"If you're a fan of John Grisham, Scott Turow, and Brad Meltzer, then you will be a fan of Steve Cavanagh's The Defense." ―Nelson DeMille, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Radiant Angel

Eddie Flynn used to be a con artist. Then he became a lawyer. Turns out the two jobs aren’t all that different. . .

He vowed never to set foot in a courtroom again after a case gone disastrously wrong. But today Eddie doesn’t have a choice. Because this time, it’s personal.

The head of the Russian mob in New York City, on trial for murder, has kidnapped Eddie’s beloved ten-year-old daughter. Now Eddie has exactly forty-eight hours to draw upon his razor-sharp instincts and use every con, bluff, grift, and trick in the book to defend an impossible trial and save his daughter―or die trying. . .

“a rush of double-crosses, switched detonators, mob maneuvering,
and some savvy lawyering. Cavanagh keeps things hopping.”
―Dallas Morning News

“Everything a reader could ask for in a thriller―nail-biting suspense, a Russian nesting doll of a plot, and an original and compelling lead.” ―Publishers Weekly (starred review)
This edition of the book is the deluxe, tall rack mass market paperback.

“CRIMINALLY ENTERTAINING.”―PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (STARRED REVIEW)



“The Plea is one of the most purely entertaining books you'll read this year. It's a blast.”
―John Connolly, bestselling author of the Charlie Parker novels

“Rip-roaring legal thriller…Twisty, bloody, and convincing.” ―Ian Rankin

Eddie Flynn earned his law degree in the school of hard knocks. Now this con-artist-turned-criminal defense attorney is about to take on his toughest case yet.


Billionaire David Child swears he didn’t murder his girlfriend, Clara―even if the evidence suggests otherwise. Home security video showed no intrusion. The murder weapon was in David’s own car. He seems guilty as charged. So why won’t he plead guilty?

Meanwhile, the FBI needs David’s help in taking down a huge money laundering scheme. Now it’s up to David’s lawyer, Eddie, to get him to take a plea bargain. Otherwise the FBI will use incriminating files on Eddie’s wife to send her to jail. Still, David insists that he didn’t murder anyone. . .

As the FBI pressures Eddie to secure the guilty plea, Eddie becomes increasingly convinced that David is telling the truth. With adversaries threatening, Eddie has to find a way to prove David’s innocence and find out if there’s any way he might have been framed. But the stakes are high: Eddie’s wife is in danger. And not just from the FBI…

“If you’re a fan of John Grisham…you will be a fan of Steve Cavanagh.” ―Nelson DeMille, #1 New York Times bestselling author

***WINNER OF THE CWA GOLD DAGGER AWARD 2018***

A MISSING GIRL. A DESPERATE FATHER.
A CASE WHICH WILL TEAR THEM APART.

'Plotting that takes the breath away' Ian Rankin

'A fantastic thriller writer' Mark Billingham

* * * * *

WHO IS DEADLIER ...

Leonard Howell's worst nightmare has come true: his daughter Caroline has been kidnapped. He can't rely on the cops, so Howell calls the only man he trusts to get her back.

THE MAN WHO KNOWS THE TRUTH

Eddie Flynn knows what it's like to lose a daughter and vows to bring Caroline home safe. Once a con artist, now a hotshot criminal attorney, Flynn is no stranger to the shady New York underworld.

... OR THE ONE WHO BELIEVES A LIE?

However, as he steps back into his old life, Flynn realizes that the rules of the game have changed - and that he is being played. But who is pulling the strings? And is anyone in this twisted case telling the truth...?

* * * * *

An ingenious plot, gripping action and characters who leap off the page: discover why readers love Steve Cavanagh:

'Cavanagh stands head and shoulders above the competition, with his skilfully plotted, action-packed and big-hearted Eddie Flynn novels . . . highly intelligent, twist-laden and absolutely unputdownable' Eva Dolan, author of the critically acclaimed Tell No Tales

'What a thriller! Breathlessly brilliant and fiendishly clever' Miranda Dickinson

'A cleverly constructed legal thriller combined with a classic locked-room mystery. Eddie Flynn is fast becoming one of my favourite fictional heroes and Cavanagh one of my favourite thriller writers.' S.J.I. Holliday, author of Black Wood

'Raymond Chandler could have created Eddie Flynn. THE PLEA is Phillip Marlowe and Michael Connolly's Mickey Haller combined, with a bit of Jim Thompson's THE GRIFTERS thrown in. A superb read with a main character destined to be one of the most talked about in crime fiction.' Howard Linskey, author of The Search

*

If you like John Grisham, Lee Child and Michael Connelly, you will LOVE the gripping and twisty Eddie Flynn series:

1. The Defence
2. The Plea
3. The Liar
4. Thirteen

* Each Eddie Flynn thriller can be read as a standalone or in series order *

In Thirteen, the third novel in international bestselling author Steve Cavanagh's Eddie Flynn series, a juror sows reasonable doubt to ensure an innocent man is found guilty.

