What a great sequel I am loving this series.
You do not have to read the first one to enjoy this one but why would you not.
Great storyline and wonderful characters.
Vero is my favorite character. She could have her own series.
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The second installment of Finlay Donovan does not disappoint. This time, instead of being accidentally hired for murder, Finlay is trying to make sure her ex-husband isn't the target of a murder for hire. Finlay and her nanny/accountant, Vero, team up again with their quirkiness and chaos to make sure Stephen stays alive. For readers who enjoy Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series (including a love triangle and everything), Finlay Donovan is a great readalike.

I liked the short review of the first book at the beginning. I did remember the book, but I always appreciate the reviews. It's like the "previously on..." at the beginning of tv shows.
I LOVED Finlay and Vero as much as the first book. Finlay finds herself trying to write another book while simultaneously trying to solve the mystery of who wants her husband dead.
These books are unique because they're equal parts mystery and comedy, with a little love interest sprinkled in too.
I was so excited that the end of the book was a cliffhanger, because that means there's a 3rd in the works 🙌
Thanks @netgallery and @macmillan.audio for letting me listen to the audiobook 😍

DNF @ 34%

I really enjoyed the first book, but this one isn't grabbing my attention and I find myself losing focus while listening.

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead is the second book in the Finlay Donovan series. I really wouldn't read this as a stand alone because: 1. You will be confused; and: 2: Why would you want to skip the first one?? These books are outlandish and completely unrealistic but so dang fun.

I loved this book more than the first one simply because it seemed more plausible and the characters developed much more in this book. I really enjoyed getting to learn more about Vero and hope that we learn even more in the next book. I listen to the audio for these because the narrator is amazing and they make the books laugh out loud funny. If you're looking for a hilarious read that could never happen in real life, this is the series for you!! LOVE FINLAY SO MUCH!!

I was really enjoying this book but I was unable to finish it due to a malfunction on the NetGalley app. I got about half way through and it was great! Would love to know what happens to finlay and the kids! Funny and engaging narrator.

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead
Elle Cosimano
4 stars
I didn't read the first Finlay Donovan book, and I think I should have read the first one. It was entertaining and made me laugh so hard. I love Vero she is hilarious. The whole book was so well written, I didn't see the ending coming at all it was a shock to find out who put the ad up there. Finlay and Vero make a great duo. Stephen drove me crazy, he's a pig in my book, he's like most guys that go through a divorce when he is the one that caused it, cheaters make me angry. That's the vibe I got from this book if I'm wrong well so be it. I liked the whole police officer and lawyer oo lala, I kept saying get it girl get it. I need to order the first book to read it soon. The cliffhanger at the end was frustrating I hate cliffhangers especially when I don't have the next book to keep reading. If you haven't given it a shot, go check it out.
Thank you, Macmillan Audio and Net Galley, for the advance for an honest review.

I think I just need to come to terms with not being a “cozy mystery” person. While I liked (didn’t love) the first Finlay book, the ending hooked me enough to want to continue the series. Unfortunately, this one still didn’t do it for me, even after trying the suggested audio format. It just tries too hard for me, too hard to be funny, too hard to be mysterious with too many moving parts. As with the first one, you have to suspend all belief in reality to enjoy it. But this one left me with plot holes or things that just didn’t make sense at all - mainly with Vero’s character. I understand why so many people love these books but they’re just not for me and that’s okay!!

Finlay and her narrator are back in the fantastic sequel. I love her antics, the sarcasm and her ever so strange friendship with Vero. So happy to have Finlay back!

Want a murder mystery that actually keeps you guessing til the last page? Then this is the series for you. There’s a lovable heroine with writer’s block, a mysterious assassin after her ex-husband, a nanny/partner in crime keeping secrets, a romance with a bartender studying law and a detective that she can’t seem to stay away from. Add all these situations together with some mistaken identity, murder and the Russian mob and you have a fast, fun escapist read that you won’t want to put down.

Yes, the hijinks are crazy and disasters are averted at the last possible moment, but it’s fiction people! Finlay, Vero and the rest of her lovable mess truly draw you in and I can’t wait to see what they get themselves into next. It’s a perfect mix of suspense, silly and sweet with laugh out loud moments, near scrapes, and the reminder that a mother’s love knows no bounds.

The narration for the audiobook is wonderfully done and really adds to the story without being distracting.

I was excited to get an advance copy of this audiobook from NetGalley. I read the first book last year and really enjoyed it. This sequel picks up right where the story left off. This time finlay takes on more of a detective role which I enjoyed though not quite as much as the contract killer in the last book :) some of the plot I was able to predict but still some surprises along the way. This series is just such a fun quick read with mystery, romance, and humor this book has it all!

“My thoughts drifted to that stupid pink trowel above the workbench in my garage—the only tool Steven had bothered to leave on the pegboard when he’d moved out. I thought about all those empty pegs and dust-filled drawers. About the lengths Vero and I had gone to just to find a damn shovel to bury a body.”

This may be the most prevalent book on the gram right now, but with good reason. The follow up to Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, which I adored, is just as funny and entertaining as its predecessor.

