Elle Cosimano did it again!
I laughed so much with this book, the stakes were high, the mystery kept be captivated and I didn’t piece things together before the characters which it’s always a plus in my book!
I can’t believe this book hasn’t been out yet and I already need book 4 in my hands!!!
This book truly had everything that makes Finlay Donovan a hit, but in a refreshing new (but also familiar) way.
I am still team lawyer but I can accept my team lost and Nick is a good romantic interest.

Finlay Donovan and her nanny/accountant/sidekick Vero are back for another zany, over-the-top adventure! Readers of the series may remember that Russian mob boss Feliks hired our beloved accidental assassins to discover the identity of the contract killer known as EasyClean. Finlay and Vero suspect EasyClean may be a cop, so they've signed up for a civilian police academy to see if they can track him down. The academy is, of course, run by none other than hot detective Nick. You wouldn't think these two would be able to get up to much mischief when surrounded by police officers...but you'd be wrong. Let the hijinks commence!

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun starts with a hilarious scene in a Wal-Mart men's room, and the shenanigans don't let up until the very end, when Elle Cosimano leaves us with a very enticing, very cruel cliffhanger. This third installment of the series is filled with the action, drama, misadventures, humor, and sexy moments I've come to expect from these books. What's impressive to me is that, even three books in, this series still feels fresh and fun rather than formulaic. Finlay and Vero give me intense Lucy and Ethel vibes, and I'm here for it.

As we get further into the series, it does get harder to keep all of the characters and complex plot points straight -- it took me a while to find my footing with this one because it picks up essentially right where Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead left off, and it's been a year since I read that book. This is a series I'd recommend reading in quick succession, if possible, just to remain up to speed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a digital ARC.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is the third book in the series. Finlay is a recently divorced mother of two young children. Through a series of crazy mistakes, missteps and misunderstandings Finlay has become an assassin for hire. The twist is she hasn't killed anyone. In this book Finlay and her friend and nanny Vero have destroyed a luxury car that they used to rescue Finlay's ex in the second book. The Russian Mob was able to get her out of debt, but now she owes them. The mob boss is in prison, but that doesn't stop him from giving FInlay orders to find a contract killer before the police do. Unfortunately it looks like the hitman might be a cop. Fortunately, Finlay's love interest, Nick, the sexy detective, starts a citizen's police academy (probably inspired by Finlay's antics) and that gives Finlay and Vero the perfect opportunity to snoop out the real killer. Easy to fit in among dodging the mob, spies, and facing a hidden part of Vero's past. All while trying to parent her two young children. Elle Cosimano is a master at juggling humor and suspense. Fans of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum will love Finlay Donovan as will anyone who enjoys a good read. Thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read an ARC.

I was so ready for another installment of Finlay Donovan. And she did not disappoint. Finlay and her sidekick/nanny/friend Vero are back again for more shenanigans!
The plot line this time still involves mob boss Feliks, but this time the setting is a police academy citizen’s course. So not only does Finlay need to address the latest problems, but now she needs to do it amidst the ever-present police officers and detectives, including hot cop Nick.
If you’ve enjoyed the previous two books, you’ll like this installment too! Thanks to St. Martin’s Press Minotaur for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this entry in the Finlay Donovan series. Maybe, a bit more than the last one. It was funny, mysterious, and kind of sexy. The main setting within a pseudo-police academy was rather unique, as well.

My one and biggest gripe came at the end. This book didn't have a clear and satisfying ending. While there were some continuous threads throughout the series that you find in many cozy mysteries, book three didn't even wrap up any minor threads, unless you count Nick and Finlay's sort-of relationship. I'm okay with an open thread or two, but give me a small bit of closure, at least. 4/5 stars after subtracting one for that all-encompassing cliffhanger.

Notes on the audio:
Strong audio narration. I love when a narrator captures the voices and inflections, male and female, without making me cringe. Angela Dawe nailed it.

Typically, I am not a person who enjoys series. I like to read one book and move on to the next. However, after reading the first Finlay Donovan book, I immediately wanted more and read the second one. While that one wasn’t nearly as good as the first, I found myself continuing to think about the characters and stories. I didn’t plan on reading the third one as soon as I did, but I was too curious to see what came next.

I think the first story was my favorite because of the unexpectedness of it all. I really enjoy this one as well but I felt as if there were so many characters to keep track of and so much happening. I felt like it didn’t really slow down (which can be a good thing!). I wanted a little time to process everything that was happening. I’m upset that it ended the way that it did because now I have to wait for the next release to find out what happens next.

Another winner in the Finlay Donovan series!! These books are a such an escape and make me so happy! Unrealistic? Yes. Do I care? Absolutely not. Finlay and Vero are just truly such love able and hilarious characters - I cannot get enough of them! These books are perfect for my romance readers who might want to dabble in the mystery genre!

What to except::
•More murder for hire
•Crazy antics
•Whodunnit
•Hot cop Nick
•A side of love with closed door steam
•Cozy mystery vibes, but crazier

This is the third installment of the Finlay series and I really enjoyed this one!!

Finlay is an author who is struggling to get a draft of her next book in and is also the single mom of two young kids.

Finlay and her nanny/sidekick Vero continually find themselves in some crazy situations!! They have gotten themselves involved with the Russian mob and are trying to get away from them!! Craziness will ensue including some time at a citizen police academy!!

These books are very fun and fast reads!! Really enjoyed this one and look forward to #4 and many more books in this series!!!

This is my favorite Finlay Donovan mystery so far!

This third book in the series continues the overall story arc, with just as much suspense and humor as earlier installments.

I actually laughed out loud more than once, especially at the opening scene.

If you haven't read any Finlay Donovan books yet, take this as your sign to start the series today!

I continue to love the Finlay Donovan series! And as much as I hate that this one ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger, I am SO excited that it means we get more Finlay and Vero content.

I have loved the first two Finlay books equally - okay, maybe the first has a slight advantage because setting up this whole story is just hilarious to me. Honestly I think the third book is just as good! Finlay and Vero are friendship goals (well, maybe minus all the criminal activity).

This is pretty constant in all books, but I love the meta commentary about Finlay's books and what's going on in the actual plot. It cracks me up everytime!

All in all, this is another great installment of a ridiculous but hilarious series. You may have to suspend belief while reading, but that's half the fun! The characters are great, which includes the new ones we meet in this book. Lots of Finlay's usual shenanigans and laugh-out-loud commentary to keep you reading while you try to figure out the bad guy. I thought I had the mystery figured out, but I was wrong! Such a fun book, and I can't wait to read more.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano.
I’m absolutely in love with this series! Each book just as good as the previous. We have all been excited for Jumps the Gun after the second one’s ending and this did not disappoint leaving us with yet another cliffhanger. I’m screeching with joy! This series is action packed, hilarious and addicting to read.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Finlay Donovan does not disappoint in this third installment. If you enjoyed the first two books in this series, you will certainly be entertained by Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, as Finlay is always able to find herself in a bind and stumble her way out.

This time around things are a little different. Though the pace is still quite fast, for much of the novel Finlay and Vero find themselves at a civilian police academy, going "undercover" in order to find out which of Fairfax's finest is the dreaded hired assassin "EasyClean." As a result the story felt much more contained to me as all of the major players are congregated together, and Finlay's kids (who are always to be counted on for extra mayhem) are noticeably absent through much of the story. Finlay is also trying to figure our her relationship with Nick the cop and rework the romantic storyline in her own book that once again is well past a deadline.

If you are looking for a funny mystery with a lot of personality, action, and multiple twists to keep you guessing, Finlay is definitely your girl! While I had hoped for more closure in this one, book 4 is in the works!

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Press for granting me access to this eARC in exchange for a fair review

Finlay Donovan is one of my favorite fictional characters. When I saw the third one coming out I immediately requested it!

I always get nervous when we get to about book three in a series because sometimes it can start to feel like it's dragging and time to go ahead and wrap it up. Luckily, I didn't feel that way with this one.

