Note: Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and author Elle Cosimano for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review will also be posted on NetGalley. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.

This is the second book in author Elle Cosimano’s series about romance author Finlay Donovan who inadvertently gets herself hired as an assassin. In the course of events, she finds herself entangled with the Russian mob, all the while trying to finish her next book. In the first book, just as Finlay and her live-in nanny, Vero, believe they have extricated themselves from the situation, they discover an ad on a forum offering $100,000 to assassinate Finlay’s ex-husband.

Now, Finlay might not be too fond of her ex, but he is the father of her children. Steven isn’t the most upstanding guy around, which leaves open a number of possibilities as to who would want him dead. Finlay must also think about who has the cash to pay that as well. The list of suspects is long. At the same time, Finlay is dealing with a younger boyfriend who disappears with his buddies to the beach, as well as the cop her sister set her up with, both of whom end up playing key roles in the mystery.

Steven doesn’t believe someone’s out to kill him, despite several near-misses. This leaves him at odds with Finlay, whom he accuses of creating the situation so she can stop him from seeing their children. Finlay deals with cybercrime as she tries to wipe her identity from the forum where she found the post in question. The police are catching on that the website is a front for the Russian mob, and Finlay must convince the man she put in jail in the previous book to have it taken down.

The adventure in Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is a lot of fun. It’s a mystery in the style of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series with Finlay and Vero finding themselves immersed in improbable events. Suspension of disbelief is required for this book. If you can manage that, though, it’s a fun read. With all that’s going on in the book, the most trouble I had was believing a college student could take off for a week to the beach in December. Doesn’t the author know that the semester usually ends in December? The last thing they would do is take a spring-break-like trip.

The crazy antics of Finlay and Vero are fun, if a bit predictable. I had an idea what Vero’s big secret was in the very beginning. It’s pretty obvious what she is trying to hide from Finlay. This will, of course, lead to more adventures later on. The books are a continuation of events, with some situations resolving by the end of Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead while others are left open for consequences down the line. I like Finlay and Vero, even if there are a few things that fall into their laps a little conveniently. Don’t we all know a hacker who can feed us information at any time? Don’t we all know a cop who is willing to look the other way when we break the law?

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is a great light read that entertains and makes me laugh in several spots. I do think you need to have read the first book to grasp all of the events here, and likely that will be true for the entire series. This is more of an ongoing saga than a stand-alone story. It is a fun series that is worth getting into so far.

I finished the first book in this series unsure if I would pick up the next one. Then I saw that the entire series was available to read via NetGalley and decided to pick up the next in the series to give it another shot. Plus, the steep cliff hanger from the first installation had me wondering what Finn and Vero would get themselves into next. While I find a lot of fault with the character that is Finn, I do enjoy the mystery and the continuation of the plot between these books. I think in this book Finn started to make a turn to act a bit more mature and intelligently, but I'm not convinced. I finished this one and I am still unsure if I will read the next, but I just might to see what other shenanigans this unlikely duo of Finn and Vero will get themselves in and out of in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this book.

this is the perfect light hearted murder mystery story that I think works for teens, young adults and anyone above. I personally didnt love this book as much as the first but i think it is always hard to make the second book hit the way a first one did.

Finlay, Vero and Nick are quite the gang. Even the idiotic Steven is hilarious. I like this series, suspend reality and just read it for the humor. The mystery and suspense is pretty engaging.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free copy of this book. I love this series. I love Finlay and Vero and Nick. This is a fun series to read. I haven't had fun like this since the early Stephanie Plum books. And the way the author ends the book, I can't wait to find out what happens next. Huge kudos to the author and much thanks for this series.

I am reading this to catch up after being offered an ARC of the latest installment, "Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave". Finlay and her pal Vero definitely stress me out with how they handle crazy situations, but they are growing on me and I am leaning into the fun. I will keep updating as I read through the series. #sponsored

I definitely enjoyed Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead more than the series opener. Since Finlay is more involved in the crime circle everything is less ridiculous and feels more authentic. We are left on another cliffhanger at the end and this one is better than the first in my opinion.

