Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is the third book in the Finlay Donovan series. Book #3 involves Finlay Donovan trying to uncover the identity of EasyClean, a contract killer who solicits jobs through an online forum.

This third installment did not really progress the series, and the characters lacked development. What did this book bring to the table that the other two books didn’t? Not much. Everything is very easy in the book with exactly perfect timing. Evidence is always laid out in plain sight. In this book, someone randomly walked by at exactly the right moment gives Finlay her greatest clue.

The way to describe this book is slapstick comedy; however, some of the jokes were a bit too redundant (like tackling one of the good guys). If you make the same joke over and over, it usually isn’t as funny on the retellings.

Also, Finlay mentioned the exorbitant cost of the citizen police academy. What type of citizen police academy costs so much money? All of the ones in Michigan are provided at no cost.

Finlay and Vero are trying to sell a bullet-riddled car for $200,000. I searched for this car to see if this was a reasonable expectation. These types of cars do sell for about $200,000 used (without bullet holes and not hot). Fun fact: I am now probably on a list somewhere for googling “does stolen merchandise usually go for half off”). Oh the life of a reader!

The ending of this book seemed a bit drawn out and not as thrilling as the first book. Also, Steven, Finlay’s ex-husband, crosses quite a few lines, and there was never a showdown. That thread of the story was just dropped.

When Finlay comes up with her “solution” to catch EasyClean, why didn’t she try that even before the citizen police academy? The narrative thread seemed a little weak.

Although Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun was decent, it lacked the luster of the previous two books and didn’t have the laugh-out-loud moments.

The third installment in the Finlay Donovan series picks up immediately where book two ends so I definitely recommend reading the other books first. This book for me felt like a comfort meal where the hijinks, humour and outrageous situations are what I've always enjoyed.

😍Loved: I love the Finn-Vero character combo in these books. They're a funny and relatable duo who can't seem to keep trouble away from them.

😀Liked: I really liked the continuation of this story and the change in setting. This series is a great combination of mystery and suspense with a dash of sarcastic wit. I did have to rack my brain to remember all of the characters as there are lots. Many of the situations Finlay gets into require some suspension of belief but for me, that makes the reading fun.

😐Lukewarm: A couple of times I felt the overall story a bit repetitive and drawn out.

Thank you to @stmartinspress @minotaur_books and @netgalley for my e-ARC of this book which publishes today!

Thoughts—
I’m having mixed thoughts on this one, y’all! The pace felt slower and I wasn’t super interested in the citizens academy setting or the larger emphasis on police work (@katyisreading on IG addresses this very articulately and I highly recommend reading her review!). Once the plot picked up, the twists and big moments didn’t wow me as much as the first books, which I’m thinking is due to hitting my capacity for suspending disbelief with the series plot material. Normally where I would laugh and delight in the dramatics, I felt disengaged because by this book, Finlay and Vero’s plot armor is so thick that the tension is gone for the reader. We know there will be a convenient solution or they’ll be saved for now, so there’s not a reason to worry or really care.
Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed reading this! 😅 I loved the development of Finlay and Nick’s relationship and learning more about Vero. The dialogue was witty and comedic, as expected, and there is no doubt that Cosimano is a fantastic storyteller. I’ll likely continue with the series but with cautious optimism, more realistic expectations, and wondering whether Finlay would have been better served as a stand-alone versus a series.

3.5⭐️

This series is so much fun, and I think this this book really stepped it up from the second!

Finlay and Vero are back at it again, trying to solve crimes without getting caught and also doing what they can to stay out of trouble.

I really enjoyed the humour in this instalment, I actually had to stop myself from laughing out loud as I read late at night. I also loved that we finally have some decision and the beginning of some stability (hopefully) in her love life.

The moments where Finlay’s kids were in the story were very funny, but I felt like the plot line of the Police Academy was only used to write off the kids for a little while. And even though Steven seems to want to work things out with his ex, he seems to be much more of a jerk in this book and appears only to add chaos into Finlay’s life.

