I have enjoyed this series SO much, so I was really excited to jump back into Finlay's world and read about her latest shenanigans.

Most of Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun follows Finlay and Vero as they spend a week in a civilian's police academy training while also trying to investigate the identity of EasyClean in their accidental mixup with the Russian mob.

This book has less Steven (bless) and even more Nick (double bless) than the last book. The opening scene made me feel particularly seen as a mother of young children. Just like the first two books in the series, this one had me laughing as I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough, yet I didn't want the story to end. And technically it didn't. This installment felt like a big setup for the series finale of the fourth book, so be forewarned of the cliffhanger ending. The audiobook is great! The narrator did a nice job with all the different characters' accents.

I highly recommend this book if you have read the first two in the series. If you haven't, start at the beginning! I'm just bummed that it's going to be a loooooong wait for book 4.

Big thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an advance audiobook to review. I loved it!!

Reading Between the Wines book review #110/115 for 2022:

Rating: 3🍷🍷🍷
Book 🎧: Finlay Donovan Jumps The Gun
Author: Elle Cosimano
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
RELEASES January 31, 2023! RESERVE YOUR COPY TODAY!!!

Sipping thoughts: Finlay is back at getting herself in trouble to get out of it. At this point, Finlay should add Detective right beneath Writer on her business card.
I love the shenanigans her and Vero get into. And the lovely cop, Nick, is back. There is no denying their connection and I can't wait to see it build. The ending was very suspenseful and although this installment wasn't my favorite, I can't wait for book 4!

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @MacmillanAudio for an advanced copy of @FinlayDonovanJumpsTheGun.

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Okay. I think i have falling in love with this authors writing. Had me want more. I loved finlay donovan and her witty humor. And also how she cares for people shes around. Saving her ex husband. And protecting vero. Who i aldo love. Because we all needa vero in out life. And honestly i need more from this series. I hope we get more nick because wow. Hes a stud. Ill forever read finlay donovan

This series is hilariously chaotic and I love every second of it! Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun was a great third installment of this amazing series I’m already needing the 4th book to be published asap! The character growth, relationships, twists and turns, comedy, suspense - it all keeps getting better as the series goes on! Elle Cosimano has created such an amazing cast and I can’t wait to see what she has for us next!


Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

CONTENT WARNING: violence, blood, death, mention of murder, gore, mention of cancer, gun violence

Deciding to start this book in the evening was a terrible decision. I wound up staying up way late to read it, and then woke up early still thinking about it, so I obviously had to finish reading. Naturally, since I was exhausted, I went back to sleep. But at least I can say I accomplished something before 9 am, right?

In this installment, Finlay is trying to tie up some loose ends from the last book. She’s indebted to Feliks after the whole Aston Martin incident in book 2, and there’s now paperwork that ties her to him, so she owes him a favor. Feliks being who he is wasn’t going to leave a favor outstanding for long, and he quickly calls it in—she’s got to find out who EasyClean is, and do it quickly.

Sounds easy, right? Of course not, because nothing is easy for Finlay! Vero is struggling with some poor choices that she’s made which are coming back to bite her (and Finlay), she’s got issues with Steven (naturally), there’s a problem with her book and she has to rework some of it with a deadline hanging over her head, and as if our dynamic duo needed anything else to deal with, they both got recruited to join Nick’s super-intensive citizen’s police academy. What’s that? Well, they stay at the police academy, surrounded by police officers, and undergo rigorous training. Sounds like fun, except for the fact that her every move is being watched by Joey, Nick’s suspicious partner.

While there were plot twists galore and action, I loved the humor so much. That’s one of my favorite parts of the story, and a huge part of what keeps me coming back for more in this series. I was also approved for the audiobook, where Angela Dawe narrates, and she continues to do a fabulous job. She’s amazing, and I love the different voices and accents that she does for the characters! But where the series, and this book especially, really shines, is the connections between the characters. I especially love the relationship between Finlay and Vero, which has gone from employer/employee to something so much deeper. They’re friends but have more of a ride or die relationship, and they’ve developed a trusting bond between them that gets even stronger in this book. I also liked seeing the connection building between Finlay and Nick, especially as they’re placed into forced proximity during this book. These characters are all great, and even the side characters are fleshed out and intriguing.

