"Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave" by Elle Cosimano is Book #5 in the Finlay Donovan Series!

Finlay has never seen eye to eye with her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, a busybody who keeps snooping around and peering across the street into Finlay's business. Now, the tables are turned, and she may need some help from Finlay.

A dead body was found in Mrs. Haggerty's backyard. She has been cleared of any charges, but her house remains a crime scene. Since Finlay's house is directly across the street, Mrs. H. makes herself at home, moving into Finlay's bedroom, where she has a clear view of her house.

Then, Finlay hears the familiar name of a new suspect in the case, which triggers her immediate interest in the investigation...

"Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave", like all previous books, picks up where the last book left off. I was on the fence about continuing this series, as I felt it had lost its original appeal. I wanted more Finlay and Vero, less wackiness, and fewer one-dimensional characters. This one delivers all that and a deeper dive into Finlay and Nick's developing relationship.

Mrs. Haggerty is quite the character and one of the best parts of this story. Come to find out there's more to her than meets the eye. I hope we see more of her in the future.

This was an immersion read; the audiobook is narrated by Angela Dawe, whose voicing of Finlay and Vero is so familiar to me that I can read the ebook alone and still hear their voices in my head. I'm not sure what that says about me, but I continue to be impressed by Ms. Dawe's talent.

"Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave" ends in another cliffhanger, meaning another book is in the works. I'm excited for book #6 and more of Finlay and Vero's shenanigans!

4.5⭐

Thank you to St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, and Elle Cosimano for the DRC and ALC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I love the Finlay Donovan series, and this newest book is the same humorous, chaotic, and endearing kind of story I have come to expect from our plucky heroine. In Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave we get to spend a lot more time with Mrs. Haggerty as the team tries to unearth a solution to the murder case surrounding the dead body found in her garden. There was a lot to love here, but my favorites were the relationship progression for Finlay and Nick, the unlikely BFF pairing of Mrs. Haggerty and Cam, and the epilogue cliffhanger promising more Finlay shenanigans. As for the audiobook format, Angela Dawe returned with her flawless narration, making this a quick and rollicking listen. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for gifting me with an ALC to review! All opinions are my own.

I have been hooked from book one! This series is just the best sleuth series. I love Finlay and Vera's friendship. As we have grown in the series we have added a few new characters that I love as well like Nick and Cam. I loved having all the characters in this story and I had a good time getting to know Mrs. Haggerty. She is a very interesting character and she will keep you entertained. I had so many LOL moments with her.

I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Angela Dawe's. Angela did a great job telling this story and keeping me entertained. She portrayed the characters well and brought them to life.

This story starts off with a body being found in Mrs. Haggerty's backyard. Just when they think they are finally going to be done solving murders they are thrown into another mystery. They also get to have a new roommate Mrs. Haggerty while her house has some work done. As with all the other books fasten your seat belts because you are in for a wild ride!

This book will keep you entertained from the beginning until the end and you will be left with a nice cliffhanger. I can't wait for the next book in this series. I would highly recommend this book and this entire series! You will laugh like crazy and have such a great time with these girls!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for allowing me to listen to this ALC for my honest opinion.

Ahhh! I think this is one of my favorite Finlay books, besides the first. I loved the growth in Nick and Finlay's relationship. My jaw dropped at the end! Loved it all. As usual, the banter between Vero and Finlay is perfection, and any time someone is dissing her ex-husband, I'm cheering - I'm talking about your Mrs. Hagerty!

The narrator is perfect for these characters and this series is a comfort listen. I can go back to them over and over again!

Finlay, Vero, and the ever-grumpy Mrs. Haggerty are back in another wild, laugh-out-loud mystery. It’s rare for a series to maintain its momentum five books in, but Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave might just be the most fun yet. By this point, Finlay and Vero feel less like characters and more like old friends—chaotic, crime-adjacent friends, but friends nonetheless.

