Recommended for: cozy mystery readers who enjoy humor sprinkled throughout. And who may or may not have dabbled in other Finlay Donovan books (although I don’t feel like you need to have read the other books)

Summary: We are reintroduced to Finlay Donovan and her uniquely scrambled family dynamic. Only now her nosy neighbor has moved in with them until the police are done investigating a dead body found in the neighbor’s backyard. Finlay finds herself smack dab in the middle of another investigation that could lead to her own demise.

Review: I always love returning to this family! This time it had the added bonus of Mrs. H, the neighbor, and her generationally different discipline. I loved seeing her react to the kids and seeing a little of the story from the kids point of view! Lastly, the relationship between the Gen Z character of Cameron and the Boomer Mrs. H was unique and delightful! I can’t wait for the next book!

finlay and vero are back again with the shenanigans, and it was so refreshing to be following a thread that isn't directly tied to them.

in FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE we dive right back into the drama in mrs. haggarty's backyard. her grandson picks her up from jail, drops her off at finlay's, and leaves her in their hands. i mean, who can blame him?

surprisingly, i ended up really enjoying more of mrs. haggarty in this book. i never thought i'd say that, but she actually grew on me. i was happy to see more of cam. especially seeing him interact with mrs. haggarty. those moments were so fun.

i did have a moment of worry that we might get sucked back into old storylines, but thankfully, we dodged that bullet. i’m so ready for these characters to take new directions, and it looks like that’s exactly what we’re in for. that being said, this felt a little like a filler book, laying the groundwork for what's to come, so it wasn’t my favorite of the series.

we continued to get more finlay and nick content on the side, plus some javi and vero too. there were some (very much needed) loose ends tied up between finlay and nick, and i was thrilled about that.

the ending sets us up for the next adventure, and i’m super intrigued to see how the crew handles their upcoming complications!

**side note: i definitely would've loved the zach situation to be handled differently in the prologue. it felt weird and unnecessary that he was in the school without a blanket or anything. idk, it rubbed me the wrong way.

3.75/5

Elle Cosimano delivers another sharp and entertaining installment in the Finlay Donovan series, with a plot that stands out as the best since the first book. The pacing is tight, the writing is smooth, and the story takes a much-needed turn that reinvigorates the series.

The mafia storyline had run its course, and this shift in direction felt refreshing. It was also great to see more of Mrs. Haggerty, Cam, and Nick, whose expanded roles added depth and humor. The introduction of the book club was an unexpected but welcome addition that blended seamlessly with the story’s chaotic energy.

The novel ends on a strong cliffhanger, setting up the next book perfectly. Every element—from the humor to the tension—lands exactly as it should, making this a standout entry in the series. The audiobook narration remains flawless, elevating the experience even further.

Cosimano continues to strike the right balance between suspense and comedy, keeping the momentum of Finlay’s story going in the best possible way.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano
Rating: 4.5 stars
Pub date: 3 /4

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for my advanced copy!

Elle Cosimano does it again with Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave! This latest installment in the series is just as fun and chaotic as ever, with plenty of mystery, humor, and Finlay-and-Vero shenanigans to keep things entertaining.

This time around, Finlay and Vero aren’t the ones in immediate trouble (for once), but their nosy neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, is. When a dead body turns up in her backyard, she suddenly needs a place to stay—and, of course, she ends up crashing at Finlay’s. While they try to keep their distance from the investigation, we all know that’s never really an option for these two.

The book has all the witty banter and ridiculous situations that make this series such a blast. I loved getting more of Nick and Mrs. Haggerty in this one, and Steven’s character development was surprisingly interesting. I haven’t had this much fun with this series since book one, and after that cliffhanger, it looks like there is another one coming!

Overall, this was a super fun, fast paced read! The humor, the characters, and the wild predicaments make it worth picking up. I can’t wait to see what’s next for these characters!

Finlay Donovan is still killing it! 🔥🔪

This series never misses! Finlay and Vero are back, bringing their usual brand of mischief and mayhem, and I couldn’t be more entertained. This time, their lives get flipped upside down when Mrs. Haggerty—yes, the same sweet old lady—gets released from jail and lands right on their doorstep. The reason? A body was found in her backyard. 😳 And to make matters even more complicated, the person accused of the crime is none other than Finlay’s ex-husband, Steven.

