Full Series Summary of the Finlay Donovan books

The Finlay Donovan is Killing it series by Elle Cosimano is filled with cliffhangers. Need a refresher? Here’s my Full Series Summary of the Finlay Donovan books, which includes full plot summaries for books 1-5 (one to five). I also link to my FREE Printable Version of Jen’s Character Guide to the Finlay Donovan Series, which includes a character list for all five books!

Series summary review header for Finlay Donovan books one to five. Features all five covers in a collage

What’s in this Full Series Summary of the Finlay Donovan books by Elle Cosimano:

List of books in the Finlay Donovan series
Full plot summary of each Finlay Donovan book
Ending of each Finlay Donovan book

Book five: Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave (2025) Review coming soon!

Full Plot Summary of Finlay Donovan is Killing It

Original photo of a copy of Finlay Donovan is Killing It (which shows a graphic of a woman in round blue glasses pulling her turtleneck above her chin) on a fuzzy pink blanket with a lipstick and sunglasses

My Review of Finlay Donovan is Killing It Is Here!

Finlay Donovan is a struggling DC-area writer of romantic suspense novels. Since her ex-husband, Steven, has just fired the nanny, she’s forced to take her two young children to a meeting with her agent, Sylvia.

At a local Panera, Finn and Sylvia discuss the details of her new book. Patricia Mickler, the eavesdropping woman at the next table, decides Finn must be a contract killer. She slips Finn a note requesting that Finn kill her husband, Harris.

Finn needs the money and Harris seems to be a bad guy, so Finn puts on a disguise and goes to a bar to do research. She uses the name Theresa, the woman Steven cheated with, as her alias.

As Finn sees Harris try to roofie a woman, she switches their glasses. Harris drinks his and passes out. Finn puts him in her car and hides the car in her garage (with the engine running and the door ajar). Her plan is to call her sister Georgia, a police officer, and report Harris. But someone closes the garage door and Harris dies.

Finn’s newly fired nanny, Vero, shows up to pick up her things. Vero offers to help Finn dispose of Harris’s body for a cut of the fee. The two bury Harris’s body on Steven’s sod farm and collect their assassin money.

Patricia then refers them to a friend of hers, Irina, who offers them $75,000 to kill her husband, Andrei Borokov.

Finn is still confused as to how Harris ended up dead. Patricia disappears and Finn learns that Harris also blackmailed the women he drugged.

Finn discovers that Andrei Borokov is a member of the Russian mafia. She tries to cancel Irina’s job, but is told they have to do it.

The police are investigating Theresa is a suspect in Harris’s murder (because Finn used Theresa’s name at the bar). Nick, an attractive detective, asks Finn for help with the case. She discovers that Feliks is a real estate client of Theresa’s and they were romantically involved. Also, Harris was helping the Russian mob launder money.

Finn finds Harris’s murderer (Patricia’s angry lover). Finn and Vero search Steven’s sod farm for bodies and are ambushed by Andrei, who accidentally shoots himself. Finn and Vero flee and all the bodies get blamed on Feliks and Theresa, who turns on Feliks.

What is the Ending of Finlay Donovan is Killing It: Ending Explained

CLIFFHANGER: Irina pays Finn for killing Andrei and gives her a note from Patricia, who found a job posting on an online forum offering $100,000 to kill Finn’s husband Steven

Full Plot Summary of Finlay Donovan Knocks Em Dead

Original photo of a copy of Finlay Donovan Knocks Em Dead on a bookshelf with a pair of sunglasses

My Review of Finlay Donovan Knocks Em Dead is here!

Finlay Donovan is once again struggling to finish a manuscript. But her ex-husband Steven’s life is in danger from a contract killer, Finn decides to find out who wants Steven dead.

Finn and Vero research the contract killer internet forum.

A user named FedUp put out a hit on Steven, while another user called EasyClean seems to be the person doing the hit jobs.

When someone mugs Steven, Finn thinks it was an attempt on his life. Finn wants to tell Georgia, but Vero says that explaining the backstory will lead the police to Patricia, then to them.

Finn answers FedUp’s post, trying to take the job herself, then asks Cam, a computer geek, to research Fedup’s email address.

