The heat is turned way up in this third installment following Finlay Donovan and her Nanny, Vero. The stakes are high and there's a lot more players.

Finlay and Vero's dynamic is more hilarious then ever and they find themselves in every possible worst case scenario. Spending a week away at a citizen's police academy, surrounded by cops who work with Finlay's sister, Georgia, the two of them are determined to find the contract killer and put as much distance between them and Mob boss Feliks, while juggling a rising problem from Vero's past. It's the perfect recipe for close calls, a racing pulse and hanging on the edge of your seat.

As if that weren't enough, Finlay's love life continues to be a rollercoaster of a ride, which I am fully invested in, the trials of motherhood are appreciable, and of course the struggle to finish her book in the middle of all the chaos.

I can't think of a single detail left unturned and I am thoroughly impressed at how everything continues to weave together. Saying I have enjoyed these books is an understatement - Finlay continues to wow me and I can't wait for more!

Thank you NetGalley and St .Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved, loved loved this book! As a huge fan of the others books in this series, I was really worried this wouldn’t hold up to my expectations. But, it surpassed them!!! This is a book and a whole series I will be recommending to all patrons! It has humor, mystery, a smalllll little bit of suspense and just great characters!

I cannot get enough of Finlay and Vero. I could read 50 Finlay Donovan books and probably not get bored. In many ways these books deal with subject matter that is usually outside my preferred scope when it comes to murder mystery - violent crimes, mafia, assassins. And yet, the humor in this book is such that I don't mind at all that bodies are being chopped up and stashed in freezers or that the mob is paying people to kill other people. Through a comedy of errors Finlay and Vero end up at a citizen's police academy for the week while being tasked with finding out who the mole in the police force is by their mob boss nemesis. Delightful hijinks of course ensues with some major consequences for everyone involved. And fear not readers, this one ends on a frustrating cliffhanger too, so we can count on more Finlay fun to come.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an audio galley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for a Netgalley of this one!

After really enjoying book one and finding book 2 to be fine, I was worried this series was on the downhill for me. Definitely wrong about that one.

I definitely enjoyed the plot of this one more than book 2. I enjoy Finlay and Vero as characters and the secondary characters are well written. I loved the setup of a police training camp and that Mrs. Haggerty was there. This was just fun.

My only qualm is sometimes there are almost so many mini storylines happening it feels a bit like slog at times.

I just adored this third installment of this fun and entertaining series about a couple of amateur sleuths who just get in way over their heads, but always manage to land on their feet. If you haven’t dived into this laugh out loud series yet, you really should get it on your to do list.

Finlay and Vero are back and dealing with the russian mob, corrupt cops and loan sharks. They just can’t seem to get a break! Plus taking care of the kids and dealing with an ex-husband can certainly put a crimp in your love life. Finlay is also struggling with writer’s block, especially writing a steamy scene with a certain hot cop has her agent on her case as well. I just adore both of these women and how they stand by each other, even when things get tough.

The setting of the citizen’s police academy was an interesting one. At first I was pretty dubious about the reality of such a thing, but I checked and they really do exist. Even though Finlay had her doubts about it, I think it would be a great opportunity for a mystery writer to learn more about police procedures. But, besides that it certainly gave her time to spend with all of the suspects she has on her list for Easyclean, the contract killer the mob wants her to find, and to spend time with Nick.

I like Nick, and I even like the romance that is developing between him and Finlay, but not sure that is the best idea she has had. She has been involved with lots of things that could send her to jail and Nick just seems too straight to let those things slide. But we shall see. In the meantime, they are so cute together and I love their banter and their steamy love scene.

The plot was very fast paced and of course all of the witty banter and comments between the characters just made for a great time. The ending was pretty spectacular and I almost had the mystery solved, but for that twist at the end. And in case you are keeping count, Vero and Finlay are responsible for only one death in this book, accidental of course.

I was so glad that this isn’t the final installment of this series. Not sure how many more are planned, but I will keep reading them. I can’t wait for the next one!