It was difficult to figure out who the bad guy really way in this story, and it kept me thinking for the entire book. However, when the villain was revealed, it came as a complete surprise. I loved being surprised, and it was written well. This fast-paced, laugh-out-loud funny series is great, and I’m definitely already looking forward to the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to listeb to in exchange for an honest review.

First off - loved the narrator. She did an excellent job!

This is the third Finlay Donovan book and its just as good as the first two; if not better! Once again Finlay and Vero are trying to parent, save their butts, and hide a body. I can't wait for the next one!

Wow. I absolutely love this series.
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We were left with a cliffhanger after book two, and still didnt know who Mr.Clean was. Even though Finlay wishes she was done with all of this mess, Feliks is still threatening her. She has to figure out who Mr. Cean is and fast. Finlay and Vero go to a police camp for a week to do more research for a book and also try to figure out who could possibly be acting as Mr. Clean.
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In book 3 we not only see which direction Finlay decides to go in terms of love we also get to be a part of Veros love interest. Which is a lot of fun. I
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Even though we find out who Mr. Clean is... We are still left with another huge cliffhanger that just leaves us desperate for the next book.

I will post a review for this book on Instagram and Goodreads.

Pros: The Finlay Donovan series is lots of fun—it reminds me of the Stephanie Plum series with a main character who doesn’t always make the best decisions, but the reader still cheers for her. I find myself not caring much about the mysteries in these books and caring much more about Finlay and Vero and the comedy of errors they get themselves into.

I both read this book on kindle and listened to it on audio and thought both formats were great! I love that the same narrator has read each book in the series because I associate her voice with Finlay Donovan.

Cons: This isn’t a con, but I do suggest readers read this series in order rather than pick this up as a standalone.

3 stars = I liked it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book.

The Finlay Donovan series continues perfectly execute that tricky blend of being light-hearted, whimsical, and fast-paced while still having a mysterious edge! Cosimano's books are ones I've come to know that I can confidently pick up, knowing full well that I'm bound to enjoy it. After the first two books, we have already come to know Finlay, Vero, and the other recurring characters well, so falling back into this world is such a delightful experience! I listened to this one on audiobook and it made me realize that Macmillan Audio really nails it when it comes to narration that is lively and animated, with distinguishable voices for each distinct character, all the while avoiding falling into the easy mistake of becoming cumbersome or distracting.

This third book takes us a little bit out of the domestic/suburban setting of earlier books, because Finlay and Vero have joined a citizen's police academy and are receiving forensic training! The part of me that consumed every single episode of shows like CSI, Criminal Minds, Bones, etc in my youth really loved this cheeky foray into that realm. The only thing I missed a bit in this one are the threads of motherhood that played such an important role in Books 1 (Finlay Donovan is Killing It) and 2 (Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead). The idea of a suburban mom/author as an unwilling but surprisingly skilled hitwoman was part of what made the earlier books so special, and in this one, the kids are still there of course but not quite as underfoot (understandably) - I hope to see motherhood return as a theme in this series!

I would also add that the tone of the Finlay Donovan world reminds me quite a lot of the tragically short-lived show, The Santa Clarita Diet (with Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant!). The juxtaposition between the dark/grim and the goofy/playful is an absolute delight. The beauty of this balance is that I feel like this book could be equally beloved by fans of the mystery/thriller genre AND fans of the romance genre.

Due to this cross-genre energy, this series is truly a failproof recommendation (and surely a safe gift option as well). Plus, based on the ending, it sounds like fans of Finlay Donovan can expect Book #4 soon enough; I'll be on that pre-order list when it does!

