4 stars

Oh, Finn!

Despite the long list of arcs I should be reading before it, I jumped this one to the front of the line the day I received it; I was not disappointed.

Fans of Finlay and Vero's exploits - because I think it's hard to not love Vero - will be pleased with this second installment of the series. This time, the focal point changes in a satisfying way: preventing the murder for hire of Finlay's ex-husband! This man is so unlikeable that it's easy to think that this contract killer might just solve EVERYONE's problems if they succeed, but Finlay is too practical and decent to let that happen...especially when her two small kids might be caught in the crosshairs.

What I enjoyed most about this second book is three-fold. First, I love the tie-ins between Finlay's life and her novel. It's fun to guess what will happen to Finlay based on her predictions for her characters. Second, the romantic relationships are less simplified than one might expect in this genre. They are more layered and round, and I love that while this romantic element is present, it never takes over who Finlay is or where her focus lands. Finally, the relationship between Finlay and Vero grows, and I love to see a friendship at the center of any novel featuring women identifying folks: particularly a healthy one that doesn't revolve around fighting for some trash dude.

Overall, this is a very satisfying follow-up to the first novel in the series. On a related note, this is one of those situations in which readers should DEFINITELY read the first book before jumping into the second. There's already a great setup for the next one, and my eyes will be peeled until that arc - if I'm fortunate enough! - lands in my inbox! Recommended.

Ya’ll. Elle Cosimano freaking DOES IT AGAIN. Finlay Donovan, I can’t. We have another witty, captivating, mystery that leaves you wanting more with every page. I loved that it picked up right where the first book left off. This book is just as good as the first one, it is seriously THE perfect sequel, and I hope that we continue to have more Finlay books for years to come. Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. I fully intend on preordering this book as soon as possible! Finlay must live on my shelves.

I was SO SO excited to read this book. Probably the most excited I've been for any new book ever, because as I've said over and over Finlay Donovan is my all time favorite book character. She reminds me of Amelia Bedelia (if you've never read those books as a child, I'm sorry) but with dead bodies and shovels.

So, as far as this book goes... It was ABSOLUTE PERFECTION. Like there are 5 star reads and then there are books that you wish you could give 10 stars, but this book I wish I could give a whole galaxy of stars. It has absolutely everything... Humor, romance, shovels, wigs, dead bodies, and so many twists and turns you'll have whiplash!

Finlay and Vero are absolutely RIDICULOUS but in the best way possible!

Thank you SO much Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for letting me read one of the most requested ARCs right now. I almost wish I didn't read it early so I had something to look forward to when it comes our February 1, 2022. I guess I'll just have to re-read my already pre-ordered hardcover copy 📖

If you haven't read Finlay Donovan Is Killing It yet, now's the time so you can be all ready when Finlay Donovan Knocks Em Dead comes out... Because it's going to be huge! So excited for the next book... and equally excited to see Finlay in a brand new TV series!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

5/5 stars! I was so excited when I got approved for this one on NetGalley, because I loved the first book in the series. Book 2 does not disappoint!

Finlay is back with a new problem: someone wants her ex-husband dead. Along with Vero, she buckles up for another wild ride, all while the murder trials from book 1 are ongoing.

This is full of just as much suspense, drama, and comedy as the first. It’s not your typical mystery novel - the twists are creative and keep you guessing. Finlay and Vero are a hilarious duo. I didn’t want to stop reading and was sad when it ended. Truly one of the most entertaining books I’ve read all year.

The end (!!!) leaves an open door for another in the series. I can’t wait to read what comes next! Elle Cosimano is a phenomenal writer!

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Publication date: February 1, 2022

Fans rejoice! Finlay and Vero are back, and they're better than ever. Last year when I was introduced to Finlay, I couldn't help but fall in love with her all around. From the mortifying mom moments, the asshat exhusband moments, and the building of friendships, and family, Finlay delivers. Book 2 delivers even more, and it is a laugh out loud ride that readers don't want to miss!

Book one ends with Finlay discovering someone has ordered a hit on her exhusband, on a mom group website. And until she and Vero can figure out who, when, where or why she has to keep her kids safe, and that means keeping them away from Steven, which he is not happy with.