Finn and Vero break into Steven’s office at the farm, hoping to find any possible enemies. They learn that Steven had a storage unit in another state. Right after they leave, someone firebombs the office.

Vero’s cousin Ramón helps them break into the storage unit, where they find a dead body in a freezer. Theresa, the one who actually rented the storage unit, tells them the body is Carl Westover, one of Steven’s partners in the sod farm. When Carl objected that Feliks was using the farm for body disposal, Feliks ordered Andrei to kill Carl.

Finn learns that Cam is a police informant who told the police about the online forum. Also, Vero has been lying about her last name.

Finlay tracks down Irina Borovkov, who says the person in charge of the online forum is …Feliks.

Cam insists that EasyClean is a cop. Irina helps Finn visit Feliks in prison by disguising her as Ekatarina Rybakov, Feliks’s lawyer. Vero thinks Theresa’s best friend Aimee must be FedUp. After Finn’s warning, Feliks takes the forum down.

Steven thinks Finn is staging attempts on his life to get custody. When he threatens to go to the police, Vero whacks him unconscious and she and Finn stage a fake photo to make FedUp think they’ve completed her hit job.

Vero and Finn find an invitation on Steven’s phone to a “meeting” at Carl’s. Finn’s van breaks down so she borrows an Aston Martin to get there, saying it’s for Irina. Carl’s remains get buried on the farm, except his torso, which Finn buries on Steven’s farm as an insurance policy.

Someone opens fire on Carl’s house. Nick is there also, looking for Theresa, and is shot.

Finn persuades Ramón to fix the Aston Martin. Vero confesses that she used all their hit money to pay back a loan shark. Finn learns that Feliks bought the Aston Martin and registered it to a company named after Finlay.

What is the ending of Finlay Donovan Knocks Em Dead: Ending Explained

Finn’s mother Susan was FedUp. Susan just thought she was just complaining online about her son-in-law.

CLIFFHANGER: EasyClean is now blackmailing Feliks, so Feliks hires Finlay to locate and kill EasyClean.

Full Plot Summary of Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun

Original photo of Finlay Donovan Jumps the bun on a shelf of green books

My review of Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is here!

Finlay and Vero discuss the fact that Vero’s sorority sisters accused her of “borrowing” funds from the group back in college. She borrowed money from a loan shark to pay them back, then lost that money gambling.

Feliks, who is in prison and about to stand trial, orders them to kill EasyClean. Cam the hacker delivers Finn a message: she has two weeks.

Vero gets a threatening note about her $200,000 gambling debt to Marco, the loan shark. She and Finn decide to let Ramón and Javi sell the Aston Martin to raise money.

Marco then sends a minion named Ike to threaten Vero. Ike tries to take the Aston Martin but a car falls on him, crushing him to death.

Kat (Feliks’s lawyer) arrives, offering money to pay off Vero’s debt and get rid of Ike’s body if they can find EasyClean. Cam reiterates to Finn what he said in the last book: EasyClean is a cop.

Vero and Finn go to a cop bar where they see Georgia, Joey, Nick , plus some new characters: firearms expert Wade, high tech investigator Samara, and police psychologist Stu. The group invites Finn and Vero to a citizens police academy.

There Finn sees Joey, Nick’s current work partner, arguing with Charlie, Nicks’ former partner.

Vero and Finn try to get the ballistics expert at the academy to analyze the bullet that EasyClean fired into the Aston Martin.

Finn learns that Joey and Nick want to exhume Carl’s body, which is a problem. Finn and Vero borrow a police car and switch the grave markers so the police confirm the official story: Carl was cremated.

On the way back to the academy, they see a strange car at Ramón’s garage and someone in an Audi taking pictures of Javi, who is talking to potential buyers for the Aston Martin.

Feliks escapes from prison and arrives at the academy, demanding that Finn tell him if Joey is EasyClean. She says possibly and he orders her to shoot Joey. Finn does, but after Cam hints to her that Joey is wearing a bulletproof vest.

Feliks reveals that Joey is Cam’s uncle and is working for Internal Affairs to solve the murder of his brother, Cam’s dad.

Vero finds a duffel bag of money, which she thinks was dropped off by Javi. Finn and Vero email EasyClean, offering to let him pick it up.

