What a fun read! Elle Cosimano has knocked it out of the park with the start of her Finlay Donovan series. If you liked the movie "A Simple Favor" this is your brand of dark comedy. Finlay is a mom and author that get in over her head when she's mistaken for a contract killer. Finlay can't catch a break! This book was completely outrageous and I loved every second of it. I can't wait for book 2!

Finlay Donovan is definitely not killing it in most aspects of her life… she’s a recently divorced author who is struggling to write her next book. This book has one of the most iconic scenes I’ve read in years:

While discussing plot ideas for her next thriller with her agent at a Panera Bread, a woman at a nearby table overhears and thinks Finlay is actually a hit woman. Finlay quickly gets in way too deep, and the line between fiction and reality become a bit blurry.

I adored this book. I’ve never read a dark comedy before, but it is my exact brand of humor and I thought it was hilarious. Vero, Finlay’s nanny turned unexpected sidekick was one of my favorite literary characters I’ve read about in a while! I loved that the author was able to take this crazy plot and make it feel like something that could happen to any of us. 🤣 Cannot wait for book #2!

This is a cute cozy mystery about a writer stuck in a rut who starts to write a cozy mystery based on her current life happenings. #finlaydonovaniskillingit is a perfect beach read or one to cuddle up with during a snow storm. Thanks go to #netgalley, the publisher and the author for this book to read and review.

I couldn’t read this book quickly enough!! This is the first adult fiction book by this author and I sincerely hope it won’t be her last! There were so many different storylines and so many different suspects that every time I thought I for sure knew where the story was going **plot twist!!** and I was thinking something else! Such a fun read!

Loved this book - it was fun and funny and weird - and super excited that it's going to be a series!

Finlay Donovan is a disaster - her marriage is over, she's broke, she's way behind deadline on her latest book, her kids are constantly sticky, aaaaand then she inadvertently becomes a contract killer when she's overheard discussing murdery stuff with her agent at a suburban Panera Bread (while wearing a wig because of course she's been banned from Panera Bread for bad behavior - so funny) -- and chaos ensues.

This was a goddamn delight from start to finish and would be a super fun book club book.

Finlay Donovan is already getting a ton of love on bookstagram… and at the risk of hyping it up more than it already has been, I have to say that I couldn’t get enough of this wonderfully entertaining book.

Finlay Donovan can’t catch a break. As a struggling crime-fiction writer with bills to pay, who is also a single mom going through a messy divorce and custody battle, she has more on her plate than any one person should ever have to handle… but when a woman mistakes Finlay for a contract killer after overhearing a conversation with between Finlay and her agent, her life takes a very unexpected turn.

If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be - FUN!

Cosimano flipped the amateur sleuth trope on its head, turned our protagonist into an amateur killer, and made us cheer her on every step of the way.

Finlay is such an endearing protagonist, and I absolutely loved Vero too. Their friendship was so wonderful and I loved how they created such a wholesome, supportive family unit between the two of them.

The best part of this book is that you sort-of know what’s going to happen, but it still manages to always keep you on your toes… and you’re having such a great time that you don’t ever want it to end.

The last page of this book though?!?!?!?! OMG. I legit got chills. There has to be a sequel because I *cannot survive* without knowing what happens next.
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Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is laugh-out-loud funny, completely ridiculous, and a total blast to read. This is the perfect pick-me-up book and I would recommend it to anyone who needs a little cheering up or help busting a reading slump.

Finlay Donovan's life is falling apart. She is frazzled because her agent and publisher both want the book she was supposed to have finished, her marriage has fallen apart, and her children need her. So, when she goes to meet her agent in for brunch, and they begin talking about the plot for her murder mystery, someone overhears them and gets the wrong idea about Finlay. The person offers Finlay $50,000 to murder her husband, and Finlay can't believe it. Finlay won't do it, or will she?
Finlay is a the prefect heroine! She is someone you root for, and you hope she succeeds. Even though much of the book put Finlay in outlandish situations, they made you laugh and hope that Finlay could work her way out of them.
This is a delightful murder-for-hire mystery!
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for the ARC!
#FinlayDonovanIsKillingIt

Finlay is a struggling crime writer and newly single mom who’s strapped for cash, so when a conversation in a cafe about her latest book is interpreted wrongly, and she is mistaken for a contract killer, she finds herself with an offer that’s difficult to refuse.

I didn’t really know anything about this book before I went in, a strong case of I definitely judged the book by it’s cover, and I’m delighted I did as I thoroughly enjoyed it. This was such a fun read!

I thought it started really strong from the outset as I was completely hooked within the first couple of chapters. There was a point midway when I wasn’t sure where the story was going to go and I worried that it was going to become too far fetched for me but I needn’t have worried as I absolutely loved the ending. I found Finlay’s character to be so funny and relatable and I adored her friendship with Vero, her nanny/friend, I was really rooting for them both.

