I finished this book early on the morning of my 30th birthday and cannot think of a better book to kick off this next year of my life with.

Elle Cosimano sucessfully created one of the most endearing casts I've ever read with the Finlay Donovan series. The chemistry is remarkable and compelling from start to finish. Finlay, you are my favorite. I want to be your best friend, I want to solve mysteries with you, but realistically, I want to read every book ever written about you! While the storyline itself feels a liiiittle far fetched for my suburban stay at home mom life, the people in this book feel 100% real, and that's what matters to me.

From start to finish I was equally cracking up and enthralled with this masterpiece. I was so invested in every aspect of the storyline and also felt that Cosimano wrapped up JUST ENOUGH to make it satisfying, but also left enough loose ends that we NEED book three!

All in all, this book knocked me dead. I love it and want to read the first again just so I can fall in love with Finlay all over again! Pick up your copy when it releases in February, you won't regret it!

I wish nothing more than for NetGalley and GoodReads to provide half star ratings, because this would've been a solid 4.5 for me. Alas, while I really really loved it, there were just a few... plot and consistency/congruency issues (?) that I couldn't overlook, so we're going with the 4, but know it's really a 4.5.

Our favorite mess-of-a-life mystery writer, sometimes contract killer, queen is back in book two of this trilogy. Finlay is so much more enjoyable in this second book versus the first. While she's still a bit of a mess, she seems to have more confidence, takes control of things a bit more, and just all in all was a more enjoyable mind to be in this time around.

FInlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead is funny, quick paced (much more than book one, I didn't feel any lags in pacing), and a wild damn ride. I absolutely loved the ending when we find out who actually put the hit out on Steven because - without giving anything away - it's honestly so believable.

What I'm mostly left with now is how much more I need to know about Vero. I've had questions about that one since day one, and while I love her, I can't help but feel she is super sus. Also, Julian. Julian feels sus to me as well. And here lies some of the congruency issues. Aside from the agent demanding 20,000 words of a novel from her client within a weekend (I think, the timeline got a little muddled for me to be completely honest, another negative), which as a writer feels super unrealistic, I worry that there are undertones being brought up that will never actually amount to anything. I worry that the foreboding will not come to light and I'll be left feeling a bit... disappointed. However, we have another book still, and I am eagerly awaiting it's arrival!

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur books for this eARC of Finlay Donovan Knocks 'em Dead; highly recommend!!

I was lucky enough to receive a physical copy of this book and I loved the first Finlay book so much! This one was a very fun read. It followed Finley and Vero as they try to figure out who put a hit on Steve, Finley's x-husband. And oh boy there were some hijinks in this book! It was funny, clever, and also suspenseful here and there. Was it a bit over the top? Absolutely. But I expected it because the concept of this book is just hilarious. So if you go into it realizing it is not a standard thriller you will definitely enjoy it. It did seem like Vero and Finlay were not phased by anything in this book which was a bit surprising to me. I am definitely excited to see where things go. And I am 100% team Nick.

The first Finlay Donovan book has easily been one of my favorite stories- not just of 2020 but of all time. The second did not disappoint. Elle Cosimano's writing is so engaging and funny. Finlay and Vero, ever the unlikely duo, came together so well in this book. I loved the deeper dive into Vero's life and history. I wanted even more! And Julian. Sigh. I'm happy with the way that played out and glad that Finn got her some of his biscuits. Speaking of biiscits- the tension between Finn and Nick is KILLING me. I'm ready for a spicy scene in book 3, Elle. Because who wouldn't want a single mom in her thirties with 0art of a thawing dead body in her washing machine? 😏 Absolutely knocks me dead. Finlay for the win!

Elle Cosimano is the queen of cliffhangers, and I need more of this series all the time, forever. With that ending of book 1 (Finlay Donovan is Killing It) making me want access to book 2 IMMEDIATELY, and so I was thrilled to be asked to read an advance reader's copy as the story continued.

Much like the first title, the relationships of the characters, especially Finlay + Vero, were incredible. I could not get enough of how the happenings kept the story moving, while tying up the little details in the most surprising, fun, and twisty ways. At the core of it all, Finlay was still writing a novel (the post-it notes that she used to tie together a pitch were everything for me) and still managed to take care of her kids - even as she was caught in a love triangle that any romance reader would be jealous of, caught up in a web of crime that just keeps getting more and more involved.

