Thirteen – Eddie Flynn Series #4

Author: Steve Cavanagh
Genre: Psychological Thriller
336 pages
Publisher: Headline, 2018

Synopsis
THE SERIAL KILLER ISN’T ON TRIAL. HE’S ON THE 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.

My review
Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh is the fourth book in the Eddie Flynn series, but the first for me. It can definitely be read as standalone, and while I might have missed some nuances of Flynn’s backstory, Cavanagh did a commendable job of weaving in enough history to keep me from feeling lost. Having heard so much praise about this series, and Thirteen in particular, I was eager to dive into the story. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but I felt a bit let down. Don’t get me wrong, the story is entertaining, and Cavanagh’s writing is clear and engaging, with an interesting premise; however, it didn’t quite blow me away.

This is one of those books that relies on the big hook, but can’t quite live up to its promise. While there is genuine originality and a good dose of fun, the characters are a bit hit and miss. Eddie Flynn is the highlight, with an intriguing backstory and steadfast personal morality—his chapters, especially the courtroom scenes, kept me turning the pages. On the other hand, the supervillain Joshua Kane exemplifies the book’s main flaw: everything about him is overly exaggerated. Kane, a master killer, has evaded capture for years, eluding the FBI, local police, and every other agency. He can forge documents, has secret insider contacts, manages to get on every jury of the murders he’s committed, yet Flynn catches him in less than a week. Additionally, I found it hard to believe that no one would notice their friend, co-worker, or loved one was missing while Kane impersonated them as a juror in a multi-week trial.

Overall, Thirteen has an interesting premise and, as long as I didn’t expect too much, it was fun to read. If you decide to pick up this book, enjoy it for what it is—a far-fetched yet engaging story that doesn’t demand too much thought. Cavanagh’s writing is enjoyable, and I’ll likely read more of his work, though I’m not sure I feel compelled to read the entire series.

My recommendation: read it – but be ready to suspend disbelief and maybe experience a few eye rolls!