"Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave" delivers the signature humor and chaotic charm that fans of the series have come to love. Finlay and Vero’s antics are as entertaining as ever, and Mrs. Haggerty adds a fun new dynamic to the mix. The story moves quickly, with plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting.

However, this installment doesn’t quite hit the same mark as the earlier books. The mystery feels a bit scattered at times, and some of the plot developments lean more on convenience than cleverness. While the banter is enjoyable, the stakes don’t feel as high, making the story less engaging than previous adventures.

Overall, it’s a fun read, but not the strongest in the series. If you enjoy Finlay and Vero’s wild ride, you’ll likely still have a good time—but it may not be the most memorable installment.

The fifth installment of this series did not disappoint! I love Finlay and Vero, their hijinks are always top notch., and I'm looking forward to seeing more of the character development for Mrs. Haggerty in the upcoming books!

We all knew Finlay Donovan would never be able to keep to the straight and narrow, but she makes a pretty good effort at the start of this latest installment. Instead of just jumping straight in with pure insanity, this book takes a moment at the beginning to build the characters a little bit, including Finlay's relationship with Nick, which I appreciated. I still don't quite understand why he puts up with so much yo-yoing and craziness from her, but I enjoyed their scenes together more than I have in the past.

But let's get down to the real star of the show, Mrs. Haggerty. If Grandma Mazur is your favorite character of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series (and let's be real, she's everyone's favorite character), then this is for you. Finlay Donovan and Stephanie Plum have always given similar vibes, but never more so than in this book, where the cast of kookie side characters gets kookier and larger than ever before. We see the return of several favorites, such as Cam, but the introduction of some new faces as well.

While I still feel that the first book is the best in this series, I enjoyed reading this one and will definitely be glad to recommend it to anyone looking for something light-hearted.

This was standard Finlay. I loved Zach's potty training and sexy Nick and kind Julian and crazy Vero and Javi. It ended on a cliff hanger which is fun for this series.

Finlay and Vero are back again. Who knew a suburban mom and author could find herself in the midst of so much drama? This book reminds me of Janet Evanovich’s One for the Money series, which was a favorite of mine growing up.

Not only can Elle Cosamino make you laugh out loud, but you will turn each page wondering how she’ll get herself out of this mess (again)!

Highly recommend! This was definitely one of my favorite in the series!

The end of this series (or is it) goes out with a bang...and I truly enjoyed the ride!

Finlay and Vero find themselves entangled in the investigation of another buried dead body BUT this time, they didn't put it there.

The Finlay Donovan series is the most fun you can have with a cozy mystery. Think of the duo as Thelma and Louise who always seem to find themselves in some sort of trouble with dead bodies. You definitely have to suspend reality with their antics but it's part of the entertainment. I love that the shenanigans in FINLAY DIGS HER OWN GRAVE weren't as off the rails as books 3 and 4. Finlay's nosy neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, is back and she steals the show! It's so easy to fall in love with these characters and their larger-than-life drama. The action and laughs are non-stop. There aren't as many characters to keep up with so that made the audiobook even more enticing.

After the first book, this one is definitely one of my favorites of all five. I do recommend reading them in order because they all end in a cliffhanger with a storyline that continues. I thought this was the final adventure for Finlay and Vero BUT we're left with another shocking ending...

I’ve been a ride or die Finlay and Vero fan since book 1, and I keep waiting for the series to lose its originality or spark, but somehow Cosimano continues to deliver!

Readers like me or have been shipping Finlay and Nick for BOOKS will love this latest installment. The actual mystery takes a bit of a back seat to the development of their relationship. There is still plenty of hilarity with potty training adventures, Mrs. Haggerty moving in as a temporary roommate, weed brownies, and Cam’s new eggplant colored suped up car, but the best part for me was watching Finlay finally make moves to come clean about her past in the hopes for real intimacy. The murder mystery portion also nicely closed the story arc from previous books, leaving Cosimano the freedom to potentially give Vero more time to shine in the next book. There is a delightful conclusion/cliffhanger that always makes me wish the next book was already ready for release!