This time, Mrs. Haggerty finds herself in a bit of a predicament when a dead body turns up in her backyard. With her home now an active crime scene, she strong-arms her way into crashing in Finlay’s bedroom. But things take a suspicious turn when Finlay starts noticing Mrs. Haggerty’s odd nighttime outings and her suddenly frequent book club meetings. Naturally, hijinks (and trouble) ensue.

One of the highlights of this book is how Mrs. Haggerty helps Finlay’s son grow up a bit—offering tough love in a way only she can. As always, this series shines in its portrayal of women supporting each other through every twist, turn, and crime scene life throws their way.

Angela Dawe delivers another fantastic audiobook performance, bringing each character to life with her signature flair.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

When a body is found in her neighbor’s yard, Finlay Donovan and her nanny Vero are reluctantly drawn into another murder investigation. With a suspect list including Finlay’s ex-husband, they must unravel the mystery before their own secrets are uncovered.

Another fun and fast-paced mystery! This book is hilarious and warm-hearted, with vividly drawn characters you’d want to be friends with if you weren’t afraid of getting arrested or murdered. I loved the audiobook narration. Don’t miss this bingeworthy series!

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave: 🪦🎧🪴⁣
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A million thanks to @macmillan.audio @minotaur_books and @ellecosimano for my gifted copy! #MinotaurInfluencers #MacAudio2025 ⁣
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Dare I say this may be my favorite Finlay adventure yet? This was a hoot and a half but we really got to see a lot of the secondary characters shine. Mrs. Haggerty has always had a spot in my heart, so I definitely wanted to know why she had a body in the back! Also, we get more punishment for Steven, so life is good. (I said what I said) ⁣
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We get more of hot cop Nick, and Finlay gets to really pull back her onion layers with him. He still gives me Dermot Mulroney, and that’s all I’ll think about. Maybe it’s Angela Dawe’s narration, but I love it. I actually heard Dawe on a different audio recently and I immediately said, “Fin?” ⁣
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Overall, we get more depth for our side characters, left with the wildest cliffhanger, and still get the best trouble around. Also, I love that we get more of a sense of community for Finlay. She deserves it.⁣
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Out tomorrow, March 4th.

Thank you St Martin's and MacMillan Audio for review copies! I always recommend this series on audio of you have the chance to listen!

Angela Dawe once again delivers the dark humor and quirky charm of Finlay Donovan! I love Elle Cosimano's series, wait each year for the new book as they just land right (esp in the ugh dreary winter months). FD Digs her Own Grave is another return to the hilarity of Finlay and Ver0 (still my favorite side kick). I laughed a lot, continue to be glad when Finlay has more and more reason to stay away from her ex, and was here for Nick!!! As a mom with a young child I also love the way the kids steal the show, little kids are really funny, intentionally or not, and I love that they bring the laughs to the plot.
Yes, you will have to be all in for a little dark humor and silliness of a mom turned unexpected assassin/detective and her nanny side kick, be here for the yes another dead body turned up plot, but this is what a cozy or cozy adjacent series is... suspension of some reality in order to have a heck of a lot of fun listening to a mystery.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave
by Elle Cosimano
5/5 ⭐

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is another thrilling and hilarious installment in the Finlay Donovan series, and I absolutely loved every page of it! If you're a fan of witty banter, a dash of mystery, and characters who feel like old friends, this book will not disappoint.

One of the things I enjoyed the most about this book was the cameos from old characters. It was comforting as familiar faces reappeared, and Cosimano did a wonderful job weaving them back into the story. Mrs. Haggarty’s sass is legendary. I adore how she inserts herself into Finlay’s business, often with a no-nonsense attitude and sharp-tongued commentary.

As always, the humor is off the charts. Several laugh-out-loud moments had me grinning from ear to ear. And I can't forget the fake book club! What a clever addition to the plot! I did not know where these connections were going, but I enjoyed the name-dropping of other mystery writers.

