After falling in love with Finlay Donovan in book one I was super psyched to receive an early copy of book two. However, this one is missing the trademark hijinks that Finlay and Vero got into in book one. There are few witty moments and very few laugh out loud parts. I skimmed a lot of this book. Sadly this one missed the mark for me.

It definitely picks up at the very end, so I’ll be curious to see if there is a book three. In the author’s note, there is a mention of this book being written during COVID 19 lockdowns, so I can definitely understand why the humor is lacking. I’ll still pick up book three (if there is one).

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

This book was a fantastic follow-up go “Finlay Donovan is Killing It,” and I love that it ended with an option for more. I don’t think I’ll ever have enough of Finlay and Vero, and all of the disasters they end up getting themselves into. I want to learn more about Vero’s past and what comes next for Finlay and Nick. I didn’t know what to expect going into this one and ended up loving it!

Sometimes you just need a good laugh! If you have never read the Finaly Donovan books, you have been missing out on some great humor! This mystery by Elle Donavon is wildly hilarious and out there! ​Forget expectations, roll with the story and enjoy the book.


Finely Donovan is a 31-year-old divorced author. She has 2 adorable kids, a spunky young live-in nanny named Vero, and Stephen her ex-husband. Stephen is a loving father to their two kids, but a veritable Casanova with the ladies. Finlay receives a warning that someone is trying to have Stephen killed. While it's true there are times Stephen is a "huge pain" in Finlay's hiney, she does not want him harmed. Stephen has regular visitation with the children. Are Finlay's children in danger? What if her kids get caught in the crossfire? Determined to get to the root of this, Finlay and Vero set out to find the killer and end up in some outlandish situations that will have the reader rolling with laughter.


In the acknowledgments, Elle Cosimano speaks of the difficulty writing a funny book during sadness of the pandemic. She says "'Writing comedy is hard; writing comedy when the world is on fire takes "hard" to a whole new level. Sometimes I wasn't sure I could.'".


Standing ovation to Elle for reaching deep to make the world a brighter place during Covid! I appreciate it. I'm still laughing about Christopher. (May he go to that big fish bowl in the sky!)


Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me the honor of reviewing this e-book!

I didn’t read the first in this series but found this follow-up (which picks up a month after the earlier story) to be a fast-paced, quick-witted romp with Finlay Donovan, everyone’s favorite devoted mom, struggling writer, and accidental contract killer once again teaming up with Vero, her side-kick in crime to figure out why someone wants Finlay’s ex-husband Steve dead. , The writing style is flat-out clever enough to keep you turning pages, there’s a bit of romance mixed in with the adventures, as well as suspense, mystery, and a few twists I didn’t see coming. A light-hearted mystery read with laugh-out-loud moments which made this a perfect read for a chilly January.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

The first book was so good that I was skeptical where this one was going to go but omg cosimano DID IT AGAIN! This book is funny and interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat and turning the pages just to find out how it was going to end. I love Finlay Donovan and I never want this character to end! Give me moreeeeee. Must read if you ask me!

4.25 stars; just like the first book, Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead was an absolute delight. once again, you need to suspend your disbelief a little but if you do, you're in for a fun ride. Finn, Vero, and the wide cast of characters are easy to love and will keep the pages turning. I definitely recommend rereading the first book before delving in (I did not and was a little confused) but I found the plot easier to follow in this one. I'm already excited for the next book!

also if Finlay doesn't end up with Nick, I'll riot.

Finlay is back at it again! This time, she must find out who has put a hit on her ex-husband, Steven, before it's too late. This is a fantastic follow-up, and I loved it just as much as the first book. I can't wait to see what's in store for Finlay next.

This second book in the Finlay Donovan series, where Finlay makes bigger messes trying to clean up a mess, is was even more fun than the first one, for me. Hot on the heels of her last fiasco, Finlay discovers that someone on a women's forum is badmouthing her ex husband Steven. Someone else is offering condolences, of a sort. Actually, if you squint really hard, you could see that the messages are coded to be a request for someone to kill Steven and someone else accepting the hit. Finlay hates her cheating, lying, husband as much as the next woman but he's been a good father to their kids and she doesn't want them to lose their father.

