I approached the fifth installment in Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan series with a mix of excitement and a bit of worry. Could this wild, zany storyline continue to hold its sparkle without feeling repetitive? I'm thrilled to report that Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave not only stayed the course - it delivered another hilarious, fast-paced, and thoroughly entertaining ride!
Once again, we're thrown into the chaotic world of Finlay and her ride-or-die partner-in-crime, Vero, along with the usual suspects: Finlay's ex-husband Steven, her ever-patient boyfriend Nick, and the delightfully meddlesome Mrs. Haggerty - who, this time, finds herself at the center of the latest neighborhood scandal. When a dead body is discovered in Mrs.
Haggerty's backyard, all bets are off. While the nosy neighborhood watch president is quickly cleared of the crime, Finlay and Vero can't help but get tangled up in the mystery, leading to another round of over-the-top (but oh-so-fun) antics.
What I love most about this series is how Cosimano balances the absurdity of Finlay's misadventures with genuine heart. The characters feel like old friends at this point - flawed, funny, and endlessly endearing.
And just when you think things might be wrapping up, the final moments hit you with yet another cliffhanger a perfect tease that left me scrambling to rewind the last few minutes of the audiobook, convinced it was the end of the line for Finlay's story (spoiler: it's not!).
Speaking of audiobooks, I can't recommend them enough. Angela Dawe's narration is spot-on, capturing every bit of Finlay's frazzled charm and Vero's dry wit. If you haven't started this series yet, do yourself a favor and begin with Finlay Donovan Is Killing It - the books build on one another, and trust me, you won't want to miss a single chaotic chapter.
Fast-paced, laugh-out-loud funny, and brimming with lovable characters, Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave proves there's still plenty of life (and mischief) left in this series.

This book picks up right where the last one left off.

Finlay has finally published her latest book and is ready to relax—until a body turns up in Mrs. Haggerty’s backyard. When both Mrs. Haggerty and Finlay’s ex-husband are arrested for the crime, it’s up to Finlay and Vero to clear their names and find the real killer.

Mrs. Haggerty absolutely steals the show in this one! The story is fast-paced, the characters are well developed, and it ends on a cliffhanger that promises even more chaos ahead. This series is best read in order since each book builds on the last.

I highly recommend the audiobook!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC. All thoughts are my own.

I tried reading one of the Finley Donavan books once. It wasn't nearly as much fun as listening to Angela Dawes create unique voices for each character.
This episode of Finley and her friends (and enemies) did not disappoint. Just enough hilarious, but still suspenseful, I listened when ever I had even a few minutes. Highly recommend the series to anyone who wants something different and really good!

Thank you netgalley for the prerelease audiobook.

And we’re back in the game! I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue this series after the last book and this one was the make or break situation. I’m happy to report that I thoroughly enjoyed the turn of events and how the various plots progressed.

The Finlay Donovan books are a bit more over-the-top "kooky" than a traditional cozy mystery and I was a little concerned that the fifth book in the series would go off the rails and be too crazy for me, but it was actually really kind of comforting to be back in Finlay and Vero's world. (And I think it helped that the murder wasn't quite as complicated as some of the others have been.)

In this installment, a body is found in backyard on Finlay's nosy neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty (who appears in all the books), and the first suspect is Finlay's ex-husband. Although Finlay isn't a fan of Mrs. Haggerty or her ex-husband, she knows she needs to figure out who really committed the murder. Of course, hilarity and messiness ensues as she searches for the truth, but with heart and a commitment to the truth, she finds it.

This is also the first time I've listened to a Finlay Donovan book and I was somewhat surprised at how much I enjoyed that, too! The narrator does a good job of relaying the story without overpowering it.

Book: Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave
Author: Elle Cosimano
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Humor
Places Featured: Virginia, United States
Review Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love coming back to this universe again and again! I'll truly miss it when it's over. Book 5 has less action (I mean finally no mafia), but I love that the plot revolved around Finlay's little neighborhood and characters introduced from previous books!

As for the voice actor, Angela Dawe did an amazing job! She's one of the reasons why I keep coming back to this series.

