One of my favorites of the series; I really enjoyed the character development and integration of side characters at this point of the series. Sure, is the chaos that Finlay and Vero get themselves into far fetched? Absolutely. Will I continue to read every book in the series? Without a doubt;

Oh, I love Finlay Donovan and her BFF/ nanny Vero.

Old Mrs Haggerty is the community busy body, but when a dead body is found on her property and her house is declared a crime scene- she moves herself in to Finlay’s house. And the only way for Finlay to get Mrs Haggerty out of her house is to find the killer.

Lots of action, laugh out loud moments and I totally condone all of Finlay’s bad ways. LOL.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy of #FinlayDonovanDigsHer Own Grave in exchange for an honest review.

This was yet another fun installment in the series! I think at this point I have just grown to love the characters, so following along this journey has been a lot of fun, with that said...I feel like there is not really a need to continue on. This book does end on a cliffhanger, making me believe that there will be another book in the series, and whilst I will probably read it. I don't think it will be necessary for most to continue on.

This is good though if you are wanting a fun cozy mystery to listen to in the background whilst you are doing other things.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for my early e-arc.

This Finley Donovan book made me laugh out loud. I had the best time reading it. This book has more Mrs. Haggerty, the neighbor across the street, who made this book so much more fun. There were less dumb decisions by Finley and Vera, which I appreciated!

I listened to this on audio and thought the narrator did a decent job portraying the female and male characters. The ending was set up for book 6.

I definitely think this was one of my favorites in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a fun, not too serious, mystery series! I would highly recommend starting from book one as each of the books has built upon the previous ones. Finlay is a master of ending up in sticky situations.

The characters are likable even when they aren't. There is funny banter throughout the series. And bad guys dying. What's not to love?!

I have really enjoyed listening to these on audio when I just want to be entertained.

*please note that I did receive this ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

This was exactly what I needed to re-engage with the series!

I have to admit that after Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice, I did not plan on continuing. The first arc of the series was done, and the last couple of books were not quite as good as the first two for me.

But the last couple of weeks have been some of the worst of my life, and what I was craving was a romp of a book to help distract me. The timing just worked out that as I was looking for something lighthearted to read, an advance copy popped up almost immediately. I figured I had nothing to lose - my expectations were low and I just needed something to take my mind off of the complete nightmare of reality. I am so glad I dove in!

Finlay's romantic relationship starts to get more serious, Vero is as hilarious as ever, the cast of characters is great, the mystery is interesting and has a satisfying resolution, and it's fun to piece things together along the way. I'm now sucked back in enough that I have to keep reading to see what happens next. Well done, Cosimano!

This is probably not where you want to start if you haven't read any of the others simply because the relationships are now quite established, but you can follow most of what's happening without any prior knowledge. Plus, the relevant plot points from previous books (that I absolutely had forgotten) are summarized throughout this one.

If you have enjoyed the series up to this point, even if you were thinking of dipping out as I was, I definitely recommend Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave.

I love the Finlay Donovan series, and the newest installment did not disappoint! The friendship and back and forth between Finlay and Vero is always so funny, I’ll never get tired of it. And bring in Mrs. Haggerty for a more prominent role in Digs Her Own Grave, and I was rolling laughing. Keep it up, Ms. Cosimano! I’ll keep listening as long as Finlay has new stories.

finlay and vero are back again with the shenanigans, and it was so refreshing to be following a thread that isn't directly tied to them. angela dawe returns to bring this story to life. her narration is entertaining and easy to follow. if you like reading with your ears, i recommend this as an audiobook.

in FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE we dive right back into the drama in mrs. haggarty's backyard. her grandson picks her up from jail, drops her off at finlay's, and leaves her in their hands. i mean, who can blame him?

surprisingly, i ended up really enjoying more of mrs. haggarty in this book. i never thought i'd say that, but she actually grew on me. i was happy to see more of cam. especially seeing him interact with mrs. haggarty. those moments were so fun.

i did have a moment of worry that we might get sucked back into old storylines, but thankfully, we dodged that bullet. i’m so ready for these characters to take new directions, and it looks like that’s exactly what we’re in for. that being said, this felt a little like a filler book, laying the groundwork for what's to come, so it wasn’t my favorite of the series.

we continued to get more finlay and nick content on the side, plus some javi and vero too. there were some (very much needed) loose ends tied up between finlay and nick, and i was thrilled about that.

the ending sets us up for the next adventure, and i’m super intrigued to see how the crew handles their upcoming complications!

**side note: i definitely would've loved the zach situation to be handled differently in the prologue. it felt weird and unnecessary that he was in the school without a blanket or anything. idk, it rubbed me the wrong way.

3.75

Elle Cosimano delivers another sharp and entertaining installment in the Finlay Donovan series, with a plot that stands out as the best since the first book. The pacing is tight, the writing is smooth, and the story takes a much-needed turn that reinvigorates the series.

