Love this series! So funny and the perfect cozy mystery with a bit of romance. Love all the side characters and I always laugh at these books!

Another wonderful book in this hilarious series! I loved following Finlay and Varo again and watching them try and work out their secrets while Finlay tried to protect her ex-husband, Stephen, from certain demise and Vero tried to keep her secrets underwraps. This book was laugh-out-loud funny and I read it in less than 24 hours!

A great follow up to the first Finlay Donovan novel & with a hot cop!! Flew through this one as I was constantly wondering what Finlay would do next. Ex-husbands! Russian mob! Book deadlines! A fun twisty turvy novel that left me wanting more from this kooky group.

If you're worried that the second installment in this series isn't going to be as good, don't fear! I'm here to tell you that it is just as good. I loved this book. Finlay Donovan and Vero might go down as two of my favorite characters in a series ever. I love how they work together so much. I love that we get a continuation of the story from the first book, but one that involves more twists and turns. This whole universe is just fun. Plus, the love triangle between Finlay, the hot cop, and the lawyer couldn't get any better. It is fun and fast paced. Definitely recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

If you liked the first Finlay Donovon book then you’ll enjoy this one as well. Finlay is having a hard time completing her next book and again falls into chaos trying to protect her ex-husband. This is a cute sequel in the series. It’s a cozy read with low stakes, but still a fun time.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for allowing me to read a copy of this book. The opinion in this review is my own.

The whole time I was listening to this, I was thinking of how it reminds me so much of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. And then I just looked at my review of the first book and realized I said the same exact thing then. Love triangles. Zany murders. Getting out of tight spots just in time. A cop you want to get romantic with but also need to keep your distance from due to your nefarious activities. Lots of parallels. I think it’s a quick and easy listen/read and I know a lot of people love this series. I think it’s ok. Vero still stands out to me as the best part.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Elle Cosimano for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve wanted to check this series out for a while, so I’m so excited they were all available. I loved the first book. This book started off really fun. The ex-husband is my least favorite character. The reasons he divorced her bug me and then he has the audacity to pry into her dating life. So the plot had a lot to do with him, but overall I still enjoy the series. I find it cozy. I definitely love the hijinks.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries!

Am I the only worried about the kids - it's like she just doesn't even care about them except complaining about how she needs more money b/c she has kids. She never does anything meaningful with them or helpful for their future. Sometimes the book doesn't even mention where they are, who's feeding them dinner, putting them to bed.

A great follow up to book one. I laughed out loud so many times. Finlay always manages to get into some kind of mess and it's always funny. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this ebook to review. All opinions are my own.

Finlay is a master at getting herself into precarious situations. Funny and a quick read. Looking forward to the others in the series.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead (Finlay Donovan #2) by Elle Cosimano, 357 pages. Minotaur Books (St. Martin’s Press), 2022. $16.
Language: R (128 swears, 5 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: ADULT - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL
On an online forum, FedUp has called for a hit on Finlay’s ex, and Finlay (31yo) and Vero are doing everything they can to stop anyone from completing the job—Finlay might want to kill him sometimes, but she doesn’t actually want him dead. Trying to stay one step ahead of the hitman and write another manuscript for her demanding agent, Finlay entangles herself further with both the police and the mob.
The antics escalate, Finlay’s love triangle unbalances, and shootouts turn into car chases. Continuing Finlay’s story is not a rewash of the first, which I expected. Finlay and Vero have new obstacles to overcome, building on the experiences they had and also branching into new illegal territories. The last chapter tied up most of the plot points satisfactorily (all of them except the romantic strings to pull readers into the next installment), leaving readers with a hook in the epilogue.
Finlay is portrayed as White on the cover, Veronica and her cousin are implied Hispanic, there are Russian mobsters, and the majority of other characters are implied White. Georgia is part of the LGBT community. The mature content rating is for alcohol use; illegal activity; partial nudity; kissing; groping; sexual harassment; mentions of drugs, pornography, human trafficking, sex toys, orgasms, and sex; and persistent innuendo. The violence rating is for assault, corpses, blood and gore, gun use, and murder.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

3.5 stars

Finlay is such a fun series. I enjoy all the mishaps, and the laugh out loud moments. This was a good follow up, and expect the following books in the series to be as good or better.

