finlay donovan digs her own grave by elle cosimano 👀 the fifth book in the finlay donovan series- she may have skeletons in her closet… but at least there's not a body in her backyard.

✨ my yearly buddy read with dadreadsalot is never a letdown when we have finlay and vero keeping us company! ✨

ME: I swear this series just keeps getting better & better 🚓 I loved this installment from start to finish- especially it’s obscure cast of characters. mrs. haggerty gets a special shoutout this time around! I really liked how finlay’s relationship progressed; now if only she can set some boundaries with people in her life! if this series ever ends, I’ll be digging my own grave 🕵🏻‍♀️ 5 stars!

DADREADSALOT: mrs. haggerty, mrs. haggerty! his favorite character finally got her time in the (police) spotlight. he liked how not only we learned more about her life but how she formed a new & improved relationship with finlay and her family. dadreadsalot said he’d join the neighborhood book club but he’d just want to be the scribe who recounts the ongoings of the ladies, not one who is involved. he can’t wait until book six 🔎 5 stars!

🎧 thank you macmillan audio for the alc! the audio narration by angela dawe was (as always) fantastic!

Really loved this series so far . I was so excited to see this one on Netgalley and was so happy to get the chance to listen to it. I also really love that the same narrater has done all the books. I very much appreciate that.

This series just keeps getting more fun! Loved this round and its cast of crazy characters. Finlay does not disappoint!!! I was cracking up for almost all of this audiobook. Please don’t stop this series! Give us more! Give us spinoffs!

Thank you to the author, publisher and of course NetGalley for the advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review. I could not stop listening!

The latest installment in the Finlay Donavan series delivers! This will continue to be a series I highly recommend for it's humor and mystery.

After a body is discovered in Finlay's neighbors backyard, Mrs. Haggerty is at first a suspect, but then released and ends up staying at Finlay's house.

This book took a bit of a different turn from books 2-4 and I enjoyed the difference. Since the mob aspects were tied up last book, there was less of that which was refreshing. Mrs. Haggerty took a bigger role in this one and I was here for it! She is one of my favorite characters. I also loved seeing more of Cam and his antics with Finlay and Mrs. Haggerty were top notch.

I went back to listening to the audiobook for this read, after having read physical copies of the last couple books in the series, and I continue to be amazed at how well done the audiobook is. The voicing of the different characters is top notch and the audiobook adds to the humor of the book.

5 stars!

Book #5 had a little bit of a different vibe to it. It was just as chaotic and frenzied as all the ones preceeding it, but it felt a bit more (dare I say) mature. Finlay finds herself in some seriously awkward situations this time around, but at least they are close to home. As in actually at home. Her nosey neighbor gets arrested for murder then somehow ends up staying in her house once she is released. Finlay and Vero are not actual participants in any murders this time around, but someone else close to them is under suspicion.
I think my favorite part is the development in Nick and Finlay's relationship. And maybe that's were the mature vibe I got was coming in. Trust was starting to dig it's heels in and I'm here for it. But of course, there has to be a blast from the past making a little cameo to liven things up a little bit. And yet again, maturity prevails.
I listened to the audiobook and I had a hard time stopping it to let my own life happen. There was a lot of multitasking happening with earbuds in so that I could continue listening.

Cosimo's Finlay Donovan series always delivers laughs with a side of murder and this book delivers a big dose of both. This outing find Finlay and Vero with an added houseguest as Mrs. Haggerty is released from jail for the body that was found in her back yard and Stephen is arrested instead. As our detecting duo works to prove Stephen innocent, many hijinks ensue including a naked potty-trainer, a playground tussle, an eggplant-colored muscle car, and some lavender-scented socks. There were a couple storylines that seemed to disappear along the way, but the humor and mystery covered that a bit. Angela Dawe does an amazing job narrating and I love all the local references that Cosimano throws in that hook me even more into the stories. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the early listen in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Finlay Donovan series is pure entertaining chaos, and the latest book continues that tradition. Finlay's brash/chaotic sleuthing style makes the story breeze by, and I am always sad when I finish. In Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, death is a bit closer to home. A body is found in her nosy neighbor's yard. Resulting in her neighbor moving in with Finlay. Watching Finlay try to keep her secrets safe while also interacting with all the characters from past books is hilarious and enjoyable. I give this book 4/5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this audiobook ARC.

