I love this series!

We are back in Finlay's chaotic life as her ex-husband is being accused of murder. Her and Vero set out to find the truth and uncovers a secret group.

With each book Vero and Finlay add to their group and manage to get out of any pickle they put themselves in. This author writes the best cast of side characters that keep the story interesting and engaging.

I do recommend reading the books in publication order because the timeline is continuous.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Finlay and Vero have an inconvenient houseguest after a body is found in the backyard of their elderly neighbor. When her ex is hauled away by police as a suspect, Finlay has to start her own investigation to clear his name…

This series is a well-paced, wild ride. Finlay and Vero are a dynamic duo, full of genuine support and hilarious banter. I loved seeing Finlay and Nick work together to solve this case and face the trust issues in their relationship head on. Cam and Mrs. Haggerty were fun additions to the group, adding unpredictable behavior and surprising twists to the story. The epilogue hooked me into the next book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC.

The next boo in this funny series. I felt it fell a little short with too many hijinks, but that is the brand. Good mystery that I didn’t see coming!

Finlay and Vero just continue to make bad choices. But if you’re willing to put up with that and just go along for the ride, then you’ll enjoy this book. Honestly, the plot of this one was slightly less egregious than some of the other books in the series. And I really liked getting to know Mrs. Haggerty a bit more—I never hated her as much as Finlay and Vero seemed to. Overall, more of the same from this series.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Very engaging story! I loved the characters as always and this one is the most interesting within the series.

How is it possible that every time I finish a book in this series I think it’s the best one ever?!? But seriously this one’s the best (for now) all our favorite characters and some new ones. Loved the kids were in this one more.

Could you read this as a standalone? Technically, yes but you would be missing so much. Do yourself a favor and start with book 1! You won’t be disappointed!!!

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is the 5th installment in the Finlay series and will be published on March 4th. I was very lucky to receive an early copy to review, thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press.

I have really enjoyed following along with Finlay and Vero's adventures, the mysteries they attempt to solve, and all the dark humor along the way. This book’s plot was a little less over the top than the last two, but I actually liked that because it felt more realistic while still being fun and fast paced.

Quick synopsis: Finlay and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero find themselves involved in a new murder case when a dead body is discovered in the backyard of their nosy elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty. With Mrs. Haggerty's house now a crime scene, she moves across the street and into Finlay's house, and to make matters worse, Finlay’s ex-husband Stephen is arrested as the primary suspect. Desperate to connect the dots and get Mrs. Haggerty out of their house, Finlay and Vero try to find out the truth and become immersed in community gossip and conspiracies. Of course, the ending solves one problem but leaves readers on a cliffhanger as a new one is introduced. And now I want more! I will continue to read all the Finlay books, and I can't wait until they eventually make it into a TV show!

I enjoyed catching up with Finlay and Vero in book 5. Chaos and pandemonium seem to be par for the course when it comes to Finlay's life and I'm thankful she has to deal with it and not me.

The characters were entertaining and I'm glad we got to spend some extra time with Cam and get to know more about nosy Mrs. Haggerty. The mystery portion of the book was a bit predictable, and the formula for the story feels recycled from the previous books, but if you've been a fan of the series so far I think you will still appreciate this one.

Thank you, NetGalley | St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the ARC!

It was great to be back with Finlay and her chaos! While her life stresses me out, it also makes for great reads. The fast pace of the book combined with its humor, romance, and frequent dead bodies, made it the perfect read to follow lots of deep historical fiction. I appreciated that Mrs. Haggerty’s character is much further developed across this story and in by the end ends up rather likable. My biggest complaint are the inconsistencies about Loudoun County - if you’re going to set your story in a real place (where the author lives, no less!) it needs to be accurate! You don’t have to get on Rt 7 to go from South Riding to Broadlands (although it is true that traffic on 7 makes everyone late, it’s also too far north for both those locations) and Loudoun doesn’t have a police department, we have a sheriff’s department. Admittedly, finding these flaws did bring me a little bit of joy and a snicker, so we won’t hold it against her, but she should know better. Overall, exactly the read I was in the mood for! And an excellent audiobook as well, the narrator really makes the cast come to life. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Elle Cosimano does it again! I adored this installment of Finlay's story. I will admit that the last book in the series prior to this one left me questioning whether the series was going to continue to be for me. I felt like the plot of that book got away from the author at points and while the genre requires a degree of suspension of disbelief and whimsy, the book previous to this one really toed the line in terms of readability.

