If you love fun and hilarious mystery reads, then this book is for you. I absolutely loved this book! The characters are so real and they will have you laughing out loud. This is truly a comedy of errors that I couldn’t put down.

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It follows the titular character as she struggles to support herself and her children after divorcing her cheating husband. The problem is that while she may have the moral high ground, her ex seems to have his life together and is threatening to take custody of their kids. Finlay is a struggling writer who is way behind on her last book, and the advance she received has long been spent.

While at a meeting with her agent, someone mistakes Finlay for an assassin for hire. She inadvertently gets herself hired to take care of this woman’s abusive husband. Soon Finlay finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation and way in over her head. Luckily she has her kids nanny to help her figure things out. She also finds herself caught between a hot young law student and a sexy cop, both vying for her attention.

I cannot stress enough how awesome this book is. I really became engrossed in this book and found myself thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading. This book is perfect for fans of the Stephanie Plum series.

Finlay Donovan is Killing It is a cozy mystery with a side of comedy and a little bit of romance sprinkled in. Finlay is struggling a lot since her divorce from her cheating ex-husband. She finds herself caught up in a misunderstanding that turns deadly, and now she has to figure out whodunnit and what is going on with the people around her.

The writing was snappy and the characters were interesting. I did struggle a bit with understanding how/why Nick was so invested and interested in Finlay so quickly. However, they were well matched and I hope to see more of them in future books in the series. The mystery was also nicely paced and wrapped up well with just enough loose ends to lead into the next book. I can't wait to see what comes next!

I can relate to the book having gone through a divorce with an ex not unlike the ex in this book. I found this book funny and kept my attention. It was a bit of a wild ride but I also like the author’s style of writing. Would recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC digital copy. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

Hooked by the first line! Easy read with fun characters. Slightly reminiscent of Stephanie Plum. Planning to enjoy the entire 5-book series.

I am FINALLY reading this series that I have been seeing around for the last few years, and I am so excited to keep reading!
Do I wish she made better choice? Absolutely,
Have I also made choices that are questionable. Absolutely.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley. It has been out for a few years, but with the most recent one coming out in 2025, they are bringing more attention to the previous titles in the series. I hadn't heard of it before, but I thoroughly enjoyed this story about a woman doing what she has to survive and also female bonding over burying a bad dead guy. Definitely reading more in this series.

Ok this was so fun! I’ve never read anything like this before and I loved it. Cozy mystery vibes without the creeps. Veto and Finlay are hilarious and I can’t believe the adventures they got themselves into!

Such a fun read in the mystery realm, I would even dare to say this a whole new generation for a Nancy Drew-esque successor. Some parts were predictable but otherwise wellrounded

Finlay Donovan doesn't have much of anything left after her ex-husband left her for their real estate agent, a fact that he's handling planning to exploit in their upcoming custody battle. When a conversation with her literary agent gets her mistaken for a contract killer, Finlay quickly finds herself in way over her head— but the money might just ease all of her troubles. If the police investigation don't catch up to her first.

I'm a sucker for messy, flawed women, so Finlay caught my attention. But as a mom, the convenience of Vero constantly watching her kids under any circumstance so Finlay could go off to whatever hi-jinks she wanted. Finlay is motivated by desperately wanting to keep her kids… while largely pawning her kids off on other people at every opportunity. Vero was a spunky, bright character when she was allowed to be anything other than the babysitter, which wasn't often enough.

The plot itself was witty, but not necessarily as funny as I would have expected. Things definitely veered darker than expected, but never so dark that the flow was dragged on. I really wasn't sure how I felt for the first several chapters, but things got interesting after the inciting incident. I BREEZED through the last 35% or so and I was really pleased with the tiny twists in the unraveling mystery.

However, I have one gripe that I'm guessing isn't the norm: I didn't like the love triangle. I don't think Julian or Nick had the swoonworthy, immediate, jump-off-the-page chemistry with Finlay that the narration purports. They both fell over themselves to get with a frazzled, 30-something mom within a few minutes of meeting her, and that's my least favorite type of relationship development.

Of course, just when I was satisfied with the relatively cozy ending, a fantastic cliffhanger drops! I wasn't super invested in picking up the sequel, but I think I will now!

This was a fun laugh out loud mystery! This book was really fun and I’m excited to read more of Findlay Donovan! All of the characters were enjoyable and I loved the voice of the main character. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This was a cute book and overall I enjoyed it. It’s a fun, quick read. It was perfect for me because I was looking for a change of pace. It’s an easy-to-read thriller but I don’t think it’s possible to guess who committed the crime and why. Nonetheless, I went with the flow and enjoyed the ride. I would advise readers to not take this book too seriously. There’s so many absurd, unrealistic things that happen in the plot. Still, I had a good time reading this story. I’m not sure if I’m interested enough to pick up the next book in the series.

**Book Review: *Finlay Donovan is Killing It* by Elle Cosimano**

*Finlay Donovan is Killing It* by Elle Cosimano is an absolute delight, blending sharp wit, compelling characters, and a fast-paced plot into a rollercoaster of laughter, suspense, and heart. From the very first chapter, Cosimano hooks readers with Finlay Donovan, a struggling novelist and single mom who’s caught up in an accidental hitman mix-up, and it’s a ride from there.

