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!

I will never not read a Finlay Donovan novel. They are laugh out loud funny at times and she's extremely relatable as a character. What mother hasn't had a toddler go through a "no pants" phase? Anyway, the real star of the show is (always) Vero and in this particular novel, Mrs. H from across the street. We get a little more of Mrs. H's backstory and you end up hating her a little less at the end.

If you're going to pick up any Finlay Donovan book, you absolutely need to experience via audiobook. The narrator brings all of the characters to life in such a way that when a different narrator reads (as is the case for Vero's novella), they don't even feel like the same characters. Also, technically the books can be read in any order, but you might get a small spoiler here and there.

Finlay, Vero and the crew are back! The latest installment is probably my fave since the first one! I absolutely LOVE this story featuring grumpy old neighbor, Mrs. Haggarty, and her book club - perfection! Love interest, Nick was center stage, and proved why he is so swoony!! Of course, this was left on a cliffhanger, guaranteeing us more Finlay next year!! 🎉

If you are new to the Finlay Donovan books, they are a true series and you really need to read them in order to understand the main plot points. But trust me, they are worth the read!!

🎧 Perfect on audio as always! Vero’s voice especially always makes me smile!

I love that Finlay is back. This is another wonderful installment in the series. This is another must read!

Thanks Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC.

Synopsis -

Finlay and her nanny Vero have yet another problem on their hands. This time it’s in the form of their elderly curmudgeon of a neighbour, Mrs Haggerty. After the police discovered a body in her backyard, she needs a place to stay once she is deemed not a potential suspect. Having had enough on their plates the past few months, the last thing Finlay needs is getting tangled up in another murder case.

Review -

The narrator Angela Dawe makes this audiobook highly entertaining. She is so versatile and seamlessly switches her voice between all the characters.

Just like all the previous books, Finlay and Vero find themselves in impossible situations and we all know by now how they have a knack of attracting trouble.

Cosimano excels at building up a serious murder mystery at the heart of the plot while equally balancing it with laugh out loud humour and cheeky grin inducing scenes. There is a parallel romantic thread with Finlay’s boyfriend, policeman Nick, which spices up and adds charm to the narrative.

Mrs Haggerty brings her own sass and kickass personality into the storyline and this combined with Finlay and Vero’s shenanigans - we have an amusing and enjoyable cozy mystery on our hands.

I loved how the book addressed an important subject matter at its core and although the measures the characters undertook were extreme, it was a wakeup call that will definitely help raise awareness concerning the issue.

Overall a fun-filled ride that will help you forget all your problems for a while, while you worry about Finlay’s!