What a great book! An easy read that kept me engaged throughout. Finlay is a sassy author, mom, detective by accident who smartly gets herself in and out of dangerous situations. With the help of her babysitter/stylist/friend/partner in crime, she looks to solve the mystery of who wants her ex-husband dead while at the same time trying to finish her next novel.
The book keeps at a nice pace and contains mystery, romance, humor and drama all in one punch.
Finlay Donovan is the kind of woman I'd want to be BFFs with as she'd always be a good time!

This one is so much fun! If you read and loved the first one, you're going to feel the same about this one. Same Finlay, different hijinks. I love the writing style and how Finlay doesn't have it together. She's a real sort of character you can see yourself in. But also, you must completely suspend reality as the plot is just so ridiculous that it could never happen in real life. But that is entirely the charm of it. Looking forward to the next one for sure!

Thank you to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read an ARC of this entertaining, over-the-top caper. I have yet to read the first book in the series, so there was some back story to catch up on, but I managed to follow the plot.
Finlay Donovan, the first-person protagonist, is a single mom of two small children and a romantic suspense novelist with writer's block. But she has more pressing problems than a deadline: it appears someone from an online women's forum has put out a hit on her ex-husband, Steven. Although Steven is a shameless philanderer, he's a good father, so Finlay wishes him no harm. Nevertheless, she's hesitant to let her children visit him until the threat against his life can be eliminated. Steven thinks she's making it up as a ploy to keep his kids away from him.
Vero, Finlay's live-in friend/nanny/accountant, is her partner in crime, and it's debatable which one of them comes up with the most outrageous schemes, most of which create more problems than they solve.
An added complication is a love triangle. Finlay's been seeing Julian, a sexy law student quite a few years her junior, but their relationship is mainly physical. And then there's Nick, a handsome cop who has caught her eye, but Finlay keeps him at arm's length since many of her antics cross the legal line.
The Russian mob also plays a part; apparently, many of those characters appeared in the first book.
The action is nonstop, often hilarious, and there are a few surprises along the way. Not all the loose ends get tied up, but that must mean there will be a sequel.

Finlay & Vero are ride or die bestie goals! Mysterious, funny and widely entertaining.
Loved the hints and cliffhanger for book three which is high in my radar.

Another good read in the Finlay Donovan series. Although I like #finlaydonovanknocksemdead I found it a little more disjointed than the first book, Finlay Donovan is Killing It, but would still recommend this as a good read but that is why I only gave it 4 stars. It did advance the ongoing plot quite a bit while leaving enough unsaid to make me anticipate the next contribution to the series. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for this arc to read and review ahead of publication.

So Finlay Donovan is back! Lots of highjinks and fun, just like the first one…. This one picks up right after it, as Finlay tries to figure out who has put a hit out on her ex-husband. It’s not quite as funny as the first obe, but I really enjoyed the continuing story arc of all Finlay’s relationships, specifically with Julian & Nick. I’m eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this story!

I adored the first one and highly recommend it. I thought the sequel was fine! The plot didn’t work as well for me this time but it was still fun to revisit these characters. I like how the ending set everything up nicely for a sequel!

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is another fantastic read by the one and only Elle Cosimano and I felt like I hit the absolute jackpot by receiving this one as an ARC.

Brief Synopsis: Finlay is again working under pressure to complete her next novel when she stumbles on a womens forum that mentions her ex husband Steven. Upon further investigation, someone wants Steven dead and even though their relationship may be rocky she is determined to make sure that doesn’t happen. Along the way Vero and Finlay get themselves wrapped up in bigger issues than the death of Steven and they find themselves getting into the wrong place at the wrong time. Will Finlay and Vero make it out alive once again or will the Russian Mobsters and all their close “friends” get to them first?

Overall Thoughts: This book was just as delightful as the first and I loved every part of it. Ms. Cosimano does an amazing job at intertwining comedy with a murder mystery and this is something that would be so challenging to do. The characters are loveable and I enjoyd each of the side plots in this story. Like the first book, there is more than one plot line happening at the same time and she does a great job at seamlessly tying it all together at the end. I’m thrilled that there is room for another sequel as I love Finlay and want to continue to read about her crazy antics.

