I love this series and loved this book! I had really high expectations because FF rolls the dice was my favorite in the series so far. I will admit, it did start off slow for me. I felt like it did take a while to get to the actual mystery of the book, but i didn’t mind it because it was nice to get a refresher of everything that happened. It had been a long time since I read the last book, but everything came together nicely. I loved Mrs. H relationship with Cam and the kids, and I’m now finding it hard to choose between team nick and team Julian! I cannot wait for book 6!

Another amazing addition to the Finlay Donovan series! I absolutely love the twists and turns- I saw some things coming and others completely surprised me. Vero never ceases to get a laugh from me!

Another great installment in this series. I liked the new story with the older neighbor and Finlay’s husband. The way they get dragged into investigating more murders. I also liked the stories with her kids. Things were just funny and a little bit ridiculous. And of course there the little hint of romance she has. Which is fun. Looking forward to what comes next.

Thx Macmillan audio for the early copy.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version. I really enjoyed this book. It was a great murder mystery and all the characters were so funny, I found myself laughing a bunch of times. The writing is very witty, fast and sharp. I would read from this author again!

Elle Cosimano's "Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave" is a delightful addition to the beloved Finlay Donovan series, seamlessly blending humor, mystery, and the complexities of suburban life. In this fifth installment, Finlay Donovan, a mystery writer and single mother, finds herself entangled in yet another perplexing situation alongside her steadfast partner-in-crime, Vero.

The story kicks off when their nosy neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, discovers a dead body in her backyard. Cleared as a suspect but displaced from her home due to the ongoing investigation, Mrs. Haggerty seeks refuge with Finlay. Reluctantly, Finlay and Vero agree, hoping to avoid further complications. However, the situation intensifies when Finlay's ex-husband, Steven, becomes a person of interest in the case. Determined to protect their secrets and uncover the truth, Finlay and Vero delve into a web of neighborhood intrigue, unearthing hidden motives and unexpected alliances.

Cosimano masterfully crafts a narrative filled with witty dialogue, engaging characters, and a plot that keeps readers guessing. The dynamic between Finlay and Vero is as entertaining as ever, showcasing their unwavering friendship amidst chaos. Mrs. Haggerty's expanded role adds depth and humor, enriching the story further.

"Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave" is a testament to Cosimano's ability to blend suspense with comedy, delivering a story that's both thrilling and heartwarming. Fans of the series will find this installment particularly satisfying, while newcomers will be eager to explore Finlay's earlier adventures.

A heartfelt thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader's copy of this engaging novel. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

Listening to the audiobook version of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano was an engaging and thoroughly entertaining experience. Narrated by the talented Angela Dawe, the audiobook brings the quirky and suspenseful world of Finlay Donovan to life with flair.

Angela Dawe’s narration is a standout feature, as she effortlessly captures the distinct personalities of each character, adding depth and humor to the story. Her dynamic voice work keeps listeners hooked, making it easy to follow the twists and turns of the plot.

The story itself is a delightful mix of mystery, humor, and drama. Finlay Donovan and her partner-in-crime, Vero, find themselves entangled in yet another murder investigation when a body is discovered in their neighbor’s backyard. The plot is filled with unexpected developments and witty dialogue, making for a highly enjoyable listen.

While the audiobook is a fantastic experience overall, there are moments where the pacing feels a bit uneven. Some sections move quickly, while others slow down, which can be slightly jarring. However, this does not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the story.

Elle Cosimano’s writing shines through in this installment, with well-crafted characters and a plot that balances suspense and humor perfectly. The audiobook format enhances the experience, allowing listeners to fully immerse themselves in Finlay’s chaotic and adventurous life.

Overall, Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is a must-listen for fans of the series and anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a comedic twist. Angela Dawe’s exceptional narration and Cosimano’s engaging storytelling make this audiobook a highly recommended addition to your listening library.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Finlay Donovan is back!! This is the first audiobook I listened to in the series and I absolutely loved it. The story is a fast paced mystery with a humorous and witty tone (I couldn't stop giggling). The twists and turns make you want to binge the book in one sitting. This is the perfect cozy mystery and I cannot wait to read the book as well, this is by far my favorite in the series. The narrator Angela Dawe is awesome, she did a great job of bringing the personalities of these characters to life.

3🌟

Thank you netgalley for the arc!

A fun continuous of the series, which has been hit or miss previously. I enjoyed the pace, and always appreciate a cozy mystery. I'm not a huge fan of the romance and some of the descriptions threw me off. I'm unsure if I will continue with the series going forwards, but it's always good as a cozy, filler book.

Another hilarious and incredibly entertaining story! I’ve listened to all the other books in the series and couldn’t wait to dive into this one as well. It did not disappoint! Cameos from all my favorite characters, a little bit of mystery, tons of hilarious/embarrassing/relatable moments, and a mom who is just tryna get by. Loved it and would definitely recommend the narrator and author!

