What a fantastic addition to the Finlay Donovan series! I love that we returned to Finlay’s neighborhood and the nosy old biddy across the street gets her story told. The author continues to write Finlay becoming involved in twisty and surprising mysteries, with her sidekick Vera. They are my favorite duo and I can’t wait for their next adventure.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

This was the least insane Finlay book (in a good way) and I really enjoyed it. I’m proud of how Finlay behaved in this book - her relationships, her ability to tell the truth, and how she carried herself overall just made me smile. These books are so fun to dive into and this one is no different!

If you've read the previous Finlay Donovan books, then you know exactly what to expect with this entry. There's the hilarious snark from Vero, the unbelievable situations Finlay continually finds herself in, and the laugh-out-loud funny antics of her children. But it feels like the series is starting to lose some of its luster. It wasn't as exciting as the earlier books. Besides a lot of driving around, nothing much seems to happen. I did appreciate that there was a little movement forward in Finlay's personal relationship, but other than that, it didn't feel like the overall arc of the series was advanced in any way. So overall, just an okay book. It's entertaining enough for a couple afternoons, but not my favorite.

Title: Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave
By: Elle Cosimano
Pub. Day: Mar 04, 2025

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

Trigger Warnings:
Murder, Sexual Content, Profanity, Gun Violence, Infidelity,
(**more graphic content, and profanity than the earlier installments, so rated it 3.5 stars and rounded up.**)

Summary/Review:
Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave 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 messes.

In Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave the narrative surprises the reader with discovery of a body across the street from Finlay’s home, so the nonstop adventure begins with a house guest and nosy neighbor, a book club, an ex husband, and boyfriend. Always full of unpredictable twists, Finlay and Vero continue their wild ride of chaos that proves to be endlessly entertaining.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is slightly different from previous novels in the series. This installation has more Ms. Haggerty and less Vero. The reader learns more about Sylvia and the kids. The novel holds true to Finlay’s sharp, clever, and witty dialogue still filled with laugh out loud mishaps. 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 in Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is wild and unpredictable with memorable themes of honesty, and trust. Home…where it all begins and ends.

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.

#FinlayDonovanDigsHerOwnGrave
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Elle Cosimano does it again!

This has been my favorite of the Finlay Donovan series so far.

When poor old (irritating) Mrs. Heggerty ends up with a dead body buried in her yard, she is outsourced to Finlay's house while the investigation is ongoing. So, in true Finlay and Vero fashion, they try to uncover the true identity of the killer and get nosy Mrs. Heggerty out of Finlay's house before she finds a skeleton (or five) in Finlay's closet.

The wit and humor are back and the heart-racing situations Finlay and Vero find themselves in are, too.

5 stars! I will be impatiently awaiting the next book in the series!

Yet another silly Finlay Donovan book! They are always so fun and my mom loves them so much. It's a blast to talk to her about them. I may be puttering out a bit on FD but I am going to try to keep up with the series. Time will tell!

When a body is found in Mrs. Haggerty's backyard, she has nowhere to go until her property is no longer a crime scene. Her grandson asks Finlay if she can stay at her house while he is out of town and she has no choice but to agree. Finlay and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with the elderly Mrs. Haggerty, who is the community busybody and president of the neighborhood watch, but now that she is living in Finlay's home, actually taking over her room, they decide they need to solve the crime to get her out. Once again, Finlay's ex-husband, Steven is a suspect. The poor guy is always on the police radar, but maybe it's time for his infidelity to finally cause him some pain. Who is really responsible for the murder? Is it Mrs. Haggarty? What about the dead guys wife? There is something suspicious about Mrs. Haggarty's book club, what do they know?

I always enjoy tagging along as Finlay and Vero try to solve a murder. Although Mrs. Haggarty was an unwelcome lodger, she did Finlay a favour when it came to her children. She whipped them into shape and even got the younger one toilet trained. That as a humorous adventure in itself. During the investigation, Finlay and Vero end up finding out things they weren't ready for. A secret operation causes some angst for them both. There is some light romance between Vero and Javi as well as chemistry between Finlay and Nick, that adds a bit more to the story. Get ready for chaos, mischief, banter and laughter as Finlay and Vero share their crazy, messy lives. I am already looking forward to the next book, as Vero's past has caught up with her and we are left wondering what is going to happen.

I can always count on a Finlay Donovan book for a fun time, and the fifth book in the series did not disappoint!

This was a nice change of pace from the fourth book. It’s a bit slower paced and a little more simple compared to the previous book, which isn’t a bad thing at all! I found the fourth book to be really unrealistic and crazy, so I was excited to get more of a glimpse into Finaly’s nosy neighbour, Mrs. Haggerty.

Overall, this was just another fun and entertaining addition to the series! There’s never a dull moment, and I love seeing what crazy situations these characters get into. I really loved the tension and all of the twists throughout the book, and of course I loved being back with all of the fun characters in the series! Plus I enjoyed the aspects of romance thrown in as well.

As always, it left off on a cliffhanger which means another book is coming. I do feel like the series is getting a little redundant since there are so many books, but I will still be picking up the next book because I love this series!

