I received a complimentary ARC copy of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, A Novel, by Elle Cosimano from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press /Minotaur Books in order to read and give an honest review.

…A must read with a page-turning mystery, romance, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments as you watch them stumble their way through murder investigations, motherhood and….…

Elle Cosimano does it again in her fifth entry of her Finlay Donovan series. Once again her Lucy & Ethel meets Thelma & Louise meets Agatha Christie in Finlay Donovan Digs Her Grave. This entry picks up where book four leaves off with Finlay and her nanny/accountant, Vero, stumbling through life and trying to manage with her daughter suspended from school for beating up another student, and her toddler refusing to wear pants. As usual we meet Finlay who lives in a perpetual state of wondering “what’s next” and this time around she she doesn’t have to wait long. We again meet Finlay’s nemesis; the adversarial, miserable, nosy, Mrs. Haggerty who’s been a thorn in Finlays side since the beginning. When a body is in found in Mrs. Haggerty’s backyard and Finlay’s ex-husband Steven is railroaded by a detective trying to make a name for himself. It’s not looking good for Steven because of a supposed affair with the victim’s wife all eyes are on him.

Almost at her breaking point, Finlay suddenly has yet another problem to deal with when Mrs. Haggerty’s nephew asks if Finlay and Vero could put up his aunt up for the weekend as the police declare Mrs. Haggerty’s home a crime scene. True to form Mrs. Haggerty moves in like she owns the place and offers them unwelcome advice on almost everything includeing child rearing. When the weekend is over and they can’t reach her nephew to pick her up, they are horrified to learn they are stuck with her. Finlay knows Steven isn’t capable of murder and decides it’s up to her to prove her innocence. so with Vero, Nick and Cam helping her she digs in knowing she might not like what she finds. Also knowing Mrs. Haggerty has dirt on both her and Vero they keep a close eye on their nosy neighbour. When Mrs. Haggerty begins taking mysterious walks at all hours as “president of the neighborhood watch”, and is part of a very secretive “Book Club” Finlay and Vero wonder what their nemesis is up to. Nick and Finlay’s romance is also at the forefront with Finlay’s secrets threatening to destroy what they have built.

A must read with a page-turning mystery, romance, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments as you watch them stumble their way through murder investigations, motherhood and not to mention having Mrs. Haggerty moving in (chef’s kiss for that one). The author always manages to weave in genuine character development and emotional depth amidst all the fun and chaos. This book is a must-read, and with a cliff hanger ending I’m already dying to see what the future holds for Finlay and Vero.

How many new twists (and dead bodies) can pop up in this series??

In book 5, a body is found in Ms. Haggerty’s backyard. Once she’s cleared of being a suspect, she needs a place to go while her house is an active crime scene. Somehow, the neighborhood busybody winds up staying with Finlay. Finlay is determined to figure out who’s responsible so she can clear Steven’s name, who is now the prime suspect. They also need the detectives to stop questioning closed cases and looking too hard at the bodies buried at Steven’s sod farm…


⭐️ MY THOUGHTS:
This one felt more like a mystery novel as Finlay is trying to piece together Ms. Haggerty’s involvement and strange behavior. She’s acting especially strange in relation to her book club - sneaking out in the middle of the night, leaving secret messages in mailboxes. Of course there are stake outs, disguises, computer hacking sessions, police chases, and a near death experience or two. This one gets random and zany! I definitely had to suspend my disbelief and enjoy the crazy ride that every Finlay book takes us on. It wasn’t my favorite of the series, but I liked getting more of Ms. H’s backstory.

The ending has me ready for book 6 (even though book 5 hasn’t officially published yet…). This one’s available March 4th!

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave picks up after a body is found buried in her neighbor Mrs. Haggerty’s backyard. After Mrs. Haggerty is cleared and invites herself to move into Finlay’s house until hers can be fixed, Finlay’s ex-husband Steven is arrested for the crime, after being implicated by the dead man’s wife Penny. Finlay and Vero desperately try to prove his innocence, since something in Penny’s allegation doesn’t sit right with Finlay. She and Vero get caught up in trying to solve a five-year-old cold case while still hiding their own secrets, and end up getting caught up in a mysterious book club that is not what it seems.

