I read a previous Elle Cosminao book before so I was curious how this type of humor-ish thriller would work for her. While not all the twists or jokes will land with every reader, it is a story that those who enjoy mystery series can easily enjoy.

I loved this book! Like, read it almost in one sitting (if I didn't have to go to sleep), so upset it was left on a cliffhanger (albeit a great one!), bring on the sequels: LOVED. THIS. BOOK!

Possible mini spoilers ahead, sorry!

Finlay Donovan is a recently divorced, mother of two who is not only extremely behind on the deadline for her latest novel and but also most of her bills. During a meeting at Panera with her agent, Finlay is overhead discussing the plot of her latest murder romance novel and is mistakenly thought to be a hitwoman. After a potential client offers a substantial amount of money asking for her "problem husband to be taken care of," FInlay unwittingly accepts the assignment and realizes murder is a lot harder in the real world then fiction makes it seem.

This book was so entertaining and engaging. Author Elle Cosimano is such a great writer, and not only was the voice of her main character very strong throughout the book, but her authorial voice as well. I thought this book was full of action, mystery, romance and it made me laugh out loud several times (which is really hard to do sometimes in books, so kudos!) This book flowed well and was structured for easy reading. It almost felt like one of your girlfriends was just gossiping about her crazy life over brunch. Finlay felt like she could be your friend in real life. I enjoyed all of the characters, and especially loved the friendship and dynamic between Finlay and her nanny/accomplice, Vero. I also really liked the seeds of a love triangle that were planted between Detective Nick, Hot Bartender Julian, and Finlay herself.

I think this is an amazing start to a new franchise, and I for one can't wait for the follow up book. I mean that cliffhanger! I need more!!

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Net Galley for giving me an advanced copy!

I loved this book right from the opening sentences, which will resonate with any mother of young children - or anyone who has ever spent time around young children. I laughed out loud at many points in the story about a struggling author of suspense novels who is a single mom (divorced). The setup: Finlay has a meeting with her agent at a local Panera, after a disastrous start to her day due to the above-mentioned children. A woman overhears their conversation, sees bloody items in Finlay’s diaper bag and completely misreads the situation, thinking she’s a “hit woman.” She slips her a note saying she’s willing to pay her a lot of money to get rid of her husband. Craziness ensues. I loved Finlay and her babysitter/sidekick Vero. In some ways, the book reminded me of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, but this one seems a bit less ridiculous than the situations Stephanie always seems to find herself in. Looks like a great start to a series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Actually, she’s barely holding on: her book's three months overdue, her ex wants the kids, and the electricity's been cut off. Mistaken for a hitman following a tense, overheard meeting with her agent, Finn’s intrigued. But the target turns up dead, and Finn has to juggle deadlines, a hot detective, and the Russian mob. A twisty delight.

This was such a funny, twisty ride of a book. I liked reading the antics of Finlay. I hope we get to read more of Finlay in the future.


I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in return for my honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.

4 stars
Hairbrained, funny, smart writing is not something easy to do. So many traps and cliches to fall in. Finlay Donovan Is Killing it by Elle Cosimaro seems to skate by all of them. An overheard conversation, a misunderstanding, and the need for cash to hire an excellent divorce lawyer starts us off on this unique journey.

I loved this book. This was exactly the wickedly wild page turner I need to get me out of the pandemic.

This gem is about a recently divorced Finaly Donovan whose ex is trying to get full custody of their kids. Finlay is a mystery and romance author, but her income isn’t enough to pay her rent and other bills. Therefore, there is no way she can pay for a good lawyer. But as the fates would have it, Finlay is mistaken for a hit woman while being incognito at the Panera (they banned her recently, but let's not talk about that!). A mysterious woman seated at the next booth offers Finlay enough money to turn her life around and fight to keep her kids. The catch is she has to kill a man. That’s enough details. This novel is best read with only a little knowledge of the rollercoaster of events within.

This is a crime novel that screams Netflix series. I got Good Girls, Claws, Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce and a young Frankie and Grace vibes. Mainly I loved the main characters, especially Finlay and her nanny, Vero. Their relationship grows throughout this novel, and they simply work as friends, co-workers, and a makeshift family. I ship them in a platonic or in a romance way. I just want to read about all their adventures (good thing this is only book #1). Finlay and Vero are so likeable, I couldn’t help but root for them, even when they were doing bad things or getting into not-so-smart situations.

I am a sucker for bad moms and their girl friends living life to the fullest. I can’t wait for book two. In the meantime, I am checking out Elle Cosimano’s back list.

Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano has all the thrills of domestic drama and the fun of a cozy mystery. Get this book now if you are in the mood for a criminally good time.

