A few years ago, I divested about two-thirds of my library when I moved to a smaller house in a different city. I no longer accumulate paperbacks the way I used to. But I held on to the first Elle Cosimano mystery, FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT, because it promised a fresh new series with a quirky concept and I wanted to see how Cosimano would sustain the conceit of the reluctant hitwoman without sacrificing the reader’s sympathy for her protagonist.

FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN, the third book in the series (I haven’t yet read the second one), fulfills the promise of the first book with engaging characters and their madcap adventures, adept writing, rapid-fire pacing, twisty plotting, and plenty of comedy. There is an extended period of romantic frustration — or foreplay, depending on how you look at it — that will no doubt please romance fans. Cosimano’s decision to set most of the book at a citizens’ police academy works brilliantly to ramp up the tension between her miscreant protagonists, who are hiding out from various thugs, and the forces of law and order, whose detection they’re also hoping to evade. Cue the small children, who bring their own threat of mayhem to the scene.

The biggest problem for readers is the sheer complexity of the backstory that Cosimano wants us to absorb and commit to memory in order to understand the situation, and I worry that some readers won’t make it past the information dump in Chapter 2. I’d read the first book in the series and yet I had a hard time following this account. There’s simply too much coming at us. Then Finlay’s agent calls, but we’re already on information overload, what with the threats of loan sharks, irate sorority girls, hitmen in pursuit of Finlay’s absent husband, the Russian mob, a contract killer trolling a women’s forum on the web, a bullet-riddled and possibly stolen Aston Martin, a buried body, and a hot detective. By the time we discover that Finlay is a novelist (no, that doesn’t explain the aforementioned circumstances), we’ve either been beaten into submission or already closed the book. This is a problem of editing as well as writing. I hope that Cosimano can figure out how to make it easier for readers to pick up any book in the series and feel welcome.
I received a free review copy of this book via NetGalley.

How is it possible that one book can pull in your heartstrings this much, and make you laugh that hard!?!

I LOVE THIS SERIES!!!

Holy cow. So hilarious. The way she writes about being a mom is my favorite. (Walmart?! Haha!)

If you loved the first two, it’s no surprise you’ll love this one too!!

Finlay Donovan, oh how I wish you could be my friend!! I love following her and her families adventures and the crazy scenario's she finds herself in. Elle Cosimano did a wonderful job at the third Finlay Donovan book, with a storyline that keeps you wanting more and more and more. Elle wrote in such an engaging way that it felt like you were right with them at every step of their crime ways. I throughly enjoyed it and can't wait for number 4!

Finlay Donovan is back again! This series is so much fun to read. I always look forward to finding out what kind of trouble Finlay and her nanny/accountant/friend Vera are going to get themselves into. My only complaint was that this third book in the series was a little messy at times and bogged down with too many characters. Overall though, it was lighthearted, silly, and mysterious, 3.5 out of 5 stars.

I've been endlessly recommending Finlay Donovan is Killing It and immediately read the second in the series when it came out this year. Now this newest addition, Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun isn't out until January of 2023. It features all the same characters as the two previous books and if you enjoyed those, you'll love this too. I highly recommend the whole series and starting them from book 1.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is the third in the series and does not disappoint. This is the action, adventure, funny book Elle Cosimano does so well. Characters are flawed (very), make questionable decisions, give in to some bad choices, and eventually get to catch the bad guys. But the reader will not care, and will continue along for the very enjoyable ride.

Like the first two books in the series, this book has a bit of everything: mystery, suspense, humor, friendship, family, parenting, romance. The series has been described as twisty (Megan Miranda) and madcap (Ellery Adams), and those two words describe it perfectly. While I do suggest reading the series in order, this book provides enough of a summary of the back story that you could start here.

I absolutely loved the newest Finlay Donovan! Finlay is a great character- she's funny, realistic, vulnerable, honest, and exceptionally relatable. While the plot of every book is extremely far-fetched, that's what I love about the series. It's a smart, fun, and readable escape. The ending of Jumps the Gun had me excited and ready for another round! I plan on recommending this title to friends, family, and whoever needs a good break from reality!

Finlay and Vero are at it again! This time, the duo find themselves at a citizens’ police academy trying to identify a hit man and stay one step ahead of a mob boss. As one would imagine, hilarity, mayhem, and maybe a murder or two ensue. I enjoyed spending time in Finlay and Vero’s world again, and based on the ending, we aren’t done with them yet. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

4.5/5 stars
I loved this first two books of this series and when I saw I could get the ARC from Netgalley, it was like Christmas came early for me. While I did love this book (love love love Vero and Finn), it was not my favorite in the series. This is due to the fact that I feel that EasyClean’s reveal was kinda sorta random. I will definitely pick this book up when it’s released in February 2023 to see if I can better understand the reveal. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!

