The Defense: A Novel

«If you're a fan of John Grisham, Scott Turow, and Brad Meltzer, then you will be a fan of Steve Cavanagh's The Defense.» *—Nelson DeMille, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Radiant Angel*

Eddie Flynn used to be a con artist. Then he became a lawyer. Turns out the two aren't that different.

Former con artist turned lawyer Eddie Flynn gave up the law a year ago after a disastrous case, and he vowed never to step foot in a courtroom again. But now he doesn't have a choice. The head of the Russian mob in New York City, on trial for murder, has kidnapped Eddie's ten-year-old daughter: Eddie has to take this case whether he likes it or not.

Using his razor-sharp wit and every con, bluff, grift, and trick in the book, Eddie has only forty-eight hours to defend an impossible murder trial. And if he loses this case, he loses everything.

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Review
“Cavanagh’s stellar debut provides everything a reader could ask for in a thriller―nail-biting suspense, a Russian nesting doll of a plot, and an original and compelling lead.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review

“If you're a fan of John Grisham, Scott Turow, and Brad Meltzer, then you will be a fan of Steve Cavanagh's *The Defense. Cavanagh's debut novel introduces a wonderfully flawed hero, Eddie Flynn, one-time con man, now turned lawyer, who will hold you spellbound. This is a hell of a genre-bending book. I hope Cavanagh's working on the sequel.” ―Nelson DeMille, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Radiant Angel*

“Steve Cavanagh's The Defense puts the 'thrill' back in 'legal thriller.' Non-stop action, unexpected and totally cool plot twists, a sympathetic genius of a con-man/attorney, and a clock that never ever ever stops ticking — this isn't narrative drive, it's rocket-like narrative propulsion! Hop aboard and enjoy the ride!” ―John Lescroart, New York Times bestselling author of The Fall and the Dismas Hardy series

“Reads a lot like a courtroom drama that Lee Child might write about Jack Reacher's younger, hotter-headed brother.” ―Irish Times

“Part classic courtroom drama in the John Grisham tradition and part Bruce Willis-like action hero fiction straight out of the Die Hard franchise, this is a rip-roaring action-packed and highly entertaining debut.” ―Irish Independent

“The Defense is the best kind of legal thriller, proving that the real drama takes place outside of the courtroom, in the head and the heart. I started reading to see what would happen next, but couldn't put the book down because I needed to learn more about con man turned lawyer Eddie Flynn, the smartest man in the courthouse. I was hooked until the last satisfying page.” ―Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author of The Ex

About the Author
STEVE CAVANAGH was born and raised in Belfast before studying law in Dublin. He practices civil rights law and has been involved in several high profile cases; in 2010 Steve represented a factory worker who won the largest award of damages for race discrimination in Northern Ireland's legal history. Steve is married with two young children. The Defense is his first novel.