Series: Finlay Donovan #4
Narrator: Angela Dawe
Macmillan Audio
By: Elle Cosimano
ISBN: 978-1250846006
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: 03/05/2024
Format: e-book & audio
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC) (ALC)
MAR AUTHOR ELEVATOR SERIES
From New York Times bestseller Elle Cosimano comes Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice―the fiercely anticipated next installment in the beloved Finlay Donovan series.
"Finlay Donovan is irresistible!"
―Janet Evanovich
Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero are in sore need of a girls’ weekend away. They plan a trip to Atlantic City, but odds are―seeing as it’s actually a cover story to negotiate a deal with a dangerous loan shark, save Vero’s childhood crush Javi, and hunt down a stolen car―it won’t be all fun and games. When Finlay’s ex-husband Steven and her mother insist on tagging along too, Finlay and Vero suddenly have a few too many meddlesome passengers along for the ride.
Within hours of arriving in their seedy casino hotel, it becomes clear their rescue mission is going to be a bust. Javi’s kidnapper, Marco, refuses to negotiate, demanding payment in full in exchange for Javi’s life. But that’s not all―he insists on knowing the whereabouts of his missing nephew, Ike, who mysteriously disappeared. Unable to confess what really happened to Ike, Finlay and Vero are forced to come up with a new plan: sleuth out the location of Javi and the Aston Martin, then steal them both back.
But when they sneak into the loan shark’s suite to search for clues, they find more than they bargained for―Marco's already dead. They don’t have a clue who murdered him, only that they themselves have a very convincing motive. Then four members of the police department unexpectedly show up in town, also looking for Ike―and after Finlay's night with hot cop Nick at the police academy, he’s a little too eager to keep her close to his side.
If Finlay can juggle a jealous ex-husband, two precocious kids, her mother’s marital issues, a decomposing loan shark, and find Vero’s missing boyfriend, she might get out of Atlantic City in one piece. But will she fold under the pressure and come clean about the things she’s done, or be forced to double down?
About the Author
Photo credit: Holly Virginia Photography
Elle Cosimano is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, an International Thriller Award winner, a Bram Stoker Award finalist, and an Edgar® Award nominee. Her acclaimed young adult novels include Nearly Gone, Holding Smoke, The Suffering Tree, and Seasons of the Storm. 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 The Huffington Post and Time. Elle lives with her husband and two sons in Virginia.
You can learn more about Elle and her books here.
Connect with Elle
Q&A Elevator Ride with
New York Times bestselling author Elle Cosimano
"Behind the Book & the Author"
Exceptional Authors. Standout Books. Elevator Talk.
INTRIGUING QUESTIONS. INQUIRING READERS WANT TO KNOW
Welcome to the March 2024 #AuthorElevatorSeries —and joining us for the first time, a personal and fan favorite, special guest author, Elle Cosimano, with the fourth book in the popular Finlay Donovan series with FINLAY DONOVAN ROLLS THE DICE. Join us as Elle shares some fascinating behind-the-scenes exclusives from the book and fun moments from this award-winning author. Welcome, Elle
Behind the Book
Q. DESCRIBE your novel in three words or less.
ELLE: Non. Stop. Shenanigans.
Q. INSPIRATION: The spark that ignited the novel (or the Finlay Donovan series). Where were you when the idea came to you? We are dying to know!
ELLE: I was in a crowded Panera Bread with my critique partners. We were brainstorming the plot of a book when it became clear that the woman seated at the table beside us had been eavesdropping on our conversation and had probably assumed we were planning real murders instead of fictional ones.
Q. RESEARCH: Any fascinating research for the novel, or anything you learned along the way?
ELLE: My husband and I visited Atlantic City last year so the setting was fresh in my mind. We had dinner at my very favorite restaurant there, Chef Vola’s, which used to be a small dining room with low ceilings in the cellar of an old house before it eventually expanded upstairs. The food is amazing and the place has exceptional character; it inspired one of the scenes in the book.
Q. SERIES: Elle, please do tell! Will there be #5 in the Finlay Donovan Series?
ELLE: Yes! I’m hard at work on book #5, and we are under contract for two more after that.
