Another fun Finlay Donovan read! Somehow, she keeps getting herself in situations that are out there. This time, a dead body is discovered in her neighbor’s backyard. Perhaps I’m getting tired of all of the situations Finlay keeps finding herself in. This one of the series, number 5, was probably my least favorite. I did love that Finlay’s kids were showcased a bit more in this book than in the previous ones. There were still many laugh out loud moments, but I think I am done with the unbelievable plot and mystery that was presented. I listened to the audiobook and as always, the narrator for this series was perfection. She really makes it worth continuing on.

I am a dedicated Finlay fan and I never miss a release. I have always (eyeball) read the books but this is the first time I have listened to the narration. I am not sure if the narrators have stayed consistent throughout the series but the voices threw me off because it was not how I pictured Vero sounding or to some extent, Finlay too. The accent was so hard to place. So as I write this review, please take what I say under this lens.

I actually was getting a bit apathetic to the series towards the last book. I was over the Felix storyline and more curious about Vero’s incident that transpired in Maryland (I even read her previously released short story to get some context). I was happy that there were no mob-related storylines in this but disappointed that we were not getting into Vero’s back story…(yet)…it feels like we're dragging out the intrigue until we get to it.

That being said, I actually really enjoyed this novel. Yes, it’s completely outrageous and such a predictable caper but getting to know the nosy neighbor more in the context at which it was presented was a delight. Thank goodness the characters are so lovable because sometimes you cannot believe what is even happening from Cam’s car to Nick’s involvement and everything in between. It’s just a feel good book that keeps you entertained and makes you feel like you could be like Finlay, solving crime in the most ridiculous, but relatable way. I do wish there was more clever dialogue (much like the ones in the first two books) but I do like how the author has moved on from messy, anxiety prone Finlay to one that is actually quite put together and dare I say, bad ass! (She was honestly always a bad-ass mom but seeing her come into her own more here was awesome!).

Moving forward, I will continue to do audio. While the voices weren’t what I was expecting, I found myself laughing out loud at the ridiculousness (but the very best kind of ridiculousness).

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

A great step on Finaly’s journey with lots of satisfying resolutions and questions answered. Don’t worry, there’s definitely room for more to come from your favorite accidental serial killer/detective/author!

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy. These opinions are my own.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave continues the fun and chaos with even more hilarious moments and unexpected twists. The mystery in this installment is layered and unpredictable, keeping readers on their toes, while the characters we’ve come to love—especially Finlay and her quirky crew—make the shenanigans even more entertaining. The relationship development between Finlay and Nick adds a sweet touch to the story, though the romance is never the primary focus. What really shines is the bond between Finlay and Vero, whose friendship remains the emotional heart of the series.

The fifth book in the series delivers everything fans love: sharp dialogue, a delightfully unrealistic plot, and a support network of morally questionable but lovable women. Mrs. Haggerty is a standout, stealing every scene with her antics. The audiobook takes the experience to the next level, making the humor and chaos even more engaging. If you’re looking for a book packed with humor, heartfelt moments, and just the right amount of romance, Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is a must-read—and even better as a must-listen!

I have to confess that initially Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave didn't initially grab me. I was starting to wonder if this series had run its course for me, but I also was lucky enough to have the audio version, and Angela Dawe is a phenomenal narrator. I kept listening and reading, and once again I fell into the fun that is Finlay and Vero. Their friendship, the snarky dialogue, and the scrapes they get into along the way keep me coming back for more, and, with the cliffhanger ending, I'm already anxiously awaiting the next installment.

I love the Finlay Donovan Series! Honestly these books just keep getting better and better. Each installment that comes out I am more invested in the characters and enjoy seeing what trouble Finlay and Vero are going to get into. I liked getting to know Mrs. Haggerty more and I loved her book club and would like to see more of them in upcoming books. I can’t wait to see where Nick and Finlay relationship goes, and I am glad they were able to trust each other. This book had me laughing out loud and the end had me wanting to bet up Cam. I think this is one of my favorite audio narrators. She does a fantastic job, and I caught myself waiting for the audio book to come instead of wanting to read the book. These books are a ray of sunshine and my guilty pleasure I can’t wait for the next one! i am obsessed!

