Finlay is the best series, and I look forward to each and every installment of it. I was so glad to get an ARC of the newest one! This one was so good, and the ending was chef's kiss.

Finlay Donovan is at it again, and this story was just as entertaining as the previous books. I appreciate that even when I can’t remember what hijinks Vero and Finlay last got into, I can pick up the newest book and immediately be immersed and entertained. I caught myself laughing multiple times and really enjoyed the mystery at the heart of this one.

Another good book in the Finlay series. I really love Finlay and the other characters but this book wasn't my favorite. It felt less developed and a little rushed. I think if I didn't already love the characters I wouldnt have liked it. There was less danger and less hilarity than normal.

This book is possibly the most convoluted in the series - so far. I loved it. Finlay's next door neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, is staying with Finlay because a body was found buried in her backyard and the police are still doing their investigation in the house.

Finlay tried her best to dissuade her from staying, but ended up sleeping on the sofa while Mrs. Haggarty slept in her room. Finlay and Vera soon discovered that the lady had some unusual habits when they found her leaving the house at midnight. They followed her and discovered that she was leaving notes at some of the neighbor's houses.

Then Finlay's ex-husband was arrested for murder. It turned out that his name was on a receipt for the landscaping done at the Haggarty's house. There is much, much more to this story. Mrs. Haggarty is a member of a close-knit group of women who have something in common: abusive husbands.

I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher St. Martin's Press, and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

When Finlay's neighbor is arrested after a dead body is found in her backyard, Finlay and Vero think they may finally be rid of the nosy Mrs. Haggerty. Unfortunately, after only a few days new evidence is uncovered and Mrs. Haggerty ends up released from jail... and moves in with Finlay. Even worse than their new houseguest is that Finaly's ex-husband seems to be the new prime suspect. She may hate him, but he's still the father of her children, and determined to figure out who the true culprit is and set him free.

Wow! I've been a fan of this series since the very first page of the very first book, but I have to say, book five really breathed new life into the series. I had enjoyed the last two books, but hadn't been obsessed with them, and this one made me excited again. It's clever and interesting, and for once, it's not really Finlay who is in trouble (so I had less anxiety). We also got more progress on her love life, which is always messy and fascinating. It makes me super intrigued for what's to come next.

Thanks to Minotaur for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

Finlay Donovan is back and better than ever...

The Saga continues with "Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave" . As always Elle Cosimano keeps us delightfully entertained while delivering giggle after endless giggle . The chaotic adventures give the reader a perfect blend of humor, suspense, and sheer mayhem.
Key Strengths:

Cosimano's signature wit is in full force, with laugh-out-loud moments that perfectly balance the suspense.

Easy 5 stars

Check out this teaser :

Finlay Donovan may have skeletons in her closet . . . but at least there's not a body in her backyard.

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. At first a suspect, Mrs. Haggerty is cleared by the police, but her house remains an active crime scene. She has nowhere to go . . . except Finlay’s house, right across the street.

Finlay and Vero have no interest in getting involved in another murder case—or sacrificing either of their bedrooms. After all, they’ve dealt with enough murders over the last four months to last a lifetime and they both would much rather share their beds with someone else.

When the focus of the investigation widens to include Finlay’s ex-husband, Steven, though, Finlay and Vero are left with little choice but to get closer to Mrs. Haggerty and uncover her secrets . . . before the police start digging up theirs. But who will solve the mystery first?

YAY! Elle Cosimano keeps killing it with this series. I can't imagine my year without a Finlay Donovan (and Vero) book.
Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is the 5th installment in this series and it felt so fresh. This series is always a fun, witty roller coaster and I know that when I pick up one of these books, I will fly through it.
This book brought us back to Finlay's neighbourhood and made things feel a bit more 'at home' compared to the previous chaos (in a good way). I enjoyed that we got to explore the characters close to Finlay a bit more. I've always been interested by Mrs. Haggerty so having her move in was hilarious! And I especially loved that we got to see more between Nick and Finlay as I have loved watching their relationship grow in the unusual circumstances. Cosimano is a master at balancing murder mystery with romance and laughs.
I am (im)patiently waiting for what is next!
Thank you St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the copy through NetGalley!

