Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead

Such a wonderful second novel in the series. Finley will never stop making me laugh with what she gets up to!
Loved it so much I raced to pick up the next book, definitely one for lovers of cozy mysteries.

Finlay Donovan did it again! Fast-paced, intriguing and funny, this was a great start of my summer. I don't know how I feel about the love triangle, but I loved all the twists (FedUp!!) and that ending was brilliant. The best thing for me was (again) the amazing bond between Finlay and Vero, I can't wait for book 3 so we finally know about Vero's past. A super easy read and totally recommendable series 👍🏼

While I loved the first book c this one hit a bit different for me. Maybe because I knew that Finlay is up to no good!
And she delivers in spades!
I felt a bit bad for her while trying to co-parenting and juggling her career while other more thrilling things steal her attention fully. And nothing she can dismiss unfortunately.
Same suspenseful moments and interesting characters where Finlay solves everything, with some help of course, and everything is back to normal in the end

I’m looking forward to read more if there will be any in the future because Finlay is addictive and intriguing in more ways than not.


NetGalley arc

Finley Donovan has a special place in my heart and it was no differnet with this book, it was a quick easy and fun read. I loved it.

I adored Finlay Donovan Is Killing It and I was delighted to be able to dive into the sequel. These books are a fantastic blend of contemporary domestic fiction, mystery, thriller and even a touch of romance and I’m intrigued to see what’s next for the author and for Finlay!

Finlay Donovan is once again struggling to juggle single motherhood with finishing her next book and someone wants her ex-husband dead. As much as he irritates her, Steven is a good father and she would really rather he didn’t die. However, Finlay needs to dive deep into the local network of hitwomen and that also involves some unsavoury brushes with the Russian mob. To top it off, her closest friend and nanny Vero has a secret and handsome police officer Nick Anthony is keen to take Finlay out again. With so much again, will Finlay’s book ever be finished?

One of my favourite things about these books is the regular breaking of the fourth wall. As Finlay is a writer of similar novels to this very one, there is plenty of opportunity for the book to make itself aware that it is a book. It’s a simple writing trick that I absolutely love for some reason. It makes me feel part of the action and as if I’m one of Finlay’s readers, as well as Cosimano’s.

I think Finlay’s feelings towards Steven reflect those between many exes. She completely understands why someone would want to kill him but their mutual love for their kids bonds them forever. There are moments between Finlay and Steven where there seemed to be something remaining between them and I wondered whether they would try things again. I really didn’t want them to because Steven is a sleaze but Finlay clearly still likes him deep down inside.

Finlay and Vero share a really lovely friendship. Vero is very much a grounding, calming influence on Finlay and I think Finlay offers both security and adventure to Vero. They talk about their ‘life together’ which is language usually reserved for couples but Finlay and Vero have a similar, yet purely platonic dynamic. There were points in the book where I wanted the two of them to get together but I guess Cosimano had to leave something to fan-fic writers!

These books are also hilariously funny in places and most of these moments come when it’s just Finlay and Vero. There seems to be a deadpan element to the humour too, which makes it even funnier. It’s almost as if the book and the characters don’t know that they’re funny and that gives something exclusive to the reader. Amazing writing!

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is a direct sequel to Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, so you should definitely read the first book before picking this one up. Full of genuine threat, intriguing mystery, relatable characters and heartwarming romance, Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is a page-turning, witty read made for devouring.

I love Finlay Donovan and I loved the first book so so so so much!!
And when this book was approved for me, I actually literally screamed!!

Elle Cosimano did it again!
Finlay is back with a bang in this one.
I was pretty nervous to get into it to be honest, but this was as good as the first one.
Loved every second of it and I highly recommend!

Aahhh this was another great fun mystery!!

It’s always hard to review the second book of a series without spoilers on the first book (Espcially this series!)😅

So I’ll just say…

👉I didn’t see the twists coming!!

👉I enjoyed seeing the friendship between Vero ans Finlay grow

👉I was always Team Nick, so I was glad to see him back!🥰🥰

👉The ending hints more books to come, so I can’t wait for that!😍

If you haven’t read this series yet and would like a fun mystery read that makes you chuckle and laugh, I highly recommend it🥰

'Finlay Donovan Is Killing It' was one of my favourite books of 2021 and is now one of my favourite books of all time. So after the cliffhanger of the first book, I was dying to get my hands on the sequel. My expectations for this book were so high and it did not disappoint. 'Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead' is just as funny and brilliant as the first book in the series. Finlay is one of my all time favourite characters, I just can't help but adore and root for her no matter what she is doing. I am so glad we got more of the hot cop Nick and if Finlay doesn't end up with him eventually, I will be so upset because I can't help but love them together.
The only thing I probably did not like about this book is that the beginning third of the book felt like not much happened but even that I was not mad about as I loved just being with these characters and in this world again. I don't think this was as good as the first book but 'Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead' is definitely one of my favourite books of this year and I love this series so much.
Elle Cosimano when you write the next book can you please send it to me because I need it right now.

