I was so glad when I heard this series was getting another book and Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave did not disappoint! I loved being back will all of the characters I’ve grown to know and love and following along with their hijinks. As always, the book is funny, chaotic, and has a good mystery to follow along with. The character development of the main characters continues, and I enjoyed getting to know Mrs. H a little better, too. If you’ve enjoyed the other books in this series you definitely need to pick this one up when it comes out.

Could not put this down! What a fun mystery told in a fun, lighthearted way. You won’t be disappointed when you pick this one up!

I adore this series so much! Each book is a wonderful adventure and I an glues to the pages every time. Finlay has grown so much through the series! Very is a crack up every time. We all need a Vero in our lives to help us get through it. Also I appreciate that the issues her and Nick had through this one were realistic as far as miscommunications and no-communication. It wasn't something that was made up and just tossed into the story. I cannot wait to purchase a physical copy of this book when it becomes available. Thank you for letting me read it!

I always have so much fun with the mess that Finley and Vero get themselves into. It was hilarious them having to living with Mrs. Haggerty! Findlay’s ex-husband gets arrested for the murder of someone found across the street, and Finlay will do anything to prove he didn’t do it. But of course you know Steven has lots of secrets. If you’ve been reading this series you’ll know they just get into one thing after another. And the situations they find they find themselves in are ones you’d definitely not want to be in. With each book we get more side characters that add to the craziness. What i really liked about this one was you get to see more into Findlay and Nicks relationship. The realness that has to start coming out. That freaked cliff hanger at the end! I can not wait to get my hands on the next one to see how that ends up!
3.5⭐️

Thank you to Minotour Books and Netgalley for my Gifted copy.

4.25 stars out of 5

I thought this was a great mystery book and I loved the humor that was thrown in. I immediately was drawn into the book and could not put it down. I have not read the other books in the series but I feel it could be read as a standalone. With that said, there were some missing pieces in the book so I would recommend reading the first books in the series to get a better idea of who is who and what happened previously. I'm putting those on the top of my list to read. I really loved all the characters especially Mrs. Haggerty, she was hilarious! Overall, this book had me laughing from start to finish and I cannot wait for the next book in the series to come out. Highly recommend!

In Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, Finlay's elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, is a person of interested in a crime. A dead body was found in her yard and it looks like it had been there for some time. After some investigating, Mrs. Haggerty was released from custody but has no where to go since her house is an active crime scene. She ends up staying across the street with Finlay, Vero the nanny, and Finlay's children. In a turn of events, Finlay's ex-husband was named a person of interest in the crime but Finlay thinks otherwise. She and Vero put on their detective gear to find out the true culprit but unearth something more sinister.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am a huge fan of the Finlay Donovan series as a whole. They are always entertaining, funny, and a solid mystery. However this one fell a bit flat to me. I didn’t think the crime/mystery was as interesting as past books and the ending was a little predictable. That being said, there were still a lot of funny moments and it was a quick read. I’d still recommend it for anyone who is a fan of this series and likes Finlay as a character!

Missed the Finlay x Vero dynamic duo and glad they are back at it! I'm really going to miss when this series is over, but it's truly such a fun series. I have to say, the last one was probably my least favorite of the series, but I'm glad this one was really good!

I enjoyed this book a lot, it felt more realistic than a couple of the previous ones, more likeable "villains" so to speak. I was worried at first about her potrait of her elderly neighbor, felt too stereotypical but she later redeemed herself with the character. finlay and vero, again get caught in many midadventures as they try to clear her ex husband of a murder charge. The series overall is a fun read. It can be read as a stand alone as well.

I know that these have a huge following and I haven't had a chance to read the others but this one was SO GOOD! They are def all higher on my TBR now. Quick and fun read. Felt like I was watching tv as I read. Loved it.

Guys. I love these books. If you want to take a break and read a book that will guarantee a smile on your face & make you giggle all the time, start this series. This is book 5 and just like all the other books it captivated me from the beginning. Finlay is a mom of two young children and she definitely doesn’t have it together, her life is a mess. Finlay and her kids nanny Vero are prone to getting into trouble, they always find themselves mixed up in criminal activity. In this book, Finlay sleazy ex-husband gets framed for murder and you follow Vero and Finlay trying to prove he didn’t do it. If you are looking for a book with good laughs, a little bit of crime, a romance with a hot detective or lawyer, this series is for you. The side characters are hilarious in these books and always make me laugh with how crazy they are. Absolutely STAN Elle Cosimanos writing and books. This book comes out in March so you have plenty of time to get caught up in the series 💗

So excited to have been chosen to read an Arc of this book thanks NetGallery.

