Finlay's trying her best to keep it all together. Recently divorced from her philandering husband, she's trying to hold down the fort and work on her upcoming romantic novel. During a meeting with her agent at the local Panera, a desperate woman overhears Finlay's conversation, sees a knive and duct tape in her bag, and immediately assumes she's a hitwoman. And she wants her husband dead.

I am so picky with my cozy mysteries, but Finlay Donovan is truly something special. This series is so much to read and I've read book one a few times now since I enjoy it so much. I love Finlay and Vero, and will always root for them, even when they make the most questionable of decisions.

(#TeamJulian)

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a review copy. I can't wait to continue on my reread!

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It sets the scene for this series, which is popular with fans for a reason. Several reasons. First, it's fun. Finlay Donovan is a hot but lovable and very relatable mess. She's a mother, a struggling writer, and is in the throes of divorce from an icky ex with an ickier new fiancée. She can't seem to catch a break. Until she does. Over lunch at Panera, of all places, a woman overhears Finlay discussing plot points of her latest book and mistakes the author for a contract killer -- the kind who will relieve a beleaguered wife of her beleaguering husband. A comedy of errors ensues, as does a twisty mystery and a couple of romantic situations with hunky and sympathetic dudes. Finlay's children's nanny, All the while, Vero Ruiz is willing to lend the misunderstood Finlay a hand. The Donovan children's nanny, Vero is a very fun supporting character. I'm looking forward to reading Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank, the novella in which her backstory features.

[Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an opportunity to read and share my opinion of this book.]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback

While at times it's slow , I can definitely see why a lot of people like this series and I can definitely see myself going on with the rest of the series ,in fact thanks to netgalley as well as to the publisher I have the rest of the series to read . Overall I did have an enjoyable time reading this .

I was so hopeful for this one given how much hype it’s received. It wasn’t funny enough or “thriller” enough to keep me engaged and the main character annoyed me a lot of the time. I’m terribly disappointed to be leaving this type of review. I don’t think this is a bad book. I just don’t think it’s for me.

This was funny for a murder mystery and I didn't know what to expect next. I really enjoyed reading it and look forward to the next book.

*Provided a DRC (digital review copy) from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.

Loved this book!! Such a different idea & I’ve never read anything like it before. Finlay was so relatable especially as a mom, but overall her character was hilarious! The dynamic with her and Vero was so funny. I loved the story & it even surprised me towards the end. Can’t wait to continue the series!

I heard so many great things about this series, so I finally pushed it up my tbr and I'm so glad I did! This cozy dark-ish mystery was instantly my cup of tea. Finlay, a single mom and a struggling writer, and her sidekick nanny, Veronica Ruiz, are a quirky unbeatable duo who accidentally keep getting themselves into some serious, deadly trouble.

Book one was a great start to the series and the story grabbed my attention from page one! I could instantly relate to stressed out Finlay who was juggling two little kids, was feeling pressure from her literary agent and was dealing with her ex's shinanigans. Vero is a life-saver to Finlay with her organized, quick-thinking approach, and these two characters complemented each other so well in the book! I thought the story concept was quite unique and engaging. The series of unfortunate events that followed these two heroines were both hilarious and terrifying, and that's what made this book soooo good!!

İ absolutely loved the characters, the humor, the writing style and the story itself. I couldn't wait to pick up book two. The audiobook was fantastic! The unique voices narrator created for each character truly brought them to life.

Thank you so much for this copy to review! I knew I was very entertained when I first read Finlay's story but I was glad for the refresher. I thought this was such a fun read that didn't take itself too seriously. I enjoyed Finlay's antics, her romantic problems and reading Vero making her ex-husband uncomfortable. On to the next!

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this eARC! I really enjoyed the storyline and found myself super invested in the characters. It’s a great pace and keeps you interested while not rushing through things. I look forward to reading the rest of them!

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is basically if your mom accidentally got involved in a murder plot and handled it with dry shampoo, blind panic, and chaotic brilliance—and honestly? I had so much fun. It’s got that BookTok-core blend of “hot mess main character accidentally doing crime” with sharp humor and actual heart. Did it get a little ridiculous? Absolutely. Did I care? Not even a little. It’s the kind of book where you’re laughing one minute and gasping the next, and somehow rooting for a very stressed woman to both write her novel and maybe bury a body. Not a literary masterpiece, but a wildly entertaining ride.

