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Writer's pictureJudith D Collins

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun

Series: The Finlay Donovan (#3)

Narrator: Angela Dawe

Macmillan Audio

ISBN: 978-1250846037

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Publication Date: 01/31/2023

Format: Hardcover, e-book, audio

My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC) 🎧



From USA Today bestseller and Edgar Award nominee Elle Cosimano, comes Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun―the hilarious and heart-pounding next installment in the beloved Finlay Donovan series.


Author and single mom Finlay Donovan has been in messes before―after all, she's a pro at removing bloodstains for various unexpected reasons―but none quite like this. When Finlay and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero accidentally destroyed a luxury car that they had "borrowed" in the process of saving the life of Finlay's ex-husband, the Russian mob did her a favor and bought the car for her. And now Finlay owes them.


Mob boss Feliks is still running the show from behind bars, and he has a task for Finlay: find and identify a contract killer before the cops do. The problem is, the killer might be an officer themself.


Luckily, hot cop Nick has just been tasked with starting up a citizen's police academy, and combined pressure from Finlay's looming book deadline and Feliks is enough to convince Finlay and Vero to get involved. Through firearm training and forensic classes (and some hands-on research with a tempting detective), Finlay and Vero use their time in police academy to sleuth out the real contract killer to free themselves from the mob's clutches―all the while dodging spies, confronting Vero's past, and juggling the daily trials of parenthood.






My Review


BUCKLE UP, Buttercup . . . Get ready for a WILD ride!


Ellie Cosimano returns with her popular series (Finlay Donovan #3) FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN —the gang is back for another highly entertaining laugh-out-loud crime series!


Two of my favorite amateur sleuths return, Finlay and Vero. Romance, action, mishaps, mayhem, and lots of LAUGHS!


Finlay Donovan is a writer and is under a lot of pressure and stress with her deadlines. Her nanny, Vero—partner in crime sidekick— is wickedly funny, sarcastic, and always in trouble.


Finlay is having issues making her romantic suspense novels sizzle while being a frazzled divorced mother of two children while skirting the law.


If you have read the other books in the series, you know about Feliks Zhirov, the Russian mobster, and the pressure to identify EasyClean, the online contract killer.


Feliks is privy to their dark buried secrets and is holding the information over their head to blackmail (threatening) them into helping him identify Mr. EasyClean, a contract killer who may or may not be a dirty cop.


Vero has borrowed $200K from a loan shark to pay off her creditors and needs to sell the Aston Martin (Vero/Finn).


Rumor has it, EasyClean is a member of the Fairfax County Police Department.


Finn and Vero accept an invitation to the citizens' police academy, hoping to get a closer look at the most likely suspects. So cool!


👮‍♂️ 🚓Of course, hottie Detective Nicholas Anthony is the academy's coordinator. Finn tries to avoid him because she tends to be on the wrong side of the law with her shenanigans. (think Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum and Joe Morelli).


Will Finn and Vero survive boot camp? The identity of EasyClean?


As always, sassy, funny, witty, sexy, and full of madness and entertainment! Cosimano is clever and witty, and I love her banter among the highly relatable characters.


The characters are a riot. Just like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, you have this great cast of characters, and as always, I always get the audiobook of both Janet and Elle's books. Between the literary agent, Sylvia and Vero, you will laugh out loud.


🔉 🎧As always, I love the audiobook, and the narrator, Angela Dawe, is fantastic! She makes the book. Like Stephanie Plum, Lorelei King, the narrator as Angela Dawe is to Finlay series. Both fantastic!


Between the murder, madness, mystery, the hot guys, the funny literary agent, and the entire cast—Keep them coming.


Nick, the hot cop love interest

Javi, Vero’s friend

Georgia, Finlay’s sister, and a police officer

Joey, Nick’s current partner, is he a good buy or a bad guy?

