This series is laugh-out-loud hilarious! Finlay just cannot seem to stay out of trouble. In this sequel she is trying to look out for her ex-husband since she found a hit out on him, with the help of Vero – her nanny, and Detective Nick – the hot cop. If you want a mystery that will have your heart pounding but also make you laugh hysterically, then definitely pick up this series! Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books for the egalley in exchange for my honest review.

I've had Finlay Donovan Is Killing It on my shelf since early 2021 and kept putting off reading it. When I got approved for Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead, I decided I would read them back to back to fully be immersed in the Finlay Donovan experience.

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead might be even better than the first book. By the second one, we know the characters, we know what Finlay has someone managed to get herself involved with (the Russian mob) and we know someone has put a hit out on her husband. I definitely found myself laughing out loud while reading, and certainly didn't see the ending coming. I wasn't sure if this one would wrap up the story, but am really thrilled to say it appears that there will hopefully be a third in the series!

If you haven't read either of these books yet, I highly recommend doing so. It's a fun series that will keep you guessing.

4.5/5 stars

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Once again Finlay Donovan is on a deadline for her next book and her agent is breathing down her neck for the pitch, her daughter’s goldfish has met an untimely demise, she’s struggling to keep things running smoothly with the help of her live-in nanny and friend Vero, and her douchebag ex-husband Steven is being extra douchey and apparently someone wants him dead now… and the Russian mob may or may not be involved in the shady online forum where complaining soccer moms can put out a hit.
There’s also the hot cop Nick and the bartender/law student Julian keeping Finlay’s romantic prospects complicated and not enough time to contemplate the secrets Vero seems to be hiding.
To meet her book deadline and keep Steven alive, Finlay has to write from experience and stay one step ahead of the police to find out who’s trying to kill her ex before they finish the job.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is a juicy sequel with even higher stakes to the laugh out loud funny Finlay Donovan Is Killing It and I’m once again impatiently waiting for the next installment.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is scheduled for release on February 1, 2022.

Wow! Finlay Donovan does it again! This book was so fun. Finlay once again finds herself dealing with her ex-husband, a Russian crime syndicate, a dead body, and two hot men who want to be her love interest. Oh and she has to finish that book she's been promising to her agent. I can't wait for the next installment in this series because this book left a lot of unanswered questions.

The second in the series is everything you'd expect from Finlay. A fun light mystery with tons of humor, unrealistic scenes that will have you laughing out loud so often your dog will give you the side eye. Bonus that it takes place right before Christmas so it is the perfect "holiday" read for those who like murder too 🤣

Finlay and her sidekick Vero take on a mysterious online identity that wants to off Finlay 's ex. As much as she dislikes Steven, he is still her children's father so her and Vero get into many shenanigans while trying to protect him.

Read this obviously if you've loved the first but also if you are a fan of Dial A for Aunties as it has a similar vibe ❤

Finlay Donovan is back and as awesome as ever! This book is the perfect combination of light, mysterious, and funny. I would really love to see a third book where Finlay settles into her happily ever after.

In book two, Finlay Donovan is back for another murderous adventure. Finlay is a hot mess, a divorced mom to two young children, a mystery writer with a small cash advance on her next novel for a 20,000 word commitment to her publisher that she’s finding difficult to honor and has an ex-husband Steven that someone has put out a contract on his head. Along with her nanny/housekeeper/sidekick Vero, Finlay is determined to find out who is trying to kill Steven and stop it from happening. A young stud law student/bartender Julian, a hot cop Nick that is desperately wanting a relationship with Finlay and the Russian mob all add to the crazy circumstances Finlay finds herself in as she tries to unravel the murderous plot to kill her ex-husband. Will recommend to everyone wanting a good, light hearted murder mystery. Looking forward to book three and Finlay’s next adventure.

Finlay Donovan book #2 was a complete hit! It was everything I wanted in a book. The perfect mixture of comedy and drama in one.

Finlay discovers that someone in an online forum wants her ex, Steven, dead. Even though Finlay doesn't like her husband's character, he is still the father of her children and she must make sure he is safe at all costs. Finlay and her sidekick, Vero, run in to multiple problems trying to find the hired hitman that will make you laugh out loud.

Meanwhile, Detective Nick is still trying to pursue Finlay as she is sorta dating a young law student. With a police detective on her side and an awesome nanny/built in best friend, can Finlay save her ex-husbands life before it's too late? Who is the killer? Can she figure out her love life and be a great mom at the same time?

