"It's a widely known fact that most moms are ready to kill someone by eight thirty AM on any given morning. On the particular morning of Tuesday, October eighth, I was ready by seven forty-five."

@ellecosimano had me hooked from the first lines of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It. I curled up all day yesterday, ignored my kids and didn't budge until I finished and it was totally worth all of the chaos I now have to deal with today.

Finlay is a recently-divorced struggling mystery writer who is mistaken for a hit woman and gets caught up in a murder investigation that she has to solve before she ends up the prime suspect. It is a deliciously smart, outrageously funny and surprisingly heartwarming book that I didn't want to end. Yes, the murder is the central plot but it's also a story about friendships, marriage and trying to do it all. Cosimano writes characters that jump off the page and makes even the wildest twist work. I loved the banter (Finley's nanny/BFF Vero, in particular, lands some great lines) and the on-point observations about life in suburbia.

This is a book I'll be recommending to all of my friends because even though none of us are mystery writers or hit-women (that I know of anyway), there's a lot I know they'll identify with in Finlay. And I don't know which I'm more excited for - a sequel to this book (the author posted the title page for her draft of Finlay Donovan Is Slaying It in her IG recently) or that it's been option for a TV series! Either way, I can't wait to have more Finlay in my life.

Thanks to Minotaur Books, NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy to review.

4.5 stars

This has been getting a lot of praise early on, and it is well deserved. This is Elle Cosimano’s first novel written for adults and it’s funny, smart, and has a solid mystery.

Finlay Donovan, is a divorced, mother of two. Nothing is going right in her life. She is behind on all her bills, he ex wants to file for custody of their kids. She is a fledgling author, who is behind on due dates with her editor. After a chance encounter at a Panera Bread, Finlay is offered 50K to kill a man, for woman who she just met.

Of course, Finlay does not want to do this, but is intrigued by this woman’s request, what could her husband of done that is worth dying for. When they meet at a bar, she realizes this is not a nice guy, and she drugs him and takes him back to her house, with no intention of actually killing him. Things go array very quickly, and you guess it, he winds up dead.

This is as much as I will go into the plot of the book, but what the author gave us a humorous story of this single mom, just trying to survive. Yes, this is a mystery, and a very good one at that. However this story is so much more. You will love Finlay throughout the entire book. The author gave a very human woman, mistakes and all.

This is a fun ride, and I highly recommend this. While there is no cliffhanger, this is definitely being set up for a brand new series. Enjoy!

Thank you NetGalley and Minatour Books for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Bills are piling up, her romantic suspense novel is sitting unwritten, and her ex husband is shacking up with their realtor and threatening to take custody of her kids. So when a woman eavesdrops and misunderstands a conversation with her literary agent and offers Finlay $50,000 to murder her husband, naturally she takes her up on her offer.

I wasn’t sure what to expect of this one but I ended up loving it! It was kooky and outlandish and over the top and the Dead to Me comparisons are spot on. Is it realistic? Not in the least bit. But it was entertaining as hell and I enjoyed every minute of it. And what an ending! I really hope we get to see more of Finlay in the future.

Mystery + Comedy + Romance
Fun and Creative
A page turner
For fans of the Netflix show Dead to Me

I loved this book. I went in expecting something fun and different and that is exactly what I got. I was completely invested in the story and I didn’t know where it would end up at the end with all the twists and turns. Plus - my romance loving self got a little love triangle on the side. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy

I knew that I was going to love this book from the first paragraph if not the first sentence. Finlay Donovan has a full plate, overflowing and no solutions on the horizon. Or maybe, just maybe there might be something to get her out of the big mess her life is - a jerk of an ex who is fighting for custody of the children, big time writers block, and so broke that she lets the bills just multiply like rabbits. When she meets with her agent to discuss her next book (or lack thereof due to that pesky writer's block) her situation takes a very strange twist and what a ride it is!
This is a laugh out loud funny with an edge. As Finlay gets sucked into a rabbit hole, she has help in the form of her nanny, Vero. Together they make an outlandish team. I won't divulge any more of the plot because I don't want to spoil any of the laughs and situations these two get into. This book was the perfect distraction to help me cope with Covid isolation. All I will say is this - how long do I have to wait for the next book?
My thanks to the publisher Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This is a fun, entertaining mystery/romance that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Finlay is a young mother of two getting divorced from her cheating husband. She's a struggling mystery/romance author who has writer's block and is in danger of having to return her meager book advance. She's in debt up to her eyeballs, her husband is fighting her for custody and she can't catch a break. A last minute change of plans has her meeting her book agent in a Panera restaurant sitting amongst a lunchtime throng. As she discusses the latest plot of her murder mystery, she senses the woman at the table next to her listening in and eyeing her.

