Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun
by Elle Cosimano (Finlay Donovan #3)

The Finlay Donovan series is one of my all time favorites!

In this book, Finlay has gotten on wrong side of an imprisoned Russian mob boss. It was a joy to read and another winner.

Pub: January 31, 2023

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Well dang, this series is one that I truly think gets better with each book, and the third installment by far my favorite I think. Narrated by the fabulous Angela Dawe, the audiobook is not to be missed as we tag along with Finlay and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vera, and this time they have joined a week long citizen’s police academy for reasons I will let you read to figure out, and goodness knows the shenanigans they get themselves into while trying to lay low, as if that is possible for these two. I just love these two and am always curious how they are going to get themselves out of their predicaments they get themselves into, and they never disappoint! I highly recommend this book and this series if you have not read it yet!

Thank you to NetGalley / MacMillan Audio for the ALC and to NetGalley / Minotaur Books for the digital galley to review.

Finlay and Vero continue their raucous, hilarious, and haphazard investigative shenanigans in the 3rd installment of the series. I continue to enjoy the overarching series plot and the narration from Angela Dawe is superb. However the plot of this specific book was a bit more complex than the others and felt a bit unfinished.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for an advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is, above all things, incredibly fun. If you love FInlay and Vero shenanigans, book three has it in droves. If you want the answers to questions that have been raised in the past two books, you'll find a lot of them here.

In this book, Finlay and Vero have a more active role in the sleuthing, rather than stumbling upon dead bodies (although there are still dead bodies!), and they make quite a few more decisions that give them agency over the outcome.

I originally though this would be a trilogy so I was confused when new mysteries kind of branched off the main one but now I see there's going to be at least one more book. I'm not mad about it!

I've listened to the audiobook of the entire series and the narrator is excellent throughout, even in 1.5 speed ;)

Wow. I think this might just be my last romp with Finlay Donovan. Since the series started a few years ago, my ratings have dipped from 4 to 2 stars.

Instead of Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, it's more like Finlay Donovan Jumps the Shark.

I listened to the audiobook via the NetGalley app (thanks, Macmillan Audio). The book is narrated by Angela Dawe who is the voice of the series. And boy, does she have the character of Finlay locked down. The messiness of her. The quick-wittedness. The smart ass.

What I didn't love was the plot. It was overly complicated with the Russian mob tie-in. Plus, the hot cop and his work buddies. Plus, the ex-husband. It wasn't nearly as funny as the first two books.

It just didn't entertain, and I found myself speed-listening until the end.

“𝑾𝒆’𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒓𝒔. 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕.”

Finlay, Vero and Nick are back! Elle Cosimano has created such fun characters that I couldn’t wait to dive back into this world!

I split my time between physically reading and listening to the audiobook. Angela Dawe is SO good; the voices she uses to distinguish characters are fantastic (especially Vero); her voice for Sylvia (Finlay’s agent) reminds me so much of Joey’s agent Estelle from Friends! The narrative in this third book is still as entertaining and funny as ever; I laughed each time poor Javi was injured by Vero and the one liners are strong: “𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝐷𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒, 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑜𝑙𝑒-𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑦 𝐼 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑎 𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑑𝑜𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑚𝑒 𝑢𝑝 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑖𝑑𝑛𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡.” I loved the set up with Finlay and Vero joining the Citizen’s Police Academy; not only did it give an excuse to see more of Nick & Georgia’s coworkers, it also offered a great excuse for brining back previous characters (like Officer Roddy, Julian and Parker). It felt a bit like a “locked room mystery” where the number of suspects was limited and they couldn’t really leave the campus. The towel scene with Nick and the locker room was both hot and funny, and the romantic tension finally felt like it was being released. My hope for Book #4 is that we get to learn more about Vero’s past and that Julian can reappear as both Finlay’s friend and someone else they can lean on as they fight Feliks.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is a story of love, coverups, mystery, expectations and learning to not second guess yourself. It makes for a fun addition to this series, where joining their adventures feels like rejoining old friends (even Steven!). Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur, MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARCs!

Finlay Donovan can't lose! And neither can Angela Dawe, the pitch perfect narrator of this audiobook series. Once again, she brings Finlay to life and makes her hilarious, sympathetic and full of life. It's always great fun to listen to these audiobooks, and I can't wait for the next one.

This third installment in the Finlay Donovan series didn't live up to the previous two. I found the first books to be really funny and clever, but this one fell a bit short. I'll definitely be on the lookout for the next book by Cosimano, but this one wasn't my favorite.

