“Getting the job done” for one single mom takes on a whole new meaning in Finlay Donovan is Killing It.One of “The Most Anticipated Books of Winter 2021” —ParadeOne of “The Most Anticipated Debuts of 2021” —BustleOne of “The Most Anticipated Mysteries and Thrillers of 2021” —GoodreadsOne of “The Most Anticipated Crime Books of 2021” —Crimereads “Funny and smart, twisty and surprising.”—Megan …
“Funny and smart, twisty and surprising.”—Megan Miranda
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.
Fast-paced, deliciously witty, and wholeheartedly authentic in depicting the frustrations and triumphs of motherhood in all its messiness, hilarity, and heartfelt moment, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is the first in a brilliant new series from YA Edgar Award nominee Elle Cosimano.
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I absolutely LOVED this book!!!! Finlay is a single mom to 2 kiddos. Finlay is broke and her ex is a total jerk who is now engaged to the woman he cheated on her with. Finlay writes books and is way behind deadline turning in her next book that she has already received her advance for. Bills are piling up, her electricity is turned off, and she keeps having to ask her jerk of an ex-husband for money. When she meets her agent at Panera to discuss her book, a woman sitting close to them assumes they are discussing murder for hire and not a book idea! Things get crazy funny after the Panera meeting. Finlay along with Vero her kids nanny, have some of the most laugh out loud funny things happen to them as they try to negotiate the situations they find themselves in. I love the relationship between Finlay and Vero as they are true friends that are there for each other. I simply cannot wait for what I hope are many more books in this series following Finlay and Vero and their adventures! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.
Finlay Donovan is Killing It is a refreshing, laugh out loud read that deserves 5 stars.
The author had me at the dedication to her friends “….because I would bury a body with either of you”
Finn I would also bury a body with you and have a pint with you as well.
The pages flew by as you watched and waited for Finn and Vero to get themselves out this huge mess of supposedly being hired killers.
This is a must read and you will be smiling and laughing out loud
The ending was perfect, hoping Finn will return and entertain us one more time.
FInlay Donovan is Killing It will be a big hit. Mark your calendars. Can’t wait to buy it for my daughter.
Thanks to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books for an refreshing enjoyable read.
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
This was such a fun read and it definitely kept me engrossed! I found Finlay to be funny, resourceful, and endearing. At times she was eye rolling naive, but I went with it. She did make me laugh, often. Right now I think we could all use more laughing!!!
Finlay writes murder mysteries, and she had been quite successful at it. However since her divorce, and juggling two young children and her house she’s had writers block. Her publisher is after her constantly to finish her next book. What will it take to make the light go back on and help her write a bestseller? Well the answer to that shows up fairly quickly in the book, and you’ll have fun discovering what that is!
Finlay is really at her wit’s end when her ex husband fires her nanny, she can’t handle it all, not the kids, the house, the overdue bills and unfinished book. She is overheard talking with someone at Panera about murder mysteries and all the different ways that you can get rid of a body, etc. When she leaves she finds a very interesting note and a phone number to call on her table. All she sees is the $50,000 amount and decides to call the number. Someone has gotten a very different idea of who Finlay really is and what she does for a living!!!!!!!!!!
What Finlay and her nanny/accomplice get themselves into is crazy, uproarious fun. There are bodies, mobsters, hit men and the plot races along.
While I had to suspend belief for a lot of the actions, it didn’t matter! I’ll leave you to enjoy the plot without any spoilers.
It has been hinted that this will be a series and I will definitely watch for a follow up!
This was a great recommendation from my good friend Jayme!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.
This novel is set to publish on February 2, 2021
I enjoyed this book. It was a new to me author. I will definitely be looking for her other books. I hope this one has a continuation!! I really felt for the people in this book. I was so into it that I was getting anxious for them!!! Would definitely recommend this book!
family-dynamics, friendship, suspense, situational-humor, verbal-humor, mystery, mystery-writer
I was thinking about The Housewife Assassin when I saw this one, but this is even funnier because the assassination was so weird. The whole tale is so convoluted and funny that I can’t recap it without being afraid of doing a spoiler. Come for the suspense and you’ll definitely stay for all the situational humor. I sure did!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
One of the funniest books I’ve read in a while. First in the author’s new, darkly comic mystery series, her debut in the adult market.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story of an inadvertent hit woman/suburban mom/struggling romance novelist. I kept reading, and laughing, even while my brain kept interrupting with issues of tone, characterization, and illogic. (Shut up, Brain! I’m having fun!)
This book is fun. It also hits some chords that many readers may find relatable: Finlay’s shame and anger after her divorce, her struggles to care for her children without making her ex the bad guy, the way her work is dismissed until it is highly remunerated, and even her inability to say no, which lands her in terrible trouble.
As for those issues that kept niggling at me as I was reading, frankly, you won’t care about them while you are enjoying the book, so I’ll be concise on the constructive feedback. I had difficulties with Finlay’s character. One moment she was savvy and smart from her years of researching body disposal methods; the next she was doing something foolish. The tone was inconsistent and sometimes jarring – jumping from farcical to serious. Most of the male characters were one-dimensional. I didn’t enjoy the meta novel-within-a-novel, especially the elbow in the ribs self-congratulations about the plot. And I had to look up what a “wig-scarf” was. It sounded dreadful.
But so what? I had a great time reading this book, and I eagerly await the next in the series.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.