This was easily my favorite in the series! The characters were so entertaining and the story came together well. Loved the audio!

Title: Finlay Donovan Digs Her own Grave
Series: Finlay Donovan #5
Author: Elle Cosimano
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Angela Dawe
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Mystery /Thriller, Romance
Pub Date: March 4, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pages: 320

Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero have not been best friends with neighbor Mrs. Haggerty; however, when a dead body shows up in Mrs. Haggerty backyard, our super sleuths know they have to help. Finlay didn’t realize that helping to find whodunit also included babysitting.
Mrs. Haggerty was in jail for a week and while she was gone her power was turned off plus her home is a crime scene so she decides she wants to stay at Finlay’s home. Yikes! (Hmmm, Perhaps Mrs. Haggerty can help potty-train Zach, Finlay's two year old son and then deal with Delia her five year old daughter who has been suspended from pre-school for beating up Cooper a classmate as he was pilling her hair and is an all-around mean boy!.)
Hmmm and then there is Book Club. I read a lot of thrillers so know there something suspicious going on!

Of course, everything gets worse when another body shows up and Steven, Finlay‘s ex-husband is a suspect.

I enjoyed this- in fact I think it is the BEST in this fun series.

I am sure Mystery Book Clubs are going to have a fun time discussing this one!!!

My only negative is the foul language. It is such a fun story and the foul language really isn’t necessary.
But as a faithful Finn reader, I have already put #6 on my TBR list.

This is #5 for me. I read the others and since I am big audiobook fan I was delighted to get the audiobook.
Narrator Angela Dawe is GREAT at performing the characters- she made this fun story even more entertaining.

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this great early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 4, 2025,

Just love this series. Perfect mix of dark comedy! You must start with the first in the series tho cause they all just flow and pick up so smoothly! Loved it! Thank you NetGalley for this arc

I love this series, I love these characters and I can't wait for more adventures to come! Huge thanks to Macmillan Audio for the early audiobook listen and Minotaur Books for the ARC!

I love the experience of reading the book and listening along for the FULL Finlay and Vero experience. And this one? Ends on a cliffhanger (YAY for more books!).

After each book in the series, I always say this one might be my favorite so... This might be my favorite in the series (which I never thought possible after books 3 & 4). Mrs. Haggerty takes center stage—no longer just the nosy neighbor, she’s now in Finlay’s house. Trustworthy? Debatable. Hilarious? Absolutely.

The story is fantastic— a little less chaos (barely), more crime-solving antics, and plenty of tension (hello, hot cop Detective Anthony!). I devoured it and was so sad when it ended.

Angela Dawe nails the narration as always—her voices are perfection. If she ever stops narrating this series, I will riot (LOL). Grab the audiobook if you can—it's completely engrossing! Elle Cosimano always does such a great job of making Finlay such a relatable and real character and I think that's why I love her so much!

Pubs March 4th! Finlay and Vero are BAAAACK!

My besties at Macmillan Audio come through again with an approval to read the audiobook early!

(Okay, okay, enough exclamation points lady, sheesh, hehe)

Technically each story can be read as a standalone, there is enough back story included that you're not lost, but I'd recommend reading the whole series for the FULL Finlay and Vero experience. This one ends on a cliffhanger so it seems like we will be getting more of them in the future! (YAY!)

This was SO good and probably my favorite of the series so far (didn't think another could take the place of books 3 & 4)! Mrs. Haggerty takes a more central role in this story, she's no longer JUST the meddling, nosy neighbor across the street....she's now the meddling, nosy neighbor staying in Finlay's bedroom! We can't tell if she's to be trusted or not... I mean, the lady WAS questioned regarding the DE@D BODY found buried in her backyard! The scenes with Mrs. Haggerty are simultaneously infuriating and HILARIOUS.

This was such a good storyline. Finlay and Vero manage to cause less trouble in this one but they're not done with their amateur crime-solving antics. I won't lie -- Detective Anthony was a big part of why I loved this one so much. As always, there is lots of tension, especially as Finlay and Vero sort of, kind of, maybe bend the law a few times. Those thrilling moments will keep readers turning pages in a rush to find out what will happen! I couldn't get through this fast enough but then felt sad it was over :-)

As with the previous books I ADORE this narrator for these stories! Her different voices for each of the characters are PERFECTION and I'll riot if there are ever future books she does not narrate (LOL!) One hundred percent recommend grabbing the audiobook if you can -- they are entertaining and engrossing stories read by Angela Dawe!