Angela Dawes is a wonder! Her narration makes the books- the way she can shift her voice to all the different characters is amazing.

This was another great book in the series. I love the teamwork with Finlay and Vera. Her neighbor has been so big in her books that I'm so glad this time we got her background.

I absolutely love this series! Finlay and Vero are once again caught up in another murder case. This book is chaotic, funny, and suspenseful, with a bit of potty training humor thrown in! I listened to the audiobook, and Angela Dawe is fantastic; she draws you in and keeps you laughing and guessing throughout. A BIG thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the audiobook. I can't wait for the next one!

And she’s back... After the first in the series, this is probably my favourite Finlay Donovan book. I loved the new crime they had to solve. I loved how Mrs. Heggerty became a central character and held a lot more depth than we’ve seen from her before. I loved the evolution of Finlay and Nick’s relationship. I continued to love everything about Vera.

This is the fifth book in a series (plus a novella) and I’m still wanting to read more. This book is part of a series and I HIGHLY recommend they are read in order.

I listened to the audio version and it was great. The narrator does a great job of bringing alive all of the different characters, with a range of accents and inflections.

Another Finlay Donovan adventure and it did not disappoint. Finlay is by far my favorite fictional character and I just love being along for whatever her and Vero get up to. Elle Cosimano did a fantastic job at continuing this series with something new and delightful. I already can’t wait for the next book in this series.

As always, the narrator did a fantastic job at bringing Finlay and the other characters to life and I will definitely be looking for more books narrated by her.

Newly back from Atlantic City, hopefully in the free and clear from all entanglements with any criminals, Finlay Donovan is ready for the toughest thing she has to deal with being Delia getting suspended from preschool and Zach potty-training. Plus, there's the tentative relationship she's building with Detective Nicholas Anthony - which is already weighed down by the secrets between them.

Then, a body is discovered in the yard of nosy neighbor Mrs. Haggerty and somehow Finlay's ex is the prime suspect. Steven may be many unsavory things, but a murderer is not one of them. Of course Finlay is going to try to prove his innocence - much to Vero's chagrin - which is only made more difficult when Mrs. Haggerty comes to stay with Finlay for a while.

I thought the last book kind of tied things up nicely so I was a little worried about how the overarching storyline would be able to continue in this book. I liked the fact that we were back in the neighborhood seeing as the previous two books took Finlay, Vero, et al. to other locales. It almost felt like small reset on the series.

I also enjoyed learning more about Mrs. Haggerty. She's been the nosy across the street neighbor since the beginning of the series, but it was interesting to learn that there is more to her than meets the eye.

I thought that Elle Cosimano did a great job addressing all the elephants in the room in regards to Nick and Finlay's relationship. That was a big worry for me because I feel like they've almost been stuck on this path, and wasn't sure how you could reconcile everything that Finlay had gotten herself involved with to a new boyfriend who just so happens to be a police detective. But I think Elle Cosimano did great moving things forward with them.

For me, the story really did take some surprising twists where the mystery was concerned. It was refreshing that Finlay is slightly removed from things. Yes, she inserts herself into figuring things out, but it's more of an investigative position and less trying to prove her own innocence.

Of course Angela Dawe IS Finlay Donovan. She has done, and continues to do, such a wonderful job with the narration and bringing all the characters to life. Being five books into the series, there's a familiarity that every time I listen to one of these books, I know who is Finlay, Vero, Nick, etc. It's kind of, for lack of a better term, comforting. Like home.

Which is what this book did really well overall: a great reset / redirection for the series while also not forgetting where is came from and all the high-stakes involved.

Okay raise your hand if you’re a little more obsessed with every Finlay book that comes out!

