Tini's Reviews > The Cross

Eddie Flynn, the origin story (kind of).

4.5 stars rounded up.

Predating the entire Eddie Flynn series published thus far, "The Cross" is an absolute treat for fans of Steve Cavanagh’s street-smart conman-turned-lawyer Eddie Flynn. In this story, initially published in 2015, Eddie takes on the seemingly impossible case of a widow whose husband died in a confrontation with a police officer. The deceased man was accused of murder himself, but the pieces don’t add up - and Eddie can smell a setup. With his tiny two-man law firm on the brink of collapse, one trial could make or break everything. What follows is a whirlwind twenty-four hours in New York, culminating in the kind of razor-sharp cross-examination that has become Eddie’s trademark.

As someone who recently binged nearly the entire Eddie Flynn backlist, it was fascinating to go back to where it all began. Eddie here is still every bit as compelling, though a little rougher around the edges - scrappy, hustling, and without his later crew of brilliant misfits to support him, meaning he has the courtroom all to himself, giving him more of a chance to shine. His only backup is his “partner in the law” Jack Halloran, whom fans will recognize from the next book in the series, "The Defense".

The author’s note at the end (read by Steve Cavanagh himself, natch) infuses the book with an unsettling authenticity and an urgency that hasn't changed even ten years after the novella's initial publication, especially once you learn the novella was inspired by a real case Cavanagh - himself a lawyer who, at that time, was practicing in Ireland - wished he could have cross-examined. In many ways, Eddie is the embodiment of that “what if” fantasy.

The audiobook is superbly produced, with Adam Sims once again narrating as the voice of Eddie Flynn. Sims captures Eddie’s streetwise charm and intelligence perfectly, striking the right balance between wit and gravitas. His narration elevates the tension in the courtroom scenes and keeps the pace electric throughout - proof that this pairing of author and narrator is as good as it gets in legal thrillers.

My only complaint? As a novella, it’s over far too soon. I could have spent hours more with Eddie navigating the courtroom and weaponizing his conman’s insight into human psychology. But for its brevity, not a single word is wasted - "The Cross" is a compelling courtroom drama / legal thriller, and once again quintessentially Eddie Flynn.

Highly recommended for series veterans and newcomers alike, and a perfect bridge into the next book in the series. And if you can, do yourself a favor and listen to the audiobook - Adam Sims makes Eddie Flynn come alive.

Many thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio | Simon & Schuster Audio Originals and NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This edition of "The Cross" is slated to be released on November 18, 2025.