I LOVE me some Finlay, Vero, and literally all other character in between. The wit was spot on, I LOL’d so often it hurt. I just love the way this whole series is written.

That being said, I liked that this book was short and sweet, not too over the top but still holds the charm of the other stories. I was able to guess what was happening by at least the 65% mark but still loved the whole read. I find it wraps everything up so nicely.

Also really thought this was the last book of the series but with that ending?!?! I’m confuzzled.

Every time I read a book in this series, I don’t think they can get better or that Finlay and Vera can find more trouble. Somehow, they always do. I love the familiar cast in these books and with the focus on Mrs. Haggerty this time around, more hilarity ensues. I’m not sure how this author makes murder mysteries funny, but I am always laughing out loud at Finlay’s adventures. I really enjoyed this book focusing on the women and Steven being otherwise indisposed throughout the novel. I am always trying to figure out the ending and don’t fully get there until the entire plot is unveiled. I am so excited that there will be another in this series (slight cliffhanger end, as usual) and now it’s just waiting for it to come out… 5⭐️, 1🌶

Finlay is struggling with her nosy neighbor staying in her house. Her son refuses to wear clothes and be potty trained. Her daughter is suspended from school for hitting a boy and her ex-husband is in jail because of a body found in the nosy neighbor's backyard. Could things get more complicated? With Finlay, of course they do! Another wild ride through her life! These stories are always fun but this one holds a secret, which Finlay knows she has to share with her boyfriend or they will never be able to trust each other. A good read, an interesting outcome and a few laughs at the lengths Finlay goes through to solve a crime!
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This was hands down the BEST Finlay book. I’ve been a fan since I read the first one and have been eagerly awaiting this fifth installment. All of the previous books have been stellar (I particularly loved the destination mystery location vibes of book 4, with the Atlantic City setting), but this one took the cake. I loved how everything seemed to tie back to the original book and the original mystery. Admittedly, there were details from book 1 that I had forgotten, but I filled the gaps pretty quickly just from reading on in this book. Finlay and Vero’s friendship continues to be the best part of every single book, and Nick continues to be one of the best romantic mystery love interests in the genre. Mrs. Haggerty’s role as the cantankerous old woman with a heart of gold was perfection, especially when it came to her interactions with Delia and Zach. The mystery was top notch, the romance was satisfying because Finlay finally let herself admit how much she cares about Nick, and the ending has me already eager for the next book.

Another solid Finlay book! Thank you for the author and publisher for my advanced copy.

I found the fifth installment to lack the normal Finlay action - it felt underwhelming for the first 75%. But as always, the writing and characters make it such an enjoyable read.

I’m really curious to see what ends up happening to Vero in the next book!

Overall, 3 stars!

Let me begin with saying that I have historically really enjoyed Peter Swanson thrillers. Some definitely more than others, but overall they’ve usually been pretty solid. Now, his upcoming book was one of my most anticipated 2025 reads, but honestly I was extremely underwhelmed.

Firstly, I will give credit for the format as it was a unique way to tell a story, especially for a thriller. Basically, the story is told in reverse, so you start in the present and then slowly work your back. It starts you off by introducing Wendy and Thom, a married couple in their 50s, and then from there it continues to jump back to different points of time within their relationship. During each chapter, you begin to learn more about their marriage and the secrets they’ve harbored for years.

While it was different, I unfortunately think this format made for a VERY slow burn and I didn't find it thrilling or suspenseful at all because you already knew what happened and by the time you got to it, it was not a surprise.

For me, this book felt more just like a character study of Wendy and Thom + their marriage and how it started off strong, but slowly began to crumble. It showed a bit of the toxicity of their love and how it was built on such questionable foundation. Plus, they were both pretty terrible people.

Overall, there was never really that “aha!” moment where I felt like everything fell together and made to all feel worthwhile. Sadly I felt like nothing really happened and by the end it all seemed so drawn out with nothing to show for. Definitely not a favorite Swanson of mine. But don't let this sway you as I can see fans of the slow burn thriller perhaps enjoying this more than I did.

Finlay is at it again - fun cozy mystery series with humor a bit of intrigue and an I teresting cast of characters.

I enjoyed getting to see Finlay again in another adventure. I wasn't sure where this was going at first. Finlay gets involved to help out her ex, even though he doesn't deserve her help. The resolution of the crime was a surprise. The ending was a cliffhanger to lead into a next book that would involve Vero; something that of course needs to be written. These books are an adventure.

Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with Finlay’s elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, the community busybody and president of the neighborhood watch. But when a dead body is discovered in her backyard, Mrs. Haggerty needs their help.

As the fifth book in what I think of as an “urban fairy tale” series, Finlay and Vero have an unexpected house guest when their elderly neighbor is arrested for a body that was found in her backyard. Finlay’s ex-husband Steven is also arrested for the murder and Finlay and Vero have to prove he’s innocent. Lots of twists and turns and crazy, cartoonish characters as you expect from this series which is fun and silly and I truly have to think of it as a fairy tale because everything always works out for everyone involved. Easy to read and a good distraction from real life.

