I always love the funny and wild situations that Vero and Finlay find themselves in and this book was no different. I can never predict the ending which makes reading this series so much fun. Vero and Finlay are such great characters and so relatable that they keep you on your toes and laughing throughout. Can't wait to see what is in store for them in the future!

Another phenomenal Finlay book.
Finlay is trying her best to keep it all together when her busybody neighbor— whose yard is now a crime scene- decides to bunk with Finlay and her nanny/partner in literal crime, Vero. After sacrificing her bedroom for the greater good, Finlay thinks she’s off the hook until the investigation into the body found in Mrs. Haggerty’s yard leads to Finlay’s ex husband.

I can’t get enough of this series. Each book is new and fresh with hilarious Finlay antics and crime solving aplomb.

I fell in love with the Finlay Donovan series and the latest installment did not disappoint. Lighthearted, fun, lol, mystery with a little bit of romance. I tend to read heavy books and this series has been a nice palate cleanser.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC read.

Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud thriller that delivers both humor and heart in equal measure. This book continues the story of Finlay Donovan, a struggling writer and accidental detective, as she finds herself entangled in a web of increasingly absurd and dangerous situations.

What makes this book stand out is its perfect blend of humor and suspense. Cosimano's writing shines with sharp wit and brilliant comedic timing. Finlay, the book's protagonist, is endearing in her awkwardness, making her easy to root for even when she makes questionable decisions. Her interactions with her quirky cast of characters, including her best friend Vero and a growing list of unpredictable associates, provide moments of levity amid the high stakes and danger.

Yay, no more mob bosses and Mrs. Haggerty gets to shine.

Overall: 4
Spice: 1.5 - a bit more than kissing and then closed door.

Finlay & Vero are exhausted from the adventures of the last four months, but they have to step in to help when a body is discovered in Mrs. Haggerty's backyard. She moves into Finlay's home, which gives Finlay and Vero a front row seat to watch her and her mysterious group of women in the neighborhood.

I was happy to see the mob storyline mostly wrapped up and Finlay was finally considering coming clean with "hot cop." Mrs. Haggerty's role in this is very fun and thought provoking. Vero is awesome as usual and Sylvia (the agent) has a top notch scene at the police station. Cosimano does an excellent job with this series and I love how the first chapter of each book is always extra hilarious and relatable to parents. This mystery kept me guessing and I look forward to the next one.

I enjoyed the latest installment of Finlay Donovan’s shenanigans! I especially enjoyed the focus on Mrs Haggerty & her book club. I also enjoyed more of Detective Nick, and his growing relationship with Finlay. It ended with quite a cliffhanger, so I’m looking forward to the next one!

Thanks to Minotaur and NetGalley for the advanced e-copy to read and review!

This was probably my favorite in the series so far. I love all of our established side characters and I love that we get to spend more time with them. They make the world feel very complete in a way I was missing in the first few books.

This one also felt refreshing (plot-wise) compared to the last few, feeling more like a new stand-alone mystery to jump into than a continuation of previous plots like the first few in the series.

I would say this could not be considered a stand-alone, and would not suggest reading it before the others in the series.

I love how every book in this series has just gotten better, and I’m looking forward to where the series will go from here!

This was possibly my favorite in the series! Just beginning her relationship with Nick, Finlay now has a new houseguest, Mrs. Haggerty, fresh off being arrested for finding a body in her backyard. Finlay and Vero must now navigate Mrs. Haggerty and her pickiness, their blossoming relationships, hiding their own investigation into Mrs. Haggerty and the murder, and Mrs. Haggerty's nosiness into their business!

I love this series but Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave was not my favorite. I didn’t hate it, but I wasn’t as invested and drawn to it like the others in the series.

It felt more like a filler and was slower paced than the previous books. It picked up more in the second half but there wasn’t as much adventure. While still funny, something was missing.

I enjoyed getting to know Mrs. Haggarty as more than just a busybody neighbor.

You definitely should read in order as this book starts up where Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice ended.

I’m excited to see what adventures are in store for Finlay and Vero in the future!

I just love these this series. The epitome of easy reads! Funny, entertaining, silly, and great characters.

On one hand, I'm glad we've moved on to a new storyline. On the other hand, I'm also getting really tired of Finlay's turtle paced character growth, and the quantity of characters I don't actually like in the story. Cosimano still creates a really funny and entertaining mystery; I just think that I'm reaching the end of my patience for her characters. Will I read the next book? Probably, I'm too invested in Vero not to. But will I continue after that? Probably not. I'd rather spend my time reading something I enjoy more. I know I appear to be in the minority here when it comes to my distaste for all of the love interests, kids, etc. though, so if you love them, you'll probably really enjoy this.

4.8🌟 rounded ⬆️

I cannot emphasize enough how much I adore this series! Every book is an absolute blast, and I always find myself physically reacting whether it’s gasping out loud at the twists or laughing at the inevitable hilarity that unfolds.

In this installment, we follow Finley as she stumbles into yet another wild predicament this time, with a dead body turning up in her neighbor’s yard. And finally, we get to unravel Ms. Haggerty’s backstory! I have to admit, I wasn’t her biggest fan in the previous books, but after this one… I’ve completely changed my mind and I love her character arc

One of my favorite parts of this book was seeing Finlay finally open up to the people who love her most. It felt like such a meaningful moment in her journey. The plot was thoroughly entertaining, and I really hope we get to see more of this powerhouse team of women in future books.

