Thanks to Minotaur for an advanced copy of Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice.

This is book four in the Finlay series and it's even less believable than the first three! This is a direct follow-up from book 3 - Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, and Finlay and Vero along with everyone under the sun end up in Atlantic City. Finlay and Vero are trying to negotiate a deal with a loan shark, rescue a stolen car and save Vero's crush....

This series has gotten so unbelievable yet I keep reading them. They are funny and I do love seeing what mess Finlay can get herself into.

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano is a great addition to the series, packed with suspense and witty humor. In this fourth installment, Finlay and her partner-in-crime, Vero, head out on a seemingly innocent girls' weekend to Atlantic City, which is just a cover for their true intentions. Their plans quickly spiral into a high-stakes mission involving dangerous loan sharks, strip clubs, a kidnapped friend, and a stolen car.

Things kick off with a bang as they always do when Finlay and Vero find themselves entangled in a web of deception, danger, and even a little romance. With Finlay's ex-husband and mother unexpectedly joining the trip, the stakes are raised even higher, adding layers of complexity to an already chaotic situation.

Cosimano weaves together multiple plot threads, keeping readers curious to see what else could go wrong as Finlay and Vero race against the clock to rescue friends and keep family in the dark while doing so. The tension builds steadily throughout the novel, culminating in a climax that is unbelievable, but in the best way possible.

One of the highlights of the book is the dynamic between Finlay and Vero, whose witty banter and friendship add depth to their characters and make them so likable. Their friendship is as heartwarming and fun as ever, and serves as a great counterbalance to the darker elements of the story.

Overall, Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice is a fast-paced read that delivers thrills, humor, and heart in equal measure. This is a must-read installment for fans of the series, and will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next chapter in Finlay's adventures.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Book for an advanced copy of this book.

This has been one of my favourite light-hearted series. Finlay and Vero get into so much mayhem, their lives are pure chaos in a way that keeps me engaged and laughing.

In the fourth (if we aren’t counting Vero’s short story) Finlay Donovan book, our favourite duo is back but this time it’s a family affair! I don’t want to give any spoilers of book 3 since this picks up right where that one ends but we’re off to Atlantic City for a rescue mission and to find a stolen car. In true Finlay and Vero fashion, you can expect dead bodies, danger and lots of laughs.

While this was my least favourite in the series so far, I was still thoroughly entertained and can’t wait to see what Elle Cosimano gives us in the next book.

Finlay and Vero (and whole ding dang family) take on Atlantic City in the next installment of the series. Buckle in for another wild ride with all of your favorite characters from the series as they try to wrap up all the loose ends from the last few books! These books are absolutely beyond, but it’s kind of fun to see how it all shakes out and how smart Finlay and Vero are. I enjoyed this book! Thank you for the free review copy!

3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finlay Donovan is back at it again with her hilarious side kick Vero while they take on Atlantic City! If you are looking for a series that will have you laughing out loud, check out the Finlay Donovan series 🩷

Finlay and Vero head to Atlantic City for a much needed girls trip. The only problem is Finlay’s ex-husband Steven, her mother and two kids all tag along and have no idea the real purpose for the trip is to rescue Javi and find the stolen Aston Martin. Javi’s kidnapper is a loan shark named Marco and demands full repayment of a loan Vero took or Javi’s life. Since they do not have the money, Finlay and Vero decide to figure out where Javi and the car are being held and steal them back. They sneak into Marco’s suite for clues but instead find him dead in the bathtub. Finlay’s hot cop boyfriend shows up in Atlantic City alongside a few other officers to investigate a lead on the whereabouts of Feliks Zhirov, infamous mobster. Finlay and Vero hilariously work together to avoid being questioned by their families while trying to find Javi and the Aston Martin before time runs out. Can they untangle everything without revealing their secrets or will they be forced to come clean on their involvement?