I love that all the main characters are back for this! We have Finlay, Vero and Javi along with some more familiar characters.

Mrs. Haggerty is the president of the neighborhood watch and Finlay’s neighbor. We find out that a dead body is discovered in Mrs. Haggerty’s backyard. She really needs Finlay and Vero’s help before the police show up but they both don’t want to have to deal with another case since they have dealt with so much over the last few months.

This story is filled with the perfect amount of mystery and comedic relief that we all know and love from this series.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is book 5 in the series. It can be read as a standalone but I suggest reading them in order. You love the characters even more when you do.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Finlay is one of my favorite characters! I have enjoyed all of her previous books, and this one was no exception. Ms. Cosimano's writing style keeps me turning the pages and devouring her books quickly. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this newest installment early.

Finlay has no plans to get involved in another murder case she but when her ex-husband become a prime suspect she knows that she has to at least for her kid's sake to clear his name. I enjoyed this one. I just hope its not the last one in the series.

Okay, I really need to stop reading this series and hopefully this is the last of the series. This book was a rough one to get through. These books are just too monotonous and getting more “fillery” feeling as they go on. I didn’t really see the fascination with the added cop romance and the characters are just falling flat more and more. It’s time for me to put an end to this series, personally.

I am truly a Finlay fan for life. While it’s true what others are saying - these books are starting to feel a bit formulaic - the characters SHINE and make each installment a truly joyful and fun reading experience for me. I will adore Finlay and Vera until the end of time and am already excited to reread this one on audio after it’s published for the spectacular audio performances of the narrator. When the world feels burny around you, there are few joys better than a comforting book with familiar characters that is guaranteed to be a romp - and that’s Finlay Donovan in a nutshell.

I was very excited to read this book. It is the 5th book in the Finlay Donovan series. This book did a great job tying up some plots from the previous books. The the book ended with something that makes me very excited to see how the series continues. I am excited that there will be more of Finlay and Vera in my future! If you haven't read this series before, then I highly recommend starting with the first book. But this is a must read series!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is the fifth book in the Finlay Donovan series.

I'm going to be real...how have we had five books in this series? While I really enjoyed the fourth book, the fifth book is making me think maybe it's time for Finlay to just stick to writing and nothing more. The books are very formulaic, which I know some really enjoy, but for me it's starting to feel like a slog. This book didn't feel like it really added anything to the story. Once again we are left with a kind-of cliffhanger ending to get us into the sixth book. I think it might be time for me and Finlay to part ways with the way this one ended. Even a very handsome Nick couldn't save this one.

Thank you to Minotaur and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for review consideration.

This book was fantastic. It had all the same humor and entertainment that made all the previous books so fantastic. I love how right yet wrong Finlay is all the time in her investigations. I cannot wait for the next one, especially if we finally get to solve Vera's mystery!

Recommended for: cozy mystery readers who enjoy humor sprinkled throughout. And who may or may not have dabbled in other Finlay Donovan books (although I don’t feel like you need to have read the other books)

Summary: We are reintroduced to Finlay Donovan and her uniquely scrambled family dynamic. Only now her nosy neighbor has moved in with them until the police are done investigating a dead body found in the neighbor’s backyard. Finlay finds herself smack dab in the middle of another investigation that could lead to her own demise.

Review: I always love returning to this family! This time it had the added bonus of Mrs. H, the neighbor, and her generationally different discipline. I loved seeing her react to the kids and seeing a little of the story from the kids point of view! Lastly, the relationship between the Gen Z character of Cameron and the Boomer Mrs. H was unique and delightful! I can’t wait for the next book!

finlay and vero are back again with the shenanigans, and it was so refreshing to be following a thread that isn't directly tied to them.

in FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE we dive right back into the drama in mrs. haggarty's backyard. her grandson picks her up from jail, drops her off at finlay's, and leaves her in their hands. i mean, who can blame him?

