The Finlay Donovan series just keeps getting better, and Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is no exception! This book delivers everything I love about the series—laugh-out-loud humor, edge-of-your-seat mystery, and plenty of chaos as Finlay and Vero find themselves in yet another mess.

Finlay is constantly juggling a million problems (and possibly a few literal skeletons), and I love how Elle Cosimano masterfully ties in elements from previous books while keeping the story fresh and fast-paced. The quirky cast of characters is as entertaining as ever, from Finlay’s adorable kids to the ever-swoon-worthy hot cop.

I listened to the audiobook, and Angela Dawe’s narration was perfection! She truly brings Finlay to life, capturing her wit, stress, and charm effortlessly. Her ability to voice all the supporting characters—even the hot cop—so distinctly makes the audiobook an absolute must-listen.

If you’re a fan of this series, you’ll love this latest installment. And if you haven’t started it yet, what are you waiting for?

I'm thrilled to see Finlay and Vero's dynamic duo back in action! This series has been such a fun ride, and I'll definitely miss it when it comes to an end. While the last installment was probably my least favorite, I'm delighted that this one hit the mark and brought the excitement back.

The chemistry between Finlay and Vero is unmatched, and their adventures never fail to entertain. Here's to enjoying the rest of the series and savoring every moment with these beloved characters!

Thanks so much to NetGalley for letting me listen to this hilarious audiobook! I've been reading Finlay's adventures for a while and I think they're just getting better.
This latest mystery is close to home-- a body is discovered in a neighbor's yard, and Finlay's ex is a suspect. But as usual, there's a lot more going on. My favorite parts were the descriptions of her children's antics-- I've known kids with this kind of spunk-- and the neighborhood watch lady, who ends up staying with Finlay temporarily.
Of course, I also loved catching up with Vero and seeing how Finlay's relationship with Nick is progressing. The narrator was perfect really bringing out the humor.

This was my first Finlay Donovan book even though it’s the 5th in the series. I received an ALC and ARC from NetGalley and Macmillian audio and St Martins Press MinotaurBooks so I listened to and read the book together.

The audiobook was really good! The narrator did a great job!

I loved the Donovan family right away!! Finlay at the school with her daughter who stood up to a bully and did some serious damage! The whole thing was hilarious! Humor was sprinkled throughout the book. But there was a murder and a body found in a neighbors yard. Finlay and Vero, her nanny and sleuthing partner, are on the case! Such a fun and engaging read!

I am definitely going to read the previous books!

I always eagerly await the latest installment of Finlay and her gang of entertaining characters. Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave didn’t disappoint! Fans of Finlay, Vero, and Nick will LOVE this installment as they highlight predominately. This book has something for everyone, comedy, suspense, mystery, family drama and romance. Elle Cosimano has once again weaved a hilarious, mysterious and adventurous story.

Angela Dawes does an excellent job narrating the creative adventures.

Thanks NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an early copy. Looking forward to the next installment. All opinions are my own.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave
Pub Date - 3/4/25
Rating - 4/5
Summary - Finlay and her nanny/best friend Vero are back in this new action packed mystery where a body is found in her busybody neighbor, Mrs. Haggarty's backyard. Initially Mrs. Haggarty was the prime suspect in this crime, but she was soon cleared. Having nowhere else to go, she stays with Finlay and Vero as the investigation continues. Finlay and Vero want to stay as far away from this case as possible, but when the suspect suddenly becomes Finlay's ex husband, she springs into action to prove his innocence.
Thoughts - This is one of my favorite series' ESPECIALLY to listen to on audio! Thank you netgalley and MacMillan Audio for this advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review. I was so excited to listen that I ended up finishing this story in less than 24 hours. I loved the narrator just like all the other stories. This is a great palate cleanser in between extremely serious thriller books where I know I will laugh and my mood will be elevated, while still solving a mystery. While this story was slower than her other installments, I still enjoyed the ride it took me down. I loved the plot, the writing, the characters, and everything about this book! I can't wait for the next one!

