Ok, so this book— it falls somewhere between the first and second book for me. I loved the fast-paced energy, the quippy one-liners, and of course Finlay and Vero’s creativity to addressing their problems.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. That said, it ends on another cliffhanger and I know the author says she plans to keep writing Finlay. I don’t know how much longer this storyline is going to keep my attention. It’s almost like the characters need to stumble upon a whole new problem. I’m afraid this one is getting stale.

So yes, if you’ve enjoyed the previous Finlay books I definitely recommend this one. Personally, I just don’t know how many more I’ll read after this. They’ll probably be something I reach for when I’m in the right mood, rather than something that tops my TBR as soon as it’s released.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano
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I am thrilled to continue reading the adventures of our brave single mom, Finlay, and her trusy babysitter (accountant!), Vero.
Our story picks up with Finlay and Vero desperately trying to uncover the identity of “easyclean”. Also trying to avoid the mob boss, Feliks. And pay off a loan shark. All while attending “civilian” police academy.
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This was a fun installment and I had a great time reading it. I’m pretty sure the first book will forever be the best, but I took this book for what it was and didn’t expect more and so I really enjoyed it! It was fun trying to guess who “easyclean” was (spoiler, I was SUPER wrong), and to see what hilarious situations Finlay and Vero got themselves into.
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The ending was pretty crazy and I am looking forward to what happens in book four!
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Lots of laugh out loud moments, and I still adore Finlay and Vero’s team. I am still “team cop”, but felt a little bad for the lawyer.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending me an ARC of Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun in exchange for an honest review.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun picks up shortly after the ending of Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead. As usual, Finlay is once again struggling with a book, this time unable to figure out how to bring together the character based on her and the character she based on hot Detective Nicolas Anthony. Her best friend and literal partner-in-crime Vero is being tracked by Marco, a New Jersey loan shark, for a mistake she made in college, and also dealing with the return of Javier, a former flame. And due to a favor she owes Russian mobster Feliks Zhirov from the last book, she has to figure out the identity of EasyClean, the screen name of the mysterious contract killer (also from the last book) who’s been blackmailing Feliks. So, Finlay and Vero do exactly what you’d expect—enroll in the one-week Fairfax County Citizen’s Police Academy so they can be safe from Feliks and Marco, figure out who EasyClean really is, and give Finlay time for some “hands on” research with Nick to help with her, um, writer’s block. 😄

It’s now clear that, while broken into distinct novels, the Finlay Donovan series is telling one long story. Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is a continuation of the first two books, bringing back many of the surviving characters: Julian, Finlay’s ex-boyfriend/hot bartender/law student; Steven, Finlay’s ex-husband; Cameron, the teen hacker; Georgia, Finlay’s sister; Joey, Nick’s mysterious new partner; even Mrs. Haggerty, Finlay’s nosy neighbor. And the novel ends on a cliffhanger that guarantees that the next book will tell the next part of the story.

As with the earlier entries in the series, Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is not gritty, realistic crime fiction. But the story works because Finlay is a well-developed character who you can’t help but root for, the snarky banter between Finlay and Vero, the will-they-or-won’t-they chemistry between Finlay and Nick, and because there’s a decent mystery stayed unpredictable through the finish. It’s another fun read. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Recommended.

Another great installment in the Finlay Donovan series. You know a book is good when you try to read slower because you want to savor every single word.

Much like the first two books, this book is filled with goofy antics that feel way over the top and ridiculous and will have you simultaneously in disbelief that Finlay & Vero are getting away with it while wishing it never ends. The setting for this book feels like the perfect next step to make the story not feel repetitive and like it's dragging on. While this book has less main story and more filler I still found it to be incredibly enjoyable. Finlay and Vero are two characters you can't help but find lovable and their friendship is really the glue that holds the story together. I've rooted for Finlay and Nick since book one and I'm so happy to finally see some a real budding relationship forming between them but was disappointed when nothing happened until roughly 80% of the way through.

Highly recommend this book and highly recommend this series as a whole!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press / Minotaur Books for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Well, this book was amazing. I loved the first two books of Finlay Donovan and this one was just a great. In fact, I liked it better than the 2nd book. The setting was perfection- a sleep away civilians police camp including Finlay's nosy neighbor. Finlay and Vero were back to their fun relationship and had a really great dynamic. The twist was wonderful and I didn't even mind the book ending on a cliffhanger (even though we have to wait a long time until book 4 comes out). It was such a fun read. This has been one of my favorite series to recommend to friends and I can't wait until the book is published so they can get their hands on it!