I think that this is one of the best books in the series!

I really enjoy the Finlay Donovan series, but the last few books have been 4/4.5 stars for mw (still good but not top of my list good). This book seems to have gone back to more of the story's original roots - Finlay juggling her career & mom life, with the help of Vero, while also ending up having to clean up Steven's 'messes'. I felt like we were back in the comfort of Finlay's life instead of Finlay being off in other scenarios. This brought us back to the feeling of the first book and I think that is what really made me love this one so much.

This book has a lot of familiar characters that we have seen throughout the series. There are a few side characters that are starting to have a bigger role in Finlay's life and antics and it is really fun to still see some threads from book one being connected.

I knew that a new Finlay Donovan book would certainly be a top read for the month but I just didn't expect it to have me feeling so nostalgic and comforted. I did not want to put this down and fortunately I was gifted the audiobook copy as well so I could keep listening on the go.

If you haven't read this series yet and are a fan of softer (not gory or dark) mysteries, then I recommend checking this series out! This book & series is full of relatable #momlife moments, neighborhood watch drama, and friends that stick by your side through thick and thin. It has always been a top series for me because it is so fun and full of laugh out loud moments. It feels so wholesome at times despite being about a few murders. Elle Cosimano never fails to put a smile on my face with these characters and I cannot wait to hopefully devour more of these books in the future!

I love this book! I love this series! I love this author! The perfect pace and a fun story make this book perfect for a delightful escape from reality. The characters are quirky and sarcastic and make you love them. I will always recommend this series.

Elle Cosimano really stepped up her game with this one. I have read all of the Finlay Donovan books and this one might be my favorite. The first book had me hooked! The middle three books felt a little like coasting. However, I am so glad I stuck with them. This book had it all; the laughs, the heart felt moments, the "suspense", the mystery, the hot cop! Thank you so much for offering this ARC so that I could read, enjoy, and share with others to definitely grab this book when it comes out.

I went into this book mildly uneasy, as I wasn’t a huge fan of the novella.

I needn’t have worried.

I love revisiting familiar characters, and I particularly love a curmudgeon, so, after Vero and Fin, Mrs. Haggarty was my favourite.

The best part of this series is, and will always be, the female friendships.

Romance is good, but WOMANCE is ESSENTIAL.

I’m also thrilled about the return of the original narrator. GOAT.

Also: Should I be concerned about how UNconcerned I am about all the vigilantism?

This was a witty and hilarious addition to the series! The narrator brings each character to life with distinct voices, making the experience even more enjoyable. While this book may not be as action-packed or memorable as the last FD installment, it’s still solid, well-written, and kept me hooked. Most importantly, it left me excited for what’s next!

I can’t get enough of the Finlay Donovan series. Each book has such a fun and interesting premise. The characters are so relatable and each book allows us to have an even greater insight into them. In this book, I was excited to have Finlay’s kids more involved in the storyline. I also really liked having Nick, Finlay’s cop-boyfriend, being more involved and working on deepening their relationship. While I missed Georgia, Finlay’s sister, I understood the break from her storyline in order to focus on and bolster the other characters. Each book in the series has such fun humor in it that balances perfectly with the intrigue. I love how every book ends with such a happy summary and thennnnnn….you get a little glimpse into what the next book will be about.

Overall, I’ve loved every book in this series and rated each over four stars. I also highly recommend the audiobook; the narrator does a fantastic job!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ahhh I love this series so much! Book five picks up right where book four ended. The narrator is fantastic and she really brought the story and characters to life. This was such an entertaining book to listen to and I was happy to be back with Finlay and the crew.

5⭐, 0.75🌶️

I. FREAKING. LOVE. FINLEY DONOVAN! These books have the perfect balance of mystery, hijinx, and humor that are just perfect for binging (which I did in one day during work). Finley and Vero's friendship is always so hilarious, and the added humor with Fin's kids, ex husband, both of the women's partners, and so many other characters just make this such an enjoyable series.

As a Northern Virginia resident that also works in the LEO field, its soooo appreciated how factually accurate this series is to professions and the location. Its such a great series I love to recommend it to anyone who wants a Mystery series to binge!

This book has so much going on but really for once its not inadvertently a consequence of Finley or Vero's actions, but a lot of their past is about to come back up to possibly screw with them. AND THAT CLIFF HANGER?! OMG OMG OMG the next book cant get here fast enough - which is painful to have to say for a book im already reading in advance of its release lol.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest and unpaid review!

Excited to return to Finlay’s world!
Mrs. Haggerty thrown in jail, book club meetings, kiddos misbehaving, just another hectic day in Finlay and Vero’s life. I laughed so much in this one and loved seeing how they kept getting themselves into and out of wild situations. Mrs. Haggerty and Cam both had great roles in this one and the bonding they had completely warmed my heart. Mrs. Haggerty is hilarious, and who would have thought she had some secrets of her own? Angela Dawe delivers great narration, using a wide array of tones and inflections that bring the characters to life. I can’t see anyone else portraying these characters.
I can’t wait to see what happens next, especially with that ending that left us wondering what’s coming!

This was a wonderful continuation of the Finley Donovan series. I really enjoyed the character development in this one. I also liked that the ending left room for another novel/spinoff in the future.

"Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave" delivers the signature humor and chaotic charm that fans of the series have come to love. Finlay and Vero’s antics are as entertaining as ever, and Mrs. Haggerty adds a fun new dynamic to the mix. The story moves quickly, with plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting.

I listened to this as an audiobook, and the narrator was excellent as always, bringing each character to life with great pacing and energy. Her performance added to the fun, making the humor and fast-paced dialogue even more engaging.

That said, this installment doesn’t quite hit the same mark as the earlier books. The mystery feels a bit scattered at times, and some of the plot developments lean more on convenience than cleverness. While the banter is enjoyable, the stakes don’t feel as high, making the story less engaging than previous adventures.

Overall, it’s a fun listen, but not the strongest in the series. If you enjoy Finlay and Vero’s wild ride, you’ll likely still have a good time—but it may not be the most memorable installment.

The fifth installment of this series did not disappoint! I love Finlay and Vero, their hijinks are always top notch., and I'm looking forward to seeing more of the character development for Mrs. Haggerty in the upcoming books!

This was standard Finlay. I loved Zach's potty training and sexy Nick and kind Julian and crazy Vero and Javi. It ended on a cliff hanger which is fun for this series. I am giving an extra star for the fabulous narration.

The end of this series (or is it) goes out with a bang...and I truly enjoyed the ride!

Finlay and Vero find themselves entangled in the investigation of another buried dead body BUT this time, they didn't put it there.

The Finlay Donovan series is the most fun you can have with a cozy mystery. Think of the duo as Thelma and Louise who always seem to find themselves in some sort of trouble with dead bodies. You definitely have to suspend reality with their antics but it's part of the entertainment. I love that the shenanigans in FINLAY DIGS HER OWN GRAVE weren't as off the rails as books 3 and 4. Finlay's nosy neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, is back and she steals the show! It's so easy to fall in love with these characters and their larger-than-life drama. The action and laughs are non-stop. There aren't as many characters to keep up with so that made the audiobook even more enticing.

After the first book, this one is definitely one of my favorites of all five. I do recommend reading them in order because they all end in a cliffhanger with a storyline that continues. I thought this was the final adventure for Finlay and Vero BUT we're left with another shocking ending...

I’ve been a ride or die Finlay and Vero fan since book 1, and I keep waiting for the series to lose its originality or spark, but somehow Cosimano continues to deliver! Thank you to MacMillan audio for my complimentary audiobook; I’ve been so fortunate to listen to all of these books, and narrator Angela Dawe simply IS Finlay to me! Her performance always perfectly captures the comedic timing, building suspense, and unique characterization of each of the main characters.

Readers like me or have been shipping Finlay and Nick for BOOKS will love this latest installment. The actual mystery takes a bit of a back seat to the development of their relationship. There is still plenty of hilarity with potty training adventures, Mrs. Haggerty moving in as a temporary roommate, weed brownies, and Cam’s new eggplant colored suped up car, but the best part for me was watching Finlay finally make moves to come clean about her past in the hopes for real intimacy. The murder mystery portion also nicely closed the story arc from previous books, leaving Cosimano the freedom to potentially give Vero more time to shine in the next book. There is a delightful conclusion/cliffhanger that always makes me wish the next book was already ready for release!