Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me an ARC of Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead in exchange for an honest review.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead picks up about a month after the ending of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It. Finlay is once again struggling with a book deadline, though now she at least has her new best friend and literal partner-in-crime Vero to help her out. One of her distractions is a casual relationship with a certain hot bartender/law student named Julian. But her main distraction is that she believes she has stumbled across an online offer of $100,000 to someone who will kill Finlay’s ex-husband, Steven. Pretty soon, Finlay and Vero are once again neck deep in trouble, risking their own lives to try to save Steven’s.

The thing I did not realize going in, and kinda wish I did for expectation setting, is that Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is in many ways simply a continuation of the first book. Pretty much every character of any significance who survived the end of the first book is back: those named above, Teresa, Georgia, Russian mobster Feliks Zhirov, and most certainly hot Detective/potential love interest Nicolas Anthony. And given the way this book ends, I would not be surprised if that continuity will be true for the next book too.

As with the first book, Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is not gritty, realistic crime fiction. Several characters make a decision or two that you just have to accept to get into the story. Some of the characters are still a bit one-dimensional and cliché. And I didn’t love the decision to give Vero a secret to be upset about throughout the story; it removed some of the humor and banter. But the story works because Finlay is a well-developed character who you can’t help but root for, and because the mystery stayed unpredictable through the finish.

Like its predecessor, Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is a fun read, with lots of snarky banter and a fast-moving plot full of twists and turns. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Recommended.

I absolutely adored the sequel #finlaydonovanknocksemdead (and the first one, #finlaydonavaniskillingit )! These books are absolutely hilarious! The twists and the goggles are endless! @ellecosimano makes Murder mysteries endlessly fun and endearing! The second book is equally as great as the first and I hope there are more to come! If you haven’t read the first, pick it up now so you are ready for #finlaydonovanknocksemdead to hit stands on February 15, 2022! Huge thanks to the author, @minotaur_books, @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the #arc !!! #bookstagram #mysteries #booknerd #readingismyhappyplace #selfcare

I have to start this review by saying how completely fascinated I am by the way Elle Cosimano's mind works! Her stories are so interwoven and complex without being SEEMINGLY complex and they suck me in every time. I devour them. AND, I am absolutely head over heels in love with her main character Finlay Donovan, a quirky mystery writer and divorced mom of two. To say Finlay is a hot mess express would be an understatement. But she's also smart, funny, resourceful, passionate, brave, loyal and a little (okay, a lot) wreckless!

I first picked up the first book about Finlay because all my friends were recommending it. It totally lived up to the hype. So when I was able to get my hands on an ARC of Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead, I was estatic. I was completely captivated by the story and the real-life mystery Finlay was trying to solve - who and why someone was out to kill her ex-husband...and it wasn't HER!

This novel leaves you guessing, always wondering what's coming around the corner, quite literally groaning out loud at some of the messes Finlay and friends get themselves into, and finding yourself finished with it before you hardly thought you started! It's definitely a must-read and I can't wait for Book #3 in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Completely charmed once again by Finlay and her crew. I'm hooked on these characters and the trouble the get into, and will happily return to their world again and again!

These books are quickly becoming favorites of mine!! Finlay keeps me CRACKING UP!! and after reading the first I was so beyond excited to read the second. The laughs kept coming, the hijinks kept coming and I loved this Sequel!! It has twists, suspense and was so full of excitement!! It was an excellent follow up to a VERY excellent first book, Finlay Donovan is Killing it. HIGHLY Recommend!!

This is by far my new favorite series.

I'm new to Finlay Donovan's adventures, and I'm here to stay. I couldn't believe I was able to snag this ARC since I had just finished the first book, "Finlay Donovan Is Killing It," just a few weeks ago and I am so grateful to have been able to continue the crazy cliffhanger from Book 1 so fast! Thanks NetGalley *mwuah.*

