Did not realize this was the 3rd in a series, so it took a little bit to get caught up. The writing is a little clunky which was probably a little more obvious because of the audiobook format. Low stakes mystery a la Mary Higgins Clark, not stressful but also not memorable.

ARC from the publisher via NetGalley, but the opinions are entirely my own.

We’re back with Finlay and Vero and I couldn't be more excited.
This series is so funny and entertaining. I smile and laugh the whole time I’m reading it. As long as Elle keeps writing them, I’ll keep reading them!

The narration is also excellent, per usual.

My pregnancy has be reading slower this year... but that isn't about this book is it??

Finn and Vero. What a pair! I cannot wait to see what they get into trouble with next.
I am rating this book 4/5. Mostly because I did not find myself wanting to devour it as easily as the first two books. I did really enjoy watching Finlay grow and allow herself a little more happiness throughout this book.

As always, the writing was great and the twist I did not see coming! I look forward to more adventures of Finlay.

I love the Finley Donovan series. The characters are always fun and the storylines are exciting. I compare this series to the Stephanie Plum books when recommending them to our library patrons. I hope Finley & the crew are back for many more adventures.

Elle Cosimano has done it again with another delightful addition to the Finlay Donovan series. Finlay and Vero make such a dynamic and funny detective duo, and the entire cast of characters continues to grow more well developed and endearing. This book had me smiling the entire time I was reading!

*3.5 stars* Thank you Netgalley for the arc. Although this book is called Jumps the Gun, we are beyond the point of jumping the shark. This was so ridiculous and far fetched. I miss the single mom hijinks, what made me love the first book. We need that vibe back.

Finley is back at it but this time is trying to save her own life. This third installment of the Finlay series brings back the humor of our well known heroine and her nanny and adds some spice as we delve more into her relationship with "hot cop"
I enjoyed this book (more than the second one actually) as a continuation of the series and how Finlay is evolving as a mother and writer.

"Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun" was the first Finlay Donovan book I've read, and I have to say that after listening to the first few minutes of the audiobook, I was ready to admit my mistake and move on--to me, it was trying too hard to be funny and came off instead as plain silly. But I hate to leave things unfinished, so I circled back and was able to settle into the screwball comedy vibe the second time around. I do think that not having read the first two books of the series was part of the reason I couldn't get into this one--it's not really a standalone, as the plot is a continuation of events from the first two books and constantly refers back to them without giving a useful summary. I liked the characters of Finlay and Vero and enjoyed the banter between them, and there were some genuinely funny scenes, but after a while the madcap tone and the more and more preposterous series of scrapes began to grate. (Maybe I'm just too old.) Shout out, however, to narrator Angela Dawe, who really brought the book to life--I'm don't think I would have enjoyed it half as much without her pitch perfect narration.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ARC audiobook of this title in return for my honest review.

“Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun” is the 3rd book in a quirky comedic murder mystery series that I have fallen in love with. In this book, Finlay and Vero’s antics lead them to attending a Citizen’s Police Academy. At first, I was worried about the setting of the book but Elle Cosimano’s writing made it work.

This book is wildly entertaining! I love how each book has started with Finlay in some sort of horrid maternal situation with her children and it makes me laugh so hard. Finlay’s character is so relatable to me and her ride-or-die friendship with her nanny Vero is one of the best friendships I’ve read in a novel.

I listened to this via audio thanks to Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Angela Dawe’s performance is phenomenal! She really makes the characters come to life off the page.
As quirky as the premise sounds, this book is worth the time. The plot flowed well at a pace that kept me engaged and coming back for more. The romance with Nick, which we all have been waiting for, has developed in this book! We def get to see more of Nick here in this setting!

I personally believe this book is just as strong as book one and two in regards to its storyline, humor and pacing. I absolutely look forward to new installments!

“Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun” is the third book in this hilarious series by Elle Cosimano. Findlay is a busy single mom who wrangles children, buries dead bodies, and runs from mob bosses. New readers get a hint of past characters and relationships as Findlay’s “adventure” unfolds, but this story can also be read first.

Finlay and Vera, her business partner/nanny, are attending the “local Citizens’ Police Academy.” Readers know immediately that things will be hilariously complicated. The two compete in the academy’s hands-on instruction in firearms, forensics, and crime scene investigations. In addition to the classes and activities, they also sell a luxury car with a questionable history to get “ransom” money demanded by a “Russian Mob Boss,” and they search for a “secret mob source” who might be among the “Academy” attendees. Of course, there is the ongoing “tension” between Findlay and local “Officer Nick.” It is a wild and entertaining ride.

I also listened to the audio version of “Finlay Donovan Jumps The Gun” narrated by Angela Dawe. Dawe has a multi-dimensional voice that reflects just the right amount of mystery and tension to go with the hilarity of Finlay Donovan’s every day, complicated life. I have one caution for listening to the audio book – remember, no one else knows why you are laughing so much.

I received a review copy of “Finlay Donovan Jumps The Gun” from Elle Cosimano, Angela Dawe, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio. It is a fun book with tons of laugh-out-loud moments. Those who somehow missed the first two books should go look for them now.

“Finlay Donovan Jumps The Gun” is now available in print, as an e-book, and on audio from independent bookstores, online booksellers, retail stores, public libraries, and anywhere you get your books.

Elle Cosimano does it again! I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't a huge fan of book 2, but book 3 was great. The storyline was refreshing. And as always the humor was on point. 

Finlay and Vero are such interesting characters, who seem to keep getting themselves into trouble. It's like they can't help it. If there is any sort of trouble within a mile of them, they find themselves in the middle of it. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

I thought the other characters in the book were great. They all brought something to the table. Nick of course is one of my favorites. I love him! I was pleasantly surprised by the ending of the book. I was way off in my guess. I can't wait till book 4!! 

Once again the narrator was fantastic. She makes the book even more enjoyable!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillian Audio, and St. Martin's Press for the copies of the book.

I love the characters, but I did not love this book. Everything just felt like filler and not enough to make a decent plot. At this point, I don’t see how anything Finlay and Vero get themselves into could warrant a full book. In my opinion, it all feels like a bad knockoff of the Stephanie Plumb series. I don’t think I’ll pick up the next one.

The narrator though? 5 stars!!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

I never expected a thriller series with as gimmicky a premise as “mother being mistaken as hitman” would have the longevity for a three book and counting series but here we are with Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun. This feels like a return to form for the series because the shakiness of relationship between Finlay and Vero was resolved in the second book and they’re back to being a true chaotic duo.

Finlay and Vero’s banter is always going to be the selling point of this series, and with Vero’s backstory out of the way in the last book, this third one really just lets her be the ridiculous yet ride-or-die friend to Finlay that is so fun to watch. Throw in a healthy dose of Finlay’s elderly neighbor into the mix and I’m kind of sold on any kind of plot here.

The majority of this book taking place at a police academy training camp was a bit of an odd setup but it was an effective one for plenty of shenanigans. This series is always going to be one that demands setting aside any semblance of plausibility to enjoy. But it’s not one that does it in a blatantly obnoxious way and always recognizes the absurdity of Finlay’s accidental hitwoman antics and amateur sleuthing.

This third book is for fans of the series (obviously) but it’s especially going to resonant with fans of the tone of the first book in the series. I loved it, and am looking forward to whatever antics ensue in the next installment.

Thank you to the publisher Macmillan Audio for providing an audiobook ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

Another fabulous addition to the Finlay series. I liked this one more than book 2 – not that there was anything wrong with book 2! I just feel like this one flowed so much better. I laughed, I smiled, I had a wonderfully enjoyable listening to it.

Reading a Finlay book is always just such a fresh breath of air and the perfect escapism!

