Finlay and Vero are back and they are picking up right where they left off!

When Finlay discovers there’s a hit out for her ex-husband, her and Vero work to find out who has it out for him and apparently the list is long. But with the hit accepted and attempts at Steven’s life being made, the women know they must protect Steven if they want to keep Finlay’s kids safe. Discovering who put out the hit and who accepted it puts Finlay right back in the line of fire. Navigating a looming book deadline, more money problems, a love triangle, a dead body, and the mob proves to be challenging for Finlay and Vero and results in all sorts of shenanigans and let’s be honest, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Like the first book, this novel is funny and entertaining. It’s also wildly far fetched and over the top but ignoring those details, this is a super cute read. Finlay’s ridiculous disguises always made me chuckle and I felt like I could envision her in her get ups sauntering around town, breaking into prisons, and collaborating with mob bosses.

There was a lot of alluding to Vero’s problems and background and I wish that had been excluded or wrapped up a little better. I love Vero and want to get to know her better but it felt a little half done with loose ends. Though maybe there’s another book planned?

This would be tough to read as a stand-alone as it picks up right where the first novel finished so I would definitely recommend reading the first. There are lots of reminders about what happened so if it’s been a while, that shouldn’t be a problem.

If you loved Finlay Donovan is Killing It, I definitely recommend this one!

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy of this novel.

To be posted to my blog on 2/1/2022.

Wow. What a follow up. It is so rare to see a second novel act as such a natural continuation of the first & this one absolutely delivered. It was an absolute delight to read from start to finish - there was romance, mystery, suspense, heart, and a whole lot of creativity. I loved the first, I loved the second, and I know I’ll love the third. Superbly done.

FINLAY DONOVAN KNOCKS 'EM DEAD by Elle Cosimano

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-arc!

SUMMARY:
Finlay is still struggling- for custody of her children, for financial stability, to write her newest book, to choose between her lawyer fwb and her cop bf, and with the mess she made with the Russian mob. (I want to leave it there, because I think that's a pretty solid summary... but I'll keep going). Someone has put a hit out on Steven, Finlay's ex husband, and Finlay and Vero, Finlay's accountant/babysitter/roommate/best friend, are going to stop it.

MY THOUGHTS:
Finlay's books are written with this comical thriller vibes that I've never read before. Elle Cosimano puts such a light feel to murder and bodies through Finlay's POV and humor.

I liked this one slightly more than the first in this series, and I think it's because I knew what to expect going in and it hasn't come out yet, so not as much time to hype it up (yet!)

I loved Vero & Finlay's adventures, but still am in shock at how they get away with it all and aren't paranoid all the time!?

I can't wait for the next book in the series, hanging on the edge of that cliff!

I love Elle Cosimano’s writing style. Her descriptions are so fresh and unique that it immediately draws me in regardless of the actual content of the story. I was excited to see what mishaps Finlay would get into this time, after she accidentally found herself hired for murder in her previous book.

I read a lot of thrillers and mysteries, so I like to think that I’m pretty good at following that kind of plot and picking up clues and threads throughout a narrative. In this book I was straight up confused though. There was so much going on and so many intertwining characters and storylines that I got frustrated trying to keep track of everything. As great as the writing was, the plot was so convoluted that it took away from a lot of my enjoyment of the story.

That being said, the juxtaposition of Finlay and her nanny caring for her kids and doing mundane activities while also being badass criminals is hilarious, unique, and well done.

Review to be posted closer to release date, and links added then.

Finlay is back!

Something unexpected happened! I liked the second book more than I liked the first one.
I think I was more in the mood for this kind of book. Funny, quick, and with a love triangle that I was 100% invested in. (I’m team Nick 100% btw)

This series reminds me so much of the show Dead To Me. It’s very unreal but fun and a very nice read to escape from reality a little bit.

4.5 stars

Oh, and I read the first book a long time ago so I wasn't sure I’d remember some details. Luckily, you don't have to remember every little thing from the first book. There’s a quick refresh in the first chapters.

I feel like the entire world read and fell in love with Finlay Donovan last year, and for good reason! I was so excited for this sequel and can't say thank you enough to @minotaur_books & @netgalley for the chance to read it early.

This one had all the same things I loved from the first novel. It was funny, had the mystery elements, some heartwarming moments, and the characters I absolutely loved.

Vero was one of my favorite parts of the first novel (because who doesn't need a Vero in their life?!), so I loved getting to see more of a glimpse into her life and who she was. You also get to see the friendship between Finlay and Vero develop. Annnd of course they get find themselves into some *interesting* situations.

I will say my only complaint was that at one point while reading I thought to myself this just keeps getting wilder and wilder - this would not really happen. I found some of the events and things that were happening to them to be so outlandish that it was hard to not roll my eyes.

I also loved that the sequel picks up right where the first one ends! This is definitely a series that you'll want to read in order.

