I was so excited to return to the world of Finlay Donovan. I love reading about all of the trouble that Finlay manages to find and how she gets herself out of some pretty sticky situations. I enjoyed the first book more, but this was a solid sequel that was fun to read and hard to put down. I can't wait for book 3 and more Finlay!

I absolutely LOVE Finlay Donovan! This book follows the main character through another hilarious adventure. For those looking for an entertaining book, this one is a winner!

I'm just loving this series! While you could read this one on its own, your experience would benefit from reading the previous book first. This book picks up with Finlay learning that a hit has been put out on her ex-husband. An adventure ensues with Finlay and Vero trying to figure out who wants Steven dead and trying to save his life at the same time. Finlay is not only trying to write her next novel, she is dealing with an uncooperative ex, a hot bartender, a sexy cop who is more involved with Finlay's covert activities than she would like, and more interaction with a mob boss that she doesn't want. I laughed throughout the book and continued to find Finlay and Vero fun and likable. This book is entertaining throughout. I'm really enjoying the ways that Cosimano is continuing Finlay's adventures. I can't wait for the next book. If you are looking for a fun, lighthearted escape full of laughs and shenanigans than I would highly recommend this one!

If the Finlay Donovan series isn’t on your radar… allow me to introduce you to some of the funniest (not scary at all) mystery books out there right now. The first novel in the series Finlay Donovan Is Killing It was one of my favorites books from 2020. The story follows Finlay, a struggling single mother and author who is accidentally mistaken as a hit woman in a Panera when a woman overhears her discussing the plot of her latest novel with her agent. From there, Finlay becomes wrapped up in a real murder investigation with her hilarious nanny turned sidekick Vero.

The second book in the series picks up immediately where the first left off, with Finlay and Vero trying to wrap up loose ends from their first crime while also trying to figure out who wants her ex-husband Steven dead. This book dives deeper into Finaly and Vero’s relationship, and definitely has more romance as Finlay tries to navigate her dating life while also solving crimes. It’s still fun, but wasn’t quite as funny as the first book for me.

I would say this is a series where it really helps to read them in order- they don’t really stand alone, and you’ll be confused about the character backstories without the first book’s context. I can’t wait for book #3, which looks like it will be more about Vero! The producer of Pretty Little Liars is supposed to be turning this into a tv show, which I think has major potential!

This book(series) is just such a good good time. I love Finlay's messy crazy life. Like how can this women even get more off the wall with her life?! I can't wait to find out.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Mystery
Format: Physical Book and Kindle ebook
Date Published: 2/1/22
Author: Ellie Cosimano
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Pages: 352
Goodreads Rating: 4.03

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing a digital advanced readers copy of the book for me to read for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: 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. 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 hit-women disguised as soccer moms, and a little bit more involvement with the Russian mob than she'd like.

My Thoughts: This book is EVERYTHING! The story is narrated by Finlay, from her perspective. First let me say, I am absolutely in love with Finlay Donovan and will be an auto-buyer for life! The characters are really well developed, while I did not read the first one yet (it is on my shelf), I am sure there was more character development in the first one. The characters have depth, mystery, amazing banter, and they are creative. The author’s writing is nothing short of amazing, is complex, inventive, descriptions are so accurate, you feel like you are part of the story, and it is just brilliant. This has mystery, humor, seriousness, and all around just a good storyline. I absolutely adored this book and cannot wait until next year for the third installment. I highly recommend reading this!

A fun second installment in the Finlay Donovan storyline. This second book is a touch darker than the debut novel, but still quirky and fun. The mystery trope is tight and cleanly done. Really enjoyed this!

Finlay Donovan has come along at exactly the right time in my reading life. She’s funny, quirky and totally likable. She and Vero keep getting themselves in sticky situations but managing to pull themselves out. With all the negative news of the past several years, this a perfect example of escape fiction. I enjoyed this as much as the first book in the series and assume there are more to come. I thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I tried and failed to get through this one and so I think I'm finally giving up. I truly think I have to be in the *mood* for Finlay and I just cannot get myself there again, I did really like the first one, so if you did I think you might be into continuing the series. There's even a third coming out now!

This is a book I wanted to love, But sadly it just didn't do it for me. I felt like through the whole book it seemed juvenile. Not to belittle the Author, I guess it just wan't for me.