I think this was my favorite book yet! Found myself laughing a lot in this book compared to the others! Definitely a must read in 2025!!!

Delightful, a romp. There was much less Steven in this book, which I was glad of, and more Mrs. Haggerty and her son Brandon. Mrs. Haggerty was a funny, heartwarming character (despite her nefarious actions) that reminded me of Vera Wong. This is a fast-paced page turner with many small twists and minor side plots that do not distract from the main plot. Hints of Desperate Housewives as well.

I really enjoyed this fifth novel in the comedic mystery series (which you are going to want to read in order). Once again, Finlay and her nanny/accountant, the fiery and fun Vero, find themselves trying to solve a murder. This time, when their cantankerous neighbor Mrs. Haggerty is discovered to have a dead body in her yard, they agree to let her stay for the weekend since her house is an active crime scene. When Finlay’s husband becomes the main suspect, crime/romance writer Finlay gets to work.

This is so fun, and I love all the main characters, including Finlay’s two rambunctious children.

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which RELEASES MARCH 4, 2025.

This was a fun installment to the Finley Donovan series. I think it was a little less action packed that some of the past books, but I like that a lot of things seemed to be wrapped up in this book. I actually thought this might be the last one until the epilogue… As always Finley and Vero find themselves in crazy situations on the wrong side of the law and so in that aspect it carried on the theme and stories from the previous books. This was a light and quick read! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Release date 3/4/2025. I really enjoyed this one! After 2 lackluster books in the series, I felt this one brought back the banter and storylines I loved in the first 2 books. Things seem calm overall for Finlay. That is until a body is discovered in her busybody neighbor, Mrs. Haggertys yard. With nowhere to go when she is released from the cops she comes to stay with Finlay and Vero for a few days. Steven becomes involved in the murder, and Finlay and Vero are on the case to make sure Steven is set free and their past isn’t implicated. This was back to the Finlay I love, it felt more believable and less completely to the extreme. I enjoyed this one, and felt the friendship and love of her and Vero was back at the forefront. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

The first book in the Finlay Donovan series was the most fun I'd had reading a book in a while. And now here we are on book five, and I'm still not tired of these characters and their storylines.

While the first book remains my favorite, this installment was right up there in readability. I flew through it, and I already can't wait for what comes next in book six.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Book 5, Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave was decent. It fell a bit short of all the prior books. This one just didn't have the same pizazz . One thing that I really loved about the prior books was all the humor. This one had humor, but I guess I just didn't connect with like the others.

This story picks up where we left off in the prior books with the aftermath of what happened at Mrs Haggarty's house. We see all our prior main characters. It looks like this one ends with a book 6, so stay tuned!! I did enjoy the backstory with Mrs. Haggarty after she gets out of jail and her stay with Finlay.

I'd like to thank netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Expected publication March, 4 2025.

Thank you so much to Minotaur Books & NetGalley for my ARC! I never want this series to end. I love every character so much and love all the work that Elle Cosimano put into their development. I laugh out loud constantly - especially with the banter between Finlay and Vero. Finlay and Steven's kiddos bring constant validation to parents and the presence of Mrs. Haggerty in this round of fun added so much. Mystery upon mystery, mishap upon mishap, the action never stops. I love that Nick and Finlay's relationship continues to evolve alongside the questions that grow between them as Finlay finds herself in yet another web of secrets. RUN - this one comes out March 4th and should definitely be high on your reading list.

Elle Cosimano writes the very best first chapters! It’s laugh out loud funny and sucks you right back into the hilarious world of Finlay and Vero. I look forward to every new book in this series and Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave did not disappoint.

Ah Finlay Donovan, such a fun cozy mystery series. I was so excited to get approved for an ARC of this one. This series is one I have read since the start, and greatly enjoyed all of them. I love the antics that Finlay and Vero get up to. In this one I enjoyed getting a little more of Nick and Mrs. Haggerty. I did feel like while this book hooked me right from the start, it was missing something that the others in the series had. In the prior books, Finaly and Vero have been directly involved in chaos, but that really wasn’t the case here. In this rendition, they are trying to help solve the mystery, though it doesn’t necessarily affect them (except Mrs. Haggerty is staying at the house). It was just an adjustment, and while I didn’t hate it, it lacked a little something that the others in the series had for me. I did appreciate the role that Steven played, and I liked his character development. Despite what he did to Finlay I am always happy to read about the relationship he and Finlay still have despite it all.

I’m excited to see where the next book goes, and to get more of Nick and Finaly’s relationship.