This is one of my favorites book series. I adore Finlay and Vero, and these books never fail to put a smile on my face!

FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE was another fast-paced, hilarious mystery filled with dysfunction 🤪

Finlay and Vero are back with their antics and banter 💙

I loved how this story centered around Mrs. Haggerty, Finlay’s elderly neighbor who is a busybody. She was extremely amusing and the way she inserted herself in Finlay’s life was too good 😂

FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE is definitely up there as one of my favorite books in this series 🙌

I’m SO excited to meet @ellecosimano this weekend at @bhbkenosha! She’ll be in conversation with another favorite author, @hannahmorrisseywriter 💙

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is another wild, fun ride in the Finlay Donovan series! This time, Finlay and her chaotic crew are back with more small-town secrets, amateur sleuthing, and hilarious antics. The mystery kept me hooked, and the perfect blend of charm and chaos made this a really enjoyable read. I listened to the audiobook while reading along on my Kindle, and it was such an immersive experience!

Tropes you’ll find include:
Amateur sleuth
Small town secrets
Mystery
Wild antics

I gave Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave 4 stars because it’s a super fun, fast-paced mystery that’ll keep you on your toes. If you love quirky mysteries with heart, this one’s a must-read!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for providing an e-ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review!

In this installment of the Finlay Donovan series, readers get a closer glimpse of Finlay's and Vero’s nosy, elderly neighbor, Mrs.Haggerty following the discovery of a dead body in her backyard. Is Mrs. Haggerty being framed for murder or is she hiding something sinister??? It will be up to the dynamic duo to solve the mystery and quickly get Mrs. Haggerty out of their house!

Similar to its predecessors, I enjoyed this novel for the dialogue between Finlay and Vero and all their shenanigans, of course! This time around, though, readers also get to see Finlay in a more emotionally vulnerable state that helps deepen the bond she has with Detective Nick - everyone's favorite "hot cop." I also appreciated seeing a different side to Mrs. Haggerty who has, thus far, been portrayed largely as a nuisance. She is certainly rough around the edges but she appears to possess some softness too alongside secrets...

While I thought there were several funny and heartfelt moments throughout this story, I did feel feel the overall plot was a bit underwhelming and perhaps, tame compared to Book 4. Considering the fact that this one also ends on a cliffhanger, I am hopeful of seeing more of the charm and excitement observed in prior Finlay and Vero adventures once again in Book 6!

3.5 stars!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for the digital ARC!

I will always love a Finlay Donovan story and this one was no different. Some of my favorite characters to see and while the plot can be very stressful, reading these books feels like a warm hug. Excited to see more from this story!

FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE
Elle Cosimano

The Finlay Donovan series really could go anywhere to infinity and beyond. But to keep things fresh, it may be time to change things up or move on from the series.

FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE is the fifth installment in the series. It involves a nosy neighbor, a love interest, and of course a murder mystery. It has everything you could want in a cozy mystery.



This series is one of my favorites. FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT opened the door to cozy reads for me. I realized I liked the genre, and it led me to explores other cozy titles.

It feels like sitting in a well-worn chair. The characters feel like friends and their adversaries, mine. It reminds me of the Evanovich and Grafton series, both of which I love. And if it can invigorate itself, it could have either of those series’ success and longevity.

It is a series I recommend all the time, and I will continue to do so.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies

FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE…⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Finlay Donovan series is one that always makes me laugh, and this newest addition continues that trend for me. This was a cute and funny mystery, with Finlay and Vero (nanny turned friend and partner in crime) finding themselves in awkward and slightly nerve-wracking situations again, in order to solve a crime.

But this time, it’s solving the case of why a dead body is found in her grumpy elderly neighbor Mrs. Haggerty’s backyard. When Mrs. Haggerty moves in with Finlay and Vero, and Finlay’s ex-husband is detained as one of the suspects and claims his innocence, they set off to find the real killer. But in doing so, they have to carefully navigate around their murky and not-so-innocent past, so that they don’t become the target of a new investigation. And as they follow a trail of clues, Finlay’s relationship with Nick, a detective who knows she has secrets of her own, begins to deepen. But how much can she share of her past with him? And can they have a future together in spite of it all?

I enjoyed this newest addition to the series! There were a lot of funny moments and quotes - I found myself laughing at some of the situations in the book. I loved how Cam and Mrs. Haggerty are featured more in this book, and their interactions with Finlay and Vero bring more depth to both of their characters. I also love Finlay and Nick, and how their relationship is progressing. One of the biggest concerns I had was their ability to be honest with each other - and that issue is a focus of this book.

As always, the book ends with a cliffhanger and I’ll definitely be reading the next book to see what happens next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this gifted eARC, in exchange for my honest review.

Cam has become the unexpected favorite of mine in this book, and it was so fun to develop his character a little more! While I was skeptical of this story focusing so much on Mrs. Haggerty, I ended up enjoying this book too. It felt more connected to the core story than I’d originally anticipated, even if it was still sort of a new spinoff. I’ve really enjoyed this series, and I’m so excited to see it hopefully continue to grow!

