I loved this one! One of my favorites in the series. I loved how all the characters interacted and how fun the adventure was. These books are so outlandish and totally unrealistic, but that's what makes them so fun! Finlay and Vero's antics are a hoot and I'm still always baffled how they seem to ditch the kids so effortlessly to attend to their crime solving. I also loved how it sets up the next one in the epilogue. Such a fun book! The audio is so well done and I really like the narrator. It's a book that you just want to keep listening to!

Finlay solves another mystery that she finds herself in the middle of.

I think this is my favorite book of the series so far! It's really a toss up between Book 1 and this book. I really like the leap that Finlay and Nick's relationship took. I also loved the dynamic of the elderly neighbor crashing at Finlay's house.

I can't wait for the next book to come out!

I believe this is my favorite series so far! I loved it so much!
We begin when police discover a body in the backyard of Finlay's neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, and they suspect her of murder. However, they released her, and she is no longer a suspect. Because her home has no electricity or heat, she is staying at Finlay's house until they fix the heating.
They arrested Finlay's ex-husband for the murder because the wife of the man found buried in her backyard accused him of having an affair with her during his marriage to Finlay. Believing Steven, she starts her investigation of the murder and the curious mishaps of what Mrs. Haggerty is doing and where she is going.
This one was an absolute hoot! I loved the complete story and there were several times I was rolling with laughter because of the antics in the story! I received a copy of the audiobook to listen to and review, and it was amazing! I love it when a series uses the same narrator for different audiobooks because this narrator fits the story and brings it to life! Giving me lots of laughs this time! Thank You Macmillan Audio, Netgalley, and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read/listen and review this one, and thank you for the laughs!

In the latest installment of the Finlay Donovan series, Finlay and her nanny Vero have stumbled across another murder. It just so happens that the body is discovered in Finlay's neighbor's, Mrs. Haggerty's backyard. Not known for being friendly, Mrs. Haggerty ends up staying with Finlay while they try to solve the murder, and all kinds of chaos and hijinks ensue. I love this series! Finlay and Vero will have you laughing out loud, and sitting on the edge of your sear wondering how they are going to get out of the newest sticky situation they have found themselves in. The narrator is great, and handles all of the different voices with ease. Highly recommend!

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is a light-hearted and comedic mystery thriller with romantic elements. I would recommend it to fans of shows like Only Murders in the Building and fans of books by Holly Jackson, Lucy Score, Ally Carter, or Christina Lauren.

I love the Finlay Donovan books - I picked up one of the books at a little free library this past summer on a whim and ended up devouring the series! Mysteries and thrillers usually aren’t usually my thing, but the Finlay Donovan books are so cozy, entertaining, gripping, and laugh-out-loud funny, and book 5 is definitely no exception. Also, as someone who is new to mysteries and thrillers, I appreciate that the Finlay Donovan books are always light-hearted and fun, they are definitely suspenseful and have intriguing twists, but I never find them scary. Mrs. Haggerty wasn’t really my favourite character in the first 4 books, so I wasn’t sure how to feel about her playing a bigger role in Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, but I really enjoyed getting to see a different side to Mrs. Haggerty; one that has some unexpected similarities to Finlay. There are also some super cute and comical moments between Mrs. Haggerty and Finlay’s children (one of which is suspended from preschool and the other who is struggling with potty-training) and Cameron (the young computer hacker who helps with Finlay’s tech needs in exchange for homecooked meals).

If I had to list a downside, I have to say that the romance was a little lacking in comparison to the other Finlay Donovan books. I was disappointed that we didn’t get to see a lot of Vero and Javi’s “newlywed” relationship. Also, since Finlay is still hiding her criminal involvement from Nick and is preoccupied with Mrs. Haggerty for a good portion of this book, we didn’t get to see a lot of Finlay and Nick’s romance either. But the romance that we did get in Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave was still swoony and I am hopeful that we will get to see more of Vero and Javi’s and Finlay and Nick’s budding relationships in book 6.

Overall, I’m loving the Finlay Donovan series and would highly recommend it to readers looking for lots of laughs, swoony love interests, “ride or die” female friendships, and page-turning mysteries.

