“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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“It is a widely known fact that most moms are ready to kill someone by 8:30 am on any given morning.”
This book had me hooked from the first sentence because it is funny and so true! Finlay’s scumbag ex-husband left her for their real-estate agent. She is trying to raise two funny kids while writing her next book and bills are piling up. While meeting her agent in Panerai, a woman at the next table listens in on her conversation and slips Finaly her name and number. She has mistaken Finlay for a hitman.
I loved the characters in this book. Finlay has the worst luck and her adventures with the nanny Vero had me hysterical. There is suspense, murder and romance! Can we say hot young bartender!?!
I am so happy to learn this is the first book in a series and I am looking forward to more Finaly. If you have not yet read this book, you are missing out! Thank you to @minotaur_books
And @netgalley for an ebook
Audiobook Review
Overall 4.5 stars
Performance 5+ stars
Story 4-4.5 stars
Finlay Donovan is Killing It was an absolute treat! I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked it up and it blew me away with how clever and hilarious it was. It’s a great mix of genres and has a little bit of everything for everyone. There’s suspense, action, mystery, comedy, and romance too. This one had me guessing throughout, trying to figure out how the author would bring all the threads together. There were lots of wonderful secondary characters, but Vero definitely was my favorite. She was the perfect complement to Finlay and I loved the relationship that bloomed between the two of them. Some parts of the story were a bit over the top, but overall it felt balanced and the pacing was just right.
The narration by Angela Dawe was incredible! She voiced all of the different characters so uniquely and had no problems switching between accents. Her performance made the story even more enjoyable thanks to her outstanding comedic timing and delivery. I didn’t realize that the book is the start of a series, and so I wasn’t quite expecting that ending, but I’m excited to see where the author takes things next.
*I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this book*
Is it a cozy mystery? A mild thriller? A romance? I have no idea what this book is other than mediocre. The great premise for this story falls flat with stilted writing and a disjointed plot.
Based off the sample I read prior to buying the book, I thought this would be a fun read with dark comedy tones. Instead I got a ditzy, scatterbrained protagonist surrounded by a cast of forgettable characters in ridiculous situations. Imagine the show “Dead To Me” recast with Lucy & Ethel from “I Love Lucy”. Both great shows on their own. But as a mash up, not so much. This book might appeal to a YA audience. It did not appeal to me.
This book is exactly what I needed after reading some really sad ones! Finlay Donovan is a hoot – her antics kept me laughing on this crazy ride! Finlay is a stressed out single mom to two kids & a struggling novelist. She meets her agent at Panera to discuss her (lack of) book progress. They easily speak of the characters & subplots unknowingly being eavesdropped by the lady sitting next to them. As Finlay gets up to leave she finds a note it leads to a name and dollar amount! A hit woman?! Her life turns upside and we’re quickly on this crazy ride with her! This was so much fun to read and I just kept rooting for her! I’m hoping for a sequel! Thank you to Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and the author for a gifted copy.
During the craziness of 2020, I have been struggling to find books that hold my attention. Finlay Donavon Is Killing It not only kept my attention but it kept me wanting more. I loved this fun mystery. Imagine an author who is struggling to make ends meet while her ex-husband is asking for custody of the kids. Finlay cannot even keep her household together and then gets pulled into a tangled, twisted, and fun web of lies, secrets, and murder.
I laughed, I cringed, and I kept turning page after page of this wonderful book. I did not know how it would turn out, I could not even guess what would happen, I had no clue how it would end but I knew that I had to get to the end to find out. As I got closer to the end I slowed my reading down. I devoured each word just to make the book last longer. I was not ready to walk away from Finlay her crazy life. There were so many things that as a mom I could relate to. The everyday mom life is not easy and Finlay is not quite slaying it. Her fails as a mom made her realistic while the drama if her life made me laugh.
Finley Donovan is a single mom, a writer who has missed her deadline and has an ex- husband who is making her miserable! While meeting with her agent to discuss her plot and writer’s block, another woman over hears her and mistakenly thinks she is a hit woman! This book is entertaining and so funny. I read it in one sitting and laughed out loud more than once. Ellie Cosimano, please give us another outing with Finley and friends!
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book!
Finlay Donovan’s life is falling apart. She is frazzled because her agent and publisher both want the book she was supposed to have finished, her marriage has fallen apart, and her children need her. So, when she goes to meet her agent for brunch, and they begin talking about the plot for her murder mystery, someone overhears them and gets the wrong idea about Finlay. The person offers Finlay $50,000 to murder her husband, and Finlay can’t believe it. Finlay won’t do it, or will she?