Overall, Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is another hit. It’s full of twists, turns, humor, and heart. I’m already eagerly awaiting the next book in the series! If you haven’t started this series yet, you’re missing out.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is the fifth installment in this fun and adventurous mystery series. Mystery writer Finlay Donovan and her nanny Vero welcome a new housemate whom they are less than thrilled about. Finlay's nosey neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, is in need of a place to stay because her home is still considered a crime scene even though she has been cleared of murder charges following the discovery of a dead body in her yard. Finlay and Vero don't want to get involved since they've been dealing with a LOT of crime and murder lately, but they want their space back so what else can they do but help solve the case and get Mrs. Haggerty back to her own home? As with all of the books in this series, humor and chaos ensue. If you're looking for something light and funny, the Finlay Donovan series is always a good bet.

Angela Dawe narrates all of the audiobooks in this series and does a great job with the characters' voices.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a review copy of this audiobook.

This series is so much more than just a thriller with comedy! I have never laughed so much while reading a crime story, yet the suspense kept me hooked the entire time. The way humor and mystery blend together is just brilliant.

When a neighbor is murdered, the whole neighborhood seems to get involved—whether to help or make things worse? That’s the big question! I won’t spoil anything, but I loved how the situation kept evolving. Finlay’s conversations with everyone were pure gold, especially with her new love interest. He’s determined to solve the murder, which could put her ex-husband in serious trouble. The twists, the chaos, and the sharp dialogue made this an unforgettable read. Even if thrillers or comedy aren’t usually your thing, this one is worth it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers for allowing me to have an Audio ARC for this book! I always enjoy these more as audio than physical ever since book 3. I really love Angela Dawe's narration for these characters.
My first impressions going in is that this one was going to beat out my rankings and come 2nd to the very first book. It leaves behind the mob ties, which I didn't dislike, but I've heard other readers say they didn't enjoy that plot theme and quit the series. So, for those readers this book may hit a lot better, unfortunately to understand situations and characters you will have to binge through previous books. (I recommend audio book)
As the story progressed, I really liked the “murder mystery”, but there were a few times that I felt Finlay was a bit naive in certain clues, especially with this large catalog of past shenanigans. The fact that I felt smarter in piecing things together rather quickly kind of took me out. I realize that this series is supposed to be humorous, but I feel like Finlay would be smarter to at least question certain things.
The Characters I've journeyed with throughout this entire series is what kept me going through this book. Especially with how Dawe's narration has just hit nostalgia as their voices at this point.
I also appreciate the closed door “spice”. Though I do feel as if there was an increase in moments this time. I have never super cared for the romance plot so I often skipped past and made it even more fade to black.
The ending, much like the previous, leads us to what the problem of the 6th book will be about. Most of the loose threads of red herrings are answered, but I'm still confused about some that I just had to try to critically think the reasons for myself.
My final thoughts, if you fell off the bandwagon early on because of “the mob”, try this series again, either multitask during boring chores with the audio or find a spoiler summary so that you have an idea of new characters that were introduced and past events. I had a good time, I just wanted Finlay a little smarter, less romance and a clearer ending.

Thank you MacMillian Audio and NetGalley for the ARC!

I am a fan of the Finlay Donovan series, and I could not express how excited I was to get the audiobook version of the latest installment! I was curious where the story would go next, and I was not disappointed.

I loved the audio version; I usually prefer audiobooks and this one felt very familiar to me. The narrator captured Finlay perfectly, and really drew me into the story.

Thank you again for the ARC!

Finlay Donovan is back, and I was there for every single second of it! Seriously, if you have not picked up this wonderfully entertaining, fun, witty, and clever series, you are missing out BIG TIME. ! I love that Finlay Donovan, Vero, her ex-husband, Steven, her boyfriend, Nick, and even her nosey neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty are all involved in the action in Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave!! I have been listening to the audiobooks in this series, and they are absolutely fantastic and wonderfully narrated!! I highly recommend them!

