'Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead' follows our heroine/accidental hitwoman Finlay and her loyal sidekick, Vero, on another misadventure - this time, it's to prevent a hit ordered on her ex-husband. The situations they find themselves in along the way as they work to uncover who ordered the hit, as well as to keep him safe, are as ridiculous and delightful as those in the first book in the series. This book was a true page turner - I could hardly put it down - and kept me guessing all the way until the end.

I, like many others here, was skeptical whether or not this needed to be a series. 'Finlay Donovan Is Killing It" was such a treat and would've served perfectly well as a standalone, but I'm so glad it wasn't! I love the cast of characters Elle Cosimano has written, especially the friendship between Finlay and Vero, and the hijinks they find themselves in - I can't wait to see what's next for Finlay and her crew!

Book 2 did NOT disappoint! All the same characters and wide cracks you’ve come to love. Maybe it’s because she’s a mom and a total boss babe or maybe because she has two hotties after her but I just cannot get enough of Finn and her razor sharp instincts. This is a solid second round two and pure entertainment. Highly recommend.

A charming and funny read, but not sure this sequel was entirely necessary. If you absolutely loved the first book, you will like this sequel, but if you were eh on the first book like I was, you won't find this as enjoyable.

This was a fantastic sequel to the first Finlay Donovan! The same fast-paced, action-centered plot that I loved in the first book was present here as well. My only complaint was the lack of recap. It's been almost a year since I read Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, so all the little details and characters names were not top-of-mind and it definitely created confusion as a reader for the sequel to lack any kind of recap info that you typically get in a sequel.

I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR A SECOND BOOK TO LIVE UP TO THE FIRST???? Finlay Donovan is Killing It was a top read of 2021 for me so I was eagerly, albeit anxiously, awaiting the second installment. And I was not disappointed. This book is just as funny, entertaining, and thrilling as book one, and -- dare I say? -- sets up very nicely for a book three which I am SO INTO. Finlay is one of my favorite book characters TO DATE. I just want to be besties with her, even with all of her ... illegal accidentally on purpose hijinks. The writing is fresh, humorous, and engaging. If you liked book one, definitely pick this up. And if you haven't read book one, what are you even doing? Go get it now.

After a huge hit, sometimes the follow-up can underwhelm - that was NOT the case here. Loved it!

Finlay and Vero are the 21st century Lucy and Ethel, but instead of chocolate covered cherries on a fast-moving belt, these two young women have to deal with hired killers, the Russian mob, a slimes ex-husband, and a hot cop who knows more of their secrets than they think.

Do you have to read the first book? Yeah, probably, but also because why wouldn’t you?! It was fabulous but this sequel equals #1.

Once again, I laughed out loud and turned pages voraciously. This series is just unadulterated FUN!

I was pleasantly surprised by the first book and this one too. I loved how entertaining this book was and it was such a fast read. It was well written and I couldn't put it down.

In this sequel to Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, Finlay is tasked with searching for the person who has put a hit on her ex-husband in a Mom’s forum online. Finlay doesn’t like Steven, but she doesn’t want him to die either, so she and her nanny, Vero, search for the culprit themselves.

Just like the first book, this book was funny. The dialogue was entertaining and sarcastic. I enjoyed returning to the escapades of Finlay and Vero, once again getting entangled in a crime. I definitely recommend you read the first book before you read this one (things will make a lot more sense if you do). There is something about the way that Finlay is written that makes you want to root for her, even though ridiculous things happen to her along the way. We see some of the same characters as the first book, and some new interesting ones are introduced. I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel and would love to see what Finlay is up to next.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

It was so nice to be back with Finlay and Vero. Reading about their friendship really is what makes this series special!

I thought the set up for this sequel was interesting, and this is definitely a case where you have to read the first book first. So many of the players from the first book are in the sequel. I will say that I was overwhelmed by the amount of characters in this one in a way I wasn't in the first.

Finlay can be an incredibly frustrating character, but that is the point! That said, I do wish we would get a little more growth from her. I also didn't think this was quite as funny as the first one, but I still laughed out loud at some moments.