Finley and Vero have a unique method of solving mysteries. They are both fun, silly, and willing to do the craziest things to figure out what’s goin on. I enjoy the humor, romance, and adventure in this series!

Another fun installment in the Finlay Donovan series. We get a bit of resolution in this one to some lingering questions from the first two books, but there’s definitely another one coming based on the cliffhanger ending!

Thank you so much to Elle Cosimano, St Martins & NetGalley for the opportunity to have an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I had heard so much about the Finlay Donovan series over the last year in the Bookstagram world. Fun fact, the first book of the series was one of my first ebooks I purchased when I got my Kindle. I was so excited to be able to get a copy of this high anticipating 3rd book of the series.

This picks up right where the last book left off. Finlay and Vero are on the hunt to find out who EZ Clean is and was tipped off that it was someone who may be on the inside of the police force. And the opportunity for the two to go to the citizen's police academy for the week came at the perfect time.

This is a bold statement but I think this may have been my favorite of the three? I love that this all took place in one location and even with that there was still so much action and humor throughout! Vero truly shines and I just love her relationship with Finlay. They just work so well together and are each other's ying & yang.

Even though he has done some crappy things, I really like how Finlay is navigating her relationship with Steven. She is keeping her guard up but also knows that he is the father of her children and doesn't want anything bad to happen to him.

The end of this book left it open to a possible 4th installment?! And if we do get that 4th book I hope we learn more about Vero's history as some of it was touched upon in this book.

I do recommend reading the other two books prior. This would not work as a standalone as there are just too many connecting characters that carried through the book.

The Finlay series is such a great mix of laughs, action & a bit of romance.
If you are a fan of Only Murders in the Building, this book is similar vibes.

4.5

I am so glad Finlay Donovan is back!! I loved this book like I loved the other two. This time, Finlay is tasked with finding a contract killer before the cops do. This one was less fast-paced than the other two but still overall great! I liked how the book ended, and I’m excited to, hopefully, have a fourth book in the series!

Oh Finlay! I had such high hopes for this third novel in the series. I was fortunate enough to get ARC's of the first two and really, really like them. Finlay grew on me. She has heart and spunk and we need more of that.

Unfortunately, this one fell flat for me. I only got through 25% and gave up. It needed editing and the story was just not grabbing my attention.

Thank you, NetGalley for the advanced copy.

This book is really fun, I laugh my ass of! Love it! The characters are always so real and grotesque at the same time, especially Finlay. My favorite is Vero, btw, in this book I really appreciate the development!
The plot is a little too twisted, maybe, and the disbelief’s suspended is a little too far, but it’s funny, so I can forgive a little too much improbability.
Hope the series will continue!

Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin Press for the arc!

One thing I always look forward to at the beginning of the year is a new Finlay book, and this one was so much fun 🖤

It starts pretty close after the end of the second book, throwing Finlay and Vero into yet another tough situation. I love their banter and how they work together. What was great about this one was seeing their trust and friendship deepen after secrets were revealed.

Elle Cosimano has this knack for creating a twisty story, leaving you breadcrumbs you could use to put together the mystery, but also distracting you with countless hilarious and sometimes infuriating moments. It was easy for me to get lost in the story and just sit along for the ride without trying to figure out the mystery before the reveal.

If you love Finlay, her banter with Vero, the tension with a certain hot cop, I think you’ll really enjoy this one. It’s a lot of fun and makes me wonder why this hasn’t been made into a TV show yet 👀

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is out January 31st so get ready!

Thank you @ macmillan audio for the early audiobook.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano

I have listened to all three of the Finlay books on audio and this narrator never disappoints. I can really feel Finlay's voice shining through.

To be honest, I had little to no memory of what happened in the precious book so I had to do a little google search to catch myself up. But once my memory was filled up, I was off and running.

The third installment of Finlay drops you right in the story. We find Finlay back at her old games as she and Vero are in the middle of a new problem, when they haven't even resolved the old problems. It is absolutely important that you read the previous novels because the story is ongoing.

As in the previous books, Vero is the star of the series. I just love this character so much. I love her attitude and quick thinking when everything begins to look bleak.

What mess will Finlay get into next??