A dead body has been found buried in Mrs. Haggerty's back yard. Mrs. Haggerty, the president of the neighborhood watch, is Finlay's nosey, busy body, neighborhood. The neighborhood is shocked and scandalized with the deadly find but Mrs. Haggerty is soon cleared of the crime and soon Finlay and Vero find themselves becoming involved in Mrs. Haggerty's antics as a question loom over their heads -- how did a body end up in Mrs. Haggerty's back yard?????

Fun, fun, fun!!!! It bears saying again, this is such a fun, entertaining and engaging series. I am often smiling while listening as I shake my head at the characters’ antics, banter, zany situations they find themselves in, and their realistic feelings and vulnerabilities. There is never a dull moment as the whole gang finds themselves knee deep in some ridiculous and crazy situations. I enjoyed the twists, the revelations, the tension, the antics, and the fun characters!

As with the previous books, this one left me wanting more and wondering what was going to happen in the next book!

Wonderfully written, well thought out, clever dialogue, and gripping!

Funny, as I’m coming here to write my review, I’m thinking that this is like coming back to visit with old friends… like with Stephanie Plum (IYKYK…), and one of the first reviews I read says basically the same thing!
SO…. if you’re a Janet Evanovich fan, and you haven’t read any of Elle Cosimano’s books, you may want to change that right now! 😉😬

Finlay and Vero are back as the dynamic duo! And Nick too! (aka…hot cop!). And Cam ( and the metallic eggplant monstrosity!!) 😂 AND, Mrs. Haggerty, the elderly, nosy neighbor, across the street! Only now, she’s been arrested for murder! (After a dead body turns up in her rose garden!) And then, her house is a crime scene… so she can’t LIVE there… So, guess who she moves in with? Against all her arguments…

And this is only the intro!!!

Buckle up and put on your big girl panties! You’re in for quite a ride!

As Finlay and Vero try to get to the bottom of the murder, of course, they are placing themselves in harms way! And who comes under suspicion next? Someone dear to Finlay…

As they navigate through all the obstacles of the dead body, Nick and Finlay are trying to navigate through some obstacles of their own…

Oh, and the kids! Hysterical in this one! Between Delia standing up for herself at school, and Zach with potty training , well, the laughs just keep coming!

And then we have Mrs. Haggerty’s book club!
The one where no one is allowed to join!
Wait. What????

A lot of fun. A bit of mischief. A touch of romance. A glance into life with kids. And…murder! It all adds up to a book that takes on a life of its own!!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
*** Release Date is TOMORROW, 3/4/25, so look 👀 for it then! ***

#FinlayDonovanDigsHerOwnGrave (Finlay Donovan, # 5). By #ElleCosimano and narrated beautifully by #AngelaDawe.

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OMG!! Every book in this series starts out with me spitting out my coffee laughing!! In this book I'm thinking, "Is Finlay in court?" But nope, it is much more hilarious!! How Angela Dawe can bring all of these characters to life and make them all so unique is beyond me. From little Delia to Vero to Mrs. Haggerty , I love them all. Another amazing job!! I love how this book in the series tied up some story lines and made some new ones. Thank you to Macmillan Audio (and NetGalley) for the audio ARC.

Audiobook + Ebook : Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave- Finlay Donovan #5

Author: Elle Cosimano-I read Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank 4* and Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice 3*

Publication date: 3/4/25 | Read: 3/2/25

Genre: Mystery/Thriller, Adult Fic, and Contemporary Romance

Tropes: amateur sleuths, divorce, co-parenting, small town

Narrator: Angela Dawe voices all the characters with standouts from Nick, Delia, and Mrs. Haggerty. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrator paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.

Run Time: 8:36

Setting: South Riding, VA

POV: 1st person, single-Finlay

TW: cheating-h was cheated on by ex, murder

Summary: Finlay is juggling motherhood, her writing career, and murder investigator with the nanny Vero, her ex-husband Steven accused of murder, and her new boyfriend Nick inspecting the case of Gilford Dupree. She struggles with trusting Nick after all of Steven's indiscretions but doesn't believe he's a killer.