Once again, Finlay, and her friend/business partner, Vero, have their work cut out for them. Finlay never wanted to be entangled with the Russian mob again but a mother will do anything for her kids and she wants them to have a living father. There is also the matter of Vero not acting normally, the hot, young, soon to be a lawyer friend with benefits dilemma, and the hot detective who wants to spend more off duty time with Finlay, all part of her complex and getting very stinky life. Yes, something/someone stinks to high heaven, it's getting ranker, and that something/someone needs a new resting place that is not Finlay's house or vehicle.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Finlay Donovan has easily become my book best friend over the past year and our bond grew even stronger during my time spent reading this sequel.

Queen of the Hot Mess Express, Finlay Donovan is seeking to find the person who has seemingly put out a hit on her ex-husband, Steven. Along the way, she finds herself back in contact with seedy characters from the first installment, with her gal-pal and confidante Vero helping her stay out of trouble. We discover more about Vero, her past and her struggles, and we are also introduced to some new characters that may or may not have good intentions with Finlay. Not knowing hardly anyone's true motives only adds to the mystery of finding out who is out to kill her husband.

The love triangle between Finlay, Julian, and Nick only gets more intensified throughout this novel, although there seems to be a decision made by the end. I love Julian and Nick so much and no matter which man Finlay sees herself with for the long haul, I hope they both stay in her life.

While this novel wasn't as laugh-out-loud hilarious as the first installment, I was still enthralled and engaged with the plot, and the connection I feel for the characters, new and old, carried me through to a quick finish.

As I was nearing the end, I was hoping so hard that the sequel would have a cliffhanger of some sort, and I was not disappointed! I am thrilled we are getting a book 3 and I am already counting down the days until we can read it.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review! Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead will be out in hardback on February 1, 2022.

Thank you Minotaur Books for the gifted book!

My girl, Finlay, is back and better (and more chaotic!!) than ever! Book one was such a standout for me and I was SO excited to see where her story would go next and it definitely did not disappoint!

I don’t want to say too much, because I don’t want to give away book one spoilers for those that haven’t read it yet (what are you waiting for!?), but I loved this and completely devoured it. When I finished I had to go back and reread my favorite parts and now I’m just sitting here waiting for book 3. I love the humor in these stories and the found family, and I’m cheering on a certain cop in this love triangle!

4.25 crazy antic stars

I really like these characters and this book is another winner for me! Finlay is back with Vero – her sidekick nanny/accountant/partner in crime. The duo has to figure out who took out a contract on Finlay’s ex-husband before it’s too late.

There’s a love triangle with a young almost-lawyer and then hot cop Nick. Which man will succeed in stealing Finlay’s heart? I definitely had my favorite!

There are antics galore in this one, even the Russian mob and a dead body thrown in, but I always felt that Finlay would somehow come out on top. Then there’s the matter of the police showing up at the wrong time! She’s chasing down internet leads while trying to write her next book. Somehow her life is mimicking her books!

I would recommend reading book #1 to get the most out of this second book. This was a refreshing break and I’m anxiously awaiting book #3.

This is an entertaining story, think of the scene in Die Hard where a plane is blown up by lighting the trail of gas as it takes off. Not going to happen in real life but makes for an entertaining scene. This book is exactly that, an entertaining, witty, enjoy the ride story. Finlay Donovan is a mother of two, “accidental” professional assassin, part-time detective, novelist and a hot mess. Helping in controlling or maybe adding to the chaos is her live-in nanny and bestie Vero Ruiz. Finlay is worried someone has put out a contract to kill her ex-husband, Steven. Now, she has to stop the hit, avoid the Russian Mob, figure out which of two men she prefers, hot cop or hot young thing, all while avoiding getting into trouble with the law, her sister the police officer.

I haven’t read a book authored by Elle Cosimano but I did enjoy this book. The story maybe a bit over the top for some but if you can enjoy a fun beach read, this will keep you grinning. Plot was kept moving and developed well. I liked Finlay’s circle of family, friends and acquaintances, they added to the story and helped Finlay and Vero out of trouble.

