Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press for sending me an e-arc of this book.

The sequel to Finlay Donovan is Killing It dives into what happened after the first book. In my opinion, the first book sets you up well to what's to come in the sequel filled with new and old characters and lots of twists. The first book was good, but I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. I was hooked from the start because it picks up where it left off in the first book. When it comes to the plot, I thought Elle did a good job in adding that good combination of mystery and comedy to what was happening to Finlay and her surroundings. In addition to that combination, I thought Elle's writing was stronger when it comes to flow and pacing of this book.

We get more of the characters, humour, and those suspenseful moments in this book. To me, it was a journey reading this book because once you think something will happen, it will reveal something unexpected and jaw-dropping. There were moments where I was laughing and moments where my jaw dropped.

I loved Vero and Finlay’s friendship in this book. They are a dynamic duo and so much fun to read about their adventures together. I'm so glad this series focuses on their friendships and how they handle what's happening to them in these books. The second one made me

Overall, this is a solid sequel to a funny and mysterious series. I highly recommend this series to anybody looking for a mystery series filled with laughter and unexpected twists.

Thank you to Minotaur, NetGalley, and the author for the ARC of Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead! All opinions in this review are my own.

I loved Finlay Donovan is Killing It and I'm happy to say that the sequel, Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead, is just as good, if not better!

SYNOPSIS
Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead picks up where book one left off. Instead of having a next target, Finlay is trying to stop a hit from happening. On top of the stress of the holiday season, Finlay must find a way to convince the person they are in danger without revealing too much information. Just like before, Vero is her partner in crime and together they try to uncover who the assassin is.

WHAT I LIKED
- As with the first book, I was laughing out loud while reading this one
- Finlay is such a likable, relatable character, aside from being a hired hitwoman
- How self-aware the second book is as Finlay tries to write her own book and her editor suggests new things to add
- Vero's backstory is developed a little more but there are still so many questions!

If you've read the first book, you know how the cliffhanger confirms that you will read the second. While the sequel doesn't end as shockingly as the first one, there is still an opening for more of Finlay and Vero. I can't wait for book three!

These books are so much darn fun. Move over Stephanie Plum, here comes a character with substance! Finlay Donovan's escapades are twisty and exciting. The characters will stick with you long after you close the book and display it in a place of distinction on your bookshelf!

thanks to the publisher for the ARC--I was thrilled to receive it and excited to read it

Rating: 3 stars

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead picks up immediately after the first book. Finlay has outsmarted the Russian mob and gotten away with being an accidental hitwoman, and then she finds out that someone has put a hit on her ex-husband. Finlay and Vero are on the case, trying to keep Steven alive, not go to jail, and Finlay needs to submit another romantic-suspense manuscript. Oh, and there's a bit of a love triangle action with bartender-law student Julian and organized crime detective Nick.

This sequel was a bit of a slog for me. Because it picks up right after the last book, the reader is expected to remember a lot about the characters and details of the first book (which I did not). The first half is sort of slow going, and I found the book even more far-fetched than the first. It's meant to be far-fetched and a little farcical, but this felt a little bit sloppy and there were some lose ends. I enjoyed Finlay, Nick, and Julian, but I wished we'd gotten a bit more info about Vero's background and the trouble that's hinted at.

I also realized that I really loved the audio of the first book, so I'd be curious to see if the sequel is more compelling to me on audio.

Another fun romp in the Finlay Donovan series. This novel, like the first, is silly, implausible, and just a good time. I look forward to spending more time with Finlay, Vero, and this cast of characters.

This book is everything I wanted!!! After book one left off on the most massive cliffhanger, I was so excited to read this and it did not disappoint at all.

I loved that Vero and Finlay continued to grow closer and truly bond as found family in this novel. I also loved the escalation of the crime drama and how Finlay got even more sucked into what was essentially insane mob conflict. I also like how Finlay's book is more of a sub plot and isn't harped on too much here, I think it could have been annoying to follow the book and the plot as they were fairly similar.

Basically I would like everyone to read this book series and I cannot WAIT to see what hijinks our girls get into next.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT, and found myself falling straight back into that love affair with the second installment. These books have become such great escape reads, as Cosimano pairs crime fiction and comedy together for a binge worthy read. I loved hanging out with Finlay and Vero while they investigate who has a death wish for Steven. The antics these two get into are nothing short of entertaining. While I do think that this latest installment is a bit more over-the-top, it’s not hard to suspend your belief when you’re wrapped up in an addictive read. This has easily become one of my most loved series’ and I can’t wait to see what Cosimano comes up with for Finlay next!

A huge thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy!

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an e-arc 🖤

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am obsessed with this series.

I'm not sure how to review this book as those who are going to pick it up will have read the first in the series. (which was amazing, btw)

But basically the author does a brilliant job continuing Finlay's story and entertaining me from the first page to the last. We also dip into the backstory of Vero more and I think she's quickly turned into my favorite character in the series.

I loved the first book in the Finlay Donovan series, so I was delighted to read Elle Cosimano's second book: Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead.

