Readers Guide with Spoilers for Witness 8

I definitely see parallels between Ruby and Freida McFadden’s “Millie the Housemaid” character. Ruby used to live on West 72nd Street with her family, but now has to work as a nanny and housekeeper, which she resents.

When Ruby witnesses the murder of Margaret “Maggs” Blakemore, she knows exactly who did it. The reader doesn’t get this information right away, but we watch Ruby retrieve the gun dumped by the killer and steal it. (This, in my opinion, is what makes the book a thriller.)

Meanwhile, lawyer Eddie Flynn has a contract out on his head after exposing some police corruption while defending a client.

We learn that Ruby has framed Dr. John Jackson for the murder. She called in an anonymous tip and planted the gun in his townhouse.

Why does Ruby frame Dr. Jackson?

It’s not entirely clear. Ruby babysits the Johnson’s son, Tomas. Also, Ruby is resentful that the Johnsons have recently hired a housekeeper to clean, cutting Ruby’s hours. Finally, Ruby seems to be a little off, hearing voices coming from a painting of a red priest at the Johnson’s home.

We learn that one of Ruby’s main motivations is money.

As Ruby’s mother was badly abused by Ruby’s father, she has cognitive issues and needs to be in assisted living, which Ruby can’t afford.

Eddie is hired by John Jackson to defend him in his murder trial.

Ruby knows that Maggs was having an affair with two neighbors: Todd Ellis and Brett Bale. One of them killed Maggs.

Eddie proceeds with his case. Maggs’s husband, Alan, has an alibi. But Eddie doesn’t understand what Dr. Jackson’s motive would be.

A contract killer called Mr. Christmas is persuaded to take the job to kill Eddie.

Ruby makes some crazy moves!

Ruby blackmails both Ellis and Bale to keep quiet about their affairs with Maggs. She then frames the new maid, Althea, for stealing, gets Althea’s entire family deported, and murders Mrs. Jackson’s mother, who warned her daughter about Ruby.

What’s going on with the case?

Eddie realizes Jackson was framed and is determined to find out by whom. Flynn’s mentor and associate, Harry Ford, is shot by someone trying to kill Eddie.

Eddie’s associate Kate, who is handing most of Jackson’s case, learns that there is a new anonymous witness against Jackson, whom the reader realizes must be Ruby.

What about the hit on Eddie?

Mr. Christmas decides not to kill Eddie and warns him that a contract killer called Angel is the one who shot Harry. He also received a new assignment: to kill Ruby. One of the men being blackmailed traced the blackmail to Ruby and wants her dead.

Flynn is trying to decide whether Bale or Ellis killed Maggs.

Ruby arrives home to find Mr. Christmas talking to her mother. He wants his client’s blackmail money back and she agrees to give it to him. Luckily, she still has half of it.

Mr. Christmas picks up the money from Ruby, but Eddie and his crew manage to steal it.

Brett Bale kidnaps Ruby, but she is saved by Mr. Christmas, who kills Bale and informs her that Ellis, who was his client, is also dead.

Who actually killed Maggs?

In court, Kate proves that the only forensic evidence tying Jackson to the murder is a handprint that belongs to his son, Tomas. Ruby testifies, but to the shock of the DA, says that Brett Bale is the one who killed Maggs.

Why was Ruby doing all this?

We finally learn Ruby’s motive: her father was buried behind the painting of the red priest in the Jackson home, which is where Ruby and her parents used to live. (Funny that NO one mentioned that fact that I can remember…) The Jacksons were planning a renovation, and Ruby knew her secret would be discovered.

What was the ending of Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh?

• John Jackson is acquitted.
• Flynn manages to kill Angel, and uses Ruby’s blackmail money to pay off the crooked cops who put out the hit on him.
• Harry Ford wakes up.
• Ruby ends up in jail for her various crimes.
• Mr. Christmas considers breaking her out.