This next installment did not let me down! Finlay is off to police academy boot camp to try and find the identity of EasyClean along with keeping Vero safe from the loan shark she owes. Not to mention Finlay has to rework some edits on her new book. Can she find EasyClean to settle her debt with Felix all the while keeping the kids and Vero safe? This book was a breath of fresh air for me with a little bit of everything: action, romance and humor. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Finlay Donovan is back, this time at a Citizen's Police Academy run by her "will they or won't they" hot cop Nick. She and Vero are still trying to get out of the clutches of Feliks, the Russian mob boss Finlay has accidently gotten herself indebted to, as well as trying to suss out which of Nick's colleagues is setting them all up.

Fans of the series be prepared, because there's more of Finlay's over-the-top hijinks here. The same heart in packed throughout and the same hilarity ensues, though how Finlay and Vero aren't behind bars yet, I'll never know. But I don't care, because the book doesn't take itself too seriously and it's just so much fun to read. My only disappointment is that I read it too fast and now there won't be the next installment for quite some time.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for giving me an opportunity to read an early copy of this book in exchange for a review through NetGalley.

Our beloved Finlay is back with another crazy wacky mystery solving adventure. Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is the third book of Elle Cosimao’s series and the best news of the day is that it isn’t the last!

Finlay is a single mom trying to figure out how to balance two children, her writing career and solving a murder with her nanny turned best friend Vero. This book has Vero and Finlay going to a community police college to get “research” for her next book. Vero and Finlay get themselves into a few precarious situations that are nothing short of hilarious.

This book is very much like her others which is a great thing. Cosimo has written a few very unique books as they are not only mysteries but also written with comedy in mind. I haven’t read too many books like this and I find it refreshing. I do have to admit that most of the situations that Finlay and Vero get themselves into are very far fetched and extreme, but I think this makes the book even more interesting and loved by the reader. I do wish there was a bit more romance in her books as the book often skips over this.

Overall I enjoyed this book but I did like this one the least of the three. I give this book 4 stars. I will absolutely be reading the next one in the series. If you are interested in this series, this next installment hits the shelves in January of next year.

Thank you to Netgalley, Elle Cosimano and Minotaur books for this advanced copy! I am so grateful to have read it before the release date!

Thank you, St. Martins press/Minotaur books & Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The first book in this book was absurd, but fun. The second one was even more absurd and even less fun. This one was absolutely ridiculous and an utter chore to get through. The book could have been called 'Finley Donovan jumps the shark' because this series has gone on way longer than it should have.

We get more of the same here: Finley and Vero are in trouble and the cops are too close. Way too close this time, since F&V end up at cop "camp" with hottie Nick. But even with the close proximity, the romance still hasn't gotten as far as it should seeing as how we're now three books into the series.

Diehard fans of this series may enjoy this, but I think I'm done with Finley and her knack for trouble.

I loved the first two books in the Finlay Donovan series and was excited to read the third book in the series. For me, this book did not live up to the first two. Book one’s premise of struggling single mom/writer/accidental killer with a quippy side kick and detective love interest was a fresh take on the genre but by book three, it’s become predictable and formulaic. I wanted to see Finlay taking on new challenges and growing as a character but instead it’s more of the same. I still enjoyed the story but would love to see Finlay go in a new direction in book 4.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin Press Minotaur Books, and Elle Cosimano in exchange for my honest review.

I love this series! I love Finlay and the shenanigans that she and Vero gets into. The opening scene hooked me and made me laugh. It is such a good cozy mystery series that I was not expecting to love as much as I do. The book is fast paced, and I read it in almost one sitting. I can not wait for another one to come out (even though this one is not out yet!) because it is quickly becoming one of my favorite series to read. I do recommend that if you have not read the first two then you should before picking up this one.

Elle Cosimano is such a fun author. She is able to blend humor and genuinely great mysteries and this creates the perfect reading experience. This started off with a bang of her traditional cold open with the kiddos and I loved it. It is funny, romantic, and the saga continues with such a fun mystery. I love this series and I am so happy to have gotten a copy of this.

I love this whole series! Each book is a little bit different and hilariously, darkly entertaining in it's own way. This third book is no exception. These are even more fun if you've lived in NoVa since the author does a fabulous job of capturing the desperate, competitive neurotic vibe that seeps into life in that region and ends up driving everyone a little bit mad. So glad I got to read this eARC.

Book Title: Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun
Series: Finlay Donovan #3
Author: Elle Cosimano
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press-Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery
Pub Date: January 31, 2023
My Rating: 3.5 rounded up!

This is book #3 and my third as well.
The novel opens with Finlay desperately trying to get her two year old son, Zach, to come out from a stall in the men’s restroom. Oh and there is a nervous man in the stall!!!

