Finlay is in trouble again! This third installment of the Finlay Donovan series joins Finley and friend/nanny Vero as they attend a mock police academy in an attempt to hide out from a few nefarious characters. Did I mention it just happens to be run by her current love interest - hot cop Nick? As the week-long academy passes, Finlay and Vero find themselves in one crazy situation after another, but they always manage to get themselves out. I found myself reading obsessively and waiting with bated breath to see just how they'd get out of this last one, and I must say I was a little disappointed with all that was left hanging at the end. I guess they're set up for another fun installment - I'm sure we'll see the 4th Finlay soon. If you like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, you'll love Finlay Donovan.

Elle Cosimano does it again, knocking it out of the park with another great instalment in the Finlay Donovan series. It’s fast-paced, the characters are fun, capable and likeable, and the laugh-out-loud moments continue to abound.

The narration of this series is especially excellent, and I love how Angela Dawe has done Vero’s voice—so distinctive that you can’t help but stop and focus on the story. And can we take a minute to appreciate the characterization of Vero too? Her sassy and smart energy is an essential match to get Finlay out of her comfort zone and push the plot along.

My only complaint is that while one of the charms of this series is that the plots are always quite far-fetched, the initiating action in this one seemed a bit more forced than the others, so it took awhile for me to get into it.

Overall, I would absolutely recommend this series, and each book so far has held up strong. If you haven’t picked up this series yet, I urge you to do so, especially if you like:
-comedic suspense novels
-a strong, funny cast of characters
-plots with non-stop action
-cozy mystery-adjacent books

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for gifting me an advanced listening copy of this book—it lived up to the hype and I cannot wait for the next book!

And also big thank you my cousin Nieva for taking this photo. The Vero to my Finlay, thanks for the fun night out drinking ✨negronis sbagliato✨ & always being up to curate book photos in public.

Spoiler-y thoughts ahead
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I was a bit disappointed by the final culprit, and even though I suspected him, I thought his explanation didn’t make a ton of sense. I wish that had been a bit more fleshed out. And also, that ENDING 😱 what a cliffhanger!!!

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is the third book in this fun, mystery meets comedy series. The first book be hard to beat but I really enjoyed this one. Finlay and Vero’s antics never get old and you can’t help but chuckle at the trouble they continue to back themselves into. Fans of the series will continue to love Elle Cosimano’s work and if you’re new to the series you should definitely pick up the first one and give it a try.

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC.

You're in for another fun ride with Finlay Donovan and the rest of the crazy, wild and interesting characters that Elle Cosimano creates! The narrator, Angela Dawe, always makes it exceptional as Finlay finds herself once again tangled up with the wrong folks and like the first two books in the series the plot continues to thicken. When we finally reach the ending of this story, the author famously throws out a cliff hanger and you know there's a new story already in the works for another adventure with Finlay. Humor, Evil Doers, Good Guys and a bit of Spice make for laugh out loud enjoyable read (or in my case listen). Thank you to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity of an advance listen to this Audio book.

If there is a one thing I must appreciate @thebookishcontent for is the buddy reading we did on the first Book in Finlay Donovan series. Although I had so many conflicting feelings about this series, I know for sure, I will be reading them as long they come out. Because, yes, it seems to be another one. Or at least this is what the ending suggests.

This time Finlay tried to untangle yet another mystery that she inevitably get herself into. It's amazing how this woman attracts trouble. In opposition to the previous ones, here we seem to be set in a one location only and our focus is directed towards a group of people from whom one is the bad guy. The question is how quickly we can figure it out. This dose of Agatha Christie with a modern sense of humor, was a such a pleasurable listen. The audiobook was yet another treat, I'm glad it was not denied to me. For now, I would say it was my favorite in the series mostly because of the humor and a moment in my life where I needed it desperately.


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This is the third in the series, and while I’ve loved them all I think this might have been my favorite.

In this installment, Finlay is trying to clean up Vero’s debt mess, find the contract killer Easy Clean, and get her latest book draft finished and turned in. All of these tasks seem to be impossible on their own, but combined?