I recently read the fifth book in this series and loved it so much that I'm now going back and reading them all from the beginning. While I got to know Finlay a bit in the other story, this one showed me who she was and where she came from. It was great to see the origin of her and Vero's friendship as well. I felt so bad for Finlay's character at the beginning of this book, but I loved seeing her grow and overcome and triumph over her life circumstances. I enjoyed the humour in this book, and the mystery element held my interest right up until the end. Looking forward to continuing this series!

3.5 stars

This was a fun, contemporary, murder mystery. I really liked the uniqueness of the story and how Finlay found herself in these predicaments.

This was a quick and enjoyable read and one for those that want a suspenseful murder mystery but one that is written in a light and humorous way.

***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

When I first started this book, I was afraid it wasn’t for me. I thought it was going to be one of those books about a mother juggling her children that I wouldn’t be able to relate to as a childfree woman. Boy, was I ever wrong! This book turned out to be funny, interesting, and kept me interested all the way through. I look forward to reading more in this series.

Really interesting concept, I love the idea of an author being overheard talking to her agent about her book and accidentally being overheard and mistaken for a hitwoman. I liked the action and the mystery and the entire absurdity of the story.

There were a few swear words throughout

Thank you to #NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book to read, all thoughts are my own.

Loved it, how an author, mother of two, with a cheating ex husband manages to become a hmmmm hit woman! This book was amusing in places and suspenseful. Can’t wait to see what she gets into next.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you for allowing me to review

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish! It perfectly blended mystery and intrigue, while also being filled with witty and hilarious remarks.
Finlay Donovan, newly divorced and struggling to get by on her nonexistent writer's income, knows she’ll have to do whatever it takes to survive. However, she never anticipates a stranger slipping a note into her purse with an offer that seems too good to refuse. But can Finlay go against her morals to salvage what little remains of her broken life? Along the way, she uncovers unexpected truths about her ex-husband and his new girlfriend, all while discovering more about herself.
This book was the ideal cozy mystery, with the perfect mix of romance and humor. I can't wait to read the next book in the Finlay Donovan series!
*Thank you to Elle Cosimano, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is a fast-paced mystery about a struggling single mom and writer, Finlay, who is mistakenly identified as a contract killer. Facing financial troubles and a custody battle, she gets caught in a series of chaotic events with the help of her nanny, Vero. The book blends humor and suspense, making Finlay’s misadventures both thrilling and hilarious. Elle Cosimano’s witty writing keeps the story engaging, with laugh-out-loud moments. The unpredictable plot and Finlay’s knack for getting into—and out of—trouble make for an addictive read. The suspenseful ending leaves readers eager for the next book in the series.

Finlay Donovan is a murder mystery author well past deadline meeting with her agent and is overheard talking about her last book, her next book and getting the job done, burying it and money in advance. The lady at the next table sees a bloody knife and duct tape in Finlay's diaper bag and puts 2 and 2 together and comes up with Finlay being an assassin for hire. She is willing to pay Finlay lots of money to kill her husband, who has done "bad things" to several women and deserves it.

Finlay's day started off bad. Her ex-husband fired the nanny without telling her, she is running late for the meeting with the agent, her 5 year old daughter has cut her own hair and wants mommy to fix it like daddy would - with duct tape, her bills are all overdue, and her ex-husband and his fiancé are threatening to evict her and petition the court for full custody of the kids. Finlay wants to kill someone but not necessarily a stranger's husband.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review - and for turning me on to a new author that I will seek out and read more from (especially when I need something fun and light and humor.)

Fun, Quirky, and Totally Delightful

This a hyped book that totally deserves all the hype! When I think of a cozy adventure mystery this is exactly the hat I envision. The balance of humor, subtle drama, screwball action comedy and whip smart dialogue all rolls together into a rollicking rollercoaster of A ride that anyone can fall into.. Easy to read, vivid, and compelling, this is truly the gate into a wonderful series you will not get enough of.

I know I was late to the Finish Donovan series, but I only regret coming so late to the party!

Thank you St. Martin's Press for generosity of hearing this series with me!