Elle Cosimano has just released Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave. This is the fifth entry in this wonderfully fun series.

Finlay is the lead character and you can’t help but like her. She’s an author, a mom and somehow - a reluctant investigator. Finlay and her nanny/sidekick Vero aren’t interested in investigating another case. But, it’s right across the street they live on. Add in two small kids, a young computer whiz, an ex-husband and a hunky policeman to the mix. And let’s not forget the grumpy old woman across the street.

Well, while there are bodies popping up in every book, it’s funny with ridiculous situations that will have you laughing out loud. I hope that Cosimana has more plans for Finlay! The plot was a good one and there's some truth in it.

If you have enjoyed Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, you will love this series. Evanovich herself has provided a blurb on the front cover!

I chose to read this book. Angela Dawe was the reader again - which is a really good thing. The continuity is appreciated. She has created believable voices for each and every character. And I have vivid mental pictures of each player based on those voices. She captures the actions, the emotions, the danger and more, with her inflections, tones, speed etc. She speaks clearly and is easy to understand. An excellent presentation of a wonderful book!

10 Hours, 18 Minutes

The wild antics continue in this fifth book in the Finlay Donovan series. It is as entertaining as it is outrageous. Listened to this one on audiobook and enjoyed it. You can’t over analyze these books, just have fun with them!

This series just makes me so happy! I love that it feels like a new season of your favorite TV show, all your favorite characters getting back together again, getting into trouble, love & mayham abundant! The last book kinda tied up some loose ends so I was curious as to what Finlay and the gang would get up to this time. & this doesn’t disappoint! I loved all the main players together. Cam making more of an appearance was so fun & I loved him and Mrs haggerty together! Literally so funny! (🚗🍆 iykyk!)

A solid addition to this series & I hope there’s another book in this series coming soon!

I need this as a tv show please someone make it happen!! 🤞🏼

"FINLAY ROCKS! Finlay, Vero, the kids, Mrs. Haggerty, and Cam are a DREAM Team—a total RIOT! My new favorite of the series."

Elle Cosimano is back better than ever with her dynamic duo, Finlay and Vero in the Finlay Donovan series #4, FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE. The partners in crime are involved in another murder, but this time, it is their neighbor across the street who is in the hot seat (but they do not like the cops too close for comfort). So get ready for a wild ride. I have never laughed so hard—this book is highly entertaining, filled with humor that will keep you in stitches. THE BEST!

About...

Finlay and side-kick nanny (partner in crime), Vero are trying to lay low after their last Russian mob fiasco. However, the action heats up again when the cops are at Mrs. Haggerty's house (Finlay's neighbor). What in the world is going on?

There is a body buried in her backyard. She is arrested and then released for the moment while the investigation continues (her grandson is a politician). He appears at Finlay's door with the sassy, controlling, witty, and demanding grandmother. This unexpected turn sets the stage for hilarious and suspenseful situations.

She moves in and takes over Finlay's household. Finlay and Vero are stuck with her.

Add Finlay's ex, Steven in the mix for another layer of suspense, and Delia and Zach (Finlay's kids- hilarious), and always a fun visit from Sylvia (literary agent), and you have a wild ride.

Prepare for a delightful mix of laughter, drama, a mysterious book club, and mischief in 'Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave'. This book is a guaranteed fun ride, offering a unique blend of humor, suspense, and everyday life situations to keep you hooked from start to finish!

My thoughts...

'Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave' is a delight! Killer fantastic and simply marvelous. Whether you're reading or listening to the audiobook (more on that below), this story will have you in fits of laughter.

My favorite of the series! Finlay, Vero, Mrs. Haggerty, Delia, Zach, and Cam make a dream team! I have never laughed so hard.

Sylvia, Nick, and Javi are also back with some spice. Finlay and Vero need to keep some things private. So they do not like all the attention with a crime scene across the street and a person of interest staying with them.

Mrs. Haggerty adds to the narrative with secrets of her own, getting up in the middle of the night to something suspicious, and the mysterious book club, keeping Finaly and Vero on their toes. Shrouded in secrecy and intrigue, this book club adds an extra layer of mystery to the story. They may have met their match. Plus they have to worry about her keeping their secrets.

And best of all, how Mrs. Haggerty handles Delia's school suspension, homeschooling, and Zach's potty training is LOVED!! Priceless. More of this please.

I think everyone loves this installment, including myself, because there is no mob, or chasing bad guys. Still, everything is centered on the homefront, neighborhood, and the fun everyday things that happen. with the kids and everyday people. Mrs. Haggerty is the showstopper and takes center stage in this one. I hope we see more of her and Cam again.

