Finlay, Vero, Nick and the kids are back! Finlay’s older neighbor, Mrs. haggerty, was arrested at the end of the last book when a dead body was exhumed from her backyard. Finlay and Vero work to exonerate the last person Finlay ever expected to want to save, her ex husband Steven.

Another hilarious installment of Finlay Donovan. I couldn’t stop listening to this and I was laughing out loud throughout. This installment was a lot more straightforward than some of the other books, although still a total suspense of reality. I love what an escape these books are, and this one might just be my new favorite. Mrs. haggerty was a delightful addition to the comical cast, and she might be my favorite character. If you are in need of some comedic relief, grab this immediately!

I always know what to expect in this cozy mystery, a lot of laughs and Finlay and Vero getting into shenanigans. This time we have Mrs. Haggerty, the noisy neighbor that ends up staying with Finlay because there was a dead body in her backyard. Finlay and Vero it not connected to the dead body as in the previous books but somehow is tangled in it.

Mrs Haggerty is canky and really stole the show. The story is entertaining and I do recommend that you read the other books to know what is going on. This also leaves you on a cliffhanger like the other books.

Anglea Dawe did a great job with bringing all the fun on
the story.

Thank you @macmillan.audio @stmartinspress for a copy of this.

When I read the first Finlay Donovan book I was hooked. Finlay and her sidekick Vera were funny, refreshing and made me laugh out loud. The last three books though became more outlandish and implausible which had me rolling my eyes more and more. I was almost ready to give up with this series but I am glad I didn't.

I really enjoyed this 5th book in the Finlay Donovan series. It was refreshing, funny and was a nod to what I loved in the first book. Finlay and Vera find themselves in another situation as a body is found in the backyard of their neighbors home and it's up to Finlay to find out what happened and if her neighbor really is a murderer. If you have read any for Cosimano's earlier books you know we are in for a fun time trying to solve this murder. We are also treated to some fun character development. I loved getting to know Cam better, and the Eggplant kept me laughing. Mrs. Haggerty added some great moments with her sassiness and I appreciated that Finlay and Nick were finally able to move their relationship forward.

If were at all hesitant about this series after the last book, just give this one as read - you may be surprised.

This fifth installment in the Finlay Donovan series is so funny—bursting with banter and silliness! The series continues to be relationship-heavy, as well, with deepening relationships for some of the recurring characters, and new, interesting relationships between combinations of characters that one wouldn't expect.

Both of Finlay's children—school-age Delia and preschooler Zach—play bigger roles than in previous books. Other characters returning with medium or large roles are ex-husband Steven, nosy neighbor Mrs. Haggerty, hacker Cam, agent Sylvia, nanny/partner in crime Vero, hot cop boyfriend Nick, and even more—I'll keep a few cameos a secret, just for fun. There's a new animal companion with a hilarious name. I'm counting on that feature continuing.

It's hard to believe that the action in all five books takes place within just four months. As I have in the past, I strongly recommend that the series be read in order.

Just like in Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (book 4), Cosimano ties everything up nice and neat before hitting us with a whammy at the very last minute. She is the Queen of Cliffhangers.

Finlay Donovan never fails to delight and entertain me, and this installment is the best yet! My longtime book buddies know I almost never give 5 stars. Even shocking confusion around how to make poached eggs (Chapter 10) isn't going to deter me from awarding the full score in this case. [Funny story: I don't cook to speak of (though I do bake), but poached eggs are in my repertoire. I'm happy to give lessons.]

