Why I Can’t Stop Thinking About Finlay Donovan Is Killing It

Every year, my goal is to read at most 100 books. In 2021, I read 122. If that seems like a lot of books, that’s because it is (though not as many as some people). I still think about reading hundreds of books, no matter how many I have read. I have learned some tricks over time that have helped me select the right books. I like romances, thrillers, and family dramas, but I don’t seek out funny books. Yet, I love it when a book makes my laugh out loud.

This is why, of the 124 books I read last yea, and the many others I added to my TBR, I only chose a few. Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano is the one that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about. I can’t help smiling whenever I see it on my bookshelves. It was a Christmas gift I bought for my sister in law. I read every review that appears on my Bookstagram feed. I wanted to see how others liked it. It’s the book I have recommended the most to all kinds of readers because with an incredible hook, characters you can’t help but root for, a mystery that will keep you guessing, a bit of a love triangle, and that humor, it’s a book that works for everyone.

Just in time for the sequel Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em DeadI recommend it to you. What is it about this book that makes it so funny? Well, everything:

A Hook That’s Guaranteed To Grab Your Attention

I was astonished to hear the synopsis. Finlay Donovan Is Killing ItIt was so compelling that I had to read it. Is a contract killer what a suspense writer confuses for a thriller writer? Sign me up!

Finlay Donovan just wants to make ends meet. After her husband, Steven, leaves her for another woman, she’s stuck renting the house they used to own together from him. Steven is threatening legal action to obtain full custody of their young children. Finlay is behind on her bills and has already used the measly advance she received for a novel she hasn’t written yet. Steven has fired Finlay’s nanny.

While Finlay and her literary agent are having lunch at Panera, Finlay can be heard discussing the plot of the unwritten book. When Finlay is clearing her dishes, a woman leaves a note on her table with a name, an address, a phone number, and “$50,000 CASH” written on it. Before Finlay knows it, she is involved in a murder investigation.

Characters You’ll Root For—Or Against

Finlay is the kinda friend I want. She’s funny and honest in the way that I wish we all could be: She’s not afraid to admit that yes, her life is a mess, and no, she really doesn’t have it all together. Finlay is a positive person despite all the difficulties she faces. Finlay’s 4-year-old daughter is a hairdresser and loves to put it back together using duct tape. Sure. Sure. She’ll deliver their son to him with a very full diaper. Her nanny wants to take her favorite pan. They’ll work it out while sharing the bourbon she was also going to take. Finlay is a good listener and can handle any situation with grace and humor.

Additionally, Cosimano has populated Finlay’s world with characters who are just as interesting. Finlay’s nanny, Vero, may just do an even better job of making the best of unfortunate circumstances. And she’s always there to commiserate or celebrate, depending on the day, with takeout and a bottle of wine. Finlay’s daughter, Delia, has some of the funniest lines of the book, coming out with brutally honest observations and questions as 4-year-olds are known to do. Finlay’s sister, Georgia, who works as a cop, doesn’t have children, hasn’t been on a date in 10 years, and is calm and collected, serving as a stark contrast to Finlay herself. Even Finlay’s ex-husband and his fiancée, Theresa, while not as likable as the rest of the cast, are layered with secrets and quarks. You’d never know from Theresa’s pristine white carpets that her dirty laundry is thrown all over her bedroom. And that isn’t her darkest secret.

A mystery that will keep your eyes turning pages

If all of the excellent characters aren’t enough, the mystery in this book will make it impossible for you to put down. OK, so Finlay gets mistaken for a hit woman and is asked to kill a woman’s husband in exchange for $50,000. Finlay could still be killed, however. Really use that $50k, she isn’t a murderer. What could possibly go wrong?

It turns out that there are many things that can go wrong. As Finlay became more involved with a real-life crime investigation, I was gripped. There are men who do terrible things. There are also women who want their husbands dead. Some mob bosses are known to avoid arrest. And there’s Nick, the cop on the case who starts working with Finlay after Georgia connects them, thinking that Finlay’s thriller-writer mind may be able to help, which brings me to…

Romances—Yes, Plural

As a recent divorcée, romance isn’t the first thing on Finlay’s mind. But that doesn’t mean she’s immune to the charms of the male suitors who cross her path. First, there’s law student Julian, whom Finlay meets when he’s bartending. Julian sees right to the heart of Finlay that first night they meet, and he insists that he doesn’t care that she has two young children and drives a minivan. The problem? Finlay was hiding from Julian when she first met him. He doesn’t even know her real name.

Then, there’s that aforementioned cop. Georgia may claim she only connected them because they believed they could help each others. But Nick is single and handsome, and it’s clear she’s trying to set them up. The problem? Nick could never imagine Finlay being closer to this investigation.

A Related Depiction of Divorce & Motherhood

Although I am happily married and have no children, I can appreciate how Cosimano portrays divorce and motherhood in this novel as a child of divorce and aunt. Between Steven’s cheating and her financial situation, Finlay’s divorce is far from amicable. And while she can let her emotions get the best of her, she wouldn’t even think of saying something bad about Steven around her children.

Finlay can tie almost every action to her children. Finlay wants to be able support her children and keep them safe. But that doesn’t mean that Finlay enjoys every second she spends with her kids. Finlay knows that it is impossible to write without someone watching her kids and that they can be quite sticky. After all, the novel opens with, “It’s a widely known fact that most moms are ready to kill someone by eight thirty A.M. on any given morning.” I mean, what mother can’t relate to that?

Final Thoughts

I tend to avoid series but I am so happy that I can. Finlay Donovan Is Killing ItThis book is the first in a series. This book is a perfect combination of romance, mystery, family drama, and romance. It is a delight to read because of its warm-hearted characters and lighthearted tone. The best part? The fun doesn’t end with just one book. Finlay’s journey continues in the sequel, Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em DeadThe second book in the series, titled, was released earlier this month. It is as exciting as the first.

Elle Cosimano

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It

Finlay Donovan is completely NotIt was a great success. Finlay is facing a book contract, ex-husband, and children that make it difficult. Finlay doesn’t need to get caught up in more drama. It’s too bad that she is mistakenly identified as a contract killer, and she actually needs the money. What will happen to her life, already complicated, when it becomes entangled in a criminal investigation?

Elle Cosimano

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead

Finlay is struggling once more to keep her head above the water. Her next book deadline is approaching, someone wants Finlay’s ex-husband to die, and a hot cop is determined that he can get back into her life. Finlay will have to comply with many laws in order to keep her family safe and meet her deadline. To find out, you will have to read the hilarious sequel.