Thank you NetGalley for the privilege of reading the ARC copy of Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice! Grab your copy when it comes out on March 5th 🩷

Finlay Donovan and her partner-in-crime, live-in nanny Vero, concoct a girls' weekend getaway to Atlantic City, masking their true mission: negotiating with a loan shark to save Vero's childhood crush, Javi, and recover a stolen luxury car. However, the trip takes a chaotic turn when Finlay's ex-husband and mother insist on joining. Matters worsen when the loan shark demands full payment for Javi's release, and the presence of four Fairfax County police officers, including the attractive Nick, adds to the complications. Despite the whirlwind of events, "Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice" proves to be an exhilarating and entertaining read. Finlay and Vero navigate through sticky situations with humor and resourcefulness, making for a captivating plot filled with outrageous shenanigans. Finlay emerges as a compelling protagonist, quick-witted and resilient, while her evolving relationships and snarky banter with Vero add depth to the story. The novel's fast-paced narrative and unexpected twists make it a binge-worthy experience. I extend my gratitude to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for providing an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

✨ Review ✨ Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice; Narrated by: Angela Dawe

Thanks to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

Finlay and Vero are back, this time trekking to Atlantic City to recover Javi and a stolen car, except that they have the kids, Steven, and Finlay's mom in tow. The book starts out with laughs as Steven gets lectured by a cop when he tries to lean out over a bridge to get one of his kid's blankies that blew out the window.

Once again, way over the top, this book is a ridiculous riot of shenanigans and chaos as Finlay and Vero try to track down their marks and hide evidence of crimes along the way. I think this was my second favorite in the series after the first...it had lots of surprises, an engaging plot, and kept me laughing!

The audio narration brought forth the laughs and I really loved it. I do think the narrator's accent for Vero was a little off for me, but otherwise, great, engaging narration!

A must read for lovers of Finlay!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: mystery, thriller
Setting: Atlantic City
Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins
Pub Date: 05 Mar 2024

Finlay and Vero are at it again. This duo never gets old! A fun read. Thank you for the opportunity to read early.

What a wild ride. I think I might have liked this one better than #3.

The pacing was fast and furious, right from the get-go, and I legit LOL’d at the Chubby’s scene.

Full Disclosure: If you have trouble suspending disbelief, this might not be the series for you, (are we really thinking a USB would work after traversing, in its entirety, the digestive tract of a wiener dog?) but for those with a penchant for the ridiculous? Dive in.

I enjoyed the setting (Atlantic City is so GROTTY), the secondary characters (Cam!), and the dog. Did I mention the dog?

Really, the only thing I didn’t love was that Stephen seemed to be growing a conscience. I much preferred him as a reprobate. It’s so much easier to laugh at his misfortune.

A word of caution: You will be totally lost if you haven’t read the previous works, but it’s worth it.

Thanks to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for this madcap ARC.

Finlay Donovan and her live-in nanny/partner in crime Vero plan a girls’ weekend trip to Atlantic City. It’s really a cover story so they can negotiate with a loan shark, save Vero’s childhood crush Javi, and hunt down a stolen luxury car - meaning it won’t be all fun and games. When Finlay’s ex-husband and her mother insist on tagging along, she knows this weekend is about to take a turn. Things get worse when the loan shark refuses to negotiate and demands a full payment in exchange for Javi’s life. Even worse, four members of the Fairfax County police department, including hot cop Nick, have just shown up and are staying in the same motel as Finlay and Vero, making things even more complicated.

FINLAY DONOVAN ROLLS THE DICE certainly has a lot going on but it may have been the most fun yet! As per usual, Finlay and Vero find themselves in several sticky situations with limited solutions at their disposal. Never fear though because despite the nail-biting scenes, there’s always room for a good chuckle as these two partners in crime sleuth their way out despite the deck seemingly stacked against them.

The plot of this book is filled with lots of shenanigans, each more outrageous than the last. It’s all good fun though, making for an easily bingeable and entertaining read. I truly adore Finlay as the MC of this series - she’s a quick thinker, always up for any challenge, and although she’s a mess, she’s always able to scrape her shit together. She’s truly well developed and a character who is easy to root for. I adored the character and relationship developments that occur in this book as well as the snarky banter shared between Finlay and Vero. I cannot wait to see what’s next for Finlay and Vero, particularly after THAT ending!

<i>I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.</i>

This is the fourth Finlay Donovan book by Elle Cosimano and I've read them all. This is a fun series and Finlay and Vero get themselves in so much trouble and their attempts to remedy situations are hilarious. They always keep me laughing.

