Romantic suspense novelist and single mom Finlay Donovan comes under the gun--again--in a zany, fast-paced fifth adventure, Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave. Author Elle Cosimano (Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice) takes Finlay and her wacky cast of supporting characters--including her nanny and best friend, Vero; her cop boyfriend, Nick; and her ex-husband, Steven--on another wild ride involving dead bodies, dirty secrets, and interpersonal drama.
Despite her rocky relationship with her nosy neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, Finlay must play reluctant hostess when a dead body turns up in Mrs. Haggerty's garden. As she juggles her demanding house guest, potty training, and phone calls from her literary agent, Finlay gets even more nervous when the police start eyeing Steven as a murder suspect. Convinced he didn't do it, Finlay tries to prove Steven's innocence while keeping the cops, including Nick, away from her own secrets. Meanwhile, Mrs. Haggerty's neighborhood watch activities and book club may be a front for something more clandestine (and far less literary).
Fans of Finlay's previous adventures will find plenty to enjoy here, especially the (often literal) ride-or-die friendship between Finlay and Vero. When she has a moment between crises, Finlay reflects on the relationship between truth and justice, and the ethical implications of keeping information from Nick. The murder investigation wraps up satisfyingly, but a cliffhanger will leave readers eagerly anticipating another book. 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, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams