Title: Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice
By: Elle Cosimano
Pub. Day: Mar 05 2024

Genre:
Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Humor, Book Club, Audiobook

Trigger Warnings:
Murder, Violence, Sexual content, Death, Kidnapping, Stalking, Profanity, Gun violence, Infidelity
(**This volume in the series has more graphic content and language than the others. It was unexpected, so I gave it 3.5 stars and round up. It's not my favorites installment this series, but still fast paced and engaging work.)

Summary/Review:
Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice brings back the beautiful mess of chaos and charm that is Finlay Donovan. She’s a recently divorced mom of two, a struggling writer and woman who transforms everyday chaos into a wildly entertaining spectacle of misadventure.

In Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice the story begins with a much needed girls getaway that quickly evolves into a family trip with the ex, an old flame, an Aston Martin, an epic rescue…until it wasn’t! Finlay and Vero take on Atlantic City with more family involved than anticipated, not to mention the really attractive cop across the hall. Wherever Finlay and Vero go, chaos follows like a mischievous companion.

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice is truly unforgettable! The theme of the Finlay Donovan series balances the heaviness of heartbreak with hilarious disasters that revolve around the distinctive character, Finlay. The character depth is wild and unpredictable with memorable themes of female friendships and how to effortlessly maneuver through life’s unplanned detours.

Thank you to Elle Cosimano, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity of an Advanced Readers Copy. I am voluntarily leaving my personal review.

#FinlayDonovanRollstheDice
#St.MartinsPress
#MinotaurBooks
#ElleCosimano
#advancedreadercopies
#NetGalley

Note: Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and author Elle Cosimano for the advanced reader copy of this book. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.

The idea of a zany female protagonist in impossible situations has been done repeatedly. Perhaps the best known is Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. It has inspired numerous copies. I think Elle Cosimano’s series about author Finlay Donovan, whose life careens into crazy territory,y is about the best.

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice is the fourth book in the series. This is an ongoing story, and I don’t think you’ll enjoy it as much if you haven’t read the earlier books in the series. Go back right now and do that. I’ll wait. (Not really.)

This picks up following events in Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun. (There is a short story in between that book and this one that fills in some of Vero’s background.) It picks up almost immediately after, with Finlay and her nanny/friend Vero deciding to go to Atlantic City to rescue Vero’s boyfriend from the loan shark Vero owes money to. Their initial plan is to take the kids with them, and Finlay’s mother goes with them to watch them. Then Finlay’s ex-husband, Steve, gets wind of them traveling out of state. Per the divorce agreement, Finlay can’t take the kids out of state without his permission, so they also bring him along.

Once in Atlantic City, the women sneak off to follow a lead to locate Javier and a missing Aston-Martin. They end up coming across two dead bodies, including the loan shark that Vero owed money to. A young hacker named Cam, who has appeared in the series before, also turns up. He’s looking for a zip drive that has details of the Russian mob’s finances that could lead to their downfall. Unfortunately, there’s also information about Finlay and Vero. Soon, Finlay’s boyfriend, Nick, who is a police officer, turns up as well. He claims he’s chasing down a lead on the mob, but in reality, he’s worried about Finlay.

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice is a crazy adventure as Finlay and Vero try to duck everyone and locate Javi and the zip drive before the FBI does. There’s no way this could happen in real life, but it’s fun to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the story. They repeatedly try to do the right thing and only make matters worse. There’s a lot of interaction between everyone that is laugh-out-loud fun. They come up with plans that don’t always pan out the way they want them to, but it’s fun to watch it all fall apart on them. I sat there thinking “oh, that’s not a good idea…” but, of course, they didn’t listen to me and plunged ahead anyway, causing chaos.

This is a fun book that is a good bit of escapism from the crazy world we live in. The main characters are likable. We get Finlay’s colorful family here, including her mother, who is angry at her father at the current time. This makes their accidental foray into a male strip club all the more hilarious. I also enjoyed the inclusiveness of Finlay’s sister, Georgia, who is a lesbian and a police officer and has a new girlfriend. I liked that she was accepted into the police force with few questions.