Overall, I really enjoyed this! It made me laugh, was impossible to put down (even if a little out there), and had some twists that I didn't see coming! Ready for book #3!!!

This one is out on February 1st! So you still have time to preorder it if you haven't already! 💖

Finlay is back, and so are the hijinks that come with being an accidental assassin for hire.

After the events of Finlay Donovan is Killing It, Finlay is back to her regular crises - book deadlines and dead fish. But when she finds a hit out on her ex-husband, Steven, she’s determined to save him for her kids. She falls into a series of events including more Russian mob characters, dead bodies and hot detectives, and it’s even better than the first book!

If you’re looking for mystery + comedy, look no further. We’ve got hilarious problems, awful decision making and a redeeming cast of characters. I enjoyed the first book but I really enjoyed this one. The issues were ~slightly~ more realistic in a way that worked for me. I also started to appreciate Finn and Vero’s friendship a lot more. If you read Finlay Donovan is Killing It, you need to read this one next!

Finlay Donovan along with her best friend Vero always seem to be getting themselves into trouble. Someone posted an add on an online forum, offering a huge sum of money to kill her ex husband Steven and dispose of the body. Finlay can not have the father of her children killed and will do everything in her power to save him. Finlay and Vero have their work cut out for them. Somehow they are able to solve the mystery while escaping the law. Although it helps when your sexy boyfriend is the detective on the case….

Can’t wait to see what type of mess Finlay and Vero will get themselves into in book 3!! Please sign me up now!!!

If you loved the first one, then you will love this one even more!
Finlay is still struggling to finish her next novel and trying to keep her mind together trying to save her ex-husband when she finds out that there is a hit on his life. So, Finlay and Vero are trying to keep above the water. Then there is the detective trying to get back into her life. Along with all of this Vero is keeping secrets, and Finlay knows it.
These characters are a HOOT! I love Finlay's inner struggle when she sees the forum where her ex-husband Steven is basically someone is hiring to kill him. While Finlay despises him, she doesn't want her kids to grow up without their dad but also she doesn't want someone to attempt to kill Steven while he has the kids. Finlay must find out who is trying to kill Steven but also Vero is hiding things from her and she must deal with this too. Now, this one she is thrown in the mix of the Russian Mafia. This one is sooo good! I enjoyed this one as much as the first one! SOOOOO GOOD. If you haven't read the first one then you need to do that ASAP because this one is coming out on February 1, 2022! This should be your next read! It's full of suspense, laughs, and mystery!
Thank you Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the extraordinary opportunity to read and review this one!

Buckle up tight. You're about to go on a wild ride with Finlay Donovan. Christopher "was dead to begin with. There was no doubt about that." And, Finlay killed him. You'll have to read the book to find out who Christopher was.

That is basically how the story opens although I've borrowed Charles Dicken's words. From there on out, it only gets crazier. It's a fun, entertaining ride. Don't bother trying to make sense of it all. Just enjoy the ride. Author Elle Cosimano draws us in from the first paragraph and the plot, which is rather a roller coaster ride, moves along at a rapid, head-spinning race pace from beginning to end. Oddly enough, it all makes a sort of sense in the end, even with loose ends remaining. There's always the next book, right?

I'm not sure I'd enjoy having Finlay as a friend, she seems to live in a whirlwind, but I liked her, nevertheless. Her friendship with friend and nanny Vero is solid and we learn more about each as the story progresses. Her family reminds me a bit of Stephanie Plum's in that Janet Evanovich series, not to mention the two competing love interests in Finlay's life, one a cop. The feel of the entire series is very Plum-ish, for lack of a real word. Given how much I enjoyed this book, that is high praise for both writers. True, the story line doesn't remotely seem realistic at times but, hey, just enjoy the ride. I do think that had I read the first book in the series it all might make more sense to me but, well, maybe not. It's all about the characters and antics, after all, with some solid friendships as an added bonus. Bottom line, a fun, entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the ARC and introduction to Finlay. I'm looking forward to more of her adventures.

My favorite accidental criminals are back! This dynamic duo stole my heart with their witty one liners and constant knack for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. The author's writing is fun yet suspenseful. Though she takes a humorous approach to this story with quirky lines laced with sarcasm, it never takes away the overall thrill and mystery of the story. My heart raced at every turn, my heart pounded in anticipation of where the story would lead to next, and excitement had me reading into the early hours of the morning.

Though the plot was completely unrealistic, both Finlay and Vero were completely relatable. They had amazing chemistry that easily fed off one another. There’s something fun about two people going out of their element and diving head first into the world of investigation. Every mishap, wrong place at the wrong time, every near chance of getting caught made this book beyond entertaining and thrilling.

This was a great follow-up from the first story and provided a strong continuation to the Finlay and Vero saga. This book was made to come to life and I hope that sometime we will be able to see this come to the big screen. I cannot wait to see what crazy journey these two go onto next. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC and thank you to the author for a thrilling ride.

