Phew! That was a ride!

I was ready to be let down by this book: nervous over the deviation from the original storylines that kept me captivated, worried that putting the main characters through too many experiences would start to feel artificial (like many series eventually do). Finlay’s new adventure, however, was a breath of fresh air.

The book starts off with Mrs. Haggerty’s murder arrest and deep dives into a profound, witty and hilarious narration of how desperate actions can lead to unimaginable consequences.

Consequences was a heavy theme throughout this novel. Because, while the main mystery was not centered around Finlay and Vero, the fallout from their previous ones weighed heavy throughout the novel as both women tried to navigate a past that keeps catching up with them even if they’d rather leave it in the grave!

The 5th installment to the Finlay Donovan series is an example of how to move a series forward with the same protagonists while also changing the narrative to keep the story fresh.

Cosimano takes us back to South Riding and it’s the reunion we’ve all been hoping to read: all the favorite characters are back! The mystery is thrilling, but the real sparkle comes from all Finlay’s hilarious moments with daughter Delia, nanny Vero, and neighbor Mrs. Haggerty. The laughs, chuckles, and outright spit-take guffaws are all here in abundance.

The spice is spicy, and the romance doesn’t disappoint. As always, these books are about motherhood, the writer life, and female friendship. Mix in the hot cop, the gray areas of the law, and suspense, and we get a homecoming worthy as a stand alone, but dazzling as the fifth installment in the Finlay Donovan series.

4.5⭐️
Ugh one of my favorite series!!! I love Finlay and Vero so much & I love how they’re surrounded by so many people who love them as well. I loved seeing all the relationships form and grow throughout this one and I loved the character development. Excited to see what’s next😉

I love everything about this series, It's laugh out loud funny, suspenseful, with a bit of romance mixed in. In the latest installment in the Finlay Donovan series, the titular character finds herself solving another murder, while also potty-training her toddler son, writing her new book, negotiating a TV contract, and exonerating her ex-husband, I highly recommend this series. Cosimano is becoming a must-read author for me.

It can be really hard to keep up a good series. Fortunately for us, book number 5 of this series is just as good as the first one. All our favorite characters are back with their dead pan humor and witty banter. I liked how this one didn’t have any mofia hits taking place but still had mystery and intrigue. Even if you aren’t familiar with this series, you could easily start with this book. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book! As a fan of the series, I find the mix of mystery, humor, and well-developed characters so entertaining. This book had a compelling plot with plenty of twists, and the murder mystery kept me hooked from start to finish. I loved the dynamic between Finlay and Vero, and their shenanigans are always a highlight. Even though the plot is serious at times, the humor lightens everything up, making it such a fun read.

The addition of Mrs. Haggerty’s storyline and the involvement of her grandson, Brendan, really added another layer to the mystery. I liked how the book explored Finlay’s developing relationship with Nick too—definitely an interesting twist in her personal life! The moments of comic relief, especially from Cam, were perfect and had me laughing out loud.

While the book was an absolute blast to read, I’d say the pacing felt a bit slower in certain parts. However, the character development and the mystery more than made up for it. Overall, I’m already excited for the next installment and can’t wait to see what’s in store for Finlay and her crew. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a good mystery with a side of humor!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book didn’t disappoint it was an exciting installment of Finlay’s woes as she juggles parenting, solving murders, staying out of jail, & getting her next book published! 📚
I really enjoyed the extra Nick of this book! I hope the future books have more of him and Finlays relationship ❤️
This series is such a guilty pleasure read for me!🥰
I adore Vero - her & Finlay make an awesome duo! 👯‍♂️
In this installment, you see them get caught up in Mrs. Haggerty’s drama.
👟 👀 🫖 🍆 🪩
I enjoyed this one just as much as the previous books!
This books ending cliffhanger has me impatiently waiting for the next book!🥹
Huge Thanks to St. Martins Press &NetGalley for this advanced copy!!
Set to publish 3/4/25

I’ve always wondered about nosy Mrs Haggerty and oh boy was she up to something. Mrs. Haggerty and her little book club are not what they seem and when a dead body is found in her yard and she relocates herself into Finlay’s home everybody’s dirty little secrets threaten to come out.

