Skip to main content

Member Reviews

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for advanced ebook and audiobook copies of this title.

This book is the second in a new and humorous mystery series. Finlay Donovan is a single mom and author who always seems to be chasing a book deadline. Her ex-husband is a bit of a low-life but even she doesn't want him dead. So who does? Finlay and her live-in nanny/BFF Vero are on the case. As in the first book (Finlay Donovan is Killing It), the pair encounter dead bodies, the Russian mafia, and danger at every turn. There are a lot of humorous misunderstandings and some romance along the way, too. These books are great for anyone looking for a lighthearted, twisty mystery where a badass mom is the star.

Was this review helpful?

These are fantastically fun! Perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich and Darynda Jones. There is a good blend of domesticity, suspense, mystery, romance and humor.

Was this review helpful?

The second instillation of Finlay Donovan and her hilarious mess of a life was fun and always kept me guessing! I loved the balance of suspense and romantic tension, though I could've done with a little more comedy like in the first book. The narrator did a fantastic job with the voices and will now be an auto-listen narrator! I can't wait for the next book, because there has to be a next book, right?!

Was this review helpful?

Finlay Donovan Knocks โ€˜Em Dead was just as cute as the first! ๐Ÿ”

I just finished reading/listening to this story & I can tell you that within the first few pages I was laughing out loud. The book was entertaining and fun to read.

I have small negatives that I had for the first book, too. Suspending belief and just going along for the ride is imperative to enjoying it. You canโ€™t start thinking, โ€œhow is she getting away with this?!?โ€ because in real life, she wouldnโ€™t. ๐Ÿ˜‚ This book also felt like a lot of set up for the third - I wouldnโ€™t say that much really happened.

Iโ€™m super looking forward to the next story in the series & to see what kind of craziness Vero and Finlay get into next!

Overall 4โญ๏ธ and #teamnick

Was this review helpful?

If you liked Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, you will LOVE Finlay Donovan Knocks โ€˜Em Dead.

The part-time amateur sleuth, full-time single mom is back again, causing more problems as she tries to save her ex-husband from what is sure to be sudden death.

In the first book of the series, Finlay is talking about a murder-for-hire book she plans to write with her agent when a woman next to her assumes her for a real contract killer. And mayhem ensues.

This time, Finlay stumbles upon an online chat thread about her ex, which turns out to be a subtly coded hit job on her ex-husband, Finlay and Vero must investigate to save his life.

This was a fun, light, comedy cozy mystery that is easy to read and not too dark. Vero is my favorite and the opening scene is just awesome.

Was this review helpful?

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* was unable to get the first book in this series but this was still a great, funny and entertaining read! if i could read the first one i would! this is clearly a more cozy mystery book but a high action one!

Was this review helpful?

I never want to be done with Finlay & Vero. This duo is the literary duo of my dreams, and the most perfect partners in crime (pun intended.) I can't wait for the next one.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley for the audio book version of this book.

This was a fun book to listen to. This is the second book in the series however I feel this could be a stand alone so reading book one is entirely not necessary- the author does an amazing job at referencing book one so there really is no need to read it if you do not want to.

The author is very good at setting up a story where it feels like she is taking you on a journey of writing a book and the research that goes into it while adding in a plot that is very funny. I would like to see a book three so we can find out who Finlay ends up with in the end. Will she fall in love with the nanny or will it be the detective or will it be the law student? I mean really she has many options! Oh maybe she will do a open relationship with all of them living under one roof..

Was this review helpful?

Just as fun as the first, Finlay Donovan is back again! This is an awesome fun quick read for the beach. I laughed from the beginning with the tragic death of her daughter's goldfish all the way to the end.

Was this review helpful?

Finlay Donovan might very well be my favorite series to date. In Finlay Donovan Knocks 'em Dead we revisit Ms. Donovan and her motley crew on their next adventure of mystery, murder and mayhem. A combination of comedy and thriller, Finlay Donovan Knocks 'em Dead hooked me from the very beginning and had me laughing out loud. The author has created characters you can't help but love, no matter what they've done or what bodies they've been stuck with. This is one I listened to on audiobook and absolutely loved it. The narrator is phenomenal, bringing each of the characters to life. As strange as it may sound, Finlay Donovan Knocks 'em Dead is the "feel good' book we all need!



Reviews posting to Amazon and Barnes and Noble (pending approval).

Was this review helpful?

Finlay Donovan is back and she is just as funny as ever!

When the widow of a Russian mobster informs Finlay that someone wants her ex-husband Steven dead, Finlay feels obligated to determine who the culprit is and put a stop to it. Not that she cares, but he IS the father of her children. Finlay and her live-in nanny, Vero, jump in to search for clues! Along the way, they make their usual questionable choices that pull them deeper and deeper into trouble; and once again, they draw the attention of the Russian mob!

๐™ˆ๐™ฎ ๐™๐™๐™ค๐™ช๐™œ๐™๐™ฉ๐™จ: This book continues where book one leaves off and all of my favorite characters return, including Teresa (the one I love to hate), Irina (mob widow), Nick, (the handsome detective), and Vero, who has a few secrets of her own. I love that even though Finlay has a couple of love interests, she doesnโ€™t rely on a man to solve her problems. I like Nick the best for an awesome love interest for Finlay! I hope there will be a Finlay Book 3 because this is a series I love!