As Finlay weaves her way through the dating world, and through the ups and downs of someone trying to murder her exhusband, she finds herself in (while unusual), funny, laugh out loud moments. I love how Elle was able to introduce new story lines as well, which is going to allow for this series to really flourish. I love that I got to know more about "hot cop" Nick, while Julian was on vacation, and I love how we got more of a feel of Finlay's parents, as well more of Vero's past coming to light. I even have to admit I liked how this ended with Steven. The characters in this story are starting to build more momentum and I know that these are going to be some of my favorite characters for years to come.

Finlay Donovan Knocks Em Dead is a laugh out loud, enjoyable read that left me turning pages all day. I loved this book so much that I devoured it within hours, and now I am "patiently" waiting to see where "Z" is going to take Finaly next....

EasyClean better move fast!

Thank you so much to @netgalley @minotaur and @ellecosimano`for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

I flew through the first Finlay Donovan book, but I had to drag myself through this one. For me, the plot was just too convoluted, and I didn’t feel like there was much character development. Whoever the characters were in book one, they are pretty much the same in book two. Even Vero’s “revelation” near the end of the book doesn’t really shake things up in any meaningful way, and I would even say that the aftermath of her revelation seems unrealistic. I skimmed through chunks during the second half and although I liked the ending, I don’t really feel like the Finlay Donovan saga really advanced much. Also, although this is a comedy, I thought some of the elements (regarding the freezer) were just too macabre. I will continue to read the series, though, because I am invested in the characters and the last page of this book sets up a potentially interesting third installment.

Decent sequel. The plot seemed a bit chaotic as there were so many moving parts and characters. This made it hard to really become engrossed.

Finlay and Vero are back, but this time they are trying to keep Steve (the father of Findlay’s children) from being murdered. With a deadline quickly approaching for her upcoming novel, her Hot Cop and future Lawyer boyfriends getting in the way, and dismembered body parts to be found what could possibly go wrong?

I was giggling to myself with this one from the very first chapter when Finlay and Vero were holding funeral services for Christopher (Delia’s dead goldfish). I absolutely adore Finlay and Vero’s relationship and how they have each other’s back through everything. Once again @ellecosimano has done it, weaving a page turning, quick witted thriller together. This one will keep you laughing and shaking your head at the ridiculous situations Finlay finds herself in.

This one is out Feb 1,, 2022 so be sure to watch for it! Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I was so excited to read this book because I fell in love with Finlay after reading Finlay Donovan is Killing It! This sequel did not disappoint. Elle Cosimano stayed true to the first book and used a lot of the same elements to stay true to Finlay's character. There were many laugh out loud moments and so many ridiculous scenarios that made me chuckle. I really like how the story came to an end and it also seems that it has been set up for a third book! Cannot wait!

Woohoo! Finlay Donovan is back for another over the top adventure!

Same sense of humor
Same adorable kids
Same clever sidekick
Same love triangle
Same writer’s block
and oops…

Another accidental murder.

This time it’s the goldfish that bites the dust!

When Finlay learns that someone put a hit on her ex-husband, Steven, she and Vero team up once again to uncover the mastermind of this sinister plot before her whole family ends up floating like the goldfish.

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year, and it did not disappoint! Did you see my happy dance when I found out I was approved to review this ARC?! It moved straight to the top of my TBR! Thankfully, the second book is just as funny and over the top as the first. I highly recommend reading these books in order, as it will make the most sense. Finlay and Vero are the dynamic duo of amateur sleuths and continue to entertain with their shenanigans. Somehow they manage to solve the mystery while always escaping the law (it helps to be dating your neighborhood policeman). This adventure is just as fun as the first, and might not be last! Stay tuned for more adventures! I can’t wait!

4/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur books for the ARC of Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead in exchange for an honest review.