Finlay is a the perfect heroine! She is someone you root for, and you hope she succeeds. Even though much of the book put Finlay in outlandish situations, they made you laugh and hope that Finlay could work her way out of them.
This is a delightful murder-for-hire mystery!
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for the ARC!
#FinlayDonovanIsKillingIt
This was a book that I didn’t know if I would really like but I was interested in it when I read the blurb, so here we are with a five-star review and I’m still chuckling about it. Finlay Donovan is a newly divorced single mom who can’t pay her bills and can’t seem to fulfill her contract for writing a romantic suspense novel. However, she somehow gets backed into a corner to carry out another contract, a contract killing. This is a hilarious romp through motherhood, what it’s like to be divorced from a cheater and a mystery all rolled into one neat and well-written package. The plot was totally original and captured me from the first page. The descriptions of Finlay’s bad decisions, layered on top of other bad decisions and leading to her quest to solve a mystery all had me in stitches. I didn’t like the husband Steve (the philanderer) or the babysitter Vero, who took advantage of Finlay’s confused state of not having a clue what to do. Nevertheless, the characters were well-portrayed, down to little Zach’s poopy diapers and desire for his blanket and the haircut that little Delilah gave herself. Too funny! The mystery that I was expecting was there, along with so much more. The conclusion was satisfying, leaving me wanting more tales of the misadventures of Finlay Donovan. Fans of mystery and humor will thoroughly enjoy this book! I loved it!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Finlay Donovan is Killing It, and so is author Elle Cosimano! This book hooked me at the dedication page and had me glued to the story to the very end. I love a good comedy-noir, and the author delivered.
Finlay Donovan’s life is currently a white-hot mess. Her philandering ex-husband isn’t helping her much financially and he’s threatening to sue for full custody of the kids (whom he really doesn’t want full time). Neither Finlay nor her alter ego, Fiona Donohue, can pay the bills and keep the lights on. When curious Finlay checks out a business proposition, her life seemingly goes from bad to worse. Her ex-nanny, now friend, Vero steps into to save the day. Unfortunately, Vero is the type of friend who doesn’t necessarily help you make better decisions. I loved Vero despite her occasional errors in judgement; she is highly competent, organized and resourceful. She is definitely someone you want by your side when things go sideways.
We readers get a limited view of ex-husband Steven, and it is only from Finlay’s perspective. We get to know him just enough to know that he is not a good person. The more interesting men in the story are Nick and Julian. These potential love interests are basically off-the-table as getting involved with either could lead to Finaly’s demise.
The story is fast paced, and the plot has decent tension. The plot points are sometimes implausible, but that is part of the fun. Finlay Donovan is Killing It is both humorous and suspenseful. A struggling author, Russian mobsters, a sod farm, and an excellent cast of characters—how could you possibly resist this book???
4.5-5 stars
#MustRead2021
Finlay is late turning in her novel to her agent, bills are piling up and her cheating ex-husband lives down the street with his fiancée. A stranger overhears a conversation and misunderstands, kicking off a madcap caper with laugh-out-loud moments, ending with a surprise. A fast moving, fun frolicking mystery. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano is us a funny, yet stressful, situational comedy/mystery about a woman that accidentally gets hired to murder a man, and then accidentally kills him. Well, she didn’t actually kill him, but someone did, and it looks like it might be her. Finlay Donovan is a romance write, successful but underpaid. She is divorced with the ex-husband from hell. He cheated on her, left her, plans to get custody of her kids and generally makes her feel like a useless piece of garbage. She’s months behind in her bills…doesn’t even bother to bring in her mail anymore, just let it pile up on the porch. She is 38 minutes late for a meeting with her agent when someone sitting close by misunderstand the conversation Finlay and Sylvia are having and leaves her a note: $50,000 to kill her husband. Finlay tries to explain that the woman misunderstood but the woman is stubborn so Finlay goes to the bar where he will be, just to check him out. She sees him put a roofie into his date’s drink and manages to switch them. Soon he is too out of it to walk. Finlay takes him to her mini-van, and then to her home. While she’s inside, so hysterical she forgot to turn the car off, somehow her garage door closes and when she comes back out he’s dead: asphyxiated. The rest of the story is Finlay avoiding arrest.