This is the best book out of the series now that the mafia story line from the previous books have been tied up, the story shifts to finaly personal life. When her neighbord finds a dead body in her backyard all hell breaks loose. The antics of her children make for the best comdedy cause they are so true to life. In one part of the story we got her little boy being potty trainied and refusing to wear his clothes what is it with little boys and wanting to be naked all the tiime. Then her darling daughter stands up for herself and gets suspended from school but the nosy neighbor who is livng with finaly while her grandson gets her house ready won’t stand for that and tells the parents what for when it comes to young girl protecting themselves. The story is the perfect comedy relief and all the finaly books have been a delight to read.

4.25 stars

I may have liked this one the most in the series other than the first book. While it's slower in pace, it's the most entertaining, I enjoyed seeing more of the connection of all the characters and more background of some we had previously only touched on. After the last book I was starting to think the series was winding down but the end of this one proves otherwise. I can't wait to see more of Vero's story coming up!

Thank you to St. Martins Press, Minotaur Books and Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is the 5th-installation of the well-loved Finlay Donovan Mystery series. I have listened to all of these books on audio, and this was no exception. Not only does Angela Dawe do an incredible job bringing these stories to life with her engaging narration, but her voice is Finlay to me at this point.

In this story, Finlay and Vero are back home after their wild adventures in Atlantic City, which were chronicled in the 4th-book. They're looking forward to life returning to normal, or as normal as it can ever be for Finlay and Vero. Unsurprisingly, it doesn't take long before they are smack-dab in the middle of another mystery, after a body is discovered buried in the backyard of their busybody neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty.

Finlay and Vero have had a bit of a contentious relationship with the elderly-Mrs. Haggerty over the years. She's always watching, making her the perfect head of the neighborhood watch, but not that fun of a neighbor. As the police start investigating, Mrs. Haggerty immediately falls under suspicion. After she is cleared though, she still can't return to her house as it's an active crime scene. That's when she shows up on Finlay's doorstop. Begrudgingly allowing the older neighbor to stay at her house, Finlay needs this case wrapped up soon rather than later. Worried the police are heading in the wrong direction, Finlay and Vero decide to look into the case on their own.

Yet again, I had so much fun reading this book. I love, love, love Finlay and Vero. Their friendship is perfect and I love investigating mysteries with them. The mystery of the body in the backyard was quite intriguing. I had a great time trying to solve it. I wasn't sure who to suspect, and I believe I started to figure it out just when Cosimano wanted me to, so that's a plus.

Mrs. Haggerty plays a huge role in this one, and I liked getting to know her more. She's grumpy and opinionated, and frankly, hilarious to have around. I loved her interactions with not just Finlay and Vero, but also with Finlay's kids; so good. We also got quite a bit more of Finlay's agent, Sylvia, in this one, which was a hoot. She's wild in such a fun way, pushing Finlay out of her comfort zone every chance she gets.

Overall, I was so happy with this story. The conclusion also gave me hope that we'll definitely be getting another book, which I am so on board for. As far as I'm concerned, this series needs to continue for as long as humanly-possible. A go-to Mystery series for me.

Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I adore these mysteries with my whole heart. 10-out-of-10 recommend for all Mystery Readers!

Finley's young daughter has just gotten in trouble for beating up the little boy who pulls her hair on the playground. She is suspended from school, her. neighbor, who covertly watches her house for gossip, can't stay in her own freezing house, so she has decided to stay at Finlay's. She is a pesky old lady. And Finlay is already a massive ball of chaos. She copes by making funny observations.
She tries to be discreet. But when push comes to shove, she is willing to take care of the problem and the instigator. She is a real firecracker who pushes the boundaries of the law and gets things done. A mystery is unfolding across the street from Finn's house. Hence her unwanted guest, now embedded in her house.
Looks like the police could use a little help, so Finn investigates. As it moves towards involving her own circle, she and her nanny turn up their own investigation.
Will they solve the case and expose the killer who dumped the body across the street from her house? Will she expose the killer or will this be her last hurrah!
The crime itself involves a shockingly complex web of deceit that proves creative. Laughter and disbelief abound in a sea of shocking revelations.
Here's hoping many more adventures will be coming.
Thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
A fun and funny madcap adventure.

Thank you Macmillan Audjo and St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own.