The Finlay Donovan mysteries are so much fun to read. The characters truly care about each other and together make an entertaining story that are a pleasure to read. What sets these books apart from the others is the drama in the day to day life of the characters who end up feeding Finlay the stories and plots for meeting her writing deadlines. She provides her editor with new adventures that allow her to live her books, try out the plots and become the self sufficient divorced mother of two children who is able to right the wrongs in her crazy and mixed up world.

I requested both the audiobook and book and surprisingly ended up being approved for both! I ended up listening to the audiobook, so here’s the feedback for that…

Narrator: 10/10

Story: BLAH! The fun, relatable, hot mess mom has been replaced with a semi-competent hit woman/sleuth and I don’t like it. The storyline is so over the top and it felt like it really dragged on. I still love Vero and Julian, but even they weren’t enough to redeem this one for me.

I did appreciate the surprise “Fed Up” twist at the end and I will probably listen to the third installment, but overall, this wasn’t anywhere near as entertaining as the first.

This book was the perfect escape. After loving the first Finlay Donovan, I was excited to jump back into her adventures. This book is laugh out loud funny and crazy. So unrealistic but still fun. This would make a great tv show.

Five stars, and no less to the second book of what now has become one of my favorite series.
This time around Finlay and Vero find themselves trying to figure out who wants Steven, Finlay's jerk of an ex, dead. They come across a posting online which looks like to be soliciting a hut on Steven. They're in a race against the clock, to find out who this person is and stopping them, all before the holidays. But soon Finlay and Vero are way in over their heads.
Can't wait for the next installment in this series. The perfect puck if you're looking for mystery, romance, and lots of laughs.

I was really hesitant about this sequel after seeing other early reviews, but I was pleasantly surprised by this next installment!

I probably laughed-out-loud even more while reading Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead and can't wait to see what happens to Finlay and Vero next!

After falling in love with Finlay Donovan in the first installment of this series, I could hardly wait to jump into her next adventure and this novel did not disappoint! If you're looking for a laugh-out-loud, yet intriguing, mystery/thriller than you should look no further. I can hardly wait for more!!

Single mom, Finlay Donovan, has a successful first novel and is struggling to meet deadlines on the second book in her mystery/romance series. Things are not going well, but fortunately, she has Vero, her super live-in nanny/bookkeeper and best friend to support her.

On the downside, she needs a lot of support because someone has a hit out on her ex-husband, Steven, and she’s afraid she’ll be blamed if the hit is successful. Besides, although he was a lousy husband, their children love him and he’s trying to be a good father.

Finlay finds it difficult to write a mystery when she’s living one. While out trying to save Steven, she’s doing all she can to keep her children out of the line of fire and away from him until the threat to his life goes away. Vero is all in whenever she’s needed, even if she has to move body parts in her cherished gold Charger.

I really enjoyed these characters. The story, while wild, was entertaining and funny. I’m looking forward to book 3. This series should be read in order since the plot to book one is mentioned frequently in this second book of series.

Thanks, NetGalley for a copy this book.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead
By Elle Cosimano

I LOVED the first book so most definitely this was my most anticipated read.
I am so happy to continue on with Finlay and her live-in confidant aka Side kick Vero. This follow-up picks up almost immediately from the first book, Finlay Donovan is Killing It.
This time around as Finlay is focusing on completing her next novel, a few distractions resurfaces. There is someone wants her ex Steven permanently out of the picture. In true Cosimano style, this one is fast paced, exciting, and twisty, which makes it a super fun read.

I had myself chuckling and grinning ear to ear while reading this, and I do welcome this distraction even for just a few hours. I really enjoyed this awesome escape read.

Very fun and quick read! Cannot wait for the third release in January 2023!
I really enjoy how easy to read Elle's writing is.

Connection to characters: I don't personally relate to any of the character's lives but I still enjoy reading through their eyes.

Setting: I think Elle is great at setting the scenes and I can picture her words quite vividly.

Storyline: I enjoyed the first book's story more but this one was still fun and left me wanting a third book!

3.5 stars

Finlay Donovan is back at it, trying to write her next novel. If only she could come up with some fresh ideas. And oh yeah, keep her ex-husband alive after finding out someone wants him dead.

Finlay and her live-in nanny, Vero, are again put to the test when trying to solve the mystery of Steven’s killer-for-hire. All the while, Finlay still isn’t sure if she wants to date the cop or the lawyer from book 1. What’s a girl to do when two attractive men continue vying for you?

This is another humorous mystery. A solid follow-up to the first book and a fun change of pace from my typical reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a digital ARC