Finlay and her partner-in-crime...solving Vero are back, and this time they are trying to prevent the murder of her ex-husband Steven. When Finlay realizes there is a hit out on her ex, she's on the case to try and stop it, but Steven isn't exactly making it easy for her.

Between the misadventures and near-death experiences, there's also a fun love triangle.

Can't wait for book three and Vero's story.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

This follow up to Finlay Donovan is Killing It is so enjoyable. (Make sure you read that one first). Finlay and Vero once again find themselves tangled in a mess and a lot of sticky situations. I love, again, that there is a perfect mix of thriller, comedy, and even a little love triangle thrown in there. These books grab your attention and you can’t wait to see what happens next. I do not want to spoil too much but recommend that if you loved the first one, to make sure you pick this one up.

I maybe didn’t love this one quite as much as the first, but I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Also this one ended on a cliffhanger, so we know another is coming. I am very excited for that!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my advanced copy.

This one is out now! Do not miss it.

FINLAY DONOVAN KNOCKS ‘EM DEAD

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

5 glowing stars for the second book in the #FinlayDonovan series by @ellecosimano 🤩 Finlay Donovan was one of my top faves of 2021, so I had high expectations for the sequel and lemme tell you, it did not disappoint!

I love how fast-paced and bingeable these books are…I can’t put them down! There are tons of crazy shenanigans and so many times I was chuckling to myself while reading. I love Finlay’s character and was happy to see this book dive more into her personal life and relationships. I was also fangirling over all of the Northern VA references since that’s where I am from!

I loved how unpredictable this one was and I totally didn’t see the ending coming AT ALL! Plus, with how things wrapped up, I have my fingers crossed that there will be a third book in the series!!🤞🏼

If you’re looking for a book to get you out of a reading slump (or are just looking for something fun and fast-paced that will have you HOOKED from the beginning, def pick this one up!

Thank you for NetGalley for giving me this opportunity to read this before release!
I know the book has been out for a few days now, but I finally got to finish it and come to terms with how I feel about it.

Let's start here: Finlay is exactly the same person as before- but she Is very headstrong and doesn't need a man to save her. Vero... is still the sidekick. Steven sucks balls, and Julian is pointless.
I am saddened to say that I don't feel as much happiness and joy as I felt with the first book...I feel slightly disappointed with everything. It just feels like a set-up for another book.

However, in simplicity, I did have a good time overall and will continue the series.

Now onto the spoilers:

Vero... concerns me a bit and also pisses me off a bit... because the mystery around her is still a mystery. Spoil alert- we don't know her secret completely...but it has something to do with gambling.
Steven honestly should've died. He dodged so many bullets and needed to die for being the worse target ever.

We find out about one of the online alias, which I never saw coming, and honestly, the book didn't put any red herrings or easter eggs to get the readers to guess the mother in the first place. Feels like a plot of convenience to me.

Georgia, I wish we could use more of her, especially since she is a cop. Nick... hopefully, we could get him involved in the third book as a sidekick too, and beyond a love interest and roadblock to Finlay and Vero's chaos.

Another solid read from Elle Cosimano! I’ve been such a huge fan of Finlay & Vero…they amazing best friend duo!!! The story was so fun & kept you guessing to find out who’s who!! Honestly it was just as great as the first one & I can only hope they’ll be more!! The only thing that was hard to keep up with with the semi-love triangle Finlay was dealing with. Overall another great & fun read…once again this would be a wonderful series on the big screen!!!

In book two of the Finlay Donovan series, Finlay is determined to find out who has put a hit out on her husband.

—

I’m going to keep this very short because I haven’t read the full book yet. I thought I could jump in on this series in book two, but I was mistaken. I made it through about the first third of the book, but I’ve decided to hold off on reading anymore until I got back and read book one, Finlay Donovan is Killing It.

What I’ve read so far is madcap and fun, causing me to laugh out loud at moments, which is rare for me when reading. But I realized that I really need to go back and understand the relationships and history of these characters, especially the connection between Finlay and Vero. I have the feeling that so much is set up in the first book, and this second one isn’t going to be nearly as good without that ground having been laid.

I highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys mysteries, thrillers, family drama and some good, old-fashioned goofball comedy. But if you haven’t read book one yet, please learn from my mistake and start with that one.

And based on all of the love I’ve seen for this series, and my own experience of the beginning of book two, you might as well go ahead and buy both!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Finlay Donovan is back, and this time she is determined to live a normal, non-murderous life (outside of her fiction, of course). Just as Finlay is settling in to start her next novel, she discovers someone has put a hit out on her ex-husband, Steven. While Finlay certainly hates Steven, she doesn't really want the father of her children dead so she's going to do something about it. Finlay enlists the help of her former co-hit-woman and current live-in nanny, Vero, to help her save Steven's life. As Finlay and Vero work to keep Steven alive, old characters reappear, including Nick and Julian, who make it difficult for Finlay to focus on the task at hand. And to add on to that, Sylvia is on Finlay's ass about finishing her next book because she's sure that this one will finally put Finlay in the spotlight - which is exactly where Finlay doesn't want to be right now. And what the hell is going on with Vero? Why is she being so weird about money? Finlay doesn't have enough hours in a day to take care of her children, navigate her love life, write a blockbuster novel, answer all her burning questions about Vero, and save Steven's life, but she doesn't really have a choice. So Finlay is going to do what she does best and stay on course and (hopefully) not kill anyone while trying.