This series just keeps getting better and better and i love how each book picks up right after the previous one ends. Finlay and Vero work together to get Mrs Haggerty out of the house but also try to figure out what she’s up to how she’s connected to the dead body especially when she pins it on Steven, Finlay’s ex husband.

I will forever be on team hot cop and I love Nick and how good he is to Finlay and for Finlay even with all the mess she’s been mixed up in. I want so many happy things for Finlay and I think Nick is just the person for her besides Vero and the kids. I can’t wait for the next book in the series especially after that epilogue bombshell drop



Thank you @minotaur_books and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback

Another hilarious series of events for Finlay and Vero and never fear because Finlay Donovan is STILL killing it! I absolutely love Finlay and Vero as a team, they play off each other perfectly and I appreciate Vero was a little "toned" down in this one which only makes her more relatable.

This go round we're focusing on Steven, Finlay's jerk of an ex-husband, and proving his innocence and Mrs. Haggerty! There are several laugh out loud moments and the cliffhanger ending to Book Four gets resolved in this book. Never fear, Book 5 is also leaving you with a BIG cliffhanger so thankfully we know there are more Vero and Finlay antics to come.

We also got a whole lot more Cam and Mrs Haggerty in this book but less Javi but I suspect Javi will be VERY prevalent in Book 6. No more teasers, you'll have to read them and wait like the rest of us. I really liked the references back to all the other books, just enough to spark your memory and remind you of the hilarious hijinks Finlay and Vero find themselves in.

Extra special thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur and Elle Cosimano for the early ARC of this book. You made my flight to Rome VERY entertaining!

I would like to start by saying just how much I have adored every single book in this series. Each one has a way of making me feel deeply connected to the characters, particularly Finlay Donovan. I find her not just relatable, but also incredibly witty, bringing a refreshing authenticity to her adventures that keeps me engaged from start to finish.

I was thrilled to receive an ARC for the fifth book, and let me tell you, it was impossible to put down! The pacing was perfect, and the storyline kept me on the edge of my seat, making it difficult to tear myself away. The delightful banter between Finlay and her nanny, Vero, is a standout feature—these two have such a dynamic relationship that never fails to bring a smile to my face. I experienced multiple laugh-out-loud moments thanks to their hilarious exchanges and clever comebacks, which added an extra layer of enjoyment to the reading experience.

I appreciate how the series continues to evolve, with each book building on the last and offering new challenges and developments for Finlay to navigate. The twists and turns kept me guessing, and I found myself eager to see where the journey would take her next. I absolutely can’t wait to see what comes next for Finlay and Vero!

Finlay Donovan is one of a kind! Love her antics and how she tackles anything that comes her way. Her neighbor Mrs. Haggerty gives Finlay and Vero a run for their money in this new novel in the series, Finlay Donavan Digs Her Own Grave. Finlay's love interest detective Nick is back and handsome as ever. Steven, Finlay's ex-husband, needs rescuing, again, when he is accused of murder, again. This may be the only installment that doesn't include a violent murder where Finlay has to hide a body or body parts! I would love to see these books turned into a movie or TV series. The characters are fun and quirky, likable and brave. Hoping Finlay finds a happy ever after once things calm down.

Elle has outdone herself on this one!! I don’t know how she does it, but this book was even better than the last one! This series just keeps getting better and better!!

This book was so funny. I think it was the funniest of all of them thus far, I started reading it at an indoor jump place while I was watching my kids play, and the other parents kept looking at me funny because I was
laughing out loud so loud. 🤣 Then when I was reading it in bed while my husband was sleeping, I had to leave the room because I was snort laughing so loud that I was afraid that I was going to wake him up. 😆

The character development in this book was just amazing. We got to know the characters even more than in past books, and I felt like it set us up for a very exciting next book! I can’t wait for more books from her. She is for sure one of my favorites!!

