Member Reviews

If you were a fan of Finlay Donovan is Killing It then I feel you will also love Finlay Donovan Knocks "Em Dead. We pick up on the cliffhanger left for us in book 1 and follow Finlay and Vero as they attempt to solve a murder for hire scheme that hits a little too close to Finlay's family. The humor from book 1 continues into book 2 and the friendship between Finlay and Vero is definitely one of a kind. Reading book 1 is a must if you plan to pick this one up as there are key characters from before that show up in this story as well. If I had to note something about this particular story is that there are few situations that seems a little outlandish or unlikely, but this book kept me entertained all the same so no complaint here! The book leaves a little tidbit for more to come, I am already eager for the next adventure of Finlay and Vero!

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I absolutely loved the first Finlay Donovan book and couldn’t wait to read this one!

Finlay and Vero are back and this time around someone wants Finlay’s ex-husband, Steven, dead. They take it upon themselves to find out who.

I enjoyed the first book more, but I still recommend this one. Both Finlay and Vero are entertaining and its fun following them on their adventures. I didn’t find this one as funny as the first book and I also thought some of the parts where slow, but overall I did enjoy it. It sounds like there will be a third book and I’m all for it!

If you’re looking for a fun mystery then this is it!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/ Minotaur Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

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Book Review

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead
Elle Cosimano
reviewed by Lou Jacobs



readersremains.com | Goodreads


A new genre arises: the screwball comedy mystery! Mix into the pot a heaping amount of misunderstanding and misadventure, a humungous amount of humor, a tinge of romance, a deepening friendship and murder, and you’ve got an amazing propulsive read.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is the perfect vaccine for Covid. This actually is the second Finlay adventure, but can certainly be enjoyed as a standalone, as Cosimano seamlessly weaves into the narrative the necessary backstory. Finlay Donovan is a struggling B-list writer of romantic mysteries, facing impending deadlines for her next book. She is the mother of adorable four year-old Delia and perpetually sticky two year-old toddler, Zach. Donovan is divorced from her ex-husband, Steven, who carried on a lengthy affair with their curvy, blond realtor.

During her first outing in Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, she was mistaken for a hit-woman during an “accidental” murder. She was aided by the unusual college student, Vero, who now wears many hats: trusting nanny, confidante, accountant—and from this, a blossoming friendship has evolved. In this adventure returning for an encore, are Finlay’s young law student and sometime lover, Julien, as well as her sister’s cop partner, Nick Anthony, who is determined to wheedle his way back into Finlay’s life. ( He was the “hot cop” in her first book, for whom fans are clamoring for more.)

Finlay—while surfing an online message board for disgruntled women—discovers a covert request for a “hit” on her ex-husband, Steven. She recognizes he is still a good father and feels the need to intervene. Her attempts to uncover the plot and its players lead to confrontations with both cops and the Russian Mob. (Reminiscent of encounters with the Keystone Cops.) At the same time, deadlines for her next book are looming, and she doesn’t even have a plot. While walking a dangerous tightrope and her agent pestering her for “a few pages” she spins her ongoing dilemma into the plot of her next book, which is met with ecstatic approval of both agent and publisher.

Elle Cosimano spins a twisted and hilarious tale that is well plotted, suspenseful, and is marvelously outfitted with multiple colorful characters that are both flawed and believable. The burgeoning relationship and “sisterhood” between Finlay and Vero is nothing less than amazing. The dialogue flows in an entertaining fashion, frequently funny and at times, sarcastic, as our two main protagonists entangle themselves in the world of murder and mayhem. Could this be a modern-day “Lucy and Ethel” adventure? This propulsive page turner is a welcome antidote to everyone’s angst. Hopefully this is not the end to the life and misadventures of Finlay Donovan.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.

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FD is back at it again! Shenanigans galore. I will say the first part of it seems a bit slow, but then about half way through everything kicks off.

It is such a fun series. I am definitely looking forward to the next one.

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Just as satisfying and fun as the first, Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead is a great read!!

Once again Finlay is approaching the deadline for her next novel when her life gets "complicated." This time Finlay and her feisty sidekick/partner/nanny, Vero, discover that someone wants her ex-husband, Steven, dead. As they try to uncover the identity of this person, they, once again get in way over their heads. The two find themselves tangled up with the Russian Mafia and are desperately trying to keep the charismatic Detective Nick off their trail. This leads to many close calls, surprises and laugh out loud moments throughout. The cast of characters are another reason why this story works so well.