Amazing followed up to the series,

I loved every page of it, for me Elle Cosimano is a confort read.

To put to your TBR

“The stern-faced woman stared down her nose at me, her solid black smock dress and crisp white collar framed by the regal arms of her leather chair.”
Here are reasons to read the Mystery book:

5th in Series - In this 5th book in the Finlay Donovan series
Garden Surprise - Finlay’s neighbor across the way has a body found in her garden
Houseguest - and after her short jail hold, with a house in disrepair from the search, she becomes Finlay’s houseguest
Her connection - is there a connection between Finlay and the dead body?

I continue to love this book series. Finlay is like all of us, trapped in situations that she has to fight her way out of. I love revisiting the characters of Vero and Nick in addition to Finlay. And this book was interesting to me because it kind of steps out of the mob situation they find themselves in usually. The topic is - well- topical. But I would have loved to seem more of the minor characters in this book.

Sometimes I wonder why I read these because they are a little silly... but obviously I'm curious about what over crazy thing can happen to Findlay! And much more does in this one as she tries to solve a crime her ex is arrested for.

4 🌟

Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for my ARC!

How fun it was to be back with my Finlay Donovan pals! This is a classic Finlay adventure, full of good intentions, bad decisions, hilarity, lovable characters, and an enjoyable mystery.

I’ll happily gobble up anything from this series. They’re so fun!

Like every entry in the Finlay Donovan series, this one was a propulsive read. It was so good I read it in a day! This is book 5 in the series, and I do recommend reading them in order as they take place over a 5ish month span and often refer back to the other books. This one takes place just a week or so after book 4.

A dead body shows up across the street from Finlay’s house, and her ex-husband is accused of being the murderer. Despite her misgivings with Steven, Finlay sets out to prove his innocence. The plot thickens, with multiple suspects with multiple possible motives. I liked how this book returned to the somewhat sleepy suburbs of Virginia, versus the last one that mostly took place in Atlantic City.

Meanwhile, will Finlay finally confess what she’s been doing over the last few months with Nick? How will he react?

One of the best things about this series is the side characters and how invested you become in their stories as well. Not only are we rooting for Finlay and her hot detective boyfriend Nick, but we also genuinely want Steven to turn out okay. There’s also the crime busting cast - like Vero and Cam. And Finlay’s grouchy neighbor Mrs. Haggerty.

The ending is a cliffhanger, and I’m already mad I have to wait another year to see what happens next!

Thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books and Elle Cosimano for the ARC.

A fast and fun read… this fifth Finlay Donovan mystery is a totally entertaining next installment of the bestselling series.

I have zoomed through each one of these mystery thrillers, they are light and witty and ideal weekend escape reads.

While in any of the Finlay books the plot doesn't matter as much as the colourful characters and criminal adventures, the plot here revolves around a body found in the yard of Finlay’s ever present busybody neighbour Mrs Haggerty.

When her scuzzball ex-husband is accused of the murder, romance writer Finlay, along with her nanny/accountant/on the run best friend Vero, set out to discover the true killer before her loser ex is locked up. Shenanigans ensue.

While the Finlay Donovan books each stand alone, the wacky neighbours and friends do repeat, and this book starts right after the end of the previous one, so would recommend reading them in order.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book. It publishes March 4, 2025.

I just love Finlay!
This series of books just has all the humor and crazy antics of Finlay- an aspiring writer and her nanny.
They inadvertently get caught up with bodies, murder , mafia and more!

5 books in and Elle Cosimano continues to deliver hilarious and chaotic antics with Finlay and Vero! This book's focus on Mrs. Haggerty and her evolving relationship with Finlay, Vero, and the kids was absolutely endearing to read. This series continues to deliver on the heart, wit, and fun that has been a hallmark of these books.

Do I want to be Mrs. Haggerty when I grow up??

Review in Emojis: 🍆🍃📚🧼⚰️, iykyk

A dead body is found in Mrs. Haggerty's backyard leading to her moving into Finlay's house (much against both of their wills) and someone very close to Finlay getting taken into custody for the crime. Do we think Finlay and Vero are going to get wrapped up in yet another murder investigation? Absolutely. Will they solve the murder before the wrong person goes down for the crime? Or will Finlay and Vero end up digging their own graves? You'll just have to read to find out 🤐

This is seriously one of the best Finlay Donovan stories yet! This book doesn't come out until March 2025 but I'm already dying for the next one (that ending though!!).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was my favorite Finlay Donovan book yet! The story moved better with less of the wacky “how will she get out of this debacle” moments that became too commonplace in the other books. The Russian Mob storyline being wrapped in book 4 really helped and the story was able to progress in a stronger directions. LOVED that Mrs. Haggerty was a central character in the mystery but also in the FD universe. She was a fun addition on a deeper level. Can’t wait for the next one. PS. One of the hard things will previous books was the amount of characters and plots and this book did a GREAT job of pulling some (SOME) of those people/stories back in without getting bogged down. Grateful for the ARC from Net Galley. Get your hands on this book asap when it releases in March!