What is the Ending of Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun: Ending Explained

Finn realizes who EasyClean is: Stu, the police psychologist. Someone sets off a fire simulator to distract the campus. Feliks is headed to Brazil. Stu is missing.

Charlie, who works for Feliks, tells Finn the money was to pay her for killing EasyClean, but since she didn’t do that, she has to return it.

CLIFFHANGER: They rush to the garage and check the security footage: the man in the Audi has kidnapped Javi and stolen the Aston Martin.

Full Plot Summary for Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice

Original photo of a copy of Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (which shows a woman driving a red convertible on a bright yellow background) on a shelf next to a stack of dice and a stack of poker chips.

Download the printable 2 page guide here!

Finn and Vero found a ransom note on Javi’s van: they have 72 hours to pay back Vero’s loan shark debt.
Steven insists on accompanying them, with the kids, to Atlantic City.
In Atlantic City, Vero makes contact with Ricky, Marco’s minion and they discuss Vero’s debt.
Finlay notices that Marco has a ledger like Steven.
Marco wants $200,000 to let Javi go, and to know where Ike is. (Unfortunately, he was crushed to death in book three.)
Vero and Finn find Marco’s hotel and find both Marco and his associate dead. They put the do not disturb sign on and flee.
Georgia, Nick, and Samara show up with an FBI agent, Garrett Stokes. Nick is investigating Ike’s disappearance.
Nick also thinks Feliks is coming back to New Jersey and is investigating the connection between Feliks and Ike/Marco. Charlie, Feliks’s fixer and Nick’s former partner, also pops up.
Finn gets an urgent message from Cam. She meets him and he tells her he left Feliks’s crypto key in the Aston Martin and needs it back.
Finn gets a call from Ekaterina, who is looking for Cam.
Vero and Finn go in search of a loan shark and meet one called Enzo Russo, and trick him into giving them the location of his chop shop, where they find Javi. They rescue him and drive off in the Aston Martin. But Cam’s thumb drive isn’t in the car and they decide Louis must have taken it.
Cam is missing from Louis’s suite and they think that Marco’s dog, Kevin Bacon, ate the thumb drive.
Finn finds Marco’s ledger and stacks of cash in Charlie’s suitcase. She thinks Charlie killed Louis and Marco and stole the ledger. Nick says Feliks has arrived in Atlantic City. Kevin Bacon poops out the thumb drive.

What’s the Ending of Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice: Ending Explained

Vero makes a fake flash drive. Finn texts Kat saying she has the drive and texts Giada that she has the dog. Charlie has Ricky and Cam tied up at Ricky’s house.
Feliks arrives and asks for the flash drive. Charlie shoots his bodyguard and then Feliks. He then threatens to frame Finn for everything. Giada arrives and shoots Charlie. A SWAT team arrives.
Finn tells Cam the thumb drive is missing but gives to Kat in exchange for making sure no evidence exists against her, Vero, or Cam.
CLIFFHANGER: Someone discovers a body in Finn’s neighbor Mrs. Haggerty’s backyard

Full Plot Summary for Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave

Original photo of the cover of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave on a shelf. The book cover shows a woman holding a shovel

I highly recommend you download my character guide, as this book has a LOT of returning characters!

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The Typical Finn Chaos is set up!

Finn and Vero discuss the recent release of Mrs. Haggerty from custody for the mysterious murder of Gilford Dupree, whose body was found in Mrs. Haggerty’s backyard.
Finn and Vero still wonder how much Mrs. Haggerty heard that night Harris Mickler was murdered in Finn‘s garage.
Mrs. Haggerty show shows up at Finn’s and says she needs to stay there, as her power and water are out.
Cam also shows up with his dog Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Sylvia calls Finn and says that a Hollywood executive wants to turn her books into movies.

The plot thickens

Finn and Vero take Mrs. Haggerty to her book club meeting.
Riley and Max, the podcasters from book three, show up at Mrs. Haggerty’s house. Finn gets annoyed and tells them to leave. They say they have important information that she needs to know.
Finn asks Stephen if he can help get Mrs. Haggerty‘s electrical back on.
They go over to her house. Then notices renewals for a life insurance policy for Mrs. Haggerty’s and husband, who has been dead for five years.