I am delighted we are getting more from the Vero cliffhanger and can't wait for the next installment!

PLEASE....I would love to see a crossover with my two favorite series: Elle Cosimano and Janet Evanovich, with Stephanie Plum as the bail bondsman for Mrs. Haggerty! Would that not be wild!

Audiobook...

I enjoyed reading the book and listening to the stellar audio (as always) by the mega talented superstar, Angela Dawe! I could not wait for my day of errands and the car to listen as I would not miss an episode on audio. Angela is exceptional, and her engaging performance enhanced the listening experience. I kept rewinding as these one-liners are so awesome! I highly recommend the audio for an entertaining and immersive experience. Angela, and Ellie, you are award-winning. The audio was hilarious. Keep the snarky banter coming. I love it. And please bring back Mrs. Haggerty.

Angela is so 'Finlay and Vero' that while I am currently listening to the audiobook of The Unlucky Ones by Hannah Morrissey (excellent), Angela Dawe and Robb Moreira are narrating and I keep waiting for Finlay and Vero to pop out or looking down to see what I am listening to.

Just like I would never miss a Janet Evanovich audiobook narrated by Lorelei King, I would never miss Elle Cosimano audio by Angela Dawe. They become these characters in readers/listeners' minds, so please do not change narrators! Award-winning.

I would highly recommend reading all the books in the series in order. You do not want to miss a thing.

Recs...

This hit is for fans of the author and the Finlay Donovan series, as well as works by Janet Evanovich and the Stephanie Plum series.

Thanks to St. Martins Press, Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio via Netgalley for a gifted advanced reading and listening copy for my honest thoughts. #MacAudio2025 #SMPInfluencers

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars ++
Pub Date: March 4, 2025
Mar 2025 Must-Read Books
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I voluntarily read, listened to, and reviewed advanced copies of this book and audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press (Minotaur Books) and Macmillan Audio!

When a body is found in her elderly neighbor’s backyard, Finlay finds herself with a temporary new housemate.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is the fifth book in the Finlay Donovan series. I would not try to read these as stand-alones as part of the story carries over through each book. Each book does have its own main case so I highly recommended reading them in series order.

Overall, this was an outstanding addition to the series. It’s definitely my favorite one yet. Book four, Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice, ended with such a cliffhanger that this book launches right into the new case. Finlay really couldn’t ask for a better nanny/friend (partner-in-crime) than Vero. Cam has slowly become my favorite character, particularly the way he handled his initial meeting with Mrs. Haggerty.

I highly recommend the audiobooks for this entire series. Angela Dawe is the perfect Finlay Donovan. She solo narrates the five main books in the series and does such a fantastic job. Her performance, especially in the last hour of this book, had me on the edge of my seat.

Readers need to be ready to expect the unexpected. I can’t wait to see where the author takes this series next.

The last Finlay Donovan book wasn’t as good as some of the others so I didn’t know what to expect starting this one, but it quickly won me over. I enjoyed it much more than the last book and really liked the cast of characters, both reoccurring and new faces. It was a fun escape and did a good job balancing the different aspects of Finlay’s life (mom, writer, amateur detective, and trouble magnet), keeping things interesting. As always, love the dynamic between Finlay and Vera, and more time with Cam. Adding Mrs. H into the mix made for even more chaos - and I loved it. Was also nice to see Finlay take some risks and be more vulnerable with those in her life. Thanks for NetGalley for the audiobook - the narrator was great and kept the story flowing, making it hard to stop. Excited to see what’s next.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And thank you to @macmillan.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano: A Hilarious Return to Form

If you're new to the Finlay Donovan series, I highly recommend starting from the beginning to fully appreciate the character development and running gags. As always, "Digs Her Own Grave" picks up immediately after the previous cliffhanger, plunging Finlay back into chaos.

Fresh off submitting her latest manuscript, Finlay anticipates some much-needed downtime with her Hot Cop Boyfriend, Nick. However, tranquility is swiftly shattered when a body is discovered in her neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty's, backyard. Initially a suspect, Mrs. Haggerty is cleared but her house remains a crime scene. This forces her to move in with Finlay, despite their less-than-harmonious history.

Mrs. Haggerty proves to be a demanding guest, requesting constant errands and rides, but she does contribute with homeschooling and childcare. Her interactions with Finlay's children are genuinely laugh-out-loud moments.

Honestly, this installment brought back the magic of the first book for me. I had wavered on continuing the series, finding the middle books too reliant on slapstick and cartoonish mafia characters. But Mrs. Haggerty's return was a masterstroke – she utterly steals every scene. Her sharp wit and demanding presence are a delightful contrast to Finlay's chaotic life.