Heroine: Finlay "Finn" Donovan -an amateur sleuth/romantic suspense writer

Heroine: Veronica "Vero" Ruiz-Finn's nanny and partner

Other Characters:

• Steven-Finn's ex-husband

• Detective Nicholas "Nick" Anthony-Finn's boyfriend, a detective

• Delia + Zach- Finn & Steven's children

• Javi-Vero's childhood/current boyfriend

• Mrs. Maggie Haggerty-neighbor who found a dead body in her yard; her grandson Brendan brings her to live w/ Finn

• Cameron "Cam"-18 yr old hacker, worked for the mob

• Gilford Dupree- a mortgage broker found dead in the yard after disappearing 5 years ago

• Penelope Dupree-Gilford's wife

My Thoughts: I liked that Finlay was vulnerable with Nick about their relationship and the baggage from her ex-husband. Mrs. Haggerty was hilarious especially how she took over Finlay's home. I loved the kids' interactions and their honesty.

Rating: 4/5
Spice level 3/5

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press |Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, and Elle Cosimano for this ARC & ALC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

I absolutely love the Findlay Donovan book series, and I enjoyed this latest installment of Finlay Donovan Digs Her own Grave. Findlay is an author who is a divorced mom with kids who finds herself immersed in solving criminal mysteries. The supporting characters of this series will have you cracking up because the author has fun way of making series situations hilarious. In this book Findlay’s nosey neighbor Ms Haggerty has moved into her house because her nephew must make sure that the plumbing and electrical problems are resolved.
Ms.Haggerty is hilarious, in how she deals with Findlay’s children especially her toddler who doesn’t like to wear his clothes. Findlay’s cheating ex husband is arrested and put into jail for a crime he didn’t commit. Findlay and her partner Vero work to try and to solve the mystery of who killed the man whose body is buried in Ms Haggerty’s backyard in order to save her ex husband.
I also enjoyed the development and Finley’s relationship with Detective Nick. I love them together. I also found Ms Haggerty’s book club quite interesting especially the brownies. lol
I highly recommend this series that does a great job of combining mystery and comedy.
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan audible for the opportunity to review this book. I highly recommend the newest book to this series.

✨FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE✨

3.5/5 ⭐️

Release Date: 3/4! THIS THURSDAY!

READ THIS SERIES IF YOU LOVE:
💙 Single POV
💙 Cozy Mystery
💙 Amateur Sleuthing
💙 Great Banter
💙 Unlikely Relationships
💙 Chaos but in the best way

REVIEW:
This series is complete chaos, absolutely witty, kind of romantic, and maybe a bit far fetched but it’s still very good. This book is no different, though I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that we get to see more of Finlay’s kids, other side characters but also less characters overall than in previous books. I weirdly LOVED Mrs Haggary! I loved that this book was a bit more realistic than the others, but just as dramatic and twisty. I really wasn’t expecting another cliffhanger hanger though….

A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Finlay and Vero are two of my very favourite characters to catch up with, and I was happy to see that Vero takes more of the center stage in each book in the series. This latest one (#5!) brings up some drama from the past and there are also some interesting romantic developments, so you definitely want to read the other books in the series first, especially the novella, Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank, which is #3.5 in the series as it delves further into her history.

In Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, a dead body is discovered in the backyard of Finlay and Vero's neighbour, Mrs. Haggerty, so she moves in with them while her house is an active crime scene. And of course Finlay's ex Stephen is right in the thick of the investigation.. I had to laugh at how good he is at getting into trouble!

I can't express how much I enjoy the dark humour in this series, how relatable Finlay is as a single mother, how sassy and fearless her nanny/accountant Vero is (my mom is an accountant so I agree wholeheartedly with this portrayal!) and just how quirky and fun this whole series is.

Angela Dawe has become the voice of this series, she has the perfect comedic timing and voices for all the characters in the audiobook.