Stephen is in trouble, as usual:

Two police officers arrived to talk to Stephen. They want to know that given his landscaping business, whether he buried Guilford Dupree.
Finn asks Stephen if he slept with Dupree‘s wife, and he says no, but he delivered mulch to her
Finn can’t decide if Stephen is lying and he did have a thing with Penny Dupree.
Nick tells Finn he knows she’s keeping secrets from him.

But Finn is on the case!

Finn says she will figure out who killed Dupree.
Against Nick’s objections, Finn drives to Penny’s house.
Penny says she and Stephen slept together and that she didn’t tell anyone, but a couple of podcasters found out about the affair.
Finn wonders if Penny is lying. Maybe she killed her husband and is framing Stephen.
Finn and Vero decide to trade an anonymous tip with the podcasters to find out who told them about Penny and Stephen’s affair. Vero suggests information on Ike Grindley‘s case.
Max admits the caller was anonymous and female, but he thinks it was Penny.
Vero lures Penny to a meeting so Finley can search the house but nothing really comes of it.

Finn finally has to decide if she can trust Nick

Nick shows Finn the case file for the Dupree murder: Penny has an alibi.
Finn gets stuck on Mrs. Haggerty’s grandson’s balcony and Javi has to come rescue her.
Brendan‘s apartment seems completely deserted, but finds a bunch of old articles about Gilford Dupree.
Finn wonders if Brendan could’ve been Dupree’s killer.

Sylvia pops up again!

Finn meets with her literary agent, Sylvia, and Randall Wolfe, a Hollywood producer.
Julian Baker, Finn’s former hook up from book one, happens to be at the same restaurant.
Finn tells Vero about the book deal. She is concerned that they want Nick as a consultant because she’s kept a lot of information from him about the fact that her books are based on her real (and often illegal) madcap adventures.
Finn asks Cam to help her find Brendan Haggerty.
Cam says that Brendan cleaned out his bank account and flew to Florida.

Finn has to rescue Stephen again

Joey calls to say that Stephen is being charged with assaulting a police officer.
When Finn goes to the police station, Detective Tran asks her about a plot from one of her books in which a woman’s lover kills a man and she helps him bury the body.
Nick shows up and tells Finn that the two of them are going to solve the Dupree murder.

Nick and Finn on the case!

Nick and Finn search the Haggerty house.
Finn finds Mrs. Haggerty‘s neighborhood journals but the one from five years ago was missing.
In addition, Finn notices that Penny and Mrs. Dupree owned the same book of Miss Marple stories.
Finn (and I) are very suspicious about Mrs. Haggerty’s “book club.” Finn asked Cam to research all the members.
Finn realizes that Patricia Mickler knows one of the book club members.

Finn and Vero back in action!

Finn and Vero go talk to Patricia Mickler. Patricia makes a run for it and refuses to talk.
But sure enough, Mrs. Haggerty knows about the online forum from book one where women find contract killers to get rid of their husbands.
Vero and Finn interrupt the book club ladies in the middle of planning a murder.
But Vero gets locked in their truck (a refrigerated one which is presumably transporting their latest victim.)
Finn finds Vero by tracking her phone, but Finn and Vero get kidnapped by the book club ladies.
They make a deal: Vero and Finn will keep their mouth shut about the book club and Mrs. Haggerty (who saw a lot of Vero and Finn’s hijinks) will keep her mouth shut about what they did.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave: The Ending Explained

Nick arrives. Penny comes out of hiding, offering to confess for the murder of her abusive husband. Mrs. Haggerty says she helped and will confess too.
Penny and Mrs. Haggerty turn themselves in. But Finn suspects that Mrs. Haggerty also killed her own husband.

Will Nick and Finn ever trust each other?

Finn tells Nick the story of Harris Mickler‘s accidental death in book one and how she buried him on the sod farm. She also tells him about Ike Grindley’s accidental death.
Finn helps get Mrs. Haggerty out on bail. Mrs. H denies killing her husband.

Epilogue

Mrs. Haggerty sells her neighborhood watch diaries to Finn’s agent Sylvia.
CLIFFHANGER: Vero gets extradited to Maryland for stealing the sorority money.

Download my FREE character list for books 1- 5 here!