Just like Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, I could not put down Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead! There is just something about Finlay, the unassuming, witty protagonist, that just brings me so much joy - she is easily one of my favorite book characters of all time. In Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead, Finlay is back in a really random, weird situation that just escalates to extreme danger without warrant - it's exciting, thrilling, and funny. The only real drawback for me with this book is the weird love triangle Finlay is in: I don't love that Nick is essentially being forced on her by everyone and I think it's a little weird that Julian is such a major character but we learn nothing about him. However, it's still a very fun read and the romance portion isn't overwhelming or overdone - it's just kind of unfulfilling in a sense. Overall, this book is a great follow-up to the first and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it! I definitely want another Finlay Donovan book and, honestly, I want a Netflix adaptation. If you're looking for a new series to read that's full of action, comedy, and thrill, I highly recommend the Finlay Donovan books.

4/5

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It was in my top five favorite books of 2021 - I just loved it. Something about these books just clicks for me. I don't know if it's the smart, funny, exasperated heroine, the salty sidekick, the humor, the drama, the mystery, the spicy times ... it all just works. You know when reading is super easy, like you can barely feel yourself turning that pages? That is this book. It is a combination of my favorite things in books - mystery, humor, and a kick-a$$ lady in charge. Finlay is so smart, and so relatable. You can imagine being her friend - heck, you can imagine being HER, just hopefully with fewer dead bodies.

This book is funny, and well-written, with a decent amount of spice. I think it will appeal to fans of several genres - mystery/thriller, women's fiction/romcom, and spicy readers. I highly recommend it.

This book picks up where the first book left off. Finlay is a hilarious, hot mess and I just can’t seem to get enough!! Highly entertaining!!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for kindly approving an arc for my honest review.

Finlay Donovan is back on her hijinks, working on her next novel and working on figuring out who is trying to kill her ex-husband. Her nanny turned accomplice is hiding something and Detective Nick Anthony is looking to be more than friends. With her next book's deadline looming and an ex-husband to keep alive, Finlay is quickly coming to the end of her rope. She can only hope there isn't a noose at the end of it...
TW: Murder, Cancer, Death, Gun Violence
...

4 stars! Finlay Donovan is back and better than ever! I adore Finlay's antics and her messy self. I absolutely fell in love with her in book one, and I think book two really stepped up and continued the fun. There's a lot going on here, several red herrings, but for the most part I think the chaos worked in the book's favor to keep the reader guessing. There was so much chaos that the ending was a little less than believable, but I could let it slide because of just how much fun I was having. Overall I highly recommend, but definitely would say you want to read book 1 first! -Madison

One liner: Finlay Donovan does it again.

We rejoin Finlay and Vero about a month after their first book wrapped up. This is definitely a series so read the first book first if you don't want to be spoiled or confused throughout the entire book. The first book ended with a huge cliffhanger that someone had put out a hit on Finlay's ex-husband. Unfortunately, there are just too many suspects when this book starts. Naturally Finlay doesn't want her kids anywhere near him, but seriously, how do you explain that in a way that doesn't make him think she is just being spiteful and trying to keep him away from the kids. Finlay does her best to save him, figure out who is trying to kill him, keep her kids safe, stay clear of the mobster that knows she knows too many of his secrets, and figure out whether she likes the law student or cop more and whether there could be a future with either one given her connections.

There is a style in this series that I love. Finlay is a cozy mystery writer and her stories bear a strong resemblance to her real life. This allows the writer to preview so many things through conversations between Finlay and her editor. It is a thoroughly entertaining twist on cozy mysteries that I truly enjoy. This book delves into Finlay's relationships (romantic and non-romantic) and allows Finlay to try to control her situation more than she could in the first book. But she is still smack dab in the middle of something bigger after the loose ends around her husband's hit contract is solved. Thankfully, the story is set up perfectly for a third book.

I am thankful for the electronic copy of the book that I received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I purchased the audible version on my own.

The second installment of the Finlay Donovan series does not disappoint! Like the first book, it's filled with snarky banter, hilarious hijinks, and even more madcap mayhem --how many murderous situations can one woman get into? Apparently a LOT, and that's perfectly okay!

Beginning right at the heels of the first book (and I won't post spoilers here), Finlay finds herself in yet another situation of mistaken identity. She is mistaken for a hitman-for-hire (yes, that was the theme in the first book), but this time, she is being hired to kill her own ex-husband....

But another wonderful theme in this book is friendship and being allies for fellow women, even when you don't like them very much. It's finding solidarity and learning to ask for help, even when you don't want to. I love how the author takes the time to develop Finlay and Vero's friendship --being I think this is the real backbone of the series. I'd love to learn more about the mysterious Vero, and I hope she gets to be the focus of one of the future books.

I cannot wait for the third installment! And I hope they make this series into a movie (they probably have and I just don't know about it!).

Thank you Netgalley for the E-ARC!