A fun, dark comedy, mystery which kept me fully entertained. If you’re in need of some light relief but with a touch of murder too this one’s for you! I will definitely look forward to reading more from this author.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the e-copy of this book.

4 stars from me for Finlay Donovan Is Killing It! This was a face paced suspense, comedy, romance, mystery combined! I love when novels have all the things! Finlay was the perfect protagonist that every girl/reader wants to root for. The novel begins with Finlay, a novelist, meeting with her agent at Panera because she is behind on her latest draft. She has lost her husband to an affair, lost her nanny, and may soon be losing her children in a custody battle. While chatting about her upcoming novel with her agent, another diner overhears the conversation and assumes that Finlay is a contract killer and proposes she make a hit on her husband for $50,000!! What happens in the upcoming pages when Finlay accidentally accepts the offer, you will not want to miss! Cosimano has written a story that will make you feel like you are right there with Finlay when all the crazy events occur. Definitely a must read of 2021!! #netgalley #stmartinspress #ellecosimano #mystery Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press publishing for allowing me to read this free ebook in exchange for my honest review!!

When nothing is going right, yet everything is going write you have this book. It was not what I was expecting and a very pleasant surprise as I was reading. Nothing gets to you like a single Mother who is struggling to make ends meet, and you root for her to succeed, even if it’s purely luck by the seat of her pants.

A fun, fast paced read that will have you chuckling at times and grimacing at others. Either way, it’s an enjoyable read and you will be #TeamFinlay.

Channeling my inner DJ Khaled with another one!

Happy pub day to @ellecosimano and Finlay Donovan Is Killing It: A Mystery 🎉

Has anyone else seen Good Girls on Netflix? First of all, totally bingeworthy, second, that’s totally what this reminds me of. Check both out!

This book is getting tons of hype, and it’s all worth it IMO! It’s basically me, but as an accidental hit-man

Thanks for sending me an e-arc @netgalley 💋

#finlaydonovaniskillingit #ellecosimano #netgalley #arc #arcreader #advancedreaderscopy #advancedreadercopies #publicationday #bookpubday #bookbirthday #bookpublicationday #ebooks #netgalley #netgalleyreads #netgalleyreview #bookreview #bookblog #bookblogger #bookblogging #bookbloggersofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramcommunity #bookstagam #booksbooksbooks #booksonbooks #bibliophile #kindlelibrary #kindlebooks #kindlereads #newbook

Finlay is a struggling writer, mother of 2 kids and with a very messy life. Recently divorced, she is trying to put the pieces of her life back together.
One day, at a business meeting in Panera, a lady overheard her conversation with her agent and confuses Finlay with a killer.
The lady decides to hire Finlay to kill her husband in exchange for a good amount of money. Since Finlay is in a bad economic situation, she considered the idea. One of her many wrong decisions during this story.

The book is clever and funny. I loved every page of it! It is a fun mystery story with a great main character and extraordinary support ones, like Vero - Finlay's nanny-

It was an absolute delight to read it. The author instantly became an auto buy for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. :)

Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan is a mother and an author who is struggling with deadlines, an ex-husband (and his awful fiance) and more debt than she can possibly pay off. While at the local Panera with her editor discussing the plot of her current book, a woman at the next table mistakes Finlay for a hit-woman. Easy mistake to fix, right? Wrong. What follows is a wild ride from start to finish as Finlay attempts to deal with this new mistaken identity, her family, and her stack of unpaid bills.

I loved this book. I was hooked from the very beginning and Finlay is such a likable character. All I wanted was for everything to work out for her! Finlay and Vero--her babysitter turned live-in best friend--as accidental "hit-women" are the dream duo I never knew I needed. The friendship that evolved between the two of them and the support they have for each other was one of my favorite aspects of this story. While there were many stressful moments (um, how could there not be?) there were so many sweet and funny moments as well. I think the struggles that Finlay faces not only as a struggling mom with a crappy ex-husband, but also a woman trying to chart a new path for herself will be relatable to many.

Also, of course I won't give anything away...but that ending! Honestly, if this is a standalone, it works. However, I really hope it's not. I highly recommend this one if you love mysteries and strong, determined women!

Finley Donovan is a single mom, a writer who has missed her deadline and has an ex- husband who is making her miserable! While meeting with her agent to discuss her plot and writer's block, another woman over hears her and mistakenly thinks she is a hit woman! This book is entertaining and so funny. I read it in one sitting and laughed out loud more than once. Ellie Cosimano, please give us another outing with Finley and friends!
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book!