I hope in the next book (because we are left with a bit of a cliffhanger) that we see more of Nick and his interactions with her children. Those moments made my heart literally melt.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books (St. Martin’s Press) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Thank you so much to St. Martins Press, Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Elle Cosimano for the review copies I received!! (Audio, e-copy, and print copy)

I have been a fan of Finlay and Vero from the very start. The first book in this series was one of my all time favorite reads of 2021 and each of the books have been just as much fun to read ever since.

This is book 3 in the series, and so I suggest going back to book one before reading this one and my review! This book follows Finlay and Vero on their quest to find out who EasyClean is. The story picks up right where the 2nd book left off and gets right into the search. They suspect that EasyClean is a cop, so when the opportunity arises to attend a cop camp for a week with Georgia, Nick, and their colleagues, of course they accept.

Having read the first two books, I can confidently say that this book has just as many Finlay and Vero adventures and did not disappoint in the friendship content. I did feel at times that this book had a lot of filler in it, but the plot lead up to a big twisty ending, and a classic Finlay/Elle cliff hanger. Overall I really enjoyed it, and I just love how unique the story is. Finlay has always been such a relatable character, despite everything she gets herself into. It always makes for a fun read with many laugh out loud moments. I will always recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fun new series!

I was in the mood for something fun and this one definitely hit the mark! The situations that Finlay and Vero find themselves in will never cease to amaze me. Spending a week in a citizen’s police academy was a very interesting decision, especially for a pair of women with a questionable history. What made it even better was the fact that Nick was front and center for much of the book. I was thrilled to finally get some progress in Finlay’s and Nick’s relationship.

While at the citizen’s police academy, Finlay and Vero are trying to figure out who the contract killer is to stay out of hot water with the mob boss pulling the strings. I had so much fun as Finlay and Donovan worked through the various activities in the academy and sometimes stood out just a bit too much. The story had all of the action and excitement that I had hoped for, along with more than a few laughs.

I would highly recommend this series to others. You could read this as a stand-alone but the events of the first two books do impact the events in this one so I would recommend reading the series in order if at all possible. If you are looking for a serious book, this isn’t it, but if you are looking for an entertaining story that will make you laugh, you are going to want to grab a copy of this one. I cannot wait for the next installment in this entertainment series.

I received an advanced review copy of this book from Minotaur Books.

Oh Finlay and Vero, always getting into the worst situations haha. This time it’s with a mob boss and a possible mole in the police department among other things (loan sharks, etc).

This was laugh-out-loud funny, per uszh, and a very quick read! You do need to read the other two first to get relationships and names and history down, so I’d recommend picking up all 3! This might have been my least favorite of the bunch because it was quite outlandish, but why else do we read books?

Finlay and Vero are back in another hilarious adventure! I enjoyed this one as much as the first two books in the series. As the mom of a toddler, the opening scene had me laughing immediately. IYKYK! I enjoyed getting more of Vero’s back story and it was fun to see how Finlay and Nick’s relationship was progressing. I wish we didn’t have to wait so long between books because I found it hard to remember everything from earlier in the series, but that’s my only real complaint. If you haven’t read this series yet, what are you waiting for?

Thanks to Minotaur Books for a gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved the first Finlay Donovan book. It was quirky and funny and just a ton of fun and craziness. The second book was a big disappointment to me. Huge. It focused on all the men in Finlay’s life. The crappy ex. The far too young bartender. The cop whose partner may not be who he seems. It was just too much about Finlay and how she relates to the men. When we all know that her relationship with Vero that is interesting. Two women can be interesting with zero men. At the time that I read it, I liked the underlying story, but I was bothered by the execution. I still loved Finlay and Vero.

The third installment leads me to believe that the author read my diary. Or my blog. Or at least one of my reviews somewhere. Or just realized which characters she really loved. The second book was the book Finlay’s editor wanted that she didn’t want to write. This one is the one I did want Elle Cosimano to write. Vero and Finlay are in another completely crazy misadventure.

You cannot really follow this book without reading the first two. It is not a standalone. It picks up shortly after the last. Her ex is still an $#%%^^^&. The bartender/lawyer is mostly gone. The cop is less desperate. To all of those I say, Thank goodness! Like the other stories, you have to stretch reality to make this one work. Don’t think about it. Just go with it. Best of all, there will be another book. There had better be. Downed it in one snow day.

