This was a fantastic installment to the Finlay Donovan series. I actually think it's my favorite one so far. Sometimes the books get a little bogged down by too many characters and too many adventures. But this one was chef's kiss! It felt like the culmination of everything in the first four books. I definitely suggest reading this series in order to keep track of it all!

Love the comedic elements, there’s a bit of rom Com-iness to it. And just really fun characters. Perfect Vacation/Beach read!

Perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series!

Read as an ARC through NetGalley. Finlay keeps me laughing through another book. Love this series and the things Finlay & Vero keep getting themselves into. Found myself rooting for Steven in this one and really loving Mrs. Haggerty 🤣 can’t wait for the next installment!

As always, Finlay and crew are facing hilarious and unpredictable situations. The messy family dynamics as well as outside relationships add to the charm of the mystery. I, of course, laughed out loud–several times–at Finlay’s antics. I can’t wait for the next one in the series!

Another satisfying addition to the series. It is a little less zany than the others. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. #sponsored

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano
4.5

In the highly anticipated fifth installment of the Finlay Donovan series, we find Finlay and Vero navigating the challenges of potty training, exploring developments in their love lives, and an elderly neighbour-turned-roommate with a dead body in her yard.

A heartfelt thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the chance to read an advanced copy of this latest release!

I’ll admit, I had my reservations. Could this storyline really sustain five books? But let me tell you, I haven’t enjoyed a book this much in ages! Finding myself back in Finlay and Vero's world was an absolute joy, filled with new relationships, outrageous escapades, and, of course, even more dead bodies.
This book had me laughing out loud and completely absorbed—I simply couldn’t put it down. Without a doubt, it’s one of the best in the series, leaving me eager to dive into the next one the moment it’s released.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is out now—don’t miss it!

Thank you NetGalley, St Martins Press and Elle Cosimano for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Guys. I have read 6 Finlay Donovan books in 2 weeks…now what am I supposed to do?! Kind of regretting reading these all back to back and wished I would have spread these out more.

This book was really fun. How so many people from previous storylines showed up in this book was a treat. It might be my favorite one of the series.

Nick nick nick…I mean, I adore him and his biscuits but buddy, how can you keep not asking the questions?!

Mrs Haggerty, her neighbor and busybody, is a key player in this story and keeps you guessing throughout the entire book.

The Finlay Donovan series is known for characters getting caught up in schemes and situations that bring the laughs and this newest addition does not disappoint!

In this book, Finlay and Vero are solving a crime that again hits close to home. They need to discover how a body ended up in their elderly neighbor’s yard across the street. Mrs. Haggerty moves in with Finlay during the case and antics abound! You can always count on late night prowls, computer hacking, delaying editor calls, and hilarious banter.

This book is a great balance of fun, mystery and character arcs. Fans of the series will enjoy this one!

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for this #gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ⭐️

I ADORE this series! Finlay Donovan is my spirit animal, and I eat these books up every time. The plot of this one was especially fun - Vero is the most unhinged sidekick, the old lady book club was brilliant, and hot cop Nick? Yep, still hot. If you want something silly and chaotic and not that serious, I highly recommend reading/listening to these. Such a great cast of side characters too!

This was my first time reading any of the Finlay Donovan books and I am hooked! I immediately requested the other four to see more of this lovable and chaotic heroine. One of my favourite parts of this book is the relationship between Finlay and her nanny, Vero. They are absolutely hysterical together and I think everyone deserves a ride-or-die like Vero in their life. The mystery element of the story was engaging and had me intrigued throughout the whole book. I loved seeing all the characters and stories slowly come together. Elle Cosimano has done an amazing job of building this world with compelling characters and complicated relationships. It seems like this is pretty standard for these books, but the cliffhanger at the end definitely left me yearning for more. Can't wait to explore more of Finlay Donovan and her crazy chaotic crew!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

Start this series from the beginning! This book continues the mad cap adventures (totally not realistic, but so much fun!) of Finlay and Vero...and the rest of the crew.

This book begins where the last one ended. The noisy neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, has been brought in after a body is found in her backyard. One thing leads to another, and she ends up being a "guest" at Finlay's house.

Ex-husband Steven is the next suspect for the murder and Finlay is on the case to find the true killer. Mystery and mayhem galore! Throw in some Nick and Finlay moments. Squeal of joy!! As they both let down their guard and let the other truly in....

This was a solid read even though it ends on another cliff hanger! I can hardly wait for the next one!

Finlay Donovan does it again! Elle Cosimano never fails to delight with Finlay. A great addition to the series and a can't miss for fans of Finlay Donovan.

The fifth book in the Finlay Donovan series was released in March and delivers all the lovable chaos we've come to expect from Finlay and her sidekick (aka her kids' nanny), Vero. This time, they're investigating—and possibly becoming suspects in—the case surrounding the body found in the garden across the street from their neighborhood watch leader, Mrs. Haggerty. And somehow, Mrs. Haggerty ends up living at their house throughout the whole ordeal.

This series continues to bring the laughs and fun, and I'm not getting tired of it. In fact, I think this one might be one of the best books in the series so far. Mrs. Haggerty is such a great addition—she’s nosy, opinionated, and just what the series needed. I’m hoping she makes another appearance in the next installment. I also love Finlay’s agent, Sylvia, whose role is larger than in previous books. She’s such a cougar and loved her interactions with Nick, the hot cop!

If you’ve read the other books in the series, I highly recommend this one. And if you haven’t, what are you waiting for? They’re so much fun.

Thanks @netgalley for an advanced copy of this book, which is out now!

