Title: Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave
Author: Elle Cosimano
ISBN: 9781250337344
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Pages: 309
Source: Private Copy
Finlay Donovan may have skeletons in her closet . . . but at least there’s not a body in her backyard.
Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with Finlay’s elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, the community busybody and president of the neighborhood watch. But when a dead body is discovered in her backyard, Mrs. Haggerty needs their help. At first, a suspect, Mrs. Haggerty, is cleared by the police, but her house remains an active crime scene. She has nowhere to go… except Finlay’s house, right across the street.
Finlay and Vero have no interest in getting involved in another murder case—or sacrificing either of their bedrooms. After all, they’ve dealt with enough murders over the last four months to last a lifetime, and they both would much rather share their beds with someone else.
When the focus of the investigation widens to include Finlay’s ex-husband, Steven, though, Finlay and Vero are left with little choice but to get closer to Mrs. Haggerty and uncover her secrets . . . before the police start digging up theirs. But who will solve the mystery first?
Official Summary
BUDDY READ
25 July 2025
Finlay Donovan #5
Alicia’s Review
Finlay Donnovan Does It Again! I’ve been loving this series from the beginning, and this one definitely didn’t disappoint. At first, I wasn’t sure where the series was going to be honest, like I was lowkey worried it was gonna start going downhill, but nope! Elle Cosimano totally pulled it off again. I honestly don’t get why more people aren’t obsessed with this series?? Considering how good this book is, it should be so popular!
The book starts a bit slow, I’m not gonna lie, but once things pick up it’s sooo good. The mystery had me guessing, and the suspense actually had me turning pages like crazy. Also, it’s still got that perfect mix of humour and chaos that just makes it so much fun to read. It’s not all super dark and serious, but the plot still slaps.
Let’s talk about romance for a second. So I know we’re supposed to be shipping Finlay and Nick, and I do like them together but… I kinda got bored with their scenes?? Idk I just feel like there’s not that much chemistry between them anymore. It’s cute, but I just wanted a bit more drama or angst, I mean, we are getting a bit of angst with Finlay hiding so much from Nick, but still.
Also, can we talk about Mrs. Haggerty? I used to not like her at all, but she grew on me this time. She’s kinda iconic now. And Steven is weirdly getting interesting too? I used to hate him, now I’m just super curious what the author’s gonna do with his character next. He’s kinda suspicious, but in a way that makes you wanna know more.
Overall, this book was a great time. It’s the kind of read that doesn’t take itself too seriously, which I love. If you’re into murder mysteries but want something light and funny too, this is it. It’s honestly such a good break from all the super heavy thrillers out there. I would 100% recommend this to anyone who just wants a good time with some chaos, romance, and a little bit of crime thrown in.
Zelda’s Review:
Finlay Donovan is back, and she’s just as chaotic, clever, and hilariously unlucky as ever. In Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, Elle Cosimano delivers another fast-paced, laugh-out-loud mystery with heart, wit, and the signature Finlay-Vero charm I’ve come to love.
This time around, it’s not Finlay or her nanny-sidekick Vero who find a body—but their nosy neighbour Mrs. Haggerty, who quickly becomes an unexpected houseguest when her backyard turns into a crime scene. The dynamic between Finlay, Vero, and the unfiltered, sharp-tongued Mrs. Haggerty adds a fresh layer of comedy and tension to the already tangled web of secrets. I was sceptical about how she’d fit into the story, but she ended up being one of the most entertaining elements.
As always, Finlay doesn’t mean to get involved in a murder investigation… it just sort of happens. But with her ex-husband, Steven, somehow connected to the unfolding mystery, there’s no keeping her on the sidelines. Cosimano does a great job balancing the comedic misadventures with genuine suspense—every time I thought I had it all figured out, another twist popped up.
Vero, once again, shines. Her loyalty, sass, and shady (but often genius) solutions make her the perfect partner-in-crime. Their friendship remains the emotional heart of the series, and I loved watching it deepen here, even amid the chaos.
This book is a perfect mix of mystery, comedy, and a bit of romantic tension (yes, Nick still makes my list of swoon-worthy fictional men). The plot is quick, the banter is sharp, and despite the growing body count, it all still feels like a fun ride you don’t want to end.
If you’ve followed Finlay from the start, this one won’t disappoint. And if you’re new to the series, do yourself a favour and start at book one—you’ll want the full experience of watching Finlay dig herself deeper (and somehow keep coming out on top).
Also by Elle Cosimano
FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT
Finlay Donovan is killing it . . . except, she’s really not. She’s 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 . . . Soon, Finlay 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 favor 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.
FINLAY DONOVAN ROLLS THE DICE
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?
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.
Alicia and I have Buddy Read all the Finlay books so far, we love these books and cannot wait for the release of the next book, Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line – due for release in March 2026. Have you been following the Finlay series? Which is your favourite book? We would love to hear from you, please leave a comment below. Until next time…. Happy Reading!
