I thought there was no WAY this book could be as good as the first, but I genuinely loved it just as much! Pick this one up!! There are sooo many twists and turns, you really have to pay attention or you'll miss some clues. We're getting a little more background on Vero too, but she's still a bit of a mystery. And I don't know why but Ramon is just fascinating, I'd love to get more of his story!

This series is so fun! Great characters, great pacing, and lots of good humor and sarcasm. I definitely plan to read the whole series!

This was a very entertaining read. I enjoyed the storyline and the twists of the plot, let’s see where Finlay goes next.

Loved this even more than the first book. The humor and dynamic between characters made me excited to pick up this book as often as possible.

3.5 stars (rounded up) - Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of 'Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead', the second book in Elle Cosimano’s series. I believe NetGalley re-released the earlier books to build anticipation for the upcoming final installments (#5 and #6), which was a great idea!

I’ll admit, I was a little hesitant to dive into this one—it's been over five years since I read the first book. But I was pleasantly surprised by how seamlessly the story picked up right where it left off. The author does a great job reintroducing the characters and providing a super quick, effective recap. The timeline picks up just days after the events of book one, which made it easy to fall back into Finlay's world.

I loved the first book—it was the perfect blend of humor, spice, mystery, and suspense. That’s a tough combo to pull off while still earning a 5-star rating, but Cosimano nailed it. I went into book two hoping for the same magic. While this installment still had strong elements—some laughs, intrigue, and a bit of romance—it didn’t quite hit me the same way. Maybe my expectations were just a little too high.

That said, I still adore these characters. And if you go in accepting that the plot is a bit far-fetched (in the best way), it’s an enjoyable, lighthearted ride. I just need to remind myself to lean into the fictional fun of it all. Overall, still entertaining with laugh-out-loud moments, and I’m definitely sticking around to see how Finlay’s wild life continues to unfold.

Okay so I liked this book (and this series so far in general) but would I say it was revolutionary? No. I think I expected more from this series and that it would be the fun, murder mystery series of my dreams but it...just isn't.

Don't take that as a comment that I didn't like this book because I did. I just wouldn't say that I LOVED it. This was still an enjoyable read and if you are looking for a lighthearted, fun, and humorous murder mystery story that is commonly published in mass market paperback, maybe give this book a chance.

I think there's some predictability in Finlay's story down the line but then again I could be wrong. Either way, this would be a good read for those that want to read a mysterious story but one without high stakes and isn't too dark or graphic.

This book was such a fun read!!! Truly every book in the series is a joy and makes me laugh out loud! If you grew up loving Nancy Drew and Babysitter’s Club, these books are for you!

Thank you to #Netgalley for letting me re-read Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead, the second in the Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano. All opinions are my own.

In the past I have buddy read this book with @chicklitbookclub; swipe for a photo of the author Zoom chat from March 18, 2022!

Again, Cosimano sucks the reader in with the first lines. She is so clever and funny! In this book we have Finlay’s ex-husband in trouble. Friendships and relationships strengthen, and because of that I liked this book even more than the first! During the zoom author chat, Cosimano talked about these genre- bender books and her thought is that at their heart they are mysteries, with comedy, thriller and romance elements.

My first read of this book was on audio, and narrator Angela Dawe pulls out all the stops to make these books some of the most enjoyable to hear. Major thumbs up on her Hot Cop Nick Anthony voice, and everyone else while we’re at it.

5/5 stars
9 hours 20 minutes at 1x on audio
Closed door
Location: Virginia

Thank you to the author/publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this whole series! I think everyone should read these because they're so fun. Finlay is one that I have loved getting to know and the series was so much fun to dive into.

Title: Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: January 10, 2023

Unexpected Twists
Witty and Humorous
Police Academy "Camp"

Synopsis: Someone wants Finlay's ex-husband, Steven, dead. To keep him safe, Finlay must infiltrate the police academy and identify a contract killer before the cops do.

Mini Review: This series is SO CUTE! I literally can't get enough of Finlay, Vero and their shenanigans!

Thank you so much St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and author for the digital review copy.

Absolutely LOVED the second installment in the Finaly Donovan series. Elle Cosimano knows how to write the most hilarious, heartwarming, and terrifying scenes in a book and I am 100% here for it. Poor Finlay is always in the wrong place at the right time, yet she handles it all with the grace of a mama who is tired, fierce, and loyal. Vero adds some character (literally and figuratively) to the storyline and her secrecy is one of the better parts of this book because really, who the heck IS Vero!? Finally, add in a little sprinkle & dabble of romance with hot cop Nick and you've got me HOOKED. Also kinda sorta started feelin' something for Steven throughout the story... but still kinda hate him so. On to the next one. Thank you for the amazing ARC!

