Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh
Published 12th June 2018 by Orion Publishing
384 pages
Genre: Crime/Legal Thriller
Book Description:
The serial killer isn't on trial. He's on the jury.
Hollywood actor Robert Soloman stands accused of the brutal stabbings of his wife and her lover, but he is desperately pleading that he had nothing to do with it. This is the trial of the century, and the defence want Eddie Flynn on their team.
The biggest case Eddie has ever tried before, he decides to take it on despite the overwhelming evidence that Robert is guilty. As the trial starts, Eddie becomes sure of Robert's innocence, but there's something else he is even more sure of - that there is something sinister going on in the jury box.
Because of this, he is forced to ask: what if the killer isn't on the stand? What if he's on the jury?
Hollywood actor Robert Soloman stands accused of the brutal stabbings of his wife and her lover, but he is desperately pleading that he had nothing to do with it. This is the trial of the century, and the defence want Eddie Flynn on their team.
The biggest case Eddie has ever tried before, he decides to take it on despite the overwhelming evidence that Robert is guilty. As the trial starts, Eddie becomes sure of Robert's innocence, but there's something else he is even more sure of - that there is something sinister going on in the jury box.
Because of this, he is forced to ask: what if the killer isn't on the stand? What if he's on the jury?
My Review:
Having read the tagline for this I tried and tried to get an advance copy of this book for months; I entered competitions, requested from Netgalley - I even got myself in such a knot I mistakenly asked in Waterstones in England for a copy, not realising it had only been released in Ireland and I had to wait another few months until its release in June in England. Then my amazing partner spotted it in Tesco while getting a newspaper and bought me a copy - probably because he was so sick of hearing my grumbles of frustration!
I've not read any of Steve Cavanagh's previous books, and did begin to wonder whether I should perhaps have done so during my period of frustration. But once I started reading I was so hooked in to the intrigue that I knew that this was going to work just as well as a standalone as it does as part of the series. We know right from the prologue that Joshua Kane is a cold, ruthless killer. It's not until the last page has been completed that we realise just how deep and twisted that killer instinct runs through him. You have to read the whole book in order to comprehend just how many pieces this guy is prepared to put into place to achieve his evil intent.
But how on earth was he going to get on to the jury and not get rumbled? I kept expecting him to have to stall his plans and rethink things, but he just assesses all the time and keeps his cool, staying under the radar and unsuspected of any wrong doing.
How much planning did this book take?? I am super impressed with Steve Cavanagh's plotting skills, as this book definitely took serial killing to another level. Just when you think that's it, you have the story complete, there's another layer lying there waiting to be discovered.
From early, literally eye watering scenes of the lengths Kane is prepared to go to in order to take his victim's place in their lives to the cold calculations he has made which help him escape any inkling of investigation, the whole book is an outstanding work. I can't think of any point I could possibly criticise. As with all good crime novels there are red herrings thrown in along the way but the final chapters had me well and truly gripped as the case came to a great finale. During the course of the book I found myself trying to work out the case and any relevant facts which may have slipped past my awareness, even when I had put it down to get housework done or while sat in traffic to and from work. This is one which creeps under your skin and gets your brain working.
It's a strange one timescale and pace-wise. In some ways things seem to just tick along, then you realise that everything you've just read has happened in such a short time frame that actually it's quite frantic. You appreciate the urgency of the defence lawyer getting his facts together in time to present to the court but there is a calmness to the writing that reflects the depth of thought that is going on in order to get things right for Bobby Solomon but also the calculating nature of Kane. Boy, can he play the long game. It's all very clever. And then once the bigger picture gradually comes into focus as to what Joshua Kane is all about, things really do wow you as a reader.
Now I have read the book I am actually pleased I had the anticipation of waiting for it. I did wonder whether it would live up to the hype of such a brilliant tag line, and I can now say with a resounding voice that oh yes, it most certainly does. This is one of those books that will have you thinking about it way after you put it down wondering whether there is an actual, real life Joshua Kane out there. And if there is, we should be very afraid.
About the Author:
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