YASSSS! To be totally honest, I LOVED the first 2 Finlay books but the past few have fell flat for me.. BUT- this one.. was OG Finlay, I LOVED it! I laughed and was nervous and felt all the feels!

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano is a fast-paced, darkly comedic thriller that delivers both suspense and humor in equal measure. The book follows Finlay, a struggling novelist and reluctant amateur detective, as she finds herself tangled in a web of crime, deception, and danger. Cosimano’s witty writing and the quirky, flawed characters make for a fun and engaging read, while the twists and turns keep readers on the edge of their seats. With its sharp dialogue, unexpected plot developments, and a perfect balance of humor and suspense, this installment in the Finlay Donovan series is a satisfying and entertaining ride.

What a delight to get back into the Finlay world if only for a little while. It’s always fun to catch up with Finn and Vero but I really really enjoyed the exploration of other characters that we’ve met in passing and some more of Finn’s relationship with Detective Anthony 🤭

I’m honored that I was entrusted with another arc from this wonderful series. Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ugh. Finaly Donovan is amazing. I fell in love with this series over COVID 2020 and by fell in love I mean FELL in LOVE. I gushed about this series to everyone I could and whenever someone asked for a recommendation for a mystery or something funny and cozy I always pointed them to this story.

In this next installment, Finaly continues her antics and gets up to more insane things. Truly these stories are so wild and at times unbelievable but I cannot express how much joy I get out of them. They are so fun and truly hilarious. I cannot say that I know many mysteries that are alike this one, and bring such hilarity to topics so this series is truly one of a kind.

I had the opportunity to meet the author Elle earlier this year and I have to say that it made me love these books even more. She did hint that the sereis would keep going and I am very excited to follow Finaly and Vero anywhere.

I am curious how this exact storyline will end. I don't want it to drag on forever and I would want to see a finished product and then Finaly and Vero start onto something new.

The exploration into Mrs. Haggerty in this novel was SO GOOD and I am thrilled to see where this new relationship takes Finaly and her crazy neighbor.

This did only get three stars from me, but only because there was nothing truly spectacular about this novel in particular, I love the storyline and the characters, but I feel as though we need something new and fresh to the story itself and a bow tied off on this current narrative. I am hopeful that the involvement of Mrs. Haggerty and the growing team of chaos, as well as Finlay's man finally being let in on the truth, will cause some new tension and thrills in the next novel. I still enjoyed this book throughly and flew through it in an evening.

I love this series so much and this book was wonderful! Finlay and Vero are such a fun duo and to add in the other characters, especially Cam. it is a great ride. This book was just as good as the others and I am always excited for the next installment. Elle Cosimano adds all elements of a book to make it fabulous, comedy, romance, mystery and relatability to characters. What a great book! I hope there are many, many more installments in this series.

This book is an absolute rollercoaster from start to finish! Finlay Donovan is such a compelling character—smart, resourceful, and hilariously relatable. Her adventures (or should I say misadventures?) had me hooked from the very first page.

The plot is a perfect blend of mystery, humor, and suspense. I loved how Cosimano weaves together the elements of a crime thriller with laugh-out-loud moments. Finlay's knack for getting herself into and out of trouble is both entertaining and endearing.

The supporting characters are just as fantastic, adding depth and charm to the story. The dynamic between Finlay and her sidekick, Vero, is especially delightful. Their banter and camaraderie bring so much life to the narrative.

The twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, Cosimano threw in another curveball that left me eagerly turning the pages.

The entire time I was reading this, I kept preparing myself for it to be the final book of the series… but then that ending happened. This book had me cackling several times, and I am so disappointed I have to wait a year to read the next one.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc

the first few books were great! i love finlay & vero, i just think that we are at the point where we are just rehashing things. it's getting a bit stale. still enjoyable, but i want something different!

I love the Finlay series so much and this one reassured that fact. It was the perfect book to reignite my reading pace and it was so nice to be in the Finlay world again. None of the characters disappoint, and it was the perfect balance of single mom Finlay versus her usual antics with Vero. Thank you so much to Netgalley for this arc, until the next book!

Elle Cosimano does it again with her witty and thrilling Finlay Donovan series! This installment keeps readers hooked with its clever twists, laugh-out-loud moments, and high-stakes drama. Finlay, the delightfully relatable protagonist, finds herself in yet another mess as she juggles single motherhood, her chaotic writing career, and an unexpected plunge into danger.

Cosimano’s sharp writing and knack for blending humor with suspense shine throughout the book, making it a must-read for fans of the series and anyone who loves a good mystery with heart. Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is a fun, fast-paced ride that you won’t want to put down.

A perfect continuation to an already stellar series—Cosimano keeps us guessing and laughing till the very end! Thank you to the author and net galley for letting me read this ARC!

Thank you #netgalley for the early copy of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave. In the 5th book of the series Finlay and Vero are at it again. They are caught up in more drama as Finlay’s nosey neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty gets arrested when a body is found in her yard. Upon release Mrs. Haggerty ends up staying at Finlays house and of course, chaos ensues. Elle Cosamano always makes me laugh out loud while reading this fun series. Finlay and Cero are a modern day Lucy and Ethel and I’m always here for it!

Book #5 in my favorite series has Finlay and Vero trying to prove that Steven, Finlay’s ex-husband, is innocent of the crime of murder. Her busybody neighbor, Mrs. Haggarty, is staying with her until some home repairs can be done and this puts an extra layer of stress on her while she’s sneaking around and hoping not to get caught.

