Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Elle Cosimano for allowing me to listen to an audiobook ARC of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave.

Final Review: 4.5 Stars

Elle Cosimano KILLS IT with this series. I have loved every installment of this series, and I think the books are just getting better and better. Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave was such a hit for me. It was funny, suspenseful, and a little sexy. I love getting to watch Finlay’s relationships grow with Detective Nick, Steven, Vero, and the kids! Delia and Zach added comedic relief and made me giggle at the irony of the situations Finlay finds herself in. It was so much fun getting to watch Finlay and Nick start to trust each other and develop their budding relationship. While also hunting down killers and keeping secrets. This has quickly become one of my favorite series and I highly recommend anyone who is interested in a fun mystery/thriller series to pick it up!

Finlay Donovan and her partner-in-crime, Vero, are no strangers to chaos, but they were hoping for a break from dead bodies—until one turns up in their nosy neighbor Mrs. Haggerty’s backyard. While she’s quickly cleared as a suspect, her house is still a crime scene, leaving her with nowhere to go but Finlay’s already hectic home. As much as Finlay and Vero want to avoid another murder investigation, trouble has a way of finding them, and this time, it’s right across the street.

Spending time with Finlay and Vero is like hanging out and drinking a glass of wine with your most chaotic but lovable friends. This book was fast-paced, filled with humor, mystery, and plenty of action—plus, that cliffhanger ending was something! The banter between all of the characters was as entertaining as ever. The story kept me hooked from start to finish, I finished it in one day. Picking up right after the fourth book, this one might just be my favorite in the series. A perfect mix of crime, romance, suspense, and fun!

I switched between reading and listening - I love the audio book of this and highly recommend listening!

Out on March 4, 2025! Thank you to the publisher @minotaur_books, @ellecosimano and @netgalley for an arc for an honest review!

Usually as a series goes on it becomes less and less appealing. This fifth book is just as good as the first. Elle Cosimano has done such a great job making her characters so likeable. With every book it is like I'm returning to visit old friends. And once again Angel Dawe provides excellent narration. I wish this series would be picked up as a movie series (preferably one starring Henry Cavill as Nick).
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced preview.

I have had a blast with each one of the Finlay Donovan books!! This one isn't as outlandish as the last one but it's just as fun! I feel like this one has a bit more depth to it. I devoured it in one sitting!! I love being back in the chaotic whirlwind that is Finlay's world!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for the opportunity to listen to audiobook

Quite possibly my favorite in Elle Cosimano's "Finlay Donovan" series since Book 1!

Always humorous and always entertaining, I continue to love being along for the ride with Finlay and babysitter/partner-in-crime Vero. Sprinkle in some romance with boyfriend Nick, drama with ex-husband Steve, and adorableness from their two kids, and you've got a book that is pure light-hearted entertainment. This book did not disappoint with the usual capers and hijinks that accidental heroine Finlay Donovan always finds herself in.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the digital audio ARC of "Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave". This was one of my favorites!

This was my first Finlay Donovan book, and I received an advance copy of the audiobook. The narration was one of the best I’ve heard. The story itself makes me want to read the other Finlay Donovan books - which I already wanted to do, I just hadn’t gotten around to it yet. Mrs Haggerty steals the show in this one. The way she stands up to bullies and steps in to help those who need it is a great example, though I wanted want to tout her methods too much, that would be wrong. Hopefully Finlay and Nick remain together in the next book, and Vero is around for a little additional flavor. There will be a next one, right?

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

I have been one of the biggest fans of this series since book one! Book one is one of my all-time favorite books that I will always recommend to all audiences!

Since book one, I think some books have been great and some have been just okay. I think this one falls more into the "just okay" camp for me. As far as the plot itself goes, I never really felt any tension or felt like I HAD TO KNOW what was happening.

While it was fun to be back with these characters, I thought the story itself was just okay!

I'll continue to read these as long as she writes them, but I hope for more in the next couple books!

As always I highly enjoyed following Finlay and the whole chaos crew on another adventure. And mystery. I really enjoyed getting a more rounded out view of nosey neighbor Mrs. Haggerty. She has always been a small side character but I think after thus she will continue to be more involved with the plot.

Now compared to the other books in the series this one felt more tame and lower stakes. It was still fabulous but not as much action or tension.
I am anticipating the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an advanced audiobook for review.

I've just found my new favourite Finlay Donovan book! It featured all the chaos, crime, and questionable decision-making that I loved from the first book—plus even more shenanigans. I had the opportunity to listen to this book, and let me tell you, Angela Dawe absolutely crushed it. Her narration was superb—clear, engaging, and full of personality. The way she changed her voice for different characters was flawless. She could probably read my grocery list and make it sound thrilling. I highly recommend going with the audio if you're unsure about the format. Trust me!

As expected, we dive right back into the madness with Finlay, Vero, Nick, Javi, the kids, and—because the universe loves chaos—even Steven. But wait! This time, we also get Mrs. Haggerty, freshly sprung from jail and delivered to Finlay's doorstep like an Amazon Prime package (but with way more baggage). Naturally, things spiral out of control when Steven gets himself tangled up in the crime she was accused of, and the team is forced to (begrudgingly) clear his name. Enter Cam, our favourite teenage hacker, to make things even more entertaining.

