A high-stakes thriller, Fifty-Fifty certainly doesn’t disappoint, its pages read with quickening apprehension as you try to work out just who the killer is, and with both suspects pointing the finger at each other, it’s not going to be easy. Both look innocent. Both look guilty. And worse, they’re sisters. This deadly game of murder has only just begun.
Cavanagh presents this engaging and highly original story – which is a luxury in crime writing today (the market being over-flooded) – as two sisters stand accused of their father’s murder. But with evidence against both, not to mention motive, just who is guilty? And what will the cost end up being?
Utterly intriguing and devilishly engrossing, the main attraction of the book, and by far its greatest strength was the antagonist, whose own self-reflections and actions were punctuated between chapters of the protagonists – the opposing lawyers who each represent a different accused sister, and whom they wholeheartedly believe to be the innocent one. Meanwhile the killer’s motives, past, and mindset are exposed in the chapters labelled ‘She’. But just who is the she? The carefully placed breadcrumbs leading to either sister, a point Steve Cavanagh has worked hard to maintain. Warning, there are red herrings galore and it’s obvious you’re meant to keep switching between which sister, or even both.
Set very much in today’s modern climate, Fifty-Fifty provides the current tone of America, however many of its socio-political commentaries – racism, crime, class and gender inequality – are mentioned more as a background setting. As such this creates a sense of it being far more real and impactful; it’s not a lecture, but a brief and horrifying reflection of what is a daily occurrence for many. However, one theme is commented on more frequently; that of sexual inequality and harassment, and it’s powerful enough to make the skin crawl with more than a touch of today’s realism. Although the final battle of this particular war, does step a little further from daily experiences, but still it can, and does happen. Meanwhile acts of racism lie barely beneath a thinly veiled surface – enough to make you want to pull your hair out, or more accurately theirs – and creates another opposing force for the book’s protagonists to overcome. In fact there are many difficulties for the characters, some of which warrant further exploration, but Cavanagh tries not to overwhelm the reader with obstacles, and leaves instead an appetite for these in the future.
Returning to the tone of sexual inequality, and in a lovely move of combating it, Cavanagh beautifully renders a strong female adversarial – one that’s very different to the typical trope of female villains. For this foe is not just smart, but physically powerful, and with a mindset that’s full of predatory instincts. She’s not ruled by the usual motives given to female killers such as revenge, lust, greed, etc, but instead there’s a sick, evil and twisted nature inside her – one that loves to kill. This stamp of a difference makes her more than a formidable match to the book’s heroes, and at times you feel she far outweighs their strengths – in the end she might just win.
Written in the third person, it’s the inclusion of the antagonist’s thoughts that gives the book real momentum, but towards the end her chapters are left out – with her thoughts and actions only to be imagined. An intention maybe to make the end less predictable? To have you wondering just who she is and what she’ll do? But it also means that it loses some of the striking punch it’s been swinging for – ending with sparks but not a bang. This is partially contributed to by the clichés that suddenly come into play, and although many made me smile, others felt a bit 1980s TV detective; hurried, sloppy and involving sudden bits of luck which didn’t fit in with the rest of the book. This may have been covered with a more explained and detailed lead-up, but then again by not having this, the book’s last red herring turns into a real one.
Fifty-Fifty by Cavanagh, is the fifth novel featuring his leading man Eddie Flynn – the ex-con artist turned lawyer – a charming “hero” who reminds me in part of Patrick Jane from the popular tv show ‘The Mentalist’. Not just for the similarity of an ex-con wanting to save the innocent and find the guilty, but because of his suaveness, and desire to do good – all the while battling his own inner demons. However, you don’t need to have read previous books in the Eddie Flynn series to enjoy Fifty-Fifty, with Cavanagh quickly setting each individual’s personality and background with clear ease, and no stiflingly long paragraphs. But you may just fall in love with Eddie and find yourself reading more of his stories, I know I have.
Other Notable Works by Steve Cavanagh:
- Eddie Flynn Series:
+ Thirteen 2018 (4)
+ The Liar 2017 (3)
+ The Plea 2016 (2)
+ The Defence 2015 (1)
Book Edition Information:
Publisher: Orion
ISBN: 978-1-4091-8586-4
Cover Design: www.headdesign.co.uk
Presented Edition: 2020 Paperback
Background image courtesy of lalesh aldarwish from Pexels
