I just love Finlay and this book was probably my favorite so far. In this book Finlay comes home from Atlantic City to find that her "favorite" neighbor Mrs. Haggerty has been convicted of a crime and she is being release from jail. Of course, the woman's house is now a mess and she has no where to go, but Finlay's house. Not only does Mrs. Haggerty make herself at home in Finlay's house, she suspiciously takes walks through the neighborhood leaving a note in someone's mail box.
While this book has many of the charms of the other books, it does not have all of the hair pulling, teeth biting cringe moments that the other books had. I also love that it pulls together a theme that we have been seeing in many of the other novels.
I listened to this book, as I have with all the others, and I think that Angela Dawe does a great job with the narration. To me she is Finlay and I think she carputers her and the other characters so well.

the hilarity continues! Loved how they brought past characters together and a new mystery began at the very start! Looking forward to the next one, as it appears there will be more!

We're back with the 5th book in the series, and I have to admit, I wasn’t a big fan. I loved books 1, 2, and 4, so I had high expectations.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was good—it actually helped me get through the book. The issue was that it dragged. By now, I’m starting to feel bored since it seems like Finlay keeps finding herself in the same situations. It also lacked the humor and "comfort read" vibe that the other books had. While I'm not a huge fan of the romance, I understand why it was included. And of course, it ended on a cliffhanger, so I’ll be back, hoping I enjoy the next one more!

I adore the finlay Donovan series so much and I love that each book wraps up but also allows you to get Invested in what the next part of the story will be. I adore that you get both a satisfying conclusion AND a teaser at where the next book is going plus I just love love love the narrator she does a wonderful job

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave marks the fifth installment in the Finlay Donovan series, and it’s packed with all the mayhem, hijinks, and unforgettable chaos readers have come to love from this ragtag crew.
Finlay and Vero, her witty nanny and partner-in-crime, have always had a rocky relationship with their nosy, busybody neighbor, Mrs. Haggarty. After the events of the previous book, Mrs. Haggarty returns home, only to find her house in disarray with no water or heat. Guilt-tripped into letting her stay with them temporarily, Finlay and Vero soon find themselves caught in a whirlwind of trouble.

Mrs. Haggarty’s odd behavior begins to raise suspicions—sneaking out at night to “patrol the neighborhood,” slipping mysterious letters into people’s mailboxes, and attending the same book club multiple times a week. Intrigued and a little wary, Finlay and Vero, with the help of Nick (Finlay’s cop boyfriend) and Cameron (a teenage hacker), start digging into Mrs. Haggarty’s activities.

As expected from a Finlay Donovan adventure, this book delivers a wild ride full of unexpected twists and turns. While readers might think they know where things are headed, Cosimano never fails to throw in a few more surprises than anyone could have imagined.
As always, this series is a delightful mix of dark humor, snappy banter, and plenty of shenanigans, making for a reading experience that’s impossible to put down.

This book made me so sad. Because I was just introduced to the world of Finlay Donovan less than two months ago, and I’ve been listening to these books almost nonstop. If you didn’t see my previous post, I’ve been obsessed and addicted to this series. And after finishing this one, I’m sad that I’m all caught up, and that I now have to patiently wait for the next in the series. (It looks the books are released on a yearly schedule, though, so I shouldn’t have to wait *too* long.) It does end on a cliffhanger like her previous books, but I was almost thankful for that, knowing there’d be another book! (I checked after and it looks like there will be a book 6 & 7 at the very least!)

If you’ve read and liked all her other books, this one won’t disappoint! My reviews are always spoiler-free, so all I’ll say is, I was very happy with the romance side of the story in this one. I also loved getting to know Mrs. Haggerty more, even when she frustrated me, lol. And while I still hate Steven, no matter his redemption arc, I can sympathize with not wanting him to die or go to jail purely for the kids’ sakes. 

If you haven’t read this series yet, I highly recommend it!

𝘼 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣:
Angela Dawe once again does a fantastic job narrating. I may look into other books narrated by her just to fill that Finlay-shaped hole in my heart 😆

I felt Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave goes back to the roots and charm of the first book in the series. While it's mostly contained to be on their street, with a cast of characters we already know and tolerate, there are plenty of adventures left to be had. I adore Angela Dawe as a narrator and love how she brings the cast to life.