The latest (and hopefully not last) book of the Finlay Donovan series is another wild ride!

What I love about this series is Finlay and Vero’s unexpected friendship. Finlay and Vero have gone through it! They’ve accidentally killed bad guys, gotten caught up with the Russian mob, committed some petty crimes all while having each other’s back. Their friendship is the glue to the story and that’s my favourite part always!

Mrs Haggerty was a great addition to the story. I really liked how we got to know her a little bit more and her interactions with Finlay’s kids was super cute. She wasn’t just the mean lady across the street who was always watching. It was great to see her character evolve into something more. Plus her friendship with Cam was perfect!

I also loved seeing Finlay and Nick grow closer while she learned to trust him. Even though there’s always a lot going on, there’s always time for a little love story. While this book wasn’t as action packed as the previous ones, it was an entertaining read.

I love this series so much! It’s fun, funny and full of “how are they going to get out of this” moments. Plus the books always end on a cliffhanger and leave you wanting more! -g

Read if you like:
▪️Unlikely friendship
▪️Amateur sleuthing
▪️Lots of secrets
▪️a little bit of romance

“People rise to the level of expectation you have of them. If you don’t trust them, how are they supposed to prove you can?”

Book #5 in the Finlay Donovan series, FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE is focusing on a body found in Mrs. Haggerty’s rose garden. As the investigation continues, Finlay’s ex-husband is taken into custody as a main suspect. So Finlay and Vero set out to find the killer.

The story was moving very slow and not much was gripping my attention. Similarly to the other books in the series, you have to suspend your beliefs as the whole plot is quite unrealistic. But by now the readers already know what to expect with these books.

Overall, it was ok.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the bundle of Finlay Donovan books in exchange for an honest review!

I love this series! Finlay's antics always make me laugh even though they're quite unrealistic. This is a series that I know I can come back to when I need a pick me up and this book was no different. I really enjoyed getting to know more about Mrs. Haggerty as a character in this one since she's typically been a background character in the previous books.

I'm hooked to these characters and looking forward to continue reading anything Elle Cosimano publishes.

4.5 stars. This is a great series, and I think I have enjoyed this book the most. Finlay is still dealing with the crazy life of her kids, her ex-husband, a boyfriend who is a detective, and her friend/nanny who is on the lamb. Add in an older neighbor lady who has just been released from jail and has taken over Finlay's bedroom to the mix, and things get even more chaotic.

If you haven't read this series, please start at the beginning so you don't miss anything! You won't regret it!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ebook. All thoughts are my own.

This is the 5th installment in the Finlay Donovan series and I believe there are two more coming. I have been a big Finlay fan for a bit now, but I think the story is starting to reach its end. While this book was still very good, I am ready to lay Finlay to rest. This book ends on another cliffhanger, so I will stick the series through to the end. I would recommend this book and the series as a whole, but am hoping that we reach a conclusion soon.

This is probably my favorite in the series after the first book! It did such a good job really bringing in so many great characters that had previously been side characters throughout the series and adding a lot of glorious color to interactions with them. As per usual the Finlay and Vero hijinks are unhinged, but this offered a perspective on how she even got into this mess from the beginning and I enjoyed every page!

The continuation of the most absurd accidental crime-solving(involved?) duo is back today! I absolutely ADORED this installation to Finlay and Vero’s story. I flew through it and laughed the entire time.

This is truly one of the most absurd of the series, it’s just utter chaos— the kind that only a mother can understand. You know those moments when you look to the non-existence audience, because surely that didn’t just happen. 🤣👀 The potty-training bit had me cackling.

Did this one tip too far into the absurd to be believable? A lot. But I have never read one of these books assuming it was grounded in steadfast reality. I come to these for the chaos and the comedy.

The romance between Finlay and Nick was a bright spot, and bless his heart, he really doesn’t have a clue what he’s got himself into. Or does he? There’s definitely more to that story.

If you want to escape into a world where if it can go wrong, it absolutely will, then pick this up today!

CW: some very strong language here and there. A couple of 🪦
FOTMS: 🫑🫑🫑(at least three fade to black,

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this ARC and Happy Pub Day!! The Finlay Donovan series continues in this hilarious and energetic story! I feel like every time we get a new Fin book I'm wonder what could they get into next and I'm always surprised in the best way. Vero is quippy and hilarious as ever and her personality brings such a treat to the story. A couple of twists got me but I can't wait to see how the story continues!

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano is the fifth installment in the series. Although, this book is part of a series it was easy to read as a stand alone. This was my first time diving into the world of Finlay Donovan. I was super excited to have the opportunity to read this book, and it truly did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed reading every single page of this fun, highly entertaining book. I have books one through four queued up ready to read. A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books, the author and Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this book, and all the previous books in the series.

Mrs. Haggerty, the meddlesome foe of Finlay Donovan, and the president of the neighborhood watch needs help. When a dead body is discovered buried in her backyard she becomes the prime suspect. Mrs. Haggerty is eventually cleared by the police, but finds herself in another predicament. She needs a place to stay, because her home is still an active crime scene. She decides she has no choice, but to turn to her neighbor Finlay who lives across the street for place to stay. So what actually happened across the street at Mrs. Haggerty’s house, and who is buried in her backyard?

