I read the first two books in the Finlay Donovan series, and I was eager to see what kind of shenanigans Vero and Finlay would get up to in this third installment in the series.

I think I would have been a little bit lost if I hadn’t read the other two books in the series. There are many references to the previous deaths featured in Finlay Donovan is Killing It and Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead, but they are relatively vague. All of the deaths in the series are connected, and there are several threads running through the series including EZ Clean (a contract killer). It would be hard for any of these books to stand alone.

Vero is unequivocally the most interesting character through the series. She is an accountant and the nanny for Finlay’s kids, but it becomes clearer as the series continues that she has her fair share of dark secrets (including that there is a warrant for her arrest in Maryland). Her gambling debt plays a significant role in Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun as Finlay and Vero have to figure out how to pay back her creditors. Her snarky remarks remain a highlight through this installment on the series as well.

Finlay receives feedback from her agent, Sylvia, that she needs to include more romance between the cop and the assassian (the heroine of her book). I would give that feedback on Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun. There are references to intimacy between Finlay and Nick, but it is infrequent and no detail is given. Additionally, Nick doesn’t seem to trust Finlay. He asks her questions that indicate that he is questioning her alibi in Harris Mickler’s murder from the first book. Of course, he is right to question it, but it didn’t sit well with me that he didn’t feel that trust. I didn’t feel as invested in their relationship as I wanted to.

Finlay and Vero’s relationship remains more interesting than any of the romantic relationships within the series. When Finlay shows up in the first book with a dead body in her trunk, Vero unequivocally agrees to help her without asking many questions. Similarly, Finlay doesn’t hesistate to help Vero when she learns about her large debt. They are fiercely loyal to one another.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun ends on a cliffhanger, and I will certainly be eager to find out what happens next.

@ellecosimano is back with the third Finlay novel, Finlay Donovan Jumps The Gun. In this novel, Finlay and Vero find themselves in more crazy situations including spending a week at a police training academy for civilians. They continue to have hilarious dialogue and hijinks. There are also a couple of funny conversations with my favorite fictional child, Delilah! I absolutely love this series and it’s my go to when I need a break from the dark thrillers I typically read.

Thank you @minotaur_books and @netgalley for allowing me to read and listen to this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

Well Finlay and Vero are back with another wacky caper full of unintended violence and BFF shenanigans! I liked this installment best of the books so far, and I think it’s because I’ve really become invested in Finlay and Vero’s friendship (and let’s face it, more hot cop). This one ended on a jaw-dropping cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see what comes next. I HAVE QUESTIONS.

Humorous romp of a crime drama reminiscent of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum. Third in a series, and should be read in order; not a stand alone. Fans of the previous books will be satisfied with this installment, although I felt the books are getting a little redundant. It would be nice to see some character development in the next book, and maybe see Finlay and Vero progress a little.

Finlay and Vero are back again! Finlay is an author and single mom, and Vero is her nanny-slash-accountant. This is the third installment in the Finlay Donovan series and it’s just as much of a romp as the previous two books. This one picks up right where the previous novel left off – with Finlay owing a big favor to Russian mob boss Feliks Zhirov. The favor: taking out a contract killer known as EasyClean who happens to be blackmailing Feliks. Meanwhile, Vero’s in a dangerous pickle of her own. How are the ladies going to solve their high-stakes problems?

Hilarity and hijinks ensure in true Finlay-and-Vero fashion! The more they try to get themselves out of trouble, the more trouble seems to find them. When the ladies find themselves roped into attending a citizen’s police academy, you know there are going to be lots of crazy antics and laugh-out-loud moments, potentially dirty cops and one very good cop. Readers are finally getting to the romance part of this romantic suspense series, as the chemistry and sexy tension between Finlay and Nick finally starts getting the press we’ve been waiting for.

Lovers of the first two installments won’t want to miss this book! This book likely won’t read easily as a standalone because there are so many interconnected characters and not enough recap for a newbie to understand how they’re all related, so you’ll definitely want to read the first two books if you haven’t already. Like the first two books, the ending of this newest installment also ends on a cliffhanger and leaves the reader wanting more. I already can’t wait for the fourth book in this series! Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Press for providing me an advance copy of this book.

I adore this series! This book is just as good as the first and even better than the second! I love how each book basically picks up right where the last left off,along them so easy to binge!

I received both a digital and audio ARC from the publisher and netgalley and I am so so glad that I was able to listen to this one like I did the other two! The narration is perfect and I absolutely love it!

Veto and Finlay are such a perfect duo and I love the way they just keep falling into situation after situation where they shouldn’t be! How they ‘clean up’ the messes they get into and the fact that Nick is always just right near by.

I’m dying at the ending, I mean come on I need another book ASAP and this one hasn’t even officially published yet! I can’t wait to see how this series continues!

