The Finlay Donovan series just keeps getting better! I've enjoyed every installment, and this is no exception. Witty, hilarious, and suspenseful all at the same time. Keep 'em coming! I'll read every one.

I have enjoyed this entire series. I love the witty banter between the characters. I love how the writer includes the same characters and storylines in each book.. I laugh out loud at the situations that Finlay & Vero get into and wiggle themselves out of.

I didn’t think I would love book 5, but I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t think I needed a Mrs. Haggerty story, but again, pleasantly surprised! The characters and their relationships were great - both old and new. The story was left open for more books which I hope we get. I do wish we had a bit more Nick, but as always Finlay and Vero shine!

Finlay Donovan is another superb installment in this fabulous series. I absolutely loved it and I appreciate the author and envy her creativity. There are so many unbelievable twists and turns making it so entertaining. The humor is off the charts it's LOL funny.

I loved this quote, I am always saying something similar at work, so I was excited to see it here. "People rise to the expectations you have of them"

The audiobook was once again superb with the talented Angela Dawe narrating.

In the first four books of Finlay Donovan, there is an overarching plot/mystery that wraps up in book four before the hook of this particular book is delivered in the very last chapter. That hook being that there's a dead body found in Mrs. Haggerty's flower beds. Finlay, unsurprisingly, gets dragged into this situation and is trying to figure out what happened, while also dealing with Nick and how complicated it is to be committing crimes left and right while dating a detective. Especially when said detective is pretty ethical.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. For a while it was stressing me out significantly less than the first four books in the series because Finlay was keeping her crimes to misdemeanors, but, as always, she eventually levels up into felony land so I was stressed out for her. But the thing is, even when I'm stressed, with these books Cosimano perfectly manages to keep the humor and lightness present so that I'm always having a good time. I just kept texting one of my friends who has read the series like, "Finlay's doing it again." In all honesty, this book was probably one of my favorite installments in the series because of the forward progress in the romance department. I'm a big fan of Finlay and Nick and so I am hoping nothing really comes between them in the future. We'll see how that goes though, yeah? Because there will absolutely be a sixth book and I cannot wait for it either!

I always love the audio narration in these books and honestly, despite getting the e-ARC, usually wait to listen to the book because there's just something about Angela Dawe's narration of this series that really works for me. She hits the tone so perfectly so that despite being stressed about Finlay committing crimes, I'm still just having the best of times.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading each book in the Finlay Donovan series! This one wasn’t my favorite in the series, but I did enjoy my time reading it. Mrs. Haggerty’s character was so funny and I was invested in how the story was going to end. Thank you for the advance reader copy!

I came across the first book in this series a few years ago when I was going through a hard time, and the hijinks of Finlay and Vero brought much-needed humor and solace to the point where I would save each following book in the series for a time when I knew I’d need it. And each book has been an escapism-filled balm. So reading the newest book in the series during a really hard week seems appropriate and fitting, and it couldn’t have come at a better (or worse?) time!

The book, like all of its predecessors, has hilariously uncomfortable situations, laugh-out-loud moments, and comeuppance served cold as Finlay deals with a husband behind bars, and intrusive houseguest, a won’t-take-no-for-an-answer literary agent, a mysterious body turning up on her street, and difficulty in deciding what to share or not to share with her police officer boyfriend. All of this, on top of being the frazzled single mother of a potty-training toddler and his in-trouble-at-school sister.

As expected, there were murder-related shenanigans, duplicity-related schemes, and secret-filled hijinks. The banter between Finlay and Vero never gets old, and I loved that we were treated to more of Cam and Mrs. Haggerty. There were also some moments of tenderness and progress that I’ve been waiting for when it comes to Finlay deciding whether or not to commit to her new relationship.

All in all, I’m (as always) excited for the next installment!

I went back and forth between the audio and ebook, because I love the narrator for this series. Angela Dawe does some fabulous voice acting throughout this series, and I especially love her voices for Vero and Sylvia. Thanks so much for the advanced editions of the book, Macmillan Audio, Elle Cosimano, and Netgalley!

Finlay Donovan and her live-in nanny/accountant/ride-or-die Vero are back home at last. They’ve been to the citizen’s police academy. They spent time in Atlantic City, getting themselves out of trouble with a dangerous loan shark. They helped take down a Russian crime gang. And now they’re back home for what may be their biggest challenge yet: potty training Finlay’s son.

Finlay is surprised when Mrs. Haggerty and her grandson show up on her doorstep. Mrs. Haggerty was known to everyone in the neighborhood as the woman with her eyes on everything. She watches everything that happens and writes it all down in her notebooks, along with dates, times, and license plate numbers. However, a man’s body had recently been found in her yard, and she was briefly in jail while the police investigated. Now she’s been released, and she’s on Finlay’s porch with luggage.