The lady, thinking Finlay is a contract killer, asks Finlay to kill her husband for $50,000. Finlay tries to convince the woman that things aren't as they seem, but the woman won't be deterred. Curious, Finlay spies on the woman's husband and finds out he's a total creep and steps in to protect his next unsuspecting victim. When the husband turns up dead, Finlay's world spins out of control.

It's hard to review this book without spoilers, so I'm not going to try. The book is well written and the story just flows. The characters are fully developed and jump off the page. Finlay is a hot mess, but she's a funny, smart, hot mess and was fun to cheer on. Her nanny Vero is slick, smart, snarky and loads of fun to read. The plot is fast-paced and interesting. I haven't read this author before, but I will definitely read her future books. This is one of those rare books that you just want to read from start to finish in one sitting. It's a great combination of mystery/romance/humor and I highly recommend you read this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book was so much more than I expected!! Following a spunky, badass duo (Finlay Donovan and her nanny Veronica) was a great time. The friendship and bit of romance included in the story were great additions to the murder mystery itself. I didn’t want the story to end and was so happy to see on Goodreads that this is the first book of a series by Elle Cosimano. I’m looking forward to reading more about Finlay’s kids and cop sister and (of course) seeing what happens with her and Nick or Julien.

I would definitely recommend this people who are interested in mysteries, but don’t know where to start. This is a great introduction into the genre in a light and funny way!

I had a sample of this book from a 4-book "mystery/thriller" sampler and the few chapters that I had initially read were intriguing enough to want to read more! This is the story of a down-on-her luck author who is broke, divorced with 2 small kids and broken in all possible ways. Through a series of unfortunate and interesting events, her entire world changes. Overall, this was quite a unique and interesting book and you can't help but to be rooting for Finlay (the main character). And that ending ... the epilogue ... WOW! GREAT ENDING! And also GREAT set up for the next book!

This review was also posted on Goodreads.

BOOK REVIEW: FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Drink rec: vodka tonic w/lime

I absolutely loved this twisty, fun, mystery! Finlay Donovan is a recently divorced mom who’s trying to make ends meet by writing a new novel, but she’s got some serious writers block. That is until a unique opportunity comes her way and she gets fully entangled in a real life murder investigation.

I loved the wild ride that this one was...just as Finlay got herself into more and more tricky situations, I couldn’t help but root for her!! Sometimes I’d be internally screaming at Finlay for some of the choices she made, but there were also tons of laugh out loud moments!

Cosimano totally nailed the setting with this one too! As a Northern VA native myself, I was fangirling over the locations mentioned in the book!!

I am hoping there will be a sequel and I also heard that FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT will be made into a show produced by Marlene King, who also produced PLL.🤩 If you’re looking for a fun and unique twisty thriller, definitely pick this one up!!

Thank you to @minotaur books for my gifted copy! Keep an eye out for my review on my Instagram page @tipsybookreviews

TW: stalking, murder

Findlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

Findlay is a single mom who is stressed out in her job and is a struggling novelist.

This was a very different, unreal, unbelievable story. It started out fairly well and continued downhill. A lot of twists and turns, death, and undesirable characters.

FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT Review⁣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5⁣
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Ever heard a mysterday book described as fun? Yeah, me either, but this is IT! This is probably the most witty, laugh out loud mystery I have ever read and I am here for it👏🏼⁣
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This reminded me so much of the Netflix show, Dead to Me, not in the sense that they have the same plot, but the fact that I constantly thought “alright how are they going to get out of this now”😂⁣
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The plot progression was excellent, the characters were hilarious, and it kept my attention the whole way through ⁣
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You’re going to want to get your hands on this one because it comes out Tuesday, February 2nd🤗⁣
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Thank you to @minotaurbooks for the #gifted copy

Pandemic life getting you down? Want to escape into a twisted tale that is guaranteed to make you laugh and leave you with a smile? Finlay Donovan is a terrible partner in crime but the perfect choice for an immersive and super fun distraction. I was completely sucked in and could not stop reading to see what hilarious and outrageous activities Finlay would get up to next. The story is a little bit of mystery, a smidge of romance, a larger portion of crime, and a big dollop of comedy and laugh out loud humour.