Thank you, Net Galley, the author, and the publisher, for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Angela Dawe is my favorite narrator. She really does bring life to the characters. This Finaly book really got me hooked again. Sometimes books like this can stuck in the same formula and this series was starting getting to this point. But this book has me excited again. That last chapter has me foaming at the mouth for the next book.

My goodness I never want this series to end. I LOVE Finlay & Vero and this one may be my second favorite (nothing will ever beat the first) of the series.

Finlay’s ex-husband Steven is suspected of murder after a body is found across the street from Finlay’s house, and she will do anything she can to prove his innocence. This one is LAUGH OUT LOUD funny and super entertaining.

It’s hard to say too much since this is book 5 and I don’t want to spoil anything but there are lots of cameos back to book one - some things I had forgotten and I love how she reiterates it just enough to spark a memory (it’s been a year since I read book 4 so minor details had been lost but came back to me 😜)

If you haven’t read this series yet, what are you waiting for?!

Elle, please never end this because I just love it so much.

HUGE thanks to MacMillan Audio & NetGalley for my ALC

#MacAudio2025

Finlay and Vero are back, and though this entry is a little less funny than previous ones, author Elle Cosimano goes a little deeper this time with the emotions as first Mrs. Haggerty then Finlay's ex Steven need the amateur sleuths' help.

Finlay and Vero have just returned from their adventures in Atlantic City, when their very nosy, elderly and unfriendly neighbour Mrs. Haggerty is arrested by police after a body is discovered in her backyard.

Once cleared by police, Mrs. Haggerty cannot return to her home as the heat is off, the grounds are a mess, and her home is still a crime scene, so Mrs. Haggerty's grandson begs Finlay to take his grandmother in, until he can get things fixed at her place.


Very, very reluctantly, Finlay agrees, and Mrs. Haggerty proceeds to take over Finlay's bedroom and life, forcing Finlay to take her to book club meetings, but Mrs. Haggerty also takes it upon herself to teach Delia (after an incident at school forces the principal to suspend Delia) and to potty train the younger Zach.

The book club meetings prove to be weirdly suspicious to Finlay, and once Steven is next seen as prime suspect, Finlay begins paying closer attention to Mrs. Haggerty's comings and goings, and to the members of the book club.

She's also come to a point in her relationship with Nick that she's wondering how she can continue to juggle all her lies and prevarications.

Though I said this was a little less funny than previous instalments, that doesn't mean this was boring or slow moving. Quite the contrary. Lots happens, and Finlay and Vero get themselves in and out of predicaments while Finlay is trying to prove Steven is not guilty of murdering then burying the man found in Mrs. Haggerty's yard.

In the process, we learn much more about Mrs. Haggerty, and she emerges as a smart, sympathetic character with rough edges.

What was surprising was I actually felt ever so slightly more sympathetic towards Steven by the end of this story, despite him still being a liar and cheater.

I also liked how Finlay resolved the dilemma she had about Nick; this sets the relationship on a slightly different course, but more stable.

The audiobook was a pleasure to listen to, and voice actor Angela Dawe keeps the characters' interactions amusing, but also brings the anger and sadness Finlay feels as she reexperiences how Steven broke her heart and trust and Dawe's interpretation of Mrs. Haggerty was such a hoot!

And that ending means Finlay has more sleuthing ahead of her. Can't wait!

Thank you to Netgalley and to Macmillan Audio for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read and review Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, a novel,
by Elle Cosimano on NetGalley.

Published: 03/04/25
Narrator: Angela Dawe

Stars: 4

Tying up loose ends with a twist while not advancing the characters storyline is how I would describe book #5.

The under story is clever and the ending impressed me. I was "oh my" when I figured out where the book was going. Cosimano drew me back into the craziness with opened eyes. I was waxing and waning and bored.