I don't think you will find many readers not in love with this series, Finlay's adventures just get funnier and funnier as she finds herself in even more ridiculous situations, she is still trying to avoid and begin a relationship with Nick while covering up all the crimes she accidently finds herself caught up in. An absolutely hilarious must read series

This is the third book in one of the most entertaining series.
Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano is a witty and suspenseful novel that will leave readers both laughing out loud and on the edge of their seats. Cosimano has a true talent for blending humor and suspense, and this book is a perfect example of her skill.

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.

What I loved most about this book was the humor. Cosimano has a sharp wit and a gift for creating hilarious dialogue, and the result is a book that is both thrilling and laugh-out-loud funny. The banter between Finlay and her quirky sidekick Vero is especially entertaining.
Another strength of this book is the character development. From the first book to this one the characters have been fleshed out further. Finlay is a relatable and likeable protagonist, and her struggles as a single mother and a writer are all too real. The supporting characters are also well-drawn, and each one adds something unique to the story.

Elle Cosimano has created a truly memorable protagonist in Finlay Donovan, and I can't wait to see where her adventures take her and Vero next.

The audiobook was absolutely fantastic.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely love these books! If Cosimano can just continue with this series forever I will be the happiest person on earth. Finlay Donovan does it again. She is funny, relatable, and the perfect character. This book picks up right where the last one ended. I love that Cosimano is able to bring us right back in to the story and keep you engaged the entire time.

This book was hilarious! I loved it just like the first two! Vero and Finlay were written brilliantly like always. I can’t wait for the next one to be released!!

The Finlay Donovan series is a fun, easy read. I continually want to compare it to Stephanie Plum, but they aren't alike. This series has a lot of characters that makes it a bit difficult to keep track of. I find myself mistaking characters for the wrong person and it messes up my understanding of the storyline. Fortunately, it is an easy read so not too much is missing once you are back on track again. I enjoy the fact that this is a series with a continuous storyline and would like to keep following along with each additional book to find out what happens.

𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗛𝗶𝘁: somehow the craziness of book 2 got more intricate and crazy in book 3.

𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: I struggle to state my feelings, because I really wonder if listening to this one impacts my feelings.

My criticism of book 2 was the amount of characters. I couldn’t keep it straight. And it some how got worse in this one. I wonder if I read it if it would be different.

Also, the story is just so outlandish now. I know the Russian mob was a funny aspect to it initially. Helps create a humorous mystery vs. a scary one, but I’m over it lol still love Finlay and Vera but this one just ain’t it for me.

I need all the Finlay Donovan I can get in my life! This third installment was my favorite one yet. Yes, we still get all of the madcap hijinks. Yes, we still get the great buddy relationship between our two favorite accidental hitwomen. Yes, we get the usual amount of angst and romance drama. But, we also somehow get a Finlay that relaxes enough to do some self-analysis and trust in the process, trust in herself, and give herself time to breathe and enjoy life.

I've read all of the series, and this one is my new favorite. I hope they keep on coming! You need to read this series!

The narrator was the same fantastic voice actress as always. I've grown used to the familiar voices and emphasis and it's a relaxing comfortable listen for me. The male voices are the right kind of cheesy, and I love every minute of it. The tension and spicy (closed-door) scenes have great tension and attention to detail.

Finlay Donovan might just be my favorite fictional character! This is a laugh-out-loud, completely ridiculous but highly enjoyable cozy mystery that cannot be missed. Despite the lighter approach to the thriller/mystery genre, Elle Cosimano gives her characters such depth that make her stories equally character and plot driven. I have sped through all of her previous Finlay Donovan books, and Jumps the Gun is no exception. I am already highly anticipating her next book!

3.5 stars

This one was less adventurous and not as crazy as the first two, but it was still such a fun time. I love the characters and I love spending time with them while cleaning their mess!! It wasn’t over the top as the first two, but it was still entertaining enough. I listened to the audiobook of this one and it was so good!!

Huge Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this copy.

#1 Finlay Donovan is killing it ~ 4 stars
#2 Finlay Donovan knocks ‘em dead ~ 3.75 stars
#3 Finlay Donovan jumps the gun ~ 3.5 stars

First off, Thank you for this arc. Second of all, this series is like a drug. I need more of this forever and I will always be chasing the high I felt while in this story.

I have enjoyed the Finlay Donovan series and Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun was no exception. I recommend reading this series from the beginning in order to have the best understanding of the characters and storyline.

So much fun! Thrilling and funny characters who manage to get themselves into the worst situations and learn to rely on each other to save them. Elle Cosimano does an amazing job building a world that readers can see themselves in. Love that the children are growing up throughout the books.