This series has my heart. I love every single book in this serious and this one did not disappoint. This book was probably the weakest in the series so far in terms of plot however it made up for that in character development. I loved that the characters were so crisp and the reader learns so much about everyone in the story. The narrator always does a good job and this was a super fun book. I'll never not recommend this series to people and I'm always trying to handsell book 1 to people!

The humor we expect. This book focused more on relationships and the struggles that come with them. I enjoyed it. The pacing and story were different, but this book was more realistic until it wasn’t. But it's the fun, entertainment, and style I appreciate.

The audio book continues with the same great narrator we’ve met. Thankful to netgalley for the chance to review.

With “Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave “ as being the first book I have had from Elle Cosimano, I can honestly say I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

The relatability to try and do your mom life, while also trying to do her “work” was relatable. Especially with potty training, I also needed some additional support in that department, and one day it just clicks for them!

The plot was easy to understand not having the background of previous books. The characters were enjoyable. I liked how they all meshed well with each other while being still so unique.

The “Granny Next Door” persona while being the grouchy yet caring person she was, was really interesting to see. Most times I feel they are cast off as just a meer side character, but thought it was well done in her supporting role to the story.

Also I personally love books that end on a cliff hanger and am eagerly anticipating the continuation of Finlay Donovan’s adventures!

This series is truly enchanting.

We can always expect wild, eccentric storylines and count on Finlay and Vero for plenty of laughs! They constantly land in the most precarious situations, chaos follows, and I absolutely revel in the sharp wit and dark humor!

While the dynamic duo and partners in crime always take center stage, the supporting cast never fails to shine. Mrs. Haggarty is an absolute riot, and Detective Nick keeps us swooning with a touch of rom-com charm.

True to form, we’re left with a cliffhanger, and I’m eagerly awaiting more!

Dead bodies in the suburbs, secret escapades in the dead of night, hilarious shenanigans with an even more hilarious cast of characters – it can mean only one thing: Finlay and Vero are back!

With the fifth book in Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan series, we get to spend more time with Finlay’s kids, Delia and Zach (one hilarious mess after another!), Steven gets some well-deserved comeuppance, and we find out Mrs. Haggerty is more than just the neighborhood watch nuisance.

Cosimano brings all the ordinary-ness of suburbia seamlessly into her books, plotting potty training fiascos and dead bodies in the same paragraph – who knew Panera and South Riding were such hotbeds of vice??

These books are all about the rollicking ride, so be prepared to suspend your sense of “believability” as well as your law-abiding sensibilities. Chuckle at the “oops, didn’t mean to kill him” angst, laugh at Vero and her snark, and watch your back at the school bus stop!

I listened to the audiobook, and Angela Dawe’s narration is perfection - she brings each character’s distinct personality to life!

Thank you to Macmillian Audio, NetGalley, and author Elle Cosimano for the complimentary copy. It was my pleasure to write this candid review.

I deliberately waited to listen to this until I knew I had a block of uninterrupted time to do so and, though it was difficult as I wanted to dive in right away, it was worth the wait! The whole gang is back and trying to prove Steven’s innocence in their trademark somewhat less-than-legal way. There’s plenty of laughs and questionable investigative tactics throughout but also a more serious side as they dig deeper. I love everything about this series and can’t wait for more!

4.5 Stars rounded up.

Finlay Donovan is back! This is such a fun series to read, I always look forward to a new Finlay mystery. The characters feel like family, it's always so fun to spend time back in their world. Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is the fifth in the series, and Ms. Cosimano continues to keep the storyline fresh and fun as she mixes a healthy dose of comedy and a little romance in with the mystery.

Mrs. Haggerty becomes the focus of this book when a body is discovered in her backyard and she’s the prime suspect. Since her house is a crime scene and she has no where else to go, Finlay takes Mrs. Haggerty in. Regular series readers will know Mrs. Haggerty as the nosy neighbor who is always watching, but Finlay isn’t sure how much she may (or may not) have seen. Having Mrs. Haggerty live with Finlay and crew sets up plenty of laughs for the readers as Finlay works to get to the bottom of the mystery.

The fourth book wrapped up some overarching storylines, so if you’re new to the series, this book is a good place to start. (Although I do recommend starting from the beginning!) If you’re into audiobooks, I definitely recommend listening. Angela Dawe is terrific, I find myself laughing out loud quite a lot as I listen to the latest mess Finlay and Vero have gotten themselves into.

Thank you so much to MacMillan Audio for the complimentary ALC!

This book is out now!

We are back again in the Finlay Donovan universe with a fresh case! And I don't know what it is about these books but I just get sucked in. I love that we get to be back with these zany characters again.

Finlay's neighbor is out of jail and guess where she is staying - at Finlay's house! Finlay is not happy about having an extra roommate but my goodness their back and forth was funny. Ms. Haggerty was such a hoot! She was a stubborn woman set in her ways but at the same time she had the best interest at heart for Finlay and her family.