Finlay is a sometimes infuriating but often delightful character; a single mother attempting to co-parent with her odious cheating ex, a not so successful suspense writer, driver of mini vans and wrangler of toddlers. Desperate for money to keep her lights on and her ex from taking the kids she frantically tries to complete her next novel but just can’t seem to get her hot mess of a life together enough to succeed. When she is mistaken for a contract killer and offered a large amount of money to carry out the murder, she can’t help but consider it, at least theoretically. Through a series of bad decisions and comical mishaps Finlay inadvertently finds herself with a body to bury and a crime to cover up. There are shootings, kidnappings, unexplained disappearances, in addition to the murders and it’s all a lot for Finlay to manage, especially with a looming book deadline and her baby on her hip!

The intense non-stop action and the cracking dark humour made for a quick and delicious read. It was just what I needed to brighten up my week. I cackled out loud like a wicked but entirely pleased witch at the ending which knocked my sock off. It makes me think we may hear more from Finlay Donovan in future and I am 100% here for it! I’ll ride shotgun in her Dodge minivan any day. Let’s try really hard not to kill anyone though, okay?

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for providing an Electronic Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley for review.

I was hoping to love this one more than I did. It was an interesting concept and the characters were fun but something about it just didn't wow me.

Finlay Donovan is not having a good time at the start of this book. She is stressed, dealing with two young children, an ass of an ex husband and his former mistress now fiance, a stack of unpaid bills, and a looming deadline for her next suspense novel. When she is mistaken for a contract killer after being overheard discussing her novel's premise with her agent, she is presented with an opportunity to take care of her mounting money issues. Things just escalate from there.

This was a quick, funny, easy read and it had some fun twists although it didn't have me on the edge of my seat. I will definitely pick up the next book in the series!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy!

Findlay Donovan is a stressed-out, struggling author and single mother of two. Her latest book is overdue, her ex-husband is threatening to go to court for sole custody of the children, and the bills are piling up. Things go from bad to worse when she is mistaken for a contract killer and offered a job.

Elle Cosimano’s first book for adult readers is a hit with me. The story is witty and well-written, with good dialogue, great characters, and a plot that moves along at a nice pace. But, beyond a good story, it is also about a woman who is trying to be a good mother, take care of her children, and deal with a divorce that upended her life. Along the way Findlay and her babysitter/friend, Vero, confront one situation after another, but always seem to land on their feet (mostly).

As the book progressed, I enjoyed watching Finlay develop more confidence, even though she made some questionable choices in the process, while the character of Vero is a perfect contrast. All in all Finlay Donovan is Killing It is very good read and I’m hopeful that there will be more Finlay Donovan books to look forward to.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

Finlay Donovan is Killing it is a chick-lit style murder mystery starring a divorced mother of two and author.

While in a suburban Panera begging her publishing agent for more time on her next deadline Finlay is mistakenly assumed to be a contract killer by a woman seated nearby. The woman asks her to kill her husband in exchange for cash and since Finlay is both broke and curious she decides to take a closer look at him. What follows is a lot of bad luck, hasty cover ups and snooping around by Finlay and her partner-in-crime Vero.

This was a fun fast paced mystery that bordered on cozy. I think a lot of women can relate to Finlay’s struggles as both a mom and working woman trying to do it all while her ex and his fiancée get the much better end of the deal. While a lot of the legal and police work bordered on both unrealistic and improbable (especially everything involving hot detective Nick) it was still a fun ride. I really enjoyed the character of Vero and the balance and organization she brought to both Finlay’s personal life and the investigation.

I think readers looking for a less intense murder mystery with a relatable heroine and some laughs will enjoy Finlay Donovan is Killing It. It has enough twisty action to keep the reader’s attention balanced with a little romance plus the story of a woman trying to hold it together after divorce. I especially recommend this one to fans of the Stephanie Plum series.

4 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

My copy of Finlay Donovan Is Killing it was provided by NetGalley and the publisher for review purposes

This was a fun one! I’d put this in the amateur sleuth + hijinks + teensy romance? department contemporary mystery.

Finlay is having a bad year - a crap divorce, a crap ex-husband, her book advance is running out and she still hasn’t written the book yet. She’s overheard talking to her editor in a Panera about the plot of the thriller she’s writing and gets mistaken for an assassin - and shenanigans ensue!

I really loved her partnering up with the smart and no-nonsense Vero, and though I gave side-eye at first to the TWO love interests that appear, it turned out alright in the end.

This wraps up nicely but with an epilogue that was very dun-dun-dun!!!! For the next in the series. I’ll definitely pick up the sequel when it comes out.

This book, which opens amidst the morning chaos of a young mother with two children, one of whom has just cut part of her hair off right before school, breezily catches the feel of young motherhood. It’s exasperating, exhausting, and nerve wracking. Finley drops the kids off at school as she heads off to meet her book agent and deliver the bad news that the book she’s supposed to turn in is nowhere near finished.

