My Reader’s Guide for Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave has Jen’s Quick Take on this book and the series, a new character list, and a link to a complete series recap if you have forgotten what happened in the prior four books. There are a lot of returning characters, so you need this post and this guide!
Jen’s Quick Take: Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave
Here’s the TLDR for fans of the series:
- I think that Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave did a good job of circling back to some loose ends from the prior books, brought some back old favorite characters, introduced a new character (and child care provider as Vero the nanny is too busy!) AND heating up the romance.
- There was a lot of mom humor (toilet training especially)
- Publication date: Maach 25, 2025. Check out all the new March 2025 Releases here!
If you’re new to the books or aren’t caught up?
- If you’re new: Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is book five in this comic amateur detective story
- The prior books are: Finlay Donovan is Killing It (2021), Finlay Donovan Knocks Em Dead (2022), Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, and Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (2024). There’s also a short story about Vero called Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank (2023).
- These books are perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich and have sparked a mini-trend of comic amateur detective stories. I wouldn’t really call them cozies, as they are missing some of the essential qualities of a cozy.
- I’ll be honest: my interest in the series flagged a bit after book three, as the first three books were sort of one long story with cliffhangers. Book four took the series to Atlantic City and in a bit of a new direction BUT away from the romance.
Readers Guide for Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave
New Characters in Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave
If you want my FREE printable character list with ALL the characters, grab it here!
- New characters
- Margaret “Maggie” Haggerty: neighbor of Finlay
- Stacy Pickens: PTA mom
- Gilford Dupree: murder victim in Mrs. Haggerty‘s garden who went missing five years ago.
- Penelope “Penny“ Dupree: Gilford‘s wife
- Brandon: Mrs. Haggerty’s grandson
- Detective Mike Tran: investigator for the Dupree murder
- Randall Wolfe: Hollywood producer interested in Finn’s books
- Mrs. Haggerty’s Book Club ladies: Lola de la Rosa (nurse practitioner), Sally Mullen, Viola Henry (HR at a tech company), Kathy Sanderson (cleaner), Gita Chaudhary (florist), Destiny Roth (Office of Vital Records), Elizabeth “Birdie” Chen (vet tech).
Need a recap of what happened in the prior four Finlay Donovan books?
If you have questions about the book, leave them below!