Elle Cosimano never lets me down, a great laugh. Bodies always find their way into Finlay's life. While dealing with her ex husband's troubles she has an unexpected house guest leaving me highly entertained. As always I look forward to where the next book takes us.

Finlay and Vero are at it again. Trouble just seems to find them wherever they go- even if they stay home attempting to take care of business! Recommended if you enjoyed the first books in the series.

As always Finlay Donovan is hilarious and funny!! I can’t wait for the next book. Her adventures are so fun to read. I could totally hang out with her if real life…if she was a real person! Highly recommend!

My favorite characters back at it again. You can read this as a standalone, but I would encourage you to read the books in order, as they build upon one another. Funny, fast-paced and intriguing are the three words that come to me when reflecting on what I read. We dive deeper into characters introduced in book 1 with a twist I didn’t expect. Thank you to Net Galley, Elle Cosimano, and Minotaur Books for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Finlay and Vero are back in this 5th installment of their crime dodging/fighting shenanigans. As Mrs. Haggarty is released from custody with no connection to the dead body exhumed in her backyard, Finlay’s ex, Steven, is taken in for questioning. Finlay and Vero take it upon themselves to, by any means necessary, prove Steven is innocent.

Finlay also has real mom-life problems: a toddler who won’t keep his clothes on, community gossip about her marriage/ex, a nosy neighbor, and a younger best friend that encourages to live on the wild side.

I thought this was a great continuation of Finlay’s crazy life, I LOLed at least twice per chapter, and I’m cliff-hanged waiting for next book!

A body is found in Finlay’s neighbor’s (Mrs. Haggerty) yard. After her release by the police into Finlay and Vero’s care (oh boy!), they decide that they have to find out what happened to not only get Mrs. Haggerty out of their house, but also exonerate Finlay’s ex, Stephen who’s now been accused of the murder. There’s no rest for this weary mother of two mystery author turned sleuth by way of mistakenly being taken for a mercenary for hire.

I loved it! I was curious what direction this book would take as things got a little darker and more serious in the previous book. The consequences of Finlay and Vero’s actions, adventures, and secrets are catching up to them. The big question now is is there a future for her and hot cop, Nick if she can’t be completely truthful and trust him, or does being truthful and placing her trust in him erase any future?

Highlights:
🔦 Mystery, suspense
🔦 Finlay & Vero’s friendship
🔦 Humor, sarcasm, wit
🔦 Hilarious side characters
🔦 Single mom, life after divorce, new relationship, trust
🔦 Low spice, closed door

Dawe’s narration is perfect! She gets the tone and humor just right. And her voices! She brings all the characters’ personalities to life. Her take on Vero and Mrs. Haggerty always crack me up.

Cosimano is my comfort author, and this is my comfort series. I like that she interposes real life family drama in between all the chaos. I’m grateful that she draws one aspect of Finlay’s story to a close while opening another, making room for more shenanigans and adventures. Fans of this series will enjoy all the familiar things as well as the slight shift. I loved every moment of it!

Thank you @macmillan.audio & @minotaur_books for my ALC & ARC in exchange for an honest review. 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗢𝘄𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲 is available March 4th!

I really enjoyed this one and this is now my second favorite book in the series, after the first one of course! I love this series and this felt like it wrapped things up nicely, though I don't know if there will be another book given how Vero's story ended. So much happened in the first couple of books that in books 3 and 4 I was confused a lot of the time while trying to remember all the details from the prior books, but I didn't feel that way with this one. There was enough of a recap on prior happenings that I wasn't confused and was able to just flow with the storyline. I love how over the top these books are and how they serve as escapism from reality. Nick is such a good love interest and I loved Finlay's agent in this one as she added a lot of humor. I love grumpy old people so Mrs. Haggerty playing a larger part in this book was extremely welcome - I loved how sassy she was! A great addition to the series!

Just when I thought this series might be losing its spark, it pulls me right back in. The last couple of books had me questioning if it was worth keeping up with the series. Let me tell you that it definitely is!! While the first book remains my favorite, this installment firmly claims the runner-up spot. It had me laughing out loud and I was completely obsessed with Mrs. Haggerty—who, let’s be honest, stole the show in the best possible way.

Finlay and her ever loyal partner-in-crime, Vero, are at it again, diving into trouble like it’s their full-time job. But this time, the stakes feel more grounded, the plot more realistic, and less mafia madness. Mrs. Haggerty’s book club becomes a delightful twist that had me questioning my sanity at times. This group of book-loving ladies had their own skeletons, and their antics brought an extra layer of curiosity to the story.