Look I'm not gonna lie, after the last book in this series, I was a little ready for it to end. However, after reading this book I am back into this series. I liked that the series took a turn into a more realistic storyline. The first handful of books were a bit wild. This housewife getting mixed into the mob and all these outlandish hijinxs happening all around them. That was fun for a while, but this story was so much different. In this book, Finlay is working to solve a murder to clear her ex-husband's name. The story hits closer to home and the responsibilities she's juggling are more realistic. I loved that we finally got to see Finlay and Nick in a relationship. It was really fun to get more of Mrs Haggerty and her book club friends were wild! I still feel like we have some unanswered questions from books past that I was hoping we would get answers to but I have a feeling I'm just gonna have to let that go. This book does leave on a cliffhanger that I think will set up another book that centers around Vero.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 3/4

You cannot tell me that this series is over, please tell me there is a book 6! I ended this read screaming NO - damn Elle, thanks for leaving me with a cliffhanger.

I’m a die-hand Finla Donovan lover and this book was no different. Sometimes series’ that go this long end up losing their way with new stories never really reaching the vibe of the overall series, however that is not the case here. Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave has all of the elements that I’ve come to love and the story still stands strong. Once again, i’m laughing out loud, swooning over Nick, heart is beating fast hoping Finlay or Vero make it out, my mind is racing with questions - Elle you’ve done such an incredible job keeping the tone of this series alive and making sure that with each new book, the foundation of this series doesn’t change.

NOW GIVE ME BOOK 6 - PLEASE

I love this series!

We are back in Finlay's chaotic life as her ex-husband is being accused of murder. Her and Vero set out to find the truth and uncovers a secret group.

With each book Vero and Finlay add to their group and manage to get out of any pickle they put themselves in. This author writes the best cast of side characters that keep the story interesting and engaging.

I do recommend reading the books in publication order because the timeline is continuous.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Finlay and Vero have an inconvenient houseguest after a body is found in the backyard of their elderly neighbor. When her ex is hauled away by police as a suspect, Finlay has to start her own investigation to clear his name…

This series is a well-paced, wild ride. Finlay and Vero are a dynamic duo, full of genuine support and hilarious banter. I loved seeing Finlay and Nick work together to solve this case and face the trust issues in their relationship head on. Cam and Mrs. Haggerty were fun additions to the group, adding unpredictable behavior and surprising twists to the story. The epilogue hooked me into the next book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC.

The next boo in this funny series. I felt it fell a little short with too many hijinks, but that is the brand. Good mystery that I didn’t see coming!

Finlay and Vero just continue to make bad choices. But if you’re willing to put up with that and just go along for the ride, then you’ll enjoy this book. Honestly, the plot of this one was slightly less egregious than some of the other books in the series. And I really liked getting to know Mrs. Haggerty a bit more—I never hated her as much as Finlay and Vero seemed to. Overall, more of the same from this series.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Very engaging story! I loved the characters as always and this one is the most interesting within the series.

How is it possible that every time I finish a book in this series I think it’s the best one ever?!? But seriously this one’s the best (for now) all our favorite characters and some new ones. Loved the kids were in this one more.

Could you read this as a standalone? Technically, yes but you would be missing so much. Do yourself a favor and start with book 1! You won’t be disappointed!!!

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is the 5th installment in the Finlay series and will be published on March 4th. I was very lucky to receive an early copy to review, thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press.

I have really enjoyed following along with Finlay and Vero's adventures, the mysteries they attempt to solve, and all the dark humor along the way. This book’s plot was a little less over the top than the last two, but I actually liked that because it felt more realistic while still being fun and fast paced.

Quick synopsis: Finlay and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero find themselves involved in a new murder case when a dead body is discovered in the backyard of their nosy elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty. With Mrs. Haggerty's house now a crime scene, she moves across the street and into Finlay's house, and to make matters worse, Finlay’s ex-husband Stephen is arrested as the primary suspect. Desperate to connect the dots and get Mrs. Haggerty out of their house, Finlay and Vero try to find out the truth and become immersed in community gossip and conspiracies. Of course, the ending solves one problem but leaves readers on a cliffhanger as a new one is introduced. And now I want more! I will continue to read all the Finlay books, and I can't wait until they eventually make it into a TV show!

