Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books & NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I loved Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, so was thrilled to read this sequel of Finlay's escapades. It's not quite as laugh-out-loud funny as the first one, but has the same madcap shenanigans that make this another enjoyable page-turner. The novel opens as mystery writer Finlay discovers there's a contract out on her cheating ex-husband Steven, which means whenever he has the kids for the weekend, they'll be in danger. So Finlay is doubly motivated to find out who wants to do away with Steven. Characters introduced in book #1 reappear to provide threats or support: the Russian mafia, a sexy law student, a hot cop, her babysitting sister/police officer, and her live-in nanny/friend/partner in solving the mysteries they uncover - all while Finlay tries to make her novel's deadline before her agent cancels their contract. While decorating the Christmas tree. While buying and wrapping presents. It's safe to say that her holidays are even more hectic than the average single mom who's just trying to keep it together.

There are a variety of possible suspects, and author Cosimano does a convincing job of leading readers towards an array of conceivable prospects before the murder/mystery is solved. Let me warn you that it can get confusing, but don't worry about trying to keep all the details straight and just enjoy the ride - which is a lot of fun. With danger and a dead body, disguises and distracting secrets, this fast-paced Christmas-time whodunit concludes with a promise of yet another adventure for Finlay. I'm already lining up for book #3. I highly recommend this creative, clever, amusing mystery with likeable characters and clever twists and turns.

Finlay Donovan is back up against it. Her agent made a killing with her last book, and now she wants more. She has a meeting with the publisher, and they are desperate for another book proposal like the last one Finlay had come up with. The good news is that proposal turned her from a middling romance writer to a potential best-selling thriller author, and they are hungry for more. The bad news? That last book came from an unfortunate misunderstanding that because a series of incidents and accidents that could put Finlay into jail for a long time.

And now her agent is going to kill her if she can’t do it again.

So Finlay is trying to come up with a second book, even though she still hasn’t finished writing the first one, and this while dealing with the law student she’s not quite dating, the hot cop who wants to date her, her family, her two kids, her ex-husband Steven, and the online post buried deep in a forum for soccer moms that reads very much like someone is putting out a contract to have Steven killed.

Finlay and her nanny/accountant/partner-in-crime Vero have been coming up with excuses for why Steven couldn’t have the kids at his new house, not wanting to let on that someone out there wants him dead. Finlay finally agrees to let him take them out one night to go shopping for a Christmas tree, but she and Vero follow them, with new binoculars in their hands and the baby monitor hidden in Delia’s backpack. And when they see the kids wander off and Steven go after them, they get nervous. Then they just hear the kids, 2-year-old Zach and preschooler Delia, and they go flying across the Christmas tree lot to get to them. Vero grabs Zach, and Finlay finds Delia, and Steven shows up with a big knot on the back of his head from where someone hit him.

Finlay knows that it wasn’t just someone trying to grab his wallet. Someone online saw the post on the forum and is trying to fulfill the contract. Someone really is trying to kill her ex-husband.

Because of her own foray into contract killing, Finlay can’t just tell Steven or her sister the cop about the contract killing, because their investigation could lead to very messy discoveries about Finlay and Vero. So Finlay knows that she will have to keep her ex-husband alive herself. But when she and Vero are in his work trailer when someone throws a firebomb in the window, Finlay wonders just how far she’ll go for Steven. Even if cleaning out the contents of a deep freezer the next state over or dressing up as the attorney of a powerful Russian mob boss to meet with him in prison will make for amazing chapters in her new book. But is she a good enough writer to craft a happy ending in real life, or is she fooling herself?

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is the continuation of author Elle Cosimano’s last Finlay book. Finlay Donovan Is Killing It introduced these characters, from the novelist mother or two who became an incidental hitwoman to her nanny/accountant, her ex-husband, the two men she’s dating now, and several members of the Russian mob. Cosimano is juggling a lot with these novels, and she does it in a way that’s smart, funny, sassy, and compelling. You don’t have to read the first one to understand the second one, but I do recommend it, just because it’s a really good book.

I loved Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead. I think Finlay is such a fun character to spend time with, and her endless creativity in solving life’s problems is an inspiration. No matter what life throws at her, she is game to give it a shot, and while she certainly dances on the lines of legality, she does try to be as moral as she can given her circumstances. And she does it all with wit and confidence and a little attitude. I am absolutely loving this series, and I can’t wait to find out what Finlay will stir up next (please tell me that there will be a next!).