Q. FAVORITE THING: What is your favorite thing about the novel or this series?
ELLE: It brings people joy!
Delighted to hear there will be more Finlay!
Now for more up close and personal from Elle. Keep reading below.
Behind The Author
THE FIRST BOOK YOU REMEMBER READING THAT MADE YOU WANT TO BECOME AN AUTHOR.
The Outsiders by SE Hinton
WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WISH READERS KNEW ABOUT YOU?
That they can find answers to 99% of their questions about me (and Finlay) on the FAQ page of my website.
YOUR SECRET TALENT?
Fishing.
FAVORITE TV SERIES?
Ted Lasso, Dead to Me, Good Girls, Suits, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Dexter, True Blood, Stranger Things, Buffy, Bones, The Punisher, Cobra Kai, GLOW, Shadow & Bone, to name a few . . .
WHICH DO YOU ENJOY WRITING MORE: DIALOGUE OR INTERNAL THOUGHTS?
Arguments.
DO YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE WRITING?
Never.
YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM?
Instagram.
HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN?
To date, 10 full length novels, two short stories, with three more novels under contract.
A FAVORITE INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE?
Bluebird & Co in Crozet, VA
THE LAST BOOK YOU RAVED ABOUT?
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise by Colleen Oakley, Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto, and First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston.
ONE BIT OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE AN INSPIRING AUTHOR?
You don’t need a lot of words; you only need the right ones.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED FOR?
Being a good mom.
WHAT JOB DID YOU HAVE BEFORE BECOMING AN AUTHOR?
I was a real estate agent.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON TODAY?
I’m currently drafting book #5 of the Finlay Donovan series.
IF YOU COULD CHOOSE SOMEONE TO NARRATE YOUR LIFE, WHO WOULD IT BE?
Angela Dawe.
IF YOU COULD WRITE ANOTHER GENRE IN ADDITION TO THE CURRENT ONE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Speculative fiction.
A CHARACTER FROM YOUR BOOK YOU ARE MOST LIKE OR WOULD LIKE TO HANG OUT WITH?
I’m most like Finlay, which is why I would most like to hang out with Vero (or Nick J).
THE CRAZIEST THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE FOR BOOK RESEARCH?
Attended a police academy training program for writers. (Yes, they do exist.)
YOUR BIGGEST CHEERLEADER?
My critique partners, my agent, and my mom.
IF YOU COULD HAVE A TV SERIES OR MOVIE ADAPTED BASED ON ONE OF YOUR BOOKS, WHICH ONE WOULD IT BE?
Finlay Donovan is Killing It
Thank you, Elle, for spending time with us today!
Praise
"Finlay Donovan is irresistible!"―Janet Evanovich
“Cosimano’s fourth Finlay Donovan novel is brilliantly plotted, bringing the witty humor and thrilling, nail-biting action the series is known for while also tackling emotional family dynamics. Cosimano knocks this one out of the park. Highly recommended for all fans of the series.”
―Booklist (starred review)
“Cosimano nails the tone―breezy but not too fluffy―and maintains a breakneck pace throughout. Readers who prefer their mysteries to lean madcap will eat this up.”
―Publishers Weekly
“Another rollicking round of high-speed felonies for mystery author Finlay Donovan and those unwary enough to get pulled into her orbit... perfect escapist fare.”
―Kirkus Reviews
“The Finlay Donovan series is simply spectacular and always delightful! I adore everything about it―the humor, the screwball plotlines, the mysteries, and above all the cast: the friendship between Vero and Finlay is one for the ages, and Finlay’s love life entertains me to no end. Elle Cosimano’s books are the perfect blend of mystery and romcom, and I’m ready to follow Finlay wherever she goes!”
―Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis
“Refreshing, funny and bright, these are wonderfully escapist novels.”
―Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“The story that unfolds is a hysterical runaway train of impossible situations careening off the tracks as the twists and turns keep coming page after page. Plan on reading straight through as there’s no more chance of you pausing reading than there is a prayer of stopping the train wreck happening on page.”