Mrs. Haggerty was the star of the show. This book was suspenseful and did a nice job of continuing Finlay's story in a logical way, while introducing more of a new character and keeping things moving.

I'm looking forward to reading the next installment!

Someone is always watching and in Finlay’s neighborhood, it’s the vigilant Mrs. Haggerty. She is in charge of the neighborhood watch and logs everything she sees. After a massive storm, a body is found buried in her back yard. After being arrested, it’s finally her turn to reach out to Finlay and Vero for help. After finally being released, she has no where to go and ends up at Finlay’s house. However, Mrs. Haggerty begins sneaking around causing Finlay and Vero to get right back into fighting crime.

I swear I didn’t think the Finlay books could get every crazier and yet here we are on number 5. I did enjoy that they finally brought in the nosy neighbor as a main character. She deserved her own limelight and great to hear more of her back story. Who knows when this series will be over, but until Finally and Vero royally mess up and end up behind bars, I’ll just keep reading.

Finlay & Vero are at it again, this time attempting to clear Mrs. Haggerty & Steven's names. I do fear that their antics are starting to wear on me a bit. In particular I really hope Finlay finally grows a spine. However this was a fun little adventure that was excellent on audio as usual. The plot was fairly predictable but ultimately a fun summer read.

Also who else called that <spoiler>Mrs. Haggerty was a baddie?!?!</spoiler>

This was cute like always! This series is like those whodunit series that our grandmas were obsessed with (Like Cat Who), but in a good way! Always an entertaining read with plenty of drama and shenanigans to keep you intrigued.

This book was phenomenal! It was so much fun and a delight to read. I cannot wait for the next book. I loved that Finley and Vero were back home instead of Atlantic City or the police academy.

The audiobook narration was fantastic and really brought the characters to life. I’ve loved every book in this series and have given them all 5 stars because they’re just that good. The author’s references to past books make it so easy to follow along and definitely keeps the story flowing. The action and suspense kept me completely hooked throughout.

This was another win for me. I love the Finlay Donovan series and will continue to read books about the other characters. They are humorous and just fun reads! Loved it!

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is my favorite so far in the Finlay Donovan series. I love how more depth is revealed in the characters in each book. A fun summer read! Thanks to Elle Cosimano, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press for the gifted eARC.

Once again, Finlay is in the thick of things. I liked the direction this installment took. Instead of being mixed up in the mafia, it’s more of a neighborhood vigilante situation which I enjoyed. The characters, as always, are delightful and funny. There is great tension and romance and friendship with many different characters, and we get to see Finlay take responsibility a little bit and face some real fears. Overall this was another good book in the series, I liked this one a lot!

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This series is undoubtedly my favorite of all time, delivering both laughter and intrigue in perfect harmony. The dynamic between Finlay and Vero is pure gold. Their hilarious antics, as they juggle the chaos of single parenthood, new relationships, and trying to clear the ex-husband’s name while solving multiple murders, makes for a wonderfully entertaining read. It’s a perfect mix of mystery and comedy.

One of the standout moments was when Vero attempted to intimidate a true crime podcaster using her “Batman” voice—saying “I AM BATMAN” with all the seriousness she could muster. I laughed so hard, I literally choked on my own spit. It’s moments like these that elevate the book and make the characters so endearing.

By now, it’s clear that the author has done an amazing job making these characters feel like friends, and it’s easy to see how you become so deeply invested in their lives. The continuity from previous books is excellent, and the characters remain consistent, which is crucial for maintaining that connection with the reader.

However, at this point in the series, I would strongly recommend reading the previous books before diving into this one. While earlier installments did a good job summarizing the key plot points, this one has so many characters and ongoing storylines that jumping in without the full context might make it harder to follow and enjoy the story to its fullest. The series really shines when you experience the entire arc.

This one might be the wildest ride yet—and I loved every minute of it. Finlay is in way over her head (as usual), juggling mob drama, secret missions, and her completely unpredictable personal life. Somehow, she makes chaos look almost…endearing?

The humor is spot-on, the action is nonstop, and the emotional moments hit just right. Elle Cosimano continues to nail the balance between sharp suspense and laugh-out-loud absurdity. The friendship between Finlay and Vero remains a total highlight—they're the heart of the story.

If you're in the mood for a fast-paced mystery that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still delivers smart twists and heart, this book (and this series) is such a win.

I was excited to see that there was a new installment of the Finlay Donovan series coming out, and having enjoyed the first 4 books, I was excited to dive into #5. Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed it. There's the same feel of the previous 4, the same Lucille Ball-type slapstick situations, the same solid mystery, the same snarky humor. And therein lies a potential problem with a series like this - all that "sameness" can lead to boredom over time, with readers starting to experience BTDT (been there, done that) syndrome. It's happened to me with a series or two (and I'm a huge mystery series lover, thanks to Carolyn Keene & Nancy Drew). But happily, it hasn't happened with this one yet. I listened to the audio version, and Angela Dawe's narration is a perfect fit for these books. Looking forward to reading the next installment.
Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing copies for an unbiased review.