I’ve been reading the Finlay Donovan series since the first book and they’re always such a wild ride! I saw a friend say that Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave was a favorite since book one and I’d have to agree! I really liked where Finlay was in her relationship with Nick. Making Mrs. Haggerty a suspect added a lot of entertainment value! It was funny to see her as a guest in Finlay’s home after years of them trying to make sure her busy body ways didn’t get them in trouble. I enjoyed how this mystery wrapped up, especially the women protecting each other. I can’t wait to read the next book!

As always, Angela Dawe’s narration was flawless!

I can’t help it, I just enjoy these books. I have read them from 1-5 this month and now I find myself upset that #6 is not immediately available. Finlay is again trying to bail her ex husband out of trouble by solving the mystery of who actually committed the crime he is accused of while dealing with her elderly, nosy neighbor moving in. Many adventures ensue with Finlay and Vero not only solving the crime but also uncovering the real reason for Mrs. Haggarty’s book club. This may have been my favorite one yet.

Another hilarious romp in the Finlay Donavan series!

Mrs. Haggerty, Finlay's aged neighbor across the street, is not everyone's favorite. She's nosy, always watching the goings on, and is leader of the neighborhood watch. Or at least she was until a body was found buried in her backyard and she briefly became a suspect. Needing a place to stay while her yard gets put back together, she moves herself into Finlay's home without invitation. It's not all bad. She's quite the school marm with Finlay's kids and dishes out wisdom like there's no tomorrow. But if Finlay and Vero are ever going to get their home back in order, they need to get to the bottom of who put that body in Mrs. Haggerty's backyard. And by the way, what's up with Mrs. Haggerty's secretive book club?

Author Elle Cosimano is brilliant in her writing of this series. The characters are hilarious in their dialogue and cutting remarks. The women are strong and clever while many of the men are rather morally challenged. Finlay Donavan and her nanny, Vero, make for a dubious duo in this series and their antics keep the reader chuckling. The spark between Finlay and detective Nick Anthony burns brighter with each new page. It's a wild ride for sure and nowhere near believable, yet oh so fun!

I am grateful to Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: March 4, 2025
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 978-1250337344

I loved this book as much as I love this series. I had read the first three books a year or more ago, but there were enough little snippets throughout the fourth and fifth book that it was a nice refresher, instead of beating a dead horse. This read more as a giant book, broken into five parts than five separate books and it worked out well for this series, especially since it takes place over such a short period of time. This book follows Finlay and Vero go about their business as they navigate having nosy neighbor Mrs. Haggerty move in with when a dead body is discovered buried in her backyard. The typical miscommunication, hijinks and hilarity ensue as usual, and I loved every minute of the story. I want to wish a big thank you to Elle Cosimano, St. Martin's Press & Minotaur Books for an advanced copy.

When a body is found in her neighbors yard and her ex-husband is accused of the crime, Finaly (with the help of Vero, Cam, and Arnold Schwarzenegger) is on the hunt to prove his innocence.

Just like her other books, Elle Cosimano keeps the suspense going and you never know where the twists and turns are going to take you. Just when you think you know... you didn't.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I think Elle Cosimano has done it again! Laugh out loud hilarity and edge of your seat anxiety over what is going to happen next! I love it!

This was one of the wildest reads yet in the Finlay Donovan series! When a body is recovered in the nosy neighbors yard, Finlay and Vero find themselves in some sketchy situations trying to find out who really put the body there, while trying to prove her ex husbands innocence all over again.

I’m in love with these characters and their story lines, and I can’t wait for the next installment. We left off on a huge cliffhanger so I know it’s going to be good!

I will never not read a Finlay Donovan novel. They are laugh out loud funny at times and she's extremely relatable as a character. What mother hasn't had a toddler go through a "no pants" phase? Anyway, the real star of the show is (always) Vero and in this particular novel, Mrs. H from across the street. We get a little more of Mrs. H's backstory and you end up hating her a little less at the end.

If you're going to pick up any Finlay Donovan book, you absolutely need to experience via audiobook. The narrator brings all of the characters to life in such a way that when a different narrator reads (as is the case for Vero's novella), they don't even feel like the same characters. Also, technically the books can be read in any order, but you might get a small spoiler here and there.

I read this entire book in 9 hours. I was so worried to read this next one because the last one was not as good as the others. Let me tell you, #5 is hilarious, witty, laugh out loud funny, heart racing, amazingness. Finlay, Nick and Vero are all back and better than ever.

I hope this series never ends. Elle, are you writing #6?