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano; narrated by Angela Dawe.

I read the first of this series and enjoyed it, although not enough to put the Finlay Donovan series on my list of must read mystery series. When I saw this audio version, I decided to try another and I’m glad I did. Angela Dawe is a fabulous narrator – she does a great job modulating her voice for the different characters and situations/emotions. While it probably would have helped to have read them in order as far as relationships go (many of the characters are mentioned as having been in previous installments of the series), it didn’t impact my enjoyment of the story. Cosimano provides enough historical detail.

As to the story – it is a mix of mystery – how did a body end up in Margaret Haggerty’s garden? and who killed him? - and romance – Finlay and Detective Nick Anthony’s developing relationship - with a splash of humor. Finlay’s ex-husband is accused of the murder and she, along w/her children’s nanny, Vero, set out to find out who did it.

There were quite a few laugh out loud moments while listening to the audio version. Dawe’s narration enhanced the humor – whether by timing and/or tone of her voice, I could visualize the hilarity in the situations. Knowing she narrated the earlier books in the series, I plan to go back and listen to them.

Thank you to NetGalley, Elle Cosimano, Angela Dawe and MacMillan Audio for an advanced copy of this book.

this book was so fun! out of the entire series, this one is probably my second favorite, behind Finlay Donovan is Killing It.

I love that the narrator has stayed the same throughout the entire series so the voices of each character have been consistent. This book made me laugh and I just loved everything.

I plan to share this title on my instagram account on Tuesday, March 4th at www.instagram.com/robinashleyreads

Finlay Donovan is back at it again! No surprise that I flew through this book. I love this series and this latest edition really made it fun and enjoyable. I enjoyed this book so much because it really was tying up ends that were left open from the last book. I felt like this was the inevitable repercussions that needed to happen to make this a believable event (or as believable this humorous and lively book series is).

I appreciated there was not fresh dramas but conclusions to to things that have been going on. I cannot stress that enough. The fact that it is not one outlandish thing after another but trying to solve something that makes sense really grounded the story and had me really loving this storyline. I really enjoyed the characters being in their almost fully normal surroundings and I think it has hooked me for the following books. Excited to see where else our girl Finlay will go. Especially after that ending.

I recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed this series but isn't sure if they were going to continue it! Thank you so much NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story.

My goodness I never want this series to end. I LOVE Finlay & Vero and this one may be my second favorite (nothing will ever beat the first) of the series.

Finlay’s ex-husband Steven is suspected of murder after a body is found across the street from Finlay’s house, and she will do anything she can to prove his innocence. This one is LAUGH OUT LOUD funny and super entertaining.

Finlay and Vero are back in book 5 of the Finlay Donovan series - along with all our other favorites such as Nick, Mrs. Haggerty and Cam!

Finlay and Vero's elderly, nosy neighbor has been dropped at their doorstep straight out of jail. Why you ask? Because a dead body was discovered in her back yard. While, she's been cleared in the investigation, her house is still an active crime scene - and she has nowhere else to go but right across the street at the Donovan residence. And now for the girls to solve another murder/mystery...

I absolutely love that these books start right where the previous book leaves off! The banter and situations these characters find themselves in... it's just so funny! Mrs. Haggerty had me laughing constantly - especially with Finlay's children.

While this book started off super slow (in my opinion), I will say I wasn't expecting it to go where it did! The narrator on these audiobooks is great! I truly enjoy reading/listening this series and am looking forward to the next one!... Thanks for the cliffhanger, Elle!

Thank you to Elle Cosimano, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ALC/ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I binge-read the entire Finlay Donovan series once I got an advanced copy of this 5th book. It’s a fun series with interesting characters and plenty of shenanigans (aka murders and felonies). I was pleasantly surprised to find that, Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, is actually my favorite one so far!

One of the key reasons I enjoyed this book so much is that it doesn’t rely on the same high-stakes Russian mob drama that’s been a driving force in the earlier books. Instead, Cosimano brings the suspense and twists closer to home, focusing on Finlay’s personal life and the relationships we've been following from book one. It’s a refreshing shift, and I appreciated the depth it gave the characters.

That said, I still have mixed feelings about the Finlay and Nick romance. Despite being five books into their relationship, the chemistry between them feels somewhat lacking. Finlay constantly declares that Nick is all she wants, but the connection between them doesn't come across as authentic. The intimate moments between them feel somewhat cringy. I still feel like her bond with Julian is stronger and I hope we see a turn in his direction.