Oh Finley, what have you gotten yourself into this time? That was my first thought when I saw the advanced copy and title for Elle Cosimano's latest. This series in such a guilty pleasure read for me. I adore Vero and I think her and Finley make a great, albeit troublesome, duo. In this installment, you see them get caught up in some Mrs. Haggerty drama. Her grandson is concerned for her safety and clearing her name. Finn and Vero have to help to keep their names in the clear. I enjoyed this one a lot and I was happy to see a comeback after book four left me slightly disappointed. These books always keep me wondering how they are SO lucky to get away with murder. Thank you to St. Martins Press and Net Galley for an advanced copy.

I adore Finlay and Vero. This book was as delightful and funny as the others in the series. That cliffhanger though 😳 how am I suppose to keep waiting?!

Finlay is just such an intriguing character and I am always left wanting more. She makes me smile and laugh from start to finish.

Oh boy! The drama and action never stops with Finlay Donovan. Her nanny/partner/roommate is Vero and the two have been incredibly busy. Finlay is an author, mother and reluctant contract killer. What has her life come to?

Her neighbor Mrs. Haggerty has run into some troubles, and the fact that her house has no heat (oh, and is an active crime scene!) now makes her Finlay’s houseguest. Finlay doesn’t like it one bit. Neither does Vero, but needs must.

Maybe Finlay doesn’t like Mrs. Haggerty at all. In fact, the two have had their run ins more than once. But, Mrs. Haggerty just might have a secret (or two), so the chase is on. By chase, I mean danger and action. For readers of the previous four books in this series, there is a familiarity with Mrs. Haggerty, and negative opinions about the older later just may have developed. Well, surprisingly, there is a lot happening in this book, and let’s just say, by the end I was rooting for Mrs. Haggerty.

As Finlay and Vero navigate the danger and action, Finlay is shocked when her ex-husband, David, is arrested and charged with murder. Now, Finlay must clear his name and help Mrs. Haggerty with her own troubles (while Mrs. Haggerty has her own way of helping Finlay).

This book was a real delight. It complements the previous books in the series and is a must-read for fans of the series. As a series fanatic and now a fan of Elle Cosimano, I am eagerly hoping for more books in this series.

Many thanks to Minotaur and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Finlay Donovan is still killing it! This book is just as fun as the first in the series. Finlay and Vero are back to their usual mischief after Mrs. Haggerty gets dropped off at their house after getting released from jail for a body found in the Haggerty backyard. When Finlay's ex-husband, Steven, is accused of the murder, the dynamic duo is pulling out all the stops and proceeding full throttle to solve the murder and prove Steven's innocence. But will Finlay's boyfriend Nick continue to be patient and understanding with her, or will it jeopardize their relationship? To complicate matters, Sylvie, Finlay's book agent, unexpectedly arrives in town with meetings and her own hidden agenda. I loved this cozy, humorous mystery and am impressed that Cosimano continues to deliver a compelling story with good character development and pacing while exploring themes of motherhood, marriage, divorce, human kindness, and career. The cliff hanger at the end is giving book six sequel vibes. Long live Finlay Donovan!
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books, and Elle Cosimano for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

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Another fun installment of Finlay and her woes as she tries to parent, solve murders, keep out of jail, and get her next book published!
If you’re a fan of the series, definitely check it out. If you’re not, start with book one—it’s so fun.

Another solid fun book with Finlay and Vero. I ended up loving the turn this one took and the ending made my mouth drop. What's going to happen next?!

When Stephen is accused of murder, Finn is determined to prove he's innocent. Something doesn't add up and while he may be guilty of a lot, it's not murder. Finn's neighbor Mrs Haggarty stays with her while her house gets fixed and she's a handful. How much has she seen from across the street??

Nick and Finn hit a crossroads and some honesty has to happen for them to move forward. Can Finn trust him?

I love how quick and entertaining this series is!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC to enjoy.

I think this may have been my favourite Finlay yet (besides book 1 maybe).

We got so much Nickley in this story and I loved the character development as their relationship grew. I really enjoyed Mrs. Haggerty and Cam's arcs in this book as well.

It was good to be back on solid ground in Finn's house and start to see some of the plots begin to come full circle as things have been pretty chaotic for a couple books.

That cliffhanger ending! You know I'll be gobbling up the next one as soon as I can.