Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave
By Elle Cosimano
Narrated by Angela Dawe
As always, my reviews are of the audio version of this book. As a rule, I listen at 70% speed or less as this makes it easier to hear details without needing to rewind as often. If things get tedious, I generally speed up.
Present in all of my reviews will be notes marked by an asterisk. These are pretty much just random thoughts I have, ignore them if they are annoying. I tend to think out loud...or in writing.
Firstly, I need to say that I was SO THRILLED to get the latest Finlay Donovan book (#5) to review! Elle Cosimano's series is definitely in my top 7 of all time (as it stands) along with The Thursday Murder Club books. Okay, now let's see what's what with this installment!
One thing I must immediately mention is that if you have not read the previous books, or at least the one just before this one (Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice), you will not get nearly as much enjoyment out of this read. The events in the previous four books have all taken place over the course of less than a year, so there is a lot to miss and a LOT that just can't be recapped well enough to get you up to speed.
I see that we will have to deal with Stephen (Finlay's ex) again, but I became more tolerant of him during the last installment (Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice) so I hope his behavior continues to be a little less annoying ...
As a rule, I have never enjoyed books with exes in them unless the ex is the victim. Then maybe. I just don't care for the drama ensuing from mixed feelings over exes. I have none. If I did, there wouldn't have been a divorce.
We will get to catch up with Cam, Mrs. Haggerty, Nick, Georgia, and of course Vero, Javi, and Ramon.
I go into this expecting to listen straight through to the entire 9 hrs and 11 mins. That's what usually happens with this series, so I would like to continue the trend.
I'm already getting a bad feeling by the middle of chapter 2, and I already have rants. Oh NOOOOOOO!
I'm disappointed so far as there is definitely not as much action in the beginning as we are used to from Finlay and Vero. There is, however, more drama. Since I enjoy the novels mostly for the action, even when it's ridiculous, I really hope this changes soon.
*Note: I can't relate to the odd relationship between Finlay and Stephen. I share a child with my ex, and when he dies (the ex) his ashes will be absolutely no concern of mine. If my son wants to display them, he can do so in his home or his room.
*Note: With Stephen sending the kids so many mixed signals with wanting to stay over, get back together, then sleeping with other women in front of them, he's not exactly super for the kids anyway...why go so far out of the way all the time? He wants an attorney who isn't capable, let him call the attorney.
*Note: I know it's probably used for humor's sake, but, as I raised 2 boys and a girl, I feel qualified to state that I fully agree with Mrs. Haggerty on her child rearing POV .I mean, I hate it, but Zach repeatedly removing his clothes is absurd. I know they do it, heck, my youngest son peed in the toy box, BUT believe me, he also got PUNISHED for it. In my son's case, it was the loss of the toys that were in the box. Zach seems to suffer no punishment at all. Truly, how do you plan to get the child to stop if there are no drawbacks from his preferred actions? Delia gets punished...well, a bit.
*Note: Finlay acting somewhat shamelessly, and especially for the sake of Stephen, is really disappointing. Pull it together. Move on, chick. I think coming across as the ex wife done wrong takes points from Finlay. I get that it's not comfortable to talk with the woman who may or may not have slept with your husband, but, for the sake of self respect which you proclaim you want, at least tell the woman you honestly couldn't care less with whom your ex had slept.
*Note: Pretty sure if I were Nick I would draw a line. Move on from Stephen and call me when you do. No one, man or woman, wants or deserves to compete with someone you supposedly chose to close the book on.
Okay, I'm going to have to draw a line under my Notes Regarding Exes or there will be nothing else to this review.
At 30%, I am REALLY hoping this will pick up and stop being the "Finlay & Stephen Show". I think, other than drop every beloved character, that is the worst possible plot choice that could've been made. So far, there is a garden variety murder mystery (no pun intended) and a lot of discussion. I have heard more about Zach's lack of potty training than anything else, much less anything compelling. There's one mildly interesting thing about Mrs. Haggerty, but that's put so far to the side that it is easily forgotten. Be BETTER than that, Ms. Cosimano!!
It's 32% and time for a break, I think...
Okay, I'm refreshed, let's go...
Well, there was finally a bit of action. It was VERY promising....
Then, the promise was broken.
And we wait.
At 55% I have come to the realization that I LOVE MRS. HAGGERTY!! She is honestly the best character (definitely including Finlay, who is being beyond irritating so far) yet in this book! If nothing else, I will listen to the entire book just for her sake!
At 60% I realized that Nick is WAY too good for Finlay. I mean, I can relate to a lot of Finlay's life, but she has had too many chances from Nick imho. She's immature, irresponsible, yes, a currently cruddy mom (although she surpasses excellence in the Ex Wife category, I must say), she's not even a particularly good writer, client, or business woman in this particular book.
*Note: about the Agatha books clue, it would definitely not have been hard to come up with something even slightly more sketchy.
YAY!! It's definitely picking up, it only took over half of the book to get there.
I feel like maybe the story wasn't sure what direction to go in and so took WAY too long to get anywhere at all. If this is your very first Finlay Donovan book, PLEASE go back and begin with book one! This book might have been better if it had been part of a larger story? There is a marked lack of what I can only think of as chaos. The "chaos factor" is what I have come to expect from Finlay and Vero's adventures. The only kerfuffle (yeah, I wrote it-read it again) is very close to the end where I would have expected it to trigger the dominoes of craziness as in past books. I have to confess I am very let down. But all's well that...ends. I guess.
I'll still read the next one.
But it could have been better.
Just sayin'.
As always, thank you to NetGalley for allowing me early access to this audiobook in exchange for a (brutally) honest review!

