I really wanted to love this one after reading the first in the series I had high expectations and unfortunately I found this one fell flat. It felt a bit too much like the previous book and didn't offer enough that I would be interested in the next book.

Finlay Donovan is back and as funny as ever. This second installment is full of mystery and hilarious WTF moments. The writing and narration are spot on. I can't wait for book 3!

She did it again!!!!! This was beyond amazing. The twist and turns, the need to know more, and the characters were great!!! Definitely read it!!!

I loved this book! I hadn't read this one or the first one but then I did because I got this arc copy so I wanted to read both. It's a very fun fast paced read and I give both 5 out of 5. the audiobook narration is great as well I love how easy it was to follow each character based on the different voices of the narrator. Thank you for the opportunity to listen/ review it before it comes out in February I loved it and am kind of sad its over. The only things i would like to know is one of the mysteries at the end goes unsolved. Id love a third book!

Finlay Donovan is back and I couldn't be happier about it!
Finlay has writer's block and while surfing a local woman's chat group she discovers someone has put out a hit on her ex-husband Steven. Nobody hates Steven more than her, but he is the father of her children and she doesn't really want him offed. Along with her fabulous nanny Vero, Finlay tries to find out the identity of the person who ordered the hit and to stop them from following through. Throw in some love interests in the handsome form of stud-cop Nick and an aspiring lawyer and we have a truly entertaining read here! I couldn't put this book down until I found out what happened.

I could not put this book down! It is witty and so much fun to read.

I am so annoyed that I have to wait to read he 3rd book. I need Finlay's conclusion! These characters are so fun and I am completely invested in seeing where the story leads.

Elle Cosimano does it again! Thank you to Macmillan audio and NetGalley for the gift of Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead. This is a wonderful audiobook, the voice narration from Angela Dawe is strong and nuanced (Ms. Dawe also gave voice to Finlay and Vero and all of the other characters and adventures in Finlay Donovan is Killing It, I appreciate the continuity of her voice across this series so far, she is excellent).

What can I say? I love the darkly hilarious situations Finlay, and Vero, are once again caught up in; a dead goldfish, frozen body parts... , toilet training, and a complicated dating life are all just part of a few days in Finlay's life. All of this while wondering who has a hit out on her ex-husband and why and how she is going to meet the ever present deadline for her next book while handling that lurking Russian connection.

Ms. Cosimano is deft at developing an engaging plot, dark and funny (I laughed when Finlay could not find her phone and had to look back in her car... laughed and laughed), and blending in the experience of single motherhood being about balance, a desire for romance, and the value of having a friend like Vero. This book is a lot of fun while also being a well developed mystery.

I can't recommend this series enough to many friends and my book clubs. This book is a wonderful sequel to the first book and I think fans of Maria Semple's books (Where'd you go Bernadette?) would connect with Finlay as well as fans of Dial A for Aunties and The Maid; these books all share quirky, smart, and insightful women who handle a lot of life's mysteries and ups and downs.
4.25 stars!

Finlay Donovan is back. It's only been a month since Finlay was mistaken for a hitwoman and became embroiled in a murder mystery to rival one of her own stories.

Now, she's struggling a bit with the sequel. Someone has put a hit out on her ex-husband, and it seems like someone is already on the job. In trying to discover who, Finlay finds herself a member of an underground chat forum which seems to specifically cater to women who want the problems in their lives taken care of...quietly. Luckily, Finlay has nanny turned friend/accomplice Vero on her side. Except, Vero is definitely keeping something from her.

With Detective Nick Anthony back in Finlay's orbit, and another body thrown in their laps again, Finlay and Vero will have to make some tough deals if they want to come out of this free and clear.

Read by Angela Dawe, I cannot think of a better narrator for Finlay. I've previously listened to Angela Dawe narrate another one of my favorite series and she really has a great way with accents and being able to punctuate sentences to really have an impact. Bringing a lot of flare and personality to the performance. In this instance, I also felt like she did a great job voicing the male characters and giving each of them their own distinction. I did not listen to the audiobook of the first book, but I definitely want to give it a try now and hopefully, Angela Dawe will continue with this series.

This sequel has been one of my most highly anticipated books of the year. I loved the first one, and I loved this one too.

There was a lot from the first book that wasn't entirely solved by the end, and Knocks 'Em Dead continues developing those story threads, almost actually knitting themselves into a fine throw blanket by now :).

I've been really impressed with how Elle Cosimano forms and twists the storyline, really taking into consideration all varying aspects and making the conclusion very plausible and worthwhile. All while dropping hints of where things will go in the next book.