I loved this book. Finlay has stuck out as one of my favorite characters of all time since reading the first Finlay Donovan book. She is hilarious and quirky and just trying to survive this life like the rest of us. I love that she finds herself in less than ideal situations and somehow pushes through while continuing to live her normal day to day hilarious life. A fun, easy, read that I will recommend to anyone!

Also, the book ended with another cliffhanger.... so I'm really hoping there is a book #3.

Delightful romantic suspense novel to follow up with the equally delightful first book in the series. A quick read perfect for a vacation read, continuing the development of characters ad relationships, and leaving enough unresolved for a next installment! For fans of Janet Evanovich and similar authors.

Awesome book! I just love these characters and can't wait for the next in the series! It has a little bit of everything... whodunit, romance, comedy....you can't go wrong!

Thanks to netgalley, the author and publisher for the chance to read an ARC.

• Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing this Advance Reading Copy. Expected publication date is February 1, 2022.

This second book in the Finlay Donovan series has cemented Finlay and her sidekick, Vero, firmly in my heart. I honestly don’t think that I can get enough of their murderous hijinks. Finlay finds out from a woman’s online forum that someone wants her ex-husband, Steven, dead and is willing to pay top dollar for the “hit”. Finlay has her hands full taking care of her two small children, writing her second novel, all while trying to find out who wants Stephen out of commission. Meanwhile, the hot and sexy Detective Nick Anthony is desperately trying to get back into Finlay‘s life. Hilarity abounds and I can’t wait for the third installment.

3.5 stars! Elle Cosimano is an incredibly talented author and one of the kindest people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting! I really enjoyed Finlay Donovan is Killing It and this one was a solid sequel. I’m only rating it 3.5 stars because I’ve come to realize that I don’t just LOVE the mixture of humor and thrillers, but I’m confident that this book is going to be a huge hit just like her last one was! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

✨BOOK REVIEW✨

Read this book if:

✨You've ever stored something weird in your washing machine
✨You've wanted to drive a 300,000 dollar car
✨There's a murder warrant out for your husband

✨Brief Summary✨

Finlay and Vero are just trying to get through a normal life raising two small children. Until Finlay finds a posting on a women's forum where someone is offering 100k to kill Finlay's ex husband. Finlay and Vero need to do everything in their power to track this person down before they end up killing Steven. Along the way, there's a hot cop and a cute attorney that keep reappearing. Will Finlay and Vero be able to save Steven from his impeding death?

✨My Thoughts✨

Sequels are sometimes a huge let down. This was NOT the case at all with Finlay Donovan Knocks Em Dead. In fact, I think I may have enjoyed this book even more than the first one. Which is saying something, because I really enjoyed the first one.

There was suspense, romance and humor throughout the entire book. Sometimes I don't like seeing all three of those in one novel, but this author did a great job of mixing my three favorite genres. There was just the right about of each piece to make to a great novel.

I adored the characters. Name a better duo than Finlay and Vero. Go ahead, I dare you. Both of them are smart, funny, and resourceful. They make great leading characters. I also loved the side characters such as Finlay's mom. She played a much bigger role in this novel than she did in the first one.

I also liked how the novel never slowed down. There was always a big important scene that was key to the plot of the novel. It kept you on your toes and made you want to keep reading.

Mark your calendars for February 1, 2022 to go out and buy this book. I know I will! Thank you @netgalley and @ellecosimano for the advanced reader copy!

Elle Cosimano has done it again! Finlay is back with her shenanigans alongside accountant/friend/nanny, Vero. This was one of my most anticipated reads for 2022 and it did not disappoint. Finlay is scouting the women's forum online and sees a post that someone has it out for her ex-husband, Steven. Even though the relationship between the two is very rocky, he is the father of her children so Finlay decides she must find out who wants to murder him and put a stop to it. Complete with Molotov cocktails, jail visits, and the Russian mafia, Finlay Donovan Knocks "Em Dead will have you hanging on the edge of your seat while laughing out loud!

I love Finlay! This is a great sequel and did not disappoint. Finlay and Vero are hilarious and always finding themselves in a tangled web. I loved the open ending and really hoping for a 3rd book! Anyone who loved the first book will most definitely love this.

