Cover Image: Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This is the third book in the Finlay series and Finlay and Vero are still up to their usual shenanigans. They are indebted to the mob and are tasked with finding a contract killer before the police do. Finlay and Vera attend a citizens police academy for a week and try to hunt down the contract killer that may be a police officer.

Like the rest of the series this book had me laughing; I absolutely love the relationship between Finlay and Vero! I found this one a little slower with the story line but I liked the idea of the citizens police academy. The set up for the fourth one really intrigues me and I can’t wait to read it! Thank you @netgalley and @minotaur_books for the ARC!

Was this review helpful?

Definitely one of my favorite mystery series - it's always fun to see what ridiculousness FInlay and Vero are getting into! I can't wait for the next one now.

Was this review helpful?

Just like the first two books, this was fun, quirky, entertaining, and an easy read! I still appreciate all of the relationships and unlikely situations Finlay finds herself in!

Was this review helpful?

I loved this latest iteration in the Finlay Donovan series! If you are a fan of the series, it picks up where the last book left off and continues the same pacing as the first two books. Looking forward to reading the next one!

Was this review helpful?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

I think of all the Finlay Donovan books I have read so far, this one is my favorite!

For this series, I read book one and have now listened to both books two and three. I honestly feel that going the audiobook route has made reading this series so much more enjoyable. The narrator has a way of really driving up your adrenaline as the mystery in each story unfolds, keeping you at the edge of your seat. It is just so well done.

I’m a romance girlie at heart, so with the tension FINALLY breaking between Finlay and Nick, I was on cloud nine! If only Steven could take a hint. 😒 I continue to adore Vero and am now intrigued to see where her story goes in her novella, both with the uncovering of her backstory and the relationship blossoming with Javi!

I think this happens for me with a lot of audiobooks, but I sometimes find myself forgetting who is who, especially when there are a lot of characters in a particular story. I think this is where I struggle the most with this series. There are the mobsters, the cops, the casual friendships, the references to characters from past books - it gets to be a lot. If I were to go back, I think reading the books physically would help a lot, but I’d really miss out on the theatricality of the audio versions! Ugh! The dilemma!

Nonetheless, I can’t wait to see where this story goes next in Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice!

P.S. For those interested in picking up this series: you must read these in order! There is so much that happens in each book that is brought up again as the series progresses. I think you’d miss out on what makes this series so special.

Thank you to Elle Cosimano, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley, Elle Cosimano and St Martin’s Press for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Another Finlay novel that I binged in 24 hours! I can’t even explain why these books are just so perfect. They are thrilling but funny. They have the best characters in the weirdest situations while mostly still being believable! I just can’t get enough

Was this review helpful?

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Finlay and Vero just have this friendship—no, this bond—that makes these books fly by. Seriously, I love these two so freaking much, and I'm always in awe at how easily they find themselves in and out of trouble. In this third book, they are going to a civilian police academy for a week. Maybe it's for research, or maybe it's a reason for Finlay to finally talk with Nick about their feelings. Either way, I was here for it all.

Danger follows these two quite easily, and I wasn't sure who would be the main suspect this time around. Sure, someone was completely obvious, but I had no idea who I should be paying attention to. So, it's safe to assume that I was quite pleased with how everything ended. I'm also really happy about her and Nick getting closer. Especially when things were heating up between them.

In the end, I'm very excited to see what the next adventure will be like. All we know is that they are heading to Atlantic City. I'm just hoping for more romance with Nick and for Steven to realize he just needs to step up to the kids and be a better father.

Was this review helpful?

Recently divorced, single mother of two, and suspense romance author Finlay Donovan is quite busy. When she is not running after her toddler who likes to play hide-and-seek in public restrooms, Finlay is trying to write the ending of her latest novel that will satisfy her agent, she is figuring out her feelings for hot cop Nick, and she must return a favor to a Russian mafia boss by finding the identity of a contract killer who, she suspects, may be a cop. If that wasn’t enough, her babysitter/accountant/friend/partner-in-crime Vero owes lots of money to a dangerous loan shark. With a deadline on both the novel and the search for the contract killer, Finlay and Vero attend the citizen’s police academy organized by Nick in the hope of finding both inspiration for the novel and the contract killer. Between training and forensic classes, impromptu romantic dinners with Nick, and unwelcome guests, Finlay needs to uncover a dirty cop and find the money to pay the loan shark. Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is the third book in this fantastic series. If you haven’t read the first two books of the series you won’t have problems following the plot, but I highly recommend reading them, as you can discover, among other things, why Finlay owns favors to the Russian mafia, why some people seem to think that she is a contract killer, and why there are often dead bodies (or parts of them) hidden in the boot of her car. The strong friendship between Finlay and Vero is one of my favorite things about this series. They make a fantastic hilarious pair, whether they are getting the children ready for school or digging bodies and climbing down buildings. They are both fierce, loyal, reliable, and witty and they trust each other, even though Vero is still hiding a secret from Finlay. The romance is also very good.

Slow-burn and flirty, the relationship between Finlay and Nick (who, by the way, is adorable) develops very well throughout this latest novel and even Vero gets her own taste of love. The writing is brilliant and addictive and the characters are engaging and authentic. Part romance and part suspense, this book (and this series) will appeal to readers who enjoy a cozy, thrilling and fun read. It is hilarious, gripping and with a surprising and suspenseful ending that makes me really look forward to the next book.

Was this review helpful?

Never ever, I repeat, never ever, drink hot coffee while reading a Finlay Donovan installment - because there is a strong chance that you will be laughing so hard you will snort that coffee all over yourself and anything or anybody that is in close range.

“Javi blinked at us, red-faced and livid. One of Vero’s sweaty socks was stuck to his face and my hair dryer dangled between his butt cheeks.”

And it only gets funnier from there. How the team of Finlay Donovan and Vero, her Nanny/Accountant manage to get themselves in and out of so many hilarious predicaments is patently unbelievable. I don’t care about the naysayers - it is pure enjoyment from page one even when Finlay is being shot at and Vero is playing a con that she can’t win and Javi is being blind sided and decked yet again. What goes down in cop school with the dynamic duo is pure gold.

I have “Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice” on my shelf and as soon as I finish The Curse of Petro Houdini I am all over the next Finlay Donovan installment. Many, many thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy of Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed reading about Finlay and Vero again! Their characters always make me laugh.

Didn’t love this one as much as the first two. Even though I was thankful for a little refresher of what happened in the first books, I felt like a lot of this one was spent going over the plot of the previous books. Also a lot was spent talking about how Finlay needed to figure out the romance in her book. Didn’t feel like much action until the last 25%.

Hoping the next book will have more suspense and be a bit more of a page turner!

Was this review helpful?

🔫 FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN by Elle Cosimano 🔫

★★★★★

📖 About: Author and single mom Finlay Donovan has been in messes before―after all, she's a pro at removing bloodstains for various unexpected reasons―but none quite like this. When Finlay and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero accidentally destroyed a luxury car that they had "borrowed" in the process of saving the life of Finlay's ex-husband, the Russian mob did her a favor and bought the car for her. And now Finlay owes them.

🍹 Drink Pairing: Something equally spicy and sweet - perfect for this series! (Avec Jalapeño and Blood Orange Spritz)

🌟 Review: Ok, if you know me - you know I love me some Finlay Donovan shenanigans! This series is such a comfort series to me - and I genuinely hope Elle Cosimano keeps it going for a very long time.

There’s always some crazy sh*t that goes down, and the characters are so crazy and lovable that you can’t help but smile while reading. I’m still patiently awaiting the TV series … *cough cough* Marlene King …

Thank you to my friends at St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur and Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review!

Was this review helpful?

I have been enjoying this series as a whole. I found this third installment more like the first, which I liked better than the second. I love how this series is funny, while also having a bit of a mystery and I wil never find out how Finaly gets herself involved in these situations.

Was this review helpful?

i’m obsessed with this series. it’s so so perfect!! im laughing and also on the edge of my seat the entire time. love it!!

Was this review helpful?

A fitting finale to a well written trilogy filled with laughs, mystery and plot twists.

Finlay and Vero continue to get themselves deeper into trouble because things get a little tricky when you start working for a Russian mob boss, and you are trying to learn the identity of Easy Clean. The two of them agree to a one week police training seminar with the goal of investigating while training.

The kids weren't in this one much, which was a shame because they make the story funnier when they're around.

This book in the series for me was a very slow burn, but the plot twists exceeded expectation. The best part is there is a cliffhanger ending which leaves the door open for others.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book. My reviews can be read on my GoodReads account here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1335387-kelly

Was this review helpful?

Seriously...this series is perfection. "Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun" is the third book I have read and each time, I love it more and more. Cosimano brings wit, heart, and mystery together in a way that is completely entertaining and utterly addictive. Finlay has become one of my favorite characters in a mystery series. And that is saying something.

Was this review helpful?

This book like the first two is a complete chaotic, disorderly mess and I absolutely cannot get enough of this series. LOL You know whenever Finlay and Vera get together things are going to get crazy and this time it’s at the Police Academy. My only grip is I need more Nick and Finlay. Now I’m off to read the next book.

Was this review helpful?

I wanted to love this one. I feel like by book 3 they just feel like more of the same. We have a similar plot with just a few things and continue to repeat. I still like finlay an companions, but that isn't enough for me to love it anymore

Was this review helpful?

Reading a Finlay book is always just such a fresh breath of air and the perfect escapism!

Cosimano writes with such wit and sass that I can’t help but fall in love with the idea of a humorous cozy mystery! Who doesn’t love a mix of contract killers, hot cops and romance?! The way she writes her characters is also unparalleled! Finlay and Vera are certainly the dynamic duo that I never knew I needed! Then place them in a citizens police academy?! What a ridiculously fun and entertaining idea!

Like the second one, I still felt that this one was missing a bit of that extra magic that the first one had but still ultimately such a fun series!

Was this review helpful?

As a lifelong Janet Evanovich and Stephanie Plum fan, the Finlay Donovan series reminds me so much of the same enjoyment I get from reading those. So I definitely look forward to each book as it comes. The writing and characters are great! And I wish Ms. Cosimano just as much luck with her series.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?