Just as delightful and fun as the first book in the series, Finlay Donovan Knocks Em Dead took me on a rollercoaster ride of OMG moments, with the fabulous characters from the first book making more bad decisions and getting up to crazier hijinks. This book, even more than the first, sets up so many possibilities for sequels, giving me hope that Finlay will have several adventures. I love the hot mess that she is, and I’m here for it all!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It was one of my top 2021 picks, and Elle Cosimano does it again. The sequel is just as witty, laugh-out-loud funny, and darkly humous as the first book.

It was so wonderful catching up with Finlay and Vero!!! I LOVED Finlay Donovan Is Killing It and its wonderful characters! I was so excited to know it was the start of a new series and I hope this series has many more books as I feel Finlay has a lot more to say! Finlay Donovan Knocks "Em Dead has Finlay and Vero trying to find out who put out a hit on Steven, Finlay's ex-husband. They find themselves in all sorts of hysterical trouble and I laughed out loud quite a few times. All I need to know now is when can I please pretty please read book 3? I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

This series just keeps cracking me up. I love Cosimano's characters and the relationships she creates. I can't wait to read about Finlay and her babysitter's next disastrous adventure. Perfect for those who like cozies with a little more grit.

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead is a rare instance of a sequel being better than its predecessor. I think Elle Cosimano has started to find her stride in this space. While this second effort still skirts the edginess of something like Gillian Flynn or Mary Kubica, or the literary finesse of Alex Michaelides, it's still a fun romp. I'd say it's more of a 'chick lit mystery' than a real mystery thriller-- the tone is lighthearted rather than eerie, there's not a huge body count, and overall, it doesn't take itself too seriously. There are plenty of over the top moments, but it still feels relatable in that Finlay acts in much the same way to her circumstances as you or I might. My biggest hang up with the first novel in the series was that Finlay was sort of a sitting duck, reacting to rather than driving the narrative, and somehow falling bass ackwards into each new plot point. Thankfully, that problem is nonexistent in this follow up. Here, Finlay is far more proactive; she's determined to protect Steven (and her children) from the threat of a hit that has seemingly been placed via an online forum. However, I had issues with the romance angle explored here, as it kept feeling like Finlay was being harassed by her suitor. I won't say which of her suitors it is (the lawyer and the cop are both back!), but the one-- who I genuinely wanted her to be with, and who the author intends for us to want her to be with-- is very pushy with his advances. He eventually negotiates/coerces her into a date, and in the end, he sort of blackmails her into choosing him... It all felt pretty icky to me, and it's completely glossed over. Did anyone else notice this? Maybe it was just be being too sensitive...
Anyway, if you enjoyed Finlay Donovan is Killing It, you'll almost certainly enjoy the next installment of Finlay's story.

Finlay and Vero are back but as of the moment the only dead thing they need to rid themselves of is a goldfish. But that won't last long if a online chat room person gets her way as she wants Finlay's ex dead. So with the holidays fast approaching can Finlay keep Steven alive for her kids, get the chat room groupie to take back the hit, get ready for the holidays with the kids, sort out her love life, and push out a new book?

I love this book (and the first) it is so funny how Finlay keeps get these issues thrown in her lap and she can do nothing but deal with them. If it wasn't so funny it'd be tragic, and yet it seems she always comes out on top. The characters are so good and the story plot even better. Give this series a chance and I bet (wink wink) it'll have you laughing too.

This review will appear on my blog on 2-1-2022

Another fun mystery from Cosimano. I didn't enjoy it as much as the first in the series, but this kept my interest and I'm excited for the next installment.

This is the second book in the series and will be available on February 1st. This book starts shortly after the first one finishes. Finlay is still struggling to finish her next novel while discovering who wants her ex-husband dead.

While this book is still entertaining, I felt like it was missing a lot of the hilarious magic of the first book. There are fewer laugh-out-loud moments, Finlay became less relatable, and it felt heavier. I found myself wanting the humor and lightness from the first book. The plot is even more chaotic and far-fetched than the first, and it gets repetitive. It becomes pretty clear that this is being set up for a longer ongoing series. My problem is that many potential plots and issues are being slammed in here without breathing space.

It's still a fast-paced and entertaining read, though. If you liked the first book, I think you will still like it, just maybe not love it.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur for the early eARC.

Thanks to Minotaur Books for an advanced copy of Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano.

So this may be an unpopular opinion. I absolutely loved the first Finlay -- Finlay Donovan Is Killing It and I was so underwhelmed with this one.

Finlay and Vero are at it again in this sequel, which picks off right where the first one left off. When Finlay discovers a hit out on her ex-husband in a mom message board, she does everything in her power to try to protect her kids when they are with Stephen until she can figure out who is behind the messages.

I was bored reading the first half of this book, the wit and charm from the first book were missing for me. I wasn't as invested in the characters or the story. Though the cliff hanger at the end has me wanting to read book three!