The one drawback is something that happens a lot of the time with these types of stories. There was once a skit on the old Carol Burnett Show where she was a soap opera star, and the kids were dumped into the literal umbrella stand until they were old enough to cause trouble themselves. That seems to be the case here with Finlay’s children. They spend the entire time either watching TV in their hotel room or getting kicked out of the hotel’s swimming pool. This happened in other stories in the series as well. It’s a small plot point that just doesn’t work for me.

Overall, I find this series to have the right degree of levity and escapism that I need right now, and I’m enjoying it. This book wraps up many of the ongoing stories in the series, so I can’t wait to see where Finaly and Vero go next. There’s plenty of fodder left over to start on some new misadventures.

More hijinks and mayhem from my favorite duo, Finlay and Vero. This time, Finlay and Vero are heading off to Atlantic City - but not for fun. They had three things to accomplish, but that got harder when Finlay's ex-husband and her mother decided to join them. How to satisfy a loan shark, rescue Vero's boyfriend, and recover a stolen car with them around? Satisfying the loan shark turned out to be moot: they found him dead. I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher St. Martin's Press via NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

Book four in the Finlay Donovan series and Finlay is on the road in Atlantic City. If it sounds like funny chaos will ensue as usual, you would be correct. This was an entertaining read.

*Provided a DRC (digital review copy) from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.

3/5 ⭐️ Stars - Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for an ALC of ‘Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice’, #4 in Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan Series. I think NetGalley re-released the earlier books to build anticipation for the upcoming final installments (#5 and #6, which was just announced)!

I’m close to finishing all the available books in this series, and honestly, I’m kind of glad it’s wrapping up. While the Finlay Donovan books are fun and entertaining, they’re starting to feel a bit repetitive to me. This time, the whole crew heads to Atlantic City, and—true to form—bodies seem to follow Finlay and Vero wherever they go. It felt a little light on humor this time, especially when I compare it to the previous books.

If I were to rank them, I’d say the first was the best, the third comes in a close second, then the second, then this fourth installment, and last is the 3.5 short story. I’ve got one more to go, and then I’m ready to move on to something else!

I absolutely love this series and this book was no different! Finlay Donovan is the perfect mix of hot-mess-mama and relatable human being. I never want this series to end!

Such a great series and this book is a great addition to it!
I really enjoy this story and finding out what shenanigans Finlay and Vera get into.
There were some characters I could have done without and sometimes I felt like some parts dragged on a bit but overall it had me laughing and wanting to know what was going to happen next!

Okay okay. I know it took me FOREVER literally to finish this. But it was INCREDIBLE. There were some slow moving parts that put me in a lull. HOWEVER, it got jumping again. Once I felt that pulse come back I couldn’t put this book down. I’m so so excited to read book 5 to see what else could happen to Finlay & Vero.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher, & NetGalley for giving me access to read and enjoy this book. It was a DELIGHT.

This was a great addition to the Finlay Donovan series. It's especially better since it follows the kinda meh previous book. This one also has Finlay and Vero away from home. But it's so much better than the police academy storyline. They're off to Atlantic City and foolishly thinking they can get anything done secretly. Maybe they could have if they didn't have to bring everyone they know with them!

And yes, everyone includes Steven. Bleh. But it makes for a lot of tension and the zany antics we've come to expect from Finlay and Vero. There was never a dull moment. Lots of humor and twists. I'm glad to really enjoy this series again. The last one wasn't bad of course. It just wasn't for me. But I thoroughly enjoyed Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice!

I think I’ve reached my end with the Finlay Donovan series. I really liked them but it’s really the same format from book to book just different locations. I listened to them on audio and Angela Dawe is a fabulous reader. Her voices for all the characters are top notch.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for a honest opinion. 3⭐️

I was so excited for the latest installment in the Finlay Donovan series, and I was not disappointed. While this wasn’t my favorite Finlay book, it absolutely kept my attention from start to finish. The story is laugh-out-loud funny, and Vero continues to be one of my all-time favorite characters—her sharp wit and loyalty really shine.

