It’s best to leave real-life expectations at the door when you pick up this book and simply enjoy the pure entertainment these characters bring to the table. Elle Cosimano delivers everything I’ve come to love about the Finlay Donovan series: shenanigans, old friends, sharp-witted dialogue, and a plot that delightfully abandons realism (which, let’s be honest, has been part of the charm since book one).

This fifth installment is just as fun and engaging as ever. For me, the true highlight remains the female friendship between Finlay and Vero. Their dynamic is equal parts hilarious and heartwarming, making them the emotional core of the story. The support network of women in this book, in particular, really warmed my heart—even when their loyalty veers into, let’s say, “morally questionable” territory (yes, I’m talking about murder—oops!).

The romance between Finlay and Nick still warms my heart and satisfies my romantic side. It’s not, and never will be, the main focus of these books—it’s more like a sexy afterthought. But for this series, it works perfectly, and I never feel like I’m missing anything.

And Mrs. Haggerty? An absolute hoot. She steals every scene she’s in and adds even more joy to the chaos.

Now, about the audiobook—it’s just the icing on the cake. Honestly, I could never go back to reading the old-fashioned way. The narration elevates the hilarity and overall entertainment to a whole new level. Bravo to the narrator for bringing these characters to life so vividly!

If you’re after a book full of humor, hijinks, heartfelt connections, and just the right sprinkle of romance, Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is a must-read—and even better as a must-listen!

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano is the fifth installment in the Finlay Donovan series, and it continues to deliver on the humor, suspense, and chaos that fans have come to love.
The narration is spot-on, with a perfect balance of wit and drama that elevates the experience. I actually enjoy listening to this particular series more then reading it.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for this audio ARC.
Publisher date: 3-4-25

Finlay and Vero are back! There is just something about this duo that keeps me turning the pages. While not my favorite of the bunch (I think Killing It will always be my favorite), this was so much fun. I especially liked getting more of Mrs. Haggerty, Sylvia, and Cam. They add so much to the story, and I love the found family vibes.

Nick and Finlay fans will be in Heaven as their romance gets more page time. While I enjoy their relationship and romance, the mystery and Vero are pushed to the wayside (just a bit), and I think the mystery suffers a little. It took some time to get into the meat of the mystery, and I never felt like Finlay and Vero were involved enough.

Digs Her Own Grave feels like the end of an arc, which is good. It will be fun to see where the duo goes from here. Of course, the ending sets up the future story, and I can't wait to see how they get out of this one.

Angela Dawe is once again fantastic as the cast of characters. She brings each character to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

One of my favorites of the series! In this installment, we get to spend a lot more time with Finlay's neighbor Mrs. Haggarty, who finds herself a murder suspect when a body is discovered in her backyard. With her home an active crime scene, Mrs. Haggerty insists on staying with Finlay and Vero so she can maintain her neighborhood watch duties. This book has all of the humor and banter we've come to expect from a Finlay Donovan story, with all of the favorite characters returning to solve another murder mystery. I really enjoyed the Agatha Christie vibes of this story, it was fun to see more aspects of Mrs. Haggarty's personality, and I always enjoy the crazy situations Finlay and Vero get themselves into!

The audiobook (9h 11m), narrated by Angela Dawe, is fantastic! She voices all of the characters with so much humor and emotion; she really brings the story to life. I am amazed by how much range she has with her voices.

I love this series and can't wait for more adventures with Finlay and Vero!

I will share a review on Instagram closer to the publication date and will update my feedback with a link to that review once available.

Finlay Donovan is back, and chaos follows her like a stray dog with a vendetta. In Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, our favorite accidental hitwoman-turned-detective finds herself in yet another disaster—this time, with a body in her nosy neighbor’s yard and secrets that refuse to stay buried.

As always, Finlay and her ride-or-die, Vero, fumble their way through crime-solving with a mix of bad decisions, wild schemes, and just enough luck to keep them alive (barely). The tension is high, the banter is top-tier, and the twists will keep you guessing. This series just gets better, and if you love murder with a side of absolute chaos, you’re in for a treat.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, the author and NetGalley for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

#bookstagram @macmillan.audio @ellecosimano #finlaydonovandigsherowngrave @netgalley

I can’t remember if all the books are fade to black @ellecosimano are they?

