First I received this ebook from Macmillan and then they sent me the audiobook. So I started with my kindle and finished with the audio. I was so excited to receive both because I absolutely adore this series! This is the 3rd book of the Finlay Donovan series and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it after reading the first 2 earlier this year. This is a quirky funny mystery series that I honestly couldn't put down. If you like a fun, hysterical mystery series, this is it! Of course, this one also left me on a cliffhanger, so I cannot wait for the next book, but this series is so much fun! I highly recommend it!

Read/Listen if you like:
❤️ Crime Shows
❤️ A Naive main character
❤️ twists and turns
❤️ MC is an author
❤️ Humor mixed with Mob Story Lines

Audiobook Review:
I loved continuing the journey with Finlay and Vera as they continue to get themselves into messes despite their attempts to do the opposite.

I loved seeing the characters in a new setting and adding in a locked door thriller vibe with the majority of this one taking place at a police academy for civilians and knowing that Easy Clean was likely among them.

One of my favorite parts of the story again in this one was the friendship between Finlay and Vera and that even when they both made poor decisions they always backed each other instead of using those mistakes are reasons to turn on the other. Their friendship is truly one of the best parts of the series, but I also loved how they both had some tension with love interests in this one too!

I so excited and can’t wait for the next installment in the series as this one definitely set up for a 4th book

We have the third installment in the Finlay Donovan series, and we finally get some answers however we end with even more questions. Finally, the love square is over, and Finn makes up her mind on her love interest and seems to figure out where she is in her life. There are more answers to Vero's story and it doesn't seem as much of a mystery to the reader. I feel that I like this story best because it kept it all in 1 location and there wasn't as much confusion to the story as it was in the other 2 books. However, I do feel like this series has gone on far too long.

I was given an ARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review as always, all words are my own.

Finn and Vero are at it again! This time, they’ve voluntarily immersed themselves in the citizens’ police academy for a week in hopes of identifying EasyClean. Obviously it’s not that easy and more hijinks ensue. Of course this book sets up a fourth installment (which I cannot wait to read), but at least it appears Finn has finally made a choice about her love life (for now anyway)!

Pretty sure in my review for book two I said something about my suspension of disbelief button getting a workout but hoo boy. That's nothing compared the third installment in this series. Poor pointer finger is exhausted.

That aside, I have to say, I found it extremely hard to get back into this world; or, maybe more accurately, the writing. I cared nothing for the characters, the nonsense they had once more gotten themselves twisted up in, and certainly not the romance. Can I blame all that on the writing or am I just over this unlikely concept? I'll admit the red herrings for the mystery were well done but it sorta feels like everything was made more convoluted and dramatic, as opposed to less, because of Finlay and Vero's involvement. And that did not make for a great experience.

I am all for a plucky heroine stumbling into bigger things and having to navigate but like.. it's just not working anymore. Things are either too big for her to be emerging unscathed or things just aren't being taken seriously enough and therefore the stakes aren't high. Or both, sometimes at the same time. It's a weird feeling. The vibes are off.

Also, that big near-final scene happening surrounded by all those cops? Yeah bloody right. The eyerolls.

Also also, the very meta writing bit about Finlay and her characters is getting tired, too.

While Vero had definitely saved some of the bits that I had previously given side-eye, she did not fare so well in this one. I worried her subplot would add to the OTT and ruin her and yeah, I think it did. Honestly, the only character I really enjoyed in this one was Wade, a firearms instructor, because his lack of fucks really spoke to me. Nick, one of the many (!) love interests, wasn't too bad, either. I am just bewildered by all these menfolk panting after Finlay because I do not get the appeal.

But what do I know; the same could be said about my feelings for this series vs the many many readers who are having a blast. So.

While I had hoped to find a spark of love for this series, I think I'll stick this on the back burner until the end is in sight.

ps, still wishing Steven was dead.

Author Finley Donovan is at it again. Her adventures continue and this time she is conducting research for her book at the police academy while trying to solve a mystery and escape from the mob. There are plenty of high jinks and close calls for Finley and her nanny, Vero.

After reading Finley Donovan's first two adventures, I was so excited to see what happened next in the series. There were lots of laughs and I was excited to see that Finley may have settled on a suitor after being undecided in the previous books. The madcap adventures are unpredictable and laugh out loud.

While I have really enjoyed the series, I did find this one to be a slower read with a few too many characters to keep up with. The situations Finley finds herself in are fairly unrealistic, but the book is a lot of fun.

The way the story ends leads me to believe that we have not heard the last of Finley Donovan. I hope to see a bit more character development in the next book and I would not be surprised to see this series made into a movie. I can even picture Melissa McCarthy as Finley!

Thank you Minotaur Books & NetGalley for the ARC!

Merry Christmas to me, I loved Finlay Donovan book 3!! I had the most fun reading this book and almost want to start the series at the beginning to experience it all again! In Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, Finlay and Vero are up to their usual antics but it felt even more high stakes. A LOT of action, black mail, and conniving happens in this book and I am here for all of it. I may have missed some details here and there because there is seriously so much going on. I felt like my eyes were wide while reading most of it- waiting for another shoe to drop, another reveal, another crazy scene. I was reading as quick as I could to see how it would all play out. I love spending time with Finlay and cannot wait for Elle Cosimano to write more!

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is out January 31. Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur for my e-arc!!

The 3rd installment of Finlay's action -packed world is as fun to read as the first two. Finlay and Vero are still trying to set some things right, namely: Vero, the exorbitant amount of money she owes a loan shark and Finlay trying to fulfill her obligation to Russian mobster Feliks. In order to fix Finlay's problem, the women enroll in a Citizen Police Academy in hopes of finding clues to the identity of the mysterious EasyClean. If that problem could be fixed, then hopefully enough cash would come their way to fix Vero's problem. At least the whole situation with Steven has settled down, right? But wait - where did he disappear to and why did he dump the kids at Finlay's parents?

Fun, unique series that gets better with each new book. Perfect for fans of the Stephanie Plum series who are looking for a read-alike series. *This series is best read in order.

I love these characters. Vero and Finley are two of my favorite characters in literature, and I will continue to read all of their books.

That being said-at a certain point in this book I could not follow the story and had no idea what was going on. I felt like I read carefully and paid attention, so I'm not sure if it was because this storyline is just being dragged out or if I just wasn't all that engaged. They are always over the top, but the authro really pushed that to the extreme this time.

I was happy to have cop Nick back and judging by the end-I will be reading book 4 shortly. Hopefully it wows just a bit more.

Finlay Donovan is one of the best reads I've encountered in the last few years. This series is smart, complex, and explores several relevant themes that pushes it past the distinction of popcorn thriller. I was ecstatic to receive this ARC and couldn't wait to jump in.

From the publisher via Goodreads: Finlay Donovan has been in messes before—after all, she's an author and single mom who's a pro at getting out bloodstains for rather unexpected reasons—but none quite like this. After she and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero accidentally destroyed a luxury car that they may have "borrowed" in the process of saving the life of Finlay's ex-husband, the Russian mob got her out of debt. But now Finlay owes them

Still running the show from behind bars, mob boss Feliks has a task for Finlay: find a contract killer before the cops do. Problem is, the killer might be an officer.

Luckily, hot cop Nick has started up a citizen's police academy, and combined pressure from Finlay's looming book deadline and Feliks is enough to convince Finlay and Vero to get involved. Through firearm training and forensic classes (and some hands-on research with the tempting detective), Finlay and Vero have the perfect cover-up to sleuth out the real criminal and free themselves from the mob's clutches—all the while dodging spies, confronting Vero's past, and juggling the daily trials of parenthood.

I loved this book. Finlay is refreshing and hilarious, grounded in real world problems yet stretching the realm of disbelief with the larger-than-life antics. Once you pick this one up, you won't be able to put it down.

Wildly entertaining and a page-turning roller coaster of a gem, Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is easily a 2023 must read. Add it to your TBRs now and get ready to meet your new favorite character.

Huge thanks to Minotaur for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

Absolutely brilliant, Finley has become a powerhouse character ranking up there with Stephanie Plum!

Finlay Donovan Jumps the gun is the hilarious third installment of the Finlay Donovan series. I absolutely love these books and could not wait to get my hands on a copy of the third book!

Finlay and Vero are back at their crazy antics! They manage to get themselves in some pickles throughout this novel while looking to identify Easy Clean, the hit man! If you need a light, funny, over the top book with well developed characters this book is for you!

I love the author’s writing, it is laugh out loud funny and relatable!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur books for the digital advanced readers copy!! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This novel will be published January 31, 2023.

3.5 stars! Finlay and Vero are back at it and in full force during the third book of this series. I enjoyed the mystery, small bits of humor and that Nick had a more prominent role in the story this time. However, I still can’t take Finlay and Vero seriously. I know this is supposed to be just a fun book and I did enjoy the ride, but I was also eye rolling at parts of this story again. I would also like some character growth in Finlay and Vero. Everything about these characters are very on the surface and there is never any depth to what they are going through. Which is fine for the first book, but I would really enjoy more by the 3rd one.

Read if this series if you enjoy:
🙃 Mysteries
🙃 An overall “fun” story
🙃 Books that make you giggle

Ok, I’m going to need book 4 stat! I have been in love with this series since book 1, and my affections have only grown more since then. I absolutely adore Finlay and Vero, and Zach’s antics are some of my favorite scenes. And let’s not forget the hotness that is Detective Nick 🔥! We finally find out who EasyClean is, but Finlay isn’t out of hot water yet!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Let me start by saying that I devoured the first two Finlay Donovan stories. I was so excited to see that I was approved to get an early copy of the third story. Some of the things I really liked about this book were: I loved that Vero got more character development. Secondly, the tension between Nick and Finlay continues which always leads me to guess will these be the moment?!? Lastly, the cliffhanger ending that makes me need a fourth story! Some things I wish were different about the book include the slow burn in the beginning of the book. (Don't worry the second half of the book picks up). A lot was happening in the book with more characters to keep straight. At times it got muddled and I would have to reread parts. The story line did seem to be dragged out in parts and felt like it was more of a placeholder in the series than a direct storyline. Overall, this third installment (hopefully not the last!) of Finlay Donovan's story is a mix of humor, drama, and a touch of spice.

CONTENT WARNING: violence, blood, death, mention of murder, gore, mention of cancer, gun violence

Deciding to start this book in the evening was a terrible decision. I wound up staying up way late to read it, and then woke up early still thinking about it, so I obviously had to finish reading. Naturally, since I was exhausted, I went back to sleep. But at least I can say I accomplished something before 9 am, right?

In this installment, Finlay is trying to tie up some loose ends from the last book. She’s indebted to Feliks after the whole Aston Martin incident in book 2, and there’s now paperwork that ties her to him, so she owes him a favor. Feliks being who he is wasn’t going to leave a favor outstanding for long, and he quickly calls it in—she’s got to find out who EasyClean is, and do it quickly.

Sounds easy, right? Of course not, because nothing is easy for Finlay! Vero is struggling with some poor choices that she’s made which are coming back to bite her (and Finlay), she’s got issues with Steven (naturally), there’s a problem with her book and she has to rework some of it with a deadline hanging over her head, and as if our dynamic duo needed anything else to deal with, they both got recruited to join Nick’s super-intensive citizen’s police academy. What’s that? Well, they stay at the police academy, surrounded by police officers, and undergo rigorous training. Sounds like fun, except for the fact that her every move is being watched by Joey, Nick’s suspicious partner.

While there were plot twists galore and action, I loved the humor so much. That’s one of my favorite parts of the story, and a huge part of what keeps me coming back for more in this series. I was also approved for the audiobook, where Angela Dawe narrates, and she continues to do a fabulous job. She’s amazing, and I love the different voices and accents that she does for the characters! But where the series, and this book especially, really shines, is the connections between the characters. I especially love the relationship between Finlay and Vero, which has gone from employer/employee to something so much deeper. They’re friends but have more of a ride or die relationship, and they’ve developed a trusting bond between them that gets even stronger in this book. I also liked seeing the connection building between Finlay and Nick, especially as they’re placed into forced proximity during this book. These characters are all great, and even the side characters are fleshed out and intriguing.

It was difficult to figure out who the bad guy really way in this story, and it kept me thinking for the entire book. However, when the villain was revealed, it came as a complete surprise. I loved being surprised, and it was written well. This fast-paced, laugh-out-loud funny series is great, and I’m definitely already looking forward to the next book.

FINLAY. I love her and if you have read the other books in this series, you HAVE to read this one. Funny, smart, the perfect amount of a thriller while still being able to sleep at night. Elle Cosimano is truly a gift to us. LOVED this one so much. SO SO MUCH.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano is another winner! I never want this series to end with all the adventures and laugh-out-loud moments! In this book, Finlay and Vero enter the citizen's police academy. They suspect there is a dirty cop in the force who is the contract killer. I cannot wait to see where this story will go next! I also enjoyed the steamy moments between Finlay and Nick...I've been waiting for this! Overall this book is tied with book one for me!

Thank you, Minotaur Books, for my complimentary ARC for this honest review.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is the joyful return to the Finlay Donovan world, where an intrepid novelist/mom routinely escapes deadly situations. I love this world so much!! In the latest installment, Finlay must complete edits on her manuscript and determine the identity of EasyClean, the mysterious contract killer. To do so, she’s going to the citizen police academy with Vero as they dodge threats from the mob. Of course, nothing is ever simple for Finlay and Vero…

This book is delightful chaos and shenanigans! Finlay and Vero are such fantastic characters; I love their bond and how they manage childcare and blackmail with ease. No matter which shady characters are after them, Finlay always manages to look after her kids and found family. Finlay has made some bold choices in previous books and these come back to haunt her in this book. I’m glad to see a certain detective return in full force! The larger ensemble cast all felt distinct and captivating, creating plenty of opportunities for red herrings and new alliances. My favorite side character was Javi; I’m looking forward to seeing more of him and Vero. Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is hilarious and unputdownable. I would highly recommend it to anyone, but definitely read the other books in the series first. I can’t wait to read the next book; it seems clear the story is not over yet!

Thank you so much to Elle Cosimano, Minotaur Books, Saint Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another fun and exciting installment of Finlay Donovan and her crazy adventures as a unwilling hit woman who hasn’t actually killed anyone. I inhaled this book, the third in the series, in one evening, and I can’t wait for book four.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance ebook, and to Macmillan audio for the advance audiobook!