I read the first book in a day, it caught my attention and kept it, I loved it! this second book thou, was a bit of a letdown, there was barely any dead bodies, barely any real plot movement. I was bored and the book just didn't do it for me.

Once again, Ms. Finlay Donovan does it again. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I may have actually liked this one just as much as the first one--which never happens! This book series is the perfect hybrid between a cozy mystery and a (soft) thriller and I'm absolutely in love! I cannot wait to continue on with the series, unraveling more mysteries as we go!

The follow-up novel in the Finlay Donovan series picks the story right up where the first book left us. Finlay is a struggling writer whose novel about a woman mistakenly hired as a professional hit woman has been a big success. She continues to be separated from her husband and struggling to know which of her possible suitors are right for her and the kids. Vero is still her accountant and housemate/sitter. The story holds true to the style of the first, where Finlay continues to check the website that is a source of information about who is looking for a hit person and why. She is snooping on the site when she sees what appears to be a request for a hit on her husband, the father of her children. She’s caught in a difficult situation because she wants him to be involved with the kids but obviously doesn’t want them to be in danger if they spend time with him. The story goes in several directions that are mostly concluded in the end. The author leaves enough hanging threads to carry on with the series in the future, while giving a satisfactory ending to this story.
My overall feeling is that I enjoyed the first book more, although this one was good as well. I found myself having to suspend belief a bit more than I would like in this second book.
#FinlayDonovanKnocksEmDead #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #Minotaur

I loved the first book so much and was so excited to continue reading about the adventures of Finley. The sequel did not disappoint! This was an easy page turner.

I love the concept of the Finlay Donovan series — a regular mom stumbles into a murder-for-hire situation and has to cover her tracks to save herself and protect her family. It's all a little bit preposterous — which is what we love — a middle-aged woman handing out cheerios, disposing of murder weapons, and also maneuvering a love triangle. While the first book really worked for me, this one got a little messy and was hard to follow.

Let's start with what I loved: Everything about Finaly's family — her meddling mother, her overprotective sister, and you can't forget her overly-secretive nanny friend. All these relationships are funny and witty and full of love. Also, similarly to the first book, it's just really funny watching Finlay trying to juggle things like "Career Day" at school, scrounging together money for the tooth fairy, and also finding a hiding place for frozen body parts.

What I didn't like: There were so many moving pieces in this story it was hard to keep up with the potential perpetrators and their motives. Also, the author really put a big sever in Finlay and Vero's friendship so they were pretty distant for most of the book. I loved how trusting and funny they were in the first book and this one was missing a lot of that because of Vero's secrets. Finally, I just don't think I can handle Finlay's decision-making anymore. I know it's supposed to be over-the-top and a little crazy, but she drives me crazy and I just can't put myself through that anymore. Like, my heart is beating faster just thinking about some of the decisions she made. Unfortunately, I probably won't be reading anymore of this series. Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Well Finlay Donovan has done it again, and I loved getting caught up in her antics. It's over-the-top and unbelievable and fun to read. There were a few twists I didn't see coming. It was entertaining and I look forward to the next chapter in Finlay and Vero's friendship. In this book, it struck me that Finlay Donovan and Stephanie Plum (Janet Evanovich) are birds of a feather with Finlay being the slightly more cool hot mess soccer mom contemporary. A great zany, lighthearted mystery/thriller.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun follow-up to Finlay Donovan is Killing It and I liked the continuation of Finlay and Vero's stories. It did however feel a little repetitive to what happened in the first book, but overall still enjoyable. I'm sure the series will continue with a third book because of how this one ended. I'll obviously still continue to read this series, because it's still fun and hilarious to see what antics they get up to. I would definitely like to see more into Vero's backstory though and I feel like I want to see the conflict ramp up between Finlay and Nick. So, here's to book three!

