*Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave* by Elle Cosimano is a brilliant continuation of the Finlay Donovan series, packed with humor, suspense, and heart. The audiobook is a standout, with a fantastic narrator who perfectly captures the wit and charm of the characters. The pacing is tight and fast, making it impossible to put down (or stop listening to, in this case). Cosimano blends mystery, romance, and the complexities of family and friendship in a way that's both entertaining and relatable. You get a perfect mix of laughs, thrills, and emotional depth, keeping you hooked until the very last minute. Definitely worth a 5-star rating for both the story and the performance!

In *Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave*, Finlay finds herself entangled in another dangerous situation after narrowly surviving a hit on her life in the previous book. A dead body, a missing person, and a shady character from her past all collide, pushing her into a high-stakes investigation. Alongside her best friend, Vero, Finlay navigates a maze of secrets, family drama, and professional setbacks while trying to avoid becoming the next victim. With sharp wit, unexpected twists, and plenty of laughs, this book blends mystery, romance, and family dynamics for an unputdownable read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Elle Cosimano has done it again! I swear, The Finlay Donovan series is just one of my absolute favorites. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the change to read an early release of this book. Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano will be released on March 4th, 2025. Plan on picking it up!!!

In this installment, Finlay gains a new roommate in the form of Ms. Haggerty after she is released from suspicion of murder and the heat is turned onto her ex-husband. But did Steven really kill some random guy and dispose of the body in his elderly neighbor's backyard? Finlay isn't so sure, despite how awful her ex-husband has been to her. On goes her detective goggles as she tries to prove his innocence.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave contains all of the excitement of the past books and I loved the cameo's from past characters. But that ending? My jaw dropped. How am I supposed to wait another year to see how Finlay and Vero get out of that mess?

Finley Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is another hilarious, chaotic adventure. Bringing back all the familiar main characters, the plot is packed with twists, humor and the right amount of danger to keep things exciting. The mystery keeps you guessing, but Finley and Vero's banter and dynamic make the book an addictive read. I cannot wait for the next in this series! Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

A huge thank you to @minotaurbooks for the eARC and @macmillanaudio for the ALC!

Finlay Donovan is one of my favorite series and this book expertly transitioned from what felt like somewhat of a conclusion of our previous ongoing mystery, while not leaving behind the characters and threads we picked up along the way - expertly weaving them into the larger narrative.

I loved the vulnerability of this book - the characters really bared more of their souls and the series is so much richer for it. The typical hijinks and ever present, helping to make this series the gem that it is. This is one of my favorite, if not my favorite, in the series so far and I cannot wait to see where the next book takes us! 👀

You would think that after all that went down in Atlantic City, things would finally be a bit quieter for Finlay and Vero, but alas, it seems that while they were gone, drama was brewing back in their own neighborhood.

A dead body has been discovered in Mrs. Haggerty’s yard—yes, that Mrs. Haggerty of the detailed notebooks and neighborhood watch—and while the busybody herself has been cleared by the police, her house is a still-active crime scene. With the aim of keeping an eye on her own home at all times, she forces Finlay and Vero to take her in. Pair that with a preschooler home on suspension and a potty-training toddler, and it’s never a dull moment in the Donovan household.

I just adore this series, y’all. This book was the perfect escape right when I needed it. Filled with the parenting moments, humor, romance, madcap sleuthing and screwball crime scenes that we’ve come to expect from this series, Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is another hit.

I especially liked the relationship development between Finlay and her cop beau Nick in this one.

If you like audiobooks, go that route with this book. I’m always entertained by Angela Dawes’s narration in this series. As I’ve said before, I adore the voice she uses for Nick, and the way she captures Vero’s attitude is always fun, too.

4.75⭐️

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio. All review opinions are my own.

Finlay Donovan is back at it!!

This mystery/ romcom is one of my favorites and book number 5 is still going strong.
This book has so much going on from a mysterious book club with Mrs. Haggerty and Finlay’s ex-Steven is a suspect in a murder investigation. Cant wait to see what happens next!!

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

4.5 stars! I loved this one. It was fun to have all the original characters back and have more of Finleys home life. The two before this felt a bit repetitive and the same to me but this one really pulled me back into the series. The shenanigans in this book will make you laugh out loud and wonder how they continue to find the trouble they do! I would recommend this one! Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

OMG, Finlay goes straight with Nick. He is such a sweet hottie!

Finlay's neighbor was a hoot and certainly had a lot of depth. And those kids they are so adorable and funny.

I think after book 1, this may have been my next favorite. It was funny, fast-paced, and the mystery was pretty exciting.

#netgalley #FinlayDonovanDigsHerOwnGrave

I was so excited to receive an advance audiobook copy I love the Finlay Donovan series. And this one did not disappoint just like the rest. Of course the audio was excellent.

🪦 Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave - Elle Cosimano

4 ⭐️ - Ah yes, my favorite series is back! I love being in the world of Finlay Donovan and spending time with Vero, Nick, and the kids. This series warms my heart, makes me laugh, and quenches my mystery thirst!

Finlay, and her nanny/friend Vero, haven’t always gotten along with their neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty. But when a dead body is discovered in her yard, Mrs. Haggerty needs their help. Declared a suspect and later released, Mrs. Haggerty had nowhere to go, except to Finlay’s house. Finlay and Vero have no interest in being involved, especially after all the murders they’ve dealt with in the last four months, but somehow they can’t stay away.