Synopsis: Finlay feels like she might actually catch a break… but of course wishful thinking is never what actually happens, and this it’s a little too close to home… literally, because a dead body was found buried in a back yard across the street... We left off last book with Mrs. Haggerty being arrested for the body found, and as she is released, her nephew drops her off at Finlay’s door. Mrs. Haggerty makes herself at home incredibly quickly (moving right into Finlay’s bedroom.)
Finlay realizes that her ex is being considered as a suspect, because as we well know, he’s gotten his hands in a fair share of messiness. Time is against them as they try and figure out what happened…

My Thoughts: I. LOVE. THESE. BOOKS. A friend of mine on Instagram initially recommended the series, and after powering through them all in 2 months’ time, I fear I may have flown a little too close to the sun, because what’s a girl to do until the next release?! For this book in particular, I LOVED getting to see/hear more from Delia and Zach, Finlay’s children and diving into more about what makes Mrs. Haggerty tick. I love love loveee Elle Cosimano’s writing style, leaving you consistently wondering what next move will be made, and how the story will evolve. I have already recommended these to my book club and everyone in my family to read!

"I suppose that's up to you... but if you don't want to dig your own graves, you'll keep your mouths shut."

Thoughts:
The Finlay Donovan books are all filled with chaos and humor. This was the fifth book in the series and so far it's my favorite after the first book! These have become my go-to when I want a light, fun read.

I would recommend this book to
• Fans of The Maid by Nita Prose or the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich
• Readers looking for a fun and cozy mystery

FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE by Elle Cosimano
Published: March 4, 2025 by St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books
Page Count: 320
Audio Version: Macmillan Audio
Narrator: Angela Dawe
Unabridged: 9 hours, 11 minutes



What a hoot! This is the fifth installment of the ongoing screwball comedy mystery series. Mix into the pot a heaping amount of misunderstanding and misadventure, along with a humungous amount of humor, a tinge of romance, with deepening friendships and murder. What results is another amazing propulsive read, with the exact right amount of suspense, intrigue and fun. Although this is the fifth Findlay adventure, it can certainly be enjoyed as a standalone, as Cosimano seamlessly weaves into the narrative the necessary backstory. However, the reader will be unable not to download the first four gems immediately.
Findlay is a struggling B-list writer of romantic mysteries, always facing impending deadlines for her next book. Her readers are always imploring her to add spicy tidbits with her “hot cop” Nick … a recurring character in her books and personal life. Her books are thinly disguised rehashes of her own misadventures with murder and the law. She is the single mother of adorable four year-old Delia and the perpetually sticky two-year-old toddler, Zach, who is forever flirting with escalating degrees of mischief. Donovan is divorced from her no-good, philandering husband, Steven, who carried on a lengthy affair with their curvy, blonde realtor.
But most importantly, she continues to be aided by her most unusual live-in college student, Vero …. who wears many hats: trusting nanny, confidante, partner-in-crime, and accountant. And from this a blossoming friendship and interdependence has evolved.Returning for this adventure are the kids, Vero, and Nick the “Hot Cop.”
Finlay and Vero have returned from a trip to Atlantic City, and are shocked to hear that a body has been uncovered after a flood in the backyard of their nosy, elderly neighbor Mrs, Haggerty.
She is arrested but quickly absolved due to lack of evidence. A knock on their door, results in the presence on their porch of Mrs. Haggerty and her nephew Brandon. She’s decided that she will need to stay in Donovan’s house for the weekend , since her electricity has been turned off and her house is in shambles. The nephew assures Donovan that he will arrange for contractors to immediately attend to the house repairs and return for her beginning of next week. Naturally this never happens … neither the contractors nor Brandon’s return. Suddenly the police are looking into her ex-husband as a possible suspect. Further trouble arises as her writing agent has set up a meeting with producer Randall Wolfe, who wants to turn her books into a TV series. She is fearful that her thinly disguised book adventures will uncover her previous true misadventures with crime and murder.
Elle Cosimano spins a twisted and hilarious tale that is well plotted suspenseful, and is marvelously outfitted with multiple colorful characters that are both flawed and yet believable. The burgeoning relationship and “sisterhood” between Finlay and Vero is nothing less than amazing. The dialogue banter flows in an entertaining fashion, frequently funny and at times, sarcastic, as our two main protagonists entangle themselves in the world of murder and mayhem. This certainly rivals the “Lucy and Ethel” adventures of television lore. The denouement of this delightful gem ends in an enticing cliffhanger, begging for further adventures in the trials and tribulations of Findlay Donovan.
I personally switched back and forth between the kindle and audio version. I found myself sticking with the audio after awhile. I was virtually spell bound with the marvelous narration of Angela Dawe. It was amazing how she captured the different voice of all of the characters, easily capturing the essence of both male and female protagonists. Her performance matched the timbre of this zany madcap adventure. This brought this novel to a new heights in the theatre of my mind.
Thanks to NetGalley, St.Martin’s Press - Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for providing an Uncorrected Proof and Advance Audio version in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave.