I love the author's writing and how fast paced these books are. I read the majority of the book in a day! I also thought the mystery was interesting and there were things I didn't see coming. I definitely think we are being set up for a sequel, and I cannot wait!

Elle Cosimano does it again!! Finlay Donovan is back and just as entertaining as ever!!

First off, if you haven't read the first book, READ IT! It's crazy good and definitely sets the tone for book two which takes place not long after the first book ends.

I LOVE THESE CHARACTERS!!! Finlay and Vero are such an awesome duo. The situations they get themselves into are so ridiculous. Trouble seems to follow them everywhere they go. It's always an adventure with Finlay, a humorous, over the top, what did I just read adventure and I'm here for it!!

I can not wait for the next installment!! Thank you sooo much St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for my gifted copy!

My favorite accidental hitwoman is back! Finlay Donovan is keeping her eye on a dark web women's forum when she finds a request for a hit...on her ex-husband! She decides to do nothing since there are no responses to the request. But suddenly there IS a response and things get complicated fast. All your favorite characters are back - the cop, the young law student, the babysitter/accountant/assistant hitwoman. Can Finlay figure out who ordered the hit, who accepted the job, keep her ex safe (or at least, keep the kids away from him), AND finish her latest novel by the deadline so her agent will get off her back?

I am absolutely thrilled that this is turning into a series. Fast-paced and witty writing. The characters are as lovable as ever and the comedy of errors is as funny as the previous book.

4 solid stars. Finlay and Vero are the crime fighting duo you never knew you needed. The crazy scenarios they find themselves in all while solving mysteries will make you laugh and shake your head at the same time. And Nick…swoon. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the arc.

My second Finlay Donovan book, and my second Elle Cosimano book, thanks so much to netgalley for my gifted copy because of you I didn’t have to wait for the pub date to dive in to Fins newest adventure!! I absolutely loved this book as much as the first, nothing can go wrong when your ex husbands name pops up on a hit board right? I just love finlay and her side kick. This story is so funny and an easy read and I love having a mommy/action filled book to
Read. I hope there’s another to come. This may be my favorite series so far!

Finlay is back and has writer's block until she discovers her ex-husband's name on the Mom's board where hits are placed. As she struggles to figure out who placed the hit things start to get out of control. Can she figure it out before someone gets hurt? Add in Vero, her nanny sidekick and 2 men who are interested in her and Finlay has the makings of a best-selling book.

This reminds me of Stephanie Plum in the very best way.

"Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead" by Elle Cosimano is Book 2 in this series I have anxiously been anticipating!

Someone wants Finlay's ex-hubby, Steven, dead and is willing to pay a bundle of money to ensure it happens. Even though he's a cheating, failure as a husband, Steven's a great dad to their two kids, who are crazy about him!

Now Finlay's on the hunt, with her trusty sidekick-nanny and self-appointed-accountant, Vero, to find out who is out to get Steven and why.

Is Finlay prepared to take this one on? Will she still be able to finish her next novel on time? Even though she's struggling with another case of 'writer's block'?

I was super excited for the second book in this series and it gets off to a hilarious start with the familiar bantering back and forth between Finlay and Vero. They really do seem to complete each other. If one doesn't come up with a crazy, 'brain-gas' idea you can be sure the other one will.

I loved meeting Finlay's mom, Susan, and Vero's cousin, Ramon. Besides Finlay and Vero, Susan is my next favorite character. She just lets her thoughts rip from her brain to her mouth, without skipping a beat, all while she's cooking a fabulous meal. I love moms who care this much!

This story ends in a fun way with the last sentence laugh-out-loud hilarious and so unexpected. I just love reading about Finlay's and Vero's outlandish escapades and the epilogue suggests there's more of them to come! Yay!

If you're looking for a fun, humorous, light read think about squeezing this series into your 2022 reading year. Be sure to read Books 1 & 2 first, so you're ready when Book 3 arrives! I highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Elle Cosimano for a free ARC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review. The expected publication date is 2/1/22.

Finlay Donovan is back in the highly anticipated sequel. In this second book she discovers that someone wants her ex husband dead, so now she is trying to figure out who is involved and how she can protect her children.

