In the fifth installment of the Finlay Donovan series, Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, author Elle Cosimano once again delivers a delightful blend of mystery, humor, and unexpected twists. The story follows Finlay Donovan, a novelist and single mother, who, alongside her loyal nanny and partner-in-crime, Vero, becomes entangled in a perplexing murder investigation. When a body is discovered in the backyard of Finlay's elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, the duo is reluctantly drawn into the chaos that ensues. As Mrs. Haggerty temporarily moves into Finlay's home due to the ongoing investigation, Finlay and Vero find themselves navigating a series of secrets, all while striving to keep their own past misdeeds concealed. ​

The book is filled with wit and charm, capturing the suburban and amateur sleuthing. The novel evokes a spectrum of emotions, from genuine laughter at the protagonists' antics to suspense as the mystery unfolds. Readers are treated to a fast-paced narrative that balances comedic elements with the tension of uncovering hidden truths.

After a bit of a bumpy ride in the 4th book, this intallment of Finlay's story finally felt more on-par with the start of the series! I found the character arcs much more satifying and deep this time around, without quite so many ridiculous hi-jinks that pulled me out of the story.

Rating 4 .25 stars
All my favorite (Finlay, Vero, Cam and Nick) and not so favorite characters ( Mrs. Haggerty and Steven) are back in the addictive Finlay series. Finlay and Vero find themselves pulled into a police investigation when a body is found in their neighbor Mrs. Haggerty's backyard. Mrs. Haggerty needs their help and they get stuck with her as a roommate.

I loved a many things about this book:

*I loved learning Mrs. Haggerty's backstory (started to like her character a little more by end of the book)
* The scenes with Delia and Zach were so relatable. Especially the boy bully(my daughter took down a boy bully similarly at that age) and the potty training which had me laughing. I wish this series existed when my kids were this age.
* Finlay Donovan Digs Her One Grave is a fun mystery mixed with women supporting women at the heart of the story.

My only negative:
* I have to wait for the next installment in the series after the huge cliffhanger.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, NetGalley and author Elle Cosimano for the digital ARC for the honest review . Release date: March 4, 2025

I deliberately waited to listen to this until I knew I had a block of uninterrupted time to do so and, though it was difficult as I wanted to dive in right away, it was worth the wait! The whole gang is back and trying to prove Steven’s innocence in their trademark somewhat less-than-legal way. There’s plenty of laughs and questionable investigative tactics throughout but also a more serious side as they dig deeper. I love everything about this series and can’t wait for more!

Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with Finlay’s elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, the community busybody and president of the neighborhood watch. But when a dead body is discovered in her backyard, Mrs. Haggerty needs their help. At first a suspect, Mrs. Haggerty is cleared by the police, but her house remains an active crime scene. She has nowhere to go . . . except Finlay’s house, right across the street.

I read this book on an airplane and y’all…I tried my hardest to keep my laughter contained. And I was not too successful!!

As usual, Finlay is a hot mess! Add in Mrs Haggerty and you have a team that just might get their happy little butts into hot water. But Vero takes no prisoners. She is probably my favorite character. Talk about some one-liners…Vero is full of them..SASSY is an understatement!

This is part of a series. It is not necessary that you read them in order…but I would read them!

Need a fun, quick read to brighten your day…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave (Finlay Donovan, #5) by Elle Cosimano opens where the last installment ended. Mrs. Haggerty has been arrested after the body of a man was found buried in her back yard but is cleared by the police. Finlay is roped into letting Mrs. Haggerty stay at her house until the utilities are turned back on at Mrs. Haggerty's house. Finlay and Vero are on their best behavior and in no hurry to be involved in another murder but ends up helping to solve who buried the man in Mrs. Haggerty's yard so she can be rid of the old woman.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for approving my request to read Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave (Finlay Donovan, #5) by Elle Cosimano. I received an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) for free in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved the fifth installment in this series. The thing I enjoyed the character development of Mrs. Haggerty along with some of her backstory. It gave me a new found respect for this character, and I found myself actually liking her. Yes, I am baffled by this too after disliking the character for so long. Additionally, the relationship between Nick and Finlay is finally growing, and I enjoyed this development. I also enjoyed the fact that Finlay and Steven are getting to a better place in their co-parenting relationship. Delia and Zach are more present in this edition, and some of their hijinks are funny.

The mystery portion is a bit subdued this time around, which is actually nice for a change of pace. The motive behind it was a bit far fetched though. And, yet again, we are left with a bit of a cliffhanger.

All in all, this was a fun read that let me escape from reality for a few hours. I gave Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave (Finlay Donovan, #5) by Elle Cosimano five out of five stars.

4.5 Stars rounded up

Finlay Donovan is back! This is such a fun series to read, I always look forward to a new Finlay mystery. The characters feel like family, it's always so fun to spend time back in their world. Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is the fifth in the series, and Ms. Cosimano continues to keep the storyline fresh and fun as she mixes a healthy dose of comedy and a little romance in with the mystery.