Finlay is a really likable woman. She is a little discombobulated but what mom with two kids under five is not. She is easily distracted so they eat lots of burnt food. She is disorganized so there are lots of dirty clothes and toys under foot. He friend and ex-babysitter, Vero is clever, well-organized, hard-working-in may ways the opposite of Finlay, but they make a go of sunning this household and keeping the police at bay. Of course, some of it is plain good luck. They run into characters along the way: Julian, the hot and way too young bartender; Detective Nick, who is Finlay’s sister Georgia’s friend and also very hot. Someone Finlay could have really liked if the situation had been different. Her across-the-street neighbor who never slept and saw everything. Being a killer for hire, earning $200,000 for it although she never really killed anyone is very heady and made her question herself, a lot. Fun book. Clever. Very entertaining. I liked it!
I was invited to read a free ARC of Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #finlaydonovaniskillingit
I knew that I was going to love this book from the first paragraph if not the first sentence. Finlay Donovan has a full plate, overflowing and no solutions on the horizon. Or maybe, just maybe there might be something to get her out of the big mess her life is – a jerk of an ex who is fighting for custody of the children, big time writers block, and so broke that she lets the bills just multiply like rabbits. When she meets with her agent to discuss her next book (or lack thereof due to that pesky writer’s block) her situation takes a very strange twist and what a ride it is!
This is a laugh out loud funny with an edge. As Finlay gets sucked into a rabbit hole, she has help in the form of her nanny, Vero. Together they make an outlandish team. I won’t divulge any more of the plot because I don’t want to spoil any of the laughs and situations these two get into. This book was the perfect distraction to help me cope with Covid isolation. All I will say is this – how long do I have to wait for the next book?
My thanks to the publisher Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book is hilarious. It’s about struggling suspense novelist and single mom Finlay Donovan, whose fiction treads dangerously close to the truth as she becomes tangled in a real-life murder investigation. It has a bit of a buddy comedy feeling when she teams up with her nanny and things spiral out of control.u2063 I loved everything about this book. It was light and fun but also had enough reality to not be too fluffy.
Was it realistic? No. But who cares. Finlay is a single mother you will root for and this was actually a mystery that had a few small surprises in it. There’s a light romance, some great witty banter, and two women who are in constant trouble trying to sort out a mess they did not mean to get into. Comedy at it’s best.
Finlay Donovan is Killing it is a chick-lit style murder mystery starring a divorced mother of two and author.
While in a suburban Panera begging her publishing agent for more time on her next deadline Finlay is mistakenly assumed to be a contract killer by a woman seated nearby. The woman asks her to kill her husband in exchange for cash and since Finlay is both broke and curious she decides to take a closer look at him. What follows is a lot of bad luck, hasty cover ups and snooping around by Finlay and her partner-in-crime Vero.
This was a fun fast paced mystery that bordered on cozy. I think a lot of women can relate to Finlay’s struggles as both a mom and working woman trying to do it all while her ex and his fiancée get the much better end of the deal. While a lot of the legal and police work bordered on both unrealistic and improbable (especially everything involving hot detective Nick) it was still a fun ride. I really enjoyed the character of Vero and the balance and organization she brought to both Finlay’s personal life and the investigation.
I think readers looking for a less intense murder mystery with a relatable heroine and some laughs will enjoy Finlay Donovan is Killing It. It has enough twisty action to keep the reader’s attention balanced with a little romance plus the story of a woman trying to hold it together after divorce. I especially recommend this one to fans of the Stephanie Plum series.
4 stars
My copy of Finlay Donovan Is Killing it was provided by NetGalley and the publisher for review purposes
A great read with a very eclectic cast of characters. Finlay is a mother and struggling author. She finds herself being accidentally being solicited for murder and unable to refuse. This leads to a hilarious chain of events. Her nanny/partner/accountant Vero is a trip. Her 5 year old daughter says the darnedest things. The authors writes the story in such a way that you cannot help but feel like you are living each detail with Finlay. It is a wonderful journey that will put a smile on your face.
First things first, this story not only made me laugh out loud but it’s completely unique. As an avid reader, I find books start to be quiet repetitive but that wasn’t the case with “Finlay Donovan Is Killing It”.
Finlay is a stressed out, recently divorced mom of 2 who is trying to write her next novel — one worth the big bucks and the respect of those around her. While chatting with her agent in Panera, a chance encounter provides Finlay with more than she bargain for to help ends meet. Before Finlay knows it, she’s a very active member in a real life murder investigation. What ensues is an one of a kind story that involves the mob, a hot lawyer AND police officer, a nosey neighbor, a honest 5 year old and a complice that’s the perfect hype girl.
I was left speechless by this book honestly. There’s no way I would’ve expect anything like that crazy addictive scenes in here and it really made me think of who would stand by me through hell and hot water because there are so few people you can truly rely on in this life. And no, I’m not planning to bury any body in the future . This is one of those books where you can probably say wrong person at the wrong time but go with the flow kind of stuff. I really enjoyed it.
