Steve Cavanagh Books in Order (Updated February 22, 2026)

Steve Cavanagh is an Irish thriller author best known for his Eddie Flynn legal-thriller novels. Most of his bibliography sits in that one continuing storyline, with two true standalones alongside it.

If you want the sharpest experience of reveals, courtroom reversals, and evolving relationships, treat Eddie Flynn as a single long arc and read it in sequence.

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Your reading “map” in 30 seconds

There are only three buckets:

• Eddie Flynn series (connected): read in order for best payoff
• Standalone novels (not connected): read anytime
• Bonus/short fiction and collaborations (optional): extras only

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Where to start, depending on what you want

• Start at the start (recommended): The Defence, the clean introduction to Eddie, his voice, and his methods.
• Want a short “test run” first: The Cross, a prequel novella that gives you Eddie’s early shape before Book 1.
• Only want one book with no series commitment: Twisted or Kill For Me Kill For You (both standalones).

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Eddie Flynn series (publication order)

A con artist turned lawyer, operating in a world where trials are combat and “the obvious answer” is rarely the right one.
This series is built for momentum; later entries assume you know Eddie’s alliances, enemies, and scars.

0. The Cross (2015) – novella: A prequel slice that works as a sampler, showing Eddie’s instincts before the main run begins.
1. The Defence (2015): Eddie’s first major case establishes the series’ blend of courtroom strategy and streetwise problem-solving.
2. The Plea (2016): A high-stakes legal battle that deepens Eddie’s circle and raises the personal cost of winning.
3. The Liar (2017): A truth-versus-performance case where credibility becomes the weapon and the trap.
4. Thirteen (2018): A jury-focused thriller that turns the trial format inside out.
5. Fifty-Fifty (2020): A “two sides, one verdict” setup built for rapid perspective shifts and escalating suspicion.
6. The Devil’s Advocate (2021): Eddie is pulled into a hostile venue where the system itself feels rigged.
7. The Accomplice (2022): A case where proximity to the truth becomes dangerous, and loyalty is tested hard.
8. Witness 8 (2024): A witness-centered chess match where what someone saw matters less than why they’re saying it now.
9. Two Kinds of Stranger (2025): A later-arc entry that leans on established relationships and long-running consequences.
10. One of Us is Guilty (2026): The next Eddie Flynn novel (announced for July 2026), positioned as the tenth main installment.

Best practice: read 1 → 10 in order, using The Cross as optional “Book 0.”
If you insist on skipping around: start no later than Thirteen, the emotional context becomes much thicker after that.

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Standalone novels (no shared continuity)

These do not connect to Eddie Flynn and can be read whenever you want a one-book experience.

1. Twisted (2019): A standalone thriller designed around misdirection, what looks like the story is not the story.
2. Kill For Me Kill For You (2023): Two strangers make a revenge pact, and the agreement becomes the mechanism that tightens the noose.

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Optional extras (for completists only)

These items are not required for understanding the main novels.

• Scorpion (2017) – short collaboration piece: Listed as part of the “Group Fifteen Files” project (with Mark Dawson).
• The Neon Punch (short story): A brief Eddie Flynn story circulating as an online short; treat it as flavor text rather than canon you must track down.

(If you’re new, ignore these until after you’ve read at least one Eddie Flynn novel.)

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The simplest “do this and you’ll be fine” plan

1. Read The Defence → The Plea → The Liar → Thirteen.
2. If you’re hooked, continue straight through Fifty-Fifty → The Devil’s Advocate → The Accomplice → Witness 8 → Two Kinds of Stranger.
3. Add One of Us is Guilty when you reach it (or when it releases in your region).
4. Slot Twisted or Kill For Me Kill For You anywhere as a standalone break.

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FAQ

Do I have to read The Cross first?
No. It’s a prequel novella. It’s useful if you like origin context, but it’s not required.

Is Kill For Me Kill For You part of Eddie Flynn?
No. It’s a standalone with its own cast and premise.

Why do the Eddie Flynn books work best in order if each has a separate case?
Because the emotional damage, trust, and professional consequences accumulate. You won’t be lost if you jump in late, but you’ll blunt reveals that were meant to land gradually.

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Bottom line

If you want Steve Cavanagh “in order,” you’re really choosing one thing: read Eddie Flynn in publication order, then pick the two standalones whenever you want a clean, single-book detour.