I received this book as an ARC and this is my review. Wow! This is an amazing story and I loved it! Truly hilarious dialogue is the toughest thing to write and this book has it in spades: it is laugh-out- loud funny! The characters are so flawed they could all be the “bad guy”! There are so many twists and turns, the reader can end up with whiplash! I totally recommend this book to readers who enjoy a good laugh served up with murder and mayhem.

Finlay Donovan Knock "Em Dead is a fun, mystery, thriller with some romance. There are multidimensional characters. It was wonderful to read this light, madcap escapade during these turbulent times. Although this book is a sequel, it can be read a standalone novel. Hoping for more Finlay books by Elle Cosimano!!!!! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

After enjoying the first book in this series, I thought I would like this one too, but it just wasn’t for me. It felt like reading the exact same back, except I found Finlay even more exhausting this time. I think people who loved the first one will love this one too, but unfortunately it didn’t do anything for me.

3.5 ⭐️

I was especially excited to read the latest adventures of writer-turned-faux-contract-killer and lovable Hot Mess Express Finlay Donovan (and her badass, stylish partner-in-crime Vero). While this sequel didn’t quite do it for me, I think anyone who enjoyed book 1–and lovers of lighthearted mysteries—will appreciate this read.

The first book left us with an intriguing cliffhanger: Someone wants Finlay’s cheating ex-husband Steven dead, and they’re willing to pay a LOT of money for it. I was excited to see where this took us, but I was a bit disappointed with the various twists and turns. Mostly, I was missing much of the lighthearted absurdity and quirkiness so unique to the first book (and, of course, Finlay’s signature wig!). This book went a little darker than seemed necessary for the series, there were a lot of extraneous characters who weren’t well-developed, and Vero’s “secret” plot line was not only uninteresting but also didn’t seem to align at all with her character as we knew it in book 1.

Finlay’s romantic life continues to be a bit of a dumpster fire, but (sadly) with very little ~steam~. I was honestly glad f*ckboy Steven’s life was in jeopardy, and I don’t really understand why the book’s love triangle between Finlay, Julian, and Nick keeps dragging along when the choice was obvious to me in this book: One love interest is hardly present and clearly emotionally unavailable, while the other is sexy, smart, age-appropriate, and overtly interested. There is no doubt that my favorite scenes in this book circled around Finlay’s obvious chemistry with Nick… and that cliffhanger! 🤭 That alone will keep me on board for book 3, and I look forward to seeing what new, reckless adventures come next for Finlay and Vero.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press & Minotaur Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was lucky enough to be able to jump into this one right after finishing Finlay Donovan is Killing It, so I didn't lose any momentum and the original story was still fresh in my mind. I loved this sequel ! Just like the first book, it has serious Good Girls vibes, and you do have to suspend reality a bit... but that's OK, just sit back and enjoy the ride because it's highly entertaining ! It's hard to say too much more without giving away any spoilers, but if you enjoyed the first book, I think you'll like this one too.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead - Elle Cosimano

I liked the sequel to Finlay Donovan is Killing It even more than the first book. I thought the first book was a lot of fun, but that epilogue made me want to pick this book up right away, so luckily I was approved for an arc on netgalley!

This book continues to follow Finlay and Vero as they try to stay out of trouble and as Finlay continues to write her next book. This was a quick paced book and it was so fun. I loved all the little reveals along the way and it made the book hard to put down. I really loved this one and if you enjoyed the first book I think you’ll like this one too!

Let me start by saying that if you have not read the first Finlay Donovan book, run and get started on it! It is such a fun read and this second installment of the series is just as great. Finlay is trying to finish her newest book while also trying to solve the mystery of who wants her ex-husband knocked off. She and her friend/children’s nanny Vero fall into yet another assassination plot that they are hardly equipped to figure out.

The action is fast and the relationships are so enjoyable in these books. They perfectly balance mystery and comedy for such a great story. I continue to root for Finlay and Nick to find their way to one another (although Julian is such a sweet distraction). I highly recommend this book and I can’t wait for the third one in the series to arrive!

Thank you to Elle Cosimano, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well, it's another great addition to the Finlay Donovan story! In this story, Finlay is trying to stop a hit on her husband. She has to juggle her parent's, her cop-sister, her cop love interest, her lawyer love interest, her book agent, oh yeah...and the mob. It's an awful lot for her, but she's a kick-ass heroine, and she can do it!