The mafia storyline had run its course, and this shift in direction felt refreshing. It was also great to see more of Mrs. Haggerty, Camp, and Nick, whose expanded roles added depth and humor. The introduction of the book club was an unexpected but welcome addition that blended seamlessly with the story’s chaotic energy.

The novel ends on a strong cliffhanger, setting up the next book perfectly. Every element—from the humor to the tension—lands exactly as it should, making this a standout entry in the series. The audiobook narration remains flawless, elevating the experience even further.

Cosimano continues to strike the right balance between suspense and comedy, keeping the momentum of Finlay’s story going in the best possible way.

I have read all in the Finlay Donovan series and this is such a fun series! I love Finlay and Vero's dynamic, I loved the progression of the relationship with Nick, and seeing the mystery of the dead body unfold. The side characters are excellent and I love the nosy neighbor and setup for the next book! The audiobook is very fun and I love the narrator and she distinctly voices for all the characters!

This series is a rollercoaster, and while not my absolute favorite of the series, I really enjoyed this latest entry in the Finley Donovan series!

In this installment, we follow Finlay and the gang as they try and solve a murder that her ex-husband is being framed for, and all the twists and turns that come along the way.

I loved the addition that Mrs. Haggerty to the group! She was exactly the sort of firecracker that was needed in the group.

As we get more books in the series, I do think we are losing the narrative throughline a bit. The books are starting to feel like standalones in a connected universe, instead of a cohesive story. I don't necessarily mind if that is the direction this series is headed in, but it does weaken the overall plot a bit.

Overall, I loved this addition to the series, and I will definitely keep picking up the books as they come out!

Listened to all the Finlay books up until this one and I definitely think this was my favorite this far! I thought it might be the end of the Finlay story but I’m looking forward to the next book!

Thanks NetGalley for the advanced audio copy!

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is the latest installment in the fantastic Finlay Donovan series! I always enjoy returning to the world of Finlay Donovan. As the series has progressed, I love seeing Finlay’s bond with Vero deepen and seeing the kids grow up. It was very fun to see nosy Mrs. Haggerty become more involved in Finlay’s life and cause some good chaos. I loved her book club! Finlay’s relationship with police officer Nick had me gritting my teeth as he stumbles closer to uncovering some inconvenient truths. Elle Cosimano’s writing is incredibly witty and laugh-out-loud funny. Every book ends on a cliffhanger that makes you eager to read the next and this book is no exception. I listened to the audiobook and narrator Angela Dawe did an excellent job. Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is perfect for readers who love chaotic crime, extremely lovable characters, and plot twists that you won’t see coming.

Thank you to Elle Cosimano, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for a free audioARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

The fifth installment in the Finlay Donovan series, and maybe it's just because of continuous character development, but I love this series more each time a book comes out. This book wrapped up so much for Finlay, but left the door wide open for Vero's story.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano. Finlay Donovan books NEVER disappoint and this one was no exception. I read these types of books as palate cleansers between thrillers/heavier reads and this book was perfect! I absolutely loved everything about it. You NEVER know what Finlay Donovan is going to get into next! This book kept me interested, the narrator was amazing and I was laughing out loud at parts! Read this whole series - IN ORDER!

4.5! I have to admit I had a little apprehension going into this one. I had previously come across some mixed reviews for the fifth installment (6th if you include "Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank" but I have to say it was as absolutely as enjoyable as the first. Finlay Donovan is for sure a comfort read for me and I am very pleased we were once again in true Elle Cosimano style, left with a cliffhanger so we know there will be an another one coming.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave picks up right where we left off, a body found in Mrs. Haggerty's backyard and now Finlay's ex-husband Steven is the suspected murderer and the nosy neighborhood "watchwoman" is rooming with Finlay, Vero and the kids - what could go wrong? All the beloved characters are back in action!

As a side note, if you are looking for a great, quick audiobook this is a great one and I truly believe that Angela Dawe does an outstanding job with this series. Her mannerisms and character portrayal are spot on and to be honest there are times I truly love the audio versions of this series to actually reading them.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the privilege of an early listen in exchange for my honest review. It was my pleasure.

I absolutely love this series. Vero may be my favorite character ever. The dialogue and interactions with her always gives me a chuckle.

The narrator for this book was absolutely perfect. I laughed so hard for so much of the book and I think the narrator plays a huge part in that.

The best book of the Finlay series by far!!

Finlay and Vero are at it again and find themselves (still) trying to cover their tracks from hijinks past. Finlay makes big progress in her relationship with hot cop Nate. Her kids are in Mrs. Hagerty’s homeschool/potty training boot camp. This was really good!

These are always such quick fun reads. I love when a new Finlay Donovan book hits my kindle. I know I am in for a fun ride. This was no different. I loved the way they got Nick into the story in a less official capacity. Mrs. Haggerty was a fun twist to keep Finlay and Vero on their toes. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next installment!!