This is the third in the Finlay Donovan series, and in my opinion, the most down-to-earth. Take that with a grain of salt, because there are still some wild adventures that require a suspension of disbelief, but this time around, they're delivered with a touch more realism that adds depth to the story. For me, that was a big win. I loved the first book in the series (and that's still my favorite), but the second one flopped for me, with everything going just a little too far for my taste.

In "Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun," Finlay and her sidekick Vero owe a favor to Russian mobster Feliks, who wants them to find and kill a contract killer -- one they suspect might actually be a part of the police force. To get close to the action, the duo signs up for the Citizens Police Academy, a week-long course that teaches citizens how to shoot, defend themselves, and evade pursuers. Readers will find it easier to follow along if they've read book 2, as they are seeking the same contract killer who was prominently featured in "Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead."

While ultimately, I think I've decided that Finlay needed to be a one-off read for me after finishing book one, I did feel better about the series after this book than I did with the second and am glad I gave it a shot. For those who want a light mystery with humorous, exaggerated antics, this remains a solid choice. 3.5 stars rounded down.

FINDLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN by Elle Cosimano
Published: 1/31/2023
By: Macmillan Audio
Narrated by Angela Dawe 8 hrs 38 min


What a hoot !! A new genre arises - the screwball comedy mystery. Mix into the pot a heaping amount of misunderstanding and misadventure, a humungous amount of humor, a tinge of romance, a deepening friendship and murder, and you’ve got an amazing propulsive read.
Finlay Donovan Jumps The Gun is the third Finlay adventure, but can certainly be enjoyed as a standalone, as Cosimano seamlessly weaves into the narrative the necessary backstory.
Findlay Donovan is a struggling B-list writer of romantic mysteries, always facing impending deadlines for her next book … and struggling with “writer’s block” …. She needs to provide a “spicy' ending for her next book. Her reader’s are clamoring for more romantic involvement with the “hot cop” from her previous book. She is the mother of adorable four year-old Delia and perpetually sticky two-year-old toddler, Zach … who forever is skirting away into escalating degrees of mischief. Donovan is divorced from her no-good husband, Steven… who carried on a lengthy affair with their curvy, blonde realtor. She continues to be “aided” by her most unusual live-in college student, Vero … who wears many hats: trusting nanny, confidante, partner-in-crime, and accountant - and from this, a blossoming friendship has evolved.
Returning for this adventure are the kids, Vero, Nick the “Hot Cop”, her sister Georgia ( who also used to be Nick’s partner), a cadre of police officials, a cameo from her previous flame, the law student Julien, and a cast of other nefarious operatives. Finlay quickly reneges on her New Year’s resolutions: no more junk food, no more men, and no more bodies in the back of her minivan. Incidentally, Vero is being hounded by a henchmen of a loan-shark from New Jersey…. who gets accidentally is crushed by the misadventures of Vero and Findlay.

Finlay has two pressing problems. She can’t seem to finish the ending for her impending next book. Her fans’ are clamoring for a romantic tryst with the “hot cop” from her previous book (based upon her real life escapades with cop, Nick Anthony ). As she faces “writer’s block” head on, she is being threatened by the Russian mob boss, Felix Zhirov, to help uncover the true identity of the contract killer, Easyclean, who’s trying to blackmail him. Findlay suspects it’s the same dirty cop who tried to kill her ex-husband, Steven. Felix is threatening to reveal some damaging dirt on Findlay, that will destroy her life. To accomplish both, Findlay and Vero enroll in a week long Police Academy Boot Camp for Citizen’s . Hopefully she’ll be able to investigate the cadre of officers involved in the event and uncover some damning evidence pointing to the identity of Easyclean, and provide inspiration to finish her book. The camp is being run by none other than Nick Anthony … who she has been trying to keep at arm’s length. Why? Their budding romance and involvement has been complicated and convoluted.
Elle Cosimano spins a twisted and hilarious tale that is well plotted, suspenseful, and is marvelously outfitted with multiple colorful characters that are both flawed and yet believable. The burgeoning relationship and “sisterhood” between Finlay and Vero is nothing less than amazing. The dialogue banter flows in an entertaining fashion, frequently funny and at times, sarcastic, as our two main protagonists entangle themselves in the world of murder and mayhem. This certainly rivals the “ Lucy and Ethel “ adventures of television lore. This propulsive page-turner is a welcome antidote to everyone’e angst. The denouement of this delightful gem begs for further adventures in the trials and tribulations of Finlay Donovan. Although I’ve read the first two installments on my Kindle … I opted to enjoy the experience of an audio version of this zany tale, through the marvelous narration of Angela Dawe. I’t truly amazing how she captured the voice and essence of both male and female characters. Her perfomance completely matched the timbre of this zany, hysterical madcap adventure. This certainly brought this novel to a new height in the theatre of my mind.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an Advance Audio version of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This third installment in the Finlay Donovan series is just as great as its predecessors! This time around Finlay and her nanny-turned-sidekick, Vero, are still trying to figure out the identity of a hitman featured in the previous books. The dynamic duo is participating in a citizens' police academy and wondering if the hitman may be among them working as a police officer. The academy proves to be the perfect cover for the ladies to continue their search for the hitman. There are lots of laughs and some romance, too! This series is so much fun! Both the audio and print versions are great. My only criticism is that the audiobook narrator makes most of the male characters sound like young children which got annoying pretty quickly in a book with a large cast of men.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for advanced reading and listening copies of this book and audiobook.