The bantering is okay, that is the style of Finlay Donovan; it's the cheating, the spousal ridiculousness, and playing the Detective for a fool that just doesn't sit well with me.

The ending went on into the epilogue and could have been reduced. They were both way too long.

Was this a necessary chapter in the Donovan series? I don't think so. This feels more like a striking while the iron is hot book.

The narrator works for me. I can keep up with the characters by her voice. She is the reason I will pick up book #6 (which is what I expected book #5 to be.)

A good mystery, but this is a middle of series entry and some of the plot points need explaining. The story does explain them, though, and it helps tie the previous books into this one. The MC has a nice circle of family and friends, and the obligatory evil ex husband. A crotchety neighbor provides some comic relief and there is plenty of investigatory sneaking around.

I enjoyed the narrator like I usually do! I will say that the production was a little bit different than before. It did not feel very smooth but rather a bit crunchy in my headphones and speaker. However, I loved all of the shenanigans that happened in this book. I could predict what was happening but that did not take away from my enjoyment. I cannot wait for the next one!

I loved the wild ride of the audio book! I've enjoyed the entire Finley Donovan series and the 5th book didn't disappoint. Things that set this book apart for me included more time with the kids, further developments in Finley's romantic life, and her evolving relationship with her ex husband. I found this one to have a slightly more realistic feel than some of the others and I really enjoyed that as well. Highly recommend!

📚🔍 Happy Pub Day to the Queen of Cozy Mysteries Elle Cosimano 🔎📚

Thank you, Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the #gifted copies of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Is this latest adventure in the Finlayverse my favorite in the series? It's truly a close contender to the police academy moment in the third book.

There's just something extra fun about these characters creating havoc in their own neighborhood in this one. Maybe it's the nostalgia of the chaos that happened in the very first book that instantly flooded back into my soul.

Finlay books are the best kind of cozy and thrill ride that helps touch my funny bone yet makes me emotional all in three hundred plus pages. I love that we have powerful women sprinkled throughout the entire series. Even better... these fictional people will always feel like home.

Seriously, though... I don't know how to review this without spoiling all the goodness. To keep it vague. I appreciate the theme of friendship and women sticking together.

These books always bring me so much joy, and I am so grateful for Elle's imagination bringing Finlay and Vero into the world. They mean so much to a lot of us, and I am so happy that the chaos continues to unfold.

🎧 I always love listening to these audiobooks. The woman who narrates is perfect and never disappoints. She embodies Finlay and these stories so well... the Dani stamp of approval & recommendation has a permanent spot on these ear worms

I always know Finlay Donovan will deliver! This latest installment, once again, had me reaffirming just how much I love this series as I found myself laughing out loud throughout the book. Mrs Haggerty was the best character and though I doubted her at the start, I could only admire her by the end. Highly recommend listening to this book on audio if you can. The story brought to life just makes it all the more fun I think!

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for access to this audiobook ARC! These opinions are my own.

I devoured books 1 through 4 of the Finlay Donovan series in under a week and a half, so, of course, I did the same with this installment in about 2 days.

I highly recommend the audiobook editions; the narrator is absolutely incredible, & her performance really elevates the reading experience for me. She does an amazing job differentiating the characters and embodying their vibes.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave was a bit more character driven than the first four books. The plot felt less intense, lower-stakes, and a bit more straightforward/predictable, especially given the larger plots & players introduced in Finlay Donovan Is Killing It (book 1) and wrapped up in Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (book 4). So there is a bit of a pacing shift here, especially given that we started out with [spoilers redacted]; this definitely feels like a de-escalation in comparison.

Book 5 focused a lot more on character relationships and development, and it has some really wholesome & precious moments 😭. I felt a lot more of a full found family vibe alongside themes of trust, connection, vulnerability, home, community, and safety. Plus, we see some true reflection from Finlay + growth in both Vero's and Finlay’s relationships with their respective partners.

Shoutout to Cam also -- I love his character.

I will definitely be continuing with this series (the audiobooks 100% — I love them)! I’m invested in the characters & the world, and I always have a fun time reading these books! I do hope the next installments have some higher-stakes/more intense/complex plots.