Charlie, a retired cop and Nick’s former partner

Steven, Finlay’s ex-husband

Julian, a young lawyer love interest

Mrs. Haggerty (the community busybody)

Sylvia, the pushy literary agent


I am in this for the long haul, so if Evanovich can pull out 29++ and spin-off, I am ready for more Finlay!


Highly creative and fresh, I highly recommend this series. Have read the previous two, and this one is just as spectacular! If you enjoy well-written comedies and zany resourceful women sleuths, this one is for you!


Can't wait for BOOK FOUR!


🎁🧧Thanks a million for the two gifts: #MacmillanAudio for ALC and #StMartins Press #Minotaur Books #Netgalley for an ARC.


@JudithDCollins.com | #JDCMustReadBooks

Pub Date: Jan 31, 2022

My Rating: 5 🌟Stars






Praise


A LibraryReads Selection for January 2023

NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour: Recommended Reading

Crimereads: Most Anticipated Crime Fiction of 2023

She Reads - Most Anticipated Mysteries + Thrillers of 2023

Bookbub - 21 of the Most Anticipated Mysteries This Winter



"Fasten your seat belts . . . murder most madcap."

―Kirkus Reviews


"Finlay's strong narrative voice carries the reader . . . This is good, fast fun."

―Publishers Weekly


"Readers who love fast-paced, action-packed mysteries should pick this up."

―Library Journal


"Fresh, heartfelt and witty, Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is a twisty, page-turner, and its relatable heroine Finlay Donovan is irresistible!"

―Janet Evanovich


“This series is magical! The premise is absolutely brilliant, the writing is tight, sharp, hilarious, and heartfelt. I’m in awe of Elle Cosimano. Every book lover in the world should be reading Finlay Donovan.”

―Christina Lauren, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Something Wilder


"Finlay Donovan remains the heroine of my heart. Murder and hot men while rocking a messy mom bun, yes please! Elle Cosimano writes fresh, funny mysteries that are an absolute blast to read."

―Chandler Baker, New York Times bestselling author of Whisper Network


"It would be next to impossible to find another author who writes stories that are as thrilling as they are hilarious. By now, I love Finlay Donovan so much I would 100% hide a dead body for her." ―Jesse Q. Sutanto, author of Dial A For Aunties







“Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is an edge-of-your-seat, fun, fast-paced, laugh-out-loud, sexy and smart novel. It can't be pinned down to one genre because it spans so many, pulling readers all the way in for an absolutely awesome adventure. Elle Cosimano is a word wizard and this series gets better with every book.”

―Sophie Sullivan, author of Ten Rules For Faking It


“Finlay Donovan is back! In Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, Finlay and her sidekick, Vero, are trying to squirm their way out of the mob’s grasp while simultaneously trying not be indicted for (several) murders. As always, Elle Cosimano puts the two women into impossible situations that create the best kind of escapist fiction. Cosimano’s newest Finlay book is laugh out loud funny . . . a story of second chances, family and loyalty. Fact: If you’re going to bury a body, you definitely want Finlay Donovan by your side.”

―Julie Clark, New York Times bestselling author of The Lies You Tell


“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, award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of Things We Do in the Dark and Little Secrets


"Sassy, ludicrous, sexy . . . Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is another great addition to this marvelous series. If you're a fan of crazy off-the-wall antics and hysterical comedy, sexy tension laden chemistry, and an outstanding who's-the-bad-guy mystery, [this] is for you! Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys highly entertaining mysteries."

―Mystery and Suspense magazine












About the Author


ELLE COSIMANO is a USA Today bestselling author, an International Thriller Award winner, and an Edgar Award nominee. Elle’s debut novel for adults, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, kicked off a witty, fast-paced contemporary mystery series, which was a People magazine pick and was named one of New York Public Library's Best Books of 2021. In addition to writing novels for teens and adults, her essays have appeared in HuffPost and Time. Cosimano lives with her husband and two sons in Virginia. WEBSITE




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