Will someone manage to kill her ex-husband? Or will she & Vero figure out who's placing the hit and take them down before it's too late?

This one will keep you guessing until the very end, full of humor and fun that makes the build-up to each event that much more worth the wait! Pick this one up if you're someone who loves to read cross-genre titles, that knows how to blend suspense, romance, and women's fiction all in one staring a mom who would do anything for their children (even if it means keeping your ex-husband alive) with a partner in crime who not only helps you get through the break-up but helps you bury the body when needed.

Cheers to another great book from Elle Cosimano, thanks to the author herself and Minotaur Books for my ARC, and allowing me to read and review this one, a 4.5 star read for me and a fantastic follow up! I'm already looking forward to book 3, and impatiently awaiting news on it hitting the big screen.

I loved this story so much! This author pulled me right in from the beginning and I felt I just couldn't put this down. I loved the main character and how much personality there was throughout. Definitely will be recommending this one to my friends!

Finlay Donovan is Killing It was one of my favourite books this year so this was certainly one of my most anticipated reads! While I do believe it was lacking of little of the magic from the first one, it was still such a fun, refreshing and lighthearted mystery thriller that I couldn’t put down!

I devoured the book in a day and was totally engaged throughout! I relished in the witty and smart dialogue and premise and can’t wait to see what Cosimano does next! I’m hoping for many more adventures with Finlay and Vero and I’m anxiously awaiting the TV show adaptation!

Finlay Donovan is back and this time she is trying to help her ex-husband, who is wanted dead by someone.

Like the first Finlay Donavan book, Knocks "Em Dead is fun and fast-paced, making it a great book for a lazy weekend. Starting off with a quick start, the story twists and turns through plenty of suspense and mystery.

My only complaint with the book is that it seemed to get bogged down with secondary characters, making it hard for me to keep track of who was who. I would have much preferred a narrower reach on who was in the book.

The story did wrap up nice and neatly, and of course, all is well in Finlay's world....maybe...

Finlay Donovan is Killing It was one of my favorite books of the year - it was chaotic, hilarious, stress inducing and just so much fun. I wanted to be BFFs with Finlay and Vero, and at the same time it made me feel like I really have my life together. I have been anxiously awaiting the sequel since I finished the first and while I did like this one, I think my expectations may have been unfairly high going in.

This book picks up where the last one ended - with that crazy cliffhanger!! And while I expect nothing but chaos from Finlay and this definitely delivers, I wish there was a little more method to the madness. It felt discombobulated but in a way that had me saying, “Wait, what?” a bit too often. This book felt rushed and more like it was setting up a much longer future series (which, like, YAY!) than a standalone book on its own.

The ending of the first led to two main questions that Finlay was trying to answer in this book, and by the end, we had an answer to…half of one of those questions, which was a bit unsatisfying. We definitely got some good Finlay/Vero time, which I always love, but holes were poked in Vero’s past that I was DYING for answers to and we didn’t get them in this book. I was also excited to see the love triangle between Finlay, hot lawyer Julian and hot cop Nick pick back up, but there wasn’t too much progression (though Nick’s dimples made quite a few appearances). Even despite all this, I think what this book was missing the most compared to the first was the comedy to balance it out. I laughed so much in the first, but Finlay started this book stressed and ended this book stressed and there were very few funny parts - even Delia wasn’t in this book as much.

I do still recommend this book - it’s a wild ride and I love Finlay and Vero. My advice is just to lower your expectations a bit going into this one. Now I just can’t wait til book THREE for some answers!!

Finlay Donovan is Killing It is in my top 5 favorite books of 2021, and the sequel, Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead was a perfect addition to the storyline.

This has to be one of the most amusing book series ever. Is it super far fetched? Totally. BUT IT IS SO AMUSING!

I highly recommend these books to anyone who wants to laugh, gasp, and meet some truly unforgettable characters. I’m crossing my fingers for a third book, because I truly can’t get enough of Finlay, Vero, and their shenanigans.

Finley Donavon is a minor writer who is also a struggling single mother with money problems, a annoying ex and writer's block. She's stressed and becoming desperate. A chance encounter and misunderstanding opens a door to a lucrative job as a hit woman. Will she do it? It's a fun path to see how it resolves. Finley and her sidekick/nanny attempt to manage the crisis, resulting in a light mystery story and a lot of humor. It's a quick fun read.