This book was a miss for me. I have not read the other books in the series, and I definitely felt lost. The story felt laughable, but not in a good way. Narrator's voice was okay for me for the MC, but I didn't like her minor characters' voices. Overall, not a book for me.

This is the first book in the series that I have listened to as an audiobook, and I enjoyed it. The only character that didn't quite ring true for me in Angela Dawes's narration was Vero, who comes off as even grittier than I imagined her. This is an excellent installment in the series, and I'm glad that the cliffhanger made it clear that there will be more.

Elle Cosimano does it again. I love the Finlay Donovan series and I was so excited to be selected for this title. My one complaint is that I'll have to wait for it to be released in two days! I am a fan and I will be recommending this to my friends!

Being a single mom, entangled with the Russian mob, trying to write a book and keep her sleazy ex-husband at bay is just a normal day for Finlay. With the help of her best friend and nanny, Vero, they are out to keep everyone around them safe while trying to solve the mystery of who is EZ Clean.

I felt this story did move a bit slow until the end. However, the antics of Finlay and Vero get me every time! You have to love a story when they mention a velociraptor orgy and get a giant male body part painted in blue on a stolen cop cruiser.

Angela Dawe is such an amazing narrator. Her voices are so good and distinct that you can tell who each character is without guessing. She is definitely in my top 5 of favorite narrators.

This is book 3 in the series, and I highly recommend reading them in order. The story is not over for these two, and I am looking forward to book 4.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC in exchange for an
honest review.

Story 4/5
Narration 5/5
Overall 4.5/5

This series is just so much fun! It's ridiculous, entertaining, fast-paced, and kind of swoony!! The romance was much more present in this one and honestly, I'm so happy that my man of choice has come out on top! lol

I continue to love the characters, the plot, and the overall feel of this book. Can't wait to see where the adventure takes us next!

I'm so glad to be back on the snooping with Finlay and Vero. This duo is a favorite. A bit of humor, a bit of snooping, a bit of sexy, and a lot of trouble. Loved the twists and turns of this adventure. Definitely faster moving, but not as focused on the characters. Can't wait for more from this duo and more trouble they will get into.

#FirstLine ~ The man's voice cracked on the other side of the partition.

I read this book and also listened to the audiobook version as well. To say I am a fan of the Finley Donovan series is an understatement. I love how easy it is to get sucked into the story. There is humor, mystery and interesting characters, plus a story that is so perfectly plotted. You get to know Finley and her pals and are invested in their mishaps and misguided adventures. You will blast through the pages; both wanting to see how it ends and simultaneously trying to savor every word! I will read every book in this series and I want these installment to keep coming!!! I am a super fan and want everyone else to read this story too!!!

Another fun installment in the Finlay Donovan series. In this one, Finlay has sworn off men, junk food and involving herself in murder. As anyone who has read the two previous books, though, these new resolutions are unlikely to last long! This book seems to drag a bit compared to the previous two, taking a little too long for things to play out. Still, looking forward to #4!

I could not wait to read! I was a liiiitle sad at how little the plot seemed to move forward, but hopeful that it just means we get another book of our girl Finlay. Giving this one a 3.5 rounded up to 4.