Cosimano writes with such wit and sass that I can’t help but fall in love with the idea of a humorous cozy mystery! Who doesn’t love a mix of contract killers, hot cops and romance?! The way she writes her characters is also unparalleled! Finlay and Vera are certainly the dynamic duo that I never knew I needed! Then place them in a citizens police academy?! What a ridiculously fun and entertaining idea!

Like the second one, I still felt that this one was missing a bit of that extra magic that the first one had but still ultimately such a fun series!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur for an arc of this book!

2.5

Honestly I think its just a little unfair for me to rate this book considering I am most definitely not the target audience.
That being the case I think there are people out there that would love this book a ton, probably someone who's older than me.
I've seen a few comments about this book that I tend to agree with like Finlay Donovans story is being dragged on too long, and this book has too many characters to keep track of. I have also heard people don't love the setting but I think the setting was a fun place for the characters! I enjoy tasks and competition settings and although this wasn't exactly that it was somewhat close.
I truly do not care about who Finlay ends up with and I would love if random things did not become something to have a sexual comment about but again, maybe I am not the target audience. but really.. is there a need to have a sexual comment like every 10 minutes?
All in all, even though I complain I did enjoy it enough to finish it. Would I read the fourth one? If it is the finale then yes. Would I read a fifth book? probably not.

I've decided this series is overhyped. There's nothing wrong with it per say, but I don't think it deserves the hype. It's not as funny as people make it out to be and quite frankly, I was bored.

Finlay and Vero are back at it and this time they are signed up for a civilian police academy. That should keep them out of trouble, yeah right. It has them teamed up with Nick as one of their instructors and it should have them out of way of the mob and give Finlay time to sleuth and write at night but these two cannot stay out of trouble. I love this series and cannot wait for more! I have be thrilled to both read and listen to this edition and love the narrator and still have her in my head as I write this review.

I am really becoming a fan of Elle Cosimano. Her books are humorous but relatable, even in some of the surreal situations her characters get into. There isn’t too much profanity and I like that the books don’t get sidetracked into too many non crucial issues.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is the third book in the Finlay Donovan series. In this book Finlay and Vero are still trying to uncover the identity of EasyClean, a contract killer who mob boss Felik wants to get rid of. He did Finlay a favour once and he wants her to pay him back by finding EasyClean and he wants that info NOW! Vero also owes some money, big money, so they are trying to sell a bullet riddled luxury car to be able to pay it back. They get a niggle that perhaps the killer is a cop, and take a civilian police academy to go undercover and check out the cops up close as well as sneak into some offices. As usual, they come up against more than one person with a gun and luckily they get out of trouble with the help of Vero's wanna be boyfriend and even Felik's men. Will they find EasyClean and get Felik off their backs?

This was another fun addition to the Finlay Donovan series. The humor was there and I started laughing from the first page when Finlay was trying to get her toddler out of the men's bathroom. I enjoyed seeing a different side of Vero in this book. We learn a bit about her past and her relationship with Javi. I hope that goes somewhere in the next book. Nick's and Finlay's relationship continues to develop, and he is there when she needs him. Their time at the Civilian Academy was hilarious. I liked learning about the training and skills that police go through, and watching Finlay get bested by an old lady and Vero's determination to win as the best candidates had me giggling as well. Of course this is also a mystery and I knew that the person who looked the most suspicious would be too easy to be the culprit, so wasn't totally surprised at the reveal. Overall, this was another fun addition to the series. These books are just plain fun, so don't expect it to be realistic, just sit and back, hang on and enjoy the ride. I did a read/listen with this book and once again, enjoyed Angela Dawe's narration. She has great voices for the various characters and her expression is perfect. I will say that I enjoyed the audiobook more than the sections I read as the audio brings the characters alive, but the story shines through no matter which format you select. Once again, I recommend this book and series for those who enjoy a fun, romantic comedy and mystery.