This book was EXACTLY what I needed. It is the story of Finlay, a newly single mom with a scuzzy ex-husband and a mountain of unpaid bills. Finlay is also a struggling novelist with a case of serious writer’s block and, on account of a complete misunderstanding, she gets solicited to act as a hired killer while eating lunch at Panera. I don’t want to give away any spoilers but this book was absolutely hilarious. It was fast paced with so much snarky wit. Even though it bordered on ridiculous, it was absurd in the best possible way and was just so clever and funny that I could not stop reading. Finlay was self-deprecating with a dry sense of humor and even though she made some of the worst possible decisions, I was rooting for her every step of the way. I need a sequel ASAP! I cannot recommend it enough.

Loved from the first pages a book that combines mystery and comedy kept me turning the pages.First book in a new series the authors first book will be recommending this It’s a guaranteed laugh a minute edge of your seat thriller,#netgalley#minatorbooks

This was a book that I didn’t know if I would really like but I was interested in it when I read the blurb, so here we are with a five-star review and I’m still chuckling about it. Finlay Donovan is a newly divorced single mom who can’t pay her bills and can’t seem to fulfill her contract for writing a romantic suspense novel. However, she somehow gets backed into a corner to carry out another contract, a contract killing. This is a hilarious romp through motherhood, what it’s like to be divorced from a cheater and a mystery all rolled into one neat and well-written package. The plot was totally original and captured me from the first page. The descriptions of Finlay’s bad decisions, layered on top of other bad decisions and leading to her quest to solve a mystery all had me in stitches. I didn’t like the husband Steve (the philanderer) or the babysitter Vero, who took advantage of Finlay’s confused state of not having a clue what to do. Nevertheless, the characters were well-portrayed, down to little Zach’s poopy diapers and desire for his blanket and the haircut that little Delilah gave herself. Too funny! The mystery that I was expecting was there, along with so much more. The conclusion was satisfying, leaving me wanting more tales of the misadventures of Finlay Donovan. Fans of mystery and humor will thoroughly enjoy this book! I loved it!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Happy Publication Day, Finlay Donovan!

This is a totally original book that defies categorization within the mystery genre. If pressed, I would call it an edgy cozy with a heaping side of dark humor.

The setup is pure genius and totally original - Finlay, an exhausted and very witty mom, is overheard in a public place and, in a conversation taken out of context, is VERY greatly misunderstood to be a hitwoman (hit-mom?). Naturally, this is something that could be easily cleared up with a laugh and an explanation, right? Well, of course not, because then we wouldn't have this very funny book. Finlay is the best kind of heroine - plucky and witty without trying too hard. She is also very adept (in part due to her mom background) at dealing with any, and I do mean ANY, kind of inopportune disaster.

Finlay (aka "Finn") is incredibly charming, and it is impossible not to like her. It must be said here that the setup and hijinks that ensue are totally outlandish, so if you are looking for a realistic, gritty crime novel, this is not that book. But if you are looking for a totally unique and funny mystery with a great heroine, Finn fits the bill. The twists satisfy, as do the characters. I could definitely enjoy this book as part of a series, or as a movie, and I bet both are coming soon (or at least, they SHOULD be).

Finn is a very refreshing diversion in a year of unreliable wife-narrators and thrice kidnapped children. Check out Finlay Donovan, who indeed is killing it as both a mystery protagonist and a physical comedienne.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and the author (who I am positive we will be hearing from much more in the future!) for this very fun ARC.

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano is a playful novel about a newly divorced mother, Finlay, who is struggling to keep it together. Finlay has bills that are piling up, an insufferable husband and his new fiancee, and a thriller novel that she can't seem to write. During a meeting with Finlay's editor in a Panera, a stranger overhears a conversation that leads the stranger to believe Finlay is a hitman. In a series of events, Finlay is thrust into a second career that she never expected but can also sparks her daytime job.

This was a brilliant novel and such a fun ride. The book is absolutely compelling and the tone is comedic yet smart. This book reminds me of a female Breaking Bad where an unexpected character finds themselves in an disturbing situation and just rolls with it with good humor. Finlay's character is 3-dimensional, she's hilarious, a mess, yet you can somehow relate to her thinking you would probably do the same. Her nanny, Vero, brings so much fun humor to the book and also a little chaos into her situation. There is lots of secrets and random connections but it's fun to connect the pieces. My one critique is that around ~90% of the book a certain event occurs that wraps up a bit TOO nicely, but still was a hysterical scene. I'm rooting for Finlay and definitely looking forward to the next in the series. It's important to note that this book ends on a HUGE cliffhanger but I can't wait!

Many thanks to the publisher St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano is hilarious and serious, often awkward mishaps that I thought could only happen to me! Seriously, I want whatever it is that Elle Cosimano is drinking because she is truly hilarious as a writer with a depth to her characters that really adds to their appeal!! I can already see this as a movie!! Loved it and it is exactly what is needed right now- murder and humor all tied up in a hot mess with everything turned inside out!!!!

#FinlayDonovanIsKillingIt #NetGalley