Thank you to NetGalley, Elle Cosimano, and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this new book in the series. This may be my favorite book in the Finlay series. I liked how everything wasn’t as predictable to me as some of the previous books and how at the end (without giving any spoilers) there is room for another book. Also I love how I was able to listen to the ebook with the read aloud option.

Totally entertaining and engaging - this series is one of the best on the market. I am a big fan of Finlay and Vero and love all that they get involved in. Must-read!

Finlay Donovan is back! There are not enough words to express how much I love this series. And this latest installment doesn't disappoint. Equal parts mystery, romance, and laughs. Don't pass on this one!

This is one of my favorite series, and I think this book is Elle Cosimano’s best one yet! It is such a perfect blend of mystery, comedy, and romance. The characters are so lovable and I found myself rooting for them even as they did some morally questionable things. If you are looking for something laugh out loud funny with a lot of heart and a delightfully twisty plot, I would highly recommend picking up this book!

Finlay Donovan manages to escape from one slightly questionable, possibly illegal situation and lands in the middle of another. Again. She and her best friend/nanny/accountant Vero have slept one night since the escapades of the police citizens academy training. They want a break from the drama but their break is quickly interrupted by the discovery of a body in their neighbor’s backyard and subsequent arrest of Mrs. Haggerty by local police. Finlay’s and Vero’s relationship with Mrs. Haggerty has always been tense and somewhat adversarial. To make matters worse, her grandson, Brendan Haggerty, has dumped his grandmother on Finlay for safe keeping while he arranges for the repairs needed to his grandmother’s home. Oh my, how frustrating! When Finlay’s ex husband Stephen is arrested for his potential involvement in the murder, the drama increases again. Finlay believes in Stephen’s innocence despite all his past infidelities and the gossamer threads connecting him to both the site of the victim’s grave and the wife of the victim. But as Finlay and Vero spend time with Mrs. Haggerty, they discover she has her own secrets. Now she has to work fast to prove Stephen’s innocence and keep her life from completely falling apart.

This series is absolutely fantastic! Reading books one through four will increase your understanding of the relationships and dynamics at play in this fifth book in the series. These books are fast paced and quick reads. Truly a guilty pleasure to lose yourself in this series of books.

Elle Cosimano did it again with the latest in the Finlay Donovan series. I think this was my favorite yet, as it veers away from the whole Russian mob storyline and moves closer to home.

I was able to predict the outcome of this a bit easier than the others but I like where this takes the series (I don’t want to give away any spoilers!) I also am growing more attached to the Finlay and Nick’s relationship and watching this grow over the series has been great. Nick is the absolute best book boyfriend. I’m not going to lie, I wish the door was slightly more open with them haha but I understand the authors choice for this series.

Cannot wait for the next in the series. It continues to be an auto preorder for me!

This was the perfect book to escape into when life overwhelmed me and I just wanted a short escape. The book and the characters grabbed me immediately and I devoured it in a day. Entertaining and engaging.

I loved following along the journey connecting all the dots. I am obsessed with this series and will read all of them if she keeps writing them. Usually, get annoyed when the author makes the main character also be a writer but since Finlay is so much more than a writer I don’t mind it one bit.

It was fun to see Finlay and hot cop still going strong and encounter relatable relationship hurdles. Finlay and Vero relationship will always be my favorite. The banter and whit is great!

BIG Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. Expected publication March 5,2025.

The Finlay Donovan series is one of my favorites and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves their mystery and suspense wrapped in humor! This newest book was such a ride nonstop and had a few callbacks to earlier characters I hadn’t expected to see again. It continues almost exactly where the last one ended, which is extremely welcome given the cliffhanger ending! As a mom, I always enjoy the relatability of the parenting moments in this series and this one did not disappoint. The emphasis on female friendship and supporting women always comes through in the story for me, especially in this one. I can’t wait for the next one after that cliffhanger of an ending yet again! If you haven’t read this series yet, what are you waiting for?!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC!

If you haven’t read the Finlay Donovan series, what are you waiting for?

This might be my favorite book in the series so far. Fast-paced and exciting, I couldn’t put it down! This book felt a little less chaotic than the last couple, while still being filled with Finlay and Vero’s crazy schemes. The cliffhanger really left me dying for more.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press - Minotaur Books, and Elle Cosimano for this ARC in exchange for my honest review! All words herein are my own.