I loved this sequel! Elle Cosimano perfectly blends humor, suspense, and heart, making Finlay Donovan a delightfully relatable and entertaining heroine. The plot is twisty and surprising, with just the right amount of chaos and charm. A smart, fast-paced read that kept me hooked from start to finish. I can’t wait for more in this series!

Not sure why I slept on this one for so long after reading the first but alas, I'm in it now and couldn't be happier! This was such a fun book, mystery, murder, and a good dose of humor made this such an enjoyable read. I am hooked on Finlay and Vero now, can't wait to continue the series. Cosimano has truly created a great duo with some serious longevity if she so chooses....

This is not my normal type of read, but I love this series. This time around we see Finley try to save her ex husband after she sees a post on a women’s forum looking for a hit person to take him out. It has the same heart as the first one. Finley is doing better than she was before, but she’s still struggling. And I just really like how the author balances the mystery and the character development. Finley is often impulsive and makes mistakes but the reader knows she’s a good person. And I think it would be easy for the type of book where a person falls into the criminal underworld for the person to be dumb and kind of stumble through or for them to end up super skilled. But I think Finley is more realistic. She doesn’t have it all figured out but she is smart. I can’t wait to read the rest.

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano is an enjoyable, fast-paced read that blends mystery, humor, and a touch of chaos. The premise continues to be outlandish in a fun way—Finlay, a single mom and struggling author, finds herself wrapped up in yet another murder-related misadventure, this time while trying to protect her ex-husband from a hit list.

The book doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s part of its charm. The banter between Finlay and her nanny-turned-sidekick Vero adds a lot of energy, and the plot moves quickly with plenty of twists to keep things interesting. While the story never quite feels high-stakes or deeply emotional, it works well as an entertaining, escapist read.

Overall, it’s not a groundbreaking mystery, but it’s clever and lighthearted—a great pick if you're in the mood for something breezy and a bit offbeat.

4 stars for book 2 in the Finlay Donovan series. I have read book 1 in the series and I suggest that you read them in order also, as each book builds on the previous book. If you have not read book 1, stop reading this review, because in order to explain the plot line, I must include spoilers for book 1. Book 1 has Finlay being mistakenly offered money to kill someone because of an overheard conversation about a book that she is writing. At the end of book 1, she gets a message with a link to a dark web site. Someone is offering money to kill Finlay's ex husband who has joint custody of their children. How Finlay manages to keep her ex alive and her children safe makes for an engaging, wacky story.
Finlay's complicated romantic life gets more complicated.
Thank You Minotaur books for sending me this eRC through NetGalley.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is Elle Cosimano‘s second book in her mystery/thriller series, Finlay Donovan. It should be read after Finlay Donovan Is Killing It.

31-year-old Finlay Donovan is a stressed-out single-mom of two and a struggling novelist, reeling from her husband’s affair with their real estate agent. Her life is in chaos as she juggles parenting two preschoolers while trying to find inspiration to meet her writing deadline. She has spent the advance on her current book and is behind on all of her bills and frequently needs her ex-husband to bail her out financially. While she seems like a hot mess, she has a lot on her plate and is emotionally devastated by her husband’s betrayal.

Finlay Donovan is struggling to finish her next novel and deal with life as a single mom. Her children’s nanny, Vero, is her ride-or-die best friend. To add to her complicated life, someone wants to murder her ex-husband, Steven. He's a good father and financially supports Finlay, so of course the dynamic duo of Finlay and Vero have to try to save him. They deal with hit-women disguised as soccer moms and the Russian mob while being careful around Detective Nick Anthony.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is a fast-paced, clean and hilarious story about a young mother whose life is in the toilet. The descriptions of motherhood are spot-on, while Finlay’s adventures are pure escapist comedy. It’s a definite page-turner that will leave readers begging for a sequel. The Finlay Donovan series would make an excellent TV show.

I received an advance review copy (ARC) from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the complimentary e-ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Finlay and Vero are back in business again. This time they’re trying to save Finlay’s ex-husband Steven from being killed.

I love Finlay and Vero. They’re fun, adventurous (sometimes against their will) and always in a crazy trouble.

Not a winner for me, and I probably wouldn't continue the series if I didn't own most of the series. I thought the mystery was really loosely connected and I thought the "extra" stuff with Vero was much more interesting. Not a strong entry in the series, but often, second books aren't. Looking forward to 3.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series but this one was a little Slow. The characters and predicaments were still Amusing, but it didn't have the same oomph as the first one. It was still Bingeable and I'll continue with the series.