Regardless, I’m here for the fun humorous mystery vibes & the wholesome precious ones too!

Happy pub day to Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by @ellecosimano—the only series I read religiously! I’m so grateful to @minataur_books for a e-arc and to @macmillan.audio for an ALC of this one. If you’re a Finaly fan, you’re absolutely going to want to grab a copy. And if you’re not a fan yet, I’d still recommend grabbing a copy, but not until you’ve read the other books first.

It’s so hard to talk about this series without spoilers, but I’ll try to be as vague as possible. This installment of writer turned amateur detective Finlay and her best friend/nanny Vero involves a body found buried in their crochety neighbor’s Mrs. Haggerty’s back yard. When a person close them is suspected of being the killer, Finlay and Vero must figure out how to solve the case without drawing too much (or any) attention on their past crimes.

This book is just as funny as the rest of the series. We have Mrs. Haggerty—whose house is still a crime scene—moving in with Finlay and Vero. She criticizes everything they do, but is also surprisingly helpful with Finlay’s kids. We have all the usual antics that make this series so fun. Wigs, other disguises, breaking and entering, a book club, Finlay’s over-the-top agent Sylvia, run-ins with police from different departments. And we get a huge step forward in Finlay’s romance with hot cop Nick which I absolutely loved.

While this book really wouldn’t work well as a stand-alone, I also really appreciated that the central mystery in the story was pretty self-contained. I didn’t have to remember details from the other books to follow anything and the mystery wraps up at the end of the book perfectly. Which is not to say there isn’t the kind of cliffhanger I’ve come to expect from this series, because there absolutely is. And as soon as I finished the last page, I was already dying for book number six.

Angela Dawe is back narrating which is perfect because her voice has become synonymous with Finlay’s quick wit and worrying. This series is such a blast to listen to. I highly recommend the audiobook, but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed however you read the newest installment.

I love the Finlay Donovan series. It never gets old and I’m always excited when a new book comes out. This one didn’t disappoint. Where it may have been a little less action packed than normal it was still every bit as interesting. Mrs. Haggerty is such a fun character. I was annoyed at first but I really did like her by the end.

Thanks to Minotaur Books, St Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for early (and pub day!) access in exchange for my honest opinions.
One of the times each year that I reflect on how long I’ve been reviewing books is when a new Finlay Donovan book releases. I remember reading and reviewing Finlay Donovan Is Killing It in 2021 and falling in love with the characters and revisiting the Loudoun County area, where the books are set and where I’d lived from 2005-2007. And I’m thrilled that my original book is now personalized and signed by the author, after meeting her about a year ago at Porter Square Books in Cambridge, MA!
I love the way Finlay and Vero care for each other and Finlay’s kids, and even Stephen, Finlay’s ex-husband. Although Vero is always making threats to hurt him, I still think she cares about their family unit and doing what’s best for the kids. And in this book, Finlay felt like even more of a mama bear, taking care of Cam along with her neighbor. But she still gets to have her fun, too! There is just as much hilarity and there are just as many hijinks as you’d expect in a Finlay book, but to me it seemed a bit more realistic and believable than some recent drama and shenanigans. I didn’t start reading my ebook until this past weekend, when I read the first 1/3 in one sitting, and I sadly figured I wouldn’t finish it by pub day, due to work obligations limited my reading during the week. I was so excited to receive gifted access to the audiobook version today, and I jumped right in listening on my walk home from work, and I finished while making dinner. I have listened to a few of the others, and Angela Dawe does a fantastic job again here. Do check this one out, especially if you’ve read the others - I think the whole series (5 books and 1 novella) is worth reading if you haven’t yet!

The series has been resuscitated!!! Girly was flatlining during books 3 and 4, but Elle Cosimano has brought it back to life! Finally, Vero and Finlay are back to their usual “whoops, how did we get here?” shenanigans instead of whatever confusing, fully questionable situations they were getting into in the last two books. I loved the murder mystery and was dying over the relationship developments for Finlay.