This one is hilarious, I don’t know if it’s too soon to read again but I am so tempted. Elle always makes me cackle and I just love books that make me feel this way!

This is an adult humorous fiction so there is adult jokes and innuendos. I love so many characters in this series and I even fell in love with a very nosy neighbor in this one! Book 1: Finlay Donovan is killing it - start here!

Thank you @ellecosimano and @netgalley for this amazing ARC!

This series is my absolute favorite. The narrator is perfection. The writing amazing.
I will admit this was my least favorite of the 5 but only because it seemed to lack some of the exciting pace until the very end. I am curious about book 6 because I feel like the last couple have ended with a cliffhanger and this one didn’t. So where too next?? Wherever it is, I’m going!

I have enjoyed this series!!! Excited to see the entire gang is back in action - this time it stays close to home with a body found in the neighborhood. Finlay. Vero are thrusted into the mystery and need to help in hopes of covering up any of their past mistakes.

I thought it was such a fun read, book four was a little slow for me, this one is back into the fun of the earlier books of Finlay Donovan.

5 ⭐️ The fifth installment of the Finlay Donovan series is almost here!

Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner in crime Vero are finally done with murderers. That is until their neighbor from across Mrs. Haggerty the street is arrested after a body is discovered buried in her backyard.

The police quickly clear her, but her house is still an active crime scene. As the neighborhood busybody, Mrs. Haggerty needs to stay close to her house to keep an eye on things. So who does she stay with? Neither Finlay nor Vero are thrilled to have another house guest, but she’s moving in, and with that comes trouble.

My thoughts: I have not enjoyed a Finlay Donovan book this much since the very first book. I loved seeing all of our recurring characters come back in different ways. I loved how much of Nick we get in this book. I loved how much we got to learn about Mrs. Haggerty. It’s all just so fun.

Angela Dawe is a fantastic narrator. She knows these characters inside and out, and I love how unique her voice is for each one.

Overall, this book was fantastic! It leaves you on a cliffhanger, as per usual for this series. I cannot wait to see what the next installment of this amazing series will hold! 5 stars.

Angel Dawe does it again with another great narration of our favorite characters in the Finlay Donovan universe. This is definitely a series and should be read in order. It's also a good choice for audiobook listening- Angela Dawe gives distinct voice to each character, the plot pacing is just right, and there's an appropriate number of characters to follow.

Fans of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series would likely enjoy the Finlay Donovan series. There's a hot cop, a dynamic duo of female leads with a strong and enviable friendship, mystery, and humor. And just like the Plum series, there's the meta-story of the main characters lives that does progress from book to book, albeit a bit too slow.

Book Review: Finley Donovan Digs Her Own Grave

Elle Cosimano delivers yet another fantastic installment in the Finley Donovan series, and Finley Donovan Digs Her Own Grave might just be the best one yet. Packed with humor, suspense, and the kind of chaotic charm that makes this series so addicting, this book had me hooked from start to finish.

One of the standout elements of this installment was getting to see more of Miss Hagerty. Her expanded role brought a new layer to the story, and it was fascinating to get a deeper look into her character. She’s always been an intriguing presence, but this time, she truly shines.

Delia and Zach continue to be chef’s kiss perfection. Their sibling antics feel so authentic and entertaining—Cosimano captures the essence of young kids and their never-ending ability to create the greatest (and most hilarious) problems.

And of course, Finley and Vero remain an unbeatable duo. Their partnership is the heart of the series, and once again, their misadventures had me laughing out loud. The blend of crime, comedy, and camaraderie is perfectly executed, making their dynamic as fun as ever.

With its sharp wit, lovable characters, and a plot that keeps you on your toes, Finley Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is an absolute must-read. I’m already counting down the days until the next book—because if this series has taught us anything, it’s that Finley’s troubles (and our entertainment) are far from over!

There's a dead body buried in Finlay's neighbors yard, and everyone in her circle is a suspect (including Finlay). Finlay and Vero work together to help find the killer in between tending to their busy-body neighbor, dodging Finlay's literary agent, and potty training.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is quite possibly my favorite book in the series. I never tire of Finlay and Vero's adventures and have so much fun putting the clues together. I found the scenes with Nick and Finlay quite entertaining and it's wonderful to see these two get closer and closer. This book had me laughing out loud and on the edge of my seat!

