Title: THE DEFENCE – Eddie Flynn #01
Author: Steve Cavanagh
ISBN: 9781250082251
Publisher: Orion Books
Pages: 325
Source: Private Copy
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 he 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.
Official Summary
14 August 2025
After reading Thirteen last month, I promised I would go back and start the Eddie Flynn Series at the beginning. It is such a bad habit to always start a series in the middle somewhere.
The Defence is an explosive, high-octane legal thriller that hits the ground running and never lets up. From the very first chapter, Steve Cavanagh throws the reader straight into the heart of the action with a premise that’s equal parts outrageous and exhilarating: Eddie Flynn, former con artist turned lawyer, is forced to defend a notorious Russian mob boss in a murder trial… while wearing a bomb and with his daughter’s life on the line.
Yes, it sounds wild — but somehow, it works.
Eddie Flynn is an absolutely magnetic protagonist. He’s smart, slick, morally flexible, and just the right amount of desperate. His background as a con artist adds a unique flair to the courtroom scenes, turning what could’ve been a dry legal battle into a clever, fast-talking chess match full of psychological misdirection and manipulation. It’s not about proving innocence or uncovering the truth — it’s about survival. And that high-stakes edge adds an urgency to every twist and turn.
The pacing is relentless, with short, punchy chapters and constant tension. You barely get a chance to breathe as Eddie navigates mob threats, FBI pressure, courtroom theatrics, and his own inner demons. And while the plot sometimes stretches plausibility, it’s so entertaining that I was happy to suspend disbelief and go along for the ride.
What really sets this novel apart is how well it balances action with intelligence. It’s not just shootouts and chase scenes — there’s strategy here, both in the legal manoeuvring and in Eddie’s attempts to outwit everyone around him. Cavanagh knows how to craft a tight narrative without sacrificing character.
The Defence blends legal drama, action thriller, and psychological tension into one adrenaline-fueled package. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, smartly written book with a hero you can root for (even when he’s bending every rule), this is one to pick up. I couldn’t put it down — and immediately wanted more Eddie Flynn when I turned the final page.
Also by Steve Cavanagh
THIRTEEN – Eddie Flynn #04
THE SERIAL KILLER ISN’T ON TRIAL.
HE’S ON THE JURY …
‘To your knowledge, is there anything that would preclude you from serving on this jury?’
Murder wasn’t the hard part. It was just the start of the game.
Joshua Kane has been preparing for this moment his whole life. He’s done it before. But this is the big one.
This is the murder trial of the century. And Kane has killed to get the best seat in the house.
But there’s someone on his tail. Someone who suspects that the killer isn’t the man on trial.
Kane knows time is running out – he just needs to get to the conviction without being discovered.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Steve Cavanagh is the bestselling author of the Eddie Flynn novels and standalone thrillers. In 2018, The Liar won the Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger for crime novel of the year. In 2019, Thirteen won the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2019.
All of his novels have either been nominated for awards or have won awards internationally.
He is a former lawyer and was born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he still lives.
I have read book one and book four in the Eddie Flynn series; I am not sure what to make of this character. I partly love him, yet I am not completely convinced. There is hope. While writing this review, I have already started book three, and even before reaching the final page, I can say Eddie Flynn has won me over. I have no choice but to continue reading the series. Are you a fan? Which is your favourite book? Leave a comment below. Until next time, Happy Reading!