The sequel to Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, and Finlay is once again struggling to finish her novel and ends getting involved in a plot to murder her ex husband.
I loved this as much as the first book! It is hilarious, addictive and surprising. I loved the relationship and banter between Finlay and Vero and am here for them. It is a really portrayal of a solid, loving and accepting female friendship.

There were so many twists in this and I had no idea how it was going to wrap up. Loved the ending and I don’t know how I’m going to wait for the next one!

AD - This copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Is this more far fetched than the first book? Yes
Is it more fast paced than the first book? Yes
Did I love it more than the first book? YES

This series is so much fun and I am unashamedly dying to read the third book (that’s not even been confirmed!)

I think Elle is such a great writer - the plot is well thought out and entertaining, and I found myself really relating to the characters. It was so easy to lose myself in Finlay’s world and I can’t wait to revisit again.

P.S. I have an inkling who EasyClean is and I am not ok with having to wait years to finally find out 🥲

P.P.S. I need to know which love interest Finlay ends up with like, yesterday

Thanks so much to Headline & NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

Great read, flows perfectly. Well-written and completely engaging. I have devoured this book in one sitting with no regrets. I NEED more. Finlay Donovan is a superb fictional character.

I had read finlay Donovan is killing it just before picking up this one and the setup was fantastic! This book starts just after book 1 has ended and this time finlay is trying to solve the problem of who wants her ex husband dead. Characters from book 1 are included in this and all the usual can go wrongs do go wrong. It's hilarious. I real change from the usual thrillers and mysteries I cannot recommend these books enough. They're totally bingeable, good humoured and homely. The relationship between Finlay and Vero is amazing. I need the third book immediately!!! But even though I have said all that, would it be so bad if the ex husband got assassinated? After the first book didn't we all want him dead? No? Just me then!

Once again Finlay finds herself caught up in events that are, potentially, awful. With her usual mix of gung-ho action and reckless optimism she finds herself investigating who seems to be behind the online request for her ex-husband’s death.
From start to finish this had me laughing, sometimes far louder than I thought was possible. Finlay acts without thinking, walks into danger more times than anyone in their right mind would be happy with and then manages to come out of things smelling of roses.
Ever since she received the slip with her ex’s name on it, Finlay has been concerned. She watches Steven - in spite of him being a complete jerk - and finds herself saving him from arson/a gas leak/ car crash and so on. He refuses to believe his life is under threat, but Finlay’s actions eventually convince him.
Vero took less of an active role in this, but we certainly get some allusions to her past that suggest the next book could feature her more prominently. She definitely has some interesting secrets, and her support of Finlay has a real Thelma and Louise vibe to it.
On more than one occasion there’s an exaggerated quality to this that stops you taking it too seriously. Every time Finlay gets a request from her editor for book details, I feared what crazy scheme she’d get caught up in. As to what happens in her next book, I can’t wait to see…
Huge thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this in advance of publication.

Oooh yes, this book is great! I love Finlay Donovan and the whole premise of these books is brilliant. I have to be honest, I preferred the first one, but it was still much better than a lot of books on the market right now. Fun and dark at the same time.

This is the second book in series - Finlay Donovan struggling author, mom and accidental contract killer. Having been mistaken for a hired assassin in book one, the cliff hanger from the first book, is the discovery that her lothario ex-husband is on a kill list on the black web mums chat group. Whilst she dislikes her husband, as her children's father she feels obliged to hunt down and find out who wants him dead. Vero is her trusty live-in nanny slash accountant and side kick with secrets of her own. Although highly improbable and far-fetched, I really, really enjoyed these books and feel that this one was even better than the first. Lots of high jinx and twists and turns. I love the ‘found’ sisterhood between Finlay and Vero as well as the steamy sexual tension between Finlay and Nick the cop. Moreover, I loved the fun and good humour throughout. The books are the perfect escapist reads. Highly enjoyable. Looking forward to the next one !

