Two Kinds Of Stranger (Eddie Flynn #9)

Author: Steve Cavanagh
Genre: Legal Crime Thriller
400 pages
Publisher: Atria Books, UK publication date July 2025; US publication date March 2026

Synopsis
SHE HELPED A PERFECT A STRANGER. SHE DIDN’T KNOW HE WAS THE PERFECT KILLER…

Ellie Parker had everything.
Perfect husband. Perfect apartment. Perfect friends and the perfect job.
As an internet celebrity – famed for her random acts of kindness – everyone knew it.
So when a betrayal causes her to lose it all, millions of people are watching.

But even at her lowest, Ellie will always help someone in need.
Which makes her the perfect target for a sadistic game.
Because as she soon learns, you can never trust a stranger – and a seemingly random encounter plunges her into a nightmare worse than she ever imagined.

The only person she can turn to is conman turned trial lawyer Eddie Flynn, who must take on a case where nothing is what it seems. With the most cruelly ingenious mind manipulating events from the shadows, everyone is in danger – including Eddie and his family.

My review
Steve Cavanagh returns with the latest Eddie Flynn legal thriller, Two Kinds of Stranger. I’ve read most of this series, and Cavanagh never disappoints. This installment was an absolute blast: fast-paced, entertaining, packed with twists and turns. I’ve really grown attached to Flynn and his crew – Kate Brooks, Bloch, Gabriel Lake, Harry Ford (plus Clarence the dog!), and Denise. As always, the story is action-filled, lightened with humor, and never veers too far into darkness.

Eddie Flynn, ex-con artist turned lawyer, still has little regard for the rules of law, but when he bends them, it’s always in service to someone else. This time, he’s defending Ellie Parker, a popular social influencer known for her random acts of kindness shared with her large online following. Her seemingly perfect life unravels in an instant, and to make matters worse, the entire incident is captured on a live stream for millions to witness. When Parker is charged with murder, Flynn steps in to unravel the truth. Meanwhile, he’s also trying to help his ex-wife Christine and her husband Kevin, who find themselves under threat from a dangerous adversary.

The novel focuses on two converging storylines, and Cavanagh does a brilliant job weaving them together at just the right moments to maintain the tension and pace. His writing is sharp, engaging, and effortless to read.

My only criticism is there’s less of the trademark snappy courtroom banter this time. Kate feels off her game, and Flynn doesn’t rely as much on his usual bag of tricks. Despite these flaws, the story delivers plenty of excitement and fun, with a final twist that lands perfectly!

Two Kinds of Stranger is another strong entry in the series. I’ll gladly pick up every Eddie Flynn novel that comes along, and I can’t wait to see what Cavanagh has planned next.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Steve Cavanagh for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

My recommendation: another solid installment in the Eddie Flynn series and definitely worth the read!