Gripping, addictive and twisted story that will leave you wanting more from an intriguing character.
Finlay Donovan is killing it, well, actually maybe more like it’s killing her. Life, that is. Truth is, Finlay is struggling. Barely keeping her head above water. Not only with figuring out the plot of her extremely delayed next novel, but dealing with her ex getting engaged to the woman he was cheating on Finlay with as well as a looming messy custody battle. To top it off, her ex fires the baby-sitter, and somehow Finlay gets embroiled in a real-life murder mystery, one that could have been ripped right out of the pages of one of her books.
I had never read anything by Elle Cosimano before reading Finlay Donovan Is Killing It. So I went in not really knowing what to expect about the writing or even what to truly expect from the premise. I admit I was surprised with the dark humor of the story. Not in a bad way, just wasn’t expecting it kind of way.
I immediately took to Finlay. The harried single mother trying to balance everything yet managing to get nothing done because of all the curveballs life loves to throw. I could feel her desperation, and as a reader I really wanted things to turn out good for Finlay. I wanted her to succeed, I wanted her to show up her cheating ex and his snobby fiancée.
As I said I was surprised by the dark humor side of the book, and as a result I wasn’t prepared for when things take a turn in Finlay’s life. But sticking with the story, and for all intents and purposes sticking with Finlay, I think that Elle Cosimano pulls off an amazing feat of really balancing the humor, mystery, suspense and romantic elements of the story really well, while giving readers a heroine they’ll want to root for and stick with for the long haul. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by all the problems that keep getting piled on Finlay I felt more of the humorous aspect of what more can this woman be tasked in dealing with? Just when Finlay pulls herself out a little bit, she’s something new arises and pulls her back in again.
I liked that Finlay is a person who doesn’t have everything figured out, and when things knock her down, she keeps getting right back up because, for her and her kids, there is no other option. In that regard it’s a perfect setup for navigating a mystery. Readers, along with Finlay, kind of get to figure it all out together which I think was another facet to the story that caught and kept my attention throughout.
I hope this won’t be the last time we see Finlay Donovan. With that really intriguing ending I’m going out on a limb thinking it’s safe to say it’s not. I absolutely cannot wait to see what trouble lands on Finlay’s doorstep next.
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Title:
Author :
Number of Pages: 355
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Publication Date: 02/02/2021
Rating: (4.5 stars)
This is the first book I’ve read from this author. Thank you @minotaurbooks for my #gifted copy. The cover has phenomenal shelf appeal.
So in this book we follow author Finlay Donovan who is having trouble writing her newest book. She’s overheard discussing the plot of her new novel with her agent over lunch when she’s mistaken for a contract killer and inadvertently accepts an offer to dispose of a problem husband in order to make ends meet.
I absolutely loved this story. I’ve never read anything like this before which is very refreshing. I had quite a few laughs while reading this. Never did I think a murder mystery could be written in such a light and enjoyable way, but Elle knocked it out of the park. I’m happy this might be the first book in a series, because I would definitely read every book in it. I highly recommend this book to all mystery readers that like a little bit of comedy involved. This book comes out on February 2nd, 2021 so make sure you pre-order your copy today!!!
My Review of
FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT
By Elle Cosimano
Gifted & Published by @minotaur_books
On Sale 2/2/21
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Much like the title, the Author did the same…she killed it with this whole novel, the characters, the suspense, satire and twists that I didn’t see coming. I completely fell for the chaotic, fumbling but make no mistake …very intelligent Finlay Donovan. Nothing seems to go her way but somehow no matter how big of a mess she gets herself into, she ends up being able to flip it around with the help of nanny who was fired by her philandering ex-husband. The ex-nanny has now been rehired by Finley as her accountant (if you ask the ex-nanny) and as the nanny (if you ask Finlay). I’ve never been reading so seriously one minute, to be cracking up the next over something that Finlay has said or did. The sarcasm is light at time too, perfect for those intense moments.
When Finlay, an Author who is down on her luck financially and soon her custodial rights may be at stake due to her less than charming ex who left her after he was caught cheating, things seems to have hit rock bottom. But maybe what really is rock bottom is when a wife tied to the mafia mistakingly takes a bad day for Finlay as a opportunistic run in with a hit man and asks for her to kill her husband. Things only get worse when the mafia wife makes referrals and the head of the mafia’s wife makes a similar request but gives her no choice. That if she doesn’t do the job, she will tell her husband it was Finlay’s plan and she would be killed. With the help of her nanny, they are off on adventures and are doing things they never dreamt of. Will they commit these murders and get away with it all?