Elle Cosimano has done it again! I absolutely love following Finlay and Vero around and feel part of their crazy lives. I can so vividly picture the story. At times, when I would take breaks from reading and would think about the book, I could not remember if I was thinking of the book or a show - that's how vivid it was. I already cannot wait for Finlay and Vero's next adventure! I hope to one day see this on the big screen, and would love to know who would play hottie Det. Nick Anthony. Here's to the next Finlay story and Elle Cosimano!

Finlay is back and this time she needs to clear her ex-husband's name in order to keep her own name out of the minds of the police who are investigating him for the murder of the guy found in Miss. Haggerty's garden.

5stars, as always. I love these stories so much and am so excited for the next installment. The only thing I do not love, is that I need to wait a year for the next one! I love seeing Finlay and Nick's relationship grow.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

When a body is found in her neighbor’s yard, Finlay Donovan and her nanny Vero are reluctantly drawn into another murder investigation. With a suspect list including Finlay’s ex-husband, they must unravel the mystery before their own secrets are uncovered.

Another fun and fast-paced mystery! This book is hilarious and warm-hearted, with vividly drawn characters you’d want to be friends with if you weren’t afraid of getting arrested or murdered. I loved the audiobook narration. Don’t miss this bingeworthy series!

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I am a BIG fan of Finlay Donovan. It is one of my favorite series. I first saw the books all over Instagram and thought, these aren’t for me. Then someone described them as a cozy mystery so I tried the first one (on audio, of course). I then proceeded to listen to the second book and the third book. Then I was stuck, because none of the other books were out, yet. THEN @ellecosimano was announced to be visiting my local indie bookstore on tour for the fourth book. It was pouring rain that day and I did not give one single care. Elle’s also as amazing and kind as you know/hoped she would be.

Late last year the fifth Donovan book was on Netgalley as Read Now. I’ve never clicked over so fast in my life. This fifth book was different for me because I read the print book. The other four I read via audio (including Vero’s spinoff novella). But I read it in Angela Dawe’s (THE best narrator) voice. And you better believe I’m doing a reread as soon as I can get my hands on the audio.

Also thank you @minotaur_books and @netgalley for the e-ARC. This books comes out tomorrow, March 4th.

This is a series so I can’t say a lot without spoiling the other books. Finlay is a very strong main character who seems to be able to handle everything that gets thrown at her. She’s a mom of two littles, so while she’s strong, we all get to see her as a frazzled, but protective mother. She has a messy life. She has maybe committed some crimes. It’s all absolutely perfect.

Highly, highly recommend.

I have to say I think this was my favorite of the series. Something about Finlay's life being a hot mess and her just taking it in stride speaks to me. Starting off from where the last book ended, Mrs. Haggerty is released from jail, and Finlay's ex-husband is accused of murder, Finlay is determined to prove his innocence. Of course, this gets her involved in things she doesn't belong in, such as Mrs. Haggerty's book club that does more than discuss books. With dark humor and laugh out loud moments, this is an easy read and perfect for Women's History Month.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave: 🪦🎧🪴⁣
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A million thanks to @macmillan.audio @minotaur_books and @ellecosimano for my gifted copy! #MinotaurInfluencers #MacAudio2025 ⁣
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Dare I say this may be my favorite Finlay adventure yet? This was a hoot and a half but we really got to see a lot of the secondary characters shine. Mrs. Haggerty has always had a spot in my heart, so I definitely wanted to know why she had a body in the back! Also, we get more punishment for Steven, so life is good. (I said what I said) ⁣
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We get more of hot cop Nick, and Finlay gets to really pull back her onion layers with him. He still gives me Dermot Mulroney, and that’s all I’ll think about. Maybe it’s Angela Dawe’s narration, but I love it. I actually heard Dawe on a different audio recently and I immediately said, “Fin?” ⁣
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Overall, we get more depth for our side characters, left with the wildest cliffhanger, and still get the best trouble around. Also, I love that we get more of a sense of community for Finlay. She deserves it.⁣
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Out tomorrow, March 4th.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is the fifth installment in the incredible Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano. This book follows Finlay and Vero on another adventure of mystery, only now we’re essentially their own backyard. When the body of an unknown man is found in Finlay’s neighbor Mrs. Haggerty’s yard, Mrs. Haggerty is arrested and then shockingly acquitted. To make matters worse, Mrs. Haggerty shows up at Finlay’s front door, expecting to stay with them until her house is repaired. As Finlay and Vero notice their neighbor’s behavior growing stranger, they begin an investigation of their own to uncover the truth about who the man was and why he was in Mrs. Haggerty’s yard.