What makes this book so enjoyable is Finlay herself—she’s relatable, funny, and wonderfully flawed, making her a character you can't help but root for. Her life is a chaotic mess, but her ability to juggle her personal drama, motherhood, and unexpected crime-solving with a sense of humor is downright infectious. The humor in this book is sharp and situational, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments that balance the more suspenseful elements.

Cosimano’s writing is clever and fast-paced, creating a thrilling atmosphere without losing the heart and humor that makes this book so special. The storyline is unpredictable, filled with twists and turns that keep readers guessing, and the supporting cast of characters—especially Finlay's best friend, Vero—adds even more depth and fun to the plot.

What’s impressive about *Finlay Donovan is Killing It* is how it combines genres. It’s part mystery, part crime thriller, part comedy, and yet it doesn’t feel like any one genre outweighs the others. The book handles its mix of tones with ease, keeping the reader entertained and invested in Finlay’s increasingly wild adventures.

In short, *Finlay Donovan is Killing It* is a must-read for anyone looking for a fun, fast-paced, and unexpectedly heartwarming story. It’s the perfect blend of humor and suspense, with a protagonist you’ll want to follow through all of her chaotic escapades. Cosimano has created a memorable and lovable character in Finlay Donovan, and I can’t wait to see where her next adventure takes her.

Minotaur put the whole Finlay series up as a read-now just in time for a re-read, and I couldn't be more thrilled to start this series over again. It absolutely holds up on a re-read and never fails to delight. It was interesting to go back to the beginning, try to spot the clues along the way, and see how Finlay's character has grown from the start.

If you haven't started this series yet, now is absolutely the time!

Books that are supposed to be Laugh-Out-Loud funny seldom are, for me.
In part, it's because I read to escape.
I like COMPETENT characters who are smarter and more resourceful than I am.
When the opening pages show a frazzled young mom dealing with dirty diapers and worse, the humor (for me) is overwhelmed by the chaos, fatigue, and frustration. Been There, Done That, Don't Wanna Be Reminded.

The prose is engaging, so I kept reading.

But. Why. Why. A man cheats on his wife and leaves her for another. He not only fails to pay adequate alimony and child support, he charges rent for the jilted wife who's living in the home they once shared. How does he get away with that? Why is Finlay struggling so much to pay the bills? He's the one who cheated and sued for divorce. In which of the 50 states do we get losers like him failing to support his ex? Less surprising: this loser is suing for custody, never mind that his current love interest doesn't even like his kids.

That (the financial situation) was a big hurdle to jump. I jumped it, and kept reading.

The Russian mobsters are comical, but not as funny as the Russians in "Barry," a TV series about a serial killer. And that TV show would not have been nearly as funny but for one actor (who in real life thought his career ended with the onset of alopecia universalis, but the total hair loss launched him as a villain instead).

Ok, never mind other works of fiction that do entertain me.

The plot holes in this novel are numerous but forgivable, because without them, we don't have much of a story. Still. Burying the first dead body? All the forensic evidence that has to be hidden - Finlay and the nanny really think this is their smartest move?

The romance angle is trope-driven, and the "chemistry" we are supposed to see just didn't materialize (for me). The hot cop, or the hot bartender (who's younger than Finlay and still in law school): who will she choose? The answer: Not what you're expecting. I'm not **that** old, but I was never a fan of romances where two people who barely know each other are so quick to engage in consensual sex. Blah blah boring. I'm more interested in personality traits than sexual attributes.

Ok, yes, maybe I am old (sort of).

"Jaded" might be more accurate than "old." I have read many books. This one lacks the freshness and originality of my favorite authors, most of whom you've never heard of. For humor and romance, I much prefer books like Rod Usher's "Poor Man's Wealth."

I have not started the second book in the series, and I'm not in any big hurry to do so, but I see the archive date looming.

This book was engaging and suspenseful. I thought it would be a very cozy mystery but I was happily surprised when it turned to be not too cozy. I could not out this book down! I can't wait to read another book in this series!

This book is such a strong first book in a series. Jumps right into the story and hooks you from the beginning. Can’t wait to continue with the series

It took me a little bit to get sucked into the book, but once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed it! The best part of the book is the fact that a "hot mess" person had everything go right when it counted. I could definitely relate to the everything always going wrong and appreciate when things went right. Excited to read the next one.

I don't even remember how I first stumbled onto this series, but I'm so glad I did. Right away, the tone of Elle's writing really stood out to me. It was refreshing and really strikes that balance between slice-of-life, mystery, and action. Hoping for many more adventures with Finlay and Vero!

Definitely a "Bookstagram made me do it!" read and I'm so glad I did.
What a fun ride this book is. I'm never going back to Panera because I know it is the place that you'll get trapped into a murder for hire. I so enjoyed the humor and outlandishness in this book that took its title and ran with it.
This is a fast read so buckle up and get ready for some real fun.

Why did I wait so long to read this book? Consumed in one day because I couldn’t put it down. Great story of friendship, scorned lovers, and the mafia. Every chapter kept you coming back for more. I can’t wait to read the next book.