I really enjoyed the second book but, to be honest, missed the "mother" aspect of the first one, the thing that made it super relatable, and the funny aspect of the first book.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is a fun and suspenseful read. I highly recommend reading them one after the other, so you don't miss out on important info, because you can get a little lost with the second book.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press for the ARC! Thank you, NetGalley.

I appreciate the publisher offering an early peek in this new book!

In this book, Finlay continues her madcap career as assassin for hire, while she tries to meet her writing deadlines. She doggedly pursues who wants to kill her ex husband Steven, along with her sidekick Vero. Vero has secrets. Wackiness ensues.

This book is over the top and I did not like it.

Well what a fun ride and adventure this book was! You just gotta love Finlay. She is back to her crazy antics in this second book of the series, and both she and her “partner in crime,” who is also the kids’ nanny, Vero, are trying to prevent a murder. Specifically, the murder of her ex-husband, Steven, whom she found out via an online forum happens to be the intended target of a hitman. There are an abundance of crazy situations that unfold to keep this mystery rolling and you laughing. There’s definitely a little bit of everything in here including ties to the mafia, love interests popping back in, deadlines on a novel to meet, and circumventing a hitman from killing an ex (and trying to figure out who said hitman is.) This book was just a blast to read. It didn’t disappoint as some hyped books tend to do. I should preface that you definitely should read the first book in the series as it might be a bit confusing if one is just jumping into this book first. I highly recommend this book for a fast paced and funny mystery, with some heartfelt moments too. Just pick up Finlay and read it. Take the adventure, see it unfold, share in the crazy ride…the sleuthing, the hilarious mishaps, and discoveries. You won’t be disappointed with this funny, quirky, and heartfelt mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur books for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

4.25* it was so much fun returning to the hijinks of Finlay Donovan. I enjoyed this second book of the series even more than the first, maybe because I knew all the characters so well. This book starts off right where the lady cliffhanger left off, with Finlay and Vero trying to figure out who is looking for a hit-woman. The sane cast of characters are all still involved, most notably Julian and Nick. And the ending sounded like Elle Cosimano plans to write another Finlay Donovan novel. Her books are like a breath of fresh air and so much fun to read. But make no mistake that writing such a readable comedic book takes hard work and skill. Bravo to Elle for making it seem so easy! Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Minotaur for this eGalley in exchange for my honest review. This book is expected to be published on February 1st and I highly recommend reading the first one to those who haven’t yet.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur, and Elle Cosimano for an ARC of this book!!**

Lightning rarely strikes twice...and in this case, our ragtag heroine may have been a bit more 'shocking' in the series' first installment.

Finlay has accepted her new role as hitwoman for hire/mom/author extraordinaire with effortless grace (well, for her). She's trying to balance conflicting romantic feelings for law school hottie Julian, and her slight entanglement with Nick the cop all with her pal Vero, part time nanny and accountant and full-time bestie, by her side. Just when Finlay believed her days entangled with the Russian mob and their ilk are over....another hit is out.

And this one is aimed directly at Finlay's ex, Steven.

Is Finlay destined to once again end up at the center of some very messy business? Will Nick the copy get a little too close to the truth? And does the head of the mob still have an agenda of his own...and a trail leading right back to Finlay?

I have been waiting for this sequel since finishing the last page of the first book, where it was very clear there was more in store for Vero and Finlay. I'm not sure what it was, but this book just didn't 'hit' (haha) me the same way. I was glad to have such a strong foundation for these characters because if this had been my first introduction, I'm not sure they would have held my heart and attention from this story.

Where the action of the first was wild and a little far-fetched, it was always fun, and I just didn't have a lot of fun with the duo in this book. They were in some binds, but nothing felt laugh-a-minute and silly like it did in the first book. My guess is that Cosimano even knew this, and to her credit, she mentioned how hard it was to write a comedic novel during a pandemic. I applaud her for plugging through (much like Finlay) and getting her book ready to print, but I was hoping for some laugh-out-loud moments in this one and I'm sad to say I don't think I laughed once while reading this one.

On a brighter note, I did like the ending and didn't feel it was predictable. I still enjoy these characters and will most definitely stick around for their next chapter--hopefully it will recapture some of the goofiness, snark, and witty fun of the first installment!

3.5 stars