Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano Book Review

About the Book:

Finlay Donovan is killing it . . . except, she’s really not. She’s a stressed-out single-mom of two and struggling novelist, Finlay’s life is in chaos: the new book she promised her literary agent isn’t written, her ex-husband fired the nanny without telling her, and this morning she had to send her four-year-old to school with hair duct-taped to her head after an incident with scissors.

When Finlay is overheard discussing the plot of her new suspense novel with her agent over lunch, she’s mistaken for a contract killer, and inadvertently accepts an offer to dispose of a problem husband in order to make ends meet . . . Soon, Finlay discovers that crime in real life is a lot more difficult than its fictional counterpart, as she becomes tangled in a real-life murder investigation.

My Review:

I liked this sort of mystery where Finlay, our heroine, becomes an accidental assassin and succeeds in her tasks without actually killing anyone. The character development is good as we get a real idea of a single mother on the brink of bankruptcy receiving an unexpected way to get out of debt. That's the foundation but it is the framework that is so entertaining. There are many unexpected events that move the plot forward. There are some impediments to Finlay that make us hold our breath. But somehow it all works out. The plot moves forward at a good pace, combining Finlay's role as an author, single mom, amateur potential assassin, and perhaps a participant in a romance or two.

I am a fan of humorous novels such as those by Evanovich. Cosimano's novel is not quite at that level but as her debut novel for adults, it shows great promise. I admire how Cosimano managed to twist situations so that each one works out in the end with credibility. This novel ends with a serious hook for a sequel. I'll be reading it.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Elle Cosimano is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, an International Thriller Writers Award winner, and an Edgar Award nominee. Elle’s debut novel for adults, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, kicked off a witty, fast-paced contemporary mystery series, which was a People magazine pick and was named one of New York Public Library's Best Books of 2021. The third book in the series, Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, was an instant New York Times bestseller. In addition to writing novels for teens and adults, her essays have appeared in HuffPost and Time. Cosimano lives with her husband and two sons in Virginia. Photo credit: Holly Virginia Photography

Minotaur Books, 384 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)