I loved seeing Finlay and Vero back in action together. There are crazy mishaps that land them in tight spots. I laughed, and then gripped my book with a bit of worry at times. It was a great mixture of emotional storytelling, and I loved it!

There's always something magical about a first book in a series, and then I worry if the second book will live up to the very high expectations the first on set. In this case, it was a success. Book two is just as entertaining as book 1...and sets up book 3 nicely!!

I highly recommend this one, but ya gotta read book 1 first, because it was awesome too!

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

After falling in love with Finlay Donovan in book one I was super psyched to receive an early copy of book two. However, this one is missing the trademark hijinks that Finlay and Vero got into in book one. There are few witty moments and very few laugh out loud parts. I skimmed a lot of this book. Sadly this one missed the mark for me.

It definitely picks up at the very end, so I’ll be curious to see if there is a book three. In the author’s note, there is a mention of this book being written during COVID 19 lockdowns, so I can definitely understand why the humor is lacking. I’ll still pick up book three (if there is one).

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

This book was a fantastic follow-up go “Finlay Donovan is Killing It,” and I love that it ended with an option for more. I don’t think I’ll ever have enough of Finlay and Vero, and all of the disasters they end up getting themselves into. I want to learn more about Vero’s past and what comes next for Finlay and Nick. I didn’t know what to expect going into this one and ended up loving it!

Sometimes you just need a good laugh! If you have never read the Finaly Donovan books, you have been missing out on some great humor! This mystery by Elle Donavon is wildly hilarious and out there! ​Forget expectations, roll with the story and enjoy the book.


Finely Donovan is a 31-year-old divorced author. She has 2 adorable kids, a spunky young live-in nanny named Vero, and Stephen her ex-husband. Stephen is a loving father to their two kids, but a veritable Casanova with the ladies. Finlay receives a warning that someone is trying to have Stephen killed. While it's true there are times Stephen is a "huge pain" in Finlay's hiney, she does not want him harmed. Stephen has regular visitation with the children. Are Finlay's children in danger? What if her kids get caught in the crossfire? Determined to get to the root of this, Finlay and Vero set out to find the killer and end up in some outlandish situations that will have the reader rolling with laughter.


In the acknowledgments, Elle Cosimano speaks of the difficulty writing a funny book during sadness of the pandemic. She says "'Writing comedy is hard; writing comedy when the world is on fire takes "hard" to a whole new level. Sometimes I wasn't sure I could.'".


Standing ovation to Elle for reaching deep to make the world a brighter place during Covid! I appreciate it. I'm still laughing about Christopher. (May he go to that big fish bowl in the sky!)


Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me the honor of reviewing this e-book!

I didn’t read the first in this series but found this follow-up (which picks up a month after the earlier story) to be a fast-paced, quick-witted romp with Finlay Donovan, everyone’s favorite devoted mom, struggling writer, and accidental contract killer once again teaming up with Vero, her side-kick in crime to figure out why someone wants Finlay’s ex-husband Steve dead. , The writing style is flat-out clever enough to keep you turning pages, there’s a bit of romance mixed in with the adventures, as well as suspense, mystery, and a few twists I didn’t see coming. A light-hearted mystery read with laugh-out-loud moments which made this a perfect read for a chilly January.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

The first book was so good that I was skeptical where this one was going to go but omg cosimano DID IT AGAIN! This book is funny and interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat and turning the pages just to find out how it was going to end. I love Finlay Donovan and I never want this character to end! Give me moreeeeee. Must read if you ask me!

4.25 stars; just like the first book, Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead was an absolute delight. once again, you need to suspend your disbelief a little but if you do, you're in for a fun ride. Finn, Vero, and the wide cast of characters are easy to love and will keep the pages turning. I definitely recommend rereading the first book before delving in (I did not and was a little confused) but I found the plot easier to follow in this one. I'm already excited for the next book!

also if Finlay doesn't end up with Nick, I'll riot.

Finlay is back at it again! This time, she must find out who has put a hit on her ex-husband, Steven, before it's too late. This is a fantastic follow-up, and I loved it just as much as the first book. I can't wait to see what's in store for Finlay next.

This second book in the Finlay Donovan series, where Finlay makes bigger messes trying to clean up a mess, is was even more fun than the first one, for me. Hot on the heels of her last fiasco, Finlay discovers that someone on a women's forum is badmouthing her ex husband Steven. Someone else is offering condolences, of a sort. Actually, if you squint really hard, you could see that the messages are coded to be a request for someone to kill Steven and someone else accepting the hit. 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.

