Member Reviews
Finlay Donovan is one of a kind! Love her antics and how she tackles anything that comes her way. Her neighbor Mrs. Haggerty gives Finlay and Vero a run for their money in this new novel in the series, Finlay Donavan Digs Her Own Grave. Finlay's love interest detective Nick is back and handsome as ever. Steven, Finlay's ex-husband, needs rescuing, again, when he is accused of murder, again. This may be the only installment that doesn't include a violent murder where Finlay has to hide a body or body parts! I would love to see these books turned into a movie or TV series. The characters are fun and quirky, likable and brave. Hoping Finlay finds a happy ever after once things calm down.
Elle has outdone herself on this one!! I don’t know how she does it, but this book was even better than the last one! This series just keeps getting better and better!!
This book was so funny. I think it was the funniest of all of them thus far, I started reading it at an indoor jump place while I was watching my kids play, and the other parents kept looking at me funny because I was
laughing out loud so loud. 🤣 Then when I was reading it in bed while my husband was sleeping, I had to leave the room because I was snort laughing so loud that I was afraid that I was going to wake him up. 😆
The character development in this book was just amazing. We got to know the characters even more than in past books, and I felt like it set us up for a very exciting next book! I can’t wait for more books from her. She is for sure one of my favorites!!
Oh Finley, what have you gotten yourself into this time? That was my first thought when I saw the advanced copy and title for Elle Cosimano's latest. This series in such a guilty pleasure read for me. I adore Vero and I think her and Finley make a great, albeit troublesome, duo. In this installment, you see them get caught up in some Mrs. Haggerty drama. Her grandson is concerned for her safety and clearing her name. Finn and Vero have to help to keep their names in the clear. I enjoyed this one a lot and I was happy to see a comeback after book four left me slightly disappointed. These books always keep me wondering how they are SO lucky to get away with murder. Thank you to St. Martins Press and Net Galley for an advanced copy.
I adore Finlay and Vero. This book was as delightful and funny as the others in the series. That cliffhanger though 😳 how am I suppose to keep waiting?!
Finlay is just such an intriguing character and I am always left wanting more. She makes me smile and laugh from start to finish.
Oh boy! The drama and action never stops with Finlay Donovan. Her nanny/partner/roommate is Vero and the two have been incredibly busy. Finlay is an author, mother and reluctant contract killer. What has her life come to?
Her neighbor Mrs. Haggerty has run into some troubles, and the fact that her house has no heat (oh, and is an active crime scene!) now makes her Finlay’s houseguest. Finlay doesn’t like it one bit. Neither does Vero, but needs must.
Maybe Finlay doesn’t like Mrs. Haggerty at all. In fact, the two have had their run ins more than once. But, Mrs. Haggerty just might have a secret (or two), so the chase is on. By chase, I mean danger and action. For readers of the previous four books in this series, there is a familiarity with Mrs. Haggerty, and negative opinions about the older later just may have developed. Well, surprisingly, there is a lot happening in this book, and let’s just say, by the end I was rooting for Mrs. Haggerty.
As Finlay and Vero navigate the danger and action, Finlay is shocked when her ex-husband, David, is arrested and charged with murder. Now, Finlay must clear his name and help Mrs. Haggerty with her own troubles (while Mrs. Haggerty has her own way of helping Finlay).
This book was a real delight. It complements the previous books in the series and is a must-read for fans of the series. As a series fanatic and now a fan of Elle Cosimano, I am eagerly hoping for more books in this series.
Many thanks to Minotaur and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Finlay Donovan is still killing it! This book is just as fun as the first in the series. Finlay and Vero are back to their usual mischief after Mrs. Haggerty gets dropped off at their house after getting released from jail for a body found in the Haggerty backyard. When Finlay's ex-husband, Steven, is accused of the murder, the dynamic duo is pulling out all the stops and proceeding full throttle to solve the murder and prove Steven's innocence. But will Finlay's boyfriend Nick continue to be patient and understanding with her, or will it jeopardize their relationship? To complicate matters, Sylvie, Finlay's book agent, unexpectedly arrives in town with meetings and her own hidden agenda. I loved this cozy, humorous mystery and am impressed that Cosimano continues to deliver a compelling story with good character development and pacing while exploring themes of motherhood, marriage, divorce, human kindness, and career. The cliff hanger at the end is giving book six sequel vibes. Long live Finlay Donovan!
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books, and Elle Cosimano for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
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Another fun installment of Finlay and her woes as she tries to parent, solve murders, keep out of jail, and get her next book published!
If you’re a fan of the series, definitely check it out. If you’re not, start with book one—it’s so fun.
Another solid fun book with Finlay and Vero. I ended up loving the turn this one took and the ending made my mouth drop. What's going to happen next?!
When Stephen is accused of murder, Finn is determined to prove he's innocent. Something doesn't add up and while he may be guilty of a lot, it's not murder. Finn's neighbor Mrs Haggarty stays with her while her house gets fixed and she's a handful. How much has she seen from across the street??
Nick and Finn hit a crossroads and some honesty has to happen for them to move forward. Can Finn trust him?
I love how quick and entertaining this series is!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC to enjoy.
I think this may have been my favourite Finlay yet (besides book 1 maybe).
We got so much Nickley in this story and I loved the character development as their relationship grew. I really enjoyed Mrs. Haggerty and Cam's arcs in this book as well.
It was good to be back on solid ground in Finn's house and start to see some of the plots begin to come full circle as things have been pretty chaotic for a couple books.
That cliffhanger ending! You know I'll be gobbling up the next one as soon as I can.
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!