The Defence

 

By Steve Cavanagh

Review

Reformed con artist and defence lawyer Eddie Flynn is forced to represent Olek Volchek, the head of the Russian mafia in New York. With a hidden bomb strapped to his back and his daughter kidnapped, Eddie doesn't have a choice. With only forty-eight hours to get Volchek off the hook in a murder trial and save his daughter, Eddie must pull out all the stops to outwit formidable adversary Volchek and his goons.

Having read and enjoyed Thirteen, book four in this series, I decided to go back to the beginning with The Defence. Whilst it didn't quite hit the same high spot as Thirteen, it was, nonetheless, an enjoyable read. The plot was good and twisty — with Eddie and Volchek trying to outmanoeuvre each other with cunning and guile. It was a race against the clock with plenty of suspense and anxiety-inducing thrills. A good start to the series and a solid read.      

★★★☆☆

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Orion
• Publication Year: 2015
• Author: Steve Cavanagh
• Genre: Crime, Thriller

Synopsis

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

It's been over a year since Eddie vowed never to set foot in a courtroom again. But now he doesn't have a choice. Olek Volchek, the infamous head of the Russian mafia in New York, has strapped a bomb to Eddie's back and kidnapped his ten-year-old daughter, Amy. Eddie only has forty-eight hours to defend Volchek in an impossible murder trial - and win - if he wants to save his daughter.

Under the scrutiny of the media and the FBI, Eddie must use his razor-sharp wit and every con-artist trick in the book to defend his 'client' and ensure Amy's safety. With the timer on his back ticking away, can Eddie convince the jury of the impossible?