I knew what to expect from this book and I got it, a quick paced, sometimes slapstick, sometimes funny story where Finlay gets herself into sticky situations. I liked this better than the last installment of the series as the shenanigans were less over the top. I enjoyed the narration. 3 stars overall, but rating is 4 because it followed an expected formula.

Elle Cosimano does it again with what I think might just be my favorite book in the Finlay Donovan series!

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. I love the narration from Angela Dawe who helps bring Finlay's world to life.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave was laugh out loud funny. I mean all of Elle Cosimano's books in this series are hilarious, but there is even more comedy in this one. On top of that, I loved the characters so much (all of them!) and loved getting to know some of the secondary characters even better. Again, this book was left on a cliffhanger which only means another book is coming and I cannot wait to see where this cozy mystery series goes.

Highly recommended!

Oh, Finley. How I love to read about your mishaps and comedies of errors. They truly are a delight, and this book was especially delightful!

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Another fun installment in the Finlay Donovan series! I love that we're getting to see Finlay and Nick's relationship develop. And I loved that Mrs. Haggerty played a bigger role in this one, too. It had all the drama, action, and humor that have become signature elements of the series, and it delivered them all perfectly. I'm so glad it ended on a cliffhanger promising more to come!

I adore this series, it is so much fun. Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave begins with police investigating a body found in Finlay's nosey neighbour's, Mrs. Haggarty's backyard. The trouble is Finlay's husband did landscaping on that yard and is a suspect in the murder. It's up to Finlay and Vero to prove Steven is innocent. This was a great story, it kept me laughing and guessing. Mrs. Haggarty really added to all of the hijinks. Thank you to St. Marins press for the advanced reader copy. I absolutely love this book and highly recommend it. 4.5 stars

Edited to add a review of the advanced listener copy I received from Macmillan Audio and Netgalley. The audiobook of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is amazing. As always, Angela Dawe's narration is perfection. She has voices each and every character in this book, and is delightful.

I was HOOKED on this series the first 2 books.. the series then got really unrealistic and unbelievable and it lost me a little. I really struggle not to finish a series once I start.. so here I am.

This one was definitely more believable than book 3 and 4. Mrs. Haggerty made this book better in my opinion.. she is a HOOT. I didn’t love this one… but I also didn’t hate it? So that’s a win.

Thank you Netgalley & Macmillan audio for the opportunity to listen to this ARC!

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave {Audiobook} by Elle Cosimano
This is a great addition to the Finlay series. I may be biased because there is a quirky book club involved, and I really enjoyed it!
Mrs. Haggerty, the neighborhood gate keeper, is at the center of this debacle. A dead body is found buried in her yard. She is the first suspect and when she is cleared, the only place to go is to room with Finlay and Vero. Of course Stephen, Finalay's ex, shows up in the suspect list because of his past.
There is a load of humor in this one! A buried body, a quirky book club with questionable activities, and an ongoing love interest with Nick, will have you glued to this volume!
I will admit I laughed out loud a few times. I love how Elle Cosimano tied the previous volumes into this one and pulled things together.
You'll have to read this one!
This was just good writing, the characters are likeable and entertaining. The story makes you laugh and feel like you are with the characters. The author invites you in from the first page and just carries you through with Finlay and Vero on another hysterical adventure.
The narrator is masterful with representing each character with individuality and personality! The audiobook was a complete delight to listen to! I really enjoyed it!
It was a pleasure to review an ARC from NetGalley. The whole series is just wonderful. It's not serious, it's entertaining and that's the best part of enjoying a story! 5/5⭐

I was so excited to see what Finlay was going to get up to this time. I really enjoyed that in this installment there was less a focus on Finlay trying to stop and write a book during all of the craziness. I enjoyed that aspect in past books but really enjoyed the break from that in favor of a heavier focus on the main story/mystery. I also loved how this story took Finlay out of the hot seat a bit and took time to introduce us to new characters. Overall, I enjoyed the pacing, the storyline, and the new characters in this installment. I hope the author continues to change things up a little bit with each new book so that we can continue to enjoy Finlay and Vero’s antics without feeling like we’re getting the same formula each time.

And as always, Angela Dawe knocked the narration out of the park. I can only read this series with my ears because Angela Dawe IS Finlay Donovan and all the other characters who have a voice in this series!

Thank you to the Elle Cosmiano, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the free audioARC in exchange for an honest review!

The narration is perfect! I flew through this audio and did not want to put it down. I highly recommend the audio for a more immersive reading experience.

