Scan barcode
oxfordcommas91's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The way I desperately wanted to like this book and yet dreaded reading it every time I picked it up.
The plot lines are going from “suspended disbelief” to absolute insanity and there are so many villains all coming after Finn and Vero by this point that it feels impossible to keep the players straight. I can generally follow a large cast of characters and complex plot points but this book threw me off. Every chapter I was rolling my eyes and also found “wait, who is that again? How is he involved?” To the point where it was almost stressful. I think it would have been better to read book three right before this book. Since I read it approximately a year ago, I’d forgotten some critical details and the author gives you absolutely no help in recalling earlier plot points.
This book picks up literally right where book three leaves off, which again gives you zero context if you’re trying to read this having had a reading break since the last book. Maybe it was my fault for not re-reading book three before starting this one, but I refuse to believe a prerequisite of enjoying a book should be remembering every small detail of the book before.
The plot holes are getting bigger, the hijinks weirder, and the characters more unbelievable. Everyone dies around these two and the cops have never once thought to investigate them? Ooookay.
The plot lines are going from “suspended disbelief” to absolute insanity and there are so many villains all coming after Finn and Vero by this point that it feels impossible to keep the players straight. I can generally follow a large cast of characters and complex plot points but this book threw me off. Every chapter I was rolling my eyes and also found “wait, who is that again? How is he involved?” To the point where it was almost stressful. I think it would have been better to read book three right before this book. Since I read it approximately a year ago, I’d forgotten some critical details and the author gives you absolutely no help in recalling earlier plot points.
This book picks up literally right where book three leaves off, which again gives you zero context if you’re trying to read this having had a reading break since the last book. Maybe it was my fault for not re-reading book three before starting this one, but I refuse to believe a prerequisite of enjoying a book should be remembering every small detail of the book before.
The plot holes are getting bigger, the hijinks weirder, and the characters more unbelievable. Everyone dies around these two and the cops have never once thought to investigate them? Ooookay.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood and Kidnapping
Minor: Alcohol and Stalking
kimveach's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is definitely the way to write a fourth book in a series where you need to remember what happened in the previous books. The author did a fantastic job of reminding you what had previously happened, which was vital since it picked up right from the last book's ending. It's possible that it could read on its own, but it definitely would be better to read the series.
As always, this series is best when listened to instead of read. The narrator does a great job of bringing out the humor, eye rolls, exasperation, and all the other emotions that make this series so much fun.
As always, this series is best when listened to instead of read. The narrator does a great job of bringing out the humor, eye rolls, exasperation, and all the other emotions that make this series so much fun.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Alcohol, Blood, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gaslighting, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, and Medical trauma
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
More...