I wasn’t sure what to think going into this 5th book, particularly because this type of series typically loses its momentum after a couple books. That being said, I LOVED this book. I binged it in less than 48 hours because I couldn’t put it down. My favorite of the series remains the first one, but my next favorite is tied between the second and this one. It was super easy to keep reading with a fast enough pace without too much chaos. This book brought my huge love for Finlay Donovan back after getting a little burnt out from books 3/4. It’s obviously a very “out there” story, but it’s just so much fun to follow Finlay through the insanity. The ending has me dying for the next book!

The only thing I wish we could get more of is some spice! 🔥 But I love Finlay and Nick’s relationship!

Man, these books just keep getting better and better! I literally could not put this down and read it today from start to finish. Lots of twists and turns and character development are going on here. Especially with Finlay's nosey across the street neighbor/nemesis, Mrs. Haggerty.

OMG, that cliffhanger! I'm already ready for book six! This was a solid 4.5 stars for me.

Thanks, NetGalley/Minotaur Books, for the advanced copy. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Elle Cosimano strikes again! I can seriously never get enough of Finlay and Vero and the absolute insanity that they get up to. Everyone needs a Vero in their lives.

Finlay and Vero strike again in this fifth installment of the series, and we finally get to learn more about Mrs. Haggerty. As always, the book was fast paced and engaging with some laugh out loud moments. I do feel like Vero was a little bit more absent in this book, but it seems like she will take center stage in book 6, so I’m not concerned. Definitely a hit, especially for those who like the series. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

Finlay Donovan fans can rest easy, because the fifth book delivers!

‘Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave’ starts right where the fourth book ended — and even if it’s been awhile since you read it, this fifth installment does a great job at filling in the blanks and reminding us all what happened as soon as Finlay and Vero returned from Atlantic City.

Five books in and author Elle Cosimano continues to be such a master at creating comedic mysteries. There were so many moving parts that had me searching every direction for the suspect, and having hilarious dialogue on every page along the way is truly a skill. Reading these books is such a fun way to end the day, and I absolutely cannot wait to read the sixth installment!

I loved this. I love all of the characters, even cheater cheater pumpkin eater Steven. I've read all the books in the series and this one ended up being one of my favorites. I really loved the whole message. I'm not going to give any spoilers away, but I'm a big fan of the plot in this one.

I hope Cosimano keeps these coming. As long as Finlay Donovan is solving murders, I'll be reading about it.

The cliffhanger at the end of the previous book left me excited for this one, and I'm glad to say it lived up to the hype! This installment was definitely the best since the original, with plenty of excitement to keep me hooked from start to finish. The character dynamic continues to be a highlight, and the banter throughout had me laughing out loud multiple times.

That said, there were a couple of things that held me back from fully loving it. The biggest issue was the risky decisions Finlay and Vero kept making throughout the book. It often felt like they weren’t giving enough thought to the consequences, especially when dealing with certain characters. Some of their actions came across as outright reckless, and I was left wondering why they weren’t more cautious. On top of that, their surprising lack of hesitation or guilt—particularly in their interactions with the podcasters and Penny—didn’t quite sit right with me. It made them feel a bit too carefree given the stakes.

Despite those gripes, this book was still a blast. The twists and turns were solid and enjoyable, and the chemistry between the characters made it a fun ride from beginning to end. I’m still completely hooked on this series and will never not read a new addition to Finlay's story.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is the fifth book in the Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano. I highly recommend starting from the beginning of the series, as each book builds on the previous one, creating a interconnected story.

In this installment, Finlay finds herself struggling to keep her long-held secrets from unraveling. The story picks up soon after the events of the previous book, and it quickly becomes one of my favorites. Longtime nosy neighbor Mrs. Haggerty has just been released from custody after a body was found buried in her yard. Unsurprisingly, Finlay ends up with Mrs. Haggerty staying with her and Vero, despite her best efforts to avoid it. As the murder investigation turns its attention to Steven, Finlay's ex-husband, she becomes determined to clear his name for the sake of her children and uncover the truth behind the mysterious dead body.

This series is an absolute blast, and this particular book has a slightly different feel compared to the others. It feels less chaotic, as both Finlay and Vero are beginning to figure out their relationships and futures. I especially enjoyed how Mrs. Haggerty's true character is revealed, challenging our previous assumptions about her. As always, the truth is that no one really knows what goes on behind closed doors.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

As always, this series is so fun and light in traditionally dark scenarios. Readers will love a new journey with these beloved characters!

Finlay digs her own grave did not disappoint! I love this series and all the things she gets involved in. Super glad she had a talk with Nick the Hot Cop!