First I'd like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book. I'm still semi new to Cozy Mysteries and overall am enjoying my time reading them!

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead picked up right where the first book left off, with an insane cliffhanger and we're all dying to know what happens next!! I feel the same way about this book that I did with the first book - I generally dislike when characters are able to get their information the "easy" way with ride alongs with law enforcement (in the first book) and speaking to Julian for lawyer tips, I GET it, and it makes sense, it just sometimes feels like an easy way for the characters to get the information.

I love Finlay, and I love how she interacts with her children, I love how she's a single mom, and she's not perfect. She's got her quirks and she somehow manages to get herself into the weirdest situations by just trying to survive. I love the comedy in these books and I love how at times I feel as though I can relate to Finlay (if I were to ever find myself in this CRAZY situation, I would probably react the same way she does and hit the exact same walls that she does).

The ending felt weird, when we find out who FedUp is, I thought that was hilarious, but I was also expecting more. For someone who mostly reads thrillers, I've been reminding myself that this is a cozy mystery and not nearly as twisty and crazy as thrillers can be.

Overall, I did enjoy this one as well! I think I was more excited to read this second book after the first cliffhanger than I am to read the next book (after the insane cliffhanger at the end of this one) it just felt a little forced in my opinion.

If you loved the first book in this series, you'll love the second! It is extremely twisty and there is truly no way to guess what's coming next. I love all of the problems they run into and the awesome friendship of Vero & Finlay! This book left it open for a third book in the series so I can't wait to see what Cosimano will release next!

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It was one of my favorite books of the year. Fun, endlessly entertaining, and entirely too hard to put down, it was a breath of fresh air in a genre crowded with jealous friends, dark intrigue, and torrid affairs. Needless to say, I was thrilled to receive the eARC of Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead and couldn't wait to start reading.

Following the events of book one (no spoilers), Finlay finds herself in an even bigger pickle when a dangerous message appears on a chat site for fixers. Old friends, new players, and the same sense of murdery mischief, Finlay's life is about to get ripped from the book she needs to finish whether she's ready or not.

UGH. I loved this book.

Cosimano's writing is witty, sharp, and utterly engaging. I can't express enough how much I enjoyed the dialogue. Witty banter is so hard to make feel authentic, but Cosimano absolutely nails the sarcasm and humor. The comedic relief is a beautiful counter balance to the more serious moments, and I found myself blowing through chapters because I could not stop reading. It reminded me of Ray Donovan in the way that the family is dynamic and kind of a train wreck but works well to battle the underbelly of criminal activity.

Overall, Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead is a homerun you want on your TBR. Out in February, smash the pre-order now and thank me later.

Thank you to Minotaur and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

HUGE thank you to Minotaur Books, St Martins Press and NetGalley for the galley of this Feb 1st release!

This is exactly the follow up that I wanted to Finlay Donovan is Killing It!

I couldn’t put it down. I basically read it in two sittings.

While this is probably an improbable in an actual suburban setting - the plot completely drew me in. The events surrounding Finlay and Vero had me completely on the edge of me seat at times.

I will say that you absolutely need to read book one first or you will be confused. This takes place shortly after the first book ends so you get a resolution to what you find out at the end of book 1.

Who is FedUp? I have a feeling you’ll be surprised

Poor Finlay! After accidentally becoming a killer for hire, she's tipped off to another big 'job' on a certain darkweb women's forum. This time, her ex-husband is the mark, and worse -- someone appears to have accepted the offer. Finlay Donovan and her sidekick Vero are on a mission to get ahead of the other contract killer without spilling the beans to the cops, the mob, or worse -- her nosy family.

Our hot mess heroine is in deep trouble this time, but somehow, she's gotten quite good at this whole assassin-slash-vigilante thing. Not any better at sticking to her demanding editor's timeline, though. It's hard not to root for Finlay even as she continuously complicates things for herself in her quest to save her family. There are a couple parts that are a little disjointed, if you'll excuse the Carl Westover reference, so be prepared to suspend disbelief.

This is the second book in the series, and it could not be read as a standalone. I read both books in quick succession and the sequel didn't miss a beat. There's a lot of background and character buildup necessary to fully enjoy and follow the storyline of Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead. There's a setup for a threequel, and I am most definitely here for it.

It's a bit dark, a lot funny, and an all-around good time. Top it off with smooth storytelling, and this one lives up to the hype.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.