So many thoughts about this fourth installment in the Finlay Donovan series. What I loved: the characters. I adore Finlay and Vera. I love their friendship, how they interact, and how their characters have grown throughout the series. I struggled with the plot and the storyline. It felt like a tornado and was just plain bananas. Did I feel compelled to keep reading? 100%. But goodness, the plot pieces were blowing all around, often making the story hard to follow.

Quick recap without spoilers:
Finlay Donovan is an author writing about a fictitious female villain and her cop lover. What Finlay’s cop boyfriend doesn’t know is that she often includes nuggets of truth in her works of fiction, and she has committed more than one felony. When Vera, Finlay’s partner-in-crime, discovers a childhood friend has been kidnapped, the women head to Atlantic City for his rescue. On their way out, they accidentally agree to take Finlay’s mother, her ex-husband, and her children. Craziness, hilarity, and non-stop action ensue.

Elle Cosimano has brought Finlay Donovan back to us again. This time she and her crazy peeps travel to Atlantic City, NJ for a few mad capers. The usual funny shenanigans happen throughout this story while Finlay and Vero are trying to track down the bad guys. A good part of the story is so outrageously unbelievable, more than in the past books. It was a fun read all told and I really like the all of the characters that we keep getting to visit in these books.

Is this series a bit far-fetched? yeah, a bit, but they have been so funny and enjoyable to read. However, this installation kind of lost me in the plot and happenings.

A lot of this book didn't feel like it flowed well, it was scattered a bit all over. There were a lot characters to keep up with in the book, and I only found that it started to be cohesive when we got to the resolution. It didn't hold my interest the way that I had hoped it would, and to be honest, I'm not sure if I'll continue with the series. The first few were a blast though!

Following a disastrous week at the police academy searching out corruption within the force and where things also got a little heated (in more ways than one) a trip to Atlantic City is just what Finlay and Vero need to get away. Unfortunately, it's less for rest and relaxation and more to find track down Vero's childhood crush, Javi, who was last seen being carted away in the trunk of Finlay's criminally-gifted Aston Martin. It's not just by chance that Atlantic City is where they're headed, moreso that the loan shark Vero owes money to is calling all debts paid and using Javi and the car as collateral.

Finlay and Vero are becoming pros at dealing with the criminal underground but with the kids, Finlay's mother and her ex husband in tow it might be bordering on too much. And when the loan shark is found dead and Nick and his cohorts at the police show up after an anonymous tip is received about an ongoing case and it'll take a lucky roll of the dice to get Finlay out of this one.

I continue to marvel at how well Elle Cosimano weaves all the twists and turns of all the things that Finlay and Vero get up to that, in the end, is very cohesive. It seems so difficult because these books always feel so chaotic to me. Finlay and Vero are running from one thing to the next getting into one form of trouble or another and hiding it from most everyone around them. To be honest, they shouldn't have been able to weave around all the law enforcement, but as a testament to Elle Cosimano's writing, and to how much I like Finlay and Vero, it all feels so plausible.

I like that this time around we got the inclusion of Finlay's mother a bit more. I like Finlay having another female character outside of Vero that she can count on, and maybe be a little more open with since she can't really do that with her sister Georgia due to her sister's involvement with the police.

Also, for better or worse, I was ok with Stephen tagging along just because he actually got the tables turned on him a bit in the fact that during this "girls weekend away" he had to be the one taking care of the kids and seeing him flustered with the job was very enjoyable. In all seriousness, though, we understand from the first book that there's still a lot of baggage left between Finlay and Stephen. And seeing her get to unload some of that so she can move on with Nick is great.

I was very happy when Nick and Finlay finally "went there" in the previous book. I like what they're building together. Of course, we can only go so far in talking about their relationship before all the secrets Finlay is keeping come into the picture. It's difficult to see how things could work out considering everything that Finlay is hiding but, like the story as a whole, I trust Elle Cosimano to somehow figure it out. I'm rooting for these two.

This has become one of my favorite series and I look forward to each release. Without giving anything away, I will say that this book does more in tying up loose threads than the previous two books in the series. I had started to believe that the series was winding down, and I guess that could still be a possibility, but Elle Cosimano has left just enough open to be able to come back and tug on a thread for another round of Finlay and Vero hijinks.

This is definitely my least favourite book in the Finlay Donovan series. The first 2 books were fast paced and I was invested in the characters and what was going to happen next. The 3rd book was ehhh… and this one just got worse (unfortunately). As the series has gone on I have found a lot of the events far fetched and unbelievable.

I love the characters in this series yet found myself rolling my eyes like “how could more happen” multiple times throughout this book in particular. With the way this book ended, I am assuming there will be a 5th book… but I kind of wished this was the end of the line for these characters. I find it hard not to finish a series (especially once I’m 4 books in) so we’ll see how I’m feeling when the 5th comes out, but am feeling disappointed Finlay & Vero’s story didn’t wrap up.