I want to start off this by saying that Mrs. Haggerty is an absolute badass! I love the way that the last book ended and this one started. The beginning of the book just kept rolling with the punches for Finlay and Vero and just took off from there. I have read all of these as audiobooks and the narrator is fantastic. I love Finlay and Vero so much and felt very seen with Zach’s potty training as I am working with my little one for that too. I have just been so sucked in by this series and I love that this one ended with a cliff hanger as well!x

This is one of my favorite mystery series and this installment is one of my most anticipated reads of the year.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave did not disappoint! As has been true throughout this series, if it can go wrong, it does…and hilarity ensues.

The consistency is f the characters across this series is fantastic. I absolutely love this series and I never want it to end.

Thank you the the publisher and netgalley for a complimentary copy of this book, both ebook and audio. I leave this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

Elle Cosimano does it again. Finlay and Vero can't seem to keep herself out of trouble. I listened as I read. It's a fast, entertaining listen! Nick is still my favorite I can't get enough of him!! Thank you to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the gifted ARCs.

Here we go again, Finlay Donovan! I have enjoyed this series over the years for a lighthearted read. I am always excited to see where Finlay and Vero end up next. This time, we find them in their neighborhood with yet another murder to solve... or cover up! I enjoyed the connections to the past books and can see that the ending is setting us up for another in the series. Perhaps it will be the last? Regardless, this dynamic duo is so fun, and I loved the addition of Ms. Haggerty to the story even more. As always, Angela Dawe crushed the narration.

This series gets better with each new book! Thank you @minotaur_books and @macmillan.audio for my early reading and listening copies of @ellecosimano ‘s new release, FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE, out March 4, 2025.

Finlay and Vero are the funniest BFF duo I’ve read in a long time. Each novel in this series can be read as a standalone, but it is TOTALLY worth it to start at the very beginning and enjoy the growth of this series.

Steven, Finlay’s ex is still around, Nick is still around, the agent, Sylvia is still around, and of course Mrs. Haggerty is around, and becomes one of the central characters in this new installment.

I really enjoyed Mrs. Haggerty’s antics in FDDHOG through Finlay’s perspect with brought so many laugh out loud moments as only these “I can’t believe this is happening to them but it is hilarious!” woven with just enough mystery that I wonder what is going to happen next. All of that to say this is the perfect cleansing, easy reading series.

I want to thank the publisher for granting me both an ARC and an ALC in exchange for an honest review. This allowed me to experience one of my favorite ways to enjoy books—immersive reading!