On top of all this, Finley’s husband has left her for the cute realtor, his sod business is going full blast, and she has a mountain of bills to pay with no means to do so. Also, to spite her, her ex has let the baby sitter go. Things go poorly with her agent where they’ve met for coffee, but a woman nearby, over hearing – and misinterpreting – their conversation (Finley writes thrillers) leaves a mystery note on Finley’s table. The sum of $50,000 is mentioned and there’s a phone number.

Finley is curious and she gives the woman a call: it turns out she wants Finley to kill her husband in return for $50,000. This is a plot heavy book and the set up is clever and meticulous. Finley actually considers killing the man, and begins to research him online, wondering just how bad a husband he could be. The wife appears to do nothing but work and volunteer at a pet shelter.

So, that night, she dumps her kids with her sister (a cop, of all things) and goes to the bar where the man hangs out to scope him out, wearing the wig she uses as a disguise when she’s in her author persona. She tells her sister she’s doing “research”. Through a twisted series of events, she actually ends up with the man passed out in the back of her mom van. Not sure what to do next, she takes him home.

The turn of events from here on in takes a leap of faith on the part of the reader. The man does end up dead – and it seems like Finley is responsible, but her next decision, to get the babysitter (who turns up to collect her things while Finley is in the garage) to help her bury him on her husband’s sod farm seems like a terrible idea.
Cosimano is an extremely accomplished and smooth storyteller and she puts the story across, forcing – yes, forcing – you to keep reading to find out what happens next. Her roots are in young adult fiction and it shows in the narrative style (i.e., very, very readable). Finley is also an incredibly appealing character with relatable problems that most people have experienced. The problem of being assumed to be a hit woman is just the extra bit that makes this a novel.

When another woman offers Finley and the babysitter (they are now a team) $75,000 to kill her husband, Finley feels things have gone too far, but the babysitter takes the money. Desperate, Finley takes the time while her kids are away for the weekend to turn the whole thing into her new book which she then sends to her agent, who loves it.

The rest of the story is a caperish, dark comedy with lots of threads and clues (read carefully) and my initial worry that I was reading about, and bonding with, a murderer, was assuaged. It all seems like it could have happened, which, considering the fantastic story being told, is a real achievement on the part of the author. It was just the read a I needed on a grey January day. If you want a laugh as well as a change of pace, give this one a try.

Finlay Donovan is a newly divorced mom, trying to write her next crime novel and care for her two young children while struggling to pay the bills. After overhearing a conversation about crime between Finlay and her literary agent, a woman mistakenly assumes that Finlay works as a hired killer and contracts Finlay for a murder job. The only problem-- Finlay is not a murderer! Or is she??

This story is a bit far-fetched. Finlay makes so many terrible choices; it's hard to believe that anyone would ever find themselves in the situtations that these characters end up in. And yet, it was a lot of fun to read about Finlay's misadventures and find out how she went from being a frazzled mom to a murderer. I thought the concept was creative and unique and definitely unforgettable.

This was an entertaining story, a dark comedy with lots of twists and turns and craziness. If you are looking for a serious crime story, this may not be the book for you. But if you are looking for an entertaining and darkly humorous mystery, this one is great fun!!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available on February 2!

Finlay Donovan is Killing It was a delight to read. The book had me laughing out loud at the situations Finlay found herself navigating and I hope there are more books to come featuring this fun character and her crew.

Finlay Donovan is on the struggle bus to put it mildly, and the more she tries to put things right in her life, the more things go awry.

As single mom and writer who is barely holding it together, Finlay's day to day world consists of managing her empty bank account, her unruly children and a horrible ex and his new girlfriend. That is until a misunderstanding leads her to an offer she can't refuse that has big payoffs but even bigger risks. Enter her nanny turned sidekick, Vero and hilarity ensues.

This story is the perfect blend of romantic comedy and mystery/thriller and I could not wait to see what happened next.

This was the first book I've read by Elle Cosimano and it will not be the last. Big thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and the author for the advance copy. Highly recommend this one!

A great read with a very eclectic cast of characters. Finlay is a mother and struggling author. She finds herself being accidentally being solicited for murder and unable to refuse. This leads to a hilarious chain of events. Her nanny/partner/accountant Vero is a trip. Her 5 year old daughter says the darnedest things. The authors writes the story in such a way that you cannot help but feel like you are living each detail with Finlay. It is a wonderful journey that will put a smile on your face.