Just finished this book! If you haven't gotten into this series, I highly recommend it. So funny! Elle Cosimano does a great job of leaving you on the edge of your seat and making you laugh at the antics Finlay gets into.
When someone puts a hit out for her ex-husband, Finlay wants to find out who, besides her, wants him dead. He hasn't been the best person in the past few years, but death is not something she wants for the father of her children. With the help of Vero, her accountant and Nanny, they try to find the suspect on their own. But they are not the trained killers people keep mistaking them for. Will they be able to find out who is behind this before it's too late. Before something happens to Steven, or even them?
This is book two in a six book(so far) series.

A strong series from page 1, book 1. Strong(ish) , mature(ish) female characters, Findlay, her nanny turned accomplice, the agent, the new wife…. Who will make it to the next installment? I read it and I’m sure what’s next.
Well written, beaten down character we can assimilate with until things go wrong, very wrong, then we say I’d never do that! As we watch and laugh at our penniless heroine.

We hit a bit of a sophomore slump with the sequel to Finlay’s first tale. The author admittedly said that she struggled to write the comedy side of things with this book during the pandemic. I still thought it was a good read overall, but this one I gave just 3/5 stars.

We jump back into Finlay and Vero’s worlds, and not much has changed. Finlay is still trying to write her novel. Murder still surrounds her world, as she finds out that someone is hiring a contract killer to take care of Finlay’s ex-husband, putting her kids in danger. Finlay and Vero jump into the mix trying to find out who has put out the hit, who has accepted it all while trying to keep him safe. But Vero has secrets of her own she is hiding from Finlay, and Finlay needs to get to the bottom of that as well.

The murder-mystery aspect of this story kept me turning pages, as I was “dying” to know who it was that was going after Steven. The romance steers away from the multiple men aspect and focuses a bit more on Detective Nick, but where the story started to lose me was the storyline for Vero. While I enjoyed the banter Vero and Finlay had in the first book, in this book it really highlighted that it was more of a convenience for the both of them rather than a friendship. Finlay got a partner-in-fighting-crime, and a nanny, while Vero got 40%, a place to live and no questions asked. It highlighted that Finlay didn’t really know Vero as much as she thought she did before inviting her to live together and to place her in the care of her children. The comedy? We had less of that, which took away from the fun feel that the first book left me with.

Did I still enjoy this read? Yes I did. Will I continue the series to see what happens next? You bet I will! I’ve already started book 3 and can't wait to see what happens next!

I love Finlay Donovan! This series is just the absolute best cozy mysteries! Finlay is quirky, lovable, and a little strange. This series is a must read!

Short and sweet review for Netgalley

I really like this series! It's funny, light, cute and has all the right murdery-comedic vibes. I have already started book 3 lol. I don't have much of a review to give because it's just a silly murder mystery. I go in it for the laughs and the light-heartedness not for any beautiful lyrical writing or plot points. Kind of like watching reality TV or something equally as cheesy but puts you in a good mood, nevertheless.

Thoroughly enjoyable second book in this series! I find what Vero and Finlay do is a little too far over the top, but once I got past that I just let myself enjoy the story

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the Copy. Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead picks up right off right where book one left off. From the start it was a nonstop ride to figure out who was out for Steven. Finlay and Vero were still just as funny as book one. We see more of Nick in this second installment which I was ok with. I am definitely team Nick. It was a fun and quick read. 4.5 stars

Great lighthearted read.

This series was recommended by someone who thought I would like it and I did!

Highly recommend.

This was still a good time but it lost a little of the fun that the first book had in my opinion. I enjoyed it but I was left wanting more throughout the book. The end was good and it hooked me to continue.

Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan books are an irresistible mix of sharp humor, quirky crime capers, and genuine heart. Following the chaos-prone single mom and novelist as she stumbles into one outrageous predicament after another is pure fun—equal parts suspenseful and laugh-out-loud funny. Witty banter, unexpected twists, and a cast of lovable misfits make this series a binge-worthy delight from start to finish.