Once again, Elle Cosimano has knocked it out of the park! Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is an absolute blast—fast-paced, witty, and full of the charm that makes this series so addictive. This installment not only delivers the humor and suspense we love but also opens up exciting new avenues for so many characters. I flew through it and already can’t wait to see what’s next for Finlay and the gang. If you’re a fan of the series, you won’t be disappointed!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It’s always a pleasure spending time with Finlay, Vero, and the gang.

I thought this installment was notably weaker than its predecessors, but it’s still a fun read and well-paced. That’s a bit tough after book four, which I thought was the best of the series. Still, Cosimano did at least set up the ongoing story to go in a direction I’m interested in at the end of this one.

This one lost a lot of the humor that has made this series so good, and though there are moments that are truly funny, there are a lot less of them than we’ve seen previously. I didn’t love the mystery here either (felt a bit like tacking something unrelated onto a concept that the story already seemed to have sorted out), but at least it worked structurally.

I’d love to see the series get back to more Finlay and Vero hijinks and less constant circling back to the ex-husband in ways that don’t really serve the greater plot. I’m not wild about where things are going with Nick either, but that’s more of an opinion than a critique.

Still, the end had a lot of promise and the series has been consistently good, so I’m looking forward to the next installment.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future. The entire Finlay Donovan series is chefs kiss!!! These characters really come alive on the pages, and they keep me coming back for more.

Finlay and Vero are back in the fifth installment of the series. The body of a local is found buried in Mrs. Haggerty’s house across the street. And after being release from jail and cleared of the murder, Mrs. Haggerty moves herself right into Finlay’s house to stay while her hair is repaired and released. Soon Finlay’s ex husband is arrested and Finley and Vero must hunt down the real murder so Steven doesn’t take the fall, and chaos ensues.
This book has become my favorite of the series! We get to hear more from Finlay’s busybody neighbor, more from Nick and Finlay’s relationship, and of course the normal chaos of raising toddlers. Too funny!

Constantly chasing that 5-star feeling from the first book, but Finlay Donovan is too wacky not to love. The side characters continue to get stronger and stronger with each book (I would now die for Nick) and I love how old friends continue to make new appearances.

Woo! This series redeemed itself and was almost as good as the first book. I could have done without the sex scenes though. Yuck.

Fans of the series will enjoy this. It was a wild ride, fun, clever, and most of the characters were back to themselves. The new new granny here was superb.

Very much looking to the new storyline in #6

Thank you netgalley !!!! 4.25

Finlay Donovan fans have another fun adventure to enjoy! This time Mrs. Haggerty is the center of the mystery with Finlay and Vero jumping on the case. Ex-husband, Steven, gets tapped as the suspect and “hot cop” Nick helps. Of course, Finlay’s kids, her agent Sylvia, and techie guru, Cam, are also part of the story. A fun little mystery with humor and romance.

Angela Dawe continues to do a great job as the narrator of the Finlay Donovan books. I have had the pleasure of listening to this series read by Dawe and I feel like I’m with an old friend each time. Dawe does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life.

How long do we have to wait for the 6th Finlay addition?

Thank you to NetGalley and McMillan Audio for the complimentary Audio Book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Another fantastic installment of the Finlay Donovan series. A few books ago, I was feeling that this story was getting stale but I am so glad I have continued to stick with this story. This one and book 4 were the best yet.

I am loving the developing relationship between Nick and Finlay. With all the drama and murder, the budding romance between them keeps things light and fresh. I also love the growth that Finlay has made as these novels go on. She is still impulsive and fearless but I just love that about her.

I cannot wait to see what new messes Finlay gets herself into in future books.

As far as the audiobook. This series is one of the best. The narrator has very district voices for the characters and it really brings the story to life.

Thanks to Netgalley for the excellent audio production narrated by the talented Angela Dawe. This is a great listen, full of the humor and chaos that is central to all the books in the Finley Donovan series. All the characters are great fun, and seeing how Finley escapes her predicaments is endlessly entertaining.
Highly recommended for fans of Janet Evanovich.