Hilarious! I'm looking for more from Elle Cosimano. I do wish I'd read the first one first, but this is definitely OK on its own.

Another quick page-turner in the Finlay Donovan series- and based on the ending, I think we’re getting a third book! I enjoyed this one just as much as the first. It’s full of hijinks as Finlay and Vero attempt to protect Finlay’s ex-husband after an anonymous user posts a $100k reward in an online forum for Steven’s murder. You’ll breeze through this book, it’s perfect when you need a light read with some humor and mystery.

3.5 ☆ rounded up

"Never go back to the scene of the crime. It's simple common sense if you want to get away with murder. Right up there with don't wrap a corpse in your shower curtain, don't buy four gallons of bleach and a shovel with your credit card and don't keep a chest freezer in your garage."

For Finlay Donovan, an author of romantic suspense novels, these truisms are child's play. After the harrowing events one month earlier in Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, Finlay is keen on lying low and having her life return to some level of normalcy. Single mother of a 5-year old and a toddler, Finlay is fending off her cheating ex-husband Steven's attempt to win more custody time with their children.

It's now Thanksgiving. Her agent's pleasure with Finlay's first novel about a female assassin just makes her more eager about pressuring Finlay to complete the sequel. If only Finlay didn't have a case of writer's block.

Maybe real life will once again provide inspiration as Finlay now has first-hand experience with being a hired killer. After all, Steven's philandering has created many disgruntled women, and one of them appears to be motivated enough to offer $100,000 to eliminate Steven.

Then there's Feliks Zhirov, the Russian mobster, with tangential connections to Steven. Zhirov may be in jail pending trial, but he's still capable of manipulating situations. And Finlay's creativity captured his attention when it would have been better not to appear anywhere on his radar.

"I'm not the luckiest person in the world, and I know better than to assume the dead didn't come back to haunt you."

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead can be read as a standalone as the author alludes to events in the earlier book. But as this installment includes most of the key characters from the first novel, it would be better to read the two books in their chronological order.

If you have read the first novel, then you'll likely be struck by the change in tone. I didn't find this as funny as the first. The first 40 percent seemed slow to build up any suspense. But in the last 40 percent, the plot felt like a very fast-moving shell game and I was swept up by the sleights of hand. This is a positive observation because I didn't anticipate any of the major plot developments. At times though Finlay's decisions reminded me of an "I Love Lucy" caper because I could see that Finlay was digging herself into a deeper hole. So while I was hoping that Finlay would prevail, I was also chiding her for some of her decisions. This author wrote an unusual combination of occasionally over-the-top comical moments coupled with messy endings that characterize real life. It's a strong enough lure for me to want to read future installments.

Thank you to the author, Minotaur Books (an imprint of St. Martin's Publishing Group), and Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC. My review reflects my candid assessment and feelings. Quotations in this review are from an uncorrected proof (ISBN 9781250242198) and may differ from the final version. Publication date is February 1, 2022

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for allowing to read and review this ARC.

I'm always hesitant to read sequels to books I adore because rarely do they live up to the hype. But, holy cow! I was immediately sucked back into Finlay's world and binged this book. Finlay's story is relatable, humorous, and sticky. I was actually sad when I finished, knowing I would have to wait for the rest of the story.

Finlay is the heroine we all need. A mom who is just doing her best.

*Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I'm giving this 3.5 stars because it's just as enjoyable as the first Finlay Donovan, but some of the plot is a little hard to follow. It was fun revisiting Finlay and Vero's antics, and the nature of this series is that you have to suspend reality. However, I felt like there was too much going on at times. Quite a few of the characters from the first book are involved in this book's plot, and it took me a while to remember who was who. Overall, it's a fun read, but make sure you've read the first book or you'll be totally lost.

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead is the second book in the Finlay Donovan series, and picks up where the first book left off, with a hit being put out on Finlay's ex husband Steven. Finlay and her friend/live-in babysitter/partner-in-crime Vero are quickly drawn back in to questionable acts as they try to uncover who has it out for Steven and the mystery person that's volunteered to do the job. Throw in Vero keeping secrets of her own and Finlay trying to decide between a hot young lawyer in absentia or a hunky cop that keeps showing up on her doorstep, plus an editor looking for a first draft of a new book and Finlay has her hands full. Full of hijinks, sometimes to the point where it's hard to believe someone could actually bury themselves that deep in disaster, Cosimano's series is reminiscent of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series where a woman who's a hot mess has hot men fighting over her albeit with a more cohesive plot but less funny characters. A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.