Our favorite accidental hit-woman is back!
When Finlay Donavan Kills It first hit the book world it was everywhere, bookstagram, bookstores, GoodReads you name it. I was a bit apprehensive at first to read it because sometimes overly hyped books don’t work for me but Finlay Donavan was one of the few that did live up to all the hype. I gave it a perfect 5-star rating and added it to my list of favorite reads of 2021. Needless to say, I couldn't wait to read the second book in the series.

Struggling to finish her second novel and being a single mom of two children, Finlay discovers on a mom's online forum that someone is looking to hire a hitman to kill her ex-husband Steven. Even though Finlay and Steven are not on the best terms, she still doesn't want something bad to happen to the father of her children.

This was one laugh-out-loud, suspense-filled, mystery puzzle ride that I did not want to get off of! Finlay’s story continues exactly where the first book ended. In case you forgot certain aspects of the first book, the second book perfectly recaps every single detail that happened. All of the beloved characters from the first book are in the second book too.

From the first page to the last I was completely hooked. Finlay puts her detective skills to the test again with a couple of new disguises. I loved all of the over-the-top action scenes including a shootout with molotov cocktails.

Finlay Donavan Knocks Em Dead is a must-read for all fans of Finlay Donavan is Killing it! I highly recommend both books in the series to all readers. A huge congratulations to Elle Cosimano for writing this magnificently entertaining read. Without spoiling anything, I am keeping my fingers crossed for a third book!

Many thanks to Netgalley, and Minotaur books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

I was obsessed with the first book and it was hilarious and this one did not disappoint so funny and slight Thriller vibes. So so hilarious. Can't wait to listen to the audiobook version. Read both of these books! Such a good series!

I absolutely loved the first Finlay Donovan mystery, and the second iteration surely did not disappoint! It had the same witty banter and clever plot under a new set of mysterious circumstances. I loved learning more about Finlay as our main character and I enjoyed the quirky side characters as well. I feel that the longer this series continues, the more readers will get to know and become attached to the characters. I hope there will be many more! This was a perfect 5 out of 5 stars for me. I highly recommend picking it up when it comes out next year!

Thank you to both NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing me an advance copy of Elle Cosimano’s second book in the Finlay Donovan series, Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead, in exchange for an honest review.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is an apt title for not only the character, but especially the author since that is exactly what Ms. Cosimano’s does in her sophomore novel in this series. Similar to my experience in reading the first one, I felt as if the book was over in a matter of minutes—I couldn’t put it down! I was genuinely worried when the material was not as funny as the first, but I quickly forgot that nonsense because the plot was definitely more exciting and contained more grotesque passages.

True to the format of the first novel, I was once again pleasantly surprised when the book blurb lived up to its description, none of the obvious plot twists occurred, and readers received another satisfying ending. I am convinced someone on the publishing team is reading reviews because readers are blessed with further developed side characters without detracting from the excitement or pace of the novel, which is the sole gripe mentioned in my review of the first book in the series.

Sylvia and Julian are the only characters that take a major backseat this time around, but that is mostly fine because who wants to read about a boss pestering someone for work or a relationship that is borderline inappropriate in the #metoo era? Kudos, however, to the author for pointing out the social stigma re: men and women, and dating someone younger. That being said, I am happy to move on with the political commentary and to return to the original intention of this novel: pure entertainment and escapism. I caution readers who are not interested in suspending their beliefs to steer clear of this novel. None of us want you ruining our fun.

Again, while the dialogue lacked the clever witticisms that readers were exposed to in the first, the action-packed plot more than made up for the shortage of humor. There is plenty of suspense, red herrings, and police involvement. There is also a particularly arresting scene with the head crime boss, Feliks Zhirov. Another nice touch by the author to include a date that takes place at a Russian restaurant; an unusual and infrequently used cuisine by authors.

Are you still listening to my blathering? Stop, and go read this book. I promise you will not be disappointed. More Finlay, more Vero, and more badassery. Oh yeah, and more of hot cop Nick, who seems to be a hit with both real and fictional readers. There is also a well-written scene involving a shoot-out that is worth the read.

If this novel is any indication of how the script will be written for the upcoming TV series, then I am beyond excited for its release. I also cannot wait until book three is published, which I assume is happening given the way book two ends. I highly recommend that you read the Finlay Donovan series if you have not yet done so. Final word of advice: read them in order!