Finlay, Vero, Nick and the kids are back! Finlay’s older neighbor, Mrs. haggerty, was arrested at the end of the last book when a dead body was exhumed from her backyard. Finlay and Vero work to exonerate the last person Finlay ever expected to want to save, her ex husband Steven.

Another hilarious installment of Finlay Donovan. I couldn’t stop listening to this and I was laughing out loud throughout. This installment was a lot more straightforward than some of the other books, although still a total suspense of reality. I love what an escape these books are, and this one might just be my new favorite. Mrs. haggerty was a delightful addition to the comical cast, and she might be my favorite character. If you are in need of some comedic relief, grab this immediately!

I absolutely love this series! Author Elle Cosimano has continued to creatively put her characters into interesting situations and developed them so they are even more relatable and believable. While Finlay Donovan continues to be at the center of the series, the cast of supporting characters fills the story with humor and action. Vero is one of the best sidekicks in fiction today. And even Mrs. Haggerty has a bigger role in this novel.

And since I listened to the audiobook, I have to mention series narrator Angela Dawe. Her talents do a great job bringing the characters to life. She does a great job with both male and female voices. Her voice helps elevate this series.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I always know what to expect in this cozy mystery, a lot of laughs and Finlay and Vero getting into shenanigans. This time we have Mrs. Haggerty, the noisy neighbor that ends up staying with Finlay because there was a dead body in her backyard. Finlay and Vero it not connected to the dead body as in the previous books but somehow is tangled in it.

Mrs Haggerty is canky and really stole the show. The story is entertaining and I do recommend that you read the other books to know what is going on. This also leaves you on a cliffhanger like the other books.

Anglea Dawe did a great job with bringing all the fun on
the story.

Thank you @macmillan.audio @stmartinspress for a copy of this.

Many thanks to NetGalley and MacMillion for allowing me to receive this ARC. I love this series. We find ourselves in book five and you feel like you’re hanging out with old friends picking up right where you left off. This book keeps you in touch with familiar characters and deepens your love and understanding of a few more. The unfurling of the character development in this book was engaging and enticing, though I admit I figured it out quickly. Fret not, it didn’t ruin it. This series has become an all time favorite. It reminds me of the early (good) Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich. These are quick brain sugar reads with just the right amount of “meat” and “spice”. I would love to go on one of the adventures with Finlay and Vero! The ending lets your know there is more to come.
The narrator is PERFECT for this series. I’ve done audio for all of them and know that the voice behind Finlay is the icing on the cake. Looking forward to the next one!

Note: I originally reviewed the e-book edition. The following review of the audio edition has slight additional information. I bookmarked at least a handful more nuggets during my second reading. Will I discover even more in subsequent rereading(s)? It says a lot for the quality of the writing and story that I could be so delighted in two complete readings just over a month apart. When I find a book so satisfying, I tend to purchase it (having originally read it prepublication or having borrowed it from the library) in multiple formats to enable future on-demand rereading.

This fifth installment in the Finlay Donovan series is so funny—bursting with banter and silliness! The series continues to be relationship-heavy, as well, with deepening relationships for some of the recurring characters, and new, interesting relationships between combinations of characters that one wouldn't expect.

Both of Finlay's children—school-age Delia and preschooler Zach—play bigger roles than in previous books. Other characters returning with medium or large roles are ex-husband Steven, nosy neighbor Mrs. Haggerty, hacker Cam, agent Sylvia, nanny/partner in crime Vero, hot cop boyfriend Nick, and even more—I'll keep a few cameos a secret, just for fun. There's a new animal companion with a hilarious name. I'm counting on that feature continuing.

It's hard to believe that the action in all five books takes place within just four months. As I have in the past, I strongly recommend that the series be read in order.

Just like in Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (book 4), Cosimano ties everything up nice and neat before hitting us with a whammy at the very last minute. She is the Queen of Cliffhangers.

Finlay Donovan never fails to delight and entertain me, and this installment is the best yet! My longtime book buddies know I almost never give 5 stars. Even shocking confusion around how to make poached eggs (Chapter 10) isn't going to deter me from awarding the full score in this case. [Funny story: I don't cook to speak of (though I do bake), but poached eggs *are* in my repertoire. I'm happy to give lessons.]

Angela Dawe continues to be the perfect narrator for Finlay and friends. I hope she and Cosimano have a long, fruitful working relationship!