I felt like compared to some of the other books this one had more of a romance feel to it. No I would not consider this a romance but we did get to see the relationship between Finlay and Nick grow. I was happy to see that Finlay started to open up to Nick and was more honest about things that had happen. I'll be curious to see what happens with them in the next!

Even though Ms. Haggerty was a great side character, she will never take the place of Vero! Once again the dynamic duo of Finlay and Vero friendship took center stage. I just love their relationship and I am so glad that they have one another. We got to see more of Vero and Javier's relationship. Even needed him to help bail Finlay out of a particular situation.

Once again Angela Dawes is back with her sensational narrator. I will always laugh at how she brings Vero to life. I will never not think of Finlay when I hear her voice. She just embodies her so much! I just couldn't stop listening to the book.

We have 2 more books left in this series and just like with the others this one ends on a cliffhanger and I have to say I'm worried about my girl Vero.

4.5

Verrry happy to report that Finaly Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is just as much fun as the rest of the series. I'm actually a bit bummed that I'm all caught up (I binge read them through NetGalley).
We've still got the buddy-roommate comedy, a new roommate, a hot cop, some old friends, and potential for some new friends. The mystery was fresh, believable, and entertaining.
I read an eARC in tandem with an advanced audiobook and have found that the audiobook(s) manages to elevate this book/series. As far as I'm concerned, Angela Dawe IS Finlay Donovan.
Her voice embodies Finlay in all her anxious, sarcastic glory. She has created a great Vero too. The male voices are done well. Truly, no notes.
I wasn't sure where Cosimano was going to take Finlay after so many things were nicely wrapped up in the previous book. Honestly, I was nervous. And now I'm very pleased and eagerly awaiting the next one! Yay for cliffhangers! 🫠

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the eARC and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook!

Finlay Donovan never ceases to entertain from start to finish. The shenanigans Vero and Finlay get themselves into are only made better by how they get themselves out of each predicament. I felt that Cosimano might be wrapping up the series with this one, but I’m hoping for more! As a dual read/listen this book has me both laughing out loud and shaking my head in disbelief🫢
Thank you to Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC and ALC of this book.

(3.5 stars)
This is the fifth book in the Finlay Donovan series and they are mostly broad, almost slapstick, humor, off-the-wall lighthearted mysteries - but they often have a very dark undercurrent. After book four, I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep going with the series, but I was offered a chance to read and listen to an advance copy, so I decided to give the series one more try. I’m glad I did, because this one wasn’t as ridiculous or dark as some of the earlier books (no Russian mafia, for example). And we got to enjoy the antics of Finlay’s two small children, which I really enjoyed. I was also glad that Finlay’s relationship with Nick (“hot cop”) advanced.

We finally got to know the cranky neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, and she is much more than just a cranky neighbor! She was the heart and soul of this book.

The book ended with a cliffhanger for Vero, so I’m probably going to want to read the next book when it comes out.

I mainly listened to the audiobook version, which, as always, is beautifully narrated by Angela Dawe.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook and to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I have never been a cozy mystery reader, but I will ALWAYS live for Finlay Donovan, this series, and the antics Finlay and Vero find themselves wrapped up in.

This was such a fun read (and listen)…and watching Finlay use her own detective skills to help prove her scumbag ex-husband isn’t guilty of the newest crime he’s been accused of? Priceless.

But honestly, my favorite part of this story was watching Finlay finally feel safe enough to trust with her whole heart. And that the person she chooses to put her trust in is worth it for once. Elle Cosimano has written a complicated love story woven among numerous accidental (and some on-purpose) crimes, and to see Finlay and Nick embrace a life together—no matter what may come their way? Genuine perfection.

I have to add that while I’ve never liked Mrs. Haggerty’s character, her role in this story was wildly unexpected and I absolutely love how it unfolded! But I’ll keep the details to myself to avoid spoilers 🤭

I think the beauty of cozy mysteries is the ability to laugh, smile, and enjoy the ride even when everything is falling apart—and this series does it magnificently. I seriously cannot recommend it enough.

Gosh, I just love this series so much! I knew going into this book that I was going to be right smack back into the action with Finlay, Vero, Nick and the gang, and I was definitely right. I love that this story picks up right after the last one left off. It is incredibly seamless and was such a delight. I think maybe this was one of my favorites of the series because it involves some new characters while keeping with the same shenanigans that we have come to expect from Finlay. I thought learning more about Mrs. Haggerty was so fun, and she turned out to be one of my favorite side characters in the series. I also loved getting more romantic involvement with Nick. As a reader we get more emotions from Finlay, seeing her more vulnerable, making her such a great main character of this series. I truly think this book was best consumed via audiobook because the narrator does such a fantastic job of creating these characters. I have listened to every book in this series as an audiobook and I have to say that it is the best way to really make the story come to life! It’s obvious that another book will be coming and I can hardly wait to read it, as I will continue with this series until it (hopefully never) ends!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced reading copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

I have been a huge fan of the Finlay Donovan series from the beginning, and I think Elle Cosimano does a great job continuing the series with this book.