Description:
Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero are in sore need of a girls’ weekend away. They plan a trip to Atlantic City, but odds are―seeing as it’s actually a cover story to negotiate a deal with a dangerous loan shark, save Vero’s childhood crush Javi, and hunt down a stolen car―it won’t be all fun and games. When Finlay’s ex-husband Steven and her mother insist on tagging along too, Finlay and Vero suddenly have a few too many meddlesome passengers along for the ride.

Within hours of arriving in their seedy casino hotel, it becomes clear their rescue mission is going to be a bust. Javi’s kidnapper, Marco, refuses to negotiate, demanding payment in full in exchange for Javi’s life. But that’s not all―he insists on knowing the whereabouts of his missing nephew, Ike, who mysteriously disappeared. Unable to confess what really happened to Ike, Finlay and Vero are forced to come up with a new plan: sleuth out the location of Javi and the Aston Martin, then steal them both back.

But when they sneak into the loan shark’s suite to search for clues, they find more than they bargained for―Marco's already dead. They don’t have a clue who murdered him, only that they themselves have a very convincing motive. Then four members of the police department unexpectedly show up in town, also looking for Ike―and after Finlay's night with hot cop Nick at the police academy, he’s a little too eager to keep her close to his side.

If Finlay can juggle a jealous ex-husband, two precocious kids, her mother’s marital issues, a decomposing loan shark, and find Vero’s missing boyfriend, she might get out of Atlantic City in one piece. But will she fold under the pressure and come clean about the things she’s done, or be forced to double down?

My Thoughts:
This one has a lot of shady characters and mobsters to keep up with. The crimes are involved and danger lurks everywhere it seems. Finlay and Vero are great characters. Some of the book is silly and you have to suspend belief because let's face it - this could never happen. This book is not my favorite in the series, but it is still good. I have to say the first two books are my favorites so far. You really need to have read prior books to keep up with this as it is a continuing situation. Characters in the earlier books continue to appear in this one. There is tension and suspense as the story progresses and, of course, some dead bodies. I really like the hot cop, Nick, who is Finlay's romantic interest. I highly recommend this series to anyone reading for entertainment with a touch of crime solving.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication March 5, 2024.

March was filled with several great releases and this one is at the top of the list! Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Finlay Donovan is a girl that I want to be my bestie, and want to tag along with her in real life. Her stories have always been great and this is another great addition!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Elle Cosimano and the publisher of the eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Finlay and Vero start back where they left off from their experience at the police academy. Now they are on their way to the Atlantic City to see if they can find and rescue Javi, have a quiet girls weekend, and find a missing car. When Finlay's ex-husband, children and mom insist on tagging along too, everyone is in for an adventure.

When they get to the hotel, they find Javi's kidnapper, Marco dead and Javi no where to be found. To make matters worse, four members of their hometown police department show up, including Finlay's hot cop Nick.

Can the girls find Javi in time while keeping their own noses clean?

I am not a murder mystery reader at all, but I love the Finlay Donovan series and the fourth book did not disappoint! It is full of surprises, lots of adventure, and many good laughs. I would recommend this book and the series to others in a heartbeat.

I love Finlay and when I got this arc I was beyond excited! I love the quirkiness of all the characters, the utter bizarreness of the plots, and the hilarious hijinks that Finlay and Vero get up to!
If I had one complaint it would be that I want more Nick! I love Finlay with him and I would love to see him interacting more with her, Vero, and the kids, however I do see how that would be difficult.
I loved the fact that we got to see more of Finlay’s mom in this one! She added so much to the story and I cannot wait to find out what happens next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an eARC in exchange for my review.

This series is made for audio. 🎧🩷

Angela Dawe’s narration is superb and brings these books to life.

I can’t read this series, I have to listen to it. I just have to.

But then I run into the problem where I binge it so fast & then have to wait a year for the next one. But it’s a price I’ll gladly pay because this series is wild and fun and just goes off the rails in such a hilarious way.

This was the craziest one yet & I loved every second. Keep doing what you’re doing @ellecosimano! 🎲🩷

Special thanks to @macmillan.audio for the ALC.

First of all, I absolutely adore this entire book series! This 4th installment was a face-paced read & had the humor of the previous books. I really enjoyed the progression of Finlay & Nick's relationship, and where that leaves of at the conclusion of the book.

Overall, I definitely recommend this book series if you are looking for a mystery themed read, with a lot of humor mixed in. Solid 4.5 stars on this one!

Thank you goes out to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy that release on 3/5/2024.

