Now Available in Paperback
From New York Times bestseller and Edgar-Award nominee Elle Cosimano, comes Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave—the hugely anticipated next installment in the fan-favorite Finlay Donovan series.
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?
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Acclaim
USA Today Bestseller
Bookbub‘s Best New Popular Fiction for March 2025
A Woman’s World Book Club Pick
One of Amazon’s Best Books of 2025 (Mysteries, Thrillers, & Suspense Series)
One of Amazon’s Best Books of the Month in March – “Mystery, Thriller & Suspense – New and Continuing Series”
A March 2025 LibraryReads Pick (Hall of Fame)
Earphones Award Winner
Praise
“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.”
—The New York Times
“Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave [is] packed with dark humor, quirky characters and unconventional crime-solving . . . full of unexpected twists, sharp humor and zany heroines.“
—PEOPLE Magazine
“Fans of Janet Evanovich and Deanna Raybourn will be charmed by Finlay’s unorthodox investigative methods amid familial chaos and unexpected adventures. With razor-sharp dialogue and a little romance, Cosimano’s
compulsively readable, heartwarming, and hilarious series title is a treat for all fans of the genre.”
—Booklist
“Bestseller Cosimano provides an entertaining fifth investigation for mystery writer and divorced mom Finlay Donovan . . . This is good fun.”
—Publishers Weekly
“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.”
—Katie Noah Gibson for 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—the next installment in her beloved Finlay Donovan series!”
—Woman’s World
“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… A great suggestion for fans of Janet Evanovich, Mary Kay Andrews, or Stephanie Bond.”
—Library Journal
“Prepare for all the chaos, mischief, banter and laughter as Finlay and Vero take readers on another wild ride . . . Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is a perfect blend of mystery, slapstick style comedy and romance . . . readers are guaranteed to love this addition to the series where the action and laughs never stop.”
—Mystery & Suspense Magazine
“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.”
—Jon Land for Book Trib
” . . . the Finlay Donovan books are so cosy, entertaining, gripping, and laugh-out-loud funny, and book five is definitely no exception.”
—The Nerd Daily
“Take it from Janet Evanovich: ‘Finlay Donovan is irresistible!’”
—Bookbub
“The Finlay Donovan series has captured the hearts of readers ever since the first book, and this fifth (and latest) release is equally as irresistible.”
—Criminal Element
“The pacing and humor continue throughout Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, making it nearly impossible to put down . . . drop dead hilarious.”
—BookTrib
“Angela Dawe brings Finlay Donovan’s comedic crime solving to life.”
—AudioFile Magazine, Earphones Award Winner
“Elle Cosimano is back with the fifth installment of the Finlay Donovan series, and this was one of the best yet! . . . a propulsive plot with a winning blend of comedy and intrigue.”
—Manhattan Book Review
“. . . an irresistible blend of Thelma and Louise-level female buddy shenanigans . . . We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: if you’re a Stephanie Plum fan, you should be checking this series out . . .”
—Vannessa Cronin, Amazon Editor
“Lots of fun. The series’ audiobooks continue to delight.”
—Review of Audio Edition by Library Journal
“With bestie Vero by her side, Finlay navigates her chaotic double life with sharp wit and serious mom-energy. If Desperate Housewives and Dexter had a baby—raised by caffeine and chaos—it’d be this series.”
—CrimeReads
Discussion Guide
Whether you’re meeting in person, on Zoom, or via your somewhat- shady online women’s forum, or in the police academy dorms—dust off those wigs, scarves, and sunglasses, grab a Panera pastry and a glass of wine, and enjoy your discussion of Finlay and Vero’s latest hijinks.
We love to see your Finlay Donovan-inspired photos! Please tag us on social media and use #FinlayDonovanJumpsTheGun and #HitMomBookClub.
- Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave features Mrs. Haggerty’s book club throughout the story.
What role does the book club play in building a community for its members? Have book clubs created
a sense of community in your own lives? - The novel begins with Delia being suspended from school for defending herself against a bully. How does
this mirror the way society and authority figures often dismiss aggression against women? Did the
principal’s response to the incident surprise you? How about that of Cooper’s mother? Or Mrs. Haggerty? - Both Finlay and Vero explore the theme of honesty in a relationship as they grow closer to Detective Nick
and Javi, respectively. Bearing in mind all of their past experiences, the knowledge of which could potentially
endanger their loved ones, what is your opinion about the amount of information they share—or don’t? - Finlay once again faces the many challenges of parenthood. But with Vero, Mrs. Haggerty, and Finlay’s mother
around, Finlay gets to see firsthand how different generations view the proper way to handle these situations.
How do these characters, in particular, take on different responsibilities when caring for Finlay’s children?
What do those choices reveal about their priorities when it comes to parenting? - Women supporting women plays such a large role in this novel. In what ways do the different characters—
namely Finlay, Vero, Mrs. Haggerty, and the book club members—demonstrate this through their actions? - Mrs. Haggerty makes a point that everyone in her book club has a role to play. What are some examples of
this in the story? Do your book club members take on different roles in real life? How do each of you contribute
to the club? - Finlay faces many twists and turns, but one of the most shocking moments for her is when she realizes her
perception of Mrs. Haggerty is very different from reality. Has someone in your life ever surprised you once
you got to know them? - One running storyline features Finlay’s agent chasing down a TV deal for Finlay’s novels. Do you agree with
Finlay’s hesitations about broadcasting her writing to a wider audience, given the connections between her
stories and real crimes she’s found herself mixed up in? What book-to-film or -TV adaptations have you watched
that were based in some truth? Did that affect how you felt about the content or its creator? - Once you learned of the true intentions behind Mrs. Haggerty’s book club, did your feelings change toward
her as a character? How about by the end of the book? In general, does the end ever justify the means? - At the end of the novel, Vero is extradited for old charges of thefts, though she claims she is innocent.
What do you predict will happen to her in the next book? How do you think this will affect the future of Finlay
and Vero’s relationship?