If you haven’t jumped into the adventures of Finlay and Vero, tell me what you’re waiting for! This one has more cozy murder vibes than the adventure in books 3&4, but I loved it just the same. The characters are funny and relatable. I loved that Delia got more book time! The bookclub and neighborhood watch aspects brought the connectivity of the characters to life. I’m sad it’s already over but I cannot wait for more!

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin Press for the early ARC and audio! Finlay’s fifth book hits shelves on 3/4!

Thank you Net Galley and Macmillan for an ARC of this audiobook.

This didn’t feel as action/shenanigan packed as the prior books, but still found it very entertaining. Like its predecessors Elle Cosimano starts it off with a hilarious opening scene that effectively and effortlessly reacquaints you to the colorful characters and their world. I enjoyed that we got to see a lot of characters we’re already familiar with from different perspectives and that the story included some of my favorite elements; book club, adversaries to friends, found family, and strong female friendships. Recommend and will happily continue to read additional installments!

The first book in this series was such a delight; each subsequent book has been just a touch less so. There are still rewarding moments and lots of fun, but the arc is worrying.



Review copy provided by publisher.

This novel follows the adventures of Finlay and Vero as they become entangled in a new murder mystery involving their nosy neighbor. This was my first encounter with a Finlay Donovan novel, and I found it quite enjoyable. The book was a quick read, featuring strong character development that kept me engaged from start to finish.

Every time, this series wins! Right now, I'm really interested in the lives of Finlay and Vero. The plot was entertaining and thrilling to read, and I loved that this installment concentrated on the annoying Mrs. Haggerty. As usual, the plot was incredibly clever and well-done. The narrator of the audiobook is also excellent.
Finlay and Vero have an unrivaled chemistry, and their adventures are always entertaining.

She’s back. They’re all back in Book 5! Finlay, Vero, Javi, Nick, Steven, and even the annoyingly cranky neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty!

While Mrs. Haggerty isn’t exactly the first person Finlay would go to for a cup of sugar, when a body turns up in her backyard, Finlay’s experience makes her the perfect one to help out while the area remains an active crime scene.

But who is the body? Who’s responsible? Definitely not the elderly Mrs. Haggerty, right? Then, suddenly, all eyes turn to Finlay’s ex-husband, Steven, even she actually doesn’t think he could... how much does Mrs. Haggerty know..

This installment was more endearing for me, especially with the themes of womanhood and community. Cheers to #5 Elle!

Finlay Donovan is my Ride-or-Die series. The only thing I don’t like about it is that I have to wait a year or more between books.

This is book 5, and seriously people, if you haven’t even read book 1 yet, you are so lucky to dive in now. Once you start, you get to binge through all of them without waiting. And trust me, you won’t want to wait because this series is addictive. I rarely ever read series, yet I keep coming back for more of this one.

In Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, she and Vero are back in the thick of it when a dead body is unearthed in her snoopy neighbor’s yard. The author weaves in a brief refresher on who’s who and what’s happened up to this point which I really appreciated. Then I’m buckled in to enjoy another bumpy ride with my favorite book duo. I can’t name another author that blends mystery, humor, and romance as seamlessly as Elle Cosimano.

Angela Dawe returns as narrator and her delivery is so good I’m nearly convinced that she IS Finlay Donovan, not just an actor reading a book.

Thank you, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

A Finlay Donovan book never disappoints. Finlay and Vero are back when Mrs. Haggerty gets arrested for having a body dug up in her yard. I listened to the audiobook in one day. Don’t miss this one if you are a Finlay fan. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC audiobook.

Angela Dawe is fantastic voicing all the characters in the Finlay Donovan series! I loved listening to the newest installment of Finlay!

Finlay, Vero, Mrs Haggarty, Nick the cop, and new characters that you come to like and like to hate! I’m not usually a mystery person but this series has changed me!

I love audiobooks so even though I had read the book version i wanted to listen to it again 😆

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano is the fifth book in Finlay Donovan series and it is probably my favorite so far. This book jumps right into another mystery for Fin and Vero to solve. The dialogue was funny and witty. I loved Mrs. Haggerty's attitude despite how much she got on my nerves. I loved the romance so much more in this book than the rest of the series so far. The characters finally made some progress trusting each other and it was just beautiful. The cliffhanger in the epilogue left me desperate for me. I can't wait for the next book. The audiobook was wonderfully done. The narrator's voice was perfect for this role.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Yes yes! Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave throws back to the OG of this series with its morally grey crimes and powerful women, which was an excellent reprieve from all the over the top mob stuff this series had veered into. I’ve really enjoyed the development of all these characters throughout the series. From Cam’s adoption into Finn’s family to Steven’s redemption arc, these books are quick and funny but so much more than a surface-level mystery romcom. I enjoyed all the time spent back in Finlay’s home and neighborhood. The small town vibe and suburban antics were excellent with this one and really brought me back to why I fell in love with this series. I hate that I have to wait so long for the next one. I think fans of the series will really enjoy this installment.
One star removed because I didn’t really love the narration. There was a weird accent that kept slipping in and out and the narrator felt aged-up for Finn. I didn’t love the male “voices,” either. I prefered physically ready this one vs listening.