Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead was great fun! Fans of Finlay likely will not be disappointed by this follow-up to Finlay Donovan is Killing It.

The book opens with Finlay concerned about the hit someone put out on her ex-husband -- sure, maybe she's wished him dead a time or two, but she doesn't actually want him offed, and she certainly doesn't want to put her kids in danger. She's also yet again behind on her book deadline.

Finlay and partner in crime Vero quickly find themselves on a stakeout, doughnuts and binoculars and all. From there I was totally sucked into this ridiculous but fun story.

The narration's well done; Angela Dawe sounded like how I imagine Finlay might (which was important, given that the book is written in the first person). She also did a good job with the kids -- especially with Finlay's daughter blubbering in the first chapter.

3.8 stars

<b>THIS WAS FUUUUNNYYYY!</b>

I was grinning the whole time I listened to this audio book! :)

You'd enjoy this book if you are in the mood for light, funny and entertaining domestic drama seasoned with crime mystery.

I especially recommend the audiobook because the narration makes it even funnier! I had a blast listening to smart-ass Finley, her sister and BFFs as they try to keep her good-for-nothing, womanizer ex-husband alive, of course getting themselves in the most hysterical situations.

The funny, witty writing, situations and characters, scene structure and pace were the best aspects of this book. The chapters just fly by as you smile and laugh and Even though it s a sequel, it reads perfectly fine as standalone.

Being the bookworm I am. I also loved the references to book writing and editing. Finlay, the main character, is a romantic suspense writer and she makes funny comparisons between the mystery she is solving and plot twists she is writing.

This is the perfect book to beat a reading slump!

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano was a great second installment. Finlay's mystery adventure picked up right where the first book left off. Of course, the trusty nanny, Vero, is Finlay's partner-in-crime again. Those two always make me laugh! I had to keep listening to know what would happen next and remember to keep breathing! I enjoyed the narration of the audiobook too. These books always end on a cliffhanger, making me need to have the next one ASAP. Do yourself a favor and read this Finlay Donovan series right now. You won't regret it!

Thank you, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for my complimentary copies for this honest review.

Rating: 3.5 stars, rounded up. Whenever a book gets a sequel that I initially read and loved as a standalone, I am always filled with a mixture of wariness that it will sour my fond feelings for the first book and anticipation that I get to return to this same cast of characters. So I had a certain amount of cautious optimism when I realized my favorite thriller of 2021 - Finlay Donovan is Killing It - was getting a follow up release in 2022.

The premise of a romantic-suspense novelist single mother being mistaken as a hitwoman when pitching her next book to her literary agent in public held just too much promise for hijinks. And Finlay Donovan is Killing It fully delivered on taking such a zany hook and making it into a whirlwind of events with a fantastic if somewhat unconventional female friendship at its center. Elle Cosimano was a master of taking the nondescript details of a house mom's daily life and twisting them in a way that could totally be attributed to a contract killer with only a little bit of miscommunication and suspension of disbelief. More than that, she has created a dynamic between Finlay and her live-in nanny Vero that can only be described as a perfect storm of balanced chaos. Vero is all too eager to become Finlay’s accomplice in the murder plot she stumbles into. And returning to watch their interactions in Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead was easily the best part of this book.

However, Finlay and Vero’s friendship didn’t feature as central to the plot here in this second installment - which I do think impacted my overall enjoyment of the book. This ties back to Vero’s own unexplored past that was glossed over in the first in the series and gives more light to her motivations here. So while her character itself gets fleshed out more with this backstory, it did take away from some of her pagetime with our title character and the hilariously deadpan and dubiously legal suggestions she provides to Finlay throughout both books.

I also didn’t love how this book tried to explain away some of Steven’s toxic, cheating behavior that resulted in the divorce that is still a fresh hurt in the first book. And with establishing his safety being the primary driver of the plot, that was just less compelling to me than Finlay trying finesse her way out a murder-for-hire plot in the first book.

Overall, I can say fans of the first book in the series that come to Finlay Donovan for outrageous hijinks will not be disappointed in this second attempt. I can’t say it worked for me in the same way Finlay’s first escapade did, but I wholeheartedly recommend this for a breezy thriller that manages to be both glibly macabre and strangely grounded at the same time.

Thank you to the publisher Macmillan Audio for providing an audiobook ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead

Finlay is back and better than ever! It’s no secret that I love love loved the first book in the series, so when I got the chance for a sneak peek at book two, I was over the moon.

This book picks up right where the first leaves off, which I appreciated since I don’t like trying to figure out where I am in a timeline. The whole crew is back, and the shenanigans are off the chart funny.

It seems everyone in this book has secrets. Why is Vero being so weird about money? Why did Julian make his Instagram private while on vacation? Why does Finlay once again have possession of a dead body? Why does Nick know literally EVERYTHING?

The answers to these questions, my friends, all lay ahead. I’m usually pretty good a predicting a twist, but Fed Ups identity was amazingly perfect and unexpected.

The wait for book 3 is going to be absolutely excruciating.