A few things that I absolutely loved (and it's hard to narrow it down because all in all, I ADORED this book):
1. Finlay. I <3 you. Her voice and inner thoughts crack me up, and I can also see myself in her (as well as making similar decisions that she did).
2. Vero is such a badass. She's incredible and I want to be her when I grow up.
3. This book is even more of a thriller than the first. My heart was POUNDING. I was legitimately scared at a certain point and wondering how the f*** the characters were going to get themselves out of the situation.
4. I didn't expect Nick to pull my heartstrings (and possibly my ovaries w all of his moments with the kids <333) in this one since I was (and maybe still am?) Team Julian but honestly, I don't know anymore. I guess only time will tell haha.
5. I was binging Dead To Me on Netflix at the same time of reading this book. It was unintentional, and I definitely found myself on a thriller kick these past few weeks. I watched Season 1 while reading Book 1, and Season 2 while reading Book 2. I love the similarities, it just added to my world building abilities and imagination while reading. Dark comedies/dramedies definitely need to be more of a thing!!

Ugh. Yeah so read this. It's amazing. You'll be hooked. Book 3, please be here soon.

P.S. I know a streaming service is going to pick this up. @Netflix, for the love of Finlay Donovan, please do.

All my love and thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me a digital ARC copy of this (AMAZING) book in exchange for an honest review.

I've decided Elle Cosimano has created a new genre with the Finlay Donovan series- I'm calling it cozy mystery adjacent! We have been blessed with another book full of Finn and Vero's shenanigan's. This book includes all of the things we'd expect from Finlay like a steamy romance, a custody dispute, and a body (obviously!)

This was a nice easy read that made me laugh out-loud and look forward to what our dear friend Finn stumbles into next...

Another super fun outing with Finlay Donovan, the author turned accidental hitwoman. In this installment somebody in Finlay’s life is being targeted and she has to figure out who is trying to kill them while trying to start a draft of her next book. I enjoyed how plot threads from the first book aren’t dropped and are still impacting the story in book two. There are consequences of Finlay and Veros’ actions that continue to pop up throughout the story.

Like with book one, I really like how the tone of the book can switch between being a little bit zany but then also have grounded, more serious moments. It hits a nice sweet spot between cozy and gory. I also enjoyed getting to learn more about the characters and their backgrounds, especially Vero. I’m interested to see where these characters go next.

My main complaint about this book is one that I also had about the first book, I don’t think the romantic elements are that strong. For me, they kinda just feel like a distraction from the main plot. I get that Finlay is a romantic suspense author and the commentary about which man Finlay’s character should choose is supposed to be a fun, meta mirroring of Finlay’s life. But I just feel like all the other aspects of the story are way more interesting than the men vying for Finlay’s attention.

I think if you enjoyed Finlay Donovan Is Killing It then you'll most likely have a really fun time with Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead.

Just as electric as the first, the second Finlay Donovan book was an addicting and fun mystery. I loved seeing all the characters we got to meet in the first one-Finlay with her quirky way of thinking, Vero with her loyalty and connections, Nick with his hot detective-ness…and all the rest of the gang! I think I liked this one even more than the first, even with some scenes that were grossss. 🤣🤢 It was a wild ride but oh so fun! Can’t wait for the next one!

family-dynamics, friendship, suspense, situational-humor, mystery, mystery-writer, verbal-humor, divorce, arson, organized-crime, law-enforcement, lawyers, nanny*****

Almost lost it about velociraptor erotica! There is a clearly discernable plot, but I get so caught up in the farce/satire/humor that I laugh myself silly and have to go back to find the thread. The characters certainly are, and the distractions are just too funny. Absolutely loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This book was just as fun as the first! A quick read, with some twists and turns to keep you engaged. Highly recommend!

Finlay & Vero are back at it again with their shenanigans and they just may be my favorite dynamic book duo! I cannot get enough of them!

What I loved:
-instantly had me laughing (hello dino porn & velocirapterotica)
-resolutions from the first book
-I’ll say it again: Vero & Finlay. Their friendship is everything
-continuation of will they/won’t they with Nick and Julian
-another great open ending setup for the next book

If you loved Finlay Donovan is Killing It then you MUST read this ASAP! And if you haven’t read Finlay, what are you doing?! It is one of my favorite reads this year and I recommend it to everyone.

I absolutely love Elle Cosimano’s writing and how she is able to weave a story together with elements of humor, surprise, mystery, and relatability. Bring on book three!!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC!