I requested Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave not only because I adore Finlay, Vero, and the ever-entertaining supporting cast Elle Cosimano has created, but also because the title itself felt like a clever nod to an important plot point from an earlier book in the series—and I was right! (IYKYK). I was also excited to see nosy neighbor Mrs. Haggerty take center stage in this installment, and she did not disappoint.

Mrs. Haggerty is just as much the star of this book as Finlay and Vero. Following her on her neighborhood watch walks, peeking into her book club, and uncovering the extent of her knowledge about the ongoing mystery made for a thoroughly enjoyable read. Watching her interact with Finlay’s kids added an extra layer of depth to her character, but the most rewarding part of her story was seeing just how far she would go to be an ally—and that’s all I can say without spoilers!

Of course, no Finlay Donovan book would be complete without a few standout moments. The Eggplant had me laughing out loud, and Finlay’s vulnerability in the final chapters was particularly well done. And, as expected, Cosimano delivers yet another tantalizing cliffhanger. I already can't wait for book six!

This was another fun, funny and light hearted Finlay Donovan book! I still think the first 2 are my favourite but I always enjoy listening to what trouble they get themselves into. Vero makes the books in my opinion! Overall a really fun read.

I love this series with my whole heart — honestly, it might be my favorite series I’ve read. I was SO excited Macmillan Audio shared an advance reader copy with me through NetGalley, and it absolutely lived up to my high expectations. It has everything I love: the humor, the mystery, the thrilling moments, well timed twists, and the lovable characters that make it so much fun.

One of the best things about these books is how they remind me why reading for fun is actually fun. They’re entertaining, binge-worthy, and just make me happy. Getting back into reading in 2023 was such a great decision, and books like this are exactly why.

This one felt a little more grounded than the last two, which definitely went off the rails in the best way possible. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the chaos but I really liked how this one was more dialed back while still being just as engaging. It almost felt like Elle Cosimano knew readers had noticed how wild things had gotten and decided to rein it in a bit, but without losing any of the heart that makes these books so great.

I loved the direction she took with this story and these characters, and I already can’t wait to hear Angela Dawe's voice in my ears once again when the next installment drops!

This was a classic, fun Finlay Donovan adventure. Always quirky, funny, and bringing out the best in this unique cozy mystery genre. Definitely recommend reading this series in order since it picks up exactly where the last left off. Narration was great and made it an easy listen.

Finlay Donovan’s latest adventure is just as chaotic and fun as ever! Mrs. Haggerty steals the show with her antics, and Cam’s storyline adds a sweet, grounding touch. The book keeps up its signature mix of humor and suspense, making it hard to put down. My only slight gripe is the fast-moving timeline—five books in, I want more overall progress with Finlay and Nick, but then remember they’ve barely had time to breathe! Still, this series never fails to entertain, and this installment is no exception.

Ok, yes!!! We went back to basics here and it’s good to be back! I’ll be honest, the last one almost lost me. It was still entertaining, and I really love the characters, but I was missing the spark that drew me in. It’s hard to put in words, but I feel like this book is more closely a sequel to the first book than the others. I love this series, and it feels like it’s maybe coming towards the end, but it feels like it’s heading towards a really satisfying place- with good direction. Vague- I know! Sorry, but I just can’t spoil it for you. Read it. If you’re on the fence- this is your sign. Read it. It’s like welcoming home an old friend.

P.S. Zach finally get’s potty trained and low key was like such a major factor in my enjoyment because hearing about him peeing and popping all the time in every book is stresssssssful. And I am a boy mom. So I know the pain. IYKYK 4 ⭐️

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this arc, in exchange for my unbiased review!

This is such a fun series and I really enjoyed this book! I love the characters and the shenanigans they get up to. It was an easy listen and the narrator was fantastic!

4.5 stars

Another fun & ridiculous Finlay & Vero adventure. Maggie (Mrs. Haggerty) & Cam were ridiculous but also a lot of fun!

I loved seeing Maggie & Nick's relationship finally developing & some more trust being built between them!

Oh man - the ending!! When's book 6 coming?