Thank you so much Netgalley, Macmillan Audio & St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read / listen to this ARC.

Finlay Donovan does it again! In her latest addition to the Finlay Donovan series, Elle Cosimano takes us on a girls' weekend getaway. The getaway, however, is a cover story for navigating a deal with a loan shark and tracking down a stolen car. Full of humor, mystery, and girl power, I highly recommend you take a gamble and roll the dice on this one! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Picking up right where the last book left off, Finlay and Vero are on their way to Atlantic City for a rescue mission.. And of course, things begin to go wrong with their plan immediately when Finlay's ex and her mom decide to go to Atlantic City with them. Cue a road trip, loan shark, dead bodies, a corrupt ex-cop, and a whole lot of shenanigans that kept me entertained and glued to the page from beginning to end!

This was a fun and fast-paced read. Anything that could go wrong, does, and Finaly and Vero skate by getting caught by the skin of their teeth. I can't tell you how many times I laughed out loud, especially anytime Kevin Bacon was mentioned. I love the characters and the relationship Finlay has with Nick, and while the plot of this series gets more outlandish with every book, it's perfect for me, and I know I can count on having a great time reading it and lots of laughs along with the tense near-death moments.

With the little snippet we get about what the next book could be about, I can't tell you how excited I am to see how Finlay and Vero are going to cause all the trouble and solve the crime.

I was so excited to jump back into another adventure in Finlay’s crazy life. Book 4 in this hilarious and fast paced series did not disappoint! Finlay and Vero are once again swept into the world of organized crime involuntarily and this time the shenanigans have them running all over Atlantic City trying to piece together a who done it involving two bodies in a hotel room, locating a stolen vehicle and an overweight weiner dog name Kevin Bacon. This latest installment is fast paced and hilarious. I laughed the whole way to the end and am now anxiously awaiting for book 5.

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

This is book four of a series, but you can find enjoyment without reading the others. However, I recommend starting at the beginning to get the full backstory. This is the perfect book when you are looking for pure fun and disbelieving hilarity! We have our normal ragtag characters and this time a kidnapping, road trip and chaos ensues! Finlay and Vero are your modern-day Lucy and Ethel. Where there is trouble you will find these two...I'm glad we got to see more of Javi in this book and finally Vero's wall crumbling. And Nick and Finlay getting some alone time despite kids, ex-husband, and mother!

Another silly but entertaining installment! Looking forward to seeing what crazy will come about next time...

4 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finlay Donovan Rolls The Dice
By: Elle Cosimano
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pub Date: 3/5/24

Finlay and Vero are back! This book picks up right where book three ended. After receiving a ransom note they are on a mission to save Vero’s boyfriend Javi and clear their names. Under the guise of a girls trip they head to Atlantic City with the kids, Finlay’s mom and ex-husband. Things get way more complicated when 4 members of the police department including Nick Finlay’s boyfriend and sister Lucy arrive with Lucy’s new girlfriend, an FBI agent. As the bodies begin to pile up, can they get Javi back and keep Nick and the police in the dark?
Like all the previous books in this series, it’s fast paced, action packed, and very entertaining. I’ll be here waiting for book 5 to see what on earth Mrs. Haggerty has done.

This is the energy I was missing in the last couple installments of Finlay’s crazy double life!!

In this 4th novel we are plopped right back in the story after the cliffhanger in book 3. But this time we are on a road trip and of course the whole gang ends up tagging along(yes, even Steven). Everything that hooked me in book 1(crazy convoluted plots and explosive action scenes) makes an appearance here. Add to that a nice setting change and you have an entertaining read!

I thoroughly enjoyed the craziness of the plot mixed in with the cute moments with Finlay’s kids. I love seeing the kids age subtly with each book.

These books are silly but in a very palatable way and this one also dealt with some interesting topics like: imposter syndrome and complacency in marriage.

It took a chapter or 2 for me to get back in the setting and to remember all of the intricacies of the crimes, but when I got back in it I was IN IT!

And the cliffhanger at the end has me wanting book 5.

Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC provided through NetGalley!

disclosure: thank you to St Martin's/Minotaur Influencer Program for the ebook via NetGalley and to MacMillan for the audiobook review copy on netgalley.

Thank you St Martin's for Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice from Elle Cosimano, so wonderfully narrated once again by Angela Dawe in audiobook from MacMillan (I can't imagine listening to another performer for this series!). I enjoy this series so much and really love it on audio, Cosimano has a way of always making me laugh with the slightly absurd situations Finlay and Vero find themselves in but also I laugh with the witty snarky commentary that underlies their relationship, how they see their lives and how they see the chaos around them... that might be a comment on how I approach my own life but it's why I love these books. I mean the whole thing with the "diner" scene... and a lot of other moments too. The presence of Finlay's mother was really a nice added note of humor for me throughout.