I gobbled up the first Finlay Donovan book in a matter of hours and was ecstatic when I received an advanced copy of the second in the series that I immediately dropped what I was currently reading and started this right away. As predicted, I devoured this one just as quickly, too eager beaver to keep going to savor the story and now I'm left to wait impatiently for the third installment. Hopefully, there's a third installment! Alas, I wait.

I loved the pace and voice of the story, as Finlay takes us on another whirlwind whodunit ride, desperately seeking out who put a hit on her ex-husband (there are many and understandable so!). Finlay is a fun, relatable character and I think that's the big reason why I love reading about her misadventures. Her journey is full of quirk, cringe and bravado. She is someone who you can't help but cheer for, as she clumsily navigates her own investigations. If I had to choose one pain point, it would be her partner and sidekick, Vero. I didn't care for her much in the first story, and she became a very unlikeable character in the second story, taking advantage of Finlay's generosity. I didn't think there was enough meat behind Vero's character to make me sympathize with her issues, I just found her excuses exhausting and her abrasive behavior annoying. I feel like the problem that was revealed was quickly glazed over, easily forgiven, almost encouraged, when I was fuming on the sidelines, screaming at Finlay for being nonchalant about the whole thing!

However, all in all, a really enjoyable story with strong female roles, an exciting plot and a fun excuse to don my detective cap and play along with Finlay's amaetur investigation.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Elle Cosimano for providing a digital ARC (and a hard copy!) in exchange for my honest review.

Finlay Donovan rides the struggle bus: part II. She has no idea what her next book will be about (never mind that she's already received the advance), and she's doing the best she can as a single mother of two. To pile on, someone wants her ex-husband, Steven, dead. Finding out who wants him gone forces Finlay to reconnect with some less-than-stellar characters. Amidst it all, she can't help but feel that her live-in nanny and partner-in-crime, Vero, is keeping secrets. Can Finlay save Steven before it's too late?

Finlay Donovan is Killing It was one of my favorite books of 2021, and I feel so honored I was able to read the sequel early. If you enjoyed the humor and general hijinx Finlay and Vero got up to in book one, I think you'll be very pleased with book two.

I rarely laugh out loud while reading but Elle Cosimano has a way of bringing the humor right off the page. Additionally, every single time Finlay got herself into something that made me wonder "how in the hell is she going to get out of this one?" Cosimano had some sort of epic (usually hilarious) resolution.

I love how well the characters have been developed throughout this series. I am not a single mom, and generally have almost nothing in common with Finlay, and yet she is so easy to relate to (even if I wanna give her a good smack upside the head sometimes). I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed we get to see her again in book three!

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead will be on a bookshelf near you February 1, 2022!

(P.S. I am #TeamNick sorry not sorry)

**Review will be published February 1st, 2022 on my blog/Instagram**

3.5 stars

WILD RIDE.

Wow did I eat this up in a day. Even when I get frustrated with the story I can't help but be charmed by the writing. It's easy to consume and has a rollercoaster of events to keep things moving.

Finlay and Vero are at it again. Trying to solve the mystery of the hit put out on Steven. I couldn't believe some of the things they were getting up to and some of the decisions being made. While I can't fathom making some of them and have to suspend reality a bit (since it gets ridiculous at times) I still like how high stakes it feels. There's many well timed moments and parts that I just couldn't put the book down.

I don't love Vero. Maybe it's because I don't fully trust her? I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop about her background and thank heavens all will be revealed [hopefully] in the next book because I NEED ANSWERS. Yes there's more to come. A fact I didn't know prior and want to state now.

I am alllllllll team Nick. ALL IN. This love triangle has also kept me intrigued and I like the push and pull from both sides. I want all the romance with him. I appreciate the many layers to this story and how deeper things keep going. It's a bit twisted, with a good dash of humor and intense moments.

Overall audience notes:
- Mystery + Romance
- Language: some strong
- Romance: heated make-outs & light innuendo
- Trigger/Content Warnings: attempted murder, gun violence, murder, kidnapping, loss of a loved one, extortion