4.5⭐️

Alright do Finlay and Vero want to be a trio? Because if so, I enthusiastically volunteer 🙋‍♀️ I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- these women are straight up bad asses. How a hot mess of a single mom and an unsuspecting nanny pull off such clever moves, I’ll never understand (and I’ll forever wish I was as cool 🤣). This book starts off perfect- chapter one has all of the suspense and hilarity I came to expect after the first book. Then it just keeps coming! With each chapter comes a new and surprising twist and it was so hard for me to pause reading when life got in the way. You can expect more of the author/lawyer/cop love triangle, a new savage side to Finlay’s mom, teenage hackers who demand payment in slurpees, and lots of screeching fun in luxury sports cars. My only beef is that it feels like there were more loose ends in book 2- so many different subplots and people and not enough of them are tied up at the end. It left me a smidge disappointed, but of course I still loved it!

Finley Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead is a fun, fast-paced mystery brimming with humor, heart, and suspense. It’s a perfect pick for fans of cozy mysteries with a modern twist or readers who enjoy stories about strong, flawed, and funny female leads. Cosimano masterfully blends crime and comedy, making this book a great fun escape.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this advance reading copy.

This was another phenomenal installment in the Finlay Donovan series! I had a blast reading this and it was just as great as the original. Definitely read this series, it’s such a hoot!

This book is a delightful hot mess in the best possible way! Finlay Donovan’s life as an accidental contract killer has gotten a whole lot more complicated. Luckily, she’s got her nanny/best friend, a hot lawyer-in-training, and a sexy detective to help dig her out of trouble (sometimes literally)

Finlay Donovan is such a fun heroine. She’s so human. Somehow she manages to keep herself together despite so many terrible events and by being a (mostly) good person, gets out of them.

While I thought the story wasn’t as strong as Finlay’s debut, it was still a great read. I loved getting to know Vero a bit better and seeing Finn and Steven’s relationship get to a better place. I also love that Finlay isn’t expected to choose a love interest and continues to date both.

Overall, this was solid and I look forward to continuing the series. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to the publisher for making this possible.

The Finlay Donovan series is so much fun to read! While I did find that this second book in the series (Knocks 'Em Dead) did not read quite as quickly as the first and third, it was nevertheless a delight. While a bit outlandish (how many people can you accidentally-ish kill over a few weeks?), I could totally see this series being turned into a laugh-out-loud TV show. Finlay and Vero are a great team, and of course Finaly's love interests Nick and Julian are both top notch!

Elle Cosimano strikes again with Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead, a sequel that’s just as chaotic, hilarious, and suspenseful as the first book! Diving back into Finlay’s world felt like catching up with an old friend—the kind of friend who can’t seem to avoid messy, life-threatening predicaments, but somehow keeps you laughing through it all.

This time, Finlay finds herself juggling a looming book deadline, parenting struggles, and, oh yeah, the fact that someone wants her ex-husband dead. Her attempts to uncover the would-be hitman lead her into a world of soccer moms turned contract killers and another run-in with the Russian mob. As always, her ride-or-die partner Vero is by her side, bringing the kind of camaraderie that makes this series shine. Their banter and unwavering loyalty are truly the heart of the book.

While Finlay’s knack for making questionable decisions can be frustrating, it’s part of her charm—and the chaos is what keeps the pages turning. That said, I would’ve loved to see a little more personal growth from her this time around. The mystery itself is fast-paced and full of twists I didn’t see coming, though I did feel a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of characters.

Cosimano’s sharp, witty writing and knack for balancing humor with suspense make this an addictive read. I flew through most of the book in one day, laughing out loud at some of the absurd situations Finlay finds herself in. While I didn’t find this one quite as funny as the first, it was still a blast, and I can’t wait to see where Finlay’s antics take her next!

If you loved Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, you’ll definitely enjoy this one. Just make sure to start with the first book to fully appreciate the chaotic brilliance of this sequel.

Another rollercoaster rider with Finley Donovan! This time she’s trying to figure out who put a hit out on her ex husband.