This book is classic FD! So fun, witty, and suspenseful, I loved it so much! It’s another great addition to the Finlay Donovan collection. Highly recommend!

Thank you St Martin's and MacMillan Audio for review copies! I always recommend this series on audio of you have the chance to listen!

Angela Dawe once again delivers the dark humor and quirky charm of Finlay Donovan! I love Elle Cosimano's series, wait each year for the new book as they just land right (esp in the ugh dreary winter months). FD Digs her Own Grave is another return to the hilarity of Finlay and Ver0 (still my favorite side kick). I laughed a lot, continue to be glad when Finlay has more and more reason to stay away from her ex, and was here for Nick!!! As a mom with a young child I also love the way the kids steal the show, little kids are really funny, intentionally or not, and I love that they bring the laughs to the plot.
Yes, you will have to be all in for a little dark humor and silliness of a mom turned unexpected assassin/detective and her nanny side kick, be here for the yes another dead body turned up plot, but this is what a cozy or cozy adjacent series is... suspension of some reality in order to have a heck of a lot of fun listening to a mystery.

I recently discovered the Finlay Donovan series and have loved following Finlay along on her adventures. This was a great continuation to the series and had the same humorous, although at times a litte unrealistic, situations that Finlay usually finds herself in. But I read these books to be entertained and they do the trick. Can't wait for the next one!

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is the fifth installment in this fun and adventurous mystery series. Mystery writer Finlay Donovan and her nanny Vero welcome a new housemate whom they are less than thrilled about. Finlay's nosey neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, is in need of a place to stay because her home is still considered a crime scene even though she has been cleared of murder charges following the discovery of a dead body in her yard. Finlay and Vero don't want to get involved since they've been dealing with a LOT of crime and murder lately, but they want their space back so what else can they do but help solve the case and get Mrs. Haggerty back to her own home? As with all of the books in this series, humor and chaos ensue. If you're looking for something light and funny, the Finlay Donovan series is always a good bet.

Thanks yo St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for a review copy of this book.

This series is so much more than just a thriller with comedy! I have never laughed so much while reading a crime story, yet the suspense kept me hooked the entire time. The way humor and mystery blend together is just brilliant.

When a neighbor is murdered, the whole neighborhood seems to get involved—whether to help or make things worse? That’s the big question! I won’t spoil anything, but I loved how the situation kept evolving. Finlay’s conversations with everyone were pure gold, especially with her new love interest. He’s determined to solve the murder, which could put her ex-husband in serious trouble. The twists, the chaos, and the sharp dialogue made this an unforgettable read. Even if thrillers or comedy aren’t usually your thing, this one is worth it!

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

I love this series and I could not wait to dive into the latest installment! Trust me - this one does not disappoint!

With the same Finlay Donovan antics we all know and love, we get a glimpse into her and Nick's relationship (which is pretty steamy!). I felt quite connected to Finlay as a mom also going through potty training (lol!). I devoured this book so quickly, my only complaint is that I have to continue waiting for the next installment!

Thank you again for the ARC!

Finlay Donovan is back with another fun adventure. I couldn't wait to find out what kind of trouble she and Vera get into this time!

Description:
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.

My Thoughts:
When I saw the title it immediately conjured up thoughts of someone making Finlay dig a grave before clobbering her over the head and throwing her in when she was done. That's not what is happening here though. This was another fun adventure with Finlay and Vera working through the investigation with their usual effective but inept manuevers. I recommend to anyone who likes mysteries and humor.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Another fun installment of a comedic mystery series. Finlay's husband is accused of murder and having a second affair. Finlay and Vero set out to prove Steven is innocent while keeping their own secrets buried. The interaction among characters young and old is fun. This series gives off Stephanie Plum vibes, only not as graphic. Looking forward to seeing what happens next in Finlay's world.

Finlay Donovan is so fun. This is a comfort read for me. Finlay is crazy and fun and has a hot boyfriend. She gets in trouble and you never know where she and Vero will end up. Its lots of laughs and a crazy neighbor. A great read.

This was just what I needed to snap me out of my physical book reading slump. Elle Cosimano never fails to deliver a fun mix of humor, mystery, and chaos. My only disappointment is that I have to wait an undetermined amount of time for the next one in the series!

One of my favorite elements this time around was how Finlay and Vero had to balance their less than legal activities with nosy neighbor Mrs. Haggerty temporarily staying at Finlay’s house. It was such a fun shift in dynamics—especially since Mrs. Haggerty has her own secrets, and of course, Finlay and Vero can’t resist digging into them. This book was kept me hooked and was a fun cozy-ish mystery to distract from real life.