Rating: I rate this one 5 sunglasses. I loved it and I cannot wait for this one to hit the shelves so I can talk to my friends about it. This book is pure gold and everyone should put this series on their list!

Thank you to Elle Cosimano, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced copy. I absolutely adored it and cannot wait to read more from Elle Cosimano!

📚Finlay Donovan is once again struggling to finish her next novel AND keep her head above water as a single mother or two. Someone, however, wants her ex-husband Steven out of the picture. Permanently. Saving him will send her down the rabbit hole of soccer mom turned hit woman and a little more involvement in the Russian mob than she’d like. Will Finlay save her ex AND finish her book?

❤️Finlay is a hot freaking mess and I love every minute it. This sequel (go read Finlay Donovan is Killin It ASAP) is the perfect next chapter for our gal! These books are funny, witty and overall just a good time! Plus throw in a hot cop and a steam young lawyer…. I’m in! @ellecosimano please tell me there are more books because I’m not done reading them yet!!

🍾 Vacation Wine in Plastic Cup
I read this book in 4 hours in the hot tub on vacation sooooooo I didn’t have time/energy to refill for the pic! Plus plastic only poolside 😎💃🏼🤷🏼‍♀️

Finlay Donovan does it again! I absolutely loved this second book in the series. I found it to be more fast paced and just as exciting as the first. While the first one had more laugh out loud moments, I still found this one completely hysterical and on the edge of my seat trying to figure out the whodunit.

4.5 stars!

Similar to the first book, I really enjoyed this one too! I love the humor and the cozy mystery story! I also really enjoy Finlay and Vero’s friendship — every woman needs her “person”. Overall, I give this book a 4/5. The twist at the end felt a little out of nowhere and not really coherent to the entire plot. Still a very enjoyable read!

Oh my goodness, are you ready for more antics from Finlay and her live-in nanny and sidekick, Vero? I will warn you, many books in a series are standalone. But in this case, you have to read Finlay Donovan Is Killing It for this story to really work for you.

Believe me, if you can sit back and relax Finlay will take you on a memorable ride. One that starts out in the first book with mistaken identity and branches out in this book to assumptions, deadends, surprises, and a hint of romance.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead will have you dizzy from the plot twists and the ending will nearly knock you dead with the cliffhanger. I’m not sure how Cosimano was able to pull her characters, Finlay and Vero, from the web they found themselves caught in, but she did. And it worked.


Vero’s wild ideas will keep you shaking your head and chuckling. And I kept shaking my head and thinking, Where does Elle Cosimano come up with these ideas?! It won’t take long before you too will be caught up in this mystery that this crazy duo has uncovered.

My Concerns
The first of the story contained sexual innuendos and racy scenes that didn’t feel typical for the characters nor did they add to the story.

Final Thoughts
Without a doubt, this is filled with mystery, imagination, humor, romance, and a big dose of silliness. If you’re in the mood for a light read, meaning fun not uncomplicated, pick up Finlay Donovan is Killing It, and then quickly pick up Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Um Dead.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review an Advanced Reader Copy and post my thoughts.

Give me more Finlay and Vero-please! This book jumps right into another wild storyline…someone has posted a job to kill Finlay’s ex husband, Steven. Now Finlay and her live-in nanny, Vero need to figure out who wants Steven dead, and why? As they set out to uncover the identify of this hit man, they encounter a lot of bumps along the way.

I loved picking up where I left off from the first book and devoured this one in a matter of hours. This is such a fun series and I can’t wait for the next book.

Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur for this advance reading copy.

Finlay Donovan is back.
Has she learned from her mistakes in book one?
Not really. And I was there for every moment of her bad decision making.

What I love about this series is that Finlay has a good heart and tries to do the right thing (in this book, protecting her ex-husband Steve from a possible death threat), makes some spectacularly bad choices, and still manages to stay alive, and out of jail. Is the whole scenario realistic? Probably not, but I look to this series as an escape, where the average housewife and her trusty nanny, Vero, fight against mob-like characters and win.

