"'We're all liars,' he said, taking the gun and reloading the magazine with a snap. 'Some of us are just better at hiding it.'"

In FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN by Elle Cosimano, book three in the Finlay Donovan series, our accidental hit-mom heroine continues her unintentinal (and unwanted) business with the Russian mob. With a mob boss forcing her to identify a contract killer, who might be a dirty cop, Finlay winds up at a citizen's police academy, where she and Vero have to sniff out which officer is a criminal.

The good: I LOVE Finlay + Vero. Easily one of my favorite sleuth duos of all time. They're hilarious together, and very clever, and I was so happy that their camraderie continues in this installment. I also love Elle Cosimano's writing style—easy to read yet packs a punch when it needs to.

The less good: A muddled plot with a touch too much coincidence. Books one and two were crazy yet felt *slightly* more plausable—book three loses a lot of that plausibility, and a lot was left up to chance. I know that reading fiction requires, by nature, a certain level of suspending disbelief, but this plot was particularly far-fetched.

HOWEVER, I had a great time anyways. The characters are what make this series fantastic, and I'll continue recommending it to anyone looking for a fresh, fun, and heartwarming mystery series. (Just be sure to read the books in order, since they won't work as standalones.)

Big thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Finlay Donovan is at it again... coming off of saving her ex-husband's life and ruining an incredibly expensive car, Finlay has the attention of Russian mob. The Russian mob paid for the luxury car that Finlay and Vero borrowed, but now, they're indebted to them. Russian mob boss, Feliks has one job for her to do for them to be even. Find the contract killer that wanted her ex-husband dead before the police do.

Finlay is no stranger to the police in her county. She has a previous relationship with a hot detective. Said hot detective finds himself running a "citizens" police academy where individuals can come for a week and see what police training is like. This includes shoot at the range, driving a cruiser and multiple other class options. Thinking that the contract killer just might be a dirty cop, Finlay and Vero decide to attend the academy and spin it as recon for Fin's newest novel... and man, what a story they find.

I absolutely LOVE this series. Finlay is such a relatable character if you're a mom with young children. I am constantly laughing at her with her kids and the things they do. I really enjoy the mystery elements of these novels and the lighthearted, comedic touch that Elle Cosimano approaches them with. I was definitely kept guessing during Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun! I can't wait for book 4.

Cosimano does it again! I love finding the gems of humor in thrillers and at book 3, she’s still keeping pace.

Finlay and her friend Vero are just about the dumbest criminals of all time. One, because they’re trying to not be criminals, and two, because they think it’ll get them out of whatever mess they’re in. But it just makes it worse. I’m still laughing through this series.

Finlay’s love interest is in charge of a citizen’s police academy. This is the perfect cover to get in and be able to search out a killer but also get content for her next book deadline. The scenes are ridiculous and sometimes over-the-top but we read to be entertained. In my opinion, Cosimano is still accomplishing that. It may not be as good as book one but it still has me looking forward to each installment.

It’s even somewhat predictable but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying it. It’s full of laugh-out-loud moments, criminal ridiculousness from Finlay and Vero, and single parenting in-between.

AUDIO REVIEW: Well done! Angela Dawe is perfect at making their antics sound hilarious. There is great inflection in her voice and she emphasizes hilarity when needed. She is great for this series!

Thank you to Minotaur Books for the digital copy and MacMillan Audio for the ALC!

The book releases January 31, 2023.

Finlay and Vero, accidental contract killers, are at it again in Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun. This time the pair are looking for a corrupt policeman, who in turn turned on his mob boss, for the same mob boss who in turn is blackmailing them, while paying to attend a citizen police academy camp. That’s a lot of turns but I promise it will make sense when you are reading it.

Did I forget to mention this is a laugh-out-loud mystery similar to the Stephanie Plum series? Finlay is a single mom with two small kids and a cheating ex. Her secret weapon is her nanny/accountant/accomplice Vero and all of Vero’s questionably legal friends and relatives. I never thought I would say this but I like this series slightly better than the Plum one right now. At least Finn seemingly picks one of her hot boyfriend prospects rather than dragging it out over thirty books.