Her grandson explains that her water and heat are not on, and she needs a place to stay. She wants to stay close to her house, so she can keep an eye on it. Finlay takes pity on the older woman and tells them that Mrs. Haggerty can stay the night. But the next day, Mrs. Haggerty’s grandson has disappeared, and Mrs. Haggerty has made herself at home in Finlay’s bedroom, insisting that Finlay drive her to her book club but not come herself. Finlay’s patience is stretched by the woman, but when Finlay’s ex-husband is charged with the murder of the body from Mrs. Haggerty’s yard, Finlay knows she has to figure out who really killed the man.

With break-ins and pot brownies, a teenaged hacker who can be bought with a home-cooked meal, a young daughter who not is afraid to kick her bully in the tentacles and a naked toddler on the run, secret mailbox notes and an oversized eggplant, a producer who wants to make a television series of her book and an agent pushy enough not to take no for an answer, and the cop who knows she’s been lying to him but she’s falling for anyway, Finlay has a lot going on. But nothing is going to stop her from proving her ex-husband isn’t a killer. He’s made a lot of mistakes, but as far as Finlay knows (and she knows a lot), he’s never killed anyone.

So who did? And can Finlay and Vero find out before a killer turns on them?

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is another engaging mystery in Elle Cosimano’s amazing series about a divorced writer who is trying to start a new life for herself, but finds herself tripping over dead bodies. These novels are whip-smart and cleverly fun. Finlay handles it all with a level of grace, kindness, and quick thinking that I can only aspire to. There is action, there is romance, and there is a lot of genuine belly laughs. I did feel like this one was maybe a tiny bit milder than some of the other books, but then Finlay was back home, and I thought it was the perfect time in the series to take a breath at Finlay’s house before the next emergency.

I listened to the audio book for Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grace, narrated by Angela Dawe. Dawe understands Finlay’s voice, and brings the right amount of calm intelligence to her. The voice she uses for Vero is perfection, and I don’t think anyone else could possibly do Vero justice the way Dawe can. Her choices for all the characters, from the kids to Mrs. Haggerty, brings these stories to life. I love to read these books, but Dawe makes listening to them such a phenomenal experience that I hope all audio book lovers choose to listen to this one. It is perfection.

Egalleys for Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave were provided by Minotaur Books, and an early copy of the audio book was provided by Macmillan Audio, both through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Finlay Donovan is back for book #5! This time around the mystery involves her elderly neighbor Mrs. Haggerty when a body is discovered in her backyard. Finlay and Vero begin their own investigation when Finlay's ex-husband becomes a suspect. They need to clear his name in order to avoid having law enforcement dig into the events they've been wrapped up in during the first four books.

This series is a nice mix of cozy mystery, humor, and a little bit of romance. Books 2-3 had a lot going on with the Russian mob story line, and at times I found it almost hard to follow. I'm happy to say I enjoyed this one more than the last few in the series. Mrs. Haggerty is a really fun character, and the plotline with her book club was interesting. I definitely plan to continue this series!

4.25 STARS

Angela Dawe can do no wrong as the fantastic narrator of these books! I could listen to her talk for hours!

Okay this has been my favorite Finlay book so far! I have enjoyed all of the other books in this series, but they've always seemed just a touch too far out of reality for my liking. This book, while similar in that sense, still made me feel as though it could have been achievable. I loved that we got to know Maggie more and I thought her character presence was an absolute HOOT! I will definitely continue to keep up with the Finlay series because I am a sucker for a cheesy low-stakes mystery book. Also, I need to know more about what Nick & Finaly's relationship is going to look like after this book and all that happened in it!

Thank you so much to St. Martins Press for the advanced copy on NetGalley! 🤍

I don't think I'll ever tire of Finlay & Vero's antics. Keep em coming, Elle!

This is probably my favorite Finlay book since the first 2. Everything coming full circle with the supporting characters we've fallen in love with. I actually thought this was wrapping up the series with all the big reveals...but the last page...cliffhanger!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for my copies! All thoughts are my own.

I am so grateful this series exists because I needed a book that would totally take over my brain and this was just the ticket. I’ve loved this series since the first book came out but I think this is my favorite in the series so far! It’s fun, full of mystery and romance, and addresses things like domestic violence. Overall, it’s an extremely entertaining series so if you’re looking for something to get your mind off the world at large, this is the series to pick up.

Synopsis:

“Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with Finlay’s elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, the community busybody and president of the neighborhood watch. But when a dead body is discovered in her backyard, Mrs. Haggerty needs their help. At first a suspect, Mrs. Haggerty is cleared by the police, but her house remains an active crime scene. She has nowhere to go . . . except Finlay’s house, right across the street.Finlay and Vero have no interest in getting involved in another murder case—or sacrificing either of their bedrooms. After all, they’ve dealt with enough murders over the last four months to last a lifetime and they both would much rather share their beds with someone else.When the focus of the investigation widens to include Finlay’s ex-husband, Steven, though, Finlay and Vero are left with little choice but to get closer to Mrs. Haggerty and uncover her secrets . . . before the police start digging up theirs. But who will solve the mystery first?” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Pacing—I only stopped reading this book to sleep and I was so sad to have to take a break. It is SO fun and engaging.

