Finlay Donovan's life is not going how she wants. Recently divorced, and trying to handle her kids and her career as a writer, she is worried what her future should look like. At a meeting with her agent, they discuss one of her suspense novels, not knowing they are being listened to. Leaving the meeting she finds a note, offering her money in exchange for killing someone. While she is not a hitman, she is curious and begins to investigate, only to wind up in a situation right out of her books.

Finlay Donovan is Killing It was a very fun easy to read start to the series. Elle Cosimano traps Finlay is an insane scenario and every time it seems like Finlay is free, new complications make it worse. Finlay is so fun to read and its very easy to root for her as the stakes get higher and higher. The book is incredibly fun and satisfying and sets up this series very well. I'm looking forward to diving into the next book and spending more time with Finlay and the people around her. Elle Cosimano knocked it out of the park.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Finlay Donovan might just be my new favorite literary companion! I am so glad someone recommended Elle Cosimano to me. She is now officially on my auto purchase list. This book made me laugh, kept me hooked, and left me feeling genuinely seen. Here are five reasons (one reason per star) that I adored this novel: 1) Finlay’s Character: She’s a chaotic, relatable mess, and I connected with her on so many levels. At her core, she’s just a mom trying to do her best with what life has handed her. I really understand this and can definitely relate. 2) The Supporting Cast: A great book needs a strong supporting cast, and this one delivered. Vero, Georgia, Nick… every character brought something special to the story. 3) The Mystery: The plot was intricate without being overwhelming. This book makes you want to keep reading late into the night. 4) The Balance of Humor and Depth: The laugh-out-loud moments, but also the emotional themes made the story both impactful and incredibly fun to read. 5) It’s a Series: Yes, it ended on a cliffhanger, but that just means we get to spend more time with Finlay in the future—and I’m so here for it. A solid 5 out of 5 stars from me. I adored Finlay and can’t wait to see what her and her cast of characters do next! Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book.

What happens when an author is mistaken for a contract killer & accidentally accepts a hit from a mysterious stranger? Finlay Donovan and her nanny sidekick Vero are about to find out!

At times both hilarious & poignant, the story of Finlay's journey to hitwoman whilst juggling the demands of motherhood and a dirtbag exhusband kept me engaged throughout. I often wanted to reach through the pages to let Stephen & Theresa know exactly what I thought of them while simultaneously wanting to give Finlay a good shake to remind her what she is truly worth. The author does an excellent job capturing the 30's stage of motherhood, career, and relationships as the backdrop to this witty story of accidental murder. I look forward to seeing what Finlay & Vero will get up to next.

Finally is such a fun character. I want to be her best friend! Loved this book and look forward to the rest of the series!

Finlay Donovan is one of the best books around! Her story is so enticing with the flips and tricks that she has to go through to maintain her life. As a mother, I could completely see something like this happening!

I had been seeing this series for awhile and finally got a chance to read the first book. While I enjoyed the overall story, which had a cool and interesting quirk for a mystery, I didn't connect with it as much as I expected. I'm not sure if it was the style of the writing or the character herself, but it didn't grab me like I'd expected. Still a clever story, but just ok for me.

This was such a fun time. I've been meaning to read this series for awhile now so when netgalley had it on read now, I jumped at the chance. Finlay is such a well developed character that makes you think of your own struggles in motherhood and life in general.

This book was hilarious! The story was completely intriguing once I got into it and I buzzed through this read. I can’t wait to read about more of Finlay’s adventures!

I had a little trouble getting going on this one,through no fault of the actual book, it was my own stuff going on. Once i got settled in and started paying attention better, I really enjoyed the writing style and story of this book. I liked the snarkiness of the characters and their relationships throughout the story. I had been seeing these titles come up a lot in various places, but jumped on the chance to finally start reading them when NetGalley and the publisher made them all available to read before the newest one comes out. I look forward to continuing the series and reading the newest one in March. Look for more reviews to come! I recommend these to those that enjoy more light-hearted reading, but still elements of mystery, romance, and real-life stuff.

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is a laugh-out-loud, modern cozy mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat while making you burst out laughing.

As the first book in the series, it hooked me completely and made me fall in love with the quirky, unforgettable characters. I can’t wait to dive into the next installment!

I would like to thank St. Martin's Press , Minotaur Books & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review

This was very entertaining! I could not stop reading, curious as to how she would get herself out of this sticky situation. And I loved the Finlay and Vero combination. It reminded so much of Dead To Me how they found themselves completely in over their heads. I enjoyed Vero’s witty attitude and how she was the voice of reason for Finlay. I really loved this one! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this e-arc.