I loved Finlay Donovan is Killing It and had high expectations for this new book. It did not disappoint!! These books are such a breath of fresh air. I cannot wait to see what is in store for Finlay and Vero in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #ElleCosimano #FinlayDonovanKnocks"EmDead

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Finlay Donovan is back and better than ever!
Another fun, smart and twisty read from Cosimano! Finlay is struggling to finish her next book, keep her head afloat as a single mom, and oh not to mention- stop someone from murdering her ex-husband. I love this series and would keep reading about Findlay's adventures for years. The writing style made this book hard to put down, and I couldn't wait to see what happened! Definitely would recommend this one.

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I absolutely adored the first book in this series and it made my top 10 I read in 2021. Though the characters were lovable and the pace was just as quick, I found myself a bit confused with some of the events and I didn’t love it quite as much. I would definitely read the sequel though.

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3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Finlay Donovan is back and her life's still a hot mess! She's struggling with being a single mom, sorting out her love life, and writing her overdue next novel when she discovers there's a hitman after her ex-husband. She and her nanny, Vero, are determined to foil the hit and that leads them from one zany plot development to another.

This is is the second in the Finlay Donovan series and is a continuation of the plot in Finlay Donovan is Killing It so they should be read in order. I didn't think it was quite as funny as the first but still enjoyable and it ends with a hint that there'll be a third in the series which I'll definitely read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC.

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I absolutely loved the first book in This series so had been eagerly awaiting this book.

I enjoyed how quick it was to get into, the pacing and how the storyline the main character was writing make a joke of the book but this one was just too far fetched even for me.

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Unfortunately, this series is not for me.

The titular character is hard to love and still a hot mess who struggles to perform basic responsibilities such as meeting deadlines and being on time, despite being a mother in her 30s. Even Vero didn't shine this time.

The story was hard to get into and got increasingly convoluted. It's basically a continuation of the storyline in the first book, with the same recurring characters, so you will definitely need to read in order. The last few chapters were better and had a nice reveal that I didn't see coming. I also liked the epilogue.

On a whole, it wasn't that funny, suspenseful or enjoyable. Feels like more of the same but less original and refreshing.

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Admittedly, I’m not a series reader. It’s not for lack of trying. I’ve just never started a series and fell so in love with the character that I immediately knew I wanted to read all the books with her in it. That changed with Finlay Donovan. Throughout Finlay Donovan is Killing It, I kept hoping that there would be a continuation to the story. Needless to say, I was elated to find out there would be a second. I hoped the second could live up to the first, so that I could finally find a series to love. Finlay Donovan Knocks Em Dead was exactly what I was hoping for. So much so, I read it in one sitting. Cosimano’s characters are extremely lovable. At times, the plot is unbelievable and over the top, which absolutely adds to the comedic value of the story. Finlay Donovan Knocks Em Dead was the same as the Finlay Donovan is Killing It, ONLY in that I still found myself rooting for a continuation. I have hope that a third novel is coming and I’ll be first in line to order & recommend it!

Thank you to Netgalley & St. Martin’s Press for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

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My gals Finley and Vero do it again!

This book was wild, a bit all over the place, and I got a little confused at times, but I DON’T CARE!! These books make me smile so big - in a murder for hire kind of way.

This a true sequel to Finlay Donovan is Killing It and picks up right where that one left off (so basically you really need to read the first one first). If you enjoyed the first, you will enjoy this one too!! I was lucky enough to have the audiobook and the ebook, so I flew through this one in about a day. I definitely don’t think their story is over!

This book has it all:
Mystery
Romance
Laughter
Cute kids
Behind the scenes book biz
…and most importantly, the funniest nanny/accountant ever!

I can't wait for more!

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The girl team is back, Yay. The fun and craziness is also back by the heap loads. Finlay and her nanny cum accountant, Vero, do not follow any set of rules that are grounded in the “normal world” so how could anything be even close to pale and boring?! Still silly, still hilarious, Ellen Cosimano blends just the right amount of “what would you did if someone was a trying to kill your ex-husband and father of your children, as you are messing around with a younger law school guy who is meeting your sexual needs, and while being being romanced by a gorgeous cop who might have an inkling of the trouble you are almost in, and trying to balance a sister who is a cop and a Mother would would like you to get more involved with the gorgeous cop and less involved with the ex-husband while the ex-husband refuses to believe that he is in danger and only wants to call his lawyer to keep threatening more court action to gain greater custody of the children. Phew. Finley is up to her neck in all sorts of nonsense not the least is trying to uncover the would be assassin of her husband before he is actually killed.
There, I think that about sums it up except for the constant grin and laughter for over 350 pages.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Minotaur Books for a copy.

