This latest cozy mystery from Elle Cosimano has Finlay trying to help exonerate her ex from murder charges and taking in her elderly neighbor. I really enjoyed the evolution of Finlay's relationship with her police officer boyfriend and the focus on women getting revenge on men who do them wrong. Good on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Nita Prose. This book ended on a cliffhanger and I'm excited to learn what happens in the next book! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the eARC! Finlay Donovan's life was almost coming together, but then her neighbor Mrs. Haggerty was arrested when a dead body was found in a garden. While this news shouldn't have impacted Finlay, when Mrs. Haggerty is cleared of all charges, Mrs. Haggerty decides that she'll be staying with Finlay until her (Mrs. Haggerty) house is back in livable condition. To make matters worse, the police arrest a new suspect: Finlay's ex-husband, Steven. While Finlay and Steven didn't have the perfect marriage, she can't believe that he would murder anyone. Soon, Finlay and Vero are on the case to solve the murder and free Steven (as well as get Mrs. Haggerty out of her house). With humor and heart, Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave (the fifth in the series), offers a new element of fun and intrigue to the familiar characters and storylines.

They’re baaaaack. Finlay Donovan….oops….. I mean Elle Cosimano, does jt again! With all of Finlay Donovan’s books, you have to expect the unexpected and believe the unbelievable. This book was no exception. I will admit though, I wasn’t as WOWed by this one as I was with #1. They do say you never forget your first book of the series hehe. Maybe I felt like I couldn’t connect with the characters like k had been but I still really enjoyed it and laughed out loud throughout the book. EC is so great for giving us these beauties!

Thank you for the publishers and NetGalley for giving me the amazing privilege of reading this eARC.

3.75 stars

Finlay Donovan has taken us all on a wild ride over the past five books, and this might be her best feature yet for a slightly shady reason; she's overshadowed by Mrs. Haggerty. If you, too, enjoy Finlay but sometimes want a little less of her and a little more of the folks around her (VERO!), then Mrs. Haggerty will bring you joy here, too.

Mrs. Haggerty is a hilarious character who is full of surprises, and this is in part because as an older woman, she is somewhat invisible in a culture that values women when they are young and beautiful. Mrs. H won't be silenced, though. She's absolutely wild in the very best ways, and this is most obvious when she is interacting with small children and outrageous parents of small kids. I really need more of this character in future books!

The catalyst for drama and hijinks here is the discovery of a body in Mrs. Haggerty's backyard and - as usual - Finlay's troubling proximity to all of the chaos. This woman cannot help but get involved in all things at all times!

I continue to struggle with a particular aspect of these novels, though I will add that the fangirling over folks in this profession I'm referencing is less extreme here than in other parts of the series. I hope we continue to get a reprieve.

Overall, this is an entertaining inclusion in the series with the MVP award (MVC?) going clearly to Mrs. Haggerty. I recommend the audiobook for great narration when and where accessible.

My favorite part of every year, since I read the first book in 2022, is getting to read a new Finlay Donovan book. I enjoy these books so much and they always make me smile and even laugh out loud at times. This book was just as good as the first and in some ways even better.

Finlay is still a bit of a hot mess, but she shows some growth in this book. She is still struggling as a single mom, but she is slowly getting her act together. I love her relationship with her kids and I love seeing the two of them growing up in these books. Finlay still gets herself involved in things she shouldn’t and she gets into those crazy situations that make me laugh, but she is making better choices and is not as impulsive as she use to be.

Vero is also making progress, both in her life and her love life. She is so loyal to Finlay and the two of them have been through a lot together. But they still have each others back, and although she might believe that Steven is capable of murder she is willing to help Finlay prove his innocence. Vero is the best friend that everyone needs. I hope she and Javi finally get their happy ending soon.

I loved getting to know Mrs Haggerty better. In the previous books she is just the elderly nosy neighbor who has seen way too much from Finlay’s perspective. But she is a lovely lady who even though is difficult at times, seems to have her act together. I loved her role in this mystery and was happy that things worked out for her in the end. I also loved her budding friendship with Cam, a teenage hacker that has helped Finlay out and who she keeps a mothering eye on. I hope we continue to see Cam in future books.

