Woah this was dark. And I loved it. Some serious psychotic stuff (big big TWs folks).  The casual violence, the crescendo and then waves of emotions that left me feeling absolutely exhausted after reading this - are my favorite. This author knows how to shock and stun even until the very end. I could not stop reading this book, and I loved how the author is clearly showed us that there aren't just 2 sides; there are characters who start to feel like found family even if they are not on the "same side". I love how Eddie is no bullshit, doesn't shy away from the shady to make sure that justice is served and always has a stunning remark up his sleeve.  This was a fascinating work of legal thriller unlike anything else.

Note: You NEED to listen to the audiobook. The emotions in this book deserve to be read out to you and this interesting cast of characters all have such a unique voice in the narration.,

Thanks to the publisher for an eARC and ALC; my thoughts are my own.

Cavanagh definitely knows how to write a great legal thriller. I’m a big fan of Eddie Flynn and happy to see they are finally releasing all of his books in the US. I predicted the twist, but it was still enjoyable. 

A father is brutally killed and both of his daughters are in the house. They each call 911 accuse the other of the murder. One is a psychopath, the question is which one?  

The verdict in this case will be to close to call

Its the kind of lurid, high profile case that lawyers dream about.  Frank Avellino, the former mayor of New York City, is dead in his home, brutally murdered.  The 911 operators received two phone calls almost simultaneously from the residence, one from each of Frank's daughters Sofia and Alexandra.  Each sister is accusing the other of having killed their father, and one of them is telling the truth...but which one?  Eddie Flynn, conman turned lawyer, will be representing Sofia, while Kate Brooks, a newly minted attorney trying to rise above the pack in the powerful law firm where she works, has Alexandra for a client.  Each lawyer is convinced that their client is the innocent one, but clearly at least one of them is mistaken.  As evidence is uncovered it points in both directions; the sisters' upbringing for example was far from idyllic with a mother who at best would be called abusive, but her actions were directed at both her daughters, so it doesn't help implicate or exonerate either one.  This case will go down to the wire...will the jury get it right, or will the wrong sister be convicted?
Fifty Fifty is a fast paced legal thriller which throws twist after twist into the narrative, making it hard for the reader to pinpoint the killer.  Eddie is an interesting lead character, a lawyer who started life as a successful con artist and found that the same skills that made him good in that earlier career serve him equally well in sizing up his clients (he refuses to defend a guilty client) and manipulating juries.  In this latest case even he can't get a bead on how the jury will vote, and for him its an unsettling sensation.  Kate is an ambitious young lawyer who finds that her path to a successful career flows straight through a group of sexist, condescending men who control the field in which she works and therefore her future.  Its not enough for her to work hard and well, she has to duck groping hands and awkward passes.  The story is told in chapters with alternating perspectives from Eddie, Kate and "She" (the killer), and as the killer details the motivations driving her it explains why things have unfolded as the they have...but it doesn't help the reader figure out which sister "She" is.  The driving force of the book is not the characters, though, it is the courtroom action and the intriguing story line that keep the reader turning the pages.  Readers of Michael Connelly's Lincoln Lawyer series, Harlan Coben and Lisa Scottoline would be likely to find this an enjoyable read.  My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me access to this clever legal thriller in exchange for my honest review.

Two sisters. One murdered father. Each swears the other did it.

Fifty Fifty is a fast-paced legal thriller that grabs you from page one and refuses to let go. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, Cavanagh twists the plot again, leaving you questioning everything.

The courtroom drama crackles with tension, and the psychological battle between the sisters is as chilling as it is compelling. By the end, you’re left thinking, “What did I just read?”—in the best way possible.

A wild, thought-provoking ride you won’t forget.

Thank you @netgalley for the digital copy and allowing me to give an open honest review. 

#netgally #BookReview #FiftyFifty #SteveCavanagh #ThrillerReads #PlotTwist #MustRead #booktok #bookrecs #bookrecommendations #bookreviewer #eddieflynn #eddieflynnseries

Couldn’t connect to the characters or story. 

A father and public figure dead. His two daughters arrested for the crime. Which one is guilty? 

Though I’ve had the Eddie Flynn books on my radar for quite some time, this was my first time reading the author. 

The synopsis was very interesting to me so I decided to give it a try (despite being the fifth title in an established series). I started this, to be pulled into the story right away and I liked the storyline (minus a couple of issues), and the characters as well. 

I found Fifty Fifty well written, engaging, and a fun read. It also kept me guessing right up to the end. I enjoyed this and will definitely read more of the series. 

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the DRC