I wanted to love FINLAY DONOVAN but only liked it. brief synopsis: author writing murder mysteries & recently out of a broken marriage finds herself in the middle of a real-life murder mystery involving a broken marriage. this is a comedy & a thriller, but I didn’t find it especially comedic or thrilling. protagonist Finlay is likable & extremely clumsy, though I didn’t find her character to be well-developed. my favorite parts of this book were descriptions of writing, coffee, hot chocolate, and the one & only Panera. breakout star was Vero, Finlay’s sidekick who’d make a better protagonist. pretty cover, but wouldn’t prioritize tbh.

If you like slapstick comedy, a solid plot mystery, engaging dialogue and a humorous romp with an eclectic cast of characters, this is the book for you. From the start, this book captured my attention, and I could not put it down, quickly becoming a page-turner. A struggling writer in over her head propels this wonderfully entertaining tale of miscreants and unintentional mayhem as our protagonist tries to do the right thing but instead hilarity ensues. The writing was superb with a comfortable tone making it easy to follow along with what the author intended. The mystery was filled with excitement as I eagerly flip the pages in anticipation of what will happen next and the author did not disappoint. Everything you can imagine, happened and as the drama neared the finished line, the pacing escalated, and I couldn’t wait for the last word to be read. Bravo, a fantastic read.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. I'll be posting my review on Goodreads and Amazon

So Finlay accidentally became a hitwoman. The story sounds astounding and yet very much believable. Finlay's character is a sharp-witted, housewife and completely relatable to it. When everything is falling apart for her, she somehow found a silver-lining, in killing someone else, or did she? Vero and Finlay are like modern Thelma and Louise. The story was very believable up until the police found the bodies. I find it hard to believe that forensic did not do any autopsy to determined the death of these people. One person would stand out as an odd man out. Without giving away the plot, to know what I mean, you would have to read the book. It is still very much enjoyable.

Thank you to Martin's Press and NetGalley for letting me read this fabulous ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fun book with well-drawn, lovable characters. Part romance, part crime novel, neither one competing for top billing as genre. Loved that it was a somewhat romance book that didn't end up with a wedding, not even a long term relationship, just the main character doing her thing and succeeding. Crime was wrapped up enough to satisfy but not bore with details. Ending proposes possible second novel, which I would read. Hopefully Vero gets her own story in the future.

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano is a super fun, entertaining crime mystery. Finlay is a mystery author who meets her literary agent at Panera to discuss her latest book. She ends up being overheard and mistaken for a hired criminal. An unhappy wife wants to hire Finlay to kill her husband! This story is super funny, and I can't wait to read the next book in this new series! Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

Finlay Donovan is Killing It is a fun mix between a murder mystery and the story of a 30-something single mom of two just trying to hold it all together. I found Finlay to be an endearing main character, even as she repeatedly (accidentally) gets herself in over her head. This is an easy read that I breezed through in two days. It kept me guessing and engaged while still be a light mystery read. Recommend if you’re not into gory thrillers and like a second plot!

This was an interesting mystery. Better than expected. I will recommend it to patrons. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

You know that scene at the beginning of The Lion King where Rafiki walks out to the edge of Pride Rock and hoists baby Simba in the air to be presented to all the animals of the Pride Lands? The one where the opening chant of “The Circle of Life” blares in the background? "Nants’ ingonyama, bakithi, baba. Sithi hu ‘ngonyama.”

Well I’m Rafiki and this book will be Simba anytime any of my suburban book club member friends (“SBCMFs”) ask me what they should read next in 2021.

Not to say only SBCMFs will enjoy this romp about a barely-scraping-by newly-divorced writer and mother of two who’s mistaken for a hit woman, but man those MFs are gonna love it.

I did too. 4.5 stars.

My appreciation goes to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and the author for granting my wish to read an advanced copy via NetGalley. Thanks to you, my 2021 recommendations are already killing it.

When we first meet Finlay Donovan things are not going well. She’s already burned through a measly advance for her stalled book, and she’s trying to move on after a somewhat messy divorce. You might not see this as a setup for hilarity, but from the gate there’s a lot of relatable snark to Finley’s predicament.

One day Finlay stumbles on a unique opportunity that could change everything. All she has to do is break the law and compromise herself morally-no biggie. As Finlay gets further into this other world, the lines between fact and fiction begin to blur. When you’re a writer with a serious bout of blockage, you’ll take inspiration wherever you can get it. What happens next proves the old adage, sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction.

