Title: Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice
Author: Elle Cosimano
ISBN: 9781250846006
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Pages: 320
Source: Private Copy
Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero are in sore need of a girls’ weekend away. They plan a trip to Atlantic City, but odds are―seeing as it’s actually a cover story to negotiate a deal with a dangerous loan shark, save Vero’s childhood crush Javi, and hunt down a stolen car―it won’t be all fun and games. When Finlay’s ex-husband Steven and her mother insist on tagging along too, Finlay and Vero suddenly have a few too many meddlesome passengers along for the ride.
Within hours of arriving in their seedy casino hotel, it becomes clear their rescue mission is going to be a bust. Javi’s kidnapper, Marco, refuses to negotiate, demanding payment in full in exchange for Javi’s life. But that’s not all―he insists on knowing the whereabouts of his missing nephew, Ike, who mysteriously disappeared. Unable to confess what really happened to Ike, Finlay and Vero are forced to come up with a new plan: sleuth out the location of Javi and the Aston Martin, then steal them both back.
But when they sneak into the loan shark’s suite to search for clues, they find more than they bargained for―Marco’s already dead. They don’t have a clue who murdered him, only that they themselves have a very convincing motive. Then four members of the police department unexpectedly show up in town, also looking for Ike―and after Finlay’s night with hot cop Nick at the police academy, he’s a little too eager to keep her close to his side.
If Finlay can juggle a jealous ex-husband, two precocious kids, her mother’s marital issues, a decomposing loan shark, and find Vero’s missing boyfriend, she might get out of Atlantic City in one piece. But will she fold under the pressure and come clean about the things she’s done, or be forced to double down?
Official Summary
ANOTHER FIVE-STAR BUDDY READ
05 November 2025
Alicia’s Review
Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice has been on our TBR for Buddy Reads forever and I cannot believe it took us this long to read it but at last, we have read it and I am so glad we did! I think this one’s my second favourite in the series so far—definitely in the running for book of the month!
About 30% into this book, I started to wonder how Cosimano was going to wrap everything up at the end of this book. As there were so many things going on and Finlay and Vero had a big mess to clean up, however now that I have finished the book I am incredibly surprised how well this book wrapped up, I think writing-wise it is Cosimano’s best work. The ending of this book also made me immediately want to pick up the next book.
Vero stole the show for me again with her jokes and snark. I loved how her character developed this time, especially with the new storyline involving Javi. And even though Javi wasn’t in here much, having Vero telling us so much about him made me really like his character and I look forward to more of him in this series.
Finlay remains that lovable mess you can’t help but root for, I liked how she stood up for herself in this book, with everyone in this book, especially Steven. I am also a bit on the fence about Nick. I don’t know why but I’m having a hard time connecting with his character.
The mystery had me second-guessing everyone, and I loved that! There were so many twists that I kept flipping pages, trying to figure out what was going on. I also love that we got Cam back, that was nice. I also loved Kevin he was also a show stealer.
Overall, I loved this book, and it was an easy five stars from me. If you’re looking for a quick, light-hearted book, this is it!
Zelda’s Review:
Alicia introduced me to this series when we did our first Buddy Read of Finlay Donavan is Killing It in October 2022. I was instantly hooked. I love this quirky character. It has taken us forever to find the time to read Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice, but it was worth the wait. I laughed more while reading this one than all the other, making this book my favourite in the series so far. It is another delightful and chaos-filled instalment in the life of an accidental crime-solving mom. Finlay and her trusty sidekick, Vero, embark on a supposed girls’ weekend in Atlantic City, but anyone familiar with these two knows that their escapades are never as simple as they seem.
The story kicks off with the perfect blend of humour and tension as Finlay and Vero’s cover story quickly unravels. From negotiating with loan sharks to rescuing Vero’s crush and finding a stolen Aston Martin, there’s hardly a dull moment. Cosimano has a knack for balancing comedy with suspense, and this book is no exception. The zany plot twists and witty banter kept me engaged and chuckling, even when things took a darker turn.
Finlay is as relatable as ever, juggling her complicated love life, meddling family, and the demands of motherhood with all the grace of a comedic action hero. The addition of her ex-husband Steven and her mother on this girls’ trip amps up the hilarity and drama. Watching Finlay try to manage her ex’s jealousy while dealing with her sizzling chemistry with hot cop Nick is both hilarious and heartwarming. I found myself rooting for her in both the romantic and chaotic predicaments she faced.