Cosimano delivers another compelling cliffhanger, ensuring the series will continue.

I experienced "Digs Her Own Grave" via audiobook, narrated by the incomparable Angela Dawe. This series truly shines in audio format, with Dawe's performance bringing the characters and humor to life. If you're looking for a hilarious and suspenseful read, especially if you were a fan of the first book, this one is a must-listen.

4.5 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #stmartinspress #macmillianaudio #finlaydonovandigsherowngrave #ellecosimano

Really loved this book. Finlay is great and all the characters have great personalities and stories.
I now definitely have the others in the series tagged to read later.

The book has a mix of mystery and humor. The humor is honestly the best part. I “laughed out loud” multiple times while listening.

Love that there is romance, but not in a cliche romance novel way. Not overly dramatic and sexualized. Which in my opinion is great.

Also takes place in Virginia. Woo hoo which is where I am.

Thanks NetGalley for the copy.

Finlay is back baby! This was a breath of fresh air in the series. So many laugh out loud moments. The last few haven’t been my favorite. This got back to what all drew us in.

Mrs. Haggerty was the star of the show. I love that we got a deeper look at this neighborhood watch sleuth. This was such a fun story line.

The audio was fantastic. I am not sure what we would do without Angela Dawe. Truly a gem who does a brilliant job.

Pub Day Book Review ✨-
After #finlaydonovanrollsthedice , I thought I was done with the series… and yet here I am again waiting to find out what new mischief Finlay was up to!

I actually enjoyed #finlaydonovandigsherowngrave more than the last books that have come out in the series. It was chaotic and over the top. Does Finlay still have the worst luck ever?! Ya but it felt like a lot of things were wrapped up. The ending definitely leaves that door open but I almost feel like Finlay’s story has been told and maybe the next book will mostly just be about Vera.

All in all, if you a cozy and humorous mystery, definitely grab this book!

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is out Today!!

Thank you @stmartinspress for my advanced copy and @macmillan.audio for the audio!

When the police find a body on Finlay’s busybody neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty’s property, her life is turned upside down. Mrs. Haggerty decide to move in with her, her irksome, philandering ex-husband, Steven gets arrested for the murder, and past murders Finlay was involved in are brought back to light. She and her partner-in-crime, Vero didn’t commit the murders, but if the police dig too deep, they might think they did. Dealing with a semi-corrupt cop who will stop at nothing to pin the crime on Steven, Finlay and Vero team up with Finlay’s boyfriend to solve the crime. Will they clear Steven’s name? Who really committed the murder?
Narrator, Angela Dave does a great job of bringing the characters to life with her unique intonations and easy to distinguish voice. Her narrative pace fits well with the author’s writing style and adds depth to the book’s humor. The plot is humorous, engaging, and keeps the readers guessing what really happened. The characters are likable, well developed, and entertaining. Listeners who have liked the previous Donovan books or who like mystery, humor, and hijinks similar to Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series will want to pick this one up. Although it is possible to listen to this out of order, the running subplot and related murder that resurface will make this book make more sense if listeners have read the others in the series. Recommended for most library collections.

I have been seriously missing out on these fun books! How is this the first Finley Donovan book that I’ve read?! I definitely need to go back and read the books before this one because they all tie together, however I was able to follow the story easily without prior knowledge of the storyline. Finley Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is a fun and witty mystery whose characters are thoroughly entertaining but also have depth. Finley is a divorced mom who has found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time too many times and also is too curious for her own good! When a body turns up in her elderly neighbors yard, Finley finds herself entangled in the case while housing that spunky and nosy neighbor. Finley relationship with her cop boyfriend is also very sweet and real as they learn to trust each other. I listened to the audiobook of it which was VERY well done. It flow from one chapter to the next was smooth and the characters were easily distinguishable by their voice acting alone. If you’ve been ready some serious and heavy stuff lately, this is a fun and sweet reprieve all while feeling very Nancy Drew.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this Copy to listen to in exchange for my honest review!

I am hoping by the time Finlay is done solving murders her son Zach will be less disgusting. I really dislike reading the parts about him. I also don't love the narration; I will use book format going forward.

Thanks NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ARC!

Another hilarious Finlay Donovan book! It's been a while since I read the last one, but the author makes quick work of catching you up and diving right into her next set of shenanigans. Who would think that a book about killers, evading the police, and covering up multiple crimes could be so much fun?

