Book Summary and Reviews of Two Kinds of Stranger by Steve Cavanagh

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Janine_S

Exciting thriller
I didn't realize this was the sixth book in a series (Eddie Flynn) but I soon realized you didn't have to know because the book can be read as a stand alone and is so so good!
Eddie Flynn isn't as much of a character in this book as are all those who surround him - Lake and Bloch, Katie, Harry, Amy and Logan (you must read the book to find out who they are - trust me, it's worth). But Eddie is in the midst of two cases that all the other characters have a stake in and which actually are connected: the double murders alleged to by Elly Hatfield and the murder of Andrew Cross by Eddie's ex-wife and her husband. Both of these are stunner cases and the sleuthing is excellent. The trials were so good too. Plus the author has created such a delicious killer! And the twist at the end is to die for (not literally).

This is my second book by this author and I am so blown away by his cleverness (how does one think up these characters, motivations, evidence, etc. - I'm in awe!). The title is so clever too. I really liked Eddie and his "crew." Bloch is the bomb! And I'm so geeked by this book, I'm going to start the series somehow.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read this ARC.

labmom55

Requires a suspension of belief
Two Kinds of Stranger is the 9th in the Eddie Flynn series. Eddie is a conman turned defense lawyer. This time, he’s defending Ellie Parker, a tiktok influencer who pushes random acts of kindness. She’s accused of murdering her husband and best friend. Her alibi is that she was practicing a RAK at the time. For a man that tries to kill her.

Meanwhile, Eddie’s ex-wife’s current husband is dealing with a stalker former client and things turn deadly. The story is wonderfully convoluted and totally pulled me in.
The story alternates between multiple narratives, primarily Eddie, his partner Kate, Ellie and the killer. Eddie is a great main character. Smart and not afraid to bend the rules. Kate is the opposite of Eddie, never wanting to stray outside the lines. I will admit to being much more invested in their sections, because I love scenes set inside the courtroom. Ellie was the typical scared person accused of a crime and in over her head. Logan, the killer, is diabolical. He makes a game of killing people and getting someone else blamed. But even with understanding his background, I struggled with one important aspect of his personality which had me googling sociopathic personalities.

The pace is swift, the tension high and the plot lines complex. The courtroom scenes are well thought out and feel totally real. Flip side, the thriller aspects of the book required a total suspension of belief. While I know that’s to be expected, it always kind of annoys me. The book is 400 pages, but I flew through it.

Warning, there is a lot of violence in this book. Fans of legal procedurals will enjoy not just this book but the entire series.
My thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this book.

Other books by Steve Cavanagh at BookBrowse