Finlay’s nosy neighbor Mrs Haggerty, the self-appointed head of neighborhood watch, is arrested when a body is found under her rose hedge. Since Finlay and Vero didn’t put it there, why should they care? The police suspect Stephen, Finlay’s ex and the father of her two children. Chaos and comedy ensue as they juggle solving the crime, dealing with Mrs Haggerty, and toilet training. It’s the usual fun and games with a little less pressure from Sylvia about her next book and more about filming rights.
I don’t recommend it as a starting point in the series, but if you’ve been reading the earlier entries, you won’t want to miss this one as it answers some questions left hanging from previous novels. Great narration by Angela Dawe.
My thanks to the author, publisher, producer, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook for review purposes. Publication date: 4 March 2025.

Thank you for allowing me to listen to this book as an ARC in audio format.
The author once again did not disappoint with this next book in the series. I absolutely loved it and was laughing aloud several times. While the first book is the series is still my very favorite, this one for sure is my 2nd favorite by far!!!
Finlay's story and her adventures for sure did not disappoint. Her books are always super fast east reads for me and I just love that there is never any boredom or slowness in the story line!!
I love that we got to enjoy the same fun characters and the kids intertwined in the book is great and makes for more fun!
Absolutely loved it and highly recommend to everyone! 5 🌟

The latest installment in the Finlay Donovan series is another delightful blend of mystery, humor, and chaos, as Finn and Vero find themselves tangled in yet another crime—this time, with Mrs. Haggerty at the center of the drama. Between potty training, school troubles, and juggling secrets, Finn’s plate is already full, but a murder mystery and an unexpected houseguest take things to the next level. The oddball cast continues to shine, with Mrs. Haggerty adding a fresh dynamic to the duo’s hijinks. Angela Dawe’s narration is, as always, pitch-perfect, bringing each character to life with charm and energy. A fun, fast-paced read that leaves me eager for more—4.5⭐️! Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the review copy. 💕

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

“…and then I kicked him in the tentacles, just like Vero showed me!”

I’m not a series kinda girl but this series is definitely a comfort series for me. I feel like I actually know these characters and they are so much fun.

It was fun seeing more of that PITA Ms. Hagerty this go round.

I hate that I have a soft spot for Steven because he’s so stupid and just NOT a good husband but I also love how this whole cast of characters comes together when times get tough.

As I was getting close to the end of this book I felt like it was a pretty decent conclusion to the series BUT then Elle Cosimano gives us a reason to soldier on.

𝑭𝑰𝑵𝑳𝑨𝒀 𝑫𝑶𝑵𝑶𝑽𝑨𝑵 (#5)
𝑫𝑰𝑮𝑺 𝑯𝑬𝑹 𝑶𝑾𝑵 𝑮𝑹𝑨𝑽𝑬 is full of laughs, law breaking, love, lots of crazy antics…it is a true comedy of errors in the best possible way.

Can’t wait for the next one.

Angela Dawe is such a great narrator.

This is the 5th Finlay Donovan book I’ve read (technically 6th if you count the Vero novella) but the first one I’ve listened to the audiobook for.

I’m not sure if it was the audiobook format but I felt like this one was kind of boring until the last 1/4 or so of the book. I didn’t feel like for a mystery that we learned new tidbits of key info throughout or that most of the book was exciting to read like the first ones in this series - hoping for the return of Russian mobsters or something like that for the sixth book because the elderly neighbor crashing at Finlays was just not as funny as I think it could have been. I loved the first two books in this series and I enjoyed the fourth one with the Atlantic City antics but this one fell a little flat for me. I actually think the audiobook narration for this was pretty good - I just can’t deal with female narrators putting on a fake male voice it is so cringey to me and why I don’t listen to audiobooks (especially romance audiobooks) often.

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

4.25/5 rounded down

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

Another fun edition to the Finlay series! I actually enjoyed this one significantly more than #4 — the story was more fast paced and had a few less plot holes than the last. Plus more hot cop action and some badass women! I love when characters surprise you and that’s what this one was all about — who knew the annoying neighbor would turn out to be so fun to read about?!

As with all the Finlay books, you have to suspend disbelief a bit and just know that there will be plot holes. But while Book 4 felt sooo chaotic and long, this one flew by. The wild cast of characters Finlay and Vero have been accumulating over these books really come out in this one and it’s so fun. Will always read these books, and welcome more of them!