I often alternate between reading the physical book and listening to the audio version. This enables me to literally never put a book down as I go through my day! Angela Dawe does an excellent job narrating this book as the voice of Finlay.

My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my gifted audiobook. My thoughts are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Another fun, funny, and entertaining read from Elle Cosimano with Finlay making another appearance. This would make for a great series on Netflix. I canโ€™t wait to see Finlay making another return in future books! Love her antics.

Was this review helpful?

wonderful second book in a series i am thoroughly enjoying. it had great character and relationship development. it had great pacing and progression in a way that makes me anxious for the third book.

Was this review helpful?

This is the second in a series. I didnโ€™t read the first and think Id have had a much better experience if I had. Finlay is juggling way too many things all the time. Her next book was due pretty much yesterday and she is blocked, her agent is not happy, her ex-husband is literally marked for death, her mother has zero sense of boundaries and judges each and every thing she does and she has the worlds weirdest live in nanny/accountant, a pushy sister and a man she canโ€™t decide what to do with other than use him for his contacts and information. It was for me an okay listen, but I didnโ€™t find a connection to a single character and thought much of the story was over the top with way too many ridiculous thinks going on. Glad I listened, but probably not going back for the more of this series.

Was this review helpful?

Five stars for Finlay Donovan and this fantastic story! This audiobook captivated me from the first chapter and I did not want to press stop. The mystery is complex and engrossing, with plenty of red herrings to keep you hooked. And, it is very, very funny. Elle Cosimano has taken the exasperating, everyday lives of Finlay and her family and effectively mixed them with a wide array of criminals to create scenes that are just enough over-the-top to make you wish it would not end. In sum, it is a lively and thoughtful thriller that you will not want to put down. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this audiobook!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the narration. It was an enjoyable read, fast-paced book with an unexpected twist.

Was this review helpful?

I was so excited to see what Finlay and Vero were up to. I loved the first book and this one was just as wonderful. I adore the writing style and characters.

The absolutely charming, smart, and funny author, Finlay Donovan, and Vero, her kidsโ€™ nanny/partner-in-crime are back. They of course get themselves into several mishaps and silly situations, they seem to be a magnet for trouble. The duo has to figure out who took out a contract on Finlayโ€™s ex-husband before itโ€™s too late. I loved they continued the love triangle with Finlay and went more in-depth to her cheating ex-husband.

It was a really fun, exciting read, and a perfect setup for book 3!


Reviewed on Amazon as well.

Was this review helpful?

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead picks up right where the first book ended with all the out there hijinks and near-death moments! Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for this super fun listen ๐ŸŽงโ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹
โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹
Once again Finlay finds herself in the midst of some deadly chaos when she finds out on a secret chat room of soccer moms turned hit-women that someone wants her ex-husband Steven dead. While Steven isn't her favorite person, Finlay definitely doesn't want the husband of her children to be in danger. So, with the help of ever-faithful nanny Vero, Finlay finds herself in the midst of it all. What started as a little detective work turns into rubbing shoulders with the Russian mob in yet another hilarious tale of ridiculous crime-solving from Elle Cosimano.โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹
โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹
This book was just as fun as the first one for me and I lovedd listening to the audio. It made all the criminal chaos all the more entertaining. While I still struggle with the fact that Finlay somehow holds her own against the Russian mob, you definitely don't read these books for realistic crime stories ๐Ÿ˜‚โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹
โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹
Finlay is definitely a whirlwind who loves creating even more trouble than she starts out with, but she's endearing and I love her and Vero's friendship a lot. The only thing is I want to know more about Vero! We get some, but I want more because their friendship totally makes these hijinks more humorous and fun than if she were going it alone!โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹
โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹
I recommend this one if you're in the mood for a light-hearted yet suspenseful mystery filled with twists, turns, and the occasional laugh!โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹
.

Was this review helpful?

I read and loved #FinlayDonovanIsKillingIt by @ellecosimano back in January of 2021. A fictional dark comedy about a mom who gets tangled up in a murder investigation?! That is totally my kind of #braincandy read! โฃ
โฃ
Not only was it entertaining but it highlighted female friendship and was totally endearing and witty at the same time. And when I heard book #2 was coming, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it!
โฃ
#FinlayDonovanKnocksEmDead (published 2.1.22) brings us more of what we loved in book #1...Finlay and her trusty sidekick Vero and all the shenanigans that ensue when they find out, in a online forum no less, that someone has placed a hit on her ex. โฃ
โฃ
This was another delightful read full of hi-jinx, twists and turns and I enjoyed it so much via audiobook as well. And now of course I am eagerly anticipating the 3rd installment in this series to arrive!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my gifted review copy.

Was this review helpful?

Yes! Great audiobook - loved the narrator's voice, pacing and expressions.
This was a super follow-up to the first book. I loved that it truly picked up where the other one left off and I can't wait to read more in the series. I will tell readers to read the first one before this one, though.

Was this review helpful?