Overall, good story, witty dialogue, fun characters, entertaining plot, had me grinning at the antics. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

Another awesome Finlay story that I absolutely could not put down. Cosimano has created an incredible cast of characters in this series that you just can't get enough of. Sometimes a sequel falls flat when book one is a big hit, but that wasn't the case with Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead. I loved every minute, and was very happy that Nick was back in the picture. I recommend this series to everyone who wants a page turner that doesn't feel scary or sad.

I'll be over here waiting patiently for book 3!

Finlay and Vero are at it again in this wild ride of a sequel.

Finlay is still a hot mess. She is behind on her book submission, in somewhat of a love triangle, and to top it all off she finds a hit out for her husband on an online message board. Cue the drama unfolding left and right. As Finlay and Vero dig themselves into a giant hole between the cops and the mafia, we wonder how and if they will ever get out.

This book was extremely over the top. The plot lines are meant to be far fetched and funny and I enjoyed the humor in this cozy mystery. Finlay and Vero don't really think ahead, they just act and then have to manage the consequences.

At times there was so much going on and so many side characters that I had a hard time keeping track of things. I don't want to give any concrete examples for the fear of spoiling.

Chances are if you liked Finlay the first go around, you'll enjoy this one too. I would recommend re-reading the first for the best experience possible here.

another fun ride from Elle Cosimano! this felt so similar to the first and she did a great job of reminding you of some of the details you may have forgotten, like i did :) Vero and Finlay are truly the dream team and get themselves into some pretty messy situations that's for sure!

i did like that we had more of a romance plot in #2 vs. #1, however i felt like #2 had A LOT going on when comparing the two so it left me a bit overwhelmed at times. i did love the ending and i'm very excited for #3!

thank you to netgalley and minotaur for the gifted early copy.

We jump back into Finlay Donovan's story a month after she was mistaken as a hit woman, a situation that subsequently sent her life into quite a bit of chaos. Someone wants her ex husband dead, she found the request in a mother's group on the internet, and while she doesn't much fancy her ex, he's still the father of her children and she doesn't want to see him dead. We get to follow along as Finlay and her trusty nanny/assistant/accountant/friend Vero try to get to the bottom of this and the antics that ensue. And fear not, Julian and Nick return too!

First, if you haven't read the first book in this series yet, stop and go do that before reading this one, you definitely will need to or you might be pretty lost at times. This story has a great mix of mystery, humour and romance. While some of the situations Finlay finds herself in are a little over-the-top and unrealistic that doesn't take away from the fun of this book. Fast paced and entertaining, this will keep you hooked cover to cover. And, much like the first, this one ends in a cliffhanger, leaving the reader anxiously anticipating a third installment in this series!

This is the problem with sequels, it's often impossible for them to live up to the magic of the first book because they reader knows what's coming.

I liked this book just fine. It had a compelling mystery, some solid humor, and fascinating characters. But it was missing something the first book had. Some of this may be because I listened to the first one on audio, and that was spectacular, but that's not the only difference. The author's note explains she struggled writing this book during the COVID pandemic, so that may explain it. The laugh out loud moments and the shocking reveals just weren't here this time.

I liked that this book picked up right where the last one ended. I'm glad I read it and I'd probably pick up another in the series but I wouldn't be in a rush to get an advanced copy, like I was with this one.

I can't get enough of Finlay Donovan! I hope that this series continues for years to come. Finlay and her side-kick, Vero, are on another adventure! Actually, more than one adventure. The ex-husband, handsome police officer, and young law student are featured again. It is so fun to get to be with the characters again as they, once again, get pulled into a murder for hire situation.

Finlay's back ... back again! The unlikely duo of Finlay and Vero find themselves once again neck deep in shenanigans no one could have predicted and only they could find themselves in. The cast of shady characters knows no bounds but new players, new stakes and new secrets put Finlay in bed with dangerous people. Will the unlikely female crime fighters save the day again and live to tell the story?! Only one way to find out! Once again Cosimano crafts a story that pulls you in, even with the off the wall scenarios, gets you invested and makes you laugh along the way. I'm rooting for a book three as much as I foot for Finlay and Vero!

WOW WOW WOW!!!! Finlay came back and rocked our world again!!! This book did not disappoint! Elle Cosimano has a brilliant way of making your heart race and making you laugh all on the same page!