This book is action-packed, full of Finlay’s usual hijinks and some steamy romance with Detective Nick. This book is perfect for fans of murder mysteries full of intrigue and twists and turns! Thank you to Elle Cosimano, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this installment of the Finlay Donovan series. This one might be my favorite of the series so far. The twists and turns had me guessing until the very end, and, as per usual, the twist at the end of the epilogue had my jaw dropped and me dying for the next book!

I enjoyed this fifth outing of Finlay and company. I found the plot to be less convoluted than books 2-4. I was ready to give up on the series, but decided to give it one more try and I am glad I did. Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is more reminiscent of the first in the series, Finlay Donovan is Killing It, which is alot of fun.

Finlay's neighbor, nosy neighborhood watch president Margaret Haggerty has a broken pipe in her rose garden and what should be discovered but the body of Gilford Dupree, who disappeared five years previous. The feisty 81 year old is arrested, but released due to lack of evidence. With her house a crime scene, Mrs Haggerty moves in with Finlay. Rumor has it that Finlay's ex, Steven, was having an affair with Mrs. Dupree. The police think he could have done the murder. Finlay and her side kick/nanny, Vero along with Finlay's handsome detective boyfriend, Nicholas Anthony investigate.

I loved Mrs. Haggerty, fun and irritating! I liked learning more about her backstory. What was she doing on her nightly excursions? What about her book club, is it really a book club? Who put the body in Mrs. Haggerty's rose garden?

This is a fun and quick read. We see more of Finlay's kids in this book, and the characters seemed to have grown from the previous installments. I like that Finlay and Nick seem to be growing closer.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books, for an ARC. The review is my own.

Elle Cosimano has once again brought us a hilarious, quick paced, and down right ridiculous chapter in the Finlay Donovan series.

I absolutely adore this series - and this latest edition takes readers immediately back to where we were at the end of the last book. Finlay and Vero once again find themselves in the middle of a crime, and have to help solve this case to prove the innocence of someone who, honestly, might not fully deserved to be saved.

The plot is quick, the cast of characters can only be described as a group of menaces who you can't help but love, and with every chapter unfolding I could not stop giggling and rooting for our girls. The new character's were introduced to, along with returning faces, highlight Cosimano's ability to create a world and characters that you can't help but root for, despite what some would call questionable judgment. I can't help but recommend this series to almost everyone I know, and I absolutely enjoyed every second of this book - reading it within 24 hours. I cannot wait to see how the next book unfolds, and I'd love it ASAP!

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave
By Elle Cosimano
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the fifth book in the Finlay Donovan series and I was so excited to have received an advanced copy from the publisher. Elle Cosimano is one of my favourite cosy mystery. Writers and Finlay is amazing.

In this chapter of the series, Finlay and Vero are frantically trying to prove that Steven, Finlay’s good-for-nothing ex-husband did not kill someone. It is the perfect mix of suspense, humor, romance, drama. What I really loved about this book were all the callbacks to the very first Finlay Donovan. And also all of the Nick moments, spicy and dramatic.

This book has it all : a body found in a neighbor’s backyard, a crazy grandma figure in Mrs H, preschool dramas with Delia and potty training dramas with Zach, a suspicious book club, and also some callbacks to the sod farm. I loved absolutely every second of it.

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the free e-arc in exchange for my honest opinions which are that all cozy mystery readers will love this one! I can’t wait to read what happens next!!

I pick up a Finlay Donovan book when I need a low stakes cozy mystery, and this one was no different.

Finlay and Vero solve another murder and for once it isn’t one they have been accused of committing. Filled with the usual ridiculous antics that only Finlay can seem to find herself in the middle of, this book entertains but doesn’t challenge.

Elle Cosimano has done it again! I absolutley love this series! Between Vero and Finlay, I can't tell which one is my favorite character as they are written so well together! They are definitely the new Thelma and Louise! I enjoyed this read and hoping the series continues!

