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lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I had to continue in this series after I enjoyed the previous Finlay Donovan books so much.
"Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice" is the next installment in the Finlay Donovan series. Finlay and her best friend/nanny, Vero, find themselves on a road trip to Atlantic City to hopefully rescue Javi, Vero's childhood crush. To their dismay, they also have Finlay's two children, ex-husband, and mother along for the ride. Can Finlay continue to keep her second life a secret and rescue Javi?
This series is just a really fun mystery read. Finlay is a comical main character who brings so much life to the page. For being a struggling single mom, she has really grown into her own badass detective who is equal parts cunning and strong. Finlay does not need anyone, and I love seeing her character grow to realize that her ex-husband has been holding her back all these years.
As this series progresses, I do think it pushes the reality of whether this could really be happening. The situations Finlay and Vero keep finding themselves in are outlandish, but entertaining. I think to really enjoy these books, you have to suspend reality and just enjoy what is happening. Could a single mom feasibly find her way into a situation in which she continually has to murder bad guys AND make it home in time to feed her kids dinner? Maybe.
I did enjoy getting more of Vero's backstory in this installment and I LOVED seeing Finlay put her cheating ex-husband in his place time and time again. He is not even a good father, and I really want him to get written out of the series somehow.
I will definitely be continuing with this series if Finlay decides to go on more adventures.
"Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice" is the next installment in the Finlay Donovan series. Finlay and her best friend/nanny, Vero, find themselves on a road trip to Atlantic City to hopefully rescue Javi, Vero's childhood crush. To their dismay, they also have Finlay's two children, ex-husband, and mother along for the ride. Can Finlay continue to keep her second life a secret and rescue Javi?
This series is just a really fun mystery read. Finlay is a comical main character who brings so much life to the page. For being a struggling single mom, she has really grown into her own badass detective who is equal parts cunning and strong. Finlay does not need anyone, and I love seeing her character grow to realize that her ex-husband has been holding her back all these years.
As this series progresses, I do think it pushes the reality of whether this could really be happening. The situations Finlay and Vero keep finding themselves in are outlandish, but entertaining. I think to really enjoy these books, you have to suspend reality and just enjoy what is happening. Could a single mom feasibly find her way into a situation in which she continually has to murder bad guys AND make it home in time to feed her kids dinner? Maybe.
I did enjoy getting more of Vero's backstory in this installment and I LOVED seeing Finlay put her cheating ex-husband in his place time and time again. He is not even a good father, and I really want him to get written out of the series somehow.
I will definitely be continuing with this series if Finlay decides to go on more adventures.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Stalking, Torture, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Toxic relationship
lindsayerin's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Medical content
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Finlay Donovan is off on another adventure this time in Atlantic City.
The book was fun as usual, but it took a bit longer to get going and get me engaged than the other books.
Overall, I didn't enjoy it as much as the other books. Because the side characters weren't as involved, and it wasn't as funny as the previous book. I did enjoy the ending though!
Narrator Rating: 5.0 stars
The narrator did a fantastic job as usual!
Elemental Levels: Fluff-2.5/5 Heartfelt-1.5/5 Love aka Romance-2/5 Mystery-1.5/5
Predictability-3/5 Spice-1/5 Humor-3/5/5
The book was fun as usual, but it took a bit longer to get going and get me engaged than the other books.
Overall, I didn't enjoy it as much as the other books. Because the side characters weren't as involved, and it wasn't as funny as the previous book. I did enjoy the ending though!
Narrator Rating: 5.0 stars
The narrator did a fantastic job as usual!
Elemental Levels: Fluff-2.5/5 Heartfelt-1.5/5 Love aka Romance-2/5 Mystery-1.5/5
Predictability-3/5 Spice-1/5 Humor-3/5/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Gun violence, Violence, and Death
Minor: Kidnapping, Infidelity, Excrement, Sexual content, and Cursing
booklvrkat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“We can't go in there, Vero! Do you know what happens to women who go into creepy basements? Murder! Murder happens to women who go into creepy basements.”
Finlay & Vero are back at it, and they decide a girls’ weekend in Atlantic City is just what they need. Finlay’s mom, both kids, and Finlay’s ex end up coming with them and odds are not in their favor when arrive. Understandably the women are upset because this trip was all a ruse to find and negotiate with the local loan shark, find Javi (Vero’s childhood friend), and maybe possibly get out of a whole lot of trouble with the mob wife that originally hired them back in a previous book.
Finlay & Vero are back at it, and they decide a girls’ weekend in Atlantic City is just what they need. Finlay’s mom, both kids, and Finlay’s ex end up coming with them and odds are not in their favor when arrive. Understandably the women are upset because this trip was all a ruse to find and negotiate with the local loan shark, find Javi (Vero’s childhood friend), and maybe possibly get out of a whole lot of trouble with the mob wife that originally hired them back in a previous book.
This story is straight up hilarity. Without all the extra people that tagged along I don’t think this story would have been quite as funny. Steven (the aforementioned ex-husband) tries his best to take on the duties, shared with grandma, of watching over the kids while Finlay & Vero have their “spa” weekend, but it definitely does not go according to plan. I love that hot-cop Nick shows up just in time, Finlay’s publisher-slash-agent is pushing for the newest book outline, and Finlay’s sister is in the mix. Add in a hungry hacker, an even hungrier dog and they find themselves in some steam. As with the previous stories, this one took me for a ride, I was cackling out loud, and wishing I didn’t read it as fast as I did.
Content Warnings
Minor: Kidnapping
vj_thompson's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This book felt like a good Finlay Donovan story again. I didn’t know how the story was going to wrap up, and it was crazy. I’m already ready for the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Kidnapping
purplepenning's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Gun violence
Moderate: Gaslighting, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Blood, Police brutality, and Violence
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
ktdakotareads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Violence
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