I always love Finlay Donovan and this book was no exception! This is one of the only series of books I read because I enjoy them so much.

I’ve listened to several of the Finlay Donovan books now, and I absolutely love Angela Dawe as the narrator. She enhances Finlay’s story in the best ways. I listened at 1.5x speed and found that was perfect for me to follow along and enjoy the story.

Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan_audio for the free copy of this book, below is my own feedback in exchange for the opportunity for an early preview.

Just when I think Elle Cosimano has done all she can, Finlay and Vero get into more trouble and it couldn't be more enjoyable, at least this time it's not their fault. Nick, Steven, and Cam all make a reappearance in this witty and quick moving book and the cliff hanger at the end leaves me wanting more!

Another great read!

I absolutely love this series!

Finlay and Vero are trying to keep out of any mystery. They just want a nice quiet uneventful period of time. Until there's a body discovered in Mrs. Haggerty's back yard. Initially Mrs. Haggerty is taken in for questioning, but she is released. Mrs. Haggerty's house doesn't have power and it's the dead of winter. Soooo, Mrs. Haggerty's grandson drops her off.... at Finlay's house for "just the weekend".

Noone really wants to be responsible for Mrs. Haggerty. She's the neighborhood busy body who discovered Finlay's ex was cheating on her with a real estate agent. But Finlay also can't leave the old lady in a freezing house.

Finlay and Vero believe they must solve this case, to clear not only Mrs. Haggerty, but also Finlay's ex-husband who has been arrested for the murder. In typical duo fashion, this leads to several "investigations" of their own.

This series is fun, over the top with the best witty banter. I love Finlay and Vero's friendship. This one did end on a cliffhanger, so I will be eagerly awaiting the release of book 6!

Angela Dawes did a fantastic job, as with this whole series, of giving life to Finlay and Vero. I love that she has a whole voice collection for each character. Keeps the story flowing and holds my interest.

I absolutely love this series! Cannot give enough praise to do it justice. Absolutely read this one or listen to this on audiobook! Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave… Elle Cosimano - Latest book in the series. Book 5

Finlay and Vero don’t expect their nosy neighbor Mrs Haggerty to be arrested murder after a dead body is found in her backyard. They are even more surprised when she is cleared of murder but her house is still a crime scene and she wants to stay at Finlay’s house. THE HORROR!!

The fact this body has nothing to do with them… for once.. Is a breath of fresh air… That is until the police seem to think Steven, Finlay’s ex husband, put the body there…

Finlay is a better person than me. I don’t know if I would have gone to these lengths to prove Steven was innocent, I’m nice but I am not that nice. There is so much to unpack in this installment. I love Mrs. Haggerty. She is no-nonsense, got ya buy the balls, older lady with no F’s given. I don’t like to spoil things in books for readers but note…. The brownies… Might have been my favorite part of the book so pay attention when reading.

I really love the development of Finlay as a character. Some things in her life have improved and other things are still a total mess but I love it. I love her. Part of me hopes this series never ends. The book is loaded with humor and epic banter. I have to say the audiobooks really brought the characters to life so much more for me.

Truly this series ticks every single box..

Mistaken identity
Single mom
Romance
Witty banter
Unlikely duo

I also love that it's a mystery thriller with dark humor and a slashing of romantic comedy… It is everything. It is Finlay Donovan and it is a must read..

5 stars

What can I say? It’s always a fun time with Finlay, and this book was no exception. The fast-paced humor and wit made it an enjoyable read from start to finish. The cliffhanger at the end has me eagerly anticipating the next book—I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to read, listen, and review this advanced copy.