If you like zany comic mysteries or even buddy movies, don’t miss Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun. 5 stars and a favorite!

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

Happy publishing day to Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun. Finlay Donovan may be one of the only series I’ve ever stuck with. I’m not a fan of series books, but I am a fan of books that can keep me laughing and also keep me guessing. The Finlay Donovan series always does that.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun takes place almost entirely at a police academy “camp” for concerned citizens. Finlay and Vero attempt to solve a mystery, while also trying to absolve themselves of various crimes. The police academy aspect of this one kept me intrigued. As always, I loved the trouble that Vero and Finlay managed to create. I laughed out loud at various parts. Part three in the series was similar to part one and two in that the plot followed the same trope of seeking out the bad guy with no clue how to begin.

When reading Finlay Donovan it’s so imperative to suspend disbelief. It’s what I love about Cosimano’s quirky storylines. Admittedly, I missed the outlandishness of being a mom and a contract killer that was so characteristic of book one and parts of book two. Needless to say, I look forward to seeing how Elle Cosimano changes it up in book four. Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

Finlay has saved her ex-husband, Stephen, from the hitman EasyClean, but it required a save from the Russian mafia who demands she and Vero serve up the assassin—or else. At the same time, Vero finds herself running from bad decisions in her past.

Where better to ensconce themselves in safety than a citizen police academy run by Nick who is recovering from a gunshot wound? But mob boss Feliks won’t rest until Finlay and Vero have completed their job for him. Complicating things is that all evidence points to EasyClean being a cop, maybe even Nick’s partner.

Though Finlay plans to keep a low profile, research the identity of the contract killer, and maybe even make progress on her next manuscript, Vero goes all in on the activities, including things uncomfortably familiar, like moving a body, and some new skills like self-defense and target shooting.

Even while surrounded by police, including Nick and Finlay’s sister, Georgia, Finlay and Vero are vulnerable not only to Feliks but to a new, dangerous threat… even as they juggle childcare and romance.

The Finlay Donovan Series is a reliably good time, full of zaniness, female friendship, and outrageous situations grounded with relatable problems and humor. (LOL when podcasters attending the academy were proud to have read all 24 of the Amazon reviews of Finlay’s published books.) In this volume, Finlay struggled with her feelings for Nick versus her criminal misdeeds, but decided to go with her heart, and I was glad to see the romance move forward, and Vero opens herself up a bit more to Finlay.

Before reading the book, you should know that this is not a stand-alone. You do need to read the series in order to make sense of the ongoing narrative. Though the main mystery is resolved, some questions are unanswered, and the book ends on a cliffhanger that (ostensibly) launches Book 4, a book I will read as soon as it is available!

I was both excited and apprehensive about starting Finlay Donovan Jumps The Gun since I enjoyed the first two books so much but was worried that this funny zany storyline had run its course and it would get repetitive. I am glad to report that the third book in this fun series stayed the course and I loved entering Finlay and Vero‘s world once again - it was fun and fresh over the top of course, but oh so enjoyable! The community police boot camp was such a fun idea and provided a great setting for this third installment.
The book are best read in order so if you have not read the other two yet, I recommend starting with Finlay Donovan Is Killing It. This is a fast read with action on every page and quick chapters
I was hoping for Nick and Finlay‘s romance to finally take off and was happy to see things moving in the right (IMO) direction - if slowly

Finlay and Vero are back again! Man do I love this series! It had me hooked from the very beginning. I love what a fun team the two of them make. While I enjoyed this one a lot, it wasn’t a 5 star for me like the first two were. I think the Felix drama has to end. It’s getting a little played out, and something new would definitely make this series more fun. Overall still a wonderful read.

This book is some of the most fun you can have reading. Finlay Donovan is back with her nanny, Vero. These two get into more messes and yet seem to have more fun doing it. This time, they find themselves staying at the police academy's citizens training camp for the week. They now suspect that the contract killer they are looking for is a cop and they hope that being in the mix with the police will help them figure out who their suspect is.