I enjoyed catching up with Finlay and Vero in book 5. Chaos and pandemonium seem to be par for the course when it comes to Finlay's life and I'm thankful she has to deal with it and not me.

The characters were entertaining and I'm glad we got to spend some extra time with Cam and get to know more about nosy Mrs. Haggerty. The mystery portion of the book was a bit predictable, and the formula for the story feels recycled from the previous books, but if you've been a fan of the series so far I think you will still appreciate this one.

Thank you, NetGalley | St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the ARC!

It was great to be back with Finlay and her chaos! While her life stresses me out, it also makes for great reads. The fast pace of the book combined with its humor, romance, and frequent dead bodies, made it the perfect read to follow lots of deep historical fiction. I appreciated that Mrs. Haggerty’s character is much further developed across this story and in by the end ends up rather likable. My biggest complaint are the inconsistencies about Loudoun County - if you’re going to set your story in a real place (where the author lives, no less!) it needs to be accurate! You don’t have to get on Rt 7 to go from South Riding to Broadlands (although it is true that traffic on 7 makes everyone late, it’s also too far north for both those locations) and Loudoun doesn’t have a police department, we have a sheriff’s department. Admittedly, finding these flaws did bring me a little bit of joy and a snicker, so we won’t hold it against her, but she should know better. Overall, exactly the read I was in the mood for! And an excellent audiobook as well, the narrator really makes the cast come to life. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Elle Cosimano does it again! I adored this installment of Finlay's story. I will admit that the last book in the series prior to this one left me questioning whether the series was going to continue to be for me. I felt like the plot of that book got away from the author at points and while the genre requires a degree of suspension of disbelief and whimsy, the book previous to this one really toed the line in terms of readability.

This book redeemed the series and I am already looking forward to the next installment. It is great to see Finlay's character growth from book to book. Seeing her emerge from the different struggles and situations she has found herself in and come out a better mother, a better friend, a more empathetic co-parent, and more open partner to the love interest keeps me coming back for more. Not to mention there are parts of the book that are simply hilarious, balanced with heartfelt moments as well.

We're all rooting for Finlay - can't wait to see how she handles that cliff hanger!

I have read all the other books from this series and I quite like this book as well.

Finlay and Vero lives together and they do not like their elderly neighbor Mrs. Haggerty and then one day there’s a body found in Mrs Haggerty’s house and now even though she is cleared by the police but now she has nowhere to go so she ends up moving in with Finlay.

Finlay wasn’t looking for solving any murder but when her ex become a suspect she decides to uncover the murder cause she knew it wasn’t her ex. I really enjoyed this installment as well.

thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own!

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martins Press for the eARC.

This story really felt like the first two books in the Finaly Donovan series, Finaly falling face first into unfortunate events and of course dead bodies.

When the police find a dead body in her nosy neighbors backyard and somehow Finaly’s ex husband gets fingered for the crime Finaly has to find the real killer to exonerate her ex all while housing the nosy neighbor, who may know more than she’s letting on.

I enjoyed that this story was less convoluted than the last two Finaly books the story line didn’t involve any mob bosses, and it brought back characters from the first book and rounded out those story lines in believable way. This installment brought back what got me hooked on the series initially and I’m excited to see where it goes next.

This latest installment in the Finlay Donovan series contains all of the outrageous antics that you would expect. I enjoyed getting to know nosy neighbor Mrs. Hagerty better and the twists and turns kept me guessing. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

4/5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of this book.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano is a fast-paced, witty mystery that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. In this third installment of the Finlay Donovan series, struggling author and accidental hitwoman Finlay finds herself in deeper trouble as she juggles motherhood, writing deadlines, and an increasingly dangerous web of crime. With sharp humor, unexpected twists, and an endearing cast of characters—including her feisty nanny-turned-sidekick Vero—this book delivers an entertaining mix of suspense and comedy. I loved the latest installment of Finlay's chaotic yet clever escapades.