surprisingly, i ended up really enjoying more of mrs. haggarty in this book. i never thought i'd say that, but she actually grew on me. i was happy to see more of cam. especially seeing him interact with mrs. haggarty. those moments were so fun.

i did have a moment of worry that we might get sucked back into old storylines, but thankfully, we dodged that bullet. i’m so ready for these characters to take new directions, and it looks like that’s exactly what we’re in for. that being said, this felt a little like a filler book, laying the groundwork for what's to come, so it wasn’t my favorite of the series.

we continued to get more finlay and nick content on the side, plus some javi and vero too. there were some (very much needed) loose ends tied up between finlay and nick, and i was thrilled about that.

the ending sets us up for the next adventure, and i’m super intrigued to see how the crew handles their upcoming complications!

**side note: i definitely would've loved the zach situation to be handled differently in the prologue. it felt weird and unnecessary that he was in the school without a blanket or anything. idk, it rubbed me the wrong way.

3.75/5

Elle Cosimano delivers another sharp and entertaining installment in the Finlay Donovan series, with a plot that stands out as the best since the first book. The pacing is tight, the writing is smooth, and the story takes a much-needed turn that reinvigorates the series.

The mafia storyline had run its course, and this shift in direction felt refreshing. It was also great to see more of Mrs. Haggerty, Cam, and Nick, whose expanded roles added depth and humor. The introduction of the book club was an unexpected but welcome addition that blended seamlessly with the story’s chaotic energy.

The novel ends on a strong cliffhanger, setting up the next book perfectly. Every element—from the humor to the tension—lands exactly as it should, making this a standout entry in the series. The audiobook narration remains flawless, elevating the experience even further.

Cosimano continues to strike the right balance between suspense and comedy, keeping the momentum of Finlay’s story going in the best possible way.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano
Rating: 4.5 stars
Pub date: 3 /4

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for my advanced copy!

Elle Cosimano does it again with Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave! This latest installment in the series is just as fun and chaotic as ever, with plenty of mystery, humor, and Finlay-and-Vero shenanigans to keep things entertaining.

This time around, Finlay and Vero aren’t the ones in immediate trouble (for once), but their nosy neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, is. When a dead body turns up in her backyard, she suddenly needs a place to stay—and, of course, she ends up crashing at Finlay’s. While they try to keep their distance from the investigation, we all know that’s never really an option for these two.

The book has all the witty banter and ridiculous situations that make this series such a blast. I loved getting more of Nick and Mrs. Haggerty in this one, and Steven’s character development was surprisingly interesting. I haven’t had this much fun with this series since book one, and after that cliffhanger, it looks like there is another one coming!

Overall, this was a super fun, fast paced read! The humor, the characters, and the wild predicaments make it worth picking up. I can’t wait to see what’s next for these characters!

Finlay Donovan is still killing it! 🔥🔪

This series never misses! Finlay and Vero are back, bringing their usual brand of mischief and mayhem, and I couldn’t be more entertained. This time, their lives get flipped upside down when Mrs. Haggerty—yes, the same sweet old lady—gets released from jail and lands right on their doorstep. The reason? A body was found in her backyard. 😳 And to make matters even more complicated, the person accused of the crime is none other than Finlay’s ex-husband, Steven.

Now, Finlay and Vero are in full sleuth mode, determined to uncover the truth and clear Steven’s name. But solving a murder while juggling parenting, relationships, and the ever-growing chaos of their lives? Not exactly a walk in the park. As Finlay gets deeper into the case, her relationship with Nick starts to feel the strain—how much longer can he be patient before he starts questioning everything? And just when you think things couldn’t get more complicated, Finlay’s book agent, Sylvie, shows up in town with her own secretive agenda. 😏

One of the things I love most about this series is how Elle Cosimano effortlessly blends mystery, humor, and heart. 💛 The pacing is chef’s kiss, the characters are layered and dynamic, and the themes—motherhood, marriage, divorce, friendship, and career struggles—make it all feel so real. And THAT ENDING?! 🚨 Cliffhanger alert! It’s giving book six is coming, and I’m so ready for it!