I have absolutely devoured this series and this fifth installment was no exception. Finlay and Vero are back again, but this time to solve the mystery of the dead body found in their neighbor's backyard. Mrs. Haggerty is a hoot and a great addition to this story. Their antics will keep you turning pages and laughing out loud throughout. Trouble seems to find them wherever they go. I have seen this series described as fun and over the top and I would totally agree. These stories will keep you guessing and in stitches all at the same time. From the cliffhanger ending, it appears there will be another book in the series and I will totally be there for it!

Book 5 picks up right where the the fourth book left off so this is definitely a series you want to start at the beginning and read in order.

The narrator of this audiobook did a fantastic job with all the different voices and the pacing of the story. I had no complaints.

For people who regularly read my reviews, I must warn you there is some language and some innuendos in this series.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this audiobook. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This was a great continuation of the series! It wasn't as action packed as the first four, but I still enjoyed the story, and I love the romance between Nick and Finlay! As always, the cliff hanger has me dying to read the next book.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

finlay is at it again!! following this series is such a fun bright spot! this book brought all my favorite elements of the finlay books, including her dynamic with vero, the chaotic shenanigans & capers, and of course mrs haggerty finally gets her due. it deviates from the first storyline while having plenty of nods to it, and ends on the signature cliffhanger. elle cosimano comes up with such crazy situations for her characters to get into and for me to laugh about from afar rather than being up close to any murdering.

i’ve always loved the narrator for this series, and this book is no different!! she is so good at the differentiation of character voices and deadpanning the dry humor that finlay loves to give

I have read all of the previous novels in this series and could not wait to jump into this next adventure. I was not disappointed. The same mix of spunk and drama continues in this installment. The plot kept me engaged at a good pace and I had a hard time putting the audiobook down. Ifyou were a fan of the previous novels, you will love this edition to the series!

I couldn’t wait to hop back into the shenanigans with Finlay and Vero again, and I was not disappointed. I think this might have been one of my favorite installments of the series so far, which I was not expecting with the heavy and unexpected presence of Mrs. Haggerty. The pacing kept at a steady clip, and the twists and turns were juicy and hilarious. Angela Dawe again does a masterful and hilarious narration.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is such a great series, and this one did not disappoint.
Finlay Donovan and the entire cast is just so much fun. You feel like you are inside the book doing all these crazy things right along side.
The audiobook is done well. I have listened to all of them on audio and wont' do it any other way.
This would make a great read this summer. Go on and do it.

This series is bingeable, and this book is no different. I loved this read...so much fun and as usual I couldn't put it down. I will recommend this series and book to anyone who will listen. As always the narration is fantastic and I can't wait for another book from Elle Cosimano.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to listen and review.

This was possibly my favorite in the series! Just beginning her relationship with Nick, Finlay now has a new houseguest, Mrs. Haggerty, fresh off being arrested for finding a body in her backyard. Finlay and Vero must now navigate Mrs. Haggerty and her pickiness, their blossoming relationships, hiding their own investigation into Mrs. Haggerty and the murder, and Mrs. Haggerty's nosiness into their business!

After wrapping her mystery plot-lines up in what seemed like a nice bow, I wondered whether Cosimano's latest would successfully pull me back into the Finley Donovan universe. I needn't have wondered. With her signature voice and humor, Cosimano returns to the series' thematic roots, crafting a satisfying mystery with equally satisfying development for her gaggle of eccentric characters. Once again, Angela Dawes's performance provides a seamless flow between narration and dialogue building an immersive experience for the listener.

One of the best series out there if you want a light, comical mystery with hilarious characters! Angela Dawe is awesome with the narration of these audiobooks. I will read and buy anything this author writes.

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!

Elle Cosimano writes the very best first chapters! It’s laugh out loud funny and sucks you right back into the hilarious world of Finlay and Vero. I look forward to every new book in this series and Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave did not disappoint.

The narration by Angela Dawe is perfect!

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!