If you can’t beat the system, be the system.

“A knockout.”―Booklist (starred review)

It’s the murder trial of the century―and Joshua Kane has killed to get the best seat in the house. He has done everything in his power to make sure the wrong man goes down for the crime. Because this time, the killer isn’t on trial. He’s on the jury.

“A terrific hook…more twists than a tornado… A genuine, read-in-one-sitting page-turner.” ―The Guardian

But there’s someone on his tail. Defense lawyer and former conman Eddie Flynn doesn’t believe that his movie-star client killed two people. He suspects that the real killer is closer than they think―but who would guess just how close?

“BOOKS THESE INGENIOUS DON’T COME ALONG VERY OFTEN.”―Michael Connelly

'The Devil's Advocate makes your palms sweat and your blood run cold; the terrific trial scenes out-Grisham John Grisham.' The Times

'This guy is the real deal. Trust me.' LEE CHILD
'Top notch thrills and courtroom drama' SHARI LAPENA
'A terrific writer. He has talent to burn.' DON WINSLOW

HE'S WON EVERY TRIAL. BECAUSE HE'S BEHIND EVERY MURDER.

Ambitious District Attorney Randal Korn lives to watch prisoners executed.
Even if they are not guilty.

An innocent man, Andy Dubois, faces the death penalty for the murder of young girl. Korn has already fixed things to make sure he wins a fast conviction.

The one thing Korn didn't count on was Eddie Flynn.

Slick, street smart and cunning, the former con artist turned New York lawyer has only seven days to save an innocent man against a corrupt system and find the real killer.

In a week the Judge will read the verdict, but will Eddie be alive to hear it?

'Addictive, unpredictable and timely' WILL DEAN

'Gripping, twisty and smart' JANE FALLON

'THE beach read of the summer of 2021' ADRIAN MCKINTY

'Like a binge-worthy boxset in book form' PHILIPPA PERRY

'This is Steve Cavanagh's best yet' JO SPAIN

The new Eddie Flynn novel from the Sunday Times and million copy bestselling author of THIRTEEN, FIFTY FIFTY and THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE.

'This guy is the real deal. Trust me.' LEE CHILD
'Top notch thrills and courtroom drama' SHARI LAPENA
'A terrific writer. He has talent to burn.' DON WINSLOW
'Just when you thought there were no new twists to bring to the legal thriller, Cavanagh comes along and knocks your socks off. The high courts meet high concepts.' LINWOOD BARCLAY
'Cavanagh has cornered the market in British iterations of the Grisham/Turow-style legal thriller, with razor-sharp dialogue a particular speciality. When the wife of a serial killer is arraigned for multiple homicides, Eddie Flynn decides to defend her - what he doesn't need is the killer's own ruthless intervention, targeting witnesses.' CRIME TIME


THE MOST HATED WOMAN IN AMERICA

The Sandman killings have been solved. Daniel Miller murdered fourteen people before he vanished. His wife, Carrie, now faces trial as his accomplice. The FBI, the District Attorney, the media and everyone in America believe she knew and helped cover up her husband's crimes.

THE LAWYER

Eddie Flynn won't take a case unless his client is innocent. Now, he has to prove to a jury, and the entire world, that Carrie Miller was just another victim of the Sandman. She didn't know her husband's dark side and she had no part in the murders. But so far, Eddie and his team are the only ones who believe her.

THE FORMER FBI AGENT

Gabriel Lake used to be a federal agent, before someone tried to kill him. Now, he's an investigator with a vendetta against the Sandman. He's the only one who can catch him, because he believes that everything the FBI knows about serial killers is wrong.

THE KILLER

With his wife on trial, the Sandman is forced to come out of hiding to save her from a life sentence. He will kill to protect her and everyone involved in the case is a target.

Even Eddie Flynn...