Loved being back in the world of Finlay. Really liked how this one brought together some of the characters that were more minor in the other books. As well as connected some of the story lines back together. One of favorites of the whole series. Can’t wait to see if there will be more.

Finlay Donovan is back, and while she still can’t get a quiet moment to write her novel, at least this time the body isn’t in her backyard. It's in Mrs. Haggerty’s.

Yes, that Mrs. Haggerty—the neighborhood snoop, HOA tyrant, and walking, talking alarm system. But when a corpse turns up in her rose bushes, she’s suddenly less "nosy neighbor" and more "homeless homicide suspect." Naturally, she moves in with Finlay.

Because what’s one more houseguest when you’ve already got a full plate of chaos?

Finlay and her ride-or-die nanny Vero aren’t exactly thrilled. They’d really prefer to solve the mystery of their love lives rather than another murder. But when bodies drop and secrets unravel, they’re pulled right back into amateur sleuthing (and occasionally felonious) mode.

This fifth installment starts with a bang, keeping up the witty charm and banter we’ve come to love. But halfway through, the pace sputters a bit, like someone forgot to top off Vero’s margarita blender. It’s got great character moments and wraps up a few dangling plot threads, but the formula is definitely starting to wear thin. Déjà vu, anyone?

Still, it ends on a cliffhanger, hinting at more hijinks to come—and if this is the final stretch for Finlay and Vero, let’s hope they go out with a bang (and maybe fewer bodies).

It’s fun, fast, and full of Finlay flair, but maybe it’s time to consider early retirement from the neighborhood watch drama. For fans of cozy chaos, slightly criminal besties, and suburban noir with a splash of wine.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC ride-along—I’ll still be buckling in for the next one!

I will never get enough of Finlay and Vero, they are an absolute hoot! This is book #5 in the series, with book #6 expected early 2026! If you are an audio reader, I highly, highly recommend listening to this book, Angela Dawe does an absolutely fantastic job narrating all the characters in every book! She makes these books that much more enjoyable!

Book #4 left us with a cliffhanger of police and a dead body in Mrs. Haggerty's backyard, right across the street from Finlay. This book picks up where we left off and I have to say, Mrs. Haggerty may be one of my favorite characters in the series, she absolutely stole the show!

A dead body in her backyard, Mrs. Haggerty is taken in for questioning but soon released. However, her house is now a crime scene and she can't stay there. With no where else to go, she wants to stay with Finlay and Vero, who are less than thrilled to have her, although, they end of letting her stay. This is hilarious because you know they haven't gotten along, ever. Finlay's ex-husband is arrested and Finlay and Vero work to clear his name, because they know Stephen did not kill anyone. Let the antics begin!

The end leaves us on another cliff hanger for book #6, and oh boy, this next book is going to be a good one! If you love a mystery, whodunit, with humor, a touch of romance, and just overall fun dialogue, this is for you!

I can't recommend this series enough for anyone who likes a "lighter" murder mystery.

4 zesty, intense and slightly sweet wine glasses! 🍷🍷🍷🍷

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my ARC, all opinions are my own.

I have read every book in this series. “Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave” by Elle Cosimano was not lacking adventures of Finlay. I couldn’t put this book down. I finished this one in one day. It was a fun read and I really hope the story continues with a book 6!

I was skeptical when I first started reading this because I thought the Finlay Donovan story arc had been played out over the first four books but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I actually enjoyed this! It was a fresh mystery that built a little bit off of the past books’ mysteries but was really fun and interesting. It’s a contained story with a (seemingly) closed arc. The epilogue introduces what could be the 6th book and I would definitely consider reading that one!

If you’re not listening to the audiobooks, what are you even doing.

Who would think an author and a nanny could find themselves in so much trouble time after time, but they've done it again, and this time it's hitting closer to home.

Even though the plot lines are over the top, we still adore Finlay and Vero's world. Things hit really close to home for Finlay with an unwelcome houseguest and {more} trouble with her ex.

This is a diverting, entertaining read! I laughed. I rolled my eyes. I zipped right through it. Not my favourite in the series, but still a delight.

Opinions are my own, but this is definitely a title I'm recommending for the hijinx and mystery.

Reading a novel about Finlay is always a fun experience. Quirky is how I woukd describe her. With a delightful cast of characters and an interesting mystery to solve, Finlay rises to the occasion. Loved it.