There’s non-stop page-turning drama, some more accidental murder, chaos as only Finley can create it, and some romance thrown into the mix. I love all these characters too. They’re all completely flawed hot messes, but lovable all the same.

There was less of a love triangle in this one, (if you ignore Finlay’s ex), and more romance with Nick the hot cop, which I’m 100% here for. Plus, Vero is coming into her own as a super-shady character and I’m dying to find out more about her. I also really loved their time at the citizen’s police academy, especially Mrs Haggarty’s efforts.

The audio was performed by Angela Dawe who also narrated the other books in the series. I thought she did a fantastic job bringing the story alive. The audio comes in at 8 hours and 38 minutes.

Single mom and author Finlay Donovan is back in this third installment. If you think she’s finally got it all together in this one you would be seriously mistaken. Her life is still a hot mess and so is her love life. Finlay and her partner-in-crime Vero are in over their heads once again because they are seriously indebted to the Russian mob boss Feliks again. He’s calling all the shots so they are just trying to keep him happy without having to actually kill someone. They have to figure out who the real killer is all while attending a citizen’s police academy, trying to finish a book, and fix her dating life.

Y’all I loved this book. Finlay Donovan Jumps The Gun is a hilarious, fast paced, action packed third installment in a totally binge worthy series. I listened to the audiobook and absolutely loved every moment of it. I laughed out loud and I gasped quite a few times. This one has it all for the mystery lover who loves hot messes, crime, humor, and real life drama. I’m so thankful to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy to listen to for a honest review. I can’t wait to see what happens next in Finlay’s life.

I have mixed thoughts on this one! I am a huge lover of this series. I didn’t know going into this one that there would be another book in the series. I assumed it would finish with this one. This book definitely felt like a middle book. By that I mean, it dragged and while it was still fun and over the top it was really slow. I feel like everything could have been wrapped up and honestly, I don’t think another book is needed. It also felt very repetitive and the back and forth between characters was starting to bug me. However, the narrator killed it like always! She was fantastic and I hope she does the fourth book. Overall, I would still highly recommend this series. When it comes to series not every book is going to be great unfortunately some will be lacking and that’s how this one was. This review might sound negative but it’s only because I have mixed thoughts. I still am looking forward to the next book and am excited to see what kind of mess these characters get themselves into.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is a fun, lighthearted and easy read. The friendship between Vero and Finlay is a true ride-or-die dynamic. Finlay is like a relatable, awkward Bridget Jones-esque character and the tight spots she manages to find herself in gives off a Good Girls vibe. There’s plenty of laughs among the cringe-worthy situations. It was fun to revisit Findlay’s hot mess of a life and I hope there’s more to come.

The narrator, Angela Dawe, was fabulous and brought life to all the characters.

I have heard people say that you can read this books as a stand-alone but I would not recommend it. There are lots of references to the previous books and I feel that it would be confusing to readers.

Narrators were perfect and the third book was just as good as the first two. Vero and Finlay are hilarious and I was so happy to see Steven take more of a backseat in this book. Nice and fast paced towards the end.

I’ve enjoyed this series from book one, and I feel like they just keep getting better and better. In Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, we have Finlay and Vero getting themselves into more trouble, but this time they’re doing it at the citizen’s police academy. All you #teamnick fans know that means…we get more of him in this book!

I thought this book was an entertaining read and found myself laughing out loud at times while reading it. I listened to the audiobook, and I really enjoy Angela Dawe as the narrator. If you think Finlay and Vero can’t get themselves into more trouble, think again!

The book starts out with a really funny scene and got funnier as it went along. I was happy to see more of Nick and to get to know his character better. I’m glad Julian made an appearance because I was originally #teamjulian. We do see some growth with Finlay’s character in this book which was nice. The book ends on a cliffhanger so that means we’re getting a fourth book, and I honestly can’t wait!

