Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is the third mystery in the Finlay Donovan series. Finlay has made it out of the trouble she keeps finding herself in relatively unscathed and it’s time to slow down…or at least it’s supposed to be, but life doesn’t seem to get that memo. Feliks, a Russian mob boss, is behind bars, but that doesn’t mean he’s not still in charge and Finlay owes him. He cashing in his favor and Finlay has no choice but to look for the contract killer Feliks wants. The problem is the killer might just be a dirty cop and Finlay needs to get on the inside. Enter the citizen’s police academy. Sign Finlay up! Will she be able to find the answers before it’s too late or will Feliks be after her before the story is over.

The Finlay Donovan series is so funny and easy to read and I couldn’t wait to pick up this third book. I loved it! It was impossible to put down and the story was fast paced and easy to get lost in. I love Finlay and Vero and the antics they get up to. The police academy angle in this book was fun and different and I really enjoyed it. Seeing more of Finlay and Nick together was definitely not a bad thing either! I can’t wait to see what comes in the next book in this series and need to get reading it very soon. If you are looking for a series with a mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat while laughing the whole time this is for you!

3.5 stars rounded to 4 for Goodreads. Another fun and entertaining adventure for Finlay & Vero. A few questions were answered in this one and more questions came about, that I’m excited to see answered in the next books. This is such an interesting series!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!
Always love a book that keeps your attention!
Good series!

3.75/5
I really liked this installment in the Finlay Donovan series. Of course it was a bit fantastical, but I am here for it!

The citizens police academy was my favorite part, and I love the tension between Finlay and Nick! I love Javi, too!

I also enjoyed the peek at the behind-the-scenes author stuff. Although I'm not sure how Finlay has the time or bandwidth to write with everything else she has going on!

Finlay, I used to think we'd make great friends, but honestly, I'm a little scared to hang out with you. 😂

I cannot get enough of Finlay Donovan! The antics are just too hilarious and it's always interesting to see how she gets herself out of these situations.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

I am absolutely eating up this series! The characters are so fun and I can't help but be along for this wild ride!

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is the third installment in author Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan series. 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 lots of money.

Mob boss Feliks is still running the show from behind bars, and he has a task for Finlay: find and identify a contract killer known as EasyClean before the cops do. EasyClean is the person who initiated the hit on Finlay's ex-husband. The problem is that the killer might be an officer, maybe even someone she knows. Luckily, Detective Nick Anthony has just been tasked with starting up a citizen's police academy, which also involves Finlay's sister Georgia, and the combined pressure from Finlay's looming book deadline, likely based on her own life, and Feliks is enough to convince Finlay and Vero to get involved.

Imagine Lucy and Ethel or Laverne and Shirley at a citizen police academy for a week. That's what you get when Finlay and Vero take advantage of the opportunity to continue their hunt for EasyClean while gathering material for Finlay's latest book, which the editor says she won't get paid for unless the female main character and hot cop get it on. Through firearm training and forensic classes (and some hands-on research with a tempting detective), Finlay and Vero use their time in the police academy to sleuth out the real contract killer to free themselves from the mob's clutches.

Meanwhile, Finlay and Vero have to deal with spies, confronting Vero's past and her relationship with Javier, and juggling the daily trials of parenthood, especially her son, who is a nuisance. It's a bit distracting with Vero's loan shark troubles and the fact that she is in debt to a sorority that she had nothing to do with. And what if Steven flakes on taking care of the kids? And what if Steven seems to be having regrets in cheating on Finlay, and now wants to make amends? Not to mention that Vero is determined to win all the points and be the champion team for the week.

In my opinion, this series should be read in order, otherwise, you might not get too many spoilers at once or not appreciate the craziness Finlay lives in. This book, like the previous two, ends on a crazy cliffhanger ending. Thankfully, I was given access to the rest of this series by the publisher which I am grateful for.

Finlay Donovan and Vero find themselves in another insane situation- this time with the Russian mob! Owing a favor to a mob boss is no small thing. How do you do what is right and keep your head on your shoulders? Finlay and Vero will keep you on your toes to find out!

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun and Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano (Books 3 and 4)
Writing: A-
Story: B
Characters: B+
Setting: B
Best Aspect: Still a great storyline with lots of action.
Worst Aspect: Books 3 and 4 didn’t pack the same punch and didn’t have the same laughs. The start of book 3 was very long.
Recommend: Yes.