―Mystery & Suspense
My Review
Elle Cosimano returns following Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun with more Team Finlay #4 in the popular series— FINLAY DONOVAN ROLLS THE DICE —a wildly entertaining, action-packed, witty road trip caper with plenty of company. Always 5-stars!
Crashing the trip, Finlay's ex-husband (Captain Buzzkill), her mom, and two kids with partners in crime, Finlay (romantic suspense novelist & mother of two) and Vero (nanny) heading to Atlantic City, NJ —a wild caper with 72 hours to pay back what they owe.
It started as a disguised girl's weekend trip to negotiate a deal with a dangerous loan shark, save Vero’s childhood crush, Javi, and hunt down a stolen car.
Steven (jealous ex-husband) did not want her to take the kids out of state. Then the nosy mother inserted herself, so the girl's weekend trip was a bust. Can you imagine all these in one mini-van?
Steven had recently been the target of a contract killer called EasyClean. They do not know what kinds of shady business Steven was involved in, so they figured Delia and Zach would be safer with them. The lively banter with Vero, the kids, and those complex sleeping arrangements were hilarious.
Upon arrival, Javi’s kidnapper, Marco, refuses to negotiate, demanding payment in full in exchange for Javi’s life. He says he knows the whereabouts of his missing nephew, Ike, who mysteriously disappeared.
Javi had always been Vero's savior, so she must save him! Now, they must come up with a new plan. They must find Javi and the Aston Martin (gifted by the Russian mob), then steal them back.
However, things get more complicated. In the loan shark's suite, they find Marco dead. Now, they have to figure out what to do with the two dead bodies. Then, four members of the police department unexpectedly show up in town, looking for Ike. Georgia, her sister, and her girlfriend arrive, and more due to a hot tip—lots of danger and action.
Hot cop Nick (Finlay's latest squeeze) Detective Nicholas Anthony of the Fairfax County Police Department wants to protect Finlay and her family (especially Finlay). Of course, he is the inspiration for her hot and steamy novels. Is Finlay the connection? How will Finlay and Vero fare?
Quirky, hilarious, non-stop action and laughs with these two partners in crime and their cast of supporting characters! Atlantic City has never been so much fun—a perfect setting.
We also get cameo character appearances from previous books: Georgia, Finlay's sister, her FBI girlfriend, Sam; Cameron, the teen hacker; Joey and Charlie, Nick’s current and former partners; Russian mobster Feliks Zhirov and his right-hand woman Rybakov.
Clever, witty, and, as always, sassy, funny, sexy, and full of madness, mayhem, and entertainment! Dazzling —I love this series! If you love humor, rom-coms, mysteries, and resourceful women sleuths, this one is for you! We can hope there will be more books in this series.
I have read them all and anxiously await the next. I am a huge fan of Janet Evanovich and her zany books and series. If you enjoy Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books or her others, you will devour the Finally Donovan series. I would recommend you start with the first and read them all. You do not want to MISS a thing.
Elle Cosimano keeps you in stitches laughing with her snarky banter! Vero is my favorite character (think Lula | Stephanie Plum series). If you want more Vero, read the novella Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank. I adore this series. Team Finlay and Veronica all the way. Keep them coming! Buckle up and get ready for a wild ride.
INTERVIEW: Stay tuned for my upcoming #AuthorElelvatorSeries Q&A with Elle as we go behind the book and this mega-talented author, coming March 5th!
I had the privilege of reading the e-book and listening to the audio. I have all of Finlay Donovan's audiobooks for the complete series.
AUDIOBOOK 🔉 🎧 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! Angela is fabulous, and I love her voice and the laugh-out-loud fun banter. Her performance makes all the characters come ALIVE. I highly recommend the audiobook! Listened in one sitting.
Thanks to Minotaur Books, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan, and NetGalley for the opportunity to READ, LISTEN, and REVIEW.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: March 5, 2024
#jdcmustreadbooks #FinlayDonovan #finlaydonovanrollsthedice #mar2024books #coverreveal #ellecosimano #minotaurinfluencers #minotaurbooks
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