The plot continued to develop and is still just a quirky/hilarious/yet serious as the first two.

The unique setting of this one was fun, and I can say it ended in a way that there definitely will be a fourth book and I'm HERE FOR IT!

The Finlay Donovan series has hit it's stride. The first book I took too closely as face value and didn't appreciate it for what it was. In the second book, I let myself just enjoy where the story took me and by Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, I was well invested in the characters and the hilarity of the situation that Finlay and Vero find themselves in. I was happy to get a bit more of Vero's backstory in this one. I continue to hate Steven. This installment leaned more heavily on romance than they have in the past which is normally not my taste but I was already invested in Finlay and Nick it felt genuine to the storyline. I experienced many laugh out loud moments. This series continues to remind me of the TV shows Dead to Me and Good Girls.

I can't resist another Finlay Donovan book, and this was such a great continuation of the series. I will never get tired of reading about Finlay and Vero's escapades! This book starts out with a hilarious encounter in a Walmart bathroom and just gets crazier from there. We finally tie up some loose ends that have been present since Book 1 and introduce new conflicts that Finlay and Vero team up to face. I seriously love their dynamic and how much Vero also loves Finlay's kids. The police academy was a fun anecdote that just made the book more fun and hilarious.

Please please pick up this series (start with Book 1)! You will not regret it. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Minotaur books for the advanced copy of this book!

See below for Goodreads synopsis:
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.

Mob boss Feliks is still running the show from behind bars, and he has a task for Finlay: find and identify a contract killer before the cops do. The problem is, the killer might be an officer themself.

Luckily, hot cop Nick has just been tasked with starting up a citizen's police academy, and combined pressure from Finlay's looming book deadline and Feliks is enough to convince Finlay and Vero to get involved. Through firearm training and forensic classes (and some hands-on research with a tempting detective), Finlay and Vero use their time in police academy to sleuth out the real contract killer to free themselves from the mob's clutches―all the while dodging spies, confronting Vero's past, and juggling the daily trials of parenthood.

I don’t know what else to say about this series other than I FREAKING LOVE IT! If you’re looking for the most fun mystery series around, then this is what you need!

In book three we’re back with Finlay and her trusty sidekick/accountant/babysitter, Vero, for a whole lot of shenanigans involving dead bodies, owing the Russian mob, sketchy ex-husbands, and a side of adorable romance. I loved Cosimano’s setting choice of a police academy sleepaway camp and the stress that came with being there mixed with our duo’s illegal affairs. The comedy that ensues is downright ridiculous and I loved every single moment of it! On top of the entertainment factor with these stories comes a solid plot that touches on the intricacies of family, friendships, and love. Cosimano has absolutely nailed the ability to combine all of those elements with crime and humor in a way that keeps me coming back for more and more.

If you haven’t already given this series a shot, now is the time to grab book one and join me in fangirling these books!

A huge thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy!

I love the Finlay series. They are funny and mysterious and I honestly did not see how the ending would turn out. I thought I figured out who the bad guy was but I was wrong. He wasn’t even on my radar. But the cliff hanger Elle left us with has me sitting on the edge of my seat to see if she will write a 4th one. I need to know if Vero gets out of her troubles!

What do Lucy and Ethel, Laverne and Shirley and Finlay and Vero all have in common? Well, first they’re hilarious, but even more to the point … they can’t stay out of trouble! True to form, Finlay and Vero find themselves neck deep in it again in Book 3 - this time doing a citizen’s police training camp to learn how to administer the law while hoping the cops they’re surrounded by don’t figure out how much of it they’ve broken!

Finlay and Vero want to do the right things, but people keep ending up dead whenever they’re around. That’s what happens when you cross Feliks Zhirov, a Russian mob boss. Now he’s calling in a favor, and if they don’t want their secrets revealed, they’ll play ball! Will Finlay’s smitten detective Nick Anthony, her cop sister Georgia, or any number of the other officers she’s spending her training week with discover hers and Vero’s secrets? I can’t say, but I will say that trouble is no stranger once again!

Full of their typical OTT antics, great characters old and new, a little bite of “dessert” as Vero likes to call it (use your imagination 😉), and a hilarious opening scene involving a toddler and an occupied bathroom stall, this was the fun I’ve come to expect from this series. One new thing? I read and listened to it this time and Angela Dawes was perfection. Her voicing of Vero particularly makes me laugh!

Honestly, if you haven’t tried this series yet and you enjoy books with two comical leading ladies, I highly recommend you try it. This is one series you’d be better off reading in order, though, as the story does build on itself in each book. I can’t wait for Book #4!

★★★★

"Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun" by Elle Cosimano is Book #3 in the Finlay Donovan Series!

Author and single mom, Finlay, and her nanny, self-appointed accountant, and partner-in-crime, Vero, are back with book #3 picking up just weeks after where book #2 left off.

Finlay is none too happy to be looking down the barrel of another book deadline with a request from her agent and publisher to add some spicy overtones to her new and currently poorly seasoned novel.

Taken by surprise, Finlay and Vero are cornered by Russian Mob boss, Feliks, into repaying an outstanding debt by locating and identifying a contract killer named "Easy Clean"...and the clock begins ticking.

It doesn't take long for Finlay and Vero to believe the allusive killer might actually be a cop.

When Finlay and Vero hear about the upcoming citizens police academy led by none other than "hot cop" Detective Nick Anthony, they hop on-board the bus. It's a perfect cover with firearms and forensics training included and plenty of time for super sleuthing and working on the dreaded rewrites. Ugh!

The best laid plans, right?

It's always a hilariously fun ride with Finlay and Vero. The pages turn rip-fast with quick chapters that beg you to keep reading and so you do. I was hoping for a bit more of the kiddo's in this one and maybe just a little something different to change things up a bit.

This series is definitely one to read in sequential order to stay abreast of the continuing antics and keeping up with the characters, which are plentiful. Each story moves quickly and just when you think things are coming to a head, answers surfacing, up pops another something and around and around we go.

Once again Vero stole the show. I love this character and she's the main reason I keep reading this series. I was sure this was the last book but not with a cliffhanger like that! Sign me up for Book #4, please! I highly recommend!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books for a widget of this ARC through NetGalley. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN by Elle Cosimano
GENRE: Mystery
MY RATING: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 (4.5/5)

READ IF YOU LIKE:
▫️Hilarious & messy mystery plots
▫️Laugh-out-loud moments 😂
▫️Quirky characters
▫️Good cop, bad cop vibes 😯
▫️Funny blurbs of motherhood
▫️A sprinkle of romance 💘

MY THOUGHTS:
This series is loved by MANY and it’s easy to see why— the books are lighthearted, laugh-out-loud funny, and bingeworthy on the mystery side of things!! Book 3 was no exception 🤩 I devoured this one in a few sittings. I was a few chapters in and already got that feeling of “ahh, I missed these characters so much!” Finlay and Vero are by far my favorite “partners in crime”. 🙌

ONE SENTENCE SYNOPSIS:
When the police academy offers a bootcamp for public citizen’s, Finlay and Vero jump on the opportunity in hopes of finding “EasyClean” (aka Russian mob boss). 👮

RATING EXPLAINED:
I did have a hard time remembering what happened in book 2 upon starting… I could’ve use a little more of a recap first thing but eventually more details were covered. There were a good chuck of scenes in this one that were even more outlandish than the other 2 books… but honestly, I still loved it! 😂 Some parts were a bit ridiculous, which is exactly what makes these books SO fun and creative. 👌 The perfect fictional escape for a good laugh! I did the physical copy of this book but I’ll still be putting the audio on hold because Angela Dawe narrating was INCREDIBLE in the first 2 books. 🎧 I am over-the-moon about there being a BOOK 4!!!! Ek! 😍📚

DETAILS:
▫️Publishes: 1/31/23
▫️Pages: 304
▫️Thanks a million @minotaurbooks and @netgallay for my #gifted copies! You’re truly the best.