I love the witty banter and innuendo between the characters and how each time they take two steps forward they seem to take one step back. I blew this this book in just a few days, and can't wait to see what happens next. This is an auto-buy series for me.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is the fifth mystery in the Finlay Donovan series. Finally out of trouble with the mob and the troubles that have been following her around all Finlay Donovan wants is a few quiet days, but that’s not what she gets. Instead a body is found in her Finlay’s across the street neighbors backyard and Finlay is pulled into the case. When Mrs. Haggerty is cleared of suspicion she turns up on Finlay’s doorstep to stay, bringing more trouble with her. The last thing Finlay wants to do is get involved in another murder investigation, but here she is fully immersed in it. Will she be able to get to the bottom of it before it’s too late? Or will the killer or police get to her first?

I have been hooked on the hilarious mystery series since I read the first one and this one did not disappoint. I couldn’t put this book down as I followed Finlay and Vero in this latest installment. I’ve enjoyed all of these books, but I think this might have been my favorite yet. The characters in this series are great and I love following along with all of the craziness that surrounds Finlay. The characters are so strong and really drive this book. The mystery was a fun twist and different than what I’ve come to expect in this series. It kept me guessing and intrigued the whole time. I really enjoy this series and can’t wait to see if anything will come next for Finlay and Vero!

Another great addition to the Finlay Donovan series! I love this series so much!
I really enjoyed the way this book kind of went back to the roots of the series. The vibe of the last two books (while still so good and a lot of fun) was different than the first two and this one brings it back.

I am curious to see how things play out with Nick, interesting turn of events there!

And the neighbor! She was so much more involved in this book and it was so fun to see everything she got herself into!

The cliffhanger ending has me excited to continue the series! Can’t wait!

Thank you NetGalley and the author for both the eARC and the ALC! The narrator was amazing as always! I couldn’t picture another voice for Finlay or Vero!

THIS BOOK IS NOW PUBLISHED, WOOHOO! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Angela Dawe hits another home run on the narration of the next installment in the Finlay Donovan series. Elle Cosimano did not disappoint with this one, though it did take me a bit to really sink into the plot of this. I had some mental catching up to do since it has been a minute since I read the last book in the series.

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the book, the characters jump off the page with their larger-than-life personalities, and the novel even had me laughing out loud at some points. This is a series I envision myself reading through until the very end but I hope it never gets to that point. These books are a great break in between the more serious novels I gravitate toward. That's not to say the Finlay Donovan series doesn't carry its own weight- there is more than meets the eye to each of these books and I look forward to reading each one.

Finlay and Vero are back in full force helping their busy body neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, when a dead body is found buried in her back yard.

In this fifth book in the Finlay Donovan series, we pick up where we left off. This is definitely a book that you need to read the prior books is the series to understand all the characters and situations. However, I did feel that this one does a much better job at reminding you of the past than the last book, and for that I was thankful. This book felt more structured and organized than the last one, but still has the humor and crazy that is characteristic of the earlier books. I particularly enjoyed learning more about Mrs Haggerty! While it did end with a promise of more to come, I did appreciate closure to some of the story lines. Overall, a fun read that felt more grounded than the last one.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for the ARC and MacMillan Audio (#MacAudio) for the ALC!

Finlay and Vero are back from their police academy adventures. Before they can settle in at home, the nosy neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, finds herself in need of a place to stay - so she makes herself at home in Finlay’s house. This complicates things quite a bit. Before she knows it, Finlay is running Mrs. Haggerty on her errands while her ex-husband Stephen falls under suspicion of murder.

This book is #5 in the series and for me, this one reminded me so much of why I fell in love with these characters in the first place. Finlay and Vero are the perfect team, and Finlay has grown so much from the jilted wife in the “wrong place at the wrong time” at the start of this series. Seeing her confidence blossom was so empowering, as were the adventures of Mrs. Haggerty - which I totally wasn't expecting.

Filled with the usual delicious banter and laugh-out-loud moments, this series is such a joy! And after the killer cliffhanger, I cannot wait to see what adventures are next for Finlay and Vero!

”Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave” is out now! This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

(Listened to the ALC via NetGalley.)

Honestly, I haven’t loved the last few Finlay Donovan books so I wasn’t sure if I wanted to pick this one up. I’m so glad I did! This is the perfect light read— a little mystery, a little romance and a lot of hilarious moments.

SMALL SPOILER:

I’m totally here for the Mrs. Haggarty redemption arc! The bejeweled ankle monitor was the cherry on top.


Not public:

The reason I didn’t give the book a 5 is because I feel like the plot and love interests are being stretched too thin. I love the characters but unfortunately there is too much of a good thing sometimes.. the wild turn of events to connect plot lines gets old.