What do a stolen dress, an overheard conversation, and a mercenary for hire have in common? Two words; Finlay Donovan.

Finlay Donovan is a woman at the end of her wits. A divorced mother of 2 as well as a struggling author, she has to contend with nosy neighbors, a good for nothing ex husband and his fiancé, and of course, writer’s block.

Things take a turn for Finlay the day she meets up with her agent at Panera and a misheard conversation has someone thinking Fin is a mercenary for hire. While trying to correct the misheard conversation, she unintentionally takes the job and all of a sudden she’s now living the life of the heroine in her novel.

Joined by her kids’ babysitter, Vera, they both make cringeworthy but also hilarious decisions that make you root for them. Looking forward to the next book in the series!

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is out February 2nd, 2021. Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for an arc of the book!

r/suggestmeabook: I want a well-plotted mystery with a tinge of romance, a splash of humor, and a woman who’s finding herself at the center of it all

It’s not the first time I’ve read the premise: someone overhears a mystery author talking to someone else at a restaurant about her novel and thinks they’re talking about a real murder. This is the first time I’ve seen it taken on so effectively, and the novel is an enjoyable jaunt as Finlay Donovan considers the unthinkable because she’s been pushed into a corner.

Elle Cosimano’s descriptions of the struggles of a mother with young chlidren are quite funny; the opening segment of how Finlay is trying to deal with her five-year-old’s attempt to cut her own hair is one of those insane things parents do when sleep-deprived. Not everything in the book is as original, though. The cheating asshole of an ex and the conniving bitch the ex left Finlay for are fairly standard characters (perhaps because they’re not unknown in real life), but other characters in the book make up for it, and the writing is crisp.

Probably my favorite character in the book is Vero, the nanny cum accountant who is completely unflappable and utterly competent, able to wrestle babies, exes, criminals, and cops with equal aplomb. Finlay, by comparison, is just making it up as she goes along, and doesn’t seem to have a clue about much of anything. However, it’s her growth over the course of the book that makes it stand above the typical murder mystery of its type.

The mystery itself is fairly far-fetched, but executed well enough that it didn’t make me feel the need to stop reading. Most people can believe that a woman would be willing to do anything to hold onto custody of her kids, but the mechanics of the deaths in here give me some pause. On the other hand, it was hard to sympathize with the level of guilt as much as the anxiety about being caught, as the victim was a terrible human being.

My biggest gripe about the book is that it felt like it had ended at least three times before it actually had. You shouldn’t turn the page and think, “What, it’s not over?” It would have been nice had not each of the next to last three chapters hadn’t ended with lines that sounded like the ending, but rather lead into the next one. But that’s a relatively small complaint.

All in all, it’s a solid, enjoyable read.

Finlay Donovan is recently divorced from her husband, juggling her career as a mystery writer, and has two small children. Finlay's life is turned upside down when she is meeting her literary agent. This meeting goes as expected - the agent is rushing Finlay on writing more and meeting her deadlines, while someone is eavesdropping nearby they misinterpret the conversation and offer her $50K to get a job done. Will she go through with it? Does money motivate us?

This book has everything I was hoping for, a little romcom, twist and turns, and vindication.

Read if you like
-strong female characters
- enjoy laughing
-mystery and putting on your detective hat
-wit and scarcasm

Trigger warnings: divorce, murder, cheating,

I am already so hyped about this book coming out (on my BIRTHDAY), and I've told countless thriller book lover friends about it. This book is going to get you out of a reading rut, and if you aren't in one, I know you will fly through these chapters!

**I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Funny, page-turning, and attention grabing! This is the Bridget Jones for murder! I loved the characters and saw the movie being played out before my eyes.

What a delightful and innovative storyline! Nothing like an assassin who doesn't want to be one.

Finlay Donovan is going through a rough time. Her ex-husband cheated, got engaged to their realtor and now it’s trying to take custody of their two kids. Finlay's financial situation is dire. She can’t pay her bills!

Finlay is a writer but since her divorce, she has not been able to write a word. She already used the advance she was given. If she doesn't deliver a new book, her suspense writing dream is over and she will lose her kids for sure.