The third book in the Finlay Donovan series, Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is perhaps my favorite so far. We have had time to really get to know the regular characters well, and spending time with them felt comfortable. Finlay and Vero are an enjoyable duo. Vero is the instigator of the wild schemes they come up with most of the time and Finlay is committed, making for a lot of over the top fun. Between trying to payback money, make good on favors, and avoiding jail, the two have a lot to juggle in this book. To add to the fun, Finlay and Vero are spending time at a citizens police academy training. No better way to find a dirty cop while trying to come up with money.

The story is fast paced with lots of action. Be ready to just 'go with it" in term of some of the unrealistic things that happen, but it is part of the charm of the series. Can't wait for Book 4.

Thank you NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and MacMillan Audio for the advanced copies in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks so much to the author, Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for the gifted advanced e-copy of this book, as well as Macmillan Audio for the gifted advanced audio copy, in exchange for my honest thoughts. All opinions are entirely my own. { partner } All of my reviews can also be found on Instagram @Tackling_TBR and on my blog at tacklingtbr.home.blog

TW: murder/death, violence

The Finlay Donovan books have become one of my absolute favorite series, so it's no surprise that I loved this book! It was a perfect way to start off my year of reading.

As always, Finlay and Vero have gotten themselves into a sticky situation. Nobody is shocked here. So what better place to hide out and do some snooping for a week than a live-in civilians police training camp, right? Right!

I already love this series, so of course I loved the characters. We get to see a bit more of Javi this time around, and we get some more background on him and other secondary characters from the previous books - including teen hacker Cam, and Nick's grumpy partner, Joey. I always really enjoy more character driven stories, so one of my favorite things about reading a series is learning more and more about characters as you go along, so this book really delivered for me in that respect.

Of course some of the situations that Finlay and Vero find themselves in in this book are a bit silly and unbelievable, but that's definitely nothing new to this series. Besides, if I wanted 100% believability I'd read true crime instead of romantic thrillers. I'm here because I want to see the characters outsmart the people around them, and see how they get out of the ridiculous corners they've been backed into, and hopefully seal it all up with a kiss.

Overall I would (and already have been) highly recommend this book to my friends and fellow readers. These books are a bit some high-stake, but at the same time they feel light and fun and like I can read them when I'm tired after a long day at work. Which is a perfect middle ground, if you ask me! I think that the perfect way to read this book would be buddy-reading it with one or two of your closest girl friends, sitting together and passing a bottle of wine (or whisky) between you, in true Fin and Vero style.

Y’all, these two are up to their impossible shenanigans again and I AM HERE FOR IT! Since book one, I’ve been along for the ride as Finlay and Vero get themselves into one mess after another and YET ALWAYS find their way out. I’m going with women’s intuition as their super power. Never doubt a women’s ability to get things done 😆

Between a mob boss calling in favors, a looming book deadline, a overbearing ex-husband, raising her kids, and her budding relationship with hot cop Nick, Finlay finds herself in over her head.

The end result is a laugh out loud whodunit that I binged read. Book 4 is sure to bring the drama and maybe, just maybe, a little bit more HEA for Finlay.

I LOVED this book! Finlay and Vero are back and up to their eyeballs in antics and adversaries!

Picking up right where book 2 left off, Finlay and Vero and still indebted to Russian mobster Feliks and trying to figure out who EasyClean is when the opportunity comes up for them to attend a week-long citizen's police academy. Thinking they'll be safer in that environment, the two sign on, but danger and hijinks follow Finlay and Vero wherever they go.

One of my favorite series; I always look forward to each new installment! Cosimano is a gifted writer who has created a wildly entertaining and funny series with heart. Finlay and Vero are strong female characters with hilarious banter who love each other dearly, and their friendship is one of the series' strengths. Being each other's ride-or-die is both literal and hilarious with these two! This book delves more into Vero's backstory and Finlay's feelings for Nick while delivering on the suspense and ongoing cat-and-mouse game Finlay and Vero are mixed up in. The twisty plot is well-paced, and the mysteries are deepening. I'm having so much fun that I probably miss clues, but I do not care! I'll be along for the ride as long as this delightfully comedic series goes! I recommend reading the books in order to catch everything and avoid spoilers. Plus, it is just so much fun!

Huge thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press Minotaur books for the opportunity to read this ARC--I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I will never tire of Fin and Vero. Never.

In this third installment, Finlay and Vero attend a Citizens Police Academy course (for research purposes only, of course.) We get to see Nick teach classes while Vero and Fin are, once again, ensnared by Felix's metaphoric claws.

I laughed out loud. I love them.

FINLAY DOES IT AGAIN! :) I LOVE LOVE this series and the newest installment did not disappoint! Finlay will make you laugh and keep you on the edge of your seat.. she also leaves you wanting to know more! Can't wait for the *hopeful* next installment!

Well, this was another highly enjoyable romp with Finlay Donovan! JUMPS THE GUN felt like a bit of an interlude between the previous two books and the next, as it was (slightly) less murdery than book #1 and #2 and included a lot more character/relationship development. Either way I can't wait for the next instalment!

Full of impossible situations and a good dose of humour (and romance!) Elle Coimano continues to prove herself as an auto buy author.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my #arc!

Killing It was one of my favourite books of 2021. Knocks 'Em Dead was okay but nothing special. Unfortunately Jumps The Gun wasn't to my taste at all. I found it to be very boring and I finally stopped at 40%. Other reviews state the book ends with a cliffhanger but I won't be back for book four.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, St. Martin's Press.

Elle Cosimano has done it again! With the magic from book 1 recaptured, I cruised through Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun in a matter of days. I love the new tension we get from Vero and someone I'll leave unnamed for potential spoilers sakes, some fantastic twists that I absolutely did not see coming, and our beloved Finlay doing the wrong thing for the right reasons, as usual.

We get to follow Finlay and Vero as they attend a citizens police training camp and all the chaos that comes with it. (I'll be you can guess who's running this training camp...) I laughed, I gasped, I had to stop listening right before bed (because I am a COMPLETE chicken), and I loved every moment.

The narrator does a great job bringing this hilariously mysterious story to life! I can't wait for book 4!

*One pretty spicy fade to black scene, strong language (more than the previous books), with innuendo and suggestive language

Thanks so much to @netgalley, @stmartinspress @macmillan.audio, and @ellecosimano for my complimentary alc and arc of this delightful book. All opinions here are my own.

This book was everything. Like always Finlay and Vero are up to some wild stuff and this time Vero is in a little trouble, and some other demons from book 1 & 2 have come through as well. And of course these women were put on to a new task, they need to find out who is Easyclean. And we are OFF, and of course there is a ton of humor, and some “research” and some romance, this book also had a sprinkle of drama, it had it all….. I really enjoyed this book. Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Whew, another fun book of twists 'n' turns from Elle Cosimano! The Finlay Donovan series has really turned into her breakout hit, and I can totally see why. The characters are kooky, the mystery really can go anywhere, and the banter is excellent.

What I struggled with in this particular book (though this started to be evident in the second novel in this series) is that 1) there are just sooooo many characters to keep track of (and this addition brought in even more folks), and 2) Cosimano doesn't always do the most thorough job getting readers up to speed on what transpired in the previous book at the start. As such, the first half of this novel dragged for me a liiiiittle bit, as it took quite a few chapters to fully reacquaint myself with all of the characters as well as Finlay and Vero's various hijinks.

That said, I'm already counting down the days until I can get my hands on a copy of the fourth book! Elle Cosimano really knows how to end on a cliffhanger...

“I dug my mittens from the pockets of my coat and drew them on, wishing I had been prepared with something more Temperance Brennan and less Bernie Sanders.”

A hugely anticipated third installment for me and it did not disappoint! Full of dramatic steps that Finlay has to take while trying to solve a major mystery to keep herself alive. The quote above just seems like the perfect way to describe how messy Finlay can be, in the best way, of course. As with the first two books, you suspend disbelief a little and just enjoy the ride.

I desperately want to continue reading the next book even though this one doesn’t even officially publish until the end of January. I’ve been reading these as ARCs (since I can’t wait for the pubdates) but since I want everyone I know to read them I have to get my hands on physical copies!

📚Read this if you like:
⁃ Finlay Donovan
⁃ Procedural/Mysteries
⁃ A flair for the dramatic

My rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

The third installment of the Finlay Donovan series and the original story is STILL not wrapped up. I love the first book, grateful for a second and am kind of tired of the same mystery continuing on for the third book..
I still love the characters and the writing, but this one lacked the continuous humor and suspense that the 2 other books had. I feel like it's becoming more and more unrealistic as the story line continues. In one scene the "bad guy" who escaped prison, walks straight into the police compound to meet Finlay.. Isn't that the last place he would go? I was also weary of the setting from the beginning. This novel takes place at a citizens police academy turned summer camp. All our cop characters are there. I don't work for law enforcement, but isn't it more likely they would be working their typical jobs instead of all being pulled to work a police academy for the entire week?

Next book has to be the final installment and particularly interesting for me to pick it up.

I enjoyed this book more than I was expecting to. I was slightly disappointed with the second book in the series, and so I wasn't sure how much I would like it, but I really wanted to know how things would go with Finlay and Vero, so I gave it a chance. I am glad that I did.
Although Finlay and Vero jump headlong into some crazy situations that require a slight suspension of belief (and that they could probably avoid if they would just take a second to think, "Is this really a good idea? Is there an alternative that would make more sense?!"), this is still a fun quick read. I enjoyed the setting of the Citizens' Police Academy and the fact that we as readers finally got to spend more time with Nick.
If you have enjoyed the previous installments of this series, I would definitely check this book out. HOWEVER, I will say that if you haven't read the first two books, you will be completely lost if you jump in here. Read the series in order.