Overall another fun addition to this series! I am such a fan of this author and her writing and absolutely love her characters and dialogue! Would definitely recommend!

I will never stop talking about this series. With each new book, I grow more and more attached to Finlay and Vero and their crazy lives. This book was so well done and I absolutely LOVED the character development throughout. I feel like the characters felt a deeper and wider range of emotions in this story and it made them seem extremely vulnerable but also relatable. (Ex: Finlay’s hurt over Stephen’s additional allegations- and the fight with Nick that followed. Mrs. Haggerty opening up about her marriage. Vero’s genuine fear at the very end.) I really just loved everything about it. 5 billion stars.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave just reinforces how special this series is and the fact that these books NEED to be movies ASAP.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano
.
Finlay and Vero haven’t always gotten along with the nosy Mrs Haggerty across the street. When a dead body is found in her back yard, Mrs Haggerty needs a place to stay…and moves in with Finlay.
.
What I liked:
-I mean, it’s Finlay and Vero, they could spend 350 pages bantering about cleaning the kitchen and I would read it. I love them so much.
-I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about Mrs Haggerty and seeing her interact with Finlay and her family on a daily basis. I loved her car and her midnight antics.
-I feel like Finlay and hot cop made a lot of progress in this book and I ship them so hard.
-Bonus points for Mrs Haggerty’s assistance with the kids in this book.
.
What I didn’t like:
-This cliffhanger ending. Elle. NO. I need the next book yesterday.
.
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ For me the first book and the fourth book were my favorites but I love them all! Finlay is my girl and I’m ready to ride with her into the next book.

Finlay and Vero are back on the case as a body is discovered in their nosy next-door neighbor's backyard.

This was fine but not as entertaining as some of the other Finlay novels. Most of this plot felt like a rehashing of the previous 4 books melded into one. Lots of repeat characters (no new one's at all really) and the digging up of old cases were what carried the majority of the plot. I just didn't find myself as enthralled by this one and am getting to the point where I'm wondering if book 6 will finally bring this series to a close!

Finlay Donovan does it again! I'm a huge fan of this female mystery sorter and her nanny, Vero. They are always right in the middle of an unintentional case with severe consequences if caught. In this mystery, a body is found at her elderly next door neighbors house. The police have accused Finlay's ex husband and the race is on to figure out who did it before he is charged with murder. I am a huge fan of these books just bc the humor adds so much to the story. Between Vero and Finlay, the shenanigans don't stop. This is the book for you if you want a light mystery with some hilarious scenarios thrown in.

Minotaur Books eARC
Reading the next Finlay Donovan is so fun because these characters feel like friends at this point. I loved the direction this novel took. I was instantly hooked into the mystery featuring Mrs. Haggerty because of how she was featured in the other books, and what a complex, interesting woman she was, and I am so glad she was a major part of this book. I liked the mystery here. It was compelling and really helped Finlay grow in so many ways. Her shenanigans with Vero were entertaining especially because things are so busy for them in this book, even though they're back home. I will read this series as long as it keeps being written. I cannot wait to find out what happens next after the epilogue.

I never know how all of the loose threads will be resolved in the Finlay Donovan books but I do know I will enjoy the journey to find out !

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book, with my honest review below.

I hadn’t read the Finlay Donovan series prior to this book but had heard great things, and the blurb about this interested me just the same as a standalone book not associated with a series. I’m glad I was introduced to Finlay and her world, this book was a fantastic one, and even more it was one that could absolutely be read as a standalone with author Elle Cosimano introducing us to the characters and past events in a very measured way.

In Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave we find Finlay and her sidekick/nanny Vero riding the high of their romantic relationships while the trying to figure out what on earth to do with grump neighbor Mrs. Haggerty when she is released by the police after a body is found buried in her yard and dropped off at Finlay’s home while a leak is fixed. Mrs. Haggerty is a pretty phenomenal supporting character, and I have to say I love her approach to raising children (when she takes Finlay’s under her wing). This is no boiler plate mystery as Finlay’s ex-husband is the next suspect behind the murder found in Mrs. Haggerty’s yard, but alongside that and trying to clear her ex’s name, Finlay finds herself stumbling upon some other mysteries and fighting the level of honest she can give her cop boyfriend without implicating herself in past crimes. This book was incredibly funny and fun, with some solid mysteries and with characters who are colorful and well written enough to feel like you may have been watching some real (albeit with tremendously bad luck) people.

If you’re a fan of the series by all means pick this up, but if you’re new to them and just want a really good and lighter mystery, then be like and read this as a standalone. Chances are high that you’ll want to start exploring the whole series as I will be doing.

I'm screaming. I finished this book in 5 hours. It's the 5th book of the series and honestly might be the best conclusion (although there might be one more book???)

Anyway. We're back with the duo who can't stop stepping into messes that aren't their own. Steven (the pos he is) is arrested for murder of the body found in the previous book. Finlay doesn't believe he did it and is on a mission. Nick wants to help. Vero and Finlay are now housing a displaced Mrs Haggerty and her shady bookclub ways.

It's so funny. So many things are full circle here. I was cackling. So many callbacks to the previous stories and some delicious closure at the end.

Steven was gone for most of this book, hallelujah because he was TERRIBLE. And it focused on Finlay and Vero, just how I like it. Very little murder and mostly just mystery on mystery. I loved it so much.

Thank you to St. Martins Press for the Early Copy and for Allison there, who answered my emails. And thank you to Elle Cosimano for writing a wonderful series and letting me escape to it. Finlays story has been a constant for YEARS now and I love that it just picks right up where it left off. Until next time.

I loved this. Finlay is back! Honestly, I wasn't crazy about book 3. I've noticed I often don't like the third in the series. In fact, I was so "not-crazy" about it I almost gave up on the series. I'm SO glad I didn't! All my favorite characters are back and I really liked the non-stop adventure. I can't wait for the next one already!

The fifth book in this series doesn’t disappoint! Just when you think all is well from the crazy trip in Vegas, nosy neighbor Mrs Haggerty has a dead body turn up in her back yard! The shenanigans that Finlay and Vero find themselves in makes me chuckle out loud. I love this series and continue to recommend this series to friends!

Finn and Vero are sleuthing again, but this it’s much closer to home like across the street! A found is discovered in their neighbor's, Mrs. Haggerty, yard. With her house being a crime scene, Finn agrees to letting her stay through the weekend. This is a slow burn mystery. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy.

Elle Cosimano, the woman that you are. I seem to love the Finlay series more and more with each book. The mystery, the humor, the plot, they get even more fun with each addition the series. I can’t wait to see what Finlay, Nick, and Vero do next!

I DEVOURED the new Finlay Donovan almost as soon as I got the email! I could not wait! And I was NOT disappointed! Finlay and Vero, freshly back from Atlantic City, are shocked to hear that a dead body has been found in nosy neighbor Ms. Haggerty's yard. She ends up staying with Finlay for a few days and the trouble unravels from there.... I was left with a serious cliffhanger and I am already excited about the next one!

Once again, I devoured a Finlay Donovan book! This series is great and surprises me with each new book. I picked this up to skim the first page and didn't put it down until I finished it. I love the characters and the humor. There are so many moments that make me laugh. Totally enjoyable and if you haven't discovered these books, now is the time.