She Treads Softly: Two Kinds of Stranger

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Two Kinds of Stranger

Two Kinds of Stranger by Steve Cavanagh
3/24/26; 400 pages
Atria Books
Eddie Flynn #9

Two Kinds of Stranger by Steve Cavanagh is an excellent, very highly recommended twisty psychological and legal thriller. This is another un-put-downable, riveting page-turner which follows two cases and is the ninth novel featuring Eddie Flynn. It can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel.

Elly Parker is a social media influencer on TikToc known for her daily random acts of kindness who had misfortune to be filming when she discovered her husband James and best friend in bed together. The video went viral before she could delete it. Even though her world has collapsed, Elly continued to do her acts of kindness without filming. When she helps a man with a broken leg get his suitcase down the stairs, it is actually part of a devious plan that results in Elly being charged for the murder of her husband and best friend. Elly hired Flynn to defend her, pitting him against an unknown sociopathic killer and master manipulator.

The second case is closer to home when Flynn's ex-wife Christine, her new husband Kevin, and his 16-year-old daughter are being threatened by con-man Arthur Cross and his associate. He is having the family watched and threatened with the intent on extracting revenge after Kevin legally defeats his plot to inherit millions.

Two Kinds of Stranger is a well-written, outstanding, and entertaining addition to the series. The writing and plotting is exceptional. The tension remains high throughout this fast-paced engrossing thriller as Eddie and his team work out the defense. Eddie's plans are unpredictable and you likely won't know what he's planning until it's already accomplished, but it is entertaining and intriguing to follow Eddie's actions and clever plans come into fruition.

Eddie Flynn is a defense attorney and master strategist. He is also a former streetwise con-artist who thinks outside the box. The defense team include: legal partner Kate Brooks, office manager Denise, investigators Melissa Bloch and Gabriel Lake, and his mentor retired Judge Harry Ford. Eddie is known for using some questionable and creative tactics to uncover the truth. There are always complications along the way that put Eddie and his team under a constant threat.

All the members of Eddie's team work well together and they all have distinct personalities. It is engaging and sometimes amusing to see Eddie's encounters with the wide variety of contacts he has around the city. You might have to set a little bit of disbelief aside, which I gladly did because the whole novel is so well done.

Two Kinds of Stranger is absolutely very highly recommended for everyone who enjoys legal/psychological thrillers. Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

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John Updike's six rules for reviewing:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation--at least one extended passage--of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it's his and not yours?

To these concrete five might be added a vaguer sixth, having to do with maintaining a chemical purity in the reaction between product and appraiser.....Review the book, not the reputation.... Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.