Then while meeting her literary agent at Panera, the woman next to them (Patricia Mickler) started eavesdropping on their conversation and she misinterprets what Finlay and her agent were discussing. Next thing you know, Mrs. Mickler leaves a message with a phone number. When Finlay calls, Patricia is offering fifty thousand dollars in exchange for Finlay disposing of her husband.

This book was unputabledown. It was refreshing. I was entertained throughout!

I was also anxious about Finlay getting over her head. The one saving grace was Vero. I want a Vero in my life. She was the perfect babysitter and friend anyone should have.

I love Finlay too. She was stuck in a hard place and did what she thought needed to be done. Of course, her decisions were mostly wrong and led to even more trouble for her and Vero.

The best part was the ending. I loved it.

Grab this gem when you need a distraction, it will make laugh and hopefully root for her as I did.

I can't wait for the next one.

Cliffhanger: No

5/5 Fangs

This was a compulsively readable dark comedy thriller that I could not put down! Finlay is a down on her luck recently divorced author, who is meeting with her agent at Panera when someone overhears their conversation and mistakes her as a murderer for hire. The story takes off from there, and was equal parts smart, witty, and surprising. I thought the pacing and character development was solid, and I especially loved Vero.

The ending left open the door for a second book, and I’d love to read more with these characters!

Finlay Donovan’s life is a mess. Her ex-husband and new fiancée want custody of the kids. She’s behind on all her bills and hasn’t actually started her novel that’s overdue. When she’s overheard discussing her book someone thinks she’s a hit man. And so begins a little murder and some confusion. This book was just a ton of fun. I hope it’s a series. I want to know what happens to Finlay.

An absolute engaging novel of mistaken identity. A great chick lit story that is thoroughly enjoyable.
Great story to read before a roaring fire or on a sandy beach.

This deliciously fun and funny thriller features a loveable but disorganized writer, mistaken identity, mob connections and threats, a conniving ex-husband, lots of duct tape, a sassy nanny and nosy neighbor, Panera Bread, and so, so many bad—but relatable—decisions. It is also one of the funniest books I’ve read in quite a while! I found myself neglecting my own writing as I frantically flipped pages to see what would happen next to Finlay. Hilarious, sweet, and entertaining, Finlay Donovan is Killing It is sure to be on many best-of and TBR lists in 2021!

Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is genius- it’s a dark humor and relatable thriller. There's a sassy main character- she was legit banned from Panera for pouring soup over a former friend’s head- a bit of a waste of delicious soup but still respect. She’s messy and chaotic trying to survive life as a single mother and struggling financially. After a weird misunderstanding she’s offered 50 grand to “take care” of a woman’s “not nice” husband. In any normal situation, you wouldn’t even fathom this but what if you were desperate? What if you were backed into a corner and could barely afford to take care of your children?! And your cheating ex husband was trying to take them away? It can’t hurt to consider the offer... just research for her super overdue book...right? And she’ll only do it if the guy really deserves it...ala Dexter style. So this is how Finlay finds herself in a real life version of a plot to one of her crime novels. With the help of an unexpected partner in crime (literally) who was sassy x10, they navigate a complicated situation with such wit and camaraderie. This book had me questioning my morals and rooting for things I normally wouldn’t. I think I discovered recently that I am here for a female vigilante angle. Although a bit far fetched it was notably entertaining and kept us hooked. I'm so happy this is going to be a series because we want more Finlay Donovan adventures ASAP. Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for our honest review! (PUB DATE: 2/2/21).

4.25 stars / This review will be posted at BookwormishMe.com on 17 January 2021.


Finlay’s life is currently in chaos. Her ex-husband and his soon-to-be bride are trying to take the kids away. She has a book commitment that she has fallen horribly behind on. The bills are stacking up. And now she’s been informed by the ex that he fired her nanny. Could life get any worse?

While meeting her agent at a Panera Bread to discuss the book that she hasn’t even started, a woman at the next table overhears Finlay’s conversation and mistakenly thinks the discussion is about something other than it really is. The woman slips Finlay a note with a proposition that could make Finlay a lot of money. Big decision whether or not to get involved.

This book was so much fun. Finlay’s life is that of the typical single, working mom. Too much going on and not enough time or hands to deal with it. I laughed out loud at some of the scenes in this book. I absolutely loved the relationship that spawns between Finlay and her nanny Vero. I highly recommend reading this one when you want a good break from reality.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

I started this book with high hopes. The descriptions made it sound interesting.