Now, Finlay and Vero are in full sleuth mode, determined to uncover the truth and clear Steven’s name. But solving a murder while juggling parenting, relationships, and the ever-growing chaos of their lives? Not exactly a walk in the park. As Finlay gets deeper into the case, her relationship with Nick starts to feel the strain—how much longer can he be patient before he starts questioning everything? And just when you think things couldn’t get more complicated, Finlay’s book agent, Sylvie, shows up in town with her own secretive agenda. 😏

One of the things I love most about this series is how Elle Cosimano effortlessly blends mystery, humor, and heart. 💛 The pacing is chef’s kiss, the characters are layered and dynamic, and the themes—motherhood, marriage, divorce, friendship, and career struggles—make it all feel so real. And THAT ENDING?! 🚨 Cliffhanger alert! It’s giving book six is coming, and I’m so ready for it!

I like to imagine that Elle Cosimano wakes up in the middle of the night with her brain going a mile a minute plotting out the hijinks for Finlay Donovan and Vero. Her imagination and innovative plot twists make this series a continuing delight. Finlay, Vero, their boyfriends Nick and Javi, along with neighbor Mrs Haggerty and friendly hacker boy Cam reunite to get Finlay's cheating ex-husband out of jail. In one of my favorite scenes, Cam is teaching the elderly Mrs Haggerty to play video games, and in the process gives her some life advice... "Always use two-factor authentication and Nigerian Princes don't need your money" are two very sound principals to live by!

If you haven't met Finlay and crew, start this series at the very beginning. There is just too much good plot that you'll miss if you dive in in the middle.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank so much to NetGalley and Elle Cosimano for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for a review.

Finlay finally believes she's out of trouble, until she returns home from Atlantic City to hear of a dead body in her neighbor's backyard, the nosy Mrs. Haggerty. Mrs. Haggerty is cleared of the crime, but now needs a place to stay and ends up staying with Finlay and Vero. But the main suspect in the case is someone close to Finlay. Can she solve the crime before it's too late? This is one of my favorite comedic memories, making mothers feel seen (the toddler tantrums in the background were such a reflection of my life). The characters you love from earlier books are back, including your favorite cop. As usual, Elle created a mystery full of intrigue and fun. I look forward to future books in the series. A must read for fans of Finlay.

This book cracked me up. Just when it seems like Finlay can't get herself in more trouble, she does. This one had all the characters that bring so much personality. Finn is definitely a better person than me, cause I would have left Steven to rot. Finlay and Vero make the best pair trying to solve a mystery. This one ends with a major teaser of what is to come.

Another excellent installment in this wonderful series.
I absolutely loved how Finlay (and Nick!) showed up for Steven, despite his flaws.
I’m constantly amazed by the author’s ability to throw these characters into impossible situations that they always come out from unscathed.

And I have to geek out for a second here - OMG, FINALLY!!!!! IYKYK.

And that ending!!!! I’ll be not-so-patiently waiting for the next book.

I’ve binged the whole series over the past couple of months and my only complaint is that now I’m caught up and have to wait for the next book.

This book did the impossible, it made me fall in love with Mrs. Haggerty, or as Cam calls her, Mrs. H. Honestly this whole series is so much fun and this one is no exception. I figure if you’re reading reviews for the fifth book you’ve either stumbled here by accident (in which case go read book one and experience the whole series) or you’re looking to see if this book will disappoint you. And if you liked the rest of the series, I don’t think it will. I certainly had a blast.

Is the plot perfect? No, but the vibes were immaculate and I had the best time. I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC!

The Finlay Donovan series has been a guilty pleasure of mine for years and I was ecstatic to be able to read the fifth installment early!

Happy to have Finlay’s nanny and partner-in-crime, Vero back in this one. As always, Elle Cosimano kept me entertained with her wit and humor. I did enjoy book 5 a lot more than book 4!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC!

Finlay Donovan is back! While I really didn’t love book four, this one is back on track. The fun, whit, humor and crazy antics of the first book in the series is back. Some stories wrapped up while others left us waiting for the next book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fast paced comedy and mystery with a relatable main character.

These are always such quick fun reads. I love when a new Finlay Donovan book hits my kindle. I know I am in for a fun ride. This was no different. I loved the way they got Nick into the story in a less official capacity. Mrs. Haggerty was a fun twist to keep Finlay and Vero on their toes. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next installment!!

I look forward to the new Finlay Donovan books and I have read them all. This latest book in the series is funny (I laughed very loudly more than once!), clever and features all of our favourite Finlay Donovan sidekicks from Vero to Steven via Nick, Sylvia, Delia and Zach.
I like the overlap of each book but they are written so well that you could pick any of them up and enjoy it without reading the other books, however I very much recommend all of the series!
Can’t wait for the next one!

This was a great story. Finlay had her hands full in this one for sure, from keeping track of Vero and Mrs. Haggerty. The Eggplant was a great addition to the story. I loved that part!! I'm looking forward to the next one in the series! I can't wait to read it.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC ebook and allowing me to read and review it.

#netgalley #ARC #ebook

Finlay Donovan and Vero have always had a love/hate relationship with their neighbor Mrs. Haggerty, but when a body turns up in her backyard, they have to help. But as quickly as Mrs. Haggerty is cleared of any wrongdoing, a new suspect emerges - Finlay’s ex-husband Steven. So now Finlay and Vero have to find out what really happened in order to clear the father of her children.

I’ve read the first four back to back and now that I’ve read #5, I’m bummed because now I have to WAIT for another? The audacity. This was another fun installment and picks right up where we left off in Rolls the Dice. Our usual characters are back to help the story and the case, which I loved. If you’ve read the others, this one is right on par. And if you haven’t, get on this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Available March 4, 2025.

Finlay is back for another round of adventure in "Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave". This time Finlay gets roped into a situation regarding the dead body found buried in Mrs. Haggerty's backyard. All of your favourite characters are back for this next installment.
This is a light, quicker read and I enjoyed the humour that has been in these books throughout the series. I was happy with the progression of Finlay and Nick's relationship and that she FINALLY told him about what she's been involved in. Vero's banter with Mrs. Haggerty was fabulous. Overall this was a great addition to the series, and with the cliffhanger ending I look forward to the next book in the series! Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this earc

I loved this book. Seriously. I think it was my favorite in the series so far.

Mrs. H and bookclub of women killing their husbands and covering it up??? I couldn’t ask for the better plot.
Finlay FINALLY telling Nick everything??? Obsessed.
Nick taking everything as given and moving on to get into somewhat healthy relationship? Chief’s kiss.

This book was hilarious, mystery was super fun and we got some pretty great romance.
I was here for all of it.

The first Finlay Donovan book (Killing it) was a revelation for me. It ended up being one of the fastest read books in my history and I average about 80 novels a year. One of my pet peeve "reviewer" comments is when someone writes "unputdownable". The Finlay series, for me though, is exactly that. The fifth installment (Finlay Donovan Digs her own Grave) is, to me, on par with book 1 and much better than the previous book (Rolls the Dice).

This novel brings Finlay and Vero back home and that's where the action begins. There are no so many 'crazy, unrealistic' scenarios in this one and everything is well paced. Most of the characters in the series return (Cam, Steven etc.) but the standout is Mrs. Haggerty. Getting to know her is a treat and truly makes me think of the saying my dad used to tell me. "Old age and treachery will defeat youth and skill every time". If Elle is looking for a spinoff series, one starring Mrs. Haggerty and Cam would be an easy choice.

If fast paced, humorous action with likeable and relatable characters are your read of choice don't skip on this series, it's especially delicious reading, just like the brownies in Finlays refrigerator.

The fifth installment of the Finlay Donovan series & my favorite to date!

The story picks up right where the 4th ends, Finlay's neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty had just been arrested when the police discovered a buried body in her backyard. Now cleared, she needs somewhere to go and what is Finlay going to do when attention is focused on her ex-husband?

Both hilarious and action packed - this one was the best so far. I loved the development of Mrs. Haggerty's character, that we get to see another side of her. Finlay's and Nick's relationship continues to be explored and starts to get complicated and GOOD! Cam is back, both helping and causing trouble. My favorite supporting character, Vero, is up and front doing anything Finlay needs. And the ending...the next book is going to be GREAT!!!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the ARC, all opinions are my own.