A huge hint dropped is peeling back the layers of the mysterious Vero. She's been Finlay's right-hand person from the start, but really they've only known each other a short time. And while burying a body will bond people together, there's still a lot left open about who Vero is. I'm hoping the next book will give us more of these insights. I also read it as a possible spin-off with Vero at the foreground and Finlay on the assist, but either way, I'm here for it.

Finlay is a character that you root for. You want her to come out on top, you want to see her succeed. I feel the pressure of balancing being a mother with her writing career. Elle Cosimano writes about these things with compassion and understanding. But then we get the added pleasure of seeing Finlay become embroiled in solving her own mysteries and all the danger that goes along with it. I love seeing a smart, resourceful woman who is also self-employed and a mom getting stuff done.

Being a romance fan, I don't even mind the fact that Finlay's in a sort-of love triangle between law student Julian and Police Detective Nick (although I do have my favorite of the two). At the end of the day, this is about Finlay and I like that nothing takes away from that fact. Her choices are her own.

Honestly, I cannot wait to get another book in this series! If you haven't yet started it's highly recommended and definitely required to start at the beginning. If you are up to date. Buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy ride!

Holy crap Finlay is at it again, just as good as the first. I loved the narrator she did such a great job giving voices to the individual characters which really added to the story.

Finlay Donovan is back! This time the only dead body she's dealt with is her daughter's goldfish. There is the pesky problem that someone wants her husband dead, but you know Finlay and her pal Vero will find a way to fix that while causing some messes along the way!

I enjoyed Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, but I preferred the second book in the series. I think Finlay has grown as a character in this book, and I liked her personality a bit more. Don't get me wrong. She's still scatter brained and all over the place, and we get into the same kind of trouble we did in book one. There was just something about her that I liked better in this one.

I think Finlay's stories are great for anyone looking for an easy read with some humor and mystery. In book two we see Finlay's ex-husband on the list to be murdered, but who put him on it and why? Finlay's relationship with Steven is complicated, but I do like that she was trying to help him because of their children. We also get to see some of Julian, law school student by day/hot bartender by night and Nick, super hot cop. I enjoy the romance aspects of these books and want to keep reading the series just to see who Finlay will end up with. I will say I was #teamJulian after book one, but now I'm more #teamNick.

I listened to the audiobook, and really enjoyed the narrator, Angela Dawe. I wonder if I would have liked book one a little better if I had listened to it instead of reading the physical copy. Dawe gave such personality to Finlay and the other characters. I look forward to listening to other books she narrates.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

I cannot get enough of the Finlay Donovan series! In the past week I have listened to both books and they are hilarious! In this second book, Finlay and Vero’s conversations had me giggling while the fast-paced twists and turns of murder-for-hire had me on the edge of my seat! I cannot recommend the Finlay Donovan books enough! I’m hoping there will be a third book in the series and would also love to see this on the screen as a limited series.

Thank you NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

Elle Cosimano does it again - this latest installment of Finlay Donovan is just as delightful, engrossing, and twisty as the first. It’s weird to say a murder mystery is fun but, truly, every book in this series has been so far. Can’t wait to see what else is in store for Finlay.

Finlay and Vero are back at it…and by “it” I mean trying hard to stay out of trouble again and as their friendship grows, so does the body count! Once again, Finlay and Vero are forced to solve a crime, but this time it’s Finlay’s ex husband, Steven, who is need of rescuing. I love how the female characters are strong instead of needy and are the ones who actually do the rescuing. Although I liked the first book in the series the most, this is a solid 4 star book for me and I’m already excited to read book 3 in the series! Id love to read more of the “book with a book” in the 3rd installment. I found it hilarious how Finlay would shape the story she was penning on what was happening in her own life. An enjoyable read that I continue to recommend to my library patrons and friends. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead and to share my opinions.

This is the second book in the series Finlay Donovan Series. Elle Cosimano did a fantastic job! This book was was hilarious Comedy Crime and amazing in the audio version. Finlay and her nanny Vero are such likeable characters and get themselves in a serious situation when someone puts a hit on Finlay’s ex-husband. I feel the book ended on a cliffhanger and hope there’s another one! Everyone should read this it will be released in February 2022. It’s amazing!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own.

I'm loving the Finlay Donovan series! In the second book, Finlay yet again finds herself unwittingly mixed up in the world of organized crime. When she discovers there's a hit out on her ex-husband Steven (advertised through a thinly-veiled message on an online women's forum), Finlay decides she'll do whatever it takes to save him. What ensues is a whirlwind of high-stakes shenanigans as Finlay digs herself deeper and deeper into the criminal underworld.