Thanks you St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

This is one of the best series on Audio! Elle Cosimano did it again with this being the third book for single mom Finlay Donovan and her nanny side kick Vero, if you enjoyed Laverne & Shirley and their hilarious antics, then this is for you. She keeps the characters fresh and action packed with a little romantic suspense on the side. The narrators are fantastic and I believe the voices make this book even better. Thank you for giving me this advance audiobook!

QUICK BITS
3️⃣book 3 in series
🤪same witty antics
💕best kind of ridiculous

✨REVIEW✨
This will be an easy book to review.

If you loved the first two, you will equally love when Fin jumps the gun.

The same hijinks, the same humor, the same amazing characters, and a continuation of the accidental assassin trope (it should be a trope anyway).

This time we find our characters surrounded by cops with the pressure (and potential chili pepper steam) on.

One thing that I loved about this one (that was not as apparent to me before) was the humor of the kids really shining through. They were my favorite in book three.

Lastly, the ending feels to be the setup for an epic final book of the series (or so I hear and feel).

Anyway, if you haven't read the first, what are you waiting for, add some mysterious joy to your life why don't you!

✨RATINGS✨
9 Characters
8 Atmosphere
10 Writing Style
6 Plot
6 Pace
7 Intrigue
8 Enjoyment
1 SOS Bonus
TOTAL= 54+1= 55/14= 3.93

😱1.00/5.00 SOS Rating (Scale of Surprise)

⭐️4.00/5.00 Rounded Rating

The latest installment of Finlay Donovan’s adventures, Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, is so much fun! I absolutely adored the first book in the series, and even though I missed book 2, I had no problem jumping into book 3.

Finlay and Vero, a quintessential girl duo, are at it again. They just try to get by and do good, but trouble keeps finding them. I love the combination of humor, thrilling adventure, and romance (mainly of the writing kind as Finlay is a romance author). There are unhappy editors, overdue loan sharks, Russian mob bosses, crooked cops, ex-beaus and current love interests. Yes, the antics are a bit over the top, but I love that the feel of the series is fun, campy, and that is doesn’t take itself too seriously.

I enjoyed the audio version of this book. The narrator is excellent, and she really brought the characters to life. Whether you’re reading or listening, the Finlay Donovan series can’t be beat.

4.5 stars

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?

Thank you to Macmillan audio and Netgalley for an ALC 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.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This is the third audiobook in the Finlay Donovan series that I have listened to by narrator, Angela Dawe. Angela Dawe is the BEST narrator out there!!! If I didn't have any other adult responsibilities, I could have listened to this audiobook in one day. She narrates ALL of the characters so well. I don't know how she does it, but each and every character is perfect!

Obviously, my two favorite characters are Finlay and Vero. They are the perfect duo. I love the craziness they get themselves into. I enjoyed hearing more from hot cop, Nick.

I literally listened to this audiobook in two days while cleaning, working out, folding laundry, making dinner....I couldn't stop listening! This is such a hilarious and suspenseful audiobook. I never want this series to end!!!!

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

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.

I think this is such a fun series, but there are a couple of things to do before starting this one in order to really enjoy it:

1. Read the first two books. They will give you a good sense of what is going on and who the characters are. Without reading those two first you are dropped into the middle of a story and though some background and context is given you won't really get it all.

2. Suspend all disbelief. This is a fun series as long as you don't look at it too closely. If you start to analyze it, it will fall apart. There are many coincidences and unlikely (at best) scenarios. It makes for an entertaining, but not realistic, story.

The best parts of this story IMO are the characters and the banter. The characters are mostly interesting and funny and I am a pushover for good banter.

I could completely do without the multiple love interests and repetition in that area, but that's my personal opinion. I don't tend to care for stories where there are multiple (good-looking, smart, kind, caring, etc that everyone else is interested in) people that are all interested in the same person.

This book wrapped up many questions, but also left our MCs in a position where the next book is necessary. It's sort of a cliffhanger where this story is played out, albeit with some loose threads, and Finlay and Vero are off to start a new adventure.

I'll be interested to see what they get up to next and how they are going to handle the details of their current situation.

I listened to the audiobook, which was well-narrated by Angela Dawe. She has good timing and intonation. I would recommend this format if you enjoy audios.