"Nasty, vicious, ruthless. That's the way we like our legal mysteries, so The Plea fits the bill…The impressive legal maneuvering pays off in a centerpiece courtroom drama."
—New York Times Book Review
“Cavanagh's fast-paced, action-packed legal thriller is bound to grip John Grisham and Michael Connelly fans with its unexpected turns.” —Library Journal, starred review
"A terrific new voice... Cavanagh's blend of courtroom twists and out-of-court action shakes up standard tropes and has real freshness...Cavanagh has a particular talent for escalating tension, and Eddie Flynn is a terrific creation well worth following. There are shades of Michael Connelly's Mickey Haller, but Flynn is also a unique character all his own. The Plea is a propulsive read that'll have you soldered to your seat as the pages whir by." —Mystery Scene
“Criminally entertaining…Perfect for anyone who likes a locked-room mystery wrapped inside a legal thriller on steroids.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“As Cavanagh develops his plot, it’s not clear who’s conning whom... [The] setup produces some stunning moments, like a car chase directed by cell phone. Plus delicious locked-room and what-the-police-missed detection... The action sequences and the courtroom hijinks make this worth a look.” —Booklist
“You can beat him up, arrest his wife, try to acid bomb him, but you can't hustle a hustler… Good courtroom sequences, engaging minor characters, an ornately twisted plot, a repentant but hopeful hero—what could go wrong?...A worthwhile caper.” —Kirkus
“Rip-roaring legal thriller…Twisty, bloody, and convincing.”
—Ian Rankin
“The Plea is one of the most purely entertaining books you'll read this year. It's a blast.”
—John Connolly
“Fast-moving, low-punching, street-hustling adventure... Seriously superior airport read.”
—Times Crime Book Club
“If you don't normally read courtroom dramas, you must make an exception. These books are just full of intelligent wheeling and dealing. Top notch storytelling... Superb, in a 'I must not move a muscle til I have finished this book' way.” —Northern Crime
“Lively, clever and enjoyable . . . The constant action is interrupted only by absorbing courtroom scenes.” —The Times (UK)
“The Plea reads like an idiosyncratic cross between Elmore Leonard and John Grisham, but bursts with its own individual flavour.” —The Financial Times (UK)
Praise for Steve Cavanagh's Eddie Flynn series:
“Cavanagh’s stellar debut provides 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
“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
“This guy is the real deal. Trust me.”
—Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Steve Cavanagh pulls off an enviable premise with panache.”
—Ruth Ware, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Expertly combines his authority on the law with an absolutely great thrill ride.”
—Michael Connelly, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Steve Cavanagh is the John Grisham for a new generation.”
—Sarah Pinborough, #1 internationally bestselling author
“Smart and original. This is a belter of a book.”
—Clare Mackintosh, bestselling author
Murders, money laundering, and marital woes keep con-man-turned-lawyer Eddie Flynn jumping in the second installment of Cavanagh's legal thriller series. Narrator Adam Sims proves equal to the challenge of Flynn's brash, streetwise personality, providing a clear and crisp presentation that keeps the listener tuned in to all the action. Cavanagh's novel is full of unique personalities and a detailed narrative. Sims modulates both pacing and volume to give Flynn and all the other characters definition and dimension. He smoothly moves the action from the measured courtroom scenes to the intense car chases and bloody shoot-outs the tightly written plot demands. The combined talents of Cavanagh and Sims offer both courtroom-drama and action-novel fans a satisfying listen. M.O.B. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
Murders, money laundering, and marital woes keep con-man-turned-lawyer Eddie Flynn jumping in the second installment of Cavanagh's legal thriller series. Narrator Adam Sims proves equal to the challenge of Flynn's brash, streetwise personality, providing a clear and crisp presentation that keeps the listener tuned in to all the action. Cavanagh's novel is full of unique personalities and a detailed narrative. Sims modulates both pacing and volume to give Flynn and all the other characters definition and dimension. He smoothly moves the action from the measured courtroom scenes to the intense car chases and bloody shoot-outs the tightly written plot demands. The combined talents of Cavanagh and Sims offer both courtroom-drama and action-novel fans a satisfying listen. M.O.B. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
2017-11-13
You can beat him up, arrest his wife, try to acid bomb him, but you can't hustle a hustler.When federal agents threaten his wife, Christine, with jail time, Eddie Flynn, retired con man and present-day defense lawyer, gets involved in a complicated conspiracy. The feds want to take down Christine's white shoe law firm, Harland and Sinton, which has been covertly laundering money for various criminal enterprises, making Christine vulnerable to charges. To keep his wife out of prison, Flynn is pressured to coerce a plea deal from David Child, social media billionaire and the designer of the security algorithm at the heart of the money-laundering scheme, who is charged with the murder of his girlfriend and who would normally be defended by Harland and Sinton. For reduced jail time Child will provide the feds with the key to the algorithm. The murder charge appears bullet-proof, and a plea deal should be attractive, but Flynn first has to convince Child to fire Harland and Sinton and retain him, which he manages through somewhat devious means. Then Flynn becomes convinced that Child is innocent, and he has to face an impossible choice: if he successfully defends Child, he will fail the feds, who will vindictively imprison his wife; or he can try to con Child into taking the plea, effectively engineering the conviction of an innocent man, and thus free his wife. Flynn thinks he sees a third path and will have to disentangle many threads. Is Child innocent? If so, who framed him? If he has been framed, can Flynn prove it in court? Can Flynn protect Child from Harland and Sinton and the dark forces behind them, who would like Child dead to protect their scheme? Will an ambitious DA ruin any deal Flynn might manage to make with the feds? Will Flynn drink again, and if he does, will it matter? Good courtroom sequences, engaging minor characters, an ornately twisted plot, a repentant but hopeful hero—what could go wrong? And though Cavanagh doesn't go wrong, his novel falls short of the best of Elmore Leonard or Ross Thomas.A worthwhile caper, if a little overweight.