Finlay and her trusted nanny Vero really have no intention of getting involved that is until Steven Finlay’s ex-husband is arrested for the crime. She is determined to find out what really happened. And so ensues a wild murder investigation filled with loads of chaos and escapades.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is an engaging, quick-paced, humorous whodunnit mystery filled with twist and turns that kept me captivated the entire time. If you’re looking for a lighter, cozy mystery series to read then look no further than the Finlay Donovan series.

This was such a great addition to this series! I loved the energy of it and couldn’t wait to race to the ending. I love Finlay and was super excited to see her life with Nick in this one. Her kids made me laugh and I like how they have grown throughout the series. The epilogue broke my heart…I need the next book asap. 😭

Another fun and funny murder mystery with Finlay, her bestie/nanny Vero, and her hot cop boyfriend Nick. Once again, this book picks up immediately where the 4th in the series leaves off, with the police finding a body in Finlay’s neighbor Mrs Haggery’s backyard. These are definitely not stand-alone mysteries and you will be lost if you try to jump in with this book, so do yourself a favor a start with the first book, Finlay Donovan is Killing It. You won’t regret it!

If you’re wondering if things have calmed down for Finlay now that Zhirov and Marco are off her back and Nick’s cases are solved, they absolutely have not. Not only is Mrs. Haggerty suddenly living with her (and sleeping in her bed!), but Finlay’s ex Stephen ends up as a suspect in this new murder, with a cop who’s convinced he’s to blame for all the mafia murders and maybe Finlay’s involved, too. And then you have Finlay’s literary agent, Sylvia, who is pushing this TV show deal and insisting on Nick’s involvement, too, which would be great except do they really need more eyes on these murders they’ve barely gotten away with?

I spent a lot of this book really annoyed with Mrs. Haggerty - yes, she’s a funny character, but it feels like she’s always butting in with her opinions and demands and making Finlay’s life more difficult. There’s all the spying, and the pity and judgement, and then the secret book club of it all. By the end, I’m glad to know Mrs. Haggerty more, and see her perspective on the events of the last several years. (But I still find her more annoying than funny.)

The part of this book I loved the most was seeing Finlay and Nick’s relationship grow and develop. It’s not just them spending more time together, it’s them getting to know and trust each other more, on both sides. Nick clearly knows there are things Finlay hasn’t been telling him, and I think he’s been pretty patient and reasonable about asking for honesty and trust. Honestly, I was a little afraid we would be kept in this limbo for a long time, with Finlay hiding things and Nick knowing she’s hiding things, so it was a huge relief when she ripped that band-aid off. That conversation was fantastic because it was open and vulnerable. They each took a step towards trusting each other more (plus spilling the L word and talking about the future).

I have to briefly mention what I was not excited by - Cam. First, he was rubbing me the wrong way most of this book, with constantly venmoing himself money from Finlay. Yes, he should be paid for his labor just like everyone else, but it almost feels like he’s taking advantage of her at some points. But what’s unforgivable is the ending cliffhanger with Vero. He assumed Vero had taken Mrs Haggerty’s car (which she HADN’T) and called in and reported the car as stolen and gave them her REAL NAME??? Like WTF?? He had to have know about the outstanding warrant and that it would cause her massive problems?? He better be prepared to grovel and do whatever it takes to get Vero out of this jam that he put her in. And now I’m also mad because I’m going to have to wait a year to find out what happens next!

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur for an advance copy of this book for review purposes!

Another fun installment in this series! Finlay and Vero are at it again. They get sucked into another murder mystery. The neighbor across the street is a character that we learn more about in this one. And the hijinks begin right away. I love how Fin and Nick get closer in this book. I also liked the reappearance of a few past characters. The story is a lot of fun. This is the perfect kind of escape. It's a great mix of whodunit and humor. I'm already chomping at the bit for the next book! I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave 🪦

Once again Finley and Vero are off getting into trouble… again! I’m really hoping this isn’t the last book because this is my favorite neighborhood gossip and amateur sleuths series! Can we make it like Grey’s Anatomy @ellecosimano and have 20 seasons?!

Finlay and Vero find themselves in a sticky situation. A new dead body pops up right across from Finlay’s house. Her crotchety old neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty is being accused for murder. After being released she comes knocking on Fins door to stay the night because she has no power. Determined to get her out of her house because she has a daughter who was suspended and a pants-less 2 year old, Finlay, Vero, and hot cop Nick, set out to find the true killer. You’ll be laughing at the whit and wanting to turn the page later into the night!

Read if you like:
🪦 murder investigation
🗣️ neighborhood gossip
👮🏽‍♂️ hot cop drama
👵🏼 bossy old ladies (who become your fav character)

💭QOTD: Favorite thriller or mystery book?

Ratings:
⭐️:4/5
📖: 320
📚: cozy mystery
✏️: March 4th