Vero remains a brilliant character, full of sass and loyalty, and her backstory continues to intrigue. The dynamic between Finlay and Vero is a cornerstone of the series, and their friendship is as endearing as it is entertaining. Their desperate attempts to solve the mystery, avoid arrest, and keep their secrets buried (figuratively and literally) make for some truly laugh-out-loud scenes.
The setting of Atlantic City adds a fresh and gritty atmosphere to the series, providing the perfect backdrop for casino shenanigans and high-stakes drama. And just when I thought I had everything figured out, Cosimano throws in a few curveballs, making the mystery all the more engaging.
If I had to nitpick, I’d say that the sheer number of plot threads—murder, missing persons, romantic drama, and family troubles—can feel overwhelming at times. But Cosimano manages to weave everything together with impressive finesse, and the pace never drags.
This book is a wildly fun and thrilling adventure that doesn’t skimp on heart. Elle Cosimano continues to mix humour, mystery, and genuine emotion, leaving me eagerly awaiting Finlay’s next wild ride. If you’re in the mood for a high-stakes romp with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, this book is an absolute must-read.
Also by Elle Cosimano
FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT
Finlay Donovan is killing it…except, she’s really not. A stressed-out single mom of two and struggling novelist, Finlay’s life is in chaos: The new book she promised her literary agent isn’t written; her ex-husband fired the nanny without telling her, and this morning she had to send her four-year-old to school with hair duct-taped to her head after an incident with scissors.
When Finlay is overheard discussing the plot of her new suspense novel with her agent over lunch, she’s mistaken for a contract killer and inadvertently accepts an offer to dispose of a problem husband in order to make ends meet. She soon discovers that crime in real life is a lot more difficult than its fictional counterpart, as she becomes tangled in a real-life murder investigation.
FINLAY DONOVAN KNOCKS ‘EM DEAD
Finlay Donovan is―once again―struggling to finish her next novel and keep her head above water as a single mother of two. On the bright side, she has her live-in nanny and confidant Vero to rely on, and the only dead body she’s dealt with lately is that of her daughter’s pet goldfish.
On the not-so-bright side, someone out there wants her ex-husband, Steven, out of the picture. Permanently. Whatever else Steven may be, he’s a good father, but saving him will send her down a rabbit hole of hit-women disguised as soccer moms, and a little bit more involvement with the Russian mob than she’d like.
Meanwhile, Vero’s keeping secrets and Detective Nick Anthony seems determined to get back into her life. He may be a hot cop, but Finlay’s first priority is preventing her family from sleeping with the fishes… and if that means bending a few laws then so be it.
With her next book’s deadline looming and an ex-husband to keep alive, Finlay is quickly coming to the end of her rope. She can only hope there isn’t a noose at the end of it…
FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN
Author and single mom Finlay Donovan has been in messes before―after all, she’s a pro at removing bloodstains for various unexpected reasons―but none quite like this. When Finlay and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero accidentally destroyed a luxury car that they had “borrowed” in the process of saving the life of Finlay’s ex-husband, the Russian mob did her a favour and bought the car for her. And now Finlay owes them.
Mob boss Feliks is still running the show from behind bars, and he has a task for Finlay: find and identify a contract killer before the cops do. The problem is, the killer might be an officer themself.
Luckily, hot cop Nick has just been tasked with starting up a citizen’s police academy, and combined pressure from Finlay’s looming book deadline and Feliks is enough to convince Finlay and Vero to get involved. Through firearm training and forensic classes (and some hands-on research with a tempting detective), Finlay and Vero use their time in police academy to sleuth out the real contract killer to free themselves from the mob’s clutches―all the while dodging spies, confronting Vero’s past, and juggling the daily trials of parenthood.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Elle Cosimano is a USA Today bestselling author, an International Thriller Award winner, a Bram Stoker Award finalist, and an Edgar® Award nominee. Her acclaimed young adult novels include Nearly Gone, Holding Smoke, The Suffering Tree, and Seasons of the Storm. Elle’s debut novel for adults, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, kicked off a witty, fast-paced contemporary mystery series, which was a PEOPLE Magazine Pick and was named one of New York Public Library’s Best Books of 2021. In addition to writing novels for teens and adults, her essays have appeared in The Huffington Post and Time. Cosimano lives with her husband and two sons in Virginia.
Thank you for visiting the blog and reading our Finlay Reviews. Are you a Finlay fan? Which is your favourite in the series so far? We would love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment below. Until next time…. Happy Reading!