This book is such a fantastic continuation in the Finlay Donovan series! I loved it and it kept me guessing. I’m looking forward to another book in the series!

Thank you for my early review copy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I believe this book will be a huge bestseller.

Finlay Donovan is—once again—struggling to finish her next novel and keep her head above water as a single mother of two. On the bright side, she has her live-in nanny and confidant Vero to rely on, and the only dead body she's dealt with lately is that of her daughter's pet goldfish. On the not-so-bright side, someone out there wants her ex-husband, Steven, out of the picture. Permanently. Whatever else Steven may be, he's a good father, but saving him will send her down a rabbit hole of soccer moms disguised as hit-women, and a little bit more involvement with the Russian mob than she'd like. With her next book's deadline looming and an ex-husband to keep alive, Finlay is quickly coming to the end of her rope.

Wow... what a sequel and what an ending. :) If you love the first book, you'll love this one too. It's fun, LOL moments... . It's total escapism. The characters are fun and totally out of this world. I like the mystery and the suspense as well. There's a hint of romance although I would have preferred more... :) But otherwise, a perfectly fun book to get lost in.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an arc.

It holds up to the first one. It’s so good!

In this sequel, we are back with Finlay and Vero as they deal with the fact that a mysterious person on the internet wants Finn’s ex-husband and father of her children dead.

Throw in the continuing love triangle between Finlay, the young lawyer, and the hot cop, questions about Vero’s past, and the continuing investigation and impending trial from the murders in book 1, and you have a wild time!

It’s so fun, suspenseful, steamy, and at times completely wonderfully ridiculous. It’s got everything I loved in the first book and more, and I truly can’t wait to see what Finlay and Vero get up to next!

There are high jinks*. Then there are higher jinks. But our old pal Finlay Donovan? She gets up to the highest jinks of all.

Finlay is back after romping her way through Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, where she was mistaken as a hit woman after a misconstrued conversation overheard at a Panera Bread. In this second book in the series, cleverly titled Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead, she and her sidekick Vero pick up a month after the first mystery left off. This time they’re trying to figure out who is attempting to whack Finlay’s ex-husband/baby daddy, while Finn is also facing down a fast-approaching deadline for her next “novel of romantic suspense” manuscript.

Do you need to read the first book before this one? Yeah, you really do.

If you loved the first one will you love this one too? Probably. It’s very much more of the same.

Who will adore this series? Readers of Janet Evanovich or Darynda Jones. Mystery + humor = over-the-top shenanigans.

Is there any romance? Yep, Finny’s got herself a little love triangle going on with two potential suitors. Not much steam here though… yet.

Will there be a third book? No doubt, given this one’s cliffhanger ending.

*Where does the term “high jinks” come from anyway? According to my trusty friend The Internet, “High jinks was a popular 18th-century drinking game in Scotland. The game involved throwing a die, and if the caster got a bad score, they had to choose between drinking more alcohol or performing an undignified task” Finlay must be pretty bad at throwing dice.

But I must have better luck than she does, because I fortunately received an advance copy of this book courtesy of the author and Minotaur Books for review via NetGalley. Finlay will be knocking ‘em dead in stores next February.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press Group for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5 stars

The scream that came out of me when I got this ARC. Finlay Donovan is Killing It was one of my favorite books last year when I read the ARC and I could not stop thinking about it. I am so glad that this is a series because I will read anything with Finlay and Vero.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead picks up pretty soon after the first book and we find Finlay trying to finish her new book, pay her bills, and find the person who put a hit out on her ex-husband. Her and Vero then go on to get themselves in so many insane situations that made me laugh, but also gave me extreme anxiety (I love them so, but they stress me out).

This is such a perfect sequel. I loved the hijinks, the humor, and the romance. These books are just so fun and well-written. Cosimano writes the best plot twists that surprise you and also make you laugh out loud. I cannot wait until the next one and I need this series to become a show. All the stars.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Full review to be posted closer to release date.