The Finlay Donovan series is a fun, light and kinda zany mystery series. It gives off strong Stephanie Plum vibes (the popular series by Janet Evanovich) with its fun and over-the-top mystery solving, strong secondary characters and a main character with a lot of baggage.
I recently listened to books 2 and 3 in this popular series which are narrated by the talented Angela Dawe who brings these characters and Cosimano's humour to readers' ears for an entertaining listen.
Finlay Donovan Knocks 'em Dead [4 stars] - I enjoyed this book even more than the first book! It picks up shortly where the first book left off with Finlay trying to write her next book and her editor putting the pressure on. Finlay continues to be a hot mess and her stress increases when she learns that someone may have a hit out on her ex-husband Steven putting Finlay in the middle of another mystery.
It features a strong secondary cast, but my favourite is Finlay's nanny/friend/assistant, Vero who steals every scene she's in (she kind of reminds me of Esmerelda, the character in Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar series). The love triangle is oh-so-very Stephanie Plum but adds another layer to Finlay's chaos that also includes mothering her two kids and getting her next book out.
This is a fun, funny and easy-going mystery with humour, heart and shenanigans.
Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun [3 stars] - This third installment was good but for me, not memorable as Finlay tries to figure out the identity of the contract killer known as EasyClean who finds jobs through online forums.
I felt like the jokes and the focus on the Russian mob has been overdone. There were funny bits and a nosy neighbour who added humour, but the citizen police academy fell flat for me and it feels like the series is getting stuck in a bit of a rut. Needless to say, this was not my favourite book in the series, but I look forward to listening to book four.
Genre: Mystery, Light Read
Type and Source: eAudio from public library
Narrator: Angela Dawe
Run Times: 9 hrs, 20 min / 8 hours, 47 min
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
First Published: Feb 1, 2022 / Jan 1, 2023
Book Descriptions from Audible.ca:
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 soccer moms disguised as hit-women, 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 - 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 soccer moms disguised as hit-women, 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....
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