Angela Dawe's narration of the Finlay books is perfect 🤌🏻

Huge thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press & MacMillan Audio for advance copies!

I will never complain about a new Finlay Donovan book nor the audio being narrated by Angela Dawe. The two are one and the same and I love it!

I had no idea how this book was going to play out on lots of plot twists and a whole host of new characters. Finlay and Vero’s antics where they find themselves in true crime felt a little anticlimactic most of the book until the very end. I love Cam!

This book starts off really different too which threw me for a loop but I don’t know if it’s super realistic. And if this has the beginning of a spin off series I am here for it!

This book releases next week and is the 5th book in the series and it should be read in order.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the alc. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

Content: murder and death, medium language and some F 💣, mild violence (not seen but mentioned), closed door romance but fade to black, small mention of drugs by adults

This book is part of a series featuring a single mom with two precocious kids and a partner-in-crime nanny. I did not have the opportunity to read previous books in the series and felt a little lost when some of the previous content was mentioned in this book. So, I'd definitely recommend reading these in order. In this episode, Finlay's home is "invaded" by her elderly neighbor when the neighbor's house becomes a crime scene. And, Finlay's ex is accused of the murder of a man found buried in her neighbor's back yard. So, Finlay and her nanny Vero work to try to find the truth.

I found this mystery both funny and addicting. The supporting characters, in particular Cameron and Vero, add lots of fun to the story. The narrator makes it come alive. The only fault I can find is that vague referrals to previous book content were confusing to me as a new reader of this series. A little more explanation could be useful in attracting new fans to this series!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing an advance review copy of this audiobook. My opinions are my own.

This was such a fun read! I've loved reading this series from the beginning, and while the previous book wrapped up a lot of the stakes that had been building, I loved what this book did, and what it set up for book 6! I've just has such a fun time reading this series, though it does feel like it's coming to a close soon.

Finlay was a bit of a badass in the previous book, with how she managed to work all these different threats against each other, so she could get her desired outcome. So I really enjoyed seeing her having to deal with just a little bit less-just having the nosy neighbour having to live with her while her own place is getting fixed. Said neighbour a reason why she found out about Steven's infidelity, so that's an uncomfortable position.

Between having Mrs. Haggerty in her house, and then having Steven become a suspect, yeah, I really enjoyed watching Finlay investigate! That a book club became involved, and that there was something going on with them, was a delight to read!

This book wraps up a lot of the threads from the previous books, with the secrets that Finlay is keeping. There is going to be at least 1 more full length book, with what the last lingering thread to tie off, with the way that this book ended. I can't wait to see how that's going to play out!

This was another really wonderful read, and I can't wait to read more by Elle Cosimano!

I'm stunned.... Fully stunned! #5 in the Finlay Donovan series is as amazing as the rest. I might even say this is the best one yet! Maggie and Cam cracked me up! The podcasters were sufficiently annoying. OMG - NICK IS THE BEST!!

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to listen to this book pre-release.

I love a good cozy mystery book! I had no idea that this one was the fifth in the series. I do think for the most part it could be read as a stand alone but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the others first. I think the narrator did a wonderful job!! I’m definitely going to go back and read/listen to others in the series.

Thank you NetGalley, Elle and Macmillian Audio for the e-ALC!

Publication Date: March 4 2025
Rating: 🔎🔎 🔎

Another great book in the Finlay Donovan series!

Our last book left off with a body being found in Mrs. Haggerty’s backyard. After a short stint in the clink, Mrs. Haggerty shows up on Finlay’s doorstep to stay with her while her house gets utilities back on, cleaned up, etc.

Somewhere along the way, Finlay’s ex is arrested for the murder so she sets out to find out who really killed the man in Mrs. Haggerty’s back yard.

Finlay and Vero’s shenanigans make me laugh out loud and this book is no different! I love how this story tied in so much from the first four novels. I also liked the vulnerability Finlay showed in opening up to Nick at the end.

I recommend these books to everyone because of their humor and unique story! Another hit from Cosimano and I hope we get Finlay and Vero stories for years to come!

Thank you Net Galley for the advanced audit copy of this book!