Book 4 in the Finlay series continues the ridiculous adventures of Finlay and Vero. This time the adventure takes them to Atlantic City, New Jersey. Their main goal is to get back something that was taken from them, but along the way there are unsolved murders, untrustworthy characters, and unlikely plot twists. Add in their road trip buddies of Finlay’s mom, ex-husband, and two young children to add some hijinks and tension, and some love interests to add some spice, and you have a quick, engaging read.

Elle Cosimano's "Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice" is a rollercoaster of laughter, thrills, and unexpected twists that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Following the wildly successful "Finlay Donovan is Killing It," Cosimano returns with another uproarious installment featuring the endearing yet hapless protagonist, Finlay Donovan.

The story picks up right where the first book left off, with Finlay still juggling her chaotic life as a single mother and an accidental contract killer. However, this time around, Finlay finds herself embroiled in an even more complex web of deceit and danger when she unwittingly becomes involved in a high-stakes underground poker game. As the stakes rise, so does the tension, and readers will find themselves eagerly turning the pages to see how Finlay manages to extricate herself from yet another perilous situation.

What sets "Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice" apart is Cosimano's razor-sharp wit and knack for crafting unforgettable characters. Finlay is a refreshingly flawed and relatable protagonist, whose comedic misadventures never fail to entertain. From her hilarious inner monologues to her endearing interactions with her two young children, Finlay leaps off the page as a character readers can't help but root for.

Beyond its humor and memorable characters, "Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice" also delivers plenty of heart-pounding suspense and unexpected twists. As Finlay navigates the treacherous world of underground gambling and criminal syndicates, readers will find themselves on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the next twist in the tale.

Overall, "Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice" is a wildly entertaining read that combines laugh-out-loud humor with heart-pounding suspense. Elle Cosimano has once again proven herself to be a master storyteller, and fans of the first book will not be disappointed. Whether you're a fan of thrillers, comedies, or just great storytelling, "Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice" is a must-read that will leave you eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the digital ARC!

I really enjoy these characters and the unique story, but I do feel like the story is dragging on too much. I will still be purchasing this for our library and know many patrons will enjoy it, but I think I’m getting a bit burnt out on the stories. It just isn’t hitting the same way. Still a super fun series! I did enjoy this one more than the last book.

Another fun installment to the Finlay Donovan universe! This book followed Finlay & gang for an Atlantic City trip. The fun city really complemented the crazy and funny detective story, and juxtaposed the darkness underneath.

Admittedly after 4 books, I think this series is starting to lose some of the magic. Some of the dialogue has moved from charming to cheesy, and some of the convenient plot points are hard to continue to suspend my disbelief for. I’m likely just outgrowing it as a reader, though.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur books for this arc!

Finlay and Vero are back with another wild and hilarious adventure in this fourth installment of the Finlay Donovan series! This time around, the two women are headed to Atlantic City to find Vero's kidnapped crush, Javi, a stolen car, and a loan shark all under the guise of a much needed girls’ trip. However, leave it to Finlay's ex husband, Steven, and her mother to throw a wrench in their plans as they insist on tagging along. Of course things become even more complicated when Finlay's boyfriend, Nick, and his crew of cops show up to her hotel. It will take more than luck in this glitzy seaside resort city to accomplish what the female duo set out to do - without being arrested, of course!

Similar to the previous three books, I enjoyed the plot and setting in this book, the interactions between the characters, and all the chaos that ensues. The humor was spot on per usual without being super cringy and it had me laughing out loud!

The one aspect that appears even more evident in this book is Finlay’s character growth since the start of the series. She has undergone some big life changes (which one can certainly expect when tangled up with contract killers and mob business) so it was refreshing to see her harnessing her inner strength and confidence to stand up for herself and protect the ones she loves.

Overall, this book kept me very engaged and had me laughing and cheering for Finlay and Vero the whole time! I look forward to reading about the crazy situations these two women find themselves in next!

I definitely recommend this book and series overall for fans of cozy mysteries, female friendships, and a side of romance.

Thank you Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the review copies. All thoughts are my own.

The fourth book in the Finlay Donovan series brought the same action, mystery, drama, and humor I’ve come to love from this series. I always feel like I’m sleuthing right alongside Finlay and Vero when listening to these stories. Even though it was fast paced, there were still times I wanted the story to move along a bit, and I wished I had re-read Jumps the Gun before jumping into this book. I also wanted more of Nick and Finlay – what can I say, I’m a romance reader at heart. Fingers crossed that we get more of this rambunctious crew with a book 5!

"Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice" is the fifth installment in the Finlay Donovan series. It follows Finlay and Vero on a road trip to Atlantic City with a few unexpected guests like Finlay's ex-husband, her kids, and her mother. As usual in the Finlay Donovan series, the main storyline continues to expand and become increasingly entangled. However, this time around, I thought the plot was even more incredulous than it already is. Nevertheless, I liked to see how Finlay and Vero's friendship has evolved and Finlay's husband's character development.

I don't know what to say about this one that hasn't already been said! I’m fully aware this series gets more ridiculous as it goes on but I still generally enjoy each installment. I didn't love the cop vibes of the previous book but I was less annoyed by the characters and their insane behavior in that book compared to this one. The premise of this one was more fun though.

Vero and Finlay (along with her ex-husband, mother, and children...) head to Atlantic City to try to find Javi and a ton of nonsense ensues. There were some very absurd moments in this one but it was fun to have Finlay and Vero trying to balance all of their secret missions while keeping her family occupied and clueless to what they were really doing down there. And once it seems like they have way too much on their plate, members of their local police department head down to chase a lead... yes, including her boyfriend Nick. I've definitely checked out on the romance at this point for various reasons but that's not what I'm here for anyways. I like a cozy, fun mystery and this series fits the bill still.

I keep wondering how it's possible that Cosimano can keep going with the same storylines when there are too many bad guy names to even keep track of. I genuinely didn't even try to remember them all as I was reading; it may have affected my enjoyment because sometimes I got confused but it was an overall easy read. 

Based on the ending (no spoilers), I'm hopeful the upcoming books will finally be centered around a different mystery. Cosimano has spent four books generally chasing the same crime family and interconnected murderers and bad guys so eventually (like now) it wore thin a little. I’d love for this series to shift to where Finlay is less in the middle of things (meaning she's not getting caught up in murders herself) to her being more of a true amateur sleuth.

Overall this was still quirky, fun, and a bit much a lot of the time. Catch me still seated for book five!

The Finlay Donovan series is an adventurous comedy of errors, and I can’t stop reading it. Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice is the fourth installment. Finlay and Vero’s story continues with their over-the-top antics and absurd situations. This time, they find themselves in Atlantic City trying to save a friend when chaos ensues. I look forward to what comes next for Finlay and Vero.

I am obsessed with the Finlay Donovan series and this book was just as amazing as the other books. I love all of the characters for different reasons and each character brings so much to the story. I literally couldn’t put this book down and I can’t wait for the next installment. Elle Casamino is one of my favorite authors and she did such a great job with this book. I also loved the theme for this book, it would make an amazing vacation read.

I will update with my review once the SMP boycott has ended.

In the meantime...
#SPEAKUPSMP has three demands:

Address and denounce the Islamophobia/racism from their employee.

Offer tangible steps for how they're going to mitigate the harm this employee caused.

Address how, moving forward, they will support and protect their Palestinian, Muslim, and Arab readers, influencers, and authors in addition to their BIPOC readers, influencers, and authors.

Loved this one. Her books suck me right in and I love her writing style. I loved her other books in this series a little more but this one follows with it nicely. I hope there’s another one she comes out with. Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy of this book.

4.5 ⭐️ This was such a great continuation of the Finlay Donovan series! The shenanigans they get into are so funny and it takes you for a wild ride throughout the book. And, as always, I need way more Nick in these books!

These books are my go to recommendation for a palette cleanser because they just have a little of everything! LOVED mom being along for the ride and seeing the full ramifications of Veto’s decisions. The two women constantly being faced with HUGE dilemmas while giving us the space to laugh out loud? BALANCE. (3.5 rounded up)

Finlay and Vero are back again and off to Atlantic City for a kidnapping rescue mission under the guise of going on a fun trip. They sell the trip a little too well and end up with the whole gang in tow including Finlay’s ex-husband, her children, her mother, and her cop boyfriend. Is it any surprise when they happen upon yet another dead body and have to figure out a new plan from there?

What I loved:
-light hearted read
-getting to see characters from previous books
-over the top escapades

I have really enjoyed the previous Finlay Donovan books but I think the series is getting to feel a bit overdone for me. However, if you are looking for a light read with lots of fun and absolutely unbelievable adventures that builds on the previous books, this is the book for you!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reading copy!

Finlay Donovan and Vero heading to Atlantic City for a girls weekend…what could go wrong?


Finlay and Vero are such amazing characters. I love them and all of the situations they find themselves in.

