A compulsively readable crime thriller, I was introduced to Steve Cavanagh through his excellent thriller Kill for Me, Kill for You. While the marketing for Witness 8 is filled with thriller-y buzzwords (such as 'perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Megan Miranda'), just note this is more of a crime procedural/courtroom drama, as well as the eighth entry to an ongoing series. However, I still had a blast reading it, thanks to its dynamic cast, sharp writing (with a dash of humor), and a narrative that's constantly on the move.

The ensemble cast was pretty easy to familiarize, each with their own distinguishable persona (you didn't need knowledge of prior novels for this). Witness 8's success was anchored by its illusive antagonist, Ruby, who provided the majority of the 'thriller-y' flavor—it was exhilarating reading characters trying to out-maneuver one another. I was also pleasantly surprised by Witness 8's courtroom segments; concerned they would be monotonous and laden with technical terms, but turned out I was completely captivated by the strategic moves and countermoves.

With so many fundamental aspects against it (crime procedural/courtroom drama + serial), Witness 8 couldn't have fared better for me—tonally this is very much reminiscent of Law & Order or Criminal Minds. Aside from its resolution being a little too neat, and the leniency on realism, this one is worth looking into by readers who discovered the author via Kill for Me, Kill for You, and don't mind trying something a little different.

**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**