Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is the second book in the Finlay Donovan cozy mystery series by Elle Cosimano. This is a fast-paced, comedic, crazy, whirlwind of a mystery with all kinds of wild hijinks.

We have the Russian mafia, an implied hit request on a women’s forum, businesses on fire, questionable partners with hidden agendas and secrets, body parts scattered about, sports cars and a solid love triangle. Basically, Finlay’s got her hands full in every area of her life.

The scenes with her kids are laugh-out-loud funny, her interactions with her side kick, Vero, are tremendously fun, the culprit is delightfully surprising, and I’m personally rooting for our beloved detective, Nick. As long as you’re willing to suspend disbelief, you’ll have a thoroughly entertaining time reading this story!

Audio: This story is narrated by Angela Dawe and not only is her voice clear and easy to follow, but she’s got the perfect sass and spunk kind of voice for this strong, fiery female lead.

My anticipation for Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by comedic genius author Elle Cosimano was met with pure glee. Just as in the perfectly entertaining Finlay Donovan Is Killing It I laughed, found Detective Nick sexy and was shocked by the end.

Only a month has passed from the bombshell ending of the first book. Finlay and co-conspirator Vero realize they have found a coded message on a website and someone has put a hit out on Finlay's sleazy ex husband Steven.

For various reasons they don't let Steven know he is in danger but they hilariously try to keep Steven safe while investigating who wants him dead. Previous fun characters come back like pushy publicist Sylvia, Steven's crooked now ex fiancée Theresa and very dangerous jailed Russian mobster boss Felixs.

There is also a bit of a love triangle among Finlay, Nick and young bartender law student Julian. For the record I am team Nick all the way. Like getting tee shirts made with Team Nick on them!

Then there is the sub plot that Vero is definitely hiding something big from Finlay. Their relationship is life goals. Forget romance they are each other's person.

Standing ovation for narrator Angela Dawe who not only hits the comedy mark everytime but does Vero's sarcastic wisecracks with absolute brilliance. She also gives Nick that extra sexy tone that had me swooning for him.

So make the popcorn, sit back and listen to a story that will leave you laughing out loud, rooting for a sexy detective, worrying about Vero, biting your nails for Finlay and her shenanigans and totally shocked by who put out the hit on Steven. Never saw it coming and loved the reveal.

Ending with another jaw dropping cliff hanger Book 3 can't get here soon enough. Oh the anticipation!

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publishers via #netgalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book was a nice cozy/witty mystery. However, I am begging Ms. Cosimano to research how law school works. This was my main complaint about her first book, as well. She says that Julian is "studying criminal law." This isn't how law school works. You have to study all the subjects then can specialize after you pass the bar. I get that this is a small issue, but it's just one of those things that a quick google search could tell you. I didn't let this affect my opinion/rating too much, however.

Some things I liked better about this book: Vero and Finlay's relationship, there is less "I'm a bad/hot mess of a mom" humor, and the general mystery aspects of the coded messages on the forum.

The mystery aspect and the relationship between Vero and Finlay are hands down the best aspects of both the first book and this one as well.

I loved the second book in this series. Filled with razor sharp wit, and two characters who haven't lost their appeal. My only negative thing about this review is the narration. I did not find the narrator enjoyable to listen to, especially as she tried to navigate the two voices and accents. The story is great! Overall, I really enjoyed it, but I wouldn't recommend people listen to it on audiobook if its this narrator. I would encourage people to read it :)

I wanted to get to the first in this series before I read this one, but didn't find the time. I will go back and pick it up later. This book was a hilarious mess. Anything that can go wrong in Finlay's life does. In this book , someone is out to murder Finlay's ex-husband and she's desperate to find out who so that she can stop them. However, in the process, she does something that will most likely make her the number one suspect. She and her nanny are then incredibly busy trying to clean up that mess--which leads to even bigger and more heinous messes.

I was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio.. All thoughts are my own.

This is one of my most anticipated releases of 2022 so when I got approved for the audio I was so excited! And let me tell you, I was not disappointed. You’ll love it just as much as the first. It was just a really good time and the narrator is really good.
Finlay and Vero get themselves into all kinds of messes they have to then hilariously get out of. There are plenty of both the lawyer and the cop. Just for the record I’m team Hot Young Lawyer. We get more mystery and only some answers and I’m really hoping there will be more books because I need them!

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead followed right in the footsteps of the first book. It was just as witty and ridiculous(in a good way). You get to learn a little bit more about Vero, though I think her full backstory will be the next book. This one was somewhat different since Finlay is actively trying to stop someone from dying, which took some of the comedy of errors out of the picture. The tone was a bit more serious, getting more into the nitty gritty of the characters. I found myself shifting my want of a romance to the detective instead of the lawyer. I also started to be suspicious of characters I had previously trusted fully. The book definitely shook things up and felt like a setup for the next one. I was very happy to hear the same narrator for the audiobook! I thoroughly enjoyed her during the first book and it would have been difficult to hear someone else as Finlay. For me, this was a 4/5.

If you like murder mysteries, online forums hiring hit women to kill their husbands, or want to see if Finlay can keep her ex-husband alive, this is the one for you.

I received a copy of this audiobook free from Netgalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.

Finlay Donovan does it again! This was an amazing sequel to the first book. Finley and Vero get themselves in a mess yet again. It is a cross between the humerus slapstick of the Pink Panther and a little twist ofMurder She Wrote. Just when Finley thinks she has escaped all the trouble and is able to land on her feet she finds herself in another pickle. She is short on money and wants to be able to provide for her family but at what length will she and Vero go to to make ends meat. I really enjoyed the rollercoaster cast of characters along with laugh out loud funny statements that Finley made throughout the fiasco. Meanwhile she is balancing the feeling of motherhood and the romantic advances from two very different men. I highly recommend this book as a terrific follow up! I cannot wait to devour which I’m sure it will be a third book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Out Now!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫/5 Stars (4.5 Stars)

Narration: love the narrator for this! She is the same narrator from the first book and I love her narration! So good at distinguishing between characters and keeping you interested throughout!

No Spoiler Review 👇🏻

I don’t read a lot of mysteries but I loved the first book so I was so excited to pick this one up!

I liked this one even more than the first book! Half a star off as just a few slow moments in the middle.

This book picks up right after the ending of the first book. Finlay and Vero are back. Looking after the kids and Finlay trying to finish another novel. In this book someone on a form wants Finlay’s ex husband dead, so she and Vero try and figure out who wants Steven dead.

This book has so many twists, dark humour and omg moments! I liked this one a bit more than the first book as it gets right into the action and story. This book is hilarious and kept me on my toes the entire time. I highly recommend picking up these books if you haven’t yet! Such fun mysteries with humour and a bit of romance. I really liked the audiobook format for reading these books and recommend that as well! I really hope we get a third book. I want to see more of Finlay.

This audio version was the greatest.
The narration flowed great.
I thought this was such a unique and fantastic story.
I devoured it in one full day. Didn't want to stop listening to it.
Elle has done such a phenomenal job with this series and I hope their is more to come.
It was a blast!

Macmillan Audio,
Thank you for this audio book!
I will post and tag my review closer to pub date!

Okay I loved this one so much!! I love a good female led spy book! I read the first on right before this one and I have to say I enjoyed the second book way more than the first! So if you liked the first one you’ll love this one! It really reminds me of the tv show bad moms! This book is hilarious, thrilling and mysterious and I absolutely love it!

Ahh I absolutely loved this and the narration! I loved how the narrator changed her voice for different characters. It was wonderful!

Ahh Finlay and Vero are back!!⁣
⁣
This was such a fun, hilarious, sarcastic, unputdownable wild ride!⁣
⁣
Finlay thought she was getting her life back after accidentally taking on the Russian mob, writing a best seller and sending her ex’s fiancé to jail…. Until she finds a forum where someone is out to kill her ex husband.⁣
⁣
Even though Finley is over the scum bag that is Steve, it’s still her Children’s father and she doesn’t want him dead… or does she? 🤔⁣
⁣
Don’t forget we also have hotty detective Anthony and a new younger hottie Julian! ⁣
⁣
This is a whole other adventure of detective work, fast cars, dead bodies, and trying to write another best seller before her agent loses it. ⁣
⁣
I absolutely adored this book and I’m sort of hoping maybe there’s a book 3!?⁣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫 ⁣
Thank you @minotaurbooks for the gifted copy! This is out today! #bookstagram #books #finleydonovanknocksemdead

🚔 BOOK REVIEW 🚔

SWIPE FOR DESCRIPTION ▶️

Finlay is BACK and up to all her old hijinks again in Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead, published just yesterday! If you loved the first one, you won't be disappointed in this second installment. We have laugh out loud moment, your favorite sidekick (Vero), action-packed plot, and many "how are they going to get out of this?!" kind of moments.