I enjoyed this so throughly! I had my suspicions but I was rarely correct 🤣 this series is such a fun ride! So many funny moments, always suspenseful as you try to figure out who done it!

I received this e-book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for the copy!

As always, Finlay is struggling to finish her latest novel. In the midst of life and searching online forums, Vero finds out that somebody wants Finlay's ex, Steven, dead. Although she is frustrated with him a lot, she can't let her kids not have a father, so her and Vero set out to find out who wants him dead. Meanwhile, Nick, the detective, is still trying to talk Finlay into taking her to dinner and more....How will Finlay get herself out of all of these different messes?

I am not sure how Finlay Donovan gets herself into these messes, but she has done it again! And Elle Cosimano, yet again, does an excellent job sharing Finaly's story in an exciting way that keeps your attention. If you want to get hooked on a mystery/comedic series, this one is for you! I found myself laughing so many times throughout the story!

Please note: This is fiction and authors are allowed to have fun with it! Does what happened in the story seem like something that would happen in real life? No, but this also isn't non-fiction, so of course it's allowed! Lighten up people!

Finlay returns with her life in its eternal mess. She still is late getting her edits into her publisher, her kids are still young and messy, her ex is still cheating, and she probably has a new contract offer or two. While investigating the contract killer offer, she finds a women’s forum where it looks like there’s a contract offer for killing her ex. Finlay’s not enamored with her ex but he is a father to their 2 children. This book is even more fun than the first. #netgalley

I really enjoyed revisiting Finaly and her sidekick Vero after ther first book in the series. They are both so funny and although the storyline is pretty unrealistic, it is nice to sometimes be able to set aside what life is really like and jump into a book that is a little off the wall-in a good way. I love the love triangle in this one and I also enjoy reading about women coming together to get things done. A fun read for sure! Can't wait for the next one!

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead, by Elle Cosimano, is the second installment in the author's Finlay Donovan Series. 31-year-old Finlay Donovan's life is still a mess. Not only hasn't she finished the book that she promised her agent, but her daughter's goldfish just died and she's trying to keep it from her ex-husband. Finlay is hoping that the goldfish is the only dead body she has to deal with this week. She then learns someone is offering a whole lot of money to kill Steven. It seems as though there is a Mom's Support Group where grievances are posted against men like Steven, who left Finlay for a younger woman.

Finlay hates her cheating, lying husband as much as the next woman, but he's been a good father to their kids, and she doesn't want them to lose their father. A reminder: A month ago, after a woman named Patricia Mickler had overheard Finlay plotting a novel with her literary agent in a crowded sandwich shop. She’d offered to pay Finlay $50,000 to murder her husband, a horrible man who happened to launder money for the Russian mob. Finlay later got involved with yet another unhappy wife whose husband is as dangerous as they come thanks to his relationship with the Russian mobster.

Finlay's day-to-day life isn't quite as much of a dumpster fire, but she keeps getting in over her head (with Vero's help) with very bad dudes and contract killings. Finlay has to figure out who would want to kill the father of her children, and fast. In an attempt to figure out who this person is, she poses as an assassin for hire and goes head to head with someone else trying to get the job. Who wants Steven dead? Before they know it, Finlay and Vero are thrust into a complex story involving the Russian Mafia, a chopped-up body, Molotov cocktails, and a whole lot more.

To make things even more twisted, Finlay has two men on her mind and needs to make up her mind about who she really belongs with. The Detective who seems to honestly care about her, or the younger bartender wannabe lawyer who makes her blood run hot. Some of the shenanigans that Finlay and co. get into aren’t completely realistic, just like in the first book. Also, some plot points were hard to follow as the book tackles quite a variety of topics, scenarios, and bad guys (and gals).

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead is the second book in the Finlay Donovan series, and it definitely takes Finlay's shenanigans and entanglements up a notch. The plot thickens (ha!) with more bad guys, more misunderstandings, and more mom life humor. The romance subplot also gets more interesting and complicated in this second installment. Overall, I adore the Finlay Donovan series and eagerly await the next book!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for gifting me with a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.