Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead
Ratings93
Average rating3.9
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...
Series
Featured Series
4 primary books5 released booksFinlay Donovan
Finlay Donovan is a 5-book series with 5 primary works first released in 2021 with contributions by Elle Cosimano. The next book is scheduled for release on .
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Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the digital e-ARC of this book.
I had really high hopes for the second Finlay book, and I think that's tough. I loved the first book, and I'm not sure if it's how it was tee'd up or if it was a time of life thing, but everything hit just right. But unfortunately book #2 feels forced. The relationship between Finlay, Vero, Julian, Nick, Steven, and all the side characters came across wooden. I wasn't nearly as invested in the plot or any of the relationships this time around, and I thought there were parts of Vero's story that took a bit of a turn in an odd direction. This also lacked the humor that came about so naturally in the first book.
Merged review:
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the digital e-ARC of this book.
I had really high hopes for the second Finlay book, and I think that's tough. I loved the first book, and I'm not sure if it's how it was tee'd up or if it was a time of life thing, but everything hit just right. But unfortunately book #2 feels forced. The relationship between Finlay, Vero, Julian, Nick, Steven, and all the side characters came across wooden. I wasn't nearly as invested in the plot or any of the relationships this time around, and I thought there were parts of Vero's story that took a bit of a turn in an odd direction. This also lacked the humor that came about so naturally in the first book.
Published Feb 1st, 2022
Adult, cozy mystery, contemporary
Think of a cozy mystery that's just like, a touch more stylish? And you'll get FINLAY DONOVAN KNOCKS EM DEAD. This is the second volume in the series, and I did not read the first, but now I really really want to — not because I was confused, but because I am fascinated. Bookshop link.
Cop involvement: Finlay's sister, Georgia is a cop and a love interest, Detective Nick Anthony is also a cop (he is regrettably very hot). Finlay shows little regard for the law, which I love in a cozy mystery. Four stars! Narrator gets a solid five stars.
The whole point of having multiple love interests but not actually developing any of them is starting to bother me. Also, the whole opening of how she refuses to listen to her editor's advice on what to write in her book because she is afraid of doing that in real life in relation to her love life has honestly been the most annoying part and it happened second time in a row.
The mystery was entertaining enough to pull it out for me but I don't know for how long I'm gonna keep reading this series if it doesn't fix those issues with side characters and their relationship.
