, but I didn't have a hard time keeping track of them as they are all fully fleshed out.
I enjoyed learning about Eddie's past and how his history of cons and those he had relationships during that time helped him when he found himself in an impossible situation.
*Buddy read with Brenda ~Traveling Sisters Book Reviews. Please read her review as well.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator. I enjoyed the twists and turns in fast paced cat-and-mouse book. I loved the tension, sense of danger and game of wits in this book. I rooted for Eddie the entire way. There are quite a few characters in this book, but I didn't have a hard time keeping track of them as they are all fully fleshed out.
I enjoyed learning about Eddie's past and how his history of cons and those he had relationships during that time helped him when he found himself in an impossible situation.
*Buddy read with Brenda ~Traveling Sisters Book Reviews. Please read her review as well.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts
December 18, 2021
That was something else! I’ve been meaning to read this series for some time so when the option arose for a group read I was in!
Eddie Flynn is a former con man, former lawyer, currently trying to work out what the heck he actually is when is nabbed by Russian mob boss Olek Volchek and given an impossible task. He has 2 days to get Volchek off a murder rap or his 10 year old daughter, Amy, will suffer a horrible fate. It’s kind of a no win situation for Eddie because he is also rigged up with a bomb in his coat which is supposed to blow up the prosecution’s star witness and probably himself as well.
Well, Eddie is a very resourceful guy and he would do anything to save his daughter but even he can not see a way out of this one. How can he win an unwinnable case with no preparation and no resources, constantly watched by the mob? Oh, and the FBI suspects him of, well, something!
I don’t generally like mob/gangster stories but this was something else. It was tautly plotted and very cleverly done. Eddie’s con man background serves him well but every time he sees a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel fate intervenes and extinguishes it again. In all the filth that Eddie is surrounded with you can’t help liking him. He really wants to do the right thing, but the right thing may end up getting both him and his daughter killed.
This was a very ingenious story that I thoroughly enjoyed. I am looking forward to the next Eddie Flynn book which we are going to read in February.
Eddie Flynn is a former con man, former lawyer, currently trying to work out what the heck he actually is when is nabbed by Russian mob boss Olek Volchek and given an impossible task. He has 2 days to get Volchek off a murder rap or his 10 year old daughter, Amy, will suffer a horrible fate. It’s kind of a no win situation for Eddie because he is also rigged up with a bomb in his coat which is supposed to blow up the prosecution’s star witness and probably himself as well.
Well, Eddie is a very resourceful guy and he would do anything to save his daughter but even he can not see a way out of this one. How can he win an unwinnable case with no preparation and no resources, constantly watched by the mob? Oh, and the FBI suspects him of, well, something!
I don’t generally like mob/gangster stories but this was something else. It was tautly plotted and very cleverly done. Eddie’s con man background serves him well but every time he sees a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel fate intervenes and extinguishes it again. In all the filth that Eddie is surrounded with you can’t help liking him. He really wants to do the right thing, but the right thing may end up getting both him and his daughter killed.
This was a very ingenious story that I thoroughly enjoyed. I am looking forward to the next Eddie Flynn book which we are going to read in February.
December 6, 2020
3,5 😯💣😯🌟s
A very good courtroom drama read.
Eddie Flynn was an ex-con artist who later became a lawyer.
In this book, his daughter had been kidnapped by a Russian mob boss who had been charged with murder and Eddie had to defend him and win his case in order to get back his little girl alive.
It was very well written, a great page turner story, fast paced, and Eddie was a fantastic puppeteer who performed cleverly and resourcefully in and out of court.
There were a few scenes that were far fetched, entering the court with a bomb inside his jacket or climbing outside the building’s 19th floor, and tbh lowered my excitement.
However, Eddie’s quick thinking process was engaging and arresting!
The Defence was my second Eddie Flynn experience, I will definitely read the other books in the series!! 🤩🤩
A very good courtroom drama read.
Eddie Flynn was an ex-con artist who later became a lawyer.
In this book, his daughter had been kidnapped by a Russian mob boss who had been charged with murder and Eddie had to defend him and win his case in order to get back his little girl alive.
It was very well written, a great page turner story, fast paced, and Eddie was a fantastic puppeteer who performed cleverly and resourcefully in and out of court.
There were a few scenes that were far fetched, entering the court with a bomb inside his jacket or climbing outside the building’s 19th floor, and tbh lowered my excitement.
However, Eddie’s quick thinking process was engaging and arresting!
The Defence was my second Eddie Flynn experience, I will definitely read the other books in the series!! 🤩🤩
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