Elle Cosimano delivers another five-star read with this laugh-out-loud, action-packed mystery. "Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun" is the third book in the Finlay Donovan series, and as usual, it was full of humor and suspense. Finlay and Vero are the best duo, and I always enjoy reading about the crazy situations they've gotten themselves into. I found myself in a bit of reading slump recently, and this book cured me. The unique and fun plot, fast pace, and exciting mystery had me turning the pages as fast as I could. I love this series so much!

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Elle Cosimano for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.

These books are and continue to be so fun. Perfect escapism to follow Finlay and Vero's hijinks and I love the romantic side plots.

Elle Cosimano returns with the fourth installment in her witty and suspenseful series, Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun. True to form, Cosimano delivers a laugh-out-loud mystery that keeps readers on their toes while continuing to explore the charming chaos of Finlay’s life.

This time, Finlay Donovan’s knack for stumbling into trouble lands her at a police academy boot camp. What starts as a humorous attempt to gain insight for her next book quickly spirals into a deadly mystery involving a hitman, missing evidence, and Finlay’s relentless determination to protect those she loves. Alongside her resourceful sidekick, Vero, Finlay must navigate an increasingly complex web of secrets while keeping her own outlandish escapades under wraps.

Cosimano’s talent for blending humor and high stakes is on full display, with laugh-out-loud moments interwoven with genuine tension. The police academy setting offers a fresh backdrop for the story, providing new challenges and opportunities for Finlay’s character growth. The camaraderie among the ensemble cast—old and new characters alike—adds warmth and depth to the narrative.

Finlay’s relatable struggles as a single mom, writer, and amateur sleuth continue to endear her to readers. Her resilience, wit, and vulnerability make her a protagonist worth rooting for. Meanwhile, Vero remains a standout, with her quick thinking and fiercely loyal nature balancing out Finlay’s more impulsive tendencies.

The plot is tightly crafted, with twists and turns that keep readers guessing without feeling forced. Cosimano deftly balances humor, action, and emotional moments, ensuring that the story remains as engaging as it is entertaining.

Rating: 5/5

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is another stellar entry in a series that continues to delight fans. Elle Cosimano proves once again that she’s a master at delivering clever, character-driven mysteries with heart. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to Finlay’s world, this book is a must-read. It’s a perfect blend of comedy, suspense, and heartfelt storytelling.

I’m going to be honest, I didn’t care for this one. With these books I’ve been able to look past how out there the plot is, but this one was to over the top for me. I still love Finlay and Vero’s friendship though.

If you are looking for a fun series that is mystery, but not too suspenseful, this is the series for you. The Finley Donovan series is great. I have enjoyed all of them.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is the wildly entertaining and suspenseful third installment in Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan series, and it more than delivers on the laughs, thrills, and chaos fans have come to expect. Finlay, a single mom and struggling author, is no stranger to getting caught up in dangerous situations, but this time the stakes are higher than ever. After accidentally wrecking a luxury car that the Russian mob bought for her (in exchange for saving her ex-husband's life), Finlay finds herself indebted to the mob, and they’ve given her a job she can't refuse.

Mob boss Feliks, operating from behind bars, assigns Finlay the task of finding a contract killer—one who might just be an undercover cop. In true Finlay fashion, she dives headfirst into the investigation, despite the pressure from a looming book deadline, her parental duties, and the fact that her life is becoming more entangled with the Russian mob by the second. With her trusty nanny and partner-in-crime, Vero, by her side, Finlay’s investigation takes them to a local citizen’s police academy, where they go undercover and attend forensic classes, all while trying to dodge mobsters, uncover secrets, and maybe—just maybe—clear their names.

Cosimano’s signature wit and fast-paced storytelling shine through in this installment, as Finlay balances her chaotic life with her unintentional foray into crime-solving. The humor, snappy dialogue, and absurd situations keep the tone light and fun, even as the stakes become deadly serious. Finlay’s charm and relatability make her a standout protagonist—she’s witty, resourceful, and unafraid to bend the rules when it comes to protecting her family and getting out of tight spots.

The chemistry between Finlay and the tempting Detective Nick is electric, adding an additional layer of intrigue to the story, while the continued development of Vero’s character adds emotional depth to the plot. As always, Cosimano expertly blends heart-pounding suspense with humor and heart, creating a story that is as entertaining as it is engaging.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is a perfect blend of thrilling mystery and laugh-out-loud moments, with a strong, relatable heroine at its core. Fans of the series will be delighted by the high-stakes, action-packed twists, and newcomers will quickly fall for Finlay's charm and the series' unique mix of suspense and humor. This installment proves that the Finlay Donovan series is a must-read for anyone who loves a fast-paced, entertaining mystery with a dose of humor, heart, and a dash of danger.

As always the story is a bit unbelievable and a bit wild, but lots of fun. This isn’t my favorite book in the series, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t any good! A good addition to the stories, with the usual quick & easy read that’s just fun. look forward to the next!

This third installment in the Finlay Donovan series picks up almost immediately after the events of the second book, so if you are going to read the series, I highly recommend starting with Finlay Donovan is Killing It, otherwise you are probably going to be left very confused.

This time around, Finlay and Vero find themselves being blackmailed into working for the mob, which to put it gently is not ideal. In an effort to complete the task of finding out who EasyClean is, the other hitman that accepted a job offer to eliminate Finlay's ex-husband, the two friends take part in a Citizens Academy training run by Detective Nick Anthony, who is desperately trying to get into Finlay's life and pants.

Up until this book, I have been able to suspend my disbelief and give Finlay and Vero credit for what can simply be attributed to dumb luck. However, some of the actions that the two of them pull in this installment truly jump the gun...or rather jump the shark. The entire Vero impersonating a cop storyline was not only completely ludicrous, but the fact that they so easily get away with it because...Vero had one of the cops put on her underwear, is truly laughable. Not in a funny ha ha way either. The will they or won't they back and forth between Finlay and Nick was also extremely frustrating. Either add romance as an element to a series or don't. The stringing along trope is tiresome and then detracts from the actual mystery/action.

Will I still continue to read the series? Absolutely. Every series has one or two books that are not as top-notch as the others. This one was still fun and I enjoy the characters, including Finlay's children. I appreciate that the plotlines actually move forward instead of other mystery series that keep characters in a Groundhog Day like perpetual state - never aging or moving forward in the their life. Finlay Donovan has a clear timeline that it is following.

Recomenned for fans of quirky, off beat mysteries with little to no spice or romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, Elle Cosimano, and Minotaur Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is another great installment in this fantastic series. I love how these books pick up right after the events of the previous book. This series is fun, charming, and hilarious all wrapped up in one neat package.

This book follow Finlay and Vero as they try to find a mysterious contact killer known as EasyClean for Feliks Zhirov. As they are in debt to Feliks, they have no choice but to figure out who EasyClean is before the police can if they hope to stay alive. When secrets from Vero’s past put them in an unwanted spotlight, Finlay and Vero join a citizen’s police academy to search for clues to EasyClean’s identity. As usual, hilarity ensues and find Finlay and Vero in some pretty outrageous circumstances.

I really love these books because Finlay and Vero are just amazing characters. They make me laugh and I love seeing what mischief they get into. These books also have the mystery element to them that blends with the humor that makes it unable to put them down once you start.

Finlay, Vero and the whole crew are loveable and fun. I want to go to the police academy with them. Can't wait for the next one.

Finlay's at it again with her nanny partner in crime, or are they the good guys? Yes, it's the cute cop who is the good guy, but the Russian mob is pushing the buttons. How the heck did that all happen? Cozy fun as usual
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I absolutely loved books 1&2 in this series but if I’m being honest, I didn’t really vibe with the way this book took a step back to dive into things that happened during the previous books. I’d rather it keep the plot forward moving. It was still quirky and fun and wild but it didn’t have the same level of continuity for me.

After saving her ex-husband's life in the previous book, Finlay finds herself in debt to the Russian mob. With her partner in crime, Vero, Finlay must navigate finding a contract killer while receiving extra attention from police officer Nick who's interest in Finlay is more personal than professional.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano is the 3rd book in the series. I felt the author redeemed herself with this book I never could get caught up in the second book of the series. This book kept me turning the pages until the end. I would recommend this to others.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

In Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, the third book in Elle Cosimano’s comedy/mystery series, Finlay and Vero once again find themselves in a series of ever-increasingly wild scenarios.

This time, the pair has been roped into attending a citizen’s police academy, run by “hot cop” Nick. At the end of their last adventure they were still trying to figure out the identity of the contract killer who had attempted to off Finlay’s ex-husband Steven. Mixed up with loan sharks and Russian mafia, Finlay also has a scene to rewrite to please her literary agent while sneaking around and trying to avoid being discovered for the mess she and Vero have buried.

While still an enjoyable and laugh-out-loud installment in this series, I felt this book was a bit over-the-top for my personal taste, which is why I only gave it 4 out of 5 stars. Nevertheless, the author keeps drawing me back in with her clever storytelling and quirky characters. I often found myself surprised by the twists and turns in the novel and I still recommend it, especially for Finlay’s devoted fans.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the copy of the book in preparation for the upcoming release of the latest in the series Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, available in March 2025. All opinions are my own.

Another great installment of the Finlay Donovan series! Love the friendship between Vero and Finlay... Lots of laugh out loud moments, lots of twists and turns, lots of thrills. You can't go wrong with this series!

I am finally getting the hang of Finlay Donovan books. They are working my suspension of disbelief muscles in a big way—but with that in mind, I enjoy the broad comedy and implausible situations for the unabashed fun that they are. Off to see if my local cop shop has a citizens’ boot camp that I can attend…

I think Elle Cosimano's storyline of Finlay Donovan just continues to get better with each book. I am finding these stories so entertaining and enjoyable. After my anxiety with the first book, I have been able to relax and enjoy the entertainment. Yes, they are still farfetched but I will keep coming back for more and more. I have already recommended this series to multiple people.

I received an ARC of the book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

˗ˏˋ3.25 ★ˎˊ˗

Finlay and Vero have been living an exciting life over the past few weeks, but not as much in this book. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think I missed the exaggerated chaos of everything🤣🤣
The stakes felt lower compared to the previous books

This book in the series was maybe my least favorite but that does not take away from me loving the author. I just feel like the plot was being dragged on.