The sequel still has me giggling, though book one cant be outshined this is still worth reading. The complete craziness of this series is what makes it so great.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books

After devouring the first installment, I’m thrilled to say that the sequel is just as fantastic! Elle Cosimano continues to shine with her witty writing and sharp character dynamics. Finlay and Vero remain the heart of the story—fun, chaotic, and endlessly entertaining.

Cosimano even managed to make Steven loveable in a “love to hate him” way, which added so much humor and tension to the plot. And the festive setting during Christmas makes this a perfect seasonal read, full of surprises and holiday flair.

It’s been ages since I’ve read a series with a love triangle, and I’m finding it so refreshing! Both Nick and Julian have their own charm, and I loved how their differences added to the story. I can’t wait to see where Finlay’s relationships lead in the future.

If you loved the first book, you’re in for another fun, thrilling ride!

Thank you to Elle Cosimano, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is one my favorite series to come out in a long time! Finlay Donovan is a smart, laugh out loud, lead character and the books are well-written and totally absorbing; I know I’m not getting up for a couple of hours when I sit down to start. I honestly hope this series never ends, and that it’s picked up for Netflix!

Thanks for offering the books as “read now!” Everyone should be reading this series!

This was probably my least favorite of the Finlay Donovan books. It was still fun and hilarious, but I just didn't enjoy it as much as the other books.

Okay, like, can we talk about how chaotic this book is in, like, the best way? Our girl Finlay is back, juggling being a mom, writing her novel (or trying to, lol), and, oh yeah, keeping her ex-husband alive. The drama! The twists! The random Russian mob entanglements! Seriously, it’s so over-the-top, but that’s what makes it so fun. 🙌✨

Vero, the nanny/BFF/ride-or-die queen, is just as iconic as ever, but like, she’s definitely hiding something. The whole vibe is this hot mess of amateur sleuthing, questionable choices, and just enough romantic tension to keep things spicy. And omg, those “hit-women soccer moms”? I cannot.

Sure, some parts felt a little too wild, like, "How does anyone have this much energy??" But honestly, I was here for it. It’s not supposed to be deep or realistic—it’s a laugh-out-loud, escapist ride with tons of snark and heart. If you’re looking for a cozy, ridiculous, and addictive read, you’ll be obsessed. 💃🎉

4 stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Thanks a bunch to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. 💕

Finlay Donovan is back at it, and I couldn’t be happier to dive into the chaos that seems to follow her everywhere. This sequel had me laughing, gasping, and flipping pages late into the night.

What I love most about this series is how real and relatable Finlay feels—even while she’s running around in disguises and dodging the Russian mob. Her relationship with Vero is the absolute best part of the book. Their loyalty and banter are the kind of friendship goals we all dream of. I also loved getting to learn more about Vero’s backstory. It added so much depth to her character and made me love her even more.

The action in this one is absolutely wild—Molotov cocktails, shootouts, hit-women pretending to be soccer moms. It’s over-the-top in the best way, and it made the stakes feel super high. Plus, Finlay trying to figure out who’s after her ex-husband (and begrudgingly trying to save him) was such a fun twist, especially since her main motivation is protecting her kids.

On top of all that, we got more 'hot cop' Nick! I really enjoyed how his connection with Finlay grew, even with Julian temporarily out of the picture. And Finlay’s parents were such a fun addition—I laughed out loud at some of their scenes.

A few of the twists were a little predictable, but honestly, the humor and heart made up for it. If you loved the first book, this one will absolutely keep you entertained. I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble Finlay gets into next!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love, love, love the Finlay Donovan series. It's relatable, comical, thrilling and a LOT of fun. I'm very excited to re-read these in anticipation of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Grave. Publishing March 4, 2025!

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for re-opening the series, including the new upcoming book, for download!

just as fun as the first book :) humor, a little mystery and action. Enjoyed it as much as the first one :)