And let’s not forget everyone’s favorite hot detective, Nick. Finlay and his relationship continues to grow, although they have their strained moments in this one. But by the end they learn to trust each other, which is especially good for Finlay considering all she went through with her ex husband. Some very nice romantic scenes, and some hot steamy kisses, but nothing explicit which works well in this book.

I was a little bit worried that this book wouldn’t be as exciting now that the Russian mob has been dealt with, but I needn’t have. This book was just as exciting as the previous ones and I raced through those pages. There was a much lower body count in this one, and miraculously Finlay had nothing to do with any of them, but that was ok. This story is about female friendship and empowerment and trust. I had figured out pretty early on what was really going on with the body in the backyard, but I was still happy to go on the journey with Finlay and friends watching them figure it out as well.

Another great installment in one of my favorite series. This one could be read without having read the other books in the series, but I wouldn’t recommend it. To truly love and appreciate the characters you need to start at the beginning with Finlay Donovan is Killing it.

Finlay Donovan's ability to find herself in the midst of trouble knowns no bounds. Just when things seem settled and at peace, she's once again thrown into a new drama- this time, an investigation into the sudden uncovering of a dead body behind the house of her neighbor, Ms. Haggerty. Despite his claims of innocence, Steven is the number one suspect, and taken away for questioning. As any good sleuth, Finlay takes it upon herself (and Vero, of course) to investigate and uncover the truth.

I quite enjoyed the break away from the Russian mob and high-stakes storyline, as this who-dun-it style felt more cozy and allowed for Vero and Finlay's friendship and banter to really shine. The duo never fails to make me laugh, and I enjoyed this story so much. I could easily see myself enjoying the rest of the series if it moves into a more amateur sleuth/murder mystery series from here instead of mobs and hit men.

I also really appreciated getting to see more of Vero's background and the development of her side story/who she is as a main character instead of only a side character. Javi is charming and I hope we see more of him in the next story.

But overall, I really did enjoy the story of Ms. Haggerty as we peeled back layer after layer of her past and goings and doings. There was certainly more than meets the eye with her and the bookclub...

This was a solid reading experience, and I rated it a solid 4 stars. So much to love, and I really look forward to where the series goes from here!

i love this whole damn series so much. they get funnier with each book and the are the easiest reads. every character is well-written and it always feels like a cute little golden girls episode, but like, dark. i hope this series never ends.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave might be my favorite in the series. Hard to say since I read the first one so long ago, but Finlay #5 does not disappoint. We see more of nosey, crochety neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty when she ends up living with Finlay… much to Finlay and Vero’s chagrin. We also see a lot more of hot cop Nick and the ornery, yet lovable, whiz kid Cam. The usual shenanigans ensue. I laughed out loud. The mystery and plot had great pacing. I couldn’t wait to pick it back up and find out what happened next.

The funniest part (in my opinion) includes Vero protesting… “I didn’t touch his Eggplant! It belongs to Mrs. Haggerty!” The whole situation was just hilarious. I couldn’t stop laughing. I read an advanced copy, so the exact wording might change. But this is such a great scene, I can’t imagine it not being in the final version. Just so freaking hilarious.

If you have been reading the Finlay Donovan novels, don’t sleep on this one. Cosimano really delivered with #5!

Special thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books for the digital ARC via NetGalley.

Finlay strikes again! This book was so fun. I enjoyed getting to know Mrs Haggarty better, but I missed the focus on Vero. I appreciated that the majority of things Finlay did in this book did not directly lead to her doing criminal acts and that she learned to trust Nick a little more.

I was somewhat frustrated by how long it took Finlay to figure out the book club’s sinister background but I’ll forgive it for the plot. It felt like something she would have caught onto quickly.

This book was a wonderful instalment in the Finlay Donovan world. I can’t wait for more. I received this advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Elle Cosimano does it again! The finlay donovan series has it all…thriller, romance and witty humor. I couldn’t put this one down. I guessed the twist in the book but it didn’t even ruin it for me. Loved it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️My review: Finlay and Vero are neck deep in more mystery and murder. This next installment picks up right after the last book,Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice, so there's consistency. If you haven't read the other books, this will be a little confusing, so be sure to start with the first one, Finlay Donovan is Killing It.