The one word that comes to mind when I think of Finlay is fun! She is such a hoot. And although there is a little less stress over her writing and a little more on murder solving, I still really enjoyed it. I liked the first one just a tinyyy bit more, but trust when I say I will follow Finlay on all of her adventures.

The audio was just awesome! I loved the narration and the attitude and sass that she gave to Finlay and Vero. I just love these characters! They have so much fire and I will always applaud strong and no nonsense female characters. 👏🏻👏🏻

Thank you to Netgalley, St Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and the author for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley & MacMillan Audio for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Clearly, <i>Finlay Donovan is Killing It</i> was one of last year's breakout hits, but I didn't get around to reading it! I figured I'd check this follow-up out and see what I had missed. Unfortunately, you *really* need to read the first book first, as the lion's share of what happens in this one relates directly to the previous story, right down to the love interests.

That said, it wasn't too hard to pick up on what was happening. Finlay gets herself into one scrape after another, conspires with Vero, attempts to have a civil relationship with her hapless ex, and bounces back and forth between a young law student and a smirky cop, romantically. She also:
* impersonates a lawyer and gains access to a prison to talk to a jailed Russian mob boss
* borrows a new sports car under false pretenses and gets the windshield blown out by a hitman's bullet
* poses as a hitwoman in an online forum so she can pretend to accept a job to ice her ex-husband
* Need I go on? If you are looking for a realistic plot, this ain't it. If you're looking for a silly romp, a la Stephanie Plum, this is the book for you.

Angela Dawe does a nice job of voicing Finlay, Vero, and Finlay's mom. She also does a passable Russian accent. All the dudes in the book sound similar (Stephen, Finlay's ex, is a tiny bit whinier). so it can be tough to tell them apart.

For a semi-entertaining book that allows you not to think too hard and just let the goofy fun wash over you, it's worth a listen.

Finlay Donovan number 2 is amazing. Where is number 3 and when is it coming! I loved this book even more than book 3. I have been waiting for book 2 since I Finlay Donovan is Killing It. I think Finlay and Vero are the perfect pair. I truly hope Finlay falls in love with Nick and that we find out more about what is really happening with Vera and her past.

I listened Finlay Donovan is Killing It and Knocks 'Em Dead on audiobook, and the narrator is great!

You could read this book as a standalone, but it is definitely more enjoyable is you read the first one.

I don't normally like love triangles, but I'm not having the same negative feelings about this one because it's pretty lighthearted. #teamnick.

I received a gifted copy, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy to review. Finlay Donovan Knocks Em Dead was an okay read. The first book (Finlay Donovan Is Killing It) was a lot more enjoyable. I do enjoy the dynamic between Finlay and Vero. These books are starting to feel like Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books, of which I’ve read them all. If you enjoy the Plum books, you’ll probably enjoy these.

I haven’t read the first in the series, but I thought this book was a fun read! The narrator was great and I was engaged throughout the entire book. I kept wanting to see what would happen next throughout the plot.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to honestly review.

I’m going to preface this with I still very much enjoyed this book, loved the characters, overall had a good time however, I was hoping for more this time around. It just felt like a complete continuation from the first book. I wanted more between Vero and Finlay- those two could’ve really done some things and had a good time. I wanted more from Finlay and the lawyer or even Nick but nope same same- which is not a whole lot. I would still highly recommend this book and the series!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the advance listening copy of this book!

Having just read Finlay Donovan is Killing it, the characters were fresh in my mind. Elle Cosimano has a promising series on her hands, here!

This book, in particular, reminded me quite a bit of the Goldy Bear mystery series by Diane Mott Davidson. Where Goldy is a caterer, in this series we have Finlay, who's "real job" is a novelist but she somehow gets involved -- overly involved -- in the middle of a murder mystery. Goldy was dating (and is now married) to a police officer who is constantly begging her to stay out of police business. In this series, Finlay is dating a police officer as well although he has not quite figured out how mixed up she really gets. I laughed at the fact that each book also has a younger character that our protagonist has fond feelings for named Julian!

I love the relationship Finlay has with her live-in nanny/accountant, Vero. The audible performance of Vero by Angela Dawe is absolutely perfect.

It's funny in a madcap kind of way with the story and action building all the way until the end. In the final pages, we definitely see the set up for book 3! Book 3 of how many? I bet there will be many, many, books in this series!

I thought this wasthe first book in the series when I requested the audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Oops. It stood alone fine, you very, very quickly pick up the characters and their back strories without the author really spelling it out and boring the readers of the first book.

I laughed a few times in the beginning. Overall, I just give this an OK rating. I just didn't find the story or characters that interesting. There is a surprise at the end which perked me up, but after I thought about it, I thought it was really weak. It literally could have been anyone at that point. If the reader had started getting an inkling earlier it could have added some drama and anticipation.

Part of me likes the fact that Finlay and Vero don't need a man, but I don't think their relationship brings out the best in them. As is, I don't really root for them which is kind of necessary for me to enjoy a series.