Mrs. Haggerty becomes the focus of this book when a body is discovered in her backyard and she’s the prime suspect. Since her house is a crime scene and she has no where else to go, Finlay takes Mrs. Haggerty in. Regular series readers will know Mrs. Haggerty as the nosy neighbor who is always watching, but Finlay isn’t sure how much she may (or may not) have seen. Having Mrs. Haggerty live with Finlay and crew sets up plenty of laughs for the readers as Finlay works to get to the bottom of the mystery.

The fourth book wrapped up some overarching storylines, so if you’re new to the series, this book is a good place to start. (Although I do recommend starting from the beginning!) If you’re into audiobooks, I definitely recommend listening. Angela Dawe is terrific, I find myself laughing out loud quite a lot as I listen to the latest mess Finlay and Vero have gotten themselves into.

Many thanks to Mac for letting me listen to this audiobook, and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

This series is just fun! Book 5 picks up right where book 4 left off and doesn’t slow down. I loved Mrs. Haggerty! She was so funny. If you loved the other ones in the series, you will love this one too.

Finlay and her nanny, Vero, are back in action! Finlay just finished her latest book and is hoping to relax a bit when a body is found in her neighbor's backyard. Her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty is the initial suspect, but is soon released. Unfortunately, her home is still a crime scene, and she ends up demanding to live with Finlay. Even more unfortunate is the fact that Finlay's ex-husband is the new suspect. Determined to clear his name, Finlay and Vero team up to use all of their best investigative skills to try to solve the murder...all while potty training a toddler.

This book brought back all of my favorite characters, and had just the right amount of mystery and intrigue to keep me invested in the story. Mrs. Haggerty's character was so much fun. I absolutely adored her, even though she seemed cranky and demanding, and often found myself chuckling at her antics. I also loved the romantic subplot and that Finlay was finally able to start trusting Nick. I expected a cliffhanger ending, but I wasn't prepared for what actually happened! I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series!

I read while listening to the audiobook which was a fun experience. The narrator, Angela Dawe, was fantastic and really brought the characters and story to life.

Thank you to Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advance copies.

Thank you so much to St Martin's & Minotaur Books for the complimentary copy!

This book is out now!

We are back again in the Finlay Donovan universe with a fresh case! And I don't know what it is about these books but I just get sucked in. I love that we get to be back with these zany characters again.

Finlay's neighbor is out of jail and guess where she is staying - at Finlay's house! Finlay is not happy about having an extra roommate but my goodness their back and forth was funny. Ms. Haggerty was such a hoot! She was a stubborn woman set in her ways but at the same time she had the best interest at heart for Finlay and her family.

I felt like compared to some of the other books this one had more of a romance feel to it. No I would not consider this a romance but we did get to see the relationship between Finlay and Nick grow. I was happy to see that Finlay started to open up to Nick and was more honest about things that had happen. I'll be curious to see what happens with them in the next!

Even though Ms. Haggerty was a great side character, she will never take the place of Vero! Once again the dynamic duo of Finlay and Vero friendship took center stage. I just love their relationship and I am so glad that they have one another. We got to see more of Vero and Javier's relationship. Even needed him to help bail Finlay out of a particular situation.

Once again Angela Dawes is back with her sensational narrator. I will always laugh at how she brings Vero to life. I will never not think of Finlay when I hear her voice. She just embodies her so much! I just couldn't stop listening to the book.

We have 2 more books left in this series and just like with the others this one ends on a cliffhanger and I have to say I'm worried about my girl Vero.

4.5

While I’m pretty sure I rated them all the same, I liked this Finlay Donovan book second best after the original!

Verrry happy to report that Finaly Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is just as much fun as the rest of the series. I'm actually a bit bummed that I'm all caught up (I binge read them through NetGalley).
We've still got the buddy-roommate comedy, a new roommate, a hot cop, some old friends, and potential for some new friends. The mystery was fresh, believable, and entertaining.
I read an eARC in tandem with an advanced audiobook and have found that the audiobook(s) manages to elevate this book/series. As far as I'm concerned, Angela Dawe IS Finlay Donovan.
Her voice embodies Finlay in all her anxious, sarcastic glory. She has created a great Vero too. The male voices are done well. Truly, no notes.
I wasn't sure where Cosimano was going to take Finlay after so many things were nicely wrapped up in the previous book. Honestly, I was nervous. And now I'm very pleased and eagerly awaiting the next one! Yay for cliffhangers! 🫠

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the eARC and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook!

Aww man, after loving the 4th book in this series, the 5th was such a let-down. I was missing the fun setting and plottiness that I enjoyed in books 3 and 4, and this one being so character-focused and set back at home just felt really slow. I probably will continue on in this series because now I’m so invested, but this is sadly my least favorite of the series so far.

