The Number One Ebook Bestseller, Sunday Times Bestseller, BBC2 Between the Covers Book of the Week and Richard and Judy Bookclub pick 

Book blurb

Alexandra Avellino has just found her father’s mutilated body, and needs the police right away. She believes her sister killed him, and that she is still in the house with a knife.

Sofia Avellino has just found her father’s mutilated body and needs the police right away. She believes her sister, Alexandra did it, and that she is still in the house, locked in the bathroom.

Both women are to go on trial at the same time. A joint trial in front of one jury.

But one of these women is lying. One of them is a murderer. Sitting in a jail cell, about to go on trial with her sister for murder, you might think that this is the last place she expected to be.

My thoughts

This is a very readable courtroom drama the fifth in Steve Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn series and even though I had not read any of the others in this series* there were no issues in reading this as a standalone.

Eddie gets a phone call tipping him off that he needs to get down to the police station fast. When he arrives he finds himself there alongside other law firm representatives who are hoping to get taken on by one or other of two sisters who have been arrested for murder. Each lawyer gets a shot at being hired by one or other of the sisters. Eddie finds himself getting hired by Sofia. Levy, Bernard and Groff, attorneys at law, would be representing Alexandra.

The Avellino sisters are accused of killing their father retired Judge Frank Avellino. Each of the sisters accuses the other of murder. The evidence is compelling but did both sisters kill their father or is one innocent and the other guilty? Or is it possible that they are both innocent!

This is a good book for those who like to be given a few twists along the way. The legal characters – Eddie, Kate, Bloch, Harry and Harper – are very likeable, the sisters pretty convincing but are they likeable? For me you kind of try and hold back if you believe one of them is the murderer – as the cover says:

Who do you believe?

The chapters entitled ‘She’ in the book really do work well and keep your mind on the fence or rather jumping from one side to the other and back again!

I enjoyed reading this book, it was an interesting concept and I look forward to picking up the other books I have by this author.

Book: Purchased | * I also have Thirteen and The Liar along with the standalone Twisted so I was pleased Fifty Fifty came up in the book club as I’ve long been interested in reading Steve Cavanagh’s books.

The Virtual Crime Book Club

The Virtual Crime Book Club is hosted by Rebecca Bradley, author of the D I Hannah Robbins and D I Claudia Nunn series as well as standalone novels.

Rebecca is a great host and often gets the authors to come along and chat with us. You can find out more on Rebecca’s website.

Warning!

You can watch the meetings on YouTube. Be aware they may contain spoilers so, if you’re planning to read the book, it may be better not to watch them until you’ve done so.

A Virtual Crime Book Club – Fifty Fifty episode

Information

Published: Headline | 3 Sept. 2020 | PAPERBACK |ISBN-13: 9781409185864 | 409 pp

Buy: Amazon | Hive | bookshop.org (affiliate link) | your local library | your local bookshop

Author: Steve Cavanagh is the multi-million 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. If you want to get in touch with Steve, use the social media links below. 

X (formerly Twitter) | Bluesky | Website

Books

The Defence | The Plea | The Liar | Thirteen | Fifty-Fifty |The Devil’s Advocate | The Accomplice | Witness 8

Standalone

Twisted | Kill For Me, Kill ForYou

Books