In this fourth book, Finlay and her partner-in-crime/nanny Vero plan what’s supposed to be a relaxing girls’ weekend in Atlantic City—but things quickly spiral into chaos. Between negotiating with a dangerous loan shark, trying to rescue Vero’s childhood crush Javi, and hunting down a stolen car, it’s clear this trip won’t be all fun and games. Throw in Finlay’s meddlesome ex-husband and mother, and the stakes only get higher.

When the loan shark Marco turns up dead and Finlay and Vero find themselves prime suspects, the tension and humor ramp up in perfect balance. The addition of a charming cop with a connection to Finlay adds a sweet twist, and juggling all the drama—from family to crime to missing persons—makes for an engaging and entertaining read.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries with smart banter, quirky characters, and a dash of chaos, Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice is a solid addition to the series.

This installment is pure fun—fast-paced, clever, and as delightfully chaotic as ever. Finlay heads to Atlantic City on a mission involving the Russian mob, missing people, and a whole lot of things she definitely didn’t plan for. As always, nothing goes smoothly—and that’s exactly what makes it so entertaining.

The chemistry between Finlay and her crew is electric, the banter is sharp, and the stakes feel higher than ever. Elle Cosimano keeps the suspense and laughs coming without losing the heart of what makes the series so great.

If you’ve loved Finlay so far, this one delivers all the twists, trouble, and charm you’re hoping for. It’s pure escapism in the best way.

This was another great addition to the series. It had been a few years since I read the previous one so I found myself a little lost with the plot line but overall it was a good and hilarious book to add to the series and I will continue reading this series.

Thank you to the author/publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this whole series! I think everyone should read these because they're so fun. Finlay is one that I have loved getting to know and the series was so much fun to dive into.

The Atlantic City setting was fun but truthfully I am just tired. The story really isn't progressing and is just getting too outlandish and too complicated. I'm trying to follow and keep up but it's just getting harder.

4 stars for book 4 in the Finlay Donovan series. I have been reading the books in order and recommend that you do the same, as each book builds on the previous book. This book has Finlay and Vero, her accountant/nanny, traveling to Atlantic City to resolve an outstanding gambling loan from a loan shark. But then Finlay's ex husband and her mother demand to come with them. There are encounters with a Russian mobster, a corrupt cop, another cop who is love with Finlay, Finlay's sister and other diverse characters.
Some people die, but there is a satisfactory ending.
One quote on some of the things going on in the book, by Finlay: "My schedule? Besides playing 'Weekend at Bernie's' with two corpses while concealing the murders from the cops, hiding an irreverent teenager from people who wanted to kill him, and tracking down a stolen sports car so I could take down the leader of the Russian mob before he got to me first?"
Thank You Minotaur Books for sending this eBook through NetGalley.

A page-turner from start to finish! Great plot, strong voice. Thanks for the advance copy—I really enjoyed it.

I really loved this book! Elle Cosimano continues to deliver a perfect blend of humor, suspense, and heart with Finlay Donovan’s latest adventure. The mix of family drama, mystery, and sharp wit kept me hooked from start to finish. Finlay’s chaotic life feels so real and relatable, and the twists kept me guessing throughout. A fantastic addition to a series I’m absolutely loving!

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you, NetGalley and publishers.

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice is the fourth in the series. Finlay is once again head over heels in a mess only she can get herself out of, with plenty of help from beloved recurring characters. A weekend in Atlantic City with Vero gets complicated before Finlay even drives out of town. Steven, her kids and her mom have all invited themselves along. And that’s just the beginning! This weekend will be Finlay’s biggest gamble yet!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the complimentary e-ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book takes us to Atlantic City as Finlay and Vero follow the stolen car which had Javi in it. Vero has to deal with her old debts in order to get her childhood crush back.

This book has more for the readers to giggle about - absurd situations with crazy solutions.