If you are on the fence about continuing the series, consider this your sign! This book proves that Finlay’s adventures are far from over, and I am thrilled to be along for the ride.

Read if you like:
- Cozy mysteries
- The show Good Girls
- Bada$$ single moms

Thank you @netgalley and @minotaur_books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

As I've always said, Finlay = fun! This is the 5th book in the Finlay Donovan series and I would definitely recommend that you start at the beginning and read them in order. All of the characters that we know and love from the series are back. This is a continuation of the series, but honestly, it might be my favorite one yet, Some of the craziness from past books is toned down - like the Mob stuff. It's a little less outrageous than the past Finlays but I enjoyed it so much. I love that the quirky neighbor Mrs. Haggerty plays a big roles in the book. I also like that Mrs. Haggerty's book club is at the center of the book. Also, it once again shouts out my hometown so that makes me so happy! Go ahead and queue me up for Finlay Donovan #6 in 2026!

I would recommend this book for people who like the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovitch.

4.5 Stars

Just like all of the previous Finlay books, I could not put this one down. The stakes were high, the laughs were plenty, and the car wreck of a life that Finlay and Vero are navigating gets even more complicated when the geriatric lady and suspected murdered of their neighborhood moves on in despite the protestations of Finlay and Vero…why? Because her power is out and she needs to stay close to prove her innocence. Nick is back, so is the ex, AND EVEN BABY ATTORNEY! The story ended on a big cliffhanger and I cannot wait to see where we head next!

If you’re looking for a fun read, this is it. Finlay and Vero have never gotten along with their nosy neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty. But, when a dead body shows up in her yard, she turns to Finlay and Vero for help. Finlay’s ex-husband, Steven, is a suspect and Finlay wants to prove his innocence.

Sometimes you just need an entertaining book and I was in it for the cozy mystery vibes. It does help to read all the other books in the series before picking this up as there are characters and events that you will 100% be confused on if you don’t. I loved that it was a more simple mystery, less convoluted than previous books. I also liked seeing Finlay and Nick’s relationship grow, and the interaction with the kids. I would like to see more of Finlay and her sister. I bet they would be a riot together. Mrs. Haggerty was the WORST! I just needed Finlay to grow a backbone towards this old lady and be done.

Overall, it reminded me more of the first book in the series, and I loved that.

Also, Aimee Garcia is my Vero and I will not accept anyone else.

Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress, & @minotaurbooks for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Finished Reading

Pre-Read notes

I've been reading all the books in the Finlay Donovan series for the last 2 weeks in anticipation for the release of the next book in the series, this one. I admit, I'm ready to read something else! But I just started this one and I adore the setup. I think this will be a fun read!

Final Review

Review summary and recommendations

This last book is really what I'd come to expect from this series-- a lot of tun that I just can't take any kind of seriously. If you like something adult but a little silly, you're probably going to love this whole series!

For sure, the second book, and the Vero book called book 3.5, are my favorite installments. Book 2 has a really strong plot, and 3.5 is a wonderful bit of character work.

All said I kind of loved my time with Finlay and Vero. They reminded me that life (and books) can be pure fun to be laughed with, not at.

I recommend all the books in the Finlay Donovan series to readers who enjoy the intersection of women's fiction and romance, crime capers, huge story turns, and giant casts of characters.

Reading Notes

One things I loved:

1. The setup for this book is excellent. Having a surly neighbor you don't know well and maybe harbor a grudge against moves in on your household. That's excellent conflict right there. And the body for this installment belongs to the old lady. Delightful!

Three things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. There's a scene where Finlay is sleeping in a bed that isn't hers, because a neighbor has taken her room. As she's falling asleep, she starts to worry her boyfriend might enter her room and find her neighbor and cause a disturbance. So does she text him? Call him and leave him a voice mail? Noooope! She gets out of her comfy bed and goes and sleeps on the couch, in order to intercept her boyfriend sneaking in the front door. Because she definitely won't sleep through that. Sounds logical, yeah?

2. The writing mechanics struggle sometimes. Casimano's tone shifts when she uses language and syntax that isn't natural to her. One paragraph with seven sentences didn't contain any verbs but "was". Little things like this add up.

3. The denouement contains entirely too much new plot information. And it goes on too long. I just do not like last chapters whose primary purpose is to patch up the plot.