Finlay is smart but really finds herself in bad situations. This time she is trying to save her ex Steven. While he may not deserve all her help, he's not a murderer. Fin and Vero have to use all their skills to figure out how everyone (including grumpy Mrs. Haggerty) is involved. Detective Nick is front and center and hacker Cam is part of the fray as well.
Things got a little confusing but as always, Finlay gets by thanks to luck, brains and a little serendipity. Definitely laughs are involved and some suspense. I was able to figure things out along with Fin and Vero.
Read them all! Because another one is definitely on the way. ;)

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advance digital copy in exchange for my review.

I was given a copy for an honest review

As much as I love Finlay Donovan and this series, but sadly, this book in the series was just 4 stars. There wasn't much action. The premise was a bit boring, no real murder taken place in this book. This book I feel is a filler in the series.

It’s just another day in the neighborhood!
Finlays neighbor, Mrs Haggerty, goes to jail after a body is discovered in her backyard! When Mrs Haggerty is eventually cleared by the police, she naturally moves in with Finlay until her home is cleared of the crime scene tape.

While Finlay isn’t too sure of her new roommate situation, having Mrs Haggerty around proves to be quite useful.

During the book, The Tuesday Night Club by Agatha Christie played the inspiration for book club and this book has embodied the women helping women virtue. It all started with a misunderstanding at Panera Bread 😉

I’m loving how as the series progresses little bits of the prior books come in to play or are tied back to each other. So far, this was my favorite of the reads and I cannot wait for more! And Finlay may have some competition on her hands for a best seller 📖

Thank you to the author, Elle Cosimano, publisher Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read all of the Finaly Donovan books in anticipation of the March 3, 2025 release of Finsl Donovan Digs Her Own Grave. I received EPubs and my reviews are being left voluntarily.

Absolutely loved this! I think this was my favorite of the series since Book 1. I love the growing relationship between Finlay and Nick and getting to see more of the side characters as well. Cannot wait for the next one!

SCREAMING that I was approved for this one. I love this series.

Same characters that we know and love (or loathe ahem Steven) same cozy bingable mystery vibe. Finley’s ex is suspected of murder after a body is found in the neighbor’s flowers… that he put in… Finley is *pretty sure* he’s innocent and she and Vero do their best to prove it. As usual they get more than they bargained for in the process.

This one was a slow burn for the first half. I think if could have had more story to it (or more Detective Nick Anthony. A LOT MORE). The second half picked up and was unique and entertaining. It was fun to learn more about Mrs. Haggerty (do I maybe like her now?!) and have some newer characters still in the fold. It wasn’t my favorite of the series so far, but I enjoyed it. Not sure what I’m supposed to do now… no chance of a special book 6 drop right after this one right? 🥲

Thanks St Martins Press, Minotaur Book, Elle Cosimano, and NetGalley for this eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I did not forsee Mrs. Haggerty moving IN to Finlay's when I started this series :-D I really enjoyed this one, it had the same fairly unplausible avoidance of reality as the others, but I really wasn't ever sure where we were going next so I had a great time along the way. My biggest surprise was learning from book 1 to this one has been roughly 5 months in book time, I thought we were progressing WAY faster than that so appreciated the level set on timeline. If you have been enjoying this series, I think this is another worthy entry into the group!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I'm so glad I read this book. Finlay Donovan is back and fun again. The last book wasn't as fun and felt repetitive and long winded. This book hit the spot! It kept the story moving forward, introduced new mysteries, more character depth. It wrapped up some previous endeavors nicely while leaving us on the and edge of our seat for the next installment.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you for allowing me to read this fantastic book in the best mystery series ever!! I love all of the characters even the kids!

I will say I was not a huge fan of the fourth book, but I just couldn't give up on a chance to read book 5. Finaly's character is very charismatic, and I feel like I feel in love with the series all over again. This book is right up there with the very first one. This one is super entertaining and has really made me want to go back and read all the books again, even the few I wasn't a huge fan of. I am so happy I was able to read this early and will be buying a physical copy upon release day. I have already pre-ordered it. Thanks NetGalley.

The long story of Finlay and the mob is now ended and it's time for a new arch-villain to arrive! Finlay and Vero continue their tomfoolery as they're called to investigate and defend their nosy neighbor. Another fun episode in a fun series.