Quick Synopsis

Finlay & Veronica’s head to Atlantic City under the guise of a girls’ trip to rescue a friend and deal with some loose ends; however, the trip gets a bit crowded and their plans endangered when Finlay’s mom, ex-husband, and kids tag along.

Publisher’s Synopsis

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?

Book Review

Finlay and Veronica are back up to their shenanigans again in the fourth installment of the Finlay Donovan series. And by shenanigans… I mean life or death situations filled with humor.

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice is a difficult book to review without giving any spoilers, particularly of the series’ prior books. The story starts up exactly where the Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun ended. Finlay, and by extension Veronica (aka Vero, her nanny) are in a bind. The mob and some other shady characters are after them; plus, Vero’s longtime love has been kidnapped in the process. Determined to resolve things with all parties involved, Finlay and Vero head to Atlantic City under the guise a girls’ weekend… one that ends up including Finlay’s ex-husband, two kids, and her mother.

If you are looking for a serious novel, Finlay Donovan is not the series for you. While the events of each book may not exactly be believable or plausible in the timeframes given, the story is one of fun and hijinks sure to delight. After all, the protagonist is a romantic suspense novelist and mom just trying to juggle life as it is thrown at her along with her side kick who happens to also be her nanny and accountant. This mystery series is over-the-top and better because of it. If you love Lucy & Ethel, you will also love his duo.

What you will find in the pages of Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice is a fast-paced, entertaining story with plenty of twists and turns (and a few bodies along the way). The dialogue is punchy and at-times witty. Despite the tension-filled plot, the stakes never feel overwhelming or particularly nerve-wracking, which makes it the perfect palate cleansing read. Plus, I love reading stories where women always come out on top!

Whereas I had found the third book the weakest of the series so far, I thought Cosimano redeemed herself a bit in this novel. That being said, I still want more from Finlay’s personal life and would like to see the characters further developed. Her relationship with Nick still feels like it is there just to be there and not something real. (I mean when does she have time for the man?!)

I was happy to find that the end of this installment seems to wrap up the complicated storylines established in the first three books. It feels like a good place to start a fifth novel with something a bit different so that the series does not become repetitive. I am interested in seeing what Elle Cosimano will write next for this dynamic duo.

Overall, Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice is hilarious, heartwarming story of two friends supporting each other and hopefully getting off scot-free. This is a series best read in order. Between books #3 and #4, I would recommend the short story Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank.

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