I laughed so many times throughout this book. Cosimano's writing of Finlay and Vero was already full of witty banter, but this book levels it up from the first two. I was hooked from page one. I love the aspect of women supporting women, even through the craziest of scenarios. Their friendship is irresistible, even when they disagree. And then there's Nick. I already adored him, but this book made me fall deeply in love. He's good and kind when you want him to be and gruff when you prefer that. I love how he loves Finlay even when he suspects she's up to no good.

Full of adventures and a riotous cast, Finlay Donovan is the perfect escape from a dull day. It will burst any reading slump and make you wanting more from this fantastic author. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

In the latest installment, Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, Finlay is back in yet another another mess with her nanny/sidekick, Vero, trying to find a contract killer as a favor to the Russian mobster she angered by destroying his fancy car. Yup, we are still talking about a stay at home single mom of two little kids mixed in with the mob and a slew of criminals. The same slapstick comedy, miscommunications and overall totally over the top goofiness is back. It is always fun to be back in Finlay’s absurd world, even as it gets repetitive and predictable, it is still just as entertaining. And this book has been set up for book 4 so get ready for more.

*3.5 stars rounded up*

Like Finlay who admitted she was in a slump due to her break up with Julien, so was the plot to Finlay Donovan Jumps The Gun. Don’t get me wrong. I still love the series. It just felt a little flat.

My loves:
• Finlay and Vero’s typical shenanigans
• the concept of going to a police academy
• the love interest for Vero
• the next book sounds promising

My dislikes:
• the love triangle between Fin/Nick/Steven felt forced. We don’t need another triangle.
• no resolution to the Felix drama. It’s time for it to end.
• I’m Team Julian. I accepted the break up from Knocks Em Dead so to have him show up for a few pages was cruel.
• Easy Clean’s identity is super predictable.

Recommendation: Read for a super fun, light story.

Oh and one more thing, it’s never going to work between Finn and Nick. She has too many secrets to carry this whole relationship through. I could rant on this for a long time especially as Team Julian but I digress…(😅😂).

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for opportunity to read and review this arc honestly.

I honestly love this series! I was worried the third book would be a little dull but was curious what the plot would be, and it’s great! It’s a quick read and you instantly get pulled into their universe and feel connected to the characters. I love the humor in the book. And I’m a bit sad I finished it in one day, I want more!

I absolutely loved diving back into the crazy world of Finlay and Vero and seeing the antics they get up to in this installment of the Finlay Donovan series. This book does a great job of recapping the events of the previous two books in a way that feels natural to the narrative and not just dumping all of the information on you.

This third book starts to head in a little bit more far fetched direction, but it works really well with these characters. I’ve come to expect crazy, outlandish things from Finlay and I know they will continue as the series progresses. We made good progress in figuring out a few of the mysteries left over from the previous books and have some new ones to figure out going forward. I can’t wait until the next book is released to get more answers!

I loved this book. It's my favorite after the first. I was dying for Finlay and Nick to finally get together and I liked that we had some lingering questions answered (even though it brought more up for me). I was hooked from the beginning and didn't want this to end. I can't wait to see where book four takes us and what else Finlay gets up to.

I really enjoyed this installment of this series! I found myself laughing out loud a good bit and was surprised at some of the outcomes. Definitely think this one was better than the last, but not as good as the first. Still looking forward to more adventures from Finlay and Vero!

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC on the newest Finlay escapade. I'm not sure how Cosimano does it, but somehow every time I open her books, I cannot put them down.
Finlay is involved in another mess with her trusty sidekick/nanny Vero. Following the events of the last book, Finlay is tasked with discovering who EasyClean is from a Russian mob boss and taking him out at the same time tamping down her serious attraction to Nick, the hottie cop who is starring in her much overdue manuscript. There's just one small issue (well...more than one) Finlay is sure that EasyClean is a dirty cop. Yikes! On the case, Vero and Finlay enroll themselves in civilian police academy to try and smoke EC out. And because nothing is ever easy, massive amounts of hilarious chaos ensues.
Cosimano has done it again and sucked me into this series. I love reading the crazy antics of Finlay & Vero, I can almost see them as a modern day Laverne & Shirley/Lucy & Ethel. This book keeps me chuckling and flipping pages so fast I finished this in a day. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-galley of Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun.