What I also like is that these books have some heart, often what is driving Finlay and Vero is a sense of care for someone else, a desire to right a wrong, and maybe to outsmart the "bad guys". Cosimano wants the characters to win not just because they happen to be in the right place right time or lucky but because they are resourceful, quick witted, and indefatigable. Finlay has her boyfriend and her ex and a lot of personal life stuff but it never defines her and I really like that at the end of the day those are secondary notes to who she is in these books.

A fun series, perfect road trip audiobook, and a fun series that makes me laugh, doesn't take itself too seriously, and brings in the joy of a smart feisty female friendship!

(rounded up from 2.5)

The first Finlay Donovan book was such a treat, crazy and funny, with a great premise. I gave it four stars. Books 2 and 3 were not as good, more like 3.5 stars. Sadly, this one, however, is the end of the road for me with this series. The story has just gotten too silly and too over-the-top and literally unbelievable. (This series has been compared to Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series and I agree. I also stopped reading those after about 15 books. If you love those books, definitely try this series.)

You really need to read this series in order. FD Rolls The Dice picks up right where book 3, FD Jumps The Gun, leaves off. The central cast of characters hasn’t changed, although the locale has. This time, everyone (and I mean everyone!) has driven from Virginia to Atlantic City, New Jersey in search of a missing Aston Martin and a missing Javi. The publisher’s blurb gives away too much, as is often the case, so I won’t repeat any of that here.

The Prologue had me laughing out loud, as the group had to pull over to the side of the highway, to try to get back little Zach’s blankie, which somehow flew out the car window. The scene brought me back to the days when our boys were little! That, however, was one of the high points of the book for me.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient and how I got through the story so quickly. The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Angela Dawe, who did a variety of male and female voices and accents.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for this arc! My opinions are my own.

The fourth Finlay Donovan starts immediately back where we were left off in book three with Finlay and Vero heading to Atlantic City in search of Javi and Finlay’s Aston Martin. Of course, in true Finlay Donovan style, they find themselves in some rather unfortunate situations with new enemies at their feet and old ones around the corner.

When I started the Finlay Donovan series last year, I would have never guessed being here a year later, reading book four of the series. Mystery/Thrillers are not my normal genre, but this series has changed that. It has a great sense of humor and the best characters. Vero and Finlay are the prime example of what female friendship should look like in books. The mystery and shenanigans that happen are great, but it’s the found family that Finlay and Vero have that carries the entire series. I love the growing romance between Finlay and Nick. I also love the blooming romance between Vero and Javi. Javi has become a new favorite character and makes a great addition to an already excellent cast.
I know for some this series feels like it’s just repeating the same story over and over again with nothing new added, but I don’t mind it. As long as all my favorite characters are in it, I know I will have a good time with it no matter the repeating storylines.

I highly recommend this installment of Finlay Donovan and the rest of the series!

I feel this book had a lot of potential to be fun, but as part of a series, I think it went back to previous books which made it hard to follow at times. I thought the characters were funny, but done of the situations they got into were a little far fetched. I liked Finlay and Nick, but felt sorry for his since Finlay was always lying.

Book 4 in the series also leaves off with cliffhanger (presuming more to come!). Again, it gets good the last 20%. And, while I’m happy Nick is in the picture, it’s not enough! And with the ending of some characters, makes me wonder where the series is going?

I always look forward to new adventures of Finlay and Vero! This latest installment had all the fun and banter I love with them.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced release of Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice. Finlay and Vero end up on a trip to Las Vegas with Finaly’s mom, kids, and ex-husband. The girls weekend turned into a crazy fiasco. There was a ransom note and Javi was being held hostage. This story kinds off takes off and wraps up the third story. After arriving in Vegas, Finlay’s sister, her boyfriend, and his corrupt partner arrived. Vero and Finlay were up to their old shenanigans and craziness. They came together to take down the Russian mob, free Javi, and just save the day.

3.5 stars. The series and storyline is starting to get repatitive.

I have been a big fan of the Finlay Donovan series. Yes, the stories are a bit far-fetched, but they have been so funny and enjoyable to read. However, the fourth one in the series was a bit of a stretch for me. This time, Finlay and the entire gang head to Atlantic City to try and track down a car, Vero's boyfriend, and a mob boss.
The majority of this book seemed quite scattered. There were way too many characters crammed into the book, and I only found that it started to flow when we got to the resolution. It didn't hold my interest the way that I had hoped it would, and to be honest, I'm not sure if I'll continue with the series. The first few were a blast though!

I rounded up from 3.5.

The latest Finlay Donovan installment is a lot. More and more threads are being added to the plot and cast of characters. Elle Cosimano is inches away from jumping the shark but manages to reign it in just enough. Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice has all the things we love about our accidental mafia adjacent mama: humor, genuine friendship with Vero (#goals), highly relatable parenting moments (albeit in entirely unrelatable situations), high risk shenanigans, plus the Hot Detective. That said, the Finlay series has lost a lot of the charm of the first and second books. While it's infinitely better than the third book, the story is getting to hectic and too convoluted.

ARC provided, opinion 100% mine- thank you NetGalley.