Shenanigans continue in Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead. I enjoyed this twist on the typical murder mystery where Finlay is trying to catch a contract killer before any crime is committed.
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This one is even more over the top and twisty than the first but is just as much fun. I read them back to back and they read as one continuous and crazy story. I was not a big fan of the love triangle, another cozy mystery series I read had a long standing love triangle involving a cop so it’s a personal “over it” trope for me. But when I focused on the mystery at its heart and the ridiculous hijinks that occur I really enjoyed the ride!

This book brought a smile to my face and made me laugh out loud a couple times. I enjoyed Finlay Donovan in her first adventure and this follow up didn’t disappoint. An improbable string of events, but written in a way that you just loose yourself in the hijinks, escape for a couple of hours, and laugh.

Definitely recommend to others.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

Finlay Donovan does it again! After meeting and adoring Finay in Elle Cosimano's previous novel, I was excited to get continue reading and find out what would happen when someone put a hit on Finlay's ex-husband.
As you can imagine, things get interesting as Finlay juggles dating, motherhood, and trying to protect her ex while figuring out who wants him dead. Oh, and she has a deadline from her literary agent and a wild case of writer's block.
These books are just so much fun and while I wasn't entirely satisfied by the answers to some of these questions, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read and it was lovely to see Finlay lean in to her new life as a single mother. I hope to read about. more of her adventures!
The audiobook was great and the narrator did a great job telling Finlay's story with lots of humor. Definitely give the audio format a try for this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

There was a lot of things to love about this book. It is hilarious and quirky. And if you like cozy mysteries you'll love this one no doubt. But like with any cozy mysteries you need to suspend belief. But that doesn't bother me as long as I expect that going in and I did.

The only things that didn't work for me is that it wrapped up too neatly. And once you read it maybe you'll see but Finlay does some crazy stuff and it is just waved away by cops and everyone. But it's probably because — my second issue— the cop and every other male is obsessed with her.

For me it is irksome when there are so many characters hung up on the MC. And not just trying to hook up but like legit into her. And not that it doesn't happen but it is just unrealistic that most women are out here with three or more men trying to get with them at a time— in my experience and the experience of women I know. I am not saying it doesn't happen. But it isn't the experience of most women. And it is a tired played out plot. Again in my opinion.

But if you are looking for someone fun and light then this is a good book to read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur for this eARC!

Finlay is back! This book picks up right where the previous one ends. While it does stand alone, I highly recommend reading Finlay Donovan is Killing It First. That book is simply amazing and introduces all the characters and drama we see here. It's plot is briefly summarized at the start of this book, so this would serve as a spoiler.

Once again, Elle Cosimano has blown me away. Finlay is working to write her next book, and Vero is around to help. We get all of the great characters from the last book (law student Julian and Detective Nick for the win!). Finlay has a mystery to solve, and gets further and further pulled in to alarming and hilarious situations.

There's tons of intrigue and lots of twists and turns. It ends with another set-up for the next book, and I don't know how I will be able to stand waiting. This is one of those series I recommend to all my friends.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. These opinions are my own.

4.5 stars rounded up

Speaking of good books, I recently finished “Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead” which is the second book in the series and I absolutely LOVED it!

All I can say is I love Finlay and Vero’s friendship 🥰 they are the best ride or dies and I love their banter throughout the book!

Sequels can always be tricky, especially when the first book is so good. But the storyline and characters introduced in this book are just as good and really suck you in! It was definitely hard to put down!

The ending leaves us on another cliff hanger so I am so excited to see what crazy adventures Finlay and Vero find themselves in next!

Thank you so much St Martins Press, Elle Cosimano, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

What a funny, far-fetched adventure this was. Just like the first novel, Finlay and her friend Vero find themselves in the most absurd situations while trying to stop the murder of Finlay’s ex-husband. And of course, there are many accidents and mishaps along the way.

The absurdity of this story is what makes it so great. Reading is an escape for me, and this story put me in a whole other world. This book is supposed to be funny, it’s supposed to be unbelievable and it’s supposed to take you away from the present world we’re living in. If you need an escape from reality with some humor thrown in, grab this book! (But make sure to read them in order, you’ll be confused otherwise). It’s out February 1st✨

Thank you @netgalley for my advanced eARC!

I cannot even express to you the amount of joy and excitement I had when I was approved for this book! I LOVED the first one in the series so I knew this would be another winner for me. I listened to the audio version and the narrator absolutely brings the story to life with her different voices for different characters. If you enjoyed the first in the series, you’ll like this one too—same humor, similar chaotic life storyline, and same quirky core characters. If you haven’t read the first one yet, do yourself a favor and get started!

I was so excited to be sent an arc of Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead! Thank you so much to the publishers for my copy in exchange for my honest review!

I thought this book, following up Finlay Donovan is Killing It, was PERFECT! The same old hilarious shenanigans that we came to know Finlay for are back and her and Vero's relationship is amazing. I also think the author did a good job of setting this up for a third so I hope I am right!

Fresh, fun and hard to put down! I loved this new installment in the Finlay Donovan mystery series. In this book Finlay and her friend/sidekick Vero are trying to figure out who has put a hit on her ex-husband. The best part for me is how relatable a heroine Finlay is - she's a mom, struggling writer and trying to get back into the dating scene (cue attractive detective Nick). Throw in some Russian mob connections and this book has a little bit for everyone! Highly recommended especially for fans of Dial A for Aunties or Christina Hovland's Mommy wars series. Much thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my advance review copy!