I recently had the pleasure of reading "Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun" by Elle Cosimano, and I have to say, it was an absolute blast! This book is a thrilling and fast-paced read that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The main character, Finlay Donovan, is a relatable and likable protagonist who finds herself in a mess of trouble with the Russian mob. The plot is both clever and engaging, with plenty of twists and turns along the way. I couldn't help but root for Finlay and her trusty sidekick, Vero, as they navigate their way through the world of contract killers and police work.

Finally, I would like to thank NetGalley and the author, Elle Cosimano, for giving me access to this eARC audiobook. It was a true joy to read, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling and engaging read.

This was a fun continuation of Finlay's story. I especially liked the police academy storyline. It seemed a bit smash bang by the end, but I think that's true of most of these books.

Thanks NetGalley for the advance audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to like this third book in the Finlay Donovan series more than I did. But to be honest, it was not as good as I had anticipated. I listened to the audiobook, which was very entertaining and engaging. As usual, narrator Angela Dawes kills it.

Finlay and her nanny, Vero , get into craziness again, trying to hunt down the contract killer who targeted Finlay’s ex husband, Steven. The Russian mob is heavily involved, unfortunately for Finlay.

Part cozy mystery and part romcom, hot cop Nick Anthony and Finlay continue to redefine their relationship. Things get complicated as Finlay and Vero try to track down the contract killer because the killer appears to be a police officer. Finlay and Vero must tread carefully as they don’t know who to trust.

There was so much action it was easy to get lost in the details and seemed over the top, but it’s fiction so anything goes I guess. The audiobook format made it easier to follow as each character was voiced differently.

As the third in the series, there was a lot of recap and back explanations needed to keep the listener up to speed. Even so, I still felt lost at times since it’s been so long since I read book #2. It seems like there will be a #4 based on the ending.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is the third in the series by Elle Cosimano. To fully enjoy the book, I would recommend reading the previous 2 books. Finlay and her friend/nanny/accountant Vero are up to their crazy antics trying to write a book, raise the kids, and find out who the hit man Easy Clean is. Just like the first 2 books this one ends on a cliffhanger, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next. If you love the Stephanie Plums series, you’ll love Finlay Donovan.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the audio ARC.

While I enjoyed the first installment, and loved the second, I’m a little disappointed in the third. It won’t stop me from continuing the series, but I don’t feel like a whole lot happened in this book. How has no one killed Steven yet? And as someone that generally enjoys the second male lead in kdramas, I’m sorry, but I’m Team Julian.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

This series is one of my favorites. I enjoy the crazy shenanigans of Finlay and Vero. If you are looking for a read that rivals the Stephanie Plum series, this is it!

4.5 stars. I love these books! It always seems like what happens is so over-the-top and yet that doesn’t bother me one bit in this series. I still sit there, with bated breath, hoping Finlay and Vero don’t get caught lol.

This book, I feel, really increased the stakes. Not only is Finlay beholden to Feliks and tasked with figuring out who EZ Clean is, Finlay and Vero are spending the week surrounded by police, most notably, Nick. Finlay wants to see a future with Nick, but she worries about all the shady business she’s been involved in. Meanwhile, Vero has gotten in trouble with a loan shark, so they also have to figure out how to solve that.

I loved the suspense in this one. Nick’s partner, Joey is suspicious of Finlay and Finlay thinks he might be EZ Clean, so there was kind of a cat and mouse thing going between them. Meanwhile, Nick learns some more information about Feliks’ crimes and it could lead right back to Finlay. I loved how the book was set in the citizen’s academy, so they were basically locked in with the police.

I love the characters in these books. Vero is always a hoot. I love the relationship that has formed between her and Finlay. I’m so glad that Finlay finally admitted her feelings for Nick, but she is still tied to Feliks, so who knows what trouble that might cause in the future.

We find out a lot of information in this book about who is who and who they work for. I’m looking forward to seeing how that plays out in the next book.

The ending was great and set it up for the next book. What future trouble is Finlay and Vero headed towards? I can’t wait to find out!

***Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC. All opinions expressed herein are my own***

The Finlay Donovan series is a non-stop comedy of errors. Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is the third installment of the series, and it doesn't disappoint. Finlay and her sidekick nanny, Vero, experience one hilarious catastrophe after another. This series is worth the read if you are looking for sleuthing shenanigans.