This book had me laughing out loud, shaking my head, and saying, "Oh, Finlay, no," at least 27 times. Just when I thought I could breathe, BAM—Elle Cosimano hit me with a cliffhanger that left me considering time travel just to get to the next book faster.

A massive thank you to Elle Cosimano, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my thoughts. Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave releases March 4, 2025—and you do not want to miss it!

I have really enjoyed following the Finlay Donovan series. In "Digs Her Own Grave" I found myself enjoying the secondary characters more than Finlay and Vero which was a nice way to keep the series fresh. I loved the overall story line (don't want to give anything away).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication.

Finlay Donovan strikes again! Another great book with such fun characters. I am always hoping there will be more of these books and when I saw that there was, I was excited. This series is just so great!

📖Finlay is back, but now it's her ex-husband being accused of murder. The body was found in her neighbors backyard, and the connections between Finlays ex and the body are sparking a lot of interest in the investigation. But Finlay knows it wasn't him, and Nick is willing to help her out as much as he can while trying not to break the rules.

📝Book 5 has been one of my favorite Finlay Donovan books yet! I loved the chemistry between Nick and Finlay, and how they grew even closer this book. As always, I loved Vero and her sassy pants she wears daily. It was fun watching the kiddos and their side plots as well this book.

Mrs. Haggarty was a fun addition as well, she has been in the previous books but really thrives in this one. We are set up for book 6!

The audio book was perfect as always. I switched back and forth between that and the e-book since I could NOT put it down! SO GOOD! Make sure to check out the next book in the series :)

As always Finlay Donovan is a fun ride!. This one wasn't as off the rails like previous ones but I still loved it. I can never get enough of these books and I can't wait for March 4th when I can physically add this to my Finlay collection.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio copy to listen to in exchange for an honest review.

I adore this series. It's way better than Stephanie Plum. It's so funny! I know this one isn't out yet but I'm already ready for the next one!

Finlay Donovan is back and of course she finds herself in the middle of more wild shenanigans. Nick are Vero and all of the other characters we love are back! The narrator was fantastic and truly brought this whole story to life! I thoroughly enjoyed this and after that ending I can’t wait for book 6 😍 Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this audiobook!

Story: A solid 3 🌟 for me. Which means I liked it, and i would read something else the author wrote.

Audio Production: 4 🌟

I was given the audio version of this book to review. I really didn't have an issue with it. The quality was the same as books 1-4. I love the narrator, especially slipping into Vero's voice for some reason. I would look at other books she has worked on and give them a listen.

I absolutely loved the first book in the series. The crazy shenanigans, desperation, motherhood, mystery, and more.

This one had some of the goofball shenanigans but I was hoping for a little more. Some of my favorite parts were our adventures in potty training. While I enjoyed at the characters I do feel like we were missing a real mystery in this one.

As it all came together I kinda just shrugged. It left me feeling just...eh. I wasn't fully invested in what was going on. Though our main girl Finlay was involved I felt that this just wasn't HER story so much as we focused on the other characters.

We did get left on a little cliffhanger so I am interested in seeing where this goes. Though I could easily see book 6 being the end of the series if it is more like this one.

Thank you Netgally, Macmillan, and Minotaur Books for allowing me to review the audiobook!

Finlay Donovan is at it again. She’s putting herself into situations that are sure to get her arrested, but will she be able to luck her way out of this one? These books are hilarious and the audiobook is so well narrated. I’ve enjoyed listening to this whole series and this one definitely didn’t disappoint. I love that it was left on a cliffhanger because surely that means there will be another Finlay Donovan book in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book prior to publication.

I love Finlay Donovan. I really liked this installment in the ongoing Finlay saga. If fact, I like this book better than some of the others and am looking forward to the next book!

Elle Cosimano delivers another wildly entertaining installment in the Finlay Donovan series, and Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave does not disappoint. With its blend of mystery, humor, and pure chaos, this book continues to solidify Finlay and her ride-or-die nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, as one of the best duos in modern cozy mysteries.

Fans of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series will feel right at home with Finlay’s never-ending streak of misadventures. She’s still juggling single motherhood, a struggling writing career, and an accidental side gig as a quasi-hitwoman, all while trying (and failing) to keep things from spiraling completely out of control. The banter between Finlay and Vero is absolute gold, and their friendship remains the heart of the series.

Angela Dawe, as always, delivers a top-notch narration, capturing Finlay’s exasperation, Vero’s dry wit, and the fast-paced chaos of their lives with perfect comedic timing. Her performance adds an extra layer of fun to an already hilarious read.

While some of the plot twists felt a bit over-the-top (even by Finlay standards), that’s part of the charm. If you’re here for a realistic crime thriller, you’re in the wrong place. But if you love a mystery full of snappy dialogue, laugh-out-loud moments, and characters who feel like they’re one bad decision away from total disaster, this is the book for you.

Looking forward to whatever trouble Finlay and Vero get into next!

I have been curious about this series

I now need to go back and read everything to get caught up.

This book is about a murder and why it happened and who was involved and why. Who would believe who was involved.

You will need to check this book out to find the answers to these question. I totally recommend this series