Finlay and Vero are still in the thick of danger in this latest installment of the series. Only now they find themselves in a week-long civilian boot camp at the police training center. It will be next to impossible for the mob to get to them there, right? As things heat up on multiple fronts, Finlay needs to decide who to trust and how much to say in order to keep everyone alive. In the end, the only question still on the table is who is the person working both sides?

This is a little bit further on the "suspend your disbelief" level, but still a great addition to the series. The danger definitely ramps up even more with this, and there's plenty of action to be had, along with some growing chemistry.

10/10! I think this might be my favorite version of Finaly and Vero? This book was FUN. It gave me everything I needed and wanted from this series: more suspense, more cat and mouse, more trying to piece the puzzle of EasyClean together (AND being absolutely shocked by the reveal!), and...MORE of the hot cop. I think Detective Nick might be my new book boyfriend, because damn, he knows how to make me swoon! The scene with Nick and Zach laying on his chest? Or Nick wrapping Finlay in the blanket?! Ugh, he's perfect. Beyond all the gloriousness of Nick though, Finlay and Vero at the police academy was stellar. I laughed so hard, and loved the new setting for the series. And wow do I have so many questions about Steven. Just so much yes. Please don't ever stop writing the Finlay series. The easiest five stars.

I love Finlay, I love Vero and I highly recommend this book series! I love that FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN mostly centers around friendship. Please please go read the first in the series and then catch up to me, you won't regret it. I will always buy the next Finlay Donovan book.

Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress, and @ellecosimano for the eARC of this book!

This is hands down one of my favorite series. Finlay and Vero are hilarious and this book is a wonderful addition to their crazy story. I did feel as though this book was somewhat of a filler for the series, but I was still excited to pick it up each time & never wanted to set it down.

I already can’t wait for book 4!

Finlay and Vero are back at it with more messy situations that include body parts, a citizens police academy and more awkward romantic situations! I just love the way these two go about things and the situations they get themselves into. There are more lies they have sift through and I just love their friendship with it’s none judgment and sometimes hilarious but honest answers. We get some answers we’ve been waiting for since the first book! I’m really looking forward to their next adventure!

Thank you to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for my review copy

I think this is my favorite Finlay Donovan book so far!
Not only does Finlay Donovan have to deal with the fact the Feliks want her to uncover the identity of someone and haven't given her much time to do it. So Finlay hands her kids off to Steven for the week so she and Vero can spend the week at Civilian Police training, where they can hopefully identify who they are looking for, and get some much-needed knowledge about police procedure that they definitely need with all the bodies piling up around them.
While they are attending the camp we get some hilarious hijinks including a stolen car, a uniform that's way too big, and some lady's underwear. (there are more, this is just one of my favorites) We FINALLY get some one-on-one time between Finlay and NIck, and it was soo good.
I thought the mystery aspect was quite good, there are plenty of suspects in the beginning, and Finlay and Vero slowly whittle it down until only a few are left, I had no idea who the mystery man was until it was revealed. I am loving the characters we have come to know and met a couple of new ones who I can't wait to learn more about.
This book was funny, I actually laughed out loud a few times, and found myself smiling through most of the story at all the hijinks going on. It's also entertaining and kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see how everything was going to play out. I can't wait to see whats going to happen next!

Please note: this was an ARC provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Genre: mystery with some romance
Series: Finlay Donovan # 3
Setting: DC metro area
POV: single, 1st person, past tense
Spice Level: 1/5🌶, fade to black

What I Liked: I really enjoy how this is not a psychological thriller, but a good old-fashioned mystery. It truly kept me guessing throughout and I did not see the final twist coming!

What I Disliked: Do I feel like this series could have wrapped up in a trilogy? Yes. Am I excited to read more about Finlay? Also yes.

Overall Thoughts: I’m so glad I got this ARC, which prompted me to read the entire series! They’re such fun reads and I can’t wait to see what’s next for Finlay.

Memorable Quote: “Just remember, don’t put your finger on the trigger unless you’re willing to pull it. When you do, don’t second-guess yourself. Aim straight for the chest.”