Read this if you:
*need a good laugh
*love reading about crazy situations characters get into
*sucker for a hot cop AND a hot lawyer
*want to steal a luxury car off the lot to drive

Elle Cosimano did it again. I was laughing out loud at the situations Finlay got herself into. This was fast paced, hilarious, and overall just a fun read. And now I’m sitting here waiting for another book to keep the story going 😂

Highly anticipating this one and it releases Feb 1. Thank you NetGalley & Minotaur for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Welp, Elle Cosimano does it again in her sequel to FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT.

FINLAY DONOVAN KNOCKS ‘EM DEAD follows Finlay and Vero on another wild adventure involving the mob, plenty of romance, and, overall, a ton of hijinks.

I don’t think I’ll ever tire of anything Elle writes for this series. This book was twisty, engaging, and such a fun time!

While the cliffhanger on this one wasn’t as shocking as the first book’s (I mean, WOW), it still has me pumped for the next one! (Elle, there better be a next one.)

Big thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: February 01, 2022

💁🏻‍♀️ Overall Impression: Really enjoyed being back in Finlay’s mess of a life with sidekick Vero.

📖 Synopsis: After a chaotic last month, Finlay thought her troubles were behind her until she is notified that someone on a woman’s forum has taken a hit out on her ex husband, Steven. And yet again, chaos ensues.

💭 Thoughts: While I think the first one was more laugh-out-loud funny, I thoroughly enjoyed reading through each of Finlay and Vero’s ridiculous mishaps playing amateur detective. Definitely didn’t see the end coming 😂, but loved that little twist.

Sadly, it didn’t wrap up all that well leaving us to wait another year to find out who the heck did it! I have so many theories and no idea which is right. Ugh.

Loved the little shoutout to booksta in the acknowledgments. I think bookstagram will love this one too. ❤️

I’ve been in such a reading slump and this was the perfect one to pull me out of it.

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martens Press for my gifted eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Gah I do love a good mystery. But throw in some comedy, romance, and some fun action… 5 stars for me! I wanna be friends so badly with Finn and Vero. And goddamn it, Nick is so delicious lol there better be a third book!!!

I was so beyond excited to get the chance to read an advanced version of this book! The first in this series, Finlay Donovan is Killing It, was so perfectly fun and mysterious. I gave it four stars. This second one was also enjoyable and a nice fast-paced mystery, but a couple of things fell short for me. In this one, the cast of characters is so insanely long that I couldn’t keep up. It seemed to me that everyone was trying to kill everyone! Second, there wasn’t any romance really. I know that’s not technically was this series is about, but after the first one, I was really looking forward to that! Third, Finlay’s all over the place personality that seemed so humorous and endearing in the first book seemed more overdone and spacey in this sequel. Overall I still enjoyed this one and would read a third in the series!

Finlay and Vero are back again with their shenanigans and witty banter. I was laughing out loud so many times through out, especially with the Dino sex comment Vero suggests. I did not at all see the ending coming with the twist of who FedUp was wanting Steven dead. I enjoyed that the sequel takes place around the Holidays, so with all the Holiday stress we are playing detective and chasing cars to keep the kids safe and get down to the bottom of who and why someone would want Steven dead. The relationship between Vero and Finlay gets stronger which I love and we get to find out more about Vero and her back story, creating a better understanding of why Vero is even a part of this crazy plot from the first book. I really enjoyed having hot cop around and not the bachelor lawyer, also how Finlay takes her personal life to make a plot point for her new mystery books that also helps her make decisions in her personal life. I am so hoping there is a third book, even more crazy shenanigans and more spicy hot cop encounters.

OhhhEmmmGeee! Finlay is back and shit is going off the rails from the beginning. Between her constant inability to choose between the hot cop and the bartender/lawyer - she’s also dealing with the fact that someone wants her no good ex husband dead. An awesome sequel and now I must wait for #3!

Finlay and Vero are back and I couldn't be happier! I was nervous going in to this sequel after obsessing over Elle Cosimano's debut but, owe her an apology for those traitorous thoughts. This story delivered again on the mystery, humor, snafus, personal growth, friendships and romance! The ex-husband we love to hate returns, along with the smoking hot cop, and several dubious supporting characters, all swirling around Finlay's chaotic life and a looming book deadline. I laughed, cringed and swooned through this story in a single sitting!