Another thing I love is that Finlay isn't this perfectly put together heroine.
She is a disaster at time management, especially when it comes to writing her new book.
Her cleanliness standards seem just slightly above that of a college student.
Her eating habits are far from healthy, as she's often found stress eating a bag of cookies with Vero.
Yet, she has two and a half men (Steven is the half, lol) chasing after her.

Someone, despite being two steps from a dumpster fire, she makes it all work. And I'm grateful this book probably isn't the last we see of this hot mess. Stay tuned!

This series is just too much fun. It’s like Scooby Doo meets Real Housewives.
I mean that in the greatest way possible— without totally aging myself! I love Finlay, Vero and this whole cast of characters. I blasted through both of the books in this series in a week. The first one “Killing it,” was a really fun audiobook. I listened to it while I worked and then while I worked out. I laughed out loud and then acted like an addict unable to stop until I got to the end. The follow up “Knocks ‘Em Dead” is equally fun and totally addictive. I actually read the second one and I loved it just as much.
What a fun series! Can’t wait for then next adventures… There has to be a next, right?

I absolutely loved this sequel! Finlay & Vero are a hilarious pair and the all of the characters in this series are amazing. The love triangle continues as Fin tries to prevent someone from taking out a hit on her ex-husband. Finlay's family plays a bigger role in this book, and we learn a little bit more about Vero. The plot moved quickly and there were some exciting twists. This one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so now I'm eagerly anticipating a book 3!

Absolutely loved the first book and loved the second book even more. It was so nice to see Finlay and the gang back at it with their crazy adventures. The laughter was louder this time , and the story got even better.

I loved Finlay Donovan is Killing It so much that I had been anxiously awaiting the sequel for months! I’m so glad I got to read this one ahead of its release in February.

This one picks up right where the first one left off. Finlay is trying to figure out who put a hit on her ex husband while struggling to write her next book and juggling 2 toddlers. Thankfully she has Vero to help! I love the dynamic between Vero and Finlay and love seeing how their friendship has blossomed. The first installment is still definitely my favorite, but this one holds strong. It was just as funny and ridiculous as the first one, and it just left me wanting to read MORE!

Lastly, I want to add that… I am obsessed with Nick, I love Nick, I am Team Nick - I NEED MORE NICK!

This was such a highly anticipated sequel for me and it did not disappoint! No sequel can quite beat the masterpiece that was the first Finlay Donovan novel, but this was a satisfying follow up. It was fast paced and full of the rollercoaster up and downs we all enjoyed in the first one. If you liked the original, pick this one up!

Elle Cosimano did it again. I was laughing out loud at the situations Finlay got herself into. This was fast paced, hilarious, and overall just a fun read. And now I’m sitting here waiting for another book to keep the story going. The first book really drew me in and I’m glad to say that the sequel is just as good. I love in this book that we got to get deeper into knowing the characters we met in the first book, particularly the mysterious Vero. I still have a lot of questions about her history and I’m already looking forward to the 3rd book. The relationship between Finlay and Vero is so great. It's wonderful to see two women supporting each other and having each other's back. Finlay is more confident and sure of herself in this book that she already knew what she was doing. It was just as action-packed and hilarious as the first. I like that Finlay isn’t focused on finding a man it makes her more relatable as a character because there’s just so much going on and any sane person would focus more on all that than falling for some guy. It was excellent in squeezing in details from the previous book that instantly refreshes your memory on what had happened. All the situations Finlay ends up in are completely unrealistic but that's what I love about this series. It's so ridiculous that I can't help but laughing along with Finlay's missteps and I had to keep reading to find out what would happen next. All the characters’ plotlines were strung together really well and they had good overlap. Finlay is a larger than life character that I adored and all the side characters are fantastic as well. There's mystery, drama and romance thrown in here. This book was full of twists and turns and a few of them were SO surprising. I’m usually pretty good at spotting twists but this book has some genuine surprises which was great.

This book was just as fun as the first! A quick read, with some twists and turns to keep you engaged. It is a well laid out mystery, full of suspense and plenty of humor thrown in. Cosimano is an excellent writer. Her novels are easy to read, engaging and flow very well. If you are looking for a fun mystery series that will keep you laughing, definitely pick these books up. This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites! I highly recommend it! I have my fingers crossed for more books in this series! Big thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.