If you’ve enjoyed the other books in this series, this one won’t disappoint. And if you’re looking for something fun to pull you out of a reading slump, Finlay Donovan is always a sure bet.

Big thanks to Elle Cosimano, St Martins Press, and Netgalley for the ARC!

Finlay and Vero are back in the fifth Finlay Donovan book. A body is found in a neighbor’s yard, and Finlay and Vero try to crack the case while still keeping their prior antics under wraps.

I really enjoyed this one! The previous two in the series felt bogged down with the Russian mob storyline, so this one felt like coming home to the series. I love that the elderly neighbor had a big part to the story! And hot cop Nick was a highlight as his relationship with Finlay progresses. Check this one out if you’re following the Finlay series, but this is definitely not a stand-alone book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur for the free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

My thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for a free advance copy of this novel, which I am voluntarily reviewing.

Findlay Donovan doesn’t literally dig her own grave in this latest instalment of Ellie Cosimano’s fast-paced and hilarious mystery series. But she comes close enough, considering the scrapes that she and her nanny-friend-fellow amateur sleuth Vero Ruiz get into. And there is some literal grave-digging involved.

The story begins about a week after the two return from their chaotic and occasionally dangerous Atlantic city escapade. Finlay’s romance with Detective Nick Cavanaugh is progressing, all the while that she is withholding some vital information about her own, mostly unwitting, involvement in previous murders and secret burials. Vero and her Javi are also bubbling along nicely. The elderly woman across the street, the nasty Mrs. Haggarty, has just been released from jail, where she had ended up in the previous instalment, after the body of a local businessman was discovered in her freshly landscaped backyard.

Mrs Haggarty is the centre of this volume’s story. A notorious gossip, she spilled the infidelity stories about Finlay’s ex, Steven,
through the neighborhood before the hapless Finlay even knew. And now Steven is implicated in the murder. By a woman whose wealthy and notoriously nasty husband has seemingly gone missing. And he’s not the only suddenly missing husband. Meanwhile, Finlay and Vero have to keep their own involvement with missing men buried. And what is octogenarian Mrs Haggarty really doing in her mysterious book club?

Because the volumes in this series take up very shortly after each leaves off, they really are best read as a set, but there is just enough ‘backstory’ presented to make them viable as stand-alones. Or start with this latest, then make your way back to the debut novel. Whether new to the series or a dedicated reader, you’ll be in for quite a ride!

I have been binging this series. What started as a "what the heck am I reading" with the first book has turned into a quirky, endearing, guilty pleasure and Finlay's family and friends have become my own (in a matter of speaking LOL). Finlay, while getting herself (and Vero) into so many scrapes, you can't actually believe this could happen to a "gasp" romance writer, is absolutely loyal to the core, even to her scum ex-husband. When we last left Finlay, we thought her ordeals might finally be over, but Mrs. Haggerty's were just starting. Learning to trust becomes central to our fearless heroine, most especially in her love life. Lots of the usual fun hijinks and another fun ending which hopefully promises more in this series.

My thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St.Martin' Publishing for the ARC of "Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave" in exchange for an honest review.
I prize and embrace any books that manage to make me laugh out loud....(I'm a tough audience for comedic authors)....and Ellie Cosimano's Finlay Donovan does it to me every time.
As a best selling author, harried and divorced single mom and stumbling would-be sleuth, Finlay Donovan always finds a way to go out of the frying pan and into the fire. And with the somewhat less than competent help of her official nanny/sidekick/resident wisecracker Vero, she plunges deeper into all new messes......(usually involving any number of dead bodies and complications that linger on from one book to the other)
Finlay's perpetual nosy neighbor and all around neighborhood pain in the posterior Mrs. Haggerty got herself briefly arrested when police dug up a dead body on her property. The old woman's grandson, a rising political star, somehow prevails upon Finlay to take in his annoying grandmother as a temporary guest while police scour the old lady's house for clues.
To add to the escalating woes, a relentless detective not only holds Finlay's philandering ex husband responsible for the dug up stiff he's also sniffing around other mysteries that will lead back to Finlay and Vero's previous, slightly less than legal misadventures.
While I realize all of this sounds far fetched and silly, it's never stopped keeping me in constant smiles and laughter. There's simply no end of fun here in watching Finlay plunge headlong into one situation after another that's somehow harrowing and hilarious at the same time. . (And nothing beats Vero's deadpan, withering one liners at the expense of Finlay's worthless former husband.)
And as always, can't wait for the fresh batch of troubles to come her way. Long may Finlay Donovan collide with calamity.