I liked the 1st book more. This one focused too much on the boring love interests and her douchebag ex-husband. I still loved all of the other characters and their dynamics though.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Finlay Donovan is back at it again! I wasn't sure the second book would be as good as the first but it was fantastic. I enjoy the bond and banter between Finlay and her friend Vero, the "who is she going to wind up with" the cop or the lawyer (personally always rooting for Nick) and just how Finlay gets mixed up in crazy situations. This time someone wants her ex-husband Steven dead (can you blame them, he is a bit obnoxious) and it's up to Finlay and Vero to Rey and find out who is behind it and stop it before its too late. The twits and turns, the laughs, such a good story. And the twist ending, fantastic! Recommending this book to anyone that is a fan of mysteries.

I love Finlay!!! This book was just as fun as the first. It has just the right amount of mystery mixed with levity. I recommend this series to everyone and cannot wait to see what the author has in store next!

Another enjoyable foray into the life and mind of Finlay Donovan, novelist, mother, and sometime amateur detective as she sets out to save the world or at least her ex-husband. Funny and entertaining!

**I received an electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review of this book.

This one was a good read!! I was so excited to see where the storyline went!! I love Finlay’s character and liked the storyline in this one! I do think it was missing that spark that the first one had. Still a fun read and excited for the next one!

Finlay and Vero are back and I'm here for it. Finlay Donovan Knocks Em Dead was just as great as the first book! I was nervous since some sequels don't live up to their predecessor but Elle Cosimano writes such suspenseful, hilarious and drama filled books that this was just as great as the first! This book made me want to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next, how Finlay was going to get out of the situation she was in, and what smart-ass comments Vero would make. I laughed out loud multiple times ("we can't call Triple A. We've got Carl!" 🤣) and was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The twists will keep you guessing and I'm all for the romance parts too! (Team Nick!!) I really hope there's more books to come in the Finlay Donovan series and highly recommend them if you love dark humor mysteries!

Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for my advanced readers copy!!

Elle Cosimano does it again! I rarely read a sequel that is just as good, if not better than the first book in a series... but this one fits the bill! Amazing!

The most anticipated sequel did not disappoint me. Thank you Minotaur via Netgalley for the arc!

One month after the dead bodies and releasing her new best seller, Finlay is finally ready to move on with her life! But life had other plans 😂

This too is a fun filled mystery like the first book! Love seeing Finlay getting caught in awkward situations and managing to escape brilliantly 😉 Ending is a cliffhanger, which sort of makes me a little happy ‘cos it means that there will be a third book!! I can say one thing for sure, those who enjoyed the first book will enjoy the second one too. Some situations aren’t very realistic but this is one those books that is perfect to escape the reality!

Reasons to read this book - Finlay is fun, Female friendships above all, exciting and fast paced cozy-type mystery!

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano is the 2nd book in the Finlay Donovan series, and another fun book. I loved the first book, so was excited to read this book! Finlay is an author who gets involved in the craziest adventure. This book made me laugh out loud, and the writing is so clever. I highly recommend this book, you will not be disappointed. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead was just as snarky and hilarious as the first book! I loved jumping back into Finlay’s crazy life and getting to follow her adventures with Vero. One thing that I liked more about the sequel is Vero was more involved, and you learned a bit more about her in this book. It sets up the third book quite nicely, wraps up some threads, but leaves a few big, open questions. I can’t wait to read the next one!

After reading, and loving, the first book in the series, I was so excited to get an egalley for this new release. Unfortunately, I didn’t love it nearly as much as the first. I felt like everything I loved about the first book — Finlay’s quirkiness, the hilarity of the situation, the humor throughout — was either lost in the second or I just had gotten what I wanted out of the first book and didn’t need the sequel.

I will say though, I know I’m in the minority on this opinion and I didn’t hate it, I just didn’t love it. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’d definitely read more from Cosimano but I probably won’t continue reading this series (and the end hinted to me that there would be more to come).

Finlay and Vero are finally back!! 🙌🏻 This story is a continuation of the first book, only now Finlay and Vero have to figure out who is trying to kill Finlay’s ex husband, who is still a major douche btw. 🙄😂

This book was a really fun read. Loved the characters, except for her ex, 😂 and I love the relationships that were strengthened in this story. Now was everything they did believable? Absolutely not, but I think that’s why it was so fun, because I’m really life they would have gotten caught so many times. 😂 I can’t wait for the next book to come out though and hopefully it will have more steamy scenes with Nick. 😬