If you haven’t read the Finlay Donovan series yet, I highly recommend starting from the beginning, as each book unfolds in real-time over the span of just about a week, and each one picks up where the last one left off. Plot lines introduced in Book 1 will still be explored in Book 6. I’m excited to see where Cosimano takes the series next and hope there are many more Finlay Donovan books to come!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Press for providing an Advanced Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Finlay Donovan is back, and she’s as delightfully chaotic as ever! A divorced, single mom of two and a published author by day, she moonlights as an accidental sleuth alongside her sharp-witted sidekick and nanny, Vero. This latest installment in the series is just as entertaining as ever, bringing back familiar faces who are all trying to maintain the illusion of normalcy—while secretly dodging crime and solving mysteries after dark.

This time, Finlay and Vero are determined to crack a case while dealing with a nosy neighbor under their roof and working to clear Finlay’s ex-husband of crimes he didn’t commit. It’s another wild ride, packed with humor, suspense, and the perfect dose of chaos. I fell in love with this series from the very start, and while I highly recommend beginning at book one, there’s plenty of backstory here to catch new readers up. The cliffhanger ending has me counting down the days until the next book—I can’t wait to see how Vero’s story unfolds!

Thank you, NetGalley, for this free advanced copy—I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was another great installment for this series! Just loved the audio book and always enjoy to see what trouble they end up in!

I didn't want it to end!!! This fifth book in the series is a return to form, and it brings together ALL the characters you've loved from the rest of the series. I loved going back to South RIding with Finlay, voiced by Angela Dawe. Angela has a great voice for every character - I don't know how she keeps them all straight, but she does so masterfully. Cosimano's books have fade-to-black spicy scenes, and there are three in this installment. The main love story intensifies and you'll love Detective Hottie more than ever.

Finlay's ex gets arrested when a body turns up in Mrs. Haggerty's backyard. What follows is a wild ride with lots of female friendship and humor along the way. This series gives what every mom is looking for - balance. Cosimano brings humor to co-parenting, being a working mom, and having secrets. With this series, you really can have it all.

Loved it so much!!!

Thank you everyone for this early gifted copy of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano.

I am a HUGE fan of the Finlay Donovan series, and have been since I read the first book a few years ago. I think it’s fun and just different enough that it keep you entertained well.

The last few books in the series hadn’t been my favorite, but this one definitely brought back the old Finlay. It was witty and funny, and kept me guessing the plot the entire time. I felt like it would be a great tv show—something about this plot felt like a good comedy drama tv show where you can see how the characters are missing each other, but they don’t.

This books picks up right where the others left off, brought in new characters, reminded you of some old and left you wanting more!

I’ve loved this series since the first book, and now that we’re at book five, I jumped at the chance to read the audiobook version. I’ve read previous books in the series as audiobooks, and really enjoyed all of them. Obviously, I had really high hopes for this book, and I wasn’t let down at all.

Angela Dawe has narrated all of the audiobooks, and embodies the voice of Finlay for me. I love the voices that she’s given all of the characters, and how much fun she has with the books.

I couldn’t wait to see what kind of mischief Finlay and Vero find themselves in this time. And the troubles keep piling up. First, nosy Mrs. Haggerty winds up staying at Finlay’s house, causing all kinds of friction within the household—especially when Mrs. Haggerty takes over Finlay’s room. The entitlement and grouchy nature of Mrs. Haggerty didn’t endear her to me, although I did grow to like her a little more by the end of the book. Things get a little hectic at the house, especially when Mrs. Haggerty interferes with pretty much everything in Finlay’s life. As if that wasn’t enough to deal with, Delia was suspended from preschool, the murder of the body in Mrs. Haggerty’s backyard is pinned on Steven, Finlay’s ex-husband.

While reading this, I couldn’t help but think of how far the relationship between Finlay and Vero has come. These two women have grown from an employer and a live-in employee to a real ride-or-die friendship that comes with emotional support and someone they could rely on no matter what. It’s lucky that these two have each other, because I didn’t think there’s anyone else who would willingly put themselves in the situations that they do, and get out of them as well as they do.

I also really love the relationship between Nick and Finlay, which further deepens in this book. It took them a lot to reach the point that they’re at, but Nick has been pushing Finlay to open up to him a little more. And we all know what Finlay is hiding, and why she doesn’t want to share it with her detective boyfriend. But we see a lot more of the relationship wrinkles getting ironed out now that they’ve become more serious.

As always, the action is fast and furious and funny. Cosimano has a great sense of humor throughout these books, and this is no exception. This leans more into the cozy mystery genre than thrillers, and it’s such a fun read. There is plenty of character development, even if the story ends on such a huge cliffhanger! I know I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next book in the series, and devouring it. You’re likely to enjoy this book if: you’ve read earlier books in the series (and liked them), like a little more humor and lower stakes in your stories, are drawn to awesome female friendships, and enjoy seeing a mom who is a hot mess always manage to come through just about every situation more or less okay.