Between saving Steven and solving the mystery of who's behind the hit, Finlay must also avoid arousing the suspicion of her police officer sister and her sister's hot partner Nick, meet the deadline for her next crime novel, AND navigate a steamy love triangle (I'm firmly on Team Nick by the way.). If anyone can manage this, it's Finlay. She's a complete mess and makes the most ridiculous decisions, but knows how to get stuff done. She's smart and resourceful and has a knack for wiggling out of the most dire situations.

Secondary characters are equally well developed, particularly Vero, Finlay's say-it-like-it-is partner in crime. Oh, and Nick. Did I mention Nick?

This was a madcap romp of a story that I enjoyed from start to finish. Funny, smart, and suspenseful without being scary. 4 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio from providing me with an advanced copy of the audiobook.

Finlay Donovan does it again. It was an entertaining read with many laugh-out-loud moments. The situations that Finlay finds herself in are absurd and unbelievable yet thoroughly entertaining. I’m not going to go into detail on the plot of the book, because if you haven’t read the first one, it will give that one away. Finlay once again teams up with her live-in nanny, Vero, to try to figure out who has a hit on her ex-husband. Every time Finlay tries to figure out more or get a piece of information, she creates a larger mess. Buckle up, because Finlay and Vero are going to take you on a wacky and wild ride. The action and humor were engaging and kept me flipping the pages constantly. If you enjoyed the first book in this series, you would love reading this one too. I can’t wait to see if there will be a third one coming out.
Q: If you were a hitman / hitwoman, who would you team up with for your partner?
Thank you to #netgalley for my arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Going into the sequel of a book you loved is always a scary thing because you can't imagine how it will live up, but Elle Cosimano did it again. Finlay's story felt fresh but also familiar, it didn't feel like a rehash of the first book but a great addition to it. It was full of turns and twists that I honestly didn't expect and I love that in a book! Honestly if you haven't picked these books you really should, since this masterpiece comes out on Tuesday!
I was given an advance listening copy by netgalley and macmillan audio in exchange for my honest review.

Elle Cosimano has done it again!

Finlay Donovan returns in Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead and it’s a fast-paced, exciting thriller with humor and suspense sprinkled throughout.

A rollercoaster ride with twists and surprises that I didn’t see coming.

Lots of layers and I appreciate how Cosimano introduces lots of characters, but I don’t get them confused (something I struggle with in mysteries, sometimes).

Level of gore: 2 out of 5 (Not a lot of details, but if you’re sensitive too, it’s good to know)

Suspense: 3 out of 5

(I don’t often read suspense because I get anxious. This book had an underlying suspense foundation, but there’s enough humor and levels to the story, that I don’t feel like I’m constantly uneasy).

A really enjoyable follow-up to Finlay Donovan Is Killing It. Love the importance of female friendships and the complicated nature of friends and relationships.

A quick read and the audiobook was awesome. Can’t wait to see what happens in the next Finlay Donovan book!

Thank you, Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

I really enjoyed reading the #1st book in series, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, and I was super thrilled to listen to the second book.

I liked the second book even better than the first as it was full of mystery, wittiness and charm. It is the sequel in its true sense as it refers to many incidences from the first book, but it’s easy to understand even if you haven’t read the first one.

Angela Dawe has done a marvelous job narrating the story. I enjoyed her pitch and voice while listening to the book. Calling out to all of Elle’s fans to check out this book when it releases on Feb 1, 2022.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the #gifted audiobook in exchange of my honest review!

I absolutely loved this one!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my advanced listeners copy of Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano.

The fact that this book is receiving a 5 star rating just blows my mind.
It wasn’t even on my TBR.
I listened to Finlay Donovan is Killing It last year and wasn’t the biggest fan. It was OK but I wasn’t really getting the hype.

I was approached by one of my book besties and she was like no. You have to read this one.
So I caved. It was only fair that I give Elle Cosimano a second chance.

I am so glad that I did!
This book was amazing!
It was equal parts comedy equal parts action. It was fast paced and I was fully engaged from beginning to end.

I cannot wait to read more from this author. I am officially a fan!

Before I go : it is only fair that I show appreciation to the narrator of this book.
Angela Dawe did an amazing job. The way she was able to manipulate her voice to create a distinction between all of the characters was brilliant.

Overall: Highly Recommend! I am eagerly awaiting the next Finlay Donovan book! 😍