Finlay Donovan never ceases to entertain from start to finish. The shenanigans Vero and Finlay get themselves into are only made better by how they get themselves out of each predicament. I felt that Cosimano might be wrapping up the series with this one, but I’m hoping for more! As a dual read/listen this book has me both laughing out loud and shaking my head in disbelief🫢
Thank you to Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC and ALC of this book.

This entire series has been an absolute blast! It's like a sitcom filled with absurd situations that the characters constantly find themselves in, yet there’s a beautiful sense of friendship and growth, especially with the little ones in the story.

This book picks up right where the last one left off, so it’s definitely not one to read out of order. It’s the perfect mix of mystery, comedy, and romance all wrapped up in one. One of my favorite parts of this book is how we get to really know Mrs. Haggerty! She has been such a nosey, pain in the rear end to Finlay and Vero that it has been so great to get to have her in the story more.

After being away from the series for a while, I realized just how much I missed it. I honestly thought this would be the final book, but I'm so glad to see that it’s not!

(3.5 stars)
This is the fifth book in the Finlay Donovan series and they are mostly broad, almost slapstick, humor, off-the-wall lighthearted mysteries - but they often have a very dark undercurrent. After book four, I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep going with the series, but I was offered a chance to read and listen to an advance copy, so I decided to give the series one more try. I’m glad I did, because this one wasn’t as ridiculous or dark as some of the earlier books (no Russian mafia, for example). And we got to enjoy the antics of Finlay’s two small children, which I really enjoyed. I was also glad that Finlay’s relationship with Nick (“hot cop”) advanced.

We finally got to know the cranky neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, and she is much more than just a cranky neighbor! She was the heart and soul of this book.

The book ended with a cliffhanger for Vero, so I’m probably going to want to read the next book when it comes out.

I mainly listened to the audiobook version, which, as always, is beautifully narrated by Angela Dawe.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook and to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I have never been a cozy mystery reader, but I will ALWAYS live for Finlay Donovan, this series, and the antics Finlay and Vero find themselves wrapped up in.

This was such a fun read (and listen)…and watching Finlay use her own detective skills to help prove her scumbag ex-husband isn’t guilty of the newest crime he’s been accused of? Priceless.

But honestly, my favorite part of this story was watching Finlay finally feel safe enough to trust with her whole heart. And that the person she chooses to put her trust in is worth it for once. Elle Cosimano has written a complicated love story woven among numerous accidental (and some on-purpose) crimes, and to see Finlay and Nick embrace a life together—no matter what may come their way? Genuine perfection.

I have to add that while I’ve never liked Mrs. Haggerty’s character, her role in this story was wildly unexpected and I absolutely love how it unfolded! But I’ll keep the details to myself to avoid spoilers 🤭

I think the beauty of cozy mysteries is the ability to laugh, smile, and enjoy the ride even when everything is falling apart—and this series does it magnificently. I seriously cannot recommend it enough.

I'll admit I was feeling a bit tired of Finlay and Vero coming into this book, but Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave pleasantly surprised me! It had the same breezy enjoyability and smart humor as the first book, while FINALLY giving us the Finlay character development I as a reader was craving. The mystery was really fun and felt exciting without feeling like you're pulling out your hair about Finlay and Vero's decision making. I found this to be a welcomed refresh on a series I was losing steam with, and found myself have as much fun as the first book that brought me to reading the whole series!

I have never been a cozy mystery reader, but I will ALWAYS live for Finlay Donovan, this series, and the antics Finlay and Vero find themselves wrapped up in.

This was such a fun read (and listen)…and watching Finlay use her own detective skills to help prove her scumbag ex-husband isn’t guilty of the newest crime he’s been accused of? Priceless.

But honestly, my favorite part of this story was watching Finlay finally feel safe enough to trust with her whole heart. And that the person she chooses to put her trust in is worth it for once. Elle Cosimano has written a complicated love story woven among numerous accidental (and some on-purpose) crimes, and to see Finlay and Nick embrace a life together—no matter what may come their way? Genuine perfection.

I have to add that while I’ve never liked Mrs. Haggerty’s character, her role in this story was wildly unexpected and I absolutely love how it unfolded! But I’ll keep the details to myself to avoid spoilers 🤭

I think the beauty of cozy mysteries is the ability to laugh, smile, and enjoy the ride even when everything is falling apart—and this series does it magnificently. I seriously cannot recommend it enough.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave was another wonderful installment in the Finlay Series. I just love the characters in these books. They all have such unique and funny personalities. The mystery being around the nosy neighbor was so fun. I will say the mystery was pretty obvious but I really didn’t care. At this point I read these books for the characters not the mystery. Every single time Elle leaves me with a cliff hanger that makes my heart sink and this one was no different. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
4/5 Stars

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.