Finlay and Vero are back with a bang in the second book in the Finlay Donovan series, “Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘em Dead”!

After the first book ended on such a cliff-hanger, I was so eager to get my teeth into this one and omg it did not disappoint. I actually preferred this to the first book and I didn’t expect that!

Finlay Donovan is -once again- struggling to finish her next novel and keep her head above water as a single mother of two. On top of this, somebody wants her children’s father, Steven, dead. She knows that she has to try to save him, but gets stuck down a rabbit hole with hit women disguised as soccer moms and a little bit of involvement with the Russian mob.

Finlay and Vero are one of my favourite fictional friendships, the way that Vero can make Finlay laugh in any situation really puts a smile on my face and always makes me giggle.

Elle Cosimano has such a comedic and easy to read writing style with incredible plot twists and hilarious one-liners, and I am gutted that we have to wait for the third book, but I also just don’t want this series to ever end!

I also never realised how much I love reading about a struggling author until I read these books and now I really want to find some more books that have that trope!

I would definitely recommend picking up the Finlay Donovan series if you haven’t already, especially if you are looking for something fun and silly.

Thank you to Headline and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After really enjoying the first book in the series, I was looking forward to seeing how the story would progress and I was not disappointed.
Was it unrealistic at parts again? Yes. Is a lot of it unbelievable? Also, yes.
But I do like how these books take me away and allow me to completely switch off for a bit, even if you do have quite a few characters to keep track of.
If you lean into the fun, craziness, you should enjoy these books. And because I know that going into them, I can't criticise that too much.
This was a nice continuation of the story and I'm already looking forward to book three to see what happens next.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Brilliant once again!! I hope this series carries on!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 rounded up. This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and the follow up to the hilarious Finlay Donovan Is Killing It. I really liked it. I really enjoy our protagonist Finlay and her sidekick Vero. It’s such a lighthearted bit of escapism and is such good fun to read. Whilst I do think the first book was slightly better, I still had a great time and can’t wait for the next instalment which has been set up nicely.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Finlay Donovan Knocks Em Dead by Elle Cosimano
I give this book 4.5 stars

Meet Finlay Donovan - single mum, floundering crime writer and accidental hit-woman .
With her book 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. . .

This is book 2 in a series
Welcome to your escape from seriousness/ reality book of the year.
This fast paced fun read has a great combination of mishaps and hijinks,light hearted humour, romance and mystery to investigate .Add the interactions between chaotic lead characters Finlay and Vero who to date are my favourite sparky duo and you’re ready to go..Totally entertaining and highly engaging…….l loved EVERYTHING about this book.
How long do l have to wait for book 3!!!
With thanks to Netgalley,Elle Cosimano and Headline for my chance to read and review this book

Finlay Donovan is back and just when she thought she was out, they pull her back in. Mumsnet just took a very dark turn as an anonymous post is placed in a seemingly innocuous chat that is actually a coded request for a hit - the target, Finlay’s no good ex husband and father of her children Steven. She can’t let this happen. Right? No obviously not. Probably. With her dogged sidekick, Vero and a diaper bag full of wigs, Finlay aims to track down the person who ordered the hit and the hitman who accepted the job. Chaos rains.
Finlay Donovan is a lot of fun, I do however find myself asking why she must take the most complicated route out of things when there is usually a more obvious solution. But it’s so enjoyable I just shake my head and go along for the ride. This book ties in very neatly with the first, bringing back all our favourites although Julian is used sparingly what we get is quality. Nick is also back and Nick’s are always good value especially dolled up in riot gear. We get a little glimpse into Vero’s world and it looks like the third book is gearing up to spill those beans which I am already looking forward to. And I also want to know what wig Finlay will wear next.

Finlay is back still struggling with juggling motherhood, the pressures of writing a new book (helloooo writer’s block!) and on top of that, she’s just found out someone wants to kill her ex husband - and it’s not her!

More mess and chaos… and murder ofc makes for one over the top fun new FINLAY DONOVAN instalment 🙌🏻 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you’re in the need for a light fun read, look no further 👀

💭 What’s some of your favourite over the top books? FINLAY and DIAL A FOR AUNTIES are mine 🤩

Posting on IG tomorrow

4.5 Stars!
Our favourite accidental contract killer that's not much of an actual killer is back, this time someone wants her ex husband out of the picture and the race is on to stop the hit and save the father of her children. All while trying to write her next novel, that once again seems more true crime than fiction.