As usual, this book will give you belly laughs and have you screaming at Finlay to do the right thing. This entire series of books is uniquely entertaining and massively addicting. I will never tire of Finlay, Vero and the whole crew and excitedly await the next one. Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader copy.

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @stmartinspress for an early copy of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5
Release date: March 4th, 2025

Blurb: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/211003787-finlay-donovan-digs-her-own-grave?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=I4UaXPHbJ0&rank=1

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave picks up from where the last book ended, and while the story dives deeper into Mrs. Haggarty’s character, the entirety of it feels short and undercooked as compared to the previous Finlay Donovan installments. There’s still the humor that we all love from the books, but the suspense from all the events that transpired isn’t as strong as it was, probably because the entire series already feels quite too long that most of the events in this book were just rehashing the events from the previous ones.

I did enjoy Mrs. Haggarty’s strong wit and humor though, and how she disciplines Finlay’s kids. Despite her demeanor, she’s very caring and sympathizes with other women who are being abused by their husbands.

This book ended with a cliffhanger and I’m wondering if the next book is the last one for this series. I’m kind of hoping it is because the storyline is getting kind of old with the same formula over and over.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is an easy and fun read despite it feeling quite undercooked as compared to the previous books in the series. Would recommend reading this if you have followed along with Finlay and Vero’s story!

I had a great time reading this book and laughing along with Finlay and Vero while they try to figure out how to get out of yet another mess and help the last person you would think they should help and that is Finlay's ex husband. I don't know if it is just me, but this book seemed a bit more serious than the others in the series. We still get many funny moments and shenanigans with the kids, Vero & Finlay and the other side characters in this one but I felt the vibe was a bit different in this book. That being said, this was still a fun, engaging read.

I really enjoy Elle's writing and I think any story with Finlay and Vero will be a hit. I have grown fond of them and they are somewhat of a little book family to me and I will be interested in seeing what happens on their next adventure as this one ends with question left unanswered. I am also interested in seeing where the relationship with Nick & Finlay goes as I think there is definitely room for growth there now that some secrets have been revealed. Vero and Javi also have an interesting storyline and I think we are going to see more of them and their past in the next installment of this series and I can't wait to read it.

If you are looking for your next laugh out loud, cozy, crazy mystery book please consider reading this series.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars. This is the 5th book in the Finlay Donovan series, and I honestly just marvel at the fact that 5 books in and this series has not even gone slightly stale. I truly have no idea how Cosimano keeps delivering us fresh, funny, and twisty reads, but she's done it again with Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave. This is a series where you do have to read the books chronologically, buy if it's been a while since you've read a previous book (like me), Cosimano does a really great job of summarizing previous events/characters without being redundant. Book 5 picks up right where book 4 leaves off, and in typical Finlay fashion, she and Vero get dragged into another murder investigation... only this time, they're solving a murder instead of accidentally committing one themselves. I love the found family vibes between Finlay and Vero, I love the funny mom humor/ scenes involving her kids, and I really love the romance between Finlay and Nick. And of course, I love love love the mystery! Honestly, I can't see myself ever tiring of this series, or Finlay and Vero's shenanigans. As with all the other books, this one also ends with a cliffy, and it will definitely have you reeling for the next book!

Thank you so much to Cosimano, Minotaur, and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for the honest review.

loved this mystery writer who always ends up being part of a case. Her neighbor has a body on the property and ends up at her house. But she helps her son get potty trained and she ends up solving a case about her neighbor and book club. The book club isn't what it seems . I can't wait to see what happens with nick and her and nanny per say.

This book was fine. I was neither wowed nor disappointed in this book. The series is a good time but not particularly life changing

Fantastically hilarious Finlay and Vero are on the case when their neighbor Mrs. Haggerty is arrested for murder. This companion novel picks up after the tangled web of Finlay’s involvement with the Russian mob, romance with Nick and hilarious stories of sleuthing with Vero, her nanny, bff and girl on the run from the law. There are lots of explanations for any reader who hasn’t read previous books. I love Finlay’s moxie and how she is vulnerable yet strong. Loved the scenes with Nick, keeps me wanting more of his perspective. I laughed reading this and I appreciate the humor in the mystery.

Ahh I absolutely LOVE the Finlay Donovan books and couldn't wait to read this one!!

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 simple call to a plumber turns into the discovery of a dead body in her backyard, Mrs. Haggerty needs their help.

The police take Mrs. Haggerty in for questioning and, though she swears she’s innocent, it’s clear to everyone she’s keeping a secret . . . but whose? With her house now an active crime scene, she’s released from custody with nowhere to go. Her concerned grandson, Brendan, an aspiring politician, doesn’t have room in his one-bedroom apartment for her and appeals to Finlay to let her stay at her place until the investigation is over.

Finlay and Vero have no interest in getting involved in another murder case—or sacrificing either of their bedrooms so they’d have to share. 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. But when the focus of the investigation widens to include Mrs. Haggerty’s neighbors, Finn and Vero are left with little choice but to uncover the woman’s secrets before the police start digging up theirs.

I couldn't put this one down and am so excited that I got to read it!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for Goodreads.

Much thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for my early readers edition of this fun book! I have been so lucky to have been an early reader for this entire series!

Finlay and Vero are back on the hunt and getting into trouble, as always. There isn’t a ton I can say. There really isn’t much depth to these stories and they are just pure enjoyment and laughter.

I would recommend reading the entire series as each story builds from the last. I will say I am quite excited for the next one based on how this one ended!