The Audio Performance—Equistate, as always.

The Tension—I am forever a fan of the “hot cop” Nicholas Anthony but more than the romantic tension, the mystery elements and tension are top notch.

The Cinematic Storytelling—The pacing makes it feel like a movie and I could clearly see it all In my head. Obsessed.

What Didn’t Work for Me:

Nothing—I think this was my favorite one in the series so far!

Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 5/5

Content Warnings:

death, murder, domestic abuse (off the page), bullying, misogyny

When I’m in the mood for a light comedy, Finlay and Vero always deliver!
The two main characters return for #5 in the series, where the comedic timing is as on-point as ever. From Russian mobsters to potty training toddlers, the plot never gets overwhelmed by unnecessary complexity, making this a truly enjoyable read. I have skipped a few installments, and was easily immersed back into the wacky world of Finlay and her family. A bookclub at the center of this who-done-it will appeal to all readers!
If you’re interested in starting the series, you could easily read this as a stand alone, but I recommend at least reading the first book to get your bearings.
I thought this may be the wrap up book, but as usual, the final pages end with a cliffhanger - one that Cosimano fans will not be able to resist.

Once again, Angela Dawes brings the diverse cast to life with her excellent narration!

Thanks to Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

This series has been a bit of a rollercoaster for me. I absolutely loved the first book and was so eager to keep reading, but the next books never hit the same as the first. I found the last few books were just middle of the road. This one felt different from the get go. I love that Finlay is expanding her community and that each character plays an important role. I felt that the addition of Mrs. Haggerty and her relationship with Cam was a great way to add comedic relief. I thought the mystery was interesting in this one and could feel Finlay invested in figuring out what happened. I also appreciated the book club, and how Finlay and Nick's relationship developed further in this one. I can't wait to see what happens next. This one made me want to go back and read the first book again and remember why I love these characters so much.

What do you get when you combine Finlay, Vero, AND Mrs. Haggerty??? The fifth main book in the Finlay Donovan series, Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano, but of course!

This one was the most straightforward of the five (six, with the novella) plots, but that made it the funnest to follow along with! (I felt so proud of myself to have kind of figured it all out.) And heck yes to the entertaining and twisty addition of Mrs. Haggerty! So many dots in this mystery connected back to previous books, and my hat goes off to Cosimano for creating such a web of clever layers!

Speaking of, I think this book would work well for a standalone (although, just like, don't read it that way, since you'll miss out on all the hi-jinx that are Finlay and Vero)! Everything is explained so well (though not overdone) within this book to provide the map to not get lost, and remind you of past books in the most perfect way!

Now... the best part of this series! Audiobook narrator Angela Dawe! I have mentioned before that Dawe simply MAKES this series (minus the novella, since she didn't narrate it, but we won't talk about that). There's a reason Dawe is one of my favourite narrators - the different voices she uses really add an extra layer to this story, specifically for Vero! Basically, just listen to these audiobooks!

As this one ends on another cliffhanger, I'll just be over here waiting for the next book in the series to release - no big deal!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

Here's the Finlay Donovan that I have been waiting to return! I loved the first book and how the regular people got involved in some extraordinary circumstance. The characters getting more and more entrenched in events they are trying to correct. This story brings us full circle to that Finlay and Vero. I will admit that I have liked the books between that and this less and less. Our women were becoming stereotypical people whose life revolved around their men. A man can be in a book without taking over the woman's story.

Finlay and Vero once again have murder just fall into their laps. That and their nosy neighbor who gets arrested for it. The characters came back around to women supporting women. Do they make bad choices in the name of sisterhood? Of course. It would be pretty boring if they didn't.

If you missed the old Fin and Vero, they are back. It is safe to read again.

I LOVE this series so much! And the best way to consume this series is still through audio. Angela Dawe just brings these characters to life so well. I laugh so hard reading these books. The antics, the hijinx, everything. I can't wait to see what's next for my favorite murder crew.

Okay Finlay is back! These are such easy reads and they're such wild rides but so fun! This one might be one of my favorites of the five, and I'll definitely be picking up the next one!

I would have thought I’d be tired of this series by now but it honestly #5 is just as fun as the first book!

I really enjoyed the latest installment of Finley Donovan. After searching for a good summary of the last books and not finding one, I was worried I would be lost since it has been a year since the last book. However, the author does a nice job reminding the reader of plot points and this one relied much less on the previous books’ plots and instead had a plot that felt more separate. However, I would 100% read these in order!

I thought this one might be the last at end but the author leaves it open for another and honestly I’m here for it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

I just finished the audiobook of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, and it was incredible! It was both funny and suspenseful as Finlay and her sidekick, Vero, get tangled up in another murder case. The narrator was excellent, too—she brought each character to life with distinct voices.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced audio copy.