I was beyond excited when I was able to listen to the 5th book in this series before it officially published. And I was hoping that it wouldn't start to head into being too much or too ridiculous, which I think could very easily happen with this series.

I think book 5 does a good job keeping Finlay and Vero moving forward along the same path, without the story becoming boring, redundant, or too complicated or beyond unbelievable. I also enjoyed getting to know Mrs. Haggerty a little more and understanding where she comes from and her history. I hope people enjoy that part of this book as much as I did.

In the next book, I am looking forward to seeing how Finlay's relationship with Nick progresses and moves into the next stages.

This for me was a 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐- I think there were a couple minor things throughout the book that just kept it from being a full 5 star read for me. However, I will give it another listen later this year to see if I need to update my opinion.

Another fun Finlay Donovan read! Somehow, she keeps getting herself in situations that are out there. This time, a dead body is discovered in her neighbor’s backyard. Perhaps I’m getting tired of all of the situations Finlay keeps finding herself in. This one of the series, number 5, was probably my least favorite. I did love that Finlay’s kids were showcased a bit more in this book than in the previous ones. There were still many laugh out loud moments, but I think I am done with the unbelievable plot and mystery that was presented. I listened to the audiobook and as always, the narrator for this series was perfection. She really makes it worth continuing on.

I am a dedicated Finlay fan and I never miss a release. I have always (eyeball) read the books but this is the first time I have listened to the narration. I am not sure if the narrators have stayed consistent throughout the series but the voices threw me off because it was not how I pictured Vero sounding or to some extent, Finlay too. The accent was so hard to place. So as I write this review, please take what I say under this lens.

I actually was getting a bit apathetic to the series towards the last book. I was over the Felix storyline and more curious about Vero’s incident that transpired in Maryland (I even read her previously released short story to get some context). I was happy that there were no mob-related storylines in this but disappointed that we were not getting into Vero’s back story…(yet)…it feels like we're dragging out the intrigue until we get to it.

That being said, I actually really enjoyed this novel. Yes, it’s completely outrageous and such a predictable caper but getting to know the nosy neighbor more in the context at which it was presented was a delight. Thank goodness the characters are so lovable because sometimes you cannot believe what is even happening from Cam’s car to Nick’s involvement and everything in between. It’s just a feel good book that keeps you entertained and makes you feel like you could be like Finlay, solving crime in the most ridiculous, but relatable way. I do wish there was more clever dialogue (much like the ones in the first two books) but I do like how the author has moved on from messy, anxiety prone Finlay to one that is actually quite put together and dare I say, bad ass! (She was honestly always a bad-ass mom but seeing her come into her own more here was awesome!).

Moving forward, I will continue to do audio. While the voices weren’t what I was expecting, I found myself laughing out loud at the ridiculousness (but the very best kind of ridiculousness).

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

A great step on Finaly’s journey with lots of satisfying resolutions and questions answered. Don’t worry, there’s definitely room for more to come from your favorite accidental serial killer/detective/author!

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy. These opinions are my own.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave continues the fun and chaos with even more hilarious moments and unexpected twists. The mystery in this installment is layered and unpredictable, keeping readers on their toes, while the characters we’ve come to love—especially Finlay and her quirky crew—make the shenanigans even more entertaining. The relationship development between Finlay and Nick adds a sweet touch to the story, though the romance is never the primary focus. What really shines is the bond between Finlay and Vero, whose friendship remains the emotional heart of the series.

The fifth book in the series delivers everything fans love: sharp dialogue, a delightfully unrealistic plot, and a support network of morally questionable but lovable women. Mrs. Haggerty is a standout, stealing every scene with her antics. The audiobook takes the experience to the next level, making the humor and chaos even more engaging. If you’re looking for a book packed with humor, heartfelt moments, and just the right amount of romance, Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is a must-read—and even better as a must-listen!

I have to confess that initially Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave didn't initially grab me. I was starting to wonder if this series had run its course for me, but I also was lucky enough to have the audio version, and Angela Dawe is a phenomenal narrator. I kept listening and reading, and once again I fell into the fun that is Finlay and Vero. Their friendship, the snarky dialogue, and the scrapes they get into along the way keep me coming back for more, and, with the cliffhanger ending, I'm already anxiously awaiting the next installment.

I love the Finlay Donovan Series! Honestly these books just keep getting better and better. Each installment that comes out I am more invested in the characters and enjoy seeing what trouble Finlay and Vero are going to get into. I liked getting to know Mrs. Haggerty more and I loved her book club and would like to see more of them in upcoming books. I can’t wait to see where Nick and Finlay relationship goes, and I am glad they were able to trust each other. This book had me laughing out loud and the end had me wanting to bet up Cam. I think this is one of my favorite audio narrators. She does a fantastic job, and I caught myself waiting for the audio book to come instead of wanting to read the book. These books are a ray of sunshine and my guilty pleasure I can’t wait for the next one! i am obsessed!

Thank you, Net Galley, the author, and the publisher, for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.