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  • The Defence

  • By: Steve Cavanagh
  • Narrated by: Adam Sims
  • Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,164 ratings)

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The Defence cover art

The Defence

By: Steve Cavanagh
Narrated by: Adam Sims
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Summary

The truth has no place in a courtroom. The truth doesn't matter in a trial.

The only thing that matters is what the prosecution can prove.

Eddie Flynn used to be a con artist. Then he became a lawyer. Turned out the two weren't that different. It's been more than 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 has only 48 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?

Lose this case, and he loses everything.

©2015 Steve Cavanagh (P)2015 Orion Publishing Group

What listeners say about The Defence

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fast and furious.

This was a very enjoyable thriller, it moved quickly and kept me listening all the way through. The narrator was very good and brought the characters to life. I suspect we'll see more of him! There were a few times that disbelief had to be suspended and a couple of loose ends but what is an enjoyable story stood up to that.

12 people found this helpful

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Really good yarn!

I like a good story when I am dog walking, hours s day as I have a spaniel. Monty had more than his usual as I wanted to hear the next chapter. Do nt expect accurate court stuff, suspend belief and just enjoy the tale!

10 people found this helpful

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Marvelously entertaining legal nonsense

Would you listen to The Defence again? Why?

Absolutely, it was an entertaining fast moving thriller with legal and action elements that kept my attention and interest.

Any additional comments?

Assuming you've read the book summary you'll understand this isn't exactly a realistic legal thriller. Featuring a lawyer defending a case with no notice, under threat of a bomb strapped to him and pulling on his background as a con-artist.. yeah this feels like a daft-action-thriller-movie with a concept many would reject.

Yet assuming you don't care about that, the book is solid. Characters are well formed enough, the pace keeps everything moving and there's rarely a dull moment to think about how ridiculous everything is.

If you want something to keep you going on a long drive or doing repetitive work this is ideal fare.

7 people found this helpful

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Definitely the one to use monthly credit on!

What did you like most about The Defence?

The storyline is so original, the main character, Eddie, is likeable and has so much depth. It's actually refreshing to read a crime novel told as if Eddie was telling you in a pub after events had happened.

What about Adam Sims’s performance did you like?

He has a good range of voices and accents.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Win the Case or lose your life.

Any additional comments?

Just buy it.

5 people found this helpful

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Implausible

An ok listen if you want something light but you do have to listen carefully to follow the plot which twists and turns. A good narrator did his best with the voices of each character. It played fast and loose with the courtroom scenes even by US standards. A fair way to pass the time on a long drive.

4 people found this helpful

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Fast paced thriller

I enjoyed the story. Far fetched Russia / New York Mafia tale. Well read and lots of different twists and turns.

4 people found this helpful

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Good for what it is

For some reason I thought I was going to enjoy a courtroom procedural. But whilst there was some nifty courtroom manoeuvres this contained a little too much outside mob action for my liking - and it was a little too 'American'. And how could it not be you rightly complain and you'd be quite right. I did however get swept along by the wave of enthusiastic reviews and I didn't realise exactly what I was getting. Its a decent story - and the ex scammer lawyer a decent enough character - all read perfectly well. It just wasn't quite for me. That is however my fault for mis-choosing than the fault of the book.

3 people found this helpful

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Brilliant, 'page turner"

Hard hitting start sets the scene for the rest of the book. A great courtroom drama with a twist, highly recommended.

3 people found this helpful

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Kept me gripped!

I bought this book to read but I never seem to have the time to sit and read anymore. Anyway the audio version is great and I’ve munched through this on long car journeys like my wife gets through box sets!

Amazing work!!

2 people found this helpful

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absolutely brilliant loved this

a terrific courtroom thriller with great bursts of action and a terrific new lawyer character with secrets.

2 people found this helpful

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  • Rollin
  • 17-04-15

Over the top but very entertaining

What did you love best about The Defence?

The complex court maneuvers by a savvy lawyer and the extremely fast pace and unpredictability of the plot.

What does Adam Sims bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His narration is very well paced and he's able to use different accents and voices.

Any additional comments?

I'll certainly look for more books by Cavanagh, but I would recommend he make his hero a bit more real and not a superman (smart lawyer, good boxer, friend to judges and mafiosi). The main character is great for a first novel but a bit much all the same.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Big jim Picotto
  • 14-03-15

Novel=No Screenplay=Maybe

There are some novels that lack the depth to bring you within its clutches. Shallow dialogue, no character development, unrealistic story, etc.. This is one of those. This is Cavanagh's first book, and it shows. The author is a Lawyer in Norther Ireland, and practices law there. Why he doesn't set the story there i cannot understand. The legal portion of the story is slight, and unrealistic. You would never guess the writer does this for a living. I have to imagine that setting the story in Brooklyn NY has something to do with this. Trying to extract the feel of NY when you grew up and reside in Ireland may be the issue with the depth of the story. Beyond this, for a mystery and not a Sci-fi, i cannot suspend my disbelief this much. Maybe it would work as a movie, maybe not, but it definitely does not work as a novel. Unfortunately, not worth the credit.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Cassaon888
  • 29-09-19

Loved it!

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook and have already purchased the next book in the series.

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  • Caron
  • 31-07-18

fabulous

loved loved loved it. really exciting. hope to find many more by this author. get it!