Once again, Finlay, and her friend/business partner, Vero, have their work cut out for them. Finlay never wanted to be entangled with the Russian mob again but a mother will do anything for her kids and she wants them to have a living father. There is also the matter of Vero not acting normally, the hot, young, soon to be a lawyer friend with benefits dilemma, and the hot detective who wants to spend more off duty time with Finlay, all part of her complex and getting very stinky life. Yes, something/someone stinks to high heaven, it's getting ranker, and that something/someone needs a new resting place that is not Finlay's house or vehicle.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Finlay Donovan has easily become my book best friend over the past year and our bond grew even stronger during my time spent reading this sequel.

Queen of the Hot Mess Express, Finlay Donovan is seeking to find the person who has seemingly put out a hit on her ex-husband, Steven. Along the way, she finds herself back in contact with seedy characters from the first installment, with her gal-pal and confidante Vero helping her stay out of trouble. We discover more about Vero, her past and her struggles, and we are also introduced to some new characters that may or may not have good intentions with Finlay. Not knowing hardly anyone's true motives only adds to the mystery of finding out who is out to kill her husband.

The love triangle between Finlay, Julian, and Nick only gets more intensified throughout this novel, although there seems to be a decision made by the end. I love Julian and Nick so much and no matter which man Finlay sees herself with for the long haul, I hope they both stay in her life.

While this novel wasn't as laugh-out-loud hilarious as the first installment, I was still enthralled and engaged with the plot, and the connection I feel for the characters, new and old, carried me through to a quick finish.

As I was nearing the end, I was hoping so hard that the sequel would have a cliffhanger of some sort, and I was not disappointed! I am thrilled we are getting a book 3 and I am already counting down the days until we can read it.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review! Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead will be out in hardback on February 1, 2022.

Thank you Minotaur Books for the gifted book!

My girl, Finlay, is back and better (and more chaotic!!) than ever! Book one was such a standout for me and I was SO excited to see where her story would go next and it definitely did not disappoint!

I don’t want to say too much, because I don’t want to give away book one spoilers for those that haven’t read it yet (what are you waiting for!?), but I loved this and completely devoured it. When I finished I had to go back and reread my favorite parts and now I’m just sitting here waiting for book 3. I love the humor in these stories and the found family, and I’m cheering on a certain cop in this love triangle!

4.25 crazy antic stars

I really like these characters and this book is another winner for me! Finlay is back with Vero – her sidekick nanny/accountant/partner in crime. The duo has to figure out who took out a contract on Finlay’s ex-husband before it’s too late.

There’s a love triangle with a young almost-lawyer and then hot cop Nick. Which man will succeed in stealing Finlay’s heart? I definitely had my favorite!

There are antics galore in this one, even the Russian mob and a dead body thrown in, but I always felt that Finlay would somehow come out on top. Then there’s the matter of the police showing up at the wrong time! She’s chasing down internet leads while trying to write her next book. Somehow her life is mimicking her books!

I would recommend reading book #1 to get the most out of this second book. This was a refreshing break and I’m anxiously awaiting book #3.

This is an entertaining story, think of the scene in Die Hard where a plane is blown up by lighting the trail of gas as it takes off. Not going to happen in real life but makes for an entertaining scene. This book is exactly that, an entertaining, witty, enjoy the ride story. Finlay Donovan is a mother of two, “accidental” professional assassin, part-time detective, novelist and a hot mess. Helping in controlling or maybe adding to the chaos is her live-in nanny and bestie Vero Ruiz. Finlay is worried someone has put out a contract to kill her ex-husband, Steven. Now, she has to stop the hit, avoid the Russian Mob, figure out which of two men she prefers, hot cop or hot young thing, all while avoiding getting into trouble with the law, her sister the police officer.

I haven’t read a book authored by Elle Cosimano but I did enjoy this book. The story maybe a bit over the top for some but if you can enjoy a fun beach read, this will keep you grinning. Plot was kept moving and developed well. I liked Finlay’s circle of family, friends and acquaintances, they added to the story and helped Finlay and Vero out of trouble.

Overall, good story, witty dialogue, fun characters, entertaining plot, had me grinning at the antics. Sit back and enjoy the ride.