What starts out as trip to negotiate a deal with Marco, a dangerous loan shark, to get back Vero’s childhood crush, Javier, turns into a girls weekend in Atlantic City and a comedic journey for Finlay, Vero, the kids, Finlay's mother and her ex husband.

I love these characters and the chaos that they get pulled in to. I will forever be a huge fan of Elle Cosimano and Finlay Donovan .

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for a chance to read and review this novel. Finlay and Vero are back at it again with their crazy adventures tracking down mobsters, loan sharks, and dirty cops. Sprinkle in some romantic subplots, and you have yourself some solid entertainment. This is my first time reading a Finlay Donovan story, and I have to say I am a bigger fan of the audio format for their adventures. Still a solid story and keeps you entertained!

Five stars!! I LOVED IT and way to end on another cliff hanger — can’t wait to see what is next!

Who would’ve thought I actually would’ve found myself not hating Steven in this book L O L.

Vero, and Finlay find themselves on the pursuit for Javi (Vero’s long time “friend”) BUT along with them is: Finlay’s mom, kids, AND ex-husband …. And maybe while they’re there they locate some loan sharks… and find themselves once again solving a murder / running away from it all

Elle Cosimano did it again with this book!

4/5 stars

Thank you Minotaur books for the advanced reading copy!

SYNOPSIS -- Dynamic duo Finlay and Vero are in need of some girl time ASAP, and a trip to Atlantic City is the perfect way to do it. Throw in a scary loan shark, Vero's missing crush, Javi, and their stolen Aston Martin, and the trip is sure to be a great one! OH, and now both Finlay's Mom and ex-husband have decided to tag along! What a group! When the team shows up in Atlantic City, Finlay and Vero slip away to confront loan shark, Marco. Only problem is, he's unable to negotiate with them... because he's dead. When the local police, including Finlay's very hot boyfriend, Nick, show up to investigate a tip they received, Finlay and Vero have the added difficulty of navigating around these suspicious officers. SO, we have a jealous ex-husband, two rambunctious kids, a mother with marital issues, a decomposing loan shark, a sexy cop and a missing crush. What can go wrong?!

I love this series so much!!! This was a great fourth book; it really tied the other storylines together. This is a great series to read one after another, because all the books flow nicely into the next. Even if you can’t do that, the author does a great job of recapping without giving too much unnecessary info, and I think you could read these as standalones with only minor confusion (though I definitely recommend reading them in order for maximum effect)!

I love Finlay and Vero’s dynamic, and it was nice to see more of Vero’s love interest in this book, especially after finishing the novella about her. The Atlantic City setting was super fun and much different than where we’ve seen this crazy crew before. This book was slightly harder to follow than the last three, and some of it was sooo chaotic that I was like huh??? Despite that, I am so happy to follow along the wild ride that is Finlay and Vero’s antics, and I hope for so much more of these two. I’d read infinite Finlay Donovan books!

The Finlay Donovan series is one of my top recommendations to our patrons who love goofy romantic mysteries by writers like Janet Evanovich and Darynda Jones. Finlay Donavan Rolls the Dice is book 4 in the series. As with the first three books, this novel is filled with some of the absurd happenstances that Finlay and her nanny/friend Vero encounter. Finlay is constantly getting herself into a crazy situation which often involves a dead body, the mob, and, of course, her ex husband, Steven. For this installment, Finlay's mother and kids are along for the ride. There is plenty of laugh out loud moments, the ongoing potential relationship with Nick, and the question of what secrets her ex is hiding.

It's a fun read filled with elements that I've enjoyed in other books in the series. Finlay Donavan Rolls the Dice has a lot going on. The action is constantly throwing Vero back and forth between locations, situations and covering their tracks. Readers will have to suspend their belief quite a bit. The fact neither of these two gets caught given the criminal antics surrounding them is pretty hard to believe. The story is pushing pretty quickly into farce. I think this may turn off some readers who may be looking for more substance. In addition, there is a lot that's been thrown into this book with characters, locations and plot progression. It can be a little hard to follow, but the transitions are pretty solid.

That being said, there is some growth in Finlay's relationship and even Steven's connection to his kids and family, Vero finds a possible future happiness, and some of the mob issues come to resolution. I strongly suggest that readers start with book one of the series. I think readers coming into this book with no background may be a bit confused by some of the plot lines and characters. Overall, it's a good addition to the story, but I hope that future books will settle into the romance, the characters and their relationships a bit more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC and the opportunity to read and review Finlay Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano.