Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave

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.