Egalleys for Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead were provided by Minotaur Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Finlay Donovan is a trouble maker. I feel like I go on these absolutely crazy adventures each time and I LOVE IT.
ABSOLUTELY.
This time the story was a bit more messy and a little harder to follow , but once I got into it I was hooked.
All the starts for Finlay!

Finlay Donovan is back - bold and hilarious as ever! Who doesn't love our favorite hit mom who teeters on the tightrope of morality in the most outlandish predicaments she gets herself into? Finlay Donovan is Killing It was such a successful story so going into this sequel there is always a little trepidation that it won't hold up to it's predecessor. Let me state clearly, Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead does in fact prove that this series will have a long life and you'll love this book just as much as the first!

Finlay, single mom of two, is back and once again struggling to meet deadlines for her latest novel and Vero, her live-in nanny, continues to be a mysterious confident friend and sleuther with Finlay. Together they will realize that someone is seeking to eliminate Finlay's ex-husband Steven and will seek to solve the mystery as to who that may be and why.

Russian Mobs, a dead pet goldfish, hot cops, and chaos keep Finlay Donovan on an adventure that has surprises in all the best ways.

inlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead is a well done sequel to this smart and hilarious series.

I think I’ve decided that in order to truly enjoy this series, you have to suspend disbelief. There’s a lot that happens that is outrageous and unbelievable but in the world of Finlay Donovan, it’s normal! With that being said, this was a fun novel and a very quick read. And, to be as spoiler free as possible, I don’t think this is the last we’ll see of Finlay.

The story picks up where the first book left off as Finlay discovers there's a hit out on her ex-husband and does whatever she can to protect him and her kids.

I had a hard time getting into this one. It's slow and boring to start, and didn't pick up until about 35% in. Similar to the first book, the scenarios are outlandish, but it was lacking some of the humor and charm. Finlay finds herself tangled up with the Russian mob once again, and leans on Vero and the handsome cop Nick to get herself out of sticky situations.

If you loved the first book I think you'll enjoy this one, but they definitely need to be read in order for context. It was left a bit open ended so I'm curious to see what direction it goes in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

The girls are back and man, are they in over their heads this time! "Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead" was the perfect follow-up novel for when we first meet Fin and Vero. But I should point out, nothing about their hot mess lives is perfect these days.

Finlay discovers there's a hit out on her ex-husband. While doing all she can to save her his life and keep her children safe, Finlay discovers that the underbelly of the internet, dirty jobs aren't always easy to clean-up, and that she still isn't great at juggling work/finances/home/romance life. But you can best bet the entire story is hilarious to watch unfold.

One disaster after another leaves you wondering what's it going to take for Fin and Vero to leave the crime life to the pros. However, we learn that sometimes the person you least expect is the dirtiest criminal of all. This twist is going to be a real shocker for readers!

I loved that this book was much more about the friendship between Fin and Vero and less about the romances with Nick and Julian. Finlay puts her love life on hold in "Knock 'Em Dead" which makes me wonder what we can expect in book 3.

This book is just as ridiculous as the first - I LOVED IT! As this is book #2 in the series, I think it would be hard to know what is going on if you haven't read book #1. If you need a fun thriller/mystery, I think this is a fun one to pick up. Some parts felt more rushed that others which was my only dislike.

Finlay Donovan is back and just as unbelievable as ever! This second book in the series picks up where book one ended with Finlay trying to figure out who wants her ex husband dead. Her next novel's deadline is coming and Finlay is juggling two men while dealing with her kids and everything else - Finlay's life is getting even more hard to control! Of course, her best friend / employee (does it make anyone else uncomfortable that Vero works for her?) remains loyal and helps her get into trouble. ⁣If you're looking for something realistic, this probably isn't it, but this series is a lot of fun and will definitely keep you entertained.

A cozy who-dun it! I loved meeting Finlay for the first time (I didn't read the first book) and found that I could read this as a standalone with not many unanswered questions. The characters were all loveable and the book was quite entertaining! I'm excited to read the 1st book.

I absolutely love these books! This second book about Findlay Donovan might have even been better than the first! I enjoyed it from start to finish.

This was another wild, twisty, and fun book! Finlay and Vero make a great crime-fighting duo, even if the story did seem a bit unrealistic at times. The epilogue leaves this open for a third book, and I hope so much that Finlay and Veto’s story doesn’t end here!

I remember the feeling of reading the first book of Finlay Donovan, and I didn't expect that I would like it so much. So yes, my expectation was high on FINLAY DONOVAN KNOCKS 'EM DEAD. Finlay and Vero continued to have adventures to find a person who wanted Finlay's ex-husband (Steven) dead, and while trying to find that person, their friendship was also being tested.