I loved the 2nd book in this series. Finlay and Vero behind the wheel of the Aston Martin was fantastic. Thank you for giving Finlay so many suitors but who she ended up with was absolutely perfect. Thank you fir an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the first one well enough for what it was, and I was intrigued to see if it carried over/got better in the second once everything had been set up. Unfortunately I don't think it did. The mashup between mystery and romance never felt organic. One always seemed wedged into the other, depending on the scene, and it ended up with me feeling like neither aspect was served particularly well. The romance also suffered from the trope of the new guy being Absolutely Perfect in Every Way, while the ex was so utterly horrible in every part of his being that it makes no sense that she was ever with him in the first place.

The first Finlay Donovan book was one of my favorite books last year and the sequel did not disappoint. Finlay is again over her head, this time trying to figure out who wants her ex-husband dead. But can she find them before they find her and while balancing her kids, the hot cop wanting to date her and a looming deadline for her next book. Chock full of humor, mystery and dead bodies.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an advanced audiobook for review.

Elle Cosimano does it again! I really enjoyed this one, it was a perfect continuation of Finlay’s story. That ending left me wanting more of her and Vero’s shenanigans and I’m crossing my fingers we will get more of them!

Loved this book! Both the 1st and 2nd did not disappoint. I missed the characters and fell right. Back into the story. So good! Thank you NetGalley!

I split time on this between the physical book and the audiobook and I actually preferred the audio, but the NetGalley app unfortunately has bad quality at higher speeds and I had to take breaks from listening. I actually enjoyed this book a bit more than I did the first, perhaps because the narrator did such a great job at bringing the story to life. It did feel a little too similar to the first book, but I enjoyed the witty dialog and snarky banter. I love the focus on the friendship between Finlay and Vero, but found myself less interested in either of her potential romantic partners. While I expected this to be completely unrealistic, I found some of the choices the characters made to not make sense. The last 25% is nonstop action and I flew through the end of the book. There is some resolution to the mystery but it does end on another cliffhanger. If you loved the first book, I think you will also love the second. 4/5⭐️

Thanks to @Netgalley and @MacmillanAudio for the ALC. Finally Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead will be out on February 1..

I loved every minute of this and I’m so sad it’s over. I love Finlay, Vero and their wild adventures. I loved the elements of romance with Julian and Nick. I couldn’t stop listening and find out who put a hit on Steven. I’m really hoping the way this ended that we’ll get a third book. More Finlay Donovan please!!

I will update when I post to my bookstagram account.

OMG, this was so much fun. I literally laughed out loud. Highly recommended for a light, fun read.


Review copy provided by publisher.

What a wild ride! I love, love, love this series! Finlay is back at it again trying to write her next best seller and juggle her family, love life and crazy hitman status she accidently stumbled upon in the first book.

The Plot: Loved it, I was hooked from the beginning and literally suspected EVERYONE and still didn't see the twists at the end. The humor and wit I fell in love with in the first book is still very much present in Knocks 'Em Dead as well.

The Characters: I'm obsessed, truly. These are some of the most fun characters to read about, from Finlay herself to Vero who might just be my favorite in the series. Nick and Julian (insert fire emoji here) and some of the side characters as well. I really appreciate how Elle Cosimano writes her characters to be fleshed out and real without going overboard with details, but nothing ever felt left unsaid either.

Did I mention the twists?! I read a ton of mystery/thrillers and at some point, they can become predictable but not this one and I loved every minute of it.

The Audiobook: Angela Dawe KILLED it. I was so into this audio and literally couldn't stop listening. The accents, pace and inflection made it a true pleasure to listen to.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

Murder, mystery, humor, struggling author turned accidental hit-woman....what's not to love?!

I LOVED Finlay Donovan is Killing It, and I was so excited when I got the audiobook ARC for Finally Donovan Knocks Em Dead! I literally finished Book 1 and immediately started Book 2, and it did not disappoint!! It wasn't quite as funny as the first one, but the story was just as good, and I loved it just at much! I did find myself laughing quite a few times at the situations Finlay and Vero found themselves in. Speaking of Finlay and Vero, they're an amazing team and I LOVE THEM. I just binged both of these books and I'm already impatiently waiting for the next one bc I need moreeee. The writing is amazing and I COULD NOT put this down!!

If you enjoy crazy mysteries, wild shenanigans and quirky lovable character, you will love this book!!!

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮 Macmillan Audio, St Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for this Audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is due for publication February 1st and I definitely recommend it!

★★ 4.5 stars! ★★

Finlay is back and just as good (if not better) than the first time around! Reminiscent of Stephanie Plum, Finlay and her sidekick, Vero, find themselves caught up in a web of cybercrime and hired killers, all while keeping Finlay's kids and ex-husband alive.

I love the hilarity of the hijinx and absurd situations they find themselves in, plus the will-they-or-won't-they tension between Finlay and her young, underwear model lawyer and her hot cop.

I can't wait for the next book!

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.

What a fun read!

I’d describe this as a fluffy romantic mystery.

Finley Donovan is facing custody battles with her ex husband, looming deadlines for her next book, figuring out her love life, her busybody mom and now trying to discover who put a hit out on her ex.

It’s humorous, emotional and intriguing.

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.

The audiobook is fantastic. Angela Dawe voiced all of the characters uniquely. I got so caught up in the suspense and never wanted it to end.

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

4.5 stars rounded up

This is more of what we love from book 1. Fun and entertaining. Sad about the lack of spice though. 😆