Thank you @netgalley and @minotaur_books [partner] for the E-ARC! Ever since reading Finlay Donovan is Killing It last year, I've been dying to get my hands on this one! I am happy to report it was everything I wanted and more! I laughed out loud at the hilarious situations that Finlay and Vero got themselves into. Is some of it completely unbelievable? Yes. Does that make it any less amazing of a story? No way. The series kind of reminds me of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series which I have been happily reading for many years. I hope that Ell Cosimano and Finlay have that same level of success as Evanovich has found. This was a quick and fun read, and I was so happy to see Detective Anthony back in the picture! What can I say I am a sucker for the handsome police officer troupe! Highly entertaining and fun! Just what I needed to read during the crazy and stressful time! This one is out February 1st!

Finlay is back!

The first book in this series, Finlay Donovan is Killing It, perfectly set up this sequel, and this book has done the same for a third book. It's an engaging formula that will absolutely keep me reading for as long as the series goes on.

The mystery in Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead expertly incorporates characters and events from the first book, while also presenting new conflicts and twists. The characters are vibrant and the humor is sharp, just like in the first book. It's a fantastic follow-up!

In this second installment in Elle Cosimano's mystery series, we see Finlay Donovan tracking down who has put a hit out on her ex-husband, and keep another assassin from taking him out in the meantime. All your favorite pieces are back: Finlay struggling to meet deadlines on her book and taking some inspiration from real life when she has too, Finlay donning a wig and pretending to be someone she shouldn't, Finlay torn between the hot young law student and the hot cop, and, of course, lots of hijinks, dead bodies, and Vero! While it doesn't have quite the same punch as the first book (which will be impossible to beat, with its set-up), it is an excellent and entertaining read and promises some great places for the series to head in the future.

Thanks to Minotaur for my ARC and Dreamscape Media for my ALC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

I just love Elle Cosimano's combination of mystery and humor, and in her second Finlay Donovan book, she does it again. I read the first half and listened to the second half and both are great experiences when enjoying this read. I thought Finlay was a fun character to follow once again, and I enjoyed the mystery/twists at the end. It is definitely open for book number three which I am hoping for. If you are looking for a quick read series, please go check out these books!

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead more like Finlay Donovan does it again!

Finlay Donovan is Killing It was one of my favorite 2021 reads and this follow up book delivered on all my favorite things from the first one.

WHAT I LOVED:
- a heroine you root for
- charming wit that makes you LOL
- murder mystery vibes
- loveable side characters (Vero and Finlay make quite the explosive pair)
- romance ( a love triangle, Team Nick)

I will say although I enjoyed the romance element, Finlay didn't seem to be overly attracted or emotionally attached to either guy which made the romance seem redundant. That woman has much larger fish to fry. I also would have loved just slightly more action and angst but it's a comedy so we get what we get and we don't throw a fit!

READ IF YOU LIKE
- Hulu's Only Murder in the Building

SONG: No Good - KALEO

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC. Out 2/1. A must-read series!!

Love, love, loved this delightful, clever, action-packed sequel to Finlay Donovan is Killing It! Like the first in the series, Knocks 'Em Dead is a hilarious romp full of twists and turns, as Finlay - single mom and novelist turned accidental hitwoman - deals with the discovery that someone has put a hit out on her ex-husband, along with struggling to keep her family, career, and romantic prospects in balance. Oh, yeah, not to mention the occasional corpse in the back seat of her car. Suspenseful, funny, and absolutely entertaining from start to finish - I can't wait for the next one!

WOW ELLE COSIMANO DOES IT AGAIN!
I’m gonna be honest, I had pretty high expectations going into FINLAY DONOVAN KNOCKS ‘EM DEAD and I was thoroughly pleased!

My favorite thing was probably how the story picks up exactly where the last one finished. There was no need for any backstory, it was nice to just jump right back into the thick of it. Finlay and Vero’s antics continue to crack me up and make the story so much more endearing. Their relationship as partners in crime is the core of this story and I love it so much.

Just go in knowing that Finlay, of course, gets mixed up in some pretty unbelievable situations but continues to be hilarious and so relatable. The perfect mix of murder, mystery, romance, and humor all rolled into the perfect book!

Also, I am now absolutely on TEAM NICK! I love that man so freaking much. I seriously hope we see more of him because wow, I’m in love! But no one can top my love for Vero - that’s still my main gal.

Thank you so much to @minotaur_books for this gifted ARC copy in exchange for an honest review! Pub day is 2/1/2022

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead is the second book in the Finlay Donovan series, and it definitely did not disappoint! I loved it almost as much as the first one. The first one I absolutely adored and it was one of my favorite books of all time... and this one is close!!
This book gives me Charlies Angels vibes? But instead of Charlies Angels its a badass mom and her nanny doing everything. This book is hilarious but intense, and I found myself needing to continue to read to find out what happens next. I am hopeful for a third book!!

This picks up super fast and I loved it. No backstory, just straight back in the story. Back to the antics of Finlay and Vero. Back to the love-triangle of hot cop or handsome lawyer. Back to Finlay juggling her life as a mom, a writer and an assassin for hire.

I thought this was a an excellent second book. From my experience, the follow up book typically aren’t as good as the first but that is so not true for this one. Dare I say it’s even better? I think I will. This book was better.

This series is unlike any other. It’s a romcom and mystery rolled into one. A rom-com-ery? Whatever it is, it’s awesome.

This second installment in the Finlay Donovan series really showed that there is still a lot to come from Finlay, and I’m going to be reading all of it!
This second book stressed me out (in a good way) so much because Finlay (as with the first book) couldn’t help getting involved in shady situations. Even when she was doing nothing wrong, there was no way it could appear that she wasn’t involved in darker things. And it built so much tension in the story!
If you enjoy a good mystery but with a very relatable main character, this is the series for you. Finlay, her children, love interest(s) and partner-in-crime make you want to keep reading.
I can’t wait to see what Finlay gets up to next.