My feelings changed about this book as I progressed through it. It started out kind of funny but then just got stupid and I thought that it just wasn’t for me, but stuck with it. But then it gelled a bit and was a little less stupid. It is a quick read, amusing, and if you don’t mind a bit of absurdity, an OK read.

I absolutely loved the main character, Finlay! She was very relatable and this story was original and entertaining. If you enjoy a fast paced mystery without any gory details, this is the book for you. I REALLY hope the author writes a second book with these characters!

Finlay Donovan is struggling. Between a messy divorce and potential custody battle, being a single mom to two young kids, and her agent pestering her for the book she's under contract to write, she's not exactly killing it. But when a misunderstanding leads to a job as a hitwoman, and entanglements with the real-life version of her own mystery novels, how can she say no?

This book was a twisty, funny, sharp-as-tacks thrill ride of a story, and I loved every page of it. Witty, clever, and well-paced, it zooms along from one hole Finlay's dug herself into to another, as the stakes just keep getting higher and higher for Finlay and her nanny/accountant/accomplice, Vero. Definitely not one to miss!

Content warnings: Drugging and off-page sexual assault, murder.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the advance review copy!

A new genre arises... the screwball comedy mystery. Mix into the pot a heaping amount of misunderstanding and misadventure, a humungous amount of humor , a tinge of romance , a burgeoning friendship , and an "accidental". murder, and you've got an amazing propulsive fun read. The perfect vaccine for Covid.
Finlay Donovan is a struggling B-list writer of romantic mysteries. She is the mother of adorable 4 year-old Delia and perpetually sticky 2 year-old toddler Zach. Recently divorced from her husband Steve, who carried on a lengthy affair with their curvy , blond realtor. They're engaged to marry and threatening to sue for full custody.
She's broke with the bills piling up and her electricity about to be turned off. On top of the everyday turmoil, she has writer's block and fears she may have to return the modest two thousand advance for her next book. She rushes to meet with her agent at Panera. An eavesdropping customer overhears their book and plot conversation and hilariously mistakes Findlay for a contract killer. Findlay is solicited to "off" her philandering husband for 50 thousand. Desperate for cash, she decides to at least to delve into his character and dresses in disguise and searches him out at his usual bar. What follows is his "accidental" murder and the need to dispose of the body.
Which leads to the burgeoning friendship and partnership with the amazing and delightful nanny and college student Vero .... who agrees to help dispose of the body for a 4o percent cut of the take. Taking on the almost slapstick-like happenings as the ever evolving complications arise the two partners-in-crime must improvise to avoid detection. Their plight is further complicated by not only ongoing police investigation, but the involvement of the Russian mob.
Elle Cosimano spins a twisted and hilarious tale that is well plotted ,suspenseful and is marvelously outfitted with multiple characters that are flawed and believable. This propulsive page turner is a welcome antidote to everyones angst. I certainly hope this is not the end to the life and adventures of Findlay Donovan. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press / Minotaur Books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved how outrageous and hilarious this book was. It was a quick, action packed read. I felt so engaged in each character’s life and story. Finlay seems to have the world against her, but the writing makes it such a light hearted feel that it’s okay to laugh at her luck and the misfortunes she has to deal with like the duct taped hair, the mistaken hitman, the husband leaving her for their realtor. So much happening and I’m so excited for the next book in the series.

This book was so much fun!! The characters were delightful, funny, and charming, and the mystery kept me on my toes. I'm giving a solid 4.5 stars because there were some things that I felt could have been better resolved, but I'm rounding up to 5 for Goodreads because that epilogue gave me chills! Now I can't wait to for the next book!

This book is just pure plain fun! I couldn’t put it down. It’s hilarious, suspenseful, and shockingly moving at times. I highly recommend to anyone that loved the Netflix show “Dead To Me”.

Poor Finley! Her latest romantic suspense novel is due to her publisher next month and she doesn’t even have an outline yet. Her husband left her for their real estate agent. Now he is trying to take full physical custody of their two children. And Finley is broke. Dead broke. When a stranger mistakes her for a contract killer and offers Finley $50,000 to kill her husband, how can Finley say no? After all, who’s better than a thriller writer to plan a murder. Finally, Finley Donovan is Killing It.

I totally enjoyed spending a few hours with Finley and her friends in this strangely light-hearted contract killer’esque mystery. This book promotes a radically new way to overcome writer’s block. Finley’s method is to do a crime in real life. Then, write the details down and call it fiction. Because...writers write.

As everyone realizes that 2021 promises to be only a slightly smaller dumpster fire than 2020, reading a fun book is a great antidote. Finley Donovan is Killing It is that book. Compared to Finley’s problems, your own will melt away. I highly recommend reading this compelling book. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars!