Rating: 🛋🛋🛋 /5 couches for the night
Recommend? yes, the whole series
Finished: Feb 19 '25
Format: accessible digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🩸 murder mysteries
💄 women's fiction and romance
🚔 crime capers
👩‍👧‍👧 families / family drama
💍 marriage and divorce

Thank you to the author Elle Cosimano, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible advance digital copy of FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE. All views are mine.
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Book 5 of 5

Finlay Donovan is now a famous author. She has finally gotten rid of most of her problems and is adjusting to being a single mom of two with help from her nanny/best friend/ partner in crime, Vero. She even may finally commit to a relationship with her hot detective boyfriend, Nick even if she has to constantly lie about all the crimes she may or may not have had a hand in. But of course, our bumbling protagonist is dragged into yet another neighborhood crime. The suspect is none other than her nosy neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty and to top it off, Finlay is forced to play host to her.

To be completely honest, I was pretty apprehensive going into this. The last couple of books felt a little too convoluted and nonsensical. But this one hit the mark! I loved the mystery in this one and it really kept me hooked. I did see the plot twist coming but nevertheless, the ride to get there was so much fun.
If you are interested in reading a book that has mystery, humor, romance and great female friendships, I would definitely recommend this one!
Thank you Elle Cosimano, St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the ARC!
#mystery #romcom #femalemc #femalefriendships #arc #netgalley #bookstagram #bookstagrammer

4.5 stars! This might be my favorite Finlay book yet. I truly didn’t see how she and Nick would be able to get Steven out of the charge and the misdirection with Brenden definitely got me.

I was SHOCKED to find out that it’s only been 4 months since the beginning of the series. Finlay has to be exhausted. Maybe it’s time to let her slow down and be a mom and an author.

Finlay Donovan get her self in a fix. A body is discovered in the back yard across the street from Finlay's house. Her neighbor, who lived in the house, is dropped off by her grandson to stay temporarily. This is a neighbor that she doesn't really like. When her ex husband becomes a suspect in the murder, she has to do something. She will get herself in one fix after another in trying to solve the case. What could possibly go wrong?

This book has sharp dialogue and is very witty. Most women will identify with Finlay as a single mother of two small children. Did their father really do this? She cannot believe it. The book is fast paced and you will want to see what Finlay and Vero get themselves into next. It is a wonderful read.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #ElleCosimano and #MinotaurBooks for a copy of this book.
#FinlayDonovanDigsHerOwnGrave

Finlay Donovan never fails to keep me in stitches!!!! When I say this book was a roller-coaster ride of laugh out loud chuckles. I literally couldn't put this one down once I got started. This story is a cute cozy mystery about Finlay, Vero and Mrs. Haggerty being caught up in a web of an adventure when a dead body is found in Mrs.Haggerty's backyard. Solving the mystery gets Finlay and Vero caught up in the middle per usual but with the help of Detective Nick and Cam by their sides the case will be solved. Thanks again Minotaur books for the EARC of this title.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano--The fifth book in the series that releases on March 4. A body has been found buried in Finlay's nosy elderly neighbor's yard and her ex-husband is the prime suspect. Finlay and Vero are determined to clear his name and find out what really happened across the street. Her neighbor's book club plays a role in the story that was unexpected. This was a good installment that ended on a cliffhanger which makes me want to keep reading the series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance digital copy.

This is one of my favorite series! What keeps me glued to it is that I’ve become so attached to the characters. Finlay and Vero are like old friends (friends I wish I had) whom I get to revisit with each new book—and they are hilarious together. I was so glad that many of the familiar faces returned here, Nick, Javi, and especially young, sweet Cam, who was still part of Finlay’s life.

And yes, don’t worry, Finlay and Vero get themselves mixed up, sleuthing another murder again. Seems Finlay’s elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, has a dead body buried in her backyard. So, while the house is being treated as a crime scene, Mrs. Haggerty insists on staying with Finlay and Vero. You know this will become a tangled mess! From Finlay’s ex becoming a suspect to Finlay having to tell Nick the truth about her past, this felt like it tied up loose ends and caught us up - until the next book. 😉

I love that while each story is a fun and entertaining mystery, it also discusses family life, friendship, and, of course, Finlay and Vero’s wild antics. I’m definitely hooked.

Thank you @minotaurbooks @stmartinspress and @ellecosimano for the gifted eARC via NetGalley. #FinlayDonovandigsherowngrave #thrillerbooks #bookreviews #bookseries #SMPinfluencer

Another wonderful Finlay romp! After the chaos in Atlantic City, loved that in this installment, Finlay is pulled into drama that is NOT of her own making. There is plenty of mystery, hijinks, and questionable decisions, but with an added side of vengeance and snark. The last "gasp" ,moment at the end promises more to come, and I'll still be along for the ride.

Another great installment in the Finlay Donovan series!

When a body appears in her nosy neighbors yard Finlay and Vero are on the case.

Great fun! A quick read!