This book redeemed the series and I am already looking forward to the next installment. It is great to see Finlay's character growth from book to book. Seeing her emerge from the different struggles and situations she has found herself in and come out a better mother, a better friend, a more empathetic co-parent, and more open partner to the love interest keeps me coming back for more. Not to mention there are parts of the book that are simply hilarious, balanced with heartfelt moments as well.

We're all rooting for Finlay - can't wait to see how she handles that cliff hanger!

I have read all the other books from this series and I quite like this book as well.

Finlay and Vero lives together and they do not like their elderly neighbor Mrs. Haggerty and then one day there’s a body found in Mrs Haggerty’s house and now even though she is cleared by the police but now she has nowhere to go so she ends up moving in with Finlay.

Finlay wasn’t looking for solving any murder but when her ex become a suspect she decides to uncover the murder cause she knew it wasn’t her ex. I really enjoyed this installment as well.

thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own!

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martins Press for the eARC.

This story really felt like the first two books in the Finaly Donovan series, Finaly falling face first into unfortunate events and of course dead bodies.

When the police find a dead body in her nosy neighbors backyard and somehow Finaly’s ex husband gets fingered for the crime Finaly has to find the real killer to exonerate her ex all while housing the nosy neighbor, who may know more than she’s letting on.

I enjoyed that this story was less convoluted than the last two Finaly books the story line didn’t involve any mob bosses, and it brought back characters from the first book and rounded out those story lines in believable way. This installment brought back what got me hooked on the series initially and I’m excited to see where it goes next.

This latest installment in the Finlay Donovan series contains all of the outrageous antics that you would expect. I enjoyed getting to know nosy neighbor Mrs. Hagerty better and the twists and turns kept me guessing. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

4/5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of this book.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano is a fast-paced, witty mystery that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. In this third installment of the Finlay Donovan series, struggling author and accidental hitwoman Finlay finds herself in deeper trouble as she juggles motherhood, writing deadlines, and an increasingly dangerous web of crime. With sharp humor, unexpected twists, and an endearing cast of characters—including her feisty nanny-turned-sidekick Vero—this book delivers an entertaining mix of suspense and comedy. I loved the latest installment of Finlay's chaotic yet clever escapades.

This was my favorite in the series. It had all the fun and outrageous circumstances readers love from the earlier books but this story seemed closer to home. Nosy neighbor, Mrs Haggerty, had a dead body show up at her house and moves into Finlay’s house while the mystery progresses.

All my favorite characters show up and hilarity follows.

This series is so well done and with the cliffhanger ending I am eagerly waiting for the next one.

This series is best read in order and if you are a fan of audiobooks, I highly recommend them.

Another amazing addition to the Finlay Donovan series! I absolutely love the twists and turns- I saw some things coming and others completely surprised me. Vero never ceases to get a laugh from me!

Thanks for the ARC!

I read this in one day! It was a great story that includes all of your favorite Finlay Donovan characters. I’m a bit PO’ed at the cliffhanger ending, but I’m looking forward to book 6!

Five stars all the way! This book was such a captivating and fun read—I devoured it quickly. The pacing, humor, and twists had me hooked from the first page. Finlay is an absolute delight as a protagonist, and I love how her story continues to evolve with each installment. The combination of chaos, crime, and heart makes her journey feel so real and entertaining.

I'm already eagerly awaiting the next book and can't wait to see what kind of wild adventures Finlay gets into next. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a fast, smart, and thoroughly enjoyable read!

Funnest series I have read! Finlay and vero are so much fun. I find myself constantly laughing at their adventures and relationship.

I feel this book had the most character growth. it was fun getting to read about Finlay and nicks relationship and watching that turn into something more seriously.

The book club spin, amazing. Loved it all!

Another great installment in the Finlay Donovan saga. This one does wrap up some plot lines which is MUCH appreciated as some of the unknowns were dragging on a bit. I always fully related to Finlay's messiness in her life and do enjoy her escapades!