In this book, Finlay and Vero attended a police academy training week for civilians while hiding from the mob and Vero’s loan shark. I loved meeting all the new characters as they continued their hunt for the contract killer from the last book. Finlay’s romance with Nick was intense and kept me yearning for more. I especially enjoyed how this story dove into Vero’s history and trouble. I want to learn more about her and Javi. The ending was a great hook into the next book.

I am loving this wild and fun series!

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | A Wild Ride with Finlay & Vero!

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano is another fast-paced, hilarious, and action-packed installment in the series, proving once again why Finlay and Vero are one of the best crime-solving duos in modern fiction. This time, their antics take them into the heart of a police academy, blending mystery, humor, and chaos in the best way possible.

Cosimano’s writing is sharp, witty, and engaging, making it easy to fly through the pages. The banter between Finlay and Vero is top-notch, and their friendship remains the heart of the book. The plot is filled with unexpected twists, and while some moments feel a bit over-the-top, that’s part of what makes the series so fun. The romance subplot adds a nice touch, though it doesn’t take center stage.

The only reason for the four-star rating instead of five is that the plot can feel a little crowded with all the different threads, and at times, Finlay’s choices seem more reckless than clever. However, if you love cozy mysteries with humor, strong female friendships, and plenty of suspense, this book is a fantastic read.

Highly recommend for fans of fast-paced, lighthearted crime fiction with a comedic twist!

This is my favorite installment so far. I absolutely loved the police academy plot line and how it wove so beautifully into the already established story line. The characters are still amazing, the mystery gets me every time, and I can’t wait to see where the next book takes the story.

4.5 stars, it's apparent there's no slowing down when it comes to Ms. Donovan and all of the shenanigans she finds herself in. With me having limited knowledge and books to compare this cozy series to, I still get the quirk for this series.

I really like this series! It surprised me because this comedy/thriller/whodunit is not usually something I’d read but after enjoying the first two I just can’t stop!

This was a fun book! I like that when Finlay was about to reveal the villain’s identity she finds out she is wrong and ends up at square one again. It kept me guessing. And while the search is going on, Finlay has to hide her secret life from her love interest who happens to be a cop!

There’s also tension with Finlay’s ex-husband sticking his nose into everything, Vero’s past creeping up on them and the Russian mob is expecting results or else!

To top everything off, right when I thought the rollercoaster ride had come to an end the book ends with a major cliffhanger!

It’s a quick, fun read and I’ll definitely finish the series.

Many thanks to St Martins Press/ Minotaur books for the free ebook!

When I say Vero and Finlay leave me in stitches laughing about their antics. It’s amazing how they get caught up in the things they do!

"Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun" by Elle Cosimano is another cozy mystery that hits just right! Finlay's quirkiness and her ability to getting into sticky situations make this book an enjoyable and entertaining read. The mystery and humor are perfectly balanced, and the plot is filled with surprising twists that keep you hooked until the very end. Another great addition to the series!

This was a fun addition to the series. The setting was unique and I thoroughly enjoyed the character development. Something about this series is quite addicting and I am excited to continue.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy. This is out now!

Finlay, author and single mom who’s becoming a pro at getting in unsuspecting trouble with her nanny Vero. To top it off Finlay now has a task to do for Russian mob boss, after they took care of a problem for her.

Still running the show from behind bars, mob boss Feliks has a task for Finlay: find a contract killer who is blackmailing him before the cops do. Problem with that is the killer might be a cop. Luckily for Finlay, Nick, the hot cop who is the inspiration in her books has started up a citizen’s police academy, so Finlay has the perfect cover-up to snoop around, all in the name of research for her new book, all before her book deadline and Felik’s deadline.

If you are looking for something funny with some mystery this book and series is for you. I have laughed so much between conversations and situations that Finley and Vero get into. The antics with her young kids are hilarious. I also loved the connection with family she has. I am so interested and invested in the characters I honestly can’t wait to see what happens next.

This is the third book in the Finley Donovan series. I did the audio book and the narration was great!

This was so fun!! I really enjoyed the police academy location and the surprises along the way! I am looking forward to reading the next one!