Finlay Donovan has done it again! Done what? Got into trouble, of course! The seemingly never ending troubles continue for Finlay in this latest installment. I’m not sure what made me think this was the last book in the series, but I’m glad it’s not!

I’m not sure this would work for any other series or characters. But there’s just something about Finlay, Vero, and the rest of them that keeps me hooked. I find the shenanigans hilarious and entertaining! In an odd way, the characters feel relatable in their actions and reactions. I suppose that’s what lends a bit of realism to the whole thing even as I’m logically aware that none of it is realistic.

Still, this one is just as entertaining as the others and picks up where we left off, which is another part I love. The continuation of one story, as opposed to totally new, disconnected dilemmas, is much appreciated. I’ll for sure be following along until its conclusion, whenever that may be!

Thank you to Minotaur Books & St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Elle Cosimano - you are a genius!! This series is unbelievably funny. I'm constantly cracking up from commentary between Finlay and Vero. Finlay's chaotic life as a mom is so relatable. I don't know where she comes up with her crazy ideas, but it keeps the story moving at such a perfect pace. I don't think there's a character I could even say that I dislike in this book. All the characters are so well-developed. I love the suspense and constant entertainment. I never want this series to end!!!

Hilarious and unputdownable! Can't wait for book 4!!

If you haven't read this series..I highly suggest you do!

Thank you to Minotaur Books / St. Martins Press for the advanced reading copy via NetGalley, receipt of which did not impact my review.

Finlay Donovan is back again and just trying to do the best she can, like any woman and mom trying to have it all - keep her kids safe and fed, write her next book, stay away from her annoying ex-husband, keep her past maybe-criminal-adjacent activities away from the cops (especially Nick, her sometimes love interest) - while trying to avoid the Russian mob with her bestie/nanny/accountant, Vero. The mob is circling, though, and they have an assignment/demand for Finlay - can she complete the task in time before they decide it’s too late?

Book three picks up right where book two ended, and it’s a fun and wild ride! I could keep reading about Finlay and Vero for years. And Nick? NICK. That’s all I can say. There’s some mystery and several things left unsolved - setting us up nicely for another book in the future.

Finlay and her "partner in crime" Vero are in more hot water. The incarcerated Russian mob boss who did her a favor now wants payback and the time frame isn't very long. The Boss wants them to find a contract killer. The police are also looking. As luck would have it (sort of) the police has a week long citizen police academy and Finlay and Vero are game to attend. What better way to snoop around. See, the person in question may be on the force. Plus anything they learn about forensics and firearms will come in handy in the future, right? Find a comfy spot, pour your beverage of choice, gather some snacks and dive into the wild and wacky world of Finlay and Vero. It sure won't be boring.
In order to get the most out of this third book in the series it's best to read them in order. If you don't it will not make as much sense. Finlay and Vero are like Laverne and Shirley or Lucy and Ethel. Just go with the flow and enjoy a fun reading escape.
My thanks to the publisher Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Book 3 in the Finley Donovan series continues to be entertaining with laugh out loud moments. I’ve read all 3 and I personally think they need to be read in order. Each storyline has some overlap into the next book which adds to an overall enjoyable experience. I loved the ending of this one and await Finley’s next adventure. 3.5 stars

Another fun edition in the life of Finlay Donovan and her nanny Vero. Finlay and Vero are trying to go clean but it’s pretty impossible when they damaged a car gifted to them by a member of the Russian mob. They now are back in debt and payment is not just money.
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They find themselves back into a life of crime while also finishing a book and taking care of the kids. This would make such a fun tv series!
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Thank you #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The third book in the Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano releases tomorrow. I really enjoyed "Finally Donovan Jumps the Gun," although I hate the suspense of waiting for another book! 4⭐ What do you think about my casting?

Finlay has gotten herself increasingly tied up into the seedy underworld of DC, including members of the Russian mob and their lawyers, informants, and enforcers. She and Vero enroll in the local police academy, to find answers out of their mess and for the protection it offers. However, it is not nearly as safe as they originally think, as trouble seems to have followed them. To top it all off, Vero is hiding secrets from her past that are catching up to her and Finlay.

I really enjoyed the police academy setting, which I thought was fun and really mixed it up a bit. Finlay and Vero are so smart and on their toes, although sometimes their hijinks get a little exhausting. Like, I want to get to know them without all the tension of murderous goons on their trail! I want more details about Vero & Javi's last and I'm eager to see what happens in Book 4!

This book just wasn’t for me. If you like this kind of satire, you might enjoy the book.
I might have been at an disadvantage because this was the first book I read in the series but it left me with no desire to read the previous books. The story itself had lots of potential and I would have given it an higher rating if the character Vera hadn’t been driving me crazy. Vera never thinks before she springs into action often endangering her friend Finlay.
Finlay a mother of two seems to be ruled by Vera and follows her in escapades even again better judgment.

Finlay Donovan is a struggling writer. Vero is Finlay’s children’s live in nanny who is also studying accounting. Together they find themselves in deep trouble. They have to do a job for the mob. That job brings them to the police academy to look for EZ clean (the name of the contact killer) who is hiding out there. EZ clean has targeted Finlay’s ex-husband. On top of that, Vero and Finlay are trying to escape a loan shark so they thought it was a great opportunity to go to the police academy for the week.

This is a great murder mystery with alot of laugh out loud situations between Finlay and Vero. They are a great duo. This is the third book in the Finlay Donovan series.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I think she is my new feel good author. I switched back and forth between reading and listening to this one and it really lightened my mood every time I picked up one of the versions. While definitely being modernized, it gives me the same feeling the early Stephanie Plum books did. My only complaint is that the book ends by starting the next adventure and I need to wait another year to read it.

I’d describe this one as a quasi cozy mystery filled with a lot of humor. Finlay and Vero are both likable characters with enough flaws to make them real. And they cannot stay out of trouble for very long. Finlay kind of reminds me of Lucy from I Love Lucy, if Lucy kept accidentally killing people. The storyline is on the edge of what is plausible, but that is also what sets up a lot of the humor. The supporting cast of characters are quirky and memorable and both of Ms. Donovan’s suitors appear in this latest installment.

Angela Dawe nails the narration of the book and kept me in stitches as I listened.

I am always jumping into a series in the middle, but since these books are almost continuations of the previous book, I’d start this series at the beginning.

It's a sad 3.5 stars for this latest adventure of Finlay Donovan, a single mother and author just doing her best to not go to jail or get killed by the mafia in her latest set of misadventures. Most of them are fun, some of them sexy, and all of them on the very edge of believable.
I accept that being able to employ a hefty dose of disbelief is needed to fully enjoy fiction, but there are times in Finlay's latest adventure that feel a bit forced and just downright dumb. How she is even still alive is a miracle of (dumb) good luck and the author's ingenuity.
Things are coming to a boil for Finlay Donovan as all her accidentally shady dealings with the city's biggest crime boss, Feliks, put her in his impatient crosshairs. Then there's her nanny/accountant/friend, Vero, who not only has more secrets than she's letting on but now owes big money to another mafia boss wanting to get his hands on her. And let's not forget her dodgy ex-husband acting worse than usual.
A chance to scope out suspects for the task Feliks has forced on them during a citizen's police academy gives them an opportunity to hide from Vero's pursuers and focus on finding the man Feliks wants. It might also allow Finlay to finally write the ending her publisher is pushing for before paying her for her latest novel because all the stress and pressure is giving her a mighty case of writer's block. There's hope on the horizon in the form of hot cop Nick, but will Finlay ever be able to spend time with him without having to lie and hide things constantly?
All the threads from previous books are starting to weave a very complicated and deceiving web that had me guessing from chapter to chapter and worried that this would be the time that Finlay's amazingly good luck would fail her.
I'm not a fan of adding even more wood to the fire just as things seemed to be getting a resolution, but I totally understand the need to set up more content for the following book. I just hope that the next one finally shows Finlay learning from past mistakes and being smarter about things.


Happy thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the early peek at Finlay's latest adventure!