Unfortunately, the book was totally disappointing and inane. I could not finish it.

SASSY, NO SPOILERS: FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT
Author turned accidental murder investigator? Sassy babysitters? Yes, please.


Finlay Donovan is Killing it by Elle Cosimano was gifted to me by the fine folks at NetGalley. I am a real sucker for any story that features a fumbling protagonist, especially one that finds herself in the middle of a mobster/hitman situation. Poor Finlay, she just wants to write Thriller-Romance novels and pay her bills. But when someone overhears her talking about her work at Panera, of all places, Finlay finds herself in a real bad situation. A bad situation that would pay her $50,000 if it went well. That money could also help her win custody of her children against her evil ex-husband, and his even-more-evil fiance.

If she made good choices, the book would be a terrific bore. But of course, dear reader, Finlay fumbles (nervously) right into the thick of it. Will she get out of it with her money—and her life?

The things I enjoyed about this book were the humorous moments, the sassy babysitter, and Finlay’s tendency to always do the wrong thing, but for an honorable reason (her children). It’s a fun story, a little sexy, and you will find yourself glued to the pages as you wonder, well how the hell is Finlay going to get out of that?

I believe this is the first in what will be a series, and I look forward to seeing how Finlay gets out of the next pickle.

Such a fun and light read, I would recommend it to anyone needing a little escape from 2020. Also those who:

Loved Desperate Housewives (I am guilty of this, no shade)
Enjoy sassy true crime podcasts
Wonder what would happen if someone accidentally hired a housewife as a hitman
Need to laugh
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Finlay is a broke, frazzled single mom who is also a writer. A woman mishears her talking about the plot of her next book and tries to hire Finlay to kill her husband for $50,000, money that Finlay desperately needs. It was a ridiculous story, but it was entertaining and I didn't really know where anything would end up. 3 stars.

This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written. The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Woohoo! Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Elle Cosimano for an ARC of one of the greatest afternoon reads I’ve enjoyed in a long time. I had already read a few good reviews of this book, so I was eager to get started, but I was not prepared to fall head over heels in love!

Finlay Donovan is HILARIOUS. It is a roadshow not to be missed; it is fun, sexy, and completely unexpected. By the end of Chapter 2, my eyes were glued to the text and I did not move from my chair before I devoured every last page. I even did something I rarely ever do. I read the acknowledgements (!) because <b>I just didn’t want this book to end.</b>

Finlay Donovan is a modestly(X3) successful writer of mystery novels - meaning she doesn’t make a living at writing even though she has an agent and publisher and several novels under her belt. Her douchebag of an ex-husband (DEX) has left her and is currently engaged to the real estate agent who sold them their house and with whom he was having an affair, as revealed to Finlay one afternoon by old Mrs. Haggerty (Queen of the Neighborhood Watch).

The bills are piling up, her flush DEX and STB wife, rub her nose in her failures and miss no opportunity to keep her on a tight leash, yanking at her self-esteem and threatening to sue for custody of their two small children because she cannot provide for them. Vero, the children’s nanny, has quit. With no childcare, no money and no possibility or strength to write, Finlay will soon be forced to pay back the long-gone advance she received for her (unwritten) book and probably lose custody of Delia and Zach.

A desperate, impecunious, Finlay is being berated by her agent as they meet in Panera. It is clear she will not meet her deadline. As they discuss the murder plot of her upcoming, unwritten, mystery and the fact that she has already received 50% upfront (meaning she must finish the job or lose both her agent and publisher), other desperate woman (ODW), sitting in a nearby booth, overhears and misinterprets their discussion. Finlay gets up to say goodbye to her agent and as she prepares to leave Panera, she finds that ODW has slipped a scribbled note under Finlay’s plate. The note reads: <i>$50,000 CASH HARRIS MICKLER 49 N LIVINGSTON ST ARLINGTON</i>, with a phone number. <b>Finlay has been mistaken for a hired hit(wo)man.</b>

Who cares if the target is connected to the Russian Mob? Desperate times call for desperate measures…. and now the stage is set for a comedy of errors that had me smiling and laughing from start to finish….