Finlay Donovan is Killing It is an aptly titled book that was a fun thrill ride from start to finish. It’s a mystery, but not your typical whodunnit. It also had serious Dead to Me vibes with a splash of Adventures in Babysitting’s adventurous whimsy thrown in. Basically, it had a little bit of everything for a lot of different readers. I also would venture to say the story doesn’t end here, even if that is just wishful thinking on my part.

This title will be released on February 2nd. Thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and most importantly, Ellie for writing a comical mystery that truly slays.

Ever overhear a conversation in a coffee shop, and wonder if you REALLY heard what you thought you heard? Finlay Donovan is having a bad day. She and her husband are in the middle of a divorce, her four-year-old daughter just cut her own hair, and her agent is threatening to take back her advance because her latest book isn't finished (or really, even started). Then she and her agent are overheard by someone at Panera who thinks that she is a contract killer (instead of just writing about them). The woman slips Finlay a note about killing her husband for $50,000, and, being desperate for money to keep herself afloat and not lose her kids to her obnoxious ex-husband, she decides to at least research this woman's husband. And then stalk him at a bar. And switch drinks so he gets the date rape drug instead of his "date."

Finlay doesn't exactly commit the perfect crime, but you'll laugh at the miscues and craziness that ensues when she and her babysitter find themselves dealing with dead bodies, intriguing bartenders and policemen, members of the Mafia, and crazy women who decide the men in their lives need to go.

This was a fun read, because every woman will identify with the urge to "deal" with the sleazeball men in this world, and the worth of a good friend who knows where the bodies are buried!

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.

Finlay Donovan is a woman who can’t catch a break if it fell right into her hands. She’s a recently single mom of two young children and a barely known author struggling to make ends meet since her ex left her for their sexy real estate agent. After a harrowing morning with her kids involving a bad haircut and messy breakfast that ends with syrup, blood, duct tape and a knife … don’t ask … Finlay meets her book agent, Sylvia, at Panera to discuss her newest book. When a woman sitting at a nearby booth sees some of these remnants of her morning on display in her diaper bag and overhears their book plot discussion about murder, she draws the wrong conclusion and invites the unwitting Finlay to help take care of her pesky husband problem - permanently. Unfortunately, getting out of this unwanted job proves much harder than getting into it, especially when it involves some very shady, powerful people.

I won’t dive into the remaining plot details, because it’s better to discover all the twists and turns for yourself, but I will say that I was impressed with how author Elle Cosimano tied up the threads of this seemingly impossible scenario Finlay finds herself in.

This book was a blast! With my schedule, there’s no such thing as a one day read, but if I could’ve, I would’ve. The plot is tight and fast-paced, with well-developed, interesting characters and loads of humor. Finlay’s kids’ nanny, Vero, is smart, spunky and delightful, and even when she creates problems of her own, she’d still be my go-to girl if I needed help. Julian, the bartender, and Nick, the cop? I’d take either one in a heartbeat if I was single, though I was leaning in a different direction than the story went. You win some, you lose some. I wasn’t too disappointed. The ending is clearly setting up for a sequel, so who knows where all these characters may end up when the merry-go-round stops spinning. All I know is … I want to be on the next ride!

★★★★★ ❤️

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I've read a couple of Cosimano's YA titles before, but it's been a few years since I've sunk my teeth into one of her books. This title is definitely an adult mystery with definite aspects of comedy. I'm rather glad I saved this one for the end of the year because its quiet & this book was *impossible to put down*. Finlay Donovan is a struggling fiction writer & single mom of 2 young kids. Her husband Steven had an affair with a real estate agent and left her for Theresa Hall, a blonde bombshell biotch who hates kids. Finlay is late on her bills, late on her book deadline and has writer's block because she can't write romance after her husband left her & she had no clue of the affair until her nosy neighbor outed them. On a chance meeting with her agent at a Panera, she somehow gets an unconventional job offer in her lap. From there on out, starts the "fun". Have you ever fantasized about revenge killing husbands who are dirt bags? Or at least some nefarious activities while making your rival look guilty as sin? I really didn't know how things would turn out & the suspense was delightful. Only thing is that this could ONLY be fiction although some things ARE too strange to be made up. I believe and hope there will be a follow up book because there was an intriguing loose end. Oh and sadly I don't think Panera has cheesecake but they really ought to add it to their dessert menu.

When Finlay Donovan is talking with her agent about her latest romantic suspense novel in a crowded Panera, the woman next to her mistakes Finlay for a hit woman, and hires her to kill her husband! Finlay ends up tangled in a murder investigation...

