01/06/2025

Bestseller Cosimano provides an entertaining fifth investigation for mystery writer and divorced mom Finlay Donovan (after Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice). At the outset, the citizens of South Riding, Va., are eagerly gossiping about the discovery of a body in the rose garden of Finlay’s nosy 81-year-old neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty. The dead man is Gilford Dupree, who went missing five years earlier, and South Riding’s rumor mill quickly settles on Finlay’s philandering ex-husband, Steven—who may have been having an affair with Mrs. Dupree—as the culprit. Unfortunately for Steven, detective Mike Tran latches onto the idea, forcing Finlay, as much as she resents it, to help keep the father of her children out of prison. To add to Finlay’s problems, Mrs. Haggerty’s son has dropped his abrasive mother off at Finlay’s home while he skedaddles to Florida, because her house has been declared an active crime scene. Finlay and her nanny, Vero, handle the case alongside handsome detective Nicholas Anthony, untangling the amusing if easy to solve mystery with panache. Series fans will enjoy the opportunity to get to know recurring character Mrs. Haggerty in greater detail. This is good fun. (Mar.)

A USA Today Bestseller!

A March 2025 LibraryReads Pick (Hall of Fame)

One of Amazon’s Best Books of the Month in March – "Mystery, Thriller & Suspense - New and Continuing Series"

“Readers can always use a good laugh in these ever-trying times, and Cosimano has delivered annually with her series featuring a romantic suspense writer with a knack for getting herself — and her friends and family — into criminal trouble . . . But this one pushes further into emotionally vulnerable territory, tempering the humor with real personal growth that should only deepen with future series books.”—New York Times Book Review

“Series fans will enjoy the opportunity to get to know recurring character Mrs. Haggerty in greater detail. This is good fun.”—Publishers Weekly

“Packed with dark humor, quirky characters and unconventional crime-solving . . . full of unexpected twists, sharp humor and zany heroines.”—PEOPLE

“[A] perfect blend of mystery, slapstick style comedy and romance all rolled into a delightfully entertaining romcom mystery that’s highly addictive. Well-developed, larger-than-life main characters are likable and easy to identify with . . . This one is good old-fashioned fun! I highly recommend Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave to fans of mysteries and romcoms.”—Mystery & Suspense

“Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is a light-hearted and comedic mystery thriller with romantic elements, making it perfect for fans of shows like Only Murders in the Building and fans of books by Holly Jackson, Lucy Score, Ally Carter, or Christina Lauren.”—The Nerd Daily

“Cosimano’s witty series is a celebration of female friendship and a comical exploration of what happens when life keeps imitating art—with a dash of murder.”—Shelf Awareness

“If you’re on the hunt for a story that strikes a balance between humor, heart and mystery, look no further than Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave.”—Women’s World

“Finlay and Vero make for a great modern-day twist on Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson and this latest series entry wields a typically light touch wrapped in the fabric of a solid procedural. That’s not an easy mix to manage, but Cosimano nails it every step of the way. A blast to read from beginning to end.”—BookTrib

“Finlay Donovan is irresistible!"—Janet Evanovich

“Refreshing, funny and bright, these are wonderfully escapist novels.”—Charlaine Harris

“The Finlay Donovan series is simply spectacular and always delightful! I adore everything about it—the humor, the screwball plotlines, the mysteries, and above all the cast: the friendship between Vero and Finlay is one for the ages, and Finlay’s love life entertains me to no end. Elle Cosimano’s books are the perfect blend of mystery and romcom, and I’m ready to follow Finlay wherever she goes!”—Ali Hazelwood

“This series is magical! I’m in awe of Elle Cosimano. Every book lover in the world should be reading Finlay Donovan.”—Christina Lauren

“I love Finlay Donovan so much I would 100% hide a dead body for her.”—Jesse Q. Sutanto

“Fact: If you’re going to bury a body, you definitely want Finlay Donovan by your side.”—Julie Clark

“Finlay Donovan remains the heroine of my heart. Elle Cosimano writes fresh, funny mysteries that are an absolute blast to read.”—Chandler Baker

“I’ve never laughed so much reading books about murder. Elle Cosimano’s accidental hitwoman Finlay Donovan is a darkly hilarious, quick witted, and surprisingly relatable woman. You’ll be amazed at how much fun you have reading this brilliant, funny mystery series from one of the best writers working today.”—Jennifer Hillier

“The Finlay Donovan series is an unpredictable, fun, funny, page-turning delight."—Gwenda Bond

“A fun, refreshing series."—Kaira Rouda

"Finlay Donovan is the perfect 21st century heroine—I adore her." —Sophie Cousens

“A funny and smart, twisty and surprising series.”—Megan Miranda

01/01/2025

Cosimano's latest Finlay adventure (after Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice) allows readers to learn more about the series' key players. Finlay and her sidekick, nanny Vero, are looking forward to a break from crime solving, but when a neighbor's pipes burst and a body is unearthed in her yard, they must solve this new case. Since Mrs. Haggerty's house is now a crime scene, she ends up staying at Finlay's, which creates chaos that might not be all bad. Cosimano uses Mrs. Haggerty's backstory to give greater depth to the current mysterious happenings and brings up topics worth a good book club discussion. Fans of the series will appreciate that this installment shows growth in Finlay and Nick's romance, creates space for newer characters to shine, and gives small moments of appreciation to the wider family connections. There are enough explanations of previous hijinks that new readers won't be lost but not so much that the story gets bogged down. VERDICT A great suggestion for fans of Janet Evanovich, Mary Kay Andrews, or Stephanie Bond.—Stacey Hayman

Angela Dawe brings Finlay Donovan's comedic crime solving to life with her narration of the fifth book in this series. When a body is discovered in a neighbor's backyard and Finlay's husband is arrested, Finlay and her nanny become involved. The nosy neighbor, Mrs. Heggarty, moves into Finlay's house and busies herself with her duties as head of the neighborhood watch. Does she know more than she's admitting? Dawe is simply amazing at creating different personalities with the power of her voice. No-nonsense Mrs. Heggarty has a scratchy voice, Finlay's young daughter sounds high-pitched and innocent, a teen has a laid-back vibe, and Finlay's boyfriend, a handsome cop, has a voice like melted chocolate. Dawe paints pictures that amplify the listening experience. L.M.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine

2024-12-13
A body discovered beneath a Virginia neighbor’s yard plunges the irrepressible title character into another reprise of murder.

Five years after he vanished, Ashburn mortgage broker Gilford Dupree has finally turned up, buried in the garden of 81-year-old neighborhood watch president Margaret Haggerty. By the time Maggie’s released from police custody for lack of evidence, the power and water in her house have been shut off, so her politically minded grandson, Brendan, brings her over to Finlay’s place, where she announces that she plans to stay until everything’s set straight at her home. That may take a lot longer than the weekend Finlay originally envisions, because there’s no sign of any contractors at Maggie’s house, and because Brendan’s taken a powder. Loudoun County Detective Mike Tran’s arrest of Finlay’s ex, developer Steven Donovan, for the murder throws Finlay’s dream of having even one more peaceful night with her adorably self-assertive children and her latest beau, Fairfax County Detective Nicholas Anthony, into the trash can. As Finlay struggles to figure out how to deal with the lucrative offer Hollywood producer Randall Wolfe has made to turn the story of her earlier adventures (read: earlier crimes she’s secretly been complicit in) into a TV series, ghosts from her past seem to confront her at every turn, eventually leading her to the truth.

Less rollicking and more businesslike than the earlier installments, whose comedy of crime seems ever harder to sustain.