High praise for Number 5!
If you’ve been following Finlay Donovan’s penchant for getting into trouble, this latest installment will not disappoint. Although this review doesn’t contain actual spoilers, if you haven’t read the previous books in the series, I suggest you skip this until you’ve caught up. Now, for the rest of us, this book features Finlay’s pesky, widowed, head of the neighborhood watch, and thorn in her side—Mrs. Haggerty. This latest installment revolves around a crime of which Mrs. Haggerty is accused, and Finlay and Vero must find the real culprit in order to save the day. Cosimano’s books always have witty banter between Finlay and her nanny/accountant/partner-in-crime, Vero, and although this book had plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, it seems to take a shift towards a more serious tone. This book felt a little more mystery novel and a little less full of its usual hi-jinks. This small change in writing didn’t take away from my enjoyment, but it is worth noting. The end of the book leaves the reader on a cliff hanger that’s been in the making and has this reader counting the days until the next release.

Another enjoyable book in the Finlay Donovan series! A body is found in Mrs. Haggerty’s backyard and Mrs. Haggerty is arrested. However, evidence is discovered and Steven is now a suspect for the murder of Gilford Dupree. He is arrested, and Mrs. Haggerty shows up on Finlay’s doorstep. She plans to stay with Finlay since her house is an active crime scene. Finlay and Vero waste no time as they attempt to uncover Mrs. Haggerty’s secrets and prove Steven’s innocence.

This book is more of a mystery as Finlay and Vero try figure out exactly what Mrs. Haggerty is hiding. But it is still filled complicated situations that lend to the wit and humor that trademark the Finlay Donovan series. I love Finlay and Vero’s characters and they do not disappoint in the fifth book in this series.
Thank you Minotaur Books, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for this e-arc!

Finlay & Vero are back and better than ever! This book is filled with so many laugh out loud moments, stolen moments between Finlay & Nick and of course, precarious situations. I loved the addition of Mrs. Haggerty as a main character versus side character! There were moments where you loved her and moments that she drove you insane but that's what made her a great addition to the story! I did think that this was going to be the last book in the series so imagine my surprise when it ended on another cliffhanger! Everything was tied up so cleanly at the end and I would've been 100% happy with the series ending if it weren't for the last page. Guess we'll just have to wait and see what is in store for Finlay & Vero next!

Thank you to St Martin's Press and Minotaur books for the advanced reader's copy of this novel!

I'll start by saying this is definitely my favorite book in the series!

In the fifth installment if the Finlay Donovan series, Finlay finds herself stuck with her elderly and spunky neighbor living in her house after she was just released from following being cleared as a suspect. Not only that, but now that the police have cleared her name, they will find someone else to blame. In their true Finlay and Vero fashion, they take on solving the case to protect the ones they love (including themselves). With appearances from the charactes we love, such as Cam and Georgia, and further development of Finlay's relationship with hot cop Nick, this novel really has it all.

I really loved how much character development we see from Finlay in this book. She is finally beginning to work through all that she has experienced, both the traumatizing events from these books and her past with her ex husband. In the beginning of the series, I felt Finlay was truly out of touch with herself and not her best, but now with her best friends and new love in her life, she has truly come into her own and it has been a joy to watch.

This book also feels more light hearted and who-dunnit that some of the others in this series that involve covering up murders more than solving them, which I really enjoyed!

Per usual, Cosimano leaves us with a cliffhanger to get us tempted for book number 6! I can't wait to read it when it comes out.

Finlay Donovan is back, and this latest installment is just as wild, funny, and chaotic as ever! I love spending time with these characters, and after five books, they feel like old friends. Finlay and Vero’s antics never fail to make me laugh, and adding Mrs. Haggerty into the mix made for some truly hilarious moments. While the mystery wasn’t as shocking as in previous books, it was still engaging and fun to follow. The story had great pacing, and I enjoyed how it focused more on Finlay’s home life rather than the Russian mob this time. I also liked seeing more development in Finlay’s relationship with Nick. I do wish Vero had been more involved, but based on the ending, I know she’ll be back in full force next time! The cliffhanger has me counting down the days until the next book. A fantastic, entertaining read!
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

Another fun addition to the Finlay Donovan series and I think this may be the best one yet.