Elle Cosimano knocked it out of the park again, I loved the first two Finlay books and was excited to get my hands on the third.

Between Finlay and Vero's escapades, the reader truly never knows what trouble or what dead bodies will pop up. In book three, Vero and Finlay are off to a week at the citizens' policy academy, so surely nothing can go wrong with a constant policy presence. Think again. As Finlay and Vero go through the rigors of policy academy, they hit one road block after another in their hunt for EZClean. Will they make it out of policy academy in one piece? Or will EZClean get the drop on them first?

Finlay and Vero's world is never dull, that's for sure!

I enjoyed being back with our favorite mom+accountant/nanny duo. This one picks up right where book 2 left off, but with a fun premise of being mostly set at a citizen police academy. I really enjoyed that aspect of the book and thought it was smart of Cosimano to put all of her characters (mostly) together in one place for an enxtended period of time. Tension!

My biggest qualm is that the storyline started to get a bit redundant and formulaic for me, and I wished we had a different conflict from book 2. The major conflict stemmed from something that started at the beginning of book 2, so it was just a lot of reading to get to the resolution.

I always appreciate the escape these books provide. And by the looks of it, we'll get a book 4 (maybe?).

Thanks so much to Minotaur and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Elle Cosimano does it again! Over the past year, cozy mysteries have become quite popular but I can’t possibly see anything ever topping the Finlay Donovan series. In book three, Finlay and Vero get roped into attending a police academy for civilians run by none other than Nick, Finlay’s on again/off again romantic interest who she has to work overtime to keep her extracurricular activities secret from. We also get to learn more of Vero’s backstory and I especially love her increasingly entertaining interactions with her ex-love interest Javi. In the beginning of the book, Finlay and Vero find themselves still entangled with Feliks and the Russian mob after he hires them to investigate and carry out a hit for him. Adding to that, Vero has found herself in some hot water with a loan shark who’s ready to collect. And as if all of that weren’t enough, Finlay still has to take care of her kids, rewrite the end of her newest novel, and contend with her annoying ex-husband. If you haven’t had the chance to read this series yet, I cannot recommend it enough! You’ll find yourself endlessly amused by the situations Finlay and Vero find themselves in (I would honestly love to see this adapted!), engrossed in the mysteries they’re constantly on the fringes of, and rooting for Finlay and Vero to be open to the possibility of romantic love again. Finlay and Vero’s friendship remains firmly at the heart of the story and if you’re like me, you’ll always find yourself wishing for more time with them at the end of each book. My only wish is that Elle Cosimano could write more installments faster- a year between books is killer!

I feel like each Finlay book gets more unhinged than the previous one. This book definitely requires a healthy dose of suspension of disbelief, but what can I say, I REALLY enjoyed it. It was probably my favorite of the series, with higher stakes, and a mystery that kept me flipping the pages.

I would actually recommend reading the other books in the series before starting this one, I even felt like I missed a few things because it had been a year since I read the previous book.

👍
+ The intrigue/mystery was high with this one. I really had no idea who the person she was looking for was. It kept me guessing the whole time. And there was a constant worry that she was gonna get caught since she’s surrounded by police for most of the book.
+ I loved that we got more of the romance. In the first book, I was pretty split on who I wanted her to end up with, but I’m liking the direction that this is going in. I just want Finlay to finally just let herself enjoy it, which she kinda finally does.
+ At the center of the story though, as always, is the bromance between Finlay and Vero, two very flawed women, supporting each other, but also getting each other constantly in trouble. Finlay really has a knack for doing things that will get her further into the trouble she was trying to get out of.
+ Ended with a really good cliffhanger, and I’m loving the path it seems to be going down especially in regards to the ex husband, so I already can’t wait for the next book.
+ This is definitely a book that is really over the top, a lot of hijinks, shenanigans, hard to believe plot lines ensue, possibly more than the previous books.

👎 There wasn't anything I explicitly disliked in this book. FYI, there are A LOT of cops and cop plot lines in it.

Thank you so much to Minotaur Books, St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC!