I don’t know if I like this one as much as I did the first one but will definitely will be continuing the series for now.

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you, NetGalley and publishers.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is the second in the series. Finlay thought she had put her days of accidental crime behind her and was ready to settle down to write best selling romantic thrillers, raise her kids with lots of help from trustworthy Vero, and spend quality time with the cute bartender/attorney (after he graduates!) Julian. But all is turned on its end when she discovers someone has put her ex husband on an online forum for unhappy women who have been pushed too far. Can she save him and does she want to? And how involved in this is the local branch of the Russian mafia? Is Finlay finally in over her head?

Another fun, fast paced read following Finlay and a slew of misunderstandings. Can’t wait to see what happens next!

okay. I am officially burnt out on Finlay Donovan. At first I was obsessed.... but now I cant. Just cant.

This is such a fun series and I’m having a blast reading it so far. I still love Finlay so much. She’s hilarious. Vera is even more hilarious. I love how Finlay has so many people in her corner. It’s this weird little group of found family in a way and I love it.
I’m still super curious how the romance will pan out. I love both Nick and Julian 🥲 i can’t wait to continue the series and see what happens!

On to book three!

Decided to DNF this series. Was super excited to see what all the hype was about and wanted to binge it but I just don't think the cozy mystery is the genre for me sadly, though I do totally get why other readers love it so much!

Easy breezy, super funny and cute. I’m completely invested in this series. Finley Donovan is hilarious.

Excited to finally read these! Finlay Donovan is as good as everyone said it was, can't believe I waited this long.

Thanks to Netgalley for giving me a nudge in the form of free copies of previous books.

This was such a fun and enticing second novel in the series! The fact that Finaly now has to save her no-good ex husband from his demise is excellent. As always, Elle Cosimano was able to do it again!

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead is another hilarious, fast-paced read with my favorite accidental assassin. The mystery hooked me (EasyClean’s reveal? Brilliant!), and Finlay remains a delight, where her wit and intuition shine, especially alongside her sidekick Vero. Nick fans will swoon, though Julian’s subplot felt unnecessary.

That said, the book’s biggest flaw is its crowded cast: at times, I had to pause and remember who was who amid the chaos. The humor and twists still land (and the pacing is perfect), but the overstuffed ensemble made it slightly harder to follow than the tighter first book. The drama veers into over-the-top territory compared to the first book, and I wasn't a fan of that part. It was just one thing after another. I appreciate humor and wit, but at some points in the book, it felt forced.

Perfect for: Fans of Book 1 who don’t mind a little extra chaos, or anyone craving a laugh-out-loud mystery with heart. Just keep a character cheat sheet handy!

I am thankful to have been given the ARC of this book frompubl isher Minotaur from Netgalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

Favorite Quotes:

Not because I wanted to kill Steven. I mean, I did, I guess. Some days. Most days. Definitely whenever he opened his mouth.

My heart raced as I ducked into the passenger side and locked the door. I stared at the dashboard, unable to form words. The exterior of the car was a giant phallus, and the interior looked like Darth Vader’s bathroom.

My Review:

I gleefully bounced in my chair and frequently laughed aloud while I inhaled this amusing and cleverly penned series. I loved every well-chosen arrangement of words. Elle Cosimano is absolutely brilliant, and her Finaly Donovan creation is a gift. Poor Finaly, she was a semi-successful writer who had an ex-husband who couldn’t keep it in his pants and a toddler who refused to keep his pants on, or toilet train. Finaly was a hot mess.

Her adventures started with an inadvertent slip of paper on a Panera tray, which eventually led her to helping various women living in difficult situations who were “seeking a specialist with a certain skill set.” Finaly didn’t actually have the skill set, but she and Vero, her ever helpful nanny, kept managing to accidentally kill bad people, some they were supposed to, others just had the bad luck to die in their vicinity.

The engaging storylines were active, eventful, smartly plotted, and populated with a colorful cast of oddly compelling characters, many of whom were unlikable, yet quirkily and knowingly drawn. I downed six in a row and finished the last one hoping there are more to come.

FINLAY DONOVAN KNOCKS ‘EM DEAD, written by Elle Cosimano, is the second book in the Findlay Donovan series. The novel begins with a funeral for her five-year-old daughter’s fish, Christopher. Findlay learns she could earn 100,000 dollars to kill her ex-husband by accepting an offer placed on a computer forum. Silvia Barr, Findlay’s literary agent, is waiting for Findlay’s next book. I want to know what happens.

This is the second novel in the Finlay Donovan series, and I suggest reading the books in order. Cosimano’s humorous writing style often leaves me laughing aloud. The characters are memorable, and I care what happens to them. I like forward to reading future books in the series. Thank you, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of FINLAY DONOVAN KNOCKS 'EM DEAD.

I’m in love with this series. The perfect book to read in a day when you need a good laugh and a fun story.

Loving this series! I was so ready to be back with these characters! This book had me laughing just like the first one & I grew to love the Fin & Vero even more, especially how they have become each others family. I’m really struggling with this love triangle though. Mainly because I don’t know who I like more 😭😂 I don’t know who to pick! But I was really not expecting the ending & finding out who the post was from on the forum. Glad we got an answer to that but still more info to find out! Definitely loved the way the ending played out because it makes me excited to read the next book!

Much thanks to Elle Cosimano, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Again, I'm impressed! The plot twists and turns and just doesn't stop surprising me. Red herrings are everywhere, but clever ones. Things get messier and messier until I think there's no way Finn gets out of it without being arrested, but she still finds a way to slip through the cracks unnoticed--or not so unnoticed, it seems....

What's really impressive is that Cosimano managed to make Steven sympathetic. He's self-interested, misogynistic, arrogant dumbass scum, but he has feelings too. I still don't like him, but I don't hate him anymore. I pity him and his bad choices.

I'm not a huge Vero fan, probably because she jumped in to help bury a body instead of calling the police like a sane person, but the direction Cosimano decided to take her character feels off to me. A math whiz wannabe high-flying accountant suddenly has a gambling problem? I thought she could recognize good odds and was too smart to get caught in a trap like gambling. But the recklessness tracks; only someone who's reckless would agree to help bury a body. And Vero needed depth, so here we are. I'm interested to find out more, especially about what's going on between her and Javi.

I loathe love triangles, and I'm not happy there's one here, but I have to admit, I'm not upset with how Finn's handling it. Her heart lies with Julien, but Nick calls to her as well. She knows things probably won't work out with Julien, but she also resents being pushed toward the obvious choice. Very sympathetic, very relatable.

The only thing I don't like about Finn's character is the "oh woe is me, I wish all these hot guys would stop falling in love with me, it makes life so difficult...." Boo fricken hoo. Otherwise she's a wonderful protagonist.

Can't wait to start book 3!

Finlay and Vero are back, and I’m obsessed! This sequel is fast, funny, and full of twists. I loved getting to know Vero a little more — though she’s still a total mystery! Their wild friendship, nonstop action, and hilarious moments make this series such a fun ride. Can’t wait for the next one!

I would like to thank St. Martin's Press , Minotaur Books & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review

I really liked the style of this book. It made me feel like I knew the main character. This is a fun read. It has humor, mystery and some absurdity which made me laugh. I think this would be a good beach read. It is about a woman who is married to a cheater and how she has to deal with issues that he is involved with too. I love the fact that there are more books in the series and look forward to having another adventure with Finlay Donovan in the near future. I recommend this book for anyone who likes a funny mystery with a strong woman at the core.

This is the second in the series and I am absolutely loving it. This murder mystery is just as funny as the first. Finlay and her nanny continue to dig deeper into problems, that are somehow light hearted and hilarious.

This series is so much fun. Not sure how the author keeps this series going but I’m down for the ride for right now.

As we pick up after Finlay is finally ready to leave her divorce in the rearview and embrace a fresh start and with a younger, handsome soon to be lawyer boyfriend by her side. But before she can fully move on, there are a few lingering threads from the last installment that need tying up. Most pressing? Figuring out who wants her ex-husband dead… and stopping them before it’s too late.
Following Finlay is always a wild and entertaining ride. She’s a woman in her prime, juggling life as a writer, mom, friend, and accidental sleuth. And doing all this while also rediscovering her confidence and spark. I absolutely adore this series and can’t wait to see where the next chapter takes her!

*Thank you to Elle Cosimano, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.