I enjoyed book one, tolerated book two and book three was just the same thing different day. It’s a fast read and at times it’s amusing but I think maybe the series should’ve ended after two books.

Thank you for the eALC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars!


I flew through the third Finlay book because it was just as amazing as the rest!

Finlay and Vero are 2 of the most ridiculous, funny and wonderful characters I've ever read about. These stories are dark while still managing to be light-hearted.

I'm so happy that this one ended with an opening for a fourth book, because I think I'll always want more Finn & Vero!

Elle Cosimano has created such depth and richness in these characters over the last three books that they could literally be written staring at a blank white wall for fifty pages and I would still be intrigued, charmed, and at the edge of my seat.

I laughed, I gasped, I cheered like a crazy person when YOU KNOW WHO and YOU KNOW WHO finally did YOU KNOW WHAT, and ultimately, I loved it like I knew I would.

This hit. Completely.

Narrator Review - Angela Dawe is delightful. Her voice is neutral (not grating, pitchy, etc), inflection and volume are perfect, and her many accents for different characters give the audiobook great depth.

Book overall Review - I devoured this one in less than 24 hours. Whoops. 😬

I quite literally gasped in delight and did a little happy dance when I saw I was approved for an ARC from NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this new installment in the Finlay Donovan series! If you loved the first 2, you’ll love this one. But make sure you read them first - not a lot of catching you up.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC! First off, let me say that I LOVE this series. Finn and Vero are the best duo, prove me wrong! Also I love the narrator for this series, her voice is perfect. The continuation of the first two books was done so well. It was more of a slow burn, but I still enjoyed it.

I will read a million books of this series lol or by this author!

I think the Finlay Donovan books are one of my very favorite series -- they are so ridiculous and ridiculously funny.


Review copy provided by publisher.

I really enjoyed this latest Finlay Donovan adventure that sees Finlay and Vero having to go undercover to hide from a mob boss out to get them. Lots of the trademark humor, some great romance and fun plots twists. Great on audio too! Much thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review. This series is perfect for fans of the Stephanie Plum books or the Netflix show, Dead to me.

After reading/listening to the first two books in the series, I was looking forward to this installment. This was another fun listen and I think the narrator added to my enjoyment of this ridiculousness. The Finlay Donovan series is a great choice when looking for a bit of mystery on a lighter note.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I continue to drink down this series like a woman walking in a desert and finding a glass of water.

I don't think this is a book that you can pick up as a stand-alone. Cosimano does such a brilliant job of utilizing the familiar, developing characters while folding in new characters and suspense. Without the first two books, so much nuance would be lost.

The hijinks, sarcasm, and tripping deeper into different scenarios just keeps upping the anti.

This is my favorite series in mystery and thrillers. Angela Dawes is a brilliant narrator. I would have loved to download and read it months ago but I had to have Angela Dawes!

3.5 stars

Finlay and (even better) Vero are back for another installment of 'How did we get here?!' in their never-ending quest to do the most atypical stuff in the most innocuous environment!

While it would be possible to read this as a standalone, I cannot recommend that approach at all. It's much more enjoyable to know the backstory of nearly all of these characters coming in, so readers who haven't started from the beginning should.

Finlay is an entertaining m.c., but once again, it's really Vero who steals the show. She's hilarious and does not suffer fools, even if she sometimes is playing the role of the foolish one. Their antics will please incoming fans of the series overall, but for me, this really did feel like a middle book with less of a standout plot, influx of character development, or particularly memorable moments than its predecessors. Don't get me wrong; I was entertained and am already dying to read the next one (and - clearly - the plan is that there will be a next one. The setup is unmistakable).

I love these characters and especially their friendship and can't wait to see what kind of wild hijinks they get up to next. This is a soothing balm in light of the semi-recent loss of the fun series _Good Girls_. Suburbia, beware!