At this point, you should know exactly what you are getting with these. This follows incredibly similar format - hijinx ensue.

I hate to say it…but I think I’m ready for this series to be over. Honestly I think I’ve been ready since the last book, but I can’t help myself when a new one comes out. I loved the crazy antics and the intriguing storyline in all the other books but this just feels like a repeat of the same things over and over.

Finlay Donovan Digs her Own Grave is the Fifth installment in author Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan series. Finn and Vero are back from Atlantic City ready to get back into routine, potty training Zach and keeping Delia out of trouble at school after she encounters a bully. The story really kicks off when Finlay Donovan's already hectic life is upended by the discovery of a dead body in her nosy neighbor Mrs. Haggerty’s backyard. Mrs. Haggerty, the self-appointed neighborhood watch president and a longtime thorn in Finlay’s side, is briefly a suspect before being cleared by the police.

With her house declared a crime scene, Mrs. Haggerty has nowhere to go—except Finlay’s place, right across the street. Cue the reluctant hospitality as Finlay and her nanny-turned-partner-in-crime, Vero, are forced to share their space with the cantankerous old lady. At first, Finlay and Vero want nothing to do with another murder investigation—they’ve had their fill of corpses over the past four months, thank you very much. However, when the police investigation shifts focus to Finlay’s ex-husband, Steven, who has a long history of making enemies and cheating on Finlay, the duo has no choice but to dive in.

The three have many secrets between them, but which one will solve the mystery of murder? What follows is a hilarious and suspenseful journey as they team up with Mrs. Haggerty to unravel a web of secrets, including a mysterious book club that might be more dangerous than it seems, and harkens back to another group that wanted a certain cheating husband dead. Along the way, Cosimano expertly balances slapstick comedy with genuine emotional depth, particularly in Finlay’s evolving relationship with Detective Nick Anthony and the surprising layers peeled back from Mrs. Haggerty’s character.

Finlay has grown from the frazzled everywoman of the first book into a more confident, if still hilariously flawed, protagonist. Even though it seems as though she's made a mark as a writer, she's still unsure of her future. Her dynamic with Vero remains the beating heart of the series—their banter is razor-sharp, and their loyalty is unshakable. Mrs. Haggerty, previously a one-note busybody, emerges as a standout here, revealing unexpected depth and even a knack for video games that had me chuckling out loud. The supporting cast, from Finlay’s kids to tech-savvy Cameron, adds warmth and chaos in equal measure.

The mystery itself is engaging, with twists that keep you guessing, though it’s the journey—not the destination—that truly captivates. That said, the romance between Finlay and Nick takes a slight backseat this time—fans of Vero and Javi’s budding relationship or Finlay and Nick’s slow burn might feel a tad shortchanged—but the trade-off is a tighter focus on the central plot and character interplay. The book mixes mystery, humor, and heartwarming moments, often compared to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series for its suspense and comedy. Oh, and don't even start with that ending! Do I really have to wait an entire year for the sequel to find out what happens?

Elle Cosimano has such a witty way of writing that keeps you constantly entertained and begging for more. I’ve loved every Finlay book even more than the one before it. This is no exception

I think this has been my favorite Finlay Donovan book - and I truly love them all! Finlay’s character has grown so much and it is so apparent in this latest book. I love the shenanigans, Finlay & Vero’s friendship, the mystery, the comedy, and the emotions!! I felt like this book went a little deeper into Finlay’s emotions and struggles in a really open and relatable way. I also loved seeing more of Mrs. Haggerty and Nick in this book - the characters are all a cast that I can’t wait to dive back into the story with. Elle Cosimano hit it out of the park with this one - and I can’t wait to see what Finlay (& Vero) get into next!

Another funny and entertaining instalment of this series, and I loved it! I liked seeing more of Finlay's family life, and the interactions between Finlay and Nick. The characters are the real stars, while the mystery can take second place a little bit, in terms of what keeps the pages turning. This one felt slightly cozier than the last one, and I liked the change of pace and keeping things close to Finlay's home. This was another fantastic read from Elle Cosimano, and I'm already looking forward to the next one!

Finlay and Vero are in the thick of it again. When a body is found in her neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty's yard, her house becomes a crime scene. With no place to go, she moves in with Finlay, Vero and the kids. The good news is the focus shifts away from Mrs. Haggerty. The bad news is it shifts onto Finlay's ex-husband, Stephen,

This installment allows us to get to know the kids a bit more as well as more of the Nick and Finlay relationship. There is still chaos, funny moments but the murder seemed a bit easily wrapped up. That doesn't mean you don't enjoy the ride - not to mention that it is left in a cliffhanger. I will still be waiting for the final book to see who, if anyone, lives happily every after.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. in exchange for my honest review.

Finley Donovan is back at it again, and I couldn’t be more entertained! This latest installment is another wild ride filled with misunderstandings, chaos, and Finley’s signature knack for getting herself into trouble. With her ever-loyal (and slightly scheming) nanny by her side, she juggles everything from crime-solving antics to book deadlines—all while trying to keep her kids out of the crossfire. Whether it’s bending the truth, making questionable choices, or stumbling into even bigger messes, every twist had me laughing out loud.

From writing her next book (and, maybe turning it into a series) to falling even harder for her favorite cop, Finley’s journey is equal parts hilarious and heartwarming. The mix of mystery, humor, and just the right amount of romance keeps this series feeling fresh and fun. If you love fast-paced, laugh-out-loud mysteries with a lovable but chaotic heroine, this series is a must-read!