That said, I have some words about that ending. What do you mean, my girl Vero?! Now I’m stuck waiting for the next book, and I just know it’s going to haunt me.

Overall, Elle nailed it again. Book five was fantastic, and she’s firmly cemented herself as an auto-buy author for me. Her writing is sharp, hilarious, and exactly what I want in a book. I can't wait for more!


*Huge thanks to St.Martins Press & Netgalley for the Arc*💌

I AM THE BIGGEST FAN OF THIS SERIES AND EVERYTHING IN THIS SERIES IS A 4 STAR AND ABOVE.
If you like humorous mystery cozy ish vibes then this series is for you!

Finlay is the best series, and I look forward to each and every installment of it. I was so glad to get an ARC of the newest one! This one was so good, and the ending was chef's kiss.

Finlay Donovan is at it again, and this story was just as entertaining as the previous books. I appreciate that even when I can’t remember what hijinks Vero and Finlay last got into, I can pick up the newest book and immediately be immersed and entertained. I caught myself laughing multiple times and really enjoyed the mystery at the heart of this one.

Another good book in the Finlay series. I really love Finlay and the other characters but this book wasn't my favorite. It felt less developed and a little rushed. I think if I didn't already love the characters I wouldnt have liked it. There was less danger and less hilarity than normal.

This book is possibly the most convoluted in the series - so far. I loved it. Finlay's next door neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, is staying with Finlay because a body was found buried in her backyard and the police are still doing their investigation in the house.

Finlay tried her best to dissuade her from staying, but ended up sleeping on the sofa while Mrs. Haggarty slept in her room. Finlay and Vera soon discovered that the lady had some unusual habits when they found her leaving the house at midnight. They followed her and discovered that she was leaving notes at some of the neighbor's houses.

Then Finlay's ex-husband was arrested for murder. It turned out that his name was on a receipt for the landscaping done at the Haggarty's house. There is much, much more to this story. Mrs. Haggarty is a member of a close-knit group of women who have something in common: abusive husbands.

I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher St. Martin's Press, and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

When Finlay's neighbor is arrested after a dead body is found in her backyard, Finlay and Vero think they may finally be rid of the nosy Mrs. Haggerty. Unfortunately, after only a few days new evidence is uncovered and Mrs. Haggerty ends up released from jail... and moves in with Finlay. Even worse than their new houseguest is that Finaly's ex-husband seems to be the new prime suspect. She may hate him, but he's still the father of her children, and determined to figure out who the true culprit is and set him free.

Wow! I've been a fan of this series since the very first page of the very first book, but I have to say, book five really breathed new life into the series. I had enjoyed the last two books, but hadn't been obsessed with them, and this one made me excited again. It's clever and interesting, and for once, it's not really Finlay who is in trouble (so I had less anxiety). We also got more progress on her love life, which is always messy and fascinating. It makes me super intrigued for what's to come next.

Thanks to Minotaur for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

Finlay Donovan is back and better than ever...

The Saga continues with "Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave" . As always Elle Cosimano keeps us delightfully entertained while delivering giggle after endless giggle . The chaotic adventures give the reader a perfect blend of humor, suspense, and sheer mayhem.
Key Strengths:

Cosimano's signature wit is in full force, with laugh-out-loud moments that perfectly balance the suspense.

Easy 5 stars

Check out this teaser :

Finlay Donovan may have skeletons in her closet . . . but at least there's not a body in her backyard.

Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with Finlay’s elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, the community busybody and president of the neighborhood watch. But when a dead body is discovered in her backyard, Mrs. Haggerty needs their help. At first a suspect, Mrs. Haggerty is cleared by the police, but her house remains an active crime scene. She has nowhere to go . . . except Finlay’s house, right across the street.

Finlay and Vero have no interest in getting involved in another murder case—or sacrificing either of their bedrooms. After all, they’ve dealt with enough murders over the last four months to last a lifetime and they both would much rather share their beds with someone else.

When the focus of the investigation widens to include Finlay’s ex-husband, Steven, though, Finlay and Vero are left with little choice but to get closer to Mrs. Haggerty and uncover her secrets . . . before the police start digging up theirs. But who will solve the mystery first?

YAY! Elle Cosimano keeps killing it with this series. I can't imagine my year without a Finlay Donovan (and Vero) book.
Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is the 5th installment in this series and it felt so fresh. This series is always a fun, witty roller coaster and I know that when I pick up one of these books, I will fly through it.
This book brought us back to Finlay's neighbourhood and made things feel a bit more 'at home' compared to the previous chaos (in a good way). I enjoyed that we got to explore the characters close to Finlay a bit more. I've always been interested by Mrs. Haggerty so having her move in was hilarious! And I especially loved that we got to see more between Nick and Finlay as I have loved watching their relationship grow in the unusual circumstances. Cosimano is a master at balancing murder mystery with romance and laughs.
I am (im)patiently waiting for what is next!
Thank you St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the copy through NetGalley!