This book is begging for a sequel, a prequel, and anything else this author has in her, because I don’t think that any of Cosimano’s readers will be ready to bid a final farewell to Finlay, Vero, Mrs. Haggerty, Julian and/or Nick and/or any of the other mostly likable characters in this novel.

Finlay is a stressed divorced mom. Late on her book deadline and running late for an appt w/her agent at Panera she gets mistaken for a hit woman. Being cash strapped she investigates to see if she'd be able to pull off the crime. Vero, her nanny becomes her partner-in-crime as they become involved in a more intricate plot. The intended victim has mob-ties as well as an ongoing police investigation.

This is a quote from from the opening paragraph of the book:
"It's a widely know fact that most moms are ready to kill someone by eight thirty A.M. on any given morning....
If you've never had to wrestle a two-year-old slathered in maple syrup into a diaper while your four-year-old decides to give herself a haircut in time for preschool.."
That grabbed my attention as I chuckled out loud. What a great way to start a story.

There was a lot of humor and charming characters. You root for Finlay.
It was an enjoyable easy read. I also find her to be relatable.

It reminded me of the early Stephanie Plum books. But instead of an inept FTA agent, we have an inept contract killer. There's even a love triangle b/w a sexy cop & a sexy bartender/law student. Personally, i'm rooting for the cop b/c i think there's more to the bartender than seems to be. (possible plot in a sequel?)

The ending left off on a bit of a cliffhanger as i believe this is the first book in a new series. And i think a comedic take on a hit-woman for a mystery series is an exceptional spin on the norm.

Overall, a funny, good debut adult novel by a writer who's previously written YA books. I look forward to reading another book in the series.


Other great quotes:
"My relationship with Panera was complicated. I liked their soup. Panera didn't like that I'd poured it over another customer's head."

"...Vero and I rolled Harris Mickler into a giant corpse burrito."

" 'I lured him with promises of sex, ' I panted. Vero quirked an eyebrow, unconvinced. Clearly, amateur-killer-in-sweaty-yoga-pants was not my best look. I rolled my eyes and said through a huff, 'He was under the influence of drugs, okay?' "

This comedy thriller, about an inadvertent hit woman, didn’t hit quite the right tone for me but it was a decent read. Lots of other people seem to love it, so maybe it just caught me on a bad day.

When author Finlay Donovan is mistaken for a hit woman, she decides to go ahead with the contract because she needs the money to fight for the custody of her children. Everything goes wrong and she dances on the edge of being arrested but with luck and some helpful, if unlikely, plot twists she might just get to keep the money and her kids.

I didn’t believe in Finlay as a character nor what it was that made her attractive to the two men who fall for her. I couldn’t quite figure out Vero, her sidekick, other than as a foil and a useful person to look after the kids when Finlay is gallivanting around. (In fact for someone so desperate to hang on to her kids that she’ll commit murder, Finlay doesn’t seem to spend a lot of time with them.) The villains are caricatures as is her ex-husband’s fiancee.

The plotting isn’t really sharp enough to be a thriller and the tone, which feels like it should be madcap and screwball a la Carl Hiaasen, fell rather flat for me. All became clear when I read that the author usually writes YA mysteries - that is exactly the tone it hits but it works less well for an adult story. I really liked the idea of this novel (and the cover!) but it didn’t quite do it for me, though I might try some of Cosimano’s teen books.

Thanks to St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

This was hilarious! I literally laughed out loud multiple times. I loved the main character and her sidekick, and the supporting characters were all well written.

Especially when the “real world” is so stressful, it’s nice to have a book that is pure escapist bliss., with a smart, nuanced plot.

I’m looking forward to future installments!

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. This mystery is well-plotted with great characters. Finlay is a struggling writer whose husband left her for another woman. To make matters worse, he fired the nanny and is threatening to take custody of the kids, using the fact that she’s behind on all her bills as his leverage. Without a nanny, Finlay will never have time to finish (start) the novel that she already accepted the very low advance for.

When she meets her agent at a Panera, a woman at a nearby table listens in on the conversation and misunderstands that Finlay only kills off fictional characters in her novels, not real life. What follows is a lot of page-turning fun. The good guys were likeable, the ex-husband and new girlfriend aren’t likeable but aren’t evil, but there are also real bad guys in this story.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book, which RELEASES FEBRUARY 2, 2021.