I enjoyed this on audio and can't say enough about Angela Dawe's narration. This is the first book in the series that I've utilized the audio version and now I feel like I need to go back to the beginning because of how effective Angela is!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio / Minotaur Books for this advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my copy of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano Narrated by Angela Dawe in exchange for an honest review. It publishes March 4, 2025.
First off, I always enjoy Angela Dawe’s work, bringing Finlay and the crew to life!
This was an excellent installment in this series, the character development was so good, and it definitely keeps me coming back for more!
I really enjoyed the overall mystery, and getting to know more of neighbors and friends was great! If you’ve enjoyed any of the other books in the series, you’ll love this one, too!

✨Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano- 4⭐️

The 5th book of the Finlay Donovan series is such a fun, witty, fast-paced thriller. I love every book of this series and they always get me out of a reading slump. It gives Good Girls/Thelma and Louise vibes 💅🔪

Finlay is a single-mom of two young children who finds herself always tangled-up in the wrong side of the law with her nanny Vero. To add insult to injury, she’s dating a hot cop who knows she is hiding secrets.

In this book, a flood digs up a body in Finlay’s 80-year-old neighbor’s yard, her cheating ex-husband is blamed for the crime, and hilarity ensues when Finlay and Vero try to solve the case.

Make sure you pick this one up when it’s published on 3/4! And if you’re into audiobooks, Angela Dawe is fantastic!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

This series has truly redeemed itself! The past few books were packed with a lot of characters and overly complicated plots. Don’t get me wrong, I still loved them, but they were a bit harder to follow. This latest book, however, gets back to basics with all the sarcasm and crazy twists that I adore! It masterfully ties together the shenanigans of the past, delivering a girl-positive narrative I didn’t realize I needed. It’s amazing how, once you get to know someone, you can find so many similarities.

And of course, it’s a great reminder of how glad I am to be past the potty training days.

This has been posted to Goodreads.

Absolutely amazing!!! This series is definitely my favorite and this particular book was soooo good. I never wanted it to end. It might actually be my favorite for the whole series. Elle Cosimano is a genius and I will never get tired of these books. I can’t wait until the next one comes out.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

I have said this with each book that is released, how are people not obsessing over this series!?!? It is laugh out funny and the situations Finlay and Vero find themselves are hilarious. Finlay and Vero's hijinks are literally the best part of the series, because their ride or die friendship is what keeps me reading.

This time a body shows up her in Mrs., Haggerty's garden bed and she is arrested until she has been cleared. As she is cleared Finlay's ex-husband Steven is now accused of the murder along with another affair. Mrs., Haggerty's house is has no power or heat and she had nowhere to go...Until Mrs., Haggerty shows up to Finlay's house asking for somewhere to stay because she needs to keep an eye on her house and refuses to stay with her grandson.

Finlay is sure that Steven didn't kill anyone, so Finlay and Vero once again try to solve the murder without getting arrested themselves all while juggling two kids and a boyfriend that is also a detective. Can she save her ex and keep her relationship with Nick and uncovered the real murderer?

Finlay's neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, is arrested after a body is found buried in her backyard. She's released a few days later but her house is an active crime scene so she ends up staying with Finlay until the house is released. Mrs. Haggerty is a huge help around Finlay's house but during her stay, Finlay discovers a lot about her elderly neighbor.

Funny as always, I love the antics of Finlay Donovan. This is the 5th book in the series and I just love the whole series. The books are a continuation from the previous story but can easily be read as a standalone as the author does a great job connecting the storylines and filling in what happened before. The book is hilarious with a lot of laugh out loud moments. I absolutely love the writing style and the narrator. Angela Dawe is the narrator for this book and she does a fantastic job defining the characters and bringing them to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love these series! This was my first audiobook in the Finlay series and I thought the narrator was fantastic!

Thank you goes out to NetGalley and Minotaur books (as well as MacMillon audio) for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The gang is back for the fifth Finlay Donovan series. As a whole this installment was better than the last one. Finally there is not an extremely story line. I loved that in this book we get to learn more about the cranky Mrs. Haggerty and see if her meddling gets Finalay and Vero into trouble. We also get to have more of the crazy kids of Finlay and Steven….they are truly insane and funny kids. We also get to meet a few new characters and have plenty of laughs along the way. I swear these Finlay and Vero are like a modern day Lucy and Ethel always getting themselves into crazy situations. The ending also leaves it open for another tale.