It’s filled with humour, a mystery involving a dead body (of course!), and more shenanigans from Finlay and her side kick, Vero, but this time there’s a crotchety, nosy old neighbour who may be onto their past questionable activities. There’s also great progress in the Finlay-Nick relationship! Oh, and there’s potty training 😂😂 I remember those days!

A quick, enjoyable, light-hearted read. The ending sets things up nicely for the next Finlay-Vero escapade in the series.

If you haven’t yet, check out this funny, madcap, series!

Thanks to @minotaur_books @stmartinspress for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

finlay is by far one of the most idiotic heroines of any novel I’ve read… and for a novelist and amateur detective, that’s not a great quality to have and survive… which leads to me to the main point: HOW the heck is this woman still alive 👀

finlay and vero are up to no good, per usual, when they have to prove that steven, finlay’s ex-husband, didn’t unalive their neighbors (when everyone clearly thinks he did it) 🥴 and in usual antics, nothing goes as planned in their investigation

what continually bothers me the most about this series, and specifically finlay as a character, is how careless she is when jumping into situations. she has a whole family at home and she clearly doesn’t think before acting, and it’s just getting more and more unbelievable that she’s still alive and allowing life to happen to her 🤷🏼‍♀️

I did enjoy how this one tied specifically into the first two novels, and I would risk it all for nosy maggie (a sentence I’d never thought I’d say) - and as always, another quick and easy read!

will I keep reading this series? yes… will I still continue to hate on finlay? also yes…

thank you netgalley and st martins press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

rating: 2 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel

After 5 books with this crew, I have grown so attached to these characters. I really enjoy the time I get to spend with them and usually find myself giggling at all the messes Finlay and Vero get themselves into.
Book 5 picks up immediately after book 4, making for a flawless continuation of the story now with Mrs Haggerty as a huge part of our cast!
While I still flew threw this book, eating it up page after page like I have all the others, I didn't find the story to be as shocking or give me that fun feeling of whiplash like I have in the others. The 4 star rating may be a little generous and based much more on my love of these characters, because book 5 definitely wasn't my favourite story of the bunch.
Never the less, we are left on another cliff hanger and I will absolutely be picking it up the moment it's available!!

Five books in and the Finlay Donovan series continues to impress, entertain and thrill readers. Elle Cosimano weaves another deliciously twisted tale with Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave.

It’s hard to imagine but somehow Finlay and Vero’s antics get even wilder and more intense in this latest installment. I eagerly count down the days to each new Finlay Donovan novel and was so happy to laugh, cringe and even cry with this lovely cast of characters. From Finlay’s wild kids and neighbors, to Cam and his antics, to Nick and Finlay’s romance, each thread woven together kept me hooked the entire time. Each chapter had me laughing out loud and eagerly turning the page to find out what happens next.

I hope this series never ends and we get a hundred adventures with Finlay and her family. The ending had my jaw on the floor and I can’t wait to find out what is next!

This book felt like it was slower paced than the others, but in a good way that let us catch our breath from all the running around a little. I’m a little surprised that the series will be continuing on after this book; I thought for sure book 5 would be the last. I read this one on kindle and missed listening to the audio version, so I’ll plan to listen to that for book 6. I’m still enjoying this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I have so much fun reading this series!
We're back with Finley and Vero and their hilarious shenanigans as they babysit the elderly busybody from next door. She can't go home because after a body is found in her garden and her subsequent arrest, her house is a crime scene.

I loved watching Vero and Finlay grow even closer to their partners, all the while trying to figure out who killed that guy in the garden and why someone would want to frame Finlay's ex for it. I laughed out loud, I was on the edge of my seat, and I was rooting for not only for Finley and Nick, but also for potty training!!
This is an excellent addition to this series, and I hope we get many more!!

This is one of my favorite series. Who wouldn't love Finlay Donovan and Vero as they enjoy their own brand of crime-fighting? IF you remember Mrs. Haggerty from previous books, she's an annoying neighbor who spies on the daring duo and seems to be an unofficial "watcher" for the neighborhood. Mrs. Haggerty features in this release when she gets more than she bargained for--a body appears in her backyard. Very funny lines, reminiscent of Janet Evanovich. This series is a keeper. Highly recommend.