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

One of my goals for 2021 has been to spend less time on my phone at night before bed…I know many of you probably think I read late into the night, but no. I’m the dude who falls asleep to tik tok cake decorating videos (I literally fell down a rabbit hole the other night on comments of a video where the baker didn’t slice into her finished cake and people were hoping “both sides of her pillow were warm”, which is just so passive aggressive and amazing). But I actually managed to put the phone down this week and picked up FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT, a book that somehow managed to keep my attention on reading instead of diamond art vids.⁣
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Finlay is a down-on-her-luck mystery author. Newly divorced and barely able to care for her two young children, she’s scraping by. That is, until a fateful lunch with her book editor, when Finlay is hilariously mistaken for a hit woman and offered 50k to kill a philandering, shady businessman. Curiously horrified at the proposition but in serious need of cash, one thing leads to another and Finlay inadvertently kills the man (or did she), and she is forced to partner up with her acerbic and hilarious nanny/friend Vero, who helps Finlay dispose of the body in exchange for 50% of the hitman fee. However, when the police and Russian mob begin investigating the man’s disappearance and begin closing in on the two women, Finlay and Vero must do whatever it takes to protect their family and avoid getting caught.⁣
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I had lower expectations going into Finlay but was pleasantly surprised. Reminiscent of Netflix’s DEAD TO ME, the book is well-plotted and suspenseful, full of humor and heart, and a great female friendship between Finlay and Vero at the center. The concept is a littler preposterous, but Cosimano does a good job of grounding the characters and story in a believable (albeit slightly heightened) and highly entertaining way. If you’re looking for a breezy, fun, fast read, I can’t recommend this one enough. #FinlayDonovanIsKillingIt comes out this Tuesday, 2/2. Thanks to my friends at @minotaur_books for this fantastic finished copy!

5 stars = Outstanding!

I loved this clever story! The premise is fantastic as is the execution. I wasn't sure how the author would pull off the story, but she does. I loved Finlay, especially as the novel progressed and she became more determined and more in charge of her destiny. There's an amazing teaser at the end for a sequel. I already wanted more Finlay stories, but that hint makes book 2 a must-read for me. This is clever, funny, and *different* from so many of the mysteries I read (and love) - and I devoured in it one sitting. (Language, off-page sex, sexual references TW: references to sexual assault)

A Single Mother Gets Involved with Contract Killing

Finaly Donovan, a divorced mother of two and a struggling novelist, is stressed-out. Her novel is due to her agent, but it isn’t finished. Her divorced husband is getting engaged to the Realtor he was cheating with, and he’s trying to take the kids. He also fired the nanny. She has to get the kids to school, but first she has to deal with her daughter’s self-inflicted hair cut.

When Finlay meets with her agent, she’s overheard discussing the plot of her mystery novel. The eavesdropper thinks Finlay is a contract killer and slips her a note. When Finlay follows up it turns out she wants to get rid of her husband. The money is tempting and before she realizes it Finlay is involved in a real murder investigation.

This is an amusing novel with laugh-out-loud humor interspersed with some darker moments. Finlay is a character any mom can associate with whether single or not. There are just some days when you have kids. Vero, her babysitter, is an excellent counterpoint. You can’t help liking them both.

I recommend the book if you just want to relax, laugh a little, and enjoy a likable character’s troubles for awhile.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

Need a break today?
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Call in “reading”.
And go read this book!
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You know that one down-to-cover-up-a-murder- friend... FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT goes out to them.
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Everyone has that *one* friend. Maybe he’s #driven you home once or twice or maybe he’s your #bodyguard (see BONDING reference there). Or maybe she’s always been there to #cleanup your mess or #internetstalk for you so it’s not on your computer 👩🏽‍💻
Or even better you know can call them to help you #buryabody.
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FDIKI was such a fun 🤩 #chooseyourownadventure for grown-ups type book that had me remembering what my love of reading was all about in the first place.
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I had THELMA AND LOUISE vibes the entire time I was reading. I thought it was fun and engaging, and so refreshing. I highly recommend it!
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#finlaydonovan is a single mom and struggling author with a #manuscript due and bills stacking up. She’s in one perilous #position after another. The entire time I was whispering to my #kindle - “please don’t do that, please don’t do that”.
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Did she?
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Well, you’ll have to read FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT to find out.
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It’s out now!
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Swipe right for my mini review and more. 👉🏽
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Thanks so much as always to #netgalley #stmartinspress and #minotaurbooks

Finlay Donovan is Killing It was one of my favourite books of January. If you’re a fan of the tv show Dead to Me - pick this one up!

This book of a single mom turned into hitman was an absolute delight.
I loved how as a reader I got to live in her head and gets live play by play of her reactions to everything. It was laugh out loud funny, ridiculous, thrillery, and fun.

This book took a few twists and turns I didn’t see coming, yes was unrealistic at times but I revelled in it, and THAT ENDING. I loved it!