Elle Cosimano truly is a fantastic writer, not only can she keep you engaged from page 1, but the characters are amazingly well written. It feels less like reading and more as if I'm a bystander watching it all play out. I will never tire of reading about Finlay Donovan. I'm so glad we got a bit more of an insight into Vero and Nick is still around. The characters are what make the book, the plot is, again, unique and interesting and the twists and turns sent me dizzy. And I can't not mention how light hearted and how much humour Elle writes into a book despite all the dead bodies. And as for the ending, well, that certainly was not what I expected but I absolutely adored it.

Fantastic! This series gets better and better with each book.
As this is a sequel, I don't want to give the plot away but this still has the same charm and humour from the first book and what a way to drag out the slow burn romance!
I hope there's more where this came from.

I absolutely loved FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IS and was super excited to read this sequel!

I really enjoyed this book! It was just as good as the first one!

It is so chaotic and witty - a really fun read!

That ending though! I’m really looking forward to the next book!

Elle Cosimano follows Finlay Donovan is Killing It with this sequel with the further crime capers and mayhem of the accidental hit woman and divorced single mother with two young children, Delia and Zach. Once again Fin is suffering from writer's block and struggling to meet her deadlines, although her good for nothing ex-husband, Steven, is no longer engaged to Theresa after dead bodies were discovered on his farm. He is no longer seeking full custody of the children, but he does still want to see them, and this is proving to be a problem for Fin as she has discovered someone wants him dead, and is willing to pay to have him killed by an assassin. Whilst she is not averse to seeing him killed, there is the rather small matter that he is the father of her children, and they love him.

She tries to work out who could possibly want him dead, but that list is rather extensive, as she and her live in nanny and now close friend, Veronica 'Vero' Ruiz, a woman with her own secrets, attempt to follow and keep Steven safe. Understandably, Fin wants to protect the children and is rather reluctant to let him have them as she comes up with excuse after excuse. Her love life is rather fraught, she has been seeing the younger Julian, bartender at The Lush and law student, but he has gone off to Florida with his mates, and Detective Nick Anthony is back in her life, still smitten with her. A whole host of familiar characters return, including, unfortunately, Feliks and the Russian Mafia, Theresa, and her best friend Aimee. Will Fin be able to finish her novel on time and save Steven?

Cosimano keeps the absurdities and comic humour coming in this fun and entertaining addition to the series, although it has to be said that with all the action in the novel that our central protagonist, Fin, has very litte time to spend with her children. I do love her family, particularly Georgia, the cop, who is responsible for Nick turning up in Fin's life again when he comes to Delia's school for a careers talk dressed in his SWAT uniform, which has all the women swooning. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

A month after Finlay Donovan was mistaken for a hit-woman for hire and having to deal with more dead bodies than she would like, she's back to trying to juggle her looming book deadline and taking care of her kids. However, before her life can return to (somewhat) normal, she gets a tip that someone has called a hit on her ex-husband via an anonymous internet forum. Who? Why? Before she knows it, she's tangled up in a web of secrets and having encounters with the Russian mob (again), while simultaneously trying to navigate her feelings towards the almost-lawyer and cop in her life...

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It was my first read of 2022 and I absolutely adored it, so I was stoked to get an ARC of Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead! This book had all the humour and fun of the first one, and I flew through it! I love, love, love Finlay and Vero's relationship and dynamic so much, and I'm really intrigued by Vero's past and what she's hiding... I also enjoyed the progression of the love triangle that was set up in Book 1 (I'm fully Team Nick now! His relationship with Delia is everything), and getting to catch up with all the supporting characters. I can't wait to see how Finlay's story continues in the next book, especially with how this one ended... (Also, RIP Christopher)

(Note: I would definitely recommend reading the first book before starting the second as it introduces you to all the supporting characters and their backstories. You'll probably be a bit overwhelmed otherwise.)

I absolutely loved Finlay Donovan is Killing It so I was thrilled to find out there was a sequel and super excited to be approved to read it in advance of publication day.
The story picks up where the first one finishes so I would definitely recommend reading the books in order. Once again Finlay is faced with an outlandish situation where she thinks someone is trying to kill her ex husband. Chuck into the mix 2 potential boyfriends, 2 kids and a Nanny/best friend that is definitely hiding something from her and you've got a brilliantly gripping and quite hilarious plot on your hands. It is one to take with a pinch of salt, quite unrealistic but enjoyable nonetheless. Just don't take it too seriously! The cliffhanger at the end makes me think there will be a 3rd book in the series so will keep my fingers crossed!