First off, thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! This third book in the series will be released January 31, 2023 so I’m THRILLED to be able to read it in advance! I LOVE this series! It has mystery, romance and lots of humor! One part o especially love is how they literally pick up right after the previous! I think the longest may be 3 weeks after? The relationship between Finlay and Vero is amazing! These women love and trust one another with everything they have and it’s friendship goals! This book had SO MUCH NICK! I just love Nick! He knows Finlay is up to something but doesn’t seem to mind and still wants to be with her! The change in setting to the police academy and having them secluded with a bunch of suspects makes for an exciting change as well. Well now I have to hope for the ARC of the fourth book because now I’ll have a very long time between books! I will be buying this when it comes out though so I can definitely reread when I need to! If you have not read these books, pick up Finlay Donovan is Killing It and get started on this crazy ride!

I absolutely love this series! It’s fun and smart- each installment just gets better! Our patrons go wild when a new one comes out.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun did not disappoint! After two exciting and original installments of writer Finlay Donovan turned involuntary assassin, it seemed impossible to top Finlay Donovan Is Killing It and Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead, but that is exactly what Elle Cosimano has done. It could have been the low body count or the witty banter between Finlay and Detective Nick Anthony (aka The Hot Cop) that made the novel so entertaining, not to mention the quick, laugh-out-loud quips from Vero, the beloved nanny turned accountant. Just when you think you know what to expect, the story takes delightfully strange detours and makes us wonder how Finlay will manage to escape death and arrest, simultaneously. If you enjoy fun, fast-paced mysteries with kick-ass heroines who are not afraid to handle dead bodies and change diapers, you will love this series.

Elle Cosimano has done it again with Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun! Funny, quick read to enjoy by all.

(Thank you, Netgalley, for the advance copy).

Vero and Finlay are back! And this time, their circumstances have landed them right in the middle of citizen's police academy. While Vero is trying to get Atlantic City crime bosses off her tail, Finlay has the head of the Russian mob to worry about, not to mention her smoldering flame with hot-cop Nick.

While the setting of this Finlay book was a little too over the top and too drawn out (I was ready to end my stay at the police academy after a day or two. I can't believe the actual citizen police academies can last up to 10 weeks!) This was still another fun, humorous, twisty-turny installment in the series. Obviously there's gonna be a book four, and obviously I'm gonna read it!

Can’t wait for book 4! This was a little slow at first and I wonder if it’s because there is another book to give us the rest of the answers. There were some things revealed at the end but a lot of the book didn’t have the plot moving much. I still enjoyed being with these characters and their dialogue .

Okay, this is my favorite Finlay Donovan yet! Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for an advanced copy.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun picks up right where the second book ends. Finlay and Vero are trying to hunt down Easy Clean and, convinced that he/she must be a cop, sign up for a week-long citizens police academy where they can snoop around and investigate the potential suspects. All the major characters are back, with a few new ones (who I loved) too. It has everything you could ask for: humor, action, suspense, friendship, romance, and obviously a cliff-hanger ending. I'm just sad I have to wait so long for the next one! 😩

Dear Elle Cosimano,

Please continue to create Finlay and Vero's crazy story for years to come because this book solidified this fun series for me!

I loved taking all the characters from the first two books (Finlay Donovan is Killing It & Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead) and placing them in an entirely new scenario with the police academy. This felt like such a breath of fresh air and made the story even more exciting. This series would be a perfect one to series binge because we always pick up the story where we left off before, which is great for readers recently engulfed within the previous book... but somewhat harder for those who have a longer break in between the books. But the author does a good job of reminding us of previously introduced characters and plot lines if we forget.

Book three of the Finlay Donovan series could very well be my favorite so far. The hijinks and mayhem felt less over the top and the stakes could never be higher. The slow burn was achieved and many questions were answered... while unlocking new exciting ones. I cannot wait to see where book four takes us! And can we please see Finlay and her friends come to life already in the planned tv adaptation?! There were plenty of scenes in this book that would play out so well on screen!

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for a sneak peek into the next installment of Finlay Donovan!

Random thoughts...

Well... now I need to wait for book 4! How long is this series because I NEED to know why Easy Clean went after Steven - what is his deal?

I think I trust Vera? But she definitely has secrets!

I am digging the romance with the cop in this. Yes, please give me more just like her publisher needed more love in her books!

Overall this was enjoyable, you do find out who Easy Clean is although I felt like I was left with more answers that I wish would have been answered in this one. The first half was a bit slow with not much happening but the second half was great!

Just when you though Finlay couldn’t get herself into any more trouble, Vero and Finlay head to the FCPD Citizen’s Police Academy for a week of writer’s research. Finlay Donavan Jumps the Gun starts off a little slow but picks up the pace as soon as they load the bus for the academy.
Thank You to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and Elle Cosimano for the opportunity to enjoy this ARC.