Story continues from the other two with Finlay and Vero in trouble –what’s new - this time with mob boss Felik .
(As I mentioned in the other stories this series reminds of the Stephanie Plum – Bounty Hunter and the trouble she and friends wound find or create!)

Nick the ‘hot’ cop (who is very interested in Finlay) has just started a civilian police academy so Finn, Vero and Finlay’s sister Joey sign up. They learn how to disarm and restraining ‘bad guys’. However, will all this training really work with these two?
Another fun yet typical Finlay story and yes! I am looking forward to Atlantic City!

Want to thank NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press ~Minotaur Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 31, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin Press Minotaur Books, for the opportunity to read Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano in exchange for my honest review.

I’m always excited for more Finlay shenanigans and Jumps the Gun didn’t disappoint. In the third novel Finlay and Vero find themselves being hunted by Atlantic City goons looking for payback, a Russian mob boss who is calling in a favor, an editor demanding steamy scenes, and their past mistakes. Not to mention, Steven attempting to help but making things worse.

The ladies decide to attend citizens police academy run by Finlay’s detective crush, Nick, under the disguise of research for her next book, but really they are looking for the rat in the department who shot at Finlay and Steven in “Knocks ‘em Dead”. The ladies excel at the academy while each work their charms to question the detectives.

Finlay and Vero’s friendship is fascinating because they are very loyal to each other, but they still have a lot of secrets, especially Vero. Although we finally learn a bit more about her past and who she’s running from. I love how they always back each other up, even when others try to pull them apart.

Jumps the Gun has it all. Humor, mystery, education, and romance. It finally happens and it’s wonderful. (IYKYK) Cosimano’s characters are fun, exciting to follow, and I thoroughly enjoy Finlay’s world. Personally, I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Another zany, unpredictable Finlay Donovan! I never know what to expect from Fin and Vero, but they always deliver laughs. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book. I really enjoyed it. I do think that maybe this is a series that should be read in order. It could possibly be confusing if you haven’t read the previous book.

5 stars. The first book in the Finlay Donovan series has cemented itself as one of my favorite books of all time. I just cannot get enough of Finley, Vero, and their shenanigans. Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun proved to be just as whacky and wild of a ride. The book was unputdownable. I never knew what was going to happen next and found myself constantly laughing along the way while Finlay and Vero tried to figure things out. I truly marveled how every single situation they found themselves in invariably seemed to go from bad to worse in the most hysterical fashion. This book was a little different than the last 2, because Finlay and Vero were both out of town at a retreat with the entire police department. Including sexy Nick. I do think this series needs to be read in order. Yes, the mystery is unique in each book, but they build upon events from the previous books. The bad guy in this one was actually introduced in the previous book… at least their moniker was. Finley and Vero still need to figure out who exactly EasyClean is. I love the burgeoning relationship between Finlay and Nick, love the friendship between Finlay and Vero, and love the mystery. As long as the Finlay books keep being written, I will keep reading them. And given the ending, it looks like we’ve got at least one more in store for us!

I enjoyed most of this book. The beginning is a little confusing as it makes a lot of references to what happened in previous books, which I have not read. I enjoyed the main characters. It’s a little frustrating as it left a lot of open questions. #FinlayDonovanJumpstheGun #NetGalley

"Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun" was a fun addition to the series. Zhirov is in jail and his trial quickly approaching, making him especially eager for Finlay to identify and eliminate EasyClean. A task that Finlay does not want to complete, but Zhirov has plenty of incentives to make Finlay see things his way. If Zhirov/EasyClean was not enough stress, Vero is hiding from a loan shark who wants repaid a sum of money that far exceeds what Finlay and Vero can easily obtain (and she has other secrets as well that will be revealed); Steven is back and wants to rekindle the relationship with Finlay that he ruined with his affair; Georgia has convinced Finlay that it is time to potty train Zach, which is an adventure; and Finlay is struggling with her book because she cannot write the romance/sex between the assassin and cop that her editor wants to see. If that was not crazy enough, the impromptu plan to figure out EasyClean's identity will involve a week at citizen police academy, which is being led by Nick, and which will involve numerous mishaps. The police force has a rather interesting and eclectic cast of characters. There is also an amusing incident that starts the book, and which will figure in more prominently in an unexpected manner later.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This is quickly becoming my comfort series. I have always been a thriller / crime novel reader but as a fan of the murder-comedy podcast, My Favorite Murder, I’ve always been a bigger fan of the genre bend. It’s taken a long time to find books that do that well and Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan books do that for me. This one pushed the believability a little far for me, but I’ll always be a fan of Finlay and Vero and all the folks in their lives.