Steve Cavanagh at literary festivals

Last checked: 28 October 2026

Steve Cavanagh writes crime thrillers in which a legal argument can be as dangerous as a confrontation outside court. His recurring character Eddie Flynn brings a con artist’s background into the work of a defence lawyer. Cavanagh’s 2026 appearances at Harrogate and Bloody Scotland paired him with fellow former lawyer Nadine Matheson. Those conversations connected the author’s professional background with his fiction, without suggesting that his invented cases are accounts of his own legal work.

Quick facts

Best known for: The Eddie Flynn thrillers
Genre or subject: Crime and legal thrillers
Latest book: One of Us Is Guilty (2026)
2026 festivals: Bloody Scotland, Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival

About Steve Cavanagh

Cavanagh was born and raised in Belfast and is a former lawyer. His own biography identifies both the Eddie Flynn novels and standalone thrillers as parts of his work. It describes the CWA Gold Dagger awarded to The Liar in 2018 and the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award for Thirteen in 2019.

Flynn’s earlier life as a con artist supplies a starting point for the series. The character knows that the story someone presents is not necessarily the whole account. As a reader, you can follow how a case is argued while considering what its participants want other people to believe. Questions about persuasion and fairness can connect an individual novel with the wider series.

When selecting a book before an event, check whether it is an Eddie Flynn case or a standalone. That can help you choose between learning about a familiar character and beginning with a separate premise.

A question about Flynn need not expose the solution to a case. You could ask how an author separates a convincing argument from a true account, or how he decides which information a reader should receive before a revelation. If your interest is the series, ask about the balance between a familiar character and a new predicament. Keep the question open enough to avoid demanding a spoiler.

The legal setting also offers questions about pace and explanation. Notice when a novel gives you procedural detail and when it allows a character’s immediate predicament to take the lead. Reading for that balance can give you a way into a conversation about suspense without treating fictional cases as legal advice.

Where to start with their books

One of Us Is Guilty

Patrick and Vanessa Vanderpool’s marriage, ambitions and an affair lead into a murder case with two suspects. Flynn must discover which account can be trusted. Published in 2026, this is the tenth Eddie Flynn book. For event preparation, consider how the premise directs your suspicion before you know what happened. A question about controlling that suspicion can stay clear of the final answer and connect the case with the broader craft of legal suspense.

The Defence

The series begins with a lawyer who had intended to stay away from court. Olek Volchek, a Russian mafia leader, kidnaps Flynn’s daughter and forces him to defend an apparently impossible murder case under a severe deadline. Choose this to meet the character at the beginning. Notice how the personal threat operates alongside the courtroom problem. That offers a starting point for asking how Cavanagh makes a legal process clear while maintaining a thriller’s urgency.

The Liar

Leonard Howell’s daughter Caroline has been kidnapped, and Flynn is drawn into a case in which he is being manipulated. The book places trust and competing accounts at the centre of its premise. It is also the novel associated with Cavanagh’s 2018 CWA award. If you bring it into a conversation about another title, frame your comparison around the kind of dilemma Flynn faces. Avoid giving away an earlier solution for people beginning the series.

Two Kinds of Stranger

Elly Parker is an internet celebrity known for acts of kindness. After a public betrayal, an encounter with a stranger pulls her into a dangerous game, and Flynn becomes involved in a case that threatens his family too. Consider how a reader’s knowledge of the premise changes the way an ordinary encounter is read. What can an author conceal even after signalling that danger is coming? That is a question about suspense’s construction, not a culprit’s identity.

Festival appearances

For tickets, use the host festival’s official box office. Confirm the date, venue and access details before paying.

2026

Steve Cavanagh: featured events in 2026
Festival	Date	Event and venue	Official source
Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival	24 July 2026	Nadine Matheson & Steve Cavanagh Theakston Stage, Old Swan Hotel	Official listing
Bloody Scotland	19 September 2026	In Conversation: Steve Cavanagh and Nadine Matheson Albert Halls	Official listing

What their events are like

Harrogate’s programme included Nadine Matheson & Steve Cavanagh on 24 July 2026 at 09:00, on the Theakston Stage at the Old Swan Hotel.

Bloody Scotland included In Conversation: Steve Cavanagh and Nadine Matheson on 19 September 2026 at 16:45, at the Albert Halls in Stirling. The chair was Ayo Onatade. The organiser connected both authors’ former legal careers with their crime writing. These appearances have finished; their official links provide 2026 event details.

The two events were paired conversations. A later session could use a different chair or focus on another book, so read its description before deciding what to expect.

Where to see them next

No 2027 appearances announced yet. Check the festival guides for programme dates.

A new edition’s dates alone do not confirm a place for Cavanagh in its programme. Use a named event to settle the date, venue and organiser before planning a trip around him.

Plan your trip

Use our Harrogate or Bloody Scotland guide to explore the settings of these appearances. The matching stay guides help you compare bases separately from choosing an author session.

For a new booking, start with the individual venue and finishing time. Allow for leaving the auditorium and reaching your transport, and confirm any signing before building it into the schedule. If you want several crime events, compare their locations as well as the gaps between them.

A room that fits your final session can be a different choice from one selected only for the station where you arrive. Keep accommodation and event cancellation conditions together when reviewing the cost. If you plan to leave bags after checkout, include collecting them in the journey home.

Bloody Scotland: festival guide · Where to stay · 2027 programme
Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival: festival guide · Where to stay · 2027 programme

Find a room in Stirling ↗Paid link: we may earn a commission if you book.

Crime festivals

Your questions about Steve Cavanagh

Where should I begin with Eddie Flynn?

The Defence introduces him. You can also choose the title named for an event, then decide whether you want to return to the earlier cases.

Are the 2026 conversations still forthcoming?

The Harrogate and Bloody Scotland sessions described here have finished. Look for a new official event page before booking a trip to see him.

Does every book feature Flynn?

Cavanagh’s biography includes standalone thrillers as well as the series. Check the individual title when choosing your reading, especially if you prefer a separate story.

Is an audience Q&A guaranteed?

A later event’s format cannot be predicted from these past sessions. Use its programme description or ask the organiser about questions and any signing.