I loved this latest installment of Finlay.

I like that each book ends on a cliffhanger so the very next book picks up exactly where the other one left off. I loved that the nosy, elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty was the latest person to find a dead body. Since her house is now a crime scene she ends up moving in with Finlay, taking over her bedroom and acting suspiciously. I loved that she took charge of the kids, and made demands on Finlay. She added a lot to the story.

I love Finlay and Vero, I love their dynamic, I love all the trouble they get into in every book. There banter is fun, and the way they are able to get out of any jam is another part I love about these books.

I love the romance between Nick and Finlay, it adds so much to each of the books. I like that their relationship progressed in this story and that the slow burn is finally heating up more. I can't wait to see where this relationship goes next.

I also really love the kids in this series. I like that Finlay is just a mom trying desperately to hold it all together. It feels so relatable and I think that is why I enjoy these books so much.

Overall, I am excited to see where we go next!

I'll be the first to admit that the first book in this series is the best one, but I can't stop myself from keeping up with this series. I'm glad that Elle Cosimano has returned to local adventures for Finlay and Vero, because I didn't enjoy their travels and the absence of kids in the mix. This book returns to the neighborhood and has Finlay determined to solve a mystery and once again absolve her ex-husband from a murder accusation. I agree with many other reviewers that Finlay seems too stuck on her ex in the recent books in the series, so that plot element isn't my favorite. I do like that she has some romantic breakthroughs elsewhere. Overall, there is still a lot of good humor and a lot of over-the-top craziness in this book, and it was a great weekend getaway read.

Finlay Donovan is back again with her partner-in-unwilling-crimes, Vero Ruiz. When Finlay's elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, shows up at her door, Finlay has no choice but to house her nosey neighbor. After all, Mrs. Haggerty's house has been left vacant while she was in police custody after a body was discovered in her yard and she has to stay somewhere while the repairs happen. But when Finlay's ex-husband, Stephen, becomes the new person of interest in the crime, Finlay has to find a way to clear his name while balancing the film adaptation of her new book, her new relationship with Nick the police officer, parenting, and hosting her neighbor. What could go wrong?

I cannot say enough how much I look forward to each new release in this series, and this is my new favorite. I have now spent enough time with these characters that it feels like reuniting with old friends. In addition, the plot here moves along at a clip, keeping me turning pages and making predictions the entire time. While there are many subplots going on at this point in the series, I had no trouble keeping up with them and all of them were interesting and kept me engaged at every turn. I also loved getting to see more of Mrs. Haggerty and Finlay's life with her children. It's odd to say that there were so many parts of this mystery novel that also felt so relatable to my life. I cannot wait for the next addition to the series, which I will be picking up for sure.

Another fun installment of Finlay/Vero shenanigans!

Light-hearted, funny and cozy mystery, with a little romance mixed in. Highly recommend if you like laugh out loud banter!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy!

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave
Elle Cosimano
4⭐️

Pub Date: 3/4/2025

Here we go again! Finlay and Vero are back. And they have more trouble to deal with. Uh oh. Steven (ex husband) is involved. I had some diffoculty rooting for him (and Finlay because she's defending him) since I really truly despise this guy so much. He needs to keep it in his pants!!! His troubles truly stem from his pants. 🙄 Fin is too nice. She still looks out for him even after he's screwed with her so many times. Also, gosh! So many men pining for Fin! Steven, and Nick ofcourse. And Julian also made an appearance 🥵 geeez! The sleuthing was still fantastically written. The mystery on who did what and how and why still kept me on my toes. WHO WOULD'VE GUESSED who the culprit was this time???!!! My mind was blown!

This, overall, is enjoyable for me but I will say that it's less stressful since Fin and Vero were not the ones in trouble this time. Atleast not AS MUCH trouble. Some of her lies and secrets are now starting to come out and be noticeable so my face was 😬😬😬 most of the time. The author is so cruel and is such a tease. Especially with the ending. The next one needs to come out now!

Thank you @netgalley and SMP for a gifted e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really do love reading about Finlay and Vero but this one was missing a little something for me. I felt so bad for Nick the whole time!! Easy read and fast paced but it felt a little repetitive. Might be done with this series.

Finlay and Vero are back and better than ever. I absolutely adore this series! If you ever find yourself looking for a nice popcorn read, I think these books are for you!