This is a stand-out, fresh, modern mystery destined for the big screen. Seriously, if this isn't a movie in a few years, I would be shocked (and will riot). It's a challenge to craft a mystery that isn't predictable, feels new, and has some hilarious moments and this manages to do all three. In the first chapter, I was a little worried, because a single, mid-twenties professional, I couldn't relate to Finlay's harried divorced mom of two #strugglebus life. But I quickly fell in love with Finlay's character, and I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't. She's plucky, fun, creative, and way more competent than she gives herself credit for. The story makes you question your own morals as you maybe actually root for Finlay to carry out the hit, and sets up a series in such a stunner of a way you may want to pull your hair out at the epilogue. Thankfully, most loose ends are tied up nicely, but there's also plenty of plot left for additional books--whether it's mysteries (here for it!) or whether Finlay ends up with a hotshot law student or hotshot cop (here for either of them!). A lot of mystery series suffer from the dreaded love triangle paradox (how else do you keep the story alive for 10+ books?) but it's hardly noticeable in this book, since the romance is so tangential to the plot--this story is truly about FINLAY, and no one else. But I also love the supporting cast of characters, including the love interest, Vero--the nanny/accountant, Finlay's ex, and everyone else! I can't wait to read the next book and the first book isn't even out yet.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!

5 stars - 10/10

𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finlay Donovan is Killing It
Author: Elle Cosimano
Publishers: Minotaur
Release Date: February 2, 2021

I’m giving this 5 ⭐️ because of the writing, the story-line, and characters. It was a fast paced and easy read.

What a suspenseful, funny, fresh, well-written murder mystery!

I was left at the edge of my seat for the entirety of this book. It was a unique story with a great cast of characters.

I loved the relationship between Finlay and Vero, like a Thelma and Louise of murder, mystery, and mayhem. I did not want to put this book down. I wanted to savor every second and yet read as fast as possible to find out how it was going to end.

The ending was genius! I didn’t see half of the twists coming in the story, and I am so excited to hear more from this author! This is going to be a massive hit in 2021!

Be sure you order your copy!

This book was a solidly fun, mistaken identity gone wrong read! I was looking forward to relaxing with this book every night so I could read a little more about what a hole Findlay was digging herself into and how she would get out of it. Findlay is completely over the top - sometimes a little too many implausible things happened - but overall, a light fun read that will hold your attention until the very end.

Finlay Donovan is Killing It is a fun, mystery, thriller with some romance. There are multidimensional characters. It was wonderful to read this light, madcap escapade during these turbulent times. I am looking forward to reading more books by Elle Cosimano. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Finlay Donovan has a career as a crime writer, though she doesn’t consider herself very successful. Her advances never pay much more than a few household bills and now that she’s a single mom, she’s struggling.
Her ex-husband Steven is now engaged to the realtor he was cheating on her with and wants custody of their two young children.
Smug about the fact Finlay not earning much money and he has to help her financially, the final nail in the coffin is when he fires their nanny, Vero.

Finlay is at a crossroads when she speaks with her agent, Sylvia, at the local Panera. She’s already spent her meager book advance and owes them a draft of a book she hasn’t had the time to write. All of her bills are overdue. She can’t possibly afford a lawyer to battle her ex for custody.
When a woman at the restaurant overhears Finlay’s discussion, she gets the wrong idea about Finlay’s profession. Before Finlay knows what’s happening, she’s been hired to get rid of a woman’s husband for $50,000.
This strange turn of events at least gives her an idea for her next book and she has her police officer sister to help her with the hypothetical details.
Unfortunately, the man she was hired to bump off ends up dead anyway and now Finlay has to untangle herself from the crime before she becomes a suspect.

From there, an unlikely but highly entertaining adventure begins with Finlay and her nanny/accomplice Vero! I adore every single thing about this book. It’s just a fun fast-paced ride with charmingly flawed characters who feel genuine, the right amount of comedy, and an ending that definitely left me wanting more. I am thrilled this is just the beginning of a new mystery series!

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is scheduled for release on February 2, 2021.

This book is a fun ride if you're willing to suspend disbelief--pretty much nothing that happens to the characters is believeable--but when I read a humorous mystery, I'm okay with madcap, so that was fine by me. The characters are likeable and pleasant to spend time with. But, if implausibilty is an issue for you, though, this probably isn't your best choice.

This book hooked me from its opening line:

"It's a widely known fact that most moms are ready to kill someone by eight thirty A.M. on any given morning."

Can't argue with that, right? 😆

This mystery features a compelling whodunit plot, dark humor, and a intriguing heroines. I sped through it in 2 days, eager to see how everything resolved. The story was vaguely reminiscent of the Stephanie Plum mysteries, and I felt that the ending was left open for a similar series, especially because this book featured the start of a love triangle. I'd love to read more about Finlay's adventures!