Title: Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: January 4, 2022
📖 384 pages

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finlay Donovan, a struggling romance novelist and stay at home mom, is mistaken for a hitman when someone overhears her discussing her book plot with her agent. She *reluctantly* accepts the real-life assignment, which leads to a series of hilarious and chaotic events as she tries to navigate her new "career" while dealing with single motherhood and a custody battle with her loser ex.

Hooked from the first damn page? ABSOLUTELY.
I adore Vero. The friendship they share, the vibes, the HUMOR! I'm obsessed with this series so much!

Thank you so much St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and author for the digital review copy.

⚠️ PG-13: Some mildy suggestive content and some violence.

The story is an over-the-top murder mystery that had me guessing the whole way. It is a clever, fun, quick read with a bombshell ending that will have one looking forward to book 2 in the series.

As someone who doesn't generally read cozy mysteries - I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did - and to immediately start reading book 2. Finlay Donovan's life is a bit of a mess - she is recently divorced and struggling to manage her two young kids and keep her ex from taking custody and also running very late on writing her new book. After a disastrous morning getting her kids ready, she meets with her agent in a busy Panera only to leave with a strict deadline to write her book and a note passed from a mysterious woman looking for someone to kill her husband. What follows in the next days/weeks is hilarious and makes for such an entertaining read. Complete with a ton of humor, some fortunate accidents that work in their favor, an amazing and sassy partner-in-crime, a swoon-worthy law student, and an equally enticing cop - this was a fantastic start to the series. Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the chance to read this series.

I enjoyed this book so much that I will say that the audiobook is a great option, too.

We are following our main character, Finlay Donovan, as she is trying to navigate life after a recent divorce and is behind on her most recent book. When she meets up with her agent to discuss her murder mystery book. After said meeting, Finlay slipped a note requesting she kill someone's husband, and Finlay, who is behind on her bills and fighting to keep custody of her kids, has to decide if she wants to take on the job or leave it.

This was such a funny book. The things that happen to Finlay throughout this book border on being outrageous, but I think that is what lends itself to such an enjoyable read. My favorite characters are Finlay and her nanny, Vero. Their banter together was one of my favorite parts throughout this book.

I think that the pacing and plot were also done well. While I think a lot of things conveniently happened for Finlay, I also think that was part of what the author wanted you to think while reading it.

I will definitely be continuing on with this series.

I am reading this to catch up after being offered an ARC of the latest installment, "Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave". Finlay and her pal Vero definitely stress me out with how they handle crazy situations, but they are growing on me and I am leaning into the fun. I will keep updating as I read through the series. #sponsored

Pleasantly surprised by this one. Finlay is a hot mess and it's refreshing to read about someone that doesn't have everything (if anything at all) together. The mystery kept my intrigued and it played out in a clever way. Really enjoyed the side character Veronica too, and her witty banter. The book was quite funny. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this copy of Finlay Donovan is Killing It!

I will admit that I read this book before, but requested as a read now so I could have the complete set. This book made me fall in love with both Finlay Donovan and Elle Cosimano's writing! The Finlay Donovan series is one of my favorite I have read! So fun and so good! I am really excited to see what adventures Finlay goes on next.

Have already gotten all my friends hooked on this series too!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano. This delightful, laugh-out-loud mystery is a perfect blend of humor, suspense, and chaos. Finlay, a struggling author and single mom, finds herself accidentally entangled in a crime she didn’t commit—or did she? What follows is a hilarious and twisty journey that keeps you entertained from start to finish.

Cosimano’s writing is sharp and witty, and Finlay is a relatable, lovable mess of a protagonist. The balance between her personal struggles and the escalating absurdity of her situation makes the story both engaging and endearing. The supporting characters, particularly Finlay’s no-nonsense nanny, add depth and fun to the narrative.

The twists are clever without taking themselves too seriously, and the book’s lighthearted tone makes it a breezy yet satisfying read. If you’re a fan of quirky mysteries with a strong dash of humor, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is a must-read. It’s the kind of book that leaves you smiling and eager for the next installment.

This is a silly, over the top cozy mystery with an endearing main character and an exciting plot. The story is always moving forward, and I was glad there wasn’t a ton of backstory, it’s more of a you figure everyone out as you go type of book. A fast, pleasant read that doesn’t require too much brainpower (that is a compliment). Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.