Without getting into spoilers—Finlay and Vero find themselves in the middle of yet another murder, and need to solve it in order to help someone in their lives. I loved learning a little more about their community and all of the new characters that came from that.

Thank you to Minotaur for my eARC!

Finlay Donovan and her partner in crime Vero are absolutely hilarious and fun to read about. I truly enjoyed every book in this series, and this one did not disappoint.

The neighborhood busy bee Mrs. Haggerty is in need of a place to stay, so she moves in with Finlay for "a weekend" that turns into a bit longer.

I can't tell you how many times I was laughing as I was listening to this audiobook, the writing is great, the chaos is fun and the situations Finlay and Vera find themselves in the middle of make the books so exciting.

Favorite Quotes:

I’d made some observations after all the time I’d spent with my mother and Mrs. Haggerty over the last few weeks, and getting old seemed a little like going through adolescence backward.

“Why won’t he keep his pants on?” my father asked. “Probably something to do with the apple and the tree.

He couldn’t get out of here fast enough. The guy laid enough rubber in the street to outfit the whole tire department at Costco.

A quiet two-year-old was rarely a good thing. Last time Zach had been alone and quiet in the bathroom, he’d been finger-painting the walls with his own poop.

‘He’s a really good cop!” Vero called out over the women as they started to argue. “The best! He’s like John McClane in Die Hard, but with better hair. And a lot more backup!”


My Review:

I gleefully bounced in my chair and frequently laughed aloud while I inhaled this amusing and cleverly penned series. I loved every well-chosen arrangement of words. Elle Cosimano is absolutely brilliant, and her Finaly Donovan creation is a gift. Poor Finaly, she was a semi-successful writer who had an ex-husband who couldn’t keep it in his pants and a toddler who refused to keep his pants on, or toilet train. Finaly was a hot mess.

Her adventures started with an inadvertent slip of paper on a Panera tray, which eventually led her to helping various women living in difficult situations who were “seeking a specialist with a certain skill set.” Finaly didn’t actually have the skill set, but she and Vero, her ever helpful nanny, kept managing to accidentally kill bad people, some they were supposed to, others just had the bad luck to die in their vicinity.

The engaging storylines were active, eventful, smartly plotted, and populated with a colorful cast of oddly compelling characters, many of whom were unlikable, yet quirkily and knowingly drawn. I downed six in a row and finished the last one hoping there are more to come.

Love this whole series so much and this one did not disappoint. Laugh out loud funny. Great storyline. Loved the new characters introduced. Can’t wait for the next one.

I've enjoyed all of the Finlay Donovan books but this one was one of my favorites. It was fun without too much going on. 4 stars!

Reading Finlay again is like putting on a comfy sweater. My favourite cardigan. Finlay, Nick, and Vero are back for more fun in this novel. But to me Mrs haggerty was the one who stole the whole story!

Mrs Haggerty is staying with Finlay after getting out of jail. Finlay begrudgingly takes her in. She bosses everyone around and is one of my favorite grumpy characters of all time. With a heart of gold.

Finlay ex husband Steven is accused of murder. Finlay knows in her bones he didn't do it. Can Finlay prove he didn't? It's up to her with the help of her trusty sidekicks to make it happen.

My other favourite part of this story is the Nick and Finlay love story. It is actually heart warming and I couldn't wait for the next part in the story they were together.

An overall fun and enjoyable read as always! Get your copy today. You won't be disappointed!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc

**4.5 stars

Thank you to Elle Cosimano & Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! I mixed that up with the audio version from my library because I absolutely love this narrator.

As much as I've loved this series, I think this might have been favorite book so far. We get the insanity, the mystery, and the romance that we love from this series, but I feel like it's just extra special in this one. Between Mrs. Haggerty being a main character of this book and all her shenanigans, Nick finally calling Finlay out for her trust issues, and trying to figure out which sketchy character was the murderer, I couldn't put this book down.

Like I mentioned above, I love this narrator. Angela Dawe brings all of these characters to life so well. Her voice for Nick? Perfect. And there's one part where she does a little giggle for Vero - it was amazing. I was chuckling so much. She even got to give Zach a voice this time. I'm laughing now just thinking about it. I'm always going to recommend this series on audio. It's a fun and easy listen that you just can't pass up.