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Finlay and Vero are back, and they're once again juggling family, men, writers block, questionable decisions and murder for hire.

The first book in the Finlay Donovan series, Finlay Donovan is Killing It, was one my favorite reads of 2021, and I anxiously awaited the sequel. It did not disappoint.

Elle Cosimano provides readers with a thrilling but comedic story, littered with strong female characters, romance and a lot of shenanigans. I had an absolute blast reading this book.

As is often true, the second book wasn't as great as the first, but honestly, it had pretty big shoes to fill.

I only have one minor criticism — several of Finlay and Vero's messes are cleaned up a little too easily. But, suspend disbelief and you're in for a funny, smart and twisty story that's nearly impossible to put down.

Much like the first book, Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead ends on a cliffhanger, which means I'm (im)patiently waiting for the next installment. What can I say? Elle's got me hooked.

Thanks to Net Galley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Elle Cosimano has written a fantastic sequel to Finlay Donovan Is Killing It. When we left Finlay in the last book, she had successfully escaped detection after accidentally killing a man, but there are still those out there who believe she is a contract killer, rather than a writer. And she had found a listing on a mom's website looking for someone to kill her ex-husband.

Finlay's ex husband Steven is still plaguing her life, but that doesn't mean she wants him dead. Finlay and her housemate/nanny Vero are trying to figure out who placed the listing, and just as importantly, who has responded that he/she will take him out before the end of the year.

She also has a book due, and hasn't even begun writing it, Vero is acting strangely, and her boyfriend Julian has disappeared on a vacation with his friends. Police officer Nick is still around, offering to help her with whatever she needs, but how would he react if he knew what had really happened last month?

This book made me laugh over and over. Being a mom, I remember all of the stresses of raising young children and trying to work at the same time. Of course, I wasn't also trying to figure out who wants to kill my children's father at the same time!

This was a fantastic, fun story and I'm excited to see what Finlay does next! Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy!

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All the fun and excitement of the previous book. I found the plot itself a little less interesting and slower paced than the previous installment. I’m still not super solid on the romance aspects though. However as always I’m hyped to read what Finlay Donovan does next because it’s sure to be a great time.

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This second book in the series was a bit of a mess in my opinion. Too many hands in the pot and not enough laughter and freshness that we had in book one. My attention started to fade at 40% and I just forced myself to finish.

I think I’ll be skipping the next installment.

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Thank you for @netgalley and St Martin’s Press for an advanced reader’s copy.

This is the second book in the Finlay Donovan mystery series, where Finlay is cleaning up a much bigger mess than before. Finlay comes across a women's forum and discovers an advertisement bad-mouthing her ex-husband. Finlay decodes the advertisement as a secret message to murder Stephen, and someone takes the job. Despite Stephen being a horrible husband, he is a great father to their children, and she does not want the children to live without him.

As the story continues, Finlay gets together with her nanny, Vero, and it is up to them to figure out who wants Stephen dead. The Russian mob? Stephen’s business partners? Stephen’s ex-fiancé? In addition to all the madness, Vero is acting strange/mysterious, and the crazed loved triangle with the hot lawyer and dreamy detective.

If you want my honest opinion, I truly believe that this book is far better than the first and that rarely happens. There are many twists and many discoveries in this sequel. Not to mention, I absolutely loved the comedy in this book. If you are having a stressful day definitely pick up a Finlay Donovan book. I guarantee that once you finish you will have a smile on your face.

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Finlay Donovan is up to no good again with the help of Vero!

This story is full of twists and turns, constantly keeping me guessing. I love how the author intertwines the mystery with the comedy. I could help but laugh my way through this story.

I really enjoyed the first Finlay Donovan book, but I loved this one even more. But that ending, that ending really got me!

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advance copy of this book. This is my honest voluntary review.

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A follow-up novel to the hilarious Finlay Donovan is Killing It, and I was really looking forward to read what kind of shenanigans Finlay and Vero were going to get themselves into next. Finlay continues to balance work, dating, and her children but when someone wants her ex-husband Steve dead, they try to track down who has a hit for him.

The sequel did not disappoint, with laugh out loud, outrageous moments, but I agree with my pal and reading buddy @mybooksandkidsbooks that the ending could have been so much more. Both of us managed to read this in a quick 2-3 days which is always a sign of a good book.

I am definitely looking forward to book 3!

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