If you HAD to make me pick, I would say that I enjoyed the first book a little bit better than the second only because I felt the plot was slightly more cohesive. However, that is not to say this one isn't enjoyable. It absolutely is! So add onto your Finlay collection and enjoy the ride!

Thank you to @netgalley and Minotaur Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

The second Finlay Donovan book is as wickedly funny and addictive as the first. The quirky humor, memorable characters, and twisty plot make for a fun and satisfying read. I can't wait for book 3!

Finlay and her BFF babysitter extraordinaire, Vero are back in the second book of the funniest mystery crime series that is on the market.

This time, it looks like someone want’s Finlays ex husband on the chopping block. These two amateur sleuths jump through the funniest, zaniest, clever clues to lead them to piece together the clues they need to figure out who might be behind it.

Love it and number 3 can’t get here soon enough.

Think of a cozy mystery that’s just like, a touch more stylish? And you’ll get FINLAY DONOVAN KNOCKS EM DEAD. This is the second volume in the series, and I did not read the first, but now I really really want to — not because I was confused, but because I am fascinated.

Cop involvement: Finlay’s sister, Georgia is a cop and a love interest, Detective Nick Anthony is also a cop (he is regrettably very hot). Finlay shows little regard for the law, which I love in a cozy mystery. Four stars! Narrator gets a solid five stars.

This was definitely missing something. The humor? The easy way the story flowed?
I don't know.

I got so many characters confused. I couldn't keep up with the storyline. Maybe it's because I was super sick while reading this, but I barely laughed. It was missing the funny moments I loved in the first one. This was a chore to get through and I was so freaking happy when it was over. Not a good sign. Also, the narrator was not my fav, sadly. Ugh... a narrator can make or break a story people!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
However, I'm warning you now, I'm probably in the minority. Give this one a chance if you loved the first one. Maybe you'll be in a better frame of mind reading it.

Let me just say, I absolutely adore this series on audio. The narrator is perfect for each character and just like the first, I found myself smiling and giggling throughout it. I will say, this one felt a lot more chaotic. There was a lot going on so at times it was tough to keep up. Lots of new characters, red herrings & different subplots that make it a tad unrealistic. There’s a few in answered questions that didn’t get wrapped up but, it did keep me entertained and on my toes.

And of course I loved the love triangle!! So glad to see Nick and Julian are still apart of the picture. However, I’m still undecided if I’m team Nick, the hot cop or team Julian, the swoony lawyer grad student. I mean let’s be real — ANY love interest is better than Steven 😅

Overall, I did prefer the first book just a little but this one was set up perfectly for a third so you can bet I’ll be reading the next! I’m so interested to see what happens next for this unruly dynamic duo!

Readers who liked the first are more than likely to enjoy this second in the series as it's very much in the same style, just less. Start with the first book if you haven't as this series should be read in order since the second book picks up right where the first left off and doesn't spend a lot of time reestablishing characters.

Personally I didn't like this one as much as "Killing It". Maybe it was the novelty of the situation Finlay gets herself into that wore off by book two? I know the ridiculousness was a big reason I enjoyed "Killing It". I also felt like the humor wasn't as prevalent either. Vero, our bad@ss super friend was missing her snappy wit and bold actions. And I'm not too happy that there's a love triangle blooming....makes me think of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum and her tiring indecision between Ranger and Joe.

Narration of the book was excellent. Listening to this story helped keep me interested and moving along with a book that I might have put down.

In this second installment of the Finlay Donovan series. Finlay finds out that a hit has been put out on her ex husband. Finlay is trying to write her book but ends up being pulled into all the drama with her ex husband. Finlay and the babysitter, Vero, are trying to figure out who has put this hit out and they end up in some crazy situations!!

This book has mystery, humor and some romance!! It was very good and can’t wait for the next installment of this enjoyable series!!

I received an early audio copy.