In this exciting follow-up to Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, Finlay and Vero must prevent a contract killer from murdering Finlay's odious ex-husband (who despite his odiousness, is still trying to be a good father), and in the process, have to deal with the mob and a hot cop (again), among other things. This book has the same "caper" feeling that made its predecessor fun to read too, with some delightful and unpredictable twists. Elle Cosimano excellently maintains the suspense (how much does Nick know, and how long is he going to let Finlay keep getting away with stuff?) and also expertly weaves in themes of friendship (solidifying Finlay and Vero's), motherhood, sisterhood, and healthy relationships, while appearing to have a blast in relaying the story. I hope the rest of the series can live up to this kind of energy, as I will definitely be continuing on.

This was another good installment in the Finlay Donovan series. I think the romance plots are a little forced, but it’s still a great cozy mystery.

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead is book two in the Finlay Donovan series. In this book, Finlay learns that someone wants her ex-husband dead. Despite their history together, Finlay knows Steven is a good father and is not willing to put her kids at risk. Finlay and Vero continue their crazy antics while getting entangled with the Russian mob, botched surveillance attempts, and truly questionable stakeouts…all while juggling PTA meetings, custody agreements, and her feelings for more than one love interest!

This book was so much fun! Vero and Finlay are an awesome duo and I love their crazy friendship. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is the 2nd book in the Finlay Donovan series. I downloaded this series as part of Netgalley’s “Read Now for 24 Hours.” I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and I found the second book to be just as good.

Finlay learns that her ex-husband is the target of a murderer. She must protect him! That’s not an easy task, especially as a busy single mother who is trying to write a book, take care of her kids, and juggle two possible suitors. Finlay and her friend/nanny/accountant/roommate, Vero, do their best to find Steven’s would-be killer. As is in the first book, chaos ensues! This is a hilarious, roller coaster ride of a mystery with twists, turns, and mayhem. I could not put it down!

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for providing me with an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second installment of the Finlay Donovan series and picks up where the first book left off. For those who don’t know the series Finlay is a newish single mom of two young kids and at some point a woman mistakes her for a hired killer rather than the mystery writer she is. Her sidekick is her nanny who has secrets of her own and the two of them solve crimes and run from the Russian mafia.

I find these books cute and fun and a nice palate cleanser, this was probably my least favorite of the four that I read and the most forgettable. I think this one went a little off the rails (more so than the others) and just became silly at points. You have to read it to understand the next however and if you want a fluffy book that has mysteries then this series may be for you.

This was just as much fun as the first book! It was funny and kept me guessing until the very end. I loved it and can’t wait to continue the series

I read the first in this series a while ago and have no idea why I waited so long to get to this one!

I loved coming back to these characters and seeing what shenanigans they were getting into this time.

I’m definitely going to be continuing on with all the books in this series, and other books this author decides to write. She writes such fun books that I need as a great in between of emotional/deep books.

This one suffered from a “sophomore slump” for me. While I did finish it quickly, it felt like I just wanted it to be done rather than wanting to know how it ended. That was disappointing to me but I found myself excited to continue the series still so I’m going to call that an overall win.

Someone has put out a hit on Finlay Donovan's ex-husband, Steven, and Finlay and her sidekick/nanny/accountant, Veronica "Vero" Ruiz are determined to thwart them. But things are never simple for this pair and before they know it, they're hiding a dismembered body and running afoul of the Russian mob. To complicate matters, Finlay is getting closer to police detective Nick Anthony while she still has feelings for law student, Julian. This is the second book in the Finlay Donovan series and while each can be read as stand-alones, the story builds from novel to novel. Fans of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series will enjoy this one, too.

The second installment in the Finlay Donovan series was just as good as the first. I love how Finlay works to protect her ex just because he is the father of her children. He definitely doesn’t deserve it after everything he has put her through. She of course makes questionable choices as always which leads to the most random situations and almost always a dead body. Vero was delightful as always and I loved learning a little more of her backstory. I can’t wait to read the next one!