Finlay and Vero are just so funny and enjoyable. I’m so glad I started this series. Even when things can be predictable. It is always a fun time.

I was happy I got an ARC of the latest book in the Finlay Donovan series. I enjoy this series because it's fun and quirky and you just never know what kind of mess Finlay and Vero are going to get into. That being said this wasn't my favorite in the series, it seemed to have less action and near misses than the previous four, however, I still really enjoyed it! The way this book played out though I wonder if Elle Cosimano is done with Finlay and moving onto Vero as the main character in a (hopefully) new series.

In this fifth installment of Finlay Donovan’s very twisty, and at times unbelievable, story, I wasn’t sure Cosimano would be able to keep the plot fresh and readers invested. Yet somehow she made it work! We are picking up the story 5 months after the events of the first book. The cliffhanger at the end leaves it open for more books, which honestly feels like a little much at this point. I’m invested at this point, so I’m sure I’ll read the next one to see what kind of shenanigans Finlay and Vero get themselves into!

Thank you to Elle Cosimano, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this audiobook! The sounds quality was great! The narrator, was familiar and brought the characters to life. I enjoyed how she distinguished between Finlay and Vero’s voices.

The story lacked excitement. The premise felt somewhat dull, and there wasn't any actual murder occurring in this book.

Elle Cosimano does it again! I absolutely love this series, and this latest installment had me laughing from start to finish. Just when I thought Finlay and Vero couldn’t possibly get into more trouble, they find themselves right in the middle of chaos once again.

Vero’s jabs at Steven had me laughing out loud as always, but the addition of Mrs. Haggerty’s story brings even more dimension, mystery, and hilarious moments to the story. I adore Finlay and Vero’s friendship—it’s grown so much over the series, and at this point, they truly feel like a sisterhood.

I was also thrilled to see the romance between Nick and Finlay bloom even more in this book—because let’s be real, who doesn’t love a man in uniform? Their dynamic added just the right amount of swoon-worthy moments amidst all the chaos.

If you haven’t read the Finlay Donovan series yet, I highly recommend diving in. You won’t regret it!

An extremely high energy story, it was hard to put down. I love this series!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author and Macmillan Audio for this ARC.

Hooray for another entertaining installment in the Finlay Donovan series! Elle Cosamino knows how to craft humorous hijinks with lovable characters and a hint of mystery. I was so excited to see grumpy Mrs. Haggerty take a more central role beyond that of nosy neighbor. Finlay’s relationship with Nick is also a highlight with a bit more depth and spice. Zach is potty training. An ostentatious eggplant vehicle comes on the scene. The main crime involves a backyard body, and Finlay is trying to prove her ex Steven isn’t the killer. Finlay takes on more of a detective role and I miss some of her own ingenious criminal enterprising. I thoroughly enjoyed this playful book and was grateful to get an ARC audiobook from NetGalley. Angela Dawe returns as narrator and knocks it out of the park. One final thought - I would have chosen a different title… maybe Jumps the Fence or Beats the Rap or Cracks the Case?

This book is just pure fun! I have loved the books in the series and the antics continue in this one! This audiobook has the same narrator and I absolutely love how she does the voices for Finlay, Vero etc. This story just had me laughing at the challenges/obstacles Vero and Finlay faced. The neighbor Mrs. Haggerty brings her own drama and situations to this book! Overall I am so glad that I read it! This is book 5 in the series and I will continue listening to the books as long as the author keeps writing them!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave.

As an avid Finlay Donovan stan, I was happy to return to the hilarious antics of Finlay, Vero, Nick, and their crazy cast of characters/ neighbors. While I feel like this was one of the weakest of the series, I enjoyed myself. Dispel reality and have some silly fun, with a murder mystery twist. If there is one more book in the Finlay Donovan series I will read it, but if this series continues to go on and on this is likely the last one I’ll read. 3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Edelweiss for the earc, and NetGalley and Macmillian audio for the ALC.

Finlay Donovan is back!!! I know I have said this about every Finlay book, but this book must be the best book in the series...LOL. Of course I loved the hijinks that Finlay and Vero get in and I loved the supporting characters including Finlay's ex, her hot cop boyfriend Nick, her adorable and precocious children, and her cranky neighbor, Mrs. H. As always, Angela Dawe does a fantastic job with the narration and the different voices she gives to the characters.
I hope Elle Cosimano hurries up and writes the next Finlay book soon. I can't wait!!

So we are at book 5 in this series…was this book really necessary? No. Was it fun? Absolutely.

While I didn’t find this one quite as good as the rest of the series, I still really enjoyed it. I think it was missing some of the humor and I wanted Vero to be present a little more. But, I did like that we got more out of Finlay and Nick’s relationship and things are FINALLY headed in the right direction.

I love this series, but man does it need to end. It has gone on way too long and I can’t even believe there are supposed to be at least 2 more books in the series. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Audiobook note: I absolutely love the narrator for this series. She does a fantastic job!

Content: closed door, some language

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano is the 5th book in the Finlay Donovan series.

"Finlay's neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, has been cleared of charges relating to the body found in her garden. After her release she shows up at Finlay's door to stay with her until her house is ready. When the detectives start looking at Finlay's ex-husband, Steven, though, Finlay and Vero must discover Mrs. Haggerty's secrets...before the police find theirs."

This story starts off a little slower than previous books. There is still the family chaos with both kids. Finlay is still trying to figure out how much to tell Detective Hottie. Vero is spending more time with Javi. When Finlay discovers the book club, things pick up. The story takes a big turn and gets typical Finlay nuts. Wild ending. Surprises with Finlay and Nick. And Elle - how could you leave us with Vero like that?

Angela Dawe is wonderful as the voice of Finlay.

Finlay fans will enjoy this one. Lots of humor and insane situations - and be nice to your senior neighbors.

Loveddddd this. I feel like the last Finlay Donovan book felt like a little much. It wasn’t my favorite, and I was worried the books were jumping the shark a bit.
Finlay Donovan digs her own grave proved me wrong. This story felt like the first book. The humor and the interactions were hilarious and, as usual, Finlay is in over her head. Loved it. If you are a fan of Elle Cosimano’s world she created, you will not be disappointed by this book!
Thank you netgalley!

"Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave" is the fifth installment in the hilarious, unputdownable Finlay Donovan series. The story begins with the discovery of a dead body in the backyard of Finlay's elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty. At first a suspect, Mrs. Haggerty is eventually cleared by police. Her home remains a crime scene, though, and she has nowhere to go...except Finlay's house across the street. Finlay and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with Mrs. Haggerty, the community busybody, and they have no interest in getting involved with another murder case. But when Finlay's ex-husband, Steven, becomes a prime suspect, Finlay and Vero have no choice but to solve the mystery.

Elle Cosimano delivers another humorous, suspenseful, and romantic mystery. Every Finlay book is a wild and unpredictable ride, and this book did not disappoint. This was such a fun and fast-paced mystery full of unexpected twists. I couldn't put it down and couldn't stop laughing at Finlay and Vero and their crazy adventures. I loved getting to learn more about Mrs. Haggerty, who has been a recurring character in the series. Reading this book was like returning home. I just love this series and all of the quirky and entertaining characters. Everyone needs to read it!

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Angela Dawe. As always, she was such a fantastic narrator and did a great job voicing all of the characters. She used unique voices and accents for the different characters, which made it easy to tell them apart. I loved how she brought the story to life and made it even more enjoyable with her comedic timing and all of the banter. I was having so much fun listening that I binged the entire audiobook in less than 24 hours. Highly recommend this audiobook!

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for the honest review.