In my review of the first Finlay Donovan, I wished that I would get to know Vero better in the second book. I guess the author, Elle Cosimano, granted my wish. We got to know her more in this second book. In addition, I felt the second book had more action but less humor. I missed that laugh-out-loud feeling from Finlay. In conclusion, I still loved the first book better, but I grew closer to Finlay and Vero after knowing their background stories in the second book.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘em Dead
By Elle Cosimano
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely loved Finlay Donovan Is Killng It, and I was super excited to see what good old Finlay was up to in this sequel. Turns out that Finlay’s hijinks weren’t as fun the second time around 🤷🏼‍♀️ Don’t get me wrong, this was a solid, good read; however, it definitely had a bit of a sophomore slump in comparison to the first book. That said, I love Finlay and will keep reading her saga as it becomes available. Has anyone else heard rumors of a third installment? 👀

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT was one of my very favorite reads of 2021, so I've been looking forward to this sequel since the day I finished the first one! As the ending of the first book suggests, this one opens up pretty much immediately afterwards - with a bounty out on Finlay's ex-husband's head. Without getting the police (like Finlay's sister or the hot detective, Nick, involved), Finlay and her partner/nanny, Vero, must uncover not only who originated the post, but also the identity of the killer who responds to the post. Finlay also wants to keep her kids away from Steven, just in case they get caught in any murder attempts on their dad.

It's a fast-paced and fun sequel There's never really a slow or dull moment here, so I really had a hard time setting this one down for any reason at all. The bond between Finlay and Vero grows - along with some genuinely funny banter between them. Finlay's love life gets more complicated here - and her writing career is heading towards new heights (but also greater pressure!). The ending gives some hints that the third book may be more Vero-centric, which is good because there are definitely some dangling questions here about her backstory.

All in all, this is a great sequel and I am excited for the third book! This is such a fun series and I hope the wait isn't too long before the next one comes out!

The rona knocked me on my butt and I missed Pub Day yesterday!!! @ellecosimano knocks it out of the park again!!!! I fell in love with Finlay Donovan in the first book. And cheers to Elle for being able to write a murder book…but make it funny! In the first book, Finlay accidentally gets caught up in a murder for hire scheme. In this one, her ex husband appears to have a hit out on him! She is trying to find who wants him dead!!
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-You can snag this one now! Thank you @netgalley and @minotaur_books for the ARC! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫

In case you haven’t already been introduced, meet Finlay Donovan. She’s a writer/contract killer/amateur sleuth - the character who does ALL the wrong things, makes TERRIBLE decisions and still winds up solving the case. I literally screamed, “don’t do that!” to her throughout this entire second book.

I love her!

I love that her writing follows her personal life. So, it’s like you’re reading the characters in her books, but it’s actually what Finlay is going through. That might not make sense, but when you read it - it will!

The relationship between Finlay and Vero makes this series special. Partners, friends, co-conspirators with plenty of good and bad ideas. So much fun to read!!

My only complaint is that some of it is a bit too far-fetched to be believable.

That said, I cannot wait for more Finlay adventures!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Looking for a book that's bingeable? Laugh out loud funny? One that has shenanigans galore? Then this is the one for you!

If you loved the first book Finlay Donovan is Killing it? Then you'll absolutely adore this one too. This sitcom like novel, brings back a bit of mystery and hilarity with Finlay and her partner in crime Vero. They're back with misunderstandings, some romance, and crime shenanigans that they always seem to get out of in the knick of time. If I could read about Finlay and Vero all the time? I would. The sitcom vibes makes me smile, laugh, and gives me the same comfort I get from watching The Nanny or Full House or the second season of Why Women Kill. I can't wait for book 3....I mean there is a book 3 right? If there's not? I may cry.

Oh I loved this one so much! Vero and Finlay are back for all the fun antics. I couldn't put this one down. I enjoyed learning a bit more about Vero and liked the romance aspect of this one. I can't wait for more of them in the next one. Great book I highly recommend!!

3.5 stars (rounded down to 3)

I was really looking forward to reading this follow-up to Finlay Donovan Is Killing It. Somehow, though, I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as the first book. Was it perhaps that the story was basically a continuation of the first book, including the involvement of a Russian mobster? Or was it the increasingly ridiculous situations that Finlay and her sidekick Vero keep getting into? So much jumping to conclusions and miscommunication! The plot (plots, really) got very convoluted and at times I had trouble remembering who was who among the newly introduced characters. Overall, zany for sure but not as much fun as the first book.

I do think you would be missing a whole lot if you haven’t read the first book, even though the author does her best to fill in the backstory.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.