Finlay and Vero are back again on another witty and wild adventure continuing right where we left them! I always look forward to reading what kind of mess they accidentally get into and this one was no different. This is an enjoyable series and I thought by the end that it was going to be wrapped up, only to leave us with yet another cliffhanger!

Scrreeeeecchhhh!

What’s that sound? It’s the sound of the hilarious ball-of-energy, writer-turned-detective Finlay Donovan flying out of town on her next adventure—a girls trip to Atlantic City where she and her nanny Vero (and a few unexpected passengers) are on the tail of a kidnapper in book four, Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice.

About the Book

Finlay “Finn” Donovan and her nanny Vero are headed to Atlantic City to rescue Vero’s boyfriend, Javi. He was abducted by a loan shark named Marco who is trying to collect a gambling debt incurred by Vero. When Vero finds a ransom note tucked under the wiper on Javi’s car, she knows this is all her fault.

Vero points out that the Aston Martin that was stolen by Marco and the mobsters more than pays off the debt. She suspects what he really wants is to know what happened to his missing nephew, Ike. Unfortunately, telling Marco what happened to Ike definitely won’t win him over and convince him to return Javi safe and sound.

To complicate everything, Finlay wants to bring her kids to Atlantic City (it is telling that she’d rather bring her children to visit a loan shark than leave them with her ex), but her ex-husband Steven demands to come with. When her mother also demands to join, the mission becomes much more difficult!

Soon after arriving at their casino hotel, it’s clear that they are in over their heads. The kidnapper, Marco, demands full payment in exchange for Javi’s life and information on the whereabouts of his missing nephew, Ike. Finlay and Vero can’t meet those demands, so they sneak into his suite to search for clues and discover Marco is aleady dead. Even worse, they clearly have a motive!

Finn is no stranger to fumbling her way through a mystery, but with a jealous ex-husband, a mother with marital issues, a dead loan shark, two kids, and a nanny with a missing boyfriend to juggle—Finlay may be in a bit too deep! Can she find a way to resolve everything and get out of Atlantic City?

Review

As some fans have noted, Finn has changed quite a bit since the series began. In the first book, Finn was a rule-follower and a single mother of two going through a contentious divorce. She fumbles her way through a series of unpredictable events, and most of what happens to her isn’t entirely her fault. Over the next two books, Finn’s life spirals out of control. Each time she finds herself in another mess, she finds her way out only to land in an even bigger one.

By book four, Finn’s story has gone off the rails and bodies have piled up everywhere. She even notes upon finding two dead bodies in the hotel suite that these are nowhere near the first dead bodies she has seen this week, let alone in her life. The reader can no longer believe that these events are the result of a misunderstanding—Finn is an active participant in her own story (and so is Vero!).

This trajectory seems to have caused a divide for some readers. Many loved the Finn from book one and wanted her to stay that way. Others are enjoying the fun that comes with Finn getting involved in increasingly tangled and bizarre situations. I consider myself in both camps. I don’t think anything can replace the story we got in book one, and equally, I’m finding the subsequent stories a lot of fun too. Suspension of disbelief is not only recommended, it’s required.

If you love a mystery but don’t want anything too dark, this series is for you! This book is the sillies one yet. A chaotic plot and quick pace make this an enjoying, bingeable read!

First off, thank you for reaching out to me with this ARC. Unfortunately, I lost interest in the storyline in book 3 and therefore will not be able to review this title. I am so sorry for the inconvenience. Please disregard the star rating below as it does not reflect my thoughts on this series.

Know that even if you've read the earlier books, you might feel a bit at sea because there's virtually no back story provided and it's been a year since the last installment. Don't even try this as a standalone. If you have been following along, this is the latest in a plot that started in book one and gets more mad cap implausible with each new addition. Finlay and her "nanny" Vero are off to Atlantic City to rescue Vero's love Javi from the gangster who took him, and her mother, kids, and ex-husband are along for the ride. And then her police officer love interest, an FBI agent, and her sister shows up. There are bodies in a bathroom, a missing Aston Martin, gambling, a strip joint and